Alejandro -
Would you watch a golf tournament if they made everyone play with the old school clubs?
Al -
Absolutely. Who wouldn't watch every player in the field playing with exactly the same equipment at least for one tournament a year?
Think of the possibilities. Call it the Hogan Invitational. Call it the Jones Jubilee.
Believe it or not, we think the players would love it.
Still it would never happen because of the money being pumped into the game by the equipment companies, who are de facto lobbyists for all intents and purposes.
But a game from semi-normal tees at St. Andrews with 1930s or even 1950s equipment would be a whole lot of fun to watch.
And then who would be the favorite? The best swing of say Rory or Adam Scott? The best thinking approach to the game like a Zach Johnson? The best putter like Steve Stricker?
That would be a ton of fun.
NCAA college football head coach Nick Saban of Alabama speaks during the ceremony for the acceptance of The MacArthur Bowl trophy which is in front of him during the Southeastern Conference Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 18, 2018. The trophy is presented annually, since 1959, to the top team in the country. (AP Photo/John Amis)From Mickey
I just started reading the 5-at-10 because I love press row. You guys are awesome.
How has Atlanta been at SEC media days? Who is the best coach to deal with in the league?
Thanks and keep up the great job.
Mickey -
We'll definitely ask Paschall this question for you this week because he deals with the SEC coaches way more than we do.
Personally, Saban has always been one of the better ones in terms of answering questions. That is as long as he does not have an agenda or a talking point that he wants to enforce or be a bully about something he wants to direct at his fan base.
My personal favorite of the league's football coaches right now is Dan Mullen, who edges Derek Mason, who is also a ton of fun.
Here's one that may surprise you: Will Muschamp is sneaky clever and seems like he would be a fun ride as a beat writer.
Thanks for listening and you are always welcome around these parts and of course on Press Row.
From Tom
Was talking with my buddies and we had a question for you: What would you shoot at Carnoustie?
Also, I am a bogey golfer, so what do you think I would shoot?
Thanks and we read the 5-at-10 every day.
Tom -
I have played twice this year - once at The Honors, and played great (82) and once with family in Alabama and play rotten.
So we'd likely call ourself a bogey golfer too at this point. There was a time when I was a lot better than that.
So it goes, and life and kids and the rest can take time away from the practice tee, you know?
Anyhoo, as for Carnoustie, well, know this: We would struggle greatly from the pro tees.
Greatly.
Maybe not as much as we would struggle at Shinnecock last month at OUR Open, but the numbers would be large.
Considering the carries and the penal scenarios - yes, we got penal in there (that's what she said) - that would require shots that we simply do not have, do not practice or do not even have the imagination to practice.
So if we started with a bogey expectation at a normal course of normal distance - say a Bear Trace - then the starting point would have to be a double-bogey expectation for something as nasty as Car-Nasty, right?
That's 107 right there (par is 71 at Da Nasty), and that's if we are playing pretty well. Yes, the numbers would be lower if we played forward tees, but if we're talking tournament conditions, that's were we would set par.
So if Tom, if you and I were playing alongside Tommy Fleetwood ("Nice hair") this week, considering the length, the distance and do not forget about the pressure of all those people watching, we'd think 120 would be a decent goal. And we're not a terrible golfer.
And in truth, we're not sure we could have broken 120 at Shinnecock or 130 at Shinnecock on that Saturday afternoon round.
(Side note: While we are here, kudos to 5-at-10 regular Ernie, who had firstr-ound leader Kevin Kisner in his draw for THE Open contest. Well played.)
This week's Rushmores
Rushmore of Will Ferrell movies: Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Step Brothers, Elf. (We think Old School is aces and the streaking scene maybe Ferrell's all-time shining moment, but it's not a Ferrell vehicle in our mind.)
Rushmore of father-son acting duos: Sutherlands; Sheens/Estevez; Douglases (as in Kirk and Michael); Bridgeses over the Brolins, the Fondas and the hard-charging Hanks boys.
Rushmore of golf announcers: Faldo; Feherty is aces on the course and everyone else tries to match his wit and humor; Tirico is the best play-by-play guy even though Nantz gets the backdrop and the drama of the Masters every year; everyone who talks with a British accent because they just sound like golf.
Rushmore of British Open moments: Hogan winning in his only trip across the pond (that's a dude move for sure); Jean van de Velde standing in the burn at Carnoustie in 1999; Nicklaus making birdie at 18 at St. Andrews in his final hole; and personally the tragedy of Watson missing that kick-in putt that would have allowed him to win another major at the tender age of 59 and change. (That last one edges the amazing duel Stenson and Mickelson had a few years ago.)