Thursday
Jan242013
The Picture Of 21st Century Amateurism
Steven Fox, current U.S. Amateur champion and still an amateur playing the Farmers Insurance Open on a sponsor's invite...as an amateur.
The USGA's 2011 Herbert Warren Wind Book Award winner
Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 01:51 PM
Reader Comments (51)
Am I a professional? Am I about lose my amateur status? Would my changes for "amateurism" become better if I wear a Titleist cap instead?
Is this really an issue? Are we implying that young Steven Fox is virtually a pro, being carefully cultivated by the TaylorMade wizards behind the curtain who ply him with golf bags and caps? Or, don't you believe that the current U.S. Amateur champion is worthy of a sponsor's exemption that should instead go to some burned-out, 45-year-old (plus) one-time Tour player?
Show me a junior golfer at any AJGA event and I promise you that you'll see logos. They like the gear, they want to "look more pro" so they'll match up logos. Try to buy a golf bag these days and you'll see that if a company makes golf clubs, they'll put their name on a golf bag as well. Not everybody is Sun Mountain or Ogio, you know.
Let's see.... who do we pick on next?
That probably even a taylormade granola bar!! ;-)
long lanky and hit the ball a ton, dressed to the "nine's"
but you have to replace the caddie with a rangefinder
It's not just the hat and bag, but the hat, shirt, shoes, sticks, bag, all straight out of the latest TM-Adidas catalog. I was even going to speculate about the maker of the round, spherical object he strikes with his TM clubs, but after last night I'm not sure exactly what is permissible around here. (kidding, Shack).
The season is young and I hate those yellow shoes already.
And, before someone suggests that having the logo on the bag constitutes advertising he should note that this bag, with that logo, is readily available for sale and is, therefore, permitted.
BUT
Winning many AM events resulting in trips to the pro shops to gather your 700 bucks (I think) worth of stuff, could get you bags and clubs and what all....but the Adidas stuff sure makes that likelihood seem , uh, unlikely.
I have never liked adidas shoes, and could never afford one of their shirts, but I do like T/M drivers ) I'm still in the R7 and R9 era--always cheaper to follow the latest gimmick by a season or so----I hated the white look, so the R11 is not a consideration, not to mention, I'm on IR at this time.
... so anyway back to the AM....let the boy play Ben; if he's broken some status deal, he is the one not going to the Masters, for some crummy shirt, and a new pretty one wood.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/golf/8220850/Kos-modesty-an-abiding-virtue
I still have a 10.5 N R5 with an NVS to get me going when all else fails-- I have a bunch of R9 shafts, My fave a TP voodoo X, and a TP 50g superlite with a hot rod tip to make the club from a 8 to an 11 or a 7.5 to a 11.5- I can't recall. Anyway fun tinkering when I was playing.
Which brings up the bad news--my local shoulder surgeon backed out, as I have a more complex shoulder replacement than he has ever done...so I need to go back to my guy in Austin (who was origionally going to do it) the bummer is, it is a 2 step surgery, adding at least 2-4 months until I will be able to play...no tournaments for me this year, as it now stands. I must admit, I was very depressed when he backed out of the work.
580XD Tour head (2)
R7 Shallow Tour
R5 Tour
R9 Superdeep Tour
R9 Supertri TP
R9 Tour
SuperFast TP
And that's just the drivers! Oh, and I do have an Original 7* Pittsburgh Persimmon ;) I also recently dug out a Raylor circa 1992 that I'm going to cut down to the length of a hybrid and use it as, a hybrid!
Very sorry to hear about that but maybe it's for the best....better that than him getting in there and screwing it up. Keep us posted please....
Just because the bag is for sale means what exactly? He's advertising one brand and obviously getting it all free and scripted by Taylor Made/Adidas. He's making a mockery of the USGA rule as I see it. Tell me how he isn't?
What DavidC asked!
Seriously, this is the most blatant abuse of that rule imaginable. At least other guys mix it up or throw in their college bag or a non-corporate visor. This guy is advertising one brand and not doing it very subtly.
@Dig... The TM 200 faiways are still great. The 200 Tour TM Heads (Ridge Top/Smoothie) were even better. Best of luck with the health.
@ Titleist38 .... If Fox had his Chattanooga bag instead of the TM bag but still had the same TM clubs/apparel or TM clubs and a non TM hat would it make a difference? A few years back when Grant Spieth wore a Titleist cap at the Nelson one day then a Texas cap the next day it nearly caused a few Shack followers (perhaps even Geoff himself) to almost have a coronary.
If the rule is in place for these guys to get gear from an equipment company based on the current ROG should they turn the gear down? Being in the same spot would you turn the equipment down? Perhaps some people would be pleased if amateur players were still in a suit and tie playing hickory shafted clubs with feathery or gutta percha balls and msiing the cut by 30 shots.
We can all be upset about the golf lords and the rules the have in place and have imposed/proposed but should we really be surprised when people follow the ROG and take advantage of what they have available to them? IMO we should not.
My guess is that he's not going to play any more NCAA events (with the intent to turn pro after Augusta). Thus he would no longer be subject to their rules. He would then, as a few have said, be subject to only USGA amateur rules. He's actually coming on a podcast I do in March. I'll ask him.
Geoff and Dave...you guys missed the Ping/Chattanooga headcover in there ;-) Is the kid sending a signal? Is he going to turn up for school again?
He will never have to pay for an item of equipment,a lesson,fitness session or travel ever again as an amateur.Great for him-and I have no problem with that but there is no question that the equipment manufacturers groom their future players from a very early age.
And I wonder how much these guys ever put back into the game in recompence for all their help?
I have a few, but you have a museum!
580
580XD
R5 N
R7 TP
R7 TP Tour Issue
R9 TP several shafts, a couple with hot rod tips
you win.
Thanks on the shoulder thoughts ( you too OWGR ) The Doctor, my wife and I all said, thank God he was sharp enough to read the MRI correctly, and brave enough to admit it was beyond his experience to do, before he had cracked me open.
Mike U-- Should be interesting when you do the interview. I have a feeling you have it pegged, though.
The Rules of Amateur Status are available at the USGA's web site -- how about you tell us which rule is being breached.
I've read those rules, have you?