Asian domination on PGA tour coming? (Spoiler)

[farmer]

Tiger is half Asian. Rickie Fowler is part Asian. Who cares, we're all human beings.

 

The problem for Hideki and others, he doesn't speak English well and will have trouble winning over American fans when he talks through interpreters.

I will bet that he is working on his English skills. but won't do post round pressers without an interpreter until he becomes more proficient. Until he becomes fluent, he will have a hard time connecting with a broad English speaking audience.

[tyorke1]

I like the thought of the Canadian domination ,

[Christen_The_Sloop]

You won't see domination like the LPGA tour. Golf is still a fringe game, for the elite, in Japan. And in Korea, it's pretty big (with Golfzons all over the place), but most kids go into baseball if they are good at sports - And, most of your alpha male types go into more professional jobs. It's the culture.

 

The young ladies In Korea and to a lesser extent in Japan and other countries have a tremendous amount of motivation. Being a woman in Korea, you don't have so many options - the corporate world has massive glass ceiling (Unless your are elite you serve tea a euphemism for sate the ego of your superior), you might go into a family business, but more and more those businesses are being eaten up. So, that leaves marriage to a husband that works at least 70-80 hours a week and comes home drunk most nights (stupid soju drunk).

 

Men by comparison are complacent with the secure job, despite the long hours. Most just seek security and convenience and baseball.

 

So wrong. Asians aren't all the same you know...

 

Spent a quarter of my life in Asia. If you care to discuss what I said I am all ears.

[Medic]

You won't see domination like the LPGA tour. Golf is still a fringe game, for the elite, in Japan. And in Korea, it's pretty big (with Golfzons all over the place), but most kids go into baseball if they are good at sports - And, most of your alpha male types go into more professional jobs. It's the culture.

 

The young ladies In Korea and to a lesser extent in Japan and other countries have a tremendous amount of motivation. Being a woman in Korea, you don't have so many options - the corporate world has massive glass ceiling (Unless your are elite you serve tea a euphemism for sate the ego of your superior), you might go into a family business, but more and more those businesses are being eaten up. So, that leaves marriage to a husband that works at least 70-80 hours a week and comes home drunk most nights (stupid soju drunk).

 

Men by comparison are complacent with the secure job, despite the long hours. Most just seek security and convenience and baseball.

 

So wrong. Asians aren't all the same you know...

 

Spent a quarter of my life in Asia. If you care to discuss what I said I am all ears.

 

I would truly love to spend some time chatting with you. I once took a contract to teach some EMS courses in Japan some years back and, as a prerequisite had to take several diversity classes. Really interesting to be honest - our instructor from Japan was very knowledgeable about the differences between Eastern and Western societies.

Sadly I didn't end up being able to go to Japan because another training contract interfered. The guys that went came back with some amazing stories and ended up having a blast. I would wager that you, my friend, have some really interesting stories to tell.

[5teveoh]

You won't see domination like the LPGA tour. Golf is still a fringe game, for the elite, in Japan. And in Korea, it's pretty big (with Golfzons all over the place), but most kids go into baseball if they are good at sports - And, most of your alpha male types go into more professional jobs. It's the culture.

 

The young ladies In Korea and to a lesser extent in Japan and other countries have a tremendous amount of motivation. Being a woman in Korea, you don't have so many options - the corporate world has massive glass ceiling (Unless your are elite you serve tea a euphemism for sate the ego of your superior), you might go into a family business, but more and more those businesses are being eaten up. So, that leaves marriage to a husband that works at least 70-80 hours a week and comes home drunk most nights (stupid soju drunk).

 

Men by comparison are complacent with the secure job, despite the long hours. Most just seek security and convenience and baseball.

 

So wrong. Asians aren't all the same you know...

 

Spent a quarter of my life in Asia. If you care to discuss what I said I am all ears.

 

Well you're throwing an entire population of people into your own judgmental bucket and attributing the same attributes to all of them. You either get it or you don't. I've spent most of my entire life in north america and that does not entitle me to say that all north american dudes are judgemental clueless jerks because that wouldn't be true, now would it.

[Medic]

Well you're throwing an entire population of people into your own judgmental bucket and attributing the same attributes to all of them. You either get it or you don't. I've spent most of my entire life in north america and that does not entitle me to say that all north american dudes are judgemental clueless jerks because that wouldn't be true, now would it.

