Did amateur sandbag AT&T field?
Posted: Tuesday February 12, 2008 07:09AM ET
A couple of stories that make us wonder about the credibility of Bill Walters, the pro-am winner in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Walters, and his pro partner Fredrik Jacobson, won the event by 11 shots, the biggest margin of victory in the AT&T's history. Walters, an 11-handicap, contributed 34 shots to his team's total, which could raise a few eyebrows. Jerry Stewart's article in the Monterey Herald says that Walters admitted to winning $550,000 in a Nassau match back in 1975, which is a form of gambling. In looking at the USGA's Rules of Amateur status in the rules of golf, it's broken up in 10 different rules, but at the bottom there is a special section on the Policy of Gambling. In that section there is a very vague term saying that "the amount of money involved is not generally considered to be excessive." So, is winning $550,000 is "excessive" or what that magic number is.
Steve Lowery, Clint Eastwood, AP
Comments (7)
Bill Walters is golf hustler and gambler known in Vegas. If he is an 11 handicap my name is Peter Pan. I'm from Vegas and his golf betting and matches are well known. Of course he sandbagged thats what all good huslters do. Take the title away from this fraud and give it to the second place team. All anyone has to do is just research this guy. Of course this is all a mute point if it is a different Bill Walters but I don't know if it is the same one.
Majic"B" | 02/12/08, 07:37 AM
Report Offensive Commentyou mean the tournament does not verify the handicaps for am entrants?
AugustaGolfer32 | 02/12/08, 07:46 AM
Report Offensive CommentIf I understand this correctly,
72 holes were played as a team
They play "low ball" meaning the low net score on each hoe is the team score.
An he is playing with a PGA pro who shoots -4 for the tournament.
He gets a total of 44 strokes?
He's not too smart if he did not know where his competition was in the last round. Didn't sandbag too well if he won by 11. DUMB for both the player and the tournament handicap charirperson
AugustaGolfer32 | 02/12/08, 07:56 AM
Report Offensive CommentAnother look
Jockabson also played 72 Holes.
2 eagles
15 birdies
42 pars
Minus the birdies and eagles, that leaves only 55 holes, and of the remaining 55 holes he contributed 34 shots???? that means on the remaining holes even though the pro would have been 15 over par on those remaining 55 holes he still used his score on 61.8% of those holes. AS an Amateur , UNDER PRESSURE at PEBBLE BEACH on SLICK GREENS????
AugustaGolfer32 | 02/12/08, 08:09 AM
Report Offensive CommentWalters - Dubbed "The World's Greatest 11". There's a clown like this in every member/guest.
Space Ace | 02/12/08, 02:01 PM
Report Offensive CommentThis guy won over half a million bucks gambling on the golf course, surely thats a violation of his amateur status.
BEAST! | 02/12/08, 05:26 PM
Report Offensive CommentAnybody notice that Clint Eastwood is starting to look like a cadaver? Maybe they should switch him to the Bob Hope event and put George Lopez at the ATT. I don't think anyone would know the difference. What do you think George?
Jonisagolffan | 02/14/08, 08:09 PM
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