August 1999, a few months after turning pro a young Spaniard
stood looking at his ball behind a big Oak tree in Medinah golf club hot on the
tails of Tiger woods. Every one watching thought his race was run and he'd have
to hack out sideways. What happened next sent shockwaves around the golf world
and one of the most magical shots produced in a major was hit.
With a hop skip and a jump the kid we would soon call El
Nino ran up the fairway chasing the ball like a kid in a school yard chasing a
football. He would finish just one shot off Tiger but he had announced to the
world he had arrived. Pages would be written about the New Seve and how he and
Tiger would go head to head for years to come and compete for all the Majors.
Fast forward seventeen years later and guess how many he's won? None. And hard
to believe that second place finish is his best to date. He's had a couple of
close calls since, of course our own Mr Harrington being his nemesis in 2007/8
A year later another young star arrived on our TV's a young
Australian named Adam Scott who if we had face swap back then and put himself and tiger side by
side, swapped and let them swing we really would not have known the
difference. It was scary how alike they swung. The first few years of his
career people marvelled at his silky swing but it was not until 2004 he
had his breakthrough in the big events winning the Players Championship in
Sawgrass.
This again ballooned his popularity and talk of major wins ensued.
But again fast forward and he's only won one.
So between Sergio and Adam they've both competed on tour for
over 33 years (132 majors) and they've only hit the jackpot once.
I was sitting watching the two battle it out the
last two nights at the Honda Classic expecting a good fight from at least one of
them, but it looked more like two punch drunk fighters late on in their career. More
mistakes than brilliance and really sloppy putting displays from both.
If you stood watching these two on a range you'd be hard pressed not to see them winning numerous events each year on Tour but apart from what can
only be described as a glorified exhibition in Asia last December Sergio hasn't won
since August 2012. Adam got the W last night but again it was May 2014 before
his previous.
Its funny how alike their careers are, both having won 28
events each. But if you sat both of them down they would not deny they have
under achieved.
And it all seems to boil down to one thing. The short stick.
They have tried everything but when it matters they just can’t seem to get the
ball in the hole.
When Adam was brave enough to go to the Long Putter it paid
off and he could have won a few Majors but only nicked one in Augusta, holing a
slick downhill 12 footer in the playoff to take home the Green jacket.
Sergio has tried the claw, belly putter, left below right,
you name it he's tried it, almost!! He was too proud to go to the long putter
when he had the chance and it could haunt him as the way his stroke looks at
the moment he is destined to join the list of great players never to have won a
major.
I remember as a kid beating balls on the range an old wise
member would always remind me.....
"Drive for show, putt for dough"
