Late-Week Lamentations - Welcome Home Edition

The curtain dropped on a dreadful ski season Tuesday morning, fittingly as it so happens.  As we departed, Park City got hit with 17" of fresh snow over 48 hours, completely on brand for a season in which it only snowed when I was absent from the jurisdiction.  Did anyone think I had forgotten the 45" of snow received while I was up in British Columbia?

We did have one last spectacular sunrise on Sunday morning:

And I grabbed one last view of the Wasatch Front from the air:

The boys were jumping with joy to see us:

Though they're notably unhappy at the work commencing in the house....

I'm just going to catch up on a couple of small bits, mostly from earlier in the week.  Then I'll rest up and dive in on our flood-the-zone Masters coverage.  I'm happy to report that the Delta Sky Club is very much enjoying the season:

Makes sense that Georgia would be, as they say, on their minds....

The ANWA - I have trouble giving up my grudge on this event, because of the damage done and it's half-hearted nature.  It's called the Augusta National Women's Amateur, but only one of three rounds are played at that namesake club (and many of the girls invited don't get a tournament round there).  But the bigger issue is with the date, whereby they killed off the best of the women's majors, the event formerly known as the Dinah.

Yet none except your humble blogger will call out the Lords of Augusta.... What exactly would be the harm if you let the all play Saturday at ANGC?  For that matter, why can't they play there Wednesday and Thursday?

The Tour Confidential panel led with a preview of sorts:

The sixth edition of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur kicks off Wednesday at Champions Retreat, just down the road from Augusta National. Three former champions — Lottie Woad (2024), Anna Davis (2022) and Tsubasa Kajitani (2021) — are in the field and looking to become the first two-time winners, and the stacked Stanford University women’s golf team will have six players in the field, led by five-time ANWA participant Megha Ganne. What pre-tourney storyline most has your attention?

Alan Bastable: As a proud New Jerseyite, hard for me not to pull for Ganne, who hails from Holmdel, 30 minutes south of me. But I’m most intrigued by Rianne Malixi, who won both the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur and U.S. Women’s Am last summer (a feat accomplished only once before). If she can add the ANWA to her mantle, we’ll have to add a new term to the golf lexicon: the Malixi Slam.

Sean Zak: Lottie Woad. Could we see the first title defense in this tournament? She’s by far the best women’s amateur right now — don’t forget her 10th-place finish at the Women’s Open last summer at St. Andrews — and I think we see her get it done again at Augusta.

James Colgan: Rachel Heck! We’ll be hearing from her for basically the first time since she gave up a life on the LPGA Tour in favor of life as a private equity analyst and Air Force trainee. She was once women’s golf’s biggest can’t-miss prospect. Where’s she at now? I can’t wait to find out.

Alan Bastable has the best of it thus far, with the first round at Champions Retreat in the books:

What a start for Megha Ganne.

The junior at Stanford opened the 2025 Augusta National Women's Amateur with a bogey-free 9-under 63, a new ANWA scoring record. The previous low round at Champions Retreat Golf Club,

site of the first two rounds, was Rose Zhang shooting 65 in the second round in 2023. The previous low first-round score was 66, which Zhang shot in 2023 and Hannah Darling matched last year.

Starting on the back nine, Ganne birdied Nos. 11-13 and added another at 16 to turn in 32. On her second nine, she had an eagle at the par-5 third and added birdies on Nos. 1, 6 and No. 7. She had an eagle putt on the closing par-5 ninth but three putted to sign for 63.

This is Ganne's fifth appearance at ANWA, making the cut each of the past two years. She's one of eight players with Stanford connections in the field, whether it be former players, current stars or commits.

I like the Rachel Heck call-out as well.  Her decision to eschew a crack at professional golf was likely the result of a sober assessment of her diminishing results, but she's been at the center of that Stanford program for many years.

Other Stuff - A slight detour to riff on some other TC bits:

TGL, the indoor simulator league backed by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, wrapped its

debut season this week with Atlanta Drive GC knocking off New York GC in the two-night final. Ratings and reviews for the inaugural season largely were positive, but what’s one tweak you’d like to see for 2026?

Bastable: Gotta dial the tech. Too many shots this season left the pros looking bewildered. Also would like to see some fans filling those virtual grandstands. Oh, and why no mascots?! A Boston Common bullfrog hopping about the arena would make an immediate impact.

Zak: Move mountains to get a Sofi satellite dome in Dallas so Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth can get involved. Do whatever you can do get them into Season 2.

Colgan: Agreed, Zak! More stars! I want to commend the TGL for settling into itself really well as the season progressed. That was not guaranteed, and I thought the league found the right pitch of self-seriousness. Now comes the hard part: juicing the billing every single night.

I've spent a few minutes Googling and can't seem to come up with the ratings for their playoffs, though one assumes this couldn't have helped:

Viewers hoping to tune in to watch the first-ever TGL Finals Series were left disappointed after ESPN's coverage was delayed due to March Madness.

The first match of the three-game series between New York. and Atlanta was due to be shown live on ESPN 2 at 9 p.m. E.T. But the broadcasting giant opted to stick with North Carolina's clash with West Virginia in the Women's NCAA Tournament.

As a result, TGL opted to delay the start time of their first-ever Finals match-up while broadcasting the buildup behind a paywall on ESPN+. The decision came as a blow as the first season of the innovative new league started by Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods came to a conclusion.

Eventually, after North Carolina wrapped up a 59-47 win over West Virginia, the TGL coverage started 14 minutes later than planned. But viewers had still had time to voice their frustration on social media.

I love the buried lede or ledes....  March Madness?  I'm not sure the ladies qualify under the Madness moniker, but it was a blowout game not involving any of the top teams.  My sense is that the ratings trend remained downward through the playoffs, but we'll flush that out later.  

But what do I know?

Could TGL expansion be coming? A recent report says there's an eight-figure offer to make it happen sooner rather than later.

As reported last week, TGL is already in talks with ESPN working on a schedule for 2026. And on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported a group is planning to bid for a franchise in Dallas, putting the total investment at $77 million.

TGL started in 2025 with six teams: Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Boston, The Bay and Jupiter Links. Each team had four players, with three participating each week. Expansion has been a discussion point with the initial success of the league, and now we know there are bids out there to bring more teams in soon. In an interview with TGL CEO Mike McCorley, he told the Palm Beach Post there is no "timeline" on expansion, but he did not rule out a few additions for the 2026 season.

One last non-Masters bit:

Dave Pelz, one of the game’s preeminent instructors and inventors, died last weekend at 85. When you think of Pelz’s legacy, what comes to mind first?

