| By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.
For comments: [email protected]
Good Tuesday morning, golf fans, as we look back at the Masters while looking ahead to this week’s RBC Heritage. |
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1. Shane Ryan: Appreciate Scottie’s greatness
Golf Digest’s Shane Ryan…”This is what’s called generational talent, and we haven’t seen it in almost 20 years. Steve Stricker read the tea leaves when he picked Scheffler for the 2021 Ryder Cup—a decision that was richly rewarded—and starting in 2022, he was off to the races. The only hiccup was a few putting woes last year, but even that only served to highlight how remarkable his ball-striking had become—instead of winning, he was finishing third. When he fixed the putting, with help from a new coach and a bit of equipment advice from Rory McIlroy, he soared yet again to the top of the game, but this time he seemed more indomitable, more inevitable, more brilliant.”
- “The sustained success of the last three years has officially made him the best professional golfer since Tiger Woods, a conclusion supported by analytics, the eye test, and every other metric you could dream up. With fewer majors, he has nevertheless leaped past Spieth, McIlroy, and Koepka in terms of pure ability. He doesn’t have their legacy, yet, but if we’re talking about peak performance, he’s already surpassed them.”
- “He’s so much better than everyone else, which is a sentiment that is both commonplace—I saw it on Twitter over and over again—and revelatory. It’s the thing you say because there is nothing else to say. You’re left with the wild truth, which words can describe but never capture.”
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2. Aberg: I want to be No. 1
The AFP’s Simon Evans…”The 24-year-old finished second, four strokes behind winner Scottie Scheffler, after carding a final round 69 but he certainly won many admirers among the patrons at Augusta National and beyond.”
- “And his performance has filled Aberg with self-belief.”
- “Everyone in my position, they are going to want to be major champions. They are going to want to be world number one, and it’s the same for me, that’s nothing different,” he said.
- “It has been that way ever since I picked up a golf club, and that hasn’t changed. So I think this week solidifies a lot of those things are there, and we just need to keep doing those things and put ourselves in positions to win tournaments, ” he said.
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3. Homa’s honest answer on double bogey
Golf Channel staff report…”But Homa’s tee shot at No. 12 bounded off the putting surface and into a bush. After a healthy search, Homa found his ball and had to take an unplayable lie. He made double bogey, effectively ending his bid at a maiden major title.”
- “Homa tied for third, seven shots back of Scheffler. Asked about what happened on the fateful 9-iron, Homa offered two replies.”
- “The honest answer is, it didn’t feel fair. I hit a really good golf shot, and it didn’t feel fair. I’ve seen far worse just roll back down the hill,” he said.
- “The professional answer is, these things happen.”
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4. Harbour Town ahead
RBC Heritage field notes, via Adam Stanley of PGATour.com…”Scottie Scheffler is, for now, set to tee it up at the RBC Heritage. He was clear to say that if his wife, Meredith, would go into labor during the Masters, he would head home to be with her, so it’s safe to assume that same rule will stand at Harbour Town. Scheffler has not shot an over-par round all season and has three victories (and one runner-up). He made his debut at Harbour Town last year and finished T11… Matt Fitzpatrick looks to become the first golfer to go back-to-back at the RBC Heritage since Boo Weekley in 2007-08. Fitzpatrick, a playoff victor last year, has two top-10 finishes this season. He has just one missed cut at Harbour Town over the last six years and he finished fourth in 2021 to go along with two more top-15 results in a three-year span (T14 in 2018 and 2020)…”
- “Jordan Spieth is hoping to continue his run of fine play at Harbour Town after a playoff loss last season and a playoff win the season prior. Spieth has five top-25 finishes at the RBC Heritage in seven starts… Justin Thomas earned a spot in the field after remaining in the top 30 (he’s No. 30) in the Official World Golf Ranking despite a missed cut at the Masters. Thomas, who finished T25 last season at Harbour Town, has two top 10s on the season… Ludvig Åberg, who is tops in the Aon Next 10, will head to Hilton Head for the first time. Åberg has had a fabulous 2024 campaign thus far with four top 10s (including two runner-up results) and is knocking on the door for a victory… Hideki Matsuyama was the only eligible player who did not commit to the RBC Heritage, while Viktor Hovland – after a missed cut at the Masters – withdrew from the field on Saturday.”
