Welcome to the Monday Leaderboard
Where we run down the weekend’s top stories in the wonderful world of golf. Grab an Arnold Palmer, pull up a chair, and hold on tight for playoff season…
No caddie, no problem for Hideki
Golf has the strangest season structure in all of sports. The sport’s four most important tournaments take place over roughly a 100-day period from April to July, leaving 250-or-so days for other tournaments, including the current FedEx Cup Playoffs. While the playoffs may not have the cachet of the majors, they do offer a substantial paycheck. Hideki Matsuyama triumphed in the first round of the playoffs in Memphis, overcoming the challenge of not having his caddie and coach due to stolen passports. Despite almost blowing his lead, Matsuyama rallied with two birdies on the final two holes to win the first playoff stop by a stroke.
Scottish dominance for Coughlin
Lauren Coughlin secured a four-stroke victory in the Scottish Open, her second win in three weeks. With three birdies in the final five holes, she maintained her lead over Esther Henseleit. The AIG Women’s Open at St. Andrews is up next.
Rahm & Koepka’s heavyweight LIV battle
Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka went head-to-head in a playoff in LIV Golf’s Greenbrier event. Despite the thrilling competition, the viewership was low. Koepka emerged victorious, adding to his five wins on the LIV tour.
Another Spanish star-to-be wins Amateur
Josele Ballester became the first Spanish player to win the U.S. Amateur, defeating Noah Kent. Ballester’s victory guarantees him entry to three of the four majors next year as long as he remains an amateur.
End-of-season cut lines loom
The top 70 in FedEx Cup points played in Memphis, but only the top 50 advanced to the next round. The Tour Championship will feature only the top 30 players. Names like Max Homa, Keegan Bradley, and Bubba Watson are on the verge of missing the cut.
The Mulligan: We’ve all been there, Sam
Sam Burns broke his driver in frustration during a round in Memphis but still managed to finish T5 for the week. He will need a full bag of clubs for the upcoming Tour Championship.