US Congress – A Member of New Zealand Golf?

I write this article as much in amazement today, rather than shock. As most of you know, we live in a democracy, where decisions that people disagree on, are usually voted upon. In some situations, one person has more sway, but more often that not, the people in the positions of power, will make the sensible decision (as much out of fear of losing power). I’m getting slightly off point now, but I just want to reinforce that we do live in a reasonable country, where common sense often prevails.

I have recently learnt that someone who has represented their country less than four years ago, has had her privilege taken away of playing in the local competition at her golf club. I assumed that there would be a good reason for this. Maybe this person has bad etiquette and was suspended; maybe this person got caught cheating; maybe this person rubbed some people the same way? All of these I asked myself. But it was none of these.

She has kids who play sport Saturday morning, therefore she can’t play golf in the morning so she plays in the afternoon. She has been doing this for the previous four years honing her skills to be in the top percentile of women golfers in the country! She is self employed throughout the week also having to look after her kids, the only time she can (not wants to), but can play golf is Saturday afternoon.


Ladies have been playing in the afternoon in their local competitions where half the field would play Saturday morning (those without commitments in that time) and the other half plays in the afternoon. This has been the case for the previous four years. But apparently four years ago this was not voted through the ‘proper’ channels. Even if it has been working for the past four years, hey let’s change things because old Betty Jones didn’t take the minutes of a meeting four years.


If things aren’t broke…It seems more confusing that the US Congress doesn’t it? Just let it be. Don’t afternoon golfers have it tougher because of the wind anyway?

Sorry Rory



Not needing any of the Irish luck this week,
McIlroy has been flawless.

 I hope this column is not premature. After two days of the US Golf Open, it is obvious just how good Rory McIlroy is. Although this isn’t his first major as a professional, McIlroy certainly reminds me of a young players who tamed Augusta National 14 years ago.

Currently sitting at 131 after two rounds (a US Open record), McIlroy sits six shots clear of Y.E. Yang in second and nine shots clear of the rest of the field. In the past two majors where McIlroy has held a sizeable lead (last years British Open and this years Masters), he has blown out in one of his remaining rounds.


I can’t see McIlroy losing from this position. There is no way that someone from the pack catches him assuming he doesn’t slip up. That would require them going 66, 67 in the weekend of a US Open. Congressional will get harder over the weekend. The organisers will not want to be remembered as the course where the leader finished 20 under par. The only way he will lose is if he repeats his final round meltdown at Augusta. The way he has been striking it (32/36 greens, 20/28 fairways), there is just no chance he blows this one.




Is Tiger Woods leaving the stage to be taken
by a 22 year old Northern Irishman?

 I hate to say this, and compare someone to Tiger, but we haven’t seen someone dominate the course and the opposition like this since Tiger tore the field apart at the US Open at Pebble Beach a little over a decade ago. I just hope I haven’t put the mockers on him,



Sorry Rory.




P.s. I predicted Dustin Johnson would win the US Open. Not looking good sitting at +4...
 
 
Sorry Dustin.

The Will to Win



Happy in his not so 'happy place' yet
 he found a way to win.

 Watching the State of Origin last night when New South Wales beat a highly vaunted Queensland side in the 2nd match of the series, inspired this column. Unexperienced, out-classed and with less pedigree than Queensland, NSW were able to win through sheer will. This made me think of a few other instances of where teams have won through will and not much else.

1) South Africa beating New Zealand in the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final. The All Blacks were the better team by a large margin having flown into the final, but it was the Springboks playing in front of their nation, playing for their nation, prevailing in a dour yet, tense affair. They were able to do this (with the help of Susie the lunch lady) through determination and sheer bloody determination to win in extra time.

2) Detroit Pistons beating the LA Lakers in the 2004 NBA Finals. Looking at this series on paper, the Pistons stood no chance. The Lakers comprised of four future hall of famers (three first-ballod), where the Pistons were comprised of five mix and match players. A bunch of misfits v hall of famers. The Pistons played as a team whereas the Lakers looked disjointed and as if it was for granted that they would win because of their superior talent. Flip Saunders and co epitomized team basketball which the Dallas Mavericks replicated all but three days ago in beating the much touted, Miami Heat.




The Azzuri getting knocked out in the first round thanks in
large part to a 1-1 draw against the All Whites.

 3) The All Whites 2010 football World Cup campaign. It’s almost too hard to put this into words. First there was the final qualifying game against Bahrain in Wellington (including a penalty save in the 2nd half which would’ve knocked the All Whites out of the World Cup), then the three World Cup games. All against much more talented opposition, New Zealand held it’s own, not through greater skill or simply ‘parking the bus’ (see Brighton & Hove Albion for this), but through determination to succeed. Epitomised by the captain Ryan Nelsen, who was the only player to make the tournament XI by a team which got knocked out in the first round. Inspirational stuff.



Dustin getting practice at
lifting trophy's before the US
Open this week.



Although it’s great for sports to have these dominant figures and teams, it’s great when you see people through hard work and a willingness to succeed, knock them down.

P.s. Dustin Johnson to win the US Open this week and a fiver on Adam Scott to finish in the top 5.