THE LINKS & THE HILL — A few local golfers pulled out all the stops — or at least the drivers — in Thursday’s opening round of the RBC Heritage in South Carolina, and a Pirates pitcher faced a scary moment on the diamond.

Here are a few can’t-miss moments from the world of sports.

Finau nearly holes out Par 4

In case you missed the notice, Lehi resident and West High alum Tony Finau has a pretty good driver.

If you don’t believe me, watch his tee shot on the Par-4, 329-yard ninth hole Thursday at the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Finau pulled out his driver, ripped his tee shot, and dropped a ball that ricochets off the sand to scuttle about four feet from the hole.

It wasn’t a hole-in-one, but Finau made the easy eagle putt on the next stroke to finish at 4-under-par 67, tied for third and just one shot off the lead Thursday. He was also the only player to drive the green on the ninth hole Thursday afternoon.

Kobe inspires former BYU man Blair

Another local golfer, Zac Blair, was just two shots back from Finau.

The former BYU putting artist carded birdies on three of the first seven holes to finish at 2-under 69 in South Carolina.

If you think that’s good, blame Kobe Bryant, whose 60-point outing in the Lakers’ season finale against the Jazz inspired the Ogden native.

OK, so it wasn’t quite 60. But still, not bad.

Meanwhile, BYU alum Daniel Summerhays shot 1-over 72 to go into Friday’s second round tied for 58th.

Don’t use your head like this

The Detroit Tigers held off the Pittsburgh Pirates (there may be a joke in there somewhere) for a road win Thursday afternoon.

But Pittsburgh pitcher Gerrit Cole left it all on the field — and then some — in the loss.

Tigers pitcher Jordan Zimmerman singled up the middle for a base hit, but with an assist via a ricochet off Cole’s head.

No humor here, and we sincerely hope for a full recovery from Cole, who received medical treatment but stayed in the game.

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