Japan Skins Archives - Golf Digest Middle East https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/tag/japan-skins/ Golf Instruction, Equipment, Courses, Travel, News Thu, 24 Oct 2019 19:52:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/gd-favicon.ico Japan Skins Archives - Golf Digest Middle East https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/tag/japan-skins/ 32 32 Tiger Woods’ worst stat, Rickie Fowler’s sponsored honeymoon, and Jason Day gets a little (clothing) help from his friend https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/tiger-woods-worst-stat-rickie-fowlers-sponsored-honeymoon-and-jason-day-gets-a-little-clothing-help-from-his-friend/ https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/tiger-woods-worst-stat-rickie-fowlers-sponsored-honeymoon-and-jason-day-gets-a-little-clothing-help-from-his-friend/#respond Thu, 24 Oct 2019 20:00:05 +0000 https://golfdigestme.com/?p=30134 Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where, believe it or not, we are actually disappointed in Tiger Woods. No, we’re not down on the GOAT for not winning MGM Resorts The Challenge: Japan Skins...

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]]> By Alex Myers
Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where, believe it or not, we are actually disappointed in Tiger Woods. No, we’re not down on the GOAT for not winning MGM Resorts The Challenge: Japan Skins—although, more on that later—but rather how it all went down. You see, Woods lost to Jason Day after letting him borrow his sweater vest in the middle of battle:

Is it a nice sweater vest? Duh. Was it a nice gesture? Sure, as indicated by Chris’ “YLTSI” (You love to see it) acronym. But actually, I hated to see it. The old Tiger would have frozen out his competition. Literally! And, no offense to Jason, but we all know how fragile he can be. He wasn’t winning in short sleeves. Anyway, there’s plenty more to talk about, so grab something to keep warm and snuggle in.

WE’RE BUYING

Justin Thomas: I was going to say Justin Thomas in Asia, but it doesn’t matter where this guy is playing these days. The red-hot Thomas continued his recent roll after returning from a wrist injury in the spring, winning the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges for the second time for his eighth consecutive finish of T-12 or better. JT now has 11 PGA Tour titles, becoming one of only five modern players (Jack, Tiger, Rory and Jordan being the other four) to reach that mark with at least one major before turning 27.

Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

Funny enough, Golf Digest recently asked Tiger, Gary Woodland, and Billy Horschel who the most underrated PGA Tour pro is and they all said Justin. While everyone (other than Brooks Koepka) focuses on the Brooks-Rory rivalry, this guy might wind up passing them both.

Nicolas Colsaerts: The author of one of the most impressive one-match performances in Ryder Cup history (An eight-birdie, one-eagle barrage against Tiger and Steve Stricker at Medinah in 2012) wrote an amazing new chapter in his career with a win at the French Open, his first tournament title in more than seven years. And he. hugged the trophy like he would hug a long-lost relative.

Ross Kinnaird

“This win changes everything for me for the next couple of years. I will now have a lighter schedule and not have to worry about having a card. I have a wife and a little kid that I am going to be able to spend a bit more time with now.” Awesome. Also awesome? His nickname on the European Tour is “The Dude.”

The Challenge: Japan Skins: Full disclaimer: Golf Digest and GOLFTV, which put on this event, are owned by the same company. But I am not being held hostage in an office closet when I say this new competition was a success and a welcome addition to the golf calendar. I swear.

Richard Heathcote

Yes, the four participants (Tiger, Jason, Rory McIlroy and Hideki Matsuyama—pretty decent foursome!) all could have played better, but what can you do? Skins golf is back, baby! And the “lower” stakes actually made it more fun to watch—especially two of the challenges, which gave us this incredible up-and-down by Day from a bunker using a 6-iron(!):

And Bryan Habana (Each of the four players teamed up with a rugby star to play alternate shot on a hole) jumping on Hideki Matsuyama to celebrate a birdie:

Thank goodness Tiger’s partner didn’t do that to him.

WE’RE SELLING

Tiger in Skins games: The safest bet in sports is betting against Tiger in this format (or in most made-for-TV events, really—I painstakingly ranked all of them). Combined with his unsuccessful six tries at the original Skins Game, Woods now has a career 0-7 record in skins competitions. Again, this is the same guy with 15 MAJOR titles. Bizarre. As Woods says, “Skins is all about timing,” but that’s a lot of bad timing for a man who routinely produces magic on the golf course.

