That same catastrophe would be reason enough for any 25 year old playing in their first Major Championship, to want to run away and hide.

Not so, Keegan Bradley.

At the Atlanta Athletic Club on Sunday, the extraordinary happened at an event that was up until then, anything but extraordinary.

25 year old PGA Tour rookie, Keegan Bradley, trailed similarly unheralded, 34 year old journeyman, Jason Dufner, by 2 shots. That was until Bradley made a disastrous triple bogey-6 on the diabolical, 15^th hole.  At that moment, he trailed by 5, with three holes to play.

At which point a legend was born.

The last four holes of the Atlanta Athletic Club have been described as the most difficult 4 closing holes in Major Championship history.

Bradley proceeded to make a birdie at both the 16^th and 17^th holes before making par at the ridiculously difficult 18^th hole.

During that time, the up until now, unflappable Dufner, had nine fingers wrapped around the Wannamaker trophy (golf’s biggest trophy which is awarded the winner of the PGA Championship). He would play those last four holes in 3-over par.

Playoff.

Bradley immediately birdied the first hole of the 3-hole playoff, giving him a one shot edge. On their second hole, the par 3 17^th both players found dry land with their tee shots. Dufner 3 putted from 40 feet while Bradley safely two putted for par and a two stroke lead heading to the infamous 18^th. Both players hit great drives and equally superb approach shots to almost identical positions, 20 feet from the hole (only three players had made birdie on this hole all day). Heroically, Dufner made his putt for birdie, and watched resignedly while Bradley two putted for par, and a one stoke victory.

There were a lot of voices complaining that this was a tournament of nobodies-given the unheralded names at the top of the leaderboard for most of the week. Tiger Woods missed the cut by a whopping 6 shots and may not be seen again competitively in the US for 6 months. And that is OK for golf. As great as he once was, ‘he’ is not the game-and the game not only survives but it is finding new stars.

Like Keegan Bradley.

Bradley has royal golf lineage. His aunt is Hall of Famer and LPGA great, Pat Bradley, who won 6 Major Championships in the 1980’s. Her Mother, back at her home in Vermont, used to famously ring a cowbell after each of her 31 victories. When Pat retired and was inducted into the Hall of Fame, the cowbell retired with her and is enshrined with her.

Perhaps the cowbell should be dusted off and get ready for some more ringing.

Steve Williams now caddies for the brilliant, if sometimes underachieving, Australian, Adam Scott. Scott’s swing has long been compared to Woods’ (they shared the same coach for years, Butch Harmon before Tiger switched to Hank Haney). And while Scott’s swing has remained as pure a motion as you can find, it has been his putter that has been his nemesis.

Over the last weekend, Scott was dominant at Firestone CC, winning the World Golf Championship, Bridgestone Invitational, by an impressive 4 shots.

In what may have been a deliberate overstatement, Williams said; “Honestly, this was the greatest week of my life. The people here have been absolutely astounding. This is the greatest week of my life caddying, and I sincerely mean that.”

Perhaps part of that satisfaction came from the fact that this week was Woods’ return to competition and he finished a very pedestrian, 37^th; 17 shots behind Scott. Or that Firestone CC and the Bridgestone Invitational was the tournament that Woods dominated like no other. At one point he had won a remarkable 7 out of 10 of these titles.

So does the caddy have that much to do with a victory?

Yes; and no.

For the “no”; it must be noted that the player will always be the one that is actually hitting the shots and that will never change.

For the “yes” however:

There is no sport that is more solitary than golf and the relationship between player and caddy is one important cog in what can be a very squeaky wheel.

A great caddy is a part time physiologist and a full time baby sitter. There is an old saying on the PGA Tour that a good caddy should observe three basic commandments:

1. “Put Up”. Basically be able to tolerate anything that his player might do or say to him
2. ‘Keep Up’. Always remain at your players’ side and be ready IF he has something to say to you.
3. “Shut Up”. Under the penalty of death, do not in any event, ever initiate a conversation. Speak only when spoken to.

While employed by Woods, one of Williams’ primary functions was to be an “enforcer” and not allow people (press, media, and fans) to get close to his player. On several occasions, Williams, took his job to extremes with behavior that was over the top. Getting into heated shouting matches with people, destroying cameras and generally behaving like a bouncer.