 

The only one truly being judgemental in this thread is you. Attributing attributes to people you do not know nor ever will.

 

Don't know what your real deal is and don't honestly care. Seems a lot like trolling.

 

I have said it before many, many times. If things that aren't are identified enough as things that are, then the things that truly are end up being more easily hidden. You're a new member here and aren't off to such a great start. Seen many just like you come and go several times. Bottom line, going on the attack as you have isn't building such a great rep. You never build yourself up by tearing others down - surely you can comprehend that.

 

As for me, well fortunately this place has an awesome block feature in order to avoid having to deal with members who "don't get it". Hopefully at some point you step off of your soapbox and realize that just because you say it doesn't always make it so.

[Soloman1]

I think that quarter of a life may only be 4 years...

[5teveoh]

Well you're throwing an entire population of people into your own judgmental bucket and attributing the same attributes to all of them. You either get it or you don't. I've spent most of my entire life in north america and that does not entitle me to say that all north american dudes are judgemental clueless jerks because that wouldn't be true, now would it.

 

The only one truly being judgemental in this thread is you. Attributing attributes to people you do not know nor ever will.

 

Don't know what your real deal is and don't honestly care. Seems a lot like trolling.

 

I have said it before many, many times. If things that aren't are identified enough as things that are, then the things that truly are end up being more easily hidden. You're a new member here and aren't off to such a great start. Seen many just like you come and go several times. Bottom line, going on the attack as you have isn't building such a great rep. You never build yourself up by tearing others down - surely you can comprehend that.

 

As for me, well fortunately this place has an awesome block feature in order to avoid having to deal with members who "don't get it". Hopefully at some point you step off of your soapbox and realize that just because you say it doesn't always make it so.

 

Thank you oh great white for teaching the world about itself through your expert/slanted opinions and oversimplified world view. You have messed up lenses anf you will interpret anything incorrectly because you seek to try to teach instead of observe. This kind of errant thinking from foolish people like yourself is so harmful and you are ignorant of your own ignorance.

[Conrad1953]

At the risk of sounding overly political, I think the golf community is going to have to be a little more mindful of its speech and "trigger warnings" as Asians begin to dominate.

 

I was watching the Sony Open a couple weeks ago and the announcer made a statement about one of the Asian players "sneaking up the leaderboard" as the camera panned out to Pearl Harbor. That's just mindless and obviously triggers notions of the surprise attack in 1941. Even in this thread, we have McIlroy and Day needing to "look over their shoulders" for Matsuyama, as if to ward off a surprise attack. Can Asians not face their competitors head on? Why can't Matsuyama just show up and dominate the field from the top down? Again, I think it plays to those classic, damaging stereotypes of the Asian male as "small," "quiet" and "sneaky." Not saying the poster meant anything by it, but just pointing out how ingrained its become in our language.

 

Same thing with references to their "work ethic" - calling to mind classic stereotypes of the Asian huddled over a math book, laboring through the problems, etc. Can't they be naturally gifted as anyone else? Maybe they don't need to practice much at all and like to spend more time partying? Is that why it was so difficult for the golf community to accept Anthony Kim? He didn't fit that stereotype of the "naturally subordinate, technologically gifted Asian who counts well, stays in line, etc.," as Eddie Huang wrote. Why aren't the Asian players allowed to hit a few balls and then go get wasted if they want to?

 

There have been several studies demonstrating that Asian males are basically the final frontier in terms of racial punching bags. I think back to Na being mercilessly heckled at Sawgrass that one year - would Harold Varner III have been heckled in that manner? And I've often cringed thinking about our first Asian winner of the Master's having to fend off references to General Tso's being served at the Champions Dinner, and what not. Especially if it happens during this current administration, which has seemed to embolden a lot of that behavior. I think that's what Elizabeth Warren was warning us about when she discussed how important it is not to normalize that behavior.

 

Given the golf community's dark past with some of these issues, I think it's something that enlightened observers will need to monitor and help keep in check as we move forward with more of an Asian presence.

 

This post gave me cancer.

