The Writer's Life 8/17 - Hearts

It was great to see Aussie Jason Day, 27, win his first major after so many near misses. His record setting score of minus 20 took the drama out of the tourney, but it’s always cool to see a player earn his due. Jordan Spieth, the runner up, continued his incredible season. He won 2015’s first two majors and finished second in the final two, shooting an aggregate score of minus 54, besting Tiger Woods’ record by one. He has moved to the top of the world’s golf rankings, ahead of Rory McIlroy, who played well after a month’s layoff due to an injury incurred while playing soccer with friends. Woods wasn't around for the weekend. He made the cut only at the season’s first major, the Masters. Seven years have passed since he last won one. Whistling Straits, situated over two miles on the shores of Lake Michigan, is absolutely beautiful. Officials have done about all they can to make courses tougher, but golfers keep getting better and better, taking advantage of modern equipment. For many pros, there are no more true par fives. These guys are so long off the tee that any green is reachable in two. Even if they miss a green, their skills from the sand and in chipping are phenomenal, allowing them to get close enough for makeable birdie or par putt.
As Day hoisted the prized Wanamaker Cup, awarded to the winner, it occurred to me that I had no idea for whom the trophy was named. Lewis Wanamaker inherited a chain of department stores from his dad. He was a patron of the arts, sports, aviation and Native Americans. He called a meeting that led to the founding of the PGA and the tournament. The first was played in 1916. In an awesome bit of trivia, Wanamaker was a member of the 1886 NCAA championship football team at Princeton.

I was channel surfing while driving home. None of the four pop or rock stations I have programmed in my Hyundai was playing anything to my liking, so I clicked on the country station, NASH-FM. It is rare that I like a song on a first listen, especially a genre of which I know little more than the basics. I am familiar with Miranda Lambert's name and her impressive success, but I wouldn't have been able to cite any of her songs before today. Here's a link to My Mama's Heart, which in this day of frequent repetition and ridiculous song length, comes in well under three minutes. Kudos, madam:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1Mq0Vvsxk8

Hardly any action at the floating book shop today. My thanks to the young man who purchased a Charlaine Harris novel from her Snookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire series, each of which has the word "dead" in the title. So far there have been 15. They are the inspiration of HBO's True Blood, starring Anna Paquin, 80 episodes have been shot over seven years.
Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5

Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Vic's Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
Vic's Short Story Collection: http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tiny.cc/0iHLb Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kx3d3uf
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/