Working for the very easy-going, Scott seemed to have relaxed the aggressive, Williams. And Williams’ influence on Scott seems to have allowed him to find the extra gear that his game, thus far, has lacked. This was the 31 year old Scott’s ninth victory on the PGA Tour and may well prove to be the catalyst for him to become everything that he has promised for so long.

Rory Mcllroy’s US Open performance became a virtuoso ascendance to the world’s greatest stage. It was not a victory because to be victorious you need opponents and for the last week; Rory has walked alone.

You simply do not shoot a four round total of 16 under par at the US Open (you can rely on the USGA to make the set up at next years’ Open one of their most diabolical). It is a scoring record that may well never be broken.

Just two months ago, Mclleroy took a four shot overnight lead into the last round of the Masters before shooting a final round, 80. Most 21 year olds’ who would have to endure  that kind of public capitulation, might never be heard from again. Not so, the young man from Northern Ireland. He walked with his head held high, and behaved like a perfect gentleman. When interviewed immediately following the round, he was polite, gracious and there was not one iota of self-pity. It was a display of maturity well beyond his years; but more importantly, it was the blueprint for the way that the game, should be played.

We had all already marveled at Mcllroy’s prodigious talent but it was after the Masters, that we hoped that this might be Golf’s new star. The brilliant Belfast meteor that is Mcllroy, is exactly that.

Here’s why:

Learning to win is a “process”. Mcllroy has had a share of the lead at some point in each of the last four Major Championships.

Mcllroy hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation in a US Open. He led from wire-to-wire and he won by 8 shots.

The great majority of European players who have played with Rory over the last few years universally agree that he has the greatest swing that they have ever seen. To quote 2010 US Open Graeme McDowell, “He’s the best player I’ve ever seen.” Or this from world #1 Luke Donald, “I think he has probably the most talent I’ve ever seen from a golfer.”

He has a head on his shoulders that is much older than his 22 years. “I felt like I got over the Masters pretty quickly, and I kept telling you guys that,” Mcllroy said at his press conference Sunday evening. “I don’t know if you believed me or not.” And this is the quote that he posted on his Twitter account the day after he shot 80 at Augusta “It’s repetition of affirmations that leads to belief, and once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen – Muhammad Ali”.

This is the first Major Championship win of in his career, which leaves him 17 behind Jack Nicklaus.

It will not be his last.

A contact window and bank account has been set up for donations. Your donation goes directly to the office of the Governor of Miyagi prefecture and will be distributed properly.

There are two different types of donation you can make, and you will have to specify which one you would like to support.

1.      Contribution to support the daily lives of the people who had lost their houses.
2.      Donation for the resources to restore and reconstruct towns.

Bank account information:

The name of the bank:  The 77 Bank, Ltd.
Branch:  Kencho Branch
Swift code:  BOSSJPJT
Account #:  206-5515581
Account Name:  Miyagi-ken Saigai Taisaku Honbu
Address:  3-chome 8-1
Honcho, Aoba-ku
Sendai-shi
Miyagi-ken, Tohoku
JAPAN (This address is for both Miyagi Prefectural office and the bank)

Purpose for donation:  Relief Donation (or Saigai Gienkin)

Bird Golf Academy has already made the first donation (our Bank wired the funds very easily); on behalf of Hiroko and Isamu

We would beseech all of you who are able, to please also do so. To all, of the Nation of Japan; know that you remain foremost in our thoughts and prayers. 

We had the great privilege of getting to know Jeff Boucher when he came for a school at Wild Horse Pass in January of 2009.

Jeff graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1979, with a degree in photography. He was an adventurer and outdoorsman extraordinaire, having led guided tours and expeditions all over the world. Jeff was a climbing lead for the REI Company in Washington and worked also for the National Science Foundation. For the last several years he had owned his own photography studio which showcased his enormous talents as a photographer.

Jeff was perhaps the most rabidly passionate golfer that I have ever met.

In October of 2010, Jeff married the love of his life, Victoria Graves and moved to Sonoma, California.

