Someone once said that you should learn something everyday. So what’s the lesson at Bethpage Black and the U. S. Open? Not the obvious one that you and I are not good enough to play in the Open. That’s too easy. I’m looking for something more profound, because as regular readers know, profound is my middle name.
So what is the lesson; that difficulty is a relative term? I know that. How about that everyone eventually fails, but everyone doesn’t eventually win? Life isn’t fair; there’s a news flash. Perhaps the lesson is in what and why we watch? Is it the artistry or the anguish we crave? Does watching the Open have the same appeal as watching some kind of natural disaster? Are we the guy slowing down the car to see if there is any blood? Do we secretly watch Jerry Springer when we’re alone? Is it the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat? And if the Super Bowl was on the other channel which one would we watch live and which one would we Tivo?
The answer is yes, yes, perhaps, not really, sure and who’s playing?
I forgot the source, but the story goes that a player once asked a U. S. Open official if their goal was to embarrass the best players in the world, to which the official responded “We are not trying to embarrass the best players in the world, we are trying to identify them.”
That’s profound, but is it true?
Let me state more of the obvious; I am not a world-class golfer. Nor am I one of the best players in my country, state, city, neighborhood, and maybe not even on my block. I don’t do anything at a world-class level, not even sleep. Call me a wimp, but I don’t seek out the most difficult golf courses to play, not because I don’t think I have a chance, I simply don’t think it’s fun to work that hard at a game.
Obviously, I don’t make my living playing golf, but watching the U. S. Open, it doesn’t look like the best players in the world are having much fun. Perhaps I don’t understand what greatness is all about. Jimmy Dugan, or was it Tom Hanks that said, “It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.” My Daddy said, “If work was fun they’d call it play,” and these guys are working, right? On the other hand, if golf isn’t fun does it cease to be a game? How’s that for profound?
I guess the lesson is that it is probably a lot more fun to watch the U. S. Open than to play in it. It might also be true that playing 300 rounds of golf a year, including four competitive rounds at Bethpage Black, is likely not even close to being fun. And while we’re baring our souls, being rich and famous may not be all that much fun, either. Just ask Jon and Kate Plus 8.
But before you think I’ve gone off the deep end, I want you to understand that I really don’t believe that world-class talent, fame and fortune are the root of all evil. As we all know, men wearing thong underwear is the root of all evil.
Would it be fun to play like Tiger? Sure. If I could do anything at a world-class level, even for just one day, that would be cool. Would Tiger Me choose to play Bethpage Black on my day off? Probably not, but that’s Tiger Me not Tiger You. Would being rich and famous change me? God, I hope so.
