Many stories here this week seem to have an Irish angle. Like Jane Blalock's memories of her "Challenge of the Sexes" match against Hale Irwin in California 24 years ago. Blalock, now a resident of Boston, recalled how she was looking for a caddie familiar with the course. "I remember seeing this really adorable guy with those Irish eyes of his. I was the envy of all the players. I had the best looking caddie of all," she recalled.

The caddie was Mark O'Meara, then 18. As it happened, she halved her match with Irwin and O'Meara went on to caddie for her in the Dinah Shore Classic.