* Imagine, a local Palm Harbor kid–Lee McCoy–who used to go to Calvary Christian High in Clearwater, got an invitation to play in last weekend’s Valspar Championship at Innisbrook. Now a senior at the University of Georgia, McCoy didn’t just enjoy the big-time, international-field ambience and competition, he thrived on it. He finished fourth–and among those he outshot was Jordon Spieth, the top-ranked player in the WORLD. Spieth tied for 18th.
Only one downside. As an amateur, still playing for UGA, McCoy was ineligible for compensation. His fourth-place finish would have been good for, uh, $292,000. Spieth pocketed $88,450. But this time next year UGA grad McCoy will be playing, if not this well, for pay.
* No, these are not the best of times for American tennis players. The most recent WTA singles rankings of the top 10 men and women players shows a total of one American, Serena Williams. Switzerland and Spain have three apiece, and the Czech Republic and France have two each. Put it this way, the U.S. has as many Top 10 players as Poland.