I saw Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius this weekend for the first time. My thumb is up and I was reminded again how extraordinary Jones’ accomplishments were.
It could never happen today.
An amateur his entire career, Jones played for the love of the game and for trophies — but never for money. And he won his 13 majors by age 29. Then he retired. Unthinkable.
Jones was the only person to be honored with two ticker-tape parades down Broadway in New York City, the first in 1924 after winning the British Open and the second after winning it again in 1930, the year of his Grand Slam.
The film’s cinematography and score were first rate. The acting wasn’t bad either. I was impressed with Jim Caviezel’s portrayal of Jones. His action looked pretty smooth — Caviezel did an admirable job of imitating Jones’ long, fluid swing.
Some of the shots dramatized in the movie seemed far fetched, but after poking around on the Bobby Jones Web site I realized several were historically accurate, like the 40-footer Jones holed at the 72nd hole of the 1930 U.S. Open.
After his U.S. Amateur win to complete the Grand Slam, The New York Times called it, “the most triumphant journey that any man ever traveled in sport.”
The Armchair Golfer
Always enjoy your blog and look forward to seeing this movie! I just started a new golf blog at http://www.artfulgolfer.com to journal my new experiences with golf. I’ve also added you to my 100+ golf blogroll at golfslo.com.
I think i’v seen another such golf movie on youtube.. I need to check it gain.
I hope you enjoy the movie as much as I did. You may also want to watch it with the director’s comments “on.” It’s interesting to learn how they filmed some of the sequences, including ball flight and various St. Andrews scenes. It was the first commercial movie to receive permission to film at St. Andrews. The reason: Bobby Jones was (and still is) revered there.