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Adam Scott believes the new rules have made the sport a “laughingstock;” Happy to be a martyr in the fight against slow play

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The modernized rules of golf have come under fire from a number of Tour professionals already this year, and Adam Scott is the latest man to join the list of disgruntled pros unhappy with the changes.

Speaking to the New York Times, Scott criticized the USGA and R&A’s rule changes, saying “They’ve just written more gray areas into the game that were not necessary.” The Australian singled out the new drop rule which forces players to drop from knee height as opposed to shoulder height, a rule which will make Scott think twice before taking a drop in 2019 without the consultation of his caddie or a rules official, in fear of violating the new regulation.

Another rule change which Scott discussed was the ability that players now have of leaving the flag-stick in the hole while putting – a rule which Scott believes will change the art of putting entirely.

“To be honest it almost changes the whole aim of the game. It’s to hit the pin, not hole the putt. It takes speed out of your head so much. It even takes some reading of the green out.”

For Scott, officials are changing too much too fast causing detriment to the sport which he believes is now becoming the object of ridicule.

“We haven’t had a lot of changes in golf in the history of the game, and we’ve had a lot recently — rules changing weekly in some cases — and it’s crazy. I think we’re becoming the laughingstock.”

The former Masters champ recently spoke to the PGA Tour’s chief of tournaments and competitions Andy Pazder, who he told that he was willing to be penalized for slow play if it would help fellow professionals speed up. Concerning slow play, Scott believes the lack of penalties enforced, as well as the absence of financial ramifications, is at the core of one of golfs biggest issues.

“Make me the victim. I’ll take the penalty. The only way it’s going to work is if you enforce it. There’s a big media fuss, a big feeling that we play slow, and we do, but the tour is an entertainment business and a big money maker for a lot of people. Until sponsors and TV tell the commissioner you guys play too slow and we’re not putting money up, it’s a waste of time talking about because it’s not going to change.”

Scott, who is in the field this week at the Genesis Open, further emphasised his frustration at the lack of action concerning slow play in the game, stating

“We’ve seen too many years, too much complaining about it. And zero action about it.”

 

 

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

40 Comments

40 Comments

  1. Grizz01

    Feb 16, 2019 at 7:36 pm

    I concur to some degree. I think tournament play they should have to take the pin out. For everyday players, especially on the weekends. If you want to leave the pin in, leave it in with no penalty. Speed up play, and use that score for your handicap.

    Reply Report comment

    • Scott Ivlow

      Feb 22, 2019 at 11:48 am

      The problem with your tournament play argument is what qualifies as a tournament? But a dumb rule change having 2 different rules makes make no sense. If a a pro player wants to leave it in they should be allowed to do it under the USGA rule. There is no single advantage to making a putt with the pin the hole. Just because a player might aim at the flag there is no guarantee that the ball will go into the hole anyway. Leaving it a golfer will still be making a risk of hitting it and not go in the whole.

      Reply Report comment

  2. Greg Marthaler

    Feb 15, 2019 at 3:29 pm

    Dropping from the knee and putting with the flagstick in don’t improve pace of play. The way to speed up play is to institute ready golf, ban the yardage/green books, use lasers. Eliminate pros calling in rules officials simply to make a drop. If a player is slow (JB Holmes, Ben Crane) assess them a 2 shot penalty. The warning comes on the 1st tee, before the round starts.

    Reply Report comment

  3. Sparky

    Feb 15, 2019 at 1:25 pm

    Where were all the complainers during the rule review period? USGA gave us a ton of time and explicitly invited comments. Quityer bitchin.

    In a year everyone will be used to it and we’ll be fine. Jeez.

    Reply Report comment

  4. YouAreWrong

    Feb 15, 2019 at 12:32 pm

    100% spot on.

    Church!

    Reply Report comment

  5. John Barrett

    Feb 15, 2019 at 12:25 pm

    Watching reruns of the wonderful world of golf, I noticed way back during those times that the pros like Byron Nelson on longer puts, putt with the pin in. So I don’t know what the big hoopala is regarding the USGA going back to this rule. Dropping from the height of the knee, means that the ball will less likely move more than the allotted distance from the point of contact with the ground and therefore eliminating multiple drops plus dropping from the knee will less likely result in a bad lie because a ball will drop with less speed and more likely quickly come to rest.