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5. Reed’s caddie’s needle
Our Matt Vincenzi…”After a particularly bad drive during his third round on Saturday, Reed’s caddie, Kessler Karain, also his brother-in-law, made a snide but factual comment to Patrick.”
- “Your driving has cost us a lot this week,” Karain remarked.
- “Reed didn’t disagree and told reporters after the round that there was nothing good about his round…
- “A reporter then asked: “It’s a good thing he’s a family member, right?”
- “Yeah, exactly. I’d probably be dragging him up that last hole,” Reed said. “I swear.Just what you want to hear as you’re looking at the ball in the tree, and he goes, ‘You need to drive it better.’ Thanks, Kessler. I appreciate it. Great words of wisdom. Drive it better.”
- “This may be the last major for Reed for a while, as the 33-year-old has not been invited nor qualified for next month’s PGA Championship.”
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6. LIV wants Hovland next?
Ewan Murray for the Guardian…”Rising speculation that Viktor Hovland will be the next high-profile golfer to be coaxed to the LIV tour will increase the need for Ryder Cup Europe to apply a simple qualification process for golfers on the Saudi Arabian-backed circuit.”
- “LIV is forging ahead with plans for 2025, which include new events and the recruitment of more players from the PGA and DP World Tours. The rate of turnover is likely to be increased by the number of golfers who had three-year contracts when joining LIV, which will expire at the end of 2024.”
- “Chatter on the range at the LIV event in Miami this month and again at the Masters largely surrounded Hovland, the world No 6 who starred for Europe in the defeat of the United States in Rome last year. Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, who also played in that team, have subsequently joined LIV. Hovland missed the cut at the Masters and promptly withdrew from the PGA Tour’s $20m stop in Hilton Head this week.”
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7. Rory’s management: LIV reports are ‘fake news’
Brian Keogh for the Irish Independent…”A report that Rory McIlroy was on the verge of an $850million move to LIV Golf has been slammed as “fake news” by his management.
“Fake news. Zero truth,” McIlroy’s manager Sean O’Flaherty said in an email.
London financial paper “City AM” reported today that sources have told them that McIlroy “could” join LIV Golf
The paper reported that “two separate sources have told City AM that they believe a deal is close. It is claimed that LIV Golf chiefs have offered world No2 McIlroy an eye-watering $850m to join, plus around two per cent equity in the competition.” |
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19th Hole3 days ago
19th Hole2 weeks ago
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Stephen Donaght
Oct 22, 2018 at 10:21 am
We play the ball as it lies and the course in front of us, that is part of the unique nature of golf. All courses are different and we all have setups and styles we prefer. But it is as much a mental game as a physical one. You need the mental acuity to choose the right shot and the self discipline to deal with the consequences when it doesn’t turn out as planned. It seems to me that Phil no longer has the burning desire to discipline himself to the demands of the course.
I am sure he will make a killing on the Champions Tour though.
Simms
Oct 17, 2018 at 2:29 pm
A player considered “A Great Player” would fit his game to the course, Ten thousand golf instructors out there would tell you sometimes a driver or even a wood off the tee is not the right club. Us poor amateur hackers are hitting 3 woods and 3,4 irons into par 4 greens from our 180 yard drives in the fairways everyday….so sad if a pro is upset because he does not have a wage from 150 on a 480 yard par 4…..I loved that set up for this years rider cup, made a 240 yard drive in the fairway a plus over the 320 yard drive in the ruff.
dixiedoc
Oct 17, 2018 at 11:32 am
Well he proves it once again, Phil is all about Phil. Please don’t show up at any more Rider Cups.
David Lehmann
Oct 19, 2018 at 12:36 pm
What is a “Rider” Cup?