 

Not sure why you think the golf community didn't accept AK? People love Anthony Kim for the exact reasons you say the golf community doesn't accept him. Not sure a prejudiced society would love a player who doesn't fit their supposed stereotypes. Seems like you're imagining things.

 

Second, players who take forever get heckled all the time. Remember Sergio's brutal heckling in New York due to regrippig issues? I'm almost 100% positive that Harold Varner would in fact get heckled if he was leading a major tournament and couldnt pull the trigger for mental yip/mental weakness reasons. I would also be positive that it would have nothing to do with his skin color.

 

So much more in this post that just blows my mind. As "Asians begin to dominate?" Because one Asian player is on a hot streak that we have seen from many, many times from many different players before.

 

Just LOL at you insinuating Jason Day, an Australian, and Mcilroy, Irish, needing to "look over their shoulders" for Matsuyama, has anything to do with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, America. "Look over your shoulders" is a metaphor derived from being chased while running, as Day and McIlroy currently are in the OWGR.

 

The golf communities' dark past? LMFAO. What are you even talking about? We have had some insensitive one-off comments from Fuzzy Zoeller and Sergio about Tiger, but if you think that is representative of the entire golf community, then you are guilty of the crime you are accusing others of! A common theme with a certain demographic of people in today's society .

 

Praising an Asian for their "work ethic" is now wrong too? What about when it was said about Vijay Singh or Tiger Woods or Tom Kite? I highly doubt the number 5 golfer in the world doesn't have a great work ethic. Even Dustin Johnson, one of the most talented players ever (who clearly likes to party), has credited his recent success due to his work with wedges on trackman.

 

I do think that your first point about sneaking up the leaderboard and showing Pearl Harbor is a little awkward. Every other point you made is completely delusional.

 

Plus he quoted Elizabeth Warren.......... aka Pocahantas.

[Christen_The_Sloop]

Ten years in Asia 3 in Korea, in the fourth biggest city. Kind of out in the suburbs. Everyone (99.8) lives in the these giant buildings that look like dominoes. Taught at a private school for elementary and junior high school students. Not a very diverse place, Korea. Known as, The Land of the Morning Calm or The Hermit Kingdom - The drive people have is almost unbelievable. The competition and pressure are immense. A high percentage of kids go to multiple schools per-day and then go on to do homework and then sleep very little. This competition does not cease later in life. I think one of the stories that illustrates the competition, pressure and stress of life there best is the student studying to become a Buddhist monk, who when learning that he did not pass, committed suicide. It would seem someone who was studying to be a Buddhist monk, of all things would not do that. So, things in Korea are very standardized, to a degree you need to witness to understand add to that competition, pressure, stress etc. You also see a high level of conformity. Students who are different are ostracized. Again, to a degree you just can't fathom. Do people get out and have fun? Sure they do. The level of alcohol consumption is staggering. Does everyone drink? No. But those who do... Wow. A school principal who I met, asked me upon meeting, 'How many bottles of soju can you drink?'

 

Japan is completely different than Korea and yet very very similar. The drive is not as strong. Maybe because Japanese people are more confident in their culture. They don't have the `Han` chip on their shoulder. But, there is still a lot of competition to be the best. There`s a tremendous amount of pride in cultural achievements, craftsmanship etc. The education systems are where you see a lot of similarities. Children are pushed to do well on tests from a young age, so the can attend different schools. So, you don`t go the junior high school near your house. You try to get into the best one you can and you do that all the way to university, at which point you can kind of coast. Once you get into the big university they do everything they can to see that you exit to a good job after your 4 years.

 

The many thousands of individuals that I have taught confirm everything I've said. I`ve worked with an exceptional tennis player whose father made him give it up to study. He said that rest of his teammates do the same after 4 years. I`ve worked with large number of university students who just want to pass and get a job at a good company, so they can start making money. Very few are passionate about their hobby, aside from travel and things like that. There are others who go into research and do great things and they will tell you themselves it`s not an expansive existence. Most folks take their work home with them.

 

Again, conformity is very big in Japan. Your role and expectations are very clear and life is very comfortable. But, you don`t have time. This happens from a very early age. In junior high school kids join `a` club. Only one (baseball or tennis or band etc.). And their is a very clear hierarchy. Kids do club almost every day and many weekends. So you can focus on one thing, really specialize. Which I think has lots of good points in the world we live in.

