Hauser: Giving thanks around golf for 2011

text size

Martin/Getty Images

Harrison Frazar taught us all a lesson about golf -- and life -- in 2011.

It's just not about turkey or pumpkin pie or an early start to Black Friday.

It is about football -- rivalries and flag football with the family, that is -- and it is the only day that is purely American.

But mostly Thanksgiving is about blessings. About friends and family and gathering around a table. About taking a minute to reflect on the important people and things in our lives. About things that touched you; things that make you smile.

So, that said, here are a few of the things we're thankful for in golf:

• Fred Couples. Is anyone else so at ease with just being? He's one amusing combination stream-of-consciousness-run-on-sentence-Yogi Berra-isms. He's also unflappable.

• Jackie Burke. He'll be 89 in January and he still knocks 'em dead from the podium. He tosses out one-liners faster than Letterman and Leno combined. No one spins a better story. No one teaches you more in five minutes, either.

• Harrison Frazar. He was ready to walk away from the game -- one foot was out the door -- when he got out of his own way and won. A lesson, not just in golf, but life.

• Keegan Bradley. His enthusiasm is infectious. The grin. The Where-Will-The-Wanamaker Trophy-Go-Next trip via Twitter. The joy -- and fear -- of throwing out the first pitch on your own field of dreams. First major was first glimpse of how you're never too old to let yourself enjoy being a kid after winning your first major.

• Darren Clarke. The reverse Keegs. Clarke's first major came when he figured he might be the next Colin Montgomerie. Clarke had been through so much, this was one of those triumph of human spirit moments. There wasn't a dry eye in his inner circle. Not many outside it, either.

• Annual mammograms. Yes, we've mentioned this before, but ... they're important. Just ask Amy and Mary Mickelson, whose battles with the disease have put it front-and-center. Or Judy Rankin. Or ... so many women. It takes a strong woman to wage war on the disease, but we all know someone who is doing just that.

• Twitter. Mindless fun 24/7. You can get everything from the latest fashions (Ian Poulter) to politics (Paul Azinger) to economic advice (Joe Ogilvie) to entertainment (Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, Ben Crane) to breaking news (everyone). You know who's boarding what flight, what assorted players like for dinner. Writers toss out stats, everyone snaps pictures. Your inside peek at tournaments, travel and sometimes just some funny quips from players.

• Augusta National and St. Andrews. Really special places. Just step onto the grounds and you understand.

• Rory McIlroy. You didn't know what it looked like next to those cabins at Augusta National, did you? Sadly, he gave us a guided tour in his major meltdown, but bounced back to win the second major of the year in a runaway. The innocence of youth? The resilience? The dominance? Pick one. Everyone started contemplating the future when he won the U.S. Open and Holywood was overrun with reporters and Rory cookies.

• Arnie. You smiled. He does that to us, even after all these years. That wink gets you every time. He can't stop giving back which is a blessing to the game and the fans.

• Jack. Admit it. You still think back to 1986. Maybe further back. That he's here pushing to make the game, the golf courses and his tournament better all the time. Another blessing to the game.

• Luke Donald. Grace under pressure. The season boiled down to consistency. Not a bunch of flashy wins, just a lot of top 10s. While everyone was chirping about it, he was holding down the No. 1 spot. Not Tiger dominant, but pretty darn good.

• David and Carter Toms. Maybe Carter and David. If Carter hadn't gone head-over-heels for the game, David might be easing toward the Champions Tour. Instead, he started playing with his son, rekindled his passion for the game and showed us how to bounce back from a mistake that cost him THE PLAYERS to a win the next week at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. And there's that 3-1 record at the Presidents Cup.

• Tiger Woods. It was fun to watch him having fun again on a golf course last week. After all those months of hearing how close his game was ... it exploded in the singles. Could he be poised for a great 2012? Doubt if you must, but look at his track record. Just the possibility has to intrigue you.

• Louise Suggs. The Hall of Famer has a sense of humor, a tinge of crustiness and a permanent seat on the veranda at Augusta National. Always a pleasure to drop by and say hello and listen to her tell yet another writer about Clifford Roberts and Bobby Jones.

• Stewart Cink and Steve Stricker. Always will be two of the nicest guys in the game.

• Yani Tseng. What a season. Seven LPGA wins, including two majors and 11 wins worldwide. A smile that'll get you and a drive to stay No. 1. She's funny and eloquent. And only 22. A bonus? Lexi Thompson (eventually) and Suzann Pettersen (now) have the look of players who just might eventually give her a run for the top spot.

• Descriptive quotes. Two of our favorites this year -- they make a writer's story -- are about the scoring tent. You might think all a player does there is sign his/her card. Paul Casey and Geoff Ogilvy say there is, well, a bit more to it. "I've often thought the scoring tent ought to be a padded cell." And Ogilvy? "It's a green room after a performance instead of before one. And you will see every kind of human emotion in there. Guys will throw their scorecards across the room, kick the table and then suddenly start laughing. Maybe they'll bury their head in their hands. All in the space of a minute."

• The kids. Not just Rickie, Rory and Ryo Ishikawa. Not just the rookies. But the college kids on the way up, too. Makes you realize this game is in pretty good hands for another few decades.

• Giving back. Every player has a charity or a cause that he or she believes in and supports. They give their time, their money, their hearts. They'll tell you they're the ones who are blessed.

• Golf, period. You don't look ahead. You play it one shot at a time. Just like life.

Melanie Hauser is a columnist for PGATOUR.COM and can be reached at melaniehauser@gmail.com. Her views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR. Follow her on Twitter @melaniehauser.