TERRE HAUTE — Tiger Woods should have been reminded of two important golf axioms last Sunday when he walked off Augusta National’s 18th hole. One, it’s bad karma to state publicly that winning golf’s Grand Slam was “easily within reach,” and two, when the magic in the putter is missing, you’re probably not going to visit the winner’s circle which is synonymous with Butler Cabin when you’re playing The Masters.
After Tiger drained a monster putt measuring 70 feet on the 11th hole, it appeared he was ready to mount another patented charge as his competition folded like wet newspapers. Then something unthinkable happened. Tiger’s usually dependable, rock solid putting touch deserted him and he staggered around the next six holes until an 18-footer on the final green found the cup.
By then it was too little, too late and Trevor Immelman’s eight-under-par 280 was good as gold and gave the South African a three-stroke victory in spite of a closing 75. His three over par effort tied the highest final round ever shot by a Masters’ champion.
Golf, like life, can be difficult to fathom. Near the time Woods was expressing his thoughts on annexing golf’s slam, Immelman was winning the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa. A week later, he was diagnosed with a tumor on his diaphragm that necessitated surgery through his back. Although the tumor was benign, he spent two months getting his golf game back in shape.
I’m certain Trevor Immelman went to Augusta without the slightest idea of winning a green coat. Golf is indeed a fickle game. In Tiger’s case, it’s always better to tell the press “how you did it,” rather than “how you’re going to do it.”
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Immelman’s fellow South African, Gary Player, declares that Trevor’s swing is the best since Ben Hogan was in his prime.
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No amateur has ever won a Masters’ title. Ken Venturi came close, but Jackie Burke, Jr. came from far back on the final round to win by one stroke.
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The Masters is organized and operated by committees made up of members of Augusta National Golf Club. The tournament is unique in that once you have won The Masters, you are eligible to come back each succeeding year for the remainder of your life. As a practical matter, however, you are urged to refrain from entering once your skills preclude you from playing in the 70s.
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Shortly after the final shot in each Masters has been taken, each committee meets to discuss how the tournament could be improved. Since this was the 72nd Masters, you can imagine how smoothly The Masters is organized and operated.
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With a new golf season in the offing, it’s obvious that Mother Nature has not been kind recently to dedicated linksmen who reside in the Wabash Valley.
Local golfers are accustomed to a number of “good days” during the period from Christmas to March, but those were few and far between since Santa’s last visit.
High School golf teams like to hit the fairways as close to March first as possible to prepare for matches and tournaments scheduled for early April.
Chris Cassell, South Vigo’s coach, has had his team hitting balls at Fore Seasons in order to get a jump on his opposition.
While high school girls golf squads play in August, September and October, the guys suffer through cold winds, rain, hail and sometimes even snow flurries before some heat comes their way.
Cassell confided to Jon Holloway, Fore Seasons’ General Manager, that 10 of his players had posted scores in the 70s by March 15 during the few times they had been able to tee it up at Rea Park. It sounds as though the Braves may be ready for another outstanding season as the Southside divotmen recently won the Vigo County Tournament with Phillip Myers leading the way with a red-hot 34 at Hulman Links.
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Tom Jones, one of Terre Haute’s finest amateurs, didn’t waste much time in getting back on a golf course after receiving a new hip on Jan. 16. Seven weeks later, the six-time city champion shot 75 at Lost Creek at the Elks. He also bowled a 220 game on his first trip back to the alleys. It would appear that Tom is ready for a banner season.
Among his many golf credits is an Indiana Senior Open Championship won at Swan Lake in Plymouth in 2006 when he carded rounds of 72 and 68.
• • •
• Tip of the week — If your golf muscles are not in top physical condition, start your season by working on your short game. Hit wedges; nine, eight and seven irons until your hands get toughened.
After all, those four clubs, plus your putter, will dictate what kind of season you will have in 2008.
Keep your head down and your shoestrings tied. We’ll be back.
Bob Arnett can be reached by mail at the Tribune-Star, P.O. Box 149, Terre Haute, IN, 47802 or by e-mail at subob@aol.com.
Rub of the Green
Rub of the Green: Tiger should choose words more carefully
- Rub of the Green
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Ryder Cub drama a great part of American sports scene
The recent Ryder Cup matches are over, but not done with! At the time the final match had concluded the “talking heads” had already gone to work assessing blame to those who didn’t live up to their preconceived expectations.
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Snedeker the big winner after FedEx Championship
The season-long FedEx Championship has finally come to an end and Brandt Snedeker may need a Brinks truck to haul his winnings to the bank.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Memories of Crooked Stick
The BMW tournament that concluded Sept. 9 at Crooked Stick in Carmel brought back a flood of memories.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: "Fair Joe" known expects rules to be followed in local hunts
Fair Joe is the name and golf is the game when referring to Joe Bukovack, who has sponsored hunts in Terre Haute as well as throughout Indiana during the past 25 years.
