Allen Doyle made a little joke about how the USGA wouldn’t be particularly overjoyed at seeing him win the U.S. Seniors Open, which prompted a USGA flak to get on the air and get all teary-eyed about how much it loves Allen Doyle. Talk about a preemptive strike.

He was right, though. The USGA would much rather have seen Tom Watson win. Watson represents what the august golf bodies believe golfers should look and act like: a true gentleman of the sport. Doyle is the antithesis of that – a big, raw-boned palooka, a former hockey player, with a swing straight out of your weekend muni. Which is why I was pulling for him, of course. I get tired of all these gentlemen.

Doyle cusses. Hell, he cussed in his post-round interview. He’s ornery, in a way that lets you know he won’t take any guff. Early in his career, he refused to change his swing because the pretty boys told him he’d never amount to much. Now look at him. I think I’ll start watching more senior golf.

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