Notice you don't hear Tiger or Nicklaus complain about wanting to go home? They play (ed) 20 or fewer times a year. They get their rest, so they can play their best. Some guys feel like they need to play more often to compete. A player complaining about fatigue or showing signs of it is one who needs to manage his schedule better. Often those guys are so tired by Sunday that they don't have the reserve strength to meet the demands of Sunday pressure (sadly they often think they need to work harder). They end up dropping down the leaderboard, making a smaller check, and feeling like they need to play more to make their money. Marthoners have found they perform better by training smarter and tapering down the pre-race training. It is a delicate balance between doing everything you can to be ready and having enough energy to compete. Sometimes you just have to suck it up.
No secret that Tiger learned a lot for the Nicklaus model.
Great post, henny, as usual!
And your point about scheduling is well taken: A wise woodsman takes time to sharpen his axe.
However, for our readers' perspective, we're talking about two classes of TOUR players here (at a minimum). In the first class are the guys who are eligible for all the 'big money' events (say, $6 million up), i.e., the four majors, the World Golf Championship events and the invitationals (Mercedes, Arnold Palmer, etc.). Not to mention the FedEx Cup Series.
In the second class is everybody else. While the TOUR 'cream' is playing the limited field events for the big money, e.g., WGC at $8.0 million purse, 70-80 players, 'no cut' and last place money of $35,500, the second tier must make their money playing the 'opposite events', e.g., the Reno-Tahoes, John Deeres and Mayakobas ($3.5 million purse, 144-156 players, full cut, and pocket change for last place). For those still scrambling at season's end (after The TOUR Championship), it's off to the low-budget Fall Series (seven events).
And remember, unless and until these journeymen secure their 'cards' for the next year by finishing in the Top 125, there is no next year! In the pressure-cooked Land of the Meateaters, nobody knows it more than the meateaters themselves. So, while 20 tournaments might be an ideal -- I love Chi Chi's great line about Jack Nicklaus: "He became a legend in his spare time!" -- such a limited schedule is simply not practical for golf's rank-and-file.
Until that elusive 'next year's' card is in the bag, it's hard to quarrel with those who cannot rest --- psychologically or physically -- until it is. For most, that requires scratching it out in 30 or more events.
Threaded Mode
