Young Lad, Andy Zhang not doing so well at start of US OPEN

[muttleee]

Re: Young Las Andy Zhang not doing so well at start of US OPEN

Their managers eased them into the professional game they didn't drop them into the most pressured, media scrutinised match.

The football manager wants the whole team to win so he doesn't risk an apparently good player on a huge stage like the Champions League Final for his first game. In golf it's no loss to anyone other than the golfer himself if he plays a major and doesn't do well. Plus this Zhang kid is obviously an amateur so he has nothing to lose - it's no financial loss if he misses the cut. If an untried player cost his team the Champions League trophy, it would be a huge financial blow for the whole club.

 

[Smiffy]

Re: Young Las Andy Zhang not doing so well at start of US OPEN

At 14 I could hardly hold a conversation with an adult! even worse if it was a good looking female adult (hormone explosion at that age)

I've had plenty of explosions over good looking female adults. And some not so good looking.
Embarrassing isn't it

 

[JustOne]

Re: Young Las Andy Zhang not doing so well at start of US OPEN

I've had plenty of explosions over good looking female adults. And some not so good looking.
Embarrassing isn't it

It is at your age,..... and in the tinned food aisle at Asda :thup:

 

[JezzE]

Re: Young Las Andy Zhang not doing so well at start of US OPEN

Anyone remember the name Ty Tryon...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ty_Tryon

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/18/sports/golf/18tryon.html

 

[triple_bogey]

Re: Young Las Andy Zhang not doing so well at start of US OPEN

The main thing is, the lad is smart enough to know he isn't going to win. He enjoyed his 1st round, a few fist pumps here and there. So really whats the problem.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Re: Young Las Andy Zhang not doing so well at start of US OPEN

What was the name of that British golfer that was heralded as being the next best thing...was it Gordon something??? What happened to him. Where is he now

Being touted as the next big thing is not the same as being the next big thing, maybe he just wasn't good enough. I thing the difference with Zhang is that he hasn't been pushed into the limelight because someone thought he was good and invited him, he qualified in is own right. He's there on merit.

He might never get there again, he might turn out to not have the game at the highest level but whatever happens isn't going to be the result of him playing in the US Open at the age of 14. Yes he's a kid and has a lot of learning to do but I really don't see what harm this is going to do him?

 

[muttleee]

Re: Young Las Andy Zhang not doing so well at start of US OPEN

Gordon Sherry won the British Amateur championship, so he must have been pretty handy. He never managed to qualify for the European Tour though and now plays part time on the Tartan Tour.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Re: Young Las Andy Zhang not doing so well at start of US OPEN

Gordon Sherry won the British Amateur championship, so he must have been pretty handy. He never managed to qualify for the European Tour though and now plays part time on the Tartan Tour.

I'm not saying he wasn't pretty handy but I suspect there are quite a few "pretty handy" amateur golfers that aren't good enough to get on tour, or don't have the mentality to turn their talent into success. I don't however see how we can compare Zhang with countless other golfers who didn't quite make it.

He's 14, he played his way into the US Open, what happens from here is yet to be decided and depends a lot on his attitude and the advice he gets from his parents etc. and this experience is going to do im more good than harm

 

[bluewolf]

Re: Young Las Andy Zhang not doing so well at start of US OPEN

Its not the playing pressure that can affect a young kid on the up. its the media pressure afterwards. Maybe playing in the US Open will be a fantastic opportunity for him, but we can hope that the Worldwide Media don't shine the spotlight on him too much. A couple of interviews and then let him go back to relative obscurity while he finishes school, meets a girl and hangs up his clubs for good...

 

[Tiger]

Re: Young Las Andy Zhang not doing so well at start of US OPEN

Gordon Sherry won the British Amateur championship, so he must have been pretty handy. He never managed to qualify for the European Tour though and now plays part time on the Tartan Tour.

That's the chap

Anyone remember the name Ty Tryon...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ty_Tryon

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/18/sports/golf/18tryon.html

Thanks Jezz, think this is a good case in point. My argument is that this kid doesn't want to just make up the numbers. He wants a career in golf. Yes he's playing in the US Open aged 14 on merit, that is some achievement. It is impossible to determine what impact this will have on him, unless we can create a parallel universe where he doesn't play in it.

It might make absolutely no difference to him, it might be the making of him or it might break him. My point is, whether his hopes dreams, ambitions, potential, etc etc could be adversely harmed by this experience. It's all well and good saying he's loving it, meeting his hero, hitting some good shots and celebrating with a few fist pumps. But it's not about this event it's about his future. I think we have a duty to protect the most talented individuals and allow them to naturally reach their potential, without the glare of the media spotlight.

The football manager wants the whole team to win so he doesn't risk an apparently good player on a huge stage like the Champions League Final for his first game. In golf it's no loss to anyone other than the golfer himself if he plays a major and doesn't do well. Plus this Zhang kid is obviously an amateur so he has nothing to lose - it's no financial loss if he misses the cut. If an untried player cost his team the Champions League trophy, it would be a huge financial blow for the whole club.

Yes but it's not about playing in this one tournament it is about the affect of playing in this tournament on his development.

BUT with a few exceptions I can see I'm in a minority here in terms of this kids welfare so I'll get off my soapbox, get down on my knees and pray that everything turns out alright for him in the future.

 

[JustOne]

Re: Young Las Andy Zhang not doing so well at start of US OPEN

Didn't Justin Rose miss his first 20 cuts as a pro? Top 10 in the world now...... don't think it's anything to do with age.... practice and determination.... you can't play well from the sofa.

 

[JezzE]

Re: Young Las Andy Zhang not doing so well at start of US OPEN

Didn't Justin Rose miss his first 20 cuts as a pro? Top 10 in the world now...... don't think it's anything to do with age.... practice and determination.... you can't play well from the sofa.

I play much better from the sofa than on the course, at least in my mind...

 

[Foxholer]

Re: Young Las Andy Zhang not doing so well at start of US OPEN

All power to him.

Golf is rather different (more cerebral) to other sports, like tennis where physical differences between extremely young competitors can restrict relative performance.

There does seem to be a lot of maturity at younger age from Asian players. Possible cultural nurturing differences? What some might consider as 'pushy parenting' could well be encouraged?

Just check how dominant Koreans are in LPGAn - and golf is an elite sport there.

Great finish after an obviously nervous start!

 

[wull]

Re: Young Las Andy Zhang not doing so well at start of US OPEN

Didn't Justin Rose miss his first 20 cuts as a pro? Top 10 in the world now...... don't think it's anything to do with age.... practice and determination.... you can't play well from the sofa.

well said..

experience is the key and he will be loving it regardless of how well or bad he does.also its a real tough course so he can't be expected to play brilliantly.in saying that shooting the same 1st rnd score as the number 1 player in the world ain't that shabby.