There is a reason that I, and many golf fans, don’t like seeing Todd Hamilton and his ilk win the major tournaments. There is a reason why the sport doesn’t (shouldn’t?) like it. It’s dreadfully, interminably boring.When Tiger was stalking and pouncing upon his prey like a… well, panther, I suppose… many complained that it was bad for the sport. Sportstalk radio shows were filled with armchair loopers decrying his dominance and demanding a rival. But at least people were talking golf.
When Lefty won the Masters, it was a great day for those of us who were rooting for him even when his claim to fame was blowing opportunities in a manner not unlike Roy McAvoy in ‘Tin Cup.’ When we watch guys like Big Easy and Vijay and Sergio (ha!) do well at a tournament… guys known by one name or a nickname… it’s easy to root for them, or against them.
But how do we root for that nameless blob known as ‘the field?’ Especially in an Open? The answer is: we don’t. We don’t watch, we don’t talk about it, it bores us and the sport suffers.
The Senior Tour suffers from an increasing lack of star power. It was one thing to watch ChiChi and Senor La Victoria (snicker) duke it out, and to see Arnie and Jack and everyone my dad always told me was great. Now unknowns are winning practically every tournament on the Tour. And it’s happening to the PGA Tour as well.
So how can I not love Todd Hamilton? By being a regular TV-watching American sports fan: I want stars! Even if I love rooting for them (Phil) or against them (Els) at least I’m paying attention.
Besides… it’s not like we’ll ever hear from Todd Hamilton again. Oh, sure, there will be the inevitable local TV spot for Insert Name Of Regional Golf Retail Store Here in a couple years, but what’s the over/under on the number of cuts he actually makes with his newfound five years of Tour exemption? 16?
Good luck to him, I’ll be watching Lefty.
2 replies on “How to not love Todd Hamilton”
Todd Hamilton Are you an american? Are we not famous in this country for rooting for the underdog?
Todd Hamilton’s performance at Troon was memorable to me: “star-power” be damned. Mr. Paolo’s vicarious thrill at watching the same mutant talents dominate the professional golf tours belies an unfamiliarity with the game. Mr. Paolo seems only to be fan, and not a fan/poarticipant in the game of golf.
Anyone who plays the game had to root for Todd Hamilton, not because of some misplaced jingoistic rage against the prodigious (but foreign) champion, Els, but because in Todd Hamilton, any dedicated amateur player can see themselves. How many times have we told ourtselves, “on my best day, I could beat that guy.” ?
Golf is beautiful precisely because someone like Todd Hamilton can jump up and beat the “best” players in the world on any given day.
Parity like this is the best recipe for excitement in sports. Through a haze of star-struck hero worship, Mr. Paolo seems to have missed the fact that golf, unlike other major sports, is played (and not just watched) by millions.
The name’s Paulo…. …not Paolo. And yeah… I’m a fan and not a player. Well, I’ll play 18 holes maybe twice a year and will find time to hit the driving range once every couple months, and I play Golden Tee at the local bar… but I don’t consider myself a “player.” Sue me. I’ll bet the Non-Player Fans make up a majority of the Golf-on-TV-watching community, and its the revenue dollars based on the Nielsen points we represent that keep the PGA afloat.