Today's episode dives into the PGA Championship's distinct identity as described by top players, Rory McIlroy's liberated post-Masters mindset, the intense Grand Slam aspirations, and early Ryder Cup selection strategies.
The PGA Championship Enigma
- Lead bullet – Jon Rahm highlights the PGA Championship's "versatility and variability" as its unique challenge, a sentiment echoed by Justin Thomas who notes "there is no classic PGA Championship venue."
- Secondary bullet – Kerry Haigh aims for a "strong but fair" setup, with Rahm describing Quail Hollow's current conditions as "amazing" with "firm" and "lightning fast" greens.
- Tertiary bullet – Rahm admits his record is comparatively weaker at this major due to its ever-changing nature, where "everything is drastically different" each year.
Rory's New Dawn & The Grand Slam Chase
- Lead bullet – Rory McIlroy, believed by Jim Nantz to be playing "without a burden," reflects on his Masters win as a potential career highlight and coolly addresses Bryson DeChambeau's comments, while the Grand Slam remains a huge focus.
- Secondary bullet – Jordan Spieth passionately states, "if I could only win one tournament for the rest of my life, I'd pick this one," receiving Gary Player's public support for his quest.
- Tertiary bullet – Justin Thomas admitted Rory's win sparked "competitive jealousy," while Jon Rahm offers a different perspective, preferring a "Sir Nick Faldo" scenario of "six of two of them" if the slam isn't achieved.
Ryder Cup Strategies & Player Updates
- Lead bullet – European Captain Luke Donald seeks his "best twelve" for the Ryder Cup, considering stats, "gut instinct and personality matchups," and even "golf balls," noting "no assurances have been given right now" for players like Rahm.
- Secondary bullet – Bryson DeChambeau is "still grinding," having "Figured a couple things out with my golf swing," and is keen for another McIlroy battle, while Scottie Scheffler maintains his "endless pursuit of getting the best out of yourself."
- Tertiary bullet – Shane Lowry bluntly states his "bad" record at Quail Hollow ("no record around here at all"), while Xander Schauffele remains pragmatic about major wins and downplays Rahm's praise of his putting.
Quick Hits
A • Nelly Korda's SI Swimsuit feature inspires • PGA Tour 2K adds Old Course & Schwab Challenge course • Padraig Harrington reflects on early tour transition • Rahm defers Ryder Cup selection questions to Donald.
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