DC300
While I also enjoy the role played by a nemesis and pitting the good guy against the villain narrative, I just don't think we're ever going back to that time in pro golf.
The money today these guys are playing for is too good, providing them extremely comfortable lifestyles. And it does render a high degree of complacency. I go back to a post I made here a few months back about the issue of "backstopping" - where fellow competitors leave their balls near the hole to help facilitate the outside chance at a reasonable result for their fellow opponents chipping/pitching from just off the green. Jason Day did it just last week at the Australian Open... he chipped to within a foot of the hole, went up to the hole to mark his ball, but before doing so - asked his opponent (who was chipping from off the green) if he wanted him to leave it there unmarked. His opponent requested that Jason leave it there, unmarked, and Jason complied.
That's not something Tiger would do, or Jack, or Arnie, or Hogan, or anyone who felt compelled to beat everyone in the field by a lopsided margin. Not to mention - I think it's bullshit that this is allowed to happen in the game today, with a mere one-stroke scoring average sometimes being the difference between someone retaining playing privileges the following season versus having to forfeit their card.
It is a different time, for sure. And the money has made the biggest difference in why we the fans don't get to enjoy that Laimbeer vs Jordan back in the early 90's, or the Magic vs Bird back in the 80's, or Jack vs Arnie back in the 60's and 70's nemesis' atmosphere in our sport today. It's why we still hold Tiger in such high regards as a player - that he wanted to beat everyone so badly that he almost wanted to humiliate them into submission. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that, especially in this given age of participation trophies and trying to make everyone feel really good about themselves, regardless of whether or not they stack up against the competition.
I don't like it personally, but that seems to be where we are. Most of these guys are buddies and hang out with each other during the downtime, and although that might bode well for our future Ryder Cup team cohesion and future Ryder Cup successes - it certainly doesn't add to the overall excitement of our non-major events.
This isn't a team event. It's individual. And yet there's so much money there they're competing for - it doesn't seem like it sometimes.
I cannot disagree with you whatsoever.