Pro Golf’s Top-5 Greatest Over Achievers....

[golfday]

45 minutes ago, Christen_The_Sloop said:

 

The jury is still out on people like Shauffle. If he wins some big tournaments I might spend more time learning how to spell his name. 

 

Leonard had about as good of an amateur career as anyone not named Woods or Nicklaus. He`s kind of an exception to the short hitting over-achiever. In his case, with his pedigree, there`s an argument that he underachieved.

 

His case is interesting in that his career intersects with the rise of Tiger and the long ball. If his career had started ten years earlier, he probably has a few more majors. 10 years later he's probably a journeyman, Ishikawa Ryo comes to mind.

 

Stricker, as good as he is/was, I don`t see as a Ryder Cup captain. He`s right up there with Kenny Perry. They had pretty tremendous careers, but never could get the big individual win until the Senior Tour. Makes me think they had the game to win at the highest level.

Stricker is this year’s Ryder Cup captain.

 

Kenny Perry was the man, haven’t thought about him in ages. That funny swing produced some pure ball striking.

[golfandfishing]

Justin Leonard was all world as an amateur- top player on the AJGA Tour, 2 time all American, US Am and NCAA champion. I know winning a major and 12 tour events is pretty studly but he underachieved. Abysmal playoff record and a few other close calls puts him maybe 3 or 4 swings away from what could be considered an elite career. He is probably 1 stroke short of the hall of fame - flipping any of his majors playoff losses likely gets him in. 

[Divot License]

Leonard career almost mirrors Fred couples'. Will be interesting to see if he gets HOF consideration like Freddie did. 

 

I suspect he wont.

[OBbogey5]

1 hour ago, golfandfishing said:

Justin Leonard was all world as an amateur- top player on the AJGA Tour, 2 time all American, US Am and NCAA champion. I know winning a major and 12 tour events is pretty studly but he underachieved. Abysmal playoff record and a few other close calls puts him maybe 3 or 4 swings away from what could be considered an elite career. He is probably 1 stroke short of the hall of fame - flipping any of his majors playoff losses likely gets him in. 

Another guy that stands too far away from the ball when he putts 😉 

[OBbogey5]

44 minutes ago, Divot License said:

Leonard career almost mirrors Fred couples'. Will be interesting to see if he gets HOF consideration like Freddie did. 

 

I suspect he wont.

Boom Boom got to #1 in the world and won two Players. Couples >> Leonard

[geesecougar2]

Seve Ballesteros. From caddy yard to the greatest European player of all time and icon. 

[Ghostwedge]

16 hours ago, golfday said:

Stricker is this year’s Ryder Cup captain.

 

Kenny Perry was the man, haven’t thought about him in ages. That funny swing produced some pure ball striking.

KP is always the "man" , that funky swing sequence beat a lot of "pure" swings.

When his irons heated up, dropping dimes all round.

Jay Haas is another. Love those guys.

[Frankensteins Monster]

Todd Hamilton

[games]

On 3/1/2021 at 7:50 PM, Christen_The_Sloop said:

Stricker, as good as he is/was, I don`t see as a Ryder Cup captain. He`s right up there with Kenny Perry. They had pretty tremendous careers, but never could get the big individual win until the Senior Tour. Makes me think they had the game to win at the highest level.

 

I'm a Stricker fan, and there are a lot of people that don't see him as an RC Captain.  I think he developed a reputation as a fierce match play competitor, starting with the Accenture World Match Play in Australia in 2000.  It was a watered down field, but at that time, his game was in the toilet and he still found a way to win.  Then, I think it took another six years until he literally dug it out of the snow and started competing and winning again.  Also, I recall hearing he used to be a regular in Phil's Monday and Tuesday "money games."

 

But, to your point, I don't think his match play record in Ryder Cups was very good.  I think his record was pretty good in President's Cups.