Martin Vousden on gokart on golf

We do like a good bit of gritty writing. Especially when it’s about golf.  Something with attitude. From the heart. None of this namby-pamby politically correct stuff.

Introducing golf writer, Martin Vousden  (who, we can say with utter confidence, has never in his life been referred to as namby-pamby),   “former editor of Today’s Golfer, launch editor of Golf Buyer and Swing magazines and now works a freelance journalist writing for a number of golf publications, some of which are almost respectable. He lives in Scotland with two dogs and an understanding wife, having moved there 10 years ago, finally deciding he’d never get a nice word out of Nick Faldo. He lives for the two days a year when he can actually play to his 12 handicap”.

We’ll be publishing his views from time to time in our blog. Here are a couple of his observations on the US Open starting this week;

Blue Sky thinking is cock-eyed optimism
I’m not sure who is in charge of Sky Sport’s US Open preview material but whoever it is needs a reality check. The advertisements they have been running incessantly in advance of BethPage Black this week are portraying the contest as a head-to-head between Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy but let’s analyse that a bit more closely.

Tiger Woods has been world number one almost in perpetuity, it seems, since he turned professional and is regarded by many as the best golfer ever to pick up a mashie-niblick. He has 14 Major titles, is defending US Open champion and defending champion at BethPage to boot. Not only that, but just over a week ago he stormed back to his best form by winning the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village by shooting a last day 65 in which he hit every fairway.

Rory McIlroy is a talented youngster who has won once.

Yes, he is one of the brightest prospects around and is almost certain to have a long and stellar career but get real – does anyone seriously think he has a chance to win over one of the toughest US Open venues, in an event like no other he will have played, in which he’s making his debut?

And by the way, although he landed his debut European Tour victory in the Dubai Desert Classic earlier this year, he almost blew it, losing most of a six stroke lead over the closing holes before eventually clinging on for victory by a stroke. And he should have won last year’s Omega European Masters but missed a four foot putt for the title in regulation play, and then a one-and-a-half footer on the second playoff hole that handed the win to Jean-François Lucquin.

We all like to consider the possibility of a European, or even British win at America’s national championship, despite the fact that the latter hasn’t been achieved in 39 years, since Tony Jacklin lapped the field in 1970. But there’s optimism and then there’s blinkered, unrealistic, out-to-lunch hype, and that is surely what Sky Sports is involved in right now.

McIlroy will hopefully achieve great things in the game but let’s not saddle him with indescribably ludicrous expectations this early in his career.

Woods a shoo-in?
While we’re on the subject, isn’t it just a wee bit early to be anointing Tiger as US Open champion? Sure, only a fool would ever bet against him but there are a lot of talented players in the field, we presume, and any one of them could have a hot week with the putter – and that’s what it usually takes to win.

European interest is, inevitably, centred around Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood, Paul Casey and Justin Rose but I would keep an eye on Ian Poulter. He has dedicated himself to playing in the States and so far this year has been in 10 events, made the cut eight times, had a runner-up finish, four top-10s and seven top-25s. I also think that his ability to play tough courses well is under-rated. His swing and all-round game reminds me of Payne Stewart and he had a pretty good US Open record.

Isn’t it a shame, though, that when we start discussing possible Major winners that the name of Ernie Els never crops up any more?

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