    Reply Report comment

  6. James Flynn

    Feb 15, 2019 at 12:14 pm

    When a stroke difference could be worth 500k, I’d take my time too.

    Reply Report comment

  7. Matt

    Feb 14, 2019 at 7:23 pm

    Adam Scott is my favorite golfer and he is way off the mark on this.

    Reply Report comment

  8. JohnnyNight

    Feb 14, 2019 at 5:01 pm

    OMG..!! LOL..!! For Adam Scott, the golferwho used a telephone pole for a putter to call anything in golf a disgrace is THE JOKE OF THE CENTURY..!! The guy made the sport look like an activity for the weak and weak minded as he attempted to hole out 6 inch putts with his TELEPHONE POLE..!! And this from what appeared to be the most physically fit man on the tour…

    Reply Report comment

    • Deano

      Feb 14, 2019 at 5:05 pm

      “Telephone pole for a putter” – nailed it.

      And couldn’t agree more. I laughed out loud reading his comments. He’s an embarrassment.

      Reply Report comment

    • Travis

      Feb 14, 2019 at 5:07 pm

      You’re an idiot please never post again.

      Reply Report comment

  9. ChipNRun

    Feb 14, 2019 at 1:50 pm

    ——————
    Quoting OBESITY
    “Golf is the perfect vehicle to fight obesity by making everybody walk who can, except for those who are truly handicapped and have a license indicating so.”
    ——————

    Some golf courses are set up so most people use pull carts; only a handful of riding carts.

    But, you must realize that for some golf is a sport among others. One guy I know also works out at the gym and runs in charity 10Ks. He says that golf is recreation – he takes a cart because he gets his workout elsewhere.

    And licensing the old and handicapped? That is great optics for a sport which talks about being “more inclusive.” It’s bad enough golf has done away for anchored putting, which a lot of seniors with back trouble sorely miss.

    As for LAUGHINGSTOCK? Let’s not forget about learning curve. Whenever you change the processes of an activity like golf, it takes people awhile to get used to it.

    Here in the Midwest, traffic circles – as opposed to t-crossing streets with stop signs – have been around more than a decade. But, some people claim they still find them confusing.

    When things change, even if you can show benefits of the change, you always encounter some who oppose it. After a year or two, I suspect we’ll see a retweak of new golf rules points that didn’t work out well. We’ll have to wait and see.

    Reply Report comment

  10. Brian

    Feb 14, 2019 at 1:27 pm

    Please educate me, but I thought the drop rule meant you could drop it from as low as knee height…not that you had to drop it from knee height.

    Reply Report comment

    • Travis

      Feb 14, 2019 at 5:08 pm

      I’m 99% sure it’s knee height and dropping it from higher can result in a penalty. The rule SHOULD be drop it from minimum knee height to maximum shoulder height and be done with it.

      Reply Report comment

      • KS

        Feb 14, 2019 at 9:48 pm

        Gee i too thought the new meant to lessen the penalty of dropping, where the knee height is the minimum.

        Reply Report comment

    • Tartan Golf Travel

      Feb 14, 2019 at 11:14 pm

      It’s at knee height. Not above or below. Another silly rule brought to you by the morons at the USGA

      Reply Report comment

      • Scott Ivlow

        Feb 22, 2019 at 12:07 pm

        I get why people on here hate new knee height ball drop. Like they never seen a golf tournament where a pro drops a ball at shoulder height and the ball rolls from the drop spot both times and then watch the player place the ball. So from knee height the ball has a far less chance of rolling from the drop and still has a random placement than a player’s preffered position like say your standing next a divet or anything doesn’t offer the best lie. Having a placement of a golf ball just gives the golfer the potential to a spot that offers the best lie.

        Reply Report comment

  11. Jordan

    Feb 14, 2019 at 1:08 pm

    Crossfield recently played with a few of the euro pros. Some tested leaving pin in and felt that it penalized you more than taking it out.

    So unless Adam has done testing to back his claim, or some independent body proves that flag in really is statistically a benefit. There isn’t a problem with it.