Bastable: I always appreciated Pelz’s highly scientific approach to the game. He didn’t leave much to chance and always pushed the envelope, be that with 60-degree wedges, 2-ball putters or determining whether golfers should putt/chip with the pin in. On that last matter Pelz proved way back in 1990 — in a GOLF Magazine cover story — that there was no doubt about the wisest strategy: leave the flag in. Our colleague David DeNunzio’s touching reminiscence of Pelz is well worth your time.

Zak: Just how Phil Mickelson, one of the greatest golfers ever, spent the majority of his career invoking Pelz’ name while working through shot selection. You would regularly hear Phil ask his caddies “Is this a full 9 or a Pelz eight?” If it wasn’t a full shot, Mickelson would take 10 yards off the stock shot and call it a “Pelz”. Not sure there’s anything cooler than that.

Colgan: Twenty-one and twenty-two. The former, for the number of major championships his disciples won; the latter, for the number of times Pelz himself lost to Jack Nicklaus. You have to be pretty good at what you’re doing on a few fronts to earn either of those numbers.

 A truly original thinker.  It just makes me wonder how Butch is doing....

Masters Stuff - No heavy lifting, just a few bits from the TC gang and Shack.

It’s never too early to debate the Masters chances of Rory McIlroy, who already has won twice this year (Pebble and Players) and posted 65-65 on the weekend at the Texas Children’s Texas Open to finish T5. Prop bet time: World No. 2 McIlroy vs. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler…who ya got at ANGC?

Bastable: Heart says Rory, soul says Rory, 99.946% of my being says Rory. But wallet says Scottie.

Zak: I think the volatility of Rory’s game at times does not play well at Augusta. If they played this year’s Masters 10 times, I’d say they tie twice, Rory beats Scottie twice, and Scottie wins six times. No one has figured out that course (and golf, plainly) better than him.

Colgan: Sometimes a helpful exercise in these instances is as follows: If I told you in two weeks we’d be talking about Scottie’s third Masters win or Rory’s first, which would be more surprising to you? The answer is clearly Scottie, but I think that has more to do with the golf course than the player. Give me a neutral site battle and it might be a dead-heat.

I don't have any particular insight into Scottie's form, but we have a long experience with the gap between Rory's ears..... Which is the point that Bastable's wallet is making.  Though, given his form to date, is this his last, best chance?

As for this, it's Bubba being Bubba:

Bubba Watson raised some eyebrows this week when, in an interview with our own Sean Zak, he offered this ringing endorsement of Scheffler’s dominant 2024 season: “I know Tiger did some stuff in 2000, but Scottie’s year was the best we’ve ever seen. With all the talent around the world now playing, that was it.” What say you? Tiger 2000 vs. Scottie 2024: Which season was superior?

Bastable: Vijay Singh’s 2004 (nine wins, 18 top-10s) would like a word! But to the question at hand, I give the nod to Tiger’s 2000, because of how he won: more times than not by decimating fields. Of his nine wins, two were in playoffs. In his other seven winning weeks, he prevailed by an average of 6.57 shots. His overall strokes gained tally that year also was staggering: 3.83 compared to Scheffler’s 3.1 in 2024.

Zak: LOL. I would normally blame myself for not interjecting when Bubba said this, but he volunteered it! I never asked him to compare the two. Unfortunately for him, he’s very wrong, and the Internet screamed about it all weekend in my mentions. We can also use the same measurement we often do with Player of the Year awards: Which season would Scottie Scheffler rather have — his 2024 or Tiger’s 3-major 2000? You know the answer to that one.

Colgan: But Tiger in 2000 was playing against plumbers!!! He couldn’t hang with the athleticism of the modern NBA!

You will be sick of my take already, but Scottie won all of ONE full-field event in 2024.  

Dylan Dethier, in his Monday Finish column, had a fun take on the qualification for that final slot at Augusta, one in which both participants come off as likeable:

On Monday, Michael Kim withdrew from this week’s Valero Texas Open.

It must be the best WD of his life.

That’s because on Sunday at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, Kim chased down a prize that had seemed for years to be far out of reach.

Kim began the final round in a fight for a very important place in the Official World Golf Ranking. Just a few years ago Kim was fighting his way back inside the top 1000. But now? He needed to climb from No. 52 to No. 50 to earn a spot in the Masters tournament field via Sunday’s cutoff. Slip to No. 51? He’d be out. No Masters. Opportunity missed.

So how much was he thinking about that trip to Augusta coming down the stretch?

“Oh, I’m sure I made some pretty nervy swings on the back nine there thinking about it,” he said. Things got even stranger when he cracked his driver. He bogeyed 15. He bogeyed 17. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be? But Kim buckled down for a clutch seven-foot par putt at No. 18 to post 69 and a T32 finish. That left him in limbo, and so he had just one question when he spoke to reporters afterwards.

“What’s Ben Griffin at?”

Griffin had started the week at World No. 53, one spot behind Kim. He made a Sunday charge, staying bogey-free and stiffing his final shot of the day — a tee shot at the par-3 9th — to set up a birdie for 65 and T18.

How often was he thinking about the Masters?

“Just about every shot,” he admitted. “It was a really solid round, I think it gives me a chance. We’re just going to have to see where the cards fall.”

Kim has been to the Masters once, in 2019. He was there by virtue of winning the John Deere Classic the previous season but he was also in the throes of what would turn out to be a years-long slump; he shot 76-78 at Augusta National and beat just four players.

Griffin has never played the Masters. He’s played just four major championships. And although he’s become a reliable presence on the PGA Tour, there’s something special about Augusta National. Even for the pros.

“It’s been a dream since I was a little kid to be there,” he said. “We’ll see what happens.”

Both Kim and Griffin then headed to Twitter to check the most reliable real-time source on the matter: a mysterious OWGR guru who goes by “Nosferatu.”

Later that evening, when the results finalized, Nosferatu released their findings: Kim was in. Griffin had needed one more birdie putt to fall. He wound up No. 51, less than a hundredth of a world ranking point outside the Masters margin.

Kim posted a celebratory message to Twitter. Griffin responded.

“That was crazy. Congrats man!! You’ve been on a heck of a run.”

He’s right. Kim has been playing the best golf of his career since the start of February; in eight starts he has seven made cuts, five top-15s and three top-sixes. He’s a deserving member of the field. As for Griffin? He still has one more way in. The winner this week in San Antonio gets the final spot at Augusta National.”

“Go win Valero and I’ll see you there!” Kim wrote back.

Sorry for the long excerpt, but Dylan calls is "Golf Stuff I Like", and the rest of us enjoy it as well.

Geoff is in Augusta mode and has much of interest at his latest Quad post, including these helpful architectural notes on changes: 

🚜 Architectural Changes Since Last Time: Re-grassed greens at the first, 15th and 16th, and maybe one other TBD. Players will need to take this added firmness into account (though no place on the planet manages to minimize new green firmness like ANGC). The 16th was not slated for re-grassing but damage from the remnants of Helene required new sod.

