Danny Lee

[self-mastery]

I think that if you win an amateur event, it wouldn't be fair to the professionals, to then allow that amateur to turn professional, and use that amateur win, as a way to then make money playing in majors.
there is your answer.

I suppose sponsor' exemptions are also unfair?

 

[dashfan87]

I suppose sponsor' exemptions are also unfair?

that is another question entirely...

that is big business.

 

[puttmad]

...

Do you guys think Tiger would have achieved his great success without the services of Butch, Haney, etc.?

You forgot Nike...

 

[Robbohank]

The "big deal" is that for no reason at all Danny Lee has to put his professional career on hold for a year to play in those events (nobody in their right mind would turn down eligibility to play in the 3 biggest tournaments in the world). It just makes no sense.

The Masters is not big business? They let CBS cover their tournament for free? The winner doesn't get paid over a million dollars? Bobby Jones played in a completely different era that is not applicable anymore, it was almost 100 years ago. The USGA doesn't get paid for the US Open either I guess.

No sympathy from me that this kid has to wait until he's 18 to turn pro (if he wants the invites). The fact that we even consider the US Am winner a true amateur is almost laughable. The only thing that's more preposterous is that we consider the US Publinx winner a "public links" player. (I'm trying to picture Colt Knost on the phone on Tuesday's trying to get a tee time at the local muni.... Not happening!) For the most part these cats are all "silver-spooners". The fact that they have to put a "career" on hold if they want the auto-invite to Augusta is just too bad. I have to believe that what Jones had in mind when he created the invites for true amateurs doesn't match what the amateur game has turned into. I say let his original intent stand regardless of how the amatuer game may have changed.

 

[dbl]

Chris you seem to be ignorant of Colt Knost's choices. He won the US Amateur in 2007 and then turned pro. Some people criticized him for turning pro and leaving aside his Masters exemption, but I do applaud him making a choice good for him. He had graduated college, and so would have to be working as a bank teller or something for almost a year till the Masters came round. Plus, he said he and his family needed the money. But as well, he also said that he hoped and believed he was good enough he could get in again on his merits. On the Nationwide tour this year, he has won several times, so it looks like he is making his way back.

 

[Chris Sturgess]

Colt Knost is crazy. The Masters is the best tournament there is and the hardest to get into. It's clearly an opportunity that has to be taken. Too risky not to. He should have been a bank teller until then.

 

[Chris Sturgess]

No sympathy from me that this kid has to wait until he's 18 to turn pro (if he wants the invites). The fact that we even consider the US Am winner a true amateur is almost laughable. The only thing that's more preposterous is that we consider the US Publinx winner a "public links" player. (I'm trying to picture Colt Knost on the phone on Tuesday's trying to get a tee time at the local muni.... Not happening!) For the most part these cats are all "silver-spooners". The fact that they have to put a "career" on hold if they want the auto-invite to Augusta is just too bad. I have to believe that what Jones had in mind when he created the invites for true amateurs doesn't match what the amateur game has turned into. I say let his original intent stand regardless of how the amatuer game may have changed.

That is generally true, but is this Danny Lee kid a silver spooner? Regardless, the being an amateur at the Masters idea makes no sense anymore.

 

[Chris Sturgess]

The Masters is about tradition. They were going to do the event a few years back without sponsors. It could be 1000 years later and the tournament would still be about Bobby Jones, an amateur. What's so hard to understand about wanting amateurs to play as amateurs?

A lot of traditions are outdated and stupid. Check out the Amish. I already explained to you what is hard to understand. You are brainwashed and like talking to a brick wall.

 

[Chris Sturgess]

I think that if you win an amateur event, it wouldn't be fair to the professionals, to then allow that amateur to turn professional, and use that amateur win, as a way to then make money playing in majors.
there is your answer.

Why would that not be fair to professionals? They are not good enough at golf to beat a guy who merely won an amateur tournament? Do the pros really deserve the money in that case?

 

[dashfan87]

Why would that not be fair to professionals? They are not good enough at golf to beat a guy who merely won an amateur tournament? Do the pros really deserve the money in that case?

