ONLY ONE NUMBER TWO.

 

June 20, 2005

 

Congratulations to Michael Campbell!  It was a surprise, even to him.

 

There is only one Augusta National.

There is only one Hilton Head Monster.

There is only one Pinehurst #2.

 

The difference is obvious to anyone who takes the time to see it.   Augusta looks tough, but Georgia's spring is a gentle thing and the course is beatable.  The Monster is like an adult version of goofy golf - but there is usually one guy who can thread the needles and hit the postage stamps.  Pinehurst #2 is a copperhead water moccasin - it will bite you, and then you will die from the poison hours later.

 

No 2's grass changes by the hour in the summer heat.  The winds are as unpredictable as they are at Kitty Hawk.  The greens are turtlebacks - disasters waiting to happen.  It tests both patience and ability to the very limit.  It looks like an old man's course but is really a young man's graveyard.

 

Having witnessed another career killing US Open, all you can say  is, "damn that Number 2!"

 

I have discovered the difference between Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.  woods forces his body to do what he thinks needs doing.  This is a very familiar routine most golfers.  Jack, however, has said that he discovered what his body could first, and then, he found a way that fit with his body.

 

When Tiger gets to the 56 master tournament wins number, I'll re-evaluate my stance.  But until then, Jack's way is still the best way.

 

I like Jason Gore.  I like any fat, successful pro golfer.  Sure, he choked in the stretch, worse than the Shark.  But I think he could win some majors with some more sessions with his sports shrink.  Speaking of choking, how about that Sunday finish at Pinehurst#2, huh?  I've never seen so much talent in such dire straits.

 

As a side note, NBC should let CBS do golf and stick to something they know - like Fear Factor.  The camera work was pretty good for 1975.  Their best announcer  is a baseball expert and they didn't use him much.  Their jock announcer - Johnny Miller - wasn't used enough.  The announcers were right about 10% of the time.   And WHERE does it say that sports announcers are fortune tellers?

 

Anyway, my wife made me a blueberry icebox pie, so I had a great Father's Day.  Hope you did, too.

 

Dick Anderson