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Why is he smiling? Jean Van de Velde contemplates hitting out of the Barry Burn on the final hole of the 1999 British Open at Carnoustie. Van de Velde, who entered the hole only needing a double bogey to win the claret jug, took a drop, settled for a triple bogey and then lost in a playoff.

Q: How close is Ai Miyazato to breaking through for her first LPGA victory? Is she indeed one of Japan’s most popular athletes or is that only wishful thinking by the LPGA?
— Sarah from Calif.
A: Colleagues who’ve been to Japan insist that Miyazato is hugely popular, and they relate a story from a few years ago. It seems Miyazato was winning a tournament in Japan on the same weekend Tiger Woods was playing in the country. Both tournaments were on TV, but the one involving Miyazato got far better ratings. I have no doubt she is still the rage, Sarah, but I’m less convinced she’s ready to break through on the LPGA Tour. For some reason, she always seems to throw in one bad round, whether it be a 54- or 72-hole event.

Q: What’s gone wrong with Jacqueline Gagne’s game? Fourteen holes-in-one in five months and then none in over a month? You can’t possibly believe her story, can you? What about most of your media peers?
— Tim from Prospect, Ky.
A: Tim, my colleagues are among the most skeptical souls you’ll ever meet so I don’t even have to ask what they think of this tale of aces from out west. They find it too hard to believe. But there’s been enough evidence over the years that golf is a game of crazy stuff and she’s got a list of witnesses, so my hat’s off to the woman. As to why the aces have dried up in recent weeks, I’m not worried. She’ll get it back.

Q: I’m a right-handed player that recently cured some of my putting problems by going left-handed on the green. Are you aware of any current or past pros that have done the same or vice versa?
— Roger from Utah
A: Blaine McCallister for years was a solid PGA Tour member who played right-handed, but putted left-handed. It can’t be all that crazy an idea, because he won five times and there’s an endless amount of right-handed putters who go left-hand low. I’ve often thought that if they wanted the left hand on the bottom, they’d be better served putting left-handed. If it works for you, all the power to you.