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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mlecuni
Oct 19, 2017 at 4:01 am
Hate him or Love him
In the end, let his golf’s legacy talk for him
etc.
Oct 19, 2017 at 2:53 pm
His legacy? Elin swinging a 9-iron!
RMF
Oct 19, 2017 at 4:21 pm
More 14 majors, becoming the highest paid sporting personality, transcending his sport, inspiring a new generation of golfers, modernizing the game
I could go on and on and on….
Tom54
Oct 18, 2017 at 9:26 pm
The real issue is whether Tiger will return and be a ceremonial golfer. I just can’t see him playing if he doesn’t think he can be a factor out on tour anymore. It would be nice if he could play without pain (and excuses) for a year or two then he can assess his future on tour. Takes a lot of hard work to maintain a game at that level. I for one hope he can give it a whirl anyway.
Jack Nash
Oct 18, 2017 at 2:51 pm
Let The Chipping Yips begin!
johnnied
Oct 18, 2017 at 12:49 pm
The spinal fusion means less rotation, meaning slower swing speed. To keep up with the big boys he’ll want to make that up which’ll put additional stress to the area right above where the fusion occurred, and then he’ll need another fusion. He needs to be more accurate, not longer.
I predict that Tiger will get back in the game but only for a short time until his back goes out again. Ask anybody who’s had that operation.
William Pierce
Oct 18, 2017 at 12:42 pm
This song is a real toe tapper! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrudlJ9x4WA
Bob Jones
Oct 18, 2017 at 12:11 pm
Geez. This is like the umpteenth return of Freddy Krueger. Enough already! What is professional golf lacking now that having TW playing would fix? Somebody please explain that to me. And exactly how will a diminished TW getting run over like a speeding truck by strong players almost half his age going to be “good for the game of golf?”
RMF
Oct 19, 2017 at 8:42 am
Well the basic premise of Tiger being good for the game is that he is the most recognizable figure in the world of golf, he is the player who took the game to popularity levels never seen before.
He also is one of the hardest working athlete in the world. Now whether at 41 with surgeries he would be able to compete with DJ, Thomas, Spieth, Rors, Rahm etc is another thing. Oh and the fusion surgery he had is pretty much the same surgery a chap called Davis Love III had… he was unable to compete after surgery… wait he won the Wyndham at the age of 51…
If you do not like him that’s fine, I have yet to see one commentator/golfer/friend/associate or sentient being say he needing to return to save the game of golf because as you alluded it doesn’t need saved, but he is certainly good for the game and it would be ignorant to think otherwise.
etc.
Oct 19, 2017 at 3:02 pm
Good for the game? You mean like Kaepernick or Magic Johnson?
RMF
Oct 19, 2017 at 4:26 pm
Why is Kaepernick bad for the game? he is right to protest against what he feels is unfair system… Isn’t America meant to be a country of free speech?
or is it the land where Money is speech taking a knee is disrespectful
MB
Oct 18, 2017 at 3:17 am
Hurts to just watch him plant on that left leg and you can still see he’s not sure if he should as he squeezes his cheeks when he pulls his club back
Eldrick T
Oct 18, 2017 at 3:40 am
Not cheeks, but gluteus. Get it right. But I don’t have much gluteus to squeeze, is why I look like I squeeze my cheeks to get my knees closer
larry
Oct 17, 2017 at 8:33 pm
looser please don’t come back
RMF
Oct 18, 2017 at 5:05 am
You go first, Tiger is the GOAT and will return… If you don’t like it don’t read articles written about him and comment on them
chinchbugs
Oct 18, 2017 at 7:22 am
Please explain to those of us less educated what a looser is. Thanks!
candidresponses
Oct 18, 2017 at 9:37 pm
And I was so sure someone of your intellectual stature would know the difference between a “loser” and “looser.” How sad that an internet troll such as Larry here wouldn’t know the difference.
M. Vegas
Oct 17, 2017 at 7:04 pm
Let the appearance fee action start…
Do I hear $8 million?
M. Vegas
Oct 17, 2017 at 7:05 pm
*auction
Pete
Oct 17, 2017 at 6:40 pm
I am not a Tiger fan but I do hope that he is able to comeback and be competitive. It will be good for the game of golf.
Eldrick T
Oct 18, 2017 at 3:41 am
I just want to get out there and see if I can pick up any more ladies, to see if I still got it. I’m not that ugly
nyguy
Oct 17, 2017 at 3:53 pm
yawn…
Andrew
Oct 17, 2017 at 3:07 pm
Steinberg needs his meal tickets and toilet paper dollars, Tiger. Hurry back. The tribe needs you.
etc.
