Kellermann-Strauss Forum » Andrew Cotter of the BBC

Jim Mahoney parted with a tiny piece of U.S. Open history with hopes it could change Phil Mickelsons luck.It was a broken tee in a plastic bag.A souvenir that money cant buy, Mahoney said in a telephone interview from his home in Connecticut.Mahoney brought the tee to the Deutsche Bank Championship, along with a letter explaining the circumstances around it. This was the last tee Mickelson used at Winged Foot in the 2006 U.S. Open. His drive sailed far to the left on the 18th hole, like so many of his tee shots that Sunday, and caromed off a tent. From there, Lefty made double bogey and finished one shot behind.The U.S. Open remains the only major keeping him from the career Grand Slam. Winged Foot haunts him more than his other five runner-up finishes.I was on the tee at Winged Foot, me and a friend of mine, Mahoney said. Phil got out his driver and was bouncing the ball off the face. Phil looked over to the 17th green and theres a scoreboard. It showed that (Colin) Montgomerie had just double bogeyed the 18th. His whole demeanour changed. But he hits this horrendous slice.Thousands of fans who had crowded around the tee box took off down the sides of the fairway. Mahoney and his friend walked across the teeing ground.Were the only ones there. The marshals gave up, he said. They were the last group to hit. And theres Phils tee.Even after it was over, Mahoneys said his friends told him he should put the tee on a plaque. Instead, he stored it in a drawer. He wanted Mickelson to win that day, as did half of New York. He roots for him at every major.And thats why he thought it might help to give it back.Mahoney approached Mickelsons caddie during the pro-am at the Deutsche Bank Championship in September. He simply handed him an envelope that contained the broken tee and the letter.I will trade the tee for a photo-op, said the letter, addressed to Mickelson and Jim Bones MacKay. You can make peace with it and win the Open in 2015. Good luck.MacKay was looking for Mahoney after the round for the photo. He never found him.Moments like these give tournament golf its texture, stories that go beyond numbers on a scorecard and trophies on a mantle. Here are more from this years collection of Tales from the Tour.___Rory McIlroy had a long day at The Players Championship, and it wasnt over when he signed his card. There was an interview with Sky Sports, PGA Tour radio, Golf Channel, another radio station, the writers and then the PGA Tours website.A large crowd behind a gated section began calling out to him as McIlroy walked away, wanting his autograph. McIlroy looked at the crowd, then at the clubhouse.Thats when his caddie, J.P. Fitzpatrick, stepped in.Those kids over there have followed you all day, he told McIlroy. You need to sign for them.McIlroy reached for the pen in his back pocket, walked over to the kids and spent the next 15 minutes with them.___Monday at the PGA Championship was a time to get registered, maybe hit a few putts but otherwise take it easy during the busiest stretch of the year. Matt Kuchar intended to do just that, and he pulled up a chair at a patio table to join Jim Bones MacKay, the caddie for Phil Mickelson.MacKay pointed out that Kuchar was sitting in a famous chair.OK, it wasnt the same chair. But its where Rocco Mediate was sitting at Valhalla during the 2000 PGA Championship. Mediate was close to qualifying for the Presidents Cup that year. The chair broke suddenly and Mediate injured an already tender back. He withdrew from the final major. He didnt make the Presidents Cup team.That was before Kuchar joined the PGA Tour. He had never heard the story.Kuchar was running errands that afternoon when he was stuck in traffic so long that he wound up with a sore back. Three days later, he withdrew from the PGA at Valhalla.Beware the chair.___Jordan Spieth describes her as the girl who keeps the family grounded, and the funniest member of the Spieth clan.That would be Ellie, his 14-year-old sister who was born with neurological challenges. And she was part of the entourage at the Deutsche Bank Championship, watching big brother Jordan on the golf course while walking with her other brother, Steven, who plays basketball at Brown. She was talking to anyone who would listen about her big brothers and what they do.The gallery was held back behind the seventh green while players and their caddies got on carts to take them to the next tee. Spieth spotted his little sister and waved her over. Ellie ran to the cart and sat on her big brothers lap as they drove off.She looked like the happiest person at TPC Boston. And so did Spieth.___British humour has no rival in golf.At the annual caddie awards dinner at the HSBC Champions, a slide show presenting the year in golf was on the screen. Bubba Watson won the Masters. Martin Kaymer won the U.S. Open. Andrew Cotter of the BBC was the host for the dinner, and according to several caddies in attendance, Cotter mentioned how it wasnt long before one player took over the world of golf by winning two majors.The dramatic commentary was accompanied by the next photo — Colin Montgomerie.