The stories of child
prodigies rarely have happy endings. Is it curiosity or jealousy that justifies
our holding them to a higher standard? Cast into the spotlight by a god given
talent, they are put under a microscope. The fire that launched their success - is often snuffed out by the media frenzy, deal making, scrutiny and hangers on. The light from that fire can be hidden for years - under a basket of problems that have nothing to do with the game. I was reminded of this as two such prodigies came across my TV screen this week.
I rarely bet on the LPGA. My
respect for female golfers and tennis players is immense. Any one of them could
easily emasculate the average tough guy at the clubhouse bar. I just don’t
follow the women’s game that closely though. I always watch this weeks Major
for the jump into Poppy’s Pond.
I saw Michelle Wie at the sports book at 50-1
and couldn’t resist. I knew she was not trending, but she is still an athlete
capable of performing miracles on any given weekend. As I tuned in to watch her
play, the scenario was all too familiar. She was struggling to keep up with the
field. Upon closer inspection, her technique looked more experimental than
strategic. She was literally turned backwards at impact. Her demeanor seemed uncertain,
almost whimsical. Why?
Michelle first pleyd this weeks major at 13. She turned pro at the
age of 16, nearly 9 years ago. She was cast into the spotlight at an early age.
Her talent and her body developed early. Like an Anna Kournikova, with a real
chance not just to win, but to dominate. Just what the LPGA and the golf
industrial complex needed. Her golf swing was almost technically perfect. She
was long an accurate. So much so, that she was pressured into competing against
the men on the PGA - which I think is awesome! However, it did not sit well with many of the old guard chauvanistic tour pros like Vijay
Singh - who helped to make that a harrowing experience. She was 16 for Christs sake. What a bunch of jerks.
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When her accomplishments
fell short of the media’s expectations, she fell and fell hard. Eventually she
left the game and went off to college. She returned to the game and won on tour
last year, but she has never dominated the game to the extent her unique talent
should allow. Even older female players like Annika Sorenstam have recently
taken stabs at her. Golf is a head game. Through no fault of her own, hers is
somewhere between swing theory, the mall and the 18th hole at Augusta. We all return to what if familiar though. When you
are great at an early age, you are always great. It is jut a matter of finding
it again. Unfortunately, there are obstacles and opportunists muddying the
waters along the way.
Randal Chamblee has spoken
of opportunists in the game of golf on numerous occasions – most frequently the
swing coach variety. They are in his mind and mine, a scourge on the game. They
are for the most part - charlatans and robber barons selling snake oil. Michael
Jordan didn’t need anyone teaching him how to shoot a free throw at 30. Tiger didn't need a swing coach either. Natural
talent and technique gets players to the top. Swing coach’s experiment with
them like lab rats in order to promote their latest theory/gimmick and make
millions in the process. By the time they are done, the player may have trouble
even remembering how to play the game.
I watched Wie’s swing coach
working with Michelle her after her round. It was comical and sad.
Instructors have more to learn from prodigies than to teach.
He's just another salesman. Not picking on him in particular. But If he did his job - he would not be giving post game instruction after her round over par. PGA professionals spend a fortune to get certified. They learn everything about golf - but nothing about how to teach it. Michelle is currently 4 over T58. I could care less about the $20 I bet on her. But, watching the industrial golf complex suck the blood out of a brilliant talent is hard to watch.
To be fair - as far as Michelle is
concerned, screw the press or what I think, I just hope she’s having fun and
enjoying life. Her game may not be where she wants it yet. But she seems to have come through all of this unscathed in her personal life. And is laughing all the way to the bank.
Watching Michelle and her coach did remind me of another child
prodigy though, one whose career has taken a similar albeit more calamitous
path. He will be teeing it up at The Masters next week.
A star is isolated, often
more alone and vulnerable than the average person. Whether it be Scientology or
a swing theory – an introduction within their inner circle to a trending mentor
can change the direction of their career forever. No recent example proves this
point better than the relationship between Sean Foley and Tiger Woods. Woods
life was a fire storm of controversy. At that very vulnerable point in his life
– he met Foley. In the years to follow – Foley would make millions off Tiger
and systematically destroy every aspect of his game in the process. Foley’s
need for attention and notoriety was pathological. He would literally follow
Tiger to the range during tournaments in an attempt to suck up as much of the
spotlight as possible. Man purse in hand, he would continue to instruct - right
up to tee time. Golf is not a team sport. If you have done your job as a coach, you are
not needed on game day.
Five years or so later,
Tiger’s chronic injuries (partially caused by Foleys ridiculous swing theory)
and failures on tour forced his stubborn ego to finally face reality and he cut
ties with Foley. If you try to argue that Foley has helped other players on
tour like Justin Rose or Mahan – check those player stats. None of them
improved under Foley. He just rode their coat tails. Injuries forced Tiger to
leave the game late last year. My advice at the time was for Tiger to go play
golf for 6 months– Alone! Like Jordan, he knows more about the game than any coach on the
planet. Perhaps his father’s military influence left him thinking he needed to
be structured. He doesn’t. He just needs to play golf.
One problem I knew Tiger
would face was getting Foley’s swing thoughts out of his head. After five years
of having Foley in his ear, it would be like deprogramming a Moonie. That would
take about 6 months Minimum. He needed to get away from all the Gurus. To my
disappointment, early this year, news of his new swing coach Chris Como
demonstrating one of his theories surfaced. He was jumping off a high dive
swinging an iron. The guy was just clumsily falling into the water. That was
helpful. OK, you dropped Dianetics - now
you’re at the airport with a tambourine.
Tiger needs quit listening
to salesmen. Breaking Jack's records is a limited time offer. "We can't do this all day."
10,000 hours, TrakMan. Swing Speed, and “It’s a Process” are all
bullshit. Simulators can ruin your game – stay off them. They were built to
sell golf clubs. You want to know where your game is – play 18 and look at the
score card. It doesn’t take a year to change your swing. There are 4 main disciplines in golf: Hitting, Chipping, Putting, Course Management. Pick a technique and practice each on a real course. If one isn't working - adjust your technique until it does. Period!
So is there a point to my
rambling? Yes. Everyone has been asking me who I like at the Masters. My
favorite is Jordan Spieth. One of the few young stars who seems immune to the game outside the game. Even he has to watch it. The American Media is poisonous. All they talked about last year was that he hadn't won again in 2014. He went to Australia at the end of the year. The Aussies never mentioned his lack of wins. It was like watching coverage from a year before when he first came on the scene. Nothing but praise from the Aussie press. He won by 6 strokes, against the biggest names in Europe. He got on a plane, flew for 20 hours and won by 10 strokes over best players in the world at Hero the very next week.
Yesterday in his post round interview - leading by a stroke - NBC confronted him with not converting his last 3 leads into wins. Poison!
Also not true. He actually converted his last two 54 hole leads. Australia and Hero we just not PGA events. Other than Spieth - I have no
idea who I'll bet at The Masters – until I do the stats. J.B Holmes is due. Bubba hasn't played in a while but he and Walker are threats.
Tiger gave everyone the answer they wanted to
hear this week. He’s playing Augusta. To be honest, I have no idea what he has been
doing. He shot 74 in a practice round. He feels like he can compete. 50/50 he
misses the cut.
I do know this, when any pro
plays a tournament he has won 4 times he has a chance. When the greatest player
in history is at 40-1 I’ll take one. You never know when that light may burn
through the basket.
-Rick Jansen