🌲Tree loss: Significant, particularly in a stretch from the 6th tee toward the first fairway. “The loss of a few trees is definitely noticeable,” said Rory McIlroy. “It might make it a little more susceptible to whatever breeze is blowing,” said Ben Crenshaw.

😢 Notable trees gone: Two behind the 11th green, one behind the 15th, tall pines at the third hole, and several around the backdrop to Amen Corner.

⛳️ New Super: Purdue graduate Brent Seyer takes over for Brad Owen who spent 27 years in the lead role. Seyer has been with the club for 15 years.

This is also helpful:

Lastly, Geoff introduces a new concept, Golf Architecture for Normal People.....  Sorry, just not seeing a lot of overlap in that Venn diagram.

But see if you enjoy his GANP take on ANGC:

Golf Architecture For Normal People presents three simple questions about the most vital design tenets and how they influence your course assessments. We’ll revisit those questions for this year’s major venues.

👨🏻‍🏫 Remember all the holes after you play? Well, (A) most of us won’t get “on” the course, and

(B) of course we can! Even without Augusta National being on television every year, most know Augusta National’s tendencies better than their home course. But the question as posed in the book—can you remember all the holes after playing—speaks to the variety and routing of holes. Does anyone doubt the recall ease for a layout that changes lengths and pace and has no two holes that look remotely similar? The memorability comes easily thanks to the Spartan use of bunkers, the lack of overforestation, clever incorporation of water hazards, and those otherworldly greens. Score: 10

No overforestation on that claustrophobic seventh fairway?   Still, I'll concede readily that the holes are distinctive and memorable, especially for an inland course.

😄 Could you play it every day and enjoy it? This is a slightly different question than, “could you play only this course every day for the rest of your life and enjoy it?” Naturally, that’s a yes, hindered only by the club being closed for five months a year. But in the case of Augusta National’s day-to-day fun, Jones and MacKenzie fulfilled their original vision, and despite some real hack jobs by Cliff, Hootie and Faz, the flow and fun of a round has survived. The only hesitancy in immediately answering “yes” to the never-ending pleasurability question centers around the club’s dated infatuation with two simple tee boxes on nearly all of the holes (6th and 16th being the exceptions). This lack of flexibility and the gargantuan task of hiking to back tees would be way too much for 99% of golfers. But the member tees are idyllic for most and you just have to watch a final round of the ANWA to see how beautifully the course flows from one hole to the next. Still, you’re not losing balls here and there are people who’d give up vital body functions to play it once. Score: 9

The two-tee constraint is something most folks are unaware of, though it's news to me that they relented on two holes.  When one tee has to contain Rory and the other can't overly tax Condoleeza Rice, where does everyone in the middle play from?

🦮 Is this a place you’d want to take your dog for a walk? What pooch wouldn’t want to roll around on carpeted rye grass? But this question is more about walkability, a relaxing sensibility,

the scenery, and other not as-easily-explainable feelings about the golf experience. The walkability from the greens to (member) tees is sensational. The underfoot factor, key to dog (and human) happiness, is brilliant. There are no weird crossings or cart paths to cross (though there are two service roads where shoes touch asphalt). Even the bridges at 13 green have grass on top. The scenery is otherworldly. The views across the property are always comforting, if not awe-inspiring in the early and late light. While ANGC is hilly for most dogs, the underfoot experience ends up feeling strangely gentle and relaxing. With over 1200 yards of walks to back tees, most pooches would prefer to park it under the Big Oak after 9 holes than keep claiming backwards. So for that indignity caused by regulatory laziness, ANGC gets hit with a half-point deduction from the Russian judge (dated reference, kids). Score: 9.5

A spectacular property, though you'd think it maybe slightly too hilly far many pooches.

Hope you enjoyed our first Augusta teaser.  Have a great weekend and we'll dive in again on Monday. 

Weekend Wrap - Snakebit Edition

No, not JT and his Snake Pit follies... Your humble blogger took a cheap, gratuitous swipe at a certain Norwegian golfer mired in desultory play.  Do I get results, or what?

The schedule for the neat-term is clear....there will be no blogging until the middle of next week.  Employee No. 2 and I are taking a quick, season-ending trip to Utah, then it officially transitions to golf season.  Sit tight, it's not like anything important will happen in Houston.

Back From The Dead - I've been of the opinion until yesterday that Viktor would not even be at Bethpage, so that will of course change.  But the winner doesn't seem to be declaring victory, does he?

When he turned up on the first tee Thursday at Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course, the 27-year-old Norwegian star was fresh off three consecutive missed cuts and wracked by deepening self-doubt.

“When you have no confidence and you don’t believe you’re going to play well that’s pretty tough,” Hovland said.

It was Sunday afternoon, and Hovland was speaking to the cameras in the incredulous tone of a man trying to wrap his head around what had just transpired.

Moments earlier, with a tap-in bogey on 18, he had completed a 4-under round of 67 to claim his first victory since the 2023 Tour Championship. He won the 2023 BMW Championship the week before. His 11-under total for the week put him one shot clear of Justin Thomas, who had surged to a three-shot lead with four holes remaining but slipped down the stretch while Hovland birdied two of his final three holes. Jacob Bridgeman finished in solo third, two off the pace at 9-under.

“It’s unbelievable to see that I could win,” Hovland said. “Because I honestly did not believe that I could do it this week.”

His lack of faith was based on mounting evidence, including a dispiriting showing at last week’s Players Championship, where he shot an 80 in the opening round. Battling his mechanics and his mindset, Hovland was an 11th-hour entry into the Valspar.

On a tight, tree-lined course that ranks among the toughest venues on Tour, Hovland leaned on his iron game to overcome an inconsistent driver — “I am still hitting a lot of disgusting shots,” he said— and scrape his way into a tie for the 54-hole lead. Even then, he wasn’t sure what to expect on Sunday.

I'm pleased to report that Luke Donald is once again able to get oxygen into his lungs.... At this juncture it would be hard to identify a player more important to Luke.  Their roster is so thin that one more stud makes an outsized difference, at least in the team play.

The Tour Confidential panel is of course around to add their invaluable insights ensure that your humble blogger can phone it in:

Viktor Hovland beat Justin Thomas by one to win the Valspar Championship on Sunday, his first victory since he won the BMW Championship and Tour Championship back to back in August 2023. It had been a struggle for him since then, and he missed his last three cuts entering this week. What was the difference at the Valspar? And are you a believer that he’s back? Or do you need to see more?

Josh Sens: It’s hard to believe he’s really back when Hovland himself doesn’t seem to think he is.

