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AdareManor
Sunningdale
Golfers have neverFre-play
had it so good
By Bruce Millar
olf is on aroll. Or rather it has hit amonster 450-yard drive, of sport–that makeWoods the world’s first iconic figure of the 21st
followed by adelicateiron withfade and flight and backspin, century. His multi-national identity –hehas Chineseand ThaibloodG
before holing out with apinpoint35-foot putt. as well as Native American,Afro-Americanand Dutch –makehim a
trulyglobal identityfor the new globalised era.
Forthe firsttime since its golden age in the 1920s, the ancient
pastime of Scottish shepherdsisatthe forefront of professional sport As such, Woods has caught the imagination of whole generations
while simultaneouslyticking everybox in the fieldsofstyle,leisure in places where golf was onceall butirrelevant: amongyoung
and luxury travel.Inaword, golf is cool. urbanmales acrossEurope and America, and the emergent
middleclass throughoutthe developing world.Television
The emperor of this new golden age is, of course, Tiger Woods. audiences, prize money and participation have all multiplied since
He earned$100 million in prize money and endorsementslast he arrived on the scene ten years ago.Courses have sprouted in
year,and is wellonthe way to becomingprofessional sport’s first everycorner of the world,from Morocco to the Middle Eastto
billionaire–indollars, euros,pounds,orany other currency you care Madagascar, while the world’sbiggest golf resort, boasting216
to mention. holes, is Mission Hills in China.
Hot on Tiger’s heelscomes Michelle Wie, asix-foot-somethingAn icon forthe newcentury
Hawaiian prodigy who hasplayed against male professionals since
the age of 13, and last year earned $20 million as a16-year-old.
But it is factors beyond pure skill –beyondthe 13 major titles by the Her swing has been hailed as perfect–inthe wordsofsenior pro
age of 31, beyond the money machine and beyond the veryconfines Fred Couples,“It’s the scariest thingyou have ever seen.”
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