Welcome to GHIN & Tonic: Volume 11! This is my first go-round, and I am quite nervous about it. I was “voluntold” this assignment by our Editorial Director, which is cool because I wouldn't have raised my hand to do it without his push. (Note: KVV also told me via his Twitter this week that I won a used MacBook and new’ish iPad Air. Who knows what to believe anymore?)

Writing scares me. Which is wild to say for a person who used to write Intelligence Reports for a living. The last time I sat down to write with this much struggle was in Spring 2020. Now, this edition of G&T is not the Afghanistan withdrawal plan (which was clearly scrapped), but it is still a mess for someone with ADHD. It makes me even more grateful for the written word and those who sit down and wrestle with it for a living. And most importantly, their editors.

: I would like to start by saying how damn proud I (we) are of Lauren Coughlin.

If you are unaware, our Young Hitter finished solo fourth at The Amundi Evian Championship this week. Her third-round 65 put her in a prime position for a chance to win her first major. And on Sunday, she was there! LC was so calm and in control of her golf ball, turning with a 4-under 31 before opening her back nine with six straight pars.

There were multiple moments where she was tied for the lead with Steph Kyriacou and others where she sat alone. I cannot remember the last time I was that excited at 6:30 a.m. Texas time.

I was glued to the TV when my three girls finally woke up. They made their way downstairs for some quality snuggle time, right as a tough three-putt bogey struck on the 16th hole. By the time LC’s group arrived at the 17th tee, I was visibly nervous. The girls asked me if everything was OK.

Why did Dad have so much energy this early in the morning? Well, because it felt like it was slipping away. Not even because of LC’s bogey but because of everything else happening. Patty T made an eagle on 18 to get into the clubhouse at 17 under. Kyriacou, playing in the final group with LC and Ayaka Furue, made back-to-back birdies. Ayaka had made three birdies in a row and was very much in it. Guided by caddie/husband John Pond, LC’s tee shot on 17 found the right side of the dogleg right fairway. With a tree in her line of sight, she took dead aim. And it looked great. Unfortunately, the greenside bunker short right that seemed to be the front right pin’s only defense got in the way. She missed her number by a foot. Two at max.

As she and John walked up the 17th fairway (for all of half a second that Golf Channel aired) you could see the momentum leaving her body. Her shoulders hung a bit lower.

And back in Texas, there was a sinking feeling in my stomach. I felt for my friend. John did a great job talking her through the bunker shot, trying to keep her locked in. The same thing he did down 18. Ayaka made a great eagle putt on 18, claiming her first major championship. LC and John, standing side by side as the putt was rolling towards the hole, turned and laughed to each other. They quickly turned to give their customary hugs before the champagne and water celebration engulfed the 18th green.

Lauren has been on the professional grind for a long time (turning pro in 2016) but it feels like she is growing into her own. This solo fourth finish and her T3 earlier in the year at the Chevron Championship are all coming during the first year she is automatically into all five majors. Rightfully disappointed about a couple of bad holes, she is quick to point out how great the week – and year – has been overall.

She is in serious contention for an automatic Solheim Cup pick. Simply awesome stuff.

So when the girls asked me, “What is the matter, Dad?” I used the moment to talk about LC, someone they already know, and how things sometimes do not go how we want. The result doesn't define who we are or what we are capable of. We also talked about what defeat is and how it makes us better in the long run.

And I was really into the speech, talking to them in the eyes and everything. I paused in between points, making sure they were taking it all in.

And when I was done, the littlest one, with a look of confusion, asked “Can we watch Bluey now…?”

Page Break

 held at Sand Creek Station in Newton, KS. 

Kipp Popert claimed his second U.S. Adaptive Open trophy with rounds of 65-66-71 to finish -14 total. This is Kipp’s second U.S. Adaptive Open win, making him the first overall winner to go back-to-back. 

After opening with a 3-under -69, Bailey Bish did her part to hold onto an eventual 4-stroke victory in the Women’s Overall Championship. Her second-round 78 brought ‘22 Champion Kim Moore and ‘23 Champion Ryanne Jackson into the fold heading into the final day. But a final round 77 was enough for Bish as Moore and Jackson struggled to mount a final round charge. Outside of Overall Champions, the USGA also awards medals to each of the 15 category winners. Congratulations to Kipp and Bailey, category winners and all who qualified.

Speaking of qualifying, I was lucky enough to attend the first edition of this Championship held at Pinehurst No. 6 in 2022. For the first two years of the Championship, some competitors and outsiders grew disgruntled by the qualification/selection criteria used by the USGA to fill the Championship field. 

Like most things at the USGA, they listened and made changes

For the first time in the history of the Championship, six qualifiers were held across the United States. Exemptions were expanded to include the male and female Champions from the Canadian All Abilities Championship, male and female winners of the G4D Open, and the top 10 men’s and top 5 female points leaders of the WR4GD rankings. These changes not only make the championship the best field in adaptive golf, but prove that it is open to all.

Next step for adaptive golf? Inclusion into the Paralympics. It is silly that this is where we are at in 2024. The International Golf Federation has been working with the International Paralympic Committee since before Golf was added to the Olympic Program in 2016 and there is still no change. In fact, the IGF has been told no four times already, with the latest denial leaving golf 

Thankfully, the IGF has not waivered in its support of adaptive golf, and with the success of the U.S. Adaptive Open (USGA) and the G4D Open (R&A), it will continue to make strides to promote the sport for potential inclusion by the time we get to Australia in 2032.

 Scottish golf! Both the Scottish followed by The Open come at the perfect time each summer. 

For me, we are right at the tipping point of crazy hot to stupid hot in the Texas yearly calendar. Maybe it is just having live golf in the morning, but it makes me feel physically cooler. Sure, there are plenty of things that could be said about the state of professional men’s golf in 2024 (Why is the Irish Open not in this run?). But this morning I have no time for that. 

