While the PGA Tour makes its means from the West Coast to Florida with a cease for some on the Mexico Open this week, it’s a very good second to have a look at what has occurred thus far and what could lie forward as each the Gamers Championship and the Masters creep ever nearer.
Theme One
European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald have to be feeling good in regards to the power of his squad with 4 seemingly members of his group having already received PGA Tour occasions this 12 months.
Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Åberg are digital locks to be at Bethpage Black in September, Thomas Detry will most likely qualify for his first Ryder Cup and Sepp Straka, who received the American Specific, can be a tricky one to depart off the 12-man roster.
LIV Golf rivals Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are set as much as be eligible, Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose hold rolling alongside and Adrian Meronk received the LIV opener. Solely a disastrous season would hold Shane Lowry off the group and Rasmus Højgaard could also be prepared for his shut up.
The People are nonetheless the betting favorites maybe as a lot due to the place the matches can be performed as something. Solely 3 times within the final 14 Ryder Cups has the visiting group received – and the Europeans did it every of these instances – however house course benefit may be very actual within the Ryder Cup.
Bethpage figures to be a effervescent cauldron of noise and emotion and whereas that figures to favor the People, it might get testy if the U.S. group had been to battle given the discontent over the brand new pay-to-play mannequin instituted this 12 months. New York crowds aren’t afraid to bark at their very own.
Don’t really feel badly for American captain Keegan Bradley. He begins with Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele (anticipated to return from a rib damage on the Arnold Palmer Invitational in early March) and Bryson DeChambeau, the definition of ranging from a place of power.
Theme Two
Expectations are humorous.
In McIlroy’s case, he’s tasked with attempting to dwell as much as a normal that’s virtually unattainable to realize as a result of there’s a sense that he ought to win or contend each time he performs. His victory on the AT&T Pebble Seaside Professional-Am solely fueled the sensation that this might be a season for him like Scheffler’s was final 12 months.
McIlroy had a depressing placing weekend within the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines, rating 52nd and 54th in strokes gained placing within the third and fourth rounds in a 54-player discipline. He tends to have some weeks like that, however he putted brilliantly at Pebble Seaside.
With the PGA Championship at Quail Hole Membership, the place he has received 4 instances, and the Open Championship at Royal Portrush close to the place he grew up in Northern Eire, this appears like McIlroy’s main championship second.
That’s the way in which expectations work.
As for Scheffler, duplicating his 2024 outcomes (seven official tour victories plus two unofficial wins) is the measure by which he can be evaluated. It might be an unfair expectation nevertheless it’s there nonetheless.
After having the beginning of his ’25 season delayed by a puncture wound to his proper hand, Scheffler has performed 3 times and has two top-10 finishes however he hasn’t seemed Scottie sharp thus far.
His Sunday 66 within the Genesis Invitational sparkled nevertheless it was his 76 on Saturday that raised eyebrows. Scheffler has struggled along with his ball-striking consistency thus far, his dependable fade instantly much less dependable.
The encouraging half for Scheffler, although, is regardless of not being at his finest – “I really feel fairly unhealthy about the place I’m at,” Scheffler stated Sunday – he’s nonetheless shut and when he reveals up at Bay Hill, nobody will overlook that’s the place he started a run of 4 wins in 5 begins final 12 months.
Theme Three
For all of the good issues Ludvig Åberg does on the golf course, essentially the most spectacular one could be the hardest one:
He makes the sport look straightforward.
There may be a chic simplicity to how Åberg approaches and performs the sport and it’s why he might finally be the participant who chases down Scheffler and challenges his place atop the world rating.
Åberg is that good.
Probably the most shocking a part of his Genesis Invitational victory Sunday was that it’s solely his second PGA Tour win, coming almost 15 months after his victory on the 2023 RSM Traditional.
“It felt like a lifetime,” Åberg stated when requested in regards to the time between his first and second tour victories.
Åberg may need received at Torrey Pines three weeks earlier when he was main the Farmers Insurance coverage Open after 36 holes solely to fall so sick he finally misplaced eight kilos. Feeling higher final week, Åberg obtained it accomplished at considered one of his favourite programs on tour.
“I used to be fairly bummed I didn’t get to win a event final 12 months, nevertheless it’s very nice to have the ability to do it once more. It’s virtually addicting to stroll down these final couple holes and simply need to do it once more,” Åberg stated.
One other factor to love about Åberg: His tempo of play.
He sees a shot, picks a membership and goes.
Simply another reason to love him.
Theme 4
Since we’re with regards to successful and the way tough it’s, it brings to thoughts Patrick Rodgers, who took a one-stroke lead into the ultimate spherical Sunday and completed tied for third, three behind Åberg.
Rodgers has made 287 tour begins with no victory after a spectacular novice profession. Rodgers has completed second 4 instances and third 4 instances however he’s by no means been the man holding the trophy – and he appears like all people is aware of it.
“It’s clearly one thing I’ve battled in my profession,” Rodgers stated final Saturday night earlier than sleeping on the lead. “It’s the factor that each time my identify is talked about, that’s the very first thing that everyone says professionally so it’s one thing that I’ve to cope with. I believe I’ve struggled with it for a very long time, however I really feel like I’m viewing my profession from a distinct vantage level now.”
What has modified?
“As a substitute of enjoying with lots of expectation, I have to play to realize. That’s what I’ve all the time got down to do, and it sort of felt like early in my profession with the novice résumé that I had, I felt like there was lots anticipated of myself internally and it was one thing the place when rapid success, rapid wins didn’t come right away, it was sort of combating who I noticed myself to be, to be trustworthy with you.
“So as a substitute of enjoying with a monkey in your again that will get larger and greater over time when it doesn’t occur, I’m attempting to play from a perspective that feels contemporary and new and thrilling and stuffed with alternative as a result of that’s what this recreation is.”
Rodgers will attempt once more this week in Mexico.
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