By his own admission, he is still hitting a lot of what he calls “disgusting” shots. But this week, he managed his game beautifully, especially down the stretch, leaning on his iron game and coming up clutch with the putter. I don’t mean to minimize the win. Winning any tournament is no small feat. But golf is just too fickle–and Hovland himself seems so committed to constant tinkering–to use this week as a predictor of what’s coming next.

Zephyr Melton: Echoing what Sens said above. Hovland won’t be fully “back” until he feels like he has full control of his swing. Sure he won this week, but it doesn’t sound like he’s content with where his game is at. This week is a great step in the right direction, but Hovland’s swing is far from a finished product.

Josh Berhow: He hit some really key irons late — which is exactly where he’s supposed to excel — to set up his last two birdies, but difficult to say this will turn the tide given how transparent he was afterward. His confidence doesn’t seem high — he did just shoot 80 last week — and he seemed surprised to win this thing. But a win like this might do wonders, so perhaps this is just the start of a string of strong finishes and a little more belief.

Next up, how many angels exactly can fit on the head of a pin....  I just don't know how to argue that he can win but isn't "back", whatever that might mean.  To me, though, the takeaway is how narrow the gap is between dominance and futility, yet we keep trying to pick based upon current form.

And talk about your angels on the head of pins...

Thomas held a two-stroke lead late but missed fairways and bogeyed 16 and 18. As someone who hasn’t won since May 2022, is he the headlining pro who needs one most? Or does that honor belong to someone else — Homa? Spieth? etc. — on the PGA Tour?

Sens: Thomas may be in a victory drought, but he’s also won more times (15) than any player other except Rory since 2016. Getting this close has got to feel promising for him on some level. I’d give the “honor” to Spieth, who has been winless for even longer than Thomas, and has arguably fallen farther from his peak than his good friend.

Melton: JT may be in a winless drought, but his game is in a far better spot than Homa and, to a lesser extent, Spieth. I’m sure he’d much rather be holding a trophy tonight rather than stewing on the “what-ifs,” but he’s not nearly as lost as those other two. The next JT win feels close.

Berhow: I’d argue Homa needs it most right now, since he is currently in a very similar spot to Viktor (before he won Sunday). Thomas and Spieth have winless streaks extending a little longer than Homa, although Thomas seems close. Few guys have the firepower he does when he’s on. He barely made the cut at the Valspar and fought to the top of the leaderboard. I think good things are coming for him.

It's a fun question, but I'm not inclined to venture too deep into the long grass.  Spieth's last spiral down was at least in part injury-related, Homa and Hovland have been so futile that they weren't even sniffing cuts, but we see how quickly that can swing.  Spieth and Homa might prove to be dilemmas for Keegan, but there's so much golf to come that it's not worth diving in this early.

I do want to add, though, that I hope Viktor had words to this effect in his post-win presser:

"I'd Like to thank Justin Thomas, without whom this wouldn't have been possible."

Explanation here. 

I have a couple of submissions for shot of the week, first from Billy Ho:

Billy Horschel goes lefty and hits a great shot. 🤯pic.twitter.com/YbY23zdfFN

— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) March 23, 2025

Made the putt for birdie as well.

And Patton Kizzire:

Unreal hang time on this putter punt 👏 pic.twitter.com/WuQvbfr0el

— Skratch (@Skratch) March 20, 2025

Very impressive hang time...

And let's not forget Adam Hadwin:

Received this via DM: Adam Hadwin learning the consequences of his actions on Friday at the Valspar Championship. pic.twitter.com/ZiitjOdao3

— Alex Gelman (@agsnetworks) March 22, 2025

Of course, as regular readers of this blog will know, that last guy needs to be careful because he's married to the best Twitter-slinger on Tour:

Through sickness and health. Amen. pic.twitter.com/3NsMJA3eHH

— Jessica Hadwin (@jessicahadwin) March 22, 2025

Girl. Got. Game.  The TC guys had some fun with two of these (and I could have also included Sahith Theegala):

Who had the best — or most cringeworthy — anger-management moment at the Valspar? Patton Kizzire’s putter punt or Adam Hadwin’s sprinkler mishap?

Sens; Kizzire’s putter punt was a novel move. At least, I’d never seen one like it before. But for keystone cop comedy and comeuppance, I give the nod to Hadwin triggering the sprinkler’s wrath.

Melton: The putter punt was great theater, but certainly some embarrassing behavior coming from a seasoned Tour pro. Hadwin’s sprinkler mishap seemed more like bad luck than anything else. I’ll give an honorable mention to Spieth for unleashing an aggressive f-bomb on Saturday. He got his money’s worth with that one.

Berhow: The PPP — Patton Putter Punt — had impressive hang time. He’s gonna shank that thing more times than not. If you are going to punt a putter, you better make good contact. He did. Hadwin’s was definitely more embarrassing.

Thank God the boys were acting up a wee bit, otherwise it would have been a dreary week.  

Before we move on, a quickie Florida-swing summary:

The Florida swing is officially over. What did you learn?

Sens: That Rory McIlroy is going to win the Masters. (or not).

Melton: Rory is still a dog and Russell Henley is going to be on the U.S. Ryder Cup team. Plus, I learned who Joe Highsmith was!

Berhow: Scottie Scheffler is not yet 100 percent following the hand injury. When will he be, and how much can he win when he’s not 100 percent? These are questions we don’t have answers to yet.

I certainly agree that Scheffler's play has made me wonder if there's any lingering effects to the injury, but perhaps his roiling frustration is the bigger surprise.  Rory feels like the only top player who has shown any form, but is that a good thing for him?  Or he is he better  off coming in just above the tree line....

It Would Take A Heart Of Stone... - It just so happens that I have this tab open forever:

Sergio Garcia is willing to jump through countless hoops for chance to play in one more Ryder Cup

 At a certain point he was willing to do anything except pay those DP World Tour fines, though that has seemingly now been done:

Still, none of that is deterring the 2017 Masters champion. Before playing this week in the PIF Saudi International, Garcia re-joined the DP World Tour and paid all of the fines levied on him when he played in LIV events directly opposite of those on what was, for most of his career, his home circuit. That left him only needing to serve nine weeks of suspension from events on the European Tour. By his own reckoning, Garcia will be unable to play in a DP World Tour event until the Bahrain tournament at the end of next month.

That item dates back to early December, the implication being that he might have gotten in more starts had he not dawdled in paying those fines.   So, perhaps with some strong starts in those events he can play himself into the Majors....  Oops!

Sergio Garcia came to Macau this weekend looking to play his way into “his favorite” major. In the end, a three-foot birdie putt stood between Garcia and a spot in the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

But golf is a brutal sport. Garcia missed the short putt and left the Asian Tour’s International Series Macau event with a fourth-place finish and not much else.

