Even in the wind and rain, Pebble Beach is still an astounding location. And the fact that you can play golf there, makes it that much better. Even watching a bunch of famous and not-so-famous hacks playing forgettable golf is tolerable because of that spectacular backdrop. We’re glad it’s not every week of the year, but we are glad that it is one week of the year.
In case you missed it, Jim Renner and his amateur partner John Harkey, Jr., took the pro-am competition at -31. Here’s the rest of the week in golf in HtL…
Hole #1: Woods Wins, But Not the One You Think
Cheyenne Woods, the 23-year-old niece of that other Woods, notched her first major professional tournament win at the Australian Ladies Masters, a Ladies European Tour-sanctioned event. She beat a number of LPGA notables in the field including Jessica Korda, Yani Tseng, and Caroline Hedwall. Woods will get a shot at winning her first LPGA event this week, when she tees it up in the Women’s Australian Open. [Link]
Hole #2: Walker Gets Third Win
Though he started Sunday with a six-stroke lead, Jimmy Walker was just one stroke ahead on the 18th tee. He blocked an iron into the rough, hit a second that also found rough, and then just caught a corner of the green. His first putt raced five feet past the hole. As Dustin Johnson and Jim Renner prepared for the impending playoff, Walker’s par putt caught the inside left edge of the cup and fell to secure his third win of the wrap-around season. By the way, are you as sick of golf announcers reminding you of the wrap-around nature of the season as I am? [Link]
Hole #3: Allen Ties Record
On Friday, Michael Allen missed golf’s “magic number” but did shoot a 60, tying the lowest score shot to date on the Champions Tour at the Allianz Championship. His round included an eagle and 10 birdies. He is the ninth player to shoot 60 on the Champions Tour. [Link]
Hole #4: And Allen Wins
It took two holes of sudden-death playoff with Duffy Waldorf, but Michael Allen successfully avoided shooting the lowest score on the Champions Tour and not winning. [Link]
Hole #5: Coetzee Wins Joburg
George Coetzee charged from four-strokes back to claim the Joburg Open and his first European Tour title. [Link]
Hole #6: Weather Takes a Part at Pebble Beach
Wind, rain, and a chill in the air, it was just like the Crosby was back in town. Saturday included a bizarre moment when, as a rain squall approached from the sea, tournament officials watered a green in an attempt to prevent balls from rolling with the wind. Soon after, they had to suspend play, anyway. [Link]
Hole #7: Eastwood Becomes Hero in Real Life
When the AT&T Tournament Director Steve John began choking on a piece of cheese at a dinner for volunteers last Wednesday, 83-year-old Clint Eastwood performed the Heimlich Maneuver, possibly saving the man’s life. So let me ask you before you eat that cheese, do you feel lucky? Well do you, punk? [Link]
Hole #8: You Can’t Play With That Nerf Here, Sir
DA Points was disqualified on Friday for breaching Rule 14-3 of the Rules of Golf (“Artificial Devices, Unusual Equipment and Unusual Use of Equipment”). The past AT&T National Pro-Am winner was taking practice swings with a small foam ball in his right armpit during a wait on the 18th tee. Though disqualified from the pro competition, Points played Saturday to give his amateur partner, Condoleeza Rice, a chance in the pro-am competition. [Link]
Hole #9: When Not to Watch
What are the worst days of televised golf each year? Martin Kaufmann lists his candidates on the Golfweek website. We do have to agree that Chris Berman almost makes us not want to watch the first two rounds of the U.S. Open. Almost. [Link]