Players Championship Preview, Keegan Bradley’s Dilemma

Check out our writers and editors weekly unfiltered opinions when breaking down the sport’s hottest topics and join the conversation by tweeting on Twitter @golf_com. This week, we discuss Justin Thomas’ letter to his tour members, the solution to the PGA Tour’s game rhythm and Scottie Scheffler’s recovery action.

1. It’s official Player Championship Week, with Scottie Scheffler playing the stadium in the stadium course at TPC Sawgrass. He has won the championship in the last two years, how optimistic are you in three games of Scotland?

James Colgan, News and Featured Editor (@jamescolgan26): Bullish! ! ! There is no game yet quite So far, I’ve been to Scottie, but it looks closer in Bay Hill than ever since Pebble Beach. The batting still exists, the ruthless man still exists. Now, he has a month to get rid of the rust of the famous Christmas wonton wound. Call him the spaghetti Scottie of Ponte Vedra – I think he played for a long time, enough to lock straight to three rows.

Josh Berhow, executive editor (@Josh_Berhow): Few people can say that, but he is a little bit here, isn’t he? (He won the last time in December.) He was underperforming this year, which didn’t get everything immediately. I hope he thinks it’s a good storyline and can be seen unfolding next week.

Josh Sens (@Joshsens) He was rightly a favorite person—I wish he could join in—but it was strange to have three in a row, even for Shefleur, especially in courses that have allowed so many different styles of competition in history.

What is a storyline you are monitoring for players?

Corgen: We have a Liv golf reward! ! ! Laurie Canter returned to major professional golf after leaving Liv and performed well enough to win a late offer. As far as I know, this is the first time that a current or former LIV player has returned to the game in a PGA Tour event. I’m very interested in his performance.

Beljo: Jay Monahan’s annual ITU news. Part of me thinks there won’t be much updates in the merge status of Pro Golf, but another part of me thinks people deserve some candid answers. This is long enough. Oh, 5-16 is a hole I really like, but it was ignored because it preceded 17-17. So I think I’m glad to see that golf.

Sens: Xander Schauffele has no outstanding track record among players and will not follow his standards anyway. He just got injured and had the longest cut streak on the tour. I’d love to know if he keeps this streak and what the shape of his game looks like when we work towards masters and meat this season.

2. Russell Henley won the Hawk on the 16th hole to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational, beating partner Collin Morikawa. Did Henry win, or did Morikawa lose it?

Corgen: Henry won, but Mann, Morikawa will replay some putts on his trip to Jacksonville. I think Collin – he has been one of the three best golfers to live in the last 16 months and he hasn’t won.

Beljo: This may be both. Morikawa is one of the last nine games, and that’s not how you close golf, especially when you lead three on the turn. You might argue that Henley was lucky in the 16-year-old Eagle Chip (which would have passed the hole with high speed without hitting the flag), but he also had to be aggressive. Also, after 10 bogey, he had birdies on 12 and 14 forward That eagle. Three on the back, including two textbooks, namely Smart Twipt Putt Pars on 17 and 18? A tip for Henry’s hat.

Sens: Henry won with the help of the golf god. There is no doubt that Morikawa can play Willa-coulda-shoulda, but I don’t think he’s staying for a long time and he’ll go back to Sawgrass to take off his clothes. Talk about a good candidate to undermine Scheffler’s attempt to triumph in a row.

Also in Bay Hill, Keegan Bradley finished the best of the season with a fifth-place tie. While he is not close to the Ryder Cup automatic level, he said before that he would give up that show if he qualifies for the team. We still have a lot of time to solve it all, but if Bradley keeps going, who would you choose to replace him?

Corgen: The obvious choice will be cleared first: Rick Pitino. Seriously, Furyk seems to be going to crack it first given his leadership experience, but I kind of like the idea of ​​kicking Tiger off the bench. If not, I’m sure Phil can be used.

Beljo: Furyk is already one of the vice captains, and due to his experience, it seems to be the obvious answer, especially since Keegan can replace him with less time at the helm anyway. James is right, Tiger will be great, but he initially rejected that because he couldn’t promise the time he wanted. Therefore, it is unlikely that he will plan to attend the show with less time. bummer.

Sens: Did the rules allow Bradley to make himself the pick for the captain? That would be fun. Furyk will be a natural alternative, they can formalize it in a press conference, and Bradley is the best Bugs Bunny tells Furyk: “I’m the captain, I say you’re the captain.”

Phil Mickelson ranked third in Liv Hong Kong to record the best Liv of his career. Earlier this week, he talked about a new, more conservative strategy, adding on Sunday: “I really had a great offseason and I came up with something. I was playing different golf.” Can Mickelson, 54, still compete in the Masters?

Corgen: certainly! If anyone over 50 can compete anywhere in the golf world, it is in Augusta, where golf IQ ranks well above the ball speed in the list of necessary traits. But Mickelson admitted on Saturday that he could no longer “overwhelm” the golf course, revealing his mind that he had won over 50 more shooting victories.

Beljo: Mickelson said he no longer fears bombing, but focuses on limiting errors. I remember he said a few years ago that he played Augusta State because he knew where to miss it. That has not changed. Two years ago, he tied for second place!

Sens: There is no doubt that he can argue. Most importantly, though, his comments reminded the idea of ​​what makes golf a game. Mickelson has been playing golf since he could stagger. He won six majors. And he is still working on the problem.

Grab your checkbook: A $9 million home in an old course for sale in St Andrews. If you can buy any type of golf course in the world – post property, where are you going?

Corgen: Probably one overlooking the Swilcan Bridge. But if not that, it might be one of the houses overlooking the Western Route of Royal Melbourne. But please warn that if I find the money to buy a house like this, you will never hear from me again.

Beljo: There is a route called Anstruther Golf Club 10 miles south of St Andrews, its ninth hole is lined by about 12 houses with a backyard facing the fairway and looking towards the sea. I was playing there during the 2022 Open, remembering there, right there, where I wanted to live. Maybe there is still a chance.

Sens: There is a beautiful house on the cliffs north of Sheep Ranch north of Bandon Dunes, with no pollution above the Oregon coast. I’ll accept that. But if the story I’ve heard is true, the owners there have already refused to sell to the resort, so I don’t want it to be available anytime soon.