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What occurs if Phil Mickelson contends once more on the Masters?
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Welcome again to the Monday End, the place we’re flying in direction of Atlanta, the person within the center seat has had a self-reported “19 vodka-sodas” and he’s questioning if I’ll be “typing the whole flight.” So let’s hold this snappy!
GOLF STUFF I LIKE
The little issues.
Final week I wrote on this area about Nelly Korda‘s post-win road snacks. In-N-Out after her win in California. A particular almond croissant after her win in Arizona. After which, after this weekend’s stroke-play-slash-match-play win at Shadow Creek, she’s gained 4 instances in a row.
What’d she have deliberate post-win this time? Korda laid out her imaginative and prescient.
“Oh, my gosh, so I went to Paris Baguette,” she mentioned. “I obtained a lot stuff. For the entire crew and I — not only for me, okay. Then I believe we’re going to get In-N-Out burger and 5 Guys fries. Yeah, nice mixture. I really feel like that’s simply an elite mixture. It’s similar to, I don’t drink, so I’m simply carb-loading.”
That’s a reasonably damning indictment of In-N-Out’s fries (so disappointing they require a visit to a wholly separate institution?!), however in any other case sounds fairly dreamy. Mix that spotlight to element with Korda’s said pleasure for per week at house (“simply sleeping in my very own mattress”), and it’s clear that she appreciates the little issues. In a sport the place the tiniest issues add up, one after the other, that’s a helpful trait to have.
WINNERS
Who gained the week?
Akshay Bhatia gained the Valero Texas Open and earned a last-minute Masters berth regardless of a wierd 72-hole celebratory shoulder harm and a hard-charging Denny McCarthy. McCarthy did all the pieces however win, too (see tweet under), however that playoff-hole chunk was robust to look at. Rory McIlroy didn’t win — he was 9 pictures off the tempo, to be clear — however his final-round 66 earned him a bronze medal and a few strong momentum heading to the largest week of his 12 months.
Korda performed a clutch spherical on Friday of the T-Cellular Match Play to catapult herself within the highest eight, then whizzed via the quarters and semis after which rapidly jumped out to a 4-up finals lead over Leona Maguire — who was the stroke-play medalist and match-play runner-up for an total top-notch week.
Lottie Woad gained the Augusta Nationwide Girls’s Novice, outdueling Bailey Shoemaker due to back-nine heroics that included birdies at 15, 17 and 18. Shoemaker’s event record-breaking 66 earned her loads of respect, too.
Dean Burmester gained LIV’s Miami occasion in a playoff over Sergio Garcia. Matthew Wolff completed one shot again, as potential Masters’ contenders Jon Rahm (T4), Tyrrell Hatton (T4) and Bryson DeChambeau (T7) confirmed indicators of excellent type, too.
And also you gained the week, too, as a result of we’ve made it to the Masters. Talking of which…
LET’S TALK MASTERS
5 unusual methods this week might finish.
It’s straightforward to be hyped for this 12 months’s Masters. Begin of spring. First main of the 12 months. LIV guys and PGA Tour guys clashing on the sport’s greatest stage. Scottie Scheffler getting into as clear World No. 1. Jon Rahm getting into as formidable defending champ. Phil Mickelson returning to the location of final 12 months’s T2. Tiger Woods taking part in aggressive golf. In different phrases, we all know the storylines coming in.
However have we actually considered the way it may finish? Have we actually performed out the eventualities? Possibly you’ve gotten whereas my simpleton, real-time-only mind has not. However whereas this week could have huge, life-changing penalties for whoever wins, a number of completely different eventualities really feel like they’d change the course of recent golf historical past. Let’s buzz via 5 of these.
1. Tiger or Phil contends
Might this occur? After all it might! Certain, Phil Mickelson has been taking part in fairly poorly since final 12 months’s Masters, logging simply two top-10s in LIV occasions and dropping strokes within the majority of his begins. However do you keep in mind final 12 months’s Masters?! He wasn’t taking part in effectively going into that occasion, both, after which he completed T2 out of spite, willpower, muscle reminiscence, Masters magic. It appears unlikely to occur once more, however it feels dumb to rule it out utterly.