Tiger’s practice putter: What in the world is this thing?

Look, I’m sure it’s a fine product, but we’ve been down this road with Woods so many times. He makes a change from his trusty Scotty Cameron and then a few months later he goes back to it. The cycle is a waste of time for a player who is approaching his 44th birthday and has undergone more surgeries than most football players. Please stick with that trusted Scotty and don’t waste anymore time, Tiger. Please! The clock is ticking!

58 penalty strokes: I like the new rule that caddies can’t line players up for putts. And Lee Ann Walker, a former LPGA player, clearly made a mistake by breaking that rule at the Senior LPGA Championship. Many times over. But assessing someone 29 separate two-stroke penalties for the same thing seems a bit draconian. (Side note: I’ve been wanting to use the word “draconian” my whole life and now I have! What a rush!) “I may have made the Guinness Book of World Records,” she said after. If Guinness keeps track of such a thing, there’s no “may” about it.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour heads to Japan for the inaugural Zozo Championship, AKA that event where Tiger Woods will have his final audition to be named a Presidents Cup captain’s pick. We’re not sure if Tiger being the guy to make that ultimate decision puts more or less pressure on him. Stay tuned.

Random tournament fact: No one has ever won a Zozo Championship after winning The Challenge: Japan Skins. Good luck to Jason Day on attempting to make history this week.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—Tiger Woods will let a challenger borrow his vest on Masters Sunday: 1 MILLION-to-1 odds

—Jason Day will win the Zozo Championship: 33-to-1 odds (Actual odds)

—Jason Day has added some outerwear in his golf bag for the Zozo: LOCK

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Just Tiger, Rory, and two rugby players yucking it up:

Richard Heathcote

What a world.

VIRAL VIDEO(S) OF THE WEEK

Helen Alfredsson, 54, won the Senior LPGA Championship and then did an actual victory dance:

Well played. And speaking of things well played, I consider myself a decent ping-pong player—and I’m sure Ben An does too. But his dad is a former Olympic medalist in the sport, and my word, is he a marvel. Watch as pops takes on his son using a WOODEN SPOON instead of a paddle:

And you thought Jason Day’s 6-iron out of a bunker was impressive.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I’ve been out here for, what, five years. Rory hasn’t won a major since I’ve been on the PGA Tour. So I just don’t view it as a rivalry.” —Brooks Koepka is quickly rising up my PGA Tour Content Kings ranking!

TWEET OF THE WEEK

It’s the little things, right?

THIS WEEK IN CELEBRITY GOLFERS

Tony Romo fell for the old fake snake trick at the hands of former NBA All-Star Deron Williams:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3r_sdwFh8J/?utm_source=ig_embed

Although, it took Tony a long time to see it. Talk about being focused on your game. No wonder he’s the current King of celebrity golf. However, one of his biggest challengers, Stephen Curry, just inked an equipment deal. . .

Things are really heating up on the celebrity golf circuit!

THIS WEEK IN PGA TOUR-WAG PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION (AND SPONSORSHIP)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B35HO68p-Rl/?utm_source=ig_embed

I love how Rickie says their honeymoon was “made possible by Puma,” as if the couple couldn’t have afforded a honeymoon on their own. Anyway, cue the Billy Joel!

“Rickie and Allie were the popular steadies and the King and the Queen of the prom. Riding along in Puma’s G5 with the radio on . . . “

Sorry, couldn’t help it. And yes, let’s hope they end up better than Brenda and Eddie.

THIS WEEK IN PHIL BEING PHIL

Phil posted a new “Phireside with Phil” in which Haotong Li explains a funny mix-up over something he said following a victory:

And shared his latest calf-off:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B34B5aVjvEt/?utm_source=ig_embed

Nice try, guy!

THIS AND THAT

Congrats to Danielle Kang for defending her title in Singapore. When it comes to winning in Asia, she’s quickly becoming the Justin Thomas of the LPGA. . . . Brooks Koepka withdrew from the CJ Cup with a bad knee after undergoing a stem-cell knee procedure in the off-season. Ruh-roh. Hopefully, his biggest rival isn’t his own body. . . . Matt Every was suspended 12 weeks for violating the PGA Tour conduct policy for drugs of abuse with his medically prescribed cannabis. This doesn’t seem fair. . . . Viktor Hovland set a new PGA Tour record with an amazing 19 consecutive rounds in the 60s. Making a tough sport look that easy also doesn’t seem fair. . . . And finally, I noticed this on my latest trip to the grocery:

Sour Patch cereal? Even I think that’s taking things too far. And I’m someone who has eaten Chips Ahoy cereal.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

What would Phil think of my calves?

