Don't get mad, get better. Whatever the reasons, at this year's U.S. Open, foreign-born players filled five of the top seven spots and nine of the first 15. They have won the last two Masters and bagged six of seven between 1988-94. Of course, Europe won or retained the Ryder Cup in five of seven meetings in 1985-97. And in men's college golf, where overseas recruiting grows annually, foreigners filled about one-fifth of the NCAA finals field.
International influence runs maybe even deeper in female circles.
In Golfweek's computerized Sagarin Performance Index, foreign-borns fill the top three spots among girls and five of the top seven among professional women. Asians are so much more disciplined. And our game involves so much discipline. Speaking of single-minded, intense focus, it should be noted that the golfer of the galaxy by unmeasured light years is more than 70 percent Asian. That would be Tiger Woods, who outplays, outpractices, outsweats and outthinks his peers.