Wyndham Clark (Titleist Pro V1x) and Sam Burns (Callaway Chrome Tour X) did just what I thought they would, albeit a week later.
Heading into Canadian Open, I picked Clark and Burns as my two choices in the PG Golf pool. It was the second time using both in the pool, and you are only allowed to pick a player twice. I loved Clark’s form – he had won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and tied for third in the Memorial Tournament.
Burns tied for fourth in the Memorial and he was posting better results in the weeks leading up to it.
I wanted either Clark or Burns to win the U.S. Open.
No, I needed one of them to win.
If you’ve been reading my blogs in recent weeks, I’ve been lamenting how far I’ve fallen in the PG Golf pool.
I was once as high as third place, which would result in a cash price to cover the $100 entry free.
And, hey, winning is always gratifying, especially winning money.
But then I began falling…and falling…and falling some more.
Some of my picks didn’t make the cut.
I felt worse than the players.
Yeah, they play for money, but I play for results that might earn me money.
It will take a miracle of epic proportions to climb back into contention.
Could it happen? Well didn’t the New England Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons in one of the greatest Super finishes in Super Bowl history, and sports in general, overcoming a 25-point deficit?
Maybe I can do it, too. Okay, maybe I’m dreaming.
Note to self, you are dreaming, man.
Back to Clark, he was doing well in the Canadian Open, shooting seven-under par in the third round. But he faded in the final round with an even-par 70.
Burns also faded in the final round, going one-over par after heading into it 10-under par.
So, I had exhausted both picks one week too soon.
Clark won the U.S. Open by one stroke over Burns.
If neither had played in the Canadian Open, I would have strongly considered one, surely Clark.
I chose Matt Fitzpatrick (Titleist Pro V1x) and Patrick Reed (Titleist Pro V1x) in the U.S. Open. Fitzpatrick finished second in the Canadian Open and talked about how comfortable he felt going into the U.S. Open. I bought what he was selling. He finished 22nd, basically fading after a good opening round.
Nobody in the PG Golf pool had Clark, though quite a few had Burns.
Some people used Rory McIlroy (TaylorMade TP5) or Scottie Scheffler (Titleist Pro V1), which I found quite interesting. I would have thought those two would have been long gone at this point of the year. How do you wait this long to picks two of the top golfers in the world? Maybe they were saving them for the U.S. Open.
If anyone still has them available to choose, my only guess is they’re targeting The Open.
Reed who missed the cut by one stroke. His lag putt for a birdie on the final hole came up a foot short.
It reminded me of that line the character Maxwell Smart often said on the 70s TV show Get Smart: “Missed it by that much.”
Sometimes I find it hard to watch the four rounds of the weekly PGA Tour tournaments. It’s especially hard if my picks don’t make it to the weekend.
Should I start praying to the golf gods? I’m really considering it.
CROWD GETS ON CLARK: There has been some unsportsmanlike behavior by Clark the last two years, including taking out his frustration in the locker room in the 2025 U.S. Open. As a result, he received quite a bit of verbal abuse from patrons at the 2026 U.S. Open. Clearly, they didn’t forget, even though it wasn’t the same venue. Say this about New Yorkers, they do not shy away from booing.
Clark took the verbal abuse in good stride. Golf fans are for the most part cordial, though they are more prone to express themselves in abusive tones in Ryder Cup events. Players do, too, but that’s what makes the Ryder Cup so exciting.
SCHEFFLER GRAND SLAM: It was speculated the booing may have also been because the crowd wanted Scottie Scheffler to win to complete his personal grand slam. He tied for fourth.
Speaking of the Ryder Cup, if Burns won, it would have confirmed my theory about how impactful the 2025 Ryder Cup was. Several players from both teams have won this year, Burns would have been the latest. There are still some tournaments to do it this year.
Next up, the Travelers Championship, a signature event, the last one of the season and a chance for me to soar up the standings.
I could use Tommy Fleetwood (TaylorMade TP5x) or Ludvig Aberg (Titleist Pro V1x) or both, but they haven’t been able to finish this season.
