Capelle On Golf

Capelle On Golf went live on February 19th, 74 days and 99 posts ago. While this is but a flicker in time, it is long enough for me to take stock on being a participant in the blogosphere.

One conclusion stands out: I’ve written books and columns for nearly 20 years, but I’ve never had as much fun as I’ve had writing this blog. I hope that you have enjoyed it as well.

I’ve also discovered the value of dissenting opinions. They make me question mine, strengthen mine, and consider alternative points of view. So big conclusion number two is that listening to others is a great thing. Whether I end up agreeing with them or not, I always learn something.

New Perspectives on Golf
A big goal of mine is to provide you original research and unique perspectives that you won’t find elsewhere. I like to dig into stories mostly ignored by the mainstream golf media. I wrote a four part series on the Grand Slam as part of my Masters Coverage and two series’ on Tiger Woods, one about his outburst at Doral, the other on the timing of his recent knee surgery.

I like to report on the positive stories too, especially those about players reaching new heights with their game, or those who have overcome adversity. I particularly enjoyed writing multiple stories on Trevor Immelman and Loren Ochoa.

Golf is a great sport, but there is always room for improvement. So when I see an area where a change can add to the game and the fans experience, I’m going to write about it even if doing so will ruffle some feathers.

Four Areas of Coverage
Sometimes posts are planned well in advance, as was the case with my Masters preview. I also work from inspiration. When an idea strikes a chord, I write about it. The majority of my posts can be placed into one of four categories below, for these are the areas that of the greatest areas to fans, and to myself as well.

Tiger vs. Jack
The great debate over who is the best ever, Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus has been raging for years, and only promises to burn hotter in the years ahead. Below are my posts on these two greats. You can expect a lot more on this subject.

The Pros
There is always something fascinating happening in the world of pro golf – the PGA Tour, foreign tours, the LPGA, stats to analyze, World Golf Rankings, and on and on. I like to cover the usual, but with a unique twist.

The Majors
The 22 days I spent on the Masters provided me with an invaluable education in covering major championships. I can’t wait to build on what I learned, and to provide you with in depth coverage on upcoming majors unlike any you’ll find any place else.

Issues – I’m All for the Fan
When it comes to golf the sport, the one we watch on TV and attend in person, I look at the game mainly from the fan’s perspective. I’m concerned what’s best for you, the fan, not those who are profiting from the game. Sometimes what’s good for business is good for the fan, but not always. And when it’s not, remember that there is someone on your side.

In closing, let me say that if you enjoying hard hitting commentary on the stories and issues that matter most, then this is your blog. This is not a cookie cutter blog, but one that actively seeks out and discovers alternative points of view – not for the sake of argument, but for the betterment of the sport.

Now for your side of the coin. If you have any comments you’d like to share, please don’t hesitate to write.

Phil Capelle – May, 2008

Golf’s Greatest Debate: Tiger vs. Jack
Tiger vs. Jack and the Golf Ball
Considering the advances in balls and testing, and Tiger’s obsession with his equipment, he might have benefited from the ball. Certainly there is no reason to believe that a substandard ball ever cost him a major.As for Nicklaus, a case can be made that the lousy balls he used throughout his prime cost him several majors.

Young Phenoms with a Shot at the Majors
Hagen, Jones, Nicklaus and Woods all won their first before their twenty-third birthdays because that’s what prodigies and Best Ever candidates do. They don’t mess around gaining experience. They win.

Sam Snead & Jack Nicklaus vs. Tom Watson & Tiger Woods
The two best golfers in history do different things with their head. So which is the better method? My brief study showed both player’s swing with the driver. Nicklaus was better off the tee. That may not swing the entire argument to his method, but it’s a strong point in favor of a steady head.

Tiger Tales from the 2008 Masters
Though wins are the big thing in his quest to become the Best Ever, seconds count too. Prior to last year’s Masters, Jack Nicklaus enjoyed a 19-2 lead over Tiger in seconds. With his runner-up finish at the Masters, Tiger has cut the margin to 19-5.

Bobby Jones’ Grand Slam Casts a Long Shadow Over Golf
Fields packed with the best pros are why the Tiger Slam that Woods supersedes Jones’ Slam. Still, it is not close to being the best bid for a Grand Slam in the Modern Era (1958 forward).

Tiger vs. Jack at the Masters
Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods share many things in common, including an uncommon brilliance at an early age. Woods showed his in the U.S. Amateur, winning three in a row. Nicklaus won two of three in last three years as an amateur.

Andy Bean Sounds off on Golfing Greatness
Maybe Woods will learn to act like he’s enjoying his biggest and best moments, but until he does, Nicklaus’ edge in the sportsmanship category is a big and not insignificant one.

New Stat Show how Much Tiger Woods Elevates his Game at the Majors
By nearly tripling his field leading GIR average at the majors, Woods has offered more proof of what we already know: that he’s an expert at rising to the occasion.

Woods vs. Nicklaus in the Majors
It certainly looks like Woods will break Nicklaus’ record for most majors. Still, golf must consider other major milestones in determining the Best Ever, and top fours in the majors is definitely one of them. So as it stands now, Nicklaus is by far golf’s greatest winner/contender, and that’s a tough combination to beat.

Issues & Answers
ESPN The Magazine Lays Golfing Eggs
My question to you, my fellow golf fan, is this: Should golf be glad that ESPN TM even bothers to cover our sport, or should we be pissed that our sport is dissed?

J.B. Holmes is Out to Ruin Golf
Holmes’ caddy helps him line up while he in his putting stance. It’s time golf’s ruling bodies eliminate this inherently unethical practice.

Golf Needs a Home Run Stat
In short, par fives hit in two is a stat that should be as important to golf as baseball’s home run is to our national pastime.

AOL Polls Reach New Levels of Absurdity
This whole subject of a perfect season is so off-the-charts ridiculous that I can’t believe Tiger and his fans are even talking about, or that I just wrote a post about it!

John Daly: Outraged at the Outrage
Daly has somehow managed to become the most overrated player in the game’s history, the subject of gallons of ink that could have been spent on far more deserving players.

Tiger Woods in Need of Anger Management
You have had the best role model for on course behavior in Jack Nicklaus, who set the standard not just for performance, but for sportsmanship. And yet your actions fly in the face of these standards, much to the dismay of your fans.

A Solution to the Tiger Woods Photographer Problem
Here’s today’s lesson for all wanna be golf photographers. If you want to capture a Pulitzer prize winning photo and establish yourself as a big league golf picture taker, concentrate on the reaction, not the action

It’s Time for Titleist to Remove the Logos
Titleist, enough already with the crass commercialism. Be good corporate citizens like the Masters committee and get those annoying logos off the leaderboard.

Tiger Woods Blunders in Delaying Surgery
Whenever Tiger Woods sneezes, there are ripples across the game of golf. He should know that better than anyone else. For every action he takes, there a 1,001 reactions. And not all positive.

Boo On Boo Weekley
Boo doesn’t support his sport, so I’ll be darned if I was going to watch this ingrate pad his bank account on his way to an early retirement.

The European Tour Soon to be The World Golf Tour?
The European Tour has become a misnomer. And the people who run that tour no doubt know it. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if these feisty futurist have plans to rename their tour the World Golf Tour.