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The Golfing weekend

When I was a kid my hero was Al Geiberger. Don’t ask me why. Perhaps it was his name. Then in 1967 in the Danny Thomas Memphis Classic he did an incredible thing: he shot a 59. He became forever known as Mr 59. Jim Furyk also shot a 59 and yesterday in the Travelers he bettered  this with a 58. It was not enough to win, the trophy went to Scotsman Russell Knox but an incredible achievement nonetheless.

FurykFuryk is the fourth biggest money winner of all time after Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh. He has made an annual $1m plus for the last 20 years except in 2005. Like Al Geiberger he has only won one major. He is not flamboyant, does not have an enormous drive but for years he has charted his way over the courses for a top ten finish. He is the ultimate blue collar golfer. Daniel Berger  one of generation of fine young American golfers went into the final day leading by 3 shots but a poor round let in the Scotsman. It’s sad that golfers like Knox, Martin Laird and Paul Casey who pay the US PGA in preference to the European Tour are ineligible for the Ryder Cup.

None of my picks – Webb Simpson, Branden Grace, Paul Casey, Pod Harrington and Bubba Watson – featured and it’s getting harder all the time in the post-Woods era to find a consistent predictable winner.

ArmitsteadI’m not one unlike my eminent co-correspondents on the Rust to sit in moral judgment on sport but I have hardly watched any of Olympics.

I did watch the men’s road race but drew the line with Lizzie Armitstead. Could she not have switched her mobile to silent and given her room number to reception? Can we get so high and mighty over Russia if our hands are not totally clean? It’s hard to avoid the conclusion that the country with the most medals will be the one withe best masking agents…. it makes life tough for us layers.

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About John Pargiter

John Pargiter’s biggest claim to fame is his first-ever work experience job, as ‘legs’ (or runner) for Henry Longhurst. For many years he worked in insurance at Lloyds. After retiring he has returned to his favourite sport of golf and is a keen recreational sailor and grandparent. More Posts