WORLD’S BEST CONVERGE IN CENTRAL OHIO
(AP SPORTS) –Columbus,Ohio
The best golfers in the world gathered in Central Ohio near Columbus last week.
Not only was Jack Nicklaus’ the Memorial Tournament featuring the PGA Tour’s best players including Tiger, Luke, and Phil in town, but the spotlight was also on the Miami Golf Invitational – Ohio Tour.
The Miami Golf Invitational which is now a worldwide phenomenon thanks to the Internet and YouTube videos, ventured outside of Miami for just the second time in an exhibition match for Midwest spectators.
Several members of Team TK and Team Mez made the trip to Grove City for a day of golf at the private country club Hickory Hills. Thanks to Mike Lynch – a member at every course in the 30-square-mile radius of Columbus, Ohio– the five-some managed a great deal last Thursday afternoon.
Thanks to paid-appearance fees Allen “Vegas” Grant made a trip from Las Vegas to compete, and to promote Golf Talk Lounge. Players from both northern and southern Ohio also met near the state’s capitol including Jeff Harris, Bret Smiley and Burt Keiper also know as BK.
“Two grand appearance fee (paid by his mother and Taylor Made) to play here, and take money from these guys, I couldn’t turn that down,” said Grant.
The first to arrive was BK who spent some time on the range but apparently did not hit a ball.
BK added, “I just need to stretch on the range, because the ‘Rocketballz’ go long and far!”
Lynch covered a MGI Luncheon for the boys, which included a few adult beverages.
“Lynch was a world class host…. this MGI group is always great to be around!” added Jeff Harris via his twitter account.
With five players, a number of betting games were in place. The results:
- Lynch, who struggled on the first two holes out of the gate, won STROKE PLAY by two shots over Grant, who suffered an 8 and a pair of 7s during the round. “I just couldn’t get Goleno’s swing out of my head for a couple of holes, terrible!” said Grant.
- Smiley won SKINS GAME with 6 – just ahead of BK’s 5 Skins. Brad (or Brett) closed it out with a par at No. 17 to earn two skins on a carryover.
- The WOLF game recorded two-man splits throughout the 18 holes.
- Grant won the OVERALL POINTS GAME, thanks to a burying a 30-footer at No. 18 to save par out of the bunker. Putting his Pinnacle Gold in play at No. 12 carried him the rest of the way home.
- Grant beat Lynch 2 and 1 in a side action game. 2UP early, Lynch won holes 5-6-7 to take the lead before AG closed with stellar up-and-down at the 9th to half the front. Lynch went 2UP with wins at 10 and 11 before Grant bounced back at Nos. 12, 13 and 14 to assume the lead. Grant closed it out at No. 17 with a three-putt bogey. “It is hard to believe I won the match with a 3 putt. He scored better than me, but I really have become focused over the years on match play, as that is the preferred format used in the annual MGI!” added AG.
- The team of Lynch-Grant beat the Tri-Pod of BK-Smiley-Harris 2 and 1 in a nine-hole SCRAMBLE after the first 18 holes concluded. Lynch-Grant managed to log 4-under through eight holes. Grant closed it out burying putts at Nos. 5-6-8.
- Phil Mickelson, who withdrew from the neighboring Memorial due to mental fatigue, was spotted in the gallery watching the outstanding short game skills of Mike Lynch and Allen Grant. ”Those two can get up and down from anywhere….very inspiring!”
Photos below were provided by Allen Grant. Click on Photo for expanded view of image.
BK bounced back in 2011 with a 2-1 effort and stellar play. “The heart just beats so fast,” BK said. “It’s an honor to get invited, but then there’s the pressure to perform.”
