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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Mad-Mex
Jun 8, 2017 at 9:01 pm
I bet those who disagree and are bagging on Phil are the same drunk morons who yell “Mash Potato” “Ba-baboey” after a player hit his drive.
Sam
Jun 6, 2017 at 7:13 pm
Phil should donate some money and have them move the graduation to Saturday so he can do both
Jalan
Jun 10, 2017 at 3:23 pm
Yeah, right. Make every other parent and child change their plans, so the celebrity golfer can have his cake and eat it too.
Dave R
Jun 6, 2017 at 9:22 am
Family first . You only have one of them. Could not agree more. Good on him.
Taylor
Jun 5, 2017 at 8:57 pm
She’s obviously smart enough to realize it’s the US OPEN the only major your father hasn’t won in his life long journey in golf. Remember when you looked back at high school and realized what a joke it was…
Juice
Jun 6, 2017 at 3:57 pm
So because it was a joke for you his daughter should consider it a joke? You must’ve been the joke. SMH. Good for you Phil!
leo vincent
Jun 5, 2017 at 4:55 pm
Not something I would have done considering he only has a few more competitive U.S Opens left but the decision is his and other people’s opinions are meaningless
Bishop
Jun 5, 2017 at 12:30 pm
I completely agree with Phil’s decision, even though I’m not personally a father, yet. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for his daughter, and she has obviously worked incredibly diligently for her own accomplishments, even in high school. It seems to me that Phil is cognizant of this accomplishment, and I can’t describe how proud I’d be of being able to see my own child give a commencement speech. Maybe he feels that he could be a competitor in another year at the US Open, or maybe he doesn’t feel it’s important because he doesn’t think he can get the W. Or, maybe he doesn’t care, because family is more important to him than another year at the US Open….
Kudos to him.
Tom54
Jun 5, 2017 at 12:08 pm
Seems to me if the High School scheduled the ceremony on a Thursday and not on the weekend then they certainly can up it to Wednesday. I agree that Phil could make a donation in his daughters honor to the school things would work out fine. If they change the date for you Phil, then you best contend
Brian
Jun 5, 2017 at 12:02 pm
I understand him missing the Open given that his daughter is speaking. If she were just walking…I mean…you’re expected to graduate HS.
DaveT
Jun 5, 2017 at 11:30 am
I’m not a Phil fan at all, but I have huge respect for this decision. I can’t understand the people who put it down. His daughter is class president and valedictorian! That’s big! It’s not something you get in a box of cereal. I wonder how many of the haters came close to a shot at valedictorian themselves.
Jeff
Jun 5, 2017 at 9:23 am
He should just make a sizable donation to the HS to have them move the whole graduation ceremony. Win-win, the HS gets some extra funds and Phil gets to play in the open.
Jalan
Jun 10, 2017 at 3:26 pm
How does every other family “Win”? What if they have plans they can’t change for some wealthy privileged golfer?
Ronald Montesano
Jun 5, 2017 at 9:02 am
If Phil never wins a US Open, he’ll be in pretty solid company with 3-Major Champions. Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer, Nancy Lopez, Lee Trevino, Walter Hagen, Byron Nelson, to list six. Can’t fault the guy, can’t fault the school, bravo for the daughter, onward and upward. Lavaplatos.
High Cut
Jun 5, 2017 at 1:20 am
Is there a tonne of dogleg-rights?
setter02
Jun 4, 2017 at 7:35 pm
Lol, the haters are strong with this one! And, pathetic…
Mad-Mex
Jun 4, 2017 at 6:28 pm
I think those who are against his decision are not or have not been fathers.
Jalan
Jun 10, 2017 at 3:27 pm
I’m not convinced they’re even adults.
Tyler
Jun 4, 2017 at 5:20 pm
Guys come on. His daughter is speaking at her high school graduation. You’re telling me you’d miss that if you were him? That’s a bad life mistake. This should be common sense.
Rwj
Jun 4, 2017 at 6:26 pm
Then why didn’t he actually withdraw? Bc he hopes all the PR will cause the school to change? An actual good person wouldn’t have needed to tell everyone about it
Mad-Mex
Jun 4, 2017 at 6:40 pm
Serious?!?! Are YOU out of high school? “Why didn’t he withdraw? Because he hopes the school will change the date with all this media attention. A good person would not have the need to tell everyone about it,,,, notice the difference? Just one of the many examples the sentence structure can be changed.
Actually, a good person would respect another person’s decision.
Jasian Day
Jun 4, 2017 at 4:18 pm
It’s kinda sad when you think about it….
Phil and Amy have such spoiled bratty kids.
The “diva” of the family has to have daddy watch her achieve what millions of other people do every single year.
I pity the future husband. Whole new level of selfishness
K Unt
Jun 5, 2017 at 2:35 am
Why you so jealous?
BB
Jun 5, 2017 at 5:48 am
What a sad, pathetic post.
Big Richard Cox
Jun 5, 2017 at 7:18 am
I liked the post! Hit the nail on the head.
birdie
Jun 5, 2017 at 9:25 am
his daughter is giving the speech. She is the class president and the valedictorian. so many people with their opinions yet completely ignorant of the facts surrounding the situation.
ooffa
Jun 4, 2017 at 1:25 pm
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, did I read that right. High School? I could understand if it was graduation from the doctorate program at Harvard or M.I.T. But high school! Go play tournament. Do your job!
birdie
Jun 5, 2017 at 9:26 am
yeah…class president and the valedictorian. giving a speech. i’d want to watch my kid graduate
ooffa
Jun 5, 2017 at 10:12 am
Sounds like she’s a real smart kid. She more than anyone should therefore understand why her Dad should play in the US Open.
SH
Jun 4, 2017 at 10:28 am
He da best
Progolfer
Jun 4, 2017 at 10:18 am
Nice gesture by Phil, but an even nicer gesture would be if his daughter forced her father to chase his dream– something I’m sure Phil encourages her and her siblings to do– of winning the US Open. Imagine the spark that would give Phil. He unexpectedly won the Masters when his wife was batting breast cancer. His daughter has a tremendous opportunity to give her father the greatest gift she ever could. If only she did and he went on to win the Grand Slam because of it!! That would complete his career in style.
stephen Harasti
Jun 4, 2017 at 10:01 am
The course must not setup well for him
Golferguy
Jun 4, 2017 at 9:42 am
He’s a good Dad.
Jasian Day
Jun 4, 2017 at 1:46 pm
Not to that one kid in Ohio or wherever
Jasian Day
Jun 4, 2017 at 9:24 am
It ain’t like he was gonna win or anything
Mad-Mex
Jun 4, 2017 at 5:10 am
This should be getting more news coverage than Tiger Woods
Wonder who is the low life who shanked this?
Wonder if he will have the backbone to admit it?
Jasian Day
Jun 4, 2017 at 9:23 am
I will
Ben
Jun 6, 2017 at 9:56 am
Shank
Family Guy
Jun 4, 2017 at 5:07 am
Incredibly unselfish act!
E
Jun 4, 2017 at 1:54 am
Awwwwww…. isn’t that special.