After last week's Barclays, an analyst said something along the lines of "another week, another surprise winner in this year of the underdog." What I would have said, and what he probably wanted to say, was: "another week, another random guy wins a big PGA Tour event in this year of the disappointing finish." For the 3rd week in a row (and what seems like the millionth time this year) a little-known player won a big tournament (PGA=Yang, Wyndham=Ryan Moore, Barclays=Heath Slocum). But does anyone really think these guys will be consistent winners? Let's take Y.E. Yang for instance. Yang took down Tiger at the PGA this summer. He didn't just edge Tiger out, he beat him soundly. Only minutes after winning the tournament Yang was already saying that he didn't want a rematch!
I'm predicting that Yang will be just another example of the continuing trend on the PGA Tour: a guy wins, he looks impressive, then fades off into oblivion. Adam Scott made it all the way to #3 in the world then totally fell off the map. What about Sergio? Last year about this time you were hearing: He won The Players! He learned how to putt and he's the #2 in the world he's going to take down Tiger! Finally! Next thing you know Sergio is steadily falling down the rankings and missing putts. I for one am sick of the underdog story. I'm still holding out hope that Tiger's Watson or Trevino will come along and challenge him just like those guys challenged Jack.
There was so much potential in the majors this year. At the Masters you had Tiger, Phil, and Perry making a run down the stretch. Guess who wins: Angel Cabrera! Cabrera is the wildest one of them all! He has won two huge tournaments: The U.S. Open and the Masters. You never hear the guy's name at any other tournament! Then the U.S. Open. David Duval, the ex-#1 player who has fallen off the planet (again proving my point about players falling off) is so close to winning but comes up short. Or you have Phil playing for Amy who is sick with breast cancer. Who wins? Lucas Glover. Then comes the British. You have potentially the biggest sports story of all time: "Tom Watson, winner of the British Open at age 59!" He would finally get the credit he deserves! But it wasn't to be. Stewart Cink, the party pooper of the year gets the win. Finally, the PGA comes around. Tiger has the 54-hole lead and everyone is thinking: "finally we will have a big name guy win! Tiger will get his 15th major and everything will be right in the world. Y.E. Yang wins the freaking tournament!
I don't want to detract from the big tournament winners this year, all of them played like champions (especially Cink and Yang). But rather than running away from a rematch, these players should be foaming at the mouth to get another chance at beating Tiger. If these players fade off as predicted then forget the year of the underdog, 2009 is the year of the disappointing winner
Keywords: Barclays, Golf, Heath Slocum, Tiger Woods, Wyndham
