As a dozen golfers head out to Scottsdale, the Doctor has decided this year to compare these individuals' character and games to the history and character of twelve schools that comprised the old Big Twelve.
Issues of past performance, favorable pairings, tee boxes, and deviation from the rules of golf have been hashed over ad nauseum. Dave Berliner has provided ample statistics that
Golfers and fans can review to determine what makes for a level playing field. The Doctor believes that as the group ages a little humor and folly should be offered to send these men off the first tee. While the reader may feel one or more individuals might be more appropriately assigned another school for matriculation, the combined rigor of the schedule results in the following assignments. Doctor as always has made his prediction as to what strokes should have been and who the drones and favorites appear to be now that the group (and only those playing) have voted the handicaps.
Player University Drs. Opinion
WARD Texas 3.5
The five-time sweater winner has always been the Big Bully in the group. He has most athletic ability and best Putter. Ward is like Texas in the Big Twelve, everyone's target he has as many sweater as Texas had championships. The question is who can beat him? He is the player outsiders immediately associate with the sweater. He does not have to be the smartest player in the group; his physical presence overshadows the rest of the players.
Lately, however he has been more hat than cattle. His ego still makes him take on all comers. Ward should have won in Minnesota, but has now gone the longest of any of the sweater winners since his last win. He is frequently in the final group with many of the same favorites every year. He is hitting it straighter and his wedge game is not betraying him as it has the past few years. His chipping and putting will determine if he is to win his first since beating the Doctor.
Only Ken ( Oklahoma) with his unpredictable game , Dave with his talent and Tins with his strokes have a chance to compete.
DAVE Colorado 4.5
One of two Division One athletes and an ex pro golfer he now makes OCC his home course, Like Colorado he does not seem to fit in with the character of the rest of the players. His personality and demeanor do not really fit with the other eleven. He would just as soon play for fun. Dave hates the head games and negotiations that are a part of Dodge Park lore. As a Colorado native this is a no brainer for his big Twelve team, but it is his nonchalant attitude that makes him more like a Buffalo, than the rest of the men on the trip. As long as he does not wrench his back at Eli's he should be in the final group. This is good chance for his inaugural sweater.
Dave has a solid game, and a beautiful putting stoke. He has to avoid the mind games that often accompany certain foursomes and just concentrate on the nice weather and his game.
KEVIN Iowa State 6.5
The current champion and Dunlap native who but Spack could represent the Cyclones the agricultural school in the state. Kevin's win up North was nearly as big of upset this year as the Cyclone victory over OSU. He should be a 7.5 but is reduced one for his win in late August. It should be noted that Kevin has other similarities with the team form Ames. He usually starts well on the road, gets a few bad calls, collapses only to rally at the end. Like Iowa State, he is often overlooked, but his reputation was greatly enhanced with his par on 18 at Detroit Lakes.
As the current sweater holder with his length he cannot be ignored. Kevin's short game may be a bit rusty, but he learned in Minnesota to not try and overpower the course on every shot. Only his temper could unravel his second sweater
BILL C.. Kansas 7.0
Cuts has a great Bloodline, and is a Kansas graduate as are numerous members of his family. However, like Kansas he does not live up to his potential, and instead of playing like the basketball team his game often resembles the football squad, careless and foolish mistakes and lack of concentration . Even Charley Weis would have a problem with his demeanor at time. Cuts has game he just has to channel his father, his late uncle, and his sister for the competitive spirit to compete and win. Cuts regularly plays with far better players than in the sweater, but winning championships is far more mental than physical.
Billy is far better than his handicap, but until he keeps his composure and just plays the course instead of the opponents, he will probably continue wearing suits not sweaters. His last round in August at Detroit Lakes demonstrated he has the game to win at any handicap.
