JimBob
05-25-2009, 04:11 PM
Cowboys' depth could lead to title
By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist
Published: 5/25/2009 2:20 AM
Last Modified: 5/25/2009 4:04 AM
A NEW FORMAT for the NCAA Men's Golf Tournament, which uses a stroke-play event to determine the national individual champ and match play for the team title, would appear to favor Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys, with a remarkable amount of depth, would seem to have the kind of team tailor-made for an event that will put extra emphasis on having five strong players.
However, OSU coach Mike McGraw has no idea if the format will help the Cowboys win their 11th national title.
O-State is one of the favorites going into the tournament, which begins Tuesday at Inverness Golf Club in Toledo, Ohio.
The new format will include 54 holes of stroke play to determine the individual national champion. In addition, the top eight teams from the stroke-play tournament then will go into an eight-team bracket for a match-play tournament to determine the national champion.
The Cowboys are so deep they have five players capable of winning tournaments.
In the past, a terrific player or two could carry a team to the national title in a stroke-play format.
Now, the No. 5 player is just as important as the No. 1 player.
"You get the same point for winning at No. 5 as you do for winning at No. 1," McGraw said. "I don't know if that favors our team or another team.
"But there is no question the new format will change things. For instance, it used to be that a team in 14th place going into the final day just wanted to finish strong and get as high as they could. Now, those teams will be battling to get into the match-play part of the tournament to play for the national title."
No one knows if the new format will help draw more attention to college golf. Some think the new format will play better for television, in hopes of getting some type of broadcast for the tournament.
In addition, some coaches feel it will result in more drama.
In the old format, it was difficult for fans to keep up with the progress of the tournament.
Now, you only have to look at the head-to-head match between teams to know what is going on.
"I do believe you have a chance for some real good drama," McGraw said. "I think it'll be easier for fans to follow what is going on.
"In the past, I think there was always some confusion about what was going on in that last round."
The Cowboys certainly would appear to be in good shape with three players rated among the top 15 in the country.
But, where OSU may really be loaded is at No. 4 and No. 5 in the lineup. The Cowboys have players throughout their lineup who are capable of winning any type of match.
"No question we're deeper than we've been," McGraw said. "Of course, I've always wanted to be good at every spot, including No. 4 and No. 5."
Tulsa coach Bill Brogden isn't a fan of the new format.
Brogden, who has been a college golf coach for 40 years, has seen just about every format possible for the national championship tournament.
"I've seen the tournament with a cut after two days, no cut, a cut after three days, back to no cut, to stroke play and match play, you name it," the Golden Hurricane coach said. "We've tried just about everything.
"I just don't care for this new format. It seems to me we're trying to do three things at one time. I just want us to go back and play golf. If they want a match-play championship, do it in the fall. I don't see the benefits of the new format for college golf."
Brogden said the simplest plan is the best. He believes a 72-hole tournament for the nation's top 30 teams, with no cut, is the best way to determine a national champion.
McGraw, who coached OSU to the national championship in 2006, is in just his fourth season as head coach.
"I don't know what is the best format," he said. "We'll do whatever. If they told us to go out in the parking lot and wrestle for it, we'd do it — although I'd probably want to call (OSU wrestling coach) John Smith for some tips.
"I don't know if it makes a difference to the players. Great players are competitive whether they are playing stroke or match play. I don't think it matters to them. They just want to win."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NCAA Golf Championships
Tuesday-Saturday
Inverness Club • Toledo, Ohio
By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist
Published: 5/25/2009 2:20 AM
Last Modified: 5/25/2009 4:04 AM
A NEW FORMAT for the NCAA Men's Golf Tournament, which uses a stroke-play event to determine the national individual champ and match play for the team title, would appear to favor Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys, with a remarkable amount of depth, would seem to have the kind of team tailor-made for an event that will put extra emphasis on having five strong players.
However, OSU coach Mike McGraw has no idea if the format will help the Cowboys win their 11th national title.
O-State is one of the favorites going into the tournament, which begins Tuesday at Inverness Golf Club in Toledo, Ohio.
The new format will include 54 holes of stroke play to determine the individual national champion. In addition, the top eight teams from the stroke-play tournament then will go into an eight-team bracket for a match-play tournament to determine the national champion.
The Cowboys are so deep they have five players capable of winning tournaments.
In the past, a terrific player or two could carry a team to the national title in a stroke-play format.
Now, the No. 5 player is just as important as the No. 1 player.
"You get the same point for winning at No. 5 as you do for winning at No. 1," McGraw said. "I don't know if that favors our team or another team.
"But there is no question the new format will change things. For instance, it used to be that a team in 14th place going into the final day just wanted to finish strong and get as high as they could. Now, those teams will be battling to get into the match-play part of the tournament to play for the national title."
No one knows if the new format will help draw more attention to college golf. Some think the new format will play better for television, in hopes of getting some type of broadcast for the tournament.
In addition, some coaches feel it will result in more drama.
In the old format, it was difficult for fans to keep up with the progress of the tournament.
Now, you only have to look at the head-to-head match between teams to know what is going on.
"I do believe you have a chance for some real good drama," McGraw said. "I think it'll be easier for fans to follow what is going on.
"In the past, I think there was always some confusion about what was going on in that last round."
The Cowboys certainly would appear to be in good shape with three players rated among the top 15 in the country.
But, where OSU may really be loaded is at No. 4 and No. 5 in the lineup. The Cowboys have players throughout their lineup who are capable of winning any type of match.
"No question we're deeper than we've been," McGraw said. "Of course, I've always wanted to be good at every spot, including No. 4 and No. 5."
Tulsa coach Bill Brogden isn't a fan of the new format.
Brogden, who has been a college golf coach for 40 years, has seen just about every format possible for the national championship tournament.
"I've seen the tournament with a cut after two days, no cut, a cut after three days, back to no cut, to stroke play and match play, you name it," the Golden Hurricane coach said. "We've tried just about everything.
"I just don't care for this new format. It seems to me we're trying to do three things at one time. I just want us to go back and play golf. If they want a match-play championship, do it in the fall. I don't see the benefits of the new format for college golf."
Brogden said the simplest plan is the best. He believes a 72-hole tournament for the nation's top 30 teams, with no cut, is the best way to determine a national champion.
McGraw, who coached OSU to the national championship in 2006, is in just his fourth season as head coach.
"I don't know what is the best format," he said. "We'll do whatever. If they told us to go out in the parking lot and wrestle for it, we'd do it — although I'd probably want to call (OSU wrestling coach) John Smith for some tips.
"I don't know if it makes a difference to the players. Great players are competitive whether they are playing stroke or match play. I don't think it matters to them. They just want to win."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NCAA Golf Championships
Tuesday-Saturday
Inverness Club • Toledo, Ohio