Arnold Palmer – Bob Geismar

Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards 2013

Today, the Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards were given out and frankly, there weren’t any surprises. Five-time tour champion in 2013, Tiger Woods, came away with his 11^th P.O.Y. award. Tiger won the Arnold Palmer money title, The Vardon Trophy, for the lowest adjusted scoring average and the five titles was the most by any player on tour. He did not win a major but no one who won a major won more than 3 titles (Phil Mickelson) so the Tiger dominance of this award continues. The Jack Nicklaus award for the Player of the Year goes to the great Tiger Woods.

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/dr/pga/sites/default/files/articles/woods-tiger-wavescap-061513-640x360.jpg?1380057824 — http://i2.cdn.turner.com/dr/pga/sites/default/files/articles/woods-tiger-wavescap-061513-640×360.jpg?1380057824

The rookie of the year award went to Jordan Spieth who started the year with no status at all and finished the year with a victory and a President’s Cup team member, which, of course, will be contested next week. Spieth became the youngest man to win a title in over 82 years—at age 19 just before turning 20. There were other rookies of distinction, Russell Henley, Derek Ernst, and David Lingmerth of note but what Spieth did was nothing short of breathtaking. He went from 810^th in the world in January to now 21^st in the world golf rankings. This is a meteoric rise of epic proportions and I for one can’t wait to see him perform next week in the President’s Cup.

Bob’s top 10 women golfers of all time

The top ten men golfers of all time was difficult, I think picking the top ten women golfers of all time is even tougher. There are simply so many great women golfers who have achieved so much that separation between them is a task. In evaluating the greatest women golfers of all time, I have sort of divided the outcome into 4 distinct timeframes:

l. The “old timers”—or in better jargon the original women who started the ladies tour.

2. The next group of players who intersected the first group but also transcended into the more modern players.

3. The intermediate group incorporating the transcending group and

4. The modern players.

It just happened that all 4 groups are represented in my top ten women golfers of all time and here they are:

10. Juli Inkster—Juli is the winner of 31 LPGA events, including 7 major titles encompassing the Grand Slam. She was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000 and her incredible career is still ongoing past her 50^th birthday. She won 3 consecutive women’s amateur titles and has been the most prolific winner on the American side in Solheim Cup history—a remarkable career still going strong— Juli Inkster#10.

9. Nancy Lopez—Nancy burst – and I do mean burst – on the LPGA Tour in 1978, winning a record 9 titles in her rookie campaign, including five tournaments in a row at one point in that season and the prestigious LPGA Championship—one of her three major wins. Lopez’s dominance of the tour continued for a decade and a half in tournaments won and player of the year honors galore.

Although she failed to win the U.S. Open—4 second place finishes still embellish her resume. Hall of Fame election was an automatic in 1987. Nancy is considered by many to be the Arnold Palmer of ladies golf as she loved the galleries and they in turn adored her right back, fan favorite—Nancy Lopez #9.

8. Karrie Webb—One of two non-Americans to crack my top ten is the amazing Karrie Webb from the land down under, Australia. Karrie knew at an early age that she must venture to America to pursue her golfing exploits to their fullest, and she has not disappointed anyone. She has won 39 LPGA events including all of the majors (7 total). Webb became at the time in 2000 the youngest person ever elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame—no doubt the greatest Aussie woman ever to touch a golf club—Karrie Webb #8 all time.

Arnold Palmer created an American Invasion as #7 in Bob’s top 10 golfers of all time

7. Arnold Palmer

The winner of 7 major championships and a total of 62 PGA Tour events Palmer made golf fashionable to play and watch on television. He came along when TV and golf were not yet united as they are today. His charisma and charm made him a universally loved player—simply stated everyone adored Arnold Palmer. He transcended generations and was America’s golfing hero. In addition he revitalized the British Open as Americans had virtually stopped going over to the event but Palmer created an American invasion starting in 1960 that continues today.