The Dallas Morning News, May 5, 1998
Handicapping Troy
When we read of Troy Aikman shooting 73 in the Sports Day Corporate Golf Championship, several of us as members at Prestonwood Country Club knighted him as our new king of handicap golf (“Aikman drives win”, April 28) The fact that he came into the tournament with a declared 15 handicap demonstrates why he should be honored as our leader. The mathematical odds of shooting 14 under your handicap is approximately 1 in 6 ½ million (for a 15 handicapper) and that alone demonstrates why Troy should be recognized by all of us as a true champion. Overcoming those odds under pressure of a celebrated tournament setting truly sets him apart from us regular hackers.
Troy, ignore all the jealousy of those fellow golfers who call you a cheat, liar and a thief for taking the trophy and recognition away from them. I was fortunate enough to be on the winning team in 1992 at the Colonial Pro Am with Lanny Watkins. We had a 22 handicapper on our team who had eight pars and two birdies that day, and we shot 20 under par. He was my handicap hero until two years ago when a guy at the Byron Nelson with a 19 handicap shot 72 and beat Ben Crenshaw straight up. Your performance surpasses all of them.
Praise should also go to your head professional for allowing you to post a 15 handicap. He truly understands the spirit of handicap golf. Please ignore the “bogus” remarks of Don Nelson and the laughter heard around all the country club bars today. It is obvious they don’t have the chutzpah to perform as you did. Most of your fellow handicappers probably only went eight to 10 shots better than their handicaps and they just don’t have the guts to perform like you. I really, really love this game.
TOM HITCHCOCK
Dallas
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