As reported on Yahoo Sports today, a few people have taken notice that with the passing of Kim Jong II, North Korea’s Supreme Leader, one of the greatest proclaimed golfers of our generation has grabbed a burger at the turn and is off to the back side.

In 1994 it was reported by reliable North Korean sources that Kim Jong, in his first round of golf ever, made 11 holes in one on his way to a 38-under par 34 over 18 holes at the 7,700-yard Pyongyang Golf Course. This was more than just fairways and greens!!

Here are some of the public’s lamentations on possible effects of his passing as they appeared on Twitter today.

“Look at it this way: With Kim Jong Il dying, everybody will be moving up one spot in the World Golf Rankings,” noted Dan Daly in a Twitter posting.

Others pondered the golf showdowns that never happened.

“Kim Jong-il’s passing means LukeDonald is now indisputably golf’s world no.1,” Tweeted John Mackay. “Congrats Luke. Just a shame it wasn’t settled on the course.”

“Golf world mourns the passing of the prodigious world leader never to win a major,” Tweeted Shaun Hinds.

Even Paddy Power tweeted that “The world has lost a golfing legend, we’re 1,000,000/1 for any PGA player to beat Kim Jong Il’s record round of 38 under.”

Some saw hope for Kim from beyond the grave, Rick Reilly posting, “Just in from North Korean state news agency: Kim Jong Il’s corpse shoots 54, incl 6 aces.”

Nick Howell pondered what might have been, saying his record round “Could’ve been even better if his ball hadn’t stuck under the windmill on the eleventh.”

Alistair Barrie was shocked there was not more mention on golf websites, noting, “No one seems remotely concerned that the world’s greatest golfer has died.”

“With passing of Kim Jong Il, sports world may have lost greatest golfer of all time,” tweeted HuffPost Sports.

“The golf world mourns the loss of Kim Jong-Il. Routinely scored 3 or 4 aces every round according to state run media, so it must be true,” wrote Len Berman.

Ray Ratto had his suspicions, tweeting “don’t fully buy this Kim Jong-Il golf story. Surely the Callaway people would have sent him a hat, a shoulder patch or something.”

In a timely post with Christmas approaching, Chris Scoular said, “The North Korean equivalent of finding out Santa isn’t real must be finding out Kim Jong Il didn’t invent the hamburger or shoot a 38 in golf.”

Yahoo Sports

December, 2011