For the past 12 years, Jeff battled cancer. “Battle” really doesn’t do him justice. Jeff dealt with enormous pain and adversity, with an insatiable spirit. A complete and steadfast refusal to surrender and an indomitable will.

Jeff did all these things with humor. With love. And with so much courage.

I only ever had the chance to spend 20 minutes with Jeff in person, although we corresponded several times and communicated on Face Book.

I have been crying for the last 4 hours since I heard of his passing. It is most surely a Life so well led, that can inspire and affect one, so much.

One of Jeff’s favorite quotes was: “No, I don’t think that we’ll make it, but we must continue on in the best possible style.” from movie the ‘The Eiger Sanction’.

Jeff; you had the best possible style.

You have taught us all so many things. You were and will always, remain: an inspiration.

It is my belief, that our Heavenly Father needed a fourth for His Saturday morning foursome, and you were the one He chose.

Two young men, who would go on to dazzle this world with their brilliance, grace and charisma would excel that year. Parallels in a universe connected in ways that we are not meant to understand but in which we should just….marvel.

One of these young men was the Captain of the Wake Forest Golf Team and the other the Captain of the Tennis Team. One of whom would become famous the world over while the other would dedicate himself first as a Clergyman, and then as a sage.

The captain of the tennis team would spend the first 30 years of his professional life as a Chaplain. In this role he was a friend, healer and spiritual adviser to thousands but it also gave birth to his fascination with, and research of; the human mind.

That fascination would lead to his second career in which he would become one of the founding Fathers of what today has become, an industry. As with all innovators and pioneers, he encourages people to “think outside the box”, to go beyond what “ought to happen” and show people “how” to do something.

He is the author of four books. His work and insights have been featured extensively in books by Michael Hebron, Phil Ritson and John Andrisani.

At one point in his illustrious career, he had faced and educated three out of every four PGA of America, professionals. He has tutored and enlightened hundreds of PGA, LPGA, Champions, Legends, European, Canadian and Nationwide, Tour players.

Despite all of his remarkable achievements, he would tell you that his greatest accomplishments are the love of his life, Jan; their three sons and five grandchildren.

He is my Mentor and my greatest counsel. I am in awe of very few human beings, but he is most certainly one of them.

The name of the Captain of the 1950 Wake Forest Tennis Team?

The one and only: Carey Mumford.

The name of the Captain of the 1950 Wake Forest Golf Team?

The “King”: Arnold Palmer.

Two extraordinary men who for the last 61 years have enriched the fabric of the world in so many sundry ways. Men who are icons in their fields and who have used the stage on which they played, to create “the best of times”. Parallel lives. Living legends.

Rose has been on golf’s stage for almost 12 years now since he dazzled everyone as a 17 year old amateur at the British Open.

Following that performance, Rose turned pro, and almost immediately lost his game. For the next two years he missed the cut in each event that he played in and seemed destined to become a member of the “whatever happened to?” group that litters golf’s history.

Golf can be such a fickle pursuit. It will grant you, your every wish, and then take those wishes away.

In his early 20’s, Rose would slowly find his game again and become a multiple winner on the European Tour. 2002 saw Rose win three events and the ship had been firmly righted. In the fall of that year, Rose’s father, Ken, passed away. Ken had been Justin’s greatest friend and supporter and his sudden death left his son, devastated.

Life. The higher the heights, the harder the fall.

In 2007, Rose was the leading money winner on the European Tour and won the “Order of Merit”. The following year, Rose decided to play the PGA Tour full time and most everyone thought that he would win immediately and often.

He didn’t.

Rose became a player that could play the first 3 rounds of a tournament very well, only to falter on Sundays. There is a word that goes with that and no-one wants to say it or hear it, but you know what it is.

For three years, Rose would have several Top 10 finishes but that first victory proved elusive. The longer that he went without winning, the more the pressure mounted…..to win.

Golf can be a brutal taskmaster. It will test every ounce of your patience and perseverance.

Finally, Rose broke through at The Memorial in June and it was generally agreed that it would now be all systems go, for the affable young Englishman.

