The Card – Volume IV

by Gary Williams | Aug 7, 2023 | The Card

1. 125 should have never been the number for the FedEx Cup playoffs. 125 was always associated with employment and 70 felt like it had edge. 70 is too small for Signature events but the right number for the tour’s “postseason”.
2. The Tour and FedEx need to change the name.  Playoffs is clumsy and is not a golf term.  Make it the FedEx Cup Final Series.
3. Lucas Glover was 185th in the FedEx Cup after a MC at Memorial and subsequently missed a two-footer in a U.S. Open sectional qualifier playoff days later. Three top 6 finishes and then a win at Wyndham later is ballsy.
4. 58 is 58. DeChambeau shooting 119 on the weekend at the Greenbrier is absurd but he’s not getting on the Ryder Cup team.  It’s not about whether he should be considered it’s that he won’t be.
5. Last week I thought Justin Thomas was not on the team in Zach’s mind, this week I think he is. He’s picking his team not celebrating the 12 best individual seasons.
6. Celine Boutier backed a major win in her home country with a win in Scotland.  That is massively impressive follow up to the best week of her career.
7. The playoff rota needs a major overhaul and that’s with me being a fan of Olympia Fields.  
8. Korn Ferry experimented with Barstool Sports doing the broadcast last week.  More is coming in the near future.
9. I returned to Chambers Bay this week for an Underrated Golf Tour event.  The U.S. Open is not coming back here and that’s okay but the USGA will keep returning.  It’s not a spectator friendly site and the west coast is now covered.
10. I saw way too many pictures of friends playing golf in Ireland and Scotland in the last week.  Thrilled for them and now determined to get to Royal Dornoch for the first time in fall of ‘24.
11. The last two spots on the U.S. Ryder Cup team could be filled by players getting little mention right now.  Any playoff win will thrust someone to the front of the line who is outside the top 15 in standings.
12. Luke Donald is likely feeling better and better about his team.
13. Interviewed Andy Johnson of the Fried Egg last week and I’m thoroughly impressed with what they do and how much they do of it.
14. The PGA Tour doesn’t need another corporate leader who invests his or her company’s money in the tour to fill the vacated board seat, they need someone who is in the sports industry who knows the global sports landscape.
15. Jon Rahm will win the POY award unless Scottie Scheffler wins the FedEx Cup.
16. I have a feeling Tiger will do a lengthy interview before the end of the year on state of the tour.
17. Rory will win his 4th FedEx Cup title over the next three weeks.
18. The U.S. Women’s Am at Bel Air CC is the best site for an event next to the Walker Cup at the Old Course in 2023. 

The Card – Volume III

by Gary Williams | Jul 31, 2023 | The Card

1. Celine Boutier joins Nick Taylor with the best home wins of the year.
   

2. Biblical conditions at any “Open” like they got on Sunday at Royal Porthcawl make golf on television a tragic comedy.

3. Justin Thomas is finally off the Ryder Cup team in my mind as I try to read Zach Johnson’s mind.

4. Tony Finau is a multi-time winner this season and he’s as malleable a piece for Zach Johnson as he could have.  He’s never not been on the team.

5. Greensboro is a modest market with immense PGA Tour history and Sedgefield has hosted Hogan, Palmer, Nicklaus and Woods so it’s right that it has the spot it has on the schedule. 

6. 7 under was the cutline on the Korn Ferry Tour this week.  They are coming from everywhere with zero fear at a time that fields may be shrinking for the best events on the PGA Tour. 

7. Rose Zhang has a win and three top 10’s in majors since turning pro 10 minutes ago.  She’s on the Solheim Cup team. 

8. Minnesota golf fans reflect the joy, passion and enthusiasm of a group who know ice station zebra and frozen lakes will be here in no time. 

9. Lee Hodges’ golf swing is ridiculously good.

10. Bryan Kim won the U.S. Junior on a golf course that was set up a notch above 7,350 yards. Expand your view of the distance issues beyond the PGA Tour.  What will the U.S. Junior need in 25 years? 

11. Jay Monahan took the positions he needed to with his players in his memo to the membership but anyone thinking the tour is driven by what’s best for the “game” is beyond naïve. 

12. Cashmere Keith Mitchell has taken the mantle with best swag/mojo on tour but if he really wants to go full “That 70’s show” he will take off the visor and let the lettuce flow. 

13. Colin Montgomerie shot Michael Irvin on Sunday.  If you have a better athlete associated with #88 I’m here for the debate. 

14. The last time Zac Blair played on Sunday before yesterday was at the Travelers when he shot 62 and jumped to T2. 64 on Sunday at the 3M cashed him another good check which means he’s got money to play with when his fantastic new Tree Farm opens this fall. 

15. My old Morning Drive teammate Lauren Thompson celebrated a birthday this past weekend.  LT is the greatest teammate ALL of us have ever had. 

16. J.T. Poston is climbing tiers on the PGA Tour and a win next week at his home game in Greensboro seems about right. 

17. Somehow I’m going to get to Royal Dornoch in 2024.  I just made that declaration. 

18. Chris Gotterup is going to be a guy that others have to deal with in the next two years.