Rory Lets a Major Roar at Royal Liverpool

Everyone looked for the next Tiger Woods. Just like people looked for the next Michael Jordan. Like others looked for the next Brett Favre. Golf thought they found it with Rory McIlroy. He blazed through the 2012 season winning four tournaments including a major victory. This became his second major at age 23. People rushed to great overreactions about what Rory could be or would be in his future. He took a major step back in 2013 without any wins and had a great deal in major tournaments. McIlroy started to show signs of life in 2014 again with a European win in May and broke through with another major championship winning the third leg of the Grand Slam of Golf.

Golf is such a tough spot to predict the future for a variety of reasons. One minute, people are predicting Adam Scott will be the next great golfer, or Bubba Watson is the new face of golf replacing Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. The next minute, we are talking about Rory being the next greatest thing to come walking through golf's door. McIlroy is a star without question and doing things in majors that almost no one did in golf throughout the years. He has the chance to be the future of this sport, but it is not a given which is what really does make golf great. 

Even with a player of McIlroy's caliber, everyone waited for the bottom to fall out for him on Friday's round. The recent narrative about him has been he plays a great round or two then it all goes to shit in one of the four rounds costing him a shot at the title. This didn't happen with McIlroy at Royal Liverpool as he stayed steady.  What made it more impressive is this leaderboard wasn't a host unknowns in the golf world. It featured former major champions and other great players of the world. It didn't even phase McIlroy. He sliced through the leaderboard like a hot knife through butter. Rickie Fowler had four rounds in the 60's and didn't win the tournament. Hell, he didn't even come very close. Fowler ended up finishing three strokes behind Rory. That's how dominant the performance was for the Northern Ireland product. He completely housed the entire field. 

Speaking about the future and the trends of golf, 2014 turned the narratives completely around. For a couple years, we had first-time major winners and this year features all former major winners.  Another new trend is one player going out and completely dominating for the entire tournament. This trend could end in August for all of us whom enjoy watching on Sunday afternoons with a hangover. Sure, what McIlroy, Martin Kaymer at the U.S. Open and what Watson did at The Masters were all great golf feats, but it is truly boring to watch when we know what the outcome will be at the end of the tournament. Golf has become that predictable television program you keep watching even if it becomes predictable halfway through the episode. 

Is McIlroy the next great golfer?  Who knows. He could be the best in the world for the next decade where Rory gets multiple majors. The attitude is not liked by everyone which makes him a great sports figure. Golfers cannot be loved by all. They need those who root for them and those who cheer for the Sunday collapse. It is one of the many things that makes golf great.  

Charlie.  

The Evisceration of Pinehurst: A Martin Kaymer Story.

When Martin Kaymer fired off a five under 65 on Thursday afternoon on a beautiful day at Pinehurst No. 2, people expected him to come back to earth. Sure, this is a former number one in the world, a former Major champion and the winner of the 2014 Players Championship, but still it seemed ridiculous to fire off such a low number at a course which is known for its torment of golfers, not pleasure. Kaymer went out and fired off another 65 putting him at 10 under for the weekend. The German golfer shredded the entire course to have his second major victory. It might have hurt the ratings and entertainment of the tournament  yet this is the most impressive major wins in the last decade.

Kaymer didn't flinch at all out there for the whole weekend. The resiliency he showed throughout the entire weekend was something to admire ensuring no one even sniffed the lead. Kaymer could have easily shot a 75 on Saturday, and there would have been multiple golfers with a chance.  He didn't play the best on Saturday, but kept his composure with no one really challenging him. He may have dropped two strokes, but the closest golfer to him was Rickie Fowler at three under which was five strokes behind him. Kaymer didn't ever feel a sweat drop on the back of his spine all weekend. This isn't a criticism of the other golfers rather an appreciation of what Kaymer did over the weekend.

When looking at impressive major victories, it ranks way up there. Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach is the standard, but it's fair to put Kaymer's weekend right up there. The closest golfer by the end of the day on Sunday was a slew of golfers at one under while Kaymer stood tall at nine under. He nearly had a double digit victory like Woods did at Pebble Beach.  Louis Ooshuizen's Open Championship victory ended up being very solid and concrete yet he still had some challengers. Same goes for Rory McIlroy's U.S. Open win, and that one adds a little more because of the age of McIlroy yet Congressional is not the same course as Pinehurst. In 2005, Michael Campbell won a U.S. Open where he finished at even par, and Payne Stewart won at Pinehurst only being one under. Kaymer added eight strokes making it that much more stunning of a victory.

