Estate Living September 2016 Digital Issue | Page 19

The modern generation of pro golfers may
be overpaid and characterless (criticisms
I often hear levelled against the world’s
current top players – generally, it has to be
said, from a generation that remembers
the BIG Three and the likes of the inimitable
Lee Trevino). But, these criticisms aside,
the world’s professional golf tours are an
example of a real meritocracy.
At each tour’s pre-season tour school,
if you play well enough to finish in the
qualifying spots you get to play on the tour.

During this process there is no committee
asking if you are “nice” person, or checking
to see if your face fits. Not only does the
scorecard not provide space for comments,
but this ethos carries through into the very
fabric of the game’s structure, as there are
no judges to criticise, mark or evaluate on
course performances.
I can just imagine Doug Sanders or Jim
Furyk (legendary for their awkwardlooking golf swings) facing a panel similar
to those that adjudicate at figure skating
events, where the panel judgement might
go something like this:
“OK, well done Jim, you scored 9.5 for
technical merit, and congratulations on a
great total to finish top at the US Open, but
gee, you only get 2 for artistic impression,
I’m afraid.” And after the adjudicators have
tallied up their opinions, it is the prettily
swinging Danny Divot, who only came
in fifth on the leader board, who is duly
crowned the new US Open golf champion!

Once on the tour, a player who makes
the cut in any tournament (generally the
36-hole cut-off point in most 72-hole pro
tournaments, which determines which
players will play the last two rounds)
and then plays well for all four days will
undoubtedly be paid handsomely for his There is no national or club manager to
or her efforts.
frustrate your claim to play because of
their opinion or politics. Even at the preIf a player then plays well enough eminent golf team event, the Ryder Cup,
throughout the year to make a tour’s all- the players are chosen on merit – although,
exempt list, the next year’s schedule can in more recent times, the respective US
be planned without concern about what and Europe non-playing captains have
tournaments they might be able to enter. been allowed several picks. In an era in

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WHAT’S PUTTING

made by some of the representatives of
the game’s officialdom, a case in point
being this year’s US Open.