Conference 7.286::golf

    
    	My #1 pick is Fred Couples...
    
    	My ten picks are...
    
    	Nick Faldo
    	Tom Kite
    	Greg Norman (I am sure jj will aslo pick Greg... ;-)...)
    	Tom Watson
    	Chip Beck
    	Payne Stewart
    	Mark Calcavecchia
    	Bob Tway
    	The Zinger...

    larry nelson

It'll be the first PGA won in knickers since Sarazan.

    Tom Watson.  He's got his confidence back after coming so close 
    to winning the British Open.  
     

       I will take Bob Tway.
    
    
    
    
    
             Ken
    

      This is a hard one to call. Mark Calc's feet are'nt back on the
    ground yet. The Shark has got to be devastated.
    
    One of these...
    
    1. Bob Tway
    2. Zinger
    3. Bernard Langer

Greg will prove he has what it takes to win.

    Hi,
    My pick for this one will come from the bunch that includes:
    
           Larry Nelson
           Curtis Strange
           Tom Watson
           Tom Kite
    
    Of course and as usual, my real favorite is a big blond from Ohio by
    the name of Jack Nicklaus!
                                                     
    Tom

The course!

I played Kemper Lakes two years ago.  It's a great course and I will enjoy
watching how the pros play it.  It's got to be tough working at Kemper
Headquarters which is surrounded by this great course.  It would drive me
crazy being stuck indoors looking out at it.

When I was there they were narrowing the fairways.  I remember on one short
hole they we narrowing the fairway from 25yds. to 15yds!.

Given the fairways & the fact that the course has a lot of water I would
think someone who hits the ball straight & keeps it in play will do well.
Probably someone like Curtis Strange.

Larry

    I've played this course and it was too tough for me; it definitely
    requires someone who hits it long and straight.  But what else is
    new for the pros?  I think the winner will be someone that no one
    predicts!
    
    

    Curtis has the accuracy... 

    
    
     well this is another tough one!
    
          Curtis Strange
          Mark Mccumber
          Seve Ballesteros
    
    and lets throw in Chip Beck
    
    BS

    
    Listen guys your all way out of line with these predictions. There's
    only one winner and it has to be Arnold Palmer (who else ?)
    
    Al :-)
    

    	I'll go with:
    		      Ben Crenshaw
    		      Chip Beck
    		      Paul Azinger
    		      Greg Norman (the great white)
    
    Gary

    	I'll go with Curtis Strange to win, followed closely by Azinger,
    Crenshaw and Kite.
    
    Beak

    Calccavechia is hot  after  the British Open, but I think that either
    the Kite or the Singer will be the winner.
    
    Tavo

    
                     Curtis Strange
                     Tom Watson
                     Tom Kite
                     Mark Calcahoweveryouspellit
                     The Mex
    

     
       I'll go with Hal Sutton winning in a playoff over Mark Calcaveccia.
    Of course this will require Hal waking up and burying a few
    no-brainers.
    
                          Paul
    
    

    
    
     I'd love to see Super Mex win it.  It would really complicate his
    decision Dec 1st when he turns 50.  There still is a multi-year
    exemption with the win isn't there???

Re: .19

>    I'd love to see Super Mex win it.  It would really complicate his
>   decision Dec 1st when he turns 50.  There still is a multi-year
>   exemption with the win isn't there???

I don't think Lee's decision would be complicated at all.  He could
make more money and be more successful (winning wise) on the senior
tour.

Jeff

    MY VOTE GOES TO JOHHNY REVOLTA OR I GUESS CURTIS STRANGE IF
    JOHHNY DOESN'T SHOW UP !!
    
    THE MAD HACKER
    

     Skee Riegel or Sam Urzetta.

    NEWS FLASH!!!!!
    
    Mark Calcavecchia withdraws from PGA upon birth of daughter.  Mark
    says "Being with Sheryl at this time is more important than any
    golf tournament, even a major."  The kid has his head screwed on
    right, but I'll miss him saturday and sunday.
    
