Welcome to the Monday Leaderboard, where we break down the weekend’s biggest stories in the wonderful world of golf. Grab an Arnold Palmer, pull up a chair and – no, wait, grab one Muirfield Milkshake for Jack this week…
It’s not over until it’s over
A glorious and evil aspect of golf is that the game is literally iffy down to the last putt, no matter how short it may be. Not only that, the right round at the right time can turn an entire tournament around. Sebastian Soderberg had a nightmare of a Sunday during the DP World Tour’s Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed tournament, which features both male and female players. Soderberg opened the day with an eight-shot lead, but collapsed completely with a 77, missing short putt after short putt. He only needed a bogey on the 18th to force a play-off, but missed a three-foot putt. Meanwhile, Linn Grant shot a 65 to come back from 11 shots down to take the title. And that wasn’t the end of the day’s comebacks; at the LPGA’s ShopRite Classic, Linnea Ström, also of Sweden, shot an 11-under 60 to rise from 52nd place and win by one stroke. Always keep your mind in the game.
Scottie Scheffler’s career year continues
You know you’re absolutely dominating when it’s news not Winning a tournament. Scottie Scheffler hasn’t had that problem much lately; he won five of the last eight tournaments he played. For most players, capturing a Masters, a Players Championship and the Memorial would be a good career; Scheffler did it all in a few weeks. Scheffler held off Collin Morikawa to win the Memorial by one stroke on Sunday, entitling him to Jack Nicklaus’ prized greenside handshake… and probably one of those famous Muirfield milkshakes, too. If not for that unpleasantness in Louisville a few weeks ago, he might be looking at a one-season grand slam. As it is, he’s on a heater as hot as anything since Tiger Woods’ best days. We’ll find out soon enough if he can keep the locomotive rolling at the third major of the season, this week at the US Open.
Finally some movement in the PGA Tour-PIF impasse?
The one-year anniversary of the so-called sport-changing “framework agreement” between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund passed last week with little to show for it. Perhaps coincidentally, representatives from the PGA Tour and the PIF also met last week to extract whatever could be salvaged from the long-dormant agreement. A cynic might say that the two sides met ahead of the US Open, when significant national media attention will be focused on the status of the game, but whatever the reason, there is at least some movement. “Very productive, very constructive, very collaborative,” Rory McIlroy said on Saturday. “Yes, it was really good. Things are definitely going in the right direction. Much progress was made. I can’t really say more about it, but it was really positive.” We’ve heard all these kinds of promises before, and many more, so we’ll have to wait and see if there’s more than just words behind this latest update.
Tough news for Jon Rahm this week, as the two-time major winner was forced to withdraw from the LIV Golf Houston event on Saturday, apparently due to a lingering foot injury. The news clouds his status for the US Open this week, and since he is one of the favorites, there will be a lot of attention on Rahm’s hoof. He’ll be speaking at Pinehurst on Tuesday, so we’ll get an update then. It’s been a tough big run for Rahm so far in 2024, with a T45 finish at Augusta and a missed cut at Valhalla. (For the record, Carlos Ortiz won the individual LIV trophy this weekend and Cleeks GC took the team win.)
Costly delay, even more expensive DQ
Unlike you and your team on Saturday morning, professional players don’t have forever to search for their wayward shots. They only get three minutes anyway, and that hard deadline bit Nasa Hataoka on Friday afternoon during the ShopRite LPGA Classic. Hataoka’s second shot at the par-5 9th, her final hole of the day, ended in the deep fescue. After a long search, a cameraman found her ball, and after an unplayable lie, Hataoka was up and down for a par. But on Saturday, LPGA officials called Hataoka and said the search had gone on too long… and this despite the fact that a regulations officer was on site. The tough DQ didn’t just cost Hataoka a paycheck; it could cost her a spot at the Paris Olympics as she is in an uphill battle for one of the Japanese spots.
Mulligan of the week: from the OB in St. Andrews
Some golf courses, like Augusta National and Pebble Beach, exist in their own ecosystem, far removed from the daily grind of reality. But across the pond, golf courses face real life, and in St. Andrews that presents a challenge… and also an opportunity:
That’s a chap called Wyatt Messmer, who takes part in a common St Andrews stunt outside the famous Dunvegan pub, but also makes the crucial mistake of filming and posting it. The St Andrews Links Trust condemned the piece, saying: “This is an irresponsible and reckless act that shows disregard for the safety of both the public and property. This kind of behavior [sic] is not welcome at the Home of Golf and we discourage anyone from repeating it.”
So yeah… don’t be an idiot, and for God’s sake don’t shoot.
It’s time for the US Open! Swing away and roll ’em through this week, friends, and we’ll see you back here next Monday!
