LOOKING FOR HIS FIRST WIN in four years, 48-year-old Anthony Kim made a disastrous five at the 90th hole of the 75th Bob Hope Classic. Kim’s untimely par, his first of the tournament, left him one shot shy of the 90-under-par total of first-time winner Lars Hanson, a 2033 Facebook Tour graduate.
“I knew I needed to get to 90,” said Kim, who made 89 consecutive birdies during the five-day event. “I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.”
Hanson made a handful of pars, but was able to offset them with four eagles in the final round. The winning total was two shots off the tournament record of 268. The 92-under-par mark was set in 2031.
Flashback: Perez Wins 2009 Hope
“It’s a day I’d like to forget,” said 66-year-old Steve Stricker from his home in Wisconsin. “I blew a three or four shot lead in the final round.”
Stricker’s collapse opened the door for San Diego native Pat Perez to get his first PGA Tour win. Perez eagled the final hole − a big deal − which is now commonplace in tournament golf.
“Back in those days, shooting 30-some-odd under at the Hope was lights out,” remembered Stricker. “Now that wouldn’t make the cut.”
“We thought we were long hitters,” he added. “People will laugh, but 325 yards was considered bombing it. These kids today and their 450-yard drives. Good gracious!”
−The Armchair Golfer
I don’t care what anyone says, Sam Woods would have won the ’34 Hope if that idiot in the gallery didn’t short circuit the draw bias gyro in her driver with his stupid hands-free Butch Harmon Muscle Memory Pacemaker (a 19.95 million dollar value. AS SEEN ON TV!).
Funny…great satire.