John Daly: Extreme Makeover - Golf Edition

What a difference a year makes! At this time last year, people were wondering what had become of John Daly. Missing in action for months by that point, the big blond golfer (known to his friends simply as "Lion") had not played a round in any American tournament during the last months of the previous season, or the first two months of that new season. Worse, he didn't appear to be scheduled to play anywhere. His website seemed all but abandoned; his personal message on it had not been updated in a long while and all the news being written about him seemed bad. Still without a tour card and playing mostly in Europe, more than one person had surmised that the two-time major champion had reached the end of his career.

It was not until he was finally spotted in Augusta GA, signing autographs outside the Masters, that anyone knew what had become of him. As it turns out, despite what seemed like many reasons to quit, John Daly had done just the opposite. He was working behind the scenes to rebuild his career and reshape much of his life. This was not just some minor tweaking either... This was Extreme Makeover - Golf Edition!

As usual, much of the press written about his appearance in Augusta was negative. I laugh now as I recall how few of the mainstream writers commented on the fact that John Daly looked years younger and more physically fit than he had been in years. Few also mentioned that thousands of fans were lined-up for a chance to meet one of the most popular golfers of all times. As usual, the media's focus was on his troubles - rehashed over and over.

But despite the usual press, last April was a good time for John, because it marked the public re-emergence of the NEW Lion, in many ways. Looking at him today, almost one full year later, the transformation has been fantastic and worthy of more than only a passing mention in a story about his past. Since the mainstream media can't seem to do it right, I thought I might try.

You see, I have no interest in revisiting the past, like so many who have written about John Daly. I am more concerned about the the present and the future. Suffice it to say that John Daly has lived a full life and one that has not always been easy - especially on himself.

It is plain to see however that, through his recent actions, John Daly realizes more than anyone else that it is time to fish or cut bait.

So, one year later, John Daly has lost well over 100 lbs, he has signed deals with several new business partners and sponsors and, perhaps most importantly, has started to play much better golf. His deal with clothing manufacturer Loudmouth has served the added purpose of providing him with a unique and unmistakable style.

Much of this transformation and his quest to earn his tour card, is being documented in the new reality television series "Being John Daly", which airs on the Golf Channel, Tuesday nights. It is worth watching. I have enjoyed the first few episodes tremendously.

But, despite his efforts, Daly is fighting more than just himself in this attempt at redemption. The years of controversy have left scars, some that are not healing as well as others.

Money issues still exist and probably weigh on his mind more than he lets on. Despite having tremendous earning power, things aren't what they used to be just yet.

Certain members of the press are not interested in the idea of a "new" John Daly. He has been dogged - if not hounded - by a group of writers including Steve Elling of CBS Sports, who seem to have an agenda to besmirch Daly as often and as viciously as possible. Of course, there's plenty of history there, but he is clearly still a target of the press.

Of course, John has also had to fight the establishment - the stiff shirts of golf - who are not always willing to forgive and forget. He is not always invited to tournaments anymore, despite their having profited greatly for decades from John Daly's tremendous ability to draw fans and sell tickets. While he was at the top of his game, they clamored and lined up to ask him to attend and paid him appearance fees to help sell tickets and attract sponsors - but not so much now that he needs them.

Nonetheless, through thick and thin, John Daly has remained a warm, deep feeling, and tremendously charitable guy, who has done a great deal for the PGA Tour, for its sponsors and charities. That alone is reason enough to stand behind him and cheer him on.

The Future of Golf

Anyone wondering or worried about the future of golf need look no further than Rickie Fowler to know that things are looking up. Not since Sergio Garcia has any young up-and-comer shown such natural ability and not since John Daly has any rookie so quickly captured the hearts of young golf fans.

Like Tiger Woods, Fowler's appeal extends far beyond the "usual" golf fan. He has the look, he has the panache, but unlike others before him, he also has the game to round out the package. Sure, there have been many other young guns with many of the same necessary ingredients at one time or another. Most went on to fizzle and none ever lived-up to lofty expectations. Anthony Kim, Justin Rose and Rickie Barnes come to mind. While they are all good golfers, none has ever given Tiger Woods much to worry about. But Fowler has something more - an intangible. Fowler has a level head and a steady demeanor that is impressive, especially in a game that rewards mental toughness and cold blood.

If Tiger Woods can credit much of his own success to his legendary mental toughness, then being able to play each stroke with consistency and focus is what will either make or break Fowler. When I asked Rickie Fowler (via Twitter) how he manages to keep it together on Sunday, especially when the pressure is very intense, he quickly responded: "I just remind myself that I've hit that shot a thousand times and it helps keep me in the moment." The simplicity of his answer and the common sense of the approach is an example of why this guy may soon become a premiere golfer on tour.

