Officialsportsbetting.com Golf Betting Pros battled the elements Friday at Royal Birkdale

Pros battled the elements Friday at Royal Birkdale

SOUTHPORT, England – Umbrella futures were on the rise Friday, and there’s no doubt that the quarterly earnings of raingear companies received a bump. Royal Birkdale was hit with proper Open Championship weather in the second round, leaving caddies with sore backs from the heavier luggage they had to lug around the links. The rain required them to not only carry extra clothing, but simultaneously balance a towel, umbrella, yardage book and whatever else their boss needed to keep dry. The weather was reminiscent of what we saw in the past two Open Championships here along England’s Lancashire Coast, as weather from the Irish Sea tormented the world’s best. No one has finished under-par in either of the past two Opens held at Royal Birkdale, and that was thanks in large part to high winds and rain. The field had to deal with both Friday, and often at the same time, sending the scoring average up more than two strokes. The field averaged 71.9 on Thursday, but that rose to 74.0 in Friday’s inclement weather. Rain is always a nuisance, while wind can at least occasionally be an aid. Not on this day, though. The winds came from the southeast, blowing across many fairways and often into the players. “The way it is out there now, it’s not much fun,â€� said Charl Schwartzel, whose 78 was 12 strokes higher than his first round. He teed off at 9:47 a.m., and was likely one of the players Jordan Spieth was watching as he awaited his tee time five hours later. Kevin Na, who fired 75 after a first-round 68, called it, “a good day to sit at home and watch a movie.â€� Most players opted for to watch the golf instead. One of the advantages players have at The Open Championship is that they can procure plenty of intelligence from tuning into the television broadcast before their afternoon tee time. Since all players tee off from No. 1, there’s nearly 10 hours between the first and last “games,â€� as they’re called at The Open. Spieth, known for a golf intelligence that matches his passion for the game, was among those players who tuned in. “I would have gladly stayed on the couch,â€� he said. “It was tough watching. It wasn’t a great feeling knowing we were coming into something harder than what we were watching.â€� Adam Scott, who teed off at 8:25 Friday morning, also watched the telecast, though for a different reason. With his day done by the early afternoon, he didn’t need to do any studying. He just wanted to commiserate with colleagues who struggled with the conditions. “I don’t normally tune in, but hopefully watching will make myself feel a little better,â€� he said after shooting 74 on Friday. He sits at 3-over 143 (69-74). The morning half of the draw had to deal with high winds. How windy was it? Rory McIlroy and Matt Kuchar both used 5-irons on the 162-yard 12th hole. McIlroy came up short. Kuchar watched the wind blow his shot 30 yards, from a mound left of the green toward the middle of the putting surface. The rain came later, falling hardest at about 4 p.m. A rain delay is about as rare as a tree at an Open Championship, because of how quickly a links course can drain, but play was stopped for a half-hour due to water pooling on the greens. The afternoon half of the field actually had an average score that was 0.8 strokes lower than the morning starters (73.6 to 74.4), but rain can be more of a hassle because of the extra work it requires to stay dry.Precipitation also produces dramatic visuals as players scurry for cover, wipe off their grips and turn hats backwards to keep water from dripping on their golf ball. The reality is, though, that the wind settled down at times as the rains arrived. Spieth said that taking advantage of the (relatively) calm periods was key to Friday’s 69, which puts him at 6-under 134 (65-69) and in the lead. Friday’s weather undoubtedly pleased those fans who wake up early to watch players struggle through “Open weather.â€� The funny thing is that the weather didn’t deter the gallery members on the grounds, either. Tommy Fleetwood, who grew up a few minutes from Royal Birkdale, was surprised by the number of fans who followed him through the worst of the weather. He shot 69 on Friday just to make the cut. “There’s no way people should be out on that golf course right now supporting anyone,â€� he said. Even the beloved local son. The scoring at Open Championships is heavily dependent on Mother Nature, as centuries-old links courses often lack defenses against modern technology. The conditions didn’t just make it difficult for the players. Rich Beem, winner of the 2001 PGA Championship, was known for a carefree attitude during his playing days. He now serves as an on-course commentator for Sky Sports, and when gallery member asked if he was enjoying following the leader, he couldn’t fake it. “The fun factor left long ago,â€� he said sarcastically. The constant crackle of rain drops hitting waterproof material was a quiet undertone as Spieth finished Friday’s 69, which was one of just eight under-par scores shot Friday. He will take a two-shot lead over Kuchar into the weekend. Spieth is pleased, of course, to be in the lead as he pursues the third leg of the career Grand Slam. That wasn’t what made him happiest as he sat in the interview room Friday afternoon. “Right now, I’m happy to be inside, first and foremost,â€� he said. He wasn’t the only one.