Where does Kaymer rank as a top golfer in the world? He might be right there with Adam Scott right now honestly. Kaymer wins two of the toughest tournaments of the season already and will be a likely favorite at the Open Championship and the PGA Championship this season. Kaymer also probably should be considered a favorite to take the FedEx Cup if he keeps playing on the PGA Tour.  It doesn't seem like anything phases him, and he returned to the form that made him one of the best golfers in the world three years ago.

This is what makes golf an incredible sport. Unlike other sports, golfers can disappear for awhile and lose what they had in the past then reappear better than ever like the 2.0 version of themself. It is beautiful thing to watch unfold in real time. Kaymer is back to prominence and will make a run at the number one spot again plus be a lethal part of the 2014 Ryder Cup team.

Charlie.  

U.S. Open Preview: Tee Time Draft

We are bringing back the golf coverage for U.S. Open week. Bryan Reynolds will be doing an international preview tomorrow and a Tee Time Draft come Wednesday.  This is our usual major coverage program, but we like doing it plus it provides you with full insight on what is set to happen this weekend in North Carolina at the always tough Pinehurst No. 2. 

Bryan's First Pick: Bubba Watson, Adam Scott, Charl Schwartzel

What better way to draw attention than to put your last three Masters Champions in a Thursday/Friday group together?! It is not to say that their games necessarily fit this course, but this group certainly draws the interest of the common viewer. Every golf fan in America seems to be on Team Bubba these days and who doesn't like Adam Scott? Schwartzel is a great sleeper pick this week due to his consistency which is what you want one a course where the winning score may not be under par.

Charlie's First Pick: Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Webb Simpson 

I love this group for the two Northern Irishmen. This group feels like three guys whom would have some beers together on a casual Saturday admiring their shots and trying to one-up each other. Honestly, I think it is better for these guys in the first two rounds to play with their friends on tour versus their rivals. McDowell and McIlroy are both favorites in the tournament without question as both have won a U.S. Open before. Further, Simpson is a guy we should not be slept on even though he hasn't played well in 2014. He knows Open conditions and finished third last week.

Bryan's Second Pick: Jason Dufner, Keegan Bradley, Martin Kaymer
The dynamics of this group just blows my mind. Besides the fact that Duf and Keegan are best friends, they are also major champions, along with Kaymer. In fact, they are all three PGA Champions and PGA Champions exclusively. I would think there will be a good amount of side bets flying around this week, especially between the two Americans, but keep an eye on Kaymer to ride that Players Championship, to success here.

Charlie's Second Pick: Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood, Matt Kuchar

We can call this group... "Best three guys without a major."  I mean it is fair statement to say because all of these guys had at least one chance to win a major, and if one of these guys have one of the final pairings on Saturdays, no one is going to be shocked in the slightest. Stenson would surprise a ton of people because he doesn't get much media attention, but any golf fan would not be surprised if he held up the U.S. Open trophy by Sunday. Also all three guys are pretty fun to watch.

Bryan's Third Pick: Dustin Johnson, Jimmy Walker, Victor Dubuisson
This group interests me almost as much as it confuses me. Dubuisson, or Dubs as I will call him for the sake of typing, is somehow still riding the success at The Match Play to a premier pairing at a major championship. Dubs short game could reign supreme this week, as some of the rough at Pinehurst looks worse than what he recovered from in Arizona earlier this year. DJ is still scrapping away at that elusive first major, but he will have to stay clean off the tee to find success here. His long iron distance may be enough to put him in contention Sunday.

Charlie's Third Pick: Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama, Rickie Fowler 

Oh hell yeah. This is my group. If there is a group to watch all weekend, it is this group due to their exciting play as well as the opportunity for one of the young guys to make a move towards the top. Here's the crazy thing, Matsuyama might be the hottest player in this group. He won at the Memorial, finished 10th at The Colonial and a top 25 at The Players, that's a pretty strong streak going into the tournament. Spieth will win this tournament at some point of his career, but I am a little worried about him this week. He has a ton of pressure going into this tournament with how he played at Augusta. This could be the one of four majors where the pressure gets to him a bit. Fowler had a top 10 finish at the U.S. Open last season. 

