Question of the week [March 13-19]: In observance of March Madness, if a true 64-player, survive-and-advance format tournament existed — and included players from all tours — who would be your top eight seeds?
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1. Scottie Scheffler
2. Cameron Smith
3. Jon Rahm
4. Jordan Spieth
5. Victor Hovland
6. Max Homa
7. Patrick Cantlay
8. Dustin Johnson
Kathleen Daly
Staten Island, New York
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My top 8, in order, would be:
1. Jon Rahm
2. Scottie Scheffler
3. Max Homa
4. Viktor Hovland
5. Rory McIlroy
6. Patrick Cantlay
7. Jordan Spieth
8. Sungjae Im
Paul Vicary
The Villages, Florida
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1. Scottie Scheffler
2. Jon Rahm
3. Rory McIlroy
4. Cam Smith
5. Patrick Cantlay
6. Dustin Johnson
7. Justin Thomas
8. Tyrrell Hatton
Rob Rupel
Hollywood, Florida
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My top eight seeds must have at least won a major championship:
1. Scottie Scheffler
2. Jon Rahm
3. Cameron Smith
4. Dustin Johnson
5. Rory McIlroy
6. Justin Thomas
7. Brooks Koepka
8. Collin Morikawa
Ray Talavera
Sebring, Florida
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My top eight seeds in order:
1. Scottie Scheffler
2. Jon Rahm
3. Max Homa
4. Cam Smith
5. Rory McIlroy
6. Dustin Johnson
7. Viktor Hovland
8. Xander Schauffele
Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantley are really close and could be interchangeable at Nos. 7 and 8.
Barry Duckworth
Knoxville, Tennessee
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My top 8:
1. Scottie Scheffler
2. Jon Rahm
3. Rory McIlroy
4. Cam Smith
5. Dustin Johnson
6. Max Homa
7. Patrick Cantlay
8. Collin Morikawa
Bob Beasley
Greensboro, North Carolina
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IS A ROLLBACK THE RIGHT THING?
So the USGA and the R&A are going to fix the distance problem. My first response is what problem? Golf does not have a distance problem; rather old golf courses have a real estate problem.
Apparently, the problem is that courses such as Winged Foot, Oakmont and Augusta National (gasp) might become obsolete for championship golf. Across the pond this may even include St. Andrews (double gasp).
Note that none of these courses will be too short for about 99% of the golfers in the world. Your dream trip to the Old Course will not be ruined nor will the history made there in the past be diminished by a future with no more Open Championships. As to the ultra-exclusive private clubs that may be unable to host U.S. Opens? To say I don't care barely covers it. Members can console themselves by checking their investments.
Perhaps the USGA and R&A should build a championship course for their elite competitions with enough excess average to allow for the foreseeable future. They could allow any golfer to tee it up at these venues when no elite events are scheduled, which would increase viewing interest and enjoyment for the 99% — not to mention a cash cow for their fundraising.
But what about history? History will be unchanged at those courses but new history will be made at new and different locations. Major golf championships have been held at many courses that are no longer visited for various reasons, including Prestwick, site of the first Open Championship. Golf and life somehow moved on.
I believe golf is unique in that most of the golf played in the world is not elite championship golf. Most people who have played baseball, basketball and hockey have stopped playing by their late 20s, early 30s and most people have never played football. And those sports are overwhelmingly professional or collegiate. Golf on the other hand is overwhelmingly played by the great unwashed and for life. The USGA and R&A seem to be more concerned with the 1% or 2% of golfers who play for money. The elite amateurs are really just pros in waiting now a days.
The USGA and R&A should concentrate their efforts on the 99% and let professional golf solve its own problems and find their own venues. Build a suitable course(s) for the amateur championships and move on. Golf is really about the playing, not the viewing, which is just something to do when it's raining or frozen up here in the great white north.
Apologies for not mentioning tennis as a lifetime sport, but I think they got pickleballed.
Blaine Walker
St. Paul, Minnesota
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SOLVING THE SLOW PLAY ISSUE
Easy solution: Have caddies simply carry the bag and not be coaches/psychologists on the coarse. Make the players make their own decisions about club selection and putting paths. Get to the ball, take a few moments to think about the next, then just hit the freak’n ball! These pampered player consultations with caddies adds way too much time to the game.
Tom Snyder
Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
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