Tales from the Tour: Medals, tears and a few digs

Scottie Scheffler has won many tournaments and must have done a lot of talking this year. One theme stood out even as Scheffler dominated his competition, winning nine times.

The answer can be found on a whiteboard in Paris.

Golfers competing in the Olympics were asked to write down their nicknames, countries, favorite Olympic sports and their goal in Paris. Most players said their goal was gold, or at least to win a medal.

Scheffler wrote: Have fun.

He shot 62 points in the final round and won the gold medal. It was fun. In fact, from Kapalua in January until he was voted PGA Tour Player of the Year in December, Scheffler used some form of the word “fun” 183 times in press conferences.

This has been the case for many people in the golf world, who have created memories that make up this year’s edition of “Tales of the Tour”.

The good life

Tommy Fleetwood came to the Sentry in Maui for the first time and brought his father from England. Peter Fleetwood sat in a wagon, watching his son on the practice field and enjoying the heavenly weather, his first trip to Hawaii.

Being a popular vacation spot, this led to questions about where they went to relax.

“We didn’t take a vacation,” he said. “We couldn’t afford to pay them. We would go to junior golf tournaments in the summer. It was our vacation. And it was good.

There was a slight satisfaction in him as he looked at his son, now one of the best players and characters in the sport. The father returned to his thoughts.

“I’ve had a great life. I have nothing to complain about,” he said. “I lost my wife a few years ago and I complain about that. But nothing else. I had everything I needed need.

The season opener can set the tone, and it’s not always measured by a scorecard.

Alex and his caddy

All the attention to money includes shopping carts.

Xander Schauffele and Austin Kaiser were teammates at San Diego State and close friends ever since. Kaiser was working in a warehouse when Schauffele asked if he would caddy for him. They earned their PGA Tour card in 2017, the first victory, and soon after Schauffele was a mainstay in the top 10 of the world rankings.

Kaiser wasn’t too bad either.

The standard fee for many caddies is 10% for a win. With purses of $20 million, that adds up. Schauffele was discussing it at Bay Hill when he looked at Kaiser and said, “You’re paid too much.” »

Kaiser didn’t blink.

“Yeah, but you’re the one paying me,” he replied.

They both burst out laughing. About four months later, they won two major championships. Money well spent.

Jack remembers (almost) everything

The US Open was approaching and Jack Nicklaus was asked what he thought about golf’s toughest test dropping a pair of 62s the year before at Los Angeles Country Club. His thoughts instead turned to the course, which he hadn’t seen in a long time.

“I played it in 1954, in the United States Junior. I was 14,” Nicklaus. “I was beaten in the second round. I think Hugh Royer Jr. beat me.

Think about it. He is an 84-year-old player who has participated in over 1,000 tournaments since he was a child. How can he remember his defeat 70 years ago against a certain Hugh Royer?

“I didn’t want to tell you,” Nicklaus added with a smile, “but I think it was 5 and 3.”

That afternoon, Michael Trostel, the USGA’s great resource on history, received a phone call on another subject. He had a US Junior Amateur record book near him and was asked to look up 1954 at the LA Country Club. How did Nicklaus behave?

“Looks like he lost in the second round…to Hugh Royer Jr.,” Trostel responded.

The score?

“Wait…4 and 3,” he said.

Nicklaus rarely misses, and when he does, it’s not much.

The imperfect 10

Nelly Korda had high hopes for the US Women’s Open, just like everyone else. She had tied an LPGA record with five consecutive victories, including a major. She was one of the big favorites for the biggest tournament in women’s golf.

For two holes, anyway.

On his third hole, the par-3 12th at Lancaster, Korda, after a long wait, hit his 6-iron into a bunker. She rushed to a steeply sloping green and watched it roll off the front and into a stream. His next burst, coming from the other side of the stream, was not strong enough and fell into the water. The one after that too.

It was a horror show unfolding before his eyes – and before the eyes of his swing coach. Due to the long wait, he and Jamie Mulligan had gone up to the stands.

After the third ball found the water, Mulligan said softly, “It’s a little hard to watch.” »

She made 10.

Mulligan, however, has not lost his sense of humor, one of the reasons they get along so well. An acquaintance sitting next to Mulligan found a reason to return to the clubhouse.

“I have to find his manager to get more golf balls,” he said.

Predictable attacker

Steve Stricker accepted the award. It was his daughter who took the lead.

Stricker easily won the Golf Writers Association of America award as senior player of the year after a successful 2023 season of six victories, including three majors. It was a festive evening at the awards dinner. The only question was whether Stricker would get emotional.

It started when he approached the podium, in part because Gary Woodland moved everyone with heartfelt gratitude after returning from brain surgery.

Stricker pulled himself together, his voice still a little unsteady, but the message was back on track.

“If he looks at my mom, he’ll lose his mind,” his eldest daughter, Bobbi, whispered from her seat in the auditorium.

Stricker spoke about his special year and said he wanted to thank his family. That’s when he turned to look at them and it was over. It was a full seven seconds before he could say another word. Amidst tears, he laughed at himself.

This is what makes him so endearing to so many people.

JT below

Justin Thomas has made a strong recovery this year, but he couldn’t afford a bad week at the BMW Championship. And he had a rough week with his putting at Castle Pines.

Thomas was 49th in key stats heading into the third round. He was on the practice green with his father when he mentioned where he ranked and said, “I can’t believe there’s anyone doing worse than me this week.” »

Mike Thomas had to break the bad news: Hideki Matsuyama had withdrawn and there were only 49 players left on the field.

The good news for Thomas? He won just enough this weekend to finish 30th in the FedEx Cup and return to the Tour Championship.

The other Olympic medal

Scheffler won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. His cadet, Ted Scott, also received a medal and has never been prouder.

Since 2008, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee has presented American medalists with the “Order of Ikkos” medallion to be presented to a key member of their team, usually a coach.

For Scheffler, the choice was easy.

He spoke after the second round about his struggles with his attitude and how his caddy had helped him. Scott then provided the details.

It was on the eighth hole, after Scheffler had made a double bogey following a bad lie in the fairway.

“I called him over from the side of the green and had a stern talk with him,” Scott said. “I just said, ‘I want you to look me in the eye, listen to my words and not respond.'”

The message that followed was that Scheffler should not overcomplicate his game or overreact. The mission ahead was to engage in shooting and accept the outcome.

“I said, ‘You could do it all by the end of the tournament. You don’t know. Let’s see what happens,” Scott said.

He did it all in the end, a 29 on the back nine won the gold medal. He showered Scott with more praise than usual when it was over.

“I’ve never had a pro look me in the eye and say they couldn’t do it without me,” Scott said. “It was special.”

Special year.