[Yoda]

Congratulations to Brian Gay on another fine tournament at the AT&T Classic in Atlanta. His T58 finish will serve as a stepping stone on his way to another peak in the coming weeks.

The tournament over, I was on the 7:50 evening flight to Dallas. I had scored a Business Class ticket at Coach prices -- -- and had the pleasure of sitting by Steve Merino, a 2006 Q-School qualfiier who had signed his card only a couple of hours earlier (for an 11-under par 277). His T6 finish was the best of his young career and had earned $180,900. Needless to say, 'ol Yoda had more than a few questions for this young man regarding his golf swing and approach to the game.

Across the aisle was Glen Day, who mercilessly bantered back and forth with the rookie about his less than adequate preparation for his arrival in Dallas (and first appearance at Colonial). I laughed so hard I had tears streaming down my face, especially when David Feherty, also across the aisle, chimed in. Things were pretty lively until we got arirborne, then Steve went under listening to his iPod and tapping his knee, Glen fell fast asleep and David started scribbling furiously -- presumably his next Golf Magazine column -- on a yellow pad. The large Starbucks on his food tray no doubt helped.

As for me, I had my own study to do. I pulled out a book and went to work.