Sandy Lie

75 on Pinehurst #8. 4 over 40 on the front, 1 under 35 on the back. Finished the last 3 holes going birdie, birdie and a sandy par. This will sound crazy but a total of 24 putts. Had 12 one putts. 8 fairways, 6 GIRs. Most misses just off the green. 8 up and downs for par. White tees at 6,311 yards.

For the record or whatever, I believe that someone who aspires to be a PGA Professional in any capacity has a love for the game. I’m dumbfounded as to why a young aspiring player who puts in the work to get to the Tour would throw it all away for LIV. Kids grow up wanting to be the next guy in most sports be it golf, baseball, football, hockey and so on. The dream for these kids is to win the US Open, the World Series, etc. To be able to have their name on the Trophy is what it’s all about. Unfortunately not all PGA players will reach their goals. Lee Trevino I think I remember said there’s to much money on the Tour and some players want to just punch the clock and make cuts to keep their card and have a great career. Phil, we know his records, one of the best. To me he became Shoeless Joe Jackson or Pete Rose. Got lost in the pursuit of money. I’m sure there are other reasons. The other players are wanting that late career check for various reasons. Some I don’t understand at all! I guess we will wait and see how this unfolds.

76 today on #4. 40/36. 1 birdie on the back. Sank a ridiculous 25 footer! Had a few sand saves. Off to Greensboro Country Club tomorrow for a practice round for next weeks 14th North Carolina Super Senior Championship. It has two Divisions. +65 and a +70 Division. I’m in the +65 Division. They have two 18 holes courses. We are playing the “Farm Course”. Nice little 83 mile drive from Pinehurst. Anyone play it before?

No Kevin, what’s disturbing is you. I can have my view, and you can have yours. Moving on!

Relax!

You can’t. No its not. But the source the money comes from Mohammed bin Salam. This guy is the crown prince, deputy prime minister, and minister of defense of Saudi Arabia. He also serves as the chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs and chairman of the Council of Political and Security Affairs. He is the seventh son of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the eldest of six sons born to King Salman's third wife, Fahda bint Falah Al Hithlain. Mohammed bin Salman controls his father's government and is considered the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia. Essentially he funds the LIV Tour. And I wouldn’t piss him off. The hypocrisy here is we condemn Saudi Arabia then fill our cars full of gas. The US does it all the time. We buy about 16% of our Uranium from Russia. The US is currently banning all Energy Imports from Russia except….Uranium. No matter the issues we have with other countries trade still continues. In regard to PGA vs LIV and citing Human Rights, blood money it gets on everyone’s hands indirectly. Please read this: Entire PGA Tour Playoffs Sponsored By Saudi Arabia-Allied Brands - Pro Golf Weekly The PGA Tour has regularly attacked the LIV Golf series for being funded by Saudi Arabia. According to the Tour's allied smear merchants, the checks earned by the likes...

A global collapse, I never said that. We have been doing business with Countries that we don’t agree with for decades.

I did mention that I believe. Not much of a choice for sure when it comes to oil purchases. The PGA is very passionate right now about LIV. I laughed when Rory mentioned that when seeing the 18 players at the BMW it will make him sick, nauseated! Turning on old friends for decisions they make that differ from their own positions shouldn’t kill that relationship. What we don’t know is if they have had private discussions. We probably will never know. p.s. Potato Chip bags are made of polypropylene and lined with aluminum. LOL.

Disagree.

I don’t like the format. Haven’t watched any of the events. I think as they get more players the format will change. But I’m not going out of my way to watch it.