Bryan's Fourth Pick: Justin Rose, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Phil Mickelson
With Lefty going through a hell of an insider trading investigation, the USGA did not do him any favors with this group. They tormented him by putting him with the defending champion in a major that he just can’t seem to win. If Phil wins this week, expect one massive fist pump and body convulsion; this would be a big one.

Charlie's Fourth Pick: Sergio Garcia, Jason Day, Brandt Snedeker 

We can call this group 'Team injury' because Day is bothered by a bad thumb injury where he has been totally limited with what he's been able to do this season. Apparently, everyone thinks he could be full healthy and ready to go for this one. I think he might be the favorite for the Open Championship. Snedeker has been terrible this season for the most part with only one top 10 finish which happened in the month of May. Sergio is the best guy in this group, and one of the funnest players to watch whether you love him or hate him for the antics alone.

Bryan's Fifth Pick: Ian Poulter, Miguel Angle Jimenez, Thongchai Jaidee
When we do this thing, Charlie and I try to not only pick winners, but guys that we would recommend watching. Jimenez is that guy. I can’t guarantee it but at some point, I would think he will have three or four birdies in a row, followed by a string of six or seven pars, that will catapult him to the first page of the leaderboard. That being said, these guys could all shoot a million and I would not be shocked.

Charlie's Fifth Pick: Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Bill Haas 

Honestly, this is a boring group. Are they three guys whom could win this whole damn tournament? No question about it. Stricker is playing good golf on his limited schedule, and trust me, he would be one of the best stories on Sunday if in the lead. Same goes for Haas whose last start saw him get a top 10 with the whole storyline about his dad, Jay, one of the most well-liked guys on the tour. Furyk is about as dry as the Sahara so he could get cut for all I care. 

Bryan and Charlie. 

U.S. Open Preview: Five International Players to Watch

After a few consecutive weeks off of golf coverage, Charlie and I are back to cover the U.S. Open. I have been assigned the ever difficult task of picking a few favorites, from across the world, to contend for the second major championship of the year. There are a few that jump off the page but I am going to give you a couple others that may sneak their way into contention on Sunday afternoon.

1) Rory McIlroy
With his fellow Nike boy Mr. Woods riding the pine, Rory seems to be the hands down favorite to snag this championship. Rory has been playing great golf this year, but only grabbed one win on the 2014 campaign. After failing to finish the job at The Honda Classic, he ditched his fiance and won a big tournament across the pond; The BMW PGA Championship. Rory has one of the greatest approach games in golf and knows what it takes to win this tournament. Although he was only 16 the last time the USGA was at Pinehurst, Rory has one the U.S. Open in 2011 and finish in the top 10 one more time in his five total attempts. Look for Rory to ‘Own the Second Shot’ and string together some exciting golf.

2) Sergio Garcia

It seems to be tradition that somehow Sergio makes his way into SnoTap major columns. He is the kind of guy you just can’t ignore, especially here. Sergio is the only pro playing this week that finished in the top 10 back in 2005. He carded at impressive T3 result that year. Although Garcia missed the cut at Augusta earlier this year, he finished 3rd at The Players, the Tour’s fifth major. Sergio is second in GIR from non-fairway situations, which may be a commonality throughout the week.

3) Miguel Angel Jimenez
Another Spaniard? Why not!? If this isn't the year of Adam Scott, it is defiantly the year of Jimenez. He is well known as ‘The Most Interesting Man in Golf’ but he is yet to crown himself a major champion. Although he is yet to miss a cut in 2014, he hasn't fared well in U.S. Opens in the past. He will have to capitalize on his short game and mid-distance approach because he is not able to get off the tee like the young guns.

4) Louis Oosthuizen
From a guy that hasn't won a major to a guy who has won one, but nobody remembers; I think Louis may find himself hanging around come Sunday. Louis is a great ball striker but can just have a streaky game at times. In 2011, the year that Rory won, Oosty finished in a tie for ninth at Congressional. Although he only has one top 10 so far this year, I think he will find a way to grace the leaderboard when it matters.

5) Adam Scott
The man that cannot be ignored. Scott is not known for play well at the U.S. Open but I don’t think it matters. His last 12 months prove he can win/contend anywhere. The Aussie has never finished higher than 15th in this major but his record so far this season shows he will at least be around for the weekend. Adam’s worst finish this year came at The Players with a tie for 38th, which is still nothing to be ashamed of. Look for him to do what he does best and ride the momentum to success.

-Bryan