The Beginning of the Beginning

Let's face it,

Too many people assume golf is a sport without substance. Scratch that. Most people don't even consider it a sport, they consider it a leisurely 'game.' But I'm not concerned with what other people think. I know that those people have never felt the intensity of walking down the fairway with a one-stroke lead on the 18th. I know that those people have never drained a 12-footer after reading the line from every angle imaginable. I know those people have never held their finish as they watched their shot sore through the air and roll down the green roadway of fairway. But more than anything, I know that those people associate golf with Tiger Woods and that's just about it.
Well, they're wrong.
I might say to them the old adage, 'Never judge a book by its cover.' Or I might just be blunt and say 'Go grab a club and see how easy this game is.' The truth is, I think golf is one of the hardest sports, if not at the hardest, to thrive in. People say Tiger Woods is the best player ever, and that may be true. They also say that he is unbeatable presently, which may also be true. But then again, you look at events like the Masters last year and a guy like Zach Johnson steps it up, and questions wander through everyone's mind in the form of 'Really? Zach Johnson?' And that's precisely what I mean. Golf is an individual sport. Anyone can have the lead, and just as easily anyone else can take it from them. No matter what your world ranking, no matter was your stats declare--the tee box is 'the great equalizer.'