2015 Golf Thread

[Redhook]

Tiger is off to a brutal start this season. On the flip side, there are some young emerging stars worth discussing: Jordan Speith, Brooks Koepka, and Justin Thomas. If I had to rank them currently, I'd go Speith (barely), Koepka, Thomas. For their career, I think Koepka dominates them with Speith barely edging Thomas. Thomas is the only one who hasn't won yet, but he had a share of the lead at some point in his last 3 events. He's only 21. He has a great swing and hits it a mile. I think he'll win this year. These are just 3 three guys that are making golf fun to watch in Tiger's absence.

[SunDeck]

Tiger's back problem illustrates how difficult golf is at its highest level. He was always known as a guy who had such tremendous flexibility and core strength and then it all seems to be gone. He's probably still in better shape than most of the guys on the tour, but perhaps his swing really requires the 25 year old Tiger Woods flexibility and strength. Here's a funny thing about core strength; I got serious again about swimming over the last few years and when I picked up the clubs again in late 2014, I found I'm quite a bit longer and more reliably straight with a driver. No real swing changes at all, it's just that I can turn back further and generate more club head speed with what really feels like the same amount of effort. Just imagine imagine Tiger, moving in the opposite direction. Feeling a twinge here, a stitch there, it has to play hell with his concentration and swing mechanics.