But Royal Troon<\/a> might just be at the top. <\/p>\n\n\n How many shots would I rack up from the coffin bunker? Would I just pick up? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Where would my ball go on 11? The gorse? The hay? Into a commuter-train seat? <\/p>\n\n\n\n How the hell would I survive a day like Saturday afternoon at Troon, with the winds slapping down hopes and the clouds unleashing tears? I mean, listen to those who strapped on their golf shoes that day:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Said Dustin Johnson<\/a>: \u201cI mean, the back nine, that’s the hardest nine holes I think you could ever play in golf right now, into the wind and rain \u2014 I mean, it’s so long I could barely reach \u2014 the par-4s, I had to smash 2 to get there, same with Brooks [Koepka]<\/a>. That’s how long it was playing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Said Matthew Jordan<\/a>: \u201cI don’t quite know how to summarize it just yet. That back nine was just so tough. I was hitting clubs into there from yardages that I probably did when I was like 13, 14. It was just a complete grind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Said Mackenzie Hughes<\/a>: \u201cYeah, it’s really tough. Very difficult because every single shot requires attention, focus. Even the little basic ones. Yeah, you’re just fighting for every single shot. It’s a long, grueling day, and happy to be done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That all being said, this is kinda why \u2026 we play golf, though. The challenge. The survival. If we can play it here, we can play it anywhere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And we sure do like watching the best occasionally approach some of our scores.<\/p>\n\n\n As we look back at the Open Championship<\/a> week that was, we\u2019ll make that observation No. 1 then. Let\u2019s try for 49 more as we post up at the home office. There is motivation to finish, too. I\u2019ve discovered the Vale Public House<\/a>, in the Hamilton Heights area of NYC. It\u2019s a Scottish-flavored pub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With Tennent\u2019s Lager<\/a> on tap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The thought is to publish this piece with one hand on the keyboard \u2014 and the other holding a pint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Here\u2019s another word, though, from Hughes on Saturday:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Asked a reporter: \u201cHow about the spectators sitting through this out there. On 18, did you hear some people yelling your name and there were some Canadian flags?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Answered Hughes: \u201cYeah, it was funny because on 18 \u2014 maybe it was 16, I was talking to my caddie, [and] I said, it’s amazing how many people are out here on a day like today when it’s just absolutely piss weather. They’re all here. They want to see the golf. It’s tough to watch golf in this kind of weather, I’m sure, when you’re under your umbrella.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut they were out there. They were a pretty cheerful bunch for the most part, given the weather.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cheers to that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Here\u2019s another word on Tennent\u2019s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to this story here<\/a> written by Bunkered\u2019s<\/em> Michael McEwan, the brew was nowhere to be found at Troon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n No cheers to that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. I was rooting for the Justin Rose<\/a> and Billy Horschel<\/a> storyline. For the vets. For Rose getting a crack at major No. 2. For Horschel getting a crack at his first. For another shot. For not letting go as you get older. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This hit me:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Asked a reporter: \u201cYou just said one key word there about dreaming, the ability to dream. At this stage in your career to be here in the Open, the greatest tournament, to be able to go to bed tonight thinking of the dream still alive \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Said Rose: \u201cIt’s still my dream. In a few years, it’ll be someone else’s dream. But yeah, still my dream right now. Great opportunity to go live it out tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n 5. All of that made me wonder: When did I start cheering more for the olds? When did that flip? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hmm, let\u2019s keep this about the golf \u2014 and not about my 40-something mental state. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. This is a nice segue to Tiger Woods<\/a>, though. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I think I have two thoughts here, after the 15-time major winner missed the Open cut, his third MC in four major starts this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I think he contends again. Maybe as soon as next April, at the Masters<\/a>. He\u2019ll refuel. He\u2019ll recalculate. He\u2019ll play more next year. Making a run is not impossible. Who\u2019s better mentally than him, after all? He can manage a couple under-par rounds, and there you go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 7. But I wonder if Woods thinks he\u2019s bullet-proof. The alphas always do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This could get ugly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Twenty-two years later, the moment below<\/a> is still in my head. <\/p>\n\n\n 8. Let\u2019s talk about the winner. Was Xander Schauffele\u2019s<\/a> weekend one of the best ever? He fired a 69 on Saturday, when the likes of DJ, Hughes and Jordan all suffered, as noted above. Schauffele then closed with a 65 \u2014 Sunday\u2019s low round by two strokes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Killer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 9. Speaking of that, there was this exchange:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Asked a reporter: \u201cYour California mellowness, do people mistake that maybe there’s more fire inside than we can see?