19th Hole
A hacker plays the big ones: Pt. 3
A Hacker Plays The Big Ones” is a short story authored by Steven R. Roberts. The short story, written two months following the trip, tells the tale of Roberts and his friend, Bob Blackman’s, golf odyssey around Scotland in the 1970s where the two played four of most historic courses in the game: St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Muirfield and Gleneagles.
We have broken the short story into a four-parter and will publish Part 4. of the story in the coming days.
Bob and I hadn’t had much to say to each other on the trip down from Perth, but the normal golf babble broke out as we saw the Royal and Ancient Clubhouse and sensed the moment was near.
“What if we take a divot?” I asked.
“You replace it. What else?” Bob said.
“I was just imagining a juicy chunk of this place framed, under glass, hermetically sealed and hanging in my den back home,” I said.
“I think you may be having a histrionic, historic fit,” Bob said.
He was right. I needed to pull myself together and get mentally tough for the match of the day. There was a lot of ground to make up on Bob and the wooden-shafted devil.
I leaned over the first tee rail and held out the money to pay for the greens fees.
“Step baack, lod,” the cashier man said. “I’ll tull ya when ya kin pie.” The cashier and the starter were definitely in control of when and if those of us standing in the misty rain could play.
George III could have used these guys. The King outlawed the game twice during his reign. Even in those days, politicians would stoop to any level for the ladies’ approval.
After the setback involving a pink tee, and after I hit my second shot into the Swilcan Burn that runs in front of the first green, we were on our way. I took a double-bogie six and thought I understood better why they call the stream a burn.
The course was essentially a narrow strip of land along the sea, with the front nine going out and the second nine coming back. Some of the greens were so big they were used for a hole going out on one half of the green and a pin on the other side of the green for the hole coming back. Some fairways are also shared and, in fact, two of the fairways crossed each other.
My round for the day seemed almost of secondary importance as I drank in the history and stark beauty of the course jammed against the rugged sea. I managed to concentrate long enough to birdie 14 and 15; Bob birdied 3 and 12.
In the end, I had some disasters and finished with an 81 while the devil and his friend had a steady 78. It just goes to show, you must be very careful in choosing your traveling friends. Next time I’m going to find somebody 75 years old with a bad back and enough social grace to give me a few three-footers.
In no time at all, it hit me that the long-awaited round was going to be over too soon. The mist had stopped by the time we looked down the fairway from the 17th tee. The tee shot on the notoriously difficult hole must start down the left side of the fairway and fade or go over the edge of the hotel positioned helplessly at the corner of the dogleg. We navigated the corner successfully but noticed many pock marks on the side of the building from less fortunate.
Bob and I walked up on the 18th tee just 2 hours and 45 minutes after teeing off. Off to our left, we could see the first tee was still crowded with players anxious to chase their dreams. I walked tall, visualizing the thousands of spectators standing along Golf Avenue to the right and the grandstands behind the square green holding 8,000 fans on tournament Sunday.
This was the final hole, and I had a chance to win the British Open by besting Palmer and Nicklaus by a stroke. I needed only a par on the final hole. I visualized a par because there was no way I could birdie the hole in front of thousands of people and all of the press and TV crews jammed against the ropes. Actually, Doug Sanders walked up to his drive the final day in 1972 needing only a par to win. I looked for Sanders’ divot, but it had healed over.
Bob and I were both over the road that bisects the hole and Bob was away. Let me clarify. I out-drove good old Bob. He hit a pitch and run shot that reached the front edge of the green.
For me, it was enough of a test just to pull the club back for the second shot. I selected a wedge and went down through the green sod, soaked by rain the night before while I had been incarcerated.
My shot took off high but was pulled to the left, just catching the edge of the large green. The crowd went nuts, or so it seemed. As I walked forward to pick up the turf and return it to its honored place, I took one last look back at St. Andrews.
“I’ll be back someday, old man by the sea,” I said out loud. “You will know me. Next time I’ll have a left-handed, wooden-shafted putter and you won’t have a chance.”
Bob struck his 120-foot putt well with that stupid-looking putter. The ball hit the hole and stopped two inches away. The two people clapping as they walked along the railing behind the green represented the 20,000 there each time this course hosts the Open Championship.
If I could somehow sneak in my 32-footer, I could pull within five shots of the young, albeit cheating, left-handed Australian. My putt was pure and in all the way but somehow hit the lip and spun out. The couple along the rail let out an “ohuuu” in unison.
Is there no justice? As I lined up the curling two-footer return putt, I remembered that Doug Sanders had this same putt to best Jack Nicklaus and win the championship in 1972. The official silversmith was already carving his first name in the trophy when the unbelievable happened. Sanders missed the putt. He would go on to lose the playoff with Nicklaus the next day.
Out of respect, I too missed the very same two-footer. I could have made it if I had wanted to. Honest, I could have
Coming soon: A Hacker Plays The Big Ones Pt. 4
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19th Hole
Report: Tiger Woods voted against Rory McIlroy returning to policy board; Will be the only player negotiating directly with Saudis
According to a report from The Telegraph, the relationship between Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy has soured.
