BLOG # 13: Why it is harder to win a tennis major than a Golf Major

As I watched the 27 year-old South African Louis Oosthuizen calmly and casually win the British Open in golf and celebrate with his wife and daughter yesterday, my first thought was: why the hell aren't I out in Scotland on some beautiful course winning a million dollars for my new family?

My second thought, though, was why someone like him, ranked 56 in the the world (and a guy nobody outside of his family and mailman had heard of) could NEVER win a tennis major. Sorry but don't be betting on Lukasz Kubot (ranked #56 on the ATP) to win the US OPEN in Fushing Meadows this September.

So....why?

Why does it happen relatively often in golf, and NEVER in tennis? Well.. Three important reasons come to mind.

First, in golf Louis was only battling the course and himself. He had no direct opponent hitting balls at him. What I love so much about tennis is the one-on-one, mano a mano battle between two gladiators. That changes absolutely everything. If Oosthuizen had to take on Tiger Woods directly or a competitor like Federer or Nadal, that would drastically alter the equation. He wouldn't believe he could win that fight on national television in front of millions of people. Even if it is match play in golf, or even if it is the final twosome fighting for the title, there is no DIRECT conflict. No opponent can physically alter the way Louis hits his drive or putts his putt. Can Andy Murray say that about his return of serve against Roddick? Nope. Roddick's serve has everything to do with Murray's return.

Reason number 2 is that Louis only had to do it for four days. To win a tennis major, you have to perform for seven straight matches. I don't think a guy ranked 56 in the world in golf could do it seven straight days. Eventually, the pressure would get to him. He would only be entering the second week of a tennis major right now. That's one heck of a difference.

The last reason why this could never happen in tennis is because in tennis you ALWAYS have to go through the top 5 or so guys directly to win a major. Whether those guys are Federer and Nadal, or Connors and McEnroe, you have to beat them on the tennis court. And they simply won't let you beat them. In golf, you only have to go through the course. Would Rafa or Roger have gone down to the Louis Oosthuizen in tennis? I don't think so!

Now, one could argue this makes it tougher to win a golf major since there are more potential people who could win. One could also argue this makes golf more interesting since it is even less predictable.

I beg to differ. I like GREATNESS and consistency and rivalries.

I like how they have to do it for 7 days in tennis.

I like how they have to do it directly against another human being on the court. And that to me is the life lesson here. In tennis you get the one-on-one battle and you have to make constant adjustments and tweaks based on what your opponent is doing. Isn't that more like life, where we constantly have to tweak our behavior based on the reactions and actions of others? The tennis match is like a chess game, each player trying to outsmart, as well as out hit, the other. That is simple AWESOME.

That is why I LOVE tennis.

AD OUT.