Greetings from the Dead-Zone.
The Ryder Cup and football.
Without further ado…
Is it time for a Rory/Harry split?
Doesn’t seem like Harry is able to get him across the line.
@dan.sherwood on Instagram
This line of questioning always seems to percolate after a disappointing weekend for Rory McIlroy.
His alignment looked off.
His hips were firing so fast that his arms couldn’t catch up.
When that happens, you’re forced to give a shot to time everything with your arms.
It leads to inconsistent strikes.
And, somehow, this is supposed to be the caddies' fault?
I don’t want to underplay the importance of the caddie in modern professoinal golf.
Clearly the days of show up, keep up and shut up are long gone.
It’s more of a team endeavor than ever before.
All that said…the yardage books do 90% of the technical work.
A caddie’s most important trait is putting his player’s mind at ease.
Rory isn’t some wet-behind-the-ears youngster who’s making course management efforts.
He’s played hundreds and hundreds of golf tournaments.
He’s won dozens of them.
His issue is a very technical one at the minute.
Like, at all.
Rory wants a caddie he can chat to.
Someone who can keep him loose.
Harry can’t get up there and hit the wedge shot.
That’s on Rory, and he knows it.
First, the player gets himself over the line, full stop.
Remember: the caddie can’t hit a shot.
What would a combined Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup team look like for the non-USA team?
@genova_adam on X
Excellent question and a fun thought experiment.
So, 12 guys from outside the United States.
I think Tom Kim’s done enough, as well.
If I had to make the call today, I’d probably go with Min Woo and Ludvig.
Like so much else in our sport, we have no idea how that’s going to play out.
What’s your favorite logo in golf?
It’s a milk carton.
The story behind it: the family who developed the club made their money in dairy farming.
It’s not that deep.
What pairing do you think USA & Europe start with the first matches at the Ryder Cup?
Still, let’s try.
The Americans have four really solid, really natural pairings that almost select themselves.
Guys who are genuinely tight with each other and would absolutely love to play behind enemy lines together.
The big question here is whether Johnson will want to play JT first given the controversy surrounding his selection.
Fitzpatrick was the first (only?)
That would leave Justin Rose, Nicolai Hojgaard, Robert MacIntyre and Sepp Straka on the bench.
Who do you think Brooks will be paired with?
@MrMcPringles69 on X
I’m not sure why, but Wyndham Clark comes to mind.
Two big-boy ball strikers who hit the ball a mile.
An intimidating group to play against given their size, U.S. Open-pedigrees and movie-star good looks.
Yeah, not sure why, but this is where my head goes.
@mwsnowden 93 on Instagram
Alcohol on the golf course, weed in all other prefs.
Will JT make the cut at Fortinet?
@Sapolicious on X
Gosh, I hope so.
I was a little surprised he posted that range video of him swinging between two pool noodles.
Thomas is doing the right thing by playing this week.
A solid showingsay, a top 20would go a long way toward easing tensions and justifying his pick.
So I’ll say yes he does.
I’m feeling a T12.
Who’s the rookie/young gun that explodes next season on tour?
3 in the PGA Tour U rankings and thus got immediate status on the Korn Ferry Tour.
It’s been non-stop since he turned pro in June.
That’s all for today.
If you wanted more, you should’ve submitted more questions.
Until next week,
Dan