Then there’s Tiger Woods. Like Mickelson, Woods enters the week with none actual expectations apart from the truth that he’ll tee it up on Thursday. His final three main begins are WD, MC, WD. Restoration hasn’t been straightforward. A made lower and a wholesome gait would really feel like a profitable week. However is that promoting Tiger brief? What if he fires up some magic of his personal on the five-year anniversary of his final inconceivable main win?
Don’t get your hopes up; it’s higher this fashion. However one other journey to rivalry would add a significant chapter to every of their storied careers.
2. Scottie Scheffler slams the door
I do know the oddsmakers have made Scheffler the huge favourite; the World No. 1 goes off at simply 4-1 — lower than half the percentages of any of his rivals. However what if he truly does it? What if he wins by 2, or 4, or 6? That might make Scheffler a two-time Masters champ. That might give him three wins and a second place in his final 4 begins. That might vault his present run from heater to historic. If Scheffler shoots 67 on Thursday, we’d higher prepare to start out contextualizing; I’m unsure we’re able to put this run into correct perspective.
3. A famous first-timer wins
There are a number of guys from the checklist of “Finest Participant And not using a Main” who’ve gained a number of instances on Tour, however would elevate from good to nice by choosing up a inexperienced jacket this week. I’m speaking in regards to the likes of Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, Max Homa, Viktor Hovland, Tommy Fleetwood, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele. There are youthful guys, too, who’ve come shut however haven’t gained — guys like Cameron Younger and Will Zalatoris. This can be a completely believable state of affairs, however take into consideration what it’ll imply if it occurs. The best way you’d take into consideration every of ’em would immediately change. It’s a robust week.
4. Rory wins the grand slam
I grew up a New England Patriots fan. They gained Tremendous Bowls in 2001, 2003 and 2004; that was the start of the Tom Brady-Invoice Belichick dynasty. However what individuals overlook is that their subsequent Tremendous Bowl win didn’t come till 2014. Then they gained once more in 2016 and 2018. Three trophies turned six.
The query, then, is whether or not Rory McIlroy is the New England Patriots of golf. The latest of his 4 main wins got here in 2014. Right here we’re in 2024. A serious this 12 months wouldn’t simply add to his profession complete — it could validate all the pieces he’s carried out within the decade since.
5. Brooks Koepka or Jon Rahm offers LIV one other
When he gained final 12 months’s PGA Championship, Brooks Koepka made it clear the victory wasn’t for LIV Golf — it was for him. Nonetheless, a win for one among LIV’s prime canines would really feel distinctly completely different.
Jon Rahm profitable a second consecutive Masters would elevate his profession profile. However it could additionally elevate the worth of the asset LIV invested in, whereas the PGA Tour would miss him that rather more. Three profession majors would stage him as much as rarefied air. And he’d get to provide himself the inexperienced jacket, Tiger-style.
Koepka profitable a Masters would enhance his profession complete to 6, tying him with Mickelson. It might reemphasize that he’s the best main champ of the post-Tiger and Phil period. And it could extra-reemphasize that majors are all that issues to him, given he simply shot 77-77 on the weekend at LIV Miami to complete T45. Nonetheless, it wouldn’t shock me, as a result of Koepka contends at majors. We all know this.
NEWS FROM SEATTLE
Monday End HQ.
I believe Seattle has an underrated spring; it will probably begin as early as January and proceed for months and there are flowers and birds and (on and off) higher climate. However there’s nothing like spring within the Southeast. It’s good to be in Augusta this week.
WHAT’S NEXT
3 issues to look at this week.
1. New putters
Will Zalatoris‘ putter isn’t new, at this level, however that is his first main with the broomstick. Brooks Koepka used a mallet final week. And what was this from Tiger Woods‘ observe spherical?! (Most likely nothing, however nonetheless intriguing.)
2. New caddies
It’ll be unusual seeing Justin Thomas with out Bones Mackay on his bag. It’ll be unusual seeing Tiger Woods with out Joe LaCava on his bag. It’ll be unusual seeing Phil Mickelson with out Tim Mickelson on his bag. However they’ll get replaced by Matt Minister, Lance Bennett and Jon Yarbrough. Keep tuned.
3. New shoulder
Right here’s looking at you, Akshay.
That’s all for Monday, gang. See you tomorrow!
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