David LehmannTheJack4ss
Oct 24, 2018 at 1:21 pm
The one where 2 teams take turns riding David’s mum
kevin
Oct 9, 2018 at 3:44 pm
his arrogance continues to shine.
AggOwl
Oct 8, 2018 at 6:09 pm
Mickelson and woods were both picked because they increase the viewership which sells more advertising which means more profit to the networks who bought the broadcasting rights. It’s that simple. Neither of them were going to refuse an offer to play and piss off all of the sponsors.
This sport is a business like any other professional sport. It’s all driven by sponsors dollars and selling advertising.
That is the only reason they were picked. Which means this team was sold to the highest bidder.
Christopher Hansen
Oct 8, 2018 at 8:22 pm
Amen.
Tim
Oct 13, 2018 at 11:48 pm
yup!
Ev
Oct 19, 2018 at 6:34 am
Sorry but you’re wrong. Woods was close to winning 2 majors and also won the Tour Championship beating the top 30 players in the world.
Gurt
Oct 21, 2018 at 1:33 pm
Woods is never any good at Matchplay. It’s no solid comparison.
U_Who
Oct 25, 2018 at 1:54 am
Bull… he won US Am 3 years in a row !!!
John
Nov 2, 2018 at 3:36 pm
The difference is the Ryder Cup is a team event and Woods is all about himself.
AggOwl
Nov 5, 2018 at 7:58 am
He had some success, yes. Not a slam to Woods, just a fact niether he or Mickelson would have been picked were it not for sponsor pressure.
Tiger undoubtedly was the greatest player in the game at one time. He is the best thing that ever happened to the business of golf but the worst thing that ever happened to the game of golf.
Aaron
Oct 8, 2018 at 4:46 pm
I thought picking him was a bad choice based just on his US Open ‘shenanigans’ aka cheating. A shame to see him live up to exactly that performance, guess we should have believed him the first time.
Mike
Oct 8, 2018 at 4:04 pm
More sour grapes from a man at the end of his career. Hasn’t changed from the time he was so critical of the great Tom Watson. Beginning to sound like he is the problem in the team!
Jack Nash
Oct 8, 2018 at 3:43 pm
So is your Cup record. When you’re in the trees a lot it’s hard to see the greens. You’ll still get great sponsorship though.
Mike Barnard
Oct 8, 2018 at 2:14 pm
Tragic chat from Phil. One trick pony from now on. Disrespectful to his Captain, teammates and fans. I thought all top pros could hit the ball relatively long and fairly straight … it’s what they do for a job?? You get the odd genius of Seve who was wild off the tee and ( like Phil ) has a mercurial short game , but you would NEVER have heard Seve talk like that. Totally tragic comments.
joro
Oct 8, 2018 at 1:17 pm
Well Phil, you could have dropped out and let somebody who wanted to win play. Face it, you and Tiger are RC losers. I have pulled for you every time you compete since your career started only to be disappointed by your pathetic finishes. You always seem to Phuque it up somehow thinking you can still play like you used to and of course you won’t change anything that people toll you, stubborn is the word. So do I not wast My time pulling for you, or are you going to wake up and adjust so you can win again, you can do it you know, just take your head out of your rear and adjust. And i would suggest you start listening to what Butch is telling you, he is right. I wish you good luck in the future.
Tom54
Oct 8, 2018 at 1:07 pm
Hard to believe a player with his talents never learned a swing that would eliminate one side of the course. Seems all his career he found both sides of deep rough. The fact that he nearly won so many US Opens is a testament of his great short game. If he would just face up to needing to hit it straighter instead of fussing about the course setup he might come across a little better. Maybe he should try a shorter shaft in the driver.Not that I was gonna watch,but he needs to get better if he thinks he even has a prayer against Tiger in their upcoming match.
Tim
Oct 13, 2018 at 11:53 pm
with the phil vs tiger match, i think they are going to add some dimension to it. If it were straight match play or stroke play tiger might be up 5 after 7-8 holes and the ratings would drop. i think there will be something weird that will be applied.
