Welcome to the Monday Leaderboard, the place we run down the weekend’s high tales within the great world of golf. Seize an Arnold Palmer, pull up a chair and begin to dread the approaching Ryder Cup …
1. Ludvig Åberg is formally a Ryder Cup downside now
You possibly can see the wave constructing offshore for many of Sunday afternoon. Sure, Maverick McNealy was main the Genesis Invitational, and Scottie Scheffler was again to his traditional highly effective self, and a pair of Patricks — Cantlay and Rodgers — hung across the high of the leaderboard. However there, only a few strokes again, lurked Ludvig Åberg, and on the ultimate 9, he struck. 4 birdies within the final six holes, together with a closing 7-footer to win outright, gave Åberg a PGA Tour victory, a projected top-five berth on this planet rankings, and an aura of devastating inevitability. Åberg goes by way of all of the requisite steps of stardom now — successful in smaller tournaments, studying how to not lose majors — and earlier than lengthy, he’s going to personal the game. His arrival couldn’t have come at a greater time for the European Ryder Cup squad, or a worse one for the US contingent, which is already reeling. We’re getting into the Period of Åberg, and we might be right here for awhile.
2. Is a PGA-LIV reunification deal shut?
Tiger Woods didn’t play within the Genesis; nonetheless grieving his mom, he restricted his look to the trophy presentation and a short stint within the CBS sales space alongside Jim Nantz. When pressed on the opportunity of a reunification of golf’s splintered excursions, Woods indicated that the involvement of President Trump appears to be a great signal for getting all of golf again collectively.
“I feel issues are going to heal shortly,” Woods stated. “We’re getting this sport entering into the appropriate path, it’s been headed within the improper path for a variety of years. The followers need all of us to play collectively, all the highest gamers to play collectively and we’re going to make that occur.”
It’s price noting that Woods has expressed optimism on a number of events earlier than, with nothing ensuing. However the involvement of the present presidential administration would appear to be a optimistic signal for a deal … someday.
3. Tiger Woods, TGL return robust this week
Woods and TGL, the tech-infused indoor golf league, return this week for the league’s busiest run so far. TGL follows a Presidents Day tripleheader with a Tuesday evening match that can characteristic the return of Woods. TGL has had some rankings success and seems on observe for a good run as a winter-golf weeknight endeavor. Some gamers seem rather more engaged than others, and after altering the “hammer” guidelines, a roster overhaul must be on the docket for TGL Season 2. The league wants extra gamers as engaged as Collin Morikawa and Billy Horschel.
4. LIV Golf wraps its most profitable annual cease
LIV Golf might or is probably not a profitable enterprise enterprise within the combination — given the sum of money being thrown its approach for comparatively small rankings and consciousness return, we’d lean towards “not” — however what’s indeniable is that the Adelaide, Australia, cease is the tour’s most notable, and most raucous, by a protracted drive. The pathway to success for LIV is thru locations like Australia, locales the place there’s a golf-mad fanbase prepared to show any occasion into the WM Phoenix Open … besides there aren’t many occasions.
On the Adelaide occasion this 12 months, Joaquin Niemann continued his run of LIV success with a three-stroke victory, whereas Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC gained the group title.
One spotlight: Patrick Reed acing the course’s signature “Watering Gap.” Take a look at this celebration:
5. Justin Leonard wins his first event in 16 years
Lengthy as we’re bringing the Ryder Cup up six months early … a Ryder Cup hero of yore is lastly again in victory lane following a 16-year absence. Justin Leonard, Open champion and 1999 Ryder legend, gained the PGA Tour Champions’ Chubb Traditional in Naples by 4 strokes, holding off Billy Andrade, Darren Clarke and Fred {Couples}. The victory marked Leonard’s first win since 2008, a pleasant comeback for a man who briefly owned the golf world.
Tour Trophy of the Week: Genesis Invitational
This week’s trophy is a strong contender, easy traces and contrasting metals. Plus, it seems to be like you could possibly in all probability drink a full bottle of wine out of that factor, which is all the time a bonus if you’re assessing a trophy’s worth. Any trophy too tall to suit on a bookshelf is routinely a great trophy.
Shot of the Week: McNealy’s horizontal par save
Maverick McNealy could not maintain off a charging Åberg on the Genesis, however let’s be sincere, there are only a few individuals who may. However at the very least McNealy will all the time have the reminiscence of this par save from a ridiculous horizontal lie, a swing nearer to a batting-practice minimize than an strategy shot:
Go forward. Attempt that at your native muni. Simply make certain your taking part in companions are behind you. Means behind you.
Developing this week: Mexico Open at VidantaWorld (PGA Tour), Honda LPGA Thailand, 4 TGL matches.
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