Xander Schauffele hits his second shot on Sunday on the 18th gap at Royal Troon.
Getty Photos
TYPING QUICKLY BECAUSE TENNENT’S IS CALLING, N.Y., USA — My associates and I play a recreation. Possibly you do too. For us golf-playing people, it’s a part of what makes golf-watching participating, since you surprise:
What would I shoot?
What would I shoot at Augusta? What would I shoot at Pinehurst? Shoot, what would I shoot at any of those professional ballparks? The reply, in fact, is “many” — however the dialog amongst my gang often meanders to the place we’d play the worst. Possibly it could be ANGC. I’ve gotten votes for Harbour City attributable to its claustrophobic corridors. I’ve heard ideas on Kapalua due to its unevenness.
However Royal Troon may simply be on the prime.
What number of pictures would I rack up from the coffin bunker? Would I simply decide up?
The place would my ball go on 11? The gorse? The hay? Right into a commuter-train seat?
How the hell would I survive a day like Saturday afternoon at Troon, with the winds slapping down hopes and the clouds unleashing tears? I imply, take heed to those that strapped on their golf footwear that day:
Stated Dustin Johnson: “I imply, the again 9, that’s the toughest 9 holes I believe you can ever play in golf proper now, into the wind and rain — I imply, it’s so lengthy I may barely attain — the par-4s, I needed to smash 2 to get there, identical with Brooks [Koepka]. That’s how lengthy it was taking part in.”
Stated Matthew Jordan: “I don’t fairly know summarize it simply but. That again 9 was simply so robust. I used to be hitting golf equipment into there from yardages that I most likely did once I was like 13, 14. It was only a full grind.”
Stated Mackenzie Hughes: “Yeah, it’s actually robust. Very tough as a result of each single shot requires consideration, focus. Even the little primary ones. Yeah, you’re simply preventing for each single shot. It’s a protracted, grueling day, and pleased to be executed.”
That each one being stated, that is kinda why … we play golf, although. The problem. The survival. If we will play it right here, we will play it anyplace.
And we certain do like watching the very best sometimes strategy a few of our scores.
Xander Schaufelle gained the Open. However so, too, did the magic of hyperlinks golf
As we glance again on the Open Championship week that was, we’ll make that statement No. 1 then. Let’s attempt for 49 extra as we submit up on the house workplace. There’s motivation to complete, too. I’ve found the Vale Public Home, within the Hamilton Heights space of NYC. It’s a Scottish-flavored pub.
With Tennent’s Lager on faucet.
The thought is to publish this piece with one hand on the keyboard — and the opposite holding a pint.
2. Right here’s one other phrase, although, from Hughes on Saturday:
Requested a reporter: “How concerning the spectators sitting by this on the market. On 18, did you hear some folks yelling your title and there have been some Canadian flags?”
Answered Hughes: “Yeah, it was humorous as a result of on 18 — perhaps it was 16, I used to be speaking to my caddie, [and] I stated, it’s wonderful how many individuals are out right here on a day like at this time when it’s simply completely piss climate. They’re all right here. They need to see the golf. It’s robust to look at golf in this sort of climate, I’m certain, whenever you’re below your umbrella.
“However they had been on the market. They had been a reasonably cheerful bunch for essentially the most half, given the climate.”
Cheers to that.
3. Right here’s one other phrase on Tennent’s.
In line with this story right here written by Bunkered’s Michael McEwan, the brew was nowhere to be discovered at Troon.
No cheers to that.
4. I used to be rooting for the Justin Rose and Billy Horschel storyline. For the vets. For Rose getting a crack at main No. 2. For Horschel getting a crack at his first. For one more shot. For not letting go as you become older.
This hit me:
Requested a reporter: “You simply stated one key phrase there about dreaming, the power to dream. At this stage in your profession to be right here within the Open, the best match, to have the ability to go to mattress tonight pondering of the dream nonetheless alive …”
Stated Rose: “It’s nonetheless my dream. In a number of years, it’ll be another person’s dream. However yeah, nonetheless my dream proper now. Nice alternative to go reside it out tomorrow.”
