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Justin Thomas rips USGA for new rule, which saw yet another Tour pro controversially penalized

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5 years ago

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Update 2/3: The USGA has reversed the penalty assessed to Denny McCarthy

If the USGA thought that updates to the rules of golf would help modernize the sport and keep themselves out of the headlines, then 2019 has been a rude awakening.

Haotong Li’s penalty on the European Tour caused controversy in Dubai last week, and on Friday at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, a penalty called on PGA Tour pro Denny McCarthy had the golfing world enraged.

McCarthy received a two-stroke penalty on the 15th hole, after violating Rule 10.2b (4), which states that when a player begins taking a stance for the stroke and until the stroke is made, his caddie cannot deliberately stand in a location on or close to an extension of the line of play behind the ball for any reason. Despite re-setting, the 25-year-old was deemed to have breached the rule and was subsequently given a two-stroke penalty.

What followed, was a mini-mutiny amongst PGA Tour professionals, led by one of the game’s best, Justin Thomas. Despite being right in the thick of things at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Thomas took time to call out the USGA for their latest rule change, in a manner which is almost unheard of in modern sports. Thomas was outraged by the ruling, and on social media, the 25-year-old called it “ridiculous” and stressed how he felt the new rule “NEEDS to be changed asap”.

Thomas’ post is no doubt going to court controversy, but the American received backing from fellow pro’s Brandt Snedeker and Eddie Pepperell, who soon after joined the rebellion. The former tagged the USGA in his tweet and sarcastically stated “Good job simplifying the rules,” while Pepperell brutally slammed the entire ethos behind the rules of golf, with this ruthless tweet.

The USGA has been under fire for several high-profile blunders in recent years, especially in regards to its handling of U.S. Opens. With the new rules in place designed to simplify matters, the idea was apparently to keep themselves as just a backstory while letting the game of golf shine. But it has all gone pear-shaped yet again for the organization.

The audacity shown by one of the elite players in the game like Justin Thomas to call out the USGA proves that whatever patience had by the top professionals in the game has just about worn thin with regards to the governing body’s handling of the sport.

The decision to penalize players and their caddies for innocuous incidents, who possess no incentive to gain an advantage, is surely only going to lead to more controversy as we head towards major season. Just take a look at Rickie Fowler’s caddie here, who is wholly focused on his job and then becomes fearful of unintentionally infringing the latest rule implemented by the USGA.

Golf may be a gentleman’s sport, laced with history and tradition, but Friday night showed that, when feeling justified in doing so, Justin Thomas and his fellow pros are clearly not afraid to call out the powers that be. One can only wonder how the folks in Far Hills feel about such high-profile criticism.

 

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Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected].

50 Comments

50 Comments

  1. Rich

    Feb 23, 2019 at 4:13 am

    Justin Thomas is a whinger. He thinks he’s a hero because he plays golf well. Plenty of you out there mate. You haven’t got the market cornered on that. Hell, even JB Holmes can beat you down the stretch at Riviera. The rule is simple. Just play to it. Don’t have your caddie anywhere near you like of play when your anywhere near the ball. How hard is that!!!

    Reply Report comment

    • FeelFreeToPunctuateProperly

      Feb 28, 2019 at 12:09 pm

      I’m confused as to how sticking up for a lesser-known player is whining. I get it, you don’t like the guy, but try and form a coherent thought, rather than just jumping at any opportunity to grumble about a player. This sort of comment adds nothing to the conversation.

      Reply Report comment

  2. Shotmark

    Feb 15, 2019 at 4:34 am

    Contrary to their supposed intention, the way the new rules have been dumbed down seem to have the express intention of slowing down play. This rule is however spot on in my opinion.

    It puts the onus back on the player to line up shots/puts using their own skill and judgement rather than that of their caddy.

    The fact the new rule is causing so much consternation and debate suggests it was necessary. If the change had been seamless then that would suggest it hadn’t gone far enough.

