Thursday Things

Just a few items for you this morning, though I'm thinking you'll like them all....

Wither Tiger, Volume LCVII - Former professional golfer Tiger Woods is in the news a bit today....  First, he's actually teeing it up with the boys this week at The Greenbrier.  What to expect?

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. – When 26-year-old rookie Scott Pinckney

doesn’t get into the Wednesday pro-am at a PGA Tour event, he makes a habit of walking with one of the participants to map the course. Such was the case at the Greenbrier Classic, but this time he didn’t just follow any group. He walked with his childhood idol, Tiger Woods. Such is the curiosity factor that still exists when it comes to the 14-time major winner. No matter his form, Woods still draws a formidable crowd. 

Growing up, Pinckney decorated the walls of his bedroom with posters of Woods.

Good luck with that, Scott... That link has video of Tiger looking like he knows what he's doing...but then again, we've been hearing about how well he's been playing for quiate a while...remember that before the Masters we heard that he shot 65 in a worst-ball scramble at Medalist.

And Sean Zak sets the bar for Tiger's next public appearance in the Auld Grey Toon:

Given the recent form Tiger Woods has displayed in 2015, it would be a success if he simply makes the cut at St. Andrews—so says a majority of GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers. 

When asked what would stand as a success for Woods when he competes at the British Open next month at St. Andrews—a venue he's won at twice before—61 percent of the participants said it would be simply making the cut. “No one on Tour that has been quoted publicly feels he is ready to do much more (than make the cut), and they know more than any of us,” Michael Hebron (Smithtown Landing GC) said.

Yanno, we all love a good train wreck, and I'll be looking to see how he plays later today.  But we're going to channel out inner Page 6 here and dish the dirt.  Does anyone other than Maggot remember this post, in which we blogged a rumor about the possible causes of Tiger's breakup with Lindsey Vonn?

Well, if you like that sort of thing the planets have aligned again for you, because now comes this report:

Tiger Woods has been linked to Amanda Boyd, ex-wife of PGA Tour golfer Jason Dufner, in a report by the National Enquirer. 

Boyd, whose divorce with Dufner was filed in March, reportedly cheated on Dufner with Woods.

OK, now give yourself a minute to enjoy that bit, because you're human after all....  I'll play responsible journalist for a nano-second and remind you that it's the National Enquirer, and not a scintilla of corroborating evidence is provided, so please find your largest grain of salt.... but then there's this reminder:

Woods and wife Elin Nordegren divorced in 2010 after a series of Woods' extramarital affairs came to light, initially because of a November 2009 expose in the Enquirer.

OK, so they got at least one right...Now what I love most about this story is that Shack goes into full CSI-LA mode about....well, that's the curious part, it's about our Steiny:

Except that Tiger agent Mark Steinberg opened the topic up by suggesting something any golf fan of the last Presidents Cup knows to be false. Talking to Golfweek:

"I couldn’t deny this more vehemently," Steinberg said. "There is less than zero strand of truth to it. 100 percent false. 100 percent fabricated and zero credence. Absolutely, unequivocally untrue. They are not even acquaintances. It’s absolutely ridiculous."

Is unequivocally untrue a double negative?

Accompanied by this photo, which at least here had the subtle caption, "Amanda Dufner Shows Tiger Her Beaver:"

First and foremost, while Amanda is no doubt possessed of sufficient physical attractiveness, she wouldn't seem, based upon the historical record, to be Tiger's type...  But I digress...

Now Shack goes in for the kill, first showing that Steiny adjusted his statement upon further review of the judges in the booth:

Anyway, he left the acquaintance part out of his denial to Golf Channel.

“The report is categorically false. Absolutely zero truth to that ridiculous rumor.”

OK, Geoff, you got anything else?

Steinberg also has said in the past that he was not aware of his client's private life, so his views on who Tiger knows and does not know could be questioned. David Dusek wrote back in 2010 for golf.com:

Speaking on the eighth and ninth fairways as fans walked by, Steinberg said that he was in Southern California when the car accident took place outside Woods's home in Windermere, Fla. He denied knowing that his client was having multiple affairs, and spoke with disbelief about the number of women who have come forward to say they had relationships with Tiger.

 Now Shack's point seems t be that Steiny's fib about the parties being acquainted has resulted in greater scrutiny on his client.... and I don't get that at all.  Steiny has long had a transactional relationship with the truth, and while Shack rightfully treats Steiny's denial as non-binding, the over-the-top fib doesn't seem to make it any more so...we know he's lying because the lips are moving.

But as an widely recognized arbiter of sexual mores, I'm unclear as to the timeline.  Amanda and The Dude split in March (or at least announced it) and Tiger and Lindsey decided to see other world-class athletes shortly after the Masters, but when is this alleged coupling alleged to have allegedly occurred?

