Out with the old but in with who?

[Mastercracker]

I criticized Player a while back on here and got shot down! Like I said before fantastic career and achievements, but he's an annoying opinionated big head to me. Like Phil said above, Seve was arrogant but there was a cheeky warmth that went with it.

Don't really know enough about Tom Watson away from the course to comment. He did seem pretty good at pissing off Americans and helping us to another Ryder Cup though so he'll do for me!

Trouble is these days with social media, sensationalist quotes taken out of context and media training from a young age, 90% of sportsman just end up being androids trotting out the same lines trying to avoid the same pitfalls. Golf is a little better I suppose as ultimately they are self employed but the proper characters get less and less as the years go by.

 

[need_my_wedge]

I find this quite interesting. Gary Player is big headed and arrogant so is not liked but Seve was adored.

Now I adored Seve, probably my favourite player ever but surely we can agree he was big headed and had his fair share of arrogance.

This is a bit of a devil's advocate kind of post, Seve was/ still is the best to grace a golf course in my opinion. And as a man he was tremendous!

I was thinking something very similar as I wrote my previous post. Seve will always be my golfing hero, but I remember watching his interviews in the tribute programmes after his death, and he was arrogant as arrogant can be at times, but he was warm to the public, perhaps that's the difference between him and Player and Watson.

 

[Tongo]

I find this quite interesting. Gary Player is big headed and arrogant so is not liked but Seve was adored.

Now I adored Seve, probably my favourite player ever but surely we can agree he was big headed and had his fair share of arrogance.

This is a bit of a devil's advocate kind of post, Seve was/ still is the best to grace a golf course in my opinion. And as a man he was tremendous!

Seve had that je ne said quoi and charisma. The former is unexplainable but his cavalier, swashbuckling style of play no doubt helped!

 

[FairwayDodger]

In terms of the multi-major winner, well-spoken, nice guy figure the one who springs to mind and who is getting towards an age where he can be a statesman type is Phil Mickelson.

Jimmy Ness, on the other hand, is a one off!

 

[LanDog]

I think Seve showed a bit of vulnerability which endeared him to fans more as well as his talent and persona

 

[Tongo]

I think Seve showed a bit of vulnerability which endeared him to fans more as well as his talent and persona

I've got a copy of the DVD of his career and you can see the emotion when he talks of that 4 iron into the pond at Augusta in 1986. I think the film was made in 2007 so even 20 years later it still affected him. Plus he was genuinely chuffed when Europe won the Ryder Cup, genuinely gutted when they lost and seemed to fire up the rookies and lesser known players with his heartfelt belief in them etc.

 

[User 105]

Questions seems to be more around charisma.

In golf, as in life, if you've got a bit of charisma then you can get away with a multitude of sins.

I'm struggling to think of a modern day player who really has that kind of aura of some of the old greats.

It seems in a lot of professional sports these days it's almost coached out of them.

 

[drdel]

In terms of the multi-major winner, well-spoken, nice guy figure the one who springs to mind and who is getting towards an age where he can be a statesman type is Phil Mickelson.

Jimmy Ness, on the other hand, is a one off!

Yep Phil has my vote to.

At least when interviewed he says what he thinks and he gives a lot of time to fans. Most of the players interviewed use the same, media trained, phrases- "I left a few out there" etc. etc.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Phil is definitely a decent seeming guy. He was at a laser quest my sister in law was in with her kids in San Diego and his kids joined hers. He got them all burgers and coke. No fuss. She didn't have a clue who he was when she took a picture of the kids

 

[Tongo]

Probably enjoyed just being out and someone not knowing he was Phil Mickelson! (If you get my drift?!)

 

[SugarPenguin]

Not a fan of Tom Watson either. Massive ego that he tries to hide with being gentleman like in his interviews etc.....

i think ernie is a good shout and vijay. The hours vijay put in is phenomenal.
Also Harrington will be revered I feel.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Also Harrington will be revered I feel.

Big fan of Harrington, not only for the golf but for taking time out to call me when I couldn't go to Ireland on a FJ comp with GM. Class

 

[Tongo]

Interesting moment from Watson today at the Senior Open. Brian Henninger played a fabulous shot into the first hole, almost holed it for an albatross. Watson strolls onto the green and says: "Let me get that for you Brian" and proceeds to repair his (Henninger's) pitch mark before adding "Great shot!"

I thought it was a nice moment.

 

[SocketRocket]

I have always liked Lee Westwood, I still think he is a genuine person. He never throws clubs or tantrums and even when playing poorly has time to smile and throw his golf ball to kids. I put Ells, Donald and Harrington into the same category.