Cliff Kresge: The Aftermath
I never made it back to Congressional after Cliff Kresge's round on Friday. If you recall, when we left our hero, he was one-under for the tournament, tied with Tiger Woods. Then I went to Philadelphia for a wedding, where my hotel got the Golf Channel, which I watched obsessively, and I attempted to follow along, only because I was interested in Kresge, which is the truth, although I didn't see him take one shot. Stupid Golf Channel. Here are some notes.
Q: Which group did J.P. Hayes's wife tell you was the worst group to play in.
A: One group ahead of Tiger.
Q: Where did Kresge play on Saturday.
A: One group ahead of Tiger.
Q: Still, how did Kresge do in the third round?
A: Even par 70, giving him three rounds of 69, 70 and 70. This left him at 1-under for the tournament in a nine-way tie for 12th, and only one shot behind Tiger. It also had him paired with Brian Davis for the third time this week.
Q: The same Brian Davis who played basketball at Duke and is a partial investor in D.C. United?
A: No.
Q: When Kresge was up in the Top 20, how many newspapers took note of his position, excepting for The Washington Post via its blogger.
A: None that I could find. And look, I'm not saying that the media necessarily should pay attention to obscure golfers with above-average rounds. I'm just saying as a spectator, the experience of following Cliff Kresge is a lot more intimate and insightful and enjoyable than the experience of following some guy who's following some guy who's following some guy who's following Tiger. But then I met Kresge's girlfriend Judy, and learned about how she decapitated a Clifford The Big Red Dog stuffed animal, and after that it's hard not to become a fan.
Q: By the way, how much money did Kresge's girlfriend think would allow him to breathe easy in terms of keeping his Tour card?
A: Maybe another $150,000 or so.
Q: Ok, so how did Kresge do on Sunday? Swell, right?
A: Well, he birdied No. 1 to move to 2-under for the tournament.
Q: Awesome. The Kresge Caboose must have been overflowing by this point.
A: And then he played the next eight holes in 8-over par, finished with a 6-over 76, and ended the tournament in huge group tied for 45th. He earned $16,515. Had he played a third-straight even-par round, he would have earned $168,000 and a Top 10.
Q: You're not really asking us to feel sorry for a guy who's already earned almost $600,000 this year, are you?
A: I guess not. I certainly make a lot less than that, so you can feel sorry for me if you'd like. But the thing is, if I write eight consecutive poor blog entries, I won't be costing myself $151,485. In fact, there's nothing I could do to cost myself $151,485, aside from burning down my house, and even that might not do it. Anyhow, this movement isn't about me, it's about Cliff Kresge.
Q: So how are you, personally, dealing with the disappointing ending?
A: By watching the Houston Dynamo Soccer-Tennis Championships, featuring MLS players heading balls over little nets. Wow, that's a long video. I wish DCU would hold a Soccer-Tennis Championship.
By Dan Steinberg |
July 9, 2007; 10:19 AM ET
| Category:
Golf
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Posted by: DBK Alum | July 9, 2007 10:52 AM
What happened to Hoffman?
Posted by: Unsilent Majority | July 9, 2007 12:59 PM
So you're saying that Blogging has not made you rich?
Well what the deuce am I doing? I quit.
Posted by: Skin Patrol | July 9, 2007 02:19 PM
D-Steinz, I too was following Kresge's rise and slide all weekend...the Appleby story in the Post was nice, but fell far short of the human interest your blog generated in Clifford. Was bummed for him after yesterday.
Posted by: DD | July 9, 2007 03:32 PM
thanks again Mr. Steinberg!
I hope you continue to update everyone else on Cliff after this tournament so he can finally get the attention he deserves.
ps: nice sucker punch to the golf channel there, by my count, Cliff has been on tv a whopping 6 times this year
Posted by: Conductor of The Kresge Caboose | July 9, 2007 10:09 PM
Dan, you want unappreciated, try the LPGA. Ol' Cliffy would be in the top 10 on the money list there.
Hey, maybe you can get the WaPo to send you to St. Andrews for the Women's British Open. I'm sure you can come up with a D.C. angle.
Posted by: The Constructivist | July 23, 2007 04:25 PM
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Unless you live in a box on U Street, burning down your house in this area will definitely cost you $151,485.