For those of us from another generation, the disruption of the golf world that we knew well is both exciting and unsettling. The two most potent disruptors are rival golf leagues, not unlike the turmoil seen in the NCAA, and the Anchorman-style gangs of golf reporters. Reconciled to a past era are the dominance of the U.S. PGA Tour and the monthly golf magazines. One element that will not change, at any time in the foreseeable future, however, is the sanctity of the grand slam and golf’s four male major championships. While the LPGA and the PGA Tour Champions have seen a light and added fifth and sixth power titles, the men’s game remains staunchly in the 20th century.
This last topic surges in pertinence each March, just before the playing of The Players Championship. Two camps stake tents and run banners up the poll. One cries out for elevation of the PC to major status, while the other digs a trench around its impregnable quadrilateral. My personal take is this: Every four years since 2016, golf is played at the Olympics. Is Olympic Gold the equivalent of a major title? Yes, it is. It comes around every 1,500 days and brings elite golfers together in competition at the most important athletic event and venue. In my mind, Justin Rose and Xander Schauffele earned major titles in Brazil and Japan, as did Inbee Park and Nelly Korda. As for the Players Championship, why not? The field is stronger by ranking than any major event, and the golf course demands every shot that golfers can create.
The Players Championship is so important to the U.S. PGA Tour that all other tours under its umbrella take the week off. No Korn Ferry, no Tour Champions. The LPGA and the DP World Tour follow suit, which shrinks the amount of watchable golf to two events. On that sour note, let’s run down this week’s play, beginning with the Players Championship and ending with the Asian Tour in Macau.
PGA Tour @ Players Championship: matching luggage for Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler is making a bid to be the player of his generation. From the previous one, a fair number have taken leave from traditional competition. The Johnsons, Koepkas, and Reeds from the 1980s no longer play the events that stand the test of time. The born-in-the-90s generation had its first great champion in Jordan Spieth until he took leave of the senses that brought him to golf’s pinnacle. Spieth’s descent ran opposite Scheffler’s rise.
Scottie Scheffler had won nothing on the PGA Tour until February 13th of 2022. He won on that day in Phoenix, then won three more times by the middle of April. One of those wins was the API at Bay Hill. Last week, Scheffler won for a second time at the Orlando course. Last March, Scheffler won his first Players Championship, by five shots over Tyrrell Hatton. On Sunday, Scheffler dived headfirst into a cauldron of fierce competition. Facing challenges from Olympic champion Schauffele, Open champion Brian Harmon, and U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, Scheffler breathed. As the only man to reach 20 under par, he earned a second consecutive title at Sawgrass and reminded us that it has been two years since he won the Masters and that he is on a tear.
It all began at the fourth on Sunday for Scheffler. After pars at the opening three holes, Scheffler’s driving wedge from 92 yards landed 20 feet shy of the hole, took one large bounce, then spun left, trickling into the hole for eagle. He followed that incantation with another birdie, then two pars. The stretch from 8 to 12 was where the champion made a statement. His quartet of birdies over that run, brought him to 19-under par and let the pursuing pack know that even lower than the winning 17 under in 2023 would be necessary.
And the trio was game. Harman and Clark both dipped below 70, to reach 19 under at the final pole. Schauffele could not find a similar gear and closed with 70 — 69 would have earned him a playoff with Scheffler. It was the extra gear, the ability to go low when all things mattered, that eleveated the now two-time champion to the top of the podium. In five of his eight tour wins, Scheffler has posted a sub-70 round on day four, and four of those have been 67 or lower.
With elegant precision, Scheffler applied the final thrust at the par-5 16th. He played safely away from Pete’s Pond on the right, into the left greenside bunker at the back of the putting surface. His bunker shot was thing of exquisite accuracy, trickling to a planned stop about 20 inches from the hole. The birdie concluded matters and rang the sort of bell that Dye courses tend to display.
Asian Tour @ International Series Macau: Catlin earns playoff victory
There are two sorts of golfers that compete on the Asian Tour, which makes no secret of its alliance with the LIV. The first are the AT stalwarts, the ones who play as golfers have always played, with little guarantee and much pride. The others are the ones who compete on the LIV, eschewing both risk and pride for the guaranteed payday. Their deal costs them world ranking points, so they play in AT events, hoping to qualify for golf’s major events.
