18 observations, thoughts and predictions for the week in golf…
- Rory’s 34th worldwide win in Dubai is additive on his resume but can be part of something much bigger when we look back on the year. He will turn 35 at the beginning of May and his greatest season was ten years ago with his summer blitz of two majors and a WGC. A career year of wins punctuated by a major win in 2024 is how historic players pass others at the top of the all-time food chain. A win in January is a nice start.
- Rory’s win was the largest 36-hole deficit, 10 shots, that he’s overcome to win on any tour but it was not without some scruffy moments. Standing on the 13th tee with a two shot lead he proceeded to hit three of his next four tee shots left and caused himself real stress. Additionally, he played the par 5’s on Sunday in one over, like the final day at the U.S. Open. He closed but in the micro analysis of the victory he knows he has things to cleanup.
- Cameron Young racked a nice check by playing in Dubai as opposed to the American Express and he now has another Sunday with a lead that he did not close. He is capable of blowing fields away but so many wins are simply about efficiency and being tidy around the greens. His failure to birdie the drivable par 4 17th was his last true chance. Cam winning is inevitable, but this is another missed opportunity.
- Rasmus Hojgaard was getting more attention than brother Nicolai heading into last year and Nicolai burst in front of him punctuated by his Ryder Cup selection. Both brothers had a good week in Dubai finishing within a shot of each other and I expect Rasmus to have a big 2024 and set up a compelling brother act and inevitable Ryder Cup partnership starting in 2025.
- Min Woo Lee shared this past week that Adam Scott has offered him rides on his plane that he said is curated with some items from Augusta National Golf Club. Scott will be a member of the Hall of Fame and although their styles were different, the best comp I can come up with for Adam is Raymond Floyd. They both enjoyed their single days, and they liked the finer things in life. Can Adam remain competitive well into his 40’s like Raymond did into his 50’s?
- I received and just read an advanced copy of Hughes Norton’s forthcoming book, “Rainmaker”. Norton was golf’s top super-agent culminating with him being Tiger’s first agent. The book is full of great nuggets, a fascinating perspective on Mark McCormick who built the monolith known as IMG in addition to a ton of self-examination from the author. I look forward to my conversation with Norton on 5 Clubs soon and I expect this book to do very well. The Tiger chapters alone will drive sales.
- Steven Alker made $841,849 in his career on the PGA Tour in 87 starts periodically for 25 years. In 53 starts since turning 50 and earning membership on PGA Tour Champions he has won seven times in 53 starts and earned just under $7.5 million. Somehow, he kept the lights on and dream alive and his success against a plethora of hall of famers and major champions is as good a story as men’s professional golf can provide.
- The reversible 9-hole “Crossroads” at Palmetto Bluff from King/Collins opened this past week. Looking forward to playing it in February and is the latest example of their creative vision and willingness to build way outside the box. The duo has a flare and a daring that is earning top commissions.
- Jack Nicklaus turned 84 on Sunday and he’s been awfully good to me through the years. His reflex was to act ambivalent about many of the interviews I’ve done with him through the years, but his nature never allowed him to deliver ordinary responses. His competitiveness always prevailed to produce the most thorough answers and most comprehensive examination of each subject.
- Of all the records Nicklaus accumulated that produces jaw dropping responses from daily’s best players is not a scoring record or results record. For me, Jack starting every major from 1962 until the 1998 U.S. Open is so preposterous it’s hard to comprehend. It’s a combination of great luck health-wise and a reliability that will never be duplicated.
- Images and renderings of Tiger Woods’ reported new apparel collaboration with TaylorMade were seen this week. The Tiger silhouette makes sense since the TW mark is not an option. As I’ve stated before the apparel plays by Nike for the last 25 years with Tiger never really exploded, the commercials did, so this is a GOLDEN opportunity to achieve something between the parties that is not a follow to something truly great.
- Brandel Chamblee sat in the lead analyst chair this past week and he was good. Brandel is a lethal weapon as an opinion maker and one of the essential voices covering all aspects of the game. I don’t think this is the best role for him. He needs room and time to pontificate and be the provocateur that he is. “Live From” is a great sports property, not just golf property, and that’s his home. I would infuse a dose of Brandel into the biggest events on NBC from the “Live From” perch on big decisions and getting his reaction to big moments.
- Lydia Ko earned her 20th win at the age of 26 in winning the first event of the LPGA season at their Tournament of Champions. Ko will one day be enshrined in the World Golf Hall of Fame. If you consider she was the youngest rookie of the year all-time and youngest player of the year all-time. She’s re-invented herself several times and made tons of changes with her “team”, but she has always been a sheer delight in any setting. A truly historic player.
- Jackie Burke Jr.’s passing this past week truly marked the end of a very different era for golf. He started the Champions Golf Club with Jimmy Demaret. He won the Masters and the PGA Championship 68 years ago this spring and summer. 68 years! He was shepherded by Claude Harmon at Winged Foot, who won the Masters in 1948. I was lucky enough to spend time with him a little over a year ago at his club. Engaged, grateful and full of grace and to the end the touchstone of the club and culture he created at Champions. An amazing journey.
- The LPGA smartly created a season opening event that brings together its best players with former athletes and other celebs. More of that at the right venues is an effective way to cross pollenate the professional game with cultural relevant individuals. I’ll be in Canton Ohio on Tuesday to be a part of the announcement of a new Champions Tour event in Florida that will engage the biggest brand in American sports, the NFL. Hall of Fame football players and golf legends was once achieved at an event in North Jersey and the newest incarnation is coming soon.
- 22-year-old Santiago de la Fuente shot a final round 64 to win the Latin America amateur championship and earn invites to the Masters, U.S. Open, Open Championship, plus the U.S. Amateur and Amateur Championship. A truly embarrassment of lifetime opportunities for the University of Houston junior. After finishing a shot back last year Santiago completed the task and earns a trip down Magnolia Lane and hopefully, he takes advantage and spends at least one night in the Crow’s Nest.
- Justin Thomas is going to have a big year. Every historically great player had a year that was outside their career curve. He’s too good and too driven and this year will return him to the top 5 in the world.
- Nick Dunlap IS the story of the week. His win and the way he won is hard to fathom. He didn’t come from way off the pace and post a low score without getting any attention for the previous days. To do something on the PGA Tour that has not been done in 33 years and to set a scoring record is absurd. The PGA Tour gets a massive story in January from an amateur and expected soon to be professional and member. I wrote it three months ago after the Walker Cup that the victorious U.S. Team had a chance to be a historically great team. One box checked.