    As to the entitled Justin Thomas being upset by the change, heaven forfend that anyone should do anything to offend this delicate snowflake. No doubt the fist person he hears defending the rule will be ejected from the course.

    Reply Report comment

    • Rich Douglas

      Feb 17, 2019 at 3:04 pm

      No, it suggests that it is confusing and applied in a manner inconsistent with its intended purpose and outcome.

      The rule is aimed at players who have their caddies check their club face alignment at address. This is almost exclusively an LPGA tour thing. So the new rule is designed to have the caddie get out of their before he/she can align the player. Fine. But what constitutes being out of there is really vague. Hence, the confusion.

      Reply Report comment

  3. Tim

    Feb 13, 2019 at 9:34 am

    This is a really old game.

    Really old.

    At its inception, the game was simple. The rules were essentially self evident. There were no issues. The objective was to get the ball in the cup in as few strokes as possible. The player with the fewest strokes wins. THAT IT.

    Sitting in a room and brainstorming situations like caddie helping a player line up.. This type of thinking will result in these types of moronic situations. Whatever minuscule damage that may come from a caddie helping a player line up his next stroke, pales in comparison to the chaos that comes from making rules to prevent it.

    Count every stroke, play it as it lies, OOB is OOB and dont worry about the conversations that the caddies are having with the players. Its just two humans talking. It has nothing to do with the objective of the sport: THE PLAYER WITH THE FEWEST STROKES WINS.

    Reply Report comment

  4. Jd78

    Feb 8, 2019 at 6:56 am

    Will the pga tour please say to hell with the incompetent buffoons at the USGA and create their own rules. How many more golfers are they going to screw over with their ridiculous rulings, and how many more US opens will they ruin before it happens?

    Reply Report comment

  5. CJ

    Feb 4, 2019 at 8:08 pm

    I love that JT is speaking his mind and they are taking notice!

    Reply Report comment

    • Joe Damiata

      Feb 5, 2019 at 3:15 pm

      It’s good to see a tour pro with some stature voice his opinion. Previously, pros were afraid to speak up, worried by the threat of a fine. If something is wrong, then these guys are the ones who will cause the USGA rules makers take notice. Well done JT.

      Reply Report comment

  6. Art Williams

    Feb 4, 2019 at 2:02 pm

    I was under the impression that if the golfer backs off the putt and then resets, no penalty occurs. I read above, I think, that that is what ultimately happened. As to RicKie’s penalty it seems absurd. He did everything correctly. The ball was in play and through no action of his gravity or something (wind?) took over and the ball trickled down the embankment into the water. He needed to reset it again with another penalty? Crazy. It should be like a ball on a green that moves. Replace it and play on.

    Reply Report comment

  7. BallBuster

    Feb 4, 2019 at 1:08 pm

    I think Thomas and all should quit whining about the rule. It’s a good rule. No outside influence in the actual stroke. Just like 99.9% of golfers do every day. Thomas wonders how it makes golf better? It makes it more dependent on your individual talent and ability to perform on your own and not be pampered. What if your caddy has a better sense of aim than the other guy but you as a player suck more under pressure?

    Doubt Ben Hogan or Jack Nicklaus ever had his caddy give him the “roger all systems are go” call before he hit the ball.

    As far as backing off after he had his caddy behind him then readdressing the ball to play… geez, just another F’n thing we need to slow down play.

    Reply Report comment

    • Scooter6

      Feb 5, 2019 at 8:04 am

      Well said! It is a legit rule that takes care of a problem that was getting out of hand, particularly in the LPGA.

      Reply Report comment

      • OnInTwo

        Feb 7, 2019 at 8:02 pm

        I agree, it’s a good rule. These pampered pros just basically need to play like the other estimated 60 million golfers play. Why don’t those folks have to worry about incurring that penalty? Because they don’t have a caddy. Surely the men and women, who are now “pros”, played the game without the advantage of a human tool in their early development and while they are “off”/playing leisurely with friends. How difficult is it for the caddy to give advice, encouragement, sustenance, pyschoanalysis, and assurance that a participation trophy will be issued to the player while standing to the side of the line of play? Unless of course there is some advantage to having all of that presented from behind the player. Yea, ah huh, kinda what I thought.

