What happened last week in the world of professional golf?
The Charles Schwab Challenge
I must admit to not watching a huge amount of this one. It very much had a week-after-a-major feel, but there was still a decent field, including Scottie Scheffler.
Davis Riley took the title, but the thing I found most interesting was the fact that Scheffler didn’t win. A slow start had left the world number one well off the pace, but a 65 and then a brilliant 63 got him within touching distance of Riley going into the final round.
With Scheffler’s recent form (and Riley’s lack of it) it seemed inevitable that Scottie would haul him in and take another title. But he didn’t. A closing +1 round left him five shots behind, tied for 2nd with Keegan Bradley.
Is this a sign of recent events wearing him down? Quite possibly. The guy also has a new baby at home, which has to have some impact. I think he needs a rest for a week or two ahead of the US Open.
Tragic news about Grayson Murray
Really sad news about Grayson Murray’s death at the age of just 30. He’s not a player I was too familiar with, but he had clearly had his struggles in life and in the end found them insurmountable. It just highlights the need to support people who are going through difficult times.
Soudal Open
The DP World Tour stopped off in Belgium this week. Nacho Elvira (who I always think sounds like he belongs in the Addams Family) took the title, winning by a shot in a field that included several LIV players who had found a way to qualify.
The social media highlight of the week was this footage of Louis De Jager showing off his excellent golfer’s tan and, inexplicably, undoing his belt to play out of a penalty area.
Blandemonium at the Senior PGA
Nice to see Richard Bland winning his first senior major title this week at the Senior PGA Championship. Bland is the sort of player that gives us ordinary golfers a bit of (misplaced) hope that it’s not too late for us to become a top player.
He battled for years before winning his first tour event at the age of 48, got himself a spot on LIV where he’s doing well, and now picks up a senior major. His football team, Southampton, also got promoted back to the Premier League, so a pretty good day all round for Blandy.
There was no tournament on the LPGA last week, ahead of this week’s US Open.
Dave McLean