The Genius
My newest golf hero is Boo Weekley. The man's a golfing genius, in the tradition of Ian Woosnam, Sandy Lyle, Fred Couples, Payne Stewart, Billy Casper. Keep it simple. The swing is beautiful. One plane, back and down, not an extra move, nothing hitchy, just great. But here's the best part. He played Augusta National in the first round of the Masters and did not know that 15 is a par 5.
It is, of course, one of the most famous par-5s in golf, but who cares? The beauty thing about not knowing is that it shows that Mr. Boo is doing exactly what you're supposed to do: play the hole (and every other one) in the fewest strokes possible. Par be damned. Drive it good on 15--borrowing Boo grammar here--it's a two-shotter. Drive it bad, it's a three-shotter. Point of fact, if Boo could putt like Tiger, he'd be Phil. Really. He'd be the second best golfer in the world.
(Photo: Robert Beck/SI)
For those who want to cheer for a fresh personality, I might suggest Brandt Snedeker. He plays--and apparently lives--with unpretentious joy and has remarkable perspective for a young man. I really enjoy watching him play and listening to him in interviews. He proves that a sense of fun and intelligence are not mutually incompatible.
Posted by: Hackamatic | April 17, 2008 at 05:24 PM
"selling his simpleton"good old boy" image"? "pervasive and seemingly perpetual ignorance"?
Hmmm? Twenty-five or thirty years from now, sounds to me like potential presidential material.
Posted by: bri529 | April 12, 2008 at 11:15 AM
This has to be an act. No one can be that dag-on simple. According to the coverage on tv, the guy didn't even know The Masters was this weekend!!! C'mon! You're a professional golfer, and don't know that this is Master's weekend? Baloney. He didn't know hole 15 is a par-5? Look at the scorecard! He didn't know St. Andrews was "the home of golf"??? Yeah right. Leave the Forrest Gump role to Tom Hanks, and just be Boo: a PGA Tour golfer... or did you not know you were playing on the PGA Tour?
Posted by: tymmel | April 12, 2008 at 06:38 AM
The guy's a breath of fresh air and whether it's an act or not at least it's different from the anodyne comments we get from a great number of the rest.
Posted by: Stephen Wassell | April 12, 2008 at 06:29 AM
I have to agree, Lefty. But if this is true, he should at least fire his caddy. How does this not come up in the general discussion on how to play the hole? This is all a ploy to get the media's attention.
I think he is just sold on selling his simpleton, "good ole boy" image, and its perfect because Daly is on his way out anyway, so the slot will soon be vacant. Because you better believe "Boo Knows", he'll make more ad money by being loved by certain Americans than he will ever earn competing on the PGA tour."
Posted by: nevander | April 12, 2008 at 03:21 AM
I'm sorry, either Boo's shtick is really just shtick, or his extension cord isn't plugged in all the way.
How can a functioning adult get through the day with so few clues about anything and everything? His carefree attitude is indeed refreshing, but his pervasive and seemingly perpetual ignorance is just tiresome.
Posted by: Hackamatic | April 12, 2008 at 02:02 AM
Are you sure some of this isn't an act? He's never looked at an Augusta scorecard? Doesn't know where Amen Corner is?
He is refreshing, but is he really that out of it?
Posted by: lefty53 | April 11, 2008 at 08:33 PM