Kill the Dinosaur

The '08 US Open was easily the most compelling golf tournament I have ever watched (until you pull out the VHS tape and go back to Tiger's showdown with Bob May, Payne Steward and Phil battling down the stretch at Pinehurst, or a myriad of other magical moments in the great game).

Tiger vs. Rocco was stunningly dramatic, oddly moving, and flat out terrific for the game.

But it doesn't negate the reality that for all parties involved, the USGA needs to give up the ridiculous 18-hole playoff format and adopt a resolution more sensible. I'm not the first to make this suggestion, and certainly won't be the last. But just imagine if the playoff had been between Lee Westwood and Robert Karlsson - the 3rd and 4th place finishers last year. Would you have paid even the least bit of attention to a 2-man Monday playoff? NBC would rather air a highlight reel of Keith Olbermann foaming at the mouth in an inane tirade (as seen each evening on MSNBC, but I digress).

As a huge proponent of golf's great traditions, I love the bizarreness of Augusta's rules, the esteem held by all for the Claret Jug, ABC's horrible camera work at the British each year (are they having an earthquake?), and other indelible iconic elements in golf.

But the 18-hole playoff needs to go. Rocco and Tiger simply gave the concept a 1-year reprieve. Wait till the gripping showdown this year between DJ Trahan and Stewart Cink. You'll be begging for a 4-hole Sunday playoff.

JD Turning It Around?

You have to search long and hard to find any true golf fan who doesn't fear for the future of John Daly. Most of the people I talk to are bracing themselves for the day we all see the "breaking news" ticker at the bottom of the screen bearing confirmation of those fears in some sort of Belushi/Farley-like ending for JD.

None of us wants to see it happen but it's sort of like April 15th - whether you want the day to come or not is really not in our hands. Unless something drastic happens, the day WILL come.

That's why I find it so encouraging to see JD returning to the PGA Tour and making the cut in Memphis. Just being able to stick around for the weekend after being banished to the Island of Misfits is huge for the big fella, and whether you appreciate John's lifestyle choices or not, everyone has to be glad he will taste even a moderate amount of success and affirmation as he looks to turn things around.

Here's what I know - JD is a good hearted bloke who has made a long string of poor decisions about himself, relationships, behavior, etc. The list is known to all and not well concealed. But he also possesses an unusually attractive quality for the "everyman" golfer and we want to see JD do well.

So, good work, John. Congrats on sticking around for the weekend. Let this serve as a starting point and not as a conclusion to the recovery process that has years still to come.

Oh, and one more thing - Barnum and Bailey called. They'd like the clown pants returned.

3 Golfers and a Hack

You know the old joke that first prize is 2 Detroit Lions tickets...and 2nd prize is 4 Lion tickets? Well, there are 3 guys kicking around metro Detroit right now probably wondering what they did wrong to deserve 4 hours in the company of yours truly. Let me explain...

Mike Retford is a generous man who bid on an auction item offered during a charity auction by one of the MGL Radio affiliates. The item he bid on and won was donated by the kinds folks at Zehnders of Frankenmuth - golf at The Fortress and dinner at Zehnders. If the winning bidder was looking for additional fun in the package, I volunteered to come along and play The Fortress. (I know, what a magnanimous gesture on my part, being willing to play a championship course 20 minutes from my home).

It was at this point that Mike made a decision he will not likely get over anytime soon. He called and extended the invitation for me to come along and join the fun. Little did he know, I am currently in a funk where my scores are climbing as fast as GM stock is falling.

We teed off in a steady drizzle, thus providing me with an excellent excuse for poor play. But when the rains gave way to a dry sky, I had nowhere to hide. I tried offering up my recent back surgery, but it's hard to make the case that an April out-patient surgery is causing me to 3-putt repeatedly.

As Mike and I teamed up for a match against his buds Frank Gariza and Dave Humphreys, I noticed at the turn that Mike's posture was beginning to sag a bit. From carrying my sorry rear end on every hole. Every hole. All of them. It was a 2-on-1 competition where all I could do was drive the cart.

Somehow as we neared the conclusion of the round, I got my turn to pitch in a little bit with pars on 17 and 18 and there was no blood drawn on either side.

As always, The Fortress was in fantastic shape. One of these days, I hope my game will be as well.

Thanks for the invitation, Mike! Bet you won't make that mistake again!