How would his rickety wrist react? That was question in the air as Jobless Mike Abbott made his season debut in the Mif Albright Skins Series last week. With Soft Seven in “high-level meetings” in Florida (read: boondoggle) and Nick O’Teen sick as a dog and quarantined in the Green Cube’s aerie, it was up to the Large Professor to fight the good fight.

How long could the Large Pretender, er, Professor hang? Things looked promising for the portly pinseeker early, as he had a chance to catch JMA shaking off the rust on 2 — “Vanishing Waters” — when his tee shot landed on the green, presenting a relatively straightforward two putt for par. But his lag putt was about as fugly as could be, veering way right and leaving at least 8 or 10 feet left for par. Ultimately, par — which LP did not get — would have only caused a push as JMA parred himself. Instead, he took his first two skins of the 2008 campaign.

Large Professor was up to his old tricks on this day, fat on one shot, thin the next, hook then slice. The magic that delivered against Soft Seven last round out was nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, Joblessness was trying to iron out his propensity to hit everything left. This resulted in general crap golf on on holes 3-7.

JMA had it worked out by 8 — the Mif’s signature hole — hitting true off the tee and dropping it 6 feet from the cup right on line. Six more skins for JMA. He ulimately collected the 9th skin, just to complete the statement, but the damage was done on 8.

He’s back alright, but still sits third on the table — at least for the time being — as the Large Professor holds a slim one-point lead.