30 ft from Xander Schauffele’s Open triumph, his father informed the actual story
5. All of that made me surprise: When did I begin cheering extra for the olds? When did that flip?
Hmm, let’s maintain this concerning the golf — and never about my 40-something psychological state.
6. This can be a good segue to Tiger Woods, although.
I believe I’ve two ideas right here, after the 15-time main winner missed the Open reduce, his third MC in 4 main begins this yr.
I believe he contends once more. Possibly as quickly as subsequent April, on the Masters. He’ll refuel. He’ll recalculate. He’ll play extra subsequent yr. Making a run is just not unimaginable. Who’s higher mentally than him, in any case? He can handle a pair under-par rounds, and there you go.
7. However I ponder if Woods thinks he’s bullet-proof. The alphas at all times do.
This might get ugly.
Twenty-two years later, the second under remains to be in my head.
8. Let’s speak concerning the winner. Was Xander Schauffele’s weekend top-of-the-line ever? He fired a 69 on Saturday, when the likes of DJ, Hughes and Jordan all suffered, as famous above. Schauffele then closed with a 65 — Sunday’s low spherical by two strokes.
Killer.
9. Talking of that, there was this trade:
Requested a reporter: “Your California mellowness, do folks mistake that perhaps there’s extra fireplace inside than we will see?”
Answered Schauffele: “Yeah, I like — I imply, everybody in my household is aware of how aggressive I’m. I is probably not the man working round fist-pumping, however that’s simply who I’m. I type of know the way I should be to carry out at a excessive stage.
“The identical approach I don’t get actually indignant, I additionally don’t let myself get too over the moon as a result of to me, it’s the identical factor. If I’m sitting there snapping a membership, that may be the identical as me working round fist-pumping. It might take too lengthy for me to regulate earlier than my subsequent shot to hit one. I’ve type of embraced this kind of SoCal, laid-back child, however there’s clearly a fireplace burning deep inside, otherwise you wouldn’t have a pair majors sitting by your aspect.”
10. So how excessive does the Schauffele main tally attain? Three? Six?
Or simply the 2?
One particular person near the state of affairs had a thought right here:
“He’s solely midway there,” Schauffele’s dad, Stefan, informed GOLF’s James Colgan. “I’d say the one with the best potential for the profession grand slam.
“How about that?”
Let’s put the over-under whole at 3.5.
Justin Rose’s epic week left him ‘choking again tears’, and with a brand new pursuit
11. Does Jordan Spieth win one other main?
Let’s put his over-under quantity for future majors at 0.5.
(You can even give that very same quantity to Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa, Sam Burns and Cameron Younger.)
12. Does Justin Thomas win one other main?
Let’s put his over-under quantity for future majors at 1.5.
(You can even give that very same quantity to Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland.)
13. Ludvig Aberg may win like eight majors. Or zero.
There’s additionally a crop of Aberg-like machines coming.
14. I like the thought of Schauffele re-evaluating the method. He thought he wanted extra velocity — so he hit the gymnasium. He thought he wanted one other voice within the room — so he introduced on Chris Como. Some gamers don’t try this. Some keep on with the identical strategies, hoping for various outcomes, which, sure, is the definition of madness.
15. Let’s speak Rory McIlroy.
On this case, there’s no want to alter a lot. Possibly a tweak right here. Possibly a change to the group there. However majors are onerous. Golf is tough. He’s pretty much as good as they arrive.
16. GOLF’s Sean Zak wrote a beautiful examination right here.
17. There’s additionally the actual chance he by no means will get previous Pinehurst.
18. However right here says he wins the PGA subsequent yr at Quail Hole. He wins there seemingly yearly. It’s a lay-up.
Tour Confidential: Xander Schauffele’s Open title, 2024 main season in overview
Proper?
19. This trade was notable:
Requested a reporter on Friday, after McIlroy missed the reduce: “There’s loads of gamers on the market actually toiling, a few of the finest names in golf like your self. Was there a degree the place you turned fairly philosophical about what was taking place and checked out it within the greater image?”