Kevin Kelly
Oct 8, 2018 at 1:00 pm
Let me write directly (lol) to Phil I listened to and read this account of your comments. You’re right and I agree with you 100%. You should have declined the team offer (since you were picked) because of what you’ve so eloquently described and shared. You were absolutely the worst “horses for course” pick in history of Ryder Cup. And I love watching you play ( was 75 yards away when you the behind the tree off the pinestraw shot and your not so high jump Masters wind!” You should have been gentleman enough at this stage if life to proudly Thank Jim for the offer and then politely declined. Thanks for reading, Respectfully
Btw Nice article, well written and on point young man.
Timothy
Oct 8, 2018 at 12:56 pm
I cheer for individual players rather than US or European ,so I’m not biased that way, but I thought the course was ridiculous. I kept looking for windmills, water slides and rubber ducks. Oh well, these choices are all about money and politics.
Tom
Oct 8, 2018 at 12:36 pm
Phi stop being a ???? crybaby. You’re paid big bucks , so stuff it and admit you were beaten far and square.
Me
Oct 8, 2018 at 12:33 pm
Mickelson needs to take a couple years off and try to reinvent himself for the Champions tour.
In the meantime he could work on his NFL picks and insider trading investments.
Funkaholic
Oct 8, 2018 at 11:22 am
In other words “I am a big baby and will only play in pristine conditions because I am not, nor have I ever been, up to a challenge.” Phil wants his rough like my fairways, his tee box like my greens and his hazards totally out of play.
Bert Gwaltney
Oct 7, 2018 at 5:52 pm
Sad day again for Phil, US Open Rules fiasco, now condemning a course he could not handle, nor could the team, but the Euro’s could. Basically I’m not sure Phil could handle any course that required accuracy, especially driver accuracy.
Was a favorite but have lost respect for him and any comments he would make. Hopefully we won’t suffer from his Captaincy.
T-Bone
Oct 7, 2018 at 12:38 pm
So does this mean he’s not going to play in the US Open anymore?
Christian Larsson
Oct 8, 2018 at 11:18 am
My first thought as well
Shane Ingram
Oct 6, 2018 at 11:18 am
Isn’t it more relevant that Phil wasted the US team and its supporters time in energy and resources in an event where he wasn’t going to contribute but someone else would have had a much better chance? Or is it about Phil and not the team?
larrybud
Oct 6, 2018 at 3:00 pm
Gees Phil, you should have said something sooner. You knew how the course was going to be set up.
Alvaro
Oct 8, 2018 at 2:09 pm
Maybe he didn’t. It looked like he didn’t care at all.
Tom Duckworth
Oct 6, 2018 at 10:43 am
A very poor comment from Phil. He should have bowed out and Jim should have focused on players that fit that course.
Isn’t golf about adapting to be course to shoot a good score. Maybe distance isn’t the problem on tour it’s wide fairways with light
rough. I don’t watch golf on TV to see how far they can drive I watch to see good golf but I guess that’s what thePGA thinks we want.
They have created their own problem by setting up courses for long wild bombers. They too often give in to whining golfers that want the course to play easy so they can play “birdie ” golf whatever that is.
drbopperthp
Oct 6, 2018 at 10:15 am
Vijay Singh told you all about Mr. FIGJAM a long time ago. But you didn’t want to listen. So now you know.
ND Hickman
Oct 6, 2018 at 9:29 am
He just turned up to do his high kick in the team room.
JP
Oct 5, 2018 at 11:41 pm
Tiger just sent Shadow Creek GC a bunch of money to start watering the rough and to stop cutting it.
Terry
Oct 5, 2018 at 10:14 pm
Losing respect for Phil and his antics/comments over the past year. What a shmuck
Johnny Penso
Oct 5, 2018 at 9:36 pm
Funny how people hail Patrick Reed and his family as a heros for airing their grievances in public but Phil is fat and lazy for doing the same thing…lol.
Tom
Oct 5, 2018 at 7:49 pm
Maybe he could run after his ball if it is heading toward the rough and hit it while its moving like he did in the US Open?
