Maui
Maestro
Steve Stricker
Africa Open winner
Louis Oosthuizen
Tiger Will Make
U.S. Debut At Pebble ( 17)
Oosthuizen Defends
In Africa ( 20)
Laura Davies
Lashes Out ( 22)
During a golf off-season that lasted, oh,
about a nanosecond, you may have missed,
among other things:
Rory McIlroy saying he won’t be playing
tournament golf in his 40s; Bubba Watson
confessing he’s afraid of the dark; and Hank
Haney announcing a book on Tiger Woods.
To which we respond, in order: We’ll
believe McIlroy’s retirement when we see
it; we hope Bubba’s golf balls aren’t equally
achluophobic; and don’t count on Haney
detailing the sordid.
Meanwhile, back in the winner’s circle,
Louis Oosthuizen resurfaced in South Africa
and Steve Stricker reaffirmed in Hawaii that
nobody combines wedging, chipping and
putting better than he does.
McIlroy, by the way, is suddenly caught
in the middle of a budding controversy over
whether he should play for Ireland or England
in the 2016 Olympics.
That’s almost as sticky as the firm of
agent Mark “Dr. No” Steinberg poaching Gary
Woodland from agent Blake Smith, whose
father, Randy, happened to be Woodland’s
swing coach. Blood being thicker than water,
Randy Smith responded quickly by dumping
Woodland. Even more quickly, Woodland
pledged the Butch Harmon fraternity.
Oh, what a tangled web........
Not to be outdone in Europe, Laura Davies
had a thing or three to say about the way
things are run on an LET she has carried on
her shoulders for decades. And they weren’t
complimentary.
Finally, may we have a moment of digital
silence, please, for the passing of the erudite
American writer/broadcaster Jim Huber,
whose words, refreshingly, spoke louder
than actions.
