Max Homa and Rory McIlroy winning in the same week is about as good as it gets for a weekend of golf.
Homa claimed his fourth win in California and that got us thinking, what are his chances at this year’s U.S. Open being held at LA Country Club?
McIlroy’s win was his third Dubai Desert Classic, and he admitted it was a little sweeter than it probably should have been because of the other names at the top (cough cough, Patrick Reed).
We discuss both tournaments on this week’s episode of the Twilight 9 podcast, plus a preview of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, including picks for the event.
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Tony Finau has three wins in his last seven starts. Not bad.
Tony Finau suffered from the Puerto Rico Open curse for a long time, but since his win at the 2020 Northern Trust, has turned himself into one of the best players in the world and a certified winner.
Last week in Houston further cemented that fact.
His four-shot win was the fifth victory of his Tour career and third in his last seven starts. Finau is now 12th in the Official World Golf Ranking.
This week on the Twilight 9 podcast, Andy Nesbitt and I discuss his win and how quickly he has turned his career around.
One of the funniest things I’ve ever seen on a golf course took place at the LIV Golf Series event in Chicago this past weekend when Bryson DeChambeau ran into a gallery string and acted like he was stabbed in the eye.
Tough scene.
Anyway, Andy Nesbitt and I discuss that and tons more on this week’s episode of Twilight 9, including Max Homa’s win at the Fortinet Championship, the Presidents Cup, pairings we’d love to see and tons more.
There’s only one word to describe Garcia after ditching the BMW PGA Championship.
It was an interesting week in golf. Queen Elizabeth II passed away Thursday afternoon and play at the BMW PGA Championship was stopped. Play resumed on Saturday morning without one of the LIV members that was in the field.
Andy Nesbitt and I had some things to say on the subject.
We recap Shane Lowry’s win, Rory McIlroy coming close once again and Billy Horschel naming names early in the week.
Then, we run through both Presidents Cup rosters.
Finally, we preview this week’s Fortinet Championship in Napa, California. After picking Lowry at the BMW PGA, let’s get another outright winner on this side of the pond.
After several close calls last season, keep an eye on Theegala in Napa.
And just like that, we’re back. It’s time for the start of the 2022-23 PGA Tour season and the boys are in Napa, California, for the Fortinet Championship at Silverado Resort and Spa (North Course).
Understandably, Homa enters this year’s event as the betting favorite at +1300 (13/1). Hideki Matsuyama and Corey Conners are next on the list, tied at +1500 (15/1). Last year’s runner-up, McNealy, sits at +2000 (20/1).
Let’s dive into our first Tour preview of the season.
Silverado Spa and Resort (North) | Par 72 | 7,123 yards
A general view of the course during round one of the Fortinet Championship at Silverado Resort and Spa on September 16, 2021, in Napa, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Key stats
Strokes Gained: Tee to Green
Total driving
Data Golf Information
Course Fit (compares golf courses based on the degree to which different golfer attributes — such as driving distance — to predict who performs well at each course – DataGolf): 1. Annandale GC, 2. Memorial Park Golf Course, 3. TPC Scottsdale
Percent chance to win (based on course history, fit, trending, etc.): 1. Max Homa (4.8 percent), 2. Corey Conners (4.7 percent), 3. Taylor Pendrith (3.7 percent)
No amount of money can buy the emotion and meaning we saw Sunday from Mr. Zalatoris.
Will Zalatoris has been one of the premier players on the PGA Tour for close to two years. His “Hello, world” moment came at the 2021 Masters where he finished runner-up to Hideki Matsuyama.
After several close calls, including second-place finishes at the 2022 PGA Championship and U.S. Open, he’s grabbed his first win.
The atmosphere, the emotion and the will to win on Sunday are all something that LIV Golf will never have. Simple as that.
This week on the Twilight 9 podcast, Andy Nesbitt and I discuss Zalatoris’ win, his putting and everything else from the week in Memphis.
We also preview the BMW Championship, including betting picks for the week.
If Smith leaves, it’d be a gigantic blow to the PGA Tour.
What a week.
Rory McIlroy entered the final round with a four-stroke (with Viktor Hovland) lead, shot a bogey-free 2-under 70 and lost by two strokes.
Cameron Smith was on another planet with the putter.
His up and down on 17 will go down as one of the best in the golf’s recent history and that was only one of the spectacular shots he hit on his way to hoisting (and drinking out of) the Claret Jug.
Now rumors are swirling he way be the next big name headed to LIV.
This week on the Twilight 9 podcast, Andy Nesbitt and I quickly discuss the rumors but focus on his outstanding final-round comeback.
We also cover McIlroy’s missed chance, Tiger’s (possible) final walk across the Swilcan Bridge, Cameron Young and much more.
Abraham Ancer has finished T-14 at Colonial the last two seasons and is coming off a top 10 at the PGA.
The week after a major always feels like a hangover.
Four straight days of 12 hours on the couch, eating like crap, and maybe indulging in a few adult beverages will do it every time.
Now, it’s time for a quick turnaround as the PGA Tour heads back down to Texas for what feels like the 10th time.
The Charles Schwab Challenge, despite its spot on the schedule, has conjured up quite the field here in 2022. PGA champion Justin Thomas isn’t taking any time to celebrate his second career major win and is set to tee off Thursday at Colonial Country Club.
Joining him are World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland and Will Zalatoris.
Golf course
Colonial Country Club | Par 70 | 7,209 yards | Perry Maxwell design
Jason Kokrak hits an approach shot on the ninth hole during the final round of the 2021 Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Key statistics
Driving accuracy: Colonial has the fourth narrowest fairways on Tour.
Strokes Gained: Around the Green: Colonial has the seventh smallest greens on Tour, so players who get up and down when they inevitably miss the green will have a significant advantage this week.
Data Golf Information
Course Fit (compares golf courses based on the degree to which different golfer attributes — such as driving distance — to predict who performs well at each course – DataGolf): 1. TPC Sugarloaf, 2. Westchester CC, 3. Sea Island GC
Trending: 1. Scottie Scheffler (last three starts: T-18, T-15, MC), 2. Justin Thomas (T-35, T-5, 1), 3. Will Zalatoris (T-4, MC, 2)
Percent chance to win (based on course history, fit, trending, etc.): 1. Justin Thomas (7.8 percent), 2. Scottie Scheffler (6 percent), 3. Jordan Spieth (4.7 percent)
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As Rory McIlroy said, this week should be a celebration of Phil Mickelson. Last year, Lefty became the oldest major winner at 50 after his conquest at Kiawah Island.
Now, he’s nowhere to be found.
The only thing saving Mickelson from even more scrutiny this week is the presence of a certain 15-time major champion.
Tiger Woods is making his second-straight major appearance of the season. His triumphant return at Augusta National put the golf world on notice, and earlier this week Woods said he’s “gotten a lot stronger” since the Masters.
This week on the Twilight 9 podcast, Andy Nesbitt and I discuss Woods’ chances of winning at Southern Hills, and whether or not he’s worth a spot on your betting card.
Along with our normal pick segment, we touch on Mickelson, McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa, Brooks Koepka, Viktor Hovland, Cameron Smith, and more.
