Sam Saunders
had 265 yards into an 18th green protected by everything but angry alligators.
So, naturally, he took out his driver rather than playing it safe. Saunders hit into a bunker, leading to a bogey-6 on Sunday at the Honda Classic. But here’s guessing his coach didn’t mind.
That man’s name is
Arnold Palmer
. Saunders is his grandson via Palmer’s youngest daughter,
Amy
.
Palmer became rich and famous with his go-for-broke mentality, and Saunders earned some attention — plus more than $68,000 — by tying for 17th at the Honda.
Saunders left Clemson after three years and has made two cuts in four starts this season, all on sponsor’s exemptions. Palmer asked
Jack Nicklaus
to give his grandson a free pass at the Honda and, no surprise, Saunders will play Palmer’s PGA Tour event at Bay Hill in two weeks on what could be called The King’s exemption.
“I like the fact that people want to talk to me,” Saunders told the Palm Beach Post. “Hopefully someday my game will be good enough that I’ll be known as Sam Saunders
and
Arnold Palmer’s grandson.”
Saunders all but grew up at Bay Hill, where he has two aces. He caddied for his grandfather in the tournament and has played on Sunday as a marker.
Chip shots:
Fred Couples
and
Tom Watson
are threatening to make the Champions Tour relevant again. Couples has won twice in two starts, and Watson fired a final-round 62 at Newport Beach to tie for fifth. … Those pre-1990 Ping wedges that players such as
Phil Mickelson
used to either protest or circumvent the USGA’s new square-groove rule will be banned after the Bay Hill event. … The PGA Tour’s last three winners all have Twitter accounts:
@ianjamespoulter, @HunterMahan and @CamiloVillegasR
. Who knew typing was so good for the golf game?
