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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Donn Rutkoff
Jul 24, 2017 at 7:26 pm
I wish him well. Would like to see him become more involved with teaching average kids, not involved in some hi PR big name big $ stuff. Just go to the high schools in big cities and give some instructions. Don’t sell yourself to those in the big time golf schools, with Harmon or Haney or Peltz. Spend time with enlisted military and their kids.
I doubt Tiger will ever play competitive again, regular or seniors. I don’t think his body can do it.
Speedy
Jul 15, 2017 at 9:47 pm
True or false, 14 major winner offered his therapist money for extra play.
captain Crunch
Jul 9, 2017 at 11:46 am
He doesn’t even play golf- why is this guy even relevant?
Tom1
Jul 6, 2017 at 1:40 pm
what’s with the hair loss add on this thread….. lol
Muck
Jul 6, 2017 at 11:35 am
Earl did a helluva job raising a golfer. Unfortunately he neglected to raise a man.
setter02
Jul 7, 2017 at 8:14 am
Ask your Dad if he’s proud of his son posting on a forum putting down a dead man…
C
Jul 7, 2017 at 9:10 am
Appropriate username for the comment.
chopstix king
Jul 23, 2017 at 12:12 pm
Why would Earl see anything wrong? After all, he was married with kids divorces in 68 in Mexico married again in 69 to Tigers mother. The apple never falls far from the tree.
Guia
Jul 5, 2017 at 11:03 pm
Best of luck to him.
Teaj
Jul 5, 2017 at 7:00 pm
why not just wish the guy good luck with his future battles weather it be golf related or addiction related?
Steve
Jul 7, 2017 at 1:58 am
Why so black and white? It is possible to think he is a pretty disgraceful human being AND still hope he sorts himself out.
setter02
Jul 7, 2017 at 8:13 am
Bubba, I didn’t know the article was about Twitler, thanks for pointing that out.
Alex
Jul 5, 2017 at 2:10 pm
Fake like votes. Please don’t, WRX. Faking opinion ratings no longer works. Woods has not completed anything in years, specifically the 2013 Bridgestone.
Desmond
Jul 5, 2017 at 11:34 am
Must have been a 24 hr intensive therapy rehab.
Two weeks? Tiger, you’re fooling yourself … and us. Gheez. Stop the insanity. 🙂
Big Mike
Jul 6, 2017 at 1:14 am
You guys are revealing your lack of understanding here. He never said he was cured after two weeks. He simply went inpatient for two weeks and is now out continuing his rehab. He will be in recovery the rest of his life as there is no cure. So give the man a break and wish him the best
Ap
Jul 5, 2017 at 10:54 am
For an ordinary person, someone who is not mentally or physically very strong, they say it actually takes about 10 real years to completely be rid of the addiction, the feeling, the taste, the desire, the thoughts of the thing that ailed you, after making yourself be completely AWAY from the thing, totally far away and nowhere near it to have it completely out your system, to one day wake up and realize, oh yeah, I am finally normal again, of that clear feeling of how it used to be before the addiction started in the first place.
2 weeks is nothing. He’ll back on the it soon, if not next month. He’ll cheat on himself again.
Teaj
Jul 5, 2017 at 6:58 pm
lol I clicked on report comment, why is report comment blue and reply grayed out? please disregard
mike
Jul 5, 2017 at 10:22 am
hmmm.. I was addicted to exactly the same 2 drugs – it took me 17 months in a hard core/no frills drug rehab to get well – if only I’d known 2 weeks was all I needed !
tazz2293
Jul 5, 2017 at 9:41 am
Hello, My name is Eldrick and I am an addict.
Sorry Charlie, just because you have completed a rehab program does not mean you are cured. You have a lifetime of struggle ahead of you. As your so called sex addiction problem has proven, once an addict always an addict.
C
Jul 7, 2017 at 9:12 am
Where did it say he was cured?
freeze
Jul 5, 2017 at 8:41 am
went to a luxury rehab for two weeks he is a hero. two weeks to overcome addiction is all it takes……………for him and his agent to spin a story. he is a joke, greatest golfer I ever seen, but now a joke.
Mb
Jul 5, 2017 at 3:50 am
They say it normally takes about 10 years completely AWAY from what addiction you had, to be completed “cured” of it, with a ton of work and getting nowhere near that addictive thing, whether it be alcohol, drugs, or sex, so you no longer have any thoughts, feelings, taste or craving about it, to get it completely out of your body’s system and out of mind – that is the joke to be human, by the way –
2 weeks ain’t gonna do jack, he’ll be off the wagon soon if not next month
Wiger Toods
Jul 4, 2017 at 5:29 pm
You are right. That smile does look a little sinister.
Big Mike
Jul 4, 2017 at 4:44 pm
Hope Tiger gets well physically and emotionally. Thank goodness he stepped up to get treatment for his addiction to pain pills. Many folks don’t and end up dead. He was a great golfer and it would be nice to see him make a comeback and then move on to the SR tour. And even better find some peace and happiness in his personal life
ooffa
Jul 4, 2017 at 4:20 pm
Completed, Really, impressive. I expected him to WD
Chuck
Jul 4, 2017 at 2:53 pm
Just in time for the pre-sentencing report!
When is his next court date?
Jacked_Loft
Jul 5, 2017 at 5:14 am
+1
Jmac
Jul 4, 2017 at 1:33 pm
Why can’t he get on a Mediterranean Diet, mix running with cycling, and do resistance/wts. training only for golf-specific motions the rest of his golfing-able life? He could be an become a new cat and begin to resemble a powerful contender again for the last 6-8 or more seasons he’s on the PGA Tour, then absolutely dominate the Champions Tour from age 50 and on!
Ude
Jul 4, 2017 at 12:34 pm
Tiger should just hang up his Nikes and stay home counting his WITB money stash …. and find another hot blond to make his painful life bearable …. or does his bad back stop him from doing that too?!!
Sx
Jul 4, 2017 at 4:47 pm
all those painkillers will kill his driver mojo and he can’t find the fairway and forget the hole
he’s gotta be one frustrated poonhound
Tom Duckworth
Jul 4, 2017 at 10:43 am
It’s too bad he didn’t take more time off to start with and really get himself healthy. In both body and spirit. I would like to see him be able to play again one day I’m sure he’s not happy with his life right now.
Big Mike
Jul 4, 2017 at 2:00 pm
Hats off to Tiger for working to declare his INDEPENDENCE from prescription pain pills this 4th of July! He is most likely taking a drug to help curb his addiction to the pain pills. This is accepted medical practice. Tiger has proven that he is like the rest of us- HUMAN. Bad things can happen to good people and many become addicted to pain pills (Prince, etc.). The good news for Tiger is that he sought treatment before it escalated even further. Many people addicted to pain pills move to heroin when their prescription wears out because they can’t afford to buy pain pills on the open market but still chase the high. Heroin is a cheap substitute and it’s causing a major epidemic of overdose deaths in our country. I wish Tiger nothing but the best as he attempts to get his life in order.
ACTUAL FACTS
Jul 4, 2017 at 10:22 am
Here’s to a healthy recovery!
Rwj
Jul 4, 2017 at 10:16 am
Wow two whole weeks, he’s so brave.
Em-Smizle
Jul 4, 2017 at 8:32 am
He left rehab cuz he wants more pills