18 thoughts, observations and predictions…
- Sahith Theegala winning on tour early was as inevitable as almost anyone being a sure thing winner. He’s also a true prince of a guy.
- Eric Cole continues to be the best 35-year old story in professional golf in 2023.
- Seven members of the European Ryder Cup team finished in the top 10 at Wentworth. I repeat, Europe is not an underdog.
- The BMW PGA and the Players need more opportunity for the two tours members to play in the respective flagship events.
- Justin Thomas finishing 5th in Napa will not ease the consternation of those who think he shouldn’t be in Rome. They are dug in. He’s dug in as well.
- Highway 97 between Mullen and Valentine Nebraska is the most fertile 75 miles for golf holes to be constructed in America.
- The collection of society of golfers who have banned together to play golf, network and enjoy the best clubs in America is why the game will always be about the time and not the score.
- I met Grayson Murray when he was 16 years old and he’s seen some darkness in his young life. I hope him winning today on the Korn Ferry Tour means he’s seeing a lot of light again.
- Steve Stricker has six wins and five seconds in 15 Champions starts. As a part time player, he could finish in the top 5 all time win leaders on that tour, easily.
- Old Sandwich is as good a golf club as has been built in decades. It’s an example of touching all the bases.
- I am biased because I worked there but The Misquamicut Club and the tony town of Watch Hill, Rhode Island is incomparable as a summer haunt.
- The news that Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner will re-do Spanish Bay is incredibly good news for high-end retail golf.
- CapRock Ranch is the site of the first in a new docuseries coming from 5 Clubs Golf. We picked it for many reasons, and when you see it, you’ll understand why.
- The European Solheim Cup team is going to be 1 point better than the United States and it will get just enough from the back end of the line up to hold the Cup.
- The cutthroat nature of concessions in the Solheim Cup is much harsher than the Ryder Cup.
- Dave Kindred’s new book “My Home Team” will make you cry, more than once.
- Stewart Hagestad is the best career amateur since Jay Sigel, until he wasn’t a career amateur. Tremendous run from the Walker Cup to a win at the Mid-am.
- Brendan Walsh, the head professional at the Country Club, Brookline is a model for every young professional in the industry.