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Answered Schauffele: \u201cYeah, I like \u2014 I mean, everyone in my family knows how competitive I am. I may not be the guy running around fist-pumping, but that’s just who I am. I kind of know how I need to be to perform at a high level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe same way I don’t get really angry, I also don’t let myself get too over the moon because to me, it’s the same thing. If I’m sitting there snapping a club, that would be the same as me running around fist-pumping. It would take too long for me to adjust before my next shot to hit a good one. I’ve kind of embraced this sort of SoCal, laid-back kid, but there’s obviously a fire burning deep within, or you wouldn’t have a couple majors sitting by your side.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 10. So how high does the Schauffele major tally reach? Three? Six? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Or just the two?<\/p>\n\n\n\n One person close to the situation had a thought here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe\u2019s only halfway there,\u201d Schauffele\u2019s dad, Stefan, told GOLF\u2019s James Colgan<\/a>. \u201cI would say the one with the greatest potential for the career grand slam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow about that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s put the over-under total at 3.5. <\/p>\n\n\n 11. Does Jordan Spieth<\/a> win another major?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s put his over-under number for future majors at 0.5. <\/p>\n\n\n\n (You can also give that same number to Patrick Cantlay<\/a>, Max Homa<\/a>, Sam Burns<\/a> and Cameron Young<\/a>.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n 12. Does Justin Thomas<\/a> win another major?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s put his over-under number for future majors at 1.5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (You can also give that same number to Collin Morikawa<\/a> and Viktor Hovland<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 13. Ludvig Aberg<\/a> might win like eight majors. Or zero. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s also a crop of Aberg-like machines coming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 14. I love the idea of Schauffele re-evaluating the process. He thought he needed more speed \u2014 so he hit the gym. He thought he needed another voice in the room \u2014 so he brought on Chris Como<\/a>. Some players don\u2019t do that. Some stick with the same methods, hoping for different results, which, yes, is the definition of insanity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 15. Let\u2019s talk Rory McIlroy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In this case, there\u2019s no need to change much. Maybe a tweak here. Maybe a change to the team there. But majors are hard. Golf is difficult. He\u2019s as good as they come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 16. GOLF\u2019s Sean Zak wrote a lovely examination here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 17. There\u2019s also the real possibility he never gets past Pinehurst<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 18. But here says he wins the PGA next year at Quail Hollow. He wins there<\/a> seemingly every year. It\u2019s a lay-up. <\/p>\n\n\n Right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 19. This exchange was notable: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Asked a reporter on Friday, after McIlroy missed the cut: \u201cThere’s a lot of players out there really toiling, some of the best names in golf like yourself. Was there a point where you became quite philosophical about what was happening and looked at it in the bigger picture?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Answered McIlroy: \u201cYeah, I think once I made the eight on the 4th hole, that was it. Twenty-two holes into the event, and I’m thinking about where I’m going to go on vacation next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, that was basically it. I mean, I knew from then I’d sort of resigned myself to the fact that I wasn’t going to shoot, whatever it is, four- or five-under from there on in to make the cut.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 20. This exchange was also notable:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Asked a reporter on Friday, after Robert MacIntyre<\/a> played his first four holes during the second round at eight-over \u2014 then played his final 12 holes at four-under: \u201cDid you think you had any chance of being here for the weekend?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Answered MacIntyre: \u201cWhen I made that eight on 4, my head was completely gone. Then you’re standing on 5 going between a 4-iron and a rescue, and you’re honestly trying to just \u2014 trying to make bogeys instead of doubles and triples that I was making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI didn’t think I was going to make the weekend, but Mike said, look, fans are here to watch. Just give them what they want, a severe dig and fight, and that’s what I done. I just tried my best and managed to turn it around.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 21. Loved watching Thriston Lawrence pumping driver all over the yard on Sunday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 22. Can Marlboro please sponsor Dan Brown<\/a> so he can be \u2026 the Marlboro Dan?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sorry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Scottie](\"https:\/\/golf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/scot.jpg\"\n)
<\/a>\n <\/div>\n Xander Schaufelle won the Open. But so, too, did the magic of links golf<\/a><\/blockquote>\n By:<\/span>\n \n \n Michael Bamberger <\/a>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
![\"Stefan](\"https:\/\/golf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/schauffeles-hug.jpg\"\n)
<\/a>\n <\/div>\n 30 feet from Xander Schauffele’s Open triumph, his father told the real story<\/a><\/blockquote>\n By:<\/span>\n \n \n James Colgan <\/a>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
![\"Justin](\"https:\/\/golf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/rose.jpg\"\n)
<\/a>\n <\/div>\n Justin Rose\u2019s epic week left him \u2018choking back tears\u2019, and with a new pursuit<\/a><\/blockquote>\n By:<\/span>\n \n \n Sean Zak <\/a>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
![\"Xander](\"https:\/\/golf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/xander-trophy-presser.jpg\"\n)
<\/a>\n <\/div>\n Tour Confidential: Xander Schauffele’s Open title, 2024 major season in review<\/a><\/blockquote>\n By:<\/span>\n \n \n GOLF Editors <\/a>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
![\"Xander](\"https:\/\/golf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/GettyImages-2162924302.jpg\"\n)
<\/a>\n <\/div>\n