‘I won’t sleep for a week’ – What did Obama say to spook Spieth?
Hello. Welcome to another edition of Dialled In, my alternative look at the golf world through social media. I’m slightly distracted this week. I took my daughter to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday and discovered the plural of ‘mongoose’ is ‘mongooses’ and not, as I assumed, ‘mongeese’. I’ve thought about little else since.
Anyway, here is some golf stuff…
Spieth vs. Smiffy
Jordan Spieth is basically living the life we all want to live. Incredible golfer, Masters champion, Open champion, Ryder Cup star…
And now, to top it all off, he got to hit golf balls at James Corden. A dream I’m sure we’ve all had.
It got me thinking about which celebrity I’d most like to hit golf balls at. I’m yet to decide, but I posed the question to my colleagues at NCG Towers and the first answer I got was Nick Knowles. So there you go.
President’s Up
When he wasn’t trying to decapitate Corden on his Late Late Show, Spieth was telling the host about how President Barack Obama beat him in a recent knockabout at his home course in Dallas. Also playing were basketball’s superstar siblings Stephen and Seth Curry, but that doesn’t really add anything to the story.
When Corden asked what it was like to play with Obama, Spieth said the former POTUS was “very cool” and that the match went down to the final putt.
“We had a two-on-two match and it came down to the last hole,” he explained. “And the President had a 10-foot double-breaking putt.
“This is my home course and I’ve never seen anybody make the putt. A small crowd had gathered, like you’d expect, and he said, ‘When there’s a crowd on the last hole, I never miss.’
“He steps up and he knocks it in – perfect speed, right in the middle of the hole.
“He looked at me and said, ‘Told ya.'”
Of course, Spieth may have been distracted. Earlier in the round, he explains, Obama had said something to him which left him wide-eyed and claiming he “wouldn’t sleep for weeks”.
But I don’t want to spoil it all for you. I know you’ve got things to do but it’s only a couple of minutes so enjoy…
When Alex Met Sully
I was down at the Grove last week to interview Andy Sullivan…
Fun day filming with Andy Sullivan. Keep your eyes peeled on NCG for some great stuff to come! ?⛳️ pic.twitter.com/QKKADmkXPW
— National Club Golfer (@NCGmagazine) October 27, 2017
That will be on NCG in the next couple of weeks, so keep an eye out for that. I also took him on in a chipping challenge, which he thinks he won, I’m not so sure. See for yourself here…
I also spotted this photo of Tony Jacklin in the Grove’s clubhouse…
Tee markers were a bit different back in the day… pic.twitter.com/n96RtV2BKT
— Alex Perry (@AlexPerryNCG) October 30, 2017
Danny downed
Danny Willett tweeted over the weekend to say he is now out for the remainder of the year.
Gutted to have to shut down my 2017 season. Damaged rotator cuff in my left shoulder last week and need a period of total rest. #devastated
— Danny Willett (@Danny_Willett) October 28, 2017
He’s had a torrid time of it since winning the Masters in 2016. He’s been plagued with injuries and his Ryder Cup debut was marred by constant abuse from the US fans after… Actually, it doesn’t matter.
Anyway, get well soon Danny. Looking forward to having you back.
Water way to have a good time
Who hates playing in the rain? I assume you are all nodding your heads right now.
Well next time the heavens open while you’re on the links, why not try this little tip from Swedish pro Adam Andersson…
Don’t try this at home
How’s your aim? Good enough to get through this gap?
I don’t know about you, but the first few seconds of this clip made me feel really anxious.
Lake of Banter
We’ve all crashed a golf buggy at least once, right?
Mine was at my home course back in Devon, Okehampton, where, given that it is right on the side of Dartmoor, there are some very steep inclines. Couple this with icy conditions and you’ve got one golf buggy on its side and Ping irons scattered everywhere.
Well, when it happened at Saddleback Golf Club in Firestone, Colorado, they decided to put up a sign to commemorate the incident and absolutely not at all an attempt to go viral and get on the news.
I’m perfectly aware I’m giving them what they want. Leave me alone.
High steaks
Morley Hayes Golf Club in Derbyshire is looking for a new grill chef. But it’s the last sentence that caught my eye…
In return we offer salary according to experience, pension scheme, free golf, meals while on duty, uniform and discount after a qualifying period.
Free golf and free food. File that under “Dream Jobs”.
And in this week’s edition of ‘Stick to Golf’
Who wants to watch Matt Kuchar play table tennis. Badly.
China went 1-up on USA in ping pong. Can Dou Zecheng trump Kuchar and co on the golf course ? #HSBCChampions pic.twitter.com/ei09B4lkrc
— Chuah Choo Chiang (@chuahcc) October 25, 2017
Luckily, ol’ Matty he did a bit better out on the course…
Do the World Golf Championships excite you?
Quick 9: Best current players not to have won a major
Chase Koepka on being the brother of a four-time major winner
Alex Perry
Alex has been the editor of National Club Golfer since 2017. A Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.