Moreover, Fowler may become one of the biggest money-making machines the PGA Tour has ever seen. As Fowler likes to say before he starts every round, "ITS GO TIME!" While Tiger Woods faltered, Rickie Fowler stealthily stepped into the spotlight and is now busy winning the hearts of young golf fans, who are eager for someone of their own generation to follow. The Puma gear, the cool hats over his long hair, and the aw-chucks attitude all help set him apart from the crowd and to make him a sponsor's dream. He is truly unique in golf, he stands out in several ways among a group often criticized for being clone-like. He represents what some hope will be the "next" generation of North American golfer.

Having said all that and perhaps best of all... Rickie Fowler is likable. Those who know him, like commentator Michael Collins, often speak of his excellent character, easy disposition and good nature. At a time when golf's super stars have sour faces and utter four letter words on camera, wouldn't it be great to have a star we can actually like!

The only thing left to do is light up the course, rack up the wins and stare down the current #1 player in the world. This is no small task, but if all golf fans hunger for something, it is a legitimate contender to take on Tiger Woods head to head, week after week. So far, only Vijay was able to do it for any length of time.

Of course, only time will tell if Rickie Fowler really can become golf's next big star. Golf is unkind to those who fall short, but something tells me that Rickie Fowler's star has plenty of shinning to do.

Arnold Palmer's Grandson and the Great Nepotism Debate

There is something to be said for the contribution that Arnold Palmer has made to the game of golf. The son of a grounds keeper, Arnold Palmer climbed his way from the very bottom, with his simple charm and considerable talent, to become the King.

Yet today, Arnold Palmer is stepping over a bunch of common folk, to use his considerable influence and his place among golf's royalty to help blaze an easy trail for his grandson, Sam Saunders. Sam has been granted a number of sponsors' exemptions this season, arguably for no other reason than his grandfather's name. In so doing, he has leapfrogged over many young golfers, who are playing the Nationwide Tour and who do not enjoy such privilege. Several of those youngsters have proven themselves to be worthy of a spot on tour, but don't have the influencial Arnold Palmer in their corner.

Nobody should have to tell Arnold Palmer that the breaks don't come easilly in professional golf. While he was a great player and has always been a wonderful ambassador for the game, I wonder if he has struggled with the ethics of the situation. Has anyone even dared ask him why Sam Saunders deserves to skip over so much of golf's proving ground?

This is not to say that Sam Saunders is not a good golfer. His record suggests that he still has much to learn, but there have been signs to suggest that he has the potential to become a good golfer down the road. That's not really the point. Whether Palmer knows it or even cares, some are deeply offended that he would so shamelessly disregard the struggles of other young golfers, and stand by while his grandson blatantly jumps the queue. Out of respect for Palmer, few would dare bring it up.

In fact, I probably wouldn't have mentioned it myself, if not for public comments made by Palmer. During an XM/Sirius Radio interview, Palmer actually went out of his way to suggest that Saunders was blazing his own trail and doing things his way. As far as I am concerned, that is a slap in the face - as if the average golf fan was not intelligent enough to understand that Sam Saunders is enjoying a VERY special and unique advantage, one that is not bestowed on many.

You see, when Sam Saunders is granted one of his numerous sponsor's exemption, such as to Pebble Beach, Phoenix, Bay Hill, etc., he doesn't only skip over all the amatueurs and Nationwide players who are ahead of him, but he also takes a very valuable spot away from a veteran who is without a card. Names that quickly come to mind include fan favorites John Daly and Chris DiMarco. I will argue that both have done a great deal for the Tour and for the many sponsors and charities on Tour, where Sam Saunders has not. Shouldn't that matter?

Then there's the issue of what fans want to see. When is it wrong to deny the fans the chance to see their favorite veteran players, in order to make room for a relative? In what other sport do you see that? At a time when the tour is suffering through the Tiger Woods drama, the John Daly comeback story is compelling and has been a source of tremendous interest. Case in point, Sam Saunders has bumped Daly out of three events already this year. How can that be good for golf?

Until now, I had always looked at golf as a sort of last bastion of meritocracies in sports. The fact that players have to compete for purses, instead of earning a salary. When we start filling the spots with relatives, what the Hell happens to the field? That something like that is coming from Arnold Palmer makes it even more shameful.

Will Tiger Woods Ruin the Masters

From the first speculation that Tiger was planning a return to golf at either one of the Tavistock Cup, the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, or at the Masters in Augusta, my hope has been that he might not choose the Masters as his comeback stage.

I am a Northerner. My ancestors did not have the wherewithal to keep moving South, so my golf season does not usually start until after Masters week. This is golf's version of the Stanley cup, the Superbowl, and the World Series, wrapped into one of the classiest sporting events on the face of the earth.

