Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Nelly Korda, Keegan Bradley, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Tyrrell Hatton, Charley Hull (clockwise from high left).
Getty Photos
Welcome to the Monday End, the place each state is a swing state in case you play sufficient golf [audience groans]. To the information…
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GOLF STUFF I LIKE
An optimistic docuseries.
I’ve to confess one thing: I can not cease desirous about the upcoming TGL docuseries following the league’s Boston Frequent squad, which consists of Rory McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, Hideki Matsuyama and Adam Scott.
Phrase of the present had already trickled out, however this week extra particulars emerged. Right here’s what led final Friday’s press launch:
‘unCOMMON: Constructing A Boston Sports activities Crew,’ is a Behind-the-Scenes Take a look at the Creation of Boston Frequent Golf, the Tech-Ahead Crew Representing Boston and New England in TGL introduced by SoFi.’
The sequence is 5 episodes; it kicks off the day after Christmas and runs as soon as per week till Boston Frequent performs its first TGL match on Jan. twenty seventh.
I’m usually impartial, unopposed to and even intrigued by the creation of the TGL. Its choices aren’t essentially what I do know and love about skilled golf however it’s, to make use of one more and more widespread little bit of business jargon, additive. It’s completely different. It’s not one other iteration of weekend stroke-play golf. It’s non-threatening. And it may very well be enjoyable! And whereas I’m turned off by three separate phrases in that first sentence of press launch — the capitalization of unCOMMON feels gratuitous, any reference to “Tech-Ahead” does nothing for me and “TGL introduced by SoFi” makes me assume this complete factor is only a automobile for endorsement {dollars}; think about the identify of America’s soccer league being “NFL introduced by Verizon” — I’m nonetheless reasonably excited to see all of it go down come January.
However I spend most (“all” if my bosses learn this) of my working hours (and lots off the clock) desirous about golf. What number of are like me? My estimation could be “not sufficient to make this league work” however then, I wouldn’t have greenlit Holey Moley, both, and that attracts extra viewers than most PGA Tour occasions.
The purpose right here is that all the existence of the TGL is optimistic. The truth that league organizers assume individuals will watch a brand new type of area golf is optimistic. That they assume individuals will purchase into groups with geographical names however no different concrete ties to these locations is optimistic. The expectation they’ll watch extra golf when the zone already feels flooded is optimistic. After which, on high of all of it, the expectation that they’ll watch a five-part docuseries on the creation of a league that doesn’t but exist? If “optimistic” is midway between “prophetic” and “delusional,” properly, we could also be teetering barely in the direction of the latter. 5 episodes. That’s the identical quantity as epic miniseries Chernobyl.
All of this provides as much as the sensation that, paradoxically or not, I can not wait to observe this sequence. The press launch features a group photograph from Boston that features Tyrrell Hatton, who left for LIV (and thus left TGL) practically a 12 months in the past. Will they dive into the Hatton stuff or sidestep it? Will they deal with the destruction of the preliminary TGL stadium? An more and more advanced relationship between co-founders McIlroy and Tiger Woods? Will Hideki, who’s notably absent from the trailer, make any kind of look? What does it imply that McIlroy says he’s “determined to go all in” on rising the sport of golf?
I don’t know. One factor I do know is that I promise to supply a sequence evaluate when it comes out; I’ll be glued to the display screen. For the primary episode, not less than. Going all in on an concept that may very well be good or a whole flop? Certain, that’s golf stuff I like.
WINNERS
Who gained the week?
Nelly Korda gained the LPGA’s Participant of the 12 months award, clinching the points-based title regardless of making simply 14 begins in a remarkably up-and-down 12 months. Principally up, although; six wins in seven begins is foolish stuff.
Rio Takeda of Japan gained the LPGA’s Toto Japan Traditional in a event that was first shortened (Saturday was a rainout) after which lengthened (Takeda wanted six playoff holes to take down Marina Alex). Takeda can cancel her Q-College plans; she’ll earn her LPGA Tour card with the victory.
Charley Hull gained for the primary time in two years in a Girls European Tour occasion in Saudi Arabia. “Lastly the bride and never the bridesmaid,” she wrote on Instagram. Her win got here because of a final-round 66 at Riyadh Golf Membership, which is able to function host to LIV’s Q-College subsequent month in addition to LIV’s opening occasion in 2025.
Whereas the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour Champions and LIV had been all off, the highest males’s golf was performed on the Asian Tour and the Problem Tour.
Canadian Richard T. Lee gained the Indonesian Masters by 4, shifting him into second place within the Worldwide Sequence rankings behind John Catlin; the winner there’ll earn a LIV berth for 2025.
And Norwegian Kristoffer Reitan gained the Problem Tour’s finale, punching his ticket again to the DP World Tour for the primary time since he turned professional in 2018. He’s additionally now the third-ranked Norwegian within the OWGR, although at No. 442 he nonetheless has a methods to go to catch former beginner competitor Viktor Hovland (No. 8).
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NOT-WINNERS
A number of guys who didn’t win.
Reitan’s win we simply talked about? It got here because of a missed putt from Danish professional Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, who missed this horrifying shortie at No. 18 handy the Norwegian the victory. RNP is, remarkably, as much as No. 87 on this planet regardless of taking part in the Problem Tour this season; his three wins and continued excellence moved him as much as the massive circuit earlier than season’s finish. Nonetheless, this should have harm…
SHORT HITTERS
5 golf notes to distract you from the election.
