In the court of public opinion, Patrick Reed is like a case thrown out by a judge who never sees the evidence because there isn't any. He's like not wearing a mask in a pandemic because it diminishes his freedom, never mind that it might save lives -- an error, unforced and unnecessary, and … [Read more...]
April in mid-autumn
AUGUSTA – It’s the best light in the imaginable universe, right now, near twilight, this sharp-shadowed clear-eyed November in Georgia. I’m not seeing it in person, nor are you, and even knowing what we know about all they do to be television-ready for the most famous American golf tournament, it … [Read more...]
There’s no next-best thing
We begin at the top when we start in to list the global sporting championships compromised by COVID-19. It's no joking matter, so we speak in hushed tones about postponement of the Bent Shaft Classic and lesser world events. It's not a tragedy. It's just a golf tournament. But what will we do with … [Read more...]
Prelapsarianism
Friday, June 14, 2019 PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- Damn New Yorker writers. I sat there in the U.S. Open media center this morning reading a story about Augusta National Golf Club and its relentless artifice, and I couldn't get past "prelapsarian." I was on the grounds of Pebble Beach Golf Links, … [Read more...]
Green days
If it hadn't been for Patrick Reed being the actual defending champion, the Champions Dinner Tuesday at the Masters would have been green-jacketed business as usual. Reed isn't Augusta-friendly, so much -- kind of a dickhead, really -- and maybe that's why we like him around the Nation of Grey. … [Read more...]
The Rules edition
There oughta be a rule, like 1(a), that says Tiger Woods must make a couple putts IF it would win him a golf tournament. Its application, of course, is highly contingent on Woods being in position to win a golf tournament, which had been such a while it could be the USGA and R&A -- in their … [Read more...]
World No. 388
Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Tiger Woods ... all within the top 388 in the World Golf Rankings, which makes the Valspar Championship just about the best field of a non-major this season. Oh, to be No. 388 in the world. The love, the money, the invitation to the … [Read more...]
This damn game: Masters Sunday edition
It's sort of like a cynical grownup version of hoops in the driveway and HE SHOOTS HE SCOOOORES!! We're just four old guys playing golf with no stakes whatsoever and all we've been doing for three days before we went to an actual golf course to play is watch the Masters on our … [Read more...]
Masters Day Three: A puncher’s chance
Old and young of it, Saturday edition Playing partners Fred Couples, 57, and Jon Rahm, 22, both took steps back on Saturday, but it was an entertaining pairing, and be assured both will be back at Augusta next year, if bad backs and sophomore slumps don't rise up and bite. Couples shot 74 … [Read more...]
Masters Day Two: The old and the young of it
On a Friday at Augusta, it's about making the cut or not. In the narrow demographic of Grey Goatee Nation, it's about the old guys. Couples, are you kidding me? Lovely golf, at 57. Mesmerizing. Just go win, Freddie. Phil Mickelson, at 46, knows this course better than anyone in the field … [Read more...]
Recent Comments