Monday, July 15th, 2024 Edition
How a ‘lucky’ rules break propelled Robert MacIntyre to an epic Scottish Open victory
– by Zephyr Melton / GOLF
Per Zephyr: “As Robert MacIntyre watched his drive sail into the thick rough to the right of the 16th hole of the Renaissance Club, his chances of winning the Scottish Open looked doomed…”
B&B POV: Scotland’s Lil’ Big Mac used the rules to his advantage to help win his national open. The “lucky” lefty pull-hooked his tee shot on the par-5 16th into knee-high fescue cabbage. Luckily, he was wearing old-fashioned metal spikes and scraped a sprinkler head under his footing. He would have NEVER felt (or heard) the head if he was wearing soft spikes. With the break in hand, he hit a money shot to set up his eagle, which springboarded him to a one-shot win over handsome Adam Scott. Rules are rules and Mac used them to his advantage to win the 2024 Scottish Open.
British Open 2024: Tiger Woods arrives in Scotland, tours Royal Troon for the first time in 20 years
– by Jay Coffin / Golf Digest
Per Jay: “Tiger Woods arrived at Royal Troon on Sunday to begin preparations for the British Open after missing the championship that he’s won three times in two of the past three years. He missed the cut in 2022 at the Old Course in St. Andrews…”
B&B POV: Tiger’s swing looks pure. But he just hasn’t played in enough tournaments to knock off the rust and compete this week. If anything, he’ll make the cut and give the fans a handful of Tigeresque moments to erupt to. Unless he starts playing in 8-10 tourneys a year, sadly, we just don’t see him winning any tourney on tour, let alone a hallowed major.
WITB Winner’s Bag: Robert MacIntyre, 2024 Genesis Scottish Open
– Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys
Per Thomas: Titleist big wigs woke up this AM with a wide smile. Last night, one of their less heralded tour ambassadors, Robert MacIntyre, won for the 2nd time on tour this season, lifting the Scottish Open Big-A Trophy only feet away from his Titleist-branded golf bag. He snagged the Canadian Open earlier this summer and now has two wins under his rookie season belt.
As we confirmed in early June, MacIntyre’s Titleist contract has him locked in with a Titleist driver, irons, wedges, and ball. The rest of his bag? It’s like the Wild West…
MacIntyre’s Golf Gear:
DRIVER: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees), with Graphite Design Tour AD DI 7 X shaft
FAIRWAY WOOD: Titiest GT3 (15 degrees), with Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X shaft
HYBRID: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (19 degrees), with Graphite Design Tour AD DI Hybrid 105 X shaft
IRONS: Titleist 620 CB (4-9), with True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shafts
WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46), SM9 (50 degrees), with True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Onyx shafts, (56, 60 degrees), with True Temper Dynamic Golf S400 Onyx shafts
PUTTER: TaylorMade Spider Tour
BALLS: Titleist Pro V1
Check out our Best Golf Drivers 2024 edition.
FEATURED GOLF DEAL OF THE WEEK
Golf Galaxy Major Summer Sale Happening Now! 50% off!
PAYDAY! LIV Andalucia (PIF) vs. Scottish Open (PGA Tour/DP Tour) vs. Isco Championship (PGA Tour)
– by Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys
Per Thomas: Yesterday was one of those special occurrences where the fat cats on both the PGA TOUR and LIV Golf took home really big checks. In fact, the PGA TOUR had two Tournaments wrap up Sunday – the Scottish Open in conjunction with the DP World Tour and the opposite field event Isco Championship.
Let’s breakdown what the winner’s pocketed starting with the biggest banger:
- Sergio Garcia, LIV Golf Andalucia, 5-under, $4M
- Robert MacIntyre, Scottish Open, 18-under, $1.62M
- Harry Hall, Isco Championship, 22-under, $720k
Not only did Sergio take home the most cash for his individual title, but he and his fellow Fire Ballers also pocketed $750k each for winning the LIV team exhibition, which was more than Harry Hall won for besting a field of PGA Tour members.
How about OWGR ranking points and FedEx Cup points? How’d the three winners fare there?
GETTY IMAGES
Tour Confidential: How will Keegan Bradley fare as Ryder Cup captain?
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 discuss Keegan Bradley’s Ryder Cup captaincy, the biggest Open Championship storylines and more.
B&B POV:
Good decision to select Keegan Bradley as 2025 Ryder Cup captain? We won’t know if it was a good decision until late fall next year. What we do know now is this is a bizarre decision. He got skipped over in ’24 to make the team, but is now expected to forget and forgive and drop all grudges? He’s an emotional guy. Word of advice for the players hoping to play for him and the US at Bethpage: Qualify. Don’t just assume you’re going to be picked.
Would Bradley have been picked if the US won last year? Probably. Because Tiger couldn’t commit to captain in ’25. Fingers crossed that this was a good decision.
Bradley said he was surprised when he was offered the captaincy because the opportunity had never been brought up to him before. Do you believe him? No. We don’t buy that he had never broached the topic of captaining with PGA of America brass or the “Ryder Cup Committee.” Someone had to have floated the idea to gauge his interest and to hear his philosophies on how he would lead the team to victory.
What if Bradley qualifies for the team via points? Does he only captain, only play, or both? If he qualifies, we believe he’ll only play. There are a bazillion commitments for the captain leading up to the event. He has too much pride to not do everything he can to play his best and compete, especially after getting passed over last year.
When will Tiger captain? When he knows there is zero chance that he will make the team either via points or a captain’s selection. By the end of next season, he’ll know that his competitive days are long gone. At that point, he’ll step up and captain. And he’ll do it for two straight Ryder Cups. Maybe even three straight. Because he’s Tiger.
After the Open Championship at Troon concludes this week, which pro will be most disappointed for not winning a major in ’24? Sadly, Rory. We just don’t think he’ll muster up a victory this week and his US Open fail this year will haunt him forever.
FEATURED GIVEAWAY
FEATURED CURATED LESSON
‘Jason Day hitting floppers in his magical backyard is 🔥🔥🔥’
Watch the video just to see his place. But also pay attention to his golf tips. Day has always had an amazing short game. This video doesn’t disappoint as he shares some distance control secrets playing from different lies.
SHOP AMAZON PRIME DAY GOLF DEALS!
We’ve highlighted some of the most epic golf deals during Amazon Prime Days! Don’t miss out.
Click the button below to start saving.
YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS…
Things you just can’t make up. Don’t miss these random nuggets of gold we found on the interwebs. You’re welcome.