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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300 Yard Pro
Jul 17, 2016 at 2:21 am
I don’t care what they are made of, how they feel or how much they cost. Your bad swing is still going to hit bad shots. Only now your game is more expensive. When you get tired of hitting bad shots after dropping $3,000, then what?
I'm Ron Burgundy??
Jul 16, 2016 at 8:09 am
I am friends with a top 100 club fitter in my area. He says he sold 11 sets last week! I am sitting here wondering who has the money for $300-$400 depending on the club you’ve chosen. I’d love to hit some but then again I don’t want to.
Now the next question is is their price point so high that the majority of folks that would buy their clubs guys that would keep them and play them for a number of years? I can’t imagine being a hoe with these every time they come out with a new set of them or the latest and greatest. Maybe they will let a set or two stay out for a few years?
Alfredo Smith
Jul 14, 2016 at 12:49 am
PXG irons are that good. End. Of. Story.
Nick
Jul 14, 2016 at 12:20 am
The Torx screws on the back of the irons are absolutely hideous.
golfraven
Jul 13, 2016 at 6:26 pm
He is too good of a player to mock around so likely the clubs have his approval and he is confident to play with it. Would love to see him winning.
Walt Pendleton
Jul 13, 2016 at 2:39 pm
Gentlemen…PXG should be making the best clubs in the world, they’re well funded, have a proven staff of club engineers and they aren’t in the market of selling clubs. Imagine, if you went to (ANY) market with your pockets lined with gold, had a reasoned team of engineers around you, and you knocked off every successful idea in the last 10 years and made it better! Majors and tournament wins are still about guys with big balls, that’s a metaphor ladies, and putting skills that are somewhat inhuman when you’re trying to make history. However, the fundamentals are learnable Nside10.com
Ron
Jul 13, 2016 at 1:28 pm
From bad to worse!
JOEL GOODMAN
Jul 13, 2016 at 1:12 pm
MOSTLY THE PROS THAT GET THEM FOR FREE AND A CHECK TO SWEETEN THE DEAL. I’D PLAY THEM IF I COULD AFFORD THEM. THEY ARE REALLY GOOD CLUBS BUT TOO PRICEY FOR MOST GOLFERS.
Hanz
Jul 13, 2016 at 6:44 am
It’s the BALL ya’ll.
Ty Webb
Jul 13, 2016 at 1:31 am
I was able to hit a set of these at 2nd swing in Minneapolis, and I gotta say they might be the best feeling irons I’ve ever hit; however, the cost is ridiculous. For that kinda money, just get a set of Miura’s and get it over with!
gwillis7
Jul 13, 2016 at 8:14 am
are the Miura’s or PXG’s more forgiving? I haven’t hit either of them
Robert
Jul 13, 2016 at 11:58 am
I didn’t find them to be that great feeling. I personally felt the Titlest 716 MBs feel 100x better.
the next dude
Jul 13, 2016 at 10:27 pm
right there with ya!!!
skip
Jul 14, 2016 at 12:20 pm
Agree. I’d take a Miura Giken or Epon over those any day in terms of feel. Most people are buying into the hype though. And that high-tech black DLC finish that’s supposed to last? Rubbish.
cgasucks
Jul 12, 2016 at 11:39 pm
To change equipment at the end of the year is one thing but changing equipment RIGHT BEFORE A MAJOR???!! PXG must have given Schwartzel and mountain of money in order for him to do that…Remember Mickelson switched from Titleist from Callaway mid season right before the Ryder Cup and look how he performed that year…
RAT
Jul 12, 2016 at 9:03 pm
Just as well be now as later. Nike is not a Golf company sooner or later they will realize that MAYBE!
Lloyd
Jul 12, 2016 at 7:15 pm
He was hitting the Titleist 716CB iron & wearing footjoy shoes
Ronnie Smith
Jul 12, 2016 at 5:50 pm
Not sure,I’m still a Miura man,not sure about all the smoke and mirrors
gwillis7
Jul 12, 2016 at 4:39 pm
Good for him, he obviously wasn’t under contract (or could end his contract early) with Nike. I think PXG is just gonna keep growing, amongst the pros and not so much for the average Joe (which isn’t who they are targeting). I would wanna see what they pay their athletes compared to the other golf companies…I know Ryan Moore made the switch initially without even getting paid, just liked the equipment. Pretty sure he gets paid now, but I bet these guys are switching because of results not money. I mean, yes they are all getting paid (whether they play for PXG, Ping or whoever), but can PXG be paying them more than other companies? Maybe, anyone know?
gwillis7
Jul 12, 2016 at 6:37 pm
here’s a little more info on the deal
http://www.pgatour.com/equipmentreport/2016/07/12/charl-schwartzel-parsons-xtreme-golf.html
MRC
Jul 12, 2016 at 3:23 pm
Change is good.
Good Luck CS.
jn
Jul 12, 2016 at 12:23 pm
Who cares. It’s the Pro-V that works for them, not the clubs
mitch
Jul 12, 2016 at 12:33 pm
preach!
JR
Jul 12, 2016 at 5:09 pm
Charles uses Nike RZN Platinum
Chris
Jul 12, 2016 at 7:21 pm
Who is Charles?
dd
Jul 13, 2016 at 2:44 am
he did, when he was with Nike. you can pretty much guess he will be using Pro-V now
Jesse
Jul 12, 2016 at 11:52 am
Has PXG really had that big of impact on equipment yet? I think they have only had one win on the PGA correct?
Chris
Jul 12, 2016 at 11:47 am
On Sky Sports yesterday, he was hitting 716 CB 6 iron with Modus 3 on the range !! Footjoy shoes and Player glove. No commercial/matching apparel, plain ‘Troon Open’ hat.
Lloyd
Jul 12, 2016 at 7:13 pm
That’s true I spotted that as well Titleist 716CB & footjoy shoes
Phil
Jul 12, 2016 at 10:59 am
What ball is he playing now?
Michael
Jul 12, 2016 at 10:37 am
That’s pretty dramatic. He must have had some seriously good results in testing to make the switch the week before a major.
Tom
Jul 12, 2016 at 10:50 am
agreed.
Alex
Jul 12, 2016 at 11:43 am
Or the serious dough he was offered to play them regardless of his results in the tournament 😛
jn
Jul 12, 2016 at 12:22 pm
Exactly.
es
Jul 12, 2016 at 3:09 pm
who’s Charl Schwartzel? Some guy who probably felt he wasn’t getting enough money and attention from Nike.
Ian
Jul 12, 2016 at 3:12 pm
He’s a major winner.
Golfer
Jul 12, 2016 at 3:39 pm
HE won the Masters…
LabraeGolfer
Jul 12, 2016 at 10:10 pm
He has 15 more professional wins and a MASTERS MORE THAN YOU!! That’s who he is
es
Jul 12, 2016 at 11:06 pm
sorry still not impressed, on the B-list
Jack
Jul 13, 2016 at 2:42 am
I’m pretty sure he’s not waiting for your approval.
es
Jul 13, 2016 at 9:50 am
I’m 100% sure he does not care about my opinion. However… it is my opinion, and I love my PXGs. Just wish they got some more A listers on their roster. Would love to see some big wins on the tour. Too bad Z. Johnson won last years Open using Titleist.
dpsjr25
Jul 13, 2016 at 12:02 pm
He’s ranked 21st in the world, how much more high profile are you looking for. Spieth/Day level?