Weekend winners
All of the Special Olympics athletes, organizers and volunteers this weekend at the Area 4 event. And let’s not forget TFP ace sports columnist Mark Wiedmer, who shares their stories each year. There are a lot of regular items Weeds does for the TFP, but none may have more impact and meaning than his annual Special Olympics trip.
Charley Hoffman, the veteran pro who looks more slow-pitch softball than PGA winner, finally prevailed on the weekend. After playing as well as anyone in the world through the first 54 holes of just about any tournament in the first half of this season, Hoffman finally finished one Sunday. Coming into Sunday, Hoffman’s final-round average was 200th among 201 PGA players with three or more final rounds. But a birdie on the 72nd hole Sunday – his third in the last eight holes mind you – capped a final round 69 and gave Hoffman a one-shot win. It’s his first Tour victory since 2014.
Let’s stay on golf right here. Baylor School graduate Luke List went 68-73 over the weekend to finish at 4-under at the Valero Texas Open and tied for 29th behind Hoffman. List made more then $37,000 for the work. How big of a career renaissance has this year been for List? In addition to getting hitched, Luke’s numbers in 2016 compared to his career golf totals are staggering. According to CBSsports.com, List’s career PGA earnings are $861,750 with $597,349 coming this season. His PGA career scoring average is 71.7 but in 2016 it’s a full stroke better at 70.6. Overall, he has played 50 PGA events, made the cut 19 times and finished in the top 25 six times and top 10 twice. In 2016, he has both of those top 10s, four of the six top 25s and eight of the 19 cuts made. Well-played Luke.
Bryce Harper. Dude had an off-day on Sunday and all he did was hit a game-tying homer in the ninth as the Nationals went on to beat the Twins in extra innings. Harper’s stats – .323, nine homers, 15 RBIs, a .405 on-base percentage – are staggering through 18 games. As for clutch, well, according to ESPN stats, Harper is the only player in the majors with a game-tying or go-ahead homer in the ninth inning or later in each of last five seasons.