Nicklaus voices far-reaching concern

Tournament host Jack Nicklaus spent a lot of time in the television booth with Jim Nantz and Nick Faldo during the Memorial. His insights during play and during numerous weather delays were entertaining and thought provoking.

Watching the telecasts while Nicklaus was in the booth, Oldgolfdawg came away with many impressions. One was that Nicklaus is confident that Tiger Woods will tame his wild swing and return to his winning form before too long. Another was that Nicklaus prefers golf course designs that feature downhill holes because they allow golfers to see what they must do. The difficult 18th hole at Muirfield Village is an exception to that rule. But for the most, Nicklaus doesn't care for a lot of blind uphill shots.

Finally, the biggest theme that Nicklaus seemed to comment on was how today's golf ball is going farther than ever and is threatening to change the game. Nicklaus played with Phil Mickelson during the pre-tournament Skins Game and watched the long-hitting left-hander shoot a 30 on the back nine. During the tournament itself, Mickelson repeatedly blasted tee shots over bunkers built to discourage such boldness as if they weren't even there. He also used driver on the 360-yard par-4 14th hole during the third and fourth rounds, unafraid of the risk/reward ramifications.

During the final round, Mickelson hit a drive on the 444-yard par-4 18th hole that left him with a 9-iron into the green. Nicklaus, upon seeing the drive, was in a state of disbelief, lamenting how the length of the drive had destroyed the challenge of the hole. It should be noted that Nicklaus also doffed his cap to Mickelson, calling him a unbelievably talented player. During the Memorial, it didn't seem like anyone was bombing the ball farther than Mickelson, perhaps explaining his penchant from providing thrills to onlookers despite the wisdom of such endeavors.

It's easy to understand why Nicklaus is upset. As a course designer, he sees the continuing advances in golf technology as a threat to a lot of classic layouts. It also has to grate on the game's most successful player to date that he played in an era without the benefit of today's technology. Ball-fitting and club-fitting weren't big considerations during his prime, and the distances players were hitting the ball were considerably shorter.

Even so, a look at Vardon Trophy scoring averages over the years indicates that all that technology hasn't significantly lowered scoring. Woods won six tournaments in 2009 and posted a Vardon Trophy scoring average of 68.05 while going 0 for 4 in majors. The all-time best average for a Vardon Trophy winner of 67.79 was recorded in 2000 and 2007 by Woods. Considering how Woods is swinging his clubs these days, that probably seems like a lifetime ago.

The Vardon Trophy is awarded annually by the PGA of America to the PGA Tour's leader in scoring average. When the award was first given, in 1937, it was awarded on the basis of a points system. But in 1947, the PGA began awarding it for low scoring average. In 1988, the trophy began going to the golfer with the lowest adjusted scoring average over a minimum of 60 rounds. In 1947, Jimmy Demaret won with a 69.90 average. In 1988, Chip Beck won with a 69.46 average.

The PGA Tour recognizes only scoring averages that were eligible for the Vardon Trophy in determining the tour record for best seasonal scoring average. For that reason, Byron Nelson's 1945 scoring average of 68.34 does not appear on its Vardon Trophy scoring averages list. This is also why Nicklaus, who had the lowest scoring average eight times during his career, isn't recognized. His averages were considered unofficial because he played to few rounds to be eligible for consideration.

Luckily, for Nicklaus, he can be comforted by his 18 majors titles instead and the knowledge that before golf entered into the age of technology, he dominated it like no player had to date. But don't expect him to stop lamenting the length of today's drives. If the PGA Tour can outlaw U-shaped grooves in irons, there's a chance it will take a harder stance against hyperactive golf balls in the future. If such a movement ever needs a spokesman, Nicklaus would be the perfect candidate to lead the charge.

Information from About.com contributed to this post.