Last week, reports surfaced that McIlroy, who was a member of the PGA Tour policy board during most of the past few years, was looking to rejoin the board, presumably taking Webb Simpson’s seat.
However, on Wednesday, McIlroy revealed that he will not be rejoining the policy board, due to people on the board being “uncomfortable” with that “for some reason.”
Here's Rory McIlroy talking about the PGA Tour policy board and the "subset of people on the board that were maybe uncomfortable with me coming back on for some reason." pic.twitter.com/0skNOwtWxz
— Patrick McDonald (@pmcdonaldCBS) May 8, 2024
The Telegraph has reported that Tiger Woods was among the players who voted against McIlroy returning to the policy board.
The divide is apparently due to McIlroy pushing for the game of golf to unify, whereas Woods, reportedly, believes the PGA Tour is in a fine position where it currently stands.
The Associated Press added another wrinkle to the situation, reporting that Woods is the only player who will be negotiating directly with the Saudis.
The other members of the committee are PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, board chairman Joe Gorder, John W. Henry of Fenway Sports Group, and Joe Ogilvie, who was a former PGA Tour player.
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19th Hole
Phil Mickelson reveals he won’t be pursuing broadcasting career when he retires from golf
On Tuesday, Chris McKee, a Toronto writer and radio host, wondered aloud on his X account if Phil Mickelson will be a commentator after his playing days are over.
The second Phil Mickelson retires he'll instantly become the most sought after TV analyst in golf. Would any PGA Tour broadcaster (CBS, ESPN, NBC or Sky) bring him in or would he have to stick to LIV broadcasts? #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/ulrtBHcyB6
— Chris McKee (@mrmckee) May 7, 2024
“The second Phil Mickelson retires he’ll instantly become the most sought after TV analyst in golf. Would any PGA Tour broadcaster (CBS, ESPN, NBC or Sky) bring him in or would he have to stick to LIV broadcasts? #LIVGolf”
Mickelson saw the post and responded, saying he’s not interested in moving from the course to the broadcast booth.
Thank you for the kind words. However, just cuz someone CAN do something doesn’t mean they SHOULD do it. Instead of commentating, I’m going to shoot some Pros vs Schmos 9 hole matches. I’ll share insights throughout as well as talk a little smack. It won’t be the highest quality…
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) May 8, 2024
“Thank you for the kind words. However, just cuz someone CAN do something doesn’t mean they SHOULD do it. Instead of commentating, I’m going to shoot some Pros vs Schmos 9 hole matches. I’ll share insights throughout as well as talk a little smack. It won’t be the highest quality video but it’ll be fun for me to do and fun to watch I think too.”
While I believe many fans would like to see Phil in the booth, his idea of “Pro’s vs Schmo’s” could certainly be intriguing.
More from the 19th Hole
- Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game “on a much more global basis”
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Tiger explains why golf has “negative connotations” for daughter Sam
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19th Hole
PGA Tour pro sounds off on ‘unfair’ PGA Championship invites
This week, the PGA of America made some surprising announcements regarding the field of next week’s PGA Championship at Valhalla.
The event now will feature 16 LIV players with Talor Gooch, Dean Burmester, David Puig, Adrian Meronk and Patrick Reed receiving special exemptions.
PGA Tour player, Dylan Wu, took issue with how the exemptions were used and went to X to share his thoughts.
Why is there never “real” qualifications for the PGA Championship? You have a points list and World ranking invite. Usually just outside top 100 in OWGR gets in. Chan Kim ranked 104th in OWGR doesn’t get in. SH Kim at 107th isn’t in. @NUCLRGOLF @Daniel_Rapaport @PGA https://t.co/8Snkq0l2Vg
— Dylan Wu (@dylan_wu59) May 7, 2024
Jesper Svennson ranked 108th gets in. Tim Widing 120th gets in. Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald gets a spot. A bunch of guys get leapfrogged even though they’re ranked higher than others. Seems like they just invite whoever they want. Unfair to the guys on the edge like Chan and SH
— Dylan Wu (@dylan_wu59) May 7, 2024
Just seems like the world of professional golf is in a weird spot and I love that the tournament invited a handful of great LIV players but figure out a correct system for a major championship where guys know they’ll be in or not. ???? @NUCLRGOLF @Daniel_Rapaport @acaseofthegolf1
— Dylan Wu (@dylan_wu59) May 7, 2024
“Why is there never “real” qualifications for the PGA Championship? You have a points list and World ranking invite. Usually just outside top 100 in OWGR gets in. Chan Kim ranked 104th in OWGR doesn’t get in. SH Kim at 107th isn’t in.”
“Jesper Svennson ranked 108th gets in. Tim Widing 120th gets in. Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald gets a spot. A bunch of guys get leapfrogged even though they’re ranked higher than others. Seems like they just invite whoever they want. Unfair to the guys on the edge like Chan and SH”
“Just seems like the world of professional golf is in a weird spot and I love that the tournament invited a handful of great LIV players but figure out a correct system for a major championship where guys know they’ll be in or not. ????”
Fans who replied to Wu seemed to agree that a more definitive ranking system for the PGA Championship should be established.
More from the 19th Hole
- Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game “on a much more global basis”
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Tiger explains why golf has “negative connotations” for daughter Sam
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