    Reply Report comment

  12. Obesity

    Feb 14, 2019 at 12:27 pm

    Obesity.
    The USGA and the PGA and all the Tours around the world should get together to fight obesity and get rid of carts/buggies.
    Know why they won’t?
    They’re afraid the courses will lose money and the industry will shrink to half what it is, because they know people are lazy.
    Carts slow down play more often than people think, as bad, lazy players don’t even know etiquette.
    So that’s another problem they should add to the slow play list, if they want to get serious about making it faster for the amateurs.
    Golf is the perfect vehicle to fight obesity by making everybody walk who can, except for those who are truly handicapped and have a license indicating so.

    Reply Report comment

    • Tom

      Feb 14, 2019 at 1:19 pm

      I grew up walking 18 holes and playing in less than 2 and a half hours, (with nobody holding us up)….I now often play in a cart (due to bad knees) and play in less than 2 and a half hours (if not held up)….it has nothing to do with carts, it has everything to do with the player!

      Reply Report comment

      • Obesity

        Feb 14, 2019 at 1:22 pm

        Your course must be really short and have nobody playing on it.

        Reply Report comment

      • Liar

        Feb 14, 2019 at 11:10 pm

        You never walked 18 holes and played in 2.5 hours. NEVER. IF you did, you were playing a par 3 course. I hate idiots that exaggerate for the sake of I’m not sure why. My group is as fast as any players around. All sub par handicaps and we can play in just under 3 hours, RIDING…and that’s flying! I bet people that know you don’t like you.

        Reply Report comment

        • 84425

          Feb 15, 2019 at 1:59 pm

          Nonsense! I’ve played/walked 18 in under two hours (ok, by myself), but even a three ball should be able to play/walk in less than 3 hours.

          Reply Report comment

    • Brian

      Feb 14, 2019 at 1:31 pm

      A round of golf already takes 4+ hours to play when riding a cart. That’s just want I want to do every Saturday and Sunday in the dead middle of 90+ July days…stand in the middle of a golf course for 6+ hours.

      If Carts slow the game down, why is my foursome constantly playing through groups of walkers on the weekends?

      Reply Report comment

      • Steve Shapard

        Feb 15, 2019 at 1:22 pm

        Agreed. It is the golfer, not the cart. Same golfers in carts can play a much faster round than walking if speed of play is the point. The point being, the same golfers and same level of play. That is also assuming that the cart riders do so correctly and efficiently.
        Drives me CRAZY to see guys in their carts sit on their butts, drive from one guys ball, hit it, and then drive to the other players ball, find and hit it.
        Not THAT truly does slow the game down and is slower than walking. Unfortunately you see that happen all the time,

        Reply Report comment

    • Brian

      Feb 14, 2019 at 3:08 pm

      If I show up to a course and it’s CPO, I almost always get back in the car and go somewhere else.

      I walk all the time and frequently play in groups that have carts. I keep up just fine. Straight lines are the fastest way from A to B.

      Reply Report comment

    • tgk

      Feb 15, 2019 at 2:02 pm

      77 years old, would love to walk a course but spinal arthritis forces me to ride. Also, the majority of higher end public and semi private courses are designed to use power carts as walking from greens to tees can take 5-10 minutes and many courses need the revenue from cart fees to survive.

      Reply Report comment

    • Grizz01

      Feb 16, 2019 at 7:43 pm

      If you can out bench me and out squat me, I’ll start walking. (I know you can’t, I’m in the 99.5%.)

      So get to the gym and start strength training… be a real man.

      Reply Report comment

  13. MacAttack

    Feb 14, 2019 at 12:07 pm

    Watching the guys bend over for a “drop” is a complete joke and if you let these guys putt with the flags in you’re going to see 56-57 in the near future. It’s too easy to make the average pro putt like Tiger from 6-8 feet for par. I find the changes disgraceful.

    Reply Report comment

  14. GARYT

    Feb 14, 2019 at 11:36 am

    So putting with the flag in is a bad thing yet Adam putts with the flag in

    Reply Report comment

    • Travis

      Feb 14, 2019 at 5:10 pm

      Because he knows it’s a distinct advantage that can make him more money. He’s admitting it makes the game easier so when millions upon millions of dollars are on the line then why would he not take advantage of it? He’s just also pointing out that it makes the game look stupid as an aside.

      People forget PGA Tour players are only out there to make money. Their lives are not guaranteed. It’s week to week. They have opinions on how the game should be run but priority #1 is their own paycheck and livelihood.

