Sports Then and Now

Adam Scott and Angel Cabrera provided a memorable finish at the 2013 Masters.

The end of the 2013 Master’s really was a scene from a fairy tale. Only months after his excruciating Open defeat, Adam Scott triumphed; becoming the first ever Australian to win the green jacket. Angel Cabrera’s defeat (and the way he embraced it) personified golf.

‘Forward-Looking’
A twelve-foot putt has changed one man’s life forever. Scott’s life, however, was not the only one to change at Augusta. The infamous club had also transformed, allowing female members for the very first time in a breakthrough for women’s rights activists everywhere.

Jack Nicklaus has dubbed current chairman Billy Payne as ‘the most forward-looking steward the club has ever had’. To an extent, this appears true, as Payne has persuaded the committee to allow female members and has expanded the tournament’s outreach, a move that made Guan Tianlang a household name. Guan’s actions, however, and Augusta’s lack of perceived fairness, show how the club still has work to do to change its image and ‘get with the times’. Read the rest of this entry →

Could future PGA Champions be kissing the trophy on foreign soil?

Major American golf championship, the PGA, has announced that it may venture outside of America for future events once or twice a decade.

The PGA International?
The PGA, conducted by the Professional Golfers’ Association of America, is one of the four major golf championships, and is usually the season’s last major title. The first PGA was held in 1916, so it’s not far off from 100 years old. Primarily played in the eastern half of the US, the championship has barely even ventured out of this area.

The event has its venues planned out until 2019, so there’s no chance of the championship being held in another country until then. The move is being considered to raise the profile and prestige of the championship. Despite its title as one of golf’s major championships, it has failed to gain the same popularity like its rivals have – the Masters, the Open and the US Open.

The CEO of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America has said “When we sat down to map our strategic plan to service our members and grow the game, the question arose as to what impact it would have to take the PGA Championship to an international location once or twice a decade.

“It would be something we would only do if we had the cooperation of quite a few groups.”

A History of the PGA
The PGA was created by Rodman Wanamaker, a department store owner. He invited famous golfers and industry leaders to lunch in New York City and together they formed the Professional Golfers’ Association of America. Wanamaker suggested an all-professional annual tournament, and offered up $2,500 worth of prizes. The first tournament was held six months later at the Siwanoy Country Club in New York State.

In 1957, after Lionel Hebert’s victory over Dow Finsterwald, the PGA Championship changed from match play to stroke play. The 1958 championship was televised to an audience of millions. Read the rest of this entry →

Arnold Palmer set fashion trends in golf with his short sleeve polo and slacks.

Throughout the ages popular professional golfing figures have been firmly sticking to or openly defying the strict dress codes enforced on the golf course. Check out this run down of golf’s greatest conformers and rebels before deciding which way you swing with golf fashion and then picking up some great clothing for your next round at Bunker Mentality.

Arnold Palmer, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men’s professional golf, has won numerous titles for his incredible golfing skills. He is also, however, remembered for his preferred dress of a short sleeve polo shirt and khaki trousers which, whilst originally frowned upon for its rather dressed down and casual look, soon become the standard golfing attire of the day. His fashion choice made such an impact that in fact this style of dressing has remained as the staple for the past fifty years and is still commonly seen on courses across the globe today.

Payne Stewart was a pro golf player from America who has eleven PGA titles to his name. His take on the traditional 20’s style golf fashion of knickers, high socks and a newsboy cap combined with garish eighties prints led him to become easily recognizable on the course. Half traditional conformist, half contemporary rebel he meshed these seemingly opposite sides of a coin together to create his own unique golf style. He was truly an individual who was never afraid to wear exactly what he wanted and that kind of confidence is killer.
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Cheyenne Woods is part of the next generation of LPGA stars.

While the world watched a varied mix of male and female athletes from countries across the world competing for the ultimate glory at last year’s Olympic Games in London, it’s hard to think of a professional sport that’s not dominated by men. Though increasing numbers of women enjoy such traditionally male-centric sports as football, motor racing, ice hockey and basketball and compete more than competently at a professional level, the focus of the world’s sports enthusiasts remains solely centred on men.

For a long time, it’s been the same for one of the most traditionally-minded sports around – golf. Indeed, on the more conservative edges of the sport, you still might find men-only clubs – albeit a tiny number around 1%. Yet things are shaking up for women who play the game in a big way.

Take, for example, one famous name – Cheyenne Woods, niece of none other than the legendary Tiger. She’s 24 years old – the same age her famous uncle was when he finished the season with eight wins – and the daughter of Tiger Woods’ half-brother, Earl Dennison Woods Jr. Like many a famous relative, she’s eager to step out of the shadow of the family name and make her own name for herself in women’s professional golf. Having grown up surrounded by golf, and coached in the sport by Tiger’s father Earl, she already has more than 30 amateur titles to her name. Now she faces her first full pro season, having entered the prestigious Ladies European Tour.

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Phil Mickelson celebrates his come-from-behind victory at the 2013 British Open.

With his come-from-behind victory at the British Open, Phil Mickelson joined an elite group as the 17th man in golf history to win three different major championships during his career.

Considering that earlier this year Mickelson finished second at the U.S. Open for a record sixth time, it is almost tempting to consider him the seventh person to win the career grand slam.

However, that accomplishment will have to wait until next year when the U.S. Open returns to Pinehurst, which was the site of the Open when Mickelson finished second for the first time in 1999.

Of those who won three different majors, the legend with whom Mickelson has the most in common in American Sam Snead.

Snead won seven major titles during his career, but was never able to win the U.S. Open. He finished second on four occasions during 31 attempts (there was no tournament between 1942-1945 when Snead was in his early 30s and was just reaching his prime).

After finishing second at the U.S. Open in his first appearance in the tournament in 1937, Snead finished in the top 10th again in 1939 and in the top 20 in 1940 and 1941. When the tournament returned following World War II, Snead finished tied for 19th in 1946, then second in 1947, fifth in 1948 and tied for second again in 1949. Read the rest of this entry →

Padraig Harrington will be looking for his third British Open title.

Padraig Harrington believes that his recent form is so good that he could be the man to beat at next week’s Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s.

The Irishman rose to number three in the world after winning the US PGA Championship at Oakland Hills, in 2008, but he has since slipped down the rankings, after he decided to revamp his swing.

Unfortunately, all his hard work has failed to pay off and, having won just once since his last Major triumph, he has regularly admitted that he may be trying too hard to improve.

However, after cutting down on his marathon practice sessions, he appears to have rediscovered some of his old magic in 2012, and has finished in the top-10 at both the Masters and the US Open, this year.

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