Kenny Perry Has Last Chuckle

We've received dozen of letters, con and mostly pro, on Kenny Perry's skipping the US Open and the Open Championship. Today at Oakland Hills, on the eve of his second major of the year, Perry cordially replied to critics, not a bit defensive about the fact that the topic had yet to be put to rest.

Gwar01_080718perry

You know what, it's just been a dream season for me. I had a goal to make that Ryder Cup team, and it all came true. It all fell into place. Then, all of a sudden, I solidified my spot to make the British, but I wasn't going to bail out on Milwaukee. I had eight top-10s there and a win, so now I went there; I finished sixth, so now I've got nine Top 10s and a win there. It's a great golf course I dearly love; it's been huge in my career, keeping me going. It means a lot to me, that little course, and the fans were terrific. They welcomed me with open arms, and they showed me a lot of support that week.

Perry said he won more unforgettable moment during the Milwaukee event. Asked if he'd watched the British, Perry said:

It was pretty funny. When I turned it on Pat Perez was in an interview. He had just shot 82. He said it was blowing sideways and sleet was hitting him. He said, "Kenny Perry's the smartes man in the world." I kind of chuckled then. But I still couldn't win the Claret Jug where I was at...."

--Bob Carney

08.05.08

How to Count Majors

Tom Brown of Naples writes to request Dan Jenkins' help in setting the majors record straight:

Maar01_tigerfeature2

Dan, help!   A guy, named Sal Johnson, writes an article for the "other" golf magazine this month wherein he states Tiger is tied with Bobby Jones at 13 majors. What? Bobby's six count but Tiger's three don't?

I know you wrote about this not long ago and you agree Tiger has 16. I think it's due for another airing.
 
In the next three years, the majors are held on courses where Tiger has 15 wins and three seconds. Say goodnight, Jack!!

Tom, you're calculations are correct. The discrepancy lies in the formula Dan and Sal use for calculating majors. Dan counts U.S. Amateur Championships as majors once the champion has also won a professional major. Sal counts only professional majors in this era, but Amateurs in Jones's. Thus, Dan gets 16 for Tiger and Sal 13, the difference being Tiger's three (consecutive) Amateurs.

As much as we respect Sal's statistical skills, we accept Dan's formula, which gives Jack 20 majors and, as you say, still leaves his record vulnerable to Woods. BTW, Jaime Diaz's compelling story in the January issue and the Walter Iooss, Jr. photos that accompany it, strike me as more arguments that Jack's record will fall.

--Bob Carney

(Photo: Walter Iooss, Jr.)

12.19.07
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