"He was a semi-socialist ex-caddie surrounded by right-wing members of Augusta National and Seminole (forgive the redundancies)"

Reflecting on last week's USGA meeting, two things stood out: the absence of David Fay and the absence of a David Fay tribute.

I certainly had my disagreements with the retired Executive Director but how do you not do a little something for someone after 32 years with the organization other than a mention in the President's speech? Granted, Fay probably wouldn't have attended even if they assured him the tribute would be brief and the gift appropriately tacky, but the entire thing left me wondering how the 36 applicants for his job--many of whom were in the room--felt knowing 32 years resulted in so little affection.

Then again, he was a "risk-taker" (something we have in common, according to Golf Digest!). And as Jerry Tarde notes in his editor's column this month, not exactly the kind of guy who puts the blue blazer-grey slack set at ease:

The chance Fay is known for is pushing the U.S. Open to be played at a so-called muny: "Fay's Folly." Opens had technically been held on public courses -- rich resorts like Pebble Beach and Pinehurst -- but Fay delivered the national championship to Bethpage State Park in 2002 and 2009, Torrey Pines in 2008, Chambers Bay in 2015 and Erin Hills in 2017. He was a semi-socialist ex-caddie surrounded by right-wing members of Augusta National and Seminole (forgive the redundancies): How's that for being a long-tailed cat in a room full of presidential rockers?

And who else do you know who resigned from Pine Valley to join the nine-hole Summit course in New Jersey; left the bucolic horse country of Far Hills for Manhattan; collects the profane tirades of Major League Baseball managers in flagrante delicto, and wears a bow tie that he fastidiously ties himself?