How much would Rickie-Allison baby naming rights go for?

How many sweater vests does Tiger Woods own?

 

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]]> https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/tiger-woods-worst-stat-rickie-fowlers-sponsored-honeymoon-and-jason-day-gets-a-little-clothing-help-from-his-friend/feed/ 0 Rickie Fowler’s beach wedding, Cardi B’s Tiger Woods reversal, and a big week for WAGs https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/rickie-fowlers-beach-wedding-cardi-bs-tiger-woods-reversal-and-a-big-week-for-wags/ https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/rickie-fowlers-beach-wedding-cardi-bs-tiger-woods-reversal-and-a-big-week-for-wags/#respond Thu, 17 Oct 2019 21:39:31 +0000 https://golfdigestme.com/?p=29938 Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we take back everything nice we said about Cardi B last week. Apparently, the rapper will NOT name her next album “Tiger Woods” after all.

The post Rickie Fowler’s beach wedding, Cardi B’s Tiger Woods reversal, and a big week for WAGs appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

]]> By Alex Myers
Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we take back everything nice we said about Cardi B last week. Apparently, the rapper will NOT name her next album “Tiger Woods” after all. She was “kidding.” Well, Cardi, you lost a fan (of less than one week) and a customer. You don’t kid about stuff like that. Someone could see it and write about it and talk about it on a podcast and do an entire video about it. SOMEONE could! Did you ever consider that, Cardi? More like Cardi Boo, am I right? Anyway, fortunately, there’s a lot of other good stuff happening in the golf world. Let’s get to it.

WE’RE BUYING

Lanto Griffin: Named after Lord Lanto, a spiritual master, Griffin clearly mastered his nerves down the stretch of the Houston Open. He rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt to take the lead on No. 16 before two-putting from 60 feet on the 18th hole to close out his first PGA Tour title. And then the tears flowed like rain—and it was awesome:

Icon Sportswire

It’s been quite a journey for Lanto, who just a few years ago had $30,000 racked up on credit cards and whose biggest golf paycheck until 2017 ($17,000) came from being a fill-in caddie for Will Wilcox at the 2014 Greenbrier Classic. Now he’s No. 1 in the FedEx Cup standings and working on a five-week streak of finishing in the top 20. The man named after the Lord of Light is lighting it up. Sorry, couldn’t help it.

Bernd Wiesberger: Speaking of quick turnarounds, the 34-year-old Austrian, who missed most of 2018 with a wrist injury, had fallen to No. 389 in the Official World Golf Ranking in May. But a victory in the Italian Open on Sunday—his third European Tour title since—has him at a career-best No. 22. He’s also the new leader in the Race to Dubai.

Andrew Redington/Getty Images

The guy is really Bernding it up right now! (Again, sorry, couldn’t help it.)

Rickie-Allison: The photos and details are scarce, but Fowler married Stokke on Oct. 5 in what looked to be a lovely beach ceremony:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3fBm4SJDMW/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=dlfix

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3fBmdvARtu/

As you can see, Fowler kept it “cazh” with a tee shirt and white sneakers while Allison looked stunning. Shocker, I know. She also showed some serious discipline waiting nearly a week to share a few photos. Clearly, the guests had a social-media ban as well, which is why no videos of the SB2K Crew tearing up the dance floor have surfaced. At least, not yet.

Mike Maddux’s golf: St. Louis Cardinals pitching coach Mike Maddux and brother of Hall-of-Fame pitcher Greg Maddux—a strong golfer in his own right—made two holes-in-one in the same round on Monday. As the great Mel Allen would say, “How about that?!”

WE’RE SELLING

Mike Maddux’s staff: Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Mike Maddux’s aces on the golf course have completely outshined his aces on the pitching staff. Hours after news of his golf feat made the rounds, the Cardinals lost 8-1 to the Washington Nationals to fall into a 3-0 hole in the National League Championship Series. It’s looking like Maddux will be playing more fall golf next week rather than participating in the fall classic.

