The Memorial
Well, a lot has happened this past week in golf, between final qualifying for the U.S. Open and Robert MacIntyre winning his first PGA Tour event it's been a pretty exciting week. Last week at the RBC Canadian Open MacIntyre captured his maiden PGAT victory with his dad on the bag. Wins like this are so fun to watch for me especially because my dad caddies for me a lot and it's just really special to share the moment. Winning by itself is amazing, but having a loved one with you there just makes it a little bit sweeter. This was a huge victory for MacIntyre, he is now ranked 39th in the world and 32nd in the FedEx Cup points. With the season quickly progressing this is a crucial time for a lot of players to earn enough points to retain their card for the following season, but before we get to this week’s event let's tap into the longest day in golf.
This past Monday was the final qualifying for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, otherwise known as the longest day in golf. The reason why it's called the longest day in golf is because there are at least 6-7 qualifying events that are happening simultaneously. The format for final qualifying is a 36 hole stroke play event. Each site has a different amount of qualifying positions based on field size. This year’s qualifying was star-studded including major champion Adam Scott who unfortunately lost in a playoff and failed to qualify. However for Scott, there is still hope, he's an alternate and is probably high on that list so there is still an outside chance he can keep his major streak going of 92 in a row, if not his streak will unfortunately end. At another site PGAT Champion Daniel Berger also advanced through qualifying and will be in the field at Pinehurst this year. Daniel Berger is one of my favorite players, he's beyond talented and can take 3 months off from golf and go out there and shoot 65 with ease, he's just a downright stud when it comes to golf. It’s going to be a lot of fun to see him back in action. Another name that many might not know but in two weeks they will is FL native Willie Mack. Mack has been grinding through various tours for well over 10 years and he finally got his shot to compete in a major championship. I know Willie personally and let me tell you he's got the stuff to make waves at Pinehurst, but before we head to Pinehurst the tour is making one of the best stops of the year at The Memorial.
In the eyes of many PGAT pros, The Memorial is one of their top spots on the schedule. On top of this being Jack Nicklaus’ event, Muirfield Village is an absolutely spectacular golf course. One of the more interesting qualities about this course is the fact that almost every year Jack rips up fairways, changes greens, and alters major parts of the golf course and sometimes he starts the construction the day after the event in preparation for the event next year. This is one of the more interesting things that is done because the course is always different from the year prior which forces the field to alter their game plans for the week. On top of the phenomenal golf course, the field of players is almost always top notch, Jack’s event draws one of the best fields in a non-major event. This week top players like Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay, Scottie Scheffler, and Xander Schauffele will be teeing it up. These next two weeks are huge for golf and The PGAT because fans get a chance to watch the top players in the world for back to back weeks including LIV players at the U.S. Open next week. In regards to a winning pick this week I think Viktor Hovland is going to steal one. By Viktor Hovland's standards he’s having a very down year, expect him to turn it around this week and grab a much needed win before the third major of the season. (Mike)
Picks of the Week:
My pick for this week is Rory. He appears to be playing more freely these days and this is a tournament he loves. Golf really could use a summer of Scootie and Rory battling it out on a regular basis. I think we see the best of Rory on display this weekend as he wins with a strong Sunday finish. However, just like before the PGA Championship, it might be peaking just slightly too early for the looming US Open. My dark horse for this week is Will Zalatoris. He is still working his way back, but we have seen glimpses of the undeniable talent he has. He is an elite ball striker so the chances are always there, but the putter leaves so much to be desired. I expect him to make a few clutch putts and put himself in the thick of it over the weekend.
As Mike mentioned, US Open qualifying took place this past week. One of the impressive streaks I have seen in recent memory is set to come to an end. Adam Scott is set to miss a major for the first time in over twenty years after losing in a 2-for-1 playoff to fellow Aussie Cam Davis. Not only is it an incredible streak of longevity, but also some incredible golf spanning over two decades. He is not flashy nor was he ever really dominant, but Adam Scott is the perfect embodiment of consistency. (Tyler)