LITTLE ROCK — Golfer can’t leave leaf issue alone
A week after Blayne Barber easily advanced from the first stage of qualifying school, the former Walker Cup player turned over a new leaf.
According to Golfweek magazine, Barber disqualified himself for signing an incorrect scorecard because of an incident in the second round. He wasn’t sure if he had brushed a leaf in the bunker on the 13th hole at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Ga., and after a week of contemplation, he felt he had no choice.
Barber said while his caddie, who just happens to be his brother Shayne, said the leaf had not moved, he decided to assess a one-stroke penalty. The problem came later that night when he was talking about the incident with former Auburn teammate Michael Hebert, who told Barber that the penalty for such an infraction was twoshots.
“That’s when things went haywire in my mind,” Barber told the magazine. “My caddie was watching and didn’t see the leaf move. I thought maybe I’d psyched myself into thinking I’d [touched the leaf].”
He played the final two rounds, but Barber said he “just did not have any peace about it.”
He called the tour Friday to fall on his leaf.
Playing Joker
Joker Phillips is 12-23 in three seasons as football coach of the Kentucky Wildcats and was fired Sunday after Kentucky’s worst loss to Vanderbilt (40-0) in 96 years.
Phillips’ reaction to his firing? Next year was going to be his year.
He said Tuesday he had stressed to his staff the need for the team to show improvement and get to 2013, “because I thought ’13 would be the year we have an opportunity to make a huge move.”
Makes it easier to understand why he has the nickname “Joker.”Just stop it
After winning the Mizuno Classic last weekend, former Arkansas Razorback Stacy Lewis is on the verge of becoming the first American to win LPGA Tour Player of the Year since BethDaniel in 1994.
“Beth Daniel ... told me that she would love for me to win that award so they can stop talking about her,” Lewis said.
Name game
Brad Dickson of the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald on the Los Angeles Lakers winning for the first time this season Sunday:
“Kobe Bryant is so thrilled that if the team can get a second win, he is vowing to learn the names of all of his teammates.” Ruining fantasy
Sportspickle.com, the satirical sports website, offers up 25 signs that your fantasy football team is no good, including:
“Every week you pick up a defense playing against your quarterback, knowing it will get several turnovers and touchdowns.”
“You lost to the guy who lost his league password after the draft and hasn’t once changed his lineup.”
“You took Joe Flacco at his word about being the best quarterback in the NFL.”
“You failed to realize that Heath Miller’s eighth year in the league would be his fantasy breakout season.”
“You have a Chief.”Quote of the day
“Two out of three of
them were out there,
and then in 2010 they clobbered us here, too.” South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier on the Gamecocks’ recent struggles against Arkansas
Sports, Pages 28 on 11/07/2012