"I've never hit a golf ball. I've never set foot on a golf course. Everything I draw is from inside a 6-by-10 prison cell."

Max Adler ghosts Valentino Dixon's lengthy and (so far) extremely compelling July Golf Digest feature.

I say so far because it's a long one and I'm going to savor the rest in print or on the iPad, but here's a sampling from the Attica Correctional Facility resident's story of crime, redemption and terrific golf hole drawings.

Except for that one drawing for the warden, I never copy holes exactly. I use a photograph as a starting point and then morph the image in my own way. Sometimes I'll find a tiny piece of reference material, like a tree on a stamp or mountains on a calendar, and then imagine my own golf course with it. I find the challenge of integrating these visions very rewarding.

The past two years I've drawn more than 130 golf pictures with colored pencils and 6-by-8-inch sheets of paper I order through the mail. We're not allowed to have brushes and paints, but that's all right; I like pencils. When I was little, my mom and grandma used to slap my hand because of the unconventional way I gripped the pencil, until one day my aunt Gwen told them to stop and look at the comics I'd done from the newspaper. My mom didn't believe I'd done it without tracing, so she made me draw them again freehand as she watched.

Leishman Reportedly Wins Travelers Even Though He Shot 62 Long Before Cameras Were Rolling

John Strege explains the peculiar Travelers finale where Marc Leishman fired a 62 and the leaders playing two hours later all folded down the stretch, handing the win to the 28-year-old Australian.

Leishman, it should be noted, counts another Aussie, Greg Norman, as his idol. Norman won here, too, in 1995. But Norman is known as much for his pratfalls as for the otherwise stellar record that landed him in the World Golf Hall of Fame, and he'd have been at home among those kindred spirits littering the course on the back nine.

"It's a funny game," Leishman said. But a comedy of errors doesn't make it a comedy, nor does a one-stroke victory make it a drama. That leaves horror among the available genres.

If you look closely during the highlight package, you'll see Leishman make one putt during his round.

Wittenberg Passes On PGA Tour Spot And Wins On Nationwide Tour

Ryan Ballengee explains the terrific move by Casey Wittenberg to pass on the Travelers Championship, even though he was guranteed a spot based on this T-10 at the U.S. Open. He instead stuck to the Nationwide Tour where he is playing in hopes of earning a PGA Tour card and won this weekend's Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open by two.

Earning $108,000 for the win, Wittenberg jumped from 10th to second on the Nationwide Tour money list, all but ensuring a return to the PGA Tour in 2013. The top 25 players on the Nationwide Tour money list earn full PGA Tour status.

I wonder if a player will do that in 2013 when the Nationwide money list may not mean as much, all because of the atrocious playoff system that looms?  Assuming they ever figure it out.

Rory Sabbatini's Predicted Ace, 16th @ The Travelers

Jim Nantz notes based on Rory Sabbatini's immediate reaction, someone called the ace before it happened. I couldn't find any articles online explaining the backstory.

"Caroline Wozniacki says McIlroy love match will not stop Wimbledon success"

Neil McLeman talks to the former women's tennis world No. 1 about her relationship with Rory McIlroy and whether it is somehow to blame for her on-court struggles.

This was an interesting comment..

“After some losses for me, I need to get back. You need that blood on your teeth again – that hunger. I don’t think anything ever happens that you can’t take some good from. It’s all part of the learning curve.

“You can’t be No.1 in the world for 20 years – unless you are Tiger Woods! Rory is only 23 years old as well.”

Beau Returning To Congressional On Sponsor's Invite

Jonathan Wall on the AT&T National jumping on the Beau Hossler bandwagon by giving the high schooler and recent U.S. Open contender a spot in this year's field at Congressional, where he played in last year's national championship.

Ryan Ballengee says Hossler hoped for an all-UT pairing but the tour won't be going that direction.

The 17-year-old hoped to be grouped with a pair of Texas Longhorns in current player Jordan Spieth and alumnus Justin Leonard. Hossler, entering his senior year of high school in the fall, has already committed to the University of Texas for his collegiate golf. However, the PGA Tour will not group the trio, a Tour official said.

Update on 2012-06-25 02:38 by Geoff

**Barry Svrluga talks to Hossler and profiles him for the Washington Post.

When the AT&T National begins Thursday at Bethesda’s Congressional Country Club, Hossler will be the youngest member of a 120-man field. Eleven of those players, most notably tournament host Tiger Woods, have won major championships. But only three of them led the most recent major, the U.S. Open: Woods, Jim Furyk — and Hossler.

“The whole experience just helped my confidence,” Hossler said. “I just respect the games of those players so much. They’re the best in the world. But now, I think if I play well, I can play with them and compete.”

Friday Fun: "Phil Mickelson's Shower Caddy Recommends Sudsy 9-Iron"

From the folks at The Onion.