What I do have is a confession: It’s a yearly reminder that I have never played golf in Scotland…

That last sentence was painful to type, especially when you work for the company that I do. I have watched Season 2 of Tourist Sauce close to a dozen times. I have seen the crew take Nest members over for an NLU event and another trip to play TOC in reverse. I have made my way through every One the Road with Iona/Cookie Jar/EAL/you name it Scottish video series. I love it all.

The craziest thing about it all is that I have been to the vast majority of courses in the Open rota!

Yari and I spent 21 days traveling across the British Isles for our honeymoon. Starting in London armed only with my LG Chocolate and a road atlas for directions, we set off. Starting north to St Andrews, across to Muirfield and Troon, down to Birkdale, Liverpool, Lytham & St. Annes before we hopped a ferry to Ireland. 

Bed & Breakfasts each night with golf clubs in tow, I simply never played. At the time I had some regrets, but I consciously chose to spend time with the person I love most doing whatever she wanted. I think over time, the history of the places or the sights in front of her left an imprint. She realized that golf was not something I just played, but something that was a deep passion burning inside of me. 

The playing of it will change next month when Randy and I make our way over to St Andrews for the AIG Women’s Open. But the void of it over the last 15 years is something I am grateful for.

Why is this coming up now? Because my game is in shambles! 

I know I am not the only one who has had this feeling before. The pending golf trip that you think about way too much is immediately followed by a rush of anxiety because you know your game is shit. 

I am caught between major changes to my swing and my body. I get to the range about three times a week to grind on the 

 have me working on. For the first time in my adult life, I feel more confident in my putting than I do my full swing. If you have watched my game at all, that is saying something. 

I have worked really hard on my body this year, which has resulted in losing some weight and most importantly, gaining muscle. The reason here was two parts: not getting kicked out of bed for snoring anymore and to increase my swing speed. 

I have accomplished the first but am struggling with the latter. To fix this D.J., Casey and I went and saw Dr. Greg Rose and had our evaluations done at TPI. I do not want to spoil the pending content, but it is working. I get excited just from seeing the physical changes daily. And I know it takes time for all of this to result in lower scores. I guess the one saving grace as I blade ball after ball on the range, trying to get my swing plane lower is the low ball will work in Scotland. 

I will just need to invest some time in my bunker game to make up for it.

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Hand up, you are catching me on a very difficult week in the world of parenting. We had a blast over the 4th of July and apparently, so did everyone else at my kids’ summer camp. The issue with long holiday weekends is that while everyone gets out and about, the kids pick up every germ known to man. 

We started Monday off on a high note, with everyone excited to be back in camp and seeing their friends. That night, while Momma and I were settled into the previous night's House of Dragon episode, the stomach bug appeared. I hope (pray) we are on the other side of it now, but you never know.

I spent the rest of what little free time I had doing our graphics package for the following week’s live shows. I would never claim to be the artistic type, but it is something that I have learned to really love. 

Maybe it is the process of it all, but it has turned into something therapeutic for me. I am very much a “learn from your mistakes” type. And even though our graphics are as low stakes as can be, the short feedback loop has taught me a lot of new skills. Different programs and different looks for each major. I know immediately when something looks like crap, and am quick to dump it and start over. Bottom line: keep learning new stuff, it’s good for the brain.

The MacKenzie Reader: Writings on Golf Architecture and More

 a few months ago but never got around to reading it. I am not an architecture guy, mostly because I struggle to define what I am looking at or for. But I have always been fascinated by The Good Doctor, and there is no better place to start than with his lost writings and illustrations. I will report back when I wrap it up.

During some downtime last week, I went to the movie theatre to watch 

. I am a big Kevin Costner fan, and I feel like almost everything he does has some soul left in it. I guess my hopes for his big passion project were a bit too high because this movie stunk. If I could ask for my money back, I would. We would be better off seeing him back in the Governor's Mansion fighting land developers and crooked tribal leaders in Yellowstone.

Not to leave you on a negative: I highly recommend 

 on Netflix. Last year the combo of NFL Films, Omaha Productions and Patrick Mahomes’s 2PM Productions brought 

GHIN & Tonic, Vol. 11 (Cody)

Welcome to GHIN & Tonic Vol. 10. Double digits! Thanks, as always, for reading. Here are a few quick things that are on my mind this week.

The best golf thing I read last week – actually the best thing I've read in many, many weeks – was 

Brendan Quinn's profile of Lilia Vu in The Athletic

. Actually, it's much less of a profile of Vu, herself. It's more of a telling of her origin story.

If you watched any of Lilia's historic run in the majors last year, you probably heard broadcasters making passing mentions of her family's history; her grandparents escaping Vietnam on a homemade boat with a handful of others and making their way to America to start a new life. When it's crammed into a few lines in a media guide, it's a compelling note. But when it's spelled out in full detail – through countless interviews and stop-you-in-your-tracks, first-person perspective, it makes for one of the most thoughtful and propulsive pieces I've ever read in golf. 

I wouldn't call myself a particularly patriotic person, and the Olympics as a whole have, admittedly, always been mostly an eye roll for me. But all I'll say is that it's hard to get to the end of a piece like this and not be struck by how beautiful an American medal would look at the end of this particular butterfly effect.

Massive thanks to BQ and everyone who participated in this piece for creating a true show-stopper and an unforgettable feature.

In other news: A professional golfer named Hayden Springer shot 59 last week at the John Deere Classic. It was the 14th time someone has broken 60 on the PGA Tour.

Shooting 59 on a 7,300-yard PGA Tour setup (even a soft one like TPC Deere Run) is a concept that every golfer can theoretically wrap their heads around. You need to make everything. You need a couple of good breaks. But I would guess that the level of golf required to do so is still basically inconceivable to most people. It’s Video Game Golf. Maybe better, honestly. Springer, a player you probably have never heard of, shot 27 on the front nine. 