Thats a philosophical question, not really a matter of fact question...

fact of the matter, danny lee won as an amateur, and was invited to play these tournaments, as an amateur.

philosophically, should the pros have any problem beating an "amateur"? no, but many wont, that kid has a tour quality game. Anyone who wins the US am. does. I think, its perfectly fair to keep that amateur playing as such, seeing as how, THAT is how he got invited in the first place.

how would you like it, if you were playing lets say a game of poker for money, you worked hard to get to the big money table. and spent allot of money to get there.
mean while, there is another group of regular joes playing at a free table, the winner gets to come and sit at the big money table and play.
would it then be fair, to allow this regular joe, to get in on the action when really he didn't earn his way there like the rest of the table? or would it be fair to the rest of the table? it would be fair to allow him to sit in and play, so he can see what its like to hang with the big dogs, but not gain anything financially from it because he didn't earn that privilege like the rest of you.

thats my viewpoint on this anyway...

 

[Jared Willerson]

I agree with Robbo ENTIRELY about the Publinx. It is absurd. Trevor Immelman won it one year. His family is fairly wealthy in South Africa and I am sure his family was a member of a private club there.

IMO, the USGA should implement a new championship the "Mid-Amateur Public Links" that way guys over 25 who are public course players could have a chance to play in a championship. The Publinx has turned in to a US Amateur lite with international college players mostly playing. Also, if you are under 21 and in college and your FAMILY is a member of a private club, then that should extend to you as well. Too many easy ways of getting around this to play.

 

[niblick1]

The whole Bobby Jones/Amateur thing is an ancient relic of a bygone era. Like multi-gold medal swimmers without $9 million endorsement deals.

Jones was from a wealthy family, was successful in business, and he and others celebrated "amateurism" in the way that the 19th century and early 20th century folks did - sport was something a gentleman did at his leisure when not overseeing his dominion and inherited estate, and the rabble that played sports for money were the unwashed masses who could never achieve the true ideal of real sport by being amateurs and gentlemen. It was something of a Victorian relic from when the royalty and landed gentry of Europe were virtually the only sportsmen.

Pros in Jones era often made enough money to get by, in large part by, gambling on the course, which the true amateur and gentleman eschewed as being beneath him. And there weren't huge checks to be paid out to the guys who seemed to have a knack for finishing 8th (much of the PGA Tour would have needed a night job to play golf). 1st place didn't pay much either.

All of this is an over-generalization of course but every time I hear someone talk about the joys of amateurs at Augusta I can already hear in my mind some Jimmy Roberts-like overblown, whiney hommage to "amateurism," a Cadillac commercial, Jim Nantz talking in hushed tones like he is covering the coronation of a new Pope, and some overblown Masters theme music. What a bunch of pompous, nostalgic crap. The greatness of the Masters isn't nostalgia, it's a great course that has had great players play there. Period. Without that, all that "Masters a Tradition Like No Other" overblown strings, music, cadillac, Nantz stuff is just unbearable. The guy version of a chick flick.

Having said all that, I like to see amateurs play in the Masters. And if you never thought you'd amount to much in pro golf, why not take advantage of the exemption and play at Augusta? It is hallowed ground for golfers. I'm guessing Danny Lee thinks, correctly, the '09 Masters will not be his only shot.

 

[Chris Sturgess]

Haha, that was a great post niblick. I can't believe how many sheep like people fall for all the bs whiney hommages to amateurism and tradition. They probably like Jim Nantz too. Unbelievable.

Danny Lee should be able to play in pro tournaments and play at the Masters and if he plays well, oh no, they pay him. The ONLY difference between that an the way it is now is that now he is not allowed to play in pro tournaments for 6 months and if he makes the cut at the Masters they don't pay him. Who in the 'heck' cares if Danny Lee plays in pro tournaments for six months, and who cares if he gets a check after he makes the cut? The ghost of Bobby Jones? Bobby Jones wouldn't even care now. It's just stupid. A bunch of pompous, nostalgic crap indeed.

 

[Kevin Shields]

So just because some people arent bothered that the Masters wants the amateurs to stay amateurs makes them sheep? You need to get something more important to worry about.

 

[jenhaoyen]

So just because some people arent bothered that the Masters wants the amateurs to stay amateurs makes them sheep? You need to get something more important to worry about.

some people here are just coo coo u know what i'm talking about LOL

 

[Chris Sturgess]

So just because some people arent bothered that the Masters wants the amateurs to stay amateurs makes them sheep? You need to get something more important to worry about.

Yes. The fact that you defend it even though it makes zero sense makes you a sheep. I don't worry about this, much like almost all message board topics it's just an observation that I commented on, spending a total of maybe 5 minutes.