AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > June > 19 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USU.S. Open drought continues
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
It may not have occurred to you, but the last time our Open golf championship traveled overseas for the fourth time in a row, William Howard Taft was president. And, coincidentally, Mr. Taft was the first president to have tinkered with golf. It’s probable that his handicap was, that because of his considerable girth, he had trouble seeing the ball.
In those days, leading up to 1910, we Americans were still trying to get the hang of the game. Players were imported from Scotland or England to teach us, and every country club had to have a professional from one of the two, or it was somewhat behind the times. Finally, in 1911 the first American won the U.S. Open, then John McDermott won it again the next year. Then came the upset of the ages, when a caddie at the Brookline club in Massachusetts, a mere lad by the name of Francis Ouimet, beat both Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, the two most acclaimed pros in the world, in a playoff, and our rocket was launched.
Americans have pretty much defended the flag staunchly from that time forward. An occasional foreigner would crash the home country line, but from Long Jim Barnes down through the years to David Graham, our national championship stayed home. The Masters, though, through its international goodwill, began to open the shores. Gary Player finally broke our monopoly, and in the 1980s and ’90s, foreign guests were stocking up on green jackets, Seve Ballesteros, Sandy Lyle, Nick Faldo, Jose Maria Olazabal and Vijay Singh, native of Fiji, though a longtime resident of Florida.
Our Open, though, was pretty zealously defended, thanks mainly to Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and with occasional intervention by Hale Irwin. Then came a renewed foreign insurgence, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, both South African, and both of whom won it twice. Then Michael Campbell of New Zealand, Goeff Ogilvy of Australia, who won just standing around, watching Phil Mickelson crash (“I am such an idiot,” he wailed, and who was to disagree), and now the latest from the south of us, Angel Cabrera of Argentina.
Remember when Palmer used to toss his cigarette away while he putted? And Lloyd Mangrum, who left a trail of smoke wherever he went, and many another inhaler? Well, you wouldn’t believe these bloggers who have taken the whip to Cabrera, who had the audacity to light up on the course at Oakmont during his run to the championship. He is a rather oddly conformed golf player, constructed along the lines of a blocking back or a pulling guard, and the rolling walk which inspired the nickname of “The Duck.” Not a figure to be envied.
It came across as something of a disappointment that he had to rely on a translator to caddie him through press conferences. Roberto de Vicenzo did not, for I recall, after he had disqualified himself by signing for the wrong score at Augusta, he scolded himself with, ‘I am such a stupid.”
What I’m getting around to here is the absence of home-grown contenders, beyond Tiger Woods, Mickelson and Jim Furyk, clubbed himself out of a playoff at Oakmont. Where have the guys gone who were once looked upon to carry the challenge? Davis Love, once No. 3 in the world, had a three-year drought until he picked off the Greensboro tournament, on a course he designed, and is now down to No. 35. David Toms, except for the PGA Championship he won at Atlanta Athletic Club, rollicks along making happy in familiar precincts at New Orleans and Memphis. He made a slight push at Oakmont but finished fifth and now ranks 20th.
After Mike Weir won the World Golf Championship, then followed it up with the Tour Championship and the Masters, he was ready to join the giants. Then he disappeared. He is now ranked No. 45. Charles Howell has never caught fire. Chris DiMarco’s big moment remains the winning putt in one of those Presidents Cups. Chad Campbell was once forecast as the next great American player. He’s now just another guy from Texas. All of this has opened the course for the revival of Scott Verplank and Steve Stricker, and the rise of a few guys named Boo, Bubba, Zach and Brett.
What it all comes down to, it seems, is this: Give me a few good endorsements, let me score well enough to get some good television time, let me make a good living, and let the majors fall where they may, Argentina, South Africa or wherever. Come on, guys, how about one for the home team?
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By Fan25
June 19, 2007 9:19 PM | Link to this
First of all Is Mr. Bisher aware that Mike Weir is Canadian. Second of all, for the record, 10 out of the last 12 British open champions are from the United States and six out of the last 7 Masters Champions are American, so most of the Majors are still falling within our borders.
By Leroy Rogers
June 20, 2007 12:32 AM | Link to this
I am sure Mr. Bisher is aware of all other majors’ winners, however, since the U.S. Open is do different and difficult, it just takes so much luck to win it, I think. The difference in Oakmont this time was the ball could actually be hit on to most greens and stay, unlike so many U.S. Opens and others, especially the British Opens; balls could not be hit onto greens, and had to roll on to the greens, which requires a lot of luck, sometimes. I wish I could remember how many times Lee Trevino putted from off the greens, and I mean quite a distance, to win one of his British Opens. I just don’t believe this is the way the game was meant to be played. I think the U.S. Open is set up to test one’s patience as much as one’s skill and anyone who has ever picked up a golf club knows, that putts win the game! Finally, with your patience and permission, I have two complaints about the game today. First is: the “broom handle” putter, which I am sure Slammin’ Sammy Sneed could have used {where are you USGA?…secondly, and it may have been Lanny Wadkins, how in the sam hill does a golf ball “chase?” I was brought up on a farm and our dogs chased rabbits, however, it makes me sick to hear so many analysts say: the ball just chased too far! Yuk! Later
By Doug B
June 20, 2007 9:19 AM | Link to this
There is so much animosity in the world because of ethnicity and national orgins. To see decent communication, even if it is through sports, in this case golf, is great. Does it really matter if the golfer is from America, Canada, Germany, Japan, or Argentina? In a world community being reflected more and more in professional sports, great golf is great golf.
By Lewis D.
June 20, 2007 11:56 AM | Link to this
Furman - this has to be the worst commentary that I’ve ever remembered you writing. I guess this shows that we can all make an error on a pop fly no matter how old we get.
Unlike baseball or football, you have a “sport” where representatives from all over the world compete on the same stage and under the same conditions. It truly is a “world series.” With 42% of the golf professionals from the Top World Rankings being Americans (not including Mike Weir), it reaffirms what a talented group of golfers we have in the states and the feeder systems leading up to the Pro-Tour.
The fact that the American Ryder Cup team has got their clocks kicked-in for the past 15 years may indicate that how fortunate they’ve been to win as many majors as they have.
Give Angel credit! He played great golf for 4 days straight on a course that made golf professionals remind TV audiences of their own play on the weekends. He deserves a heck of a lot more publicity than the #1,2 or 3 players received.
Time for a vacation Furman, but steer clear of Scotland - at least until after July 22nd!
By Rodolfo C.
June 20, 2007 4:59 PM | Link to this
The us open is a golf championship or an English language clinic? Angel Cabrera did what he does best. Do you sincerely think necessary to point he did not spoke English as well as De Vicenzo? Your commentary is disappointing, not Cabrera’s performance.
By StingerSplash
June 20, 2007 5:45 PM | Link to this
At least the Euros and the other foreigners seem to enjoy playing golf. The vast lot of American professional golfers are petulant, pampered and prissy. We need more guys like Sean O’Hair, who could have pocketed a tidy sum at The Players but instead said, Screw it. I’m here to win. And you wonder why the Euros have handed the U.S. its backside in the last few Ryder Cups.