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ESPN: SportsNation |
Hello! I'm ready for your questions!
Gary..how come in all your glorious career,that I followed thoroughlybeing a south african too,did no one ever hear you complain of any ills or pains or caused you to pull out of tournaments with excuses
Nice to talk to a fellow South African. There is nothing that infuriates me more than athletes making excuses. What I did to overcome the ailments is I excercised profusely and basically am a vegetarian which kept me healthy.
What skills of today's top players are superior to those of the top players from your era and what what skills are inferior? (putting, driving, iron play, wedge play, pitching, chipping, etc.)
I think players of yesteryear were better shotmakers. I think it was tougher for Nicklaus to win a major than Tiger. But I think it is much tougher to win a golf tournament to win today on the regular tour than when we played.
hey gary, how many push ups are you doing a day?
I do 1,000 sit-ups a day, except when traveling. But I do a whole routine of exercises. The most important thing is you have to eat correctly. I am a vegetarian, avoiding all the steroids, antibiotics and hormones in the meat, chicken and pork. I also avoid any fats such as milk, bacon, sausage, or the likes.
Are you going to any of the world cup games in your home country
Yes, I'm flying back to South Africa to spend five days on my ranch and then going to the final of the World Cup. Wish you could be there.
Mr. Player,I am an avid golfer and understand how difficult it is to win in this sport, especially at a very high level. There are many players on tour that are lucky enough to win one major but then never come close again. After winning your first major, how difficult was it to continue to win majors? Congrats on all of your accomplishments!
Obviously it helps you to win more to have won one. But I continued to practice like an animal and exercise like an animal and eat right. I wanted to be the first modern day player to win the Grand Slam and I'm proud I did that. I also won the Grand Slam on the Senior Tour and that was due to my attitude and how I prepared. And with the blessing of the man above.
So whats your take on Tiger? Give your honest assessment.
Tiger did wrong. He has admitted it. He said he was sorry. I hope he and his wife and children stay together. Time will tell. But we mustn't forget that we all have to forgive in life and those without sin be the first to cast a stone.
You have the most wins worldwide as a player. Do you think you will lose this stat? If so who will end up with the most world wide wins?
Records are always made to be broken. It is certaily much easier to fly around the world now than when I did it. It took me 40 hours and now it takes 16. I hope that there is another player who wants to win the most tournaments internationally. It is good for the game and promotes it. I would be the first to shake his hand if I am still living.
Do you still think that players on the PGA tour are taking performance enhancing drugs?
I don't think it I know it. I know of a professor who told me had been putting golfer on beta blockers for years. Two golfers admitted to me personally they were taking HGH. I advised them to stop taking it. Every day you read about different sports men and women who have been taking it. They did a test on 104 baseball players and 104 were positive. The Olympic Committee virtually said they are concerned about the Tour de France cyclists taking it. I would say in my opinion that there are at least 70 percent of athletes today on PEDs. The thing that is worst is that numerous school children who are taking the PEDs for various sports to excel. You only have to see the countries who have been found taking steroids at the Olympics. Recently Sylvester Stallone went into Australia and in customs he opened up his bag full of steroids and sent him back to America. Movie stars are taking it for roles in movies. We live in a world where if you don't take it you are at a disadvantage because the rewards are so high. The sad thing is when they perform well, you don't know if it is authentic. That is the sad thing. I've seen many athletes, skinny, and then all of a sudden they are built like Tarzan. It's a very sad world that this has to be in sports. And in life in general.
Many classic golf courses are becoming obsolete with the increase in distance from new technology. In your opinion, should the USGA scale-back the advancements in the golf ball to limit distance? If not now, when would the tipping point be?
I'm a great admirerer of the USGA but there has been a drastic mistake in not cutting the ball back at least 40-50 yards. We haven't seen a Jordan or Shaq on the tour yet and when they do they will hit it 420 yards and the courses will be obsolete. This is a living fact. It's common to see 400 yards now and again. The courses around the world are the same culprits as the greedy CEOs. We are spending hundreds of millions on lengthening courses around the globe. Woudln't it be nice if we spent that money on the youth for education and fitness and play the same courses we played in the past with a ball that is normal?
The sad thing is the USGA and RNA are going to have to change in the future and they can't see it.
They are also limiting a driver to a certain link .. I think 48 inches. Can you imagine a man like Michael Jordan using a tiny driver?
Golf technology has evolved to such a tremendous level, it's hard/impossible to compare great players from various generations. If you could give every player the advantage of today's equipment, and have them meet up at the height of their games, who would come out on top?
All those Major winners would benefit immensely from a driver that hit 50 yards further. Imagine what we would have scored? Imagine if we had all those illegal grooves which they have just suddenly stopped? And soft spikes instead of hard spikes that scraped the greens? And a private jet? A prize of $1 million? I was leading money winner in '61 ... 30 tournaments ... 69 average ... and won $64,000. You cannot compare golfers of different eras. Hogan was the best in his time. Nicklausa?? in his and Tiger and in his.
What is one thing that golf has taught you that not only affected how you played, but also affected you off the course?
To be punctual. To have respect. And to have admiration for people when they beat you. To take my hat off inside. And many other things in life.
Do you think Phil Mickelson could get to 10 Major Championships before his career is finished, and do you think he will win the US Open this year?
Mickelson is very wild off the tee. If he can straighten out his driver he certaily could win 10 majors. It certainly is encouraging for left-handers all over the world. He handles the gallery with great affection and I wish him luck.
How did the "wearing all black" thing start? Thanks
I'm going to take a guess and say around 1960. There was a series on TV called "Palladin" and he wore all black. My father told me to have a trademark. I straight away said I'm going to wear black, I'm from black Africa, and having a trademark really helped. My dad don't be like the sheep that walk in the fields and have their heads by the other's backside ... hold your own head up hight. Nicklaus had the Bear, Trevino has the sombrero, Palmer had the umbrell, Tiger has the swoosh.
Gary -- '72 PGA @ Oakland Hills . . . did you see the 9-iron actually land on 16 in the final round? You were moving pretty fast on the highlights I have seen.
Could not see it land. But I needed the shot because nine of us were within 2 shots. I was a little lucky because in the practice round I hit a shot the same distance. Being in the rough and being wet, I knew it was a 9-iron. It was going to fly. It's only through the grace of God it landed where it did.
Is there a major that you liked the most? The Masters, Open Championship, US Open or PGA?
My favorite tournament was the British Open. You can hit a 7 iron 200 yards one day and the next day 100 yards or less. You haven't got time to feel sorry for yourself fighting the elements. You can hit a great shot and end up in disaster. Plus it is the most historic tournament and where the game started. Thank goodness for the Scots or I would be planting potatoes on the ranch.Thanks for the questions and interest! I've always head greate appreciation for the fans and much respect. God Bless America!
My favorite tournament was the British Open. You can hit a 7 iron 200 yards one day and the next day 100 yards or less. You haven't got time to feel sorry for yourself fighting the elements. You can hit a great shot and end up in disaster. Plus it is the most historic tournament and where the game started. Thank goodness for the Scots or I would be planting potatoes on the ranch.Thanks for the questions and interest! I've always head greate appreciation for the fans and much respect. God Bless America!