"I did not putt well enough to win the championship." Those words from Tiger Woods
Sunday night, August 16, 2009 after losing a third round lead to a South Korean player, Y.E. Yang.Golf was at the fore this week. The PGA championship was being played at Hazeltine National Golf Club and Tiger was at the top. Tiger is known as a phenomenal putter. There is a putting percentage, like an ERA in baseball. Just found this out. Tiger 's was 1.759 from 2005-2008-putting (not putting) him 8th among the pros. He added a few points to his PP this Sunday.
The Hazeltine course is a beautiful one
and was very welcoming to Tiger 
Liam was woofy pleased to find out that this PGA course has some doglegs; thinking that if he cannot go to Citi Field he will be welcome at the golf course. I explained that the term refers to the direction of an individual golf hole. "Many holes are straightaway from the box to the green. A hole that bends is called a dogleg. Hole 2 at Hazeltine has a dogleg
If it turns left, it is called "dogleg left"
from about .com and David Cannon /getty images if it turns right, it is called "dogleg right."
from Blackberry of Liam 81909"I did everything I needed to do expect getting the ball in the hole."
Another championship had been played in New Hyde Park at the Spring Rock Golf Center
on Friday, August 14, 2009.A few days before Tiger lost the PGA, two other golfers teed off- Carol McNiff and Paul Nikol- see announcement
played at the Spring Rock Golf Center in New Hyde Park. There was choice of two courses, Romeo ( 21 holes) or Juliet (18 holes)
Did I mention this was miniature golf? Yes, it was. I was playing with hubby Paul, undeniably a natural athlete, skilled at any sport he tries, needing no lessons, mentoring or coaching.I knew that he felt this would be an easy win. However, I knew something else. I am a great putter and miniature golf is just a bunch of putts. Years ago I took real golf lessons. I had a perfect swing but never came near the ball. However, when the class putted, I made every one. The instructor sadly explained that I would never be a "golfer" as one has to get to the green in order to putt, since I would never hit the ball that would be impossible. I accepted his pronouncement.
I have been waiting for my chance to show my hidden talent against this formidable natural athlete.
We are given our clubs and balls-I picked a Kelly green ball, of course-already feeling the Irish karma. First hole I get par, so does Paul. I think this early display of skill on my part unnerved him as he promptly lost the pencil and declared that he would be unable to keep score. No problem. We will just remember how many strokes ahead I am.
The course is adorable. Waterfalls, cascading thunderous water all around, hills, twists, rocks
roughs. I imagine I am at St. Andrew's. I make the putts easily. I get two holes in one. Then the unthinkable; two yellow buses pull up full to the brim with camp kids. However, we are almost on three so we will just keep moving and maintain our lead. Since I make every hole in par or under, they will not catch up. The course owner leaves his command post and walks to our hole. He laments their arrival and apologizes for our ruined peaceful pairing. Why is he so concerned? the kids cannot catch us. However, he knew something we did not. The day camp procedure for 60 kids is to divide them into groups of five or six, then start on any hole. After all, it is not a game it is fun. So now we have five kids on hole 4, six kids on 6, seven(including camp counselors on 12, and so on. We are surrounded and trapped. You get the picture. The entire course is populated at every hole by groups of campers and their caddie counselors wanting to be Tiger Woods. Paul seems to hope that the pressure of their loudness and lack of skill will affect me. The campers shoot the balls into the trees, they climb on the rocks, they go from hole 18 to hole 10, then run across our green to another while we are putting. I am focused and immune to such behavior- crucial skills management training kicks in. Paul commences play on each hole by announcing in a quite insincere voice. "Now Carol, don't let the pressure get to you. You have commanding lead, do not blow it." I am up by seven as we go to the 19 hole. I have a bit of a problem: I choose to swing to the right, a daring bold idea and my gamble does not pay off; my lead shrinks to 3. However, I see the campers ahead on hole 20 and even the adult counselors cannot get the ball to the hole. I watch surreptitiously-the green tilts right. Ha ha. Paul will fall for it. We go to the 20 hole; Paul is consistent. "Now Carol, you still are leading even though you lost two strokes, don't blow it." Oh yeah, we'll see. Paul swung and yes, his ball goes way to the right, tries again and again. again, again -he finished in 7 strokes. I am gleeful and a very proud Leo lioness. I let him finish out his embarrassing display. Even some of the young campers are riveted by his collapse and come by to watch. Paul's collapse rivals any one of Greg Norman's. I do the same hole in four putts and and gain back three strokes 
I finish the 21 holes in five under Paul's total. Since he has conveniently lost the scoring pencil and the scorecard we have no written documentation. We both know the truth as do 60 camp kids and their caddie counselors.I believe my PP (putting percentage) is 1.0809, a tad above Tiger's pre PGA of 1.759. Remember low is better.
"I thought if I shot under par I would win the tournament." Which he would have except he shot over par. I just did not make the putts when I needed them." Who said that Paul or Tiger ?
Liam stayed back enjoying the dog days
of summer in the cool of the grass 
happy to know that there are doglegs on a golf course. Dogs are always represented. Liam hopes and dreams that someday dogs
can golf, til then 
Woof woof
