The Titleist Challenge

As you readers have probably noticed, the leaderboard on PGATour.com helpfully provides the identifier “Titleist” after the name of each golfer.  This notification serves many purposes, many of which are obvious.  Yes, mot of the pro golfers play the Titleist brand.  But does quantity equal quality?

The Titleist Challenge will resolve that burning question.  Let’s see how many golfers using the Titleist brand made the cutr at the Valspar Champions ship this weekend in Palm Harbor, Florida, and how many did not:

Number of Titleist golfers who made the cut:                        51 (of 69 – 74%)

Number of Titleist golfers who did not make the cut:           57 (of 87 – 66%)        

Winner:  A lawyer’s answer: It depends.  From a pure quantitative perspective, the number of Titleist golfers who did not make the cut outnumbered those Titleist golfers who did make the cut.  On the other hand, the percentage of Titleist golfers making the cut exceeded those who did not. So, this week’s winner is (drum roll, please)…. Titleist!! 

#1 Ball in Golf

Notables who did not make the cut:

-Phil Mickelson, who needs several top-three finishes the next few weeks to qualify for the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in June. (The issue of FIGJAM -  see here - accepting an exemption to play in the Open  is unresolved at this time; The Golf Album Blog says, Of Course He Will!)

-Gary Woodland, the 2019 U.S. Open Champion, who has failed to make the cut in 7 of 14 tournaments in the 2021 PGA season.  This from a man who made 21 consecutive cuts in 2018-2019.

-Justin Rose, another majors winner and member of the Masters’ “Close But No Cigar” Club (6 top ten finishes, with two seconds, in 16 tries.)

-other majors winners Graeme McDowell and Danny Willett

-and the ever-popular Patrick Reed, another major winner.

Given the quality of these golfers who missed the cut this week, they most likely will not be heard singing the following sad refrain very often in the weeks to come:

ONE STROKE OVER THE CUT

Original song:  One Toke Over The Line

Songwriters: Michael Brewer / Tom Shipley

One Toke Over The Line Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

One stroke over the cut sweet Jesus
One stroke over the cut
Sittin' in my Lear on a red-hot tarmac
One stroke over the cut

Awaitin' for the pilot flying home, sweet Mary
Hopin' that the pilot’s  on time
Sittin' in my Lear on a red-hot tarmac
One stroke over the cut

Whoooo does golf love, I hope it's me
I've bin a struglin', as you can plainly see
I felt the joy and I learned about the pain missing the cut did
If I should choose to make this  part of my game surely fix my head

One stroke over the cut sweet Jesus
One stroke over the cut
Sittin' in my Lear on a red-hot tarmac
One stroke over the cut

Awaitin' for the pilot flying home, sweet Mary
Hopin' that the pilot’s  on time
Sittin' in my Lear on a red-hot tarmac
One stroke over the cut

I hit the ball a country mile,
But no strokes gained  and I don’t smile

I played all the shots and loved myself a few
Taken by surprise all the rough I've cut through
I ended over par  and now I'm
One toke over the line sweet Jesus

One stroke over the cut sweet Jesus
One stroke over the cut
Sittin' in my Lear on a red-hot tarmac
One stroke over the cut

Awaitin' for the pilot flying home, sweet Mary
Hopin' that the pilot’s  on time
Sittin' in my Lear on a red-hot tarmac
One stroke over the cut

I don’t want  to be
One stroke over the cut sweet Jesus
One stroke over the cut
Sittin' in my Lear on a red-hot tarmac
One stroke over the cut

Awaitin' for the pilot flying home, sweet Mary
Hopin' that the pilot’s  on time
Sittin' in my Lear on a red-hot tarmac
One stroke over the cut

Songwriters: Michael Brewer / Tom Shipley

One Toke over the Line lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

 

© 2012-21 R.E. Kelly

AMDG