 

One last thing. It is far easier to generalize about Asia. America and Canada are diverse places, by and large. People assume you are from where you are, unless you tell them different. I live in a fairly cosmopolitan place, but the tourists that come are still kind of kept at arms length. Yeah, there`s certainly a distance. A lot of places I go with my wife treat me different when I am not with her (until they recognize me). I will always be a foreigner here.

 

Again, if you care to have a discussion and not act like spoiled child, I welcome it.

[Sira]

One last thing. It is far easier to generalize about Asia. America and Canada are diverse places, by and large.

You cannot be serious. Do you think it is easy to generalise Europeans, because imho, Asia is more similar to Europe in terms of diversity.

 

As a side note: It's a shame about the monk student. Here you need to memorize a few verses of Pali to recite for ordination process, but that's pretty much it, but then I'm not familiar with the branch of Buddhism practiced in East Asia (ie. Theravada vs Mahayana).

[2putttom]

I hope the PGA tour doesn't end up like the LPGA tour. TV viewership will go in the toilet if it does.

 

It's just the ones that quit watching that belong in the toilet. ;-)

:cheesy:

[Arpeggi]

someone quoted Elizabeth warren in a serious argument. Unbelievable.

[bscinstnct]

I was mostly referencing physical stature which, on the whole, I think has and will enable more ability to compete.

 

http://www.npr.org/s...reans-sprout-up

 

 

East Asians stood out for their exceptional growth. Eighteen-year-olds in Japan, China and South Korea are much taller today than a century ago. While growth in Japan has started to decline a bit, like the countries in the West, China and South Korea continue to climb the height ladder.

[Bingo1976]

One last thing. It is far easier to generalize about Asia. America and Canada are diverse places, by and large.

You cannot be serious. Do you think it is easy to generalise Europeans, because imho, Asia is more similar to Europe in terms of diversity.

 

 

Agree with Sira. Even in Myanmar, where my Wife is from, they have dozens of races and languages.

 

You also need to determine if this discussion is about orientals, or anyone from the Asian continent. Asian in the U.K. Refers to Pakistanis, whereas in the US I notice its more used to describe Japanese, Korean and Chinese, plus S E Asians.

 

I would say that one commonality across the entire continent is a focus on, and respect for, education, as well as ones elders.

 

 

[KingMike]

Personalizing aspersions such as, "you are obviously delusional" or "you don't know what you're talking about" serves to weaken your position. It means that you believe that there is real power in lashing out and, comically, that you perceive yourself to have been harmed. If you think a poster is delusional, rest assured it already sounds that way or will in time become obvious. If you can state your case without anger, it will go much further.

[Pat du Golf]

Please lock this thing. The thread is hijacked

[bscinstnct]

Tellin ya....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/golf/2017/01/29/jeunghun-wang-dreams-masters-debut-qatar-masters-victory/

 

 

Jeunghun Wang dreams of Masters debut after Qatar Masters victory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add the name of Jeunghun Wang to the extraordinary youth movement taking over professional golf. The 21-year-old from South Korea became the third youngest player in European Tour history to win three titles and all but guaranteed himself a Masters debut in the process.

[Outlier]

For those who say it'll never happen, just remember that more people live in that region then anywhere else in the world combined. Couple that with an evolving middle class and golf is becoming more & more popular. I don't think "domination" is the correct term but they will be a driving market and force on the tour in the future.

 

Didn't China just begin enforcing the law that makes golf a crime? That's A LOT of people removed from the equation.

 

They began enforcing illegal golf courses that are built on land that is either protected or not zoned.

 

What are you doing? Trying to be all correct with the facts and stuff...cmmon! It is much more exciting if they have made golf illegal which confirms what we all suspected anyway.....

[Outlier]

Ok, maybe clickbait. And I hope this has no resemblance to jimmy the greek ; )

 

But

 

With 2 young Asians leading the WM, I was thinking that with these guys at 6' and 200 lbs, its been the physical size difference that has been the reason we havent seen Asian dominance on the PGA the way it is seen on the lpga.

 

If the work ethic and golf culture from youth is there, and they are becoming just a big and physical as the rest of the tour, could be looking at very strong showings in the future.

 

Im all for it, btw. Let the best be the best.

