The Round Table: Schauffele gets the monkey off his back. Is Hovland next?

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.

Xander Schauffele pretty much led wire-to-wire to win the PGA Championship last week, capping off an exciting two weeks of stellar golf. While some of the biggest names missed the cut, it was a bunched leaderboard for much of the tournament and plenty of players had a chance to win. Which player’s good or bad performance surprised you most?

Jim Deeks, Fairways Magazine (@jimdeeks): It was a delight to see Justin Rose in the mix, right up to the last three holes.  Wouldn’t have expected that.  And as I glance down the final leaderboard, I see a name I’ve never seen before – Ryo Hisatsune — who tied 18th, 10 shots back.  That doesn’t sound exceptional but rounds of 71-68-67-67 is very impressive for a major rookie.  As for “bad” performances, I was disappointed that three Canadians – Pendrith, Taylor, and Hughes – failed to make the cut.  But so did Jon Rahm and Ludvig Aberg, so they weren’t alone.

Craig Loughry, Golf Ontario (@craigloughry): I thought Rory would have been in the neighbourhood come Sunday. Rahm, that’s a head-scratcher, easily the most disappointing surprise there. Surprised might not be the best description, but I thought Koepka would be there this week in the end. But I was most pleasantly surprised to see Rose sneaking up there in a Major.

Michael Schurman, Master Professional / Hall of Fame Member, PGA of Canada: Schauffele has one of the best records in the majors over the past few years. Nobody deserved this more. I told you last week this was going to be a ‘shoot out’ and it was. -21 in a major is too low for my liking. Rory is proving he is a wild card pick and Tiger and Phil should stay home. So many storylines it was difficult to follow them all. Each player at the top has been trending so there’s no surprise there but Rory came off a fine win. He drives the ball so well but his proximity to the hole particularly from 125 and in is awful when his game is off a bit. I don’t think I have ever seen a contending player miss so many makable putts and still be in the race. Scheffler’s police encounter was my surprise. He had better have a good explanation because reports say he dragged a Police Officer who put his hand into the car. That can’t be good.

TJ Rule, Golf Away Tours (@GolfAwayTJ): Bryson surprised me since he hadn’t really shown much form since jumping ship, so it was impressive to see him compete right down to the last hole.  It was also impressive to see Luke Donald make the cut.  On the disappointing side, I’d have to say Jon Rahm and Wyndham Clark, both on the pre-tournament favourites list, and neither playing the weekend.

Hal Quinn, Freelance Writer, Vancouver: Rahm’s bad performances in front of the microphones and inside the ropes were very surprising. His jump into the LIV money pit was shocking, but his sudden off-the-wall perspective last week — Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch characterized it as an arsonist calling the fire department and asking that his house be rebuilt — was an embarrassing performance that will be remembered long after his missed cut is forgotten.

Peter Mumford, Fairways Magazine (@FairwaysMag): Missed cuts by Rahm, Clark and Aberg was a bit of a shocker. Koepka and McIlroy not contending was a puzzle. Schauffele was there cuz it seems he’s always there in majors. Same for Hovland. The biggest surprise was watching Bryson DeChambeau almost win. It’s easy to forget how good he can be and also how entertaining he is when he’s off in Jumper Land most of the year

Viktor Hovland had struggled this year after changing his swing coach but prior to the PGA Championship, he went to Las Vegas to see his old coach, Joe Mayo. Whatever, Mayo said to him obviously worked because he looked like the Hovland of old. While he didn’t win the tournament, he contended and finished third. Now that Xander Schauffele has the major monkey off his back, is Hovland the ‘best player without a major’?

Deeks: I suppose he is.  But there are others who might contend for that dubious honour, like Tyrell Hatton, Max Homa, Ludvig Aberg, Corey Conners, and the perennial bridesmaid, Tommy Fleetwood.

Loughry: Hovland is absolutely the next player without a Major. I think he gets one sooner than later.

Schurman: Or Homa, Finau, Zalatoris, Burns plus at least a dozen new young players some of whom haven’t won yet but they will.

