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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Pat M
May 16, 2015 at 9:50 pm
KB and Pepsi are idiots.
Rich
Jan 23, 2015 at 4:31 pm
Keegan Bradley is possibly the biggest dork of all time. Nothing will change that, especially not those stupid air Keegan shoes he wears.
RG
Dec 18, 2014 at 5:43 am
So in a game where grown men use stuffed animals for headcovers and put neon colors on their clubs people in this forum are commenting that flat billed hats and MJ shoes are ridiculous??!! I’ve got news for you mental defectives, Golf is ridiculous!
The Hammer
Dec 17, 2014 at 11:40 am
Its the style these days, look at 3/4 of younger golfers and they are wearing flat bills and snapbacks, its the current trend! Everyone thats saying that they look stupid are just jealous they cant get paid to wear trendy clothes and play golf for a living…bottom line. Plus the Jordans look sweet, its no different that someone wearing yellow nike shoes or any other crazy colored shoes. All these comments are just people hating that he has style and they dont. Thats it.
theFairwayMole
Dec 17, 2014 at 9:19 am
Best part of the clip: 0:07 – 0:09.
TheBrokenTee
Dec 17, 2014 at 2:04 am
Just wondering, is there any way to buy air jordans?
tom
Dec 16, 2014 at 7:51 pm
This guy is really looking for attention wearing Jordans on the golf course. Ridiculous.
Beacher50
Dec 17, 2014 at 1:22 am
Naw, he’s just being paid well to look ridiculous.
Carlos Danger
Dec 16, 2014 at 2:25 pm
Flat bill hats are the “Bluetooth” of golf.
I dont care what clothing company he signs with, a tall dorky white dude in high tops and a flat bill hat looks horrible. Maybe if he was working at one of the cell phone kiosks at the mall it would be acceptable, but not golfing.
Did someone tell Rory he looks like a character out of the Hobbit movies (more than usual) in his flat bill hat?
Beacher50
Dec 17, 2014 at 1:27 am
Everyone looks dorky in those hats, and one day they will realize it to. A young coworker wears a flat billed hat, to work even sometimes, and he has upward ambitions, I told him the first thing he needs to do is ditch the hat. Not one executive is going to take him serious when he wears a hat like that to a golf outing, much less to the office. Facts are facts, and unless you’re a rapper your not going to get far with the traditional business man when dressed like a punk.
RG
Dec 18, 2014 at 5:39 am
This comment brought to you by bias and stupidity.
Supermangolf
Dec 16, 2014 at 12:57 pm
Awesome sign for both sides! TM gets one of the greatest players in regards to raw talent and intensity, I mean we all know Keegan for his impressive Ryder Cup debut. And Keeg wins with one of the best companies in the industry, really nothing to complain about with anything TM designs. Maybe less stripes though, stay with the clean cut solid colors and bold collars, that gray hat he has on in the video looks awesome.
Brodie Hock
Dec 16, 2014 at 9:15 am
I am less likely to wear TM now…
Beacher50
Dec 16, 2014 at 12:31 am
Flat brimmed hats should be banned…and ears tucked in, talk about dorky looking.
I have to think one day (like those of use who had long hair and wore bell bottoms back in the day)that those wearing flat brims with their ears tucked in well say “what were we thinking!!!”
Billy
Dec 16, 2014 at 1:16 am
Idiotic comment. It’s just a hat.
Ben
Dec 16, 2014 at 8:15 am
Oh Beacher… stop being an old fuddy duddy. I can assure you the guys who like flat brim hats talk about you too. How can you still wear saddle shoes to play golf?
Beacher50
Dec 17, 2014 at 1:20 am
Talk to me in 10 years, even an ol fuddy duddy like me will be around yet.
RG
Dec 18, 2014 at 5:33 am
Of course they will…it’s the cycle of life. This generation is entitled to it’s own look. Let’s try and keep our underwear in our pants though.
Conservative White Guy
Dec 16, 2014 at 12:30 am
Kb is a perfect TM type and those Jordans are awesome!
RAT
Dec 15, 2014 at 9:00 pm
Keegan is not the Travis Type and the Air Jordan’s suck!
Keegan Bradley
Dec 15, 2014 at 9:57 pm
I couldn’t have said it better myself!
Michael Jordan
Dec 16, 2014 at 7:01 am
Agreed
Travis Matthew
Dec 16, 2014 at 7:02 am
I hate you guys
Tiger Woods
Dec 17, 2014 at 7:23 pm
I’d rather just wear my own shoes.
John Daly
Dec 18, 2014 at 12:37 am
I’m going drinking…
Anthony Kim
Dec 18, 2014 at 12:37 am
See you there JD.
Kasey
Dec 15, 2014 at 8:27 pm
So happy to see him join TM. What a great move for both. LOVE the Jordans too. Keegs is paving his own way, like Rickie did a few years ago. It will do nothing but good things for him. The stuffy, middle-aged may not like his clothing or shoe choices, but their opinions don’t matter much. #gokeegs
Pat
Dec 15, 2014 at 8:38 pm
LOL. And most people don’t take kids like you seriously either. The hipster look is only appealing to teenagers and kids in their early to mid 20’s which is a tiny segment of the population.
kess
Dec 15, 2014 at 10:10 pm
His look doesn’t quite qualify as hipster. I see the dirty little hipsters all over DC. But a young look is fine and appealing to the 18-34 demographic is the Mecca for marketing.
JustTrying2BAwesome
Dec 15, 2014 at 10:21 pm
And though the under 30 are a smaller segment, they also spend tons of money to look good. Old people in general could care less if they look good, or fashionable, especially on the golf course. Also, the old people are only getting older. At some point, and probably relatively soon, will stop being able to play altogether. The under 30 crowd is the future of the game, and if it’s going to thrive, there has to be an excitement to get kids into it. If flashy clothes and/or clubs do it, then flash it up kids. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.
Conservative White Guy
Dec 16, 2014 at 12:29 am
You call that hipster?!? that’s about as hipster as Arnold Palmer on a Sunday.
This signing is a perfect match and those shoes are sweet looking. MJ is as old as a goat now and yet still moves the needle.
other paul
Dec 16, 2014 at 12:08 am
Who is going to carry golf forward when old people die? Young people. The next generation of old men playing are going to look great doing it. But first we need the old people to teach us young ones to play. Best short game lesson I ever got was from an 83 year old man who couldn’t hit the ball 100 yards but chipped it inside 10′ on every hole (drove me nuts)
Beacher50
Dec 16, 2014 at 12:33 am
Young people turn into old people….yup you can’t fence time, and your thoughts on what looks good and acceptable will change as well.