Weekend Wrap - PGA Edition

Let's get the issue of greatest concern out of the way....  We were, in fact, able to get our golf in yesterday, though it was really wet out there.  Fortunately I had control of my ball and was never in a bunker, most of which looked like downtown Beirut.

OK, I'm willing to concede that that wasn't the most important golf played yesterday....

And the winner is....  Brooks "Sybil" Koepka:  The lede from the Golf Digest game story:

Brooks Koepka does not care what you think about him. In and of itself that doesn’t mean a whole lot, until you consider it’s coming from someone who feels that he doesn’t

get asked enough questions, isn’t featured high enough on ESPN.com’s home page or gets annoyed when he’s not listed as a “notable” when the tee times come out at a major championship. 

There was no ambiguity about it, or lack of context, Sunday night at Bellerive Country Club. Just the same blunt force that he applies to one of his drives. 

“I don't care what anybody else says,” he said matter-of-factly after bench-pressing his third major championship in the last 14 months and second in the last two. “I try to acknowledge all the fans as much as I can. But there’s always going to be people that hate you. You’ve just got to move on with it and use that as motivation.”

Compare and contrast with the Golf.com gamer:

ST. LOUIS — The Brooks Koepka Disrespect Tour blew through Bellerive last week.

One of the most talented and successful players of his generation has built a career on feeling underappreciated. It has fueled him ever since his favorite college (Florida) failed to recruit him and then, after a strong career at Florida State, he was snubbed for the Walker Cup team. The bitterness metastasized at the outset of Koepka’s pro career, during a self-imposed exile on the European tour while his contemporaries were becoming superstars under the bright lights of the PGA Tour. 

The bile spills out at unexpected times. On the eve of winning his second straight U.S. Open, Koepka complained that earlier in the week he wasn’t featured on a Golf Channel graphic listing the scores of “notables.” In the ensuing champion’s press conference, he said, “I’m always overlooked.” At the 100th PGA Championship, Koepka kept going back to his greatest hits. He was miffed that no reporters wanted to interview him after an opening 69 that left him in 32nd place. 

Following the third round, during which he built a two-stroke lead to push him to the precipice of so much history, Koepka ruefully told the story of being snubbed at a gym that morning while fans fawned over his buddy Dustin Johnson, the world number one and an unwitting social media star thanks to the posts of his not shy fiancé Paulina Gretzky. “I use it as motivation,” Koepka said. He took solace in the simple fact that his scores were too good to ignore: “You can’t hide when you’re on the top of the leaderboard. You can’t hide my name.”

I don't begrudge him finding motivation wherever, but I'm guessing his days of being overlooked are coming to a close.

This will be a long digression, but that latter game story is penned by Alan Shipnuck, who tells this story of the Shinnecock press conference:

Koepka looks like the leading man in a Hollywood action flick, squires a glamorous girlfriend (model/actress Jena Sims) and was set for life even before he won $1.98 million at Bellerive. At this point it’s fair to wonder whether his woe-is-me pronouncements are mere schtick. But I have seen firsthand how Koepka is wired. At one of the most triumphant moments of his life — the champion’s press conference at Shinnecock — he tried to get me booted out of the room. It was a weird and deeply enlightening moment. 

It’s a long story, but after lobbying hard to get Koepka on the cover of SI following his breakthrough at Erin Hills, I brokered another cover story for him, for GOLF Magazine, focusing on his and Johnson’s tight relationship with their shared trainer, Joey Diovisalvi. All three were supposed to be on the cover but the photos didn’t work out and the June 2018 cover of GOLF wound up being just the U.S. Open champions. Koepka was upset that Joey D. didn’t get his due and it was telling that he cared so deeply about honoring a member of his team who toils in the shadows. I called Diovisalvi to apologize and GOLF’s top editor had a long chat with the management company that reps Koepka and Johnson, taking responsibility for the decision. 

