Nancy Lopez?

[cougar]

She still had a crowd on her 34th hole. She bogeyed it and appeared determined to finish, even though she was very disappointed in her play.

Originally Posted by Blue

The old-time fans in Rochester love to see her. If I were her, I'd be embarrassed to go out and shoot 85 when I used to shoot in the 60s in front of these same folks. She must have a strong ego to be able to do that, or else she thinks she's right on the verge of regaining her old form.

[gxer]

Originally Posted by cougar

She still had a crowd on her 34th hole. She bogeyed it and appeared determined to finish, even though she was very disappointed in her play.

I don't know what Nancy expected, after all, as our old friend Sophie would say,
she hasn't broken an egg in years on the LPGA tour.

[RainDelay]

Nancy is a great ambassador for the LPGA. Sure her game isn't what it used to be, but most fans of the LPGA don't care. They see Nancy, and they are reminded of 30 great years of memories of the LPGA. Again, not just memories of Nancy, but 30 great years of the LPGA. She is their connection. She helps open up the dialog for all things good about the LPGA Tour.

[dangerbob]

Originally Posted by RainDelay

Nancy is a great ambassador for the LPGA. Sure her game isn't what it used to be, but most fans of the LPGA don't care. They see Nancy, and they are reminded of 30 great years of memories of the LPGA. Again, not just memories of Nancy, but 30 great years of the LPGA. She is their connection. She helps open up the dialog for all things good about the LPGA Tour.

So, why is she embarrassing herself like that? Why not just show up and maybe sign some autographs for the fans...but please don't play!

Remember the saying that goes: "When I am right no one remembers, but when I am wrong no one forgets!" If she keeps playing she might not be remembered for her winning, but instead for her losing.

[Blue]

Originally Posted by RainDelay

Nancy is a great ambassador for the LPGA. Sure her game isn't what it used to be, but most fans of the LPGA don't care. They see Nancy, and they are reminded of 30 great years of memories of the LPGA. Again, not just memories of Nancy, but 30 great years of the LPGA. She is their connection. She helps open up the dialog for all things good about the LPGA Tour.

I don't know about that. Nancy has the right to be there but I don't think she is a great ambassador for the LPGA when she shows up and shoots 85. The old-time fans who root for her at Rochester every year are always going to be fans of the LPGA. They don't need reminders from 30 years ago to continue to be fans of the LPGA.

The young fans and the new fans that the LPGA needs desperately to gain and retain won't benefit at all from seeing Nancy and her presence just seems like a joke to them. They don't have a memory of her from the 1970s and even if they aware of what she did and the records she set, seeing her in person limping through rounds in the high 80s will be much more prominent.

[RainDelay]

According to Beth Ann Baldry, Nancy Lopez received a standing ovation when she finished her round today. The fans still love her. Maybe I'm alone here, but I would rather watch Nancy shoot 87, than (insert name) shoot 79. Most people would rather watch Arnold Plamer shoot 92 and Jack Nicklaus 82, than watch (insert name) shoot 72. They have history. They are intertwined into the very fabric that is golf. They are the reasons why many fans grew to love the sport. Shooting an 87 in her mid 50's isn't going to change how people remember Nancy, no more than Jack Nicklaus at 70 shooting an 82.

[gxer]

Originally Posted by RainDelay

According to Beth Ann Baldry, Nancy Lopez received a standing ovation when she finished her round today. The fans still love her. Maybe I'm alone here, but I would rather watch Nancy shoot 87, than (insert name) shoot 79. Most people would rather watch Arnold Plamer shoot 92 and Jack Nicklaus 82, than watch (insert name) shoot 72. They have history. They are intertwined into the very fabric that is golf. They are the reasons why many fans grew to love the sport. Shooting an 87 in her mid 50's isn't going to change how people remember Nancy, no more than Jack Nicklaus at 70 shooting an 82.

