Greetings Golfers,

Have you got your brackets filled out? I don’t mean the NCAA Basketball brackets … I mean your picks for this year’s golf Majors.

“Marty’s Majors” … run by Marty Lass – the legendary golf professional at Edina CC … is golf’s version of the NCAA pools. We have to pick 4 players for each Major (and the Players Championship) … and you can only use each player one time. And your season picks have to be entered before March 31.

What if your picks get injured? Sorry. Or what if they aren’t invited or qualify for a Major? Sorry. (Marty is a heartless tyrant)

So, you have to think things through. Tiger Woods is one of my 4 picks for the Masters. He’s playing great now … but might not hold up all year. Jordan Spieth is struggling, but I think he’ll be fine later this summer. Am I giving away my secrets? Probably not … I’m sure most of these gamblers know more about the players than I do … sort of like the hard-core guys who bet on horse racing.

Speaking of Tiger Woods … did you watch the golf on television last weekend? Yeah – I did too. I guess the ratings were off the charts. I don’t watch much golf anymore – mostly just the Majors. But, I had to see Tiger make a run at winning that tournament in Tampa. When he made that putt on #17 to get to one stroke behind the leader … I really thought he would birdie #18 to tie it up. Pretty incredible stuff.

Tiger seems to be back. He shot 68 at Bay Hill yesterday. That’s 5 sub-par rounds in a row. And he’s hitting it longer than the kids … and his short game is razor sharp. He seems to be happy, friendly, nice, and relaxed … who is this guy? Obviously he’s been humbled … and seems to have come out a better person. Maybe not a better golfer – he’s 42 years old – but a better player than I ever thought was possible after all of his physical problems.

The NCAA Basketball Tournament is always incredible – and I’m sure this year will be no exception. But this year March Madness is also about golf – thanks to Tiger Woods.

Cheers,

 

Tom Abts

GM and Head Golf Professional

tabts@deerrungolf.com