Barclay Open--Singapore

After playing golf for 25 years, I consider myself a student of the game. Some observations from the Barclay Open, November 16, 2008.

1. Phil, time for a new trainer, those manboobs have got to go.

2. Being a tall expat and trying to get close to the action with all the extended umbrellas at the course is a dangerous situation. Felt like a midget on a date with a porcupine.

3. I thought Ernie was a bomber but both Dyson and Bjorn hit it with him....and often by him.

4. Technology has changed viewing golf live. Everyone is so afraid of breaking viewing etiquette either with the click of a camera or cell phone ringing, that I have never heard such hushed tones among 3000 people: you could have heard a pine needle drop.

5. Sartorial suggestions: wear earth colors or Ninja black. Any loud clothing could call attention to you: "Hey buddy, yeah you in the green striped shirt, put the camera away for the last time!"

6. My close friend Phil (he walked down the fairway with a towel under his arm and once I hit range balls with a towel under my arm to get the feel of turning the whole upper body) hit it closer than anyone, but made nothing.

7. My close friend Padraig (he actually said excuse me when he walked by me to get to a tee box) was the best to watch and hit draws, fades, and bullets as necessary.

8. Wanna a chance to loop for the pros. Learn to say, "Put away the camera!" in 10 languages.

9. They all hit about the same distance off the tee and the same distance from the pin, but Jeev made more putts.

10. Both Ernie and Padraig were quoted in the Straits Times saying they were disappointed losing by a stroke, but both felt good for Jeev Milka Singh. When was the last time you heard an athlete say that!

"I coulda bin a contender"

I worked for a year in India as the head language trainer for HP's technical division. Most shifts were evenings to correspond with the time change in North America, their foremost clients. The company provided excellent accommodations, a huge three-bedroom, three bathroom, triple balcony condo. They also provided personal transportation to-and-from work. On my first night of being dropped off at home in the wee hours, I began my ascent to the third floor walk up when I was surprised to hear a huge scuffle taking place upstairs. The sound and fury intensified until I reached our door and outside I saw the participants: a cockroach and a gecko. They appeared to be evenly matched, were going at it mouth and antennae and this was a fight to the finish. I ran inside and grabbed my camera to capture the action on film. As I waited for a victor to be crowned, or in this case the loser to be eaten, I thought of all the great boxing matches I'd witnessed over time: replays of Schmelling versus Louis, Duran and Leonard, Hearns and Hagler, Ali and Foreman, Ali and Frazier. This little third-floor dust-up enthralled me almost as much.

Hello fellow-bloggers

Trying this out for the first time to see what it's like. Just a little background information, as you can see from the profile, I'm working in Singapore- seeking fame, fortune and warmth.....okay, just trying to stay warm. Checked the temperature in Winnipeg, Manitoba and it was -13C this morning, ouch. The usual balmy 28C in Singapore is so much more humane. Having said that, I will be travelling back to Canada for a few weeks of R & R during Xmas. Really looking forward to seeing family and freezing. Okay, not the latter.

This wasn't supposed to start off as a weather rant, but that's where it's led. I will try to be much more positive from now on. Just opened the condo window and lo-and-behold....it's rainy and cool. Can't win!