Champions, Cutmakers And (Point) Missers From The 2022 PGA
Champions, Cutmakers And (Point) Missers From The 2022 PGA
Recapping the week's winners and losers after another major at Southern Hills.
Another arresting major championship week leaves me no choice but to offer a lengthy rehash of the 2022 PGA. I promise not to stick any anime-adjacent names on last week’s Cinderella story or confuse him with a personal AI robot for kids.
Champions
Justin Thomas. He becomes the sixth player since WW II with two majors and 15 PGA Tour before hitting 30, joining Nicklaus, Miller, Watson, Woods and McIlroy. So pencil in a 2038 World Golf Hall of Fame induction. The win comes after grinding all year on PGA Tour practice greens surrounded by as many as eight eyeballs. Dad’s body language sometimes seemed to say, go play with the beautiful stroke you have. But the fussing finally paid off at Southern Hills. Thomas gained six strokes with his mastery of Maxwell’s greens. Other than Saturday’s 32 putts on 11 greens hit, putting made the difference:
Will Zalatoris. Ranking tenth in SG putting translated to an astounding putting week for a stroke often compared to something you’d see on the Champions Tour. While he wasn’t as great over the weekend, Zalatoris dropped huge putts at 17 and 18 to get in the playoff. “Those are putts that you keep in the memory bank for the future,” he said after doing nothing wrong in the 3-hole playoff. Wild start to his major career: MC, T6, 2nd, T8, MC, WD, T6, 2nd.
Mito Pereira. A dynamite week for 71 holes despite a rough driving day Sunday. The Chilean also enjoyed above average putting week, finishing SG 3rd vs. SG 100th on the Tour season. He handled the final hole double bogey with such class that his agent undoubtedly had a busy Monday. And we’ve added another to confirm the Latin American upsurge in world class talent.
Cameron Young. The rookie picked up his fifth top-3 finish of the season. He’s had standout finishes at non-pushovers Riviera (T2), TPC Potomac (T2) and Harbour Town (T3).
Southern Hills. Like a vintage wine decanted to expand long dormant flavors, this American classic is no longer buried in trees and rough. The sommelier’s at Hanse Design gave Perry Maxwell’s understated test a bright and airy vibe. Superintendent Russ Myers and his army of over 100 served up perfect conditions despite Mother Nature unfurling a few screwballs. Players hit more drivers than at past majors at Southern Hills. Distance off the tee proved to be just one necessary strength. Every skill was tested. And as with Kiawah last year, the Golf Gods offered different wind directions to make each day a new battle. No wonder the leaderboard included what little variety is left in playing styles: ballstrikers, short game wizards and a winner who grinds just to have a deep arsenal of shots for weeks like this.
Perry Maxwell. Not a household name beyond architecture circles, his vaunted rolls wreaked the expected havoc. But unlike the sharp and sometimes silly crowns at Pinehurst, Southern Hills demonstrated how subtle slopes maintained at a low height are more than enough to make things interesting. The pre-tournament hype about the importance of short game recoveries played out: the week’s scrambling rate ended up at 51.35%, down from the PGA Tour season average of 59.44%. Thomas was 14 of 23 around the greens.
Seth Waugh and the PGA Board. Pulling the tournament from Trump Bedminster following the Capitol insurrection undoubtedly caused strife in cultish portions of the operation representing greater New Jersey. But from a golf and profit perspective, Waugh and friends were validated. And then some.
On site team. The folks kept around from the 2021 Senior PGA went to work and pulled off a major with only an 18-month lead time. Credit goes to Championship Director Bryan Karns, Director of Operations Evan Crowder and Kristen Powers for handling the corporate sales (reportedly through the roof). The 2022 PGA brought in the necessary revenue to keep the beancounters and crazies quiet.
Tulsa. Until things started to deteriorate Sunday with “Let’s go Brandon” dingalings making you wish they’d charged $36 for a beer, Tulsa’s fans brought a positive vibe and sounded consistently appreciative of shots. It was refreshing to visit the middle of the country again and sense the energy from bringing a big time event to a welcoming city. It’s a Grand Slam when the British press mutters their approval. You know who you are.
May. That open 2030 date vacated by Southern Hills must look appealing for a return trip. Coupled with Kiawah last year, they have two reliably stellar May venues.
CBS. A lighter commercial load and shorter breaks only led to one or two unfortunate departures from key Sunday action. The production was terrific, especially at the end when it matters most. (More tomorrow in the Media Wrap.)
17th hole. A drivable par-4 delivers. Again. And this one came through by offering multiple ways to attack instead of just one must-hit shot. When these under 330-yarders work, they remain the best (and last true) form of dramatic risk-reward moments.
Tiger Woods. He gave his best and will contend again if the body allows. So shut it down, listen to the doctor—who he presumably flew out to Cedars to visit—and regroup for the Old Course.
Tee Intersections. No significant traffic tie-ups occurred due to congestion at 3-6-7 or 12/13. This circumstance only happened because all involved wanted to keep the main landing areas relevant. And because the regulators have abstained on distance regulation for two decades. Just think, taking 5-8% off today’s distance would eliminate the need to use the ultra-back tees to maintain architectural relevance. A ball that spins a little more would also allow for restoration of the main driving range tee instead of having to shuttle players to the back end.
Southern Hills Pink. Coupled with the bunker sand, it just works. Also, a shout out to the practice round tees—a.k.a. the club’s back tee markers.
