The Cardinals sank a star pitcher, a starting first baseman, and a set-up relief pitcher—not to mention $13 million—into the Mark Mulder Rehab Project. And now, after four years, it's finally paid off. Via Jeff Sullivan at the mothership, David Pinto of Baseball Musings has chronicled the second half of Mark Mulder's career:
↵↵↵Former Cardinal's pitcher Mark Mulder won his second Golf Channel Amateur Tour major this weekend at the Western Open on the legendary TPC Scottsdale golf course. Mulder shot a combined 147 over the two day event. This is Mulder's sixth victory in nine appearances this year... who said pitchers can't swing?
↵Mulder has now earned enough points to qualify for the Am Tour National Championship, taking place at the TPC Sawgrass, home of the PGA Players Championship, in September.
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I can't help but feel like the Cardinals are entitled to some part of this success, which is why I'm taking up a collection for the Cardinals to purchase a pennant commemorating their win at the 2010 Western Open.
↵This might explain Mulder and the Brewers' long and ultimately unconsummated courtship; if your options were another year of grueling rehab and an attempt to crack one of the worst rotations in baseball or dominating amateur golfers for a year while you wait to see if your shoulder starts working again, which one would you choose?