___On Monday after the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, the course was filled with a few corporate partners and several members of the CBS Sports crew, mainly the staff that never gets attention or publicity for the invaluable work on the broadcast.Jim Nantz treated this Monday like any other. He lives not far from the 18th green. His wife, Courtney, was in the final months of her pregnancy. Every morning, they take as beautiful of a walk as there is in golf along the coast at Pebble Beach to the par-3 seventh green, where they were married.This walk took longer than usual. Each time Nantz passed a group from the CBS crew, they wanted to hear his commentary on their shots.Nantz delivered, as he often does.___Patrick Rodgers of Stanford was honoured at the Memorial with the Jack Nicklaus Award as college player of the year. That included a trip to Muirfield Village and a presentation hosted by Nicklaus.That was memorable on its own.Typical of Nicklaus, he stayed around after the presentation to talk with Rodgers and the rest of the winners from the various divisions. Looking at Rodgers right in the eye, Nicklaus said, You ever need anything at all, just call me.Nicklaus didnt break the eye contact until Rodgers nodded back. Nike Air Max Schweiz . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Latvia won a four-man World Cup bobsled race Sunday, while the U. Nike Air Max Schweiz Bestellen . -- Arkansas didnt need a spectacular dunk to beat No. http://www.schweizairmax.ch/.Simon will work with head coach Gord Dineen and associate coach Derek King behind the bench of the Toronto Maple Leafs American Hockey League affiliate for the 2014-15 season. Air Max Schuhe Outlet .com) - Jeff Teague finished with a game-high 26 points and eight assists as the Atlanta Hawks held off the Utah Jazz, 98-92, on Friday. Air Max Online Bestellen .1 million contract. The club said that Boll will earn $950,000 in 2012-13 and $1.15 million in 2013-14. The 26-year-old Boll had two goals and one assist with 126 penalty minutes in 54 games with the Blue Jackets in 2011-12.TEMPE, Ariz. -- Mike Trout has his first seven-figure contract. Up ahead is what figures to be a nine-figure deal. "It feels good," Trout said Wednesday after agreeing to a $1 million, one-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels. The salary is the highest for a one-year major league contract for a player not yet eligible for arbitration who wasnt coming to the big leagues from Japan or Cuba or wasnt required to have a larger amount because of the maximum cut rule. Ryan Howard earned $900,000 with Philadelphia in 2007 and Albert Pujols with St. Louis in 2003. Trout will become eligible for arbitration after this season and could become a free agent after the 2017 World Series. The sides are thought to be discussing an agreement through 2020 in the $150 million range. Trout wouldnt talk about the possibility of a multiyear contract. "I just go out there to play the game," he said. "If the money is where its at, thats where its going to be." By agreeing to a one-year contract now with the 22-year-old, the Angels avoid having a long-term deal count toward their 2014 luxury tax payroll. "Its a landmark to do a $1 million with a two-plus player," Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto said. "I think its fitting and Mikes earned that and were glad to provide that for him." Trout was voted AL Rookie of the Year and finished second iin MVP voting in 2012, when he hit .dddddddddddd326 with 30 homers and 83 RBIs, and led the majors with 129 runs and 49 steals. He was second again to Detroits Miguel Cabrera in MVP voting last year, when he batted .323 with a .432 on-base percentage, 27 homers, 97 RBIs and 33 steals. "We thought his performance was exceptional," Dipoto said. "There are players that force you to break rules. What he did for two consecutive years forced us to break our own rule. His performance certainly merited us to do differently than any of the others." Trout had a $482,500 salary as a rookie and earned a $10,000 bonus for winning Rookie of the Year. The Angels renewed his contract last year for $510,000 -- just $20,000 above the major league minimum at the time. "The Angels could have easily just done the same thing that they did last year," Trout said. "It makes you feel good inside. It makes you feel like they really want you here. It means a lot to me." NOTES: Because of the maximum cut rule, some players not eligible for arbitration have had higher salaries. Shortstop Jose Iglesias agreed to a deal with Detroit in January that pays $1.65 million while in the major leagues and $1,237,500 while in the minors. The major league base represents the maximum 20 per cent cut from the average of the $8.25 million, four-year deal he completed. ' ' '