Our Prayers Answered: Kevin Na's Uncontrollable Pre-Shot Drama Miraculously Disappears

I think this means I need to go back and pull up some of the sob stories about this horrible disease that latched itself onto young Kevin Na in a cruel twist of fate. You know, the one he had no control over.

Because miracle of all miracles, Richard Durrett reports that Na played like his normal (slow) self Thursday at Colonial, instead of the offensive and rude wacko that overtook Na's body at the Players.

Na shot even-par 70 on Thursday, his first competitive round since that Sunday at Sawgrass. And considering he was 2 over after five holes here, Na was pleased he managed to get those two strokes back by the time his round finished.

His plodding play at The Players made pace of play a hot topic in the golf world. As soon as that tournament ended, Na vowed to do something about it.

"That was the only thought I had," Na said Thursday. "It wasn't about, 'Oh I need to go work or I need to get rest.' It was, 'I need to change this and this is all I'm going to do and all I'm going to think about and I'm going to get it done.' I'm actually surprised at how quickly I'm doing this."

Na's new routine has no waggles and takes little time. He takes one practice swing when he's at the ball, then puts the club behind the ball, looks at the target, sets his feet, and when he feels comfortable -- and it didn't take him long to feel comfortable Thursday -- he takes the club back and hits the ball.

Praise Our Savior, Dale Lynch!

Update on 2012-05-25 18:30 by Geoff

**Shane Bacon posted this Ryan Palmer video where the tour player does a Na impersonation during a clinic.

R.I.P. John Harbottle III

The golf architect was just 53.

Todd Miles with the sad news.

Update on 2012-05-25 16:40 by Geoff

**From the ASGCA:

John Harbottle III, ASGCA, dies at 53

BROOKFIELD, Wis. – John Harbottle III, an American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) Member and president of John Harbottle Design of Tacoma, Wash., died May 24, 2012. He was 53.
 
Harbottle was nationally recognized for his commitment to environmentally-sensitive design. His award-winning layouts included Ridgecrest Golf Course, Nampa, Idaho; Stevinson Ranch, Stevinson, Calif.; The Olympic Course, Bremerton, Wash.; and The Golf Club at Genoa Lakes, South Lake Tahoe, Nev. All were designated "Best New Courses in the United States" by “Golf Digest.”
 
A landscape architecture graduate from the University of Washington, Harbottle began his career with ASGCA Past President Pete Dye, with whom he collaborated on projects throughout the world. Harbottle became an ASGCA Associate Member in 1992 and a Regular Member in 1996.
 
Extensive travel to Scotland allowed Harbottle to study golf’s traditions and form the basis for many of his own designs. He described his design work, especially its noted sensitivity to the environment, when he said, “Our goal is to create natural looking golf courses with a links touch; timeless classics that fit the terrain as if they have always existed. The indigenous character of the links courses makes them not only appear a natural part of the landscape, but also allows them to function as a sustainable part of the ecosystem.
 
“Great courses possess natural beauty, strategic hazards and variety – not only in overall design, but also in the ways to play each hole,” Harbottle said.
 
Harbottle is survived by his wife, Teresa, and children, Johnny and Chelsea. 

Gibson's 55: No Range Warmup, Played The Ball Down

Mike Baldwin catches up with Rhein Gibson--55 shooter from the Golfweek Tour--who has been busy playing and not talking much about the round. But he did chat it up with Baldwin and revealed that there was no pre-round warm-up and despite mudballs, there was no lifting, cleaning and cheating.

The mind-boggling score, oddly enough, was posted on a day Gibson didn’t get to warm up on the driving range, which was closed due to heavy rains the previous night.

“The ball didn’t roll much,” Munson said. “Several times we had mud on our balls. We played it down. We didn’t pick and clean it. It produced some unpredictable shots. The key was his putting.”

Gibson chipped in for an eagle on No. 13, a par 5. He hit 16 greens in regulation, and he logged only 19 putts.

Gibson also talks about how tough it is to get through Q-school to the PGA Tour. Problem solved!

Golf Channel To Give U.S. Open Sectional's Proper Coverage

Mentioned in today's Johnny Miller conference call and surely to be hyped some more is Golf Channel's planned coverage of U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying Monday. Considering the disaster that has been trying to get news on Sectional Qualifying day--easily the most democratic day of golf in the U.S.--the channel is rolling out all day coverage from each site.

John Eggerton explains:

On the Monday (June 4) of qualifying for the U.S. Open Championship, the channel will provide coverage from 7 a.m. to midnight as golfers try to qualify in sectional play at 11 locations. The coverage will be anchored from Golf Channel's Orlando studios, but will include dedicated shows and updates throughout the day from reporters and cameras at all those locations.

I know, I know. Not as fun as coming to GeoffShackelford.com all day and hoping that the live links to various regional golf associations are working and updated, but it's a start.

And something tells me the USGA will be stepping up their coverage as well.

Update on 2012-05-25 17:31 by Geoff

**The USGA has set up this handy sectional page worth bookmarking.

Fore! Jet Plane Door Lands On Florida Course

WSVN reports that Westin Diplomat Hotel and Spa golf course was closed for maintenance when this happened.