This week’s robust edition highlights some of the more revealing Ryder Cup post-mortems, offers future Captaincy speculation, and shares the Rea video that (inevitably) surfaced. All while catching up on a variety of news and notes, including major qualifying kicking off in Spain, a new Captain driving in, plus notes from the Home of Golf, Pinehurst, This, That, and some great Reads
A couple of quick housekeeping notes: the latest McKellar podcast recaps the Ryder Cup in case you’re still thirsting for more from the week at Bethpage.
And a once-in-a-while reminder since two folks kindly asked for permission they did not need me to grant: yes, you can forward the newsletter, and it’s encouraged. Also, the Substack app remains a stellar place to read these blatherings instead of an inbox. And it’s free:
Vice Captain Brandt Snedeker hugs his wife Mandy Snedeker while Keegan Bradley looks on during the 2025 Ryder Cup. (Darren Carroll/PGA of America)
Compared to previous losses when the Cabretta gloves came off and anonymous quotes flooded social media, USA’s losing effort has seen most post-Ryder Cup focus turn to the PGA of America’s lackluster fan control efforts.
In a lengthy consideration of the week and how things feel different this time around, Michael Bamberger points out that this Ryder Cup is “lingering for all the wrong reasons” due to the fan issues. He notes the lack of responsibility taken by higher-ups and highlighted Collin Morikawa’s pre-match remarks calling for “absolute chaos.”
Morikawa defended his remarks this week by agreeing that fans “crossed the line” and does not feel his or Keegan Bradley’s requests for energy led to the issues.
“I think we’ve taken what I said a little out of context,” Morikawa said. “I think Ryder Cups are meant to have a lot of energy, right, and I think me saying the word ‘chaos,’ I didn’t mean for them to be rude, right? So like, that’s not on me, I believe, for me to take credit for people being rude. I think what I meant was like I wanted energy, right?”
The lack of post-match second-guessing appears to be the result of Keegan Bradley’s captaincy producing player satisfaction.
“Everybody loved him,” one official associated with the U.S. side told SI’s Bob Harig. “He did almost nothing wrong, everything, every detail leading up to the Ryder Cup. The players all bought in.”
The only evidence of a change to The Plan was a revelation by Ben Griffin caddie, Alex Ritthamel, telling the Quiet Please! podcast that his man was scheduled to play afternoon four-balls both days.
“We were told leading into the event that, as of now, we’re going to play Friday, Saturday afternoons and then play Sunday,” Ritthamel said. “Ben didn’t play bad on Friday, I wouldn’t say he played great. And it was tough because we were at the golf course when we found out.”
It’s not clear which pairing was sent out in lieu of Griffin by Captain Bradley.
As for the next Captain, Harig’s story explores the challenges ahead in finding the next USA captain should Tiger Woods pass or drag out the process as he did before the committee turned to Bradley.
Phil Mickelson has taken himself out of a running that he was never going to be in now that he’s transitioned into a full-time social media troll. Evidencing how far down the basement hole he’s fallen, Mickelson suggested on social media that another blowup to USA’s approach is needed, ala the 2014 mutiny he led. This time, Mickelson proposed an overseer like Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski or former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz. So much for the young blood approach. Looks like Belichick might be free soon! Wouldn’t that be fun?
AP’s Doug Ferguson recounts how things have gone since the Mickelson mutiny and whether the event would be better off out of the PGA of America’s hands.
As for selling or licensing the Ryder Cup, The Quadrilateralisphere has spoken: 77% voted in favor of the PGA of America selling or licensing the event.
The Fried Egg’s Joseph LaMagna offered a non-monetary case against the PGA Tour taking control of the event: an anti-LIV golfer participation policy that has been on display with the Presidents Cup, and the potential such a policy would similarly undercut the talent pool for the Ryder Cup.
Also…
The cell phone video of Don Rea losing himself in Lose Yourself video has inevitably surfaced thanks to his good, good friends at the Shotgun Start. Warning: The Black Course You can’t unsee this, especially if you’re a dues-paying PGA of America member seeing what your officers do after a long day failing to monitor the ongoing issues at Bethpage.
The R&A kicked off Ryder Cup week by announcing exemptions and qualification standards for The Open at Royal Birkdale. The timing raised questions about wanting to distract from any changes, but alas, things appear the same for 2026 other than new national open exemptions previously announced in conjunction with Augusta National.
The exemptions to the Masters and Open commence with this week’s Open de España presented by Madrid. The winner will receive a Masters invite, while The Open will take the leading player not already exempt (in case the winner is already in The 154th). But just three entrants in Madrid are already exempt for the 154th at Birkdale: Haotong Li, Shane Lowry, and Jon Rahm.
The full Open Qualifying Series schedule was also announced. Click here to view the full schedule of events in The Open Qualifying Series. Besides The Open de Espana, the series now includes the Japan Open and the Link Hong Kong Open following the joint announcement made last month by The R&A and Augusta National Golf Club.
