This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

It may not be the best idea to relive Masters’ meltdowns while so much good golf went on during day two of this year’s tournament.

More is expected today, as:

• Tiger Woods, who incredibly made the cut, continues his walk across Augusta National – and the abiding question is, with bad legs, can he make it.

• Scottie Scheffler continues an incredible run, which has pushed him into the #1 player the world — a five-shot lead heading into day three of the Masters.

• Justin Thomas continues to re-bound after a bad first round and a great second.

As for Masters’ meltdowns, my on-line version of Links Magazine showed up last night with a list of the top seven meltdowns.

So, here, I list them, even as I try to forget them and focus on the good golf today.  In order, here they are:

• Rory McElroy, who came apart at Amen Corner in 2011.

• Ken Venturi, who three-putted his way to defeat in 1956.

• Jordan Spieth, who rinsed two tee balls on the 12^th hole to miss getting two Masters’ titles in a row.  [And, he also hit two balls in to Rae’s Creek yesterday on the way to missing the cut.]

• Ed Sneed, who three-putted to lose in 1979.

• Roberto De Vicenzo, who signed an incorrect scorecard in 1968, thus losing the title.

• Scott Hoch, who missed a three-foot putt to lose in 1989.

• Greg Norman, who lost a six-stroke lead in the back nine in 1996, thus allowing Nick Faldo to prevail.

I happen to remember some of these meltdowns.  But enough.

Back to the good.

I intend to watch all afternoon to see more positive highlights at The Masters, “a tradition unlike any other.”