Post Time, 2012
by Brian Hwewitt

During a golf off-season that lasted, oh, about a nanosecond, you may have missed, among other things:

Rory McIlroy saying he won’t be playing tournament golf in his 40s; Bubba Watson confessing he’s afraid of the dark and Hank Haney announcing a book on Tiger Woods.

To which we respond, in order: We’ll believe McIlroy’s retirement when we see it; we hope Bubba’s golf balls aren’t equally achluophobic; and don’t count on Haney detailing the sordid.

Meanwhile, back in the winner’s circle, Louis Oosthuizen resurfaced in South Africa and Steve Stricker reaffirmed in Hawaii that nobody combines wedging, chipping and putting better than he does.

McIlroy, by the way, is suddenly caught in the middle of a budding controversy over whether he should play for Ireland or England in the 2016 Olympics.

That’s almost as sticky as the firm of agent Mark “Dr. No” Steinberg poaching Gary Woodland from agent Blake Smith, whose father, Randy, happened to be Woodland’s swing coach. Blood being thicker than water, Randy Smith responded quickly by dumping Woodland. Even more quickly, Woodland pledged the Butch Harmon fraternity.

Oh, what a tangled web........

Not to be outdone in Europe, Laura Davies had a thing or three to say about the way things are run on an LET she has carried on her shoulders for decades. And they weren’t complimentary.

Finally, may we have a moment of digital silence, please, for the passing of the erudite American writer/broadcaster Jim Huber, whose words, refreshingly, spoke louder than actions.