By Christopher Powers
In case you thought 2021 was going to be any less weird than the year that preceded it, a non-champion won the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Riddle us that, Batman.

Of course, we knew there was a very good chance that would happen when the field was expanded to allow 2020 Tour Championship qualifiers in. We’re not complaining, and neither is Harris English, who last played in the TOC in 2014, just a few months after claiming his second PGA Tour victory at the 2013 Mayakoba Golf Classic.

On Sunday, the 31-year-old Georgia Bulldog claimed his long-awaited third title, defeating Joaquin Niemann on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff. With the win, English is back in next year’s TOC and is expected to vault inside the top 20 in the Official World Golf Ranking, which would be a career-best.

Here are four takeaways from the week at Kapalua.

Harris English deserved that one

In golf, you have to earn it. Nobody out there is interested in feel-good stories or handing out wins to guys who “deserve” them. But man, if anybody deserved to finally get it done (again) it was English, who had been played consistently good golf for more than a year. When he missed his eagle putt on the 72nd hole that would have won the tournament in regulation, it was beginning to feel like English winning for a third time on tour just wasn’t meant to be. He said as much afterward.

“It’s incredible, lot of hard work over the years and you just—you never really think you’re going to get here again,” English said after holing the winning birdie putt in a playoff. “It’s hard to win out here. Had a really good chance this week, felt good about my game. Just had to get it done.”

Perhaps no player has embodied the “it’s hard to win out here” mantra more than English over the last 16 months. After finishing inside the top 20 in 11 of his first 17 starts to the 2019-20 season, English appeared ready to breakthrough again at The Northern Trust at TPC Boston. He played brilliantly that week, shooting a 19-under total, enough to … lose by 11 strokes to Dustin Johnson. A month later, English was in excellent position to make a Sunday run at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot. His opening tee shot of the final round found the left rough, and it was so long that he and a massive search party couldn’t find the ball, resulting in a penalty. English finished fourth.

So yeah, when he says it’s “hard to win out here,” he really means it. But that’s what makes days like Sunday that much better.

“It’s a little bit of a monkey off your back,” he said. “Two years of job security is awesome. You’re on a one-year contract out here, playing against the best in the world. A win gets you a few more years, so I’m really happy about that. I like where my game is going.”

Gregory Shamus

Joaquin Niemann is such a BALLER

Unlike English, Niemann isn’t going to go seven years between victories. This dude is going to win again soon and then he’s going to win many more times throughout his still young career.

On Sunday, which was without a doubt the windiest day of the week, Niemann was unmatched. At the start of his round, he could not miss with the putter in his hand. Of course, it helps that many of the putts were short, because he was throwing absolute darts all day. His ball flight was made to play in the wind, so it’s not all that surprising he was able to go so low (64) on Sunday. He’ll be kicking himself over making pars on the last two par 5s (and then making another par on 18 in the playoff), but he’ll get over it very quickly, because that’s what these young guys do. Speaking of, every time one young guy wins, another one pops up out of nowhere. The future of golf—Collin Morikawa, Matthew Wolff, Viktor Hovland, Joaquin Niemann, etc.—is in very good hands.

Cliff Hawkins

Bryson putted poorly—and still shot 20 under

For just the fifth time in his last 15 starts (not including the Masters, which doesn’t have strokes-gained data), DeChambeau lost strokes with the putter this week. Remarkably, he still managed to shoot 20 under to tie for fifth, his eighth finish inside the top eight since the PGA Tour’s COVID-19 restart last June. Not surprisingly, he ranked first in strokes gained/off-the-tee and second in driving distance, a product of his tireless offseason work with his new best bud Kyle Berkshire. It’s scary to think about what he could have shot this week with a hot putter. 28 under? 32 under? 40 under? OK, too far, but maybe not.

DeChambeau, as only he can, believes he has another gear, particularly with the 48-inch driver, which he’s yet to put into play on tour. He says he’ll utilize it at a course that’s a bit more open off the tee, which is odd given Kapalua is as open as it gets. The problem: He hits it too far for Kapalua.

“The 48-inch driver is always an opportunity. It depends on the golf course,” DeChambeau told Golf Channel after shooting a Sunday 66 that included an eagle on his final hole. “It’s got to be a golf course that’s a little more wide open. I could be over 200 right now with that driver, but—I could have done it out here this week, again there’s a lot of runouts that just wouldn’t have fit this golf course, unfortunately, it would take it too far.

