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Dateline Atlanta

© Bill Howard

Dateline Atlanta: It's hot in Georgia during the month of August. I'm sure you are all as stunned by this as I am. Talk about unforeseen developments.

In the late 1970's, the PGA held their championship in south Florida. That tournament was held on a golf course in which the PGA had an interest. August is hot down here too. There was no end to the complaining by the players and the media.

What has been forgotten is that the vast majority of the golfers in the South play in conditions like these all summer long. If you live in south Florida, the sweltering conditions persist straight through until Christmas. Our allotted two weeks of cooler weather settles in right around New Year's.

My point is that complaining about the heat makes the players sound like whining three year olds. Wear a hat and drink plenty of water. Butch up and play the game.

I also notice that those complaining the loudest are those who are spending the most time in the cool embrace of the shade trees. Apparently, inaccurate driving and high scores make one more sensitive to the vagaries in ambient temperature.

I wonder if we'd be hearing the same amount of weather related conversation if this was a tournament played on a hot desert course with substantial appearance fees being paid to its participants? Just wondering.

While on the subject of the PGA, did you notice that prior to the commencement of play the course was described as favoring Tiger? The fact that he was forced to manufacture a minor miracle in order to survive the cut is irrelevant. I notice that all major championship courses are now subject to the 'does it favor Tiger?' litmus test. This is yet another sign of our radically altered golf landscape.

See you next week.