    
    The big Question in my mind is "Does The Shark stand a chance?"
    Lets look at the record:
    
    1984 US Open - Norman hits a four iron into the stands, negating
    a birdie opportunity to win outright by a stroke. Loses to Zoeller
    in an 18 hole playoff (by 8 strokes)
    
    1986 Masters - Norman again pulls his four iron into the crowd and
    bogeys the 18th. he needed a bird to win, or a par to force a playoff
    with Jack.  No cigar.
    
    1986 PGA - Norman has a four shot lead with 9 holes to play and
    loses on the final hole when Tway holes his bunker shot.
    
    1987 Masters - On second hole of sudden death, Larry Mize pulls off
    a miracle. Go figure!  
                                                   
    1989 Masters - Needs a par on eighteen to tie Nick Faldo, hits a
    5 iron short and winds up with a bogey.
    
    1989 British Open - After a Masterful 64 on the final eighteen to
    force a playoff with Wayne Grady and Mark Calcavecchia, Greg bogey's
    the 17th to fall into a tie with Calc. then the disaster on 18......
                                                                         
    Says Lee Trevino, " The man is too agressive. Thats what cost Greg
    Norman all those tournaments. The man can flat play his golf ball,
    but he has to learn when to charge, and when to be patient. I told
    him that Arnold Palmer won 63 tournaments , but he probably should
    have won 110."
    
    Having said all that, I believe the man is due, so on the principal
    that the law of averages have to come back into line someday, and
    that even a stopped clock is right twice a day........ I PICK NORMAN. 
                                                                     

    Top Choices
    
    	1. Greg Norman (Playing well when he plays and long over due)
    	2. Couples (If he ever learned to Win he'd be among the greats)
    	3. Beck (A man who knows where the ball is going)
    	4. Strange (He has the accuracy but needs to keep cool)
    	5. Price (He can shoot 63 anywhere anytime)                   	
    	
    
    Bad Choices
    
    	1. Stewart - (Should have won the British and still has the
    Monkey on his back).
    
    	2. Langer - (He shoots a first round 66 then ends with an 80) 

    
    Sir Walrus is due !!! He had a good showing in the British Open.
    He really hasn't been heard from since his Masters win back in
    198? ...  
    
    I'll go with Craig Stadler !!
    
    ace
    

    
      I was reading in golf digest about how Norman plays 18 (a sharp
    dog-leg left with water everywhere. The conventional way to play it
    is out to a (safe?) landing area then some iron into the green. In an
    exhibition match last year he went for it and carried the ball over 
    300yds from  tee to green. Since then they put up some trees to block
    this approach, but the Shark says he's still gonna go for it.
    
    Go Shark!

>      I was reading in golf digest about how Norman plays 18 (a sharp
>    dog-leg left with water everywhere. The conventional way to play it
>    is out to a (safe?) landing area then some iron into the green. In an
>    exhibition match last year he went for it and carried the ball over 
>    300yds from  tee to green. Since then they put up some trees to block
>    this approach, but the Shark says he's still gonna go for it.
    
     If he truly does that in the competition round then Mr. CONWAY_J
     is right about the man.   I read an article that said that from
     the tee it is something like 292yds. of carry across the water!

     Larry

    Gosh !
    
    Just reading through the replies, can't you tell where this conference
    is located.
    
    Having said that, however, I'm not really any more confident about
    the European challenge than any of you guys seem to be but I must
    go with our man Nick. If nothing else, at least he has proved he
    can play 72 holes straight from tee to green and I've got an idea
    that this course demands efficient (boring?) play rather than heroics.
    
    My long shot has got to be Greg (if only he can keep the ball in
    the park).
    
    M.
    
