Rivalries are great for any sport. But there is something that is infinitely more interesting than two great competitors grappling at each other’s throat – a third one getting in the mix.
That’s precisely what is happening in golf. What started off as 26-year-old Rory McIlroy taking over from Tiger Woods as the most dominant player in the sport, became a rivalry earlier this year when 22-year-old Jordan Spieth threatened to re-write history by winning the first two majors of the season. But the present belongs, without an iota of doubt, to the 27-year-old Jason Day.
Whether it is the number of wins (three in his last four starts), the quality of wins (that includes the PGA Championship), his numbers (he is 73-under par since the Open Championship and No1 on the Tour in strokes gained from tee to green in that period), or the general demeanour with which he has gone about his business, Day is the hottest golfer in the world right now.
Spieth v. Day v. McIlroy. A good comparison here from @jalnichols: http://t.co/nfEvCVC2Nd pic.twitter.com/ofAdMDEOEU
— Sean Zak (@sean_zak) September 1, 2015
They are a modern-day triumvirate, but can they be spoken about in the same breath as Harry Vardon-James Braid-John Henry Taylor (combined 16 Open titles in 21 years between 1894 and 1914), or Ben Hogan-Sam Snead-Byron Nelson (21 majors), or Arnold PalmerJack Nicklaus-Gary Player (34 majors)? That would be too early to call right now.
The trouble with two players in a rivalry is that the possibility of both of them playing out-of-their-socks golf at the same time is remote.
Take Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. There’s hardly any tournament in which both have excelled together. With a triumvirate, the chances of two players slugging it out with each other are much greater. We have already witnessed a classic battle between Day and Spieth at the PGA Championship.
– Tour: World-class Institute hoping to attract casual golfers
– Tour: McIlroy given Tour finals clearance after injury
– The Barclays: Jordan Spieth loses world No1 spot
I like two things about these three players – one, the geographical diversity they bring to the sport, and two, how they have made golf so much younger. A lot has already been written about the second point, but it is equally remarkable how they have the potential of appealing to a global audience.
American Spieth and Northern Irishman McIlroy take care of two of the biggest markets in golf, while Aussie Day has distinct Filipino roots, which makes him attractive in Asia and Asia-Pacific. These really are happy days for golf, and I have a feeling we are in for an incredible ride over the next few years.
Garcia’s bold move
No. Sergio Garcia was not having a brain-freeze when he decided to skip this week’s Deutsche Bank Championship. It might appear that way because by not playing the first two events of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the Spaniard could well be kissing goodbye to his chances of winning the ultimate cheque in golf – the $10 million bonus.
He has already fallen 12 places in the FedEx Cup standings to 43 this week. But it could also turn out to be a masterstroke. Now that points are reset after the BMW Championship, all 30 players who eventually qualify for the Tour Championship have a mathematical chance of winning the FedEx Cup.
Of course, those in the top-five going to Atlanta would be better placed. Garcia would be the freshest of the 70 players who qualify at the end of this week for the BMW Championship.
It is a gruelling stretch of golf, and anyone who has the edge physically and mentally, is bound to have an upper hand. But the flipside is that he will not be match-sharp and will have to rediscover his touch and form.
But the worst would be if he falls out of the top 70 this week. The possibility is extremely low, but that would make him look like a buffoon.
Spieth’s new clubs
After Jordan Spieth missed the cut at The Barclays last week, some fans and critics were quick to blame it on the new clubs he put in his bag just prior to the tournament.
The American, who started the week ranked No 1 in the world but dropped back to No 2, was using the yet-to-be-launched Titleist 716 AP2 prototype irons, and struggled during the first two rounds.
Let’s not blame the irons. Spieth’s game was generally off, including his wedges and the trusted putter, which are the cornerstone of his golf. And he did not change the putter.
Secondly, he has always tinkered with his clubs. The biggest change he made was towards the end of last year, when he switched to the new Titleist 915D2 driver and 2015 Pro V1X ball, and yet won the Australian Open and Hero World Challenge in back-to-back wins.
But most importantly, it’s unthinkable for players of Spieth’s calibre to make a change without putting the clubs to extensive test and feeling comfortable with them.
He would have not only tried them out on the range and on the course, but would have also given inputs during the development stage. So, let’s not blame the tools. It’s just that the workman was having one bad tournament.
