The U.S. Open will be held this weekend at Oakmont, and so it’s time for my favorite tradition: In anticipation of majors, I like to look ahead and try to pinpoint which golfer in the field would provide the absolute worst storyline if he wins.
I should say, this has nothing to do with the skill of the golfer or anything about him. This award is more an indictment of my fellow media members. Simply winning isn’t enough. We have to come up with a storyline.
For some golfers, this is easy. The top top guys — Spieth, McIlroy, Mickelson, Johnson, Day — all have built-in storylines. If an aging golfer who no one has ever heard of wins, he is a journeyman who finally finds redemption. A young golfer or amateur no one has ever heard of is an up-and-comer ready to make the leap. Repeat major winners are “solidifying their legacy.” Golf writers will do just about anything to find a compelling storyline, though. They’ll hunt down sick siblings or find a story about the time the golfer was broke and just needed a break. They’ll do whatever it takes to make a golfer interesting, to add a narrative to a golf tournament.
For some golfers, though, it’s just…
