Ten Things I Think

1. Golf Digest is once again the target of LPGA fans because this month Paige Spiranac graces their cover. While Spiranac is attempting to make it to the LPGA her game is still a long way off but her popularity far exceeds her game. She is what you would call an “internet sensation” with over 670,000 Instagram followers, most of which are between the ages of 15-30. Now that’s the demographic that Golf Digest and the game itself needs to attract and to Golf Digest’s credit this is the “Futurists” issue which highlights “the innovators and influencers of 2016.” Spiranac has earned her fame with photos and videos featuring not only golf but her provocatively dressed self. She has parlayed that into a gig with Golf Digest and a deal with Callaway. Call it the Kim Kardashian business model.

2. If any female golfer deserves a cover on Golf Digest and all of the golf mags it is Lydia Ko. The quiet, unassuming nineteen year old has been breaking records for the last three years. She already has 17 world wide wins, 12 LPGA wins including two majors, has been named one of Time Magazine’s top 30 most influential teenagers and oh…is the number one female golfer in the world. Where the hell is her cover?

3. Jordan Spieth and his buddies spent the last week on some rest and relaxation in the Bahamas. Their exploits were documented by their constant Instagraming, Snapchatting and Tweeting. Some in the golf industry had issue with “role models” carrying on with such juvenile behavior. I say give it a rest with the shaming. Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas and Smylie Kaufman are friends just having some fun. And this is a generation that does everything with their phone/camera at the ready. If they want to cut loose and share it with their fans fine with me. We always have the option of not watching.

4. Bryson DeChambeau is one of the most interesting characters to come along in the world of golf in a very long time. Spieth captivated us with his winning and All-American persona. DeChambeau has us hooked with his quirkiness, intelligence, confidence and his outside the box thinking. Jaime Diaz profiles DeChambeau who says,” I’m not really smart, but I’m dedicated…I love trying to be the best at anything and everything.”  Click here for Diaz’s article.

5. It was great watching Charley Hoffman sink that clinching putt for his win at the Valero Texas Open. He’s a real grinder and who hasn’t played that scenario through in their mind. Needing a putt to win and then holing it dead center. Nice putt, nice fist pump, nice win.

6. I splurged earlier this season and got myself a new set of sticks but after reading Guy Yocum’s profile of Bob Parsons and his new Parsons Extreme Golf company I’m regretting I didn’t give his clubs a try. After all, he spent millions developing them with no limits on his engineers and designers as to budget or time-line. They came up with a set of irons that goes for $2,400 and a $700 driver. Hmmm, a bit too rich for a working man’s wallet but a really interesting piece. Click here for Yocum’s piece.

7. Charl Schwartzel has announced that he’ll join his countryman, Louis Oosthuizen and not compete for South Africa in the 2016 Summer Olympics. The list keeps getting longer: the Olympics are just not that important to many professional golfers.

8. Tiger Woods has been busy recently as he showed up for a junior clinic to hit some shots, opened his new course Bluejack National by playing eight holes and according to reports has been hitting the range lately with a new intensity. Tim Rosaforte says Quail Hollow may be the place where Tiger emerges for his return and he has registered for the U.S. Open in June. Can his return be too far away?

9. Michelle Wie was forced to withdraw from the final round at the Swinging Skirts due to a neck injury that had her in a neck brace shortly thereafter. It has been a horrible season for the biggest name in women’s golf. In seven starts she has finished in the final round only three times. And we thought the ’14 Women’s Open win was a launching point for her. It may have been the high water mark.

10. Good news, bad news. The good news is John Daly turns fifty this week. The bad news is John Daly turns fifty this week. I guess that means we get to see Big John take his game to the Champions Tour. Ugh. Personally, I’ve had enough Daly… a long time ago.