That's where we differ. I don't care about the old timers hacking it around the golf course, I want to see good golf, I can see hackers anytime.

[LoJo]

Originally Posted by RainDelay

According to Beth Ann Baldry, Nancy Lopez received a standing ovation when she finished her round today. The fans still love her. Maybe I'm alone here, but I would rather watch Nancy shoot 87, than (insert name) shoot 79. Most people would rather watch Arnold Plamer shoot 92 and Jack Nicklaus 82, than watch (insert name) shoot 72. They have history. They are intertwined into the very fabric that is golf. They are the reasons why many fans grew to love the sport. Shooting an 87 in her mid 50's isn't going to change how people remember Nancy, no more than Jack Nicklaus at 70 shooting an 82.

Sorry, RD...I think you are -- if not alone, in the minority -- in your desire to watch the greats of the game play long past their "use by" dates.

Most people would rather watch Arnold shoot 92 than watch ____ shoot 72? I don't think so. It would be painful to watch a great champion such as Arnold Palmer "perform" at the level of an amateur hack. It's like Opera singers who don't know when to hang it up. No one wants to feel sorry or embarrassed for a legendary talent, and it's painful to see how far a great star has fallen.

As far as Jack Nicklaus is concerned....he knew when to quit. No one could be more embarrassed by shooting an 82 than he was. By the way, I believe you might be referring to his "farewell" round at the US Open in 2000 (when Tiger won in a landslide)....73-82 to miss the cut at Pebble Beach. Or maybe you just picked that number outta the air. Jack's last major was The Open Championship at St. Andrews in 2005 where he missed the cut, having shot 75-72. Hardly high 80's scoring! Jack chose not to play this year at St. Andrews so as to preserve the memory of his farewell appearance there in '05. Now THAT is what his fans want to remember.

Both Arnold and Nancy have never given up the need for their fame, even when it comes to shooting high scores. Both feel their fans "want to see them." Yeah...right. I don't!

Nancy Lopez...one of the greatest players in the history of the LPGA shooting 87-86. That's just stupid. And I heard she's thinking she can work on her game to make a comeback next year. Huh?

I've always been a big fan of Nancy...she put the LPGA on the map in the '70s, but she needs to be an "ambassador" like a Betsy Rawls or a Kathy Whitworth are, and give up on the idea of playing with these delusional ideas of making a comeback.

What's the point?

[Blue]

Originally Posted by RainDelay

According to Beth Ann Baldry, Nancy Lopez received a standing ovation when she finished her round today. The fans still love her. Maybe I'm alone here, but I would rather watch Nancy shoot 87, than (insert name) shoot 79. Most people would rather watch Arnold Plamer shoot 92 and Jack Nicklaus 82, than watch (insert name) shoot 72. They have history. They are intertwined into the very fabric that is golf. They are the reasons why many fans grew to love the sport. Shooting an 87 in her mid 50's isn't going to change how people remember Nancy, no more than Jack Nicklaus at 70 shooting an 82.

This is an interesting point. Does Nancy want to be remembered as the former LPGA great who came back at age 53 to hobble through tournaments shooting 87? Or does she want to be remembered as the LPGA legend who won nine tournaments in her row her rookie year and was POY three times?

She can't have both and the way she's going, she's only going to have the former.

The comparison to Arnie and Jack doesn't hold, unfortunately. She doesn't have their stature and never did. They were giants who changed not only golf but sports in America. As you said, "They are intertwined into the very fabric that is golf. " The actions of their later years didn't over shadow what they did in their prime. In Nancy's case it will and it already has.

(As a side note, she's not even a good representative for middle-age. She's only three years older than Juli Inkster who is is still competitive on the LPGA. Nancy couldn't even compete with the folks her own age on the Legends Tour.)

[Rusty]

I think it would be better for her to enter a non LPGA charity event with the other greats. Doesn't matter the score, she shouldn't be competing if it takes a spot from someone who can compete.