'Dis and "Dat

Where to start?  It's one of those days, so without further ado...

Dump That Trump - Any blues fans out there?  One of my old time favorite blues act is Little Charlie and the Nightcats, and their seminal hit Dump That Chump Trump is the soundtrack in my mind...though your mileage may vary.

So, while my erroneous prediction of scandalous interruptus leaves me well under the Mendoza line, it turns out that the PGA of America threw a reverse-Costanza at The Donald:

PGA of America Statement regarding PGA Grand Slam of Golf

The PGA of America met with Donald J. Trump yesterday and the parties mutually agreed that it is in the best interest of all not to conduct the 2015 PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Trump National -- Los Angeles. The PGA of America is in the process of exploring options, including a venue for its annual PGA Junior League Golf Championship, and will comment further at the appropriate time.

One can readily understand that both parties want to spend more time with their families.... A typically-chastened Trump issued this statement accusing ESPN's mother of wearing combat boots:

No doubt it's the greatest ballroom in the world, but my guess is that he won't taunt the PGA of America in a similar fashion, as he has a PGA Championship at his Bedminster, NJ facility at risk.  I'm looking for an end game in his strategy, and being President is not it.

History, Ignored - I've resisted the urge to pile on Rory for his soccer mishap, but this input from the wayback machine is cause to ponder...Turns out that lightning does strike twice, as Rory injured his ankle (less severely) in a 2013 incident and had this response at his presser at the 2014 Cadillac:

Q. When you went over in that game of associated football, was it a worry?

RORY McILROY: No, it wasn't a worry. It was a worry, I went over on it, and I went to net and I shouldn't have went to net either; I was standing up about half an hour and it really hurt. It was fine. I stayed off it for a week and it was okay. 

Q. Did you ban yourself from playing now?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, sort of‑‑ probably not a good idea to play anymore (smiling).

OK, that smile is now more of a grimace.... This though does induce a smile:

Would Jack Nicklaus, or Woods, have stopped playing other sports? The answer is of course no. Woods, his former coach Hank Haney revealed in a detailed account of the 14-times major winner’s character, would be more prone to dangerous expeditions with navy seals. 

Nicklaus’s downtime was more quietly spent. He, though, lived in an era and environment far detached from the global superstar of 2015 where every move is closely monitored. In an endearing attempt to defy such interest, McIlroy makes it his business to try to lead as normal a life as possible. It is what makes him such enjoyable company. 

He attended a Neil Diamond concert in Belfast last week with friends he has retained since childhood. Rather than being criticised for the supposed recklessness of his Saturday pursuits, McIlroy should be credited with continuing to behave like every other 26-year-old would like to.

For the record, Shack beat me to the tip-in, but what normal 26-year old would be seen at a Neil Diamond concert?  

Phillip Reid posts an amusing item on other freak golf injuries, none better than this:

Thomas Levet 

In one of the more bizarre injuries, Frenchman Thomas Levetsuffered a broken leg when jumping into the lake by the 18th hole at the National Golf Club in Paris after winning the 2011 French Open. It had become something of a tradition for new winners to jump into the water. 

“It didn’t hurt that much,” he recalled, “but when I went into the shower I saw my ankle had come out and thought ‘wow’.” An X-ray revealed a broken shin bone.

A Game of Honor, Or Not -  First the yin, as this is a story quite different from what I expected when informed by Employee No. 2 of the suspension:

Scott Stallings has been suspended three months by the PGA Tour for violating its anti-doping policy, according to statements released by the PGA Tour and Stallings on Tuesday. Stallings did not fail a drug test, but instead turned himself in for using a substance banned by the Tour. 

The three-time Tour winner claims he took the substance in February to aid with "chronic fatigue issues," not to improve his golf game. When Stallings realized he had taken a banned substance, he reported himself to the Tour. 

Stallings is now the third player suspended by the Tour via this policy, the first tournament winner. According to the Golf Channel, Stallings took DHEA, an over-the-counter supplement, for “about two months,” informed the PGA Tour on February 10 and was told he violated the policy on March 23. He still played in eight Tour events between that reported date and Tuesday’s suspension.

Stallings was on Morning Drive answering questions and appears to have handled himself in a manner befitting the highest standards of our game.  We can only wish him well and root for him upon his return....

Now, what was I saying about the standards of our game?  The U.S. Women's Open is at Lancaster Country Club this week, and players and their caddies are planning their strategies, some a tad over-zealously:

Sei Young Kim’s caddie, Paul Fusco, lost his credentials and privileges for this week’s

U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania because it was learned he took pictures of the USGA’s championship setup notes and hole locations while in the tournament rules office.

