Inspiration! and Seve!...and Tiger.

[MVP]

I'm maybe just a few years shy of living in the 'Seve' era but fortunately i'm not too young to forget or not to know who he was!

After reading his biography(and i'm only half way thru) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seve-Autobiograp...9930&sr=8-3

It has changed my way of thinking about the game.. you can forget the latest drivers hitting the ball longer and straighter... also you can forget the 'custom fitting' and the whole science involved of todays game.
I've finally learned and maybe a bit too late after previous views and opinions, there is nothing more important in golf than the love for the game itself. The most important tool in the box to success on the greens and fairways is the passion, the desire, the belief, the effort, and most important the excitement, the delight and happiness that the game hopefully brings. After reading about Seve's upbringing , limitations and obstacles in his way before he got to tee up. I can never take it for granted when i myself set foot upon any golf course or practice area! After all i never had to struggle to get onto a golf course or to obtain the latest equipment.

What i can be grateful of is that i live in the now 'Tiger era'. Although he may not appeal to many in the same way as Seve, there is no disbelief in the excitement and expectation he has brought to the game and the millions of people who he has inspired.

After all he initially inspired me and still does. Its a shame we can never see seve and tiger play together at there best because that would be super. well for me anyway.


Is there anyone in particular who has inspired you and every time you see them play an exciting shot it makes you reach for your clubs and have a little practice swing in the front room and book your next tee time??

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I grew up slap bang in the middle of the great golfing era that had Seve, Faldo et al at their peaks. It was Seve who was my idol (and became my original nicknmae at my first club) and the one that fuelled my pro dream. I would spend hours trying to master the lob shot of a bone dry concrete hard bare lie or drain 10 twenty foot left to right downhillers .

I haven't read the book but know all about his deprived upbringing (certainly in terms of money) and how he had an inner hunger to make the very best of his talents. Woods may arguably be the better all round golfer but there will never be anyone with the skills to turn double bogey into bidie or get up and down as if his very life depended on it to match Seve at his peak

 

[Herbie]

Seve, Faldo, The Shark and Jack for me.
I dont think you can have better inspiration than those 4 at their best.

Today if I were a young golfer begining, I would be inspired by Tiger, Phil, Boo! and Sergio.

There are others with similar gifts and tallents but those 4 are something a little special to me especially Tiger.

 

[Clansman]

I grew up in the Seve era and he inspired me to take up golf. He was superb to watch.

I have just finished reading his Autobiography and it is humbling to read of his hardship as a kid and goes to show that if you want something enough you can obtain it with sheer hard work and determination.

 

[toyboy54]

MVP(and the rest)Sandy Lyle anyone?This is the guy who almost reduced Craig Stadler to tears in the World Cup(?)by cruising a 1iron 40yds past his best drive and ultimately humped him!
SEVE says Lyle was the most naturally gifted golfer that he had ever seen or played with>think it was in a GM article not so long ago??
Any comments(not flying the Scottish flag here guys,just think that such a lazy swing is a thing of beauty)

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Having walked around Royal Wimbledon with Lyle and Faldo just watching the two play with no distractions I totally agree that in terms of ball striking he even surpassed Faldo. The power was transferred effortlessly and with sheer timing. He wasn't an out and out idol of mine but I did have more respect for him after watching him at such close quarters

 

[madandra]

When it came to manufacturing shots Seve really could make a silk purse from a pigs ear.

I will have to get my hands on this read.

 

[viscount17]

Faldo said that Lyle was the greatest natural talent in the world (though that was pre TW).

The sad thing with Lyle was that having won the Masters he proceeded to tinker his game to ruins. (one of his swing gurus was a guy (Moe Norman) who on being told that a he needed a par for a course record and that the hole was a driver and 9-iron, took the iron off the tee, the driver from the fairway and putted out for a birdie)

 

[Herbie]

For me Sandy Lyle was brilliant for a short period in the scheme of things, the guys I listed were top of the game for a very long time and many achievements on the way and still able to produce great golf in their golfing autum yrs.lol. Seve was something special, the more difficult the situation, the more spectacular he became.Sandy, sadly, came and went for me and I dont mean that disrespectfully, I just see it as a sad truth.

 

[Smiffy]

Seve was without a doubt the main reason I watched, and eventually took up golf. He was the true "peoples champion" (much like Lee Trevino) because we could all look at the cock ups he made and think "I could do that!"
The only problem was, he could escape from them, whereas we would be writing 8 on our scorecards!
I loved his passion for the game, he always looked like the money wasn't important he was just pleased to be out on the course playing it his way. He hated losing, and in the immortal words of somebody once famous..."show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser"
I've said it before but I would rather watch Seve shoot a 78 than Montgomery or Faldo shoot a 68...

Agree with what you say about Sandy. I watched him on the practice ground at East Sussex National when the European Open was held down there a good few years ago. He was effortless, pinging a 5 iron away must have been hitting it over 220 with no effort whatsoever. A natural talent if ever there was one.

My fantasy fourball would be Trevino and Palmer versus Seve and me (2 up with 3 to play obviously)....lol

 

[viscount17]

I can't honestly say that they influenced me to take up golf, as I didn't until much much later, but the guys I loved to watch were Player, Trevino, Seve, Norman and Faldo. I didn't know enough to appreciate Palmer, Jack or Lyle in the same way.

I suppose I must also have seen the tag end of Hogan though again I never knew what I was watching - coverage was very different then.

 

[Parmo]

MVP I ordered the book Monday as I am short of bus reading material, I cant wait for it to arrive.

I remember going to watch the Open in York many moons ago, I got all the top players like seve & faldo to sign my program and got some free balls from them aswell!! No idea where the mag went to but I think my dad has nicked it grrr

 

[Parmo]

Just reading it now, what a guy and a true gent!! the General asking for a blow up doll from Hamburg!! lol

Seve to me is the greatest, Tiger is golf but he aint no Seve.