“Fifteen, I would have flown it through the fairway. Eighteen, it runs out, there’s like a gully. It’s just, it didn’t really fit the model.”

Alrighty then. When will we see Bryson next? Not sure yet, but hopefully wherever it is, it “fits the model” for the 48-inch driver. Feed us that content.

Cliff Hawkins

‘Til next year, Kapalua

This take was floating around social media, and it’s true: this event is one of, if not the, best TV experiences of the season. That was more true than ever this week, when we were all looking for a pleasant distraction. Kapalua provides that in abundance. The views are obviously spectacular, especially for those of us freezing our butts off in the Northeast. And the shots the Plantation course demands of the players are always entertaining to watch, even if the wind was a bit benign. That par-5 18th might be the best finisher on tour. I could watch hybrids and 3-woods come into that green all day. We’re not going to rush the 2021 season, which promises to be SUPER, but we already can’t wait until the 2022 Sentry TOC.

The post Harris English snaps seven-year win drought at Sentry Tournament of Champions, of all places appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Alex Myers
Welcome to another edition of The Grind where we started the new year not with a bang, but with a beep. In fact, a series of very annoying pre-dawn beeps thanks to the batteries dying in a carbon monoxide alarm. Fortunately, because I’m old and hadn’t even stayed up until midnight on New Year’s Eve, I didn’t lose too much sleep. In any event, the first PGA Tour event of the new decade delivered lots of drama and gave us plenty to talk about as we begin an eighth(!) year of The Grind. Wow, time flies when you’re having fun, and doing, well, whatever the heck it is I do in this space. Thanks as always for following along.

WE’RE BUYING

Justin Thomas: Is it too early to start putting together the next round of player-of-the-decade posts? Because this guy has a great chance to be at the top, and he’s already off to a fantastic start. Thomas won the Tournament of Champions for a second time in four years, outlasting Presidents Cup teammates Patrick Reed and Xander Schauffele in a playoff at Kapalua, and overcoming some bad swings and a crazy decision on the 72nd hole that almost made Josh Allen’s absurd attempted lateral look smart by comparison. In the end, though, JT won for a third time in seven starts. HOT.

In fact, his 12th career PGA Tour title made him the fourth player to reach that milestone before turning 27 (Tiger, Jack and Sneed are the other three. Decent). And, amazingly, the artist formerly known as Jordan Spieth’s little buddy has now passed his good friend in career wins after once trailing 8-1. I hope this doesn’t affect the dynamic of #SB2K20!

Pat Perez’s $8,000 toilet: Or, rather, Pat and Ashley Perez’s $8,000 toilet. Apparently, Pat has put his wife in charge of interior decorating and the couple will now have a chamber pot fit for a King and Queen. Check this thing out:

Does anyone need to be massaged or have their feet warmed while doing his/her business? Of course not. But it sure sounds luxurious. Considering Perezes’ recent $10K Vegas dinner bill, getting this magical toilet for less seems like a steal.

The World Handicap System: The new system that’s going into affect and will put most of the world on the same system makes a lot of sense. I applaud such changes as attempting to factor in conditions and updating daily so there isn’t as much luck as to when your handicap is calculated ahead of your big event. I also like the net double bogey max rule for everyone. It never made sense to me that different players could take different max scores. However. . .

WE’RE SELLING

The World Handicap System: There are still some problems, starting with the system counting even fewer rounds. I’m not a math major, but the fewer the rounds that count, the smaller the sampler size and the less accurate you get. I thought they’d go the other way with that. Also, as Dean Knuth points out, the new extra calculation to adjust course handicaps to par defies logic (since course rating already factors par into its equation) and makes this process even more confusing. In related news, I hate course handicaps because I always feel like I’m giving everyone on my golf trip too many strokes. I’m calling for a course handicap revolution! Get rid of them altogether!

Patrick Reed’s reception: It may be a new year, but people haven’t forgotten about Reed’s sand shenanigans in the Bahamas last month. One fan went as far to scream “CHEATER!” after Patrick Reed missed his birdie attempt on the third and final playoff hole. And one player—former U.S. Ryder and Presidents Cupper Chris DiMarco—went as far as calling Reed, well, see for yourself the tweet that has since been taken down:

Wow. Reed is under such fire from all around that I’m surprised Ricky Gervais didn’t take a shot at him in his Gold Globes monologue/bloodbath.