MIKE Baylor 7.5
The only private school in the Big Twelve that comes with a religious heritage Mike fits the Baylor image well. While Texas graduates like to flaunt their wealth, Baylor simply has a sense of style and grace. Mike differs from the other eleven golfers since he is more concerned about how he hits the ball than how he scores, and believes, as Hogan that putting should not be part of the game. Mike's hero Hayden Fry was a Baylor man, and even though he went to Iowa , as to golf and the great courses he plays as a rater, he has an elitist attitude.
Mike could run away with the event as he did his rookie trip to Arizona., If he starts over-swinging and misses a few putts he could be King Drone. The smart money is that either G string or Dave will hit the most fairways.
TOM Kansas State 7.5
Tom and Bill Snyder are ageless. Both have a reputation of being constant worriers about the littlest thing. Both of these old men have gotten very close in the past but are simply not able to get over the hump. No one should with his handicap have won more sweaters than the pro, but T.P. is cursed.
Tom has all the skills to win. Even only average putting will suffice to give him his first victory. It appears he may have an allergy to yellow, similar to Kansas State's inability to beat any team in Red. While H supposedly has the most superstitions, it is the mental games that Tom's plays with his inner demons that are his undoing. The sweater Brethren have again voted him the most favorable handicap, but all that has done in the past is cause Tom pressure form the first hole to the last. Instead of being enabled, he has become unable to win.
Tom needs to check his excuses at the baggage terminal and leave them until the return flight home where he can suffocate them with his first sweater. At least Kansas State finally beat the Huskers. If he can beat Cuts's mental attitude( Kansas) he might win it all.
KEN Oklahoma 7.5
Yes, he lives in Oklahoma, and yes, his biggest games have been with Texas( Ward) and Nebraska (John) however, the Doctor recognizes that like Bob Stoops, Ken needed to leave his hometown to prosper. Ken is one of the few golfers who is not afraid to take on the bullies, and who has been able to fight through his own demons to succeed.
Ken is always ready to swing for the fences, but accepts his bad shots far more graciously than most. It comes with the territory. The one player whose handicap would no doubt increase drastically if all twenty scores counted, he is one of the few players who does not subconsciously seek and advantage from the pairings or the strokes on the first tee. He always wants his and your best game. Moreover, it is only his fault if it does not show up
Ken has been enabled in the last few years., he can go low, but he can also shoot himself out in just a few holes. Of all the players, he probably will have benefitted the most from the practice round, and normally his warm weather in Oklahoma would have given him more practice. Nonetheless, he has never contended when getting less than four from Ward.
KRIS Texas A. and M. 10.0
Why Texas A and .M. my partner asked. Simple, he has always been second banana to Texas in athletics and nearly everything else. No other school anywhere has so many superstitions and traditions including. The Twelfth Man; standing up throughout the game; kissing your date every time the team scores; push-ups for the cadets and cannons being shot off. These hardly compare to Kris' antics on the green or the first tee or even at the water cooler, Kris is an Aggie, who else fits the bill. Even more significantly, during negotiations on the first tee, he is always willing to not play, or change teams if the stokes are right. Suffice it to say, no one else in Sweater lore could fit this bill better than H. He is as willing to change partners as A and M was to go to the Pac Ten, the SEC or anywhere else as long as it is to his advantage
Kris is frequently in the final four, especially recently. His Ghin handicap has gone down, but not as much as his sweater handicap. Even with reducing his handicap by one for winning in Arizona last year, he has the sweater brethren and even the Doctor convinced he should be a ten. He now as resisted to alcohol to calm his nerves, but he seems to be able to shoot in the 70's whether in Arizona or Iowa in January. The fact that he once received this many strokes when the base s zero must be considered . Six is about right against Ward. He is better than his younger brother is. H has nearly the same length, a better putting stroke and is tougher under pressure although Fritz won the CCC.