Answered McIlroy: “Yeah, I believe as soon as I made the eight on the 4th gap, that was it. Twenty-two holes into the occasion, and I’m enthusiastic about the place I’m going to go on trip subsequent week.
“Yeah, that was mainly it. I imply, I knew from then I’d kind of resigned myself to the truth that I wasn’t going to shoot, no matter it’s, four- or five-under from there on in to make the reduce.”
20. This trade was additionally notable:
Requested a reporter on Friday, after Robert MacIntyre performed his first 4 holes throughout the second spherical at eight-over — then performed his last 12 holes at four-under: “Did you suppose you had any probability of being right here for the weekend?”
Answered MacIntyre: “Once I made that eight on 4, my head was fully gone. You then’re standing on 5 going between a 4-iron and a rescue, and also you’re truthfully making an attempt to simply — making an attempt to make bogeys as an alternative of doubles and triples that I used to be making.
“I didn’t suppose I used to be going to make the weekend, however Mike stated, look, followers are right here to look at. Simply give them what they need, a extreme dig and struggle, and that’s what I executed. I simply tried my finest and managed to show it round.”
21. Cherished watching Thriston Lawrence pumping driver everywhere in the yard on Sunday.
22. Can Marlboro please sponsor Dan Brown so he will be … the Marlboro Dan?
Sorry.
23. Is Jon Rahm on the way in which again, after a tie for seventh? Was his main season — tied for forty fifth on the Masters; missed reduce on the PGA; WD on the U.S. Open — a blip?
24. Is Dustin Johnson on the way in which again, after a tie for thirty first? Was this main season — missed reduce on the Masters; tied for forty fifth on the PGA; missed reduce on the U.S. Open — a blip?
25. How will we consider Cam Smith this main season (tied for sixth on the Masters; tied for 63rd on the PGA; tied for thirty second on the U.S. Open; missed reduce on the Open Championship)? Or the marketing campaign of Koepka, the one-time king of golf’s greatest occasions (tied for forty fifth on the Masters; tied for twenty sixth on the PGA; tied for twenty sixth on the U.S. Open; tied for forty third on the Open Championship)?
Xander Schauffele, en path to Open win, stops for 1 of the sincerest gestures
26. When you’re blaming LIV Golf for the above outcomes, go forward. In fact, there’s additionally Bryson DeChambeau, who was near successful three majors this yr.
I believe the purpose is, none of us know the way LIV is affecting play fairly but. Is the looser ambiance messing with aggressive juices? Possibly. Is that very same vibe unlocking one thing? DeChambeau would agree there.
27. Is Scottie Scheffler the PGA Tour participant of the yr? Or Schauffele?
Schauffele. Two majors > one main.
But when — if — Scheffler’s putter is on, he’s the very best participant within the recreation. By loads.
28. Whom will we speak to get Tony Johnstone on U.S. broadcasts?
GOLF’s Alan Bastable, in the meantime, is a Sam Torrance fan.
29. Let’s dive into a few of the sights.
Troon, Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch noticed, has this bunker-rake setup:
30. All of the feels right here, from Koepka:
Right here, too:
31. Sure, Prestwick Airport is near Troon, as Golf Digest’s Jamie Kennedy noticed right here:
32. This was elegant:
33. This was wild:
34. This was nice:
35. What number of instances do we predict the prepare is definitely hit?
36. Let’s take heed to a few of the finest quotes.
Right here’s this trade between Shane Lowry and a reporter, began by the reporter:
“Are you front-runner?”
“I wouldn’t say I’m runner,” stated Lowry, laughing.
“I don’t know. I put myself there in a number of massive tournaments, and I’ve managed to knock them off. So I’ve executed it a number of instances. I don’t know. It’s onerous to win tournaments. We’ll see. I’ll let you know Sunday night.”
