Hello Golfers,

Rory McIlroy has stepped into Golf Royalty as a permanent resident!

It was a struggle with 4 double bogeys, determination, grit and the fallout from Amen corner, but he did it.

There are only 6 golfers to achieve the “Grand Slam” distinction and they are spread out over the last 70 years in that accomplishment.

With a 4.5 million dollar winner’s purse, it was all in all, a very good day for Rory.  Many of the contenders at the Masters this past week end were not really motivated by the money, because they generally already have what they need and much more.  It is refreshing that these pros are truly motivated toward the win, the toughest of competitions and the purity of an impossible game.

There are so many factors that determine a successful golf shot that it sometimes feels like the perfect golf shot is a fluke.  Weather, course condition, wind, moisture, the score board, the crowds, the physical trials, endurance and emotional equilibrium.  Timing, shadows, micro wind gusts, and the effects of a caddie and how he might move the player to a place of confidence, soothing club choices, shots, maybe even considering the revolution of the earth on it’s axis.  Plus, a sudden death playoff that can be a daunting predicament.  One does not play against other players in golf even though there are nuances of individual competition.  Basically, one just challenges the BEAST, the course, the grain of the grass and pin placements.

He has played in the Master’s tournament 17 times and came close a few times but this was the day, finally.

We congratulate Rory for his attitude, his temerity, his perseverance, and focus.  We are satisfied to be included (if only via Television) in what was a grueling contest of champions and pleased that the deserving was rewarded.

The Irish are smiling,

As usual, the golf course was impeccable, brutally challenging and the Lords of Augusta did keep to the standards of decorum, etiquette and to the revered “stuffiness” of the game of golf, that we love.  It is a brutally competitive game of close quarters, grand distances, with premeditated traps that are calculated and placed to ruin a golf shot.

Even still, etiquette prevailed and that is refreshing.  We think that golf is the ultimate game that can never be owned, predicted or seen as a foregone conclusion.

Justin Rose was an absolute gentleman and a pure professional in every way.  He is truly a caring champion and it was evident that he could come up short by one shot within two inches and still celebrate Rory’s win with utmost sincerity.  We can learn much from Justin, he is truly as much a winner as Rory.

Once again, for a few days, Augusta National, was the center of the universe and the golf Gods did show themselves.

We celebrate all involved.

Be Aware:  No one took a knee, there were no players wearing a rainbow flag on their hats, there were no discussions about a woman trying to play the game as a man, no unhappy faces or declarations of cheating, no one suggested that they lost because of Trump or were disadvantaged by Musk, no one tried to burn the club house down and there was no grumbling about the officials following the rules of golf.

Dang, no wonder we love golf so much.  It was just an “international” collection of golfers doing their best to beat the golf course known as “Augusta National” with decorum and respect for one another!

TPP