Nicklaus: When will Sergio get it?
Jack Nicklaus watched only the last three holes of the 90th PGA Championship at Oakland Hills, and he was impressed with Padraig Harrington's putting. As for Sergio Garcia's latest near miss, he was perplexed.
While opening a new signature course, The Idaho Club, in Sandpoint last week, Nicklaus said: "Sergio is a good player, but how do you continue to do what he does? Watson did it, but Watson did it at a young age—two U.S. Opens and a PGA, or two PGAs and a U.S. Open." (He was referring to tournaments Watson could have won but didn't.) Nicklaus continued:
"But Watson learned from that. I should put this in a positive way. Watson was an awfully good putter, and Sergio, it seems to be his nemesis. When you’re a really good putter like Harrington is, you can make up for some errant shots. Gary Player used to have a terrible time finishing off tournaments, but his short game was so great, and he was such a good putter, it didn’t look like he was having trouble finishing it off, because he didn’t give it away. He was always able to find a way to get the ball in the hole and get it done, and that’s what a lot of guys do, what Harrington does, and I did it on a lot of occasions. A lot of places I one-putted five of the last six or seven greens to make sure I stayed in the tournament and got there, and won.
"You know, Watson did it; Sergio has not been able to do it. He is very, very talented. When he learns to do that—if and when he learns that, and I don’t know whether he will or not--he will get to that level."
Posted by: BenSeattle | Aug 25, 2008 2:31:31 PM
As usual, there's always a poster who DOESN'T GET IT.
What makes a Major Tournament? History, for one thing. Even the baby of the bunch, the Masters, is 74 years old; the others were created at the turn of the century. Oh yeah, who's WON the Players? Not Hogan, not Nelson, not Snead, not Jones, not Hagen. Fact is, HISTORY decides who the "real" majors are, not some "ruling body" and certainly not a bunch of sportwriters.
As for the LPGA and the Senior Tour, this business of "designating" an event a major (the less-than-20-years-old Jeld-Wen Tradition? A complete joke, complete with corporate name and pro-am. NOT a major.) And when the ladies DuMaurier was dropped because it was sponsored by a cigarette company, that was all you needed to know about the LPGA's tradition and history.
"Hey you... the women's British Open. Guess what -- you're a major now." Yikes.
Don't believe me? Then ask Tiger Woods, a guy who has WON the Players. When asked if he considers the event a Major, his cryptic reponse was, "Nope. Not a major."
We're finished here.
Posted by: Kurt Anderson | Aug 25, 2008 12:55:51 PM
Sergio has won one major this year: the Players Championship. Compare the course, field, and rewards to the other majors and the Players certainly qualifies.
Who mandated that there can be only 4 majors anyway? The LPGA really does not have 4 majors and neither does the Senior Tour.
Posted by: Bruce | Aug 20, 2008 9:05:04 AM
Maybe he should try spitting at the hole, he seems to be able to hit center mass when he spits.
Posted by: daniel strohmenger | Aug 20, 2008 8:19:45 AM
Sergio will get. He has a very impressive resume already. He is still only 28 and getting better. People need to give him credit for what he has already accomplished. Young golfers would be happy with that start to their careers.
Posted by: bill | Aug 20, 2008 2:06:53 AM
he wasnt firing at the pin, he hit a block so not really at strategic error
Posted by: DJ | Aug 19, 2008 11:26:42 PM
Sergio and Jack from 100 yards out, 18 holes.
My money is on Jack. Why? He sinks more putts.
Posted by: Eric | Aug 19, 2008 10:50:10 PM
Sometimes the truth hurts. Sergio had to make that putt at 17 and he didn't. It was an impressive save on 16, but I can't believe he went for that pin. Birdie was a near impossibility there. He needs to get smarter, more patient and continue improving with his putting. I think he is, just not to the point where he can win a major.
Posted by: Joel C., Portland Oregon | Aug 19, 2008 8:48:21 PM
Great WOW! stuff, as usual, from Jack. Hope Sergio can read this comment and learn from it!
jc