        Reply Report comment

  8. Ron Garland

    Feb 4, 2019 at 12:38 pm

    Who cares what the USGA thinks? When you’re wrong, you’re wrong. And they are dead wrong.

    Reply Report comment

  9. Joro

    Feb 4, 2019 at 12:29 pm

    As usual the “Rulers of the game” have stuck their size 20 foot in their big mouth, are continuing the phuqing up of the game. New rules are stupid rules and not many get them, other than the geniuses in here. Face it when Riickies ball rolled into the water after he placed it, thought it was done and walked up to the Green only 2 see Gravity take over and the Ball rolled into the water. Okay, so it rolled by it self, but a Penalty? that is totally ridiculous, yet that is the rule, which is total USGA Bull****.

    Golf should be hit it, go find it and hit it again. No freebies, no drops, nothing. Hit it in the water or OB take a drop, add a stroke and hit it again, and most of all add a big penalty for being slow. They don’t need a watch to see if a player is slow, if they are fine em with a meaningful amount that they will remember.

    Hit, find it, and hit it again.

    Reply Report comment

    • 9Lb. Hammer

      Feb 4, 2019 at 1:16 pm

      Return to troll school dude. You have failed miserably. All you have succeeded in doing is making a laughing stock out of yourself.

      Reply Report comment

    • REGIS

      Feb 4, 2019 at 8:43 pm

      The only people who actually play by the rules are professionals and top amatures in tournaments. Most avid amatures don’t understand the rules and that’s fine. Play whatever rules your regular 4 some or group is comfortable. How many times has someone in your group actually gone back to the tee and reloaded after a ball is lost in the rough? How many groups play a breakfast ball or Mulligan. Most charity tournaments sell them to raise money.

      Reply Report comment

      • Peter

        Feb 5, 2019 at 4:16 am

        What, the other groups in my Saturday comp aren’t following the rules?? Well, that explains a lot!

        Reply Report comment

  10. Guia

    Feb 3, 2019 at 2:03 am

    Read the rules, follow the rules, quit whining.

    Reply Report comment

    • Antonio

      Feb 3, 2019 at 1:46 pm

      +1. IS it so difficult to understand the rule? These guys are getting spoiled

      Reply Report comment

    • Tartan Golf Travel

      Feb 3, 2019 at 4:48 pm

      You clearly don’t understand what happened. The tour has already reversed the ruling!

      Reply Report comment

      • Antonio

        Feb 4, 2019 at 5:59 am

        If it were up to me I would change several rules. In the meantime if I break a rule, whether I believe it is a stupid one or not, I just assume it. Now these guys can brake a rule simply because they have not taken the time to read them and then make a lot of noise and influence changes as it has happened.
        Nonetheless I think any pgatour pro proposal to modify any of the rules has to be heard but not once you have broken it. I have not heard or seen JT proposing specific changes to the new rules up until now

        Reply Report comment

    • B

      Feb 4, 2019 at 10:35 am

      He did follow the rules, that’s why the tour overturned the ruling. Pay attention man.

      Reply Report comment

  11. Tartan Golf Travel

    Feb 2, 2019 at 8:26 pm

    The ruling was moronic as are most things the USGA does. The spirit of the rule is fine. Make the player line himself up but Li’s Penalty was terrible and this one was just absurd. The tour and USGA have already backed off. Don’t get use to the new rules. The USGA will update them very soon. Guarantee the drop will be amended to say above the knee. This one with lining up is just very subjective but the only way you can do it is I’ll know it when I see it. The only people abusing this anyway was the LPGA.

    Reply Report comment

    • Robert

      Feb 4, 2019 at 11:47 am

      You’re already being penalized. How about simply being allowed to place the ball. Would save a lot of wasted time dropping, then re-dropping.