 

Dear O.P.; just as you surmised, I agree your "theory" has "junk science" / Jimmy the Greek nonsense written all over it.

 

I am reminded of the piece I saw on Golf Channel circa 1999? This African fella living in (Montreal I think), married a young lady from Thailand. They and their 2 beautiful young children a boy & girl lived in a relatively modest apartment in which they had converted 1 of the 2 bedrooms to a makeshift "hitting bay". As I recall they had mattresses leaning against the walls and the kids were going through a basic daily regimen of school/read about golf/hit balls /repeat.

 

It was shockingly obvious this dude was trying to breed his own Tiger Woods and figured his "pure African" genes would be that much more potent than Earl Woods diluted down version. When you think about it, this could be the plot of any number of science fiction movies. I always wonder 2 things how golf channel actually spent money producing that piece; and 2 what ever became of the little kittens.

 

Now as for this thread:

 

Let me quote my 12 year old daughter who is quoting a movie or TV show or something...."that's not how this works, that's not how any of this works!"

 

If you bathe a large enough population with OPPORTUNITY eventually statistics say you'll get a golfer. Note my screen-name. Check into Malcolm Gladwell....he has simplified this kind of thing in a quite entertaining format.

[Medic]

I don't think that it will end up being so much of a "domination" as it will be a more profound presence.

 

And I honestly believe that this may well be the year that an Asian wins a major in the US. WAY too much talent!

 

It is going to be such an awesome Masters...

[Sean2]

At the risk of sounding overly political, I think the golf community is going to have to be a little more mindful of its speech and "trigger warnings" as Asians begin to dominate.

 

I was watching the Sony Open a couple weeks ago and the announcer made a statement about one of the Asian players "sneaking up the leaderboard" as the camera panned out to Pearl Harbor. That's just mindless and obviously triggers notions of the surprise attack in 1941. Even in this thread, we have McIlroy and Day needing to "look over their shoulders" for Matsuyama, as if to ward off a surprise attack. Can Asians not face their competitors head on? Why can't Matsuyama just show up and dominate the field from the top down? Again, I think it plays to those classic, damaging stereotypes of the Asian male as "small," "quiet" and "sneaky." Not saying the poster meant anything by it, but just pointing out how ingrained its become in our language.

 

Same thing with references to their "work ethic" - calling to mind classic stereotypes of the Asian huddled over a math book, laboring through the problems, etc. Can't they be naturally gifted as anyone else? Maybe they don't need to practice much at all and like to spend more time partying? Is that why it was so difficult for the golf community to accept Anthony Kim? He didn't fit that stereotype of the "naturally subordinate, technologically gifted Asian who counts well, stays in line, etc.," as Eddie Huang wrote. Why aren't the Asian players allowed to hit a few balls and then go get wasted if they want to?

 

There have been several studies demonstrating that Asian males are basically the final frontier in terms of racial punching bags. I think back to Na being mercilessly heckled at Sawgrass that one year - would Harold Varner III have been heckled in that manner? And I've often cringed thinking about our first Asian winner of the Master's having to fend off references to General Tso's being served at the Champions Dinner, and what not. Especially if it happens during this current administration, which has seemed to embolden a lot of that behavior. I think that's what Elizabeth Warren was warning us about when she discussed how important it is not to normalize that behavior.

 

Given the golf community's dark past with some of these issues, I think it's something that enlightened observers will need to monitor and help keep in check as we move forward with more of an Asian presence.

 

This post gave me cancer.

 

Not sure why you think the golf community didn't accept AK? People love Anthony Kim for the exact reasons you say the golf community doesn't accept him. Not sure a prejudiced society would love a player who doesn't fit their supposed stereotypes. Seems like you're imagining things.

 

Second, players who take forever get heckled all the time. Remember Sergio's brutal heckling in New York due to regrippig issues? I'm almost 100% positive that Harold Varner would in fact get heckled if he was leading a major tournament and couldnt pull the trigger for mental yip/mental weakness reasons. I would also be positive that it would have nothing to do with his skin color.

 

So much more in this post that just blows my mind. As "Asians begin to dominate?" Because one Asian player is on a hot streak that we have seen from many, many times from many different players before.

