Things have been pretty grim in Tampa when it comes to the hometown NFL Buccaneers.
They are wallowing in the mire of an ugly slump and star receiver Mike Evans was the focal point of a controversy from last Sunday when it appeared two referees from the Tampa-Carolina game were asking Evans for his autograph after the game.
Evans was seen scribbling something on a white card. Refs seeking autographs from players is verboten by the league and the NFLPA.
Now here’s where golf gets inserted into the situation. One of those game officials, Jeff Lamberth, evidently went to Texas A&M, where Evans played collegiately. Lamberth clamed he wanted Mike’s number so he could give it to a golf professional so that Mike might seek a golf lesson or two or three. He can afford a LOT of lessons.
“I wasn’t signing my autograph, I’ll tell you that,” Evans told reporters on Tuesday. “I talk to a lot of officials, we’re all human beings. He’s a nice guy, so we was talking about golf. That’s all we was talking about.”
The NFL didn’t discipline Lamberth but did remind him and the other ref of “the importance of avoiding even the appearance of impropriety when interacting with players, coaches and club staff on gameday — including during the pre-game and post-game periods.”
After losing back-to-back games to teams that previously had one win (Pittsburgh, Carolina), looks like the golf season might start a bit earlier for Evans come December.
Atthaya Thitikul Chasing No. 1 Ranking In Women’s Golf:
Jin Young Ko has been sitting atop the Rolex World Rankings most of this season but the injured South Korean star could lose that spot soon.
Ko, who has been trying to recover from a wrist injury, was back last week at the Ladies BMW in her home country but after rounds of 80-79, she withdrew from the competition, lending credence to the fact that her wrist is not yet fully healed.
She’s still atop the rankings with 7.25 points but teenage sensation Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand is sitting at No. 2, right behind Ko at 7.20 — Lydia Ko, winner last week at the BMW, is also close at No. 3 cut 7.08 points.
Only three events remain for the 2022 LPGA Tour season. The ladies are off this week. Play resumes at the Toto outside Tokyo next week but most of the big names are already heading back to the U.S. to prepare for the Pelican Championship on Nov. 10 then the year-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples where the winner will cash a check for $2 million.
DP World Tour Wraps Up With Three More Events:
Like the LPGA Tour, the DP World (European) Tour is wrapping up its 2022 season. Only three more events remain — this week’s Portugal Masters frllowed by the Nedbank in South Africa on Nov. 10.
The grand finale will be Nov. 17 at the DP World Tour Championship where world No. 1 Rory McIlroy will try and add the Race To Dubai title to his FedEx Cup championship — giving him the two biggest titles on both sides of the Atlantic.