      Reply Report comment

      • smarterthanusga

        Feb 13, 2019 at 11:12 am

        amen…..so dumbass that they bend over and drop from knee height and it still always rolls anyway.. what is really dumbass is that they play lift-clean-and PLACE about a quarter of the time anyway so what’s the big deal about placing the ball???

        ps..still say the usga should have put in place driver drop zones…to save the morons in front of me from hitting 3 drives each. there’s drop zones by ponds so what is the difference? put the driver drop zone say 200 yards out or whatever from the white tees if they want to add a bit of a distance penalty too.

        Reply Report comment

  12. A. Commoner

    Feb 2, 2019 at 3:24 pm

    Major professional sports organizations make their own rules of competition; why not professional golf? The tours need to totally direct their own affairs. ‘Seeds of discontent’ have been slowly germinating over some years among professionals and amateurs alike. It is inevitable the “governing bodies” will, in time, extinguish themselves. Ineptitude and irrelevance will not save tradition.

    Reply Report comment

    • Regis

      Feb 4, 2019 at 8:50 pm

      The PGA tour does have its own rules.(like the one ball rule) They supplement the USGA/R&A rules. If they chose to the PGA tour could always adapt a separate set of rules governing play in their tournaments

      Reply Report comment

  13. Phil

    Feb 2, 2019 at 2:10 pm

    It would probably be easier, and fair, if the “reset rule” applied to the entire golf course or, did not exist at all. It does not make sense that this rule’s application depends on where the player is on the course.

    Reply Report comment

  14. Lovejoy

    Feb 2, 2019 at 1:31 pm

    Thomas,Pepperell and gang need to grow up and shut up.
    The rule change has been made and as ‘professionals’ you would assume that all caddies have also been informed and told that under no circumstances should they encroach on the stipulated area.
    The situation was highlighted in Dubai but Mr McCarthy has either not taken it on board or believes it doesn’t apply to him.
    The player and caddie were stupid not the penalty.

    Reply Report comment

    • 9Lb. Hammer

      Feb 4, 2019 at 1:21 pm

      The player and caddie failing to observe the rule are stupid. Contrary to what you seem to thing that has less than nothing to do with the fact THE RULE IS STUPID. STUPID, STUPID, STUPID.

      Defend the rule leaving this particular violation out of it.

      Reply Report comment

  15. 15th Club

    Feb 2, 2019 at 1:27 pm

    Oh bring it on! Nice that Eddie Pepperell when ageist and complained about “cantankerous old men.” No sure what a millennial douchebag like Eddie Pepperell knows about administering the Rules of Golf.

    Reply Report comment

    • Shallowface

      Feb 2, 2019 at 5:45 pm

      The perpetrators of ageism will have to get old themselves before ageism is treated with the same much deserved disdain as racism is treated today.

      Reply Report comment

  16. Dan

    Feb 2, 2019 at 12:21 pm

    How about the premadona pros just play the game with the rules . Rules are rules. Sick of all kinds of so call pros dictating what a what should not be. You make ridiculous amounts of money don’t like it find another sport. Plenty of new young pros behind you that don’t need to listen to the big boys wine.

    Reply Report comment

    • 9Lb. Hammer

      Feb 4, 2019 at 1:26 pm

      “premadona”, “so call pros”, “dictating what a what should not be”, “big boys wine”

      I bet those “so cal pros” can wrote and speak English a lot more proficiently than it seems you can from behind the anonymity of your keyboard and an internet connection.

      Reply Report comment

    • OnInTwo

      Feb 8, 2019 at 5:09 pm

      Totally agree with you Dan. It’s incredible, but typically millennial. Whiners. Play like we play (don’t want to hear, but they play better, you know what I mean- pre troll comment), that’s why the rules aren’t bifurcated. So we can see how well experts do it.

      Reply Report comment

  17. dat

    Feb 2, 2019 at 11:59 am

    No one outside the pro level on TV enforce this crap. And you wonder why people view golf as a masochist game.

