Augusta, GA
Golfer Index: Masters stock up (LIV), stock down (Tiger’s foot) at Augusta National
Jon Rahm landed main no. 2 on the Masters on Sunday.
Darren Riehl
AUGUSTA, Ga. — What to get for the golfer who has the whole lot?
It’s a captivating query — and one probably being battled out at PGA Tour headquarters proper now as a legion of enterprise casual-wearing staffers deciphers easy methods to correctly honor the person who saved their Masters Sunday bacon, Jon Rahm.
After all, these in Ponte Vedra Seashore, Fla., will let you know it’s not that severe; {that a} LIV participant (Brooks Koepka) successful the primary full LIV-PGA Tour Masters wouldn’t change the complexity of golf’s better Tour Warfare. And possibly they’re proper. Nevertheless it’s positive good to know they gained’t have to search out out.
The explanation for Sunday evening’s restful sleep, in fact, is Rahm, who claimed his second main championship and first inexperienced jacket. At Augusta Nationwide, Rahm not solely protected the Tour’s turf, however he additionally he bullied anybody who dared encroach upon it. Koepka was the most important sufferer; a former major-killer who tried to go toe-to-toe with Rahm … and turned in a final-round 75.
Rahm out-alpha’d an alpha, successful the Masters in what turned out to be dominant vogue. After Sunday afternoon’s high-profile bludgeoning, it’s startling to suppose Rahm “solely” has two main titles, a mirrored image of the brilliance he appears able to summoning at will.
On this version of Golfer Index, we take the temperature on everyone in golf after a raucous Masters week (excluding, in fact, the inexperienced jacket winner). Which brings us again to PGA Tour HQ, the place we’ll begin our report.
Masters Index
Inventory Up
The PGA Tour: It wasn’t fairly. Their high spokesman flamed out earlier than reaching the weekend. Their pool of younger(ish) stars by no means fairly materialized on the high of the leaderboard. However arguably their finest participant supplied his profession’s signature efficiency within the second they wanted it most. Now, the Tour can declare the primary main of the post-LIV/PGA Tour fracture (effectively, first one since Cam Smith hopped to LIV, anyway), and all three because the formation of the brand new rival league. Don’t be mistaken — this was a enormous victory for the house workforce.
LIV: Each issues might be true! In every week through which many within the media predicted LIV would crash and burn below its gamers’ lack of significant repetitions, 72-hole tournaments or top-tier competitors, the rivals held up a lot higher than anticipated at Augusta Nationwide. Even when they didn’t get the inexperienced jacket, touchdown three of the league’s most vital gamers within the high 4 finishers marked a large victory for the Saudi-backed tour’s legitimacy. Yeah, there are jokes to be made about their 72-hole endurance (jokes we will make later on this column, to be clear), however the huge image was higher than anticipated for LIV Golf.
Phil Mickelson: You present me one one that thought we’d be speaking about Masters runner-up Phil Mickelson every week in the past, and I’ll present you a liar. His sensible efficiency on Sunday qualifies as the most important shock within the sport this 12 months, and it’s not shut. For a second, he appeared to step again in time at Augusta Nationwide. His post-round presser, nonetheless, was a reminder that no one can ever actually flip again the clock.
In a shocking Masters efficiency, Phil Mickelson glimpses into the previous 
Brooks Koepka: Main Brooks is again. Not again sufficient to, you understand, win a serious. However again sufficient to be tweeting out 69 jokes whereas holding a four-stroke lead on Masters Thursday. That was factor for everybody concerned. His determination to embroil himself within the moral minefield at LIV is price questioning, however there’s no doubting the game is best when Brooks is at his finest.
Jordan Spieth: He’ll solely spend eternally questioning how his week might need been completely different had he turned Saturday’s 76 right into a 72, however Augusta was the most recent in a string of robust performances from him.
Fred {Couples}: 63 years outdated. The oldest Masters made-cut ever. And a candy hoodie to high it off.
Staff Theegala: The variety of Theegala members of the family rocking white “Staff Theegala” polos this week to cheer on Sahith’s first Masters begin was astonishing. That he rewarded them with a final-round 67 to nab a ninth-place end was much more exceptional. And that Tiger Woods-esque chip-in on No. 16? C’mon.
Jon Rahm’s driver: How may this event have performed otherwise had Rahm not turned an opening-hole four-putt into an opening-round 65? For that now we have Rahm’s Paradym driver to thank. He stated on Thursday he’d swapped out a wide range of heads this season earlier than deciding on the model that got here with him to Augusta. On the second tee field after fumbling the opening gap, he exorcised a few of these demons with a blistering drive that he estimated carried an additional 10 yards. He made birdie there, and the remainder of his event was off to the races.
The Graber Olive Firm: Which had one among its finest days of enterprise ever on the morning after a GOLF.com story detailing their historical past with the Masters Champions Dinner, and Augusta Nationwide, dropped. The Grabers had no thought our little story would have such a profound influence on golf followers, or evidently, upon their backside line. They ship their sincerest thanks. When you discovered your self on their web site within the final seven days and seen the Augusta Nationwide favourite size-16 olives have been bought out … effectively, that’s not a shock.
Georgia Peach Ice Cream Sandwiches: They have been again in 2023, however once I bit into my first one on Monday of event week, it was like they’d by no means left. I hope they by no means go away me once more.
The Atlanta Braves brand: Which appears a heck of loads like LIV’s 4Aces brand. It was in all places at Augusta Nationwide this week, and for a sizzling second, I assumed LIV is perhaps invading the event. Because it turned out, individuals in Georgia are fairly pumped about these Braves. As one Twitter commenter so eloquently put it, I have to get out more.