While Garcia failed to qualify for the Open via a top-three finish in Macau, his fellow LIV mates Carlos Ortiz (first), Patrick Reed (second) and Jason Kokrak (third) all punched their ticket to Portrush. Garcia’s three-foot birdie putt on the last would have had him finish tied with Kokrak and earn the final spot in the Open via a countback system based on his world rankings points. Garcia is currently 513 in the world, while Kokrak is 775 due to LIV’s inability to earn Official World Golf Rankings points at LIV events.

Patrick vs. Sergio?  Man, talk about a devil's dilemma....

But the idea of Sergio paying those fines and not making the Ryder Cup team brings a smile to my face.... Although Sergio back at Bethpage could be good fun as well.

Eamon's Take - the incendiary Eamon Lynch assesses the current state of PGA Tour-LIV negotiations with his characteristic astute eye.  His header will point you towards his thinking:

Lynch: If the PGA Tour wants reunification, it should do one thing — wait

Eamon's discussion of the party of the second part is, methinks, the most interesting part thereof:

A month has passed since the White House meeting that was expected to deliver a deal, but which instead produced a barely civil face-off. The Tour presented a proposal valuing LIV at $500 million, a comically generous grant for an entity that spends cash faster than a returning submarine crew in a brothel (though at least the sailors get something in return). PIF’s governor, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, was insulted by that assessment and the summit resulted in a setback rather than a settlement.

There are several possible reasons for Al-Rumayyan’s obstinacy. Perhaps he felt ambushed in Washington. Maybe he’s facing pressure at home and is desperate to show a win. Or pride got the better of him. Or he believes the fee-taking leeches who assure him that he’s created a revolutionary product with a lucrative future. Or he knows that entering LIV into any kind of investment partnership will crystalize his multi-billion dollar folly.

The other day, I asked an insider about Al-Rumayyan’s stiff-arming proposal after proposal from the Tour (PIF hasn’t submitted a single overture of its own during the negotiation process). “Will there ever be a day of reckoning?” came the reply. “Really, I can’t think of anyone who’s been lied to more than him. That the idea was good. That the product is good. That it’s going really well. He needs someone he trusts to tell him the truth, that it’s just not working.”

OK, are you finished laughing yet?  There is no doubt something profound in Eamon's take, but there's also some huge gaps.  I was reminded of that laughable Kinsey Report, which made Al-Rumayyan look like a guy that wanted to be lied to.  Or, more likely, wanted to do what he wanted to do, and just needed something in the file to support it like any mid-level bureaucrat.

Whatever governs the governor’s attitude, sentiment has hardened across the table. Rising broadcast ratings and a run of sponsors re-upping have restored a little swagger to the formerly defensive PGA Tour. Fear of Al-Rumayyan’s checkbook is lessened too. LIV hasn’t signed any major talent since Jon Rahm 16 months ago, and the only three players who could impact things — Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Scottie Scheffler — are not only staying put, but have made public comments that were at best lukewarm about the prospect of a deal. A year ago the foremost question for the Tour was how to stem the erosion of its product, now that question is what can actually be gained from a PIF deal at all?

The answer, of course, is money and power, which is what executives really mean when they talk about the “reunification” of golf, even as they frame it as something fans demand. Both tours — PGA and DP World — want Saudi investment dollars and they don’t want the major championships to hold all the influence, which has been the by-product of the best players only competing against each other four times a year. Comrades Monahan and Kinnings can’t be thrilled to see assets developed on their circuits largely being used to benefit four other organizations.

I believe Eamon grossly overstates the positives in that first 'graph.  The ratings look good mostly in comparison to a dreadful 2024 ( in at least some weeks they've been below 2023's numbers), and there has been some decent sponsorship action as well.

Eamon states that they want Saudi cash, but my thoughts are that they might well need Saudi cash, as the one critical data point neither of us has access to is the Tour's burn rate.  My operative assumption is they bur through SSG's $1.5 billion large quicker than we can imagine....

But let me also focus you on that last bit from Eamon, which I think is critical The LIV confrontation has exposed the vulnerability of the Tour, which is perceived as the most important golf Tour on the planet, but doesn't actually control the four most important weeks of the year.  Tat's a profoundly week position, but Eamon is correct that the civil war in golf has only enhanced to position of those four other organizations.  Ironic that, eh?

Exit Strategy - Far too early for this, and yet....

We’ll get into Masters storylines and picks more in the coming weeks, but with a hat tip to March Madness tipping off, who is your early Cinderella pick for Augusta National?

Sens: I wouldn’t exactly call it a Cinderella pick, but Joaquin Niemann, LIV’s hottest player this season, would count as something of an upstart win.

Melton: I need to see a top 20 in a major from Niemann (he still doesn’t have one!) before I start picking him. I’ll keep showing love to Russell Henley. Two major top 10s to cap last season and an API win already this year. As they say, he’s trending.

Berhow: I love Niemann at Augusta, but since he’s already taken, how about Keegan Bradley as a long shot? Hasn’t missed a cut in seven starts this season. Five times, he’s been 20th or better. Not a ton of success at Augusta, but he’s finished T22 and T23 in his last two starts. There’s lots to like for someone you can find at +18000 to win. Plus, Bradley contending would make for juicy Ryder Cup captaincy storylines.

Hold on just a second.  You're picking the best player in the world as your Cinderella?  because we know he wouldn't lie to us... 

We'll get to Augusta in due course.... Have a great week.

Thursday Threads - Glide Path To Augusta Edition

With the Players Championship behind us, it's officially that time of year....  Even the Delta Sky Club gets it:

It's Not About You - The Morikawa bit continues to amuse this observer, beginning with the young man violating the first rule of holes:

Collin Morikawa claps back at criticism from Brandel Chamblee, Paul McGinley, Rocco Mediate

Do we think he's going to make things better for himself with this?

Collin Morikawa has heard the criticism of his decision to decline speaking to the media on Sunday after losing a three-stroke lead with five holes to go at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. On Friday, Morikawa doubled down on his claim that "I don’t owe anyone anything.”

Morikawa answered 10 questions in all and as he finished explaining why he opted to chip with a 5-wood instead of an iron or using a putter, he stopped the assembled media who had started to walk away and said, “I just want to add one more thing.”

That entailed trying to clarify what happened on Sunday after he finished his round at Bay Hill and lost by one stroke to Russell Henley. Clearly, Morikawa is irritated at the response from former players-turned-TV commentators Brandel Chamblee and Paul McGinley on Golf Channel’s “Live From” and PGA Tour Champions pro Rocco Mediate, who skewered Morikawa on his PGA Tour Radio show.

