1 – Five is not a good number

It sounds weird to say that Nelly Korda has three legs of the career grand slam but needs two more. Count me among those who’ll never accept five majors. It's one too many.

2 – Still, the stage is hers

That being said, the bid to win a third straight major, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (June 25-28 at Hazeltine), should rightfully provide Korda with the global golf spotlight in two weeks.

3 – Stripe show, always

Keep telling me how today’s golfers are bigger, stronger, faster, and better athletes . . . but ain’t one of them who ball-strikes it as consistently brilliant as Lee Trevino did.

4 – Rolls off the tongue

Hickory. It might be the nicest word ever in golf. Soothing, sweet, a poetic rhythm all its own.

GOLF COURSE PHOTO – Leonard Pittman wrote to say that he loves to play local golf courses so he plopped down his $47 and had a great day at Tarpon Springs in the Tampa, Fla., area. This sign – or combination of signs – caught his eye, and for good reason. Pittman wondered if it was happenstance that these signs were together or whether or not at one time someone threatened to shoot another golfer over slow play, but either way the good news is “I did not get a feeling of being rushed at all while playing this course.” As always, feel free to contribute a golf course sign that intrigues you. Send to jim@powerfades.com

5 – Puff balls

Nothing puts a damper on a warm, sultry day quite like gazing out to see the trees swaying in the wind – and releasing clouds of milky green pollen. It’s like living in a Stephen King novel.

6 – It was theirs to win

As the U.S. Open returns to Shinnecock for the 2026 U.S. Open, here’s to another classic in the shadows of New York, the 20th anniversary of the unforgettable chaos that was Winged Foot. Geoff Ogilvy, cool as they come, signed for 5-over 285 then sat back and watched everyone cough it up. Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie both doubled No. 18 to finish at 6-over; Jim Furyk bogeyed 18 for 6-over; and Padraig Harrington finished bogey-bogey-bogey for 7-over. When you talk “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” at the U.S. Open, nothing matches ’06 at Winged Foot.

7 – No, they’re not the same

It’s far more enjoyable to practice the pitch shot than the chip shot.

8 – Prime time

“What unplanned series of moves led to that?” remains my favorite comment after a friend flushed a fairway metal 230 yards onto the green at a par-5 hole. He held his pose for perhaps 45 seconds, more stunned at his achievement than he was in awe of it.

9 – Mislabeled

This thing about calling U.S. Open final qualifying "the longest day" is a bunch of bunk. Check out how many DNFs you can find. You want "the longest day?" Check back on June 18 when Round 1 of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock is played.