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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BigGolfConsumer
Feb 4, 2019 at 10:41 pm
I am banning all Callaway golf products until such time as Sergio Garcia is terminated from Callaway! Come on Callaway, step up and do the right thing! Golf courses, especially greens are sacred places for those of us that love golf!
Doug McManus
Feb 5, 2019 at 10:27 am
A little Harsh! we all lose our tempers and make mistakes. We have no idea what else was going on with Sergio, that day or that week? He apologized, he new he was wrong case closed!
Big Worm
Feb 4, 2019 at 4:03 pm
Seems like what Sergio did (has also done in the past) is much more serious than what Kevin Kisner did to get suspended from his home club. Not sure the golfing world would lose much if he just went away permanently.
Tom
Feb 4, 2019 at 2:15 pm
When Tiger swore and threw clubs, he was never suspended, was he?
b
Feb 5, 2019 at 4:40 am
tiger haven’t destroyed anything nor spit in the hole, did he? Maybe in the hotel, but…
Chipsjusonce
Feb 4, 2019 at 2:13 pm
This is why you don’t read text’s from the Ex before the round… lessons to be learned…
J
Feb 4, 2019 at 2:04 pm
thats golf lol! we need him for entertainment!
B
Feb 4, 2019 at 1:53 pm
Come on, players like so should be banned forever. That’s pretty much like speeding on the motorway with the potential to bring death to the innocent people. Spitting in the hole, throwing shoe, clubs, now destroying greens? The whole league of PGA pros keep their ethics just to be tainted by one bad apple.
jimg
Feb 4, 2019 at 1:51 pm
My God, what a baby! The European has lost a load of credibility by taking no further action. A member of any club would face sanction or possible complete prohibition for this type of temper tantrum. Sergio should forfeit appearance fee AND be fined at least 100K – which should be turned over to the host golf course. What a message the supposed Leaders of the Game are giving to junior golfers. Perhaps the USGA, the PGA Tour, and or the Masters will step up and rescind invitations … Dear Mr. Ridley; …
Ramiro
Feb 4, 2019 at 1:41 pm
“If there is someone who has never sinned can start by throwing the first stone”
TONEY P
Feb 4, 2019 at 12:20 pm
I was a Sergio fan but not anymore, he needs to be suspended for a month or two. Doing damage to the course intentionally is, on a few greens , signs of a breakdown and for a professional to do so affecting the play of others pro’s. Even at a mini course they would ban that person for a while.
Stixman
Feb 4, 2019 at 11:24 am
I think the governing bodies of both PGA and European Tours are totally spineless, gutless and ruled by expediency, not principle. Both FIGJAM and Garcia should have face lengthy punitive bans for their lapses in civilised behaviour.
2putttom
Feb 4, 2019 at 10:57 am
those actions remind me of men’s league.
JP
Feb 4, 2019 at 10:14 am
WHY isn’t he suspended from any future events?
the dude
Feb 4, 2019 at 9:50 am
pics of the greens???
dat
Feb 4, 2019 at 9:47 am
Pathetic manchild. I’ve seen this bunker stuff AS A JOKE on muni courses, where you can repair the damage with a rake. On a green though??
golf golf golf
Feb 4, 2019 at 9:41 am
That was a funny outburst. It gets better every time you watch it, and I’ve watched it a bunch. He’s a boob, a cry baby. There should be some suspension time for the damage to the greens. That’s completely unacceptable.
Bryan
Feb 4, 2019 at 9:29 am
This guy is a bratty child trapped in a mans body.
bj
Feb 4, 2019 at 9:27 am
Damn that tantrum was funny!!! There was clearly a gopher running around in the bunker he was tray to dispatch
Mower
Feb 4, 2019 at 11:19 am
lol, that’s what I was thinkin.