A Struggling Trio

Filed in archive Golf News on May 10, 2007

Courtesy: Lee Westwood.com

The problems that life sends us can bedevil professional golfers on and off the course.

There's an old golfing adage that's apropos of today's news: "you drive for show and you putt for dough."

Utter that truism around Ryder Cupper Lee Westwood these days and you might find a Scotty Cameron wrapped around your neck.

Westwood is the English golfer who had such a promising career going about 7 years ago. He was number one in Europe, newly married and looked set to be the next top Euro player to conquer the PGA Tour.

Today, Westwood has slipped to 63rd in the world rankings and he blames his putting stroke for much of it.

Like many before him who have had putting woes, Westwood has adopted the belly putter to try and staunch the flow of financial blood from his bank account.

Last week at the Wachovia Championship, Westwood says he was "about third in greens in regulation and 89th out of the 88 who made the cut when it came to putting".

Today, Westwood tees it up not at the 8 million dollar Players Championship at Sawgrass but the Andalusia Open at the Costa Del Sol, a result of his poor form.

But Westwood's tee shots fly much truer than his putts roll.

Fellow Ryder Cupper, Thomas Bjorn has the opposite problem: he would love to be able to drive for show again.

Bjorn's troubles with the big stick have plagued him for several seasons, resulting in up and down play and a world ranking of 68 as he gets set to play alongside Westwood this week.

To compound his problems and loss of confidence, Bjorn fell off a rock during a TV shoot at his home in Wentworth, England (also home to Ernie Els, among others) two weeks ago and badly injured his wrist.

From swing and putting woes to health problems, now.

2006 Ryder Cup captain, Ian Woosnam was a damned good golfer not that many years ago.

He's only 49 but his game has been well below par, if you'll excuse the obvious pun, for many years.

Professional golfers can't afford to spend year after year trying to regain form; the older they get, the less competitive they become no matter how strong their games are.

So a bad patch that stretches over years is a waking nightmare.

And Woosnam has been living it. Woosie has an added burden: he has suffered from something called Ankylosing spondylitis for more than 20 years.

It's a rheumatic disease that attacks the spine, causing chronic inflammation, pain and stiffness. It can also result in the vertebrae fusing together in the lower back.

In short, a guaranteed career ender.

Last week, Woosie withdrew from the Italian Open with back trouble and was very worried that the disease was going to force his retirement from the game even before he joins the Champions Tour.

But a shaft of light has penetrated Woosie's gloom with the news that he has been suffering from a virus.

"I first suffered from the virus in March when I was playing in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand", he told the BBC. "The specialist has given me an injection to clean me out and it seems to be working. At least I know I'll be playing golf again", he said.

While life's difficulties afflict all of us, professional golfers included, an indomitable spirit can conquer them.

Look for Westwood, Woosie and Bjorn to be winners again.