Here are the first few paragraphs of my Tuesday column about Casey Martin at the US Open:
SAN FRANCISCO
Casey Martin is playing in the U.S. Open.
That may not seem like big news to you, but it is. In 1998 when he played in his first and only Open — at the Olympic Club — he was the cause célèbre of golf. Some people perceived him, 26 at the time, as a bad guy, although he’s a very nice guy. Some people saw him as death to golf, but clearly golf has survived.
Do you remember the deal?
He has a congenital circulatory problem in his right leg, Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome. The pain is excruciating and Martin was and still is in danger of needing part of the leg amputated.
To read the entire column, please click here.
Stan
Disabled people or challenged people have talent too. And what a shame at how much talent in this country is wasted or denied because of prejudices from the status quo ignoramuses…and I’m doing much editing to keep this short.
June 11th, 2012 7:47 pm
B-Rad
Common sense finally wins out, but it takes the Supreme Court and
not the PGA snooties.
Lowell, I’m surprised that you seem to be in Martin’s corner.
Golf must not be a traditional sport, in your mind. The snooties
won’t like you either, thinking like this.
This poor guy is just trying to get his broken-down body to the
next hole; where’s the big advantage in that? It’s not like he’s
competing in track and field in an electric wheelchair that does
the 1500 in two flat.
June 11th, 2012 9:23 pm
Johnc
The PGA Tour contributed one billion dollars in Charity last year. There is no discrimination on public courses and most people play there. Just wanted to offset the nasty remarks that some said about the sport.
June 12th, 2012 1:13 am
Lo Sbandato
Stan, golfers’ delusions that they’re athletes is not a disability, it’s just self-deception. The idea that simply walking could be so fatiguing as to affect the outcome of a game (they don’t even carry their own clubs!) proves just how little “sport” is involved in this pretentious hobby.
June 12th, 2012 4:18 am
John
Ah yes….Casey Martin. He’s one courageous young man.
However, I’m always conflicted about this. There’s certainly no question that he should be allowed to compete, and I wish him well. If he makes the cut, it will be one of the great stories of this year’s tournament. If he’s playing on Sunday with a chance to win, it will be “THE” story of the tournament. If he wins, he’s SI’s Sportsman of The Year…hands down! These are wonderful possibilities to be sure but very unlikely.
But, I digress. Here’s what I keep thinking…..
Ben Hogan won the 1950 US Open at Merion in an18 hole playoff with Lloyd Mangram and Buzz Fazio. That was after he played a 72 hole tournament, 36 of which were played on “Open Saturday.” He played the tournament on legs that were crushed in car accident that nearly took his life barely 16 months earlier. The accident would leave his legs with circulation problems for the rest of his life (not unlike Casey Martin). Watching Hogan’s unsteady walk on legs wrapped from his hips to his ankles was breathtaking.
Some months before at the Los Angeles Open, in his first tournament since the accident, he finished in a tie with Sam Snead. The next day he lost in an 18 hole playoff. Legendary sports writer Grantland Rice wrote, “Ben Hogan lost because his legs could no longer carry his heart.”
Like I said, I’m conflicted.
Still..here’s wishing Casey Martin all the best. I’ll be rooting for him….and Hogan.
June 12th, 2012 7:15 am
Dave T
I recall the story well, and even recall one Jack Nicklaus being opposed to Casey Martin riding in a cart, based on basically what John alluded to above. I see both sides to the story. I see the fact that even though it is a walk, it is a walk of at least 4 1/2 miles, over varrying terrain, played in the heat of the sun or other less friendly elements. And part of the game is having “your legs” under you late in the round or event. It is simply a part of the sport. I also see the side that needs to ensure that the sport is open to all players, regardless of disability and based sheerly on their ability to play the game.
I too am conflicted, but I, like John, will be rooting for Casey Martin, both on and off the course.
June 12th, 2012 10:06 am
Stan
No doubt John. But it is the same sport that still argues over Casey Martin and whether the CEO of some company-who is a woman- should be allowed into Augusta.
And I can tell you .the farther up you go in country clubs,the more backwards some members are to minorities. They don’t get it,they still think you should sit at the back of the bus…
I can only imagine what they say (or think) about Woods as he goes by…
June 12th, 2012 10:10 am
Stan
oop I meant Johnc.
