Many are far from par, however, when it comes to common golf pronunciations. Golfers and golf fans sometimes can murder even the most famous of names. Tiger Woods appears to be safe from mispronunciation, but Jack Nicklaus wasn't. For years, many golf watchers refused to say NICK-lus. The best player in women's golf, Annika Sorenstam, does not escape the mispronunciation fate.
Many golfers are better at walking the walk than talking the talk.
Perhaps the most mangled word among players is poa annua, the grasslike weed that loves to invade bentgrass greens. Because it's easier to say that way, and because American golfers have a fear of turfgrass terminology. There could be a Texas golf dictionary. My good buddy Greg Crawford listens carefully when golfers start talking about effluent, as in treated waste water. I guess it's pretty rich.