Last week was golf’s annual droolfest, the PGA Merchandise Show, where the big brand names and the not-so-big roll out all of their new gizmos and doodads in hopes of getting shelf space in pro shops of North America. Twitter was buzzing with news from the event. That and the tours provided the normal expected news of the week, but the recent spate of weird news also continued. So we got that going for us.
Let’s hit the links.
Hole #1: Haas Wins Humana Challenge
Bill Haas got his sixth win Sunday in La Quinta, California. A closing round 67 propelled him to -22 and a one-stroke win over a crowd at 21-under. [Link]
Hole #2: A Stroke of Grace
Brandon Grace eagled the par 4 16th to take the lead of the Qatar Masters. He held on for a one-stroke over Marc Warren. It certainly was a nice drive. [Link]
Hole #3: The Tooth of the Tiger
Tiger was missing a tooth last week in Italy, but there is some disagreement as to when, where and how he lost it.
And "Tiger Toothgate" takes another twist! http://t.co/Gu3BS7c6fE (h/t @BobHarig)
— Alex Myers (@AlexMyers3) January 19, 2015
Hey, here's a photo of Tiger Woods without his fake tooth (Yes.) http://t.co/6v2WGDZv57
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) January 19, 2015
If you find Tiger's tooth and put it under your pillow, do you get a Gulfstream?
— Rick Reilly (@ReillyRick) January 21, 2015
Hole #4: Lee Westwood, Hero
Lee Westwood rescued a man with Parkinson’s Disease who was struggling in the water. Apparently, he did so with “tremendous but gentle care.”
The story of the time Lee Westwood saved a man from drowning in Barbados: http://t.co/UxUmw0vBve pic.twitter.com/rAISIzFh9W
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 21, 2015
Weird (and awesome) golf news of the week: Lee Westwood saved a man from drowning in Barbados: http://t.co/4iLTWq5ob8 (via @AlexMyers3)
— Golf World (@GolfWorld) January 21, 2015
Hole #5: Will 2015 Be Good for Golf?
The golf industry has been struggling for several years. Rounds are down, pro shop sales have been sluggish and some courses have even been forced to shutter. Golf is hoping that 2015 helps turn those trends around. [Link]
Hole #6: And by Kidnapping I Mean I Blacked Out
The Robert Allenby saga is just plain strange. It now appears that he wasn’t kidnapped but he was robbed and may have been drugged.
The latest in the Robert Allenby saga? Law enforcement is "skeptical" of his story: http://t.co/FroI6ZMC3g pic.twitter.com/dLai1ycAdh
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) January 22, 2015
Right On Cue, A Strip Club Enters The Allenby Saga!: The Honolulu Chamber of Commerce is breathing a huge sigh… http://t.co/wxnDAZc2cc
— Geoff Shackelford (@GeoffShac) January 22, 2015
Hole #7: Zach’s Boomerang Shot
Many of us have witnessed one in person. The shot that caroms off a tree or other hard immovable object and rockets backwards (hopefully without striking someone in your foursome). Turns out it happens to pros also. [Link]
Hole #8: Oosterhuis Retires
Peter Oosterhuis announced his retirement from broadcasting after a 20-year career. [Link]
Hole #9: Iraq War Vet and Amputee Tees It Up at Humana
One of the current season’s Big Breakers teed it up at the Humana Challenge as an amateur. Chad Pfeifer’s -19 (gross) total didn’t get him to the Sunday amateur finale, but the game of golf is not the biggest challenge that he’s overcome. Pfeifer lost a leg in the war and took up golf just seven years ago as therapy. [Link]