June 12th, 2012 10:14 am
Dave T
@Lo Sbandato, while I agree that they do not carry their own clubs so they lessen the effect, I would challenge you to this, go and walk a golf course, mid afternoon heat and humidity, stop every little bit, on an uneven lie, take some practice swings, then a full swing. Then stop and pace around a “ball”, look from different angles. And 1 out of every 2 or 3 times doing that, repeat it at same time. Do this over the course of 7500 yards (adding in distance between holes) and do it daily over 7 days and get back to me about no athletic sport. Now is it marathon running, or the NFL or NBA or World Cup Soccer? (being played in Qatar soon no less) No, but still…it can tire the body for sure.
June 12th, 2012 11:05 am
John
Hi Dave,
I’m quite sure that Casey Martin will have a substantial gallery of well-wishers when he plays. It’s a feel good story for all the right reasons.
Obviously, I’m an unapologetic Ben Hogan fan. I admire him much more for his struggle than his talent, which was considerable to say the least. Because of the injuries he incurred in the car accident, Hogan’s tournament schedule was extremely limited for the rest of his career. In his Hogan Slam year of 1953, he only competed in 5 tournaments, winning 4 and finishing second in the other. 3 of the tournaments he won were The Masters, US Open at Merion and the British Open at Carnoustie. Only Woods’ Tiger Slam rivals ’53. The debate as to who was the greater golfer goes on (though when asked who the better ball striker was, Nicklaus says “Hogan easy”), there is no debate on who was the better sportsman. Once again, “Hogan easy.”
Here’s an intriguing thought….
“How many tournaments would Hogan have won if he could have used a cart?”
June 12th, 2012 11:54 am
Kathy
Are golfers with poor eyesight allowed to compete wearing glasses or contact lenses?
June 12th, 2012 12:00 pm
Dennis
I am sure Casey Martin is a wonderful person. I have never met him, but I am not in support of his right to drive a cart in a professional golf tournament. If he can’t walk he shouldn’t play in a professional tournament unless, of course, all golfers are allowed to drive around in carts. The equipment that professional golfers use is highly regulated so no one gets an unfair advantage over someone else because of superior equipment, additional equipment or new technology. Casey Martin is the only exception and I don’t think it is right or good for professional sports.
As for the glasses/contacts analogy, ALL golfers are allowed top wear glasses or contacts, even if they don’t need them. They can also use band aids for blisters and cuts. They can eat whatever they want while playing as long as they don’t hold up play. The point is that EVERYONE gets treated the same, again, Casey Martin being the only exception.
June 12th, 2012 2:12 pm
Stan
I think the answer to your question John is.. another question….How many tournaments would Ben Hogan have won with KTW syndrome and a cart?
And of course If Ben Hogan had KTW syndrome back then..he would have been banned. And that leads to my post about Disabled people being outcasts and wasted talents…
June 12th, 2012 2:22 pm
Dave T
John,
I am with you regarding Mr. Hogan. He was an amazing comepetitor and ambassador for the game. And one cannot argue with his courage and strength to come back from that accident and not just compete, but win as he did. You will get no such arguement from me. And I had no issue with Jack Nicklaus coming out and being in support of the PGA Tour not allowing Mr. Martin to use a cart in competition. I feel that walking the course is a valid part of the game. Again, no issue with me.
But I also have to wonder what Casey Martin could have done had he not be afflicted with the lifelong disease he has. It is an unknown that will likely never be answered. At least with Mr. Hogan we had some basis to work from. With Martin, no such baseline existed. And the fact that he can even compete at such a high level, and being in the pain he is on a moment to moment basis is a feat by itself. I have no such issue with him taking the PGA and USGA to court over his right to use a cart according to the ADA. I wish him well as he competes for the U.S. Open.
I jsut see both sides and have no major arguement on either side. History will dictate the matter in my book. And that is not such a bad thing.
June 12th, 2012 3:56 pm
Stan
I just heard some bad news. Inside the clubhouse its divided 50/50 in letting him play. So much for calling it a stereotype of golfers being elitists huh?
June 12th, 2012 5:47 pm
John
Stan….the question about Hogan using a cart is just mindless speculation on my part. The point is moot, because Hogan being Hogan, he would have never asked to use one, and wouldn’t have accepted one if offered. It was a different time from which Hogan’s character was formed. Not a better time…just different. Of course, times have changed.
In addition, I don’t believe Hogan would have been banned, because with Martin’s condition, it would have never occured to him to take up the game in the first place. And so it goes….
June 12th, 2012 9:30 pm
Johnc
Stan,
As Groucho Marx once said ” I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member. “
June 12th, 2012 11:54 pm
stan
And really..Kathy makes a strong point. I mean-golfers are using inclinometers or whatever that doo hickey is called..
And as I posted on another topic..its his right under the Americans with Disabilities act to have access. Or,in his case help with access by way of cart. Its law.
June 13th, 2012 12:16 pm