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2nd Round 3-Balls - R. Cabrera / M. Armitage / J. Luiten
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Joost Luiten-111
Marcus Armitage+190
Rafael Cabrera Bello+350
2nd Round 3-Balls - M. Couvra / M. Jordan / B. Robinson
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Matthew Jordan+160
Martin Couvra+175
Brandon Robinson Thompson+185
2nd Round 3-Balls - J. Smith / C. Hill / D. Naidoo
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Jordan Smith+105
Calum Hill+170
Dylan Naidoo+320
2nd Round 3-Balls - A. Sullivan / N. Kimsey / A. Otaegui
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Adrian Otaegui+150
Andy Sullivan+165
Nathan Kimsey+220
2nd Round 3-Balls - M. Penge / J. Kruyswijk / R. Langasque
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Jacques Kruyswijk+175
Marco Penge+175
Romain Langasque+175
2nd Round 3-Balls - U. Coussaud / S. Bairstow / A. Fitzpatrick
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Sam Bairstow+150
Ugo Coussaud+185
Alex Fitzpatrick+190
Myrtle Beach Classic
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Mackenzie Hughes+350
Thorbjorn Olesen+700
Seamus Power+900
Alejandro Tosti+1600
Ryan Fox+1600
Andrew Putnam+2000
Jesper Svensson+2200
Chris Gotterup+2800
Danny Walker+2800
Niklas Norgaard+3500
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2nd Round Six-Shooter - Group A - M. Hughes / R. Fox / S. Power / V. Perez / A. Tosti / A. Putnam
Type: 2nd Round Six-Shooter - Status: OPEN
Mckenzie Hughes+320
Seamus Power+400
Alejandro Tosti+425
Ryan Fox+475
Victor Perez+475
Andrew Putnam+500
2nd Round Six-Shooter - Group B - T. Olesen / T. Moore / K. Yu / H. Hall / S. Valimaki / R. Hoey
Type: 2nd Round Six-Shooter - Status: OPEN
Thorbjorn Olesen+375
Kevin Yu+400
Sami Valimaki+400
Taylor Moore+450
Harry Hall+475
Rico Hoey+475
2nd Round 3-Balls - K. Kisner / C. Hadley / T. Olesen
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Thorbjorn Olesen-160
Chesson Hadley+240
Kevin Kisner+450
2nd Round 3-Balls - H. Norlander / H. Higgs / P. Fishburn
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Patrick Fishburn+150
Henrik Norlander+160
Harry Higgs+220
2nd Round 3-Balls - J. Guerrier / S. Kjeldsen / I. Cantero
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Julien Guerrier+105
Ivan Cantero+170
Soren Kjeldsen+320
2nd Round 3-Balls - R. Hisatsune / S. Valimaki / R. Hoey
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Sami Valimaki+165
Rico Hoey+170
Ryo Hisatsune+200
Mizuho Americas Open
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Jeeno Thitikul+185
Hae Ran Ryu+750
Nelly Korda+850
Celine Boutier+1600
Hye Jin Choi+1800
Esther Henseleit+2000
Minjee Lee+2200
Lauren Coughlin+2500
Lydia Ko+2800
Yealimi Noh+2800
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2nd Round 3-Balls - T. Moore / D. Riley / E. Grillo
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Taylor Moore+130
Davis Riley+200
Emiliano Grillo+210
2nd Round 3-Balls - K. Yu / C. Villegas / L. List
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Kevin Yu-140
Luke List+220
Camilo Villegas+400
2nd Round 3-Balls - H. Hall / N. Hardy / B. Snedeker
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Harry Hall-110
Nick Hardy+190
Brandt Snedeker+335
2nd Round Six-Shooter - Group C - R. McIIroy / R. Henley / L. Aberg / S. Lowry / J. Thomas / T. Fleetwood
Type: 2nd Round Six-Shooter - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy+240
Ludvig Aberg+400
Justin Thomas+425
Russell Henley+500
Shane Lowry+550
Tommy Fleetwood+600
2nd Round Six-Shooter - Group D - C. Morikawa / H. Matsuyama / X. Schauffele / V. Hovland / S. Straka / A. Bhatia
Type: 2nd Round Six-Shooter - Status: OPEN
Collin Morikawa+300
Xander Schauffele+335
Hideki Matsuyama+450
Sepp Straka+450
Akshay Bhatia+550
Viktor Hovland+550
2nd Round Six-Shooter - Group A - P. Cantlay / A. Rai / C. Conners / S. Im / S. Burns / W. Zalatoris