So this is a reach, but here goes. Americans and probably most people are hypocrites. We gas up our cars and whine about the price of gas that we get from the Saudi’s (and other countries). Most of you know that petroleum is used in other products. Petroleum products are fuels made from crude oil and hydrocarbons contained in natural gas. So plastics are made from petroleum as is asphalt, the list goes on. Look around your house, your workplace, your golf equipment😁 How many Yankee fans are out there? You either love them or hate them. But let’s face it they have been the best team money can buy for years. So what’s the difference between LIV and the PGA Tour? The PGA has control over several tour in several countries. Are they a monopoly? I would say yes. So when a competitor comes along they get upset. Do the Saudis have problems, you bet! How they treat women for instance, human rights, etc. Not a good track record, but we still buy products that are petroleum based. Click here: https://innovativewealth.com/inflation-monitor/what-products-made-from-petroleum-outside-of-gasoline/ I’m not saying look the other way, but competition breads change. Some are afraid of it. Some embrace it. I’ll go out on a limb and say in several years this won’t matter. Another level of competition will be born from this. Or maybe it just goes away. I’m sure we won’t agree, and I’m not trying to convince anyone that LIV is bad or good. But it’s here, players are jumping for money and other reasons. Condemning them doesn’t change anything. Am I disappointed? Mostly yes. Maybe it’s not a Gentleman’s game anymore.

Yeah, it’s part of the mystique of Pinehurst. Groups that play the wrong tees. I’ve played with a lot of Guests and our Starters are now asking what tees they intend to play and ask what their HDCPs are. We watch and chuckle as they tee off. But to be fair it’s usually 1 or 2 players that play the wrong tees that contribute to slow play. An believe it or not some Caddies add to that as they double bag and have to wait on two players with different playing abilities. It’s Par for the Course. Again don’t play split tees. This morning we (4 Members) played #4 in 3hrs 20min from the White tees. Of course familiarity and ready golf contribute to that.

Was able to play Pinehurst #2 this morning after a cancellation. It was a split tee start with three Resort Guests and I starting in the back nine ( I don’t like split tees). Last tee time on the front was at 9:30. Two caddies in the group, I pushed a cart. Everyone played fairly well. So well that we played in 1 hour 45 minutes. We made the turn at the 1st tee and waited just over 20 minutes. Needless to say it threw all of us out of our rhythm. Plus we had the group in front of us playing military golf. I was two over on the back. Speaking of, my back started to stiffen as we waited. The other guys were playing well, pretty sure we were all in the upper 30’s on the back. I consider the back the “easy nine” on #2. I had pars on 4 of the 1st 5 holes on the front, then two quick bogeys but had pars on the last two. Overall a 77, 9 Fairways, 9 GIRs and 32 putts. Had looks at birdies but missed them all. Back nine took 3 hours and 10 minutes. Weather was 72 when we started and felt like 72. When we finished it was 89* and felt like 95*. The waiting was the hardest part. Advice to anyone, don’t do split tees on #2. Automatic 5 plus hours.

So what does she do with her free time? I’ve played 157 rounds so far. Played 18 today, 7:33 tee time. I came home had lunch the pulled (cut out) 2/3 of a stump in the front yard. I’d say just have balance in what you do.

Felt the same way. A big wow moment for a missed opportunity!

Right. But they are televising it in the morning. I don’t know why they do that? I suspect it’s the PGA. Anyway, who are you watching/rooting for?

Slow day?

I’m watching a recording of the Round of 32. Not sure if they are televising the Round of 16? Wait, Round of 16 is tomorrow at 11:00 on Peacock, then at 12:00 on the Golf Channel.

Anyone watching? I like watching these events and the NCAA’s as well. Match play is great to watch.

Yes she was. Good point but in watching Baba’s caddy who was one of 13 local caddies out there I feel that Chun short changed herself with mom on the bag. Having a caddy local or otherwise like her College Coach may have helped her. Probably still would have lost but perhaps the match would have been closer. Who knows. Mens Amateur is up next.

Played Pinehurst #6 today. More good ball striking! 12 Fairways, 12 GIR and 30 putts. Four bogeys and two birdies. 38/36 for a 74. White tees. Last two holes I managed 2 pars in pouring rain!