When I was growing up, 59 was a mythical number. Sub-60 rounds were like comets that only came around once a decade. It was really fun to look for them. Guys might get close occasionally, but even after Al Geiberger broke the seal in 1977, there were only two more 59s in the next 22 years. And that third one was, of course, the best one: David Duval closing out the Bob Hope in 1999 with a final-round 59 to win by one.

The only one I saw in person was Jim Furyk’s 59, which might have been the most impressive (no one else shot better than 65 on that blustery day at Conway Farms). I was covering the round for the PGA Tour and even though it was a Friday, it felt every bit as exciting as watching someone chase down their first Tour title.

Since Duval, it’s happened 11 more times and each one understandably feels a little less exciting. That’s the way life goes. To be honest, scanning through the list of players to break 60, I forgot about half of them had happened. (Kevin Chappell?)

Springer’s 59 was the second on the PGA Tour in 12 days, after Cameron Young’s 59 at the Travelers. These Guys Are Good. Live Under Par. Things of that nature.

Being a superstar has never been a prerequisite for shooting 59. A lot of 59ers look much more like Springer than Scottie Scheffler (oh, right, he did it once, too). Coming into the week, Springer had made 6 of 18 cuts on Tour. DataGolf had him as the 295th-ranked golfer in the world. 

None of this is meant as a shot at Springer: Instead, what I'm struck by is the feeling that rounds like this might be the best way to illustrate how incredibly deep the game is. This is what the majority of the PGA Tour is – anonymous golfers of inconceivable talent, capable of swooping in and being the best player in the world on any given day.

There are a lot of painfully obvious reasons for this increase in sub-60 rounds: Players are better than ever. Agronomy is better than ever. Most of all, equipment is laughably long, forgiving and optimized. I suppose this is what it looks like when a league’s entire floor gets higher. It doesn't ruin my day and I really don’t want to be too precious about it. I just wish this "progress" was a little more fun. This one barely made a sound.

As arbitrary as the difference between 60 and 59 is, I kind of feel like eulogizing what we’ve lost as these types of scores become so commonplace that we start to lose track of them.

A “59 watch” was one of my favorite things in the game. Maybe it was the absurdity of the number itself and just how magical and out of place a 5 looks on a scoreboard filled with 6s and 7s. Maybe it was the fact that YOU knew that THEY knew they were getting close to breaking the sound barrier and you got to watch exactly how that feeling changed their process and emotions on those last few holes. Those moments were some of my favorites in a lifetime of watching golf.

 at the Phoenix Open? The golf world stopped. He knew exactly what was on the line. Him coming up short was borderline emotional. The near-misses were just as captivating (maybe even more captivating) than the successes.

We all have our own version of this, which I think is what made those moments both inconceivable AND deeply relatable. Your number might be 79 or 99 or 109, but the feeling is the same. “If I can just do X on the last Y holes…” Hell, our 

 is powered largely by this exact feeling and idea. Perfection in golf is 

 to be elusive and we aren’t supposed to be posing for history book photos every week.

But the pro game marches on, a little less relatable than it was before. Here’s to whoever turns out to be Mr. or Ms. 57, I suppose. It just doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.

I had the privilege of hopping on the TrapDraw last week with Neil and Cody to talk about my trip to see Dead and Company at The Sphere (I can’t leave off the “The” – it sounds so stupid).

As we said on the podcast, I think my brother’s assessment of the venue was my favorite that I’ve heard: “It might be the first technological advancement in a while that feels like an uncomplicated net positive.” It’s really freaking fun. And with the valid exception of the steep ticket prices or some possible motion sickness, I would be fascinated to talk to someone who didn’t feel the same way.

When I tried on the Apple Vision Pro for the first time, I was similarly overwhelmed by the creative possibilities, but that, like so many other internetty things, also came with a pit in my stomach about isolation and the idea of somehow being even more tethered to devices and couches. (I’m sure much of this is just me becoming An Old. What are you gonna do?)

(The) Sphere, by contrast, felt like an extremely communal, in-person experience, and I kind of love the fact that it’s mostly impossible to capture with cell phone photos or videos. Everyone inside was mostly there for the first time, having their minds melted simultaneously in the same room together. You could look at the person next to you and see your own bewilderment reflected right back to you, which is the best feeling. Add in the decades of context that most people in the audience had with the songs being played and it really is kind of an emotional experience.

Speaking of those songs: I’m well aware of how grating the entire jam band thing can be and I’m not here to convince you otherwise. I will say this: For a night full of songs that date back 50 or 60 years, I was shocked at the youthful energy at the show and I think it’s fascinating to think about why so many people of all ages get swept up by this band at unexpected times in their lives.

 captures the experience well. As comfortable as cynicism and detached irony are, I feel like this rings true to my experience as well:

“I still feel somewhat self-conscious when talking about it, but the Dead—and all its ancillary experiences over the past decade—have brought me comfort, new friendships, even emotional steadiness. I’m less judgmental, more empathic, and open to discovery… And though I still find the experience of dancing to shitty pop music at weddings physically painful, I can dance to the Dead like no one’s watching—proving that old dogs can learn new tricks when the right treat is available.”

It's not surprising then, that this feeling, multiplied by 18,000 or so strangers, makes for a pretty great atmosphere. Everyone is on the same page, ready to watch their favorite band with no idea where things are about to go. 

My favorite interaction about the band was between a close relative and I some years ago. We were driving and the studio version of "Dire Wolf" came on the car's speakers.

"Oh, nevermind. I don't like the Grateful Dead."

It was a real life encapsulation of the meme that "everyone is a Grateful Dead fan, they just don't know it yet."

For those that eventually let their guard down and give into the archeology and exploration (and understand that the band has essentially never played the same song twice), there's not really any coming back.

