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.
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Fran
Jul 25, 2020 at 9:23 am
This is Mr Smith. IRS agent. The bureau would like to sit with you and mr Nickolson to discuss reportable gambling winnings.
BW
Aug 6, 2020 at 3:57 am
Why is Phil mad? It’s because he almost went to jail for insider trading. Why did he engage in insider trading? He owed his bookie money and “for example, according to a sworn statement by Mickelson’s business manager, on Sept. 19, 2012, Michelson paid Walters $1,950,000 to cover a debt ‘related to sports gambling.'” (from GolfDigest).
So why would Phil risk everything for an insider trade that earned him $930,000 when he is worth hundreds of millions? Your guess is as good as mine, but he got off without going to jail (because he ratted out the bookie)–and I imagine the PGA told him “no more gambling.” So now a 17 year old tells the world that Phil is still gambling…and now you know why Phil may be angry…
Dave
Jul 19, 2016 at 12:05 pm
Really this story is what CNN would post and talk about it all day. Goofy
Busterpar
Feb 3, 2016 at 10:27 am
Typical Figjam. Take the kid aside in private and talk to him in a classy manner…..but then there is no cameras around to capture that smarmy public grin.
Benny
Feb 2, 2016 at 7:23 pm
While we all agree if we had the cash Lefty does we would most likely all make bets like this. The issue is Phil made a dumb bet here. The kid is 17, what did he expect, that the kid was gonna keep his mouth shut and there is some code of honor when the kid was just in highschool weeks ago? Seriously Phil, use your brain. You wouldn’t buy a 17 yr old booze, you wouldn’t sleep with a 17yr old girl, you certainly don’t bring a 17yr old to a bar or casino so why in the world would you bet a 17yr that amount of cash and act like a prick about it when he blabs the story. Its a friggen kid guys, for real. Who cares what you “would” or “should” have done, he is a kid and Phil showed his ignorance. Even if the kid lied about the amounts (which we know wasn’t a lie).
mc3jack
Feb 6, 2016 at 2:07 pm
Nailed it. Part of the wager was . . . “and I’m a 17 year old kid who’s gonna crow if you lose, FIGJAM.”
Think anybody kept their mouth shut back in the day when pros like Hagen and everybody else made their living gambling against local Joes?
What a douche.
Other Paul
Feb 1, 2016 at 10:03 pm
Pretty sure if i beat “The lefty” then this lefty would be very ungentleman like and posted it to facebook.
But i probably wouldn’t have mentioned any money. I think the moral of the story is to never bet a cash amount but always a % of taxable income.
Johny Thunder
Feb 1, 2016 at 8:14 pm
I hope some of you are joking – about Phil’s gambling and needing a gun and bodyguard for his wallet. According to Forbes, Phil made $51 million in 2015.
The math is easy – if Phil loses $5000 gambling, that’s the equivalent to a person earning $100k/yr losing $10.
The correct answer is: discussing “money” is something that “gentlemen” do frequently. “Money”, though, more in the abstract. Discussing specific amounts like that is considered impolite. You’ll notice the announcers will say “xxx won a few dollars of xxx in the practice round”, where a few dollars could be over $10k.
Vito
Feb 1, 2016 at 6:18 pm
Calling a 17 year old out in the media is not exactly gentlemanly. Let’s call a spade a spade. Phil has some growing up to do himself.
ShankN3Jack
Feb 1, 2016 at 10:24 am
The first rule of Fight Club is: You do not talk about Fight Club.
Bob
Feb 1, 2016 at 9:39 am
Shady middle aged golf shark challenges teenagers to money games cries foul after they beat him.
Jeff*
Jan 31, 2016 at 4:19 pm
I have to say, first article that makes me feel old. There’s a clear generation understanding gap going on here. If you don’t see why Phil wasn’t pleased, you’re a child. If you sided with Phil, grown-up. Uh-oh, that’s gonna be trouble.
