Hall of Fame Material

Filed in archive Golf News on April 19, 2007

Courtesy: ImageWire

Two of golf's veteran champions were finally elected to the Golf Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

Now, I can never figure out how some sports figures get right into their respective Halls of Fame and others, equally or more qualified, have to wait and wait.

Case in point with Curtis Strange and Hubert Green.

Green and Strange joked that every year at this time Green would call Strange and ask, "Did you get the call?"

The answer: "Nope. Did you?"

"Nope", Green would reply.

Let's first take a look at their careers, keeping in mind this is the GOLF Hall of Fame we're talking about.

Curtis Strange: 17 PGA Tour wins, 2 US Open titles back to back in 1988 and '89, won three times in 1985 and 1987, won four times in 1988, played on five Ryder Cup teams representing his country and captained the Ryder Cup team in 2002.

Hubert Green: 19 PGA Tour victories, top 33 in all-time wins on tour, 1977 US Open winner and 1985 PGA Championship victor, played on three Ryder Cup teams representing his country, has won four times on the Champions Tour.

Although it's not golf-related, Green fought oral cancer enduring painful radiation and chemo treatment but now has a clean bill of health.

Why, one wonders, were both golfers relegated to a ballot that included John Daly and David Toms?

Fortunately, Daly polled only two percent of the votes.

I can't help asking why two guys who have four majors between them, more than three dozen PGA tour titles and historic Ryder Cup victories have to wait so long to be elected to the Golf Hall of Fame?

Now let's pull a few names who have been members of the Golf Hall of Fame for some time.

Mark McCormack, who became a player agent to Arnold Palmer, then Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus. A lawyer who established International Management Group, aka IMG, and grew it into the world's largest sports representation, marketing and distribution company. He became a multi-millionaire in the process.

McCormack was elected last year.

bing crosby and Bob Hope both loved the game immensely and spread its popularity due to their own popularity.

They put their names on tournaments that are among the elite of the non-majors on tour. Both tournaments now bear the names of corporate sponsors.

I can't argue with the selection of Crosby and Hope. With a good shove, I can accept Mark McCormack.

And I agree the Hall of Fame must include those who have made contributions to the game even if they haven't played it professionally.

But sometimes, the voting looks suspiciously like this season's American Idol.