1. The story surrounding Robert Allenby continues to change daily. This we know: he wasn’t kidnapped, he was missing credit cards, and he was found on the street either drugged or drunk a block from a strip club. Connect the dots.
2. Allenby will hold a press conference Tuesday in Phoenix. Maybe he’ll take some of the focus off Bill Belichick.
3. Bill Haas has grown up. My brother and I were reminiscing about watching him as a skinny kid at Shinnecock in the ’04 U.S. Open. He was crushing it as a kid and hasn’t done badly for himself as a pro. 
4. Erik Compton looked to be in contention for his first PGA Tour win but as everyone else was racking up birdies Erik was stuck on the par train. I’m hoping he keeps on keeping on and finally gets that win.
5. Justin Thomas made us stand up and take notice this weekend. Except for a water ball on 16 he is in the mix with Haas. The first year professional is making his mark. His last four starts: T7, T6, T23 and T4. And did I mention that this 145 pound wisp of a kid was driving the ball 340 yards? Pound for pound the longest driver on tour…or probably anywhere.
6. Phil Mickelson showed some signs of rust but that is what this start was for, to shake off the winter rust. But Phil the Thrill did show some flashes of brilliance and made a ton of birdies. It was too many bogeys that tripped him up. He should be primed for his return to Phoenix this week.
7. This was the 50th year for the tournament previously known as the Bob Hope Classic. Hope was critical in keeping this tour stop alive and grew the Classic into one of the most successful. Now Humana is leaving, there will be a new course next year and the Tour is still looking for a new sponsor. President Clinton says he will still be involved. Maybe Bill can tap some of his well heeled buddies to pony up and keep this historic stop viable.
8. The USGA announced the U.S Am is heading to Pinehurst No.2 in 2019. Along with that comes the rumor of a U.S. Open heading back there in 2024, ten years after the hugely successful double dip Opens. That would be great as the ’14 Open on No.2 was a truly special major.
9. Bernhard Langer has obviously made a deal with the devil or is living life as the Champions Tour’s Dorian Gray. He just continues to amaze. No, he didn’t win this week but that was probably due to a single hole during round one of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship. He took a painful ten on the seventh hole yes, a five over par ten on a par five. He still managed to shoot par for the round and finished tied for fifth, five shots back. Ouch. 
10. Speaking of the Champions Tour we got some bonus Hawaiian golf last night as the graybeards finished up in paradise. It was a great finish as Mark O’Meara came from behind to take the lead with a stellar eight under 64. But as the wind blew and the waves crashed Miguel Angel Jimenez closed the deal with a sizzling 30, six birds on the back nine, to nip O’Meara and win his second Champions Tour event. Miguel came back from a double bogey on the par three fifth when he drowned his tee ball. He rebounded with a hot putter and was channeling his best Chi Chi Rodriquez as he sheathed his sword after each putt. The rest of the senior crew better hope Miguel sticks to playing with the kids: in three starts he has two wins on The Champions Tour. The only thing better than watching golf from Hawaii in the middle of our winter is watching The Coolest Guy in Golf strut his stuff.
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