Golf stories from journalist Peter Stone

Jason Day

Hard to believe, isn’t it, that Jason Day who is now such a household name in Australia, especially so since the events of last Sunday when he walked away from Royal Melbourne with $US1.5 million, has only played 12 professional tournaments in his homeland since 2004, five as an amateur.

It was almost a case of “do not forsake me” e from the movie High Noon, or “when will I see you again … will I ever see you again”, to use another song, with the 26-year-old from Queensland.

He was here for the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne and the Open at The Lakes two years ago but then went missing again last year, remaining at home in Ohio with his American wife Ellie and now 16-month-old son Dash.

David Graham

Colin Montgomerie said he was humbled and very proud to be standing in front of the assembled gathering at the World Golf Hall of Fame in Ponte Vedra, Florida last week after he was inducted into what should be one of the most exclusive clubs in golf.

Around about the same time, David Graham was fishing near his home in Whitefish, Montana, as he does just about every other day, wondering why he is not one of the WGHOF members that now total 146 with many far less credentialed than himself who are regarded as “golf’s greatest”.

Golden Bear

To visit the Jack Nicklaus Museum in Columbus, Ohio is to take a walk through the great man’s life.

There’s around a dozen rooms you walk through to relive each decade of his amazing career with video commentary many of his great moments along the way to 18 major championships and more than 100 victories worldwide. Photographs and memorabilia abound.

There’s a recreation of the family room of his parents Columbus’ home plus another room devoted to his golf course architecture. A map of the world pinpoints the 380 courses he’s designed in 36 countries – and three of those flags are in Australia.