    Reply Report comment

    • antonio

      Feb 3, 2019 at 1:53 pm

      Are you serious? Most of the people I know (low, mid and high cappers) play by the rules. That’s golf

      Reply Report comment

  18. Mike

    Feb 2, 2019 at 11:41 am

    If it was Phil Michelson they wouldn’t have assed a penalty. Total bs!!!

    Reply Report comment

    • Eddie

      Feb 2, 2019 at 7:02 pm

      Yeah….that’s not true, but your hyperbole surely hides a point in there somewhere.

      Reply Report comment

  19. Travis

    Feb 2, 2019 at 8:33 am

    Seems like the caddie was just talking to the player about the shot. If the player backs himself out and realigns himself then there shouldn’t be a penalty. The caddie wasn’t there telling him his aim was perfect and he’s good to go. The game of golf can be so dang simple it is unbelievable, yet somehow the morons at the USGA find a way to screw it all up. They should give the rule book to a committee of 20 or so professional golfers across all Tours and I guarantee those guys could come up with a simple and universal rule system that would benefit all golfers Pros and Ams.

    Reply Report comment

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Published

2 days ago

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Apr 23, 2024

By

GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.

As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.

Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying about our photos from the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in the forums.

 

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Morning 9: Tiger’s TGL teammates | Woosnam’s criticism of Cantlay | Rory’s return to tour policy board

Published

2 days ago

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Apr 23, 2024

By
By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Tuesday morning, golf fans, as the PGA Tour heads to New Orleans for the Zurich Classic.

1. 15-year-old finishes top 20 on KFT

Jay Coffin for Golf Digest…”During a week when most eyes were on Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda, the 15-year-old lefty finished off an incredible week with a five-under 66 in the final round of the Korn Ferry Tour’s LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood Ranch in Florida.”

  • “After opening with 68-66-70, Russell finished at 14-under-par total to tie for 20th place. The finish in which he jumped 28 positions on the leaderboard on the final day, gives him an exemption into next week’s Veritex Bank Championship at Rangers Park in Arlington, Texas. He’s the youngest player to finish inside the top 20 on the PGA of Korn Ferry tours, according to records that go back to 1983.”
Full piece.

2. Understandably, Nelly WDs

Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner…”Nelly Korda’s bid for a record-setting sixth consecutive win will have to wait a few weeks.”

  • “A day after capturing the Chevron Championship during a marathon final round in Houston, Korda announced on social media that she was withdrawing from this week’s JM Eagle LA Championship.”
  • “It was not an easy decision,” she wrote. “After the unbelievable week at the Chevron and grinding through the mental and physical challenges of four events in the past five weeks, I am definitely feeling exhausted. With so much still to come throughout 2024, I feel I need to listen to my body and get some rest, so I can be ready for the remainder of the season.”
Full piece.

3. Scheffler’s impressive No. 1 feat

Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…”After Scheffler’s victory Monday morning at the RBC Heritage, Scheffler upped his points average to 15.016 and increased his advantage in the Official World Golf Ranking over No. 2 Rory McIlroy to more than double McIlroy’s 7.365 average, meaning Scheffler is ranked further ahead of No. 2 than No. 2 is ahead of the last-ranked player.”

  • “The last time a No. 1 player had a greater points average was Woods, who was at 15.4564 on Dec. 6, 2009. But Woods was less than seven average points ahead of No. 2 Phil Mickelson at the time. Earlier that year, Woods was 7.735 ahead of Mickelson, which is the last time the gap between Nos. 1 and 2 was greater than Scheffler’s current 7.651 advantage.”
Full piece.

