“Well, The Masters is over, now what am I going to do with my time?” Don’t fret golf nuts, Hittin’ the Links is here to help with all that is golf on the web.
In this edition of HTL we peruse the various stories coming out of Augusta for the week, see who got their first Green Jacket (like you don’t already know), and take a final look at Augusta National for yet another year. Also, we look in on the ladies down in Mexico, see who the best “athlete” golfers are, read up on the college ranks, and find out what else is going on in the world of golf. Read on!
Hole 1: Kuehne Retiring
Trip Kuehne is retiring from competitive amateur golf, and at what better place than The Masters. [Link]
Hole 2: Els Changes Swing Coaches
Ernie Els recently cut ties with David Ledbetter and has started working with Butch Harmon in order to “smooth out some rough spots”. [Link]
Hole 3: Augusta “Cruel” to its Rookies
After working so hard to finally get a Masters invitation many rookies find out how difficult a course it has become. [Link]
Hole 4: College Golf
This is the time of year when high school golf is in full swing and high school seniors are beginning to dream about playing in college. Here is a nice link to help out. [Link]
Hole 5: What About the Parents?
A PGA Tour player’s parents live a busy lifestyle as well, if they want to see their sons. [Link]
Hole 6: Corona Championship
Overshadowed by the Masters, Lorena Ochoa quietly took another title on the LPGA tour thus qualifying for the Hall of Fame. [Link]
Hole 7: Other Athletes Can Play Too
Here is a ranking of the best golfers out there who made their livings playing other sports. [Link]
Hole 8: Nice Pants, Number Two!
O’Meara and Tiger comment on snazzy dressing Ian Poulter’s earlier comments. [Link]
Hole 9: Immelman Gets a Green Jacket
Trevor Immelman becomes the second South African to don the Green Jacket. [Link]
“Hole 7: Other Athletes Can Play Too
Here is a ranking of the best golfers out there who made their livings playing other sports.”
Fascintating stuff. But please remember that there are a lot of people who made their living playing sports elsewhere than America, and in other than gridiron football, baseball and hockey and should be included in any world list – pretty high up, too.
For example, West Indian cricketer Brian Lara holds two batting records: the highest number of runs in a single Test (international) innings (400 not out v England) and the highest number of runs in First-Class cricket (501 not out for Warwickshire v Durham). Currently plays off 8 but has been 5. Plays golf right-handed. He decided to do that so that it wouldn’t interfere with his cricket stroke – which he plays left-handed…
He bowled (pitched) a bit, too.
There are loads of other cricketers (including Sky Sports TV commentator David Lloyd – now h’cap 8) soccer players and tennis players with single-figure handicaps.
Mind you, I’m given to understand that a bunch of footballers (round ball, played with the feet) allegedly complained that The Wiltshire in England was ‘too hard’. It isn’t. If that report was true, they’re clearly a bunch of nancies.
But just to prove I’m not parochial about this – loved seeing John Elway, the great Broncos QB, playing in the pro-celeb competition recently.
Ricky Ponting, the Australian cricket captain, apparently plays off 2 but can’t putt worth a damn.