The conversation for who should be men’s professional Golfer of the Year just became interesting.
By virtue of his win in The Open Championship, Xander Schauffele (Callaway Chrome Tour) just added his name to the conversation that until this past weekend included only Scottie Scheffler (Titleist Pro V1).
Schauffele has played in 18 tournaments this year and has won twice, but both of those came in majors, the PGA Championship and The Open Championship, two months apart. He set a majors record with 23-under-par in the PGA Championship. He has placed second twice and has finished in the top-10 a dozen times. One of those runnerup finishes was to Scheffler in The Players Championship.
Schauffele became the first golfer since 1934 to have two rounds with a score of 65 or better in two majors in the same year.
Scheffler has won six of 16 tournaments, but only one of them was a major, albeit the Masters. He has won six of his last 12 tournaments. He tied for seventh in the Open and was never really a threat.
The interesting thing is there is still lots of tournaments to be played and the battle over who is the best could come down to the Tour Championship.
In the meantime, Schauffele goes into the 2024 Olympics as the defending champion. Scheffler is slated to play in it, too.
Schauffele was my favourite player a few years ago, but I became frustrated watching him underperform in the final rounds. Clearly the X man has overcome that.
SCOTT AND ROSE: Inasmuch as Schauffele and Scheffler have separated themselves from the pack on the PGA Tour, I think credit should be given to Adam Scott (Titleist Pro V1) and Justin Rose (TaylorMade TP5) for their play the last two weeks. The 44-year-old Scott tied for 10th in The Open Championship, a week after placing second in the Genesis Scottish Open. The 33-year-old Rose, meanwhile, tied for second in the Open. He had to qualify in 36 holes just to play in it. He gave the local hopefuls the possibility of becoming the first Englishman to win in 32 years. In the1998 Open, he tied for fourth as a 17-year-old amateur. It was captured in a documentary, The Story of 1998.
How amazing would it have been to see Rose win the Open a week after Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre (TaylorMade TP5x) created a storybook finish winning The Scottish Open. He finished tied for 50th in the Open, and was clearly running on fumes after his momentous victory.
IN PRAISE OF THE OPEN: Every year, the Open creates images that last forever because of the weather and the course, namely the potholes that look like craters. The Masters has its own history, but the Open is a throwback to the roots of golf. You will hear players moan about the U.S. Open and how the United States Golf Association sets up the course that creates nightmares for the players. But you won’t hear them complain about the Open because they know weather will be a factor and the challenge to win it makes it that more rewarding for those who prevail.
PHIL BEING PHIL: Fashion apparel has become somewhat of a talking point on the PGA Tour, notably with Jason Day (Bridgestone Tour B X) aligning with a designer and donning baggy pants at times.
But Phil Mickelson (Callaway Chrome Soft X Triple Track) wore joggers in the Open. He dawned them for the opening round after losing a bet to YouTuber, Grant Horvat, bur decided to go with the tight pants for the entire tournament. The 2013 Open winner tied for 60th.
TIGER FIGHTS BACK: Perhaps it was expecting a miracle for Tiger Woods (Bridgestone Tour B X) to do anything of significance in the Open, so failing to make the cut with a score of 14-over par, eight shots above the cut line, wasn’t exactly a bad effort. Several younger players, some of whom are winners in the majors, failed to make it to the weekend.
So it wasn’t surprising the four-time winner of the Claret Jug took offense with Colin Montgomerie suggesting he should not play in the tournament.
“There is a time for all sportsmen to say goodbye, but it’s very difficult to tell Tiger it’s time to go,” he was quoted in an article. “Obviously, he feels he can win. We are more realistic.”
As Woods noted, as a previous champion he has earned the right to play in it. He said he “loved” playing in the tournament. “I’ve always loved playing major championships. I just wish I was more physically sharp coming into the majors.”