Jeff*
Jan 31, 2016 at 4:17 pm
All the Mickelson hate doesn’t change the fact that you just can’t buy cool, can’t buy class or “it.” I don’t read the same things in these articles most of you seem to anyway. If I won some money of a legend of the game, you’d simply never, ever hear me confirm or deny it. Let everyone else guess the numbers. The kid should have said, “I just played a round of golf with Phil Mickelson.” The money was Phils way of making him feel included, like a member of the club, and the kid blew it.
I would wager that all the Phil backlash comes from Ryan Ruffles aged kids who simply have no idea what he did wrong. You don’t have to exclude folks to have class. Like I was saying, it just can’t be taught. I guarantee Jordan Split never had the problem with keeping his mouth shut around the big boys.
ooffa
Jan 31, 2016 at 2:46 pm
Phil = degenerate gambler
moses
Jan 31, 2016 at 2:10 am
Poor form on the kid to reveal the bet amount etc but hey he’s 17. How mature were we at 17?
Really poor form on Phil betting $5000 with a minor.
jakeanderson
Jan 31, 2016 at 5:15 pm
no. very poor behavior from mickleson. first he forces a wager upon a kid (is it even legal?), then the kid wins, tells the story and mickelson rips him? i say that shows what mickelsons values are.
Shawn M
Sep 16, 2020 at 9:03 am
Totally agree
jakeanderson
Jan 30, 2016 at 5:56 am
very poor form from phickleson. first he takes a gamble and then he feels embarassed by it. boo!
christian
Jan 30, 2016 at 5:18 am
Isn’t gambling wholly un-gentlemanly in the first place?
K
Jan 30, 2016 at 2:31 am
Not a big deal. Good story, and Phil saying this is the worst thing he could have done. People make bets. Casino’s exist because of it.
Secondly, the amount? Not major. I played with a couple members who had $5000 presses going on.
Phil, if someone tells a story about you. Dear god, go with it.
Double Mocha Man
Jan 29, 2016 at 11:33 pm
If Phil is carrying $8000 cash I hope he’s also carrying a pistol and/or has a bodyguard.
Cares
Jan 29, 2016 at 10:28 pm
Ben,
I’ve ripped your articles before…but this was a good one. Keep up the good work
Lob Wege
Jan 29, 2016 at 7:57 pm
Another great rip off article. C’mon GolfWRX!
MarkB A
Jan 31, 2016 at 9:19 pm
Typical Ben stuff.
alexdub
Jan 29, 2016 at 2:31 pm
Good on Phil. I like that he took the time to educate the youngster. Once bitten, twice shy; right? Every tour player—Woods and Phil included—had to go through the learning process.
I don’t see the position he took as contradictory. Remember, cash gambling between individuals is against the law. From a legal stand point, saying ‘I have XXXX amount of money on me’, or, ‘I play cash games on Tuesdays’ is far different that saying ‘I played for $5k against this person on this day.’
Mike
Jan 29, 2016 at 2:01 pm
“Gentlemen’s game means gentlemen’s agreements.” Weird, wasn’t he was almost banned from Augusta National for not paying up on a bet to a member? Wonder where that falls in the “gentlemen’s rules”?
Nick
Feb 8, 2016 at 1:54 pm
He was. My favorite Phil story of them all.
Yikes
Sep 22, 2020 at 10:45 am
Wasn’t that Augusta story an April Fool’s hoax?: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/phil-mickelson/
Keith
Jan 29, 2016 at 1:21 pm
Kid has a lot to learn about the PGA tour, and of all people to have loose lips about it is Phil. He’s notorious for money matches, I’ve even heard stories of him making bets during tournament rounds with other pros. The thing is that they all do it, for them its like an average guy playing a 5 dollar Nassau but the kid needs to be hush about it. As far as amount bet on that round Phil is probably the one downplaying it he definitely won’t show up for less then 2500 lol
Matt
Jan 29, 2016 at 11:53 am
Doesn’t surprise me, Lefty’s had a gambling problem for years.
Jay
Jan 30, 2016 at 7:28 pm
It’s not a problem if you’re worth millions. $5000 is loose change to him
Mike
Feb 8, 2016 at 1:56 pm
What about the money laundering charges? Probably not related, I guess.