“I might bite my tongue after saying this, but to the Brandel Chamblees, to the Paul McGinleys, to the Rocco Mediates of the world, I don't regret anything I said. You know, it might have been a little bit harsh that I don't owe anyone, but I don't owe anyone,” he said. “I respect the fans. I'm very thankful for them. I'm grateful. It makes me emotional, but it's just — it hurts to hear people say this, and especially you guys, because I finished the round and I went to go sign for 10 minutes, 15 minutes for all the people after. Not a single person from media went to go follow me because, I don't know. But that's me.

“So for people to be calling me out is — it's interesting. It just, it doesn't show anything. I mean, look, I get what you guys are saying. But I was there. I was signing for every single person right after the round, whether they wanted it or not. I finished second. They could care less. But yeah, I'm going to leave it at that, all right? So thank you guys.”

Wait, you were forcing your signature on folks that didn't want it?   If you don't regret your comments, then why are you still trying to explain them a week later?

Before we get to Shane Ryan's follow-up item, I just think that Collin is doubling down on the type of entitlement that is so hurting the game right now, but I just wish he could get out of his own way.

First, at the risk of repeating myself, I believe the Tour should require the players to be available to the media on some reasonable basis, but the reality is that they don't and they won't.  So, Collin has a legal right to not appear, and we can even sympathize with his excessive use of the first-person singular (he was wallowing in frustration in a very human way).

But, while stiffing the media isn't a hanging offense, Collin should also understand that it's not his finest hour.  They were at Bay Hill a few weeks ago and every story about Morikawa included a reference back to Arnie, who told every young player that would listen to be even more gracious in defeat than you are in victory, a standard that Collin didn't quite meet.  

You don't have to be perfect at every moment in life, but..... The problem, and somebody should take Collin aside and tell him the facts of life, is that, when he tells us he doesn't owe anybody anything, we believe him.  In a handful of years, this group of men has gone from These guys are Good™ to I don't owe anyone anything™.  Well played!

Shane Ryan has thoughts, though he seems to be taking Collin awfully personally:

Tour pros and the media don't have to be enemies

The question of whether a professional golfer "owes" something to the media puts a writer like me in a tough spot. If I say yes, they do owe us something, I sound entitled. But if I agree that they don't, I'm arguing for my own obsolescence, because if there's no need for any relationship, what's the point of me?

He doesn't owe anybody, Shane.  Don't be so needy....But see if you think Collin is up for this:

From a player's side, it's a terrific way to frame the question if your goal is to tie the media in knots. Not only does it sound righteous to reject the idea that you're obliged to give away part of your soul to the media, but it paints them as a pack of leaches looking for blood. Add in the fact that hating journalists has become a national sport, and it's a hell of a sympathy play—in 2025, you can't lose by standing against the press.

At its heart, though, this question is meaningless and should be ignored as a distraction. It's paradoxically both harmful and silly, and it doesn't deserve to be taken seriously.

Why? Because it paints the two sides as enemies, and none of us should accept that definition, much less promote it. What we need is the creation of a mutually beneficial relationship between players and those writers/producers/podcasters they trust to act in good faith, because that produces the best stories that reveal the humanity of these great athletes … which, by the way, they could really use at a time when many fans consider them boring or greedy.

But Shane pulls back the curtain a little, and it's not an especially pretty picture:

I work for Golf Digest, a prominent golf media outlet, but if I wanted to get 30 minutes alone with Morikawa or Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy at some point in the next three months, I'd have a hard time. I could either approach them personally at the course or email their agents, and I can tell you with near certainty how that would go—in person, they'd tell me to talk to their agents. Then their agents would likely say no, but in the off chance they said yes, it would be after a long series of emails sussing out my intentions, possibly asking for the questions in advance and wondering whether it could just be a phone call. I've been there, and the process is unpleasant enough that it has a chilling effect … at a certain point, it's easier just to stop asking and find other ways to cover them. Needless to say, those other ways don't involve an actual human conversation.

Remember all those years ago when I was ranting about Nurse Ratched's refusal to reveal Tour disciplinary actions?  This is how we got where we are, as the Tour has protected its players from any scrutiny for decades.  

Shane sounds hopelessly naïve above, with his mutually-beneficial bit.  That's all well and good until a tough story appears, then they'll expect you to cover for them.  I just think when they tell us they hold us in contempt, we should do them the courtesy of believing them.  And make our own appropriate arrangements....

LIV Musings - It would take a better man than I not to laugh at this:

PGA Tour outdrew LIV Golf viewership 100-to-1 last weekend

3.6 million people watched the final round of the Players Championship while just 34,000 tuned in for LIV Singapore.

 Didn't they have 12,000 people tuned in earlier in the year?  I mean, look at the growth!

To be fair, these seem like good numbers for the PGA, given the weather delay:

According to Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal, Sunday’s broadcast of the Players Championship, a weather-impacted round that ended with eventual champion Rory McIlroy and runner-up JJ Spaun tied headed into a Monday morning playoff, averaged 3.6 million viewers on NBC, up about 3% versus Scottie Scheffler’s win last year (3.5 million viewers).

It's almost like a familiar venue and full field add value....Oh, what am I saying?

If I were a harder-working blogger, I'd check the Friday ratings.  JT's Friday charge to make the cut is to this observer one of the great things about our game, so great that they can't stand it happening....

Of course LIV was on at zero dark thirty, but still:

And it’s not as if large audiences are allergic to watching live sports late at night on a cable channel. The same night that LIV Singapore aired on FS1, Formula One’s Australian Grand Prix averaged 1.1 million viewers on ESPN. That event actually began an hour and a half later than LIV Singapore, even more of an unfavorable time slot for American audiences.

Just something to keep in mind when we hear that the Saudis want to keep LIV going....

A certain player did win that LIV event, and spawned a cottage industry of musings:

Where should Joaquin Niemann actually be ranked?

The first reaction is that he took himself out of the mix, so do I need to care?  He ne4eds to make himself relevant, and he's unfortunately only left himself four opportunities a year to do so.

This guy can't help shred whatever vestigial credibility remains (spoiler alert, it's zero):

Following Niemann's victory, Mickelson logged into his X/Twitter account to pump up Torque GC's best player. Torque GC's main acount posted that Niemann has "got to be a top 5 player in the world right now." Mickelson's response? "Top 5? Try #1."

Per that unimpeachable source, this is the best player in the world's record in majors:

 Really Phil?  

Cup Fever - It was a great week with a nasty ending for J.J. Spaun, but I didn't see this coming:

Scottie Scheffler

Xander Schauffele

Collin Morikawa

Russell Henley

Bryson DeChambeau

JJ Spaun

Maverick McNealy

Patrick Cantlay

Lucas Glover

Tony Finau

Those are the current U.S. Ryder Cup points standings after the Players, showing  the runner up as an automatic qualifier.  That'll put the fear of God into the Euros, no?

