L.A. Story
A Belly Full From Els
Q&A With HOFer Ken Schofield
Yes, Obama and Tiger teed it up on a chilly
Sunday in Florida, where the security was
tighter than Clint Eastwood’s stare. And, no,
it wasn’t a “play-in” to Wednesday’s WGC
Match Play.
It wasn’t exactly Bobby Jones and Dwight
David Eisenhower, either. (Ike, in his first
term as President, painted a portrait of Masters co-founder Jones.)
What it was, was good publicity for golf.
(Questions: If the leader of the free world
gives you a three-foot putt, does that constitute a Presidential pardon? If you fail to give
the President a three-foot putt with money on
the line, does that constitute a fiscal whiff?)
Moving right along ... out on the left coast
a herd of challengers trampled all over each
other and the diabolical kikuyu rough in pursuit of the Northern Trust Open at a fiery and
firm Riviera, where the fairways were faster
than the bar scene at the Polo Lounge and the
greens quicker than Kobe’s Bryant’s first step.
To live and lag in L.A. was the key to survival
and first-time winner John Merrick, who played
his college golf at nearby UCLA, was the last
man standing after Charlie Beljan waffled with
a bogey on the second playoff hole.
Elsewhere ...
PGA Tour brass will convene on a Tim
Finchem-led conference call today during
which a decision on whether or not to oppose
the USGA’s proposed anchored putter ban
will be discussed if not reached.
At Canberra, Jiyai Shin stopped 15-year-
old amateur Lydia Ko’s run at the Australian
Women’s Open. And journeyman South African Darren Fichardt hung on for victory at the
Africa Open.. Brian Hewitt