4. Zurich field notes

PGATour.com’s Adam Stanley…”Rory McIlroy will make his tournament debut alongside good pal, Ryder Cup teammate, and Irishman Shane Lowry – a duo that was firmed up during a celebratory lunch after the Ryder Cup last fall… Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele will try to reprise their 2022 win here. Cantlay and Schauffele have both the Foursomes and Four-ball scoring records at this event… Davis Riley and Nick Hardy will defend their 2023 title. No team has gone back-to-back… Three sets of brothers (and two sets of twins!) will play together with twins Rasmus and Nicolai Højgaard and Parker and Pierceson Coody in the field along with Alex and Matt Fitzpatrick. Alex Fitzpatrick and Rasmus Højgaard are sponsor invites…”

  • “Billy Horschel, who won last week at the Corales Puntacana Championship, will be without his previous partner Sam Burns, as Burns and his wife are expecting their first child any day. Horschel will instead be paired with fellow University of Florida alum Tyson Alexander. Horschel has won the Zurich Classic when it was both an individual and team event… Other notable pairings include Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, Sahith Theegala and Will Zalatoris, and Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin. The Canadian duo finished runner-up a year ago and would like nothing more than to show Presidents Cup International Team captain Mike Weir how well they play together… Steve Stricker will play his second TOUR event this season (after earning his way into THE PLAYERS Championship), teaming up with Matt Kuchar.”
Full piece.

5. Tiger’s teammates

Field Level Media report…”Tiger Woods announced Monday that Max Homa, Tom Kim and Kevin Kisner have joined his Jupiter Links GC TGL team.”

  • “The virtual golf league headed by Woods and Rory McIlroy will begin its inaugural season next January. Woods also unveiled the team’s logo.”
  • “I have already shared my excitement and optimism for TGL as a league and product,” said Woods. “Now that we have finalized our roster with a team of world-class golfers, I am even more confident that this group will proudly represent the Jupiter (Fla.) area and connect with our fans for years to come.”
Full piece.

6. Woosnam questions Cantlay’s decision

Our Matt Vincenzi…”After the horn sounded to suspend play due to darkness, Cantlay, who’s ball was in the fairway on the 18th hole, had a decision to make. With over 200 yards into the green and extreme winds working against the shot, conventional wisdom would be to wait until Monday morning to hit the shot.”

  • “On the other hand, if he could finish the hole, he may just want to get the event over with so he could get out of Hilton Head.”
  • “Curiously, Cantlay chose neither of those options. After hitting 3-wood into the green, and still coming up short, the former FedEx Cup champion chose to mark his ball and chip and putt on Monday morning.”
  • “Ian Woosnam, who was watching from home, took to X to give his thoughts on Cantlay’s decision making.”
  • “Cantlay would end up getting up and down for par when play resumed at 8:00 am Monday morning.”
Full piece.

7. JT on Scheffler’s “weird” equipment choice

Our Matt Vincenzi…”After Justin Thomas’ third round of the RBC Heritage, the two-time major champion went in the broadcast booth alongside the CBS crew.”

  • “While Thomas was watching Scottie Scheffler play on the back nine of his third round, he wondered aloud why Scottie uses high-numbered golf balls.”
  • “Does anybody else think it’s weird that Scottie uses high numbers? I don’t know if I’ve ever seen an elite player use high-numbered golf balls.”
  • “Amanda Balionis who was on the grounds chimed in, reporting that analyst Dottie Pepper had wondered the same thing earlier that day.”
  • “I’ve been going about this wrong my whole life,” Thomas jokingly said.
Full piece.

8. Rory to rejoin PGA Tour policy board

Mark Schlabach for ESPN…”Four-time major championship winner Rory McIlroy is poised to return to the PGA Tour’s policy board, pending a vote by the board, which could come as early as this week, sources confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.”

  • “One of the PGA Tour’s most vocal supporters during its three-year battle with LIV Golf, McIlroy abruptly resigned as a player director on the tour’s influential policy board in November.”
  • “He is expected to replace policy board player director Webb Simpson, who intends to step away before his two-year term expires in 2025.”
Full piece.

