18 observations, thoughts and predictions for the week in golf…
- Tommy Fleetwood is now a seven-time winner on the DP World Tour after his win Sunday at the Dubai Invitational. Add his runner-ups at two majors and Ryder Cup moments and he is unequivocally the most accomplished player yet to win on the PGA Tour. You’d expect him to pick one off this year but if he doesn’t, the hole in the resume will be morphing into a personal rubicon.
- Any second place in a tournament field of very good players is a solid result. However, the context under which Rory McIlroy finished second in Dubai to Fleetwood produces anguish for his legion of fans and some media members. A 3-putt from 2-ft and rinsing his tee shot on the final hole is the narrative in a small chapter of the book of Rory. Soaring to uncommon heights, hitting jaw dropping shots, boat racing fields and producing the occasional head scratching final round with a blunder or simply not firing at all. Yes, its golf and it happens but it seems to happen with him more than it should.
- Thriston Lawrence missed out on a PGA Tour card by a shot at the final event last year on the DP World Tour. It’s a matter of time before the 27-year-old South African gets to the PGA Tour on a more full-time basis and his tie for 2nd in Dubai continues a great stretch of golf. If you’re looking for a Presidents Cup dark horse for the International side, he’s the guy. Mike Weir wants to see him in the States more and don’t be surprised if he gets some invites for that reason. He’s ascending big time.
- This week the LPGA is in Orlando at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. With the continued infusion of money into major purses and beyond the tour is in a good place. Couple things that will be a huge boost for the tour in 2024, Nelly Korda and Rose Zhang having big years and the Olympics. The global footprint of the LPGA tour schedule and membership gives the women’s golf competition a head start, coupled with the Paris venue, this will be massive for women’s golf in 2024.
- Taiga Semikawa had a great week at the Sony Open. He is 23 years old, reached number one in the world amateur rankings and already has five professional wins globally. He was named after Tiger Woods which continues the amplify the Tiger effect to even younger generations and we should have never looked at Tiger’s impact myopically. It was never about how many minorities would get to the tour; it was always about how many people would make golf a part of their lives.
- The report this past week alleging that Jay Monahan had his first conversation since June with Yasir Al-Rumayyan is confounding. What? It is unimaginable that both parties would not speak for the balance of the year after dropping the news of the framework agreement on June 6th. Look forward to confirmation or refuting of that report. Confounding if true.
- Keith Pelley leaving the DP World Tour, knowing he’s leaving for a good job back in his home country running a professional sports organization should come as no surprise. When the Saudis wanted in and took the Premier Golf League model, the DP World Tour was in a gun fight with a sand wedge. Creating a bridge for more players to the PGA Tour got Pelley bashed by European fans and media. Truth is all great Europeans eventually have come to the PGA Tour, so I never saw that as a massive blunder under the circumstances. Secondly, getting the PGA Tour to subsidize their television product was akin to a ventilator because without it they may have expired.
- Martin Slumbers announcing his departure this year as CEO of the R&A is of zero surprise. Martin had a rich life before accepting the job and considering the rollback resolution for 2028 and 2030 being executed and his vibrant age it’s a great time to enjoy life. The CEO post remains a critical seat in the game and despite all the turbulence Slumbers always displayed calm and control. From significant rules changes in 2016 to the advancement of the championship calendar, including the Women’s Open, its rota and the doubling down on Portrush for the men, Slumbers never appeared above it all and never emoted a stench of stuffiness.
- Without knowing anything I would venture a comfortable guess that the next big chair at the table to turn over will be at the PGA of America. Seth Waugh is a youthful 66 and didn’t need the job when he took it in 2017. With the Frisco headquarters now up and running I would expect Seth to pass the baton in the next year.
- There are several good social media follows in golf but if I was to have to actually rely on one for information and a sense of learning something Justin Ray is the follow. His twitter account is @justinraygolf. Having worked with him at Golf Channel I thought he was the best hire the company made in my ten years there. He’s a machine of data, information and anecdotes and he’s also a true lover of what he does.
- In 2021 Daniel Berger made his first Ryder Cup team and as a contemporary to Spieth, Schauffele, and Thomas was part of a high school class (2011) that was doing special things. His last start was the 2022 U.S. Open after disclosing his back injuries and ailments. He’s now 634 in the OWGR but he returns this week at the Amex. He’s exempt this year because of prior accomplishment but he’s not exempt into majors and signature events. With the great unknown beyond this year playing his way back to being a top 50 player has added pressure knowing the two-tier system we are likely headed for in 2025.
- Gil Hanse’s Ladera Golf Club in the California desert received the best new private club award from Golf Digest this past week. 2024 for Hanse, Jim Wagner and the Cavemen will bring the opening of their course at the Apogee Club north of Jupiter, Florida, Kinsale Club in Naples, and the renovation/restoration at Colonial Country Club. Plus, what is getting ready to happen at Yale Golf Course and Spanish Bay, Hanse is flying in a rare altitude. Considered the new “Open” doctor, Oakmont will be the next U.S. Open venue that underwent a Hanse touch up, plus his original projects, he simply is getting the majority of the truly special commissions from all categories.
- With the postponement of the Bills/Steelers on Sunday because of a white out in western New York it had me thinking about the worst weather I’ve ever played golf in. Lahinch and Waterville on two separate trips to the southwest coast of Ireland. Lahinch was my first ever round in Ireland and it was howling, and rain was coming down in sheets and only because it was our first round did we even finish. Waterville, years later half of the flagsticks were blown out of the holes, and it was legit blowing 50 mph. I hit driver from 205 yards on the Mass hole, the par three and was 20 yards short. Love a brutal weather day, once a decade.
- Gary Woodland played this week at the Sony Open and missed the cut. Doesn’t matter. His thoughts and disclosures about his battle with a lesion on his brain in the last year and his reflections on the week Friday night were powerful and poignant. Having truly spent time with Gary, he’s just a great dude and his candor was admirable. Already well liked, Gary is going to get enormous support this year from fans at every event.
- Diverse leaderboard and holes with nuance and influenced by persistent and shifty winds, Waialae Country Club is a gem and a fantastic tournament venue.
- Grayson Murray is now 30. His 20’s were turbulent like many lives can be at that age or any age. I appreciate him talking about his sobriety and he sounds like there is a peace of mind that those who can’t think like an alcoholic, thank God you can’t, would not understand. He’s always had elite talent. The way he won the Sony Open was unlikely but not nearly as unlikely as him even making a living playing golf if he continued down the path he was on. Inspiring as hell.
- The first two winners of the 2024 season have stared into the abyss in life and found hope and purpose. Holy shit, this could be a year.
- America’s Guest featuring CapRock Ranch is now available on all of our platforms at 5Clubs. We hope you enjoy and share with other golf enthusiasts.