Replacing an old friend: I got a little emotional moving our upstairs couches downstairs (my basement lair looks awesome now), so I can only imagine what Henrik Stenson felt like moving on from his famous 3-wood. But after nearly a decade of hitting that thing like most pros dream of hitting a driver, the 43-year-old Swede has moved on to some new technology.

Hang in there, Henrik.

Golf in Montana: Before you jump down my throat, I think Montana is a beautiful state having been dragged to Glacier National Park multiple times by my parents as a kid. But playing through four hours of snow in early October during the high school state golf championship? No thanks. Then again, I passed on playing on Sunday because the temperature at tee time was flirting with 50, so I’m not the best person to weigh in on this:

https://twitter.com/richard_ecke/status/1181693435557732352

The most amazing part is this group of tough teens shot a combined 240 shots better on the tournament day it snowed. Those kids are freaking warriors.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour begins its Asian Swing with the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges, AKA that event with an @ sign in the official tournament title, and island green on the final hole, and a trophy that is anything but a cup despite the tournament name. This is an interesting one! And don’t forget about “The Challenge: Japan Skins,” GOLFTV’s new event featuring Tiger, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, and Hideki Matsuyama. If you live in the U.S., you can watch on Golf Channel on Sunday night. Skins! Back!

Random tournament fact: Brooks Koepka is the defending champ, but has higher odds (9/1) than favourite Justin Thomas (9/2). Do you hear that? That’s a slighted Brooks throwing around a little extra weight in the gym right now.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—The Masters will ever be called The Masters @ Augusta National: 1 MILLION-to-1 odds

—Rickie and Allison set their first dance to that song from his Rocket Mortgage ads: Even odds

—Rickie wore Pumas to his wedding: LOCK (Gotta stay on brand!)

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Rich Beem made a rare PGA Tour start in Houston and his 16-year-old son Michael caddied for him.

Tracy Wilcox

Tracy Wilcox

Beats going to school, huh? Beem told Golfweek he was giving Michael 5 per cent of whatever he made. After finishing T-55 and earning $17,400 that comes out to $870. Hopefully, pops rounded up to an even $1,000.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Eddie Pepperell continues to be an absolute delight. Here, he eats and reviews an entire meal in Italy while also getting drunk. Love it.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK (ON-COURSE DIVISION)

Tyrell Hatton was interrupted during the Italian Open by his fiancé slamming a port-o-potty door. You can’t make it up:

“You put me off! You should be ashamed!” So good. As was Hatton’s approach shot moments later. Oh, and his response to it all on Twitter later.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Not everybody’s going to be a Jordan Spieth or Rickie Fowler or the top in the world,” Griffin said. “Some of us, it takes us until [ages] 28, 29 to get on tour. George McNeill, I talked to him last week, and he was 30 [when he made the PGA Tour], and he’s played for 14 years. So, hearing stories like that, that’s more who I am. There’s nothing wrong with that at all. Life’s still great, and I’m not going to change. This win’s not going to change me, I can promise you that. I’ll be the same person.” —Lanto Griffin is an easy guy to root for.

THIS WEEK IN CELEBRITY GOLFERS

The Washington Wizards took a team-bonding trip to Topgolf ahead of the NBA season—and the results were pretty solid!

Well, not counting whiffs by Rui Hachimura and Moe Wagner. Guys, stop working on your free throws and work on your swings.

THIS WEEK IN PGA TOUR PROS-WAGS PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

It was quite a week for PGA Tour WAGs. In addition to Allison Stokke tying the knot with Rickie Fowler, Lanto Griffin called his girlfriend, Maya Brown, his good luck charm.

Icon Sportswire

Aww. Meanwhile, Maverick McNealy credited girlfriend and LPGA star Danielle Kang for the best round of his young PGA Tour career after she gave him a “talking to”.” And finally, Pat Perez’s wife, Ashley, became a news source by confirming why her husband was a late WD at the Houston Open.

And some people question why I keep close tabs on these lovely ladies. SMH.

