It's no quick hop for fans to get to this week's Greenbrier Classic — the remote Greenbrier Resort is a 90-minute drive from Roanoke, Va., or two hours from Charleston, W.Va. Those who persevere, though, might find a cash payoff.
A hole-in-one at the Old White's par-3 final hole not only will trigger a $1 million bonus for the pro and his charities, but Greenbrier owner Jim Justice is promising everyone sitting in the stands around No. 18 will get $100.
"Every single person," Justice said.
It gets better. A second hole-in-one on the same day generates another $1 million bonus — and fans seeing that one get a $500 payout.
"I hope we have a lot of fun with it," Justice said.
Plowing his money: Louis Oosthuizen invested in some new wheels as his first purchase with his British Open winnings — but you won't see him in a Porsche or Lamborghini.
Try John Deere. Yes, a tractor.
"I bought myself a nice John Deere tractor for my farm back in South Africa," Oosthuizen told reporters at last week's Scandinavian Masters. "It's for me to drive around on and I made sure there was enough space for my little daughter Jana to sit beside me."
One senses a future endorsement deal in the making.
A Cinderella story: A moment of appreciation — not that you need a reason — for the film "Caddyshack," the Bill Murray/Chevy Chase/Rodney Dangerfield vehicle that opened 30 years ago this week to awful reviews and went on to become one of the cult classics of the fairways.
"The greatest film of the 20th Century," PGA Tour veteran Stuart Appleby recently called it.
Want to see a tour pro get tongue-tied? Ask him his favorite "Caddyshack" line. Too many spring to mind.
"I have a bunch of lines that I loved," said Tiger Woods, who estimates he has seen it 100 times. "It's the little things. That's what makes the movie so great."
Tap-ins: Anthony Kim announced he will return to competition at next week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, 13 weeks after surgery to repair a torn thumb ligament. He began hitting balls again earlier this month. … Among those playing this week's U.S. Senior Open is Florida Panthers GM Dale Tallon, a onetime Canadian Junior Boys champion before being taken as the No. 2 pick of the 1970 NHL draft. … Hall of Famer Bob Charles has retired from international competition, making last week's Senior British Open his final stop. "You are looking at a 74-year-old who is not a kid anymore," the 1963 British Open champ told Sky TV.
— Jeff Shain