B/R Exclusive, Part 2: Steve Elkington on Tiger Woods, Social Media, Golf World

Steve Elkington is a golf legend. In over 20 years playing on the PGA Tour the affable Australian racked up 10 wins, including the 1995 PGA Championship at Hogan’s Alley, and he might not be finished yet. Elkington was one of the top challengers at both PGA's in both 2005 and 2010.

You may also know Elk from his legendary appearances on the Jim Rome show. Let me assure you, this man knows how to tell a tale.

Earlier this week, Will Leivenberg and I got a chance to sit down with Elk and his business partner Mike Maves in B/R’s San Francisco offices. Elk and Maves dished on the their awesome new golf-centric social media site, the President’s Cup, Tiger Woods, and why Elk won’t play fours.

Also, be sure and read Part 1.

B/R: What was the most memorable moment of the 2011 golf season? 

Elk: Well the ballsiest move of the year was Darren Clarke.  He gets one shot at it and he’s able to push himself over the edge.  That impresses me more than a guy like Jim Furyk who has had a ton of second place finishes. I like guys like David Toms or Mark Brooks who had one shot and got it done.   Shaun Micheel is a legend.  He hit it like that at the last hole [at the 2003 PGA]. There would have been a bronze statue there if Tiger hit that shot.

B/R: Has Tiger lost his edge? 

Elk: Tiger doesn’t need much swing to let his best come out.  What gets him down is when he can’t hit a straight ball and he can’t be Tiger. He just has to have a decent enough swing so he’s not thinking about it and can let the Tiger emerge. 

B/R: Would you say his struggles are more mental or physical? 

Elk: I think it’s physical. Maybe, his swing isn’t what everybody wants it to be.  The strong thing for him is to do what he thinks is working.  

If you think yoga makes you a better than you do yoga.  

As long as he thinks what he’s doing is right, that’s more powerful than anything.  

B/R: If the President’s Cup comes down to a sudden death playoff, like it did in South Africa in 2003, will Couples pick Tiger to represent the US? 

Elk: There’s already a name in an envelope. I don’t think Freddy Couples would put Tiger in there because he was a pick.  He might though. Freddy is so goofy you never know what he will do.  

B/R: Who would you chose to represent the International squad in a playoff? 

Elk: If I was on the envelope I’d probably have Ogilvy in there because he’s won at Royal Melbourne and he is an unreal putter. At the end of the day, under pressure, I’d go with the best putter because you got to close.   He is probably the best putter I’ve ever seen.       

B/R: What’s the X-Factor at Royal Melbourne? 

Elk: X-Factor is the flies.  (Laughing) That’s the secret weapon down there.  They get in your ears… and it’s hot!  

But really, it’s the course. Experience on that course is massive.  The greens at Royal Melbourne are so fast.  You get these glass top greens that are literally like table top glass and the wind blows and you have got to be courageous enough to hit it up away from the wind and land it on the corner of the green to get it to stop close.  

B/R: Who is the favorite this year?  

Elk: The Internationals have got to be a huge favorite. I don’t see how the Americans are going to win a match (laughing).   

Really you can’t look at it like that.  You can maybe break it down like that in football, but not in golf. 

I heard a stat on Twitter the other day that Greg Norman and Freddy Couples beat 10 of the 14 President’s Cup players in the field at the Australian Open last week. Norman could probably put his spikes on [and compete]. 

Over 18 holes of golf there is really no way to handicap it.