Speaking of best players not to win a major or a Players, Robert V. Ippolito of Atlanta sees a bit of intrigue in a recent "What's in My Bag?" with Rory Sabbatini, who finished T-27, plus-5 at the Players.

I just finished reading about what's in Rory Sabbatini's bag. Do you think that the change to Adams from Nike equipment in January of this year was coincidence? Or is it more likely that Tiger had some influence over the powers to be at Nike and had Rory fired after Rory's early withdrawal from Tiger's Target World Challenge? We all know of Rory's on-course antics (Ben Crane, Nick Faldo, wife Amy's tee shirts, etc.) but those of us who have had the "opportunity" to spend some off the course time with Rory know that he can be described as arrogant at best and deserved to lose his high paying equipment contract. It's time to grow up, Rory!

Golf World's Equipment Editor Mike Johnson replies:

Here?s the deal: Tiger had absolutely nothing to do with Sabbatini leaving Nike and going to Adams. For starters, Sabbatini was not ?fired? from Nike. His contract was up at the end of 2007 and he was free to sign with whomever he wanted. Second, Sabbatini had started putting out feelers to other companies as early as mid year 2007, well prior to the spat with Tiger at the Target World Challenge. He had been talking with Adams for quite some time--it is a common occurrence for players whose contracts are expiring to talk with companies throughout the final year of their existing pacts--and they were able to agree on a deal when the Nike contract expired. In short, it was a typical PGA Tour player equipment endorsement deal.

The kind of deal that say, Paul Goydos, is considering today. Thanks, Mike. Thanks, Robert.

--Bob Carney

Let's face it, Rory Sabbatini gets no respect. Winner of yesterday's Par 3, he now has no chance to win the Masters, or so Masters logic goes. Now reader Linc Duncanson, Dresser, Wisconsin, administers the ultimate insult, relegating Sabbatini to part 2 of a letter on our US Open Contest.

Shame on you for choosing 5 low handicappers for the the U.S. Open Contest. Four are single digit handicappers and one is "approximately a 10."...When will you learn that the majority of your readers are single digit handicap golfers? It would have been fun to see an average Joe try.

And another thing: What makes you think that anyone cares what Rory Sabbatini carries in his bag? He's not an example of etiquette and sportsmanship that is Golf....

Linc, the voters seem to agree because the highest handicapper, John Atkinson has a substantial lead in the contest. His course handicap would probably be more like 12 at Torrey. (You still have time to vote).

Our feeling was that putting an average Joe (16-18 handicap) on Torrey under Open conditions might not be the best example of that etiquette and sportsmanship you mention. More like torture, eh?

--Bob Carney

"Rory Sabbatini could stand some work on his first impression," was the way Jaime Diaz began his story on the South African in November's Golf Digest.

Actually, Rory's last impression wasn't much to write home about either. Sabbatini checked out of Tiger's Target World Challenge after three rounds with "shin splints" and flew off to Hawaii. It left Fred Couples shaking his head. "He's messin' with the wrong guy," said Fred.

What makes Sabbatini tick? Diaz's story comes as close to answering that as you can. Golf World's
Newsmakers story by Jim Moriarty might also help.

The forums today have not been understanding. Rory's taking a few hits.

Being a person who tends to side with the underdog, I've kind of enjoyed Sabbatini's brashness. So when a friend of mine played in a pro-am with him this year I asked, "What's he like?"

"Worse than advertised," came the reply.

--Bob Carney

(Photo: Getty Images)