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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Haywood Gravette
Aug 28, 2016 at 11:06 am
“I think the biggest thing is just being able to win mentally each and every day,” Lockett said. “That’s what I’ve been trying to do. I know that everybody out here are great players and each and every one of them have a chance to make the team. Given his small stature, he was asked if he ever gets scared when fielding punts, fully knowing 11 defenders are racing down field in an attempt to level him as soon as he touches the football.
Daniel
Jul 16, 2016 at 3:59 am
“Stenson? Interesting call. He lights up at lesser events and makes us think he has what it takes for a major, but does he have the composure to do so? I’m not certain that he does. Just one pundit’s opinion.”
“I put Stenson in the same kettle as Donald, Monty, Westwood, Garcia, Fowler, Haas and Kuchar. They are or were close but we know how agonizingly distant that closeness is from closure.”
Roland Montesano 17 aug 2015
So what made you change your mind you arrogant jerk?
Matto
Jul 16, 2016 at 4:23 am
^^^BWANG!^^^
Ronald Montesano
Jul 16, 2016 at 5:43 am
Who doesn’t love a well-place ^^^BWANG!^^^?
They shouldn’t be carelessly left at just any door, so this one is particularly timely.
Ronald Montesano
Jul 16, 2016 at 5:42 am
I’d like to say that I had an epiphany, but nothing that historic nor romantic.
His comment about getting older and not playing in these things forever struck me as insightful and an admission that majors matter. European one-off players tend to win the Open, while for US golfers, it’s the PGA. Perhaps that’s simply my perception, or perhaps it’s reality.
I’m quite enamored of the fact that you pulled one of my own quotes to hold my feet to the fire. Hopefully I’ve met the conditions of your interrogation satisfactorily.
…Chanson de Roland
Haggis
Jul 16, 2016 at 11:34 am
What the heck are ye tooking aboot with Stenson?
He won both the Fedex Cup AND the Race to Dubai at the SAME time. Ya don’t think he has it? Youse e crazy. In fact, ya should remove Garcia, Fowler, and Kuch from that list of people. Donald was #1, Monty and Westwood had blown away Europe for a long time, and Haas also won the Fedex Cup. So what if none of them have a Major? Garcia, Fowler, and Kuch are just regular Tour players who are way underachieving
Ronald Montesano
Jul 16, 2016 at 12:34 pm
Haggis,
Nice thoughts. Some of the fellows HAVE to break through at some point. For Sergio, it will take a 65 on Sunday. For the rest, not this go-round.