Weekend of Golf

My weekend of golf was a quiet one. Literally. That Jim Kelly who was announcing during the Nedbank Challenge was so annoying I had to mute the tv. Lee Westwood nearly lapped the field on his way to a win in South Africa. It was sunny and warm there, which made it nice to watch given the snow on the ground outside my house. But it was a bit too warm for the players and caddies I hear.

As for the US option, the Chevron World Challenge, Graeme McDowell won in a playoff against Tiger Woods. Heeheehee. I'm usually tickled by anyone who beats Tiger, but McDowell is one of my favorites and that makes me even more thrilled.

I've seen some comments about how Tiger's dominance is good for golf and should lead to rivalries etc in 2011. I'd like to know when a monopoly on anything has ever been good for anyone. It's a fundamental law that competition leads to success in any industry. Monopolies don't. Otherwise, we would have one phone company, one type of cereal to eat, one brand of soda to drink. Golf is so great right now not because Tiger actually put together a few rounds of decent golf, but because there were so many great rounds played by so many great players this year. The only way golf is going to continue to grow as a sport is if it continues to see a variety of winners.

Put it a different way - how many of you read only one book and read it over and over and over again? Eventually, you get bored and reach for something different to read. The dominance of one player in any sport can only be a positive element for so long before it starts turning away fans, just like that tired old book you've read a hundred times until you just can't stomach reading it one more time.