1. Twins Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard, whose ongoing duel for Finest Hojgaard has been featured on this column earlier than, are practically deadlocked within the OWGR; Nicolai is No. 55 whereas Rasmus is No. 56. That is extremely cool to me.
2. The subsequent (and tenth!) version of the Match is not going to embody any professional golfers (apart from Bubba Watson, who’s becoming a member of a broadcast group that features Trevor Immelman) however as an alternative characteristic a multi-day West Palm Seaside bonanza together with Charles Barkley, Invoice Murray, Mark Wahlberg, Wayne Gretzky, Nate Bargatze, Michael Phelps, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Blake Griffin. There may be truly one fascinating golf story buried in right here: Barkley’s emergence from the depths of golf-yip hell is price our consideration.
3. Bandon Dunes’ developer, Dream Golf, has one other vacation spot within the works: Previous Shores is a brand new golf improvement coming to the Florida Panhandle, with Tom Doak set to design the preliminary 18-hole course. Dream Golf now has Bandon (in Oregon) and Sand Valley (in Wisconsin) whereas Rodeo Dunes (in Colorado) and Wild Spring Dunes (in Texas) every below building. Assuming they persist with their detail-and-vibe-obsessed roots, that is excellent news for golfers in every single place.
4. Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley performed Merion with Eagles proprietor Jeffrey Lurie and former President Barack Obama final week. Test that — Saquon performed. Hurts watched. The Eagles QB’s $255 million deal precludes him from taking part in golf, a undeniable fact that earned the web’s ridicule. However fellas, whereas I help each QB’s proper to play golf always, this looks as if a good concern. One examine discovered that as many as 40 p.c of beginner golfers suffered an harm over a two-year interval of play, accidents concentrated within the again, elbow and shoulder — and it’s not like Hurts has in injury-proof swing (second slide under). Shield that man and his swing!
5. Co-favorites for this week’s World Vast Know-how Championship in Mexico? That may be the quartet of Cameron Younger, Ben Griffin, Doug Ghim and Max Greyserman. Enjoyable truth: All 4 of ’em have not less than one runner-up end on the PGA Tour in 2024, however none of ’em have ever gained on the PGA Tour. Perhaps that is the week that adjustments.
ONE SWING THOUGHT
Breathe your option to success.
In her six-hole sudden-death playoff, one reporter observed Marina Alex doing plenty of respiratory. Why?
“In some unspecified time in the future I felt like I used to be a little bit fatigued so I used to be beginning to get drained so I used to be making an attempt to pump myself up, truly,” she mentioned. “[But] on the finish of regulation possibly making an attempt to calm myself down. There are at all times these ranges, peaks, valleys of making an attempt to get into the best headspace.”
That’s a helpful reminder: It’s doable to be too calm over a shot.
ONE BIG QUESTION
Will the PGA Tour’s adjustments assist?
Final week the PGA Tour knowledgeable its gamers a couple of slate of proposed adjustments to the Tour and its membership, together with a discount of assured playing cards from 125 to 100, a discount in discipline sizes, a scaling-back of Monday qualifiers and extra. You possibly can learn a breakdown we did right here however the massive query: will they assist?
I’d say that sure, the adjustments will assist the place they’re meant to. The overall downsizing is supposed to streamline the product and keep away from more and more awkward conditions like gamers with standing not entering into occasions or rounds not ending on account of darkness. Whereas it hurts to assume that fewer gamers will tee it up in Tour occasions, there are nonetheless loads of alternatives to show your price; the game shall be, if something, extra truthful.
So yeah, it’ll assist. Will it assist heal the divide between the PGA Tour and LIV? In all probability not. That looks as if a separate concern solely, tabled for now to tabloid hypothesis, Division of Justice deliberation and ongoing, mysterious negotiation. However in time, possibly…
ONE THING TO WATCH
Sean Connery on why we play.
The person who performed James Bond in arguably golf’s most iconic cinematic second (in Goldfinger) had just a few issues to say about golf on this clip unearthed by Jamie Kennedy, wherein he describes the sport as immersive, addicting, revealing, infinite. (Extra on that right here.)
“As Jack Nicklaus says, it’s an unfair recreation and you must settle for that. It’s like life in that method,” Connery says. “It’s additionally a recreation you can cheat at. It’s the simplest recreation on this planet to cheat at. And the one one which suffers is you. As a result of . And you’ll’t unknow.”
NEWS FROM SEATTLE
Monday End HQ.
The calendar flip to November means we’re in sicko season, the place the skies open up however tee sheets do, too. Catch a dry window on a 50-degree day and also you simply would possibly sail round untouched. So long as you may beat the upcoming darkness, that’s…
We’ll maintain making an attempt to deliver you to sunnier locations. See you subsequent week!
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Dylan Dethier is a senior author for GOLF Journal/GOLF.com. The Williamstown, Mass. native joined GOLF in 2017 after two years scuffling on the mini-tours. Dethier is a graduate of Williams School, the place he majored in English, and he’s the creator of 18 in America, which particulars the 12 months he spent as an 18-year-old residing from his automotive and taking part in a spherical of golf in each state.