Two weeks later, Rose took a four shot lead into the final round of the Traveler’s Championship. Rose played a very steady front 9 on Sunday and increased his lead to 5 shots. Surely he would now coast to back-to-back wins. I mean, Rose had learned to win and this was now a formality, right?

Wrong.

In a painful to watch, 2 hours, Rose would completely disintegrate and end up dropping all the way to a tie for ninth.

Just when you think you have it all figured out…..

This last weekend at the AT & T National Championship at storied, Aronomink Golf Club in Pennsylvania, Rose once again played magnificent golf for the first 3 rounds and was the over-night leader heading into Sunday’s round.

Rose admitted in an interview that he was haunted by his capitulation the week before at The Traveler’s. In admitting to those thoughts, surely he would be destined to repeat them, wouldn’t he?

No.

Playing one of the most demanding golf courses on Tour, Rose played a superb front 9 on Sunday, shooting a 2-under par, 33. He then began his back 9, with back to back bogeys. And the wheels appeared ready to spin right off their axels.

But they didn’t.

Rose was flawless in his last seven holes. He played perfect, intelligent and brave golf on a golf course that punishes even the smallest mistake. Rose’s victory now gives him two PGA Tour wins in his last three starts. Pretty impressive for someone that “couldn’t win”.

And once again this grand pursuit correlates Life in so many ways. Take nothing for granted. Remember all the old axioms. Live each day as if it were your last. Savor each beautiful sacred moment ‘cause we know not when they come again, and never let adversity overcome your will.

With Kerr’s ascension to the top position, that will make her the third player in the last three weeks who has held the ranking.

Jihai Shin from South Korea, was replaced two weeks ago by Japanese star, Ai Miyazato, who in turn was ousted by Kerr.

Since the world rankings were introduced, only 5 players have held the top spot. Annika Sorenstam was the inaugural #1 and she held that position for 60 weeks until being overtaken by the now-retired Lorena Ochoa who would be #1 for 158 weeks before Shin took over for seven weeks.

The LPGA Tour now perhaps, more than ever, needs a superstar. There are as many as 12 players who have the ability to take over that mantle; who will it be?

This week, Pebble Beach plays host to the 2010 US Open Championship. It will be the fifth time in the storied history of Pebble Beach that it plays host to the USGA’s marquee event. Each of the previous four Opens there provided memorable theater that stays with us today.

1972 was the first year that Pebble Beach hosted the US Open and was appropriately won by Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus was in the prime of his career and he has often referred to Pebble as his favorite golf course. A tough combination to beat. He didn’t disappoint and won his third Open by two shots in brutal conditions.

In 1982, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus were locked in a two man battle until Watson holed one of the most famous chip shots in history. After hitting his tee shot on the 17th hole a little too far long and left, Watson chipped in from an impossible lie in the rough for a birdie that secured his victory.

In 1992, Tom Kite won his first and only Major Championship on these links in the most difficult conditions imaginable. With winds gusting at 40 mph, the greatest players in the world were made to look like rank beginners. The average score in the final round was a colossal 77.3, but Kite survived by shooting a final round even par, 72, that gave him a two shot victory over Jeff Sluman.

The 2000 US Open, gave us one of the most dominant and spell-binding performances ever in a Major Championship. Tiger Woods won by a staggering 15 shots over Ernie Els and Miguel Angel Jimenez. Woods so decimated the rest of the field that it seemed as though there were two separate events being played. One by Woods and the other by everybody else. It was complete mastery.

Pebble Beach is not the greatest golf course in the world. In fact there are many purists who would say that is only the third best course on the Monterrey Peninsula after Cyprus Point and Spyglass. It has some very ‘ordinary’ holes. The par 5, 2nd hole is a benign, straightway hole, the likes of which can be routinely found on any municipal facility. Same can be said of the par 4, 3rd hole and the stretch of holes from 12 to 16.

The “teeth” of Pebble happens from the 7th to the 10th holes. If a player comes through this terrifying stretch in even par, they have made up two shots on the field. Navigate these four holes safely and you will have a good round.

There are a great many birdie opportunities at Pebble Beach, more so perhaps than any other US Open venue. Holes 1-4, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 18 are all legitimate scoring opportunities, so why have two of the highest 3 scoring averages in US Open history (1972 and 1982) happened at Pebble?

