"To be fair, you kind of did it to yourself." - Bryson to Rory about his collapse at the US Open... or me speaking to myself at 2am wondering whether I will ever see a golf course again.

 

Putting 2024 in perspective 

A LITTLE LOVE FOR THE STAT NERDS

Justin Ray is basically the Nate Silver of golf stats. And he posted a thread this week of some of the most impressive numbers that defined this year in golf, here were a few of my favorites...
Said another way, Xander makes par or better on 9 out of every 10 holes he plays... in PGA tournament level conditions. 
 
I imagine it feeling somewhat similar to Thanos completing his glove of power or whatever that thing is called from the Marvel movies. Stepping to every tee with normal schmos, knowing deep within you that nothing bad will happen.
 
A far cry from my 2024 game.
I looked at my GHIN recap which is the handicap version of the Spotify Wrapped thing that everyone likes to post.
 
My range of scores went from a career best 80 which I somehow pulled out of my @#$ mid-summer all the way up to mid-100s, a few of which occurred on the stunning Oregon coast.
 
So to see a stat saying 63.2% of Nelly's rounds were in the 60s... we aren't even playing the same game.
I don't know how many historical stats I will need to see before I believe that Scottie is the real deal. 
 
Does anyone else feel like it's just a matter of time before the floor drops out? I have nothing to base this on beyond the wonky little side shuffle he does mid-swing and a lack of fiery moments of emotion.

 

Free app idea for those so inclined...

TURF WARS: GOLF EDITION

I wouldn't consider myself to be in my "entrepreneurial era" right now—so I leave this for any of you who have that drive in them at the moment.
 
The idea was inspired by a new running app called INTVL which has a feature called Terra. Terra allows you as a runner to, similar to the game Snake, run routes around a city and "claim" them as your own. Resulting in a turf war style map like the one seen above.
 
Pretty cool idea to inspire you to try new running routes and gamify the casual running experience. However, I do not run.
 
What would be cool is a golf version where you could compete against the world or smaller groups like your local golf league. You would log scores and the lowest gross and net scores would then "claim" the course as your own until a new low score is posted.
 
Imagine seeing a map of your city with all your colors painted across the tracks—that would 100% inspire me to try new courses as well as figure out where I want to play in the coming weeks if I see my buddy just beat my record and I now need to take it back.
 
There's already a million golf apps so perhaps it's just a new feature added to The Grint or whatever. But fun nonetheless.

 

The TGL approaches

COURTSIDE SEATS MAY NEED HELMETS

We're slowly getting more and more sneak peeks at what the new TGL stadium is going to be like—as we're just a few weeks out from the season premiere in January.
 
The clip above is Sportsnet Central reporters Ken Reid blasting one out of the bunker and directly into the courtside seats beyond.
 
No idea what this clip was used for, but all his colleagues begin roasting him in a way that feels semi-loaded. Almost like perhaps Ken does some $#&^ talking out on the real course.
 
After hitting the shot Ken mentions his six handicap looking to a TGL rep off-screen. The co-reporter Evanka is speechless on how to proceed. Then the engineer Roberto starts asking him if he can invoice the $5000 screen as a per diem expense. And finally Evanka comes in from the top rope with the line "And you wanted to take a tee shot?"
 
All this to say, the "golf" side of the TGL seems to be in pretty good shape—reporter errors or not. But ultimately, success will be about how good/awful the banter of the players is during the broadcast. Still hard to see it being anything beyond awkward dead air and forced hokey announcer barbs. But I will give it a shot nonetheless.

 

BB Fantasy Football Update

I LOST

Here we are, folks! Your 2024 Bad Birdie Fantasy Football Championship.
 
Kicking off a two-week championship round is Juandamien Nebraska aka Bad Birdie Designer Michael and Luke-ing Bad aka Bad Birdie Luke—and Slack informs me that Luke is our Sales Daddy "in training".
 
A much more competitive one point spread separates the two this week.
I lean Juandamien here partly because I want to lose the champ and partly because I trust the Lamar, Jacobs, Aman-Ra and Brock core a bit more.
 
There were four readers each who chose the two finalists so limiting exposure from Bad Birdie's side isn't on the table either. The house is neutral.
 
Best of luck fellas!