The Open recap: Xander’s ascendance, Course critiques, and men’s majors review

The Shotgun Start

It was the kind of weekend that made you think about the big things as it relates to men’s golf, its star talents, its playing fields, and its past, present, and future. Andy and Brendan bob and weave through this Monday episode that runs the gamut after the last men’s major of the year. They begin with some important questions on the FedExCup before getting into Xander Schauffele’s win, his season, and what this victory does for the rest of his career. Then they discuss Scottie Scheffler and the ongoing flaw in his otherwise elite game and how that will work at future Opens. They cover Royal Troon in depth, with much praise and a few quibbles on how it set up for the pros. Is it a better championship test for men’s golf than the Old Course right now? They discuss Billy Boy and Rosey, Thriston and all the other contenders before getting to a few of the non-contenders like Spieth, JT, Rory, Rahm, and their major seasons. They close with Matthew Jordan appreciation and some less-than-appreciative comments on the coverage.