I didn’t realize Koepka was still sizzling about this until Sunday night in Shinnecock. As I walked into the champion’s conference his agent got in my face and said, “Don’t even think about asking him a question.” I was so surprised I couldn’t formulate a reply. We were blocking the walkway and reporters were streaming in, so I just kept moving forward to find an open seat. Koepka was up at the dais, seated with his glittering trophy. When I looked up he pointed at me and said, “You, out.”

Egads, that's a bit troubling....

Shall we see what the Tour Confidential writers make of this?  Well, if you insist:

1. Brooks Koepka made another bold-faced statement Sunday at the 100th PGA Championship, winning his second major title of 2018 (and third overall) at rain-softened Bellerive. There’s a perception — seeded by Koepka and others — that his precipitous rise has been underappreciated. Would you agree, and, if so, why has this been the case?

Jessica Marksbury: I’d definitely agree that Koepka’s achievements have been underappreciated, and I think Shipnuck nailed the reason why in a tweet earlier this

week: Brooks likes to say he doesn’t watch golf and isn’t a “golf nerd,” but he’s offended when the golf nerds fail to rally around him. As fans, we want to see emotion — really, any indication that a player cares will do. It’s endearing. Today’s bloodless finish on 18 is a perfect example of that disconnect. Brooks claimed that by putting before Adam Scott (and then tapping in to win!), he was just trying to get out of Scott’s way, but c’mon, man! You’re about to win your third major! Mark your ball so you can have your winning moment! Bask in the glory! Give the people a reason to cheer! It ended up being a supremely mundane and awkward finish to what had been a rip-roaring back nine otherwise.

Wasn't that strange?  In his presser, he spoke about wanting to get out of Scottie's way, which is about as bass-ackward as a worldview can be.  

John Wood, caddie for Matt Kuchar: Underappreciated, maybe. But that’s our problem, not his. Sure, I like an outward show of emotion like anyone, but I love old the adage “Act like you’ve been there before.” It’s the difference between a guy who hits a home run and immediately starts jumping around, beating his chest, pointing into the crowd and slow-trotting around the bases, and a guy who hits a home run and runs around the bases quickly, head down, not showing anyone else up. He expected to be there, he gets paid to do that, and he’s not the least bit surprised he hit it. It’s not his problem that you didn’t expect it. If there is such a thing as winning a quiet three majors, Brooks has just done it. At the end of the day, or the career, I suspect he’ll be happy just adding them up and seeing where he stands amongst the best.

Dylan Dethier: One thing’s for sure: his rise will be less underappreciated now. That’s what happens when you fend off Tiger Woods.

If you want to make the case that Brooks was overlooked before Shinnecock, I can see that.  I do think his first U.S. Open was a bit of a yawn due to the venue's lack of widespread acceptance.  But also because he really hadn't done all that much else, just the one win, the result of another player wilting down the stretch (J.B. Holmes, if memory serves).  Add in his difficulty staying healthy, and it's understandable why he wasn't the first name on everyone's list.

But Shinny was a Holy Crap! moment, nobodies simply don't win back-to-back U.S. Opens.  

2. Here’s your chance to appreciate Brooks: What was most impressive about this performance, and where does this three-majors-in-six-tries blitz rank among the greatest accomplishments in modern golf history?

Ritter: The cold-blooded birdie on the par-3 16th — a laser four-iron and 6-footer that followed — just took the life right out of Adam Scott, who was playing alongside him. Koepka’s three majors loom large. Rory of course has bagged four, and Spieth also has three. Both of those guys have reached No. 1 and won more worldwide events, but at this point, you can make a case for Koepka being the third-most signficant player of the past decade. 

Marksbury: It’s no small thing to shoot a final-round 66 amongst deafening roars for a charging Tiger. Koepka never let up, and while I agree his incredible birdies on 15 and 16 were the real death blows, the birdie trifecta on Nos. 7-9 after back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 4 and 5 showed real grit as well. In modern golf history, I suppose his nearest peer is Padraig Harrington and his collection of three majors in 2007-2008. But the dominance Koepka has displayed over the last 14 months indicates he will continue to be a force in many majors to come. 

