1 – Don’t blame the greenskeeper

So, do I have this right: Elite PGA Tour players who can generate clubhead speed at more than a hundred miles per hour and blast it over 350 yards are not able to adjust to slower greens and figure out how to putt it a bit harder?

2 – Sweet words

“No carts today” remains my favorite three-word sign. But here’s one that’s a close second: “All day breakfast.”

3 – Hardly worth reporting

Rory McIlroy getting headlines because he suggested that Kingston Heath is slightly better than Royal Melbourne (we’re talking Australia golf jewels) is proof that too many people have too much time on their hands. First of all, it’s his opinion, and second of all, he’s probably right. But mostly, 99.9999 percent of the world will never see either course so chill out.

4 – Classic treat gets snubbed

Personally, I’d be crushed if my chance to participate in the Pop-Tarts Bowl was taken away from me. Shame on Notre Dame. Like, man, Pop-Tarts have been a premium breakfast food since 1964.

GOLF COURSE PHOTO -- Cheers to reader Brian Green, who came across this photo in Fortuna, Calif. "All signs point to someone's sanctuary," he mused. As for the blue sign pointing to a golf course, that would be Redwood Empire Golf & CC. Thanks to Brian and let it be a reminder that if you come across a golf course photo that you'd like to share, just email it to jim@powerfades.com

5 – Thought it would be a good gift

She asked what I wanted for Christmas, so I told her: “I want to create more lag in my golf swing.” With disgust she laughed. “I mean, within reason,” she said.

6 – Never too early to be ready

Laugh if you’d like, but when there’s some free time during my winter days, I find it therapeutic to mark some new golf balls so that they’re ready for the spring.

7 – Premier destinations

Summer golf in Nebraska or Michigan is sort of like the Ireland vs. Scotland debate. Can you really go wrong?

8 – The Open and July should be inseparable

Good on the R&A for moving its 2028 Open Championship from July to August to avoid a conflict with the Olympic golf in Los Angeles. But in my universe, the Open Championship takes precedence; it should maintain its July date and tell the Olympians to play their golf in August.

9 – Hot at the edges, cool in the middle

Hideki Matsuyama won the season-opener on the PGA Tour, at The Sentry, a 58-player field on the island of Maui. He then won this past week’s Hero World Challenge on New Providence Island in the Bahamas. In between, it was the bigger fields, most of them on the mainland, that gave him fits (22 starts, zero top 10s).