Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 25, 1993 TAG: 9304250013
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL BRILL
DATELINE: GREENSBORO, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
You don't accept that golf is more mental than physical. You know that a set of clubs out there somewhere is just waiting to be picked up.
The pros don't think that way, of course.
Don't believe it.
John Mahaffey has played the pro tour for 23 years. He's won 10 tournaments, including the PGA in '78. He's seen the change in available equipment, and, like you and me, he's tempted.
Last week in the Heritage at Hilton Head, Mahaffey shot a 78 in the third round and told his caddy, Todd Blersch, "I think I've used these irons too long. Get rid of them."
Blersch, who wasn't making much money because his boss had missed three cuts and withdrawn twice in 10 events, did what he was told. He gave a fancy set of irons to a young man in the gallery.
Of course, there was still one round left. "He took me seriously," Mahaffey said of the caddy. "He did the right thing. It was an executive decision, but I had to play the next day with clubs I'd never used before."
Think that shouldn't matter to a veteran touring pro? Mahaffey shot 85. "It looked like I had never played before."
Mahaffey ditched those clubs, found some new ones before the Kmart GGO began Thursday, and promptly shot a 70. He said he should have gotten an award for most improved.
"I've been out here 23 years, and the thing that has changed the most is the equipment. You want to try the new stuff. There are 15 varieties of steel, plus graphite, and now aluminum is coming back.
"It used to be that you had no choice. Maybe you'd hit a 3-iron to the left and a 4-iron to the right, so you just put it in the computer upstairs and compensated."
But in this high-tech, space-age world of golf equipment, you can always find a club out there that will strike the ball down the middle and 20 yards farther.
"Now you can get a set of clubs made to your specifications," Mahaffey said, "and the consistency is a lot better. It's easy to fall prey to blaming the golf clubs for your problems. I've got a set I like now, but I won't say I'll never go to the trailer again and find another shaft."
It is no surprise to find that many of the pros are superstitious. Arnold Palmer might bring as many as four or five sets of clubs to the course before deciding what to use. "He changes daily," Mahaffey said.
More typical is GGO defending champion Davis Love III, one of the current youthful stars. "I change irons all the time," said last year's No. 2 money winner. "But the driver and the wedges stay the same."
Those are the scoring weapons, the reason why Love won more than $1 million in '92 and shot a record 62 in the final round here on his way to a six-shot victory last year.
Superstition or not, golfers have a hard time blaming themselves for bad shots. And, at every level of ability, they are seeking the perfect clubs.
It's much like a fat man looking for the painless diet that will promptly eliminate an unwanted 20 pounds.
Mahaffey has been on tour more than half his 44 years. "To do that, you've got to know how to play a little bit."
But the temptation never goes away. "You never stop looking," he said, "even when you know the answer is up here." He pointed at his forehead.
Sound like any golfer you know?
by CNB