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Bob in Spain


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The Masters - 2015
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I am not a massive golf fan, but when the majors or the Ryder Cup come around, I get interested. Today, everyone's favourite major, The Masters, begins at Augusta National and the Azaleas are in full bloom.

So I thought I would start off a thread with a real "feel good" story that has been all over the American media, but as yet doesn't seem to have hit the UK as far as I can see.

Let's introduce the players.

Enter stage left - Kevin Streelman.  Mr Streelman, who will be playing in his 4th Masters this year, recently celebrated, along with his wife, the birth of his 1st daughter. There were complications during the birth and the young girl went through a lengthy period of hospitalisation. Pleased to report however that all is now OK.  Mr Streelman described how the experience had given him a much better perspective on the struggles of parents with sick children and he decided he wanted to make a difference. So he picked up the phone and rang the Make-a-Wish Foundation and asked if anyone on their list wanted to go to The Masters.

Enter stage right - Ethan Couch. At 13 years old, Ethan is a golfing fanatic.  However, 2 years ago, after exploratory surgery, he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour (fortunately benign). On waking up from surgery, he was asked by someone from the Make-a-Wish foundation to go home and literally make a wish. "I don't have to go home and think about it" he said. "I want to go to The Masters".

So a few days back, young Ethan gets a call from Mr Streelman. Not only did Ethan get invited to The Masters, but Mr Streelman invited Ethan to caddy for him in the prestigious Par 3 competition that precedes the main event. So yesterday, Ethan spent the day mingling with his heroes, walking the hallowed turf of Augusta and carrying the bag for Mr Streelman whilst dressed in his very own white jumpsuit - the unique attire for Augusta Caddies.

What a day for this young man. But did it end there ?  Of course not.  Call it "Karma" or "The Sporting Gods" or whatever you like, but Mr Streelman went on to defeat Camilo Villegas on the 3rd extra hole to win the Par 3 competition with Ethan on his bag throughout the day. Does it get any better than this ?

So you can keep your Jack Nicklaus hole-in-1 and your One Direction band member caddying for Rory McIlroy.  The story of Kevin Streelman and Ethan Crouch trumps them all. Hats off to you Mr Streelman for such an amazing gesture.

 http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/golf-devil-ball-golf/kevin-streelman-won-masters-par-3-contest-with-special-caddie-025902457-golf.html

 



-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Thursday 9th of April 2015 10:13:51 AM

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vohor


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Brilliant; thanks for sharing Bob :D
Hats off to Kevin Streelman and Ethan!
[Still want Rory to win the main event though :)]

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paulisi


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Bob - Did Streelman have a late tee time and have a young boy, a young girl and lady with him - caddying/around the greenside?

The Masters is great. Very open this year.

Too much pressure on Tiger and Rory - normally won by players with lots of experience of winning. Fancy Adam Scott or Bubba Watson.

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emma


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yes, lovely, thanks for sharing :)

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Coup Droit


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emma wrote:


yes, lovely, thanks for sharing :)

 

ditto - cheers Bob smile



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Bob in Spain


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paulisi wrote:

Bob - Did Streelman have a late tee time and have a young boy, a young girl and lady with him - caddying/around the greenside?

To be honest, I don't know. I just saw the story on CNN and did a quick google.

Really hoping that Brazilian TV will be covering the Masters, but I somehow doubt it. Hoping for a Rory win, but not expecting it. I think his recent court case has ruined his preparations and his form is not where it needs to be. Most likely European winner would be Justin Rose.

Jordan Speith is my tip though as the form player going into the tournament. I see he is already at the top of the leaderboard.



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Bob in Spain


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For those who enjoyed the story, CNN have now posted this news item on the day's events.

edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2015/04/09/pkg-riddell-ws-masters-ethan-couch.cnn/video/playlists/intl-sport/

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Bob in Spain


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Bob in Spain wrote:
paulisi wrote:

Bob - Did Streelman have a late tee time and have a young boy, a young girl and lady with him - caddying/around the greenside?

To be honest, I don't know. I just saw the story on CNN and did a quick google.

Really hoping that Brazilian TV will be covering the Masters, but I somehow doubt it. Hoping for a Rory win, but not expecting it. I think his recent court case has ruined his preparations and his form is not where it needs to be. Most likely European winner would be Justin Rose.

Jordan Speith is my tip though as the form player going into the tournament. I see he is already at the top of the leaderboard.

Don't follow golf the way I follow tennis, but I am comfortable with my predictions for winner and top European going into the final day.  smile

 



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Oakland2002


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What a great story, I am sure Ethan and his family have had a day they will never forget and Kevin Streelman is obviously truly grateful for the care his family have had.

ESPN regularly do pieces of this ilk but I feel it does deflect a little from the lack of joined up healthcare in the U.S.A compared to what we have in the UK.

There is a more sympathtic attitude to children and many kind hearted people make big gestures in the forms of chairs, foundations and even hospitals in their names but my heart sinks at the thought of how things could have been so different, if that young man had been 5 years older and his parents uninsured?

We are very fortunate to have the system we have here, there is still access to healthcare for all (it can on occasions be slow, but generally very rapid if their is a suspicion of cancer), this has changed significantly over the last five years and one could argue is deliberately being broken up and fragmented.

An election is imminent, stories like this always make me mindful of how I plan to use my vote and what I wish for! Joined up healthcare for all being right at the top.

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Ratty


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Mmm, well the USA's GDP per head is about 40% higher than ours, so I guess they're doing something right. And that extra $15,000 pa each will buy you all the health insurance you'll ever need, with plenty left to spare.

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Coup Droit


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Ratty wrote:

Mmm, well the USA's GDP per head is about 40% higher than ours, so I guess they're doing something right. And that extra $15,000 pa each will buy you all the health insurance you'll ever need, with plenty left to spare.

 

Not really.

Because if you're only using a regular mean average to work out per capita gdp then it's very misleading.

After all, taken to its logical conclusion, if all the country's GDP is produced by 10 people, then the GDP per capita will still be the same number (nice and healthy). And yet only ten people in the whole country will be able to afford healthcare - hardly very useful or equitable !



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Oakland2002


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One would assume that, however the U.S. spends more of their larger GDP on healthcare with worse outcomes and unfortunately the 15K isn't equitably distributed. The reality of running out of insurance when you get really sick even on one of the best PPO's is too horrific to complate and fortunately We don't have to. Just off to make a wish.

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Born2WinTennis


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How many people do you think play both tennis and golf competitively? After our Aegon Team Tennis match on Sunday we were all talking about the masters and made me think it would be interesting a team event playing 18 holes of golf then 18 games of tennis....watch this space!

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indiana


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... followed by an evening football match before heading off to the pub and the darts challenge :)

Seriously, interesting, B2WT, I sense your mind ticking over.

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Bob in Spain


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Born2WinTennis wrote:

How many people do you think play both tennis and golf competitively? After our Aegon Team Tennis match on Sunday we were all talking about the masters and made me think it would be interesting a team event playing 18 holes of golf then 18 games of tennis....watch this space!

As a "Jack of all trades, master of none" type person, this is the sort of thing that would interest me if I wasn't on the other side of the world. A multi-sports challenge match. Perhaps once the "craze" has taken off, you could introduce a couple of international friendlies wink



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