Work Debate: Win a PGA Tour Event.....or become a GM in chess
I have been playing golf for 20+ years. close to a 7-8 hcp with no formal training (no intentions of pursuing as professional). I know it is one of the toughest things to get to the professional level and then win at the professional level.
Debate at the poker table, during a conversation about chess.
Easier to take a winning golf professional and get him to GM status, or easier to take a GM and make him a winning golf professional. Time is a variable but lets say the time isn't capped.
Any thoughts?
(I don't play chess, and consider it memorization and algorithm thinking, even though I know it is more than that)
5 Replies
It hard to say because both seem impossible. It seems like there's an outside chance that you're golf pro is a genius, so I'd say easier to be chess gm. Whereas, even an extremely naturally talented golfer has little chance at winning at a pro level starting as an adult. But really I'd think theres zero chance of either one happening.
It hard to say because both seem impossible. It seems like there's an outside chance that you're golf pro is a genius, so I'd say easier to be chess gm. Whereas, even an extremely naturally talented golfer has little chance at winning at a pro level starting as an adult. But really I'd think theres zero chance of either one happening.
This is kind of what my stance was, some athletes, particularly in golf, are geniuses beyond the athleticism it takes to be a pro, decision making, thinking shots ahead etc.
The genius GM is probably less likely to have some athletic gifts that will afford him the ability to be a pro on the course.
There were a few that said both are impossible.
This is kind of what my stance was, some athletes, particularly in golf, are geniuses beyond the athleticism it takes to be a pro, decision making, thinking shots ahead etc.
The genius GM is probably less likely to have some athletic gifts that will afford him the ability to be a pro on the course.
There were a few that said both are impossible.
The advantage the chess gm has is that it's possible they're still children or teenagers while any golf pro is going to be an adult. Even a genius is gonna have a really hard time becoming a gm starting out in adulthood
I'd probably say easier to take the golf pro to GM level.
Been so disconnected with upper level chess for a while so I don't know if this holds true, but there's got to be events where you could get him up to 2400 FIDE or something, and then sneak them in in softer fields to earn GM norms.
You're not sneaking into PGA tour events as a +3 handicap, is my thought. Just getting to the tour is hard enough.
bit of a weird timing this question, I've had 0 interest in chess since a couple of days ago. Over the past 3 days I've been watching the Botez sister play a chess tournament in Prague I think it is, they have a guy commentating the games as they play and I must say without him I probably wouldn't find it interesting at all. Today one of them played a 5 hour game and found it fascinating.
From my untrained eye I'd say it would be easier to take a golf pro to a GM, I have no reasoning to back that up though other than what others have mentioned which seem pretty obvious.