Oct 17, 2017 at 6:03 pm
Steinburg and Weinstein too….
Mike C
Oct 17, 2017 at 2:16 pm
Here is why I think Tiger will play very well when he comes back and gets enough tournaments under his belt. The area where his fusion took place S1 to L5 there is almost zero rotation. So it should have no real effect on his ability to make a golf swing. This surgery should and apparently has left him pain free. We haven’t seen a Tiger Woods without debilitating nerve pain since he went down on his knees during the 2013 Fedex cup playoffs. The last time Tiger was truly healthy was 4 years ago and he was player of the year and #1 in the official world golf rankings. He doesn’t have to win 5+ times a year and regain his #1 ranking for this comeback to be deemed successful. He only has to to be 80% the player he was just 4 years ago. That seems very possible. Good luck Tiger.
golfreality
Oct 17, 2017 at 2:52 pm
80% and hell be playing web.com events
etc.
Oct 17, 2017 at 5:59 pm
Spinal fusion from S1 to L5 means he will have problems mounting and pumping the jam. He will have to take it on his back, otherwise he will jeopardize his spine and golf swing.
Elin’s schadenfreude? LOL
cgasucks
Oct 17, 2017 at 8:49 am
I really hope that he comes back and stays there. I don’t expect him to win every 3rd tournament like the old days but I do like to see him be on the first page of the leaderboard most of the time.
LD
Oct 17, 2017 at 9:46 am
Good luck with that.
Steve Sands
Oct 16, 2017 at 10:25 pm
Please take your time Tiger. We all want to see you back, and preferably making a healthy run.
etc.
Oct 19, 2017 at 3:00 pm
IOW…. the Champions Tour?
ACTUAL FACTS
Oct 16, 2017 at 10:17 pm
I sincerely hope that Tiger makes a healthy lasting comeback to the game of golf.
golfreality
Oct 17, 2017 at 2:53 pm
i hope the cheating egotistical drug addict never makes a cut again y pull for this guy i dont get it.
etc.
Oct 17, 2017 at 6:01 pm
He’s Black History.
Boobsy McKiss
Oct 18, 2017 at 1:42 am
Another perfect human being speaks his mind. Sickening how people on the internet refuse to forgive anyone for their past transgressions. There seems to be no forgiving anymore, only disdain, wretched hate, and constant vilifying until the person is beat down so much they go into hiding. Your comment speaks volumes to the sad state of society these days.
Forsbrand
Oct 18, 2017 at 6:24 am
Couldn’t be more to the point!!! Quite disgusting how through decades of supposed progression we still have individuals expressing such dinosaur comments. I’m always amazed would people still have the same views if in a room with these same people they have to troll on the internet.
I’ve said this so many times, we have some young members on here please keep it clean and stick to golf!!!
Lance
Oct 18, 2017 at 12:01 pm
^^^White trash liberal women weeping for their fantasy man. VVV
RMF
Oct 19, 2017 at 8:50 am
@golfreality I think you will find loads of exceptionally talented people battle with demons, whether they be athletes, musicians, mathematicians, actors. Just go and write a list of extremely successful people and you will find it littered with drunks, addicts etc you will also find it littered with people who have committed suicide come from broken homes, people with mental illnesses.
People generally want to see them succeed as it shows you problems and challenges are there to be overcome and personal/mental/physical issues should not be a boundary if you have the drive to fight through them
But I will assume you only listen to the clean living singers, only watch tv shows with actors who fit into your perfect world view
If you don’t you are a hypocrite and should probably keep your mouth shut!
etc.
Oct 19, 2017 at 2:59 pm
…. but is he worthy of respect by young golfers, given his sordid past life? Forgiveness must be earned, not expected by a multi-millionaire trying to squeeze the last million$$$$ out of the golf industry…. Nike too.
RMF
Oct 19, 2017 at 4:35 pm
Of course he is worthy of respect and if you look at how the younger tour players flock to him you’ll understand he has their respect.
As for forgiveness this is something that can only be given.
Alexander Pope – To err is human; to forgive, divine
Asa Don Brown – A life lived without forgiveness is a life lived in the past
Martin Luther King Jr – We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies
Busty McBoob
Oct 20, 2017 at 2:16 am
Spot on chap. Spot on indeed.
If the internet had been around in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, the ‘bad’ things athletes do these days would mostly pale in comparison. But, people like to harp on these guys because they’re rich and insanely successful. And because a lot of people have a jealous rage that burns inside of them. So much so, they have to focus on other people’s lives rather than bettering their own.