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Why do some golfers “lose It” when they are still in their prime?
Posted on 3/7/25 at 5:03 pm
Posted on 3/7/25 at 5:03 pm
Recently we can look at you guys like Jordan Spieth, Ricky Fowler, possibly now Max Homa and Viktor Hovland.
For years, a guy could be a top 10 player in the world, and then all of a sudden they are struggling to make cuts or even keep status on tour. I mean, there was a time where it looked like Jordan Spieth might win 10+ majors and now he can’t even make it into the field at the Arnold Palmer (I know his wrist played a factor in that but still).
Do some of these guys just have generational heaters that last for several years and then they lose it? It makes it even more impressive when guys stay on top for a decade plus
For years, a guy could be a top 10 player in the world, and then all of a sudden they are struggling to make cuts or even keep status on tour. I mean, there was a time where it looked like Jordan Spieth might win 10+ majors and now he can’t even make it into the field at the Arnold Palmer (I know his wrist played a factor in that but still).
Do some of these guys just have generational heaters that last for several years and then they lose it? It makes it even more impressive when guys stay on top for a decade plus
This post was edited on 3/7/25 at 5:04 pm
34
Posted on 3/7/25 at 5:05 pm to Tiger1242
Very few, and I mean VERY few, have the hunger and drive required to to win once they become multimillionaires set for life with a beautiful wife at home and kids. Especially in such a mental game as golf.
Tiger was different because he was a psychopath
Tiger was different because he was a psychopath
Posted on 3/7/25 at 5:05 pm to Tiger1242
It’s becoming extremely common for the millennial top pros. I think these guys grew up being technical as frick and when they lose something they just tinker like a damn robot scientist and it kills them
The generations before “owned” their swings because it was just that, their swings. These young guys swings are all “made” by watching 1,000s of hours of video and tinkering
The generations before “owned” their swings because it was just that, their swings. These young guys swings are all “made” by watching 1,000s of hours of video and tinkering
This post was edited on 3/7/25 at 5:11 pm
Posted on 3/7/25 at 5:08 pm to Tiger1242
Posted on 3/7/25 at 5:11 pm to lsupride87
quote:
It’s becoming extremely common for the millennial top pros. I think these guys grew up being technical as frick and when they lose something they just tinker like a damn robot scientist and it kills them
It is crazy to hear them talk about their swings and how they are constantly changing stuff. Dudes will win a major and then be on the range a week later making swing changes to “get better”,
I have wondered if sometimes they do go overboard and screw themselves up
Posted on 3/7/25 at 5:13 pm to Tiger1242
For the most part, every change golfers used to make was based on feel and results
Now it’s based on video and numbers.
That’s a broad generalization but I think it’s what’s producing such great ups and downs
Now it’s based on video and numbers.
That’s a broad generalization but I think it’s what’s producing such great ups and downs
Posted on 3/7/25 at 5:17 pm to Oilfieldbiology
quote:
Tiger was different because he was a psychopath
He was also constantly changing his swing even while he was the best. Maybe that’s part of the reason these guys today do that
Posted on 3/7/25 at 5:20 pm to Tiger1242
Because it is such a small margin of error. All of those guys are good and so close
Posted on 3/7/25 at 5:24 pm to lsupride87
I wonder how a guy like Bruce Lietzke would fare in today’s climate. He never won a major, and only came close a couple of times, but did manage to win a dozen or so times on tour during his career.
However, he rarely practiced and usually played the minimum number of tournaments required. He could roll out of bed after not hitting a club for three weeks, and hit his signature fade to perfection.
However, he rarely practiced and usually played the minimum number of tournaments required. He could roll out of bed after not hitting a club for three weeks, and hit his signature fade to perfection.
Posted on 3/7/25 at 5:26 pm to tigerskin
quote:
Because it is such a small margin of error. All of those guys are good and so close
Yep.
Hard to compare the old school because the fields weren't nearly as DEEP.
I do think Hovland made a mistake changing his after the year he had tho
Posted on 3/7/25 at 5:28 pm to Tiger1242
quote:
For years, a guy could be a top 10 player in the world, and then all of a sudden they are struggling to make cuts or even keep status on tour.
6-8 of the players in the top 10 at the end of one year fall out by the end of the next and have for forever. Guys like homa and Fowler have existed for decades. Fowler, for example, has the same amount of wins as Karl Petersen. We just have more access to data and the players, but the stratification of the game hasn’t really changed all that much since at least the 80s when guys were starting to be real pros.