      Reply Report comment

  15. Billy B

    Feb 14, 2019 at 10:39 am

    The guy that needed the crutch of an anchored putter is complaining about a flag stick “changing the art of putting”. Funny

    Reply Report comment

  16. John O

    Feb 14, 2019 at 10:31 am

    The exactly knee high drop thing is stupid. Obviously it should have been “no lower than knee height” or just place the damn thing. Pro golfers should still be putting with the flag out – leaving it in should be a shortcut to simplify and speed things up for amateurs.

    Reply Report comment

    • 15th Club

      Feb 14, 2019 at 11:18 am

      Do you not understand why “no lower than knee height” wouldn’t work? I can tell you. It would allow players to game the process by dropping from as high as they could reach, to cause a dropped ball to bounce and possibly roll to a place were a re-drop, and then a second re-drop, would ultimately lead to the player being able to place it.

      The knee height is an easy, sensible compromise to (1) arrange a drop that has some randomness to it, to create a natural lie and (2) reduce (while admittedly not eliminate) the necessity of re-drops when a ball bounds away from the drop point in an unallowable direction or to an unallowable location.

      Thanks for asking.

      Now; as to golf being made a “laughingstock.” I don’t think so; but nobody is contributing more to golf’s problems than the Tours and touring professionals. The Tour pros on the Ladies tours were the ones going psychopathic with caddies lining them up. The Tour pros were teaching all television viewers what golf looks like at a glacial pace. The Tour pros created the business of green-reading books.

      Tour pros: You want to see a “laughingstock”? Look in a mirror. Or just turn on Golf Channel.

      Reply Report comment

      • Troysii

        Feb 15, 2019 at 4:59 am

        Why not just make it hip height. Stand up straight, hold arm slightly away from body

        Reply Report comment

        • 15th Club

          Feb 15, 2019 at 8:27 am

          Because they wanted it lower; for the reasons I suggested. To make drops from a lower height, so as to reduce the number of times that balls drop and bounce or roll into impermissible positions.

          What I cannot understand is what is the problem with knee height, in a game where you place a ball on a tee 18 times, and pick a ball up out of the hole 18 times?

          I’ve seen the videos where people are trying to mock the Rule, and I don’t get it. They all seem completely ignorant of the point of the Rule change. (They most likely never understood it to begin with; they would have created very different kinds of video demonstrations if they had been serious about attempting to rebut the USGA’s reasoning.)

          Reply Report comment

          • Doug

            Feb 18, 2019 at 9:01 am

            Agreed.

            Dropping is an art in my opinion. With the old rule, whenever possible, I would try to drop in a spot that would purposely roll too far outside the required area so as to get to place the ball after two failed drop attempts. Of course, it was not always possible to achieve success if the drop area was not ideal. Flat areas made it less likely to happen. So, I would then look for the most ideal place to drop so that the bounce gave me a good chance to get a better lie. But dropping from shoulder height made that outcome more difficult. Now, dropping from knee height can make your chances of getting a decent lie better, but there are still no guarantees, while at the same time, limiting the chances the ball will roll outside the drop zone. The rule is written to address both situations. And it does, regardless of how some people think it looks.

            If it were the reverse and the rule had always been as it is now and was then changed to drop from shoulder height, the whole golfing world would be up in arms over that. Everyone would be whining that they can’t get decent lies without getting lucky, or that it takes too long to drop twice, when you know full well that the ball won’t stay where you drop it, giving you the option to place it.

            Nobody likes change. Me neither. However, in this case, the drop rule may not initially seem better for pace of play or benefit to a player’s lie, but it is. No matter how funny and awkward it may look.

            And when the USGA changes the rule to allow for removing the ball from old divots in the fairway with free relief, I will support that one too. Bet you won’t see too many complaints about that one, except from those who just like to complain for the sake of complaining.

            Generally, I think the USGA can be a bit dictatorial and/or overbearing. They may be necessary for high-level amateur and Pro competition, but are certainly not in touch with the average public golfer. I’d characterize them as oblivious to our needs most of the time. So, I am not a big supporter of them. But somebody has to make rules, whether we agree or not. In this case though, I am happy with the new drop rule.

            Reply Report comment

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans

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Apr 23, 2024

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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

9 hours ago

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Apr 23, 2024

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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

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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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