Rory and Everyone Else

It was a day I remember fondly.  It happened more than once on that nine hole, par 32 layout I grew up playing.  I remember racing the darkness trying to squeeze in one more hole, and if we got to the ninth, it was for the U.S. Open.  I loved those nights when they continued in college at Purdue University.  I got to dream for a long time after I started working as a professional, staying until the last dreamer came in.

Rory McIlroy lived my dream tonight.  He played until all you could line up by was the clubhouse lights.  He even got to take home the trophy.  He did it in the best PGA Championship, maybe the best major I have ever seen.

Rory won today with less than his "A" game.  He won it on the part of the golf course everyone else struggled with: holes 12-18.  Today, he played them five under par, impressive for holes 66-72 of a major championship.  He did the same thing on Thursday.  He won a second major, and third tournament consecutively including a World Golf Championship Event at Firestone last week.  Three wins against the best fields in the world.  And Rickie Fowler chasing him to the wire in both majors.

Rickie deserves at least a Green Shirt for his play in majors this year: Fifth at Augusta, Third in the National Open, Runner up at The Open Championship and the PGA.  It won't be long until he gets over the hump and gets both hands on a trophy.  He had one hand on a trophy twice this year.

Phil Mickelson is still a force, and proved it with his last five rounds being 62-69-67-67-66.  All it got him was a nice finish.  He has served as a mentor to Rickie Fowler, who is facing the questions Phil did for a while.  It is good to see nice guys finish well.  He will be the first player over age 50 to win a Major.  He will break Julius Boros' record, who was 48 when he won the PGA in 1968., incredible that the record has lasted that long.

Henrik Stenson looked like a deer in the headlights from the thirteenth hole on today.  Fourth in the world, it was as though he had been replaced by yours truly down the stretch.  He is well loved on the European Tour, and will see better finishes in a major.   At age 38, however, you better not waste too many more opportunities.

Another dozen guys could have lived the dream today.  Any serious player or one in serious love with the game has played until you hit the ball and played by sound.  You loved the full moon, because it could help after a while.  Play in rain, in snow, in sleet, in wind so fierce that birds can't fly in it.  Sleet is the most preferable: you stay dry, even if you're cold, and that feels better than rain, snow or wind.

I miss those days, almost as much as I miss baseball/softball.  The dream would still be alive.

So...am I off base?