Rickie’s pineapples:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B60k04_nkmh/?utm_source=ig_embed

Nope.

ON TAP

The PGA Tour continues its Hawaiian Swing with the Sony Open, AKA that event where everyone thought a ballistic missile was on its way to wiping out the entire island. And yet Justin Thomas just kicked back on his hotel couch, opened up a sliding door and listened to music. No wonder he’s so cool under pressure. Well, other than that horrendous decision to hit 3-wood on 18 on Sunday.

Random tournament fact: Seven of the past eight winners of this tournament played at Kapalua the week before. So do with that what you will. For the record, I’ve got $10 on Brendon Todd at 50(!)-to-1 odds. Sure, he didn’t have a good week at the Sentry TOC, but he played, damn it.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—That’s the last time a fan will heckle Patrick Reed this year: 1-MILLION -to-1 odds

—Brooks Koepka will publicly criticize a golfer for slow play this year: 40-to-1 odds (Actual odds)

— Brooks Koepka will privately criticize a golfer for slow play this year: LOCK

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Yes, this came out a few weeks back, but we were on break and didn’t get the chance to properly discuss. And because it’s one of the greatest golf photos of all time.

Well played, TaylorMade.

VIRAL VIDEO(S) OF THE WEEK

I don’t care that more that we have more than 99 per cent of the decade to go, there will not be a more unlikely putt holed in the next 10 years than this:

$5,000 PUTT! ?

A Baylor fan sinks a putt on the court to win five thousand dollars. pic.twitter.com/LK4IaeGSnV

— ESPN (@espn) January 5, 2020

Good for that dude. Although he deserved the same paycheck JT got at Kapalua for that effort. And speaking of crazy “putts”:

#SCtop10 #WaitForIt @RealMattScharff pic.twitter.com/JAFjMYs7HT

— Garrett Clark (@gm__golf) January 2, 2020

That’s some impressive engineering.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK INVOLVING AN OSCAR-NOMINATED ACTOR

People freaked out about the Masters promo that ran over Christmas, but this U.S. Open at Winged Foot ad involving Don Cheadle has me even more hyped!

Did you see it…Oh, you didn’t?

Around the #USOpen, we love football…but we’re not talking about football.

This is only the beginning! pic.twitter.com/LkuqXM2xi5

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) January 5, 2020

Yes! Let the bogeys flow!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I should have won the tournament. I know it. Everyone knows it.”. —Xander Schauffele. Substitute the word “game” for “tournament” and this statement could have also been uttered by anyone on the Buffalo Bills.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Members – Attached are my #notes from today’s meeting with architect Hank Jones on our upcoming back nine redesign. pic.twitter.com/xafP6231Bn

— Club Pro Guy (@ClubProGuy) January 6, 2020

One of the highlights of my 2019 came when CPG followed me. A true genius.

THIS WEEK IN CELEBRITY GOLFERS

How about Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman showing off her swing?

Had no idea what I was doing… think I just got lucky ? https://t.co/tIfGq2HoUg pic.twitter.com/0Cpihr7hz8

— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) December 29, 2019

Of course, you’d expect a gymnast to have good balance. Speaking of decent athletes. . .

THIS WEEK IN TOUR PROS MAKING US FEEL BAD ABOUT OURSELVES WITH OUR WORKOUTS

Lexi Thompson’s New Year’s resolutions: Get stronger, win more, lose less passports.

And how about the New Year’s Eve message Brooks Koepka sent the rest of pro golf? While everyone else was out partying, the World No. 1 was in the gym:

It’s been a journey these past 3 months rehabbing my knee but it’s coming along & I’m ready to get back out there healthy for a strong 2020 ? pic.twitter.com/oIFunY7wO0

— Brooks Koepka (@BKoepka) December 31, 2019

Meanwhile, my resolution is to read our post called “12 exercises every golfer should be doing now.” Not to actually attempt them, mind you, but to read about them. Hey, it’s a start.

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

Harry How

Awwww.

