๐๏ธ Scottie Scheffler, World No. 1, starts his season at The American Express, where heโs not far from being the lone attraction. How much TV time will Scheffler get this week?
๐๏ธ Instead, the stars are out at the Dubai Desert Classic โ Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry and others. Appearance fees still get the job done, donโt they?
๐๏ธ Jack Nicklaus celebrated his 86th birthday this week. Is anyone more important to the spirit of the game?
๐๏ธ McIlroy urged Hatton and Jon Rahm to pay their fines โ reportedly upwards of $5 million โ to the DP World Tour so they can be eligible for the 2027 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor. So far, they are resisting while their appeals are being adjudicated. Should they just pay and be done with it?
๐๏ธ Michael La Sasso, the NCAA menโs champion in 2025 for Ole Miss, has gone to LIV Golf, signing with Phil Mickelsonโs HyFlyers GC. Good move for La Sasso?
๐๏ธ Kevin Na, who was the captain of Iron Heads GC in the LIV League for four years, is mysteriously out of the league, while Byeong Hun (Ben) An signed with LIV and will be captain of the rebranded Korean GC. What happened to Na?
๐๏ธ The main TV attraction at The American Express is the colossal bunker by the green at the par-5 16th on the Dye Stadium Course at PGA West. The bunker is 19 feet below the green. William Mouw went for 13 there last year after reaching the bunker in two. Good hole or gimmick?
๐๏ธ The USGA and R&A are considering delaying the golf ball rollback to 2030, instead of a staggered implementation starting in 2028. Did you think (hope?) they had just forgotten about it?
๐๏ธ The annual PGA Show, the giant kid-in-a-candy-store event where manufacturers show off their 2026 products, is in Orlando this week. Do you have your eye on something new this year?
