Just like that, the Masters is over, and the golfing world is split into two again. We now have a signature event coming this week in Hilton Head, South Carolina and won't see any of the LIV golfers until the end of the month when they tee it up in Australia. Whatever your take on the PGA and LIV golf split is, it's good for golf when they all tee it up together. Despite disappointing showings from John Rahm, Brooks Koepka, and DJ, Bryson and Tyrell Hatton represented the LIV tour well, finishing inside the top 10, and I, for one, am already looking forward to the next time they all tee it up together in Valhalla next month.
Scottie Scheffler is a golfing freak at the moment, and I wrote in the preview on Thursday that he looks unbeatable, but I didn't see the value of backing a 9/2 golfer on such a tough course. However, it looks like 9/2 will be the best price we see him starting at for the rest of the year if he maintains current form. Whether he can or not is another thing; we probably won't see him again until the PGA as he returns home and awaits the birth of him and his wife's first child. Speaking from experience, he's got a lot of sleepless nights ahead of him for the next couple of months, and the self-professed family man's attention might be turned inward for the rest of the year.
The wind slightly abated for the final round, and Scottie managed to navigate the first 9 holes 1 under par. He said in his post-round press conference that he didn't feel like he hit a good iron shot until the 9th hole, which he left at kick-in distance. He didn't have to wait long for his second good iron shot of the day, hitting it to 9 feet on the tenth for another birdie. He made bogey at the difficult 11th and then went into cruise control from there, making birdies at 13, 14, and 16. He hit it to 2 feet on 14 and 8 feet on 16, leaving the front 9 long game woes in the rearview mirror. Scottie spoke about how nervous he was before the final round at his first major win at Augusta a couple of years ago; yesterday he made a routine par on 17 and then had a great up-and-down on 18 to win. He now seems a lot more comfortable in the hot seat, and the sky really is the limit for the 27-year-old.
Ludvig Aberg added to his list of impressive things he's done in his short stint in professional golf yesterday. Turning pro in June 2023, he's already won on the European Tour, played in a Ryder Cup, won on the PGA tour, and now finished solo 2nd at his first major championship. On the course, he seems incredibly relaxed, which is reminiscent of Henrik 'Iceman' Stenson in his prime. I think it's only a matter of time before Ludvig opens up his major championship account; he has the game to get it done this year, and his odds will certainly be much shorter going into the PGA Championship. His final round oozed class from start to finish; he only made one bad swing costing him a double bogey where it seemed like he caught his approach slightly off the toe - ending up in the water. Everything about him is very likable; there doesn't seem to be any fuss in his game. He steps up and dispatches every shot very quickly; he doesn't have an over-elaborate routine and just seems to get on with things. I think he's a great role model for the younger generation - hit the ball, find it, and play it again.
Tommy Fleetwood had another good week at a major, finishing with a blemish-free final round of 69. Early on in the week, it was reported that he would be working with Augusta National Golf Club caddy, Gray Moore, after his regular looper, Ian Finnis, was spending the week at home recovering from illness. Tommy's T-3 finish earned him just over $1m, which should work out as a payday of about $80k for Gray. I know he must earn a good living working as a caddy at such an exclusive golf club, but in a career that is heavily reliant on tips, I'd say this is the biggest one he's ever earned.
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Our Picks:
Rory McIlroy - 10/1 WIN - T22, we'll go again next year - €10 loss
Xander Schauffele - 14/1 EW* - solo 8th, good enough for a place - €9 gain
Joaquin Niemann - 25/1 EW* - T22, disappointing weekend - €10 loss
Corey Conners Top 20 - 21/10 - T38, disappointing weekend - €5 loss
Outsiders:
Ludvig Aberg - 25/1 EW - solo 2nd, won't be an outsider again - €20 gain
Matthieu Pavon - 200/1 EW - T12, good showing. One to watch for the year - €10 loss
Overall: -€6: quite close to being a profitable week.