Jerry Rice finds that out the hard way.
The Nationwide Tour, the PGA Tour's minor league, has done some things in the past to boost its product. While most of us know about the Nationwide, it is rare we pay much attention to it past who won or lost.
So when the Nationwide Tour invited Jerry Rice, former NFL legend, to play a second event, eyebrows were raised. He missed the cut in his first try there with rounds of 83-76. This week? Rice took missing the cut to a whole new level.
His first round broke a record at the BMW Pro-Am as Rice recorded a 20-over 92, which included a 10, 8 and two 7s. He shot 49 on the front only to clean that up with a sweet 43 on the back. He made four double-bogeys, and was so far back of the leaders that he told reporters, "I don't want to talk about golf. Had enough."
So what did he do in his Friday round? Only posted a 10-over 82, still the third-worst score of the week, and then disqualified himself because of a "rookie mistake" — his caddie used a range finder to check a yardage!
Listen, I've ranted about Rice's efforts this week enough, but it needs to be said once more. If you know so little about tournament golf that you didn't realize (and your caddie didn't realize) that using a distance laser is illegal, you don't need to be in the field. Well, you shouldn't be in the field in the first place after 92-82, but you really shouldn't if you have such little respect for the players not in the field that you pull out a range finder to check a yardage when you are in dead last.
I've known a few pro athletes in my day, and had the good fortune to hang out with them in situations most people will never see. When I first heard the Best Receiver of All-Time was setting his sights on playing pro golf, I knew it wouldn't end well.
People that play with athletes often let the little things slide. "Jerry, you're only 2 feet from the cup. That's a gimmie." "Jerry, I don't know what you did on that drive, but it's not what you normally do. Take a mulligan and hit it again."
When you get to the Tour, there are no mulligans. There are no "gimmies".
A round that you shot in the mid-70's at the country club with your buddies turns into an 82 at a Tour event. Get off the Tour, and let someone who is a legit golfer take that spot, Jerry.