Of course, the Euros have their own problems:

Not even expecting Viktor to be at Bethpage, that's how lost he seems.

I must leave you good folks here and get on with my day.  Hope to see you Monday.

Weekend Wrap - Playoff Letdown Edition

I acknowledge that I had promised to wrap the weekend on Monday morning, but perhaps you missed that fine print....  It actually ends up in existential territory, can a blogger wrap that which itself has not wrapped?  

An odd week at Ponte Vedra Beach, one in which the Tour will no doubt take comfort in the outcome, though I'd assign a huge asterisk to it all.  No doubt recency bias will dominate, so all sorts of folks will be conceding him that little event in three weeks.

Rory In Full - That's a recurring header here, and Golf.com actually used it on their home page for this piece:

Rory McIlroy’s week at the Players Championship started with a heckle and ended with heroics. On Monday morning, McIlroy claimed his second career Players title after beating J.J. Spaun in a three-hole aggregate playoff in blustery conditions at TPC Sawgrass.

It was a week that illuminated what makes McIlroy such a compelling figure off the course and magnetic one on it.

After 20-year-old college golfer Luke Potter chirped McIlroy with a dig about his 2011 Masters collapse during Tuesday’s practice round, McIlroy walked over to the rope line and grabbed the phone of one of Potter’s teammates. The college players were removed from the premises.

It was an understandable, human reaction from McIlroy. A revealing one, too, as my colleague James Colgan noted. It showed the duality of the four-time major winner. The unpredictability of the contrasting versions he chooses to exhibit.

He is both willing and vulnerable enough to show the emotional anguish of his failures but also knows he can’t let those letdowns define him.

We'll touch briefly on that punching down incident, but that last sentence is the crux of the matter, no?  He seems as indecisive as Hamlet, but also more than a little thin-skinned.  A modern day Colin Montgomerie, though admittedly the current Rory has shed the baby fat.

And then he gets into this, for reason only his shrink will understand:

On Wednesday, McIlroy said he plans to retire with “some left in the tank” and that he won’t play on the PGA Tour Champions. In the next breath, he allowed there is always the possibility he could change his mind. To be willing to evolve your positions based on new information is admirable and a sign of an ability for deep introspection.

Same goes for his on-course approach.

McIlroy can overpower almost any test, but he’s working to fight his natural aggressive instincts in an attempt to mirror what has made Scottie Scheffler so dominant over the last two years.

That mentality shift helped McIlroy win the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am earlier this year and had him enter the final round at TPC Sawgrass within striking distance of another Players title. Despite beginning the day four shots back of 54-hole leader J.J. Spaun, McIlroy was expected to track down the contenders ahead of him with an average world ranking of 103. Anything else would be a letdown.

The curse of being great is that the accompanying expectations lead only to failures being magnified exponentially. McIlroy knows this too well as his major championship drought enters its 11th year.

There may be something there, but just think about how long he's been out there..  If this is the silver bullet, you'd have to agree that it took him an inordinate amount of time to get there, no?

I don't have quite as much time as I need, so shall we do our usual thing of drafting off the  Tour Confidential panel?  Sorry if I confused you, but that last question was very much rhetorical:

Rory McIlroy took down J.J. Spaun in a Monday playoff to win the Players Championship

for the second time in his career and claim his second win in three starts this season (the first time he’s had two wins before April). What’d you think of McIlroy’s week? And with the Masters looming, has he shown you anything to think this year at Augusta could be different?

Josh Sens: Yes. He’s talked about swing tweaks, and he’s been working hard on his wedge game. I can’t say I understand what he has changed in his mechanics, but he’s been playing a more controlled game so far this season. Augusta, of course, is a different animal for McIlroy. The Masters has been in his head. But a month ago or so in this space, I chose him to win the green jacket this year. I like that pick.

If he's improved his distance control with his wedges, that's huge.  Of course, it took him a decade or more to diagnose the problem, if only he read this blog.

James Colgan: If he’s walking up the 18th fairway at Augusta National with a two-shot lead, I’ll safely believe this year could be different. Until then, I think the burden falls on Rory to show us he is different.

James, just to be safe, I'd make that a 3-shot lead.... Yanno, Arnie '61 and all...  But a pretty damn cynical take from Mr. Colgan, which I find appropriate.

Josh Schrock: The easy answer is yes but I think it’s unknowable. I think McIlroy’s decision to try to emulate Scottie Scheffler’s course management style and limit mistakes has clearly paid off so far. He’s hitting a variety of different golf shots, especially with his wedges and short irons. It’s all good. But with McIlroy, everything changes once he steps foot on Augusta National. As we saw this week with one chirp from Luke Potter, McIlroy’s failure at the Masters still cuts deep. Whether or not he can heal that mental wound once inside the ropes at Augusta is something that no one, not even McIlroy, knows.

Yeah, I haven't blogged it, but they do a deep dive on the incident, which I do think is a tell:

McIlroy also made headlines earlier in the week, when he had a couple of fans kicked out and took one of their phones (which was later returned) after one of them heckled McIlroy for hitting a ball into the water during a practice round. Did McIlroy cross the line? Or did he have the right to do what he did?

Sens: I can understand the impulse in the heat of the moment. But he crossed the line. He’s a professional. He knows that dealing with yahoo behavior is part of his job. That involves rising above — or blocking out — the occasional idiocy around him.

Colgan: Definitely crossed a line, but I’m also not bothered by it. If anything, I found it funny that the thing he desperately wants us NOT to talk about (Masters 2011/U.S. Open 2024) became the story of tournament week because of Rory’s own actions. In that same breath, kudos to him for vanquishing some demons with his performance on Sunday and Monday.

Schrock: I don’t think he crossed the line. To be honest, I don’t think we need to let hecklers off the hook for being cruel. It’s really easy to say that McIlroy should have just blocked it out but I think there’s something more endearing about athletes who aren’t robotic. From Potter’s perspective, I couldn’t imagine chirping someone who I hope to be peers with one day. That would be like me going to the Super Bowl and yelling at Dan Wetzel over the column he wishes he had back. What are we doing?

I haven't followed this story closely, but the only part that sounds "over the line" is the taking of the cellphone, assuming he did it himself.  A player should not interact with fans directly, but I've no issue in a player reporting fans to tournament officials.  But having no issue with it is different than thinking it helpful for the player.  Players shouldn't even be conscious of the nonsense coming from the crowds, and Rory has just introduced his rabbit ears to the inebriated malcontents of the world, which I assume he will come t regret See:  Montgomerie, Colin)

But what intrigues us all is likely two aspects, the obvious continuing sensitivity to 2011, combined with the incident happening in a practice round....   As the man above hinted at, if you have rabbit ears in a practice round at Sawgrass.... well, you can finish the thought.

