Quick Open Thoughts

A bit more informal here. Giving some quick Open thoughts as I cope with the Men’s major season ending.

1. I quite liked Royal Portrush this week. I thought it was a great test of championship golf and clearly identified the best players. With that being said, I was a bit disappointed with how American it played. I pointed this out in my preview that with the elevation of greens and the multitude of thick rough off the fairway, it would play more aerial than most rota courses. I thought the presence of wind would add elements that forced more creativity, but aside from brief moments Thursday, the wind was benign. In fact, Data Golf’s course similarity tool has Southern Hills, Oak Hill, and TPC Scottsdale as the three most similar courses. By no means is this me calling for Portrush to not have as prominent a spot on the rotation. Variety is great, and most likely next time back here, the wind will blow and we will see more of the links style shine through. I’d give it an 8.5/10.

2. There’s no overreacting with Scottie right now

1. In the last 18 months, once he gets his Comcast bonus and Fed Ex winnings, he will have made over $100 million

2. Since switching to the mallet. 32 starts. 13 wins: 7 signature events, 3 majors, an Olympic gold medal

3. He has bested Rory’s peak season each of the last three years

4. If he had won by 5 (he sleepwalked to a four-shot victory), he would have joined ‘53 Hogan and 2000 Tiger as the only players to win multiple majors in one year by 5+ strokes. Those are considered the two greatest major seasons of the Post-WWII era.

5. 16 wins since he last missed a cut

6. His earnings % in majors now is 16%, higher than Tigers

7. 9 of his last 12 wins have been by 3+. One of those was the final round 63 at the Players, the other a final round 64 at the Olympics

3. I have two main takeaways from Bryson’s week. 

1. How impressive his fight back was. After an opening round 78, it would have been easy for him to pack it in. But Dechambeau fought to make the cut and then even though he didn’t have a chance to contend, he grinded. For all he says about YouTube, it’s clear how much this guy cares about golf and has the heart of a champion. 

2. At the same time, this doesn’t change my opinion of him regarding his ability to play well in the Open. As mentioned, Portrush is as aerial and American as a Rota course gets, and the wind blew on Thursday, and Bryson struggled. When it was benign, he played great. So, despite a top-10 finish, it doesn't change my outlook on him in the British Isles. Not saying he never will, but the current version of him can't. 

4. Something interesting I found myself thinking about with Scheffler this week is what is his most iconic moment? Interestingly enough, I’d say of the current players with multiple majors, Scottie has the least iconic moment despite having more majors. As for Scheffler’s most iconic moment, I would probably say his chip-in on #3 on Sunday of the 2022 Masters. It was a ridiculous shot that helped propel him the rest of the round, but the truth is, none of his four major wins have been seriously competitive in the final six holes. When you look at the most iconic moments for the other guys, it comes on holes 67-72. Another argument for the lack of iconic moments for Scheffler was pointed out by Michael McEwan, writing, “Tiger's best bits usually followed poor/terrible shots. Nobody considers that the chip-in at 16 at Augusta in '05 came from missing it in the wrong spot, or that his bunker shot at the Canadian Open in 2000 came from a poor shot before. Tiger's highlights are generally insane recoveries. But Scheffler (generally) doesn't make many mistakes. A highlights reel of a guy sticking it to inside eight feet from the middle of the fairway time and time again is (rightly or wrongly) a hard sell.” I think there is truth to this and that ultimately, Scottie will have his moments. He won’t continue running away with every major and while I like Michael’s point, as seen by the list below, recovery shots aren’t the only things that produce iconic moments.

1. JT: Drive at Southern Hills

2. Morikawa: Drive at TPC Harding Park

3. Rahm: 20-footer on 18 at Torrey

4. Bryson: Bunker shot on 18 at Pinehurst

5. Spieth: Bogey at Birkdale (or subsequent eagle)

5. Scottie’s first bid for the Career Grand Slam will come at Shinnecock next year… Sunday will be Father’s Day (of course) AND his 30th birthday.

6. There needs to be a major in August. That gives the PGA an identity. Being the last major of the year, all of the storylines have built up. Guys have one last chance; guys already with a major have the chance for a historic season. The first and last majors of the year are special, but the Open doesn’t need this boost to what it already has going for it.

7. Apology: Tommy didn’t have it this week. I expected a better performance from him. I still have no doubt he wins a major in the next couple of years, but to let this opportunity slip by certainly hurt. Onto 2026!

8. Bob Macintyre is slowly becoming whatever it is that is one level below a star. This was his third Open top-10, passing the greatest modern Scot in Collin Montgomerie. The harder the course gets, the better Bob plays. While the Tour has lost some big names to LIV, the emergence of a “Great Scot” and well-liked one has been a huge bonus. He’s only 28 years old, and this was only his 2nd full season on the PGA Tour… still so much more to come. 

9. NBC is an abomination. Aside from the commercial load (which was more than CBS). When there are seven people on the broadcast, everyone is trying to get their quip in. Too many cooks in the kitchen. The tower cams also suck and don’t show the slopes that make links golf so interesting. Their deal runs out in 2027, hopefully we don’t have to see them again.

10. My current Ryder Cup predictions and a few notes following it.

1. US

1. Scottie (lock)

2. Bryson (lock)

3. JT (lock)

4. Xander (lock)

5. Morikawa (lock)

6. Cantlay (>75%)

7. Henley (>75%)

8. Griffin (>75%)

9. Spaun (>75%)

10. H.E. (>75%)

11. Spieth (as >50%)

12. Gotterup (will play himself on)

2. Europe

1. Rory (lock)

2. Rahm (lock)

3. Fleetwood (lock)

4. Aberg (lock)

5. Straka (lock)

6. Hatton (lock)

7. Lowry (lock)

8. Bobby Mac (lock)

9. Hovland (lock)

10. Rose (>50%)

11. Fitzpatrick (>50%)

12. Rasmus Hojgaard (>50%)

3. The Spieth discourse is interesting. I feel like people have constantly been a year behind on him. He went through a rough patch from 2019-2020. People still held on to the belief he was elite. He regained form, but then last year was a down year due (partially due to injury) but not acknowledged enough in the media. Now, many identify him as not deserving a spot on the team, but I think that’s wrong. When looking at strokes gained over the past sixth months, Spieth is tied with Morikawa and Schauffele, better than the likes of Hovland, Hatton, Lowry, Macintyre, not to mention Griffin, Burns, and McNealy.

4. I think Europe chooses the same 12 last names (switching out which Hojgaard twin). With them also bringing back Luke Donald and of course their vice captain foundation of the Molinari’s, Thomas Bjørn, and JMO, their continuity cannot be ignored as a huge advantage.

5. I don’t think Gotterup is on the team if they had to pick today, but I expect him to play well in the next three events. He’s got that Brooks vibe of thriving when the moment gets bigger. He’s an absolute stud.

11. As someone rooting for Europe, this Keegan discourse is incredible. People always talk about the great “bet on yourself moments” but talk about not betting on yourself lol. Going to be a really fun next two months. I still think the U.S. wins.