Perspective from the 19^th Hole 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 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.

I am a dedicated golfer, albeit a “recreational” one, not a pro.

But I do love the sport and that includes watching it on television.

It is logical for me to come up with a list of players I like, so here goes and what’s below appears in no particular order of priority.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER/  Beyond the numbers that define Scheffler’s dominance on the PGA Tour in recent years – his seven official wins last year, his two Masters victories in three years, his 95 consecutive weeks ranked No. 1, and 130 weeks total atop the world ranking (fourth most all-time) – there is something more that speaks to his place in the game.

It’s the way his peers, especially those who hover in the same ranking zip code, pay attention to what Scheffler does and, perhaps more importantly, how he does it.

Plus, I have huge respect for the relationship between Scheffler and his caddie, Ted Stock, who came out of retirement to work for Scheffler.  It was a good move for him as, last year, he made more money that many tour pros – at least $1.5 million.

JUSTIN THOMAS/  I’ve always enjoyed watching Thomas play golf because he employs such a wide variety of shots.  His performance last week at The Players’ Tournament in Florida underlined his credentials.

After shooting 78 in the first round – his third highest pro score ever – he came back with a 62 in the second.  Yes, a 62, which tied the course record and allowed him to make the cut!

JOE HIGHSMITH/  Now in his second year on the pro tour, Highsmith made a name for himself by winning the Cognizant Classic in Florida.  After making the cut on the number, he shot 64s on Saturday and Sunday to win, which gives him two years of pro eligibility, plus access to the signature events and the Masters.

Plus, I know Highsmith just a bit because, while playing for Pepperdine in college, he also was a “junior member” at the course where I play in La Quinta, California, The Palms.  There, as now, Highsmith is recognizable because of the large bucket hat he wears.  Plus, he always was friendly to me as he held the course record for amateurs from the tips.

LUDVIG OBERG/  One of the main reasons I like this young player, only a couple years out of college:  He plays fast.

He lines up his shot, gets over it and hits.  Good stuff in a game that needs to deal with slow play.  Oberg is one example of how to solve the problem.

MATT KUCHAR/  Here, I get to pick one of the older players who still is able to play with the young bucks.

JORDAN SPIETH/  It’s hard not to pick Spieth for a couple reasons – he has been good, especially in the past, but he also plays with reckless abandon that sets him apart, as well as gets him into trouble, making him fun to watch, including as he interacts with his caddy, Michael Greller, who went from teaching fifth grade in the Northwest to working for Spieth.,

Here is what one of my on-line golf magazines said about Spieth:

“Had the great American artist Jackson Pollock been a golfer, his name might have been Jordan Spieth.

“Pollock is known for his abstract expressionist paintings in which he would pour paint onto a canvas and, by using his fingers or something other than a brush along with his genius, create chaotic and captivating works that define his rare brilliance.

“That’s how Spieth tends to play golf, the antithesis of the paint-by-numbers approach that can go a long way.  Combined with a genuineness as real as a Texas summer, that has made him one of the most magnetic players of his generation.

Beyond this list of those I like, I also have a list of those I don’t like.

For now, I’ll just provide just three names.  The first two – Patrick Cantlay and J.B. Holmes — make it here because they are two of the best examples of slow play, which needs to be corrected by those who run the PGA Tour.  Just start with Cantley and Holmes and penalize them when they don’t keep up a good pace, which is most of the time.

The last name is Phil Mickelson.  He has spent the last few years destroying his credibility with me and many other golf fans.  At one time, he would have been on my list of favorite golfers.  Not now.