Jim Nantz: His “CW” dig was in regards to the corniest joke made on tv within the final 5 many years, however his boldness to say it given Augusta Nationwide’s traditionally…erhm, despotic tendencies towards the media was fairly baller. Jimmy, when you’re studying this, we admire you.
Scott Van Pelt’s individuals abilities: Whereas we’re speaking about TV talkers, we’d prefer to take a second to provide Scott Van Pelt some kudos for his friendliness at Augusta this week. As I wrote in a profile that dropped on our web site earlier this week, he’s about essentially the most well-liked man on the event. It’s straightforward to grasp why. (My coworker, Darren, want to subsequently thank him for his salient recommendation on enjoying Augusta Nationwide in Monday’s media lottery: “Be current in your current.” Darren shot 82.)
On the Masters, it’s laborious to overlook Scott Van Pelt 
The Masters Media Committee: I don’t know who to thank for this particularly, so I’ll thank all of them. This 12 months’s Masters TV protection was essentially the most tech-forward, open-minded event protection within the historical past of the occasion. Augusta Nationwide isn’t generally known as a spot for TV innovation, however this 12 months’s event was an outlier. From the early-week walk-and-talk segments to the membership’s schedule adjustment to permit for Sunday’s mega-broadcast, the Masters reminded us why it’s the most effective TV product in professional sports activities.
Darn Robust socks and Nike Dunks: Which survived 2 inches of rain and dirt at Augusta Nationwide in shockingly good condition.
Inventory Down
Zach Ertz: It’s not sufficient to be the worst YAC participant within the historical past of Fantasy Soccer, now it appears Zach is inflicting golf with a case of untimely stumbles. His textual content to the Masters champ simply earlier than his Thursday tee time and opening four-putt double bogey — “that first inexperienced is trying like a stroll within the park” — almost price Rahm the entire event. Happily, it’s now a laughing matter (in contrast to my 2020 fantasy season … however I digress).
Rory McIlroy’s sleep: I don’t think about he’s resting effectively after a shocking (and deeply disappointing) MC on the Masters — some extent confirmed by his mysterious DQ at this weekend’s RBC Heritage. Doesn’t take away something in regards to the state of his recreation proper now, however this event simply appears to have his quantity. One thing tells me he’s going to wish to interrupt by means of at one other main earlier than he finds success right here at Augusta.
Tiger Woods’ foot: It harm to see Tiger in a lot ache on Saturday at Augusta Nationwide. It’s spectacular he’s prepared to undergo all of this simply to compete, however it’s upsetting to see him trying so removed from competition. It doesn’t assist that the state of his recreation appeared to say no from final 12 months’s exhibiting.
Justin Thomas’ luck: No MC regarded extra painful than Justin Thomas’, which got here after a depraved begin on the mistaken aspect of the draw on Saturday morning. On the par-4 18th, he wanted to swing driver-5-wood simply to succeed in the placing floor. His par attempt missed, leaving him with a tap-in for his fifth bogey or worse in his remaining eight holes and a spot on the surface of the weekend trying in. It most likely all evens out ultimately, however it positive looks like this sorta factor occurs to him loads.
Augusta Nationwide’s bushes: The video stays essentially the most surreal second of event week. The membership is very fortunate no one was harm on Friday afternoon. (My coworker Dylan’s video about Augusta Nationwide’s lone palm tree, nonetheless, stays a excessive level of the week.)
Arborist Twitter: Who had a surprisingly unstable few hours after tree-gate. Could we by no means hear from them once more.
Bryson DeChambeau: Severely, what occurred to Bryson? He by no means neared competition this weekend. By no means even sniffed relevance. That looks like an odd factor to say after two years through which his identify lived atop each information cycle.
Sandy Lyle’s swan track: Perhaps Jason Kokrak is correct. Perhaps it was a “chickens–t” transfer for Augusta Nationwide to blow the horn on Friday simply seconds earlier than Lyle’s remaining putt as a Masters competitor. Nonetheless, we are able to admire Lyle’s determination to drink the evening away on Friday earlier than returning in time for a two-putt bogey on Saturday.
Thomas Pieters’ driver: Which was so unhealthy for him, it actually wound up in a trash can.
Patrick Cantlay’s tempo of play: Which did not earn rave evaluations from Brooks Koepka on Sunday afternoon. “That group in entrance of us was brutally gradual,” Koepka stated. “Jon went to the toilet like seven occasions in the course of the spherical and we have been nonetheless ready.” When pressed on it later, Cantlay stated it was gradual for everyone. True as which may be, it’s uncommon to listen to a participant known as out so particularly for gradual play.
Brooks Koepka’s Sunday dominance: Brooks appeared a bit of off form enjoying 4 rounds in every week. Maybe that’s as a result of he was! (Sure, his efficiency most likely means nothing about LIV’s capacity to arrange gamers for the highlight, however it was nonetheless notable.)
CBS’s Masters Saturday broadcast: It might need been nice. We’ll by no means know. It lasted solely quarter-hour earlier than the inexperienced jackets suspended play on account of rain.
The Golf Store: An unbelievable engine of enterprise for the Masters that is still the only worst place in Georgia for an individual with claustrophobia or agoraphobia (effectively, apart from the Atlanta Airport).
Rochester, N.Y.: Which goes to be feeling some severe stress to provide main championship-caliber climate at subsequent month’s PGA Championship after an odd Masters climate week. As a former pupil at close by Syracuse, I can affirm it often doesn’t snow in Could. The important thing phrase there: often.
