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DONALD TRUMP NIKKI HALEY NICK DUNLAP TAYLOR SWIFT

Tomorrow is the New Hampshire primary, so I'll today skip Donald Trump and Nikki Haley.  The only thing I'll say about Taylor Swift is that she was in Buffalo to watch another NFL game involving her latest lover.  Travis Kelce scored a touchdown and pledged his love.  Watch that.  His brother tore of his shirt with the TD.  The Chiefs beat the Bills and will play the Lions next weekend.  Also, the 49ers vs Ravens.  The two winners will be in the Super Bowl on February 11.

I'll focus on Nick Dunlap because I alerted you to him on Saturday, and he went on to be the first amateur in a third of a century to win a PGA event.  Not much to say about the 20-year old, except that all the previous amateur winners went on to carve out a great career.

It was not easy.

  • He was the only amateur in the 156-player field, once known as the Bob Hope Desert Classic.
  • Dunlap was ahead by 3 strokes after day 3.
  • Lost the lead with a double bogey in the front nine.
  • Struggled to a 2-under 70, including two errant shots on the final hole.
  • But recovered with a 6-foot putt on the 18th to win by one-stroke.
  • Being an amateur, he will not get the $1.5 million first place prize, and also not the 500 FedEx Cup points, but now has a PGA Tour exemption through 2026.
Said to Dunlap by Phil Mickelson, the previous amateur who at 19 accomplished this feat:  Such an impressive performance.  Congratulations on an incredible win.  This is just the beginning.

How has Mickelson done?
  • Is now 53 years old.
  • Is left-handed and nicknamed Lefty.
  • Has won 45 events on the PGA Tour, including six major championships.
  • When he won the PGA Championship in 2021, he became the oldest major championship winner in history at the age of 50 years, 11 months and 7 days. 
  • Quit the PGA in 2022 because he was given a signing fee of $200 million to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour.
  • Otherwise, has career earnings in professional golf totaling another $111 million.

I'll end with the skinniest skyscraper in the world.  Watch that video!

  • Called the Steinway Tower, is 1428 feet (4th highest in USA) tall overlooking Central Park in New York City, and was completed in 2022.
  • Why Steinway?  Built on the site of Steinway piano, and sits over Steinway Hall, which itself has 16 floors.
  • Two elevators.
  • 91 stories with only 60 luxury condos, 46 in the tower.  Costliest sold for $66 million.  Cheapest, $16 million for a studio apartment.
  • Cost $2 billion to build.
  • Tainted by a plethora of law suits.
  • Doesn't the building sway in high winds?  Yes, up to three feet.
  • Near Carnegie Hall.
  • Actually I've been there, in a way.  The headquarters of the American Society of Civil Engineers can be found in one of the lower floors.
  • Walk through one of the larger apartments that listed for nearly $30 million.  What a view, and you're only on the 43rd floor.
  • Oh heck, why not a tour of a $54.6 million penthouse.
  • It is in perfect alignment with Central Park.

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