Earl's Recent Past Golf Blog's
August 26,2025
Random Thoughts
Random Thoughts
The PGA Tour Season Ends – But Still Missing the Mark
This weekend marked the conclusion of the 2025 PGA Tour season with the Tour Championship and the crowning of the FedEx Cup champion. Once again, the PGA Tour revamped its finale in hopes of generating more drama—and once again, it fell short.
Despite the hype around massive prize money and the supposed prestige of the Tour Championship, it felt like just another tournament. There were storylines worth following—Tommy Fleetwood finally earning his first PGA Tour win, strong performances from Patrick Cantlay, Russell Henley, and Scottie Scheffler—but the event never delivered the excitement or tension expected from the season's climax.
If this is meant to be one of golf's premier events, the course itself should present a sterner test. East Lake is a respected, historic venue with several interesting holes, but it lacks the intimidating presence of a true championship course. Contrast it with U.S. Open or Open Championship setups, where nearly every hole can derail a contender. At East Lake, only one hole truly raises the pressure. A change of venue—and perhaps a more imaginative format—is overdue.
Here's one idea: borrow from the MLB playoff model. Start with 30 players on equal footing. Day one: 18 holes of stroke play, with the top 16 advancing. Day two: cut to eight. Day three: down to four. The final day: those four compete for everything—the trophy and the money. Every round would matter, every shot would be magnified, and fans would get the sense of building drama in each day that's sorely missing now.
Looking Ahead: Ryder Cup Selections
Tomorrow, captain Keegan Bradley will announce his six final picks for the U.S. Ryder Cup team. A few months ago, I doubted Bradley's ability to be both a captain and a player. I've since changed my mind. He's proven himself an inspired leader—passionate, committed, and more than capable of uniting his squad. He's also playing excellent golf. If I had to choose the type of competitor I'd want representing the U.S., Bradley fits the bill perfectly.
On the flip side, one player I would leave off is Patrick Cantlay. While undeniably talented, other players have stronger cases this year. More importantly, Bradley is building a team centered on camaraderie and selflessness. Cantlay, with his solitary approach, slow play, and the infamous "cap issue" in France, doesn't align with that vision. Chemistry matters, especially at Bethpage, and Cantlay just doesn't fit.
Anticipating Bethpage
The Ryder Cup is shaping up to be a classic. Bethpage Black is one of America's greatest courses, a fitting stage for the intensity of match play. Passion will run high, especially with New York fans in attendance. Hopefully, they'll channel that energy in support of the U.S. team without crossing the line into disrespect toward the Europeans.
One month from now, the world's best will meet in one of the most pressure-packed, emotional events in sports. Until then, expect plenty of chatter from both sides. This Ryder Cup has the potential to be one for the ages.
July 21,2025
He came, he saw, he conquered!
"He came, he saw, he conquered". When you're clearly the best player in the world, you are expected to dominate and win against a world class field and a challenging golf course like Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. With those expectations, only a great player could match those expectations and make it look easy.
Winning the Open Championship takes precise ball striking, imagination, excellent ball control, well thought out strategy, and mental toughness. British Open golf courses do not always reward good golf shots. Unpredictable bounces, fickle wind changes, penal bunkers, and knee-high rough can play havoc with a player's confidence and attitude. One shot, only slightly off-line, can result in disaster and a lost tournament. Scottie Scheffler put on a clinic, just like Ben Hogan did in 1953 at Carnoustie and Tiger Woods in 2000 at St. Andrews. They played at a different level then everyone else.
Jim "Bones" Mckay, the NBC on course commentator and longtime Phil Michelson caddy, stated that he never expected to see another player of Tiger Woods caliber in his lifetime, but Scottie Scheffler is that person. I have been fortunate to see Tiger Woods play about 40 rounds of golf in person. He always plays with the top players. When I watched, even when playing with an Ernie Els or equal, it was an unfair fight. Tiger was far better. Today that honor now belongs to Scottie Scheffler. I haven't seen Scottie play more than a few holes in person, but from what Bones says, the other players marvel about how good he is. Rory McIlroy said in an interview this week that Scottie is the standard that all are trying to attain.
Starting the last round with a four shot lead and no serious great player within striking distance, the last round was anti-climactic. But for a golf purest, watching Scottie Scheffler show everyone how it is done was a joy to see. Greatness is consistent excellence and that was what we were fortunate to see at this year's Open Championship.