Wind.
Rough.
Fast greens.

If you play Pebble Beach on a still and calm day, chances are that you will post a very good score but those days are few and far between.

The course was designed to be played in the wind (like some of the classic Scottish links courses) so it is short in terms of distance. From the back tees it only measures 7,040 yards which is very short in modern day golf.

The best example of this is the par 3, 7th, which may be the best short par-3 in the world. You stand on an elevated tee box some 40 yards above the green below with the Pacific Ocean on your horizon. The hole is 125 yards at its longest and more routinely played from 106 yards. Depending on the ferocity and direction of the wind, the choice of club ranges from a Sand Wedge to a 3 iron. On the windiest of days, players have been known to deliberately, “lay-up” with a three iron into the front bunker and this hole is just over one hundred yards long.

The key to playing Pebble well is to always leave yourself uphill putts. Often times a 30 foot uphill putt will be easier than a downhill 3 footer. Most of the greens descend in elevation from back to front. Being “above” the hole is to be avoided at all costs, especially in US Open conditions where the USGA always has green speeds at their most precipitous. When you combine those factors with the Poa Annua greens (because Poa grows at irregular directions it can make a putt that looks like it will break 4 inches from right to left go the entire opposite direction) you have created a recipe for serious combustion.

Each of the first four winners of the US Open at Pebble Beach are members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. It is no coincidence that the cream has always risen to the top at this most magnificent of venues.

Who will it be in 2010?

Using your “crystal ball”, who in your opinion will have the most victories at the end of their career from the following list?

ANTHONY KIM. Already a 3-time PGA Tour winner, Kim was having a superb year with several top finishes before having wrist surgery three weeks ago. He is expected to be sidelined for the next two months.

JUSTIN ROSE. Now 29, Rose first burst on to the scene at the 1998 British Open as a 17 year old phenom, recording a fourth place finish in that event. A multiple winner on The European Tour (including being the leading money winner in 2007), Rose won his first PGA Tour event, at last weeks Memorial tournament.

CAMILLO VILLEGAS.  27 year old Columbian heart-throb, Villegas is a three time Tour winner and is in the Top Ten on the money list for 2010. Villegas has developed a large fan base (which includes a great many women!) but definitely has the talent to back up the movie star good looks.

RORY McLLROY. 21 year old McLlroy won his maiden US victory a few weeks ago at the Quail Hollow Championship. The prodigiously talented Irishman is perhaps Europe’s brightest young star. We have been recording this remarkable young man’s rise to prominence for the last 3 years, and he is only going to get better.

RICKY FOWLER. Another 21 year old who has yet to seal his first victory but whose time is certainly to come. Twice a runner-up already this year and 12th on the money list, Fowler plays with flair and abandon and is in many eyes, the most talented of the young US players.

ADAM SCOTT. It’s easy to forget that Scott is only 29 years old because he has been a professional for 11 years, and so much has been expected of the sweet swinging Aussie. After struggling for the last two years, he had a comeback win last month at the Valero Texas Open to record his seventh PGA tour win, giving him the most of all the ‘twenty-somethings’.

RYO ISHIKAWA. We have already documented the brilliant young Japanese star in a previous blog, but Ishikawa is all of 18 years old and is already a 7-time winner in Asia. His latest victory came when he shot a closing round 58, to win on the Japanese Tour earlier in the year.

DUSTIN JOHNSON. Very quietly, the long-hitting Johnson has already won three times on the PGA Tour. At 26, and in his third full year on tour, many think that the unassuming South Carolinian is America’s best young player.

SEAN O’HAIR. At 28, O’Hair is also a three time Tour winner. After turning professional at 17, and having overcome many adversities in his young life (including an overbearing father and ‘losing’ his swing for a number of years), O’Hair has refined his swing and is becoming a “Tom Kite” kind of player, consistently playing well.

HUNTER MAYHAN. The 28 year old Mahan has a game with few weaknesses. He has twice been a member of the US team for the President’s Cup and also played on the US’s victorious Ryder Cup team at Valhalla. Mahan has won twice on the PGA Tour and this  steady young player has finished in the Top 30 on the money list in each of his first full four years on Tour.