Tiger Woods’ week, Jordan Spieth’s DQ and shanks  

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 part of the dialog by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we talk about Tiger Woods’ week on the Genesis Invitational, Jordan Spieth’s disqualification, shanks and extra.

1. Tiger Woods, making his first PGA Tour begin for the reason that Masters final April, withdrew after hitting his tee shot on the seventh gap through the second spherical of the Genesis Invitational, disclosing later that he had the flu. The 15-time main winner’s exit threw a jolt into Riviera Country Club, with two fireplace vans and an ambulance arriving and exiting earlier than Woods left the property in a automobile. Notably, a day earlier, Woods had hit a shank, and he blamed the mishit on a again spasm. What’s your learn on how his week concluded?

Jessica Marksbury, multimedia editor (@jess_marksbury): This was a bizarre one. Flu signs don’t often necessitate the arrival of two fireplace vans and an ambulance, proper? We typically get solely the naked minimal from Tiger in the case of particulars on his well being. That’s clearly his proper, however it looks as if there should have been extra to this. At the top of the day, he says he’s recovering, in order that’s the very best we will ask for. A particular bummer to not have him round for the weekend.

Ryan Barath, tools editor (@rdsbarath): For the restricted quantity we did see on Thursday, Woods seemed fairly good apart from the shank on 18. But atthis level in his skilled profession, and based mostly on his well being points, I feel daily is a whole roll of the cube. Considering he had a particularly busy schedule this week with internet hosting the occasion and launching Sun Day Red (which I do know we’ll get to in a second), issues can add up and take a toll. We all know the factor he’s most likely most involved about in the meanwhile is the Masters, so taking the WD right here and going residence might be one of the simplest ways to get better. 

Nick Dimengo, senior editor (instruction) (@ndimengo): It was a giant week for Tiger and his staff, given the discharge of his Sun Day Red line and his internet hosting of the Genesis. Given the schedule, golf kind of grew to become a secondary focus, in my view. Sure, it was most likely a PR nightmare that he needed to withdraw with the sickness, however what did anybody actually count on from him on the course anyway? Not positive many envisioned him competing for a W. Then once more, even with the WD, he did get a unique type of win: loads of airtime for his new line.

2. On to Woods’ recreation. Before the WD, he performed his first spherical on Thursday and accomplished six holes on Friday. Thursday’s spherical featured 5 birdies, six bogeys — and the shank on the 18th gap. In the restricted motion, have been you left feeling inspired by Woods’ play, or discouraged? 

Barath: Being in a position to make that many birdies could be very encouraging as a result of it means he was hitting high quality strategy pictures and placing himself in good spots off the tee. Bogeys come all the way down to saving pictures, and the quick recreation was a bit rusty, which I imagine is simply so simple as getting in aggressive reps, as Tiger likes to say. 

Marksbury: The recreation appears OK to me. The actual query appears to be his stamina for 4 lengthy rounds of PGA Tour competitors. I hope his formidable comeback schedule finally ends up working in his favor because the season progresses.

Dimengo: When it involves Woods the golfer, I feel it’s formally time to regulate our expectations. Not solely is he now 48, however, as Marksbury talked about, however I additionally fear about Tiger’s stamina over the course of a match. Going two or 4 days is one factor, however what about all of the observe and time on the vary (to not point out his personal restoration)? We all root for Woods to carry out nicely and rediscover some magic. But I’ve but to really see any indication he has sufficient gasoline left within the tank.

3. On to Woods’ new threads. On Monday, he absolutely revealed his new Sun Day Red model, and when he performed Thursday, it marked the primary time he had not performed underneath the Nike umbrella in 27 years. Sun Day Red — created in partnership with TaylorMade, which has backed Woods since 2017 — will embrace a bunch of articles of clothes, and it would launch to the general public on May 1. From what you’ve seen, what’s your takeaway from the brand new model? 

Barath: Tiger resonates with golfers, and even when you aren’t a golfer, there’s a superb likelihood you recognize who Tiger Woods is — so from a branding and advertising perspective, Sun Day Red could possibly be a giant win for each Tiger and TaylorMade. It had individuals speaking — and seemingly able to line up for a couple of items as soon as it turns into accessible. 

Marksbury: Tiger has all the time had a basic sense of fashion and has all the time seemed nice on the course. Sun Day Red appears to be following in that vein. I appreciated the monochrome look on Thursday, and the Friday throwback was tremendous cool. I don’t count on to see something too showy or on the market when it comes to developments, however it doesn’t matter what the road produces, I’m fairly positive something related to him will likely be successful. I REALLY want Sun Day was one phrase, although!

Dimengo: Like Jess mentioned, I wouldn’t count on an excessive amount of flash or something eccentric from Woods’ new line. It’ll be basic threads that golfers will most likely flock to given Woods’ stamp of approval. Then once more, golf style has modified rather a lot previously 5 years alone, so there’s stiffer competitors when it comes to market share and enjoyable, distinctive designs.