THIS WEEK IN PHIL BEING PHIL

There’s a chance that Mickelson will have a historic streak snapped this week. The 49-year-old has been inside the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking for nearly 26 years! The last time Phil wasn’t ranked in the top 50, “Mrs Doubtfire” (Great movie, RIP Robin Williams) was No. 1 at the box office. Not that he seems too concerned about it. Here he is practising Kevin Na’s signature walk-in putt move—in front of Kevin Na:

If Mickelson ever won a Masters like that, he would break the Internet.

THIS AND THAT

Tiger Woods is writing his memoir, Back, with HarperCollins Publishers. I would have gone with GOAT as the title, but that works, too. And at least he’s not naming it “Cardi B.”. . . Henrik Stenson and Annika Sorenstam announced a joint European Tour-LET event where men and women are playing for the same prize. Sounds great. Even better would be if Stenson turns that old 3-wood into the trophy. . . . South African-born Rory Sabbatini is eying a spot on the European Ryder Cup after changing his citizenship to Slovakia earlier this year. Two Rorys on one team might be a bit confusing, just saying. . . . And finally, it’s a bittersweet day because SiriusXM’s Channel 30 is switching from my favourite station, DMB Radio, back to my other favourite station, Billy Joel Radio—something that seems to happen every couple months:

Little did I realize when I heard “Say Goodbye” on Monday night that I was actually saying goodbye. I’ll miss you, Dave.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Why can’t SiriusXM offer both channels at the same time?

Is Tiger Woods a big semicolon guy?

Does Tiger need help writing? Editing? Picking out photos? Anything?

 

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]]> https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/rickie-fowlers-beach-wedding-cardi-bs-tiger-woods-reversal-and-a-big-week-for-wags/feed/ 0 Everything you need to know about “The Challenge: Japan Skins” https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-challenge-japan-skins/ https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-challenge-japan-skins/#respond Wed, 16 Oct 2019 05:57:47 +0000 https://golfdigestme.com/?p=29893 For the first time in more than a decade, a skins game will take place on the PGA Tour, this one featuring four of the biggest names in golf.

The post Everything you need to know about “The Challenge: Japan Skins” appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

]]> AUSTIN, TEXAS – MARCH 30: Tiger Woods of the United States and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland stand on the 13th tee during the fourth round of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club on March 30, 2019, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

By Christopher Powers
For the first time in more than a decade, a skins game will take place on the PGA Tour, this one featuring four of the biggest names in golf. On Monday, Oct. 21, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama and Jason Day will go head-to-head in “The Challenge: Japan Skins,” a high-profile, live competition presented by GOLFTV.

While the event will somewhat mimic “The Skins Game,” which took place on the PGA Tour from 1983 to 2008, it is a completely new and unique exhibition, one that will feature a number of extra challenges during play. We know there are many more questions surrounding the event, and we attempt to answer them all below.

Here’s everything you need to know about The Challenge: Japan Skins.

Where and when does the event take place?

The Challenge: Japan Skins will be held at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Chiba, Japan, on Oct. 21. The exhibition kicks off ZOZO Championship week, which will be the first PGA Tour event ever played in Japan. The ZOZO also will be held at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club.

The event will begin at 12 p.m. local time in Japan, meaning it will start at 11 p.m. ET, 8 p.m. Pacific in the United States on Oct. 20.

How can you watch?

The Challenge: Japan Skins will be televised worldwide and available exclusively live and on demand for free for those who register with GOLFTV outside the U.S. Those in the U.S. can watch the simulcast live on Golf Channel beginning at 11 p.m. ET.

How does the format work?

The simplest explanation of skins is the player with the lowest score for each hole wins that hole and whatever amount of money that hole is worth. If there is a tie, that “skin” carries over to the next hole, and so on. For example, if two of the four players tie on the first hole, there are now two skins up for grabs on the second hole, and any of the four players can win them. Once a skin or multiple skins are won, the next hole goes back to being worth one skin.

If the 18th hole is tied, a sudden-death playoff will be employed to determine who wins the final skin. However, if there are multiple playoff holes, the value of the skin will not multiply, unlike the first 18 holes. It will still just be the one final skin.

How much is each skin worth?

The purse for The Challenge: Japan Skins is $350,000 and will be distributed as follows:

Holes 1-6: $10,000 per skin

Holes 7-12: $15,000 per skin

Holes 13-17: $20,000 per skin

Hole 18: $100,000 super skin

What are the “extra challenges”?

