1. Vaughn Taylor had one hell of a week. Playing with no tour card he got into the AT&T Pebble Beach on his past champions status. That’s past “Reno-Tahoe Open” champion, not Pebble Beach champion. He said all he was hoping for was a top ten so he could play next week. Even that was a fairly lofty goal. Who would have thought it would turn out like it did.
2. Taylor has had some tough times. He last won in 2005 but hasn’t had a tour card since 2012. He was even missing cuts on the Web.com Tour and had fallen to 447th in the world. A year and a half ago he nearly died in a boating accident where he nearly drowned. I think we can call this one heck of a comeback and so far it’s the feel good story of the year.
3. Taylor was totally flabbergasted that things turned out like they did. “I didn’t think it would happen. And I just can’t believe it actually happened today,” Taylor said. “It’s amazing. Now I’m playing in the Masters. It’s a dream come true.” His wife shared in Taylor’s amazement and tears,“There are so many ups and downs in this career. This goes to show that you don’t count anyone out.” Ain’t that the truth!
4. Phil Mickelson started the day with a two shot lead but he used up all his magic during the first three rounds. His feel was off and he left too many make-able putts out there. His poor chip at the eighteenth left him a five footer that he makes nine times out of ten. But it was not to be. Still, Phil and his new swing have a renewed enthusiasm for being in the hunt. “Yeah, it’s why I play, it’s what I love about playing the TOUR. I love that finish, the last three holes of trying to catch the leader and get into a playoff. I love those opportunities and that pressure. It’s why we play. And it’s been awhile since I felt that.”
5. Even Phil acknowledged what a big day this was for Taylor. “He’s a nice guy. I’m happy for him. I haven’t seen him in a long time, so it’s good to see him back playing well.”
6. Lydia Ko is back in the winner’s circle as she defended her New Zealand Open title. She’s won this event three of the last four years but this was an emotional week for the eighteen year old. One of her mentors from New Zealand had died last year and as she was teeing off there was an earthquake that shocked Cristchurch. Unfazed but not unaffected, Ko won and decided to help out by donating her winner’s check to help with the recovery. “It’s been a long week, a lot of emotion and a lot of people to share this amazing victory with, especially given how much New Zealand golf has been a support to me and my career,” Ko said. “I have discussed this with my family and my team and this is something that we all want to do,” Ko said. “We will seriously think about the best way that we can use this money to help New Zealand.”
7. So much for “the anchoring ban” affecting Bernhard Langer. The unstoppable German used his modified putting stroke but still his long putter to win the Chubb Classic. It was he 26th Champions Tour victory. He just keeps on winning and winning.
8. Pebble Beach looked as glorious as ever this week. The weather was perfect and that piece of property is so spectacular anytime we can get a peek is a bonus. But when you add in a great field and such a dramatic finish, well it just doesn’t get better than that.
9. Of course CBS and crew feast upon all those celebrities that play this week. But somewhere along the lines Lance Barrow the director and Jim Nantz the face of sports on CBS get lost in the mix of golf, party and celebrity TV. Yes, we know Justin Timberlake likes golf and we all know Bill Murray feels the pressure to be fresh and funny. But by Sunday it’s just too much.
10. Clint Eastwood, the Hollywood icon and chairman of the foundation that reaps the charitable reward of the AT&T Pebble Beach got plenty of face time too. But I got the feeling even he didn’t want to engage in the over the top celebrity worship. He seemed out of place, like a grandpa brought in from the home to sit in the corner snoozing on Thanksgiving. Time to give that bit up and let Clint do his bit behind the scenes.
Bonus. Finally, each time I daydream about the “dream courses” I’d like to play Pebble Beach is always near the top. How can a golfer take a look at that property and not want to give it a try. Then I go on the website and see the greens fee is $495 and you really have to stay on the property to get on Pebble. The Spring/Summer Package gets you two rounds, one on Pebble and two nights stay and starts at $2,250. Too rich for you? Try the Fall/Winter package that starts at $2035. Ouch. Well my birthday is coming up so maybe I’ll put that on my list. Or maybe not…I can play a lot of golf for two grand.
Related Articles
