Monday, August 12th, 2024 Edition

Aaron Rai wins Wyndham Championship in darkness as leader implodes down stretch

– by Jack Hirsh / GOLF

Per Jack: “Max Greyserman coming to the finish of a crazy long day, but it was all going his way….”

B&B POV: History will tell the story of Max Greyserman choking away the 2024 Wyndham Championship versus showering praise over double glove-wearing Aaron Rai and his triumphant victory in the dark at Sedgefield CC.

Truth be told, both storylines are accurate; but the only one anyone needs to remember is Aaron Rai finally closed the deal after spending the last two months banging on the metaphorical door to victory. His bogey-free final round was sublime. Good for Aaron. Sad for Max. Hurray for black gloves.

Lydia Ko’s golden finish in Paris is what her career deserved

– by Beth Ann Nichols / Golfweek

Per Beth: “There’s something raw about the Olympic podium. Cameras get so close to the athletes that fans a world away can watch as a single tear spills out of the eye, rolls down the cheek and hangs at the bottom of a chin. That was the scene for Lydia Ko, who was overcome with emotion at the weight of the moment…”

B&B POV: Who doesn’t love a prodigy story? The 10-year-old national spelling bee champion. Teen sensation Lebron James balling out from Day 1 in the NBA. Well, how about Lydia Ko winning an LPGA event at 15? Saturday, she won the Olympic gold medal — the 3rd medal she has won in the games. Along with victory, she also earned a spot in the LPGA Hall of Fame. And she’s only 27. The youngest ever to qualify for the hall under the current criteria. Epic. Prodigy. Lydia. Ko.

WITB Winner’s Bag: Aaron Rai, 2024 Wyndham Championship

– Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys

Per Thomas: Aaron Rai is paid by Titleist to play their ball – Titleist ProV1. However, he isn’t paid by any other major club manufacturer to play their equipment. He’s a gear free agent. Who just won his first PGA Tour event, the Wyndham Championship, vaulting him to 22^nd in the world.

Why is Rai so good? What gifts from the man above have fueled his two-month-long heater that has propelled him to his first PGA Tour victory?

Aaron Rai’s Golf Gear:

DRIVER: TaylorMade M6 (9 degrees), with Aldila Synergy Blue TX shaft
 

FAIRWAY WOODS: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees), with Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X shaft, (18 degrees), with Fujikura Ventus Blue TR 8 X shaft
 

HYBRID: Titleist TSR2 (24 degrees), with Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White Hybrid 90 TX shaft
 

IRONS: TaylorMade P•7TW (5-9), with True Temper Dynamic Gold S300 shafts
 

WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (46, 49, 55, 60 degrees), with True Temper Dynamic Gold S300 shafts
 

PUTTER: TaylorMade TP Collection Hydro Blast DuPage
 

BALL: Titleist Pro V1
 

GRIPS: Golf Pride Tour Velvet (full swing) / SuperStroke Zenergy 1.0P (putter)

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PAYDAY! 2024 Wyndham Championship prize money payouts for every lucky soul who made the cut

– Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys

Per Thomas: “Sure, winning money this past weekend at the Wyndham was important to every player (and caddy), but the real objective was finishing as high as possible to accumulate FedEx Cup points to ensure making the playoffs. Those who finished in the top 70 in points through yesterday’s event made it into the FedEx St. Jude Championship which will be played this week. The top 50 in points after this week will make it into next week’s BMW Championship. And, the top 30 after the BMW qualify for the Tour Championship and the riches that come along with that distinction.”

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Tour Confidential: Lydia Ko’s golden Olympics, U.S. Am preview

– by Jack Hirsh / GOLF

Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week we examine what Lydia Ko’s Olympic gold medal really means, golf’s place in the Games, LIV Golf’s TV future and look ahead to the U.S. Amateur.

B&B POV: 

1. What is more impressive: Lydia Ko winning two career majors or having won three successive Olympic medals, including gold this weekend? Ooh, a tough Q right out of the gate. We are going with the two majors. IMHO, lifting two Big-A major trophies trumps winning gold, silver and bronze medals.
2. Does Ko get the credit she deserves considering she has accomplished as much as she has? Saturday, at only 27-years-old, she won a gold medal and earned her spot in the LPGA Hall of Fame. Today, Monday, who really cares what anyone else thinks? I promise you she doesn’t.
3. What did we learn about the state of golf after having watched the Olympics? 1/ The sport has more than earned its spot in the games. No question; 2/ Scottie Scheffler LOVED winning gold and cried like a baby when his brilliant medal was hung around his neck and our national anthem played; 3/ The Olympics are now the men’s unofficial 5th major (6th for the ladies). No question.
4. What is most important for LIV this offseason: A/ Finding a reliable media partner; B/ Establishing a formal partnership with the PGA Tour; C/ Pillaging the PGA Tour for more stars? As much as it kills us to say it, we are going with C which will lead to B. Please, please, please PGA Tour and LIV, partner or merge or do whatever you need to do to end this BS drama.
5. What to watch for at the US Men’s Amateur being played at Hazeltine this week? We don’t care who competes or wins, we just want to watch the finals which pairs two amateurs only competing for a medal (silver) and the right to hoist a dusty old trophy. Competitive golf in its purest form. 36 holes of mano a mano heart-racing match play.  

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