“Paul Fusco was removed from the premises after being found taking photos of an internal USGA course set-up document,” said the USGA in a statement to Golf News Net. “The player for whom he is caddieing, Sei Young Kim, is still in the championship field.” 

Fusco has been working with the 22-year-old Kim since the LPGA Q-school back in December. The South Korean has enjoyed a tremendous 2015, including a highly improbable win at the LPGA Lotte Championship and the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic. The world No. 10 was runner-up to Inbee Park at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June.

Wow!  Kim is quite lucky to not be sanctioned herself, but how could this happen?  Beth Ann Nichols had this little detail:

According to a USGA spokeswoman, Fusco had entered a USGA office and photographed internal course-setup documents that included hole locations. The USGA does not release hole locations until the day of the event.

That's really quite egregious, or so it seems:

Fusco told GolfChannel.com that there is more to the story as to why he was in the USGA office, but out of respect for Kim’s bid to win the U.S. Women’s Open he’s reserving comment until the championship is over.

Hmmm...can you say entrapment?  I thought you could....

History, Ignored - Part II -  Jordan Spieth has acquitted himself well in the spotlight, though certain highly-respected commentators (i.e., Shack and your humble correspondent) have been making the case that playing this week at the Deere is an unforced error.  It seems, however, that Geoff and I have greatly underestimated his intense preparation:

He said: “I have got a full swing simulator in my house. I have played a few holes at St Andrews - made the fairways and greens firm. 

“I was able to see some of the lines off the tees. Obviously, it is not the same as being there but at least I get to see some of the holes, so when I get there I’m not too surprised.

Never mind then,  it seems you have it covered...Then comes this from his coach, Connor McCormick:

“The other side of that is developing a game plan and acclimating to both time and weather conditions. Jordan’s always been a quick study — developing tactical intelligence, where the right places to be on the course — and with [caddie] Michael [Greller] amplifying that, I see no reason why he can’t have the right plan architected by Tuesday afternoon.”

Here's the first hit on a google search:

hu·bris

ˈ(h)yo͞obrəs/

noun

1. excessive pride or self-confidence.

   synonyms:

   arrogance, conceit, haughtiness, hauteur, pride, self-importance, egotism,pomposity, superciliousness, superiority; More

   • (in Greek tragedy) excessive pride toward or defiance of the gods, leading to nemesis.

So, why is he going over so early?  Here's Geoff's take on it, but duck to avoid the flying spittle:

More interesting was coach Cameron McCormick'sassertion that a plan for attacking the most complicated course on the planet should be "architected" by Tuesday afternoon. Considering the number of players over time who have said they could never fully know grasp all there is to know about the Old Course and its changing winds, surprise bunkers and intricate contouring, dare I say this sounds a bit presumptuous?

At this juncture I have no choice but to hope that Team Jordan is forced to eat these words, as it conveys a profound disrespect for a venue that has uniquely stood the test of time.  Jordan is not going to win the Grand Slam, it's a bridge too far for any player.  My point is to embrace the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in a manner that will leave the young man with no regrets afterward....  

And as for this?

“There are many reasons for it being the right decision, that being a big one of them,” his instructor Cameron McCormick said Tuesday, citing Spieth’s commitment to the John Deere. “The point needs to made that playing and competing is the right thing to do. The best way to prepare for a big event is to play a big event.”

How about playing and competing at Gullane?  Spieth has very little links experience under his belt, and we haven't even dealt with jet lag and the other substantial demands on his time when he arrives.

Pride goeth...

Course Correction -  Remember those wonderful Holly Sonders interviews from Chambers Bay?  Wasn't that a time?  I especially liked when they put her in front of a flat screen, so that both parties had their backs to the camera (not that there's anything wrong with Holly's hind quarters).  But now comers news that Holly has been, gasp, reassigned:

LANCASTER — Whoever wins the U.S. Women's Open at Lancaster Country Club this weekend won't speak with Fox reporter Holly Sonders behind the 18th green. 

Sonders faced a hefty dose of criticism after her interview of U.S. Open champion Jordan Spieth last month, and she's taking on a different role for this weekend's championship. Sonders will host a half-hour post-match show on Fox Sports 1 on Saturday and Sunday, while Shane O'Donoghue conducts the on-course interviews. 

"We're not reassigning Holly because she did a bad job," Fox's coordinating producer Mark Loomis said. "I think Holly's been great for us. It's just that she can't do both the postgame show and the interviews."

I get it, Mark, you paid her all that money to host a postgame show that will have an audience of twelve.