    

    ok don't laugh..
     HOWARD TWITTY  he's due !! he's over due.
    
    if not him..my main man 
    CURTIS STRANGE
    
    top 5 dark horse
    DAVE RUMMELLS 
    
    bob, who switched to putting crosshanded

    I knew it couldn't last, but for one brief, shinning moment the
    King was back. After 16 holes yesterday Arnold Palmer was 6 under
    and tied with Radar Reid for the lead in the PGA. Five straight
    birdies! Not bad for a guy kicking the door down on his 60th birthday!
    So what he bogeyed 17 and 18? That division of the "Army" that was
    present at Kemper Lakes didn't care and neither did I. The King
    Is Back!
    
    P.S. Watson 5 under, Palmer 4 under, Nicklaus 4 under! My kinda
    leaderboard!
    

    
    Leaders after the first round... check out some of these names...!
    
    Mike Reid		66
    Leonard Thompson	66
    Tom Watson		67
    Tom Kite		67
    Chris Perry		67
    Ben Crenshaw	68
    Ian Woosnam		68
    Phil Blackmar	68
    Dave Rummells	68
    Arnold Palmer	68
    Jack Nicklaus	68
    Mark O'Meara	68
    
    Strange		70
    Faldo		70
    
    Stadler		71
    
    Seve		72
    
    Couples		73
    
    Langer		74
    Norman		74
    Azinger		74
    Stewart		74
    
    As mentioned earlier Calcavecchia isn't there...
    

    
    
    	What a gallery pleasing pairing if they they put Arnie, Jack
    and Crenshaw together (could the course hold all those people?)
    What a surprise to see all my fav's up near the top. Anyone have
    a tape of the first round that I could view? Taping the first round
    never entered my mind as I was washing the dishes, putting the kids
    to bed (etc..)
    
    Gary

    According to Palmer in the paper this morn, he bogied 17 and 18
    because he was so pumped up he "didn't know my own strength."
    I surely hope that Watson, Nicklaus and Arnie can stay close to
    the lead through Friday, so I can watch them on the tube on Saturday.
    Mirabile dictu!
    

    to bad radar 3 putts the 71st hole, good to see payne birdie 3 of
    the last 4. 
     
    and who was it who picked dave rummells as a top 5 ....
    3rd all by himself. just couldn't birdie...

    
    
     What  do you think good finish or what???   I thought it was very
    exciting. 
    
      And I was wondering if most of you enjoyed the Pro-Commentating
    from Jack as much as I did. It was funny on the 17 win the commentator
    (who I don't remember?) said well Andy Bean Needs to go right at
    it (the stick) if he's going to win. And then Jack agreed. When
    Greg Norman was ready to hit he said well he doesn't really have
    a chance to win but we all now how he plays he's going right at
    it. That's when he jumped on all the Norman Basher's and said he
    is just a good player and that's the way he does it. 
    
      WAY to go JACK
    
    just my 2 cents
    
    BS

    They are a very visionary bunch out there.
    Again yesterday, Payne stood on the 10th tee and told his caddy
    that a 31 on the back nine was needed to win.
    Well, he shot 31 and won.
    Very much like the comment that the Shark made to his wife on the
    morning before his last day at Royal Troon.
    
    These golfers really know where they are and what it takes to beat
    the leaders!
    Tom

I finally got one right! Thank you, Payne Stewart.

------------------------------------------------------------------
                       <<< Note 710.3 by CURIE::TDAVIS >>>
                           -< This Major's a Payne >-

It'll be the first PGA won in knickers since Sarazan.

    RE: note .35.  The commentator who joked about Norman "not knowing
    how" to play conservtively was Dave Marr, former PGA champ.  Jack
    definitely jumped all over Marr, saying something to the effect
    that Norman got a bad rap on that issue.  I don't know if that is
    true or not, but I do think that Nicklaus could have expressed his
    disagreement more diplomatically, particularly considering the fact
    that Marr's comment was really said with affection.  I didn't get
    a sense of him making a serious comment about Norman's game.
    
