Mark’s Kaddy Korner

In the late 80’s dirt roads surrounded the small party at TPC. Back then you could hear the coyotes yipping and roadrunners skittered across the fairways. The wildlife has changed, the golf has almost become secondary to the party, and the attendance rose drastically. The tournament the Thunderbirds reluctantly took over in 1939 under Bob Goldwater’s tutelage now claims bragging rights as the PGA Tour’s largest party and has contributed $65,000,000 to local charities.

Former PGA Tour caddie Greg Rita and his family were robbed in a home invasion on New Year’s Eve in Jacksonville, Fla., firstcoastnews.com reported Tuesday.

According to a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office report, three men broke into the Rita home through an open garage door about 6 a.m. Police said Rita’s wife awoke to the men “standing at the foot of her bed.” One of the suspects hit her in the head with the butt of a gun.

According to the report, Rita’s wife was taken into the living room while Rita was left in the bedroom. The couple’s 4-year-old son remained asleep in his room.

The season is winding down. The PGA Tour finished up at Disney and Stephen Ames, the winner, wasn’t the happiest man in Mickey’s Kingdom, Nicholas Thompson was ecstatic after going low Sunday moving from 138 on the money list inside the top 125 and retaining his playing privileges for next year. Without that low round Nicholas would have been traveling the Nationwide Tour with a few stops on the PGA.