[Yoda]

Just got around to checking a few stats this weekend and came across this little goodie:

For the year 2006, Brian Gay is currently ranked T-6th -- as in 1-2-3-4-5-6 -- in Scoring Average (Actual) on the PGA TOUR. His per-round average of 70.22 puts him only 0.64 strokes more per round (less than 2/3 of a stroke) than the category leader, Tiger Woods (69.58 ). Last year, he ranked 112th in the same statistic, proof-positive that those who embrace the principles of TGM -- at any level -- can enjoy immediate improvement and continuous progress.

Brian plays a lot of golf. This year, his record of 77 competitive rounds and 5,407 actual strokes is 13 rounds and 931 strokes more than that of the next leading competitor, Jim Furyk (in 4th place at 69.94 strokes per round). Brian has played 41 more rounds than Tiger (36) and has had 2,902 more strokes (versus Tiger's 2,505).

So, Brian's is a solid stat -- not a fluke born of a few rounds and a hot streak -- one that few people would believe possible from a journeyman professional of eight years who has yet to win a PGA TOUR event.

For your comparison, here are a few other names from the list (Major Champions in bold), their Scoring Average (Actual) and their current ranking:

Vijay Singh (70.27, 9)
Adam Scott (70.39, 12)
David Toms (70.45, 14)
Luke Donald (70.51, T-17)
Rory Sabbatini (70.68, T-29)
Kenny Perry (70.73, 34)
Camilo Villegas (70.87, 47)
Retief Goosen (70.95, T-62)
Padraig Harrington (70.95, T-62)
John Riegger (70.95, T-62)
Ernie Els (71.05, T-74)
Geoff Ogilvy (71.24, T-99)
Chris DiMarco (71.48, 124)
Davis Love III (71.55, 130)
J.B. Holmes (71.64, 143)
Ben Curtis (71.55, T-144)
Fred Couples (71.77, T-154)
Sergio Garcia (71.88, T-163)
John Daly (72.92, T-197)

Pretty sporty company in the rear-view mirror, don't you think?

So, while the Golf World may be surprised to see Brian lifting crystal on a coming Sunday afternoon, we at LBG will not be. He's earned his spurs and waited his turn...

His time is now.