    By the way, Nicklaus, who is my all-time favorite golf hero, is
    showing signs of an unbecoming arrogance.  For instance - he is
    on record that he will only play Senior PGA Tour events (possibly
    excepting the Open) held on Nicklaus-designed courses.  The Senior
    Tour is frantically trying to accommodate him.  Nicklaus the golfer
    is without peer; Nicklaus the guy has feet of clay.
    

    Anyone else catch Curtis' outburst on 12 (?) when the gallery disturbed
    him? His 8 iron hit some branches and crept onto the front edge,
    at which he glared at the sidelines and said something uncomplementary,
    like "son of a .....". TV tried to cut the ..... but it was pretty
    obvious what he was saying.
    
    Just shows they're as human as us when we hit a bad one (the language
    gets fruity). Hasn't Curtis been "caught" before doing this? (BTW
    I don't hold it against him)

    A personal note about Curtis Stranges' profanity on being disturbed on
    his approach shot.  I think a man of his stature, and certainly a pro-
    fessional golfer for many years, could control his choice of words in
    front of millions of people.  After all, this show is watched my lots
    of young futire golfers that look up to the pros for guidance and
    inspiration.  Curtis has bben playing for many years in front of noisy
    galleries, and he's being paid handsomely for it.

    
    
    re .24    good call!!!!!!!!!
    
    
    
    

    
    
       That's funny you should mentioned that to me . I really don't
    have a problem with that because im a fan of many other sports which
    have a lot of outburts. What bother me and it was only a split second
    view because the abrutly took it off the screen. Is after Ian Woosnam
    (a golfer i Like) started smoking a FAG(british for Cigarette  I
    don't smoke but so it's tough to have a fair opion about this. I
    know it bothers to be teeing off with an awful stench of a cigar.
    I once golfed with this guy smoking a pipe while he hit his shots.
    
    
    BS
    
    Did any one see the Red Sox this weekend the had the microphone
    near a bunch of people yelling  MARGO MARGO  MARGO when Boggs was
    up at bat
    

    Curtis Strange's outburst did indeed bother me!!  As I understood it,
    the people causing the "commotion" were opening umbrellas because it
    had started to rain.  Shame on those people!  They paid their admission
    fee to get wet didn't they??  Anyway, it makes Curtis look pretty small
    when Mike Reid comes off the 18th after losing the tournament and gives
    Payne Stewart a "high-five" and appears VERY gentalmenly!!!!  Now that
    is sportsmanship!!  Maybe Curtis should take a lesson in controlling
    his disappointment/frustrations from Mike Reid!!!!!

     I saw it a little differently. First, as Strange was setting up
    to hit, there was a lot of motion/noise off to his right. he backed
    off and said, "Give me a Break"! Then, when he hit the shot, he
    expressed his displeasure (normally, albeit a bit strongly for tender
    ears) thusly: "Goddammit! Son of a Bitch!" I'll bet the Tv mikes
    picked it up a lot more clearly than anyone in the vicinity to Strange
    did. 
     Listen to the athletes in any other sport and compare them to tour
    pro's. Then, listen to the FANS at any other sport (been to a Pats
    or Celts game recently ?). Compared to this, it's no big deal. Sure,
    he cussed under a lot of stress, but no "magic words", and only
    once. How many of us could pass that test when the wheels come off
    when we play? Let's put this in perspective and not make a mountain
    out of a molehill; these guys are under a microscope all the time
    as it is. If I'm wrong, Strange will be fined, and we'll hear about
    it, and if I'm right, he won't. In the larger scheme of things,
    it just doesn't matter; Curtis Strange is still o.k. with me, even
    if he's human.
    
    --Jack

     Further to .44, Strange was beefing about his shot, not at someone.
    
    --Jack.
    
    

    
    re .44
    
    Good interpretation. I concur.
    
    Mike

    One thing I always found interesting about golf, (tennis, bowling too):
    
    Why does it have to be so quiet before the contestant makes his play?
    