As for Luke Potter, he did send Rory a written apology, one assumes the wording was challenging, but what could he have been thinking?  I hate to bring him up, but it reminds of Grayson Murray's challenges, so not sure the 38th ranked amateur in the world is ready for prime time.

TPC Sawgrass proved to be a challenging yet entertaining test, the addition of a pesky tree made one front-nine hole much more compelling, and Justin Thomas nearly set the course record a day after he shot one of the worst rounds of the week. What did you learn this week?

Sens: This isn’t a new lesson but an old one reinforced. Venues matter. Architecture buffs can debate the merits of TPC Sawgrass until they are blue in the face. But there’s no doubt it’s a great tournament stage.

Colgan: I learned that this is still a really fun golf tournament, even when it’s missing some of LIV’s big stars. I really hope we find a way to get some of those players in the field in years to come, because, while this tournament is not a major, it does have some space between the next nearest golf tournament.

Let's take that thought a little further, James.  He's spot on that it's a more important event than any other, sans the four major.  What's the difference, kids?  C'mon, anyone?  Bueller?   You might have noticed that it had an actual full fie4ld of 144 players....  Did you catch any of Friday's action in which great players were fighting to make the cut?  This is exactly what Patrick Cantlay wants removed from professional golf.

Schrock: The Players is a great tournament because of the combination of the course, the conditions and the spot on the calendar it holds. I think that having it be the first major-type test of the year really sets the stage for what’s to come and guys are really on edge because of that. But I guess the field was missing Joaquin Niemann. The absence of Phil Mickelson’s World No. 1 was felt for sure. This tournament will feel even bigger when/if the game gets reunified, but it’s an awesome test and has a diet major feel.

I wouldn't argue against the inclusion of the best LIV players,  but we're talking about 3-4 guys.  The harsh reality is that no one misses Joaquin, because he simply hadn't done enough in the game (though I give him props for playing where he can to stay in the mix).

Who won the Players without winning the Players?

Sens: Danny Walker is an obvious choice, as he came in as a last-minute fill in and wound up T6. But I’ll go with Spaun. As painful as that playoff had to be for him, he can take it as a confidence boost that he got to extra holes, and also as an agonizing lesson learned. Both valuable, assuming he can look at it through those eyes.

Colgan: Bud Cauley and Danny Walker went from last-second additions to near-million-dollar paydays. That’s pretty good!

Schrock: Not Scottie Scheffler. The game’s best player didn’t have his best stuff and his attitude soured as his three-peat quest ran aground on Saturday. He is clearly not happy with where his game is after the layoff due to Ravioli-gate and has work to do to defend at Augusta. But in all seriousness, it’s Bud Cauley, Danny Walker and Spaun.

Most of those names would not have even been in the field were it a Signature Event.  Can we not acknowledge the diminishment of events through limited field sizes and no cuts?  It is without a doubt an inferior product in all respects, and those controlling the game are too busy lining their own pockets to do the right thing (Rory and Patrick, call your office).

In honor of the Players’ three-hole aggregate playoff, which playoff format is best?

Sens: Three holes seems about right to me. Long enough to eliminate flukes, but not drawn out enough to become a death march. I wouldn’t have wanted to see this morning’s playoff go on a second longer.

Colgan: Depends on the venue. Some places should be the same hole over and over again. Some should be a full, 18-hole aggregate. TPC Sawgrass is dead perfect as a three-hole aggregate.

Schrock: If it’s a big event, it should be a full 18-hole aggregate. If it’s a non-major, non-Players Signature Event, it should be a three-hole aggregate. Everything else should be sudden death.

Funny answers, as if they want to avoid the obvious conclusions....

First, just let me add, this is a tough question and Colgan's answer is downright bizarre, because layoff formats are mostly chosen based upon the event, not the venue.   Those three finishing holes at Sawgrass provide a routing that's hard for any other venue to match, which only begs the question of whether the PGA of America could ever take a Ryder Cup here....  I mean, if the USGA can bring an Amateur there....

But it's a good question, though the writers seem unwilling to pull at the thread.  Because if the fifth of four majors has an epic three-hole playoff, isn't it weird that the U.S. Open has 2-hole playoff and the Masters is still sudden death?

They actually have a Joaquin follow-up:

Joaquin Niemann won LIV Golf Singapore on Sunday, giving the 26-year-old pro two wins in four LIV starts this season. With the Masters a month away, is he the most dangerous LIV golfer playing Augusta?

Sens: I dunno. I wouldn’t look past a certain Masters winner named Jon Rahm.

Colgan: Well, Phil Mickelson called him the best golfer in the world, so I think that stands for something!

Schrock: Niemann needs to show a pulse in a major before we’re calling him a threat of any sort. It’s Bryson, Rahm, Hatton and Brooks. Then, maybe, Niemann. Maybe.

Yeah, when has Phil ever lied to us?

I think they do a credible job, and Joaquin is a bit of an enigma for sure.  I though his decision to join LIV was one of the most regrettable, for the simple reason that he was still ascending, and LIV is just not the same competitive environment.

But on this question my thought go to the state of the Tour-LIV negotiations, wherein it's our understanding that the issue is the ongoing status of LIV.  Their players have obviously had some success in majors, but I'll opine that their top guys (and it's really only 3-4 guys) guys need to perform in the 2025 majors to maintain their negotiating leverage.  It puts quite a lot of pressure on those few guys, Brooks, Bryson, Rahmbo and maybe Joaquin and Cam Smith (although he doesn't seem to be the same guy).

One last bit and then the exit for me.  On Sunday I was watching the restarted final round when Employee No. 2 said words to the effect of, "Look at the package on Lucas Glover".  So, I couldn't help looking and, while I wish I could unsee it, that is no longer an option.  What's a blogger to do?  My Google subscription is current, so I searched Lucas Glover package" and got this:

Lucas Glover's "package" refers to the specific golf clubs he uses, which include a Titleist GT2 driver, a Cobra Darkspeed LS 3-wood, Srixon ZX7 irons, Cleveland RTX 6 ZipCore wedges, and a L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max putter.

No, that's not what the bride meant at all.  She was perhaps using a more colloquial definition, for which the Urban Dictionary is the reference of record:

Male genitalia (penis and scrotum together), often associated with large size.

Man, look at the bulge in that dude's pants! His package must be huge.

It's twoo!  It's twoo!  All I can say is that the bride was not mistaken....

If I were on my game, this story should be combined with the news of Tiger's latest romantic relationship, which will have all sorts of heads exploding.   

I will catch you all later in the week.