Can a complete novice become a golf pro with 10,000 hours of practice?

[CrapHacker]

Trevino hit a big out to in fade all his days, he won each of the majors twice except for the mastes which eluded him, Augusta being known as a place where many shot types and shapes are needed. Not detracting from him but he only really hit the fade and nothing else.

So ..?

He built a swing that was thoroughly repeatable under the hugest pressure - earning money to feed himself. He was a self taught hustler. His background would have barred him from ever joining any club that gave the likes of Nicklaus and Woods the start they had.

Yes, he would have liked to have won the Masters. But he still won 6 majors, and had another top 10 finishes in the majors alone. Most golfers are swing fiddlers who change a successful swing looking for the next improvement.

Trevino just went out there and earned more money.

 

[RGDave]

Trevino hit a big out to in fade all his days, he won each of the majors twice except for the mastes which eluded him, Augusta being known as a place where many shot types and shapes are needed. Not detracting from him but he only really hit the fade and nothing else.

Not wishing to pick holes, but doesn't Augusta also suit R-L hitters as well as needing all-the-shots types?

 

[Imurg]

If I can go from 25 to 15 in 4 months with only 2 round a week and 2 hours practise I'm sure this guy can get to scratch with in the time limit, and at least get to the nationwide tour.

Scratch wouldn't do it. He'd need to be +3 or 4 to make it - minimum. Sure he could turn Pro when he gets that low but he wouldn't make any money. It's not just playing the shots, it's having the Mental side sorted too - almost as important.

 

[gregbwfc]

Trevino hit a big out to in fade all his days, he won each of the majors twice except for the mastes which eluded him, Augusta being known as a place where many shot types and shapes are needed. Not detracting from him but he only really hit the fade and nothing else.

I had heard this but followed him around Birkdale (in '91?) and to be honest, he hit just about every shot in the book,high,low,fade,draw, the lot. It was amazing.
Sadly he also knocked it OB on 18th,with a fade/slice .

 

[brendy]

Trevino hit a big out to in fade all his days, he won each of the majors twice except for the mastes which eluded him, Augusta being known as a place where many shot types and shapes are needed. Not detracting from him but he only really hit the fade and nothing else.

Not wishing to pick holes, but doesn't Augusta also suit R-L hitters as well as needing all-the-shots types?

I dont think so, if you could only fade a ball, you would have a nightmare. there are a couple of holes where it will help (18th stands out) but the likes of the 10th etc would leave you dead in the water (rory took it too tight and he wasnt trying to fade it).

 

[RGDave]

Not wishing to pick holes, but doesn't Augusta also suit R-L hitters as well as needing all-the-shots types?

I dont think so, if you could only fade a ball, you would have a nightmare. there are a couple of holes where it will help (18th stands out) but the likes of the 10th etc would leave you dead in the water (rory took it too tight and he wasnt trying to fade it).

I think you might have understood my question but in reverse....

I don't know the answer, not having played it (!?) but I seem to remember someone saying that if you could to take a fade or draw to Augusta, the draw would win.
Not that I'm really bothered, it just intrigues me that certain players don't seem to be able to play around Augusta.
Wasn't Ollie a drawboy?
Didn't a leftie with a fade (a draw for you and me) win it one year?

 

[feary]

They say that for a european/pga tour pro, his average round on his home course should be 6 under par.

 

[brendy]

Sorry, yea Drawers of the ball would have more success if it all came down to driving (obviously setting up the approaches and assuming they could putt).
It is a bloody long course too though which requires as long a drive as possible on some holes just to make the approach an iron for a lot of the field, faders would be robbed a little especially on the uphill holes.
Id trade a little finger to get to play the course.

 

[Smiffy]

Id trade a little finger to get to play the course.

I guess that would depend on who's doing the fingering

 

[brendy]

Id trade a little finger to get to play the course.

I guess that would depend on who's doing the fingering

Very good mr smiff, wiss zese quips, you are really spoiling us!
I guess I'd draw the line at captain hook...

 

[EZprophet]

Depends on the definiteion of pro obviously.

I reckon there is a reasonable possibility of him getting down to like a +3 handicap or something and becoming an average mini-tour pro, but becoming a PGA tour player?

No way.

There are thousands of golfers who have been playing golf almost every day since they were kids. The ones who make the PGA tour are just the exceptional ones from that group...

The ones who waver between Q school, the nationwide tour and the minitours are the ones who are from that group but are just NOT the exceptional ones.

Good luck to him though, would be great to see him succeed and give hope to us all who harbour the hope of one day becoming a tour pro!

To be fair, Greg Norman didnt take up the game till he was 16, got to scratch by his 17th birthday and became the number one player in the world, so you never know, it could happen!