This week in Macau, one of those LIV golfers shot 60 on Sunday and did not win the tournament. Hard to believe, you say? Aye, but when another golfer shoots 59 in the third round, follows it up with a 65 on day four, then makes overtime birdie twice at the par-five closer, the razor’s edge of great golf is sharpened. Thus did it happen with American John Catlin and Spaniard David Puig.
It was Catlin who signed for 59, and it took a twisting, eagle putt at the last to enshrine the first-ever, sub-60 on the Asian Tour. It was Puig who closed the gap on Sunday with a 60 of his own, which featured a bogey at the lengthy fifth hole, but was followed by seven birdies and an eagle over the next 13 holes. Catlin had a six-feet putt for the regulation win, but missed. In extra time, Puig nearly holed for eagle at 18, then tapped in for birdie. Catlin’s second danced along the OOB perimeter, before ending on an access road. His drop and pitch left him another six feet to remain alive, and this time, he converted.
At the second go-round of the par-5 finisher, Puig found the green in two, but took three putts from nearly 50 feet. Catlin confronted another challenging pitch for his third, and once again, his wedge game won the day. He tapped in for birdie and the win.
Your Reaction?- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Mike K.
Oct 15, 2007 at 8:11 am
Wie should have bowed out. Annika once again shows why she is so highly respected. Wie is becoming a farce, and only watch-able to see how bad she does, instead of for her “great” ability. She need to face reality and act accordingly.
I think if tournaments are going to offer exemptions, then those exemptions should not take a slot away from a player that actually QUALIFIED to play. That way nobody loses face. Nobody will give a hoot about Michele Wie after a few more debacles like this last. She will become a has been before she reaches 20. Really sad actually.
Todd Poston
Oct 15, 2007 at 7:36 am
The comparison to Britney is unfounded as she has had a lot of success. Even with the current train wreck that she is experiencing, her latest single is doing pretty good on the charts. What has Wie ever done except show that she may have had potential?
Samsung was wrong to invite Wie, but I lay just as much blame on Wie for accepting the invite. She knows that her game is garbage and she should have been a professional and said “Thank you, but I need to work my game out before accepting this”. Tough decisions reveal character, and this has revealed the Wie’s for what they are – self centered disrespectful buffoons without any class whatsoever.
But what do I know – I hear it is a fine line between 88 and 68.
Jason Broan
Oct 14, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Michelle needs to learn from Annika’s example. If Michelle can’t qualify like everyone else, she needs to show some maturity and wait until her game earns her a spot.
Michelle has become the Britney Spears of the LPGA.
John Stovall
Oct 14, 2007 at 11:54 am
“20th Michelle Wie Th 79. Fr 79, Sat 77, +19 235”
Nice choice Samsung & LPGA. You have succeded in exposing this tournament as a farce. Your choice of allowing Wie to participate in this even really devalues the other player accomplishments.
You’ve sunk to an all-time low.
Congrats to Annika for her difficult decision to allow a more deserving player to compete.
Andy Brown
Oct 13, 2007 at 1:40 pm
I think a lot has been said and written about Michelle Wie accepting the invitation but one thing is for sure whatever happens I am definitely not going to hold her responsible for someone else’s mistake. If the main intention of the tournament was to have a limited field event where the best of the best through the year were to compete then it was completely wrong on their part to dole out any special exemptions in the first place. If they wanted to make the field more exciting then they might as well have increased the field strength like you have rightly suggested but what really bothers me is people looking to criticize Wie for her decision to accept the invitation.
Considering the sort of year that she has had it is not a surprise that she well try and latch on to every opportunity she is handed out and even though she may have not performed the way she might have wanted to I definitely don’t blame her for giving it a shot. Those who have an issue with talented players missing out definitely need to question the policy of these tournament organizers. It’s about time we cut the young Michelle Wie some slack and also hope that she recaptures some of her form.
Andy Brown