Played Pinehurst #2 this morning. Weather at 7:20 was 62*. It was perfect. No hole by hole details but in terms of stats, my driving was just off hitting only 6 fairways, but my GIRs were 11, not bad. 39 on the front, 4 bogeys, 1 birdie just missing the eagle on the par 5 8th! Back 9 was awesome for me, shot an even 36! 7 GIR’s! Missed all the birdie putts! 3 were inside 6-7 ft! Tidy 75 from the White tees.

Ok, having watched this event the past few days the final match is a runaway. Getting to the Finals is a big deal, I think we can agree on that. What bothers me is that Monet Chun is out there by herself. Looks like mom is there pushing the cart and offers little help. Baba has a local caddy with course knowledge which is good move! What I don’t understand is why Big Blue Michigan golf did not have her college coach on the bag? Ok, maybe she wanted a mom/daughter experience or perhaps Chun declined an offer. I’ll never know. But as appearances go, Chun is out there by herself. She’s good, but perhaps having a coach or a local caddy like Baba has versus a parent on the bag would have been a better move. But give Baba credit, she has played well and will eventually put this away soon.

So another crazy round on #4 AGAIN today. I did play #4 yesterday going 41/39, 80. 8 bogeys, 10 pars. I was feeling pretty confident on the first tee. I was playing with a father and son. Both low HDCP’s (3.6 and +2.8). Somehow I tend to play better with lower handicaps. An interesting start, we all had pars on the 1st hole. 2nd hole the par 5 hit a great drive, 2nd shot left 65 yards. Clipped the SW to 3ft. Birdie! Then a par, then 5 straight bogeys. The 9th hole a par 5 was almost identical, hit the same 3 clubs, this time I had a 4ft for birdie. 39 on the front. 5 fairways only 2 GZiR’s both resulting in birdies. Back 9. 10th hole. Par, but hit 2nd shot long but saved par. Then a sandy par from a plugged ball, then a bogey. The next four holes were all pars. No greens hit at this point. The 17th a par 5 had a bogey. Still no GIR! Last hole is a par 4, 408 yards. Hit my 10th fairway of the day. Good drive into the wind, had 163 left to the pin. Hit my hybrid and stuck it below the pin! My 3rd GIR of the day! Had just over 4ft, uphill left to right. Made it! 37 on the back. Ten fairways hit, 3 GIR and they were all birdie holes. Crazy! 7 bogeys, 3 birdies the rest pars. Today was round 151.

Played Pinehurst #5 this morning. U.S. Kids have been here all week and #5 was one of the courses they played so it was in great shape and the greens were running quick. Nice ball striking today but the stats would indicate that I didn’t strike the ball well. Hit 8 fairways and 8 greens but the misses were marginally off so chipping was above average and putting was excellent! Front nine I started with a bogey when from the fairway I pulled my approach left. Two pars after that then a bogey after pulling the driver left. Made an up and down on the 1st par 3. On the 6th hole pushed the drive right, on the cart path for my 2nd shot. No relief from our sandy cart paths! 2nd shot ended 15 yards short of the green. Just wanted another up and down but….yes I chipped it in! Last 3 holes were par, par and bogey for a 38. At this point 3 fairways, 3 GIR. Just 13 putts. Back nine started off well. Par on 10, a hole that has water carry to the green. This hole hates me! Took an extra club from the fairway from 120. A 9 iron which I promptly sent long! Got the par though! Next hole was an uphill par 4. Plays longer than the yardage but after hitting a good drive in the fairway I then proceeded to hit the 2nd shot to 2ft. Second birdie. Two pars followed then our last par 3, downhill over the water. Shot it at 175. Decided to hit the 27 hybrid and was glad I did. Didn’t leave the pin, made the 3 footer for another birdie! Played the last 4 holes at two over. Had two hosel rockets out of nowhere! Made par from one of them by sinking a long rainbow cross green putt from 20 feet or so. The 2nd one on the last hole was off the pine straw. It just happened! Oh well. Shot 36 on the back. 5 fairways, 5 GIR and get this, 11 putts. 24 putts for the day. Just crazy!