Wayward Shots — Don’t Mess With the Golf Ball

They’re going to change the golf ball. I don’t know why, but they are. And they’re going to do it wrong. By “they,” I mean the USGA, the R&A, and the PGA Tour, in concert, perhaps, with the manufacturers. By “change” we mean not allow it to go so far. And by “wrong” – read […]

Waywards Shots — The Worst Masters Ever

2018 Masters Picture

Worst. Masters. Ever. There is not even any debate about it. Fifty years later, the 1968 version stands out as a singularly awful golf tournament. The event changed lives – not for the better – and damaged reputations. The result seemed so outrageous that it distracted us from many other outrages. That took some doing. […]

The Quandary of Golf on TV

Golf is the most boring sport on television. A recent poll judged our game to be more boring, even, than darts. Darts! We should give a damn, I think, at least a small one, because television is the gateway drug to more participants, and more players improves the health and wealth of every aspect of […]

Wayward Shots — The Man Who Knew Too Much

The pre-shot routine of the world’s best golfer involved so much wiggling that he looked like he was trying to take his pants off without using his hands. With his stationary rhumba concluded, the world’s best finally seemed ready for launch. He wasn’t. He paused. He paused again. Spectators checked their watches. They looked at […]

Wayward Shots — Kevin Sutherland, the Anonymous Pro

Last month the Champions Tour wrapped up its final event of the season with an unusual finish to the Schwab Cup playoffs. Kevin Sutherland, with help from his caddy, Billy Lewis, won our version of the “Tour Championship” for his first Champions Tour victory, and also won first prize in the lucrative Schwab Cup payoff […]

Wayward Shots — Different Strokes

Over the last 26 years, I’ve caddied for seven players full time. About 5 years ago, my roommate came up with the idea to see how many players we’ve actually worked for, which included one-week jobs or more. Once I did the math, I was shocked to learn it was in the 100-200 range. That’s […]

Wayward Shots — To Anchor or Not to Anchor

For those of you who follow the PGA and PGA Tour Champions regularly, you’ve no doubt heard chatter over the last few years about the anchoring ban. Rule 14-1b states, in simplistic terms, that the putter cannot be directly anchored to the torso, or indirectly anchored by a forearm when making a stroke. Recently most […]

Wayward Shots — Another Face in the Crowd

Typically, when I show up for an event on Tour, there’s not much thought into what I’m doing or where I’m going. I’ve been to most events numerous times and rarely need GPS to get from the airport to my hotel or the golf course. Most guys who have done this awhile will tell you […]

Wayward Shots — Rental Car Remorse

What happens when you get hit by a rental car? It Hertz. For those who aren’t used to traveling, the rental car experience each week can be very unpredictable. Sometimes getting your car is smooth and easy, and other times it’s like pulling teeth without Novocain. These days, with all of the memberships and reward […]

Wayward Shots — Meeting My Brother’s Famous Foe

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to meet many celebrities and sports figures. I’ve met musicians Glenn Frey, Branford Marsalis and Huey Lewis, to name a few. Professional athletes Penny Hardaway, Joe Theismann, and Drew Brees. And actors George Lopez, Andy Garcia, and Josh Duhamel. I’ve even met President George H.W. Bush – he shoved […]