Brooks Koepka received his fourth profession LIV Golf occasion on Sunday, and he defends his U.S. Open title later this month.
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Check in each week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the most well liked matters within the sport, and be a part of the dialog by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we talk about Brooks Koepka’s LIV Golf win, Tiger Woods’ U.S. Open exemption, Nelly Korda’s try at six straight wins and extra.
Brooks Koepka received LIV Golf Singapore to grow to be the league’s first participant to 4 wins. But, extra importantly, he appears to be peaking simply in time for his PGA Championship protection at Valhalla that begins on May 16. Is an in-form Koepka the most important main menace to World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler?
Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): I’ll give a assured Koepka the slight edge over a pointy Jon Rahm. And you already know what? It can be very nice to have peak Koepka clicking on the PGA Championship, as a result of we’d like somewhat competitors for our World No. 1 to make it extra fascinating. I feel Brooks is one of the best man to do it. Scheffler and his spouse predict their first little one any day, so that would have an effect on his PGA plans, however schedule-wise it ought to work out and he ought to have the ability to play.
Alan Bastable, govt editor (@alan_bastable): Koepka mentioned he felt “embarrassed” after his poor exhibiting on the Masters; he additionally mentioned he apologized to his staff. That week actually received to him so I feel there’s little to zero probability of that occuring to him once more at Valhalla. He’s too prideful a participant to document back-to-back clunkers on the majors. And now that his sport seems again in kind? Watch out! I don’t know if he’s essentially the most harmful menace to Scheffler, however I don’t see anybody extra harmful. As Koepka mentioned after his win Sunday, “the big thing that kind of separates me is my ability to lock in and go someplace where I think a lot of guys can’t go.”
Ryan Barath, senior gear editor (@RDSBarath): I nonetheless imagine Scottie has the sting, however on the subject of competitors I really feel there’s something to taking part in in opposition to somebody you don’t see each week. With that in thoughts, it could possibly be a psychological check for Scottie if Brooks comes out firing on Thursday and Friday come PGA week.
Nick Dimengo, instruction editor (@ndimengo): I feel so. Brooks is aware of win on the most important stage (particularly on the PGA), and he’s all the time mentioned his profession will probably be measured in majors. There are others succesful, however Brooks vs. Scottie simply has a lot attraction that I feel (hope?) the golf gods make {that a} rivalry for followers.
The USGA awarded Tiger Woods a particular exemption into the 2024 U.S. Open, marking simply the second time the USGA has carried out so within the final 5 years (the opposite was Phil Mickelson in 2021). Woods’ exemption he acquired into the U.S. Open together with his 2019 Masters win ran out final 12 months (he primarily has lifetime exemptions within the different majors), which means he would have needed to undergo qualifying or win a match that may have gained him entry beforehand to earn a spot. Any concern with Woods getting this nod?
Berhow: Absolutely not. He received three U.S. Opens, three U.S. Amateurs and three U.S. Juniors. For all of that, plus what he’s carried out for the sport during the last three many years, he’s primarily earned the uncommon potential to ask into any occasion he desires.
Bastable: If Aaron Baddeley received one (in 2000!), I feel we are able to all agree Tiger Woods might be worthy. Heck, for what Woods has meant to golf, the man ought to have lifetime entry to any match he desires to play. U.S. Open particular invitees don’t have an ideal monitor document — 10 of the final 20 missed the lower and one withdrew — however there have been a number of exceptions, together with Nick Price’s T9 in 2005 and Nick Faldo’s T5 in 2002. And let’s not overlook Hale Irwin. As an invitee at Medinah in 1990, Irwin beat Mike Donald in a playoff to win his third Open title. Cool stuff.
Barath: No points right here. I agree with Alan that Tiger sits in extraordinarily rarified air and he needs to be given entry into any U.S. Open he feels so inclined to play merely based mostly on his document and what he has meant to the sport. Also, from a enterprise perspective, the USGA can be foolish to not invite one of many few golfers on the planet who can drive larger curiosity within the occasion no matter the place he finishes.
Dimengo: Nope, by no means. Regardless of my private opinion, Tiger’s nonetheless the most important draw within the sport, so anytime he’s part of a significant, it’s good for golf (and viewership).
Woods isn’t the primary former U.S. Open winner to get a particular exemption into the nationwide championship (Jack Nicklaus acquired eight of those), however do you anticipate Woods persevering with to obtain them if he doesn’t qualify in any other case? And do you assume he would proceed to just accept them?
Berhow: If he continues to wish exemptions, I feel he’ll obtain a number of. He’s a really proud man, however I don’t see him turning them down anytime quickly. At this stage of his profession I feel he’s realized he’s earned them for every little thing he’s completed, and he is aware of folks need him there. For each individual you hear who says golf telecasts waste an excessive amount of time on his pictures when he’s out of rivalry, there’s about 6,000 extra on-site who’re following each swing on each gap. It’s actually in contrast to anything — the crowds he nonetheless generates in comparison with actually everybody else. Someday he’ll be carried out, and together with his damage historical past his future is extraordinarily unpredictable, and the game will miss him dearly.
Bastable: I didn’t know Jack acquired eight! It’s laborious to fathom Tiger accepting that many Open invitations, as a result of it’s laborious to think about Tiger being bodily capable of compete in that many extra Opens — a minimum of not at a degree that he would demand of himself. But, sure, presumably so long as Tiger desires a bid, he’s going to get one. As he ought to. As Josh mentioned, Woods immediately makes any area extra fascinating. That won’t ever change.