THIS AND THAT

Brooks Koepka beat Rory McIlroy for the Golf Writers Association of America Player of the Year. I voted for Brooks and I’m glad to see golf writers put more value on major championships than tour pros. . . . Scott McCarron beat Steve Stricker in the GWAA’s vote for PGA Tour Champions Player of the Year. I voted for the Strick Show and for some reason, golf writers don’t put more value on majors when it comes to the senior circuit. . . . Dottie Pepper paid off the lunch debt for 50 students at her former elementary school in upstate New York. What a great gesture. . . . Lost in all the best-of-the-decade madness was an incredible Bernhard Langer stat. While Dustin Johnson and Inbee Park led the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour, respectively, with 18 wins, Langer led the seniors with 32! What a machine.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Who will wind up with more career wins: JT or Spieth?
What would Johnny Miller say about Patrick Reed?
What would Ricky Gervais say about Patrick Reed?

The post Justin Thomas passes Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed’s enemies list grows, and Pat Perez’s $8,000 toilet appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall
Golf is blessed with a wealth of intriguing narratives. Will Spieth-Thomas become the next great rivalry? Can Rory bounce back from a subpar season? Does Tiger have anything left in the tank? Among these tantalizing storylines is the fledgling firepower of Jon Rahm.

The world was his for the taking after a lights-out start to 2017, highlighted by his breakthrough at Torrey Pines. Admittedly the hype went a little off the rails; for as magnificent as Rahm looked on tour, he appeared very much the rookie at the majors. Nevertheless, with a win at the DP World Tour Championship in November–his third of the campaign–the Spaniard showed he’s at the forefront of golf’s youth revolution.

But, in case Doubting Thomases need a reminder of Rahm’s emergence, this tidbit from the Tournament of Champions should do the trick.

Dustin Johnson dominated the weekend headlines for his ridiculous display at Kapalua, and rightfully so. But Rahm’s play warrants attention as well. The Plantation Course is notoriously unkind to first timers, but Rahm toured its 72 holes in 16 under, good enough for a second place in the field of 34. And a finish that delivered a bit of history. The runner-up pushed Rahm to No. 3 in the world rankings, becoming the fourth-youngest player to reach that standing. The other three? Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth.

Joining such company is impressive in itself, and a feat that gains distinction when realizing Rahm was outside the top 125 at this juncture last season.

Rahm is taking the week off, but returns to a jam-packed schedule with scheduled appearances at the CareerBuilder Challenge, Farmers Insurance Open, Waste Management Open and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. If recent performances are any indication, don’t be surprised if he continues his OWGR climb.

The post Only Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth have done what Jon Rahm pulled off on Sunday appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall
During Saturday’s trek around Kapalua, Dustin Johnson’s drive on the par-4 sixth just missed hitting the flagstick, finishing 70 feet or so from the cup. On Sunday, the 33-year-old did one better.

On the 433-yard 12th, Johnson’s nuke off the tee ran onto the green. And kept running. And running. And running…until it stopped just an inch away from an albatross:

Is this guy even human?! pic.twitter.com/EQj2EYUWWn

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) January 8, 2018

Starting to think this guy knows what he’s doing with the driver.

Perhaps it’s no surprise Johnson is lapping the field at the Tournament of Champions, holding a seven-shot advantage with just four holes to play. If he continues to bust out bombs like this, it’s going to be a long year for his competition.

The post Watch: Dustin Johnson’s drive finishes inch short of albatross at Kapalua appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall

Although equipment switches are hot news items in golf, a player changing ball companies rarely garners waves. Of course, Bubba Watson is not your average bird, and his move to Volvik—a manufacturer known for its brightly-colored rocks—last January was one of the more interesting stories in the ball realm in quite some time.

Alas, the two entities have parted ways, as Watson is returning to the Titleist ProV1x at this week’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

“My contract is done with Volvik. I do not have a ball deal as we sit here today,” Watson said to reporters in Las Vegas. “So I can play with whatever ball I want to. My deal was up, and so I’m ball-free.”

Watson’s comments were a bit surprising: Volvik announced at the Tournament of Champions it had signed the two-time green jacket winner to a multi-year deal. However, given the 38-year-old’s struggles—he’s coming off one of his worst campaigns in his career, missing the cut in three of the four majors and failing to advance to the third leg of the FedEx Cup—circling back to what’s worked in the past is understandable.

“My goals are to be better than that. It was a frustrating year when it came to the golf,” Watson admitted. “It was a great year off the course, but a frustrating year.”

Watson is making his season debut at TPC Summerlin. His best finish in two previous appearances is a T-14 in 2007.

The post Bubba Watson ditching Volvik ball following rough 2017 appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.