9. Weir names Presidents Cup assistants

PGA Tour report…”International Team Captain Mike Weir announced Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman, Geoff Ogilvy and Camilo Villegas as captain’s assistants for the 2024 Presidents Cup, which will be played at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Canada, Sept. 24-29.
Full piece.
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Tour Rundown: Six-pack of tourneys follows Masters

Published

3 days ago

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Apr 22, 2024

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Brazil and Texas were kindred souls this week, at least when it came to weather. Both regions experienced torrential delays, and three tournaments were held up. The LPGA, PGA Tour Americas, and PGA Tour Champions were compelled to reduce play or work extra holes into Sunday. As if that weren’t enough, South Carolina and the PGA Tour fell victim to nature’s wrath, with lightning postponing the conclusion of the event to Monday.

The year’s first women’s major championship was celebrated in Texas. The Chevron is gaining a bit of tradition in its second year after relocation. This year’s event culminated in the continued coronation of the game’s current best. The Korn Ferry Tour saw a top-twenty performance from a 15-year old amateur, while the second event of the week on the big tour found a winner in the Dominican Republic. Six events is more than a handful, so let’s get right to it, with this week’s (delayed) Tour Rundown.

LPGA @ Chevron Championship: Korda corrals second major title

The winter of 2022-2023 seems so distant for current Nelly Korda. A mysterious ailment sapped all of her energy, just as the world appeared to have finally emerged from the pandemic. We never quite secured the complete information that we desired, but no one can say that any of us deserved to know more than Nelly wished to share. One thing is for certain: Nelly Korda has returned to top form, and the world number one golfer is at least one level above anyone else on tour.

Korda began her 2024 campaign with a January victory in the Drive One Championship. In her next start, in March, she continued her assault on the record books, with a win at the Se Ri Pak. She won again the following week, at the Ford, then defeated Leona Maguire in the final match at the T-Mobile Match Play, for a fourth consecutive victory. Would the increased hype around a major championship have an impact on her game? Well, no.

Korda began play at the Chevron Championship with a score of 68. She trailed Lauren Coughlin by two after 18 holes, but caught her with a second-round 69. Coughlin would ultimately tie for third spot with Brooke Henderson. Henderson played with Korda on day four, but the middle third of the round was her undoing. Making a late move was Maja Stark. House Stark closed with birdies at 17 and 18 to reach 11 under par. Both Korda and Strak played the final three days in identical numbers: 69 each day.

Korda held a firm hand on the tournament over the course of the final day. She stood minus-four for the round through ten holes, before a bit of sloppy play made things competitive again. Bogeys at 11 and 15 opened the door a wee bit for Stark. Korda was equal to the test, however, and closed stylishly with birdie at 18.

PGA Tour 1 @ RBC: Scottie, so hottie!

Nelly isn’t the only golfer on fire, although Scottie Scheffler still has a ways to go to match her. Scheffler proved this week that he has a game for all courses. After winning comfortably at lengthy Augusta National, Scheffler shifted gears and game to the wee Sea Pines course, and won again. That’s two weeks in a row for the man from New Jersey/Texas, so let’s learn how he did it.

Scheffler totaled 69 on day one, and found himself six shots behind leader J.T. Poston. Scheffler revealed that his teacher, Randy Smith, would tell him that he didn’t need to be the best 15 year-old; just the best 25 year-old. It was easy, then, to play the long game and consider all 72 holes, instead of just 18. Scheffler improved to 65 on Friday, and then went even lower on Saturday. His 63 moved him to the top of the board, and caused the golfverse to wonder if Scheffler would win for a second consecutive week.

Sunday saw all the chasers fall away. Scores between 70 and 72 from Patrick Rodgers, Collin Morikawa, and Sepp Straka meant that others would need to seize the day, if Scheffler were to do more than coast. Wyndham Clark and Justin Thomas each moved inside the top five with fourth-round 65s, but no one ever got close enough to the world number one. The win was Scheffler’s 10th on tour, and made him the betting favorite for next month’s PGA Championship at Valhalla.

