A Green Jacket, High Tops, and an Almost Retirement

Augusta National Green Jacket Discovered at Thrift Store

Back in late December, a volunteer at The Guild Shop, a non-profit consignment shop in Houston, was going through a box of donated clothing when an authentic, Augusta National member’s jacket was discovered.

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The jacket was authenticated by the manufacturer of the jackets, Hamilton Tailoring Company.  The one found apparently dates back to sometime in the 1960s.  The jackets rarely travel outside the confines of Augusta National, but a few have found their way to the hands of non-members.

On Friday, the jacket was auctioned off, with the undisclosed winning bid coming from a Pennsylvanian car dealer.

So if your car dealer is trying to sell you on the fact he won The Masters back in the ’60s.  Don’t buy it!

Golf World Loses Collective Mind Over High Tops

If you were a golf fan on any of the available social media platforms, you’ve likely already heard about, as well as chimed in on, the high Top and joggers combo Rickie Fowler was sporting this weekend at the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

If you like @RickieFowler's exclusive Ignite high tops, stay tuned for our giveaway later this week! #IGNITEit pic.twitter.com/T2sDxWmzse

— PUMA Golf (@PUMAGolf) January 6, 2016

To no one’s surprise, the kids loved the look:

https://twitter.com/kenzienoelle116/status/684873107795001344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

While the old guys…not so much:

https://twitter.com/MolloyJoe/status/685259027463467008/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Personally, with the game continually struggling to relate and attract a younger audience, it needs a guy like Rickie.  A guy with his persona, style, and level of play can only help the game of golf.  It will be interesting to see if he wears that same combo in April on the hallowed grounds of Augusta.  I can only imagine the gnashing of teeth that will occur if he does.

Luke Donald Considered Retirement Last Year

In an interview with The Telegraph published over the weekend, the former world number one Luke Donald admits to seriously considering calling it quits in May of 2015.  Having not won on the tour since 2012, he fell out of the world top 50 in April, and now he was struggling with a new swing.

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“My confidence had taken a big knock and I asked myself if I wanted to continue doing this,” Donald said.

According to the story, at the end of 2015, he did something all of us should do when struggling.  He put the clubs away for a few weeks.

Currently ranked 78th in the world, Donald feels ready to give 2016 his best shot.  He’ll need a PGA TOUR victory or a return to the top 50 if he wants to make his 12th consecutive Masters appearance.  But he isn’t obsessing over any of that right now, he just wants to get back to the basics.

“There was a time where I kept looking at the world rankings and kept seeing myself slipping,” Donald said.  “And I think that’s the wrong approach.  I’ve always been most successful when I have a plan and stick to it.  Every day try to get a little better, incremental improvement.”

I think all of us weekend warriors can relate to that last bit.  Good luck, Luke.

Cover Photo via Twitter