Sometimes, life gets in the way.
My job has changed significantly in the past year.
Thats different here at Barstool.
Weve been traversing the country filming YouTube series and social videos.
Ill never stop writing, but I have to be more strategic with it.
These are just one mans picks.
You’ll also notice I’m using Data Golf’s world ranking instead of the Official World Golf Ranking.
It’s a simple reason: Data Golf’s ranking is a much more accurate indicator than the OWGR.
Happy major week, and happy reading:
50.
His golf, however, has taken a downward turn since that shock T2 at the Masters.
Either way…lets hope he decides the energy-saving isnt working and lets it rip at the podium.
He withdrew from the Masters on Thursday and didnt qualify for either the U.S. Open or the PGA Championship.
This is all gravy for him, and he wont be too broken up should he not play well.
My wife wants me to play.
Thats a proper golf wife.
Still, hes made the cut in only four of 11 career major starts.
The years get distorted when you win a huge event at such a young age.
Byeong-Hun AnAge: 31Data Golf ranking: 63Open Championship appearances:8Best Open Championship finish:T26, 2021
Former U.S. Nabbed one of the last spots into the tournament with a T3 finish at the Genesis Scottish Open.
I gotta go back and do my laundry he said upon learning the news.
First major appearance since the 2021 Open Championship at Royal St. Georges.
Finished T45 in his last start at the Travelers before making the trip over.
Finished T58 at the 2014 Open Championship at Hoylake.
His five-over, MC Hammer at the Scottish Open, not so much.
His first Open start.
Mixed in there, however, is a T4 at the PGA Championship.
One of the longest players in world golf on a pound-for-pound basis.
Hes prone to the wild one.
Earned his first top-10 in a major at the PGA Championship but missed the cut at the U.S. Open.
Decided against playing the Scottish Open to go over a bit early.
One of the few drawers of the ball left in world golf.
Theyre a proud bunch, and theres still nothing prettier than a controlled draw to a back-left pin.
Feels like his careers been stuck in neutral for a few years.
Which goes back to my point about his career.
A lot of T15s and T28s.
Not sure he has the short-game prowess or the killer instinct to close out a major.
Interesting, then, that his strokes gained approach is down a bit this year at 30th on tour.
He is, however, leading the tour in driving accuracy, always crucial in majors.
Missed the cut in half his Open starts.
It wasnt to be, with Rory McIlroy birdieing the final two holes to break his heart.
Top-tenned in his first two Open Championship starts.
Hes as fiery as they come and he knows this is a Ryder Cup year.
The good news, then, is that hes playing the best golf of his career.
His words, not mine.
Hes a higher ball hitter, which could be the reason why.
Opted to skip the Scottish and flew over to the UK the Friday before the Open.
He wasnt close).
Took T23 at the 14 Open at Hoylake.
Doesnt have a major top-10 since the 2019 U.S. Open.
Hes 10th on tour in strokes gained approach and seventh in fairway hit.
Zach Johnson feels like a natural game comparison, and Zach Johnson won an Open Championship.
Notched just his second top-10 major finish at last years Open and was T19 the year before.
Prefers to hit it sky-high and isnt the greatest wind player in the world.
20 and 40 in the world for the last few years.
Thats all the good stuff.
The bad: he comes in off missed cuts at both the U.S. Open and the Scottish Open.
Needs to hit the gas just a touch to lock up a Ryder Cup spot.
As such, hes experimented with different putters and grips and seems to have settled on the claw.
Another guy who needs to step on the gas if hes to book his ticket to Rome.
Hes managed to keep the speed even after the weight loss.
Its all neurological, he says.
Thats the Bryson we know and love.
Sneaky took T8 at last years Open at St. Andrews.
Made the cut in each of his six Open Championship starts.
Thats changed this year.
But dont get it twisted: he still putts the absolute lights out of it.
He has that perspective of having seen the very bottom, and it fuels the competitor that he is.
Still looking for his first top 10 in one in what will be his 17th attempt.
Oh, and hes British.
93 in the world rankings.
That should show you why weve switched over to Data Golf.
Hes never had one and didnt even give a shot to qualify for the U.S. Open.
Plenty of eyeballs on him this week.
Its even easier now, but he remains a world-class player.
Whether thats affected his motivation or his practice habits, only he knows.
Not in the slightest.
At this point in his career, it has to be about winning golf tournaments.
Especially the biggest ones.
Hes made the cut in 10 straight majors and has eight top-20 finishes in those.
A great, steady pick in DFS formats.
Hes gone 14 consecutive majors without a top-10 finish; perhaps the issue is patience.
Majors punch you in the mouth, and youve got to be able to take it.
A T76 wont do much for him this time around.
His world has changed.
Data Golf has him as high as No.
Rickie is…wait for it…back.
Unsurprisingly, he’s in the positive in every key strokes gained category.
You sense he’d prefer it that way.
Comes in off 23 consecutive made cuts and has a T12 and a T4 in his only Open starts.
That first majors coming.
Hes since been passed as world No.
Finished fourth at last years Open.
Its entirely possible he brings home $40+ million alone this year before endorsements.
Its an absolutely absurd run, particularly given hes still 134th on tour in strokes gained putting.
One can only wonder what he mightve accomplished had the putter been a more active participant this year.
Hes got top 10s in eight of his last 10 major starts and top-threes in his last two.
Hell almost certainly be there with a chance on Sunday.
And if the putter cooperates…
2.
I genuinely think the merger was the best thing that couldve happened to him.
Now returns to a course hes won a major at.
Odds are hes going to keep giving himself chances in these majors, and the door will eventually fall.