In any event, the word cheating is being bandied about, but we need to know when this occurred to know if that's actually the case.  If it happened after the respective break-ups then it wouldn't necessarily be wrong, though it's of course awkward....And while visions of Ryder and Presidents Cup future with Amanda as Tiger's WAG can't help but put a smirk on your humble bloggers face, I'll leave you with this exit question... Who's more likely to make a future team, The Duf or Tiger?

Wither The Donald, Volume CCXXVI - When last we visited out hero, he was proclaiming a complete absence of blowback in the golf world as a result of his rather pointed comments on immigration.  Well, it depends upon what you mean by blowback....

First comes Shack with his recurring Four Families analogy:

While he didn't wake up all Jack Waltz-style with a thoroughbred's head in his bed,Donald Trump has received a decent slap-down from four of the five families. (Don Payne of the Augusta Corleones wisely has stuck to the family business of olive oil and never ventured into Trump territory even though Sonny Ridley has begged him to give Donald a membership.)

C'mon, Geoff, throw Finchem a bone.... but it is a funny bit and always happy to see it revived. Here's the statement in question:

"In response to Mr. Trump's comments about the golf industry "knowing he is right" in regards to his recent statements about Mexican immigrants, we feel compelled to clarify that those remarks do not reflect the views of our organizations. While the LPGA, PGA of America, PGA Tour and USGA do not usually comment on Presidential politics, Mr. Trump's comments are inconsistent with our strong commitment to an inclusive and welcoming environment in the game of golf." 

We can all agree that it's a pretty milquetoast reaction, the bare minimum required to disassociate these organizations from his comments, and notable by its omission are any threats to alter business arrangements. But I wouldn't be surprised if a private message has been delivered about the dangerous ground on which he treads, and the importance of keeping sponsors out of the crossfire.

 And then came this relating to Trump's contract with the City to manage the Ferry Point course:

Mayor Bill de Blasio telling PIX11 News the following in a statement, “We are reviewing Trump contracts with the City. Donald Trump’s remarks were disgusting and offensive, and this hateful language has no place in our city,” said Mayor De Blasio, who then added, “Trump’s comments do not represent the values of inclusion and openness that define us as New Yorkers. Our Mexican brothers and sister make up an essential part of this city’s vibrant and diverse community, and we will continue to celebrate and support New Yorkers of every background.”

Now de Blassio is a blowhard, and not a terribly smart one, heck he's such a dolt that he's being played by Andy Cuomo. And while there's likely nothing that he can do contractually, I can tell you from personal experience that the City will spend its citizens money to prove a point, or even just to avoid taking an uncomfortable stand. De Blassio's interest is in being reelected, and if Trump can serve as a foil then it doesn't matter the eventual cost.

This is why I don't understand Trump's dalliance with running for President. I get the bit that he's an attention-whore, but he's not really running. Thought experiment, Jeb Bush just released decades of tax returns...do we think Trump will ever release a single return? With so many business interests that can be held hostage and a chronic cas eof foot-in-mouth disease, why go through this?

 Whither St. Andrews - Shack outdoes himself with his latest post on the Auld Grey Toon, focussing on Bobby Jones' return in 1958. I'll let Geoff tell it, using a 2008 Golf Digest story:

Shifting back to the days of black and white images and people who could deliver the killer of all killer lines, let's move past the Bobby Jones wins at St. Andrews. Let's even zoom by his surprise return in 1936 (Shop signs: Closed because "our Bobby is back").

Because the 1958 World Amateur brought a physically deteriorating Jones and his brilliant mind back for one final visit. By day he was captaining his team, but by night he was at Younger Graduation Hall becoming the second American to receive the Freedom of the City.

Sid Matthew takes it from there in this 2008 Golf Digest story.

Little did Jones know that the only other American to be conferred such an honor was Benjamin Franklin.

As 1,700 people filled the hall, Jones feared he might get up before the throng and draw a blank. Provost Leonard spoke of the town's desire to welcome an "old and dearly beloved friend... not only as a distinguished golfer but as a man of outstanding character, courage and accomplishment well worthy to adorn the roll of our Honorary Burgesses." The provost explained that an Honorary Burgess had the rights "to catch rabbits, to take divots, and to dry one's washing upon the first and last fairways of the Old Course."

It was now Jones' turn to speak. He had previously been lifted to the stage with his heavy metal leg braces rattling like swords in a loose saber. It would not have been impolite for him to speak sitting down. But Jones did the unexpected. He grabbed the table in front of him with gnarled hands and literally pulled his body up until he stood stooped over the table. There were gasps from the spectators. Jones' son, Bob III, was sitting just behind his father. The son coiled in readiness should he need to catch his frail father.

Not only is the speech golf's most cinematic moment, but and the impromptu "Will ye no' come back again?" sung outside the hall ensured there'd be no dry eyes in the house.

I wish we could watch the entire speech online, but this snippet will have to do. Get your Kleenex on stand by. Here is an ESPN featurette with the best line ever delivered to appease a home crowd, while genuinely meaning what this magical place meant to his rich, full life:

 See if you can get through this with dry eyes: