Some people have been asking why I only showed the new bionic Jim in that picture. Good point - I can do better. Here’s that picture of Jim running with his lovely wife Barb.
Medical Update
My leg/groin still hurts from the 6/19 surgery. Nerve pain. I don’t like it.
Doug. well - he’s still Doug. But I am reminded by him of his wisdom of how pain and age kind of go together. He’s carrying on.
But the big news that has rocked the FGL is about Manager Jim. He’s going Bionic! We can re-build him. Make him faster, stronger than ever before! A new knee. Good luck Manager Jim!
The joy of golf
Liam is starting to understand the joy of golf. He can’t believe he hits bad shots.
This is me!
Lovely weekend
Friday night was delightful at the Ohio Theater watching Paul Newman and many other stars in an old classic!
Saturday was a delightful Shadowbox show with the Bames, thanks to Delta Dental.
Tigers simply abusing the Guardians.
Manager Jim closes the gap
Tapping into his Birmingham, MI days, Jim tried to create some magic at the Motown with 7 points from Captain Kirk while B.T.O. Went -1 for the week.
Doug also did well pulling to within one point of his arch enemy Kevin.
We’re off to the John Deere next with many guys making an early jump over the Atlantic to get ready for the Scottish Open.
Manager Golfers expected to play
Kevin Tom Kim
Jaustin No one
PAK-Mon Sungjae Im, Tony Finau, Nick Dunlap
B.T.O. Max Homa, lil Rickie Fowler, Henrik Norlander,
Jim Captain Kirk, Beau Hossler, Max McGreevy
Big J Jason Day
Commish Denny’s McCarthy, J.T. Poston
Doug Eric Cole
Happy Birthday to Manager Austin
Dave and Jim continue to roll
In the battle of the bands, my Don Henley battled to a 2nd place tie with Jim’s Fleetwood Mac. Actually, I thought Fleetwood had the win locked up. But somehow nervous Milton Bradley won the game for Kevin!
B.T.O. picked up 6 points which keeps him in first place.
While there was no cut, a few guys quit before the tournament was over on Sunday. They technically did not miss the cut so no lost points. But they didn’t finish either so no points. Jordan Spieth, Eric Cole and Viktor Hovland fell into that category,
Off to Motown for some Rocket Mortgage competition. Not a huge field.
Manager Golfers expected to play
Kevin Wyndham Clark, Tom Kim, Milton Bradley, Patrick Cantlay,
Jaustin Akshay Bhatia, Cameron Young, Byeong Hun An
PAK-Mon Hideki Matsuyama, Tony Finau, Nick Dunlap
B.T.O. Max Homa, lil Rickie Fowler, Henrik Norlander
Jim Captain Kirk, Beau Hossler, Max McGreevy
Big J Collin Morikawa, Min Woo Lee
Commish No one
Doug. Max Greyserman, Eric Cole, Matt Fitzpatrick
Surgery update
I mentioned below last week that I would be having an overnight stay for an operation. Well that took place yesterday (Thursday) at St. Ann’s and got discharged today (Friday). There was an egg-like cyst sticking out of my right groin which was due to the heart operation. I looked like I had an alien trying to pop out. Originally the hope was to drain it but doctor later decided it needed to come out. Good decision as this ended up being quite a bit larger and required more digging. More like a softball. Everything feels great as long as I’m sitting. When I walk, it’s like my thigh down to my knee is on fire. And I don’t like it one bit!
Good round of golf with Brandon. Now a week of rest to get better
Nice Monday outing
Went to Loveland, OH and played O’Bannon with Three Finger Tim, his son Cody and Manager Big J. Such a great day!
US Open - even I'm exhausted.
So much for all the experts’ predictions. No one picked JJ Spaun. After the tournament, JJ talked a lot about some of the changes he’s made with his game. Attitude, coaches, short game. But in my exclusive interview, I found it most enlightening when he mentioned that the biggest impact came when he got himself a FGL Manager. With only a few weeks to manage him, Doug did an amazing job and amazingly, JJ wins the US Open! If only Doug could do that with his own game. Anyway, Doug picks up 28 points and the sidebet win.
Jaustin’s boy Jimmy Connors played well at Oakmont. But before Sunday’s round, he had to quit with a bad wrist. No finish - no points. I tried to explain that to Julian but he didn’t quite seem to get it.
In spite of “struggling”, Scottie still finished top 10. As did Carlos Ortiz for Manager B.T.O. And Jordon Spieth made the cut too. Three guys in and all three make the cut. That’s all Dave needs to keep his tight grip on the 2025 Tommy O Award.
Travelers is up next; another Signature event so most guys are playing at least Thursday and Friday. THERE IS NO CUT!!!!!!! Many may want the weekend off after Oakmont.
Manager Golfers expected to play
Kevin Wyndham Hotels, Milton Bradley, Patrick Cantlay, Maverick McNealy
Jaustin Viktor Hovland, Akshay Bhatia, Cameron Young, Corey Conners, Byeong Hun An
PAK-Mon Hideki Matsuyama, , Sungjae Im, Tony Finau, Nick Dunlap, Adam Scott
B.T.O. Scottie, Max Homa, Jordan Spieth, lil Rickie Fowler
Jim Rory, Justin Thomas, Fleetwood Mac
Big J Collin Morikawa, Robert MacIntyre, Shane Lowry, , Matthieu Pavon, Jason Day, Min Woo Lee
Commish Ludvig Aberg, Don Henley, Denny’s McCarthy, J.T. Poston, Sepp Straka, Daniel HamBerger
Doug Xander Schauffele, Max Greyserman, , Eric Cole, Matt Fitzpatrick, Aaron Rai, J.J. Spaun
Lots of stuff going on
I had the privilege to play with Woody in a Delta Dental event at Hickory Hills out near West Jefferson on Friday. Always entertaining!
Saturday, I traveled to Middletown, OH to loose more golf balls with Big J!
Monday, I play with Tim in Cincinnati.
Tuesday, I play with Brandon.
Wednesday is a trip to the Ohio Theater to see the movie The French Connection with Gene Hackman. (It’s only taken me 50 years!)
Thursday, I have surgery at St. Ann’s. Removal of a cyst, I guess. Just one night in the hospital and then I’m back to whatever it is I do.
Meanwhile, Manager Austin has been busy in Cleveland in what appears to be pursuing a new career in NASCAR. At least for one day he did.
And with a month behind him now, Henrik is doing wonderful. Lauren says he gets grumpy but I think that’s just because the lad wants to sleep all the time and she keeps waking him.
Really?
They use push mowers at Oakmont. But this is a bit crazy.
Hold on tight - We're going to Oakmont
Canadian Open didn’t change much. Jaustin picked up 9 points but not much else happened.
If the media frenzy is true, the US Open could be brutal. Incredibly deep rough. Obnoxiously fast greens. Maybe no or little water or trees but still expected to be geared for the bombers that can keep it in the fairway. On top of that, a par 3 that could play at 290 yards. Scottie is by far the favorite. But it’ll still be interesting!
B.T.O. will NOT have Fowler or Homa playing as they both failed to qualify the other week. But making his first FGL appearance this season will be Dave’s guy Carlos Ortiz.
Will Zaltoris is also NOT in the field. I’m guessing he has messed up his back again.
Manager Golfers expected to play
Kevin Wyndham Hotels, Tom Kim, Milton Bradley, Patrick Cantlay, Maverick McNealy, Jon Rahm
Jaustin Viktor Hovland, Akshay Bhatia, Cameron Young, Corey Conners, Byeong Hun An
PAK-Mon Hideki Matsuyama, Bryson DeChambeau, Sungjae Im, Tony Finau, Nick Dunlap, Adam Scott
B.T.O. Scottie, Jordan Spieth, Carlos Ortiz
Jim Rory, Justin Thomas, Fleetwood Mac, Captain Kirk
Big J Collin Morikawa, Bobby MacIntyre, Shane Lowry, Matthieu Pavon, Jason Day, Min Woo Lee
Commish Ludvig Aberg, Don Henley, Denny’s McCarthy, J.T. Poston, Sepp Straka, Daniel HamBerger
Doug Xander Schauffele, Max Greyserman, Matt Fitzpatrick, Aaron Rai, J.J. Spaun
Oh those Tigers!
They just keep building on their lead!
Good couple of days
if you saw some of the men’s finals for the French Open, you’ll understand the quality of tennis I’m talking about. Got the boys out to hit some balls. And with Doug’s wood racket, they had no defense.
I also had the privilege of playing with The Legend once again in some place called Goshen, OH. Nice course but soaked. If I screwed up and somehow hit the fairway, it was like landing in a pond. No roll. And my game depends on roll.
Lovely off-site lunch meeting at Buckeye Lake
Mrs. Commissioner and I had a lovely time Wednesday afternoon out at Papa Boo’s. Just a perfect day. Made me miss the evening adventures we’ve had out there with the bands and other madness. But still - a great day for an off-site FGL meeting.
Would this be the break-out tournament?
I wondered if some manager would score 40 points at Jack’s place. Almost. B.T.O. Had a monster week picking up 38 points and the side bet win. Yes, yes, Scottie won again. But Fowler and Spieth also brought in top 10 finishes. And they only got into the tournament with a special sponsor exemption. Pretty impressive. All of which pushes Dave to the top of your FGL leaderboard. yes - you read that right!
Jim just didn’t have guys playing and pretty much stayed where he‘s at with just 4 points.
Doug - your guys have got to do more than just Finish.
Kevin has tied Big J for 4th place.
We’re going to Canada next with Rory stepping in and Scottie stepping out.
Manager Golfers expected to play
Kevin Wyndham Hotels, Tom Kim
Jaustin Cameron Young, Jimmy Conners, Byeong Hun An
PAK-Mon Sungjae Im, Nick Dunlap
B.T.O. Max Homa, Henrik Norlander
Jim Rory,Beau Hossler, Max McGreevy
Big J Bobby MacIntyre (defending champ), Shane Lowry (who really needs a week off), Matthieu Pavon
Commish Ludvig Aberg
Doug Eric Cole