Golfer Supremacy Rankings: Giving thanks to the ghost of Byron Nelson

At the Golfer Supremacy Rankings, we believe in truth, justice and the American way. That’s not saying that much, however, as collectively, we also believe in just about everything from bigfoots and Easter bunnies to the concept that Iraqi insurgents will jump in row boats and follow U.S. troops back home should the U.S. ever get around to leaving Iraq.

So when Scott Verplank credited the ghost of Byron Nelson for helping him win the EDS Byron Nelson Championship, we wholeheartedly believed. Because in the end, pure greatness transcends death. And in the case of Verplank, apparently helped him pocket a $1.13 million victory check.

Golfer Supremacy Rankings

1. The Ghost of Byron Nelson

Comments: While many enterprising writers did their best to make some type of issue out of Zach Johnson crediting Jesus for his Masters win - despite the fact that literally zillions of athletes have started victory interviews with “I’d like to thank Jesus without whom I’d never have won this blah blah” - few are jumping on Scott Verplank’s insistence that dead golfing great Byron Nelson helped him win the Byron Nelson Championship. Nonetheless, Verplank, who had a personal relationship with a living Nelson, couldn’t thank the dead Nelson enough for his win.

“There’s no question in my mind that the stars lined up and I got a little help from upstairs.”

“I had some help there on the last hole, there’s no doubt. I walked off the tee and felt a cool breeze, and it wasn’t cool out there.”

“But the little two-footer to win, I don’t think it was a very good putt, but you know what, I got an assist and it went in. I was so – I’m not sure I knew where I was at.”

So, in the end, a fantastic win for Byron Nelson’s ghost, though it still has some work to do, as Jesus’s Masters’ triumph totally trumps a win at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship. Nelson’s ghost was unavailable for comment, but many golf experts have wondered aloud whether Nelson will make any more appearances this year, while debating how long one needs to be dead before they lose their exemptions.

2. The Two Women in England That Made Consecutive Aces

Comments: June Wiener, 75, and Sue Baskind, 61, destroyed the odds in April, as the duo both aced the 152-yard par-3 24th hole on the 27-hole course at the Moor Allerton Golf Club in Leeds, England.

“We were told the odds were a million to one – I wish I’d had a pound on it,” said Wiener. “We were so glad that there were two others with us as otherwise people wouldn’t have believed us.”
Rumors that the ghost of Byron Nelson had a hand in the amazing feat have yet to be confirmed.

3. Silvia Cavalleri

Comments: It took a tournament in Mexico for the LPGA to get its first Italian winner, as Cavalleri overcame hometown hero Lorena Ochoa to win her first LPGA Tour event. The Italiana played her final round bogey free to leave the new No. 1 female golfer two shots back in a tie for second place in her homeland. With the victory, Cavalleri took home a check for $195,000 ($795 trillion in pesos).

Random Quote I: “I would say 100 percent of the players, except for Phil, think he shouldn’t be here,” Shaun Micheel, on Phil Mickelson being allowed to play in the EDS Byron Nelson Championship despite not competing in the Wednesday pro-am.

Random Quote II: All the Mexicans are very proud of her. Lorena represents the Mexico we want to be. The Mexico that cannot be beaten; the Mexico that fights; the Mexico that opens paths in the world; the Mexico that wins.” – Mexico President Felipe Calderon

–WKW