The “Fair” in Joe’s title refers to the fact that players who wish to participate in Bukovack’s competition must be willing to follow the rules of golf to the letter, otherwise they will not be invited to participate. -
RUB OF THE GREEN: Enjoying the game after all these years
When golf is referred to as “The Game for a Lifetime,” you’ve got to believe that description is definitely on target. For example, there is the Danny Williams hunt that converges on the first tee at The Landing on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Many players are in their 70s and retired dentist, Bill Aikin, has seen 92 birthdays.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Hunts still popular on golf course
There is something about golf that lends itself to some friendly competition and in times gone by, the competitions were called “choose-ups.” Somewhere along the line, choose-ups became “hunts.” Regardless of what you call them, they remain a most popular mode of play for Terre Haute divot-diggers on courses throughout the Wabash Valley.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Heat doesn’t deter Terre Haute golfers
“When you’re hot, you’re hot, and when you’re not, you’re not.” Those are the words of country singer Jerry Reed and they apply to golfers as well.
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Rub of the Green: Father’s golf imprint still evident today
I was lucky and I knew it. My father, Robert Erwin Arnett, was one of the best dads any youngster could hope for.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Hogan, small of stature, left big footprints
With the Crowne Plaza Invitational being played at Colonial Country Club today, it conjures up images of the man himself, Bantam Ben Hogan, who won so often at Colonial it became known as “Hogan’s Alley.”
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Rub of the Green: Bowling or golf? Both provide plenty of challenge
The question has been raised in the past, is it bowling or golf that is the more difficult endeavor?
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Sometimes this can be a confounding game
To be sure, the great Sam Snead certainly knew what he was talking about when he delivered his favorite axiom, “The sun don’t shine on the same dog every day.”
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Grayless takes over as golf professional at Hulman Links
Ed Grayless has assumed the “head man’s” position at the Links after Ryan Klopfenstein resigned as Hulman Links golf professional in order to pursue other interests.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Young players should match course to skills
One of the biggest mistakes a beginning golfer can make is to keep playing a golf course that is far too difficult for the ability demonstrated by that player.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: On the lanes or links, Davis is competitive
Darrell Davis carries a 240 bowling average which obviously puts him in some strong company on the alleys, but he feels that golf is a much more difficult sport than keggling.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Loquacious golfers can provide priceless quotes
Golfers always seem to have a great deal to say, but determining who said what and who said it first can be a problem.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Rick Fernandes can look back on a great golf career
What does an outstanding golfer have left when an accident has robbed him of the consummate skills he once possessed? The answer most assuredly would be one word, “Memories.”
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Feherty’s humor good for golf
David Feherty is an extremely funny man. If you have read his book written a few years ago, you might have guessed what to expect from him. The book, entitled “Somewhere in Ireland a Village is Missing an Idiot,” set the stage for his far out brand of humor, most of which is directed at himself.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: It's all in your head
A pair of divot diggers had been discussing their favorite sport when one could be heard saying, “You know, I think this game is 90 percent mental.” After a short pause his friend replied, “Well, I think you’re about 10 percent short in your estimation.”
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Golf: ‘The Game You Love to Hate’
Golf has been called “The Game You Love to Hate.” In addition, love-hate relationships have been around since the beginning of time.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Golf is only sport that offers both hilarity, pathos
It’s been stated more than once that “golf is a microcosm for life itself.”
This writer would heartily agree. No sport or game can offer combinations of happiness and sadness, hilarity and pathos as evidenced by an activity called “cow pasture pool” by some of its practitioners. -
RUB OF THE GREEN: Even golfers say there is drug problem on Tour
Are professional golfers using performance-enhancing drugs? This writer wouldn’t have the foggiest, but if you asked Gary Player, one of the game’s greatest, the answer would be a resounding, “Yes.”
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Not all golfers display their trophies
Back in the “old days,” let’s say the 1940s, most of the time when you won something in a golf tournament your prize came in the form of a trophy. That was it, just a dust catcher. Later, merchandise prizes were added.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Golf full of colorful characters
Every sport has its own cast of characters and golf is definitely no exception. Whether it is diving head first into a greenside bunker or tying an unreliable putter to a car’s bumper and dragging it down the road, golfers can do some strange things.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Winter made golf impossible this year
Old Man Winter along with Mother Nature must have something against area golfers. They have joined forces to sabotage a sport called winter golf, an activity many Wabash Valley players have enjoyed in years gone by.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Golf instruction a strenuous art
Few who have ever tried their hands at playing the game of golf would describe the sport as “easy”. In fact, just the opposite would be the case.
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BOB ARNETT: No matter what your level, watch out for pressure
What is the affliction that can affect most any golfer from those who can’t break an egg to skilled golfers who can break 70?
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RUB OF THE GREEN: THGA tournaments include variety, long history
In days gone by, the Terre Haute Golf Association has always offered more than just a 72-hole stroke play tournament.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: PGA playoff system still needs work
Is anyone fed up with the convoluted Fed Ex playoffs? The PGA has been tweaking its so-called Fed Ex playoff system for years, and they never seem to get it right.
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Rub of the Green: Golf can be roller coaster for young pros
Dustin Johnson may be best remembered for his appearances in the major tournaments in 2010, but not because he won. He didn’t win. But he came awfully close.
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Rub of the Green: One size does NOT fit all when it comes to golfing ability
Literally hundreds of books have been written on the subject of golf instruction, and we can be certain they all agree on one fundamental, always keep your head stationary throughout the swing.
Right? Nope, wrong as it could be! How’s that, you say? As examples both David Duval and Annika Sorenstam at one time were rated the world’s No. 1 professional golfers, respectively, and both swiveled their heads well before their clubheads reached the impact zone. In fact, Duval is one of a select few who has a 59 to his credit on the PGA Tour. - More Rub of the Green Headlines
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