Wood: Despite what was going on two groups ahead of him: the bedlam, the madness, the mania — he never looked like he was doing anything other than playing a Tuesday money game against DJ. I suspect most people were rooting for Tiger to win, and at most majors, Tiger playing that kind of round would’ve gotten it done, but I never felt Brooks was ever out of control of the tournament. The outcome always felt like he was the one who would decide it. 

Bamberger: He won without being lucky. I can’t think of one moment of good luck. He started slow on Sunday and he floored it for the next 63 holes. As Woods did at the ‘97 Masters. Where does it rank? Almost alongside Jordan Spieth’s 2015.

I think Mike meant Thursday, as Brooks was +2 after ten holes, quite the unpromising start.  He looked in complete control of all aspects of his game, and totally uncowed by the moment.   He can do it all, and there's no reason to think he won't continue on this track, albeit three out of six majors is not sustainable for anyone.

I have just one concern about the guy, one you've heard me voice about others.  He's already demonstrated a tendency towards injury, and compare that ripped body to this from his junior days:

Doesn't that lanky upper body look just perfect for golf?  

The Bridesmaid - Where to begin?  I guess by acknowledging that Tiger outperformed my expectations expressed in yesterday's post.  He finished a round, more or less, and he made it exciting....  Perhaps it doesn't rise to Stewart Cink levels, but it was a day defined more by the guy that finished second...

Sean Zak tries to capture the madness:

ST. LOUIS — At 5:06 p.m. Sunday, as Tiger Woods walked to the 17th tee box at

Bellerive Country Club, just one shot back of the lead at the 100th PGA Championship, some fans said screw it. 

Marshals on the hole had pulled their rope tight, just not tight enough. As one fan pushed on the white woven rope, it dropped to the ground, and like a dam springing a leak, a stream of spectators sprinted over it. “You can’t stop us!” shouted four bros leading the charge. The group — five dozen or so strong — had been freed from the west side of the hole, which meant they could now position themselves on the east side. That’s where Tiger Woods was about to continue his seemingly quite attainable quest for a 15th major. 

Less nimble family-types followed in the bros’ wake, but the repositioning of fans wasn’t just happening on the 17th hole. Pro-Woods movements were happening all around, 

including along the neighboring 9th fairway, back toward the 10th green. Like a magnet, the charging Woods (who was now 13 under) pulled fans toward him. Quickly after the prison break, the now-flustered marshal tightened the rope again, reinstating some relative decorum to the proceedings.

 This was pretty cool as well, BP at Wrigley:

The Tour Confidential panel at least had the good grace to talk about the winner first:

3. Tiger Woods thrilled the golf world and beyond with a Sunday charge that culminated with a six-under 64 on his scorecard — his lowest-ever final round in a major — and a solo second finish. So much ink has already been spilled about the ups and downs of Woods’s comeback but what did this Sunday teach us about

Woods that we didn’t already know?

Bamberger: He’s showing the depth of his desire, the depth of his talent, the fight deep within him. With much less game, we’re able to see the building blocks that made Tiger Tiger in the first place.

Sens: The fact that his mental game can still approach that of peak-Tiger. Woods said so himself after the round; all across the front nine, he was relying mostly on his mind. Still, as great as his round was, what Sunday also showed us was just how hard he’s going to have to continue grinding if he’s going to win.

And the money question:

4. Yes or no question: This means Tiger will win another major, right? 

Ritter: Health remains the ultimate wild card, but after today, it’s all systems go. How many days until the 2019 Masters?

Ummm Jeff, which part of "Yes or No" threw you?

Wood: Yes.

Bamberger: There’s no point in saying no. It lacks humanity. I’d say the odds are against it. For his sake and the game’s sake — but mostly his sake — I hope he does. But it’s really not that important. Sorry I could not play by the established rules here.

I think that he's shown at Carnoustie and here that he can win another major, though this was the far more impressive because the conditions weren't as favorable for him.  But they're just incredibly hard to win, as one or more of the young turks will inevitably play as Brooks did this week.  So it'll likely come down to luck, an unsatisfying answer for sure....