“It does offer a tremendous opportunity for seemingly endless discovery. This, more than anything, explains why I and perhaps others have been drawn into this world relatively late in life. Getting into the Dead replicates the feeling I had as a kid learning about music for the first time, when all artists were new and classic albums I had never heard were blowing my mind every day.”

So be careful what you say about jam bands. It could happen to you!

Songs I’ve been listening to on repeat:

In no particular order, with no particular unifying thread.

 (5/19/77 - Dick’s Picks 29): Has never been one of my favorites, but hearing it live made me seek out a lot of different versions and embrace the prog.

“Stumblin’ In,” Chris Norman, Suzi Quatro

: I vaguely remember hearing this song as a kid when my parents would have friends over and listen to all kinds of oldies Time Life-type compilation CDs. I’m not sure I heard it again until it was used in “Licorice Pizza,” one of the highlights of a highlight-heavy soundtrack. Then it popped up when Justine and I were driving through Norway listening to some random Yacht Rock playlist and I haven’t been able to get it out of my head. Perfect driving song.

GHIN & Tonic, Vol. 10 (D.J.)

Welcome back to the NLU Mailbag. In this space, we’ll address topics big and small, smart and dumb, irreverent and serious. Please consider joining the Nest, where you’ll receive access to our message board, early access to NLU events, a 15 percent discount in the pro shop, an annual gift, plus a members’ only podcast and written work. Click

 about the Nest and how to join. In the meantime, let’s dive into some questions…

James Townsend asks: Should Rory hire Bones? I know this feels like a First Take-level prompt, but it feels like they could actually be a decent match in dispositions (if Rory could accept actual input from a caddie) and would align with Rory’s all-in attitude to majors.

I always feel like questions about caddies and players are difficult to answer, as long as you’re being intellectually honest, which doesn’t always make for a good First Take performance. That’s why this is a better question for print.

I could sit here and tell you that Rory needs to shake things up and get a new voice on the bag, and that might be a very popular answer, but Rory might tell you that Harry Diamond is the reason he’s a more consistent player than he was a decade ago when he was winning majors with J.P. Fitzgerald on the bag.

I think we have a tendency to assume Rory is lacking something right now in his golf game, and that’s why he’s not winning majors, but a more nuanced take might be that the rest of the world simply caught up to where Rory was in his 20s. A commitment to fitness is now the norm in professional golf, not an outlier. Remember when Brandel Chamblee used to get on Rory for lifting weights too much? Now everyone does speed and strength training. I’m sure this will sound to some like I’m making excuses for Rory, but I think it’s reality. His driving was such an advantage back in 2014, and while it remains an advantage, the gap is way smaller.

In 2014, Rory’s Strokes Gained: Off The Tee was +1.367, by far the best on the PGA Tour. Bubba Watson was second with +0.967. In the Shotlink era, it’s the second-best driving performance ever. Only Watson’s 2012 number (+1.485) was better.

In 2019, his SG: Off The Tee number was +1.195, again the best on Tour, and way ahead of the next best driver of the ball, Jhonattan Vegas, at +0.753. (It’s actually fair to wonder why he went 0-4 in majors this year.)

But he’s never had that kind of advantage again. In 2023, for example, he finished 3rd in SG Off The Tee (+.907) trailing both Scottie Scheffler (+1.021) and Ludvig Aberg (+0.982). He’s still one of the world’s best drivers, but the rest of the world closed the gap.

The common refrain when people talk about Rory needing a new caddie goes: I know Bones could save him a stroke a round, and that’s the difference between winning majors and not winning majors. That might be true — no way to prove it is or isn’t without actually putting Bones on the bag — but one of the reasons Rory didn’t continue his torrid major pace is because he stopped having such a two or three-stroke advantage off the tee.

Would Bones want to caddie for Rory? Hard to say. If they did join forces and win a handful of majors, it would solidify their legacies as two of the best at their jobs. But Bones, who turns 60 next year, might not want that life anymore.

Would you fire your best friend if it meant you 

win another major? It’s easy to say when it’s not your best friend. It’s not like they haven’t been close. We can point to three majors in the last two years and say that Rory and Harry could have won all three had a break gone their way.

One thing that’s fun to think about too: What if Phil Mickelson had fired Bones in 2003, convinced it was going to get him over the hump? Phil and Bones were 0-46 together before they won the Masters in 2004.

I am confident Rory doesn’t blame any of that drought on Harry. Would a change make a difference? I don’t know. I do think if Rory wants to try something new and Bones is interested, they ought to commit to it in the offseason and build toward Augusta. That feels like a better recipe for success.

On the flip side, if Rory does win a major with Harry on the bag, I have to imagine it would be tremendously rewarding to do it with your lifelong best friend. Part of Rory’s endless dilemma is he wrestles with being human and being ruthless. He’ll probably wrestle with that as long as he’s a great player.

Michael S. asks: If these players never won another major, how would you rank them from least to most disappointed that they "only" won one major: Adam Scott, Jason Day, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia, Jim Furyk.

Very interesting question. That is a list of tremendous ball-strikers. It is hard to believe, having lived through all their careers, they each won just one major. I feel comfortable saying I don’t think any of them wins a second at this point. Just to set some ground rules, I can’t really rank their level of personal disappointment, only my own disappointment in wishing we’d seen more from them. So from most disappointed to least, here goes:

 His existence is proof that no one in life can be blessed with everything. A great guy with a great swing, a sharp dresser who looks like a Hollywood actor, think about how different his legacy would be if he was just an average putter. Everyone remembers that he threw away his chance at Royal Lytham with four bogies in the final four holes, but as reader Peter Coyle reminded me recently, he probably could have won the Open Championship at Muirfield the year Mickelson won. He made four birdies in five holes to get to -2 under, then bogeyed four consecutive holes to let Phil waltz to victory. He had a share of the lead on the back 9 at the 2015 Open, and played his final five holes in 5-over. He was tied for the lead on the back nine at the 2011 Masters, but failed to birdie either Par 5 and finished two shots behind Charl Schwartzel. It seems silly to fault a guy who shot 67 on Sunday in the final group, but at the 2018 PGA Championship, he was tied with Brooks Koepka at -14 standing on the 15th tee, and Koepka beat him by three. His career is a series of What Ifs. 

