If Kobe Bryant played golf: rated 87, best at nerve

Kobe Bryant as a golfer: scouting report

Kobe Bryant would be the first golfer on the range in the morning and the last one off the practice green at night. His work ethic was legend in the NBA, where teammates told stories about predawn workouts, and golf rewards that kind of obsessive repetition more than almost any sport. Nerve is the top mark on his card. He won five championships with the Lakers, scored 81 points against Toronto in 2006 and asked for the ball in every big moment, so a final round lead holds no fear for him.

His course IQ is right behind his nerve. Kobe studied film endlessly and borrowed footwork and moves from the greats who came before him, and that habit of preparation turns into a golfer who knows every slope on every green before the tournament starts. His putting and his short game are both elite, nearly as strong as his nerve, which makes sense for a scorer famous for his touch on fadeaway jumpers. He also won two Olympic gold medals and an Academy Award for the animated short Dear Basketball, proof that his craftsmanship carried well beyond the court.

Driving is the lowest mark on his card, though it is still solid. He would rather put the ball in a spot he likes than overpower a hole, and that makes The Long Course Championship his toughest week, since raw distance decides it. His best fit is The Links Open, where precise scoring, imagination and composure in the wind win out. Take him early, because few golfers in this group combine his putting, short game and finishing instinct. Add a long hitter later to handle the power courses, and let him close out the tight Sundays.

Plays like A relentless closer who outworks the range and outlasts the field

Put Kobe Bryant in your lineup

5 rolls, a team of five, four majors. Can you win the Grand Slam? Free, no account.