Mike Bamberger has made a recent career of his love letters to Tiger, and here's his latest:

ST. LOUIS — You’re tempted to say he’s the hardest-working man in show business, except Tiger Woods isn’t in show business. That’s the root of his greatness and his

greatest challenge. As a public being, he’d like to be judged, first and foremost, as he judges himself, as an athlete. But the world won’t stand for that. The modern elite athlete must also be an entertainer, a showman, a celebrity, a philanthropist. A role model. It’s too much. 

On Sunday, we saw the version of the man that truly captures and inspires: Tiger Woods, athlete. “He shot 64 when he looked like he was shooting 74,” said his playing partner, Gary Woodland. “Only a great athlete can do that. He missed that five-footer for birdie on 1, got mad, stiffed it on 2 and made that.” 

Woodland’s caddie, Brennan Little, was caddying for Mike Weir on Sunday at Medinah in 1999 when Weir was paired with Woods and Woods won his first PGA Championship. “That was intense,” Little said Sunday night. “This was more intense.”

Now I think I've been reasonably gracious about Tiger's performance, but I'm thinking that a short trip to the dark side is necessary.  I know, but it's what I do....

Kevin Cunningham has an item on that 17th hole tee ball, which sealed his fate:

Tiger Woods thrilled massive crowds at Bellerive and millions of TV spectators Sunday with an impressive performance in the final round of the PGA Championship. 

But one drive late in the round derailed what could have been a historic 15th major championship victory. 

When Woods arrived at 17 on Sunday, he had already made three birdies on the back nine to get within one shot of leaders Brooks Koepka and Adam Scott. Since those two players were playing behind him, Woods needed an eagle at the par-5 to have a real shot at the Wanamaker Trophy.

I think we can all agree that this isn't a good look, and it's not just the tracer:

Alex Myers offers a different take, citing seven shots going back to early Thursday that sealed the deal.  This is the one that I think he'll stew over a bit:

Final round, 14th hole, 1st shot: Woods recovered from coming up just short on that birdie attempt on 11 to birdie 12 and 13. He was right back in the mix and strutting around Bellerive like a man destined to make history. Then he pulled that driving iron from his bag and pushed it into the right rough.

From there, he made a mighty dig from the rough to get it near the green and hit a mediocre pitch to about 15 feet. People will remember the lipped-out putt for par because it was brutal, but it was all set up by another missed fairway. Another missed fairway with an iron, that is. When you're trying to take down a major machine like Brooks Koepka, those are simply mistakes you can't make.

Of course the iron leaves him so far back that he can't reach the green from the heavy lie.... If you need more Tiger, Golf Digest has all the photos you could want, including this very good one of his second on the 17th:

Just a couple of further notes, then I'll let you get on with your week.  I'll save the Ryder Cup discussion for tomorrow.....

I Saw it on TV - This is traditionally one of the more painful broadcasts of the year, combining CBS' treacly dramatics with a paucity of actual golf.  Martin Kaufmann with the data:

The biggest gripe I hear each year with regard to the PGA Championship is the heavy load of commercials relative to the other majors. It’s a legitimate gripe, but it’s also an issue that falls largely at the doorstep of the rightsholder, in this case the PGA of America. Bigger rights fees translate into more commercials. 

From 3-4 p.m. ET, right after the leaders teed off, there were, by my count, 9 minutes, 30 seconds of commercials. The next hour, there were 12:15 of commercials, and 14 minutes from 5-6 p.m. I actually thought those numbers would be higher, but it’s still more commercial inventory than any viewer would like to see during a major championship. Hopefully, in the next round of TV contract negotiations, the PGA will reconsider that approach.

Why would they do that?  Except for wishful thinking, there's little cause to believe that the PGA of America will take a dollar less for the rights....  But, as Martin explains, it's not just the commercials:

My bigger concern is all of CBS’ sponsored elements – the “Maximum Efficiency” promotion for ExxonMobil; the Citi “Player Profile”; the Brighthouse Financial “Shot of the Day”; and of course, Peter Kostis’ slow-motion swing camera. I’m sure there are other sponsored elements that I’m forgetting. That’s a lot of noise that adds little or nothing to the viewing experience. 