 Giving him the nod over Sergio here mainly because he was the No. 1 player in the world at one point, a ranking Sergio never achieved. It seems strange he didn’t give himself more chances, particularly in U.S. Opens. His game seemed perfect for them. 

 Without his Masters victory, he’d go down as one of the most disappointing players of any era. But winning one green jacket — even if he needed an assist from Rose’s terrible drive in a playoff to get it — erases a lot of disappointment. 

 I have mixed feelings about this ranking. Injuries played a role, but he also built a swing around an approach that was never going to be sustainable. Of all these names, he seems like the one guy who could still bag another so we may need to revisit this list. 

 A truly great ball striker at his peak who also had periods where he was completely lost. That he owns perhaps the greatest performance in the history of majors makes you feel like he was capable of more, but his overall body of work makes it seem like that was a transcendent week and not who he really was. 

 Should he have won more majors? Probably. The 2006 U.S. Open and 2012 U.S. Open come to mind. But I would argue Furyk got a lot out of his talent.

Jeff from Saskatchewan asks: Would the PGA Tour be more entertaining if they got rid of caddies? Surely the world's best golfers are capable of course management, club selection, green reading, etc. on their own. What other professional athletes get an assistant advising them on every shot? As a viewer, I'd like to see not only who can execute the best shot, but who can make the best strategic decision on their own. And maybe less deliberation over every shot would speed the game up too.

I think, in general, golf would be more fun if there were experimental weeks like this, where players had to carry their own bags or they had to play with persimmons. Another reader asked this week if rounds would be more interesting if no one got to see the course beforehand, no practice rounds, just have to react in the moment. (I haven’t asked him, but I have to think this would be Big Randy’s nirvana.) It would be fun to see who would benefit from a scenario where no one was there to save you from your own instincts. I think golf sickos would love this kind of stuff, but players would hate it. A huge part of what athletes love is routine. They want to put themselves in a familiar headspace so they can let their talent take over. Because the players have control over their schedules, these kinds of experiments are unlikely to ever happen. But it is fun to dream.

From Evan: If Tommy Lad had no facial hair and a crew cut would we care about him?

Is there anything harder, as a golf fan, than explaining why you like certain players and not others? This is the Freddie Couples Paradox. On the surface, Couples shouldn’t be as popular as he is. He underachieved relative to his talent. His personal life was often a mess. He was friendly and chill, but not particularly colorful or interesting. But that swing was so mesmerizing, you couldn’t help but feel drawn to him. I feel like Fleetwood has a similar vibe. It helps that he’s friendly and kind, that he has a working-class background and he comes across as thoughtful and humble. But for the most part, the swing is the thing. The beard and the locks are part of his whole aesthetic, but mostly what makes him fun is the way he strikes the ball, how fun it is to see him shape shots and paint with a mid-iron like he’s an artist. Would he be as popular if he looked like Cam Davis? Probably not, but he’d still made a sound with his irons that felt aspirational.

From Just_Some_Guy: Let’s say a merger doesn’t happen any time soon; what would happen if a current LIV player wanted to go back to the PGA Tour when their contract with LIV was up? Would the PGA Tour allow it? What would that process look like?

From what we understand, some of what you’re asking is what’s holding up a merger. There are PGA Tour players who think it’s pointless to punish those who left, and there are PGA Tour players who feel like it’s a deal breaker in the negotiations. They won’t agree to unify without LIV players needing to serve some sort of penance, whether that’s a loss of status or the understanding they’ll have to pay fines or never get any kind of equity in PGA Tour Enterprises. Only the people in the negotiating room know whether the hardliners can be moved from that position. I suspect the process back would have to involve some sort of concessions. If you were a LIV player who got $100 million, would you even bother?

It is clear that some LIV contracts are going to expire soon. If you were a member of the PGA Tour, would you want Bryson or Brooks back? I think there is a good chance Brooks might be interested, but Bryson seems happy where he is. I’m curious to see if LIV will still want its aging seat fillers to stick around, and what will happen to them if Yasir cuts them loose. They may be a man without a country, so to speak.

Which pro golfers would do the best in a presidential debate type setting? Feel free to spend more time on the worst, funniest, cringiest, etc.

The easy answer here is Phil Mickelson would thrive in this type of setting. If I was the Republican party chair in Arizona, I would be checking with Mickelson every six months to see if he was open to running for the United States Senate. Say what you want about the man, but he is a seasoned storyteller and charmer. He’s quick with a comeback. He could work a crowd like a maestro, and he could easily spin his various missteps to feel like part of his everyman appeal. Give him an hour behind the mic and he’ll have 51 percent of voters convinced that all taxation is theft. I’ve never been around an athlete who seemed more suited to the shape-shifting that modern politics demands.

Patrick Cantlay would be fascinating in the way that Al Gore was fascinating, someone who is clearly smart, well-versed on the issues, and interested in the greater good, but also a black hole in terms of charisma. Imagine him and Mickelson in a debate. It would be a blowout, even if everything Mickelson said wasn’t true.

Jordan Spieth would be a formidable opponent, despite occasional gaffes. You can just imagine him shaking his head like Ronald Reagan and saying “There you go again…” when Congressman Billy Horschel started rambling about policy.

Rickie Fowler has the potential to be better than you think. He’d probably need to change his name to Richard, but he would be great at the art of being appealing and also inoffensive.

I’m not particularly familiar with the parliamentary system, but I have to believe Shane Lowry and Bob MacIntyre would be excellent at a grassroots level.