4. In one other wild scene, Jordan Spieth was disqualified after the Genesis’ second spherical after signing for an incorrect rating. (On Riviera’s 4th gap, he had made a 4, however he signed for a 3.) Of course, this has occurred earlier than, however the exit of one of many Tour’s stars from one in all its greatest occasions was a stunner. Our query is: With the know-how accessible, ought to the foundations be adjusted for the professionals? 

Barath: This wants to finish now! With a lot playing concerned within the sport, the PGA Tour can’t have a mistake made by a pencil lead a participant being DQ’d from an occasion. This isn’t some rec-league pickup recreation the place gamers need to name out fouls; that is the very best stage {of professional} golf, and due to that, the league must be absolutely chargeable for holding monitor of scores, plain and easy.

Marksbury: At the top of the day, holding a scorecard is a part of the sport. It must be a no brainer, however I perceive errors occur. A DQ does appear overly extreme. I’d be in favor of one thing like a two-shot penalty as a substitute.

Dimengo: Spieth DQ’ing does no good for anybody (sponsors, followers, the general occasion). So, sure, make some new guidelines and simply penalize a participant for a mistake moderately than booting them from the tourney. Other sports activities have gotten with the instances and integrated know-how for the great of the sport; it’s golf’s flip to do the identical.

5. The Genesis itself was doubtlessly a peek into the PGA Tour’s future, as our James Colgan detailed in a chunk that you may learn right here. The match was the Tour’s third “Signature Event” this 12 months. Wrote Colgan: “In some ways, the PGA Tour’s Signature Events series was built exactly for Hollywood’s pro golf tournament, the Genesis Invitational. There’s a huge, high-profile sponsor (Genesis); a living legend tournament host (Tiger Woods); a historically exclusive and highly-regarded golf course (Riviera Country Club) and one of the best fields in all of professional golf. If the Tour’s new format for Signature Events — starry fields, limited (or no) cuts, lots of money — can’t work here, it’s hard to imagine where it can.” So, did the match ship? Is the Signature sequence working?

Barath: Have Signature Events put extra of the highest gamers collectively extra typically? 100%. Have they put extra money into the pockets of high gamers? 100% Have they delivered the sorts of historic finishes that individuals will likely be speaking about for many years? Not fairly, however that’s what occurs in golf when you could have a subject of gamers which can be all very proficient and have the power to win. Now with all that mentioned, Hideki delivered on Sunday with a 62 in order that was nice to look at. 

Marksbury: Well mentioned, Ryan. The introduction of LIV has desensitized me considerably to outsize purses, however I do just like the Signature Events. It’s good to have a cluster of tournaments outdoors of the main championships the place you’re assured to look at a star-studded subject, even when the largest names occur to underperform in a given week.

Dimengo: These two nailed it with their replies, so I don’t have a lot to actually add. As a golf fan, I all the time wish to see the very best gamers competing on the largest levels (with a shock each now and once more). If that requires a Signature Event and a much bigger purse, so be it.

6. All proper, again to the Woods shank. What was probably the most surprising shot you’ve seen in individual?

Barath: Beyond a pair holes-in-one at skilled occasions, the really most surprising shot I ever noticed in individual was from Tiger on the Presidents Cup in Montreal a few years in the past. It was the primary day of competitors and I waited alongside the railing on the primary tee for hours within the chilly and rain to look at him hit a shot in individual for the primary time — and after all the build-up, he half-skyed his fairway wooden about 225 yards down the green, and I simply kinda stood there in disbelief. I’ll always remember that.

Marksbury: This wasn’t “shocking,” per se, however I give it some thought on a regular basis. I used to be strolling the course at my first Masters, manner again when. I moseyed over to the par-3 4th to look at a random, way-out-of-contention group. All three gamers hit terrible pictures and missed the inexperienced by a mile. But then, all three gamers received up and down for par. I used to be amazed. It was the primary time I received to look at simply how good the professionals are across the inexperienced. Those second pictures weren’t straightforward, however they made it look routine. It was additionally a lesson in perspective. We are likely to suppose the professionals hit good pictures on a regular basis, however they hit a lot of dangerous ones too. They are merely masters of restoration. Aspirational! 

Dimengo: I referenced this in a current article about hole-in-one likelihood, however probably the most surprising shot I’ve witnessed stay was an ace from a starting participant on a par-3 course final summer season. On a 115-yard gap, as he hit his ball, it rolled about 50 yards, skipped somewhat bit extra on the grass, handed over the entrance fringe of the inexperienced — and it simply beelined proper into the cup. Yep, he simply received a gap in a single — and perhaps probably the most inconceivable one at that!