Thought for the Day
The early worm gets eaten by the bird, so sleep late
The Fat Lady is singing
It is always risky to write off great champions because they earn their reputation by achieving things that others can only dream about. They demonstrate the ability to consistently surprise and enthral us, so relegating them to the ranks of has-beens risks derision when they storm back from unfamiliar mediocrity to yet another victory or outstanding performance.
But does anyone with any humanity want to continue watching Tiger Woods’ remorseless decline? The 85 he shot at Muirfield Village last week in The Memorial was not only his worst score as a pro but almost as agonising to watch as it must have been to experience. Tournament host Jack Nicklaus has said he believes Tiger will ‘figure it out’ and much as I am loathe to disagree with the man whose tenure as the world’s greatest golfer looks set to continue for a few more years at least, I think he’s wrong.
Whatever happened to square headed drivers?
In 2006 Callaway reported that its tour players Phil Mickelson and Michael Campbell were testing the Fusion FT-i and FT-i Tour; the company’s much heralded square-headed drivers. They were following a path first trod by Nike, with its Sasquatch Sumo 2 but these two manufacturing giants were not alone – just about every golf equipment company came out with its own version of the square driver, alongside their existing range of classic, teardrop shaped heads. You may well have bought one but where is it now?
In all probability it won’t be in your golf bag because as fast as golfers bought them, they were ditched. And have a look next time you’re in the pro shop and the chances are that you won’t find one there, either with the new kit or in the second-hand and remaindered bins – pros can’t give them away and there’s a simple reason; they don’t work. Okay, that’s an over-simplification. They do help you hit the ball straighter but the trade-off is a loss of distance and there’s not a golfer in the world who is willing to enter that contract.
So the next time a manufacturer tries to convince you that it has a great and innovative bit of equipment that is going to change your game forever, just wait a wee while before parting with your cash.
Standing up to the boss
In the car crash event that was the Irish Open, played at Royal County Down in ferocious winds, Shane Lowry missed a three-foot putt on the 12th green on the second day. He was so angry that he smashed his putter against a metal stanchion, damaging it to the extent that he couldn’t use it for the remainder of the round. His caddy, possibly testing the limits of the relationship between player and employee, said: ‘It’s hard enough caddying for you without having to club you on the greens.’
Humble? Me?
As you’re probably aware, Donald Trump does not like the fact that a wind farm is to be built offshore from his golf course in Aberdeenshire and has threatened to stop further development of his resort if the proposal goes ahead. So he went to the courts to review the Scottish government’s decision not to have a public enquiry on the planning application. It was kicked out last week by Lord Gill, the most senior judge in Scotland.
With all the humility and graciousness that attaches to The Trumpster himself, a spokesman for his organisation said: ‘Today’s written judgment is no surprise – it’s impossible to have a fair hearing challenging wind farm applications in Scotland. We have already instructed our legal team to commence an appeal before both the Supreme Court of the UK and the European courts.’
Patrick Harvie, a Scottish Green MSP possibly summed up the view of many when he said: ‘This spurious legal action has gone on too long already and we cannot allow Trump’s inflated ego to delay our renewables industry a moment longer.’
Quote of the Week
If you can get the ball in the hole regularly by standing on your head, then keep right on, and don’t ever listen to advice from anyone
John Jacobs