Other notes and comments:
-Phil Eyler turned 60 this past Wednesday. He celebrated the start of his seventh decade by eagling #2 on Friday - drove the green, made the putt.
-Ward Smith went to the hospital after play last Tuesday afternoon - tingling in his hands (?). Stayed there for at least a day as his heart was examined. He's back home now, resting. Hope to see him back on his feet, and playing golf, quickly.
-Nathan Seals (pictured above), Mike's eight year old son, joined dad on Saturday and found his very first par in his young career, a sterling three at #9. Congratulations, Nathan. May you have many more, and some eagles and aces as well. Dad, Nathan and sister Jody returned Sunday evening to find more of that golfing magic.
-On the Big Girls Tour (LPGA) Michelle Wie had a brilliant five under for the first nine holes on Sunday but could manage just an even par on the back nine. She finished third behind Ai Miyazato (3rd win of the season) and Stacy Lewis. Note that the short and accurate swing of Miyazato triumphed over the big and long swing of the Wie Lass. Don't think the Lewis girl is very long either.
-Lorena Ochoa had her final tournament with the end of Sunday's play and won't be around to see that she has lost the top spot in the world rankings. Jiyai Shin takes over when the rankings come out tomorrow. Pretty impressive for the Shin lass, this being only her 2nd year on the LPGA after a pretty special couple of years on the KLPGA. Wikipedia article:
Jiyai Shin, also known as Ji-Yai Shin (Hangul: 신지애; born April 28, 1988), is a professional golfer currently playing on the LPGA Tour and the LPGA of Korea Tour (KLPGA). She has broken all existing KLPGA records, winning 10 events in 19 starts on the KLPGA Tour in 2007. In 2008, playing only 10 tournaments on the LPGA Tour as a non-member, she won three events, including the Women's British Open and the ADT Championship.-An Irish lad, some 20 years young, won down at Quail Hollow with a stupendous final round of 62. Rory McIlroy got himself in a zone and couldn't have missed a shot if he had tried, including a 47 foot putt on the 18th to cap his record setting round.
-Another golfing pup, 18 year old Ryo Ishikawa, shot a 58 over in Japan. Best score ever on a major tour.
-After watching Mark Potts putt some during the scramble Saturday, I tried out his short stick, an Odyssey White Steel 2 Ball SRT. Ordered one from The Golf Warehouse after comparing prices with rockbottomgolf.com. Better shipping rate at the former by a few dollars. The new putter will replace the blade I bought up at a golf show in Indy way back in 1995, which served me well for most of the past fifteen years.
-Tip for a Sunday evening: Gets lots of sleep and wake up on a Monday morning with a zest for the challenges and opportunities of the week ahead.
