The Wacky World of Pro Golf

Keith Pelley, executive director of the European Tour, is a gent who likes living in the limelight, it seems. At least that’s where he’s been lately with the controversy surrounding the inaugural Saudi Invitational and now his move to embrace Patrick Reed. Earlier this week Pelley extended the privilege of Honorary Life Time Membership in the European Tour to Reed. Why we ask? As a reward for winning the 2018 MASTERS, as some would suggest? Because Reed has once again taken up European Tour membership this season (along with his PGA Tour membership)? Neither of those factors are convincing nor is Reed the only pro to do both. The real reason for this move, in my opinion, is to sow more dissent and disruption in the ranks of the American Ryder Cup Team. Reed is probably the pro least liked among his peers on the PGA Tour and Pelley might be leveraging this move as a further wedge to prolong the discord and poor performance of the US Ryder Cupper’s. Maybe we’ll see “Captain America” forgo his US citizenship and become a Brit? Crazy, you say. It’s just as rational as the reasons given by Pelley.

Sergio Garcia has fallen back into his bad boy behavior, as he was disqualified Saturday at the Saudi International for misconduct. Apparently, Sergio damaged multiple greens in a pique of frustration although we haven’t seen any video of the infractions. He’s since come out with a mea culpa and assurances that something like this will never happen again. Well, that’s nice to know Sergio but where is this coming from? We thought all his demons were exercised with his 2017 MASTERS win and finally shedding the title of best player never to win a major. I guess he likes titles, so we’ll cal “ Infant Terrible” from now on.

Johnny Miller called his last golf tournament for NBC on Saturday at the third Round of The Waste Management Phoenix Open. The telecast was interspersed with video clips from players, colleagues, sports luminaries, politicians and other celebrities (who the hell is Carson Daly). This was a collection of deserved encomiums for Miller, a fabulous golfer in his day, and then a groundbreaking commentator in his second career at NBC. Johnny was particularly notable for bringing the word ” choke” into the golf lexicon. No previous talking head had traversed the treacherous terrain that dealt with how players handled the stress and pressure of Tournament golf. Choke! And that’s what I felt like doing to Miller after his response to a congratulatory video clip from Donald Trump. Miller said something like “ Making America great again, he’ a guy that can do it”. I don’t get it. I don’t get how a man of faith, a devoted family man who is active in charitable pursuits can be a fan of Donald Trump. Donald Trump as both person and president, is inimical to the values of America, and to the values espoused by the game of golf. And I don’t understand how Americans can not see the phrase “ Make America Great Again” as anything but an insult. Tell me when America stopped being great?