KIRK Missouri 11.5
Who but the Fritz the Cat could represent the Missouri Tigers. His relationship as second fiddle to Nebraska( John ) is both professional and psychological. No two golfers hate to lose to Kris like the Silverstone duo. Fritz almost died in Arizona and gave away a championship to Pedro. Despite his great raw ability, he at times simply cannot perform to his level of talent. Does this sound like Missouri football or what. Fritz is quite often the one player who is willing to walk off the course rather than put up with any more gamesmanship. Can you sense the SEC and Big Ten in the background. Fritz really does not fit into the TJ mafia, despite his bloodline and tradition. He would prefer to go to antique shop in Scottsdale or a wine bar than play the extra none holes.
It is difficult for the Doctor to criticize the man who helped him finally win the Charles Craig Classic , while with Kris I could not qualify, Tins and I came in third, and John and I missed out by less than a foot on a putt off, ( our friend Jack shanked it into the gunch for second place). However, Fritz plays far less golf than the rest of the sweater group, has a far more sensitive soul, and is far more combustible than H . There is probably not enough cranberry vodka to make the Cat a fifth time sweater winner and tie Ward. He did not go on the scouting trip. His handicap is less than his Ghin but he needs one or two from his brother. I see a strong second group finish for the Cat. MEOWW
JOHN NEBRASKA 15
It is not the Silverstone box, the Nebraska residence , a grandfather nicknamed Red, or his preoccupation with beating Kris, which rivals Nebraska's thirst to beat Oklahoma that makes him the Nebraska choice. It is the fact that he often lets his competitive Zeal overcome his common sense as it pertains to the golf games with the TJ mafia. Simply put John's pride can only equate to the Big Red. Certainly, he has a healthy rivalry with
Ken (Oklahoma) and a love hate relationship as teammates with Ward (Texas) but it is his overall bravado that equates to the Big Red Nation, when playing great or horribly.
John's game has improved over the years but getting only 11 from the base is fair. If John is to win a Yellow sweater, he needs to beat Doug straight out and despite his ego in stroke play. Kris needs to give Johnny five strokes a round.
DOUG OKLAHOMA STATE 15
The Sweater has only one Division One basketball player on its roster and is not Prine.
An excellent coach who emphasizes defense and smart basketball, Doug mentally is a Henry Iba clone. However, his known grumpy and fiery side, clearly reflects a similarity to Mike Gundy. This relates not only as to his age and athletic ability but also as to temperament when things go South, His alma mater Drake is an unappreciated in the Missouri Valley as Oklahoma State has been in both the Big Twelve and on a national stage. While H became a good golfer based on play and sheer competitive will, within the next few years the Doctor expects Doug to beat H consistently everywhere but Dodge.
The fifteen handicap is based on his lack of familiarity with the courses and while he should get one stroke less than John the scouting tip results suggest they should play even and Doug will probably finish in the middle of the second group.
CHRIS TEXAS TECH 20
Anyone who has ever played golf with Chris in Arizona knows that the player seen most frequently far in the desert is the Tinman. If you have ever been to Lubbock you can envision one of Tinley's Blue marked Titleists ending up on its outskirts. Texas Tech has always been the abnormally of the Texas schools, a lot of talent at times quirky coaches and different offenses and defenses whether for football or basketball. Nothing tends to be by the book, and certainly, a Tinley par follows the same description. Tins analytical but fantastic view of Creighton basketball has all the passion of a Bob Knight, and certainly, his barbed remarks, witty comments, and encyclopedic knowledge are reminiscent of its one time lawyer football coach, Mike Leach. Tins hates the BCS schools and no BCS school is more overlooked than Texas Tech in the Big twelve
Chris's health issues this year cannot be overlooked when calculating his handicap for a five-day grind in the desert. Stamina is a factor and while Doctor who recently played with Chris for a great round at Dodge would normally give Chris a seventeen , Doctor believes that the Prepster needs at list 16 off the base , to contend. This is a net one more stroke than when he won his sweater in Minnesota as a fifteen. If his wife was on the trip TCU would be the choice, but the Tinman can compete with twenty.