It's interesting that Ran chooses to list but two days, out of many days of matches between us. Either he can't recall or prefers to ignore the numerous matches played prior to and subsequent to the match at Inniscrone, where he definitely had an out-of-body experience and played far beyond his ability.
The massacre at GCGC, and the debacle at Plainfield come to mind. Throw in Hollywood, Old Marsh, Hidden Creek, Boca Rio, Pine Tree and many, many more.
How he could forget Plainfield, where he was 5 up after only 7 holes, only to be dormied on the 15th green.
It's also interesting how he conveniently forgot some additional information regarding our rounds at Sand Hills.
How could he have overlooked telling you that we had three matches per round, one where he received 12 shots, another where he received 10 shots and the last where he received 8 shots ?
To his credit, he played with hickories, and he played exceedingly well, needing only a par on # 18 to break 80, which is a terrific feat with any clubs, let alone hickories.
Still, he barely won the 12 shot match, hardly CRUSHING his opponent, having to rely on an excessive amount of strokes, only conceded due to an excessive amount of whining for the prior 24 hours, when, on the 17th green, his putt, hit with the force of a catapult on a Navy Carrier, was deflected by a stone, then hit the back of the cup, severely damaging it, before leaping into the air and falling into the cup, the memory of which remains a difficult pill to swallow.
Especially when my pure putt to tie spun out of the hole, unable to find stones, pebbles or miscellaneous debris scattered about the green to deflect it into the hole, as my opponent had managed to do.
But, how did he fare on the 10 shot and 8 shot matches ?
Ah, they were over long before he reached the 17th green, and perhaps that's the reason he can't remember them, they occured so long before his miracle on the 17th green.
One must view Ran's victories as one views a stopped clock.
It's only enjoys victory twice a day.