37. Right here’s this, from Ewen Ferguson, on the highs and lows of the sport:
“So onerous, so onerous, as a result of that’s this recreation. That’s psychological. That’s why my psychologist is right here with me someplace. I simply speak to him and simply maintain myself in a good type of thoughts as a result of I believe I’m fairly an excitable man, and once I’m doing nicely, I’m pleased and all the pieces is nice, however then when issues aren’t, I’m like, decelerate, however the margins are so bloody small on this recreation. You by no means know when it’s going to go your approach.”
38. Right here’s this trade between McIlroy and a reporter, began by the reporter:
“You talked about earlier that you simply met Tiger for the primary time whenever you had been 15. Do you ever kind of sit house and suppose like how surreal it’s that that 15-year-old lad has now turn out to be pretty shut mates with Tiger Woods? And prefer it was stated earlier, like a world celebrity?”
“Yeah, I get reminded of it or I remind myself of it every single day,” McIlroy stated. “I at all times say this, and it sounds cliche, however I don’t take it as a right that I can get up every single day and attempt to reside out my childhood dream. And one in every of my childhood desires was to fulfill Tiger Woods, however not solely that, to compete in opposition to him and to befriend him and turn out to be near him.
“Yeah, not in my wildest desires did I believe that I’d find yourself within the place that I’m in, however I’m very grateful for it. I nonetheless should remind myself loads that that is my life.”
Submit-major season inventory report: Xander approach up, what about Rory McIlroy?
39. Right here’s this trade between Schauffele and a reporter, began by the reporter:
“Earlier than successful the PGA, did the thought of successful a serious really feel extra daunting than perhaps a standard Tour occasion?”
“You set extra emphasis on it,” Schauffele stated, “however daunting is just not actually how I’d view it. We’re taking part in golf out right here, you understand what I imply. It’s not like anybody’s dying after they don’t shoot the spherical of their life.”
40. Right here’s Schauffele, on taking part in by Saturday’s tough situations:
“I’m fortunate. I like taking part in golf, and I like my job, and I like taking part in over right here. For me, it’s all enjoyable, and I simply attempt to have as a lot enjoyable as doable even on a day like at this time.”
41. Listed below are a number of fantastic reads from my colleagues on the Troon grounds.
Right here’s Zak once more, on Rose.
42. Right here’s Colgan, on the Schauffeles.
43. Right here’s Michael Bamberger, on the week’s actual winner.
44. And under is a few half-hour of video from Scotland, by way of Zak and Colgan, by the “Seen and Heard” franchise:
Monday and Tuesday, please click on right here
Wednesday, please click on right here
Friday: please click on right here
Sunday, please click on right here
45. Was the Open the yr’s finest main?
Right here’s my rating of the 4:
1. Open Championship (hyperlinks, drama, Sunday funday)
2. U.S. Open (top-of-the-line last rounds you’ll see)
3. Masters (one other good last spherical, DeChambeau lifted an indication)
4. PGA Championship (good last spherical, too many birdies, unlucky information off the course)
46. So who wins subsequent yr? Let’s give this a go:
Masters: Aberg
PGA Championship: McIlroy
U.S. Open: Joaquin Niemann, if he qualifies
Open Championship: Aaron Rai
Rai? A sentimental decide, and you may learn why right here.
47. So how did the predictions go this yr?
You will be the choose. After every of the majors, I wrote related “statement” tales, and I made picks in every. Right here’s what I had:
After the Masters: PGA Championship, Scheffler; U.S. Open, Will Zalatoris; Open Championship, Koepka
After the PGA Championship: U.S. Open, Scheffler; Open Championship, Koepka
48. Main season isn’t over, although.
Gimme Gemma Dryburgh on the Girls’s Open. She’s a Scot. They usually’re taking part in at none apart from St Andrews.
Dryburgh? A sentimental decide, and you may learn why right here.
49. Then there are these bets:
50. I received my Tennent’s, as you may see within the pic under.
Sara Ziegler
Cheers!
Editor’s observe: I additionally wrote observations from the Masters, the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open. You possibly can learn the Masters story right here, the PGA Championship story right here and the U.S. Open story right here.