Tom
Oct 5, 2018 at 7:47 pm
Watching Phil play Tiger on Thanksgiving would be a big waste of viewers time and money (pay-for-view). When the going gets “rough” Phil evidently quits?
Red
Oct 5, 2018 at 7:05 pm
Phil, if this was such a waste of your time, why did you not spare Jim Furyk from wasting his wild card on you?
If you’d have checked earlier, you’d have realised that the course is not your super-wide fairway that supports your play.
So, instead of telling Furyk that you are not fit for playing there, you still do, just so you can get on the record books?
Great sense of what a team needs you have there 🙂
Kim Hay
Oct 5, 2018 at 6:17 pm
OK, Phil, do not enter any more US Opens which have tight fairways and rough. You totally exaggerated the width of the fairways in Paris, not 14-16 yards wide as you stated, more like 20 to 40 yards. You have acted poorly this year, gross rules infraction and now slagging a venue that was more like a USA style course than a European style course. How about showing some humility, you were not prepared, did not play well and are now looking for excuses. Definitely falling down the respect ladder and not being a very good example for the many fans who enjoy watching you play.
rex235
Oct 5, 2018 at 5:47 pm
So-
Phil Mickelson’s last shot in a Ryder Cup event will be a tee shot in the water (eau)?
Do not despair! The PGA will offer him a Captaincy…in the US-
Then again…
Joeg Voll
Oct 5, 2018 at 4:53 pm
Wow? I consider myself to be quite a fan of Phil’s, but he lost quite a bit of my respect with this comment! (Not that it matters.) YOU SHOULD’VE DECLINED THE INVITATION THEN PHIL! IF PLAYING A COURSE LIKE THIS, is a waste of your time, then let 1 of the young guys take your place! How was the courses rough unfair??? The Europeans didn’t seem to mind, while they were waxing your @ss up and down the fairways! I wish I could add some colorful 4-letter expletives, to match my real feelings about PM’s comments! Hey Phil, maybe if you practiced keeping the ball in the fairways, instead of “dancing” like CP30 in need of a lube job, you could’ve actually contributed something in the Ryder Cup???
Luke Skywhacker
Oct 5, 2018 at 6:17 pm
C-3PO
Scheiss
Oct 5, 2018 at 6:18 pm
They were all there to visit Paris and Versailles with their respective WAGS. That’s why they didn’t decline to play.
Vas
Oct 5, 2018 at 4:48 pm
He’s totally right… but I’m sure Xander Schauffele would have liked that spot.
Thomas
Oct 5, 2018 at 4:46 pm
If this is the case, why didn’t Phil scout the course before the event and tell Captain Furyk NOT to pick him? I’m sure he ego wouldn’t allow that!
Anthony B
Oct 5, 2018 at 3:26 pm
They hit lots of fairways on the Senior Tour Phil. In the meantime, betting on Mickelson for the Players, US Open or the British Open would be a ‘waste of my time’.
Pete O'Tube
Oct 5, 2018 at 3:04 pm
So in future Mickleson will only play on courses with no hazards, no rough and no challenge. You’re a fat, lazy waste of time. Get some backbone and test yourself, see how good you can be if you hit it STRAIGHT. Pathetic response from a has-been.
Paul stocks
Oct 5, 2018 at 2:17 pm
Absolute arrogance as usual from the Americans
Why didn’t he play it in advance like Justin Thomas,why did furyk pick him ,both teams had to play the same course,,and the fact he said it’s the best team spirit he’s ever been in is the most worrying thing.
GolfGolfGolf
Oct 6, 2018 at 6:50 am
*American. Don’t generalize
Funkaholic
Oct 8, 2018 at 11:27 am
Ridiculous generalization, Phil is not all “Americans”, most of us don’t respect him and his antics. Typical, smug, uninformed European.
Meroo
Oct 9, 2018 at 4:02 am
Hey Funk,then you proceed to generalise about Euro’s. Hypocrite much?
William Davis
Oct 5, 2018 at 1:43 pm
He really should learn not to make comments like this. Makes him look very silly – again.