"Any news of Mark McNulty - has he been seen anywhere lately wielding a golf club?" inquired our Dublin manager Ann White in a recent letter to HQ. "I have him on a yellow card and I can assure you red is staring him in the face if he doesn't do something soon."
Ann's letter followed other queries about the whereabouts of Brad Bryant and Richard Green who, with McNulty, are the only golfers yet to break their duck in the 1998 competition. So, here is an update on our MIA's.
Mark McNulty: The Zimbabwean's 919 managers will be thrilled to learn that his earnings so far this season amount to 589,052.50 - rand. Yes, McNulty has yet to make an appearance this season on the European Tour, for which he is a card holder, preferring to take time to recover from a successful South African Tour where he topped the Order of Merit for a record seventh time.
All of which, of course, is of absolutely no consequence to his managers, although we're sure they're very happy for him. There are rumours, however, that he may be seen "wielding a golf club" at the Benson and Hedges International Open next week.
Brad Bryant: The good news for the 95 managers of the 44-year-old Florida resident is that he was back in action at the Houston Open last weekend . . . the bad news is that he was only playing in the Charity event and his earnings went into a fund that will be distributed amongst 65 worthy causes in the Houston area.
If any of Bryant's managers want to be categorised as a "worthy cause" they should contact the "Shell Houston Open Charity Partners program" - they determine who's worthy and who's isn't (mention that you paid £1.1 million for his services and have got nothing in return).
A degenerative disk in his back and shoulder problems account for Bryant's inactivity on the USPGA Tour this season (and for the big round nought that sits opposite his name on our players' list every week). While he waits for a return to full fitness Bryant is busy working with his younger brother Bart for their charity "Dirt Bros" (Brad, apparently, acquired the nickname Dr Dirt on the Tour in the late 1970s . . . we were afraid to ask why).
Richard Green: Now, the whereabouts of the Australian who created history when he became the first left-handed player to win on the European Tour since 1974, by capturing the Dubai Desert Classic last year, is, we confess, a mystery to us. We rewarded him with a Golf Masters tour card when he won in Dubai . . . he returned to defend his title in February (the week before our competition got under way), missed the cut and then promptly disappeared.
We noted with interest, though, that he lists his main hobby as surfing and his home town as Melbourne . . . apparently the beaches on the Mornington and Bellarine Peninsula to the east and west of the city are renowned for their surf. If we run a Surf Masters competition next year he may well feature in it.
