18 thoughts, observations and predictions…
- Viktor Hovland has turned his biggest weakness into an asset and that’s why he’s going to get to #1 in the world.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Massive elevating year for Adam Schenk. So close and secured status in majors and signature events in 2024. Expect his ascension to continue.
- Played Cypress Point on Friday, (full share on the experience @5clubsgolf.com) and its sensory overload. Could not be built today in America.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Luke Donald’s lineup gets more capable it feels like with each passing week. I repeat, Europe is not an underdog.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Nick Taylor’s putt to win the Canadian Open was the scene of the year on the PGA Tour.
- The six names Zach Johnson will add to the Ryder Cup team on Tuesday will be Spieth, Morikawa, Fowler, Koepka, Thomas and Glover.