Like other athletes, players tend to be egocentric, and some journeymen resent the greats like Nicklaus, Norman, and Woods. Younger players on practice greens have been spotted mocking Tom Watson's nerve-wracked putting stroke. Some pros have assailed the Martin decision and treated him coldly at tournaments. Others, like Tom Lehman, Greg Norman, Payne Stewart and John Cook, have spoken out in his favor. Golf has other problems to worry it, too.
Courses are crowded and overpriced, chemicals run off into watersheds.
The cause was weedkiller 2,4-D, known as Agent Orange. Closer to home, I have a hard time explaining the appeal of the game to friends. Despite the success of Tiger Woods and Lee Trevino, among others, they see it as the province of the white and the affluent. That's the image the PGA Tour supports by fighting Casey Martin. There's no easy solution to the Martin case.