If you like golf, I hope you didn't miss the finish of the PGA Championship. Spectacular play all day—just some unbelievable shots—and a thrilling finish. Best golf tournament I've seen in a long time.
You have to wonder about sports, though. Previously little-known Jason Dufner had the best tournament of his career, played like Ben Hogan for 68 holes, got more TV face time in the last two days than he's had in his whole career, earned $865,000 for four days' work—and has to be feeling awfully bad tonight.
Mike
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Original contents copyright 2011 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.
Featured Comment by Pierre Munson: "Mike, I returned last week from participating in an international championship. I did well enough to compete again in the high sixteen competition after the main match. I lost in the first round. It was impossible for me to win the match or the high sixteen competition. The other competitors were just too skilled. I didn't feel bad. I was pleased with the results even though my performance left room for improvement. I don't think that Mr. Dufner should hang his head.
"I also watched the tournament and was thrilled by the level of competition. I always find that the commentators emphasize the winners to the exclusion of the other positions. When I'm not competing, I spend most of my time photographing professional sports. The back stories of those both on and off the podium are often more interesting than the brief summaries which are offered by most of the larger news services.
"The best competitors learn to quickly put any disappointments behind them in order to focus on the next event."
I also watched the finish of the PGA Championship and agree completely with your summary. However, you forgot to mention the name of the winner, Keegan Bradley, who showed nerves of steel to come back from 5 strokes down after a triple bogey on the 15th and then win the 3-hole playoff.
Posted by: Rodney Topor | Sunday, 14 August 2011 at 10:03 PM
"Dufner"?
As a golfer, that's just tempting fate. He should have changed his name long ago!
Moose
Posted by: Moose | Monday, 15 August 2011 at 12:01 AM
dear Mike,
This isn't related to the current post, but I thought this may interest you and your other readers:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/americas/a-snapshot-of-sexism-or-a-portrait-of-composure/article2128599/
The article comments on the famous Ruth Orkin photo which is coming up to its 60th anniversary.
regards
Gijs
Posted by: gijs langelaan | Monday, 15 August 2011 at 04:37 AM
"is it "feeling awfully badly" or "awfully bad?"
Posted by: Richard | Monday, 15 August 2011 at 07:06 AM
Yes, it was so good even my wife stopped her normal routine to watch.
Posted by: John Brewton | Monday, 15 August 2011 at 07:34 AM
Why would he be feeling awful? His soon to be ex-wife's lawyer called? (Joke for you without some sense of sarcasm)
Posted by: Roger Botting | Monday, 15 August 2011 at 08:59 AM
The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat.
Posted by: Dennis Allshouse | Monday, 15 August 2011 at 09:50 AM
Mike,
It was indeed thrilling to watch. Dufner was wonderfully philosophical about the loss when he was interviewed by Peter Kostis. The birdie he made on 18 in the playoff showed a tremendous amount of character. I was disappointed for him but Bradley just played a bit better down the stretch.
As my golf partner often says, "The golf gods giveth and the golf gods taketh away."
Posted by: Randall Teasley | Monday, 15 August 2011 at 09:51 AM
DUFNER. What a name for a golfer, especially one that plays like a real DUFFER on the final four holes.
Posted by: Darrell | Monday, 15 August 2011 at 11:31 AM
I think watching golf is about like watching haircuts at the barbershop. Obviously, YMMV.
Posted by: Dave Jenkins | Monday, 15 August 2011 at 12:38 PM
Good on him for the huge purse, but the $865K was for four days and a lifetime of preparation.
BTW, I had this name before that golfer showed up with it (g)
Patrick Perez (accept no substitutes)
Posted by: Patrick Perez | Monday, 15 August 2011 at 02:59 PM
Wait,.. 'feeling badly'? Are you supposing there is something structurally wrong with him emotionally? Maybe you meant 'feeling bad' (in an ironic sense).
Patrick (keep me off your foursome if you want to win) Perez
Posted by: Patrick Perez | Monday, 15 August 2011 at 03:01 PM
"plays like a real DUFFER on the final four holes"
Hardly. A bogey after going in the water off the tee is almost heroic--let's see you get up and down from ninety yards or whatever it was--and the birdie on the 18th in the playoff required nerves of steel even if it was too little too late. Coming back to meet Bradley charging was very bad timing, but his aggregate score on the final four holes for the week was probably better than anyone else's. His loss was very bad luck after where he was on 15, but it wasn't a collapse.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Johnston | Monday, 15 August 2011 at 03:34 PM
I have to say that I don't watch much golf since Tiger has gone down the mental tubes. There was something about watching a black guy just completely rake over the golf world that captivated me. All these guys are enjoying the break but Im sure, that if Tiger can climb out of the burden bunker and get his head screwed back on, he'll be back to finish resetting the record books.
The other thing about Tiger that fascinates me is that he was a player who had the hairy eyeball focused on him since very early childhood and he was actually able to go beyond what they were saying about him when he was kid and a teenager..no small accomplishment, more than amazing.
I play golf. Im about an 86'er when Im on my game..when Im not on my game I score in the low 300's. Those can be long days so I always pack a tent.
Posted by: David | Monday, 15 August 2011 at 04:15 PM
Sorry... I was watching the IndyCar race in New Hampshire. Best IndyCar race EVER! Fans of motorsport will detect the sarcasm.
Posted by: Steve Biro | Monday, 15 August 2011 at 10:47 PM