Type: 2nd Round Six-Shooter - Status: OPEN
Patrick Cantlay+300
Corey Conners+375
Sam Burns+450
Aaron Rai+475
Sungjae Im+500
Will Zalatoris+550
2nd Round Six-Shooter - Group B - D. McCarthy / S. Theegala / D. Thompson / C. Young / S. Jaeger / T. Hoge
Type: 2nd Round Six-Shooter - Status: OPEN
Davis Thompson+335
Denny McCarthy+335
Stephan Jaeger+425
Cameron Young+500
Sahith Theegala+500
Tom Hoge+550
Collin Morikawa
Type: Collin Morikawa - Status: OPEN
Top 5 Finish+100
Top 10 Finish-250
Top 20 Finish-750
2nd Round 3 Ball - K. Mitchell / M. Kim / M. Thorbjornsen
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Keith Mitchell+130
Michael Kim+185
Michael Thorbjornsen+220
2nd Round 3 Ball - MW Lee / M. McNealy / J. Spieth
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Jordan Spieth+160
Maverick McNealy+180
Min Woo Lee+185
2nd Round Match-Ups - A. Bhatia vs K. Mitchell
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Akshay Bhatia-110
Keith Mitchell-110
2nd Round Match-Ups - M. McNealy vs M.W. Lee
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Maverick McNealy-115
Min Woo Lee-105
Rory McIlroy
Type: Rory McIlroy - Status: OPEN
Top 5 Finish+130
Top 10 Finish-185
Top 20 Finish-550
Keith Mitchell
Type: Keith Mitchell - Status: OPEN
Top 5 Finish+140
Top 10 Finish-160
Top 20 Finish-500
Denny McCarthy
Type: Denny McCarthy - Status: OPEN
Top 5 Finish+185
Top 10 Finish-135
Top 20 Finish-400
Sepp Straka
Type: Sepp Straka - Status: OPEN
Top 5 Finish+225
Top 10 Finish-110
Top 20 Finish-330
Patrick Cantlay
Type: Patrick Cantlay - Status: OPEN
Top 5 Finish+275
Top 10 Finish+110
Top 20 Finish-250
Shane Lowry
Type: Shane Lowry - Status: OPEN
Top 5 Finish+275
Top 10 Finish+125
Top 20 Finish-250
Akshay Bhatia
Type: Akshay Bhatia - Status: OPEN
Top 5 Finish+320
Top 10 Finish+140
Top 20 Finish-200
Ludvig Aberg
Type: Ludvig Aberg - Status: OPEN
Top 5 Finish+320
Top 10 Finish+150
Top 20 Finish-200
Keegan Bradley
Type: Keegan Bradley - Status: OPEN
Top 5 Finish+320
Top 10 Finish+140
Top 20 Finish-200
Justin Thomas
Type: Justin Thomas - Status: OPEN
Top 5 Finish+350
Top 10 Finish+150
Top 20 Finish-185
2nd Round 3 Ball - K. Bradley / S. Lowry / J. Rose
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Shane Lowry+145
Keegan Bradley+165
Justin Rose+230
2nd Round 3 Ball - J. Thomas / R. McIIroy / T. Fleetwood
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy+105
Justin Thomas+185
Tommy Fleetwood+300
2nd Round Match-Ups - T. Fleetwood vs S. Straka
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Sepp Straka-110
Tommy Fleetwood-110
2nd Round Match-Ups - C. Morikawa vs R. McIIroy
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy-120
Collin Morikawa+100
2nd Round Match-Ups - J. Thomas vs S. Lowry
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Justin Thomas-125
Shane Lowry+105
Hideki Matsuyama
Type: Hideki Matsuyama - Status: OPEN
Top 5 Finish+400
Top 10 Finish+170
Top 20 Finish-185
2nd Round 3 Ball - R. Henley / L. Aberg / S. Straka
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Russell Henley+165
Ludvig Aberg+170
Sepp Straka+190
2nd Round 3 Ball - V. Hovland / W. Clark / C. Morikawa
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Collin Morikawa+105
Viktor Hovland+190
Wyndham Clark+280
2nd Round Match-Ups - L. Aberg vs X. Schauffele
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Ludvig Aberg-110
Xander Schauffele-110
2nd Round Match-Ups - R. Henley vs V. Hovland
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Russell Henley-120
Viktor Hovland+100
2nd Round 3 Ball - H. Matsuyama / X. Schauffele / A. Bhatia
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Xander Schauffele+150
Hideki Matsuyama+170
Akshay Bhatia+210
2nd Round 3 Ball - T. Pendrith / T. Finau / M. Homa
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Taylor Pendrith+150
Tony Finau+165
Max Homa+225
2nd Round Match-Ups - H. Matsuyama vs D. Berger
