The Round Table: Compelling stories abound at the 106th PGA Championship
Each week we ask our panel of writers, PGA members and golf industry experts to weigh in with their views on the hot topics of the day.
The 106th PGA Championship kicks off at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky this week with a red-hot Rory McIlroy looking to get back into the winner’s circle of a major for the first time in ten years. Valhalla is the site of McIlroy’s last major win, and he comes into this one fresh off a resounding victory at the Wells Fargo Championship on Sunday. World #1 Scottie Scheffler will be back in action after sitting out a few weeks following back-to-back wins at the Masters and RBC Heritage Classic. And defending champion Brooks Koepka heads a group of 16 LIV Golfers looking to remind golf fans that they’re still relevant. Which storyline do find most compelling or is there another you like even better?
Jim Deeks, Fairways Magazine (@jimdeeks): Two storylines for me: 1. Can Rory ride a hot Sunday into the winner’s circle at Valhalla, and add some validation to his ranking among the greats? The last decade has been full of near-misses, but near-misses do not make a Great Career. Three or four more majors would be needed. 2. Look at how well our Canadian boys have been doing lately! Pendrith, Taylor, Conners, Hughes, Hadwin… is it time one of them broke through for a major win?
Michael Schurman, Master Professional / Hall of Fame Member, PGA of Canada: The storyline is how many good storylines there are to follow. Recently, the biggest story has been the PGA TOUR’s influx of cash and the forming of LIV. Besides Rory and Scottie, LIV players vs the PGA players, we have a strong Canadian contingent, a re-emergence of Jason Day, constant top finishes by Xander Shauffele, Max Homa’s superb ball striking, Denny McCarthy’s perfect footwork and newcomers like Ludvig Aberg. The PGA has the strongest field of the five majors. This has the makin’s of a good ole shootout.
Hal Quinn, Freelance Writer, Vancouver: Rory has dominated the sports and society pages this week (still get the newsprint version at the doorstep each morning) and he admits that a maelstrom outside the ropes helps him focus inside them. Hopefully filing the divorce papers doesn’t quiet the storm because it would be great for the game if he wins another Major. Aside from that great story, Max Homa would be a fine one too.
Peter Mumford, Fairways Magazine (@FairwaysMag): The most intriguing plotline for me is the battle between the Big 4: Scheffler, McIlroy, Koepka and Rahm. There are others who could intrude but those four not only have the proven chops in majors but seem to have almost cult-like followings. It has little to do with LIV Golf vs the PGA Tour, although that’s a worthy sidenote, but is more related to larger-than-life personalities trying to define their legacy. Jordan Spieth chasing his personal Grand Slam is another intriguing sub-plot.
McIlroy seems to make news no matter what he does. Last week, there was speculation he might replace Webb Simpson on the PGA Tour Policy Board but that was quashed pretty quickly when it appears there was resistance from both the PGA Tour and existing members of the Policy Board. Some feel that McIlroy, based on various interviews, would have been a proponent of working with the Saudis for a global tour solution, while some Board members seem inclined to look for an American solution. Do you think the pro-American format, backed by the $3 billion investment from the Strategic Sports Group, will rule the roost when the dust settles?
Deeks: Is the dust ever going to settle? And if and when it does, will there be many fans left who give a damn? I’m personally bored to death with it all and appalled at the kind of money that’s being thrown at all these guys.
Schurman: Rory might be the only adult in the room. Golf organizations around the world have long encouraged “Grow the Game”. One surefire way to do it would be to bring high-level golf to countries where it isn’t played. Once a world tour of 20 events with $25M purses was established, the next step is a world league. 28 countries each having a team of 24 players competing in a league using the Ryder as a model. Players should be male and female and mix them for competition. Tiger is the last person who should criticize L1V. He accepted $40M before he hit a ball and over $100M by the end of his first year. 4.25% of the world’s population is American. If they want protectionism, let them have it.
Quinn: Can hear it now. The Louisville leather lungs chanting as Rory addresses the ball on the first tee: Pre Nup, Pre Nup, Pre Nup! Hey, life as a Holywood celeb, or maybe Holywood’s only celeb. Rory may want some Saudi soiled dollars if the prenup ain’t iron clad, but whatever the marital machinations, can’t see how capitulating to the Saudi sports wash play can be the salvation of the pro golf game, Rory’s recent olive branch aside. The SSG’s $3B infusion better work – and better than the reward fund just dispensed – or the pro game as we used to know it is fried.
Mumford: Any proposed world tour that requires American players to travel is doomed. Why would they? They have majors and Signature events with boatloads of cash and don’t have to leave home to get it. Another reason a world tour is awkward is it immediately relegates regular events on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour to second class status, something we’re already seeing because of the Signature events. In my opinion, the best workable solution is for the PGA Tour to work with SSG, while the DP World Tour and other international Tours work with the PIF. They can figure out a way to let elite players into each other’s Signature events and still bring all the best to the majors. Two well-funded Tours that compete but also cooperate.
Tiger Woods will be making his monthly outing at Valhalla, his first since the Masters. How do you think Woods will do and if he’s not the winner, then who?
Deeks: I don’t think Tiger’s a force to be considered any more. Sorry. And I’m gonna go way out on a limb and say Rory’s your winner.
Schurman: Tough not to take Rory. He’s playing great! He has won there before and he has won this major. I wish he could find this ‘game’ at Augusta. Brooks and Scottie are excellent picks too but I’m going with Tommy Fleetwood, Max Homa and Denny McCarthy. BTW Tiger should be 50/50 to make the cut.
Quinn: Have never been a fan, so this old-age medical-update tour is of no interest. Not many so-called superstars have managed graceful exits. Eldrick isn’t coming close. If a PGA club pro doesn’t win it, Homa would be great champ, but so would Hovland.
Mumford: To those living in fantasyland, where a rebuilt Tiger can win again, wake up! It’s over. This championship may be as wide open as any we’ve seen for some time with at least a dozen players listed as “favourites”, like multiple flavours of ice cream. You can’t really go wrong. But in my opinion, McIlroy or Koepka get the sprinkles.
