1. It was great getting another chance to see the old Course at St. Andrews again this weekend. I am sure Thorbjørn Olesen feels the same way. The Dane fought off the cold and a poor final round start to claim his second European tour title at The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
2. I don’t know which is cooler the fact that “Thorbjørn” actually means Thunder Bear in Danish or that his nickname is Thor. Either way he has some fairly intimidating nicknames.
3. Props to the few American that made the crossing and played in what amounts to the Scotland trip of a lifetime with rounds at Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and the Old Course. Brooks Koepka looks to be showing no effects of him not being selected to the Presidents Cup as he and Chris Stroud shared second place and pocketed $414, 208. Not bad for a trip to the Home of Golf.
4. I can’t help but think maybe Koepka not being selected was a blessing. I’d take a week in Scotland over a trip to Korea anytime. Even with a Presidents Cup berth. Now, if it was a Ryder Cup… that’s a cup of a different color.
5. All was not so perfect at the Dunhill Links. The pace of play on Sunday for some groups was pathetic. And I for one had a hard time watching surfing great Kelly Slater. He’s a solid golfer but is so very slow. It’s a classic case of a golfer imitating the PGA Tour player routine of taking their sweet time knowing there will be no ramifications. I was hoping John Paramor would pop out and hit him and his team with a slow play penalty.
6. For the last few weeks of the PGA Tour some were of the idea that Jason Day may have earned Player of the Year over Jordan Spieth. I am just glad that Spieth finished the season with an exclamation point by winning the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup. There was never any real doubt and Spieth was rightly named Player of the Year on Friday.
7. Rookie of the Year had its own little debate also. Daniel Berger took home honors but some thought that Justin Thomas may have earned the rookie nod. Both had good seasons but neither won, the only rookie to win this year was Nick Taylor.. But Berger played well enough to be the only rookie to make it to the Tour Championship. And ask any tour player and he’ll tell you that is a major accomplishment. Berger was the right choice.
8. Cheers to all those, rookies and veterans alike that earned their playing privileges to the 2016-17 PGA Tour season by finishing in the top 25 of the Web.com Championship Series.
9. Johnny Depp is back in the movies with his portrayal of convicted murderer and mob boss Whitey Bulger. What does that have to do with golf? Read Michael Bamberger’s piece on how a Bulger approved hit in the parking lot of Southern Hills Country Club still effects a family today. It brings the the celebrity of Bulger into its truest perspective. And it’s not pretty.
10. Doug Gottlieb of CBS Sports posts a thoughtful article entitled “A father’s dilemma” where he questions whether he’ll let his young sons play football. It’s a question many parents are sweating over as the evidence of concussion related injuries continues to grow at all levels of the game. We all love football and NFL games rule the sports world each time they kick it off. I followed my brother’s lead into high school football and we have some great memories of playing way back in the day.
And I coached my boys through the Pop Warner level and watched as my younger son found joy in playing in high school. But with all the hits taken in practice and the games I am afraid to think of the damage that may have been done. We know for a fact that my younger son had at least two concussions as evidenced by the fact that he didn’t remember getting hit or the time that passed immediately after those hits.
They are both adults now and appear fine with no obvious side-effects but as we are learning the real damage may not be noticeable for years.
We are all still rabid football fans but I find myself wincing at some of the hits where previously I may have cheered for such a great hit.
I have come to this conclusion. If any of my kids ever do give me some grandchildren they’ll be hearing from Pops on what sport to play. I’ll be handing them some golf clubs, not a football.
Life is better with a healthy brain.
Related Articles
