Oldies But Goodies

At the end of last year's golf season in Vermont I was chatting with one of the club's members about pros we love that tend to fly under the radar. The one we were in total agreement about was Miguel Angel Jimenez. Nicknamed "The Mechanic", Jimenez lives a life we should all envy. For starters he plays golf for a living, and a very good one. Second, his play is as finely developed as his palette for wine and cigars.Third, if his physique is any indication, this guy is just straight chillin' at all times.

The end of our conversation was an idea, an epic, epic idea. We decided we should get in touch with Jimenez's people (lord knows he has to have people) to set up a book. The idea was that from the first of the year through the Masters in early April we would follow Jimenez on the road to the first major. We would hang with the guy who makes hanging seem like a profession. The book's title; The Mechanic: Tuning Up For The Masters. Anyone know Miguel's people?

In any case, The Mechanic took the Dubai Desert Classic this past week, beating world #4 Lee Westwood in a playoff. Despite only hitting about half of the fairways, Jimenez kept knocking it stiff with the irons. At 46, the win is the 16th overall for the crafty Spaniard.

Speaking of oldies but goodies, you know who finished with a top ten (T8) and was by far the highest American finisher? Sixty year old Tom Watson. Furthering his legacy as one of, if not the best, ball strikers of all-time Watson showed once again he can still play with anyone. Official distance for the Emirates GC is 7301 yards. To put that in perspective, the next PGA Tour stop is at Pebble Beach, 6800 yards and change. Distance is not a problem for Old Tom, even at 60 years old. The finish in Dubai also lessens the idea that last year's run at the British Open was a fluke. Tom Watson, when his putter isn't yippy, is still one of the better players in the world.