Homa In Form, Phil's PGA Status And Pebble's 8th Gets A Green Fix
Wrap on the weekend's pro golf. Plus Seth Waugh on Mickelson's PGA options, Pebble Beach rebuilds the 8th green, the epic Kentucky Derby and other notes.
Before Glory’s Second Shot coverage kicks in here at The Quadrilateral, last weekend gave us a few hints about who is in form and whose game is LIV Golf-bound.
Max Homa won his fourth PGA Tour title and his second Wells Fargo Championship. The 31-year-old posted rounds of 67-66-71-68 and enhanced his reputation as someone who thrives on tough courses. Even though par-70 TPC Potomac was a sponge, the course played to a 71.76 scoring average even with lift-clean rules in effect over the final three rounds.
Homa was strong in every Strokes Gained category except his work around the greens (59th), something he’ll need to clean up for Southern Hills where more options around the green await. According to Shotlink, Homa finished 3rd tee-to-green strokes gained, 16th approaching TPC Potomac’s greens and 4th in putting.
Long-driving rookie Cameron Young (T2) earned his third second place finish of the 2021-22 season and moves to a projected 38th in the world.
Keegan Bradley (T2) moves up to a projected 44th. As Jim Nantz explained during the Wells Fargo broadcast, Bradley is close to solidifying a chance a U.S. Open exemption when the USGA awards spots to the top 60 not already in. The championship will be contested in Bradley’s native New England.
Greg Norman bragged about luring two former World No. 1’s to play the LIV tournament June 9-12 in London. And we now know from the Telegraph’s James Corrigan that one of them is Martin Kaymer, current world No. 191. Kaymer has played just three times worldwide in 2022, with a pair of MC’s and a T48 at the Valspar. Dialed in for LIV!
Thorbjørn Olesen finished eagle-birdie to win the Betfred British Masters, his first DP World Tour title in almost four years. Last December, the former Ryder Cupper was cleared of in-flight sexual assault charges following a trial. He started the week ranked 376th in the world and is expected to move to around 173rd, not enough to get him into the PGA Championship. And I’m not sure a Transatlantic flight is a good idea just yet.
Olesen’s winning putt adds to list of great moments at The Belfry’s 18th:
Waugh: Mickelson’s Decision Likely To Be Last Minute
The status of Phil Mickelson remains unclear after he did not enter this week’s AT&T Byron Nelson Classic. The defending champions remains on the PGA field list, which is finalized Monday following the OWGR Top 70 cut off. Mickelson can go until Thursday morning of PGA week to decide if he’s playing.
Speaking to Gary Williams on the Five Clubs pod, Waugh said he’s been in communication with Mickelson.
“And I think, you know, we’ll continue to have conversations,” Waugh said. “I’ve known Phil for 20-something years, and he’s a complicated guy with complicated thoughts and in a complicated situation. And so we’re all trying to figure out what’s best for him and frankly what’s best for the game and we’re going to keep having those conversations.”
Williams also asked Waugh about getting past the inevitable circus element and it’s addressed in this clip. The full pod is available wherever you get your podcasts or via YouTube. As always, it’s a good listen.
