Devil Ball Golf - Golf

Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:10 pm EDT

Devil Ball Golfcast, episode 12: John Cook

There are only a few men who have played against both Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus, and fewer still who played against both men in their primes. John Cook is one of those, and he's our guest today.

In honor of Nicklaus' Memorial tournament, we spend a fair amount of time talking about what Nicklaus meant to both the game and to Cook's career. The Golden Bear knew Cook from the time Cook was just a kid -- how'd you like to have Jack Nicklaus write a letter of recommendation for you to get into college, huh? -- to the years that they played on Tour together. Cook also talks Tiger, and once and for all puts to rest that idea that Jack faced tougher competition. This is somebody who walked the fairways with both Jack and Tiger, folks; I'd trust him a lot more than any sportswriter or fan.

As always, we welcome your thoughts, ideas, and recommendations on the podcast. Hit me up at jay.busbee@yahoo.com. Play below, download or subscribe to us through our new iTunes site; we'll love you no matter what you do.


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9 Comments

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  1. GC
    1. Posted by GC Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:58 pm EDT

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    Denver - two 1st LOL
  2. Superman
    2. Posted by Superman Fri Jun 05, 2009 12:52 am EDT

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    why? oh why?
  3. spencerO96
    3. Posted by spencerO96 Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:33 am EDT

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    glad to see you getting a buckeye in here. OH!
  4. Meda
    4. Posted by Meda Fri Jun 05, 2009 10:13 am EDT

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    Tigers stats at his age and this point in his career say he has been the best.... Can't argue with factual numbers
  5. Matthew P
    5. Posted by Matthew P Sun Jun 07, 2009 12:09 am EDT

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    Not sure that Tiger is the best.... a few years ago, yes.... but he seems to be aging, getting fatter, slower, and bigger, very quickly, which is not conducive to golf like he's aging prematurely, and he's not finishing tournaments like he once did... I bet he will not win tomorrow........ What happened to that 155 pound loosy goosy stickpen that won every major for a while?? It wasn't that long ago!!! ... He's got a BIG GUT on himself this week at the Memorial THAT i'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.. He weighs over 200 pounds now.... And this flattening his swing for what ever stupid reason that doesn't make sense.. some back bullcrap....he used to dominate and win by 10 with that vertical swing... Outdrive everyone by 50.....That will never happen again. Skinny guys like O'Hair outdrive him by 20 now. He's no longer the best ballstriker tee to green and saves himself luckily with the short game now too much. O"hair totally outplayed him at Bay Hill but you can't beat 25 footers that go in 3 holes in a row. that is the only tourney that TIger's won. i don't buy the knee thing. It'a a part of the knee that you don't use hitting balls and obviously not since he could still win the Open with it. Tiger and Jack were always vertical swingers. Jack swung the same at age 50. Why change success? Tiger can only win now at wide open venues.... Like at bethpage this year where there are like 5 trees... I've played there many a time when I lived on Long Island and as a young adult.... it's a wide open cow field.. no clue why the Open is there... same thing with Torrey Pines... there are 5 trees... It's a cow field.. Ocean views for TV.. that's it....I live in San Diego. I'm leaning toward Jack now.... no one is afraid of TIger anymore, either, which runs against Tiger, HUGELY. They know that they are just a good as he is. By age 38 Tiger will be done winning and will be a few majors short. Could be genetics... his dad was an fat stiff old man who aged and died very prematurely.
  6. Matthew P
    6. Posted by Matthew P Sun Jun 07, 2009 12:13 am EDT

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    I should have added with all due respect to Tiger's dad... just re-reading it came out BAD.... not intended to rag on Tiger's dad.. just stating what I saw in terms of body type. Top heavy, football player arms, skinny legs, no butt... TIger's getting that way. Genetics.
  7. GC
    7. Posted by GC Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:22 am EDT

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    #5/6
    Tigers dad died of cancer.
  8. JosephS
    8. Posted by JosephS Sun Jun 07, 2009 8:21 am EDT

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    Hey Matthew P.
    Newsflash. You don't know crap. Nicklaus went through LONG periods of not winning anything in his career. You think Tiger's approaching anything like not winning for long stretches? Anyway, Tiger changed his swing to get more consistent; PERIOD. Go on Youtube and take a look at Ben Hogan's swing and then go look at Tiger's. Look familiar?? You think it's coincidence that Wood's coaches have him immitating Hogan's flatter more controlled swing? If Hogan hadn't almost died in a car wreck with a bus, he'd have won 30 majors Pal, and now Woods swing resembles the swing of the greatest ball striker that ever lived. Dangerous stuff for sure. I was at the Memorial yesterday and you know what I saw?? A great field, a great course, and a guy walking the fairways that every PGA touring pro KNOWS is the best and will tell you is the best and that guy's name is Tiger and furthermore, after being 6 feet away from the man 12 hours ago; he's in PERFECT shape and he doesn't have anything even close to a gut. He looks like a NFL safety.
  9. Patrick S
    9. Posted by Patrick S Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:51 pm EDT

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    haha ever one point your finger and laugh at Matthew P..... He said " I bet he will not win tomorrow" haha Well ppl did Tiger Win???? O ya he did and hit every freakin fairway. Matthew P is a complete idiot, obviously you don't keep up with golf. Tiger benches more now than ever and runs 3 miles a day....I would say he is in good shape....You are a complete dumba$$

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