Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week we discuss Ryder Cup stock, Tiger Woods’ playing plans, Greg Norman’s LIV legacy and John Daly’s 19.
The Ryder Cup is two weeks away, but 21 of the 24 players competing in it were playing over the weekend at the Procore Championship in Napa and the BMW PGA in England. From everything you read, heard and saw, what was your biggest takeaway from Ryder Cup training camp?
Zephyr Melton, associate game-improvement editor (@zephyrmelton): Lots of Ryder Cuppers had their names on the first couple pages of the two leaderboards (Ben Griffin, Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Russell Henley, Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland). Nice to see a bunch of them in fine form heading to Bethpage. Should make for some high-level golf in a couple of weeks.
Alan Bastable, executive editor (@alan_bastable): I should hope they’re well-repped on the first two pages, especially at the Procore! No disrespect to the rest of the field but this is the kind of week in which the alphas should be throwing their weight around. I’ve been taken by the praise the U.S. players have been heaping upon Keegan Bradley, in terms of how he’s been communicating with his squad and keeping them on task; he seems to be pressing all the right buttons. We’ll see if that continues in the heat of battle.
Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): My biggest takeaway is that golf is hilarious; immediately after Europe selects its Ryder Cup team (and names him vice captain) Alex Noren wins two of his next three starts?! Including this week, where he beats the entire European team? You probably wouldn’t see an offensive coordinator beating out the QBs in a preseason game — but here we are. Also, both teams have now had ample time to bond and prep before Bethpage; there will be fingers pointed post-Ryder Cup but “carelessness” won’t be a valid accusation on either side.
Whose Ryder Cup stock went up or down, both individually and as a team?
Melton: I’m not sure if you can put too much stock into one tournament, but if I had to pick I’d go with Team USA. Prior to Rome the Americans didn’t get many competitive reps, and it doomed them at Marco Simone. Their little “training camp” in Napa should serve them well in terms of keeping the competitive juices flowing.
Bastable: If there were any lingering questions about Ben Griffin, he answered them in Napa. On the flip side, Justin Thomas’s week might give Captain Bradley pause. JT made the cut by only one and closed with a rocky 75 that included two double bogeys. Not exactly the Ryder Cup springboard for which he would have been looking. On the Euro side, Matt Fitzpatrick, who finished T5 at Wentworth, is continuing to exhibit excellent form; I think he’ll be a problem for the Americans. And how ’bout P-Reed’s T3! He won’t be at Bethpage, but you can’t help but think Capt. America wasn’t playing with a little extra burn this week.
Dethier: Scottie Scheffler’s stock somehow keeps rising; this latest win felt like further proof that he makes golf simpler than the rest of the world. Other upward arrows? Ryder Cup rookies Ben Griffin, J.J. Spaun, and Cameron Young, who each finished in the top 10. On the flip side, Justin Thomas had an uncharacteristically poor week with his irons and his putter, which isn’t ideal (though also could easily not matter?) heading to the Ryder Cup. For the Euros I’m particularly excited by the idea of both Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg heading to Bethpage in good form — they were a blast to watch last time around. Just not to play against…
Did the last week change your opinion on the Ryder Cup outcome two weeks from now?
Melton: Not even a little bit.
Bastable: Right. At this point, nothing short of Scottie Scheffler getting the shanks can change my opinion of how the week is going to unfold: tense slug fest until final singles match.
Dethier: Nah, whether it’s a sleepy week in wine country or one of the DP World Tour’s biggest events, it just doesn’t compare to what’ll await at Bethpage. The only thing that made me think twice: Ben Griffin’s missed putt on 18. Whether that was good experience putting under the gun or a sign of sketchiness to come? That remains to be seen.
Greg Norman officially announced his departure from LIV Golf, bringing an end to a four-year relationship (three as CEO) in which Norman helped the breakaway league come to life. What will Norman’s LIV legacy be?
Melton: He’ll be known for his steadfast commitment to getting the league off the ground. Was he the best CEO? Probably not. But he did an admirable job shepherding the league through its infancy, which counts for something.
Bastable: LIV didn’t only need billions of dollars to get off the ground — it also needed a brand-name pitchman to bring credibility to the league and sell the vision. When Jack and Tiger passed, Norman answered the bell. He never felt like a long-term solution for commish or CEO, but he deserves much credit for helping bring across the finish line many of LIV’s first wave of signees.
Dethier: I know he’s been in the background for a while now but I still can’t quite wrap my brain around the idea that Norman and LIV are just — done. In my mind LIV is Greg Norman. The league took on his personality; its players took the chip from his shoulder and put it on theirs. Again, I know this has been in the works for a very long time, but the idea of a Norman-less LIV is very, very strange. The league’s legacy will double as his. It’s not clear when that’ll be cemented.
Tiger Woods was spotted hitting balls during an appearance for his Nexus Cup, although Woods still hasn’t played a tournament since the 2024 Open Championship. Coming off his latest surgeries, what’s a realistic goal for events for Woods to play in the next year?
Melton: If he can tee it up in all four majors, I’d say that’s a huge win. I hate to say it, but Tiger is more of a ceremonial golfer than an actual competitor at this stage. His body is just too banged up for much else.
Bastable: All four majors? I think Melton means all nine majors: four on the regular tour and another five on the Champions circuit! (Lest you’ve forgotten, Tiger turns 50 on Dec. 30). Maybe that’s an aggressive schedule, but I’m hopeful TW embraces the cart-friendly senior tour. Regardless, in whatever capacity we get to see Woods striking balls in 2026 — at the Masters, in a dome, at the U.S. Senior Open at old-timey Scioto — it’s a win.
Dethier: Can’t believe you guys are ignoring Tiger’s upcoming TGL season. If you think about it, that way we could see TW on three different tours — though it’s also possible we’ll see him in none. I bet we see Tiger at the Masters, though, and hopefully before then. It’ll be fun when we do.
John Daly made headlines in the most John Daly way ever, blowing up for a 19 on one hole in a Champions Tour event. What’s your personal worst on-course blowup (or one you spotted in person)?
Melton: I once saw a kid in high school golf tryouts make a 17 on a hole, only to follow it up with a birdie on the following par-3. Not sure many folks have witnessed a 17-2 stretch like that. Hell of a bounce back.
Bastable: Hate to be a buzzkill but I pride myself on octuple-bogey avoidance.
Dethier: I made an 11 at the state championship in high school; I got stuck in the woods, Daly-style. But I was really blown away by the stats behind this latest double-digit Daly moment — turns out this is at least the 16th score of 10 or higher he’s recorded in PGA Tour-sanctioned competition. Nobody does it quite like JD. (As for Zephyr’s high-school teammate? He should know that Daly went 18-2 at Bay Hill. Life is all about how you respond.)
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