Wednesday, October 13, 2004
On being frank with Frank
Frank Beard has just posted on SI
As usual, his answers to emails are as interesting as the main story.
As golfers walk the fairway during a championship duel, the talk is bland.
--Jason Ackerman, Tampa, Fla.
Any predictions for this week's Match Play Championship? What's the best strategy to use in Match Play?
Frank replies
I always like Tiger (if he returns from his honeymoon) in match play because intimidation is such a big factor and he still is the most feared golfer playing. The way to play him the most effectively, and the best strategy in general, is to play with blinders on and never look up.
My comment
At the risk of sounding like I'm gloating about the recent Ryder Cup result.
Did Frank really write this "most feared golfer" reply - After the Ryder Cup?
Derek Ithen, Broomall, Pa.
People consider Jack Nicklaus to be the greatest golfer of all time, but I don't agree. Clearly, Ben Hogan was a much better player. Hogan would have won a lot more if he did not get into a car accident. Do you think Hogan might have been better than Nicklaus?
Frank replies
Tough question. Hogan played in a totally different environment. Golf was not a full-time pursuit. The purses were so small that most pros had a teaching job for half of the year, Hogan included. So with a somewhat limited schedule and his health problems, it truly becomes a moot question. Everything being equal, my opinion is Nicklaus would win out because he was a better putter.
My comment
As you'll see from my profile I'm a paid up member of the Ben Hogan admiration society so my thoughts could not be described as objective - In fact when I give some thought to the matter - No comment.
But came across this previously unknown (to me) item about Hogan and putting.
GD Editors, The Secrets Issue: Ben Hogan and the Yips, Golf Digest (Aug 2004), no. 55(8): 97 -- Valerie Stevens says Ben Hogan's putting yips were caused by the bus accident in 1949, which resulted in deterioration of vision in the left eye to the point that at his last Open (the 1967 US Open at Baltusrol) when Hogan appeared to freeze forever on the greens, he basically could not see anymore out of his left eye.
And while on the subject on putting.
If you can relate to the following story-visit here for some tips on putting.
But a word of warning there's so many tips it could put (yes put with one t) you off.
During a golf lesson at Carnoustie, Andra asked.
"Can ye tell me laddie, is the worrrd spelt putt orrr put?
"Putt is correct" answered the polite spoken pro.
"Put means to place a thing where you want it.
Putt is merely a vain attempt to do the same thing."
As usual, his answers to emails are as interesting as the main story.
As golfers walk the fairway during a championship duel, the talk is bland.
--Jason Ackerman, Tampa, Fla.
Any predictions for this week's Match Play Championship? What's the best strategy to use in Match Play?
Frank replies
I always like Tiger (if he returns from his honeymoon) in match play because intimidation is such a big factor and he still is the most feared golfer playing. The way to play him the most effectively, and the best strategy in general, is to play with blinders on and never look up.
My comment
At the risk of sounding like I'm gloating about the recent Ryder Cup result.
Did Frank really write this "most feared golfer" reply - After the Ryder Cup?
Derek Ithen, Broomall, Pa.
People consider Jack Nicklaus to be the greatest golfer of all time, but I don't agree. Clearly, Ben Hogan was a much better player. Hogan would have won a lot more if he did not get into a car accident. Do you think Hogan might have been better than Nicklaus?
Frank replies
Tough question. Hogan played in a totally different environment. Golf was not a full-time pursuit. The purses were so small that most pros had a teaching job for half of the year, Hogan included. So with a somewhat limited schedule and his health problems, it truly becomes a moot question. Everything being equal, my opinion is Nicklaus would win out because he was a better putter.
My comment
As you'll see from my profile I'm a paid up member of the Ben Hogan admiration society so my thoughts could not be described as objective - In fact when I give some thought to the matter - No comment.
But came across this previously unknown (to me) item about Hogan and putting.
GD Editors, The Secrets Issue: Ben Hogan and the Yips, Golf Digest (Aug 2004), no. 55(8): 97 -- Valerie Stevens says Ben Hogan's putting yips were caused by the bus accident in 1949, which resulted in deterioration of vision in the left eye to the point that at his last Open (the 1967 US Open at Baltusrol) when Hogan appeared to freeze forever on the greens, he basically could not see anymore out of his left eye.
And while on the subject on putting.
If you can relate to the following story-visit here for some tips on putting.
But a word of warning there's so many tips it could put (yes put with one t) you off.
During a golf lesson at Carnoustie, Andra asked.
"Can ye tell me laddie, is the worrrd spelt putt orrr put?
"Putt is correct" answered the polite spoken pro.
"Put means to place a thing where you want it.
Putt is merely a vain attempt to do the same thing."
