First Saturday Open Championship Rant

I'll get to this defensive golf nonsense in a moment. And let me say, Thank God for Tom Watson.

Okay, Jenkins Tweets:

Now, Ross Fisher should be commended for saying the right thing. He wants to be with his wife for the birth of his first child, announcers swoon, women cry and the world is a better place.

But let's think about the well being of the child. What would be better for his or her long term health and security?

Dad, stinking up the waiting or delivery room, or possibly winning the Open Championship?

Win the Open, and Ross/Rossette is set for life and therefore likely to be well taken care of, going to college, etc...

Pass up the Open victory chance, have dad there to witness the billionth child birth, and what good does that do the youngster? Maybe dad never gets another chance, ends up toiling on the mini-tours and the young lad grows up to work the carnival circuit picking up elephant dung? Not that's there's anything wrong with that.

But I'm just asking...

Update on Saturday, July 18, 2009 at 08:56 AM by Geoff

Alliss agrees with me!

"In an ideal world" he says, Fisher's wife tells him to stay, play and come home with the trophy and she greets him with a healthy newborn.

Comments

[John G]

No brainer (from someone who has kids). There will always be plenty of golf tournaments. Only one chance to be a part of your child's birth.

As for some perceived future impact on the child's well-being by Fisher not winning a tournament and some money -- well, there are much more important factors in raising healthy, well-adjusted children than money. As if any child's future station in life hinges on the outcome of a golf tournament...

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

So does this mean I have a brain, or not? Yeah, I know: the latter. But I do have two kids and was there for the birth of both. But if one had entered this world while I was on the back nine of the British Open and leading the Championship, I would have missed it. With the full support of their mother, by the way, who would not have been impressed with my appearance in the hospital under the circumstances.

[Spence]

Let's agree that there are going to be differing opinions on this one. After watching both my kids being born, I'd leave the tourney too. But I wouldn't blame him for playing. Non story with no 'right or wrong'.

[matt]

I disagree, John. A golf game is fleeting; it can leave at any instant. He may never be in this position again(he probably will, but you never know). He can always knock up his wife-and preferably not 9 months before a major.

I'd rather be set for life than know my dad was there the exact moment I was born.

[DavidC]

Do your kids even know if you were there for their birth?

[John G]

"I'd rather be set for life than know my dad was there the exact moment I was born."

Be sure to say that to your dad next Fathers Day! I hardly consider winning the Open equating to "set for life." And this isn't about the child. Geoff's implication is ridiculous that the child's future is completely tied to Fisher's fortunes in this event.

I completely understand the dilemma that Fisher might face - but it's purely what is most important to HIM, not the child. Everyone has different priorities. I'd like to know how Fisher's wife REALLY feels -- if he misses the birth, he may be physically unable to "knock her up" again...

I was playing in a city tourney the week before my first son was born. I carried a pager in case my wife went into labor. In the final round I was having a career round and joked (after the round) that if the pager went off after the 16th hole, I would just play in because that was the shortest distance to the clubhouse anyway. But if that pager had actually gone off, I probably would have been so flustered that I would have left my clubs and run in!

[OB]

Naive, John G. Oliver Fisher is English. It would be a huge win for him financially. Huge!

Did you not see the dollar figures thrown around for an Andy Murray win at the Wimbledon? Christ, they just knighted an insufferable jerk because he's from England and won three of these things.

[matt]

I believe a win here is worth over a million bucks, and more than that in endorsements. This ain't the city championship! An injury or turning into the second coming of David Gossett could occur-you never know in life. Denying your child the opportunity for such security would be criminally asinine.

[thusgone]

i don't understand the downside to missing your kid's birth in order to win the open. men in my father's generation did not attend the births of their children, and, present company excepted, that generation seemed to turn out okay.

if it were me (and i don't have kids and am unlikely to), if i felt i had a good chance to win, i'd play out the tournament. i think my wife would support this decision. i may have a different answer if she felt i needed to wd and hustle to the hospital, though.

[John G]

So now you'd commit Fisher to an asylum for WD'ing? Please, people. Millions of children are born every year to non-professional golfers and grow up to lead long, productive, happy, and yes - financially secure - lives. Plenty of people have figured out how to succeed without a silver spoon in their mouth.

