For those of us from another generation, the disruption of the golf world that we knew well is both exciting and unsettling. The two most potent disruptors are rival golf leagues, not unlike the turmoil seen in the NCAA, and the Anchorman-style gangs of golf reporters. Reconciled to a past era are the dominance of the U.S. PGA Tour and the monthly golf magazines. One element that will not change, at any time in the foreseeable future, however, is the sanctity of the grand slam and golf’s four male major championships. While the LPGA and the PGA Tour Champions have seen a light and added fifth and sixth power titles, the men’s game remains staunchly in the 20th century.
This last topic surges in pertinence each March, just before the playing of The Players Championship. Two camps stake tents and run banners up the poll. One cries out for elevation of the PC to major status, while the other digs a trench around its impregnable quadrilateral. My personal take is this: Every four years since 2016, golf is played at the Olympics. Is Olympic Gold the equivalent of a major title? Yes, it is. It comes around every 1,500 days and brings elite golfers together in competition at the most important athletic event and venue. In my mind, Justin Rose and Xander Schauffele earned major titles in Brazil and Japan, as did Inbee Park and Nelly Korda. As for the Players Championship, why not? The field is stronger by ranking than any major event, and the golf course demands every shot that golfers can create.
The Players Championship is so important to the U.S. PGA Tour that all other tours under its umbrella take the week off. No Korn Ferry, no Tour Champions. The LPGA and the DP World Tour follow suit, which shrinks the amount of watchable golf to two events. On that sour note, let’s run down this week’s play, beginning with the Players Championship and ending with the Asian Tour in Macau.
PGA Tour @ Players Championship: matching luggage for Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler is making a bid to be the player of his generation. From the previous one, a fair number have taken leave from traditional competition. The Johnsons, Koepkas, and Reeds from the 1980s no longer play the events that stand the test of time. The born-in-the-90s generation had its first great champion in Jordan Spieth until he took leave of the senses that brought him to golf’s pinnacle. Spieth’s descent ran opposite Scheffler’s rise.
Scottie Scheffler had won nothing on the PGA Tour until February 13th of 2022. He won on that day in Phoenix, then won three more times by the middle of April. One of those wins was the API at Bay Hill. Last week, Scheffler won for a second time at the Orlando course. Last March, Scheffler won his first Players Championship, by five shots over Tyrrell Hatton. On Sunday, Scheffler dived headfirst into a cauldron of fierce competition. Facing challenges from Olympic champion Schauffele, Open champion Brian Harmon, and U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, Scheffler breathed. As the only man to reach 20 under par, he earned a second consecutive title at Sawgrass and reminded us that it has been two years since he won the Masters and that he is on a tear.
It all began at the fourth on Sunday for Scheffler. After pars at the opening three holes, Scheffler’s driving wedge from 92 yards landed 20 feet shy of the hole, took one large bounce, then spun left, trickling into the hole for eagle. He followed that incantation with another birdie, then two pars. The stretch from 8 to 12 was where the champion made a statement. His quartet of birdies over that run, brought him to 19-under par and let the pursuing pack know that even lower than the winning 17 under in 2023 would be necessary.
And the trio was game. Harman and Clark both dipped below 70, to reach 19 under at the final pole. Schauffele could not find a similar gear and closed with 70 — 69 would have earned him a playoff with Scheffler. It was the extra gear, the ability to go low when all things mattered, that eleveated the now two-time champion to the top of the podium. In five of his eight tour wins, Scheffler has posted a sub-70 round on day four, and four of those have been 67 or lower.
With elegant precision, Scheffler applied the final thrust at the par-5 16th. He played safely away from Pete’s Pond on the right, into the left greenside bunker at the back of the putting surface. His bunker shot was thing of exquisite accuracy, trickling to a planned stop about 20 inches from the hole. The birdie concluded matters and rang the sort of bell that Dye courses tend to display.
Asian Tour @ International Series Macau: Catlin earns playoff victory
There are two sorts of golfers that compete on the Asian Tour, which makes no secret of its alliance with the LIV. The first are the AT stalwarts, the ones who play as golfers have always played, with little guarantee and much pride. The others are the ones who compete on the LIV, eschewing both risk and pride for the guaranteed payday. Their deal costs them world ranking points, so they play in AT events, hoping to qualify for golf’s major events.
This week in Macau, one of those LIV golfers shot 60 on Sunday and did not win the tournament. Hard to believe, you say? Aye, but when another golfer shoots 59 in the third round, follows it up with a 65 on day four, then makes overtime birdie twice at the par-five closer, the razor’s edge of great golf is sharpened. Thus did it happen with American John Catlin and Spaniard David Puig.
It was Catlin who signed for 59, and it took a twisting, eagle putt at the last to enshrine the first-ever, sub-60 on the Asian Tour. It was Puig who closed the gap on Sunday with a 60 of his own, which featured a bogey at the lengthy fifth hole, but was followed by seven birdies and an eagle over the next 13 holes. Catlin had a six-feet putt for the regulation win, but missed. In extra time, Puig nearly holed for eagle at 18, then tapped in for birdie. Catlin’s second danced along the OOB perimeter, before ending on an access road. His drop and pitch left him another six feet to remain alive, and this time, he converted.
