1 – Noise-makers?

So, if influencers don’t really influence, what are they?

2 – Meet the immoveable force, Theo

Taking a wild guess here, but when he meets with Patrick Cantlay to discuss a shot clock and speeding up the game, something will occur to Theo Epstein. That is, winning the World Series with the Red Sox and Cubs were walks in the park compared to this Cantlay character.

3 – When the finish was tougher

Call me old-fashioned, but the finishing stretch (what is now the par-4 seventh, par-4 eighth, and par-3 ninth) before they flipped the nines at East Lake was a bigger gut-check than what we now have. As it now is, after the tee shot on the par-3 15th, there’s really not a shot coming home that creates angst.

4 – Road show will be welcomed

Then again, who cares because the PGA Tour officials are likely going to take the Tour Championship on the road. About time, too.

GOLF COURSE SIGNS – OK, so it’s not really a sign, as much as it’s a signal. The signal being beware of “penalty area.” But at The Bel (aka Boscobel Golf Club), a muni that Clemson sometimes plays at, the red stakes are not conventional; they are old limbs from trees. Thanks to PGA of America legend and good friend Steve Napoli, now the golf coach at Holy Cross.

5 – My mind is made up

I hold these truths to be self-evident: Ben Hogan’s aura is unmatched and no one wore plaid polyester like Johnny Miller.

6 – You want it, then make it

If an opponent walks slowly to his ball and glares at you, then asks, “is this good?” the proper response is: “I’m not sure, putt it and we’ll find out.”

7 – Overkill on that sign

There needs to be a petition that we can sign to put a stop to any more photos of that sign at Bethpage Black warning golfers not to play it unless they’re highly skilled. We’ve been looking at photos of that sign for 20-plus years and enough is enough.

8 – It was good enough for a King . . .

Back it up to the topic of fashion in golf for a minute. Cardigan sweaters need to make a big comeback.

9 – Such nonsense

A golfer saying he or she “has been working hard” on their games remains the clearest signal to stop taking notes.