Just like The Match between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson that took place last November, The Challenge: Japan Skins will feature extra challenges other than just the skins portion during play. These “challenge holes” will have additional monetary value that will support the event’s charity partners, as well as add another layer of intrigue to the event.

Details of the extra challenge will not be revealed until the live broadcast of the competition.

__Is there anything else unusual about the event?

In addition to the extra challenge, the one other unique thing about the event is that it is set to finish under floodlights. It’s also the first televised exhibition match of Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Hideki Matsuyama’s careers.

Have any of the players competing in The Challenge: Japan Skins competed in an official skins game before?

Only Tiger has competed in an official skins event before, playing in the Skins Game numerous times before it was discontinued in 2008. Surprisingly, Woods never won the event, finishing runner-up three times.

Will any of the four players be in the field at the ZOZO Championship?

Yes, all four will be in the field. Jason Day and Hideki Matsuyama will also play in the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges in South Korea, which will finish the day before The Challenge: Japan Skins.

Who is the favorite to win The Challenge: Japan Skins?

Rory McIlroy is the favourite to win, according to Oddsshark. Here are the odds:

Rory McIlroy +150

Tiger Woods +175

Jason Day +400

Hideki Matsuyama +600

 

The post Everything you need to know about “The Challenge: Japan Skins” appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

]]> https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-challenge-japan-skins/feed/ 0 Danny Willett’s remarkable resurgence, Pat Perez’s eye-popping dinner bill, and Tony Romo’s golf dilemma https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/danny-willetts-remarkable-resurgence-pat-perezs-eye-popping-dinner-bill-and-tony-romos-golf-dilemma/ https://mot-backup.golfdigestme.com/danny-willetts-remarkable-resurgence-pat-perezs-eye-popping-dinner-bill-and-tony-romos-golf-dilemma/#respond Fri, 27 Sep 2019 03:00:33 +0000 https://golfdigestme.com/?p=29382 Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we’ve got a little extra pep in our step after seeing Daniel Jones’ NFL debut for the New York Giants. Danny Dimes looks like a stud.

The post Danny Willett’s remarkable resurgence, Pat Perez’s eye-popping dinner bill, and Tony Romo’s golf dilemma appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

]]> By Alex Myers
Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we’ve got a little extra pep in our step after seeing Daniel Jones’ NFL debut for the New York Giants. Danny Dimes looks like a stud. And he even looks exactly like my man Eli Manning (not creepy at all). Plus, he’s a golfer, which allows me to get past the part about him going to Duke.

So it looks like I was wrong to nearly break my TV when the Giants drafted him No. 6 overall. And now, Big Blue should be in good hands for the next 15 years! Back! Of course, it was just one game. Against the Bucs. And a decade ago I was just as excited about Anthony Kim. Sigh. Anyway, golf fans are still in good hands with everything else happening, even as we officially march into fall. Let’s get to it.

WE’RE BUYING

Danny Willett: I will always have a soft spot in my heart (and wallet) for this guy who won me a cool $650 as a 65-to-1 long shot at the 2016 Masters, but now he has a lot more fans following his recent resurgence. Following a missed cut at the 2018 BMW PGA—before the European Tour’s flagship event moved from May to September—Willett fell to No. 462 in the Official World Golf Ranking, losing his game for a variety of reasons, including back problems. But after his impressive win at Wentworth on Sunday, the 31-year-old is all the way back up to No. 31 and flashing the same form that won him that green jacket. What a great story.

Harry Trump

Sebastian Munoz: A maiden PGA Tour title is always a great story as well, but especially when it comes from someone who nearly lost his tour card less than two months ago. But after finishing No. 124 on the final FedEx Cup points list, Munoz won’t need to worry about losing his job for essentially the next three seasons. The 26-year-old Colombian became the second consecutive Latin American golfer to win to begin the 2019-’20 season and he did it thanks to this clutch 72nd-hole birdie that got him into a playoff with reigning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Sungjae Im:

After winning on the first extra hole with a par, it was time to hoist the coveted rooster trophy, which Munoz told us on the Golf Digest Podcast is a lot heavier than it looks!

Sam Greenwood

Nelly Korda: A week after a spectacular showing at the Solheim Cup where she went 3-0-1 in defeat, Korda dusted the field at the French Ladies Open by eight shots. Korda didn’t take home a rooster trophy, but considering she’s just 21 and ranked in the top 10, there is a lot more hardware in her future.

