A 750-Yard Tee Shot Sometimes Is Beginning of Something Bad

Anyone who thinks that John Daly is the longest hitter in golf should think again.

Make room--lots of room--for Carl Cooper, a 31-year-old struggling touring pro from Houston.

Cooper got off a freak drive that hit a paved cart path and eventually came to rest somewhere between 750 and 800-plus yards from the tee Friday during the second round of the Texas Open.

However, Cooper was so far away from the green on the par-four, 456-yard third hole at the Oak Hills Country Club course that he had to use a four-iron and an eight-iron to get back to it.

Add drive: Cooper wound up with a double bogey on the hole and missed the cut.

Moreover, as the 188th man on the season’s money-winning list in the final official full-field tournament, Cooper failed to retain his playing rights for next year.

Trivia time: Through the Oct. 11 Las Vegas Invitational, 29 PGA Tour players have scored 31 holes in one. Identify the two players who each had two aces.

The smell of victory: Detroit Tiger Manager Sparky Anderson doesn’t believe there was an American bias toward Toronto during the World Series.

“Toronto’s just like Detroit or Cleveland or Chicago or all the other American cities,” Anderson told the Toronto Globe and Mail. “The only difference is that it’s cleaner and maybe smells a little better.”

Long way to go: Chi Chi Rodriguez turned 57 Friday and said he finally has reached middle age. “My grandmother and grandfather both lived to be 114,” he said.

Hare-raising: George Foreman told Playboy that he loves the film, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.”

“I watch it at least twice a month,” boxing’s elder statesman said. “I can’t get enough of it. The way that rabbit keeps getting himself in trouble, hitting the wall, tat-tat-tat.”

Looking back: In 1962, Dallas had two pro football teams, the NFL Cowboys and AFL Texans. Each franchise was averaging about 10,000 fans.

“The prevailing joke had it that a coin flip would be held at midfield of the Cotton Bowl,” Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News writes. “The winner would be allowed to leave town.”

There was no coin flip, but the Texans relocated in Kansas City as the Chiefs.

Realistic: University of Washington Coach Don James suffered three broken cheekbones when he was hit on the sideline during an Oct. 17 game against Oregon.

Said James’ wife, Carol: “It’s easier to replace a husband than a linebacker at this time of the season.”

Trivia answer: Mark Calcavecchia and Nolan Henke.

Quotebook: LeRoy Walker, new president of the U.S. Olympic Committee: “I don’t want to lose my faith in Christmas, or the Olympics. I never plan to lose my sense of wonder.”