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The Loop

The Grind: Sexy Halloween costumes, Justin Timberlake's big decision, and the luckiest golfer in the world

November 04, 2014

Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we think an easy way to grow the game would be to hand out golf balls to trick-or-treaters. What could possibly go wrong? Oh, right. Injuries, property damage, lawsuits, etc. OK, better stick to candy. In the world of golf, we had plenty of tricks and treats as well last week, from car-winning holes-in-one to cheaters getting caught, to players dressing up. Let's get to it. And if you have any leftover Kit Kats -- or Pro V1s -- please send them our way.

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WE'RE BUYING

Ryan Moore: It's official. Moore is the PGA Tour's Mr. Malaysia after repeating at the CIMB Classic. He's also the tour's Mr. Fall Series. He's won the tournament both years since it became an official part of the PGA Tour schedule, and he now has three fall tour wins (2012 Shriners), the most of any player since 2006.

Bernhard Langer: Tom Pernice topping Jay Haas in a playoff at the Champions Tour's season finale grabbed this week's headlines, but Langer was the undisputed king of the senior circuit in 2014. He wrapped up the season-long points race the week before and finished with five wins, 18 top 10s (in 21 events), and more than $3 million in earnings (he also gets a $1 million bonus annuity for claiming the Schwab Cup). And that's not even mentioning Langer's most staggering number: He won the Senior British Open by 13 shots!

Inbee Park: A week after reclaiming the top spot in the world ranking, WINBEE backed it up by holding off No. 2 Stacy Lewis in Taiwan for her third LPGA title of the year. Unlike on the Champions and PGA Tours, there's actually some drama over who will be LPGA Player of the Year.

Danielle Kang: For an unfathomable second week in a row, Kang won a car by making a hole-in-one in an LPGA tournament. After winning a Buick LaCrosse, Kang set her eyes on an Audi A6 T2.0. "I was actually thinking about a hole-in-one, because I've been touching that car," Kang said afterward. "I really wanted the car." At this rate, she may be handing out sedans for Halloween next year.

WE'RE SELLING

Sergio Garcia: After a fantastic 2013-14 season, the Spaniard continued his sparkling play in his first event of the new season by finishing T-2 in Malaysia. So why are we knocking him? Because the world's third-ranked player doesn't win as much as we think he should. Apparently, Garcia was Jim Furyk for Halloween. Garcia now has four runner-up finishes in his last eight events, something even Furyk hasn't done and a rare feat matched most recently by Ernie Els in 2000. Garcia turns 35 in a couple months. Bottom line? He's too good to be stuck on eight PGA Tour titles.

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This is never a good sign. . .

Getting scammed: Even while taking a "leave of absence," Dustin Johnson has stayed in the news. First, his fiancee, Paulina Gretzky, announced she's pregnant with the couple's first child. Yay! But then, a report came out that DJ was suing a group of close advisors for stealing $3 million from him. Boo! Nathan Hardwick, one of three named in the suit, had a seat on the Dustin Johnson Foundation and was listed on Johnson's website in the role of "attorney/counselor" as part of "Dustin's Team." That's rough.

Xin-Jun Zhang: Speaking of alleged dirty cheats, the leading money winner on the PGA Tour China was suspended for six months for signing incorrect scorecards. The timing is particularly costly since Zhang was in great position to earn a Web.com Tour card before the suspension. Then again, he may have only been in such a position due to cheating. Prediction: This will NOT go over well with fellow golfers.

Justin Timberlake's golf course: As in, he's selling it. The entertainer has sold his Memphis-area Mirmichi Golf Course, which he bought in 2009 and spent $16 million renovating. Just a guess, but owning a golf course is probably like owning a bar. It sounds a lot cooler than it actually is.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour concludes its fall Asian Swing with the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai while simultaneously continuing with its fall American Swing at the Sanderson Farms Championship in Mississippi. Also in the U.S. this week? Golf Digest's annual Seitz Cup.

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Yes, that's a Fathead in the office lobby (Thanks to Golf Digest captain Jeff Patterson) of equipment editor Mike Johnson's legendary chip-in last year to retain the cup for Golf World. Yes, we take this (too) seriously. Get pumped!

Random tournament fact: The Seitz Cup has ended in a tie the last two years. Drama that recent Ryder Cups could only dream of.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

-- I'll lend anyone $3 million in this lifetime: 3 million-to-1 odds

-- Sergio Garcia will finish runner-up again this week: Even odds

-- The real winner of the Seitz Cup will be the game of golf: LOCK

WAG (HALLOWEEN) PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

We had several WAGs going all out this year with costumes. We highlight two, Amanda Dufner and Jillian Stacey, because, well, we were impressed by their efforts. And the efforts of their friends. First Amanda Dufner, who appears to be some sort of witch. Look at that makeup job!

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And then there's Stacey, who went with the classic Britney Spears schoolgirl outfit. We're pretty sure Keegan was a fan. . .

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THIS WEEK IN PAULINA GRETZKY-DUSTIN JOHNSON RICKIE FOWLER-ALEXIS RANDOCK PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

Speaking of throwback costumes, I think we can go ahead and mark this couple as being official! Sorry, ladies. Rickie and Alexis pull off the Squints-Wendy Peffercorn duo from "The Sandlot" to perfection.

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Again, it's been a pretty good 2014 for Fowler.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Would have been the first time in five years on a holiday on our own. But I think she will be still happy not to do that." -- Marcel Siem on getting into this week's WGC-HSBC Champions after chipping in to win the BMW Masters in a playoff. His wife had already flown to Thailand where the two were supposed to have a vacation. Finally. Poor Mrs. Siem.

THIS WEEK IN LINDSEY VONN MAKING US LOOK BAD WITH HER TRAINING

Apparently, Lindsey spends so much time at the gym that she has to take her dog with her.

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VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Michael Jordan ripped Barack Obama's golf game when asked who would be in his dream foursome. The President would not make MJ's cut because he's a "hack," a "$#%**! golfer" and it would take "all day." Michael Jordan is not what we'd call an inclusive golfer.

Cameron Smith became the first player in more than six years to finish in the top 10 (T-5 at the CIMB Classic) in his PGA Tour debut. The Australian is 21. Hello, world. . . . Apparently, the players have spoken and they want Fred Couples to be the next U.S. Ryder Cup captain. We know, shocking! . . . Eight golf carts were stolen from a private club in New Jersey. Is there a growing demand for golf cart parts that we're not aware of? . . . Speaking of golf carts, Plum Quick Motors set a new Guinness World Record with a golf cart that went 118.76 miles per hour. That could really speed up pace of play. . . . Hey, kids, look! These are CDs! Yep, I'm the rare millennial who still buys this antiquated form of listening to music (you're welcome, music industry) and yes, I'm a big fan of Counting Crows. Not sure if that's very millennial of me or not. . .

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Who is the best band of the 1990s?

How many cars has Tiger Woods won in his career?

Is Danielle Kang looking to unload that Buick?

-- Alex Myers is an Associate Editor for GolfDigest.com. Feel free to email him and please follow him on Twitter since he has self-esteem issues.