The Card – Volume VIII

by | Sep 4, 2023 | The Card

18 thoughts, observations and predictions…

 

  1. Ludvig Aberg is that guy.  Tron Carter hitched his wagon to the right star. He’s an easy pairing for Luke Donald since guys will fall over each other to play with him.
  1. It can be argued that Europe has the current best player in the world in Hovland, the biggest global star in Rory, the biggest alpha in Rahm, and the most exciting rookie in the Ryder Cup in Aberg.  Let me repeat, Europe is not an underdog.
  1. For 48 hours professional golf felt like the big four sports. Loaded phone lines on the PGA Tour radio network and animated discussion of team selections and captain’s decisions.  
  1. The USA team is Zach Johnson’s team as it should be.  Six players chosen on performance over a season and the construction of the balance of the team on partnership and chemistry.  The team helped pick the team, now they need to win or the boys club will be barbequed.
  1. The Walker Cup at St. Andrews is the purest and finest golf competition the sport can offer the world.  
  1. Gordon Sargent went 4-0 and flexed as the guy amongst a group of wildly talented American players.  He’s marketable and easily likable.  He’s going to get real sponsorship money with exempt status waiting for him after another year at Vanderbilt.
  1. The four best events to arrange playing some golf while also viewing some golf are the U.S. Am and the Women’s Am, plus the Curtis Cup and the Walker Cup.  Amazing venues and you can actually see golf shots and terrific golf nearby each to play.
  1. Stewart Hagestad defeated Connor Graham in Sunday singles at the Walker Cup.  The oldest participant playing the youngest participant.  The essence of the finest competition jointly conducted by the governing bodies.
  1. I grew up in New Jersey, which has great depth of tremendous golf courses.  I had never played Somerset Hills until this past week.  The two nines are distinctly different.  The second hole is a fabulous redan, the 13th a wonderful Biarritz.  Great land with real movement, an understated elegance and grass tennis courts.  So good.
  1. The land of Bucks County Pennsylvania may be the fertile and pristine real estate to build a 175 acre masterpiece.  I submit Gil Hanse to do the work on my dream course.
  1. I played Pine Valley for the first time in 1984 as a junior in high school.  Every time since I feel the same way, as I did this past Friday, very grateful.  I learn something about at least one hole I didn’t know before.
  1. The alternate 8th green, the right green is only used, according to the caddies, about 5 to 7% of the time.
  1. The 13th hole is arguably the sternest test of the 18 holes.  The second shot plays down to a green that offers more pin locations than any green on the course and has more subtle slope from the top of the green to the bottom of any of the 18.
  1. Sean McDonough is a generational talent as a broadcaster having called big events in all sports for 30 years.  Sunday, I watched and listened to him call his own 40-foot putt for birdie on 18 at Charlotte CC to help us smash our match with a disgruntled Jay Bilas and his litigious partner Mark Thigpen.
  1. Pinehurst #10 designed by Tom Doak will allow some preview play this fall before opening to the public early in 2024.  Having walked it this past spring, X as it will be branded will be a MASSIVE hit and it will go next level after the world sees it U.S. Open week in June of 24.
  1. This fall The Tree Farm will officially open for play for its members and their guests and all the attention they will receive will be justly deserved, it’s fantastic in every way.
  1. Kira K. Dixon has turned into a very good broadcaster in a short period of time.  Comfortable, exceedingly likable, and showing true versatility.  She is amplifying what I’ve always believed about the job.  Either you can or you can’t.  You can always get better but you have to have the chops from the jump.
  1. The best book I’ve read on how the mind operates and the best way to improve your mental approach to playing better golf at all levels is, “Golf Beneath the Surface” by Raymond Prior.  He will be my guest this week on the 5 Clubs Conversation.

The Card – Volume VII

by | Aug 28, 2023 | The Card

18 thoughts, observations and predictions…

 

  1. Viktor Hovland has turned his biggest weakness into an asset and that’s why he’s going to get to #1 in the world.
  1. Jordan’s Spieth’s missed birdie putt on 17 at the Valspar proved to be the theme of his season.  Just when you think he’s going to be him, he just wasn’t.
  1. The POY race stalled the first week of April and never reignited unless Hovland just stole it, which he won’t.  Rahm in a close vote.
  1. Vijay Singh won on Sunday which was a reminder that no one will ever win as much as he did in his 40’s ever again.  Money and physical toll will be the main reasons.
  1. CBS’ golf team had their best year as a team in many years and you’d expect they will only get better with Nantz as QB for another decade.
  1. The Walker Cup at St. Andrews will happen this week and should happen every ten years.  Match play on that course with the future of the pro game on display is must-watch.
  1. Massive elevating year for Adam Schenk.  So close and secured status in majors and signature events in 2024.  Expect his ascension to continue.
  1. Played Cypress Point on Friday, (full share on the experience @5clubsgolf.com) and its sensory overload.  Could not be built today in America.
  1. Played San Francisco Golf Club last Wednesday and it reaffirmed that it’s a top 5 golf club in America and its history on the second floor of the clubhouse should be a full afternoon exercise.
  1. Spent four days at Lake Merced for the Curry Cup on the Underrated Tour.  The work of Gil Hanse/Jim Wagner and the cavemen is so good, and the membership is first class in how they view giving back to the community of golf.
  1. Colin Morikawa not winning for two seasons is as much about how many guys are capable of winning as it is about him not closing an event.
  1. Luke Donald’s lineup gets more capable it feels like with each passing week.  I repeat, Europe is not an underdog.
  1. The FedEx Cup playoffs are in need of a reboot, starting with venues and format.  Thankfully East Lake will be better and more interesting post Andrew Green renovation.  The numbers are right though, 70, 50 and 30.
  1. We will look back on this U.S. Walker Cup team as one of the best in the last 30 years in less than 10 years.
  1. I am playing one of the best courses in the state I grew up, Somerset Hills, for the very first time this coming week.  Thoughts coming on The Card next week.
  1. Jay Monahan getting booed on the 18th green after the Tour Championship proves that it’s not just the money players are making that are indicators that the PGA Tour is more like the other major sports.
  1. Nick Taylor’s putt to win the Canadian Open was the scene of the year on the PGA Tour.
  1. The six names Zach Johnson will add to the Ryder Cup team on Tuesday will be Spieth, Morikawa, Fowler, Koepka, Thomas and Glover.