Good News, Bad News

This past weekend may have been the most active relative to Kiva Cup significance since, well, the 2009 Kiva Cup.  It was a good news, bad news weekend for Team Europe.

The good news for Team Europe, announced via press release in a very official looking email from Chief, is confirmation of the long running rumor that KC(Great) will not participate in the 2010 Kiva Cup. 

For the celebratory members of Team Europe, the release in its entirety:

I would also like to formally announce what has been rumored for months....KC/Great Crumpton has officially withdrawn from the Kiva Cup. He states "I just cannot do it. There is no game for me there and I hate being around Brian". KC seriously says he is just to [sic] good, after qualifying (true story) for the Southern Amateur at Shoal Creek last week by shooting 72 in the Monday qualifier from the tips at Shoal, he is just to [sic] good for our group. He unfortunately had to withdraw from the Southern Am after getting an infection in his leg.

While his official withdrawal from the 2010 Kiva Cup was hardly a surprise, the remark about being 'too good' rubbed some members of Team USA the wrong way.

Playing his usual role as peace maker and overall understander of all perspectives, Jammy offered, "I can understand why that remark upset some people, I really can, but fact is, KC is a great golfer.  Him being paired with me in any team type match is rather ridiculous.  Could you imagine him and I paired in alternate shot?  Playing Kiva with us is a grind for him, much like watching our children play Mario Kart on Wii is a grind for most of us.  It's somewhat frustrating.  He also has to give up strokes to everyone. I understand what he said AND what he means, I just wish he were going because I like to watch the man play.  Fluid, controlled golf swing.  A thing of beauty really.  The man was just speaking the truth.  Fact is, he is too good to play against 90% of Cup participants. If you don't like it, take some lessons, go practice, and get better."

Where does Team USA go from here, especially with the teams expanding to eight members this year?  Chief returns from his one year hiatus to rejoin Jim, Mark, JRod and Jammy.  Following his 2009 debut, Meelum-san has confirmed that he will return for a sophomore season.  Likewise, Team USA has extended an invitation to Uncle Joe to return for 2010 following his 2009 premiere. Fake participant Zac (17) has expressed a strong desire to participate in a true cup event.  Surprisingly, that's eight people.

After reviewing the lineup, USA Captain Jim nodded confidently, feeling good about his team. "KC is a great player, but him not playing really helped us in an odd way.  We wanted Uncle Joe and Meelsie to come back, and Zac (17) really wanted a spot on the team.  You hate to leave people out that have that much desire to play.  You also hate to leave someone off your team that is a 17 home course yet can hit a 65 yard flop shot off the cart path to two feet.  I feel good about where we are RIGHT NOW."

True Hawk was last seen running naked through Bluff Park, laughing hysterically.

The bad news for Team Europe, Captain Burnett has sought out help with his chipping from a very, very unlikely source.

Following a round at Eagle Point in which he couldn't get his chips more than two feet in the air, Captain Burnett asked Jammy (26) to help him with that part of his short game.

"I'm banking on the old saying, 'those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.'  No one studies that game more than Jammy (26).  Every month he reads the "How to Break 100" and "How to Break 90" sections of Golf Digest like it's his job.  He knows the theories of the golf swing, he just hasn't been able to put theory to practice."

For his part, Jammy (26) agreed to the unusual arrangement without much thought, partly because he thinks it will be a relatively simple fix in exchange for the bounty of tomatoes and peppers Brian sends his way.  "It's one or two minor adjustments, probably.  Brian either has the ball too forward in his stance, or the club head is even, or maybe a little ahead, of his hands at impact.  I hope that it's simply ball position, but we'll work on him keeping the club leaning through impact. He'll be Ray Floyd in no time, and I'll have salsa for years."

As for actual golfing, Captains Burnett and Hartsell played at Eagle Point this past Saturday with Team USA Junior Member JRod and Jammy (26).  The Burnett/Erwin team took on JRod/Hartsell in a loser leave town cage match.  The match ended in a tie when Jarrod made a 3 footer for par to win the 18^th hole.  The only other shot of note was Jim (17) flying a sand shot in for birdie on the 193 yard, par 3 15^th hole.  I mean, flew it in.  No bounce, no roll, just flew the ball right in to the cup. You would have thought the flag stick would have interfered, but the ball just disappeared. "Shot of the round", said Jim.

The final gross and home course net scores:

JRod – 82 (71)

Jim –    82 (65)

Brian – 78 (68)

Jammy – 96 (72)

"I went  44-52", said Jammy following his round.  "I played the last three holes at a combined 8 over par. I had two 8s and two 7s on the back nine. My highest score on the front nine was a 6 on the par 3 5^th. I don't know if I got tired or lost it mentally or started pressing or all three, but I knew that Saturday would be a grind from the time I hit my first shot on the range in warm-up. My aggregate score through six holes on the back was a 30, with two par 5s left to play. Breaking 90 would have meant making par on both of those and bogeying the 469 yard, par 4 17^th. I finished 7-8-7. I put myself in bad shape by doubling the first two holes on the back, and then following par on the 12^th by taking an 8 on the 13^th after hitting my drive to the 150 yard pole. Poor club selection and a case of the pulled iron shot meant hitting one OB, and I really never recovered on that hole. For the day, I only hit 4 fairways, 4 GIRs, putted 37 times and had three penalty strokes. Where do you even start trying to fix all that? I have no idea.  I guess you start at the beginning."

Sounds like you need some back issues of Golf Digest and The Little Red Book.