Home >  Sports >  Notebooks

Sunday, January 21, 2001

What made Arnold Palmer so popular with the masses, everyone from the blue-collar people around his hometown of Latrobe to the blue-bloods in the United States Golf Association who now seek to betray him, is his love for the game of the golf.

He brought it to the public in dynamic and charming style, shaking hands, offering a warm smile, making eye contact with the people who came in droves to follow him. He popularized the game with his personality, and there was never the least bit of pretension about him in a sport that often conveys that impression.

Everybody liked Palmer. Presidents, foreign dignitaries, fellow players, the people who ruled the USGA. Perhaps it is terribly ironic the folks at the USGA always embraced Palmer as one of them, a man who loved and promoted the game, who devoted his life to golf. In reality, though, Palmer was never one of them, as the recent controversy over the banned ERC2 driver so clearly demonstrates.

Palmer's greatest appeal has always been with the public. Their adoration for him has always been returned with his kindness and respect for them. His endorsement of the banned driver, for which he has been widely assailed, is another indication.

Palmer has said it's OK for the recreational player -- anyone from the hacker to a member of the weekend-morning foursome -- to use the ERC2. He has given his blessing to them because he knows those players are no threat to the very same things that concern, and rightfully so, the USGA -- the distance the ball is traveling.

In effect, the King is delivering the club to the masses, to his people, and saying it's all right, go ahead and enjoy yourself. So the ball goes 20 to 30 yards farther? For most of the people to whom Palmer is trying to help, that can also mean 20 to 30 yards farther into the woods. Or, into a lake.

Palmer is not putting his stamp of the approval on the club for professional or PGA Tour players. After all, they do not need increased distance. But, if on occasion, the average guy can get another 20 yards on his drive, so what? That player is still not going to attain the lengths seen on the PGA Tour, or even the Buy.com Tour, no matter what driver he uses.

Once again, Palmer is doing what he's always done -- promote the game for the people. Some people, though, want to hit him over the head with the same club he is championing for them. They want to say Palmer, in effect, is endorsing cheating.

That he has reacted to the criticism with such hurt crystallizes the type of person Palmer is -- vulnerable, sensitive, human. The same type of person to whom everyone, USGA included, has become enamored.

More ERC2 news

Mark McNulty of Zimbabwe used the controversial and USGA-banned ERC2 driver last weekend and won the South African Masters.

Of course, McNulty is allowed to use the driver there because the club has been approved by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, the governing body of golf everywhere but in the United States.

Trivia question

Garrett Willis, one of the 2001 qualifying school graduates, won the Tucson Open last week in his first official PGA Tour start. Only two other players have ever won their first PGA Tour event. Who are they? Answer at end.

Endorsement squabble

David Duval, once the No. 1 player in the world, is being sued for breach of contract by the company that owns Titleist and FootJoy because he wants to switch to Nike.

Duval, apparently, is citing an escape clause in his contract with Acushnet that says he can break the deal at any time if he thinks he is no longer a "key player" in the company's advertising promotions. Duval and his agent, International Management Group, cited this clause shortly after Titleist signed Phil Mickelson and Davis Love III to hefty deals to play Titleist clubs and balls.

Acushnet is not seeking to block Duval's move to Nike. The company merely wants $75,000 in damages from Duval and IMG.

If Duval is indeed feeling slighted at Titleist, why, then, would he want to sign with Nike, who already has a clear-cut No. 1 pitchman?

His name is Tiger Woods, and he recently signed a five-year, $100 million deal with the swoosh company.

Rough road for LPGA player

Kim Williams was coming off her best season in 15 years on the LPGA Tour, posting three top-10 finishes and also finishing 11th in the du Maurier Classic, her best showing in a major championship.

But, after shooting 72 in the first round of the season-opening event last week in Orlando, Fla., Williams collarbone was broken and she needed surgery to repair her knee when she was involved in a car accident.

Williams, 37, was leaving the Grand Cypress resort when she was hit head-on by an oncoming driver who had a diabetic seizure and swerved into her lane. She was taken to nearby Orlando Medical Surgery and had surgery the next morning.

Williams has not had much luck away from the course.

In 1994, she was hit in the neck by a stray bullet while walking into a drugstore during the week of the LPGA Giant Eagle Classic in Warren, Ohio. The bullet did not cause major injury and she returned to play the following week.

Quotable

John Daly, who has shed 50 pounds by cutting out snacks, hasn't had a drink in nine months and is no longer on medication to combat depression: "I still smoke the hell out of Marlboro mediums. Other than that, I'm OK."

Dissa and data

Ryder Cup captain Curtis Strange failed to obtain exempt status for the 2001 season, the first time in 23 years the former two-time U.S. Open champion is not eligible for all PGA Tour events. Even more, uh, strange, he declined to use the one-time exemption he is permitted as a top 50 career money winner. Instead, Strange, 45, will focus his time on his duties as TV golf commentator and getting ready for the Ryder Cup matches. He will use the exemption in 2002.

Remember when Tom Watson complained to Augusta National officials about comments being offered by CBS analyst Gary McCord during the 1994 Masters? It was Watson's complaint that led to McCord being banned from all Masters telecasts. Well, Watson has invited McCord to compete in his annual charity exhibition in Kansas City, Mo. So long as McCord doesn't make any references to the greens looking as though they've been shaved with "bikini wax."

Phil Bailey, the caddie for Joanne Morley, fell and dislocated his left elbow on the seventh green during the second round of the opening LPGA Tour event, the YourLife Vitamins Classic in Orlando, Fla. Emily Fletcher, who normally caddies for Jenny Lidback, took over for Bailey on the eighth hole and helped Morley finish with a 2-under 70. The next day, Bailey returned, his arm in a sling, and caddied the final 18 holes.

Penn State's golf shop in State College was named one of the top 100 in the country by Golf World Business, the third year in a row the school's golf shop was so honored.

Leftover from the fall: Roman Lancianese of Clairton couldn't think of a better way to celebrate his 90th birthday, which fell on Labor Day (Sept. 4). He played his customary nine holes with his buddies at South Park Golf Course, walking and carrying his clubs. Lancianese parred the first three holes, birdied No. 4 and shot 41.

PerryGolf, perhaps the leader in international golf travel, has developed a new feature to its Web site (www.perrygolf.com) that allows golfers to custom design their personal international golf-tour itinerary. The component, known as "Price Your Own Tour," allows travelers to adjust the cost by changing the dates, hotels, transportation options and courses played. Cost quotes are available instantaneously. Interested people can also call, 1-800-344-5257.

What does first-year PGA Tour player J.J. Henry have in common with Tiger Woods and Ben Crenshaw? They all represent Buick as touring professionals for 2001. Henry, who earned his tour card by finishing 13th on the Buy.com Tour money list in 2000, was signed by the automaker and will wear a Buick hat and appear in Buick advertisements. Better question: Do you think anyone will recognize him?

Trivia answer

Ben Crenshaw won the 1973 San Antonio-Texas Open and Robert Gamez won the 1990 Telecom Tucson Open, each in their first PGA Tour start.