 

Just LOL at you insinuating Jason Day, an Australian, and Mcilroy, Irish, needing to "look over their shoulders" for Matsuyama, has anything to do with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, America. "Look over your shoulders" is a metaphor derived from being chased while running, as Day and McIlroy currently are in the OWGR.

 

The golf communities' dark past? LMFAO. What are you even talking about? We have had some insensitive one-off comments from Fuzzy Zoeller and Sergio about Tiger, but if you think that is representative of the entire golf community, then you are guilty of the crime you are accusing others of! A common theme with a certain demographic of people in today's society ��.

 

Praising an Asian for their "work ethic" is now wrong too? What about when it was said about Vijay Singh or Tiger Woods or Tom Kite? I highly doubt the number 5 golfer in the world doesn't have a great work ethic. Even Dustin Johnson, one of the most talented players ever (who clearly likes to party), has credited his recent success due to his work with wedges on trackman.

 

I do think that your first point about sneaking up the leaderboard and showing Pearl Harbor is a little awkward. Every other point you made is completely delusional.

 

Plus he quoted Elizabeth Warren.......... aka Pocahantas.

 

Actually, no one should play golf but the Scots since they invented the game. Everyone else is engaged "cultural appropriation". Come to think of it, no one should where trousers except the Chinese...the first pair of trousers was found in Western China and believed to be 3,000 years old...again, cultural appropriation. How insensitive we are.

[Santiago Golf]

I really don't see a dominant player coming out of South Korea due to the rule of military service. Sang Moon Bae was probably their best male shot and he is in limbo right now. I cant wait to see him get back into the game. China is a tough one to, due the government war on GOLF. I personally get why they don't want it.

 

 

I have friends who teach in Thailand and the stories they will about their junior golfers is scary. About how good these kids are at such a young age. If they had any sort of money to get over to play in AJGAs, it wouldn't even be a contest

[bscinstnct]

Ok, maybe clickbait. And I hope this has no resemblance to jimmy the greek ; )

 

But

 

With 2 young Asians leading the WM, I was thinking that with these guys at 6' and 200 lbs, its been the physical size difference that has been the reason we havent seen Asian dominance on the PGA the way it is seen on the lpga.

 

If the work ethic and golf culture from youth is there, and they are becoming just a big and physical as the rest of the tour, could be looking at very strong showings in the future.

 

Im all for it, btw. Let the best be the best.

 

Dear O.P.; just as you surmised, I agree your "theory" has "junk science" / Jimmy the Greek nonsense written all over it.

 

I am reminded of the piece I saw on Golf Channel circa 1999? This African fella living in (Montreal I think), married a young lady from Thailand. They and their 2 beautiful young children a boy & girl lived in a relatively modest apartment in which they had converted 1 of the 2 bedrooms to a makeshift "hitting bay". As I recall they had mattresses leaning against the walls and the kids were going through a basic daily regimen of school/read about golf/hit balls /repeat.

 

It was shockingly obvious this dude was trying to breed his own Tiger Woods and figured his "pure African" genes would be that much more potent than Earl Woods diluted down version. When you think about it, this could be the plot of any number of science fiction movies. I always wonder 2 things how golf channel actually spent money producing that piece; and 2 what ever became of the little kittens.

 

Now as for this thread:

 

Let me quote my 12 year old daughter who is quoting a movie or TV show or something...."that's not how this works, that's not how any of this works!"

 

If you bathe a large enough population with OPPORTUNITY eventually statistics say you'll get a golfer. Note my screen-name. Check into Malcolm Gladwell....he has simplified this kind of thing in a quite entertaining format.

 

I enjoyed outliers. Enlightening on multiple levels.

 

Nonetheless,

 

Athletics, by definition, is about *physical* capability.

 

On the whole, all other factors equal, a bigger person hits the ball farther than a smaller person. And no arguing that distance is a key factor to success in golf.

 

So, all things equal, cultural conditions that promote emphasis on a certain athletic endevour, for example, an increase in physical stature will produce more effective athletes.

 

What say you?

[ChillyDipper]

Tellin ya....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.telegraph...asters-victory/

 

 

Jeunghun Wang dreams of Masters debut after Qatar Masters victory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add the name of Jeunghun Wang to the extraordinary youth movement taking over professional golf. The 21-year-old from South Korea became the third youngest player in European Tour history to win three titles and all but guaranteed himself a Masters debut in the process.

