5 Things: Anthony Kim spotted (twice) and Bubba off to Hazeltine

1) Anthony Kim – He’s back (not really)

The last time the United States won the Ryder Cup Anthony Kim was right in the middle of it all at Valhalla. He even had a little altercation with Ian Poulter as he won two and halved one of his four matches.

Now 31 he has not played on the PGA Tour for four years, blaming various injuries which has led to much speculation over possible insurance pay-outs.

Since then he has become golf’s version of Lord Lucan so any sighting is big news and last week he was one of the ‘celebrity participants’ at a charity event in Texas, hosted by former basketball player Nancy Lieberman.

But the likelihood of Kim returning to the course with his clubs in hand looks unlikely. In an interview last year he stated that golf is ‘a fond memory of mine’.

Me and golf great @anthonykimgolf surveying one of my putts @NLCharities Golf Classic pic.twitter.com/gFiW0oe1xI

— Nancy Lieberman (@NancyLieberman) September 13, 2016

2) Anthony Kim – He’s back (sort of)

Three days later we got ANOTHER Tweet of Kim but this time hitting a shot.

Kim spent three years at Oklahoma and he was playing in their annual Sooner Open last week. Or maybe he wasn’t given his hair appeared to have grown a phenomenal distance over just a few days?

Unless he’s keeping his locks tucked away in the Texas pic?

If you’re still with me his shoes are the same which is just another observation and tells us nothing.

Awesome having Anthony Kim in town for Sooner Open #OUrtime pic.twitter.com/lmEeOjJbb6

— Oklahoma Golf (@OU_MGolf) September 16, 2016

3) Bubba still part of Love’s plans?

The Bubba Watson ‘will he, won’t he?’ Ryder Cup pick story took another intriguing turn when he was invited to join other members of the American team at Hazeltine for a practice session.

Rickie Fowler, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Jimmy Walker, Phil Mickelson and Brandt Snedeker will all join captain Love – and Bubba will also be there according to Golf Channel Insider Tim Rosaforte.

The thinking is that Watson isn’t a team man and, given he is the World No 7, it is a logical conclusion that Love doesn’t fancy the left-hander. But Love, supposedly, has no beef with Watson.

“He’s quirky, but so is Phil (Mickelson). I told Bubba after the Olympics, remember, there’s a pick after the Tour Championship,” Love said he told Watson.

Rosaforte, who is considered to have the inside line on most things, added: “If he plays well, he’s certainly going to be considered. He is not as negative an influence as many people wrote and led us to believe over the last couple of days, at least coming from captain Davis Love.”

4) RIP Nike Golf.. oh look, they’ve just signed the No 1

Jason Day might have re-signed with TaylorMade but he’ll be wearing Nike shoes, clothing and headwear next year, according to a report.

Adidas is selling its golf businesses and with Nike leaving the equipment side of things Day will now be wearing the Swoosh (for maybe upwards of $10m a year) in the hope that they can feature more on the Sunday of Majors.

A Nike endorser hasn’t won one since Rory McIlroy picked up the PGA in 2014, their worst run since 2003-04. The Aussie has finished in the top 10 of those past eight Majors including his victory at last year’s PGA. 

5) 8.10am clock on, 8.11am win a new Mercedes

Jamie McLeary returned to complete his second round in Italy at the 194-yard 10^th on Saturday morning.

His first shot of the day, with a 5-iron, finished in the bottom of the hole to earn himself a brand new 61,000 Euros Mercedes. Two hours later he signed for a 66.

Crazy day! Thank you to @MercedesBenz for my new whip ??? pic.twitter.com/DQsV5gVrPZ

— Jamie McLeary (@JamieMcLeary64) September 17, 2016