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 pals and I play a sport. Perhaps you do too. For us golf-playing folks, it’s a part of what makes golf-watching participating, since you marvel:
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, after all, is “many” — however the dialog amongst my gang normally meanders to the place we’d play the worst. Perhaps it will be ANGC. I’ve gotten votes for Harbour City resulting from its claustrophobic corridors. I’ve heard ideas on Kapalua due to its unevenness.
However Royal Troon may simply be on the high.
What number of photographs would I rack up from the coffin bunker? Would I simply choose 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, hearken to those that strapped on their golf sneakers that day:
Mentioned Dustin Johnson: “I imply, the again 9, that’s the toughest 9 holes I believe you possibly 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, similar with Brooks [Koepka]. That’s how lengthy it was taking part in.”
Mentioned Matthew Jordan: “I don’t fairly know easy methods to summarize it simply but. That again 9 was simply so powerful. I used to be hitting golf equipment into there from yardages that I in all probability did once I was like 13, 14. It was only a full grind.”
Mentioned Mackenzie Hughes: “Yeah, it’s actually powerful. Very troublesome 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 an extended, grueling day, and pleased to be carried out.”
That each one being mentioned, that is kinda why … we play golf, although. The problem. The survival. If we are able to play it right here, we are able to play it anyplace.
And we positive do like watching one of the best often method 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 residence 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 means of this on the market. On 18, did you hear some individuals yelling your identify and there have been some Canadian flags?”
Answered Hughes: “Yeah, it was humorous as a result of on 18 — possibly it was 16, I used to be speaking to my caddie, [and] I mentioned, it’s superb how many individuals are out right here on a day like in the present day when it’s simply completely piss climate. They’re all right here. They wish to see the golf. It’s powerful to observe golf in this sort of climate, I’m positive, once you’re below your umbrella.
“However they had been on the market. They had been a fairly cheerful bunch for essentially the most half, given the climate.”
Cheers to that.
3. Right here’s one other phrase on Tennent’s.
In keeping 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 an additional shot. For not letting go as you become older.
This hit me:
Requested a reporter: “You simply mentioned 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 considering of the dream nonetheless alive …”
Mentioned Rose: “It’s nonetheless my dream. In a couple of years, it’ll be another person’s dream. However yeah, nonetheless my dream proper now. Nice alternative to go stay it out tomorrow.”
30 ft from Xander Schauffele’s Open triumph, his father instructed the actual story
5. All of that made me marvel: 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. It is 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 12 months.
I believe he contends once more. Perhaps as quickly as subsequent April, on the Masters. He’ll refuel. He’ll recalculate. He’ll play extra subsequent 12 months. Making a run isn’t unimaginable. Who’s higher mentally than him, in spite of everything? He can handle a pair under-par rounds, and there you go.
7. However I’m wondering if Woods thinks he’s bullet-proof. The alphas at all times do.
This might get ugly.
Twenty-two years later, the second beneath remains to be in my head.
8. Let’s discuss concerning the winner. Was Xander Schauffele’s weekend among the finest 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 alternate:
Requested a reporter: “Your California mellowness, do individuals mistake that possibly there’s extra fireplace inside than we are able to 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 sort of know the way I must be to carry out at a excessive degree.
“The identical method 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 a very good one. I’ve sort of embraced this form 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 scenario had a thought right here:
“He’s solely midway there,” Schauffele’s dad, Stefan, instructed GOLF’s James Colgan. “I might say the one with the best potential for the profession grand slam.
“How about that?”
Let’s put the over-under complete 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 may also 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 may also 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 really like the concept of Schauffele re-evaluating the method. He thought he wanted extra velocity — so he hit the health club. He thought he wanted one other voice within the room — so he introduced on Chris Como. Some gamers don’t do this. Some follow the identical strategies, hoping for various outcomes, which, sure, is the definition of madness.
15. Let’s discuss Rory McIlroy.
On this case, there’s no want to alter a lot. Perhaps a tweak right here. Perhaps a change to the crew there. However majors are onerous. Golf is troublesome. He’s nearly as good as they arrive.
