We focus on Tiger Woods’ journey to Augusta, Scottie Scheffler’s epic March, Nelly Korda’s successful streak and PGA Tour programs you possibly can play.
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Check in each week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the most popular matters within the sport, and be a part of the dialog by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week we focus on Tiger Woods’ journey to Augusta National, Scottie Scheffler’s epic month of March, Nelly Korda’s successful streak, PGA Tour programs you possibly can play and extra.
1. Scottie Scheffler’s run at three straight wins fell simply quick on the Texas Children’s Houston Open. Scheffler missed a 5 1/2-footer for birdie on the 72nd gap that might have pressured a playoff with Stephan Jaeger, however as an alternative the miss handed the 34-year-old Jaeger his first profession win in his one hundred and thirty fifth begin. What did you study Scheffler over this final month?
Nick Dimengo, instruction editor (@ndimengo): That he’s acquired Tiger blood, so to talk. During Woods’ dominant decade, he by no means took a event, spherical or gap off; he went out each week anticipating to win. Scheffler could also be methods away from what we noticed with Woods, however the identical successful mentality is there.
Josh Sens, senior author (@JoshSens): That he has each a dominating sport and the mindset to deal with each week as an enormous week, whatever the occasion. He’s not pulling a Brooks Koepka and saving his ammo for majors solely.
Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): That the remainder of the Tour must play its very best to beat him after which additionally hope Scottie isn’t firing on all cylinders. Everyone has some funky stuff occur to them over the course of 72 holes, however Scottie made two double bogeys on a careless three-putt from inside 7 ft and a wedge that he thought was excellent that spun off the inexperienced and into the water — and he nonetheless practically received. But he’s acquired that combat in him, too. Look on the 18th gap on Sunday for instance. Skinns wanted birdie and pulled it left right into a bunker. Jaeger wanted birdie to seal it and hit a so-so shot to twenty ft. Scheffler knew he wanted birdie and hit a dart to five ft. He missed the putt, positive, however he’s acquired one other stage to his sport others don’t.
2. Speaking of successful streaks, don’t neglect about Nelly Korda, who received the Ford Championship on Sunday to assert her third straight win on the LPGA Tour. Korda additionally received final week, and her first win of this stretch got here in late January on the LPGA Drive On Championship. What’s gotten into Korda to date in 2024? And is her streak truly extra spectacular than Scheffler’s latest run because it spans an extended time-frame?
Dimengo: Yes, it’s extra spectacular than Scheffler’s — as a result of golf is tough, and to take care of that form of consistency over 4 days (not to mention three completely different tournaments) is insane! As for what’s gotten into her, I may need to ask her coach, GOLF Top 100 Teacher Jamie Mulligan, who could have a greater reply than I ever may.
Sens: What’s occurring mechanically I couldn’t say. But a lot of golf comes all the way down to mindset. The confidence and calm to remain within the second and swing with absolute perception. Korda is recent off a voluntary break from the sport, which she appeared to relish. She herself mentioned it. That’s simply golf. Sometimes the whole lot clicks and the psychological and bodily positives preserve feeding off one another. As for which is extra spectacular, that’s splitting hairs. But you might make the argument that Korda’s streak is extra spectacular. Not due to its size however as a result of the ladies’s sport isn’t divided, like the lads’s sport, with high gamers splintered off on completely different circuits. Only on the majors do you need to beat “everyone.”
Berhow: She hits it far and she or he’s fairly correct, and her ball-striking is a number of the greatest on tour. She hardly ever misses greens and is an efficient and streaky putter. But greater than all of that, she’s simply good and constant. She is aware of what she does nicely and performs to her strengths. It’s very Scheffler-like, in a means, in the truth that she’s simply all the time hanging round. It’s boringly good. Her dangerous rounds are by no means actually dangerous sufficient — or frequent sufficient — that it retains her out of rivalry. I additionally assume she’s a bit refreshed to begin this season, as Sens talked about, which might go a great distance. As for if her streak is best than Scottie’s, it’s laborious to say. She had much less consideration round her and had an enormous break in between the primary and second win, however they’re each ridiculously spectacular in their very own means. It shall be enjoyable to see if Nelly could make it 4 in a row, as a result of this week’s occasion in Vegas will make gamers flex each stroke-play and match-play muscular tissues.