    You can answer concentration but how can it be any harder to
    concentrate in golf than for any other sport?  Ever try to hit a 90+
    mph fastball while 50-60 thousand people are screaming at you?  Or sink
    a foul shot while everybody you see through the glass backboard is
    waving their arms at you?  It seems like it should be easier to hit a
    stationary ball, especially if you keep your head down, ;^).  I always
    observe golf etiquette on the course, ie. stay quiet and motionless
    while others are playing a stroke, but I don't mind if others don't
    while I'm playing mine.  Maybe I'm not good at concentrating anyway, at
    least my scores seem to indicate this, 8-P.  It's just my opinion but I
    think that a lot of golfers are too sensitive about an issue that a
    good athlete should be able to overcome.
    
    						Ron
    
      
    
 

    "CBS Sunday Morning" did a piece on just this issue a few months back. 
    Essentially they were asking the same questions - why does it have to
    be quiet to hit a stationary golf ball yet baseball players can hit a
    moving object with thousands screaming?
    
    They spoke with several players and golf officials and all of them
    basically came up with the same answer - because that's golf's
    tradition.  Several of the player - Jack Nicklas is the only one I 
    remember for sure - said that if they were to get rid of the quiet it
    wouldn't take too long for players to adjust to it.  However, they also
    pointed out that if they are expecting quiet and there is sudden noise
    as they start their swing, it is startling, ruining their swing.
    
    -Bob C.

RE:	-.1

>    "CBS Sunday Morning" did a piece on just this issue a few months back. 
>    Essentially they were asking the same questions - why does it have to
>    be quiet to hit a stationary golf ball yet baseball players can hit a
>    moving object with thousands screaming?
    
     Possible answers include:

	a. Because baseball players don't have to go into to the stands
           to play their foul balls. ;-)

	b. Because except for a handful of stadiums in baseball the
           players are significantly separated from the fans.  Only golf
           lets you get so close to the action.

        c. Maybe because golf fans don't appreciate the boorish behaviour
           of beer filled fans chanting "Less filling!"  "Tastes Great".

        d. All of the above & more.

Personally I don't think that fans not being able to cheer during shots is a
big draw back.  In fact I think that the tension and suspense are heightened
as the entire 18th hole goes silent waiting for someone like Mike Reid to
try to sink a birdie putt for a playoff.

Just my opinion,
Larry

    
         This topic is so ironic , because I saw a comedian the other
    night do a little skit on growing up playing certain sports. One thing
    he mentioned is while playing baseball your allowed to yell at the
    hitter while he trying to swing. And when comes to Basketball they
    (the fans) might be even closer to the action than most golf galleries
    and they do more than yell, they have huge signs made out of sheets
    they have small air horns going off at his release of a shot.
    
       it's just funny how much they differ some sports.
    
    back to that comedian he began to say how the coach told them when
    there in the feild they needed to produce some "chatter' like hey
    batter hey batter hey batter   swing batter. he went on to say how
    much fun the boring tv golf would be if you had some guy kneeling
    on the green yelling at someone putting hey putter putter hey putter
    big swing and a mis  wiffer he's big wiffer   it was a riot to see
    him do this
                 
    just a comment
    
    BS

    I think it comes down to what your used to. It's what you expect.
    In golf when your out there it's generally quiet. I's the nature
    of where courses are and the like. In baseball you get acclimated
    to the noise. In golf you get acclimated to the quiet. Think of
    making that foul shot when the areana is completely quiet. I bet
    it's harder than when there is noise. The reverse is the same in
    golf. If you went out and played a round with a walkman on your
    head I bet that within a few holes you would shut it out and start
    shooting the same. 
    
