Finding a Professional to Suit Your Fancy

Golfers everywhere appreciate a good birdie, a saving par, and anyone who has ever held a handicap appreciates the magnificence of Augusta National, the Lake Michigan winds of Whistling Straights, and the tradition of historic Saint Andrews.

However, what continues to escape the appreciation of many golfers is the group of people that play golf the best, the professionals. They tame the game that tames us all, making fairway drives, 20-foot putts and bunker shots look effortless.

Only a handful of times, when golf grabs the main stage, is appreciation for the world’s best players truly universal. At these moments, golfers and golf fans around the world need at least one professional that suits their fancy, catches their eye, and proves worthy of their appreciation.

The golfer who remains atop the atmosphere of professional golf is Tiger Woods. He, alone, holds enough prowess to fluctuate television ratings of golf events. When Tiger is in contention, Sunday’s are significantly more exciting than trimming the bushes or mowing the lawn. But for golf fans to genuinely cheer for the professional formerly known as Eldrick, there are plenty of off-course issues they must look past.

For people looking to stay loyal to home, Steve Stricker is the guy. Stricker is the most famous golfer to claim Wisconsin as his home state, and he is currently number 12 in the world golf rankings. At 45 years old, ‘Strick’ also represents age and experience for his faithful fan club.

The polar opposite of age and experience is epitomized by the ever-youthful and flashy Rickie Fowler. Fowler began his professional career more notorious for his florescent outfits than his golf stroke. His shaggy hair and flat-brimmed hats have made him the Justin Beiber of the golf world, but a newly donned mustache is his own way of showing that he is ready to play with the men.

Or maybe a less flashy, but still young and exhilarating golfer, such as Bubba Watson, would do the trick. Watson is notable for his remarkably goofy antics (see his pink driver or his stint in the ‘Golf Boys’ video), but also his ability to hit the ball farther than any other professional. His unorthodox lefty swing leaves fans puzzled as the ball leaves the tee, but when it rolls near the hole, everyone is convinced that Bubba is big-time.

If accents are your thing, Northern Ireland lays claim to both Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, a pair of top-15 world golfers. Their native tongue has the power to turn heads, but not nearly as much as their golf game. Each Irishman has already won a major championship in addition to leading others.

Maybe a combination of these alluring qualities is best for choosing a favorite pro golfer. There remains an aging group of international golfers, heavy with accents, experience, and championships. The crew of Irishman Darren Clarke and South Africans Ernie Els and Vijay Singh are always fun to pull for as they battle against the younger crowd.

These names represent merely a fraction of all that professional golf has to offer. However, once the struggles of amateur golf become too much for any of us to bear, take note and appreciate the guys that do it best.