3. Only another PGA Tour occasion sits between now and the Masters, and Tiger Woods is amongst these already prepping for the primary main of the season. Woods made a weekend journey to Augusta National — reportedly enjoying with Justin Thomas and membership chairman Fred Ridley — and all indicators level to him teeing it up for his twenty sixth Masters in lower than two weeks from now. Woods is aware of the course higher than anybody, however primarily based on his minimal begins and well being the previous couple of years, what ought to we anticipate from him on the 2024 Masters?
Dimengo: As all the time with Woods, it comes all the way down to his well being. I do know he withdrew from the Genesis final month attributable to sickness, however even throughout his transient look at that occasion, no person actually acquired a glimpse of how he’s enjoying or feeling bodily. At Augusta, I anticipate him to make the minimize; he is aware of the course higher than anybody. The five-time champ ought to take into account something higher than T25 an enormous victory (though you recognize he received’t).
Sens: It’s simple to get carried away with romantic expectations. But if we’re being affordable, it’s laborious to think about him getting by two aggressive rounds on such a hilly course with out some critical discomfort and awkward swings. I hope he contends. But I wouldn’t wager on him to make the minimize.
Berhow: So many issues must go proper for him as of late. The chilly, wet climate didn’t assist his possibilities final yr, and he must keep away from nagging accidents earlier than and through the event. I nonetheless assume he could make the minimize — which isn’t as tough to do at Augusta in comparison with different majors — though unsure he’d be in rivalry come Sunday. But if the whole lot strains up, he’s confirmed you shouldn’t guess in opposition to him.
4. While the PGA Tour heads to San Antonio for the Valero Texas Open and its remaining Masters tune-up, LIV Golf returns to the states after stops in Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong. While Anthony Kim received’t be in Augusta, it is going to be the primary time we see the mysterious star teeing it up within the U.S. since 2012. What form of reception do you assume he’ll obtain at Trump Doral in Miami?
Dimengo: Kim’s return to professional golf is a captivating one, and I believe even essentially the most informal followers are rooting for him to play nicely. Who doesn’t like a superb comeback story? I anticipate larger crowds and extra assist for him in Miami, given the eye he’s gotten since his first LIV tourney.
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Jack Hirsh
Sens: My sense is that Kim was extra fascinating to followers in his absence than he has been in his return. He will get a heat reception, in fact. But except he performs exceptionally nicely, I’m not anticipating quite a lot of pomp and circumstance round him. At this level, he counts largely as one other superb golfer who isn’t Tiger Woods. Which is a part of the issue professional golf is up in opposition to in these divided days within the sport.
Berhow: It is perhaps a greater enjoying expertise for Anthony, since he’ll see and really feel a bit extra love than what he in all probability acquired abroad, however the watery course he’s going to face would possibly truly give him extra complications than the opposite two. I nonetheless assume it could have been higher to have this week be his LIV debut, however I additionally see the PR narrative of slowly dipping the toes into the water. Anyway, if he’s acquired one thing tremendous low in his again pocket, this might be a superb week to trot it out.
5. In honor of the Tour stopping at a municipal course in Memorial Park, we broke down all of the 2024 PGA Tour programs (and their value) that YOU can play. Where are you going?
Dimengo: Oh, man, I wasn’t anticipating this type of query at this time. I’ll go along with the Corales Course at Puntacana. Why? Outside of its magnificence and unimaginable views/format, who wouldn’t need a journey to the Dominican Republic to play golf? Sign me up!
Sens: Links golf on a grand outdated hyperlinks I’ve by no means performed earlier than. From our listing, this selection is straightforward: Royal Troon.
Berhow: Hard to say no to Royal Troon, and whereas there’s a number of on right here excessive up on my bucket listing, for now, I’m pondering Kapalua, as a result of that one comes with a tropical trip.