In a perfect world, I’d rather see those sponsorship dollars consolidated around fewer, more effective elements.

Good luck with all that....

Coming Soon to a Milk Carton Near You -  Shack with the cringe-worthy appearance of PGA of America majordomo Paul Levy:

The same organization whose board deemed Ted Bishop's "little school girl" social media reference worthy of a lifetime ban and forced removal from office, wheeled out

recent DUI offender Paul Levy to front the CBS telecast and 2018 PGA Championship trophy ceremony Sunday. 

Levy was otherwise not seen all week at Bellerive other than at a PGA Board meeting and no comment was made about his lack of presence at the PGA media conference Wednesday. The PGA President traditionally sits in that news conference.

Levy is also the first PGA of America President to not actually have a job at a golf facility, or any current job. But he retains his position atop the PGA for a few more months until Suzy Whaley (right) takes over. Whaley, who strongly supported Bishop's ouster, is supporting Levy despite his having possibly committed a felony.

Moral of this story: DUI's are ok, perceived sexist comment on Twitter with 28 days to go in office? Lifetime ban.

Yeah, kind of odd to say the least.  

Did Someone Mention Wishful Thinking? -  Because our Shack engages in a bit of it as well:

As I write for Golfweek's PGA Championship digital issue, Bellerive and the players were propped up by high energy and positive fans. But this design and many others mangled over the decades by Robert Trent Jones or son Rees are part of a phase in golf now in our rear-view mirror. Tastes have changed for the better. And now that nice golf course land at Bellerive deserves better too.

Oh we still have to suffer though the dated, ordinary and blandness at Torrey Pines, and Rees will surely do his best to shield attention from being given to Tillinghast at Bethpage next year. Otherwise, the Jones family run has finally expired.

Eamon Lynch also took on the Bellerive matter and noted how it was hurt by being given a 100th PGA for reasons no one will ever quite grasp. That put another target on the course's back and mercifully, history will look past that decision thanks to a great finish.

As for its future, Bellerive seems assured of more events but the PGA currently only has two slots open before 2031 and The Forecaddie says one of those would go to the PGA's new headquarters course in Frisco, Texas.

If only.... 

As an aside, that Eamon Lynch item is quite delightful, as he doesn't pull his punches, first with this:

This PGA Championship has a robust field, despite the diluting effect of 20 club professionals resting like sediment at the bottom of the leaderboard. The top of that board features a phalanx of pedigreed champions and Nantz’s emotive Gettsyburg address on golf and life is surely being buffered anon.

Excuse me?  I have been reliably informed that the club pros are the heart and soul of the game, and their tenacious grinding to make the cut  break 80 is the feel-good story of the week.  And if you can't trust Jim Nantz....

And this:

The 100th PGA Championship deserved better than a mediocre course that even Rees Jones can’t claim as being among his finest fiascos. The PGA of America could have thrown a stone in St. Louis and hit a course with more architectural merit to host its centennial. And it wouldn’t have had to aim carefully.

Well, back in the day, I dubbed his work at Sleepy Hollow the "Reestrocity", see if you don't agree with his butchering of their iconic 16th hole:

That's it on the right, though admittedly Tillie's on the left wasn't much better....

Eamon had this as well:

Ask the players for their views on Bellerive and they range from uninspired to unprintable. 

“I don’t want to say there’s no strategy, I’m not saying that,” said Pat Perez, who went on to say exactly that. “There’s only one way to play it. Just hit it as far as you can then try to attack the pins with the greens that soft.” 

“It’s pretty straightforward,” said Dustin Johnson, who had never been on site until Monday. “Hit it in the fairway and hit it on the green.”

Yeah, there's pretty much one way to play every hole, and the greens seem completely interchangeable, each with exactly three bowls.  

Catch ya tomorrow?