As golf seems to be moving into a new era, and the  almost certain arrival of the corporate golfer, with the  faceless player with logos adorning every space that  can be found. I was starting to think, where is golf going  and what will we be left with, in a few years.

Of course, the new breed of player does come with  talent dripping from there fingers and the ability to  never crack under pressure. But saying that, they also  have about charisma of an accountant.

They pop up once year, win their event, only to disappear, back into golf’s darkest regions to await there time again.  Maybe the only surprise that the golfing public has now days is when they take there hat off, only to reveal themselves from behind the mask.

What has ever happened to those players with character, charisma, and the ability to crack up, down the home straight making it interesting for the on-viewing television public?  Even as far back as the mid ninety’s the accountant players, so to speak, were already arriving. With their same hair styles, same clothing and shoe manufactures and all swinging the same way, and hitting the ball miles and better than ever before. The only saving grace then was that we still had people, with the it, that something that stood them out from the rest. Faldo, Langer, Norman, Daly, Seve, Couples, Fuzy Z, to name a few. Even as far back as the sixties or further, golf has always carried the charismatic player, Hagan, Jones, Hogan, Player, Palmer, Watson, Nicklaus, Trevino, Jacklin, all had something, that was more than just a golf player.

There is no doubt that these players are better, they play better courses, they have better equipment, with larger amounts money to play for. But, you get the feeling that if you could hide an alien into the golfing attire of today, it wouldn’t be noticed till they take there cap off.  Even the players who have any sort of personality, like Mickelson, Westwood, Els, Miguel angel Jimenez are as some would say, going into the twilight of there careers, and even the legendary Tiger seems to have a found a Tiger trap that he may not get out of, and what do we have left. The petulant MciLroy, who until recently was noticed more for his similar hairstyle, that resembled side show Bob. The Californian kid with the orange frying pan, on his head and Poulter with his fashion sense.

Of course every sport has its ups and downs, but golf has always supplied us with men and ladies you knew, from Ray Floyd, Lanny Wadkins, Brian Barnes, Weiskopf, Olazabal, Woosie, Darcy, Miller, Chi Chi, all players who could win and yet fail.

Tennis on the other hand has its purple period at present. 4 great players competing at there very best with maybe two of them, being the  the greatest tennis players, who have ever lived.  I’ve was reading recently  that even the best or the more senior of the film directors out of Hollywood, are also not that interested in running back to make films. As they say, there isn’t enough actors out there with character or that interest them.

If this is the case, then maybe golf not so bad off, but my god wouldn’t it be great to see the like’s of Seve Ballesteros marching down the fairways, whacking the ball into the crowds and then producing a shot that almost nobody else could do. Or the final day when 7 of the top ten cracked down the final stretch.

Wow, wasn’t it exciting, fun and interesting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bleachers