I think we can all agree it would be amazing to play a round of golf with our favorite professional. They might even relax a little and have a fun, light-hearted round. But to see them on tour is a different story. Calm, cool, and in some cases, even zombie-like, professional golfers mean business out there. They have to – it is their business.
If you could take a pill that would make you perform at that staid level, it might enhance your score. But would it enhance your day? This is the topic of discussion on my latest post over at Swing Thoughts on Golf For Women, which followed an interesting (and perhaps provocative) story by John Cassidy at Men’s Vogue.
April 7, 2008 at 2:56 am
Remind me never to play golf with John Cassidy (the author of the Men’s Vogue article). If he is willing to cheat with drugs, he’s willing to cheat in other ways. His statement that “the ban on beta blockers applies only to the PGA Tour, and I need all the help I can get” is nothing more than a lame rationalization.
Why not use non-conforming clubs and balls too Mr. Cassidy? After all, you need all the help you can get.
I don’t want anyone like that in my foursome. Hell, I don’t even want anyone like that on the course at the same time as me. It goes against the entire tradition of golf, where players police themselves. What other sport can boast that? (Can you imagine a baseball player at the plate turning around after a called ball and telling the umpire “No, that really was a strike. I’m out.”?)
That tradition of honesty is one of the reasons I love this sport and players like Stewart Cink who called himself for a penalty even though he knew he would be disqualified.
Shame on you Mr. Cassidy. Shame on you not only for your cheating, but for your glamorization of it.