UseTacoFacts: If you putted for Scottie Scheffler this year, what would his FedEx cup ranking be?

Okay, this required a bit of research and a lot of guessing, so take it for what you will. But let’s assume I would be — without question — worse than the worst putter on the PGA Tour. Let’s use 2023 as our benchmark for comparison because we have a full season of stats. In 2023, the best putter on Tour was Maverick McNealy, who gained +0.956 strokes per round on the greens. The worst putter, statistically, was Brent Grant, who lost -1.081 strokes per round. Scottie ranked 162nd on the PGA Tour, losing -0.301.

I think we can safely say I would be a worse putter than Grant. Let’s go so far as to say I would be two full strokes worse. That’s probably a conservative estimate, but let’s do it for entertainment's sake. So by that guess, I’m losing -3.081 strokes per round on the greens.

This year, Scheffler’s total Strokes Gained number is +2.760. That’s better than Xander Schauffele by about half a stroke.

So we keep Scheffler’s driving, his ball striking and his chipping, but I’m his designated putter. Every round, I lose a little more than three strokes on the greens. That’s 12 strokes per tournament.

The total Strokes Gained number for this Scottie VanScheffler character would be -0.321.

This year, Alexander Bjork of Sweden has played in 12 events and has a Strokes Gained number of -0.322. Bjork has made seven cuts and finished T-11 at the American Express in January, his only Top 25 finish this season.

So is it possible Scheffler, with my putting, could still make a living? In theory! Bjork is currently ranked 155th in the FedExCup standings.

But let’s go even further. In 2022, Luke List had one of the worst putting rounds in the history of ShotLink, losing -8.54 strokes on the greens in Round 1 at the BMW Championship. He still managed to shoot 78. I think I would (occasionally) have days like that. Would this amalgamation of Van Valkenburg and Scheffler consistently break 80 without going insane?

I have my doubts. But it’s a fun thought exercise.

GDrake from the Refuge asks: When was the last time you jumped as high as you can and/or sprinted as fast as you can?

Up until about five years ago, I played flag football regularly on Sundays. I was a very good tight end in high school, and those skills had not yet deserted me in my early 40s. I could still find ways to get open and was fairly effective. I gave it up after I dove for a pass, landed hard on my shoulder, and couldn’t lift my arm above my head for two weeks. That was likely the last time I went all out without much care or worry about the consequences.

SterlingArcher on the Refuge asks: What are the unwritten protocols of walking inside the ropes as a member of the press during tournaments?

The main one, and the most important one, is don’t ever be involved in the story. Don’t talk to the players, don’t get in their way, don’t talk or make eye contact with them unless they initiate it, and even then understand that you should not linger. Don’t cheer for or against anyone. If you can’t adhere to that, you’re welcome to step outside the ropes. Some opinions differ, but that one is an absolute dealbreaker for me. I try to stay out of the camera shots, but sometimes it’s impossible with how many cameras there are. The main principle I try to adhere to is that you have ropes access for a reason. Use it to bring some kind of insight to readers or listeners. At the Ryder Cup, inside the ropes access has essentially become a VIP pass for various celebrities and family members. I can understand why players feel claustrophobic at times. It is strange when you’re standing right next to Novak Djokovic trying to do your job, but I doubt I’m the one likely to keep my ropes pass if the PGA of America starts to crack down on access, which is disheartening.

VinnyCal75 on the Refuge writes: Mr. KVV I have recently been tasked with planning a bachelor party. The group is 8-12 guys in our early 30s most of whom are golfers and hold a USGA handicap. The timeframe would be early to mid-October. The group is northeast based but are willing to fly less than 4 hours. As a planner of this, where would you suggest I look? Thanks, I’ll hang up and listen.

KVV Mailbag: Ranking One-Time Major Winners, Training Aid Update and More

Welcome to GHIN and Tonic: Vol. 9. It’s felt like a sprint for team NLU since late April, but this week, I finally feel a collective exhale from the team, so I’ll keep it brief this week. I’d prefer we all get off the internet and enjoy the summer holiday!

In May, I qualified for the Metropolitan Golf Association’s Public Links Championship with a very patient 73 on a rainy day. I finished tied for third with the top seven qualifying for the championship. I was thrilled. The MGA hosts the oldest “Pub Links” tournament in the United States. It’s open to any MGA member with an eight handicap or better and does not host their handicap at a private club. The 

 included 60 golfers and was a 36-hole one-day event at 

, a well-maintained parkland course across the New Jersey border in Suffern, New York. I finished solo 43rd, going 79-82.

My golf could have been much better, but I loved every minute of the competition. Here are a few takeaways after a couple of weeks of reflection:

I was impressed with my fellow competitors, Harrol and Joe. Harrol was in his mid-sixties, and when I asked him when he started playing golf, he gave me a definite answer: October 4th, 2004. He’s only played golf for 20 years and shot a tidy one under 71 in the first round. Joe was a retired NYPD officer now living on Long Island. After college football, he played eight years as a receiver on the 

. He picked up golf after age forty as well. Both of these men were better golfers than me despite homegrown swings, no “home club,” and aging bodies, which, at first, I found discouraging. But the more I think about it, I now find it invigorating. It’s stark evidence that my best golf could and should be ahead of me. As I turn 35 next month, there are not many other physical activities where I can look to the future for better days.

Harrol specifically was the embodiment of how boring good golf can look, and I’d sum it up in two words: high floor. He had a consistent ball flight (a low, barreling draw), played away from trouble, and gave himself a ton of birdie and par putts. There was a rhythm to his game that was not present in my game, and it was inspiring to watch. Especially late in our 2nd round, there is such a value to hitting the middle or fat part of the green and avoiding the 8-10 foot par putts that result from unfocused targets and short-sided misses. These putts wore me down mentally, which led to a few bad decisions on the next tee trying to “catch up.”

