Pro Golfers – Impressions

"What you see leaves an impression." SidLinx.

Oh, the frustrations of professional golf.

I’ve watched a lot of professional golfers over the years, 99% of it on tv with the PGA and LPGA tours. The remaining 1%, was thankfully in person. All of them leave an impression, some more than others due to their exposure and skill level. In no particular order here is my list of professional golfers who made an impression.

Lydia Ko.

Fellow Kiwi, Ko made the local news from a young age. When she won on the world stage as a spectacled teenager, she made headlines in our largest newspapers and on international television. Her highly successful professional career lived up to the promise of her teenage years. Now 28 she may soon retire in 2 years. Lydia Ko will be missed whenever retirement happens.

JJ Spaun.

Rugby is our national sport, a sport for all shapes and sizes, as is golf. He may not have the athletic build and height of 6ft 3in Scottie Scheffler; but at 5ft 8in with a stocky build Spaun has achieved great success. Only 1in taller than myself, I can daydream of becoming a better golfer. I relate to him, because of his struggles with his game, at one point considering giving the pro game away.

Tiger Woods.

I was fortunate enough to see him in person when he visited out country years ago. To me he is the greatest golfer in the history of the game. No offence intended toward the great Jack Niklaus or the many other great golfers before and after the ‘prime’ of Tiger Woods.

Bubba Watson.

No one curves the ball like the remarkable Bubba Watson.

Lottie Woad.

Whew what an impressive start to her LPGA career. So much promise as an amateur, then winning her first tournament as a professional. Long may her success continue.

Greg Norman.

He made an impression as I followed him in person, this tall, confident, silver-blond haired, Australian who strode our links many decades ago. I also remember him when he struggled against Nick Faldo in the 1996 Masters. Today Norman still makes headlines, particularly as the driver behind LIV Golf.

Tom Watson.

A contemporary of Jack Niklaus, I remember when Watson chipped in from the rough off a side slope to win against Niklaus. The competitiveness between he and Niklaus in those years is what attracted me to watch them on tv; a time when I thought to myself, golf was too boring to watch in person or on tv.

Ian Baker Finch.

He was paired with Greg Norman when I saw them in our national tournament at the Titirangi Golf Course. As I remember it, this was a time when the tournament was sponsored by the Shell Oil Company and Baker was at the top of his game. Later, I heard of Baker Finch’s struggles with his golf. Poor form happens all of us at one point or another; I can testament to that. As a commentator Baker Finch made another impression, he came across as informed, friendly and humble. When he retired from his successful commentating career just weeks ago, his tears reflected his humility and gratitude for having achieved so much in his career behind the microphone.

Scottie Scheffler.

Currently, ranked as the number one golfer on the planet. His winning record is stunning in his short career; he may yet be compared to the greatness of Tiger. His legacy is being built in every event he enters. Scheffler is certainly an impressive golfer who has the skills and temperament to be remembered as one of golf’s greats. Time will tell.

Rory Mcilroy

What a Masters champion Mcilroy is; with this victory he has won every major golf tournament on the PGA circuit. On that basis McIlroy will leave a legacy as one of golf's greats.

Summary

These are just a few memorable golfers, of a great many, who have made an impression on me over the years. I will discuss others in future essays. Make a list of your own and discuss them in the comments section. Good golfing everyone.