The thoughts on many golfer’s minds this week may not be the Barclays Classic, being that the event comes the week before the U.S. Open, an event known for its drama and history. However, the Barclays Classic has provided plenty of drama in its own right, and should not be overlooked. While the term divine intervention maybe be a little strong, the luck of the Irish was on Padraig Harrington’s side last year as he took his second career PGA Tour victory.
2006 Barclays Classic Preview
The week before the U.S. Open is rarely attended by some golfers and always attended by others. Will this year share the drama we saw last year with Padraig’s final-hole eagle?
I want to start off this week’s Thrash Talk by congratulating my Oklahoma State Cowboys on winning another national championship in golf. The men’s team outlasted the Florida Gators en route to winning their 10th national championship in the sport. On top of that, redshirt freshman Jonathan Moore won the individual title for the Cowboys. Needless to say, it has been a great weekend for this proud Okie.
In my family, the three U.S. majors all marked significant annual observances. The Masters fell around my dad’s birthday and the PGA Championship around mine. And, of course, every year the U.S. Open wound up on Father’s Day.
As always, this week’s Hittin’ The Links is a cornucopia of random links. From outing formats, to Michelle Wie’s Sectional results, to a golf glossary, to my hideous golfers tan, this week’s Hittin’ The Links covers it all.
Tom Pernice gets away with cheating (maybe) and Michelle Wie may need to cheat to qualify for the U.S. Open (maybe). But the big news this week is the furrowed bunkers at The Memorial, so we talk about them. Just what has Jack Nicklaus been smoking, and where can we get some? Also, Royal Precision closes down, Clinton fails to add properly, Daly’s book sells well, and Meena Lee fails to send an email, costing her a spot at the U.S. Women’s Open. This and a whole lot more in this week’s episode of Golf Talk.
Since 1976, Jay Haas has been a regular on the PGA Tour. Introduced to golf by his uncle Bob Goalby, the 1968 Masters champion, Haas has played steadily for many years. Perhaps his greatest legacy will not be his trophy case but what he gave to the game and to his competitors in his journey as a professional.
Scotty Cameron’s line of Titleist putters occupies a unique niche in the flatstick universe. After joining forces with Titleist in the mid-1990s, Cameron’s milled product line essentially created the $250-plus premium putter market. Titleist regularly leads the PGA Tour in putters in play, and Cameron’s putters have such a strong reputation – and resale value – that entire businesses are built around buying and selling them.