Viktor Hovland gained final yr’s BMW Championship in entrance of a packed home of Chicagoans.
Getty Photographs
Welcome to the Monday End, the place we hope your weekend tee pictures had been extra Baker Mayfield (325 yards) than Will Levis (95). However both approach, you’re a winner when you received on the market. To the information…
First, a fast request: In the event you just like the Monday End, subscribe HERE to get it in your e mail inbox! It’s free. And it could make me joyful.
GOLF STUFF I LIKE
A brand new venue — and a brand new lefty.
In a number of methods the PGA Tour’s fall occasions are nonetheless caught in a bizarre limbo. They boast stronger, deeper fields than Korn Ferry Tour occasions however they’re clearly a step behind regular-season PGA Tour occasions, to not point out juiced-up Signature Occasions. On this present construction, successful the Sanderson Farms means successful a PGA Tour occasion, getting a multi-year exemption and incomes an invitation to the Masters. However it’s additionally a very completely different accomplishment than successful, say, the Genesis Invitational or the Vacationers Championship and even the RBC Canadian Open. As golf followers it’s nonetheless not clear how we’re presupposed to categorize the stakes of those competitions. Aside from crystallizing subsequent season’s high 125, I don’t know precisely what they imply.
However given its limitations, this week’s Black Desert Championship labored fairly rattling effectively. Southern Utah will not be an enormous inhabitants heart however it’s a golf vacation spot on the rise. I’m pretty assured the TV rankings will probably be someplace between “mediocre” and “dismal” — except the blowouts within the 4 p.m. NFL slate had sports activities followers attempting to find different programming — however for these of us sickos who watched a little bit of the motion, Black Desert introduced it. The course was visually beautiful in a distinctly completely different approach than anything on Tour and it was an fascinating strategic take a look at; the wind didn’t blow, so scores had been lots low, however there was a fairway-or-lava dynamic that made tee pictures fascinating and a few slippery inexperienced surrounds that added dimensions to short-game pictures.
Even higher, the BDC topped a worthy champion: Matt McCarty. As a result of Scottie Scheffler‘s successfully in his offseason, I’m unsure there’s anybody in golf who’s successful on the present clip of McCarty, who gained thrice in his final eight Korn Ferry Tour begins, zipped as much as the PGA Tour and now gained in his second week as a member.
Along with McCarty’s rise serving as inspiration for small-college late bloomers to succeed in golf’s pinnacle, he’s additionally an thrilling addition to a different pattern: the reappearance of the left-handed golfer. Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson can’t be changed, however maybe they are often recreated within the combination. Together with his win, McCarty jumps to No. 47 on this planet and now joins beloved Scot and World No. 16 Robert MacIntyre, dogged Open Championship winner and World No. 22 Brian Harman, and dynamic, enthusiastic teenager and World No. 29 Akshay Bhatia inside the highest 50 on this planet.
So the inaugural BDC performed issues proper. New venue. New market. Placing visuals. Winner on the rise. A lefty winner, at that. Doing all of your finest in golf’s bizarre limbo — that’s golf stuff I like.
WINNERS
Who gained the week?
Matt McCarty gained the Black Desert Championship by three pictures, holding tight to his 54-hole lead (and constructing on it, because of his sporty back-nine eagle) and claiming the primary PGA Tour title of his profession.
Ruoning Yin gained the Buick LPGA Shanghai by six pictures and have become the primary girl from China to win the tour’s cease in her dwelling nation.
(That is area of interest however shoutout to the LPGA’s web site, one other winner; a pair months again they redid the location like a course designer would overhaul a rustic membership in misery and disrepair. Good things!)
Dan Bradbury gained the FedEx Cup Open de France (or the French Open, when you desire) in our newest return to Le Golf Nationwide; Bradbury’s victory was the second of his DP World Tour profession.
Jerry Kelly gained on the PGA Tour Champions on the SAS Championship at Prestonwood in North Carolina for the twelfth time however the first in additional than two years and known as this his “favourite” win but.
