Play the Ryder Cup In Texas!

Jimmy Walker and Jordan Spieth love them some home cooking. Walker (11-under) birdied Nos. 16 and 17 late to hold off Spieth at the Valero Texas Open, who birdied Nos. 14 through 17, yet hardly gained ground worth mentioning. The four-stroke win was Walker’s fifth on the PGA Tour and preserved his position as No. 1 in the FedEx Cup chase. Both golfers showed well in their run-up to that little spring invitational in Augusta.

Sorry to sound just a bit jingoistic, but Insta-Chata-Tweet to PGA of America: Forget all the fancy, schmancy selection process and site selection, and play the old Ryder Cup in the great state of Texas. You might just guarantee a U.S. victory that way.

Clubs A’breaking all Over The Place

Golf on Thursday at TPC-San Antonio was impacted by severe winds, but was even more challenging for two contestants and their clubs.

Phil Mickelson attempted an escape from a 12^th hole fairway bunker with his 8 iron. As the club made contact with the sand, the club head went flying off. Both club head and ball made it out of the bunker. Mickelson recovered to shoot 2-under on the day.

Troy Merritt opted for 2 iron on the 11^th hole. Anticipating more than 155 yards off the tee, Merritt was fortunate to get the distance of an 8-iron when the club face of his iron cave in near the toe. Merritt had 74 on the day, but made the cut.

Pie Golf Poncho Goes To Bubba

He’ll have a decision to make when he hosts the champions dinner at the 2015 Masters: green jacket or yellow poncho?

Bubba Watson defeated Jimmy Fallon (and January Jones) in a bizarrely-scored Velcro-golf match on The Tonight Show. Good thing he doffs the member’s jacket before facing the gauntlet. Gone are the days when Green Jackets stayed at Augusta National. It’s all about promotion, baby, even if it’s pie golf.

These Gals Are Great! Kerr Konquers Kia

Whatever kool-aid they’re drinking, keep the pitchers filled! How is it that, week in and out, the top ladies of the LPGA challenge for the title?

2015 has been a phenom-filled year, with Lydia Ko, Inbee Park, Stacy Lewis and colleagues in contention every week. Add the eternal Se Ri Pak, Paula Creamer, Lexi Thompson and other names to the list, after the Kia Classic in Carlsbad, Calf., this week.

As for Sunday, if you didn’t go low at the Aviara Golf Club, you didn’t figure in the title race. Ilhee Lee had 64 early, but the daily duel was fixed between 2000s “It Girl” Christie Kerr, her 2010s counterpart, Lydia Ko, and overnight leader Mirim Lee. Lee started off bogey-double, but came back with five birdies and an eagle for second place. Her undoing was an unimaginable double-bogey on the par-five 17th. Ko posted her 28th consecutive, sub-par round, but all it got her was third place. Christie Kerr caught lightning in a bottle and emerged with a two-stroke win.

Former Am Champ Kelly Kraft Wins on Web.Com Tour

The curse of the U.S. Amateur title held Kelly Kraft in its grips for more than three years. After his win in 2011 against Patrick Cantlay, Kraft underachieved against the high standards for a national titleholder until Sunday. At the Chitimacha Louisiana Open, Kraft ground out a 1-stroke win over D.H. Lee of Korea. Lee closed with 63 on Sunday, but Kraft had enough arrows in his quiver to make birdies on Nos. 15-17 for the single-stroke separation.

Missed The Cut

Larry Fitzgerald Tees It Up On “The Nosebleeder”

Extreme 19th hole at the Legends course in South Africa. Longest par 3 in the world. Don’t ask what I made on it ????! pic.twitter.com/NMOSbKBhK7 — Larry Fitzgerald (@LarryFitzgerald) March 28, 2015

The NFL wide receiver took an off-season trip to South Africa and his clubs came along. Fitzgerald challenged the mighty, 395-yard 19^th hole at the Legends Golf & Safari Resort but came up short…or left…or wide right, or something.

Props and snaps to Fitz for that club position at the top, that stance and for taking the beast on in the first place!

Make It Tougher On Me, Golf Gods!

David Frost doesn’t win all that often on tour, so you’d think he would seize the opportunity to make it easier on himself. No such luck.

Frosty dropped his ball on his coin on the 17th green on Sunday. The coin moved and the leader was penalized a stroke, giving hope to Kevin Sutherland. Despite the gaffe, Frost regrouped and parred the 18th to escape with a victory.