Our sport will, eventually, return to homeostasis.
It wont always be so politically charged, so chaotic, so distinctly reminiscent of a soap opera.
Those were simpler times.
Not necessarily better or worse.
The PGA Tour jacked up prize money with funds they didnt really have.
LIV continued to hemorrhage money they definitely do have.
Who the hell knows?
The future remains a total and complete mystery.
Nominees are in italics, winners in italics and bold.
It was, by metrics of consistency, one of the strongest seasons in PGA Tour history.
He also won more non-major PGA Tour events (three) than Scheffler did (two).
Hovland finishes a very distant third but might be the finest player on the planet at this very moment.
Gun to my head, he’s the pick to win this award in 2024.
Rookie of the Year
Ludvig AbergEric ColeVincent Normann
No contest here.
Aberg catapulted to stardom this summer in a genuinely historic rise.
That’s a formula that travels.
Could he be the first player to win in his first Masters start since 1979?
Clark perfectly personifies this career arc.
He’s always had the talent and the belief that heshouldbe up there with the Rorys and Rahms.
Significant work with a sports psychologist produced a new mantra of “playing big.”
Clark went from a fringe FedEx playoffs, hope-to-keep-the-card guy to a major champion and Ryder Cupper.
It was an immediate harbinger of danger for the Americans.
He missed the green just long and right, setting up a tricky up-and-down to a back-left pin.
Hovland immediately reached for his wedge, a tell-tale sign of just how confident he was feeling.
He nipped it absolutely perfectly and it trickled over the front lip.
I know it played way softer than it did in 2020 or in prior major championships.
I don’t care.
I’m holding true to that promise.
A Canadian hadn’t won the Canadian Open since 1954.
Moe Norman never got it done.
Neither did Mike Weir or Stephen Ames.
Corey Conners hasn’t been able to.
It was the longest made putt of Taylor’s PGA Tour career.
How can you not be romantic about national opens?
Performance of the Year
Harman holds steady at HoylakeKoepka gets major No.
But that’s exactly what he did.
Harman’s always been a fierce competitor who plays with a chip on his shoulder.
He absolutely did, though.
(See: Tiger Woods, 2013 Masters).
This was on the 15th hole on Thursday as Koepka was en route to shooting a seven-under 65.
A camera showed Koepka’s caddie, Ricky Elliott, mouthing the word “five.”
Brooks doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to give his opponent help in battle.
Still, many were unconvinced.
Jon Rahm’s jacket choice in LIV press conference"I don’t take divots.
“Phil Mickelson vs. Alan ShipnuckRory McIlroy returns to Twitter, roasts Henrik Stenson
A runaway winner.
This might be the funniest video in the history of the Golf Internet.
The GOAT lies through his teeth, and the world No.
Yeah, just one of the best pieces of content we’ve seen in a while.
Scheffler has zero idea what to say or how to react.
Then our guys Trent and Frankie reinvented the video to keep the content train moving.
“No divots” gift that keeps on giving.
Van Rooyen broke into tears while collecting the trophy.
He then brought it back to Minnesota to visit Trasmar on last time.
Eleven days later, he was gone.
What the fuck is going on?
He banned those players from playing in his events.
It’s impossible to overstate just how stunning that June.
Will it be incorporated into the PGA Tour?
What’s the reintegration process for LIV players to get back on the PGA Tour?
How will the guys who stayed on the PGA Tour be rewarded for their loyalty?
What happens to Norman?
Here’s the thing, though: all those questions are predicated on their actually being a deal.
Now, we don’t know whether there will even be a deal.
That’s 2023 in Golf for you.
Can’t wait for 2024…Dan
