Bunker Mulligan "Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." ~Mark Twain

I wish these were mine, but they belong to a friend…who is in Augusta today.

I watched my first MLB game today.

Golf and Baseball. Tough to beat that combination.

I shot 80 today. So did John Daly. He had nine bogeys and two birdies. I missed my single legitimate birdie putt, but finished with a double bogey. All the rest were par or bogey.

My second shot on 18 was perfect when it left the clubface–straight at the left greenside bunker with 25 mph of wind blowing from the left. The ball should have tracked right to the hole for an easy birdie putt.

It didn’t. Straight into the bunker, semi-buried lie in damp sand. I got it out, but not onto the green. Poor chip and two putts. My only double of the day.

John didn’t have any doubles, but never got on track. His birdies came late, with one of them finishing his round and this tournament. He appeared to have a Masters invite all rolled up as of Friday. After today, there is some doubt. I’m hoping he holds his position on the money list and gets in. I think this is the year. His game fits Augusta well, as long as he doesn’t panic. And he hasn’t panicked so far this year. I’d like to see him get the green jacket.

UPDATE: John Daly is in. Adam Scott passes him on the money list, but John is #10, and that puts him in Augusta in two weeks.

Well, John had a day which others might consider miserable. He had three birdies, all on 5-pars, and four bogeys. But that is a victory in my mind–no big numbers. He shrugged off the bogeys, all of which were on the front nine, and battled back calmly.

I’m really impressed with the change, and am even more convinced he’ll challenge in the majors this year.

And Dottie Pepper, a personality similar to John’s and one of my favorites on the LPGA Tour, is tie for the lead this week. Some of my old favorites are coming back strong this year.

“His driving is unbelievable. I don’t go that far on my holidays.” Ian Baker-Finch, on John Daly

The man of prodigious drives is back.

I managed to catch the tail end of television coverage of the Players’ Championship yesterday afternoon. Tiger was apparently having problems, but nobody mentioned what they were. He is 3 over. Daly is six strokes ahead.

People forget that Daly has led the Tour in driving distance for years, even with Tiger in the field. John’s problem has always been the BIG NUMBER. He’s taken double digit scores on many holes throughout his career. He once carded an 18. I guess that’s what I’ve liked about him–he can take the hits and keep on coming back.

Yesterday, though, the new and improved version was on display. He had no triple bogeys, no double bogeys, and didn’t even flirt with a bogey on his round. Just solid golf–driving, chipping, sand play, and putting. And he’s is doing very well with his Redneck putter. A match made in Heaven?

John has been through a lot in his adult life, most caused by his own bad decisions. He is quick to admit this, and has apparently made the turn. He will be in the field at Augusta for the first time in a while. He is on track to add another Major to his collection this year. If his solid play continues, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him as a Captain’s Pick for the Ryder Cup team. Captain Hal Sutton has exorcised his own demons, and may want a kindred spirit along with him.

Lions, Tigers, and Bears. John, Woods, and Nicklaus all on Augusta’s fairways in April. That’s hard to beat.

Drive for show, Putt for dough, Shank for comic relief.

John Daly can do it all. But he’s not hitting shanks like he used to.

Today I saw someone wearing what I will ever think of as a “Payne Stewart cap.” My mind wandered in thoughts of one of my favorite players of all time. Today, it is often difficult to distinguish different PGA Tour players at a distance. All dress alike, and all have similar swings. There are a few who stand out, like Jim Furyk and his hacker’s swing, Vijay Singh’s lanky stride, Freddy Couples’ nonchalant demeanor, and John Daly’s “physique.”

Payne had a smooth swing, and in regular clothing resembled many other golfers. But he tried on plus-fours once on a whim in celebration of golf’s history, and decided that was his look. And it was. He built a clothing line, and even had a contract with the NFL to wear team logos. Other pro golfers tried wearing the same clothing and found it comfortable, but didn’t want to infringe on Payne’s persona.

Stweart was a party animal. He gave new meaning to that phrase. He enjoyed life and people. At his funeral, his wife addressed this nature by commenting that Payne was now in Heaven, where they could now “Let the party begin!” Yes, Payne was an unapologetic Christian, and found his faith after years of being a wild man. But he saw no conflict in being Christian and having a good time.

He was the ultimate team cheerleader in Ryder Cup play. If he were still here and didn’t make the team, this Ryder Cup might have seen him named co-captain to help Hal Sutton. What a pair that would be. Sutton, the determined team man, and Stewart, the rah-rah guy. I would have loved to see that.

Payne’s son, by all accounts, is pretty much his clone. As Stewart said, “The acorn doesn’t fall very far from the tree.” I wonder if he will be as good a golfer. He should be in his first year or two of high school right now. Dad won nine PGA Tour titles, including the PGA Championship and two US Opens. He also played on five Ryder Cup teams. Young Stewart has big wingtips to fill.

I miss Payne Stewart.

I really like David Feherty. He’s one of the “Big Minds” over there in the right column. Even if you don’t follow golf, you’ll enjoy his wry humor. He is a Texas transplant, which provides him a convenient jumping off point (DFW) for his travels as as a fairway commentator. He is known for saying things others would simply like to have said.

My wife is one of those Southern girls who can bake a cake in the morning, shoot the balls off a squirrel from 50 yards (with an iron sight) in the afternoon, then fit into a very, very little black dress at night.

In an on-course interview with Jesper Parnevik and his celebrity playing partner, David made a comment about their wild clothing: “Did anyone on the course throw up when you walked by?”

He has a new commercial I just saw on the Golf Channel. “People say ‘Nice shot’ when you simply dribble one down the fairway. That’s not what we’re building. Our driver will send your playing partners home crying to mommy!” Then, after someone describes all the pertinent technology, they return to David on the teebox.

He hits a drive and his playing partner says, “Son of a…” and Feherty completes the thought, “Pitch is all I’ll have from there.”

Check one of his Golf Magazine articles linked. He’ll provide giggles and guffahs.