[cardinal]

A woman's perspective: I doubt Ms. Fisher would call him now even if labor pains started immediately. His presence is not necessary to the birth, and I doubt she'd want to put him in the position of opting to leave the course when he's in the position to win his country's Open. And even she does make such a call, I'm certain she'd tell him to continue playing. I'd rather see my husband have an opportunity to fulfill a lifetime dream than to be present for my shrieks of pain and a birth that the baby will not remember.

[Queen Mum Shiksa]

Thank you Matt, Ky Laffon's Ghost....
OMG John G. I need a big shovel for all that sanctimonious, self righteous drivel. To equate anyone's "station" (Yikes!) in life to whether his father was present at the hospital is self aggrandizing and ridiculous.
I, along with all my friends, gave birth in the dark ages where men couldn't even come into the delivery room--no videos, no Skype--Lordy, how'd we do it? All the offspring are wonderful, successful adults now--certainly not scarred for life.
Now as for Fisher--I'm rooting for him and induced labor tonight, so we can see him quit! Will he or won't he? Who cares? I love Dan Jenkins's tweet! Cry me a river and don't let the door hit you on the ... on the way out ! We'll get you a police escort. He can go to a pub afterward (where those bloaks will be throwing things at him) and sit down with Sarah Palin!!
NEW RULE
If your wife's due date is within a week on either end of the tournament dates--you cannot enter and must give your place to someone worthy of a chance to be "in it to win it"! I don't want to be tortured listening to your "hard choice"! Be glad you have a choice (not everyone does) and be quiet.
As a dear golfer/physician friend of mine says.."There are 2 things in life nobody really needs to see--childbirth and making sausage".

[Howie]

Pretty laughable American insularity to be making Fisher out as some Craig Perks-type figure. A top 25 WR and over US$5.5m in prize money earned at 28. Ah yeah, I think his kids are going to college, Homer...

[Morg]

I doubt his wife will make the call if she knows he's in position to win the Open.

Having said that, I would be a totally different person had I not witnessed the births of my sons, and I understand why he would want to be there for himself and for his wife.

[Hawkeye]

Geoff, you don't have kids, right? Anyway, I was there for the birth of my two children, it was a wonderful experience, but still, if I were in Fisher's clothes, I'd call my wife and say: "If you haven't beeped me before the 7th hole and I'm within five strokes of the lead, that pager is going to find itself on the bottom of the Irish Sea".

[John Dubai]

Hawkeye and Geoff. I agree with you. I have two boys, 16 and 14. There for both births, but I wasn't playing for the Open. If they thought I'd skipped anything to be there they be incredulous. Being there for them now is more critical. Go Tom Watson, make anyone else earn it tomorrow.

[Jermaine]

Hawkeye

What does whether or not Geoff has kids have to do with anything? I don't either..so?? The rest of your post seems to reflect what you really are....My guess--you will never be in Fisher's clothes, and let's hope your children take after their mother!!

Jermaine

[John G]

Queenie: "OMG John G. I need a big shovel for all that sanctimonious, self righteous drivel. To equate anyone's "station" (Yikes!) in life to whether his father was present at the hospital is self aggrandizing and ridiculous"

Re-read my posts. I took no such position and find your statement just as ridiculous as Geoff's: if Fisher passes on a chance to win the Open and a nice paycheck, his child might grow up to clean up after elephants at a circus. THAT is ridiculous and THAT is the point I am arguing.

[John G]

Jermaine: "What does whether or not Geoff has kids have to do with anything? I don't either..so??"

Let's just say having children tends to change your perspective on quite a few things...

[paboy]

Talk about giving a kid a guilt trip or enourmous ego for life. My dad is a golf pro and if he left the State Open with a chance to win I would still feel guilty.

What should they do with the pairings if he withdraws tonight or at 11:00 am on Sunday. Not playing would be rude to the other competitors near the top of the leaderboard. He sould have stayed home rather than try to create reality TV.

[Alfonza]

DLIII turned out pretty good...

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

LOL! Alfonza wins the thread!

[Chunky Chipper]

I am waiting to read a comment from Geoff's dad...What would he pass on to see his son entering the world?

[Hawkeye]

Jermaine, it was the quote "billionth child birth". Every parent knows that a parent doesn't quite see it that way.

[Hawkeye]

As for the rest of your comment, Jermaine, well, it just goes to show that attempts at humour in a discussional forum can be a difficult thing. I guess I'll better stick to my old-fartish historical posts.

P.S. My wife herself said "Why would he quit with a chance to define his career? He's got plenty of sleepless nights the coming year to make up for a missed delivery!" You're right, I hope our children take after their mother.