My biggest takeaway from the Pub Links was how much room I have to improve with a better competitive strategy alone. The week after the tournament, I picked up 

 on X), and before I even finished the intro, I felt like he was writing directly to me. Though I didn’t make worse than a double bogey over 36 holes (I made two 12-15 footers for double that elicited big fist pumps from your boy), I had four double bogeys on the day, and they are such momentum killers. If you’d asked me last year why I’m a three and not a scratch handicap, my answer would have been, “I don’t make enough birdies.” I’m finally realizing that’s just not the issue. I make too many double bogeys due to poor club selection, impatience, aggressive targets, and poor recovery shots. The good news is all of those things are within my control before I make a swing. As I prepare for the Long Island Mid Am and MGA Mid Am this Fall, I emphasize better targets off the tee and more conservative recovery shots (i.e., stop trying to hit a hero recovery shot).

All in all, I can’t wait to play in the next competitive event. I love hitting cups, challenging myself, and grinding for 36 holes, and I’d encourage anyone reading this to do the same. If your handicap is up in the double digits, consider competing in our handicapped 

. Both are fun, low-pressure ways to start your competitive golf journey.

My only other “GHIN” item this week is a shout-out to Marques Brownlee and his new 

. About halfway through the video, I realized that I never really knew 

 the ShotLink system worked and certainly had no idea that the walking scorer was like the guy or gal at the roulette table saying, “No more bets” late in the spin! It feels like the tour and broadcast only use a sliver of what’s possible from this technology weekly, but it was nice to look under the hood and see how impactful it could be. Also, Brownlee is a really talented video creator and communicator, and I like seeing him venture outside of technology product reviews.

The Smokers softball season rolls on after a 7th-inning walk-off win last Monday night in the North Meadow of Central Park. I’m back at shortstop this season, and I’m starting to develop an excellent connection with our new first baseman, a Nest member we brought in to mash as our clean-up hitter (shout out to 

 on The Refuge). I’ve played on this softball team on and off since 2012, and it’s still one of the highlights of every New York summer. 

As someone who now works from home, I look forward to the long subway ride from Brooklyn to the heart of Manhattan for an evening game. It feels like a worthy adventure out into the city that fills my office window, and it’s always a treat to play down on the Hecksher fields by Columbus Circle, where the skyscrapers of Midtown tower over the field, making me feel like we’re playing in the world’s biggest stadium. This corner of Central Park is also teeming with tourists, who gawk at us daft Americans taking our sportive competition too seriously. 

Still, these unintended “fans” give games a little extra juice, and when I inevitably move to suburbia, Smokers softball will top the list of things I will miss about NYC. My awareness of that fact is gratifying. It’s helping me savor every game. Like my thoughts on competitive golf above, this softball team reinforces how significant low-stakes but meaningful competition is to my well-being. I know that may sound trite, but it’s true. I love it. Organized competition is the best, and I’d encourage you to find something similar.

 by John Vaillant, and I can’t put it down. It’s a fascinating but sobering exploration of why wildfires are getting bigger, hotter, and more devastating. Vaillant uses the 2016 Fort McMurray fire that ravaged the forest and petroleum industry based in Alberta, Canada, to explore climate change and its impact on Northern forests worldwide. With this book as context, the climate protesters on Sunday at the Travelers might have a point, even if how they deliver the message does much more harm than good to any real progress in fighting climate change. I also loved Vaillant’s book 

. I’m drawn to writers who can turn well-researched non-fiction and nature topics into riveting narratives. It’s the best combination of informative and entertaining.

Speaking of book selections, I’ve gotten a ton of value from Ryan Holiday’s 

37-year-old. Sometimes, I glaze over when the Stoic mafia starts cooking up mantras, but as I turn 35, I find the majority of these “lessons” hit home. This one hit home after reading too many comments back in May:

“9. Another sports analogy…the great ones tune out the crowd. It’s been a journey for me to wrap my head around tuning out not just the cheers but the reality that the bigger your audience is, by definition, the bigger the number of people who don’t like you. (I shudder to think how many people out there think I suck…so I don’t think about it!)”

, and I’m fired up for my first Goose show and first concert at Forrest Hills, the old U.S. Open tennis venue in Queens. I will need a few weeks to reflect on the experience, so look for some thoughts on that in my next GHIN & Tonic appearance! In the meantime, here’s a picture of a sold-out crowd on a beautiful night in NYC.

Join the Nest

GHIN & Tonic, Vol. 9 (Neil)

As a Nest member, Titleist and NLU would like to invite you to an exclusive fitting event and be among the first to experience the new GT series of drivers and fairway metals (dates and locations listed below). 

During your GT test drive with a Titleist Fitting Specialist, you’ll discover what makes these new drivers a massive technological step forward and how they can improve your game. 

Also, club fittings are really fun. I had one earlier this week, and it's an excellent opportunity to evaluate your game without messing with your swing. I felt like I'd been hitting the ball too low. It turns out I was right (5-degree launch angle). By switching to a new 11-degree GT3 driver, I could consistently see my launch angle above 9 degrees, which led to 15 yards of additional carry distance. The best part is that a Titleist fitting specialist is on hand to talk through all these numbers so you can better understand how to maximize your golf swing. 

This fitting experience costs $100, but like all fittings with a Titleist Fitting Specialist, that $100 goes towards your purchase if you choose to make one. 

Fitting capacity is limited in the markets listed below and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reserve your spot ASAP, and please cancel quickly if your schedule changes.