In the event you just like the Monday End, subscribe without cost HERE to get it in your e mail inbox!
NOT-WINNERS
Just a few guys who didn’t win.
Two decided fortysomethings tied for third in Utah.
Kevin Streelman, 47, is in a battle this fall to earn again his standing as a part of the PGA Tour’s high 125. “I don’t have a lot to lose,” Streelman mentioned after the primary spherical. “It’s go for it this fall. If it doesn’t [happen], I’ll get in a couple of occasions, and if I’m finished at age 47 after subsequent yr, it’s superior. I’ll be dwelling with my household for 3 years earlier than the Champions Tour … no matter is supposed to be is supposed to be, however I’m going to exit swinging, that’s for positive.” He’s now No. 138.
Lucas Glover, 44, is a yr faraway from a surprising multi-win renaissance and eventually re-finding his footing. He had a spectacular ball-striking week and shot 9-under 62 on Sunday to surge into T3 for the second consecutive week; the T3s are his first top-10s since final yr’s wins.
“I nonetheless don’t know the way any of this works,” Glover mentioned of the autumn schedule and his FedEx Cup standing (he’s now as much as No. 61). “I’m right here as a result of I didn’t play good the common a part of the yr. I believe I received three or 4 weeks off now and present again up in Bermuda. All the mathematics and — I don’t know, you want a Nobel math scholar to determine it out all. Simply making an attempt to play effectively.” Mission achieved, this week.
After which, from our newest phase of “complicated Viking-esque names”: On the French Open, Rasmus Hojgaard completed T13 at 10 underneath par. You could have heard of Rasmus; he’s a younger, proficient Danish professional with 5 DP World Tour wins together with one over Rory McIlroy ultimately month’s Irish Open. You could have additionally heard of his twin brother, Nicolai Hojgaard, who made it onto final yr’s European Ryder Cup crew and performed the PGA Tour this season. Nicolai completed one shot behind his brother in T18 at 9 underneath par.
However get this: two different Danes completed at 9 underneath alongside Nicolai. The primary is Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen. The second is Niklas Norgaard. What’s the purpose? There isn’t one, actually, besides that Rasmus Hojgaard is a special man than Rasmus Neergard and Nicolai Hojgaard is a special man than Niklas Norgaard. Hojgaards and Neergards and Norgaards in all places you look. Nicolai is already on the PGA Tour; Rasmus H. and Niklas N. are prone to be part of him there subsequent yr. Buckle up, American broadcasters.
SHORT HITTERS
5 golf issues to know, in short.
1. Wyndham Clark instructed his aspect of the Tom Kim Presidents Cup controversy; right here’s what we all know earlier than we fortunately transfer on.
2. Enjoyable truth: There are extra golfers within the 18- to 34-year-old age bracket than 65+. Extra right here.
3. Sergio Garcia might pay his fines, rejoin the DP World Tour and make a run at subsequent yr’s Ryder Cup. He and the Bethpage followers have historical past: on the 2002 U.S. Open his back-and-forth with the rowdy crowds impressed Sports activities Illustrated to dub him “El Whino”. Perhaps, 23 years later, either side are prepared for extra.
4. The Showdown pitting Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau towards Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler will go down Dec. 17 at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas. LIV Golf’s account tweeted excitedly about it on Monday, little question wanting to throw McIlroy and Scheffler on a LIVish graphic; I’m unsure the PGA Tour is sort of as thrilled.
5. Caitlin Clark almost made an ace. You may simply think about the legions of YouTube golfers reaching out to Clark’s crew proper now, hoping to catch a chunk of the mania…
ONE SWING THOUGHT
Again to Matt McCarty.
