Some numbers from this past week's action in the world of golf:
1, 1, 10 - Bubba Watson (this week's "Implemental Favorite") outlasted Webb Simpson in a three hole playoff at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans after firing a final round 67 on Sunday. The 1st place finish moved Watson (did I mention I picked him to win?) in to the top spot in the FEDEX cup standings and moved him (you know, the guy I picked to win) up to the 10th spot in the Official World Golf Rankings. The final round duel managed to generate some headlines strangely reminiscent of the 1987 U.S. Open as well as a rules associated controversy as Simpson called a penalty stroke on himself after his ball moved on the 15th green after he soled his putter preparatory to tapping in a six-inch putt for par. It appeared as if Simpson had soled his putter about four inched away from the ball, then began his stroke when the ball moved. The condition of the greens (baked out and dead) and the gusting winds seemed to have a greater influence on moving his ball than his putter did, but the rule (18-2b) is clear and currently offers no leeway. The USGA reports that the rule has been under consideration in cooperation with the R&A for the last seven years and may change to offer leeway if it is virtually certain that the golfer did not cause the movement. Which brings up . . .
7??? - The number of years that a revision of rule 18-2(b) has been under consideration by the USGA and the R&A. USGA Vice President Thomas O'Toole was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that the potential change will be discussed in earnest over the next several months in order to give some leeway in cases where it is virtually certain that the golfer was not responsible for causing the ball to move. Just so long as they don't rush in to anything.
1! - The only number that really counts as far as Lee Westwood goes. The world No. 1 ranked golfer won for a second week in a row, this time at the European Tour's Ballantine's Championship in Seoul, South Korea, besting European Tour stalwart and wig meme model Miguel Angel Jimenez by a stroke. The win should go a long way toward quieting the controversy over Westwood holding the No. 1 ranking despite not having a European Tour victory since 2009 and never having won a major title. For those who don't get the reference to Jimenez, see this photo of the Ryder Cup fan who started an internet craze.
84, 87, 27 - The scores for the first two rounds carded by pitching legend John Smoltz and the number of strokes he missed the cut by in this weekend's Nationwide Tour event, the South Georgia Classic. Smoltz, who reportedly plays to a +2 handicap and is said to be angling for a career on the Champions Tour played his first three holes in one under. Here's hoping that Champions Tour thing isn't a financial necessity for him.
100% - The percentage of times this blog's "Implemental Favorite" has gone on to at least tie for the lead after the finish of regulation play. I feel it necessary to mention this now, not because I'm beginning a career as a sports bookmaker in Vegas, but because that percentage almost has to go drastically down in the coming weeks. For those of you who may be considering betting large amounts of money based on my picks, please at least refrain from blaming me when you (inevitably) lose. My picks are based on than WAG's and gut hunches that could very well be influenced by what I had for lunch. Before I get questions about why I factor Wives And Girlfriends in to the equation, WAG, in this case, stands for Wild A$$ Guess.
No comments:
Post a Comment