Rule: Yeah, I think he’s near the top of the list of current players without a major.  He has hot stretches where he looks like one of the best in the world but then struggles at times.  Given he has shored up his short game in the last year, I expect him to contend at the other two majors this year and win one sooner than later.  He’s too talented not to.

Quinn: Who goes to Vegas for a cure? But it worked! It was great to see Hovland being Hovland again and not making decisions at the top of his backswing. The ‘best without’ mantel does now rest on his shoulders, and if he keeps humming Viva Las Vegas, it won’t be there long.

Mumford: You could legitimately argue that before Valhalla, Schauffele and Hovland were 1 and 1a with respect to that dubious crown. So, in my estimation, Hovland has it alone now. I don’t expect he’ll have it for long though. As others have rightly pointed out, he’s too good not to win a major, likely several.

Valhalla was criticized before the tournament for being too easy, too soft and one-dimensional. Yet it had hosted major championships before and a Ryder Cup. What were your thoughts on the course and is it still enough of a worthy test for future majors? 

Deeks: I couldn’t believe the lawn darts plopping on the Valhalla greens all weekend.  Great playing, yes, but was it really challenging?  I dunno.  I just hate to see major championships serving up a winning score of 21 under par, and a cut line that’s as low as even par.

Loughry: I think without the rain it would have presented more of a challenge, that’s not the fault of the course. I think it was an exciting finish to the tournament. I don’t love 21 under winning (62’s being shot, etc.), but I am interested in a race to the finish in a MAJOR, and that’s exactly what we had. If organizers and police can manage traffic a little better, I think we’ll see another Major there within 10 years.

Schurman: In 1965, the Canadian Open was held at Mississaugua G&CC and in the first round, someone shot 64. People were astounded that anyone could shoot that low on a premier course. Today, the courses are far more difficult and longer, but the scores keep getting lower and they should. Players are hitting 7 irons 200 yards. In the 1940s, 50’s, 60s and 70’s, a 7 iron went 160 yds. Players like Hogan, Nelson, Knudson and Moe could hit you from that range. A player needed a 2-iron to go 200. Now they hit a driving iron 275. In the 70’s, Dan Pohl won the Tour Long Drive average with 278 yds. Golf is the only game where the Field of Play has changed over the years and still hasn’t kept pace with the athletes and equipment. Every player, equipment manufacturer and equipment sales company tried their hardest to find small ways to gain an advantage. Well, they all got their wish, but they changed the game in doing it.

Rule: I was surprised at how low the scores were, not exactly fitting for a major championship. I would like to see courses set up tougher for majors although the courses they choose for the PGA often produce lower scores that the other three majors.  The course doesn’t excite me but obviously it’s well set up to host big events, so I’m sure it’ll be back sometime in the near future.

Quinn: Jack, or Nicklaus Design, or the former-roofer son-in-law (it’s all about the price point) have never been accused of creating a great golf course. Valhalla is no exception. A pair of 62s, a -21 winning total, a field being 214 under par makes that case. Stretching it to 7,500+ yards was irrelevant with these guys and their equipment. As Hadwin said, with the PGA allowing range finders and the course rain-softened, the guys were just hitting to yardages and not worrying about any putting surface contours. Still, Valhalla lent itself to high drama, spectacular shots, a great finish, and huge Louisville crowds. That part of the show was exactly what the Tour needed, along with de Chambeau not winning. The Tour has finally acknowledged it’s in the entertainment business, so the PGA Championship — not the U.S. Open — will likely return.

Mumford: Valhalla looks to be pretty vanilla – not a lot of risk reward holes and not a lot of trouble either, at least for players of this calibre. Soft greens are to blame in part for the really low scores but even at 7,500 yards, there just isn’t enough of a test here for today’s big hitters. As for entertainment value, it’s always fun to see a crowded leaderboard, especially at a major but I’m not sure that Valhalla can guarantee that every time out. It’s not a course I’d be excited to see again.