PGA Tour 2 @ Corales Puntacana: Baton Boy claims 8th Tour triumph

If you’ve ever seen Billy Horschel toss a club, you know that he doesn’t do so in anger. More likely is a calculated, soaring arc, paired with a look of fractured disbelief, followed by a quick catch of the cudgel. Ergo, Baton Boy. This week on the island of Hispaniola, the native of Grant, Florida, outworked and outhustled everyone else on Sunday. Horschel gathered seven birdies and an eagle, on the way to a 63 and a 23-under par total.

The former Florida Gator zipped past the four golfers in front of him, and left the remaining field in the rear-view mirror. Horschel’s round was two shots better than anyone else, and moved him two shots ahead of third-round leader Wesley Bryan. One of the famed Bryan Brothers, Wes closed with birdie at the last to post a 68 that would have won the week on any other day.

Korn Ferry Tour @ LeCom Suncoast: It’s Widing in extra holes

Miles Russell probably won’t have to serve detention for ditching class on Thursday and Friday. The high school freshman made his KFT debut, survived the 36-hole cut, and toyed with a top-ten finish. He ultimately tied for 20th at 14-under par, six shots behind the three co-leaders. My guess is that Epstein’s Mom will write him a note, and he’ll get a pass. By finishing top-25, Russell earned a spot in next week’s event. Yikes!

Back to the top of the board. Patrick Cover, Steven Fisk, and Tim Widing all found their way to the magic number of -20. Fisk made birdie at the last, after bogeys at 16 and 17. Cover had three bogeys on the back nine, but a birdie at 14 was enough to get him to overtime. Widing was plus-one on the day through four, but played interstellar golf over the final 14. Six birdies moved him from Russell-ville to extra time.

The trio scurried to the 18th tee, where Cover drove into a fairway bunker. He was unable to reach the green with his approach, made bogey, and exited the overtime session. Widing and Fisk returned to the final deck once more, and matters were resolved. Fisk was unable to convert a long par putt, and Widing (pronounced VEE-ding) tapped in for his first KFT title.

PGA Tour Americas @ Brasil Open: Mr. Anderson finds a way

Golf is a funny game. Matthew Anderson held a lead with one round to play. He made six pars on Sunday, and sprinkled the rest of his card with birdies and bogeys. In complete contrast, Ollie Osborne played consistently on the day, posting four birdies and zero bogeys. Connor Godsey was not far off Osborne’s pace, with seven birdies and but two bogeys on the scorecard. So, of course, Matthew Anderson won by a stroke over Osborne and Godsey.

Not how, but how many, is another one of those platitudes that we all learn early on. Despite five bogeys through his first 14 holes, Anderson summoned the defiant grit to make birdie at the 71st and 72nd holes. After making deuce at the penultimat hole, Anderson’s swerving effort at the last looked as if it should miss low, but it had enough pace to stay inside the hole and fall for a closing four at the par-five finisher.

PGA Tour Champions @ Invited Celebrity: Broadhurst stands tall

What do you call a tournament that begins on Friday, takes Saturday off, and finishes on Sunday? Fortunate is one adjective to use. A weather system moved through Texas this weekend, and made a mess of things in Irving. After Thomas Bjorn signed for 64 on day one, rain and all things counter-productive moved through the Las Colinas resort, ensuring that Saturday would be nothing more than a rest day. When Sunday arrived, conditions had improved, and the game was on. Bjorn was unable to preserve his Friday magic, although he did record a 70 for -8. He finished in a third-place tie with Y.E. Yang.

David Toms, the 2001 PGA Championship victor, presented Sunday’s low round, and moved to 10-under par. Toms made one mistake on the day. He lived in the rough on the 9th hole, ultimately making bogey. The rest of the day was immaculate, as seven birdies came his way, resulting in a six-under par 65. Only one golfer was able to surpass Toms, and that was Paul Broadhurst.

Broadhurst nearly matched Toms for daily honors. His mistake came early, with bogey at the second. He bounced back with eagle at the third, and added three more birdies for 66 and 11-under par. Over his first three seasons on the Tour Champions, Broadhurst won five times, including two major titles. His fifth win came in 2018, making this win his first in six years. A long time coming, for sure, but well earned.

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