Sometimes I wonder about the people who govern the PGA Tour insofar as starting, stopping and re-starting an event.

When rain descended toward the end of The Honda Classic, it impacted Sean Lowry (Srixon Z-Star XV), who had to battle the elements instead of a forced break by the officials. I thought the officials could have blown the horn and waited until the rain subsided and re-start the event or carry it over to the morning.

I can only assume the event was allowed to continue because it was so close to the finish and carrying it over to the following morning wouldn’t have sat well with the host broadcaster. So, Lowry, clearly frustrated and agitated, played an approach shot to the green and missed a birdie putt, which would have resulted in a tie with Sepp Straka (Srixon Z Star XV), who recorded his first PGA Tour win.

But that was nothing compared to the Players Championship. When rain played havoc with the second flight on the opening day, the whole tournament was impacted. The four-day event turned into a five-day event.

And even though it just happened, I can’t remember all the starts and stops. I just remember watching the players in the second round having no idea what clubs to use for the dreaded 17^th hole Island Green. That is one of the toughest holes on the Tour, but it shouldn’t have been so exponentially difficult that the wind took perfectly good shots and sent them into the water.

The scene of Brooks Koepka (Srixon Z-Star Diamond) laughing when he sailed a shot into the water was both funny and sad. Koepka, who was not wearing a hat because of the wind, chose to take it all in stride because he was not going to make the cut. But when Scottie Scheffler (Titleist Pro V1), who was in contention, followed him with a ball into the water, he had a look of disgust. He basically lost all hope at that point, finishing at two-over par. He was below the cutline and should have been on his way, but because of all the delays and the various conditions that affected the players after him, he lived to play the weekend – or at least the final 36 holes.

It should have been vastly apparent to the PGA Tour officials that the crazy conditions took an event that is considered the unofficial fifth major and turned into a trick shot affair.

It is one thing if a player makes a bad shot, it is quite another if he makes a good shot and the elements take over.

Yes, the argument could be made that The Open is often played in wind, rain and cool weather, but that’s expected. In fact, it is somewhat predictable. But the unseasonable Florida conditions were beyond belief.

In recent weeks, players have battled extremely fast greens, thick rough and foul weather, which combined doesn’t make things more exciting. That’s not golf.

I truly hope by the time of the Masters, the players who have competed in these tournaments will be able to effectively flush out all the memories and, hopefully, enjoy the pristine conditions of Augusta National.

Kudos to the Mullet Man Cameron Smith (Titleist Pro V1x), who is emerging as a star, for his win in the Players. He survived the elements, many did not.

Maybe the golf gods felt sorry for Lowry and rewarded him with a hole in one in the Players on the 17^th hole. It is tradition in golf for anyone who registers a hole in one to buy beers for everybody in the dining room. Lowry loves his Irish beer, so I’m sure he hoisted a few and invited others to join in.

St. Patrick’s Day arrived early for Lowry.

AND THE WINNER IS: Congrats to JACOB_777 and GARY KRUEGER (my boss at PG Golf) for picking Cameron Smith in the PG Golf Pool. They were the only ones of 33 players who picked the Mullet Man. JACOB vaulted from 20^th to third in the standings. Gary rose from 15^th to second. I dropped from 11^th to 14^th because both of my picks, Collin Morikawa (TaylorMade TP5) and Matthew Fitzpatrick (Titleist Pro V1x) missed the cut. Do you think I’m bitter? The answer is YES!!!!!! With all the betting going on in golf now, sometimes it’s hard to look at result objectively. I was among seven players whose players packed their bags early. This was my first time using Morikawa in the pool. You are only allowed to pick a player twice all season, so I wanted to use Morikawa in a tournament with a big purse because the money accumulated each week is paramount. Patrick Davis, last year’s PG Golf Pool winner, told me he used that strategy. It was my second time using Fitzpatrick. In fact, second time in two consecutive weeks. I’m convinced he will win a tournament this year – he’s young and talented – and if and when he does, I will not be happy.