Impressive! I don't think there's many that have you beat other than maybe Cool Cat Ray, but I don't believe Ray plays in any tournaments at all anymore. I guess that would be kind of anticlimactic after what he's accomplished.At 80 years old I know I am luckier than most. Never a champion, but a very good player for over 60 years and I can still bring it, although some days are better than others.
Tomorrow I will play in the monthly one pocket at Hard Times, Sacramento. We usually get 30+ players and it starts at 1pm and goes 10+ hours. I have made it to the hot seat match in the last two and finished 2nd in both of them. While waiting for the one loss side to catch up there is usually an hour or two wait, and that is what kills me. I stiffen up and my concentration just is not quite there anymore. I am pretty much worthless the next day too, but I still love it and do not mind paying the price.
The answer is simple. Because it's folly.
Just look at what you do now and what you don't do.
- Do you practice for the same length of time and intensity as you did when you were younger?
- Do you have the burning desire to prove yourself, display your skills and beat your opponents, to the extreme where it can be labeled an obsession?
- Do you have a structured, daily regimen to work on your skills, learn new ones, play games that advance your skills and address your weaknesses?
- Do you come to the table rested, with energy, focus and passion?
- Do you have the confidence that you are 100% ready for your match?
- Are you willing to sacrifice family and career time pursuing your pool-playing goals?
These are not skills or abilities, they are regimens and attitudes that improve them. The last one is simply common sense. May we all have the wisdom to choose wisely. When I see young people obsessed with the game, I do not see a bright future.
This seems to be the only thing I'm getting better at. Oh, except napping, I could be a contender at that.
The answer is simple. Because it's folly.
Just look at what you do now and what you don't do.
- Do you practice for the same length of time and intensity as you did when you were younger?
- Do you have the burning desire to prove yourself, display your skills and beat your opponents, to the extreme where it can be labeled an obsession?
- Do you have a structured, daily regimen to work on your skills, learn new ones, play games that advance your skills and address your weaknesses?
- Do you come to the table rested, with energy, focus and passion?
- Do you have the confidence that you are 100% ready for your match?
- Are you willing to sacrifice family and career time pursuing your pool-playing goals?
These are not skills or abilities, they are regimens and attitudes that improve them. The last one is simply common sense. May we all have the wisdom to choose wisely. When I see young people obsessed with the game, I do not see a bright future.
- Do you have a structured, daily regimen to work on your skills, learn new ones, play games that advance your skills and address your weaknesses?
Watson's putting woes started waaaaay before then. Some of it had to do with his drinking problem but his mastery of the short stick started to fade while he was still on regular tour. He used to hammer short putts cause he didn't fear the comeback putts. That changed in his 40's.Are you sure about that? As I recall, he didn’t even scare the hole. It looked to me more like the stroke of your average 60-year-old country club golfer as opposed to one of the greatest golfers of all time. Yes, I realize the intense pressure at that moment was the main cause for that fateful stroke moreso than his age, but don’t for one minute think his age wasn’t a factor!