Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where fortunately, we aren’t governed by golf’s rules. Do you know how many times I’ve misplaced a comma or made a typo and been reminded about it the next day by someone on Twitter — or worse, by my mom? It’s embarrassing, but I don’t get a four-stroke penalty. Or get docked four days pay. Or get barred from using the frozen yogurt machine in our cafeteria for four days. Again, phew.
Fortunately, golf fans have arguably the best week of the year to help them forget about that unfortunate incident (and the unfortunate officiating in Monday night’s National Championship Game). Here’s what has us talking as we get ready for an exciting — and hopefully, controversy-free — week at Augusta National.
Lexi Thompson: The 22-year-old suffered one of the most brutal losses imaginable, but how she handled the situation was incredible. First, by rallying with three birdies over her final six holes to get into a playoff and then by acting gracious in defeat and sticking around to sign autographs for her fans.
Oh yeah, and she played well enough to win the year’s first major by four shots.
Russell Henley: Four shots was the deficit Henley faced heading into Sunday’s final round at the Shell Houston Open, but he rallied for his third PGA Tour win and first in nearly three years. It was also Henley’s timeliest performance since the victory earned him the last spot in the field at the Masters.
Miguel Angel Jimenez: The Most Interesting Golfer in the World certainly made things interesting with a final-hole double bogey that included a missed two-footer. But Jimenez bounced back to win a playoff and capture his fourth PGA Tour Champions title. We’re assuming plenty of red wine and cigars followed.