    I know that your sences can get "overloaded". By this I mean that,
    have you ever walked into a room and smelled an odor but after awhile
    you can't smell it any more? Try it! Close your eyes and have someone
    put an onion under your nose. You'll smell it but continue and try
    and determine when the remove the onion. After a few seconds you'll
    stop smelling the onion and think for sure that they've removed
    the onion. in reality they onion will still be under your nose buy
    the sensors within your nose get overloaded and can't smell the
    onion. I'd assume that this is the same think that can happen to
    your hearing. In baseball or any other sport where noise is the
    norm you get acclimated to it and you sences stop hearing it. If
    all of a sudden everyone was quite I bet that would break your 
    concentration. The same would probably be true in golf except that
    it's the quiet you expect to hear and it's the abrupt noise that
    is then the distraction.
    
    
    Tom

    
    
      I do very often go out by myself with a walkman and play it doesn't
    seem to hurt at all it tends to relax me and take my mind of the
    bad shot i just hit or if im getting to focussed on the next shot.
    i would very often bowl during league with my walkman , funny the
    main reason is shut out all the yelling and chatter.
    
    try you might like it.
    
    BS

    With all the talk in this notes file about what a mental game
    golf is, I'm a little surprised to see that people think the
    quiet is just a matter of etiquette.  It had to start somewhere,
    right? What was the reason for it back then?
    
    I for one totally loose my concentration when I'm trying to
    putt and the other people in your group are chattering. For
    me it doesn't have anything to do with being surprised by
    noise when I was expecting quiet; it's simply that I'm really
    concentrating about making a good shot, and the noise totally
    interferes.
    
    A few notes back someone noted that Curtis cussed at his shot
    and not because the fans made noise. I disagree (respectfully,
    of course). I was watching and I he was *glaring* at the crowd.
    I thought he would walk over to who he thought made the noise
    and give em a black eye. I like Curtis and was hoping he would
    pull through, but I was a little disappointed by his reaction
    to the crowd. 
    
    I'm as quick to use swear words when I make a bad shot, but
    I think the situation is entirely different and can't be compared
    with how the pros should react in front of millions of people.
    If I was playing in the club championship, for example, which
    draws many members in just to watch, I would be a lot more careful
    about how I reacted to bad shots in front of everyone.
    
    Only my humble opinion.
    PA

    
>    I'm as quick to use swear words when I make a bad shot, but
>    I think the situation is entirely different and can't be compared
>    with how the pros should react in front of millions of people.
>    If I was playing in the club championship, for example, which
>    draws many members in just to watch, I would be a lot more careful
>    about how I reacted to bad shots in front of everyone.
    
        I agree entirely with this.  There should be a sense of
    responsibility about what is said if front of many people as
    opposed to a few (that you know).  I'll cuss with the best of them
    over a bad shot, unless I'm playing in front of a gallery, then
    I would shrug and give my best Jimmy Carter smile. Fortunately,
    with my play lately, I don't get to play in front of galleries
    at all. 
    
        From what was told to me about Curtis's outburst, I would say
    the expletive he used was rather mild.  Anyone seen a hockey game?
    His glaring at the spectators would bother me more.

    Curtis Strange has always been a very emotional player and
    until just the last few years wasn't very good at hiding
    those feelings. I think he may be feeling a little frustrated
    this year even with repeating at the Open because he just
    can't seem to get it going for any length of time. Also, I
    think he deserves a fine from the PGA for his behavior. Other
    sports personalities get fined for acting up during competitions
    so why should golfers be any different. My biggest beef is with
    all the pro's they show smoking during the course of a round!!
    It seems like every time I watch a tournament now there will be
    several times that they show players having a ciggarette after a
    shot. Is it like sex or something? Have one after a good shot!!
    I wish the directors would pay a little more attention to what
    their cameramen are filming. One viewers (and reformed smoker)
    opinion.
    