The R&A still has yet to announce how exactly the new “Last-Chance Qualifier” of 12 players will work. But we know they are competing for a final spot at Royal Birkdale on Monday, July 13th. The field of 12 players “will be determined using an approach which complements the existing qualification criteria for The Open.”
Dennis Watson hitting the traditional ceremonial tee shot (R&A)
Dennis Watson became the new Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews last month following the traditional driving-in ceremony.
A large gathering of Members, former Captains and the public assembled to witness the annual tradition commencing at 8 a.m. and accompanied by the firing of a cannon.
“Becoming Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is both a privilege and a source of immense pride,” Watson said after successfully hitting the fairway. “Standing on the 1st tee of the Old Course surrounded by friends and fellow Members is a wonderful way to start my Captaincy. I look forward to representing the Club and supporting The R&A as it continues its work to develop and promote the sport of golf around the world over the coming year.”
Born in Crosby, Watson attended Uppingham School and studied law at Leeds Polytechnic, practicing in criminal law before being appointed Recorder, a part time Crown Court Judge, in 2002. He was appointed Circuit Judge in 2012, based at Liverpool Crown Court, and is authorized to sit in the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division).
Dennis has served on several of the Committees overseeing the work of The R&A, including the Golf Development Committee and the Equipment Standards Committee, which he chaired from 2015-2019, and as a referee on The R&A’s Rules Panel. A member of Royal Birkdale Golf Club since 1975, he as Captain of next year’s Open host in 2008. He is also a member of Royal St George’s Golf Club, Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, the Hittite, Bar, Old Uppinghamian and Prawn golfing societies and the Senior Golfers’ Society. His current Handicap Index is 5.2.
In a tradition unlike any other, the new Captain buys his golf ball back from the caddie who retrieves and returns it with a gold sovereign bearing the head of His Majesty King Charles III. This year caddie Taylor Haugh was the lucky ball-retriever and credited his work to caddyshack scouting.
“One of the boys caddied for Dennis’ friend yesterday, so we got a little bit of insight on his ball shape and how far he hits it. It worked out well for me,” said the 27-year-old who is from Dunedin, New Zealand.
Dennis Watson and caddie Taylor Haugh
According to a report from The Scotsman’s Martin Dempster, the Links Trust of St Andrews reported a £10.8 million surplus after generating income of £48.5 million in 2024.
A total of 281,554 rounds were played on the seven St Andrews courses under the Links Trust’s control and near the 2023 high. (Total revenue generated in 2023 was £43.85 million while the surplus for that year was just under £11.5 million.)
“These are a strong and stable set of results which give the Trust a platform to reinvest with confidence in our facilities, in access, and in encouraging golfers of all ages, abilities and backgrounds who want to play the game,” said Neil Coulson, chief executive of St Andrews Links Trust.
“As a public and charitable trust, we deliver economic, social, and cultural benefit to Scotland, while offering a unique, inclusive experience that resonates with people around the world.”
The Links Trust is spending the profits on a multi-year and multi-course irrigation system replacement program (£10.5 million), a Links Clubhouse renovation prior to the 2027 Open, and has recently completed a dune restoration project on the Jubilee shoreline.
Style and Substance: The Life and Legacy of Payne Stewart, officially opened at the World Golf Hall of Fame on Sept. 12. and will be on display for the next year at Golf House Pinehurst.
Featuring more than 100 items, including many loaned by the Stewart family, the 1999 U.S. Open champion’s life will be celebrated through a wide range of artifacts (a sampling of which were on display during the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst).
The USGA Experience and WGHOF is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
🤬 In a post-Ryder Cup themed assessment, The Guardian’s Rory Carroll considers theories and causations that untether people to do things they ordinarily would not, like yell horrible things at athletes in competition.
🤔 Daily Drive suggests the Masters may regret no longer exempting fall PGA Tour winners after Georgia’s Stephen Fisk won last week.
🚨 James Colgan on the state of New York cracking down on tee time shenanigans at Bethpage following revelations of gaming the system thanks to an NLU podcast.
🤑 Money in Sport with a deeper dive into LIV’s money-losing ways.
👨🌾 Garry Smits on Jeff Plotts, on one of the best in the maintenance business, retiring after 25 years in the TPC network and the last 10 at TPC Sawgrass.
⛳️ Josh Sens on the planned reopening of an affordable seaside California course that was briefly closed.
🏌🏼♂️Larry Bausch on Billy Casper’s morale-boosting trip during the Vietnam War.
💰William Cohan on where things stand with a potential Paramount Skydance bid for Warner Discovery.
🎾 Charlie Eccleshare and James Hansen on how Roger Federer started an Alcaraz and Sinner conspiracy theory over court speed rigging.
💩 Joseph Bernstein profiles Cory Doctorow on the release of Enshittification.
👕 Lauren Collins on Uniqlo’s singular culture, approach to clothes, and quest for global dominance.