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Hideki Matsuyama-120
Daniel Berger+100
2nd Round Match-Ups - T. Pendrith vs T. Finau
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Taylor Pendrith-110
Tony Finau-110
2nd Round 3 Ball - N. Dunlap / M. Pavon / S.W. Kim
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Si Woo Kim-140
Matthieu Pavon+230
Nick Dunlap+375
2nd Round 3 Ball - T. Detry / M. Fitzpatrick / C. Bezuidenhout
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Thomas Detry+145
Matt Fitzpatrick+175
Christiaan Bezuidenhout+210
2nd Round 3 Ball - B. Campbell / P. Rodgers / R. Gerard
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Ryan Gerard+160
Patrick Rodgers+180
Brian Campbell+185
2nd Round 3 Ball - G. Higgo / D. Berger / J. Bridgeman
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Daniel Berger+100
Jacob Bridgeman+225
Garrick Higgo+250
2nd Round 3 Ball - J. Highsmith / H. English / R. Hojgaard
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Harris English+165
Rasmus Hojgaard+170
Joe Highsmith+185
2nd Round 3 Ball - B. Griffin / L. Glover / S. Stevens
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Ben Griffin+150
Sam Stevens+165
Lucas Glover+225
2nd Round Match-Ups - R. Hojgaard vs H. English
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Harris English-110
Rasmus Hojgaard-110
2nd Round 3 Ball - B. Harman / P. Cantlay / T. Hoge
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Patrick Cantlay-110
Brian Harman+225
Tom Hoge+280
2nd Round 3 Ball - R. MacIntyre / D. Thompson / D. McCarthy
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Denny McCarthy+150
Davis Thompson+175
Robert MacIntyre+200
2nd Round Match-Ups - A. Novak vs D. Thompson
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Andrew Novak-110
Davis Thompson-110
2nd Round 3 Ball - C. Kirk / C. Conners / A. Hadwin
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Corey Conners-110
Chris Kirk+220
Adam Hadwin+300
2nd Round 3 Ball - S. Theegala / C. Young / M. Greyserman
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Max Greyserman+170
Cameron Young+180
Sahith Theegala+180
2nd Round Match-Ups - S. Theegala vs C. Young
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Sahith Theegala-125
Cameron Young+105
2nd Round 3 Ball - S. Burns / B. Hun An / E. Cole
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Sam Burns+150
Eric Cole+185
Byeong Hun An+190
2nd Round 3 Ball - S. Im / A. Scott / A. Noren
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Sungjae Im+130
Alex Noren+185
Adam Scott+225
2nd Round 3 Ball - A. Eckroat / A. Rai / W. Zalatoris
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Aaron Rai+135
Will Zalatoris+175
Austin Eckroat+220
2nd Round 3 Ball - J.T. Poston / C. Davis / S. Jaeger
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
J.T. Poston+130
Stephan Jaeger+170
Cam Davis+250
2nd Round Match-Ups - A. Rai vs S. Jaeger
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
Aaron Rai-125
Stephan Jaeger+105
2nd Round Match-Ups - W. Zalatoris vs J.T. Poston
Type: 2nd Round Match-Ups - Status: OPEN
J.T. Poston-110
Will Zalatoris-110
2nd Round 3 Ball - A. Novak / R. Fowler / G. Woodland
Type: 2nd Round 3 Ball - Status: OPEN
Andrew Novak+130
Rickie Fowler+175
Gary Woodland+240
2nd Round 3 Ball - N. Taylor / E. Van Rooyen / J.J. Spaun
Type: Erik Van Rooyen - Status: OPEN
J J Spaun+150
Erik Van Rooyen+185
Nick Taylor+190
2nd Round 3-Balls - A. Smalley / D. Wu / D. Skinns
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Alex Smalley+120
Dylan Wu+165
David Skinns+300
2nd Round 3-Balls - A. Putnam / V. Perez / R. Fox
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Ryan Fox+160
Andrew Putnam+175
Victor Perez+190
2nd Round 3-Balls - C. Gotterup / T. Kim / A. Potgieter
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Chris Gotterup+135
Tom Kim+170
Aldrich Potgieter+230
2nd Round 3-Balls - S. Power / M. Hughes / F. Molinari
