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
mb
Oct 5, 2015 at 12:00 am
not in the field for SMU this week….most likely turning pro id guess
Keith
Sep 30, 2015 at 6:42 pm
Given SMU’s track record and the huberous of the typical SMU booster…this does not surprise me.
This is the social elite of Dallas/Texas that think they are above the rules. It’s unfortunate for the athletes and sets a terrible precedent for their future and the perspective they will have when faced with similar challenges/opportunities in their life.
E
Sep 30, 2015 at 9:31 pm
Al Texans believe they are above it. Look at the Bush family. They got away with everything
MW
Oct 14, 2015 at 9:25 pm
You’re an idiot.
RG
Oct 25, 2015 at 5:20 am
And your really bright…or not.
Ron
Sep 30, 2015 at 3:12 pm
Once again the athletes are the ones penalized! That’s just wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
brian d
Sep 30, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Its sad, because its never really the people involved who get punished, its the kids who play there and those who had nothing to do with the situation
Jim H
Sep 30, 2015 at 12:23 pm
Looks like Obama’s tyrannical ideology is trickling down to the ncaa.
Desmond
Sep 30, 2015 at 12:33 pm
Seriously?
The NCAA has tyrannized for longer than Obama has lived. Let’s leave politics out of this.
RJ
Sep 30, 2015 at 6:51 pm
WOW…. Can we stop wasting my eye usage with FOOLISH writings! Leave politics to F*X News
DolphLundgrenade
Sep 30, 2015 at 12:11 pm
Everyone who knows about the NCAA knows they are an awful organization for the way they earn huge dollars off of students (if you don’t know, read more), but then they back it up with ridiculous penalties like this…. As if Dechambeau is a professional athlete on a professional sports team.
I don’t know anything about SMU or its problems beyond this (and I can’t say this surprises me, as there are a lot of colleges doing exactly this as we speak; ever wonder why ANYONE would rather live in Alabama to play golf than on a beach in California? No 18 year old recruit would make that pick unless X number of other things are promised) but I do know that this school should continue to face its penalties, but its students should be considered in all of this- Let players that are there play. If they are cheaters or ethically challenged, they will get their comeuppance soon enough- or work on Wall Street or politics and be rich. Life is fun huh!
TE
Sep 30, 2015 at 11:53 am
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/appeals-panel-upholds-ncaa-anti-trust-ruling–disagrees-with-deferred-payments-153721335.html
Deacon Blues
Sep 30, 2015 at 11:37 am
It’s the same story over and over again. . .
It seems like all of the collegiate coaches have no problem providing their athletes the newest and finest equipment, but for some baffling reason they always seem to have to compromise when it comes to exposing their prized athletes to old, washed-out athletic supporters!
It’s just nuts!
There must be some plan of action these geniuses at all of these fine institutions of higher education could come up with to prevent exposure to these unfortunate side-effects of collegiate sports.
Maybe building a special clubhouse to keep them all in – or something like that. . .
Desmond
Sep 30, 2015 at 9:15 am
It is more severe than needed.
The former coach, whom SMU had resign under pressure, a year ago, can’t coach at an NCAA School for 4 years.
The booster is disenfranchised from the program.
The guilty individuals were punished severely.
Why punish the kids and essentially kill the program of another coach?
Yes, SMU had institutional issues … over 30 years ago! And most of those involved are dead or not on the board. Punishing SMU because it is SMU is ludicrous with a 30 year span for severe violations.
I do not like the NCAA .. they make millions off the blood and shortened careers of athletes to whom they give nothing. Someone should investigate the NCAA and cut out their institutional heart, and replace it.
Robert
Sep 30, 2015 at 11:19 am
Completely agree. The NCAA has such incredibly hypocritical and unrealistic standards.
alexdub
Sep 30, 2015 at 11:26 am
Well said. I think we will see some institutional reforms with the NCAA in the coming years. Certainly, the NCAA fulfills a needed role, but they have now become the embodiment of institutional cronyism the organization originally sought to suppress.
TE
Sep 30, 2015 at 11:53 am
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/bad-horseplay–smu-s-time-as-part-of-ncaa-should-be-over-195905029.html
Desmond
Sep 30, 2015 at 12:37 pm
Shock Jock Comments…
Doesn’t pertain to the golf team;
As to Larry Brown and Roundball, Larry leaves a trail of penalties. He is 75 yr old — did you expect him to follow every rule and play .500 basketball?
I think not — SMU hoped with age that Brown could play legal – and he lied – and then “clarified” his answers to NCAA. You’ve got to ask if the juice is worth the squeeze – for BBall, yes.
JF
Sep 30, 2015 at 4:21 am
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I love it. Cheaters
jakeanderson
Sep 30, 2015 at 2:54 am
this is well deserved. some people would say that god’s will was at work, and I, am one of them. i have never heard of a catholic college committing such fallacies.
Mike
Sep 30, 2015 at 8:14 am
no the priests do “other” things considered a little worse in the catholic church schools
shimmy
Sep 30, 2015 at 9:58 am
They committed a fallacy? What?
What evidence do you have that this supposed god of yours favors catholics and hates methodists?
Desmond
Sep 30, 2015 at 1:21 pm
Let’s leave God out of this one… it appears the NCAA god is money.
BB
Sep 30, 2015 at 1:31 pm
Yeah let them bugger little boys instead like you know you enjoy doing, with God on your side watching over you while you do it
shimmy
Sep 29, 2015 at 9:46 pm
Good. They deserved it.
Jay
Sep 30, 2015 at 4:17 pm
Seems to me the coach who committed the actions is the one who deserved it??
Christestrogen
Sep 29, 2015 at 5:30 pm
Jeffrey….it was/is called the “death penalty”…
I’m a Texan and remember it well….mainly it was a witch hunt by liberal talking heads to tie then governor bill Clements to impropriety….dale Hansen in particular wanted to catch Clements…
It was ridiculous….and I’m an austinite and have zero affinity for smu
Brodie Hock
Sep 29, 2015 at 4:43 pm
Merchandise at a “significantly discounted price”….if that’s against the rules than I would say a ton of colleges are guilty!
Joe
Sep 29, 2015 at 7:07 pm
There were more NCAA rules infraction than just equipment. The coach and recruiting staff are at fault, I hope some people were fired.
Keith
Sep 30, 2015 at 6:49 pm
The real fault lies on the boosters…they are the root of a lot of these infractions
Joel
Sep 29, 2015 at 3:45 pm
He’s right! The punishment doesn’t fit the crime. Its the players who are paying the price.
JF
Sep 30, 2015 at 4:21 am
Duh
JF
Sep 30, 2015 at 4:26 am
Of course it fits the crime.
If this is not the correct sentence, then they should strip the college and its players of all the awards from the years that these infractions had taken place, and the kids should not be allowed to graduate and should have to go back, if they have already graduated. The sponsor moneys and items should all have to be returned, and no further free goods should be given to this college.
Would you be willing to give out that sort of proper punishment? I would. But the sporting world is very forgiving in the USA because there’s too much money involved.
Desmond
Sep 30, 2015 at 9:17 am
It’s Donald Trump!
help us all.
Joe
Sep 29, 2015 at 3:44 pm
He admitted that he made a mistake! You have to be kidding, it was willful disregard of NCAA rules. Too bad that it has effected DeChambeau from defending his title.
This may hasten DeChambeau to turn pro.
Gary
Sep 29, 2015 at 4:27 pm
Will he be able to compete in the three majors he qualified for with the win at the US AM then?
Joe
Sep 29, 2015 at 7:05 pm
It should not effect his eligibility for the Majors.