 

yeah this kid looked really good. I wouldn't be surprised to see him over on the PGA Tour more regularly starting soon.

[Golfnut801]

Asian domination? What do you think Tiger Woods was doing all those glorious years?

[Bingo1976]

I don't think that it will end up being so much of a "domination" as it will be a more profound presence.

 

And I honestly believe that this may well be the year that an Asian wins a major in the US. WAY too much talent!

 

It is going to be such an awesome Masters...

 

What was YE Yang? Swedish?

[Danm2501]

Not sure about dominate, but Matsuyama, Ben An, Jeunghun Wang and Aphibarnrat are going to win a lot of tournaments around the world. Matsuyama is different level though, best ball-striker in the world right now.

[Burglar]

Thread going left faster than my tee shots.

[Outlier]

Ok, maybe clickbait. And I hope this has no resemblance to jimmy the greek ; )

 

But

 

With 2 young Asians leading the WM, I was thinking that with these guys at 6' and 200 lbs, its been the physical size difference that has been the reason we havent seen Asian dominance on the PGA the way it is seen on the lpga.

 

If the work ethic and golf culture from youth is there, and they are becoming just a big and physical as the rest of the tour, could be looking at very strong showings in the future.

 

Im all for it, btw. Let the best be the best.

 

Dear O.P.; just as you surmised, I agree your "theory" has "junk science" / Jimmy the Greek nonsense written all over it.

 

I am reminded of the piece I saw on Golf Channel circa 1999? This African fella living in (Montreal I think), married a young lady from Thailand. They and their 2 beautiful young children a boy & girl lived in a relatively modest apartment in which they had converted 1 of the 2 bedrooms to a makeshift "hitting bay". As I recall they had mattresses leaning against the walls and the kids were going through a basic daily regimen of school/read about golf/hit balls /repeat.

 

It was shockingly obvious this dude was trying to breed his own Tiger Woods and figured his "pure African" genes would be that much more potent than Earl Woods diluted down version. When you think about it, this could be the plot of any number of science fiction movies. I always wonder 2 things how golf channel actually spent money producing that piece; and 2 what ever became of the little kittens.

 

Now as for this thread:

 

Let me quote my 12 year old daughter who is quoting a movie or TV show or something...."that's not how this works, that's not how any of this works!"

 

If you bathe a large enough population with OPPORTUNITY eventually statistics say you'll get a golfer. Note my screen-name. Check into Malcolm Gladwell....he has simplified this kind of thing in a quite entertaining format.

 

I enjoyed outliers. Enlightening on multiple levels.

 

Nonetheless,

 

Athletics, by definition, is about *physical* capability.

 

On the whole, all other factors equal, a bigger person hits the ball farther than a smaller person. And no arguing that distance is a key factor to success in golf.

 

So, all things equal, cultural conditions that promote emphasis on a certain athletic endevour, for example, an increase in physical stature will produce more effective athletes.

 

What say you?

 

I say that "all things equal" says it all. Our world is of nearly infinite randomness. That's kind of the whole point....just when you think you can "reverse engineer" a human out come you realize things get messy, recessive genes, evolution, time. To me Outliers is an interesting view on some interesting people, it IS NOT however a realistic blueprint to building a human of any sort. Why hasn't the tour been overrun by 6'2" fast-twitch African Americans? Once upon a time a Black quarterback in big-time football was an oddity. Bob Gibson was a notable exception as a pitcher in big time baseball for a long time. Now a black pitcher or quarterback is a bit more common. What has changed?

 

What if I go try to find 5,000 Americans who fit Dustin Johnson physical specs (height, weight, body composition, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump etc.) how many could be African American, white, Latino, Asian? What if I limited my search to only inner cities?

 

What if I go try to find 5,000 Americans who fit Rory's same physical specs how many are could be African American, white, Latino, Asian? What if I limited my search to only country clubs?

 

To me those would be interesting endeavors but alone would do nothing statistically significant to identify a "world's best golfer"...

 

Despite all the mathematical, statistical and philosophical gymnastics one cares to do, it all comes down to a unique talent, meeting with a unique circumstance. Obviously the larger the sample size the better- "all things being equal"....which of course they NEVER are.