Golf is a game of 18 month runs for 99.9% of players
Posted on 3/7/25 at 5:42 pm to Tiger1242
This stuff is why I appreciate Phil Mickelson. These guys won’t even sniff his career numbers and he did it during Tigers prime. Only players I think have a chance to catch Phil are Rory and Justin Thomas.
I thought Dustin Johnson could make a run but was wrong about that.
I thought Dustin Johnson could make a run but was wrong about that.
Posted on 3/7/25 at 5:45 pm to BogeyTX
quote:
Only players I think have a chance to catch Phil are Rory and Justin Thomas.
JT is 31 and has 15 wins and 2 PGAs and Rory is in his mid 30s and hasn’t won a major in more than a decade. Neither will come close to Phil’s career.
If any active player can do it, it’s Scottie and he’s 28 with 13 wins and 2 majors. He’d have to keep an insane clip to do it. I don’t think there’s another active guy that could even sniff a chance.
This post was edited on 3/7/25 at 5:47 pm
Posted on 3/7/25 at 5:55 pm to Tiger1242
With a few good years of play, these guys make generational money. I imagine it’s hard to keep grinding away every day when you have millions of dollars and everything you could possibly want.
At the end of the day, it’s a job for them. Once they have the bag secured, they move on to other interests like any of us would.
Not everyone is a psycho like prime Tiger.
At the end of the day, it’s a job for them. Once they have the bag secured, they move on to other interests like any of us would.
Not everyone is a psycho like prime Tiger.
This post was edited on 3/7/25 at 5:57 pm
Posted on 3/7/25 at 5:57 pm to Mingo Was His NameO
quote:
Neither will come close to Phil’s career.
quote:
Rory
Rory 4 majors and 42 professional wins
Phil 6 majors and 57 professional wins
They are already close dude. At worse Rory will pass him on wins and be two majors behind him
This post was edited on 3/7/25 at 5:58 pm
Posted on 3/7/25 at 6:02 pm to Tiger1242
Priorities change. Speith got hurt, 2 young kids, another on the way. Fowler the same, but I think Fowler prioritized making TV commercials over golf. Homa may be due to an equipment change. Hovland can't leave anything is his game well enough alone.
Posted on 3/7/25 at 6:23 pm to Mingo Was His NameO
quote:
If any active player can do it, it’s Scottie and he’s 28 with 13 wins and 2 majors. He’d have to keep an insane clip to do it. I don’t think there’s another active guy that could even sniff a chance
Morikawa has a style that can stick around for a while. He is looking back on track this week.
Brooks wont come close to his tour wins but needs 1 more major to tie Phil.
I dont put Brooks on Phil's level of sustained success but if he rattles off 3 more majors he is certainly in that convo.
Posted on 3/7/25 at 6:32 pm to Corinthians420
quote:Dude it’s Rory
Morikawa has a style that can stick around for a while. He is looking back on track this week. Brooks wont come close to his tour wins but needs 1 more major to tie Phil. I dont put Brooks on Phil's level of sustained success but if he rattles off 3 more majors he is certainly in that convo.
He already also has more year end money leader awards then Phil, already has more pga tour player of the year awards than Phil, already more Vardon trophies than Phil….
It was extremely dumb comment by Mingo saying Rory “wouldn’t come close to Phil”. He is already there at 35
This post was edited on 3/7/25 at 6:33 pm
Posted on 3/7/25 at 6:32 pm to Oilfieldbiology
Golf is impossible to win consistently. You have to be a robot and shoot 64 all the time. Scheffler wouldnt win so much without liv splitting the talent
Posted on 3/7/25 at 6:34 pm to Mingo Was His NameO
Dead on about most guys really being 18 month runs.
Also think golf as a game is changing. Equipment has these guys hitting it forever but I also think now the way they train you may see shorter careers and more akin to other sport type longevity and volatility.
Speith is great but he always sprayed it some, was shorter, and now is a touch older. He has changed to get longer but you got guys like aberg rolling around now that just have a different gear.
Think it’s gonna be harder and harder for many to keep their top end at the top of the game for very long
Also think golf as a game is changing. Equipment has these guys hitting it forever but I also think now the way they train you may see shorter careers and more akin to other sport type longevity and volatility.
Speith is great but he always sprayed it some, was shorter, and now is a touch older. He has changed to get longer but you got guys like aberg rolling around now that just have a different gear.
Think it’s gonna be harder and harder for many to keep their top end at the top of the game for very long
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