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls - Status: OPEN
Mackenzie Hughes+105
Seamus Power+130
Francesco Molinari+475
Major Specials 2025
Type: To Win A Major 2025 - Status: OPEN
Scottie Scheffler+160
Bryson DeChambeau+350
Xander Schauffele+350
Ludvig Aberg+400
Collin Morikawa+450
Jon Rahm+450
Justin Thomas+550
Brooks Koepka+700
Viktor Hovland+700
Hideki Matsuyama+800
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PGA Championship 2025
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy+450
Scottie Scheffler+450
Bryson DeChambeau+1200
Ludvig Aberg+1600
Xander Schauffele+1800
Justin Thomas+2000
Collin Morikawa+2200
Jon Rahm+2200
Joaquin Niemann+3000
Viktor Hovland+3500
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US Open 2025
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy+500
Scottie Scheffler+500
Bryson DeChambeau+1200
Xander Schauffele+1200
Jon Rahm+1400
Ludvig Aberg+1400
Collin Morikawa+1600
Brooks Koepka+1800
Justin Thomas+2000
Viktor Hovland+2000
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The Open 2025
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
Rory McIlroy+500
Scottie Scheffler+550
Xander Schauffele+1100
Ludvig Aberg+1400
Collin Morikawa+1600
Jon Rahm+1600
Bryson DeChambeau+2000
Shane Lowry+2500
Tommy Fleetwood+2500
Tyrrell Hatton+2500
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Ryder Cup 2025
Type: Winner - Status: OPEN
USA-150
Europe+140
Tie+1200

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ATLANTA – Paul Casey’s plan from 248 yards away at the par-5 18th Friday at the TOUR Championship was to use 4-iron. Land it 234 yards and let it run toward the pin. A fan wearing a red shirt standing behind the green was a perfect aiming target. He then made his swing. Solid contact. Casey kept track of the ball flight. All good. “It couldn’t have been any better-looking,� he said. But after his ball one-hopped over the green into the primary rough, Casey wondered: Had caddie John McLaren given him the wrong yardage? McLaren – nicknamed Johnny Longsocks – put his hand over his mouth, biting his tongue. He had no words. Casey then looked down at his club and realized what happened. Casey had mistakenly pulled the 3-iron out of his bag instead of the 4. “Because, you know, we’re not playing for much this week and it’s not important,� Casey said later, laughing at himself. Related: Leaderboard | Who is most likely to win the TOUR Championship? | Rookie of the Year voters face interesting dilemma The Englishman ended up with par to finish with a 67 and a two-day total of 9 under in the new Starting Strokes format. That leaves him in solo fifth, just four shots off the lead heading into the weekend at East Lake, and gives him a great opportunity to make a run at his first FedExCup title. Of course, he hopes pulling the wrong club doesn’t come back to haunt him. “It’s all on me,� Casey said. “It’s 100 percent. I hold my head.� It’s not the first time it’s happened to the Englishman this year. He said there was one other tournament in which he pulled the 3 instead of the 4. There’s a perfectly reasonable explanation. “My 3-iron and 4-iron, they’re actually the same head,� Casey said. “One is bent stronger than the other. Clearly, I can’t tell the difference when I put them down. One’s got a little 4 on it, and the 3’s got nothing on it.� With his ball hanging slightly left on a downslope, he couldn’t tell the difference between the length and the lie. All he knew is that he thought the shot, once struck, was on target. “To hit what was not an easy long iron from 248 yards exactly at the gentleman I was aiming at in the red shirt,� Casey said, “I was pretty proud of myself.� Until he looked down his club. Whoops. “It’s criminal isn’t it?� Casey said to a group of reporters. “And you can have fun writing about it. “You’re welcome.�  

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