Bad facts in golf biographies
In the last few months I've been making factual corrections to golfer biographies. I'm sure there's more garbage out there.
- - David Graham entry said he made long par putts on first two holes of sudden death during the 1979 PGA playoff vs Ben Crenshaw. He made a long par putt on hole 1 and a long birdie putt on hole 2
- - Dave Stockton entry had him making 10-foot birdie putt to win the 1976 PGA. It was a 15-foot par putt.
- - Forest Fezler entry stated there was a two-shot swing on 18 at the 1974 US Open. Fezler made bogey, Irwin two-putted for par from approximately 25 feet.
How do we know this? Sports Illustrated has what they call the 'vault'. Old articles and real easy to check what really happened at a golf major. I'll take Dan Jenkins word written right after the tournament versus the World Golf Hall of Fame website that's shrunk Irwin's putt down to an 8-footer that he made for birdie.
Facts getting twisted by time isn't just happen with golf. Wikipedia entries on Reggie Jackson and Bob Welch talking about the famous strikeout at the 1978 World Series, as happening with the bases loaded. It really occured with two men on base. Again Spo.rts Illustrated to the rescue
While not a fact, both the TC Chen bio and Andy's North referred to Chen's 8 on Sunday at the 85 Open as a Double par. I been watching pro golf in the US for 30 years, never heard that term used. I changed it to quadruple bogey.