We quoted McCarty final week earlier than his win, so let’s return for extra. After his fourth win in 10 begins, he thought again to a event earlier than he’d gained any of ’em: He’d held a three-shot lead after which surrendered it the ultimate spherical of a KFT occasion in Colorado — however it finally helped him:
“Yeah, I believe the largest factor I took [from that loss] is a number of confidence from that week, regardless that it sounds bizarre,” he mentioned. “Simply to place myself in that place on the market on a course I wasn’t tremendous comfy … The final spherical I hit it effective. I simply didn’t putt effectively. Was a bit tentative. And I believe simply understanding that tightness and being tentative doesn’t result in good golf pictures is actually the largest factor I realized.”
That final bit appears essential. “Tightness and being tentative doesn’t result in good golf pictures.” Simpler mentioned than finished…
ONE BIG QUESTION
The place ought to the PGA Tour go subsequent?
Now that the Tour has checked off Utah for the primary time in six many years, which uninhabited states ought to it go to subsequent? Factoring in venues, crowds, proximity to golf-hungry populations and private bias, listed here are 5…
Honorable point out: Illinois. I’m not together with the Land of Lincoln as a result of the John Deere is technically in Silvis, Sick. each July — however that’s a special Illinois than the Chicago space, which was terrific as BMW Championship host final summer season and may have a Tour occasion extra continuously.
5. Alaska
What, such as you wouldn’t watch the Yukon Problem? Usher in David McLay-Kidd to design TPC Matanuska Glacier, go away your mark as the very best golf course in Alaska, tee off any time you need…
4. Pennsylvania
Subsequent yr’s Truist (the artist previously referred to as the Wells Fargo) is coming to Philly Cricket Membership subsequent summer season, which ought to function a correct litmus take a look at. In my thoughts larger Philadelphia is right for a golf event — a mix of well-to-do Primary-Liners and ungovernable Eagles followers? Positive! — so let’s make it occur.
3. Wisconsin
Let’s faucet into the ghost of the Higher Milwaukee Open and make the most of elite golf by the lake.
2. Washington
I’ll make no try to cover this listing’s bias; I stay in Seattle and I’m from (spoiler alert) Massachusetts. However it’s time the Tour returns to Chambers Bay. Amazon, Microsoft, T-Cell — let’s make it occur!
1. Massachusetts
Okay, let’s discuss full imaginative and prescient. I’ll increase on this for a future piece, however the easy model: Memphis and East Lake are effective Tour venues however they need to be within the spring, not the summer season. August within the Southeast is humid and lifeless. The Tour’s three playoff occasions ought to rotate as follows:
Playoff Occasion I: The West. I’m speaking Chambers Bay (Wash.), Fortress Pines (Colo.), Pebble Seashore (Calif.) and so on.
Playoff Occasion II: The Midwest. That is the place Wisconsin and Chicago are available in. Whistling Straits or Erin Hills (Wisc.), Olympia Fields or Medinah (Sick.), possibly even Crooked Stick (Ind.)? Okay, that sounds scorching and humid, too, however you see the place I’m going.
Playoff Occasion III: The Northeast. Let’s ping from Higher Boston to Lengthy Island to Philadelphia and again, one each three years, fixed rotation. That is your new Tour Championship. Does this ignore all present big-time sponsorships tying the TC to Atlanta and East Lake? Positive it does. However that, for our functions right here, isn’t my concern. See you at The Nation Membership!
ONE THING TO WATCH
Watch and pay attention, on this case.
Absolutely the delight of the DP World Tour’s broadcast discussing Matthieu Pavon‘s chilly shank is effectively value your time:
NEWS FROM SEATTLE
Monday End HQ.
Indicators of fall in Seattle: our farmer’s market is about to close down for the season, which implies my weekly mega-slice of pepperoni pizza is now not inside strolling distance. You possibly can argue going to the farmer’s marketplace for pizza may be very a lot not the purpose. No matter.
We’ll see you subsequent week!
Earlier than you go, a fast request: In the event you just like the Monday End, subscribe without cost HERE to get it in your e mail inbox!
Dylan Dethier welcomes your feedback at dylan_dethier@golf.com.
