This week I would like to talk about the PGA tour and what is perhaps the greatest season of golf to watch! Already we have been treated to some fantastic story lines and drama. The fall series had rookies Emiliano Grillo and Smylie Kaufman win for the first time and then Graeme McDowell makes a big comeback win. When Jordan Speith had what was perhaps one of the all time great seasons last year, we were all wondering how he would respond this year and back it up. All he did was start his season, in the Tournament of Champions, with a record setting win and then after an epic collapse on the back nine, at the Masters, he comes right back and wins the Colonial in front of his home crowd. Jordan is the real deal and look for him to do some great things once again this year.
Dustin Johnson wins the US Open, silencing all his critics, who said he couldn’t win a major due to “choking” or lack of mental toughness. Dustin is going to be a force to reckon with now that he got his major. Jason Day has now emerged as the world #1 winning last year’s PGA Championship and getting his first major. He’s now winning at a rate Tiger used to win. And let’s not forget about Rory who just recently won his Irish Open in a dramatic fashion with a tap in eagle on the last hole. Rory is back. So is Adam Scott with two wins so far this year along with the ever confident and winner Ricky Fowler. The tour is so competitive that just about anyone can win on any given week and they could come from just about any where in the world.
As we can see, the PGA tour is full of exciting young stars and it is only going to get better. Now if we can only get Tiger back on tour from his back injury to add to the mix. Wouldn’t that be something! Tiger will be back. maybe not winning majors, but he will be back.
I mentioned at the top of the column that we are embarking on what may be the greatest season for golf fans ever. Below is the upcoming schedule and how could it not get any more exciting! The next three months is non stop action with The Open, Canadian Open, PGA Championship, Olympics, Fed EX playoffs then the Ryder Cup!
JUL 14 – 17 The Open Championship
Royal Troon GC, Ayrshire, Sco • Purse: $9,300,000
JUL 21 – 24 RBC Canadian Open
Glen Abbey GC, Oakville,Ontario, Can • Purse: $5,900,000
JUL 28 – 31 PGA Championship
Baltusrol GC, Springfield, NJ • Purse: $10,000,000
AUG 4 – 7 Travelers Championship
TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, CT • Purse: $6,600,000
AUG 11 – 14 Olympic Men’s Golf Competition
Olympic Golf Course, Rio de Janeiro, BRA
AUG 11 – 14 John Deere Classic
TPC Deere Run, Silvis, IL • Purse: $4,800,000
AUG 18 – 21 Wyndham Championship
Sedgefield CC, Greensboro, NC • Purse: $5,400,000
AUG 25 – 28 The Barclays
Bethpage State Park (Black), Farmingdale, NY • Purse: $8,500,000
SEP 2 – 5 Deutsche Bank Championship
TPC Boston, Norton, MA • Purse: $8,500,000
SEP 8 – 11 BMW Championship
Crooked Stick GC, Carmel, IN • Purse: $8,500,00
SEP 22 – 25 TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola
East Lake GC, Atlanta, GA • Purse: $8,500,000
SEP 30 -OCT 2 Ryder Cup
Hazeltine National GC, Chaska, MN
Not only is watching golf great sports action but you can learn and improve your own game. Watch how the players repeat their preshot routines or just in general how they prepare to hit each shot. Watch how hard they swing and yet keep their balance. Watch how great their short games are and hence why you should practice it more. Watch how they hit bad shots as well as great ones, so don’t be so hard on yourself if the best in the world can mess up. Finally, my best advice is to watch the golf after you have pvr’d it, at your own time and commercial free. I hope you enjoy the fantastic upcoming schedule as much as I will and it helps you play…YOUR best golf!