Barath: As I beforehand said, I feel the USGA can be hard-pressed to not invite him. I additionally assume that at this level in his profession, Tiger nonetheless desires to point out that he’s capable of play at a excessive degree, even when meaning accepting a particular exemption.
Dimengo: As Berhow mentioned, Tiger’s a proud man, however he’s additionally a competitor who thinks he can legit compete in these main tournaments. It could also be delusional, for my part, but when he’s invited to take part, take the gesture and see if magic occurs!
The Cognizant Founders Cup begins Thursday at Upper Montclair Country Club, the place World No. 1 Nelly Korda will try and win her sixth straight match. What’s your prediction? And the place does this story rank amongst a number of the LPGA’s greatest during the last a number of years?
Berhow: It’s in all probability the most important story since Lydia Ko stormed onto the scene. Ko received six instances earlier than she even turned 18 (her seventh win got here two days after her 18th birthday). And Ko’s five-win 2015 — when she was 17 and 18 years previous — included her first main title, the Evian, when she grew to become the youngest main winner in LPGA historical past. And but Korda’s run appears a lot greater. Regardless if she wins or not, I can’t wait to see what number of victories she piles up this 12 months. The season remains to be simply getting began!
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Josh Berhow
Bastable: Six straight can be staggering, simply as 5 straight was, and 4 and three. So many issues can derail a victory in golf — a lip-out, a plugged lie, one other taking part in taking pictures 63 on Sunday to beat you — which is why, irrespective of a participant’s kind, it’s so laborious to win in consecutive begins. But six straight? My thoughts can’t course of that. We’ve in all probability surpassed the purpose of Korda-vs.-the-field being an even-money guess. But regardless of the odds, preserve giving me Nelly till somebody proves they’ll beat her.
Barath: A sensible gambler as soon as advised me that you just don’t guess on golf or hockey, as a result of one odd bounce can derail a win — and no, I’m not bitter about how the Toronto Maple Leafs misplaced Game 7 — however contemplating her kind, Nelly is more likely to contend. Does that imply she’s going to win? You know what, let’s guess on historical past and say that she does it! As for what this implies for the LPGA Tour — I agree with Josh that the one greater tales the LPGA has skilled over the previous couple of years had been Lydia Ko, after which Rose Zhang profitable her first occasion as a professional.
Dimengo: What Nelly is doing is nothing wanting unbelievable. To win two tournaments in a row is hard — and she or he’s making an attempt to do thrice that! So it’s a narrative that extra folks needs to be speaking about, and it’s type of unhappy that they aren’t. As for predictions, anytime it’s a person vs. the sphere, I’ll all the time take the latter. Just sooner or later (or, hell, one dangerous gap!) can derail an individual’s total match. While Nelly usually avoids self-imposed errors, it occurs to one of the best of them, so I’ll take the sphere this week.
Bandon Dunes, the groundbreaking Oregon resort, celebrates its twenty fifth anniversary this month. How essential has its evolution been for golf and golf journey? And, bonus query: What’s your favourite course there?
Berhow: The Bandon mannequin is so refreshing. While it’s not for everybody — in case your group likes six-packs stashed in your cart, this isn’t for you — it’s confirmed to be an essential piece of golf’s evolution and primarily the belief that you just don’t want all of the bells and whistles in your golf journeys. Just actually, actually good golf, delightfully unpredictable climate, a comfortable pub and chilly pint does the trick. There’s a lot of enjoyable methods to do golf journey, and that is simply one of many many nice choices that’s gone on to affect others. Oh, and Pacific Dunes is my favourite. The unorthodox design and assortment of par-3s are great.
Bastable: Bandon’s influence can’t be overstated: the resort’s success birthed the destination-golf motion that introduced us different distinctive distant golf experiences comparable to Cabot Links and Sand Valley. I lucked into an invitation to Bandon’s twenty fifth anniversary celebration this previous week. I’d been on the market on earlier events, however on this journey the distinctiveness of the property’s seven programs (5 regulation, two quick) actually hit me. The splendor of Pac Dunes, the rawness of Sheep Ranch, the inventiveness and quirk of Old Mac and on and on. Each course is unmistakable from the following, which is why in case you ask 10 golfers to rank their favourite Bandon programs so as, you would possibly effectively get 10 totally different lists. I’m a sucker for ocean views so Pac Dunes and Bandon would in all probability high my very own checklist, however ask me once more tomorrow. Berhow, we performed Old Mac in heavy wind and torrential rain, and I can report that there was nothing “delightful” about these situations.
Berhow: Well, that’s true. We couldn’t see a number of the greens from the green in that fog!
Barath: I feel Bandon has confirmed that in case you construct nice golf, golfers will search it out, and their dedication to always bettering the product with new programs retains golfers coming again. It has additionally been an inspiration for others who’ve added to the golf panorama – most noticeably Cabot and its assortment of properties that continues to develop. As for my favourite course — I’ll maintain any judgment till I lastly get the prospect to get there and play. (Does anyone want a fourth?)
Dimengo: It’s a sin to say this as a PNWer, however I’ve nonetheless but to play Bandon. I do know, what am I truly doing with my life, proper? That mentioned, the complete resort stays a vacation spot for golfers of all ability ranges and continues to be the usual for links-style programs within the U.S.