16. GOLF’s Sean Zak wrote a beautiful examination right here.
17. There’s additionally the actual risk he by no means will get previous Pinehurst.
18. However right here says he wins the PGA subsequent 12 months 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 alternate was notable:
Requested a reporter on Friday, after McIlroy missed the reduce: “There’s plenty of gamers on the market actually toiling, a few of the greatest names in golf like your self. Was there some extent the place you turned fairly philosophical about what was taking place and checked out it within the larger 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 fascinated by the place I’m going to go on trip subsequent week.
“Yeah, that was mainly it. I imply, I knew from then I’d form 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 alternate 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 remaining 12 holes at four-under: “Did you assume 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. Then you definately’re standing on 5 going between a 4-iron and a rescue, and also you’re truthfully attempting to only — attempting to make bogeys as an alternative of doubles and triples that I used to be making.
“I didn’t assume I used to be going to make the weekend, however Mike mentioned, look, followers are right here to observe. Simply give them what they need, a extreme dig and combat, and that’s what I carried out. I simply tried my greatest and managed to show it round.”
21. Cherished watching Thriston Lawrence pumping driver all around the yard on Sunday.
22. Can Marlboro please sponsor Dan Brown so he could 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. In the event you’re blaming LIV Golf for the above outcomes, go forward. After all, there’s additionally Bryson DeChambeau, who was near profitable three majors this 12 months.
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? Perhaps. Is that very same vibe unlocking one thing? DeChambeau would agree there.
27. Is Scottie Scheffler the PGA Tour participant of the 12 months? Or Schauffele?
Schauffele. Two majors > one main.
But when — if — Scheffler’s putter is on, he’s one of the best participant within the sport. By lots.
28. Whom will we discuss 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 hearken to a few of the greatest quotes.
Right here’s this alternate between Shane Lowry and a reporter, began by the reporter:
“Are you a very good front-runner?”
“I wouldn’t say I’m a very good runner,” mentioned Lowry, laughing.
“I don’t know. I put myself there in a couple of large tournaments, and I’ve managed to knock them off. So I’ve carried out it a couple 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 sport. That’s psychological. That’s why my psychologist is right here with me someplace. I simply discuss to him and simply maintain myself in an honest sort of thoughts as a result of I believe I’m fairly an excitable man, and once I’m doing nicely, I’m pleased and every little thing is nice, however then when issues aren’t, I’m like, decelerate, however the margins are so bloody small on this sport. You by no means know when it’s going to go your method.”
38. Right here’s this alternate between McIlroy and a reporter, began by the reporter:
“You talked about earlier that you simply met Tiger for the primary time once you had been 15. Do you ever form of sit residence and assume 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 mentioned earlier, like a worldwide famous person?”
“Yeah, I get reminded of it or I remind myself of it every single day,” McIlroy mentioned. “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 stay out my childhood dream. And considered one of my childhood goals was to satisfy 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 goals did I believe that I’d find yourself within the place that I’m in, however I’m very grateful for it. I nonetheless need to remind myself lots that that is my life.”
Put up-major season inventory report: Xander method up, what about Rory McIlroy?
39. Right here’s this alternate between Schauffele and a reporter, began by the reporter:
“Earlier than profitable the PGA, did the concept of profitable a significant really feel extra daunting than possibly a traditional Tour occasion?”
“You set extra emphasis on it,” Schauffele mentioned, “however daunting isn’t actually how I might 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 means of Saturday’s tough situations:
“I’m fortunate. I really like taking part in golf, and I really like my job, and I really like taking part in over right here. For me, it’s all enjoyable, and I simply attempt to have as a lot enjoyable as attainable even on a day like in the present day.”
41. Listed below are a couple 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 beneath is a couple of half-hour of video from Scotland, through Zak and Colgan, by means of 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 12 months’s greatest main?
Right here’s my rating of the 4:
1. Open Championship (hyperlinks, drama, Sunday funday)
2. U.S. Open (among the finest remaining rounds you’ll see)
3. Masters (one other good remaining spherical, DeChambeau lifted an indication)
4. PGA Championship (good remaining spherical, too many birdies, unlucky information off the course)
46. So who wins subsequent 12 months? 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 choose, and you’ll learn why right here.
47. So how did the predictions go this 12 months?
You could be the decide. After every of the majors, I wrote comparable “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 choose, and you’ll learn why right here.
49. Then there are these bets:
50. I acquired my Tennent’s, as you possibly can see within the pic beneath.
Sara Ziegler
Cheers!
Editor’s word: 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.