    THE MAD HACKER

    re. Curtis Strange - i think he should grow up, the specator didn't
    make him miss that shot, he did, he probally has been in that situation
    hundreds of times, it's like kicking the dog when your mad at your
    wife.
    
    re. Ian Woodsman
    
    what a great swing, i wish us yanks could see more of him, he is
    incredible

Curtis is one of my favorite players to watch.  I can't blame anyone for
being emotional if that is their style.  Some folks are colorful, like
Payne Steward, and others aren't, like Reid. Some are personable like
Rodriguez, Trevino and Palmer, while others are machine-like like Nicklaus,
Crampton and Player.  Ben Cranshaw and "The Walrus" always look like they
are complaining. And then there are there are the likes of Ken Green and
Mac O'Grady.  Hey, it takes all kinds.  From a spectator point-of-view,
I enjoy seeing the emotions -- to borrow a phase, "the thrill of victory,
and the agony of defeat."  

Last year, I was standing behind Curtis Strange at the US Open when he 
made his approach shot at the 72nd hole (into the bunker).  There was a
tremendous surge towards him after he made the shot, and he started
throwing elbows like Kareem.  Did anyone see this on TV?  A picture of 
this, less elbows, appeared in SI entitled "Curtis Strange: A Face in 
the Crowd."  The crowd control was poor, but there is no excuse for
throwing the elbows [which I think he did because of the poor approach
shot]. 

Jeff

    Hi all,
    
            I just got back from vacation and it looks like I have a lot of
    catching up to do. Anyway, I enjoyed the PGA ( what little I saw of
    it). I remember going of to supper with Mike Reid ahead with 3 holes
    to play. I was stunned to find out at the 11PM news that he had lost.
    
    Curtis has been known as a "hot head" for quite sometime. Over the last
    3 or 4 years, he has certainly calmed down. But every so often, he does
    lose control. I remember a tournament earlier this year when he had hit
    his tee shot way left into a jungle. As he got ready for his second
    shot, the commentators couldn't believe Curtis was going to try for the
    green. The shot didn't go off as planned and ended up in the trees
    about 50 yds. ahead and we were treated to a bararge of profanity.
     The same thing happened at PV last year during the second round.
    Curtis was sort of half in/half out of the bunker on 10 ( which was his
    first hole of the day). He miss hit the shot and proceeded to attack
    the spot where the ball had been resting with his club for about 10
    seconds and swearing at the bunker. 
    
    
    
               Ken
                  

    Really now... how many of you golfers have witnessed a tirade or
    thrown one yourself on the course?  I know I have been on both sides!
    I'm not offended and you probably haven't been either.  I don't think
    Curtis said anything you, your wife, or children haven't heard at the 
    mall.  I like the emotional players because they are more fun to watch.
    I would laugh like h___ it somebody threw a putter in a pond on 18!
    
    Rick

Just read in the paper that Curtis was in fact fined for his actions....

The report said that fines to players are not usually made public but in this
case Curtis requested that it be made public.  He said that he was upset with
a photographer who clicked his shutter when he was addressing the ball and again
in the middle of his backswing.  He appologized for the outburst, said that his
adrenaline was really flowing and he lost it.

Oh yeah, the reason he wanted the fine to be publicized is because he wanted his
two sons to see that their father can admit when he was wrong...

IMO the guy's all class.......

Peter_who_wishes_he_had_half_the_talent_Curtis_Strange_has_in_his_little_finger

    Glad to hear about Curtis' public apology. Thanks for sharing this
    information.  Way to go Curtis!
    
    Patti

Been away for awhile and thought I'd comment on the quiet vs noise discussion.
I have to disagree with Patti, that its necessary because golf is a mental
game. Every sport is a mental game. From experience with the sports I play,
pitching or hitting a baseball requires intense concentration and focus, the
same with Basketball. The screaming and yelling, air horns, etc., become just a 
background blur.... almost like white noise. I just started playing golf last
year, and am not especially good at it, but I'm improving. Since it is the
tradition, and a perceived courtesy to be quiet while others are preparing to
swing, I am quiet. However, it does not bother me in the least whether others
are noisy while I'm hitting, or whether they are quiet when I'm hitting.
However I  have noticed that an abrupt change from one to the other is
disconcerting (usually this is a noisy situation, then people notice you're
about to swing, and a deathly silence falls....... Say HUH!)

MIKE JN