heading
for the
HILLS
MULLEN, NEBRASKA
Asian Amateur winner
Hideki Matsuyama
Na “Money” In Vegas ( 16)
Above the equator, the days are getting
shorter while Down Under the Aussies are
gearing up for a November Presidents Cup
that will include the reclusive Tiger Woods.
The bad news for the U.S. is that Woods’
partner and designated putter, Steve
Stricker, has a dodgy neck and may not
make the trip.
All of which is a bunch of hooey as far
as golf interest goes in the United Kingdom where the latest hero is called Hoey.
Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey captured the Dunhill Links at the Old Course,
beating countrymen Rory McIlroy (
runner-up) and Graeme McDowell (T3) in the process. GGP’s John Hopkins tells us golfer/
guitarist John Daly brought down the
house Saturday night in St. Andrews singing Bob Dylan’s “Knocking On Heaven’s
Door” a cappella at a sponsor’s party. The
Americans in the room were just amazed
Long John didn’t withdraw from the mike.
Less remarkable was LPGA commissioner Michael Whan’s wise decision
to allow 16-year-old Lexi Thompson to
play next year. Speaking of 2012, Japan’s
Hideki Matsuyama earned a return trip
to The Masters thanks to a repeat win at
the Asian Amateur. And finally, the glacial
Kevin Na beat early leader Johnny
Vegas and everybody else in Vegas Sunday
at überstar Justin Timberlake’s Nevada
crapshoot.
Meanwhile, headliner Woods will resurface this week on a small-stage PGA Tour
event in California where he will surely
be the center of attention. But given last
week, he’s got tough acts to follow.