At the second go-round of the par-5 finisher, Puig found the green in two, but took three putts from nearly 50 feet. Catlin confronted another challenging pitch for his third, and once again, his wedge game won the day. He tapped in for birdie and the win.
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Geoff
Aug 15, 2020 at 11:06 am
“The next five days or so.”
Many of us remember the long slog to version 2.0. If the forums are back in less than a week, I will be shocked.
What is going on at Golfwrx that they are incapable of performing a proper upgrade?
Ewfnick
Aug 13, 2020 at 8:06 am
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE lose the pop ups, they are driving me MAD!!!!!!!
Greg B.
Aug 13, 2020 at 7:27 am
Excellent news if a bit late. I honestly don’t know how Vanilla software works for anyone nor how the company survives. It is a very user-unfriendly platform and the support model sets organizations up for disaster. Hope this transition is smoother for users.
Gianni Sucks
Aug 12, 2020 at 1:52 pm
I wish that the first page was the latest comments and they filed back instead of page 11 being the latest and 1 the first.
Tim Taylor
Aug 12, 2020 at 10:58 am
Please, one thing to consider is making your information available to all people regardless of abilities or disabilities. Someone who is blind may still enjoy your site if they can use a screen reader and keyboard. Someone who has mobility issues may be forced to use a keyboard always or some other device for input. If your site does not always allow that it is frustrating. You may also open yourself to litigation as the American’s with Disability Act (ADA) may be invoked in a lawsuit for discrimination.
So a little thought and care would be appreciated.
MrMeeSeeks
Aug 12, 2020 at 10:54 am
True WRX ho’ing. Have the trusty flatstick. Try something newer/flashier for a few rounds. Revert to old.
Jim
Aug 12, 2020 at 9:05 am
I blame Gianni and his terrible articles.
The Infidel
Aug 12, 2020 at 5:23 am
The moral of the story here is that you didn’t listen or learn from mistakes.
Genuine constructive feedback was met with hostility and aggression. Take a quick look at the threads on ads in threads for evidence.
Forum site visits have hit rock bottom I bet. Fingers crossed 3.0 works better!
Shawn
Aug 12, 2020 at 12:41 am
Please restore the iPhone app and also BST feedback
BE
Aug 11, 2020 at 9:50 pm
Please tell me the next thing you are going to do is remove the SUPER ANNOYING pop ups at the bottom of the screen when reading your articles. The video one, at least you can close, but the “Read Next Article” one doesn’t have an “X” to close, and the user experience is awful, especially when reading on an iPad!
Ewfnick
Aug 13, 2020 at 7:34 am
Totally agree with this comment, the amount of adverts on this site makes it almost un-usable at times and the amount of time they take to load means that I do not use WRX anywhere as often as I used to, please get rid of EVERY pop up
Curt
Aug 11, 2020 at 8:31 pm
Will we get our feedback from BST transactions back that were discontinued with the “new” format???
dp4sc
Aug 11, 2020 at 9:53 pm
Amen, I have been away from the community since the changeover to the “improved” version. My old man, God rest his sole, once said if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Looking forward to the new old normal again!
Chucks Steak House. Whats your beef?
Aug 11, 2020 at 8:00 pm
Bout time!!! I went from logging on almost daily and interacting in the forums to MAYBE logging in 3-4 times since “update” and im not the only one. Hopefully this transition goes MUCH smoother than the dumpster fire of the last one.
Jeff
Aug 11, 2020 at 6:15 pm
Excellent news!!!!
Yellow Jacket
Aug 11, 2020 at 5:28 pm
About damn time! The new forum software is horrible compared to what we had before. I noticed a decline in activity during and after the switchover. Advance notice would’ve been appreciated for ongoing BST transactions though–I feel like that’s a big driver of activity.
Roy
Aug 11, 2020 at 4:36 pm
For hose of us who were in the middle of BST transactions, a little notice would have been appreciated. “Beginning at 6PM EST tonight, the forums will be read only……”
Not too hard – other web sites do it all the time for maintenance……
Moosejaw McWilligher
Aug 11, 2020 at 4:19 pm
We all know who the tech is really designed to work for. Google can track your every keystroke, but try to hold a Z**m meeting without freezes, dropouts and bombing… As long as the ads work, the coder’s job is done.
Trevino
Aug 11, 2020 at 4:14 pm
Thank god… this “new” GolfWRX forum has been hot garbage.
shawnee
Aug 11, 2020 at 3:14 pm
wow great relief — this is great news
heres to wrx 2.0 II
Perkov
Aug 11, 2020 at 2:42 pm
You should probably fire the guy who made this mess and recruit a proper CTO/Tech Lead.
BJ
Aug 11, 2020 at 1:58 pm
IM SOOOOOO HAPPPPYYYYYY!!!!!
Patrick
Aug 11, 2020 at 1:13 pm
Does this mean the iPhone app will start working again?
Orion
Aug 11, 2020 at 1:46 pm
Great question, Want to know this as well…