Upcoming fittings (follow the link to reserve a spot): 

July 16th - Golf Club at Newcastle (Seattle Area): 

July 23rd - Leonard Golf Links (Dallas/Fort Worth): 

July 27th - Timpanogos Golf Club (Salt Lake City): 

July 29th - Spartan Golf Complex (San Francisco Bay Area): 

July 29th - Pine Meadow Golf Club (Chicago): 

July 29th - Tijeras Creek (Orange County): 

July 30th - Providence Country Club (Charlotte): 

July 30th - Cotes Golf Performance Center (Hartford, CT): 

Exclusive Titleist club fitting for Nest Members. Be among the first to test drive the new GT drivers and fairway woods

Nest Member Exclusive: Titleist GT Fitting Events

Contrary to my general apathy and burnout about the week-to-week world of men’s professional golf, I’m so unbelievably excited for Pinehurst No. 2 and this week’s U.S. Open.

The reasons for this are mostly obvious and if you're reading this, I’m sure they align with the reasons you are excited. All the players are back together. It’s going to be a world-class execution test at a fascinating venue. The weather looks fantastic. Carnage is potentially looming. Plus, there is no better consistent agent of 

 in the golf world than the USGA. Sign me up for all of it. I can’t wait.

 and it was proved prescient, even sans any USGA hijinx. To say we at NLU were excited about last week’s U.S. Open was an understatement - we were downright giddy. And most of the time when that’s the case, we end up being disappointed. While “our” guy didn’t win (more on that below), that somehow only added to how substantive and consequential the entire championship felt. The result edified just how hard it is to win one of these things – to play truly great golf for 68 holes – and then have it ripped away by a momentary loss of focus and a guy who makes Rory’s game look downright old-fashioned. The golf course demonstrated just how brilliant and multi-dimensional golf can be on firm, fiery surfaces and thoughtful greens. That we get to see this place again in ‘29, and then every six years thereafter plus Women’s Opens, gives us all something to look forward to. And in ‘29, the hope is that the game returns in a different place – with equipment somewhat under control and the game back in proportion, which should only make Pinehurst shine that much more.

I tweeted this out about what I'd like to see next time around:

Upon reflection, most of that still tracks.

Here are some stream-of-consciousness thoughts: I think there are certain spots where there needs to be more wiregrass to maintain the integrity of the hole (5, 18). Speaking of integrity, the regularity with which TIO relief comes into play during major championships remains a laughable occurrence, with the 13th hole on Sunday serving as the finest example in recent memory. Pushing that tee up (in conjunction with the hole location used) made the hole far less interesting for the best players in the field. Rory stepped up and hit driver, knowing he had a backstop with the grandstand long right and a straightforward up and down from there. The previous days we were treated to engaging drama and disaster, with guys making double and triple with wedge in their hands - the challenge as much mental as it was physical (and on both the tee shot and the approach). We got none of that on Sunday, as the longest hitters thoughtlessly bashed it up there. And while Bryson’s 3-wood was brilliant, it didn’t make up for what was lost. If the USGA is hard up for another driveable four, then maybe take a long look at the seventh hole, which would play beautifully. This is all setup/rules stuff. The course itself played beautifully, even if certain greens don’t make as much sense with the current green speeds and the switch to the bermudagrass. If it’s between firmness and speed, let’s pick firmness and slow them down a bit, but keep them rock hard. All for variety and offering up a little bit of different tests and a focus on the integrity of the strike with irons. I imagine the USGA will be using a different seating vendor moving forward ;)

I’ll add two more related things to the list: enhance the focus on pace of play. Whan’s a marketing guy - make enforcement of pace of play in the U.S. Open a shining example of what is a scourge at all levels of the game (and seemingly only getting worse with each passing year). That’s what stewards do. It’s a tough problem, but bring in more officials so there is someone timing on every hole. Be consistent and uncompromising across the board. When they’re setting the golf course up a certain way to avoid pace of play disasters or not finishing a round on one of the longest days of the year, then that’s a compromise that’s being made in the attempt to identify the best player. And the 

 player is one who also completes the task in the allotted time and without adversely impacting his competitors. That’s part of the equation. Let’s stroke some guys and see what happens!

Speaking of stewardship, Pebble Beach should take a long look at Pinehurst’s philosophy and rebirth over the last decade plus. You want to talk about resting on your laurels (and the Pacific Ocean)...

 of Rory in the immediate aftermath of the tournament as he packed up and left in the minutes after Bryson’s group (playing immediately behind him) putted out. While “chickenshit” may have been a touch strong (and a term I overuse), it captured the disappointment I felt seeing him slink away and speed off. 

 aligns closely with where I’m at on this one.

 after blowing a five-shot lead and then losing a playoff at the LPGA event in Michigan. Sure, the stakes are different, so how about Adam Scott at Lytham after seven or eight years of close calls in majors? He stood up and accepted the silver salver and congratulated Ernie. Or Phil Mickelson at Winged Foot, after losing notching his fourth runner-up finish in the US Open in especially heartbreaking fashion? He addressed the crowd! Let’s do Greg Norman at Augusta in 1996 - he addressed the media. The all-time greats don’t do it for you? How about van de Velde at Carnoustie, knowing deep down that he’d let his one chance slip away in spectacular fashion and standing there and doing an interview?

No Laying Up

Writing

GHIN & Tonic, Vol. 11 (Cody)

GHIN & Tonic, Vol. 10 (D.J.)

KVV Mailbag: Ranking One-Time Major Winners, Training Aid Update and More

GHIN & Tonic, Vol. 9 (Neil)

Nest Member Exclusive: Titleist GT Fitting Events

GHIN & Tonic, Vol. 8 (TC)

By the Minute: The Back Nine at the 2024 U.S. Open

Bryson DeChambeau's Magnum Opus

Five Observations from Friday at the U.S. Open

The Case for Patrick Cantlay

The Lost Decade of Rory in Majors

GHIN & Tonic, Vol. 7 (D.J.)

GHIN & Tonic, Vol. 6 (KVV)

Yuka Saso Strikes Again

The Eye Test Manifesto

GHIN and Tonic: Vol. 5 (KVV)

Putting the 2024 PGA in writing (so we believe it later)

Viktor Hovland Is Searching For His Old Self