Welcome to a special year-end edition of The Grind, where we promise to provide you with a break from Christmas music. At this point in the year, the stuff is everywhere -- kind of like professional golf (now that's a transition!). From Thailand to South Africa, from Father/Son to alternate-shot events, the halls were decked (sorry) with tournaments. We'll put a bow on it all and get you ready for the holidays.
WE'RE BUYING
Sergio Garcia: It was a relatively quiet year -- on the course -- for Garcia, but like Rory McIlroy a couple weeks ago, he'll end his season on an encouraging note. Garcia had a hole-in-one on Friday and shot a Sunday 68 to pull away from Henrik Stenson at the Thailand Golf Championship. Yep, he stopped Hank the Tank. And then there was. . .
Sergio Garcia's girlfriend: Katharina Boehm was the lovely lady carrying Garcia's bag, winning in her debut as a professional caddie. Watch out, Steve Williams! But Boehm isn't just eye candy, having spent four years on the College of Charleston's women's golf team. We're not sure how long she'll last as either Garcia's caddie or girlfriend, but we hope she sticks around. We like kissy-face Sergio better than sourpuss Sergio.
Harris English: The rising star was a late replacement for Brandt Snedeker at the Franklin Templeton Shootout, but wound up teaming up with Matt Kuchar for a dominant win. English will enter 2014 at No. 2 on the FedEx Cup points list (wraparound season!) after winning the OHL Classic last month. How long does momentum last when you're carrying it over from the same season, but into a new year?
WE'RE SELLING
Unofficial 59s: The European Tour decided not to officially count the 59s by Jorge Campillo and Colin Nel at the Nelson Mandela Championship on Friday due to the golfers playing preferred lies and on a par-71 course that had been shortened to a par 70. We can see the tour's side (though two of the PGA Tour's sub-60 rounds came using preferred lies), but that's quite a dagger for a couple of lesser-known players who could have seen their names in the record book. Even worse, neither golfer won the rain-shortened tournament, with Nel finishing way down at T-40. How is that possible?!
Golf course shootings: A Reno man received five years probation for firing a shotgun at a golfer who had broken a window in his house with a stray golf shot. We've witnessed a lot of bad golf shots carom off houses over the years. You cringe and listen, hoping not to hear any broken glass, but who knew this was a possible consequence for causing damage? Scary stuff.
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