Welcome to the Monday Leaderboard, where we run down the weekend’s top stories in the wonderful world of golf. Grab an Arnold Palmer, pull up a chair and get ready for a battle of titans …
1. Tiger vs. Rory: TGL’s marquee match has arrived
Think what you will about TGL, the new indoor golf league — fun addition to the golf universe or strange made-for-TV aberration — but it’s undeniable that we’ve arrived at the league’s big moment. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, giants of two generations and the founders behind TGL, will meet for the first time Monday night. You probably don’t much care about whether Tiger’s Jupiter Links Golf Club can bounce back from its initial humiliation, or whether Rory’s Boston Common Golf Club will shine its debut. But if you’re a golf fan, you do care about seeing these two legends going head-to-head. It’s not Sunday at Augusta, true, but it’s still going to be fun, one way or another.
2. Return of the king at Pebble Beach
The AT&T Pro-Am at Pebble Beach tees off this week with a bit of extra juice. It’s the second “signature” event of the year, but the first to feature Scottie Scheffler, returning to the links for the first time since injuring his hand on Christmas. He’ll be joined by McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth and a whole bunch of other notable names, making this a true must-watch event. Scheffler had to have bits of glass surgically removed from his hand after breaking a wine glass, which means he’ll probably only win by seven or eight.
3. Slow play is out of control
All due respect to the players who competed in this past weekend’s Farmers Insurance Open, and the windy conditions at Torrey Pines, but this was a case study in why the game needs a shot clock, or slow-play penalties, or anything to keep the game moving. After the final threesome played the front nine holes in three hours, . “I think we’re starting to need a new word to talk about this pace of play issue, and it’s respect,” she said. “For your fellow competitors, for the fans, for broadcasts, for all of it. It’s just gotta get better.” TGL’s shot clock has brought a renewed focus to the speed of play, and CBS’s broadcasts are continuing the conversation … but not in a way that the PGA Tour would like.
4. Golf ball rollback is under scrutiny
It’s a generally-accepted truism that a golf ball rollback would improve the current pro game by bringing strategy back into course management, preventing players from bombing drives and wedging their way onto the green. Rollback’s usage for casual players, however, is much less beneficial … and since several entities in the game are against “bifurcation,” or using different rules for pros and amateurs, there’s now some new pushback to planned rollback rules.
New PGA of America commissioner Derek Sprague voiced his concerns just days after taking over the job. “I don’t know one recreational golfer that wants to hit it shorter,” Sprague. “I don’t think we want 30 or 40 million golfers to go out and have to not only buy new golf balls, but now buy new equipment to match the new golf ball. So it really puts a burden on the recreational player.” It’s all a matter of whom the rules are meant to serve, and whom they unfairly penalize. And the matter clearly isn’t anywhere close to solved, no matter when the rules are enforced.
5. Harris English claims Torrey Pines victory
Harris English entered Saturday’s final round at the Farmers Insurance Open with a one-shot lead, then promptly gave it away with two early bogeys. But he rallied to win by one shot over Sam Stevens. It’s English’s fifth PGA Tour victory, and one achieved in the toughest conditions so far this year on Tour.
Trophy of the Week: The Farmers Insurance Open
Nice little trophy this time around for the Tour stop, a replica of Torrey’s famous windswept pines. Would’ve been better if they were actual size, but we go with what we can get. (Does he get to keep the surfboard?)
Mulligan of the Week: Max Homa’s daring escape
Nice job of dodging disaster here from Max Homa. The rest of us would’ve ended up in the drink, guaranteed.
That’ll do it for this week, friends. Hit ’em straight and roll ’em true, and we’ll see you back here next Monday.