Tristan Jones/LET

Hanging out with Pat Perez: Check out this dinner bill for four people at the MGM Grand Las Vegas’ Craftsteak:

Nearly 10 Gs before tip? A $4,000 bottle of wine?! A $15 dollar side of broccoli?! This is a man who lives life to the fullest.

WE’RE SELLING

Danny Willett’s rain gear: Lost amid the feel-good comeback story of golf’s Danny Dimes was the fact that Willett looked ridiculous on Sunday:

Andrew Redington

Sorry, but someone had to say it. I still love you, Danny!

American golf: The Ryder Cup? Lost. The Solheim Cup? Lost. For the first time since 2008, the first two events of the PGA Tour season were won by non-Americans. And the U.S. Mid-Amateur even saw its first-ever non-American winner in Australian Lukas Michel. Welp. It’s not just the British coming. EVERYONE is coming. At least we still have the Presidents Cup. For now.

Tony Romo’s “dilemma”: Much has been made this week about Romo potentially missing his Sunday CBS game (Boomer Esiason is waiting in the wings) because he’s playing in this week’s Safeway Open, but let’s be real: There’s a better chance booth partner Jim Nantz isn’t at Bears/Vikings because he’s hosting a wine tasting in Napa than Romo not making it because he made the cut at a PGA Tour event.

Christian Petersen

This will be Romo’s fourth PGA Tour start and third of 2019. The guy nearly plays as much as Tiger Woods.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour heads to lovely Napa for the Safeway Open, AKA that tournament where they give out a trophy in the shape of a wine barrel. It’s no rooster, of course, but it’s pretty good. This is also the event that Brendan Steele won two years in a row before Kevin Tway stopped Steele’s reign of terror last year.

Random tournament fact: The event is contested at Silverado Resort’s North course, which was redesigned in 2011 by Johnny Miller, who shot a final-round 63 to win the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont. Little-known fact.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—Tony Romo will win the Safeway Open: 1 MILLION-to-1 odds

—Tony Romo will make the cut at the Safeway Open: 10,000-to-1 odds

—Tony Romo still would outperform half the current starting QBs in the NFL: LOCK (It’s a sad crop right now. Other than my man Danny Dimes, of course.)

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Joshua Kelley has given us some mind-blowing trick shots throughout the years, but this might be his best work yet:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2kZeXVA9du/

He won’t top this until at least next week.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Chuffed! Love some good British slang. Need to start incorporating that one.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Joel Dahmen’s caddie, Geno Bonniale, sent this lovely poem to his wife:

So sweet!

RANDOM, BOLD TWEET OF THE YEAR

Wow. I’m not, um, touching that. . .

THIS WEEK IN TOUR PRO PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

Check out the reaction by Sebastian Munoz’s girlfriend, Daniela Granados:

She’s got hops! And of course, the couple had a nice victory smooch:

Marianna Massey

THIS WEEK IN PHIL BEING PHIL

First, the five-time major champ had his calves praised by six-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady:

And then Mickelson shared yet another photo that shows his much-improved physique:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2xIOSjAKgH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=dlfix

Seriously, what is going on?! The dude looks fantastic.

THIS AND THAT

Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, and Hideki Matsuyama will compete in GolfTV’s “The Challenge: Japan Skins” on Oct. 21. I know I sound like a company man hyping this event, but sign me up! . . . Veteran caddie Tony Navarro turned down working for Tiger Woods in 1999 out of loyalty to Greg Norman. Sounds like Tony is a great guy, but guessing he probably regrets that decision. . . . Phil Mickelson and Stephen Curry will play together in Wednesday’s Safeway Open Pro-Am. I wonder if Phil will challenge Steph to wind sprints in between holes. . . . And finally, this is what happens when you work with someone too much:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2xKXFXl-ZX/?utm_source=ig_embed

Either that, or we just started #NationalDressLikeYourBossDay.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

How many tournaments will Phil MickelSLIM win?

How many Super Bowls will Daniel Jones win?

Who wore it better? (Just kidding. Obviously, me.)

 

The post Danny Willett’s remarkable resurgence, Pat Perez’s eye-popping dinner bill, and Tony Romo’s golf dilemma appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

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