5. Thorbjorn Olesen: What the hell?
Our Gianni Magliocco…”According to a report from The Sun, European Tour star Thorbjorn Olesen was arrested before being released this week on suspicion of sexual assault during a transatlantic flight.”
- “Per the report, Olesen allegedly hurled abuse at passengers and crew on the flight before being calmed by fellow golfer Ian Poulter and then molested a woman while Poulter slept.”
- “The Dane is also accused of urinating in the first-class aisle of the plane, and it is believed that police were waiting for Olesen when his BA flight from Nashville, Tennessee, landed at Heathrow on Monday.”
Full piece.
6. Downsides of golf gambling?
Brian Wacker at Golf Digest…”During the opening round of last week’s WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, a fan yelled “Get in the bunker!” as Ian Poulter’s ball was in the air on approach to the 18th green at TPC Southwind. Poulter took exception, pointed out the fan to security and had the spectator removed from the course.”
- “Two days earlier, PGA Tour officials announced a multi-year deal with fantasy-sports outlet DraftKings as the tour took the next step toward integrating itself with the rising gaming community.”
- “Coincidental stories in the news? Likely, although who knows whether the lout who Poulter had kicked out had a vested interest in the outcome of his round.”
- “That’s a good question,” Paul Casey said when asked if he thought such incidents could become more prevalent as the tour creates working relationships with public and private parties involved in the gaming and gambling industries. “It’s such a minuscule percentage [of the fans at a tournament], but with money on the line and people feeling like they can alter the outcome to their benefit, I don’t like the sound of that.”
7. Infomercials!
Superb work by Jeff Ritter for Golf.com…
“Thanks to the miracle of YouTube many of those awkwardly awesome golf infomercials live quietly in the archives for posterity. Like panning for gold, all you have to do is go searching. Or, you can just read on and watch this round-up of the greatest 1990s golf infomercials. (Or at least, those that we could dig up.) Also included: each ad’s best line and whether I’d buy the item today if it were available. Operators are standing by!”
- “Truflex Golf…Premise: The greatest golf irons ever made, all thanks to unique design and engineering.”
- “Best line: “My name is Marshall Pengra, and right now I’m on a golf course. Chances are you aren’t.” Truer words have never been spoken on television.”
- “Price: Only $595 for a set of graphite irons and $659 for steel!”
- “Would I buy it today? Definitely not.”
8. R.I.P. Gordon Brand, Jr.
Golf Channel staff…”Gordon Brand, Jr., a two-time European Ryder Cup player, has died at age 60.”
- “The Scotsman was scheduled to compete in this week’s Staysure PGA Seniors Championship.”
- “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Gordon Brand Jnr. Our deepest sympathies are with his family at this time.”
- “Brand was a member of the 1987 European Ryder Cup team that won on American soil for the first time at Muirfield Village. He was also on the 1989 team that tied the Americans at The Belfry to retain the cup.”
9. All hockey numbers!
Golf Digest’s Christopher Powers…”Sometimes you’ve got to spice things up, which is just what Canadian tour pro Jared du Toit is doing this week at the 1932byBateman Open on the Mackenzie Tour (no, I didn’t make up that name).”
“du Toit, a former Arizona State standout, plans to not use any numbers for his yardages, instead coming up with a genius alternative with caddie Nolan Renwick. Rather than telling du Toit he’s got 99 yards left to the pin, Renwick will just say “Gretzky.” But The Great One isn’t the only name he’ll be dropping.”
|