Trevor Immelman jabs golf writers who never leave the press room

LA JOLLA, Calif. (June 11, 2008) - I’m not saying that Masters champion Trevor Immelman is a definite subscriber and loyal reader to WorldGolf.com’s weekly newsletter, but the South African is at least clearly one of great minds in golf. For on the same day that I blasted golf writers for complaining about things in this Torrey Pines Open that are going to make it great for the fans, Immelman echoed one of the points by noting how few veteran golf scribes actually leave the press center and go out onto the course.

After saying that he “would pay to watch Tiger play golf,” Immelman answered a follow-up on whether he would really fight the crowd that comes with a Tiger Woods-Phil Mickelson pairing (golf writers are obsessed with the idea of this horde that’s going to make their job a little challenging) with a telling quip.

“Maybe I’d get some sort of media credential,” Immelman said. “I’d walk the course though. I don’t see many of you guys out there. But I’d walk the course.”

You have to love Immelman. I now agree with WorldGolf.com writer Brandon Tucker’s post-Masters point that Immelman is one unexpectedly hilarious South African. And not just because he takes funny jabs at golf writers who “cover” their sport by watching a TV monitor.

Immelman is one of the most honest interviews in golf on anything. He all but laughed at the typical question given to the Masters winner at every U.S. Open, “You’re the only one who can win the Grand Slam this year, so …”

“No,” Immelman shot back on the possibility of that. “I would be the happiest guy on earth if I did that over the span of a career. We can safely say that if I do it this year, I will retire, OK? There’s no chance of that. I haven’t even for one second thought about that.”

Finally, someone in golf who isn’t obsessed with projecting a carefully-cultivated killer competitive image.