As I have done before, I'll be in attendance again this year, to walk the hallowed grounds where legends have played the game. If there is such a place, this is where the ghost of Bobby Jones still lives. Every blade of grass, every sandwich wrapped in green, every famous azaelia lined hole - all of it is steeped in history and tradition. But, what will it be like at Augusta National amid the media frenzy?

My legitimate fear is that Tiger will not be greeted with open arms, instead being confronted with hostility. For as many fans as Tiger Woods still has, there are now a multitude of Tiger-haters, all waiting for a chance to heckle and lash out. It is by virtue of being King of the Hill that people will try to knock him down, especially when he has shown such monumental signs of weakness and personal flaws.

Tiger's caddie, Steve Williams, can threaten to shield his boss all he wants, but he will certainly be no match for the anger that has festered in the hearts of Tiger-haters for these many months. As unimaginable as it may seem at Augusta, this could get messy.

The obvious issue is this: you can't do what Tiger did, from his formerly lofty pedestal, and hope to avoid all forms of flack - even at Augusta National.

I know that several players have agreed with the notion that the Masters is secure enough that Tiger can avoid a free-for-all like what would surely have transpirred at a venue like the Phoenix Open, or the Honda Classic. There, Tiger would have felt the full brunt of the anger.

Nonetheless, my opinion remains that the Tavistock Cup would have provided a great warm-up venue for Woods, while also allowing Tiger-haters their stage to let it all out, to get it over with and to finally vent their collective frustration. It would have been an ideal place for Tiger Woods to answer a few questions at a small venue and to ease the media hunger.

Then, Bay Hill would have been less crazy, as the story would have already played out the week before. We all know how short an attention span we have! Only silence seems to drag this on and on! Furthermore, Bay Hill is a place where Tiger has dominated and could have played with some degree of confidence, while getting comfortable with what surrounds him. Nothing shuts up a critic quite like a sound beating, as Stephen Ames once learned.

At last, Tiger could have walked the course at Augusta in relative peace, amid the most well-behaved crowd on tour. The Masters tournament would have been spared the embarrassment of the media frenzy that is now almost certain, while still retaining all of the upside - most importantly the TV ratings.

All this could have been achieved without forsaking the sacred etiquette and decorum that makes Augusta National so special.

As far as I'm concerned, choosing the Masters to make a comeback was another selfish act by a man who often seems to care mostly about what gratifies him. This may be a bit harsh, at a time when we are being sold on the notion of a reborn Buddhist Tiger Woods, who has spent months reinventing himself. Maybe I just don't buy it, yet.

One doesn't hire Ari because one IS a good person, one hires Ari to help APPEAR to be a good person. There is a distinction...

I certainly look forward to attending the Masters weekend. I will see someone win a green jacket, maybe even Tiger Woods. All I hope is that the event doesn't get lost in the buzz...

I'm interested to know what you think.

Why?

On the heels of a pathetic period of golf reporting, predicated on the media's obsession with the trials and tribulations of Tiger Woods, I was reaching maximum frustration levels as a golf fan. Then the last drop, in a glass already too full, came when CBS golf writer Steve Elling posted two hatchet pieces on the network website.

I won't rehash the stories, but suffice it to say that they were vindictive and startlingly inaccurate attacks on a particular PGA Tour golfer, who I happen to like.


I was angry at Elling for using the considerable forum that was generously provided to him by CBS, to launch obvious personal attacks and to settle scores, rather than to write substantive stories about the PGA Tour. This also made me quickly realize that such a platform could become a powerful tool. Since the media controls the message, the media becomes the message - so I plotted various possible ways to become the anti-golf-media!

I want to be Steve Elling's alter-ego, so-to-speak. I want to take the issues that are discussed in golf publications and in golf media and dissect them. I want to put my spin on things and I intend to use square grooves, if you catch my drift.


A few days ago, official news broke that Tiger Woods was returning to play at the Masters. Media reaction was absurd. XM radio and Sirius Satellite radio read the Woods' team press release no less than a dozen times every hour for two days. My resolve grew and I started setting-up this page, which I now hope will become your first choice as the home of intelligent golf talk.

Reporting and commentary are supposed to be concerned with real issues; the what, the why, the who and the how. Sadly, the golf clic has made it such that a story finds its genesis on one golf writer's desk, then soon becomes gospel, which will be repeated in every other major forum.

So, if I have a dream for this modest endeavour, it is that you find a home here where you will feel comfortable enough to comment on the issues that surround the game of golf. I hope to become a moderator of sorts, to lead an intelligent ongoing discussion that goes far beyond the obvious. Lets change the ridiculously one dimensional coverage at most outlets.

Our success will be measured by the size of our eventual following, of course (which stands at zero as I write this). Who knows, maybe I will look back upon these first few paragraphs in amazement some day...

As they say, nothing ventured - nothing gained.

Welcome!