Articles by kendallcapps

Rose Zhang entered this week in search of her second win on the LPGA Tour. Thursday, Zhang dominated Upper Montclair Country Club in New Jersey for the Cognizant Founders Cup. Zhang recorded the lowest round of her professional career, a 9-under 63.
Her hot play continued Friday, as Zhang posted another strong round, carding a 4-under 68. She sits at 13-under entering the weekend, atop the leaderboard.
To put into context how good she has been, Zhang holds at least a seven shot lead over everyone except Madelene Sagstrom and Nelly Korda.
Korda is looking to make her own history, of course.. She has won her last five tournaments and is trying to become the first woman ever to win six straight.
As of this writing, Korda is solo third at 7-under on her 11th hole.
But if Zhang keeps playing like this, it might not matter.
Zhang started her day on the back nine and recorded her first bogey of the week on the par-4 16th to go out in 36. But that did not deter her, as the 20-year-old phenom caught fire on the back.
She birdied the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th holes to close her round. When Zhang finished up, she led the field by six strokes, having gone out early Friday.

However, Sagstrom had not yet teed off. The Swede has put together another fantastic round herself. As she stands on the 14th tee, Sagstrom is 12-under, having cut into the deficit considerably.
It appears that this weekend might be a three-woman race.
Zhang became the first woman since Beverly Hanson in 1954 to win her LPGA debut last year at the Mizuho Americas Open. That track was also in New Jersey. There must be something in the water.
More likely, the Stanford Cardinal is already a world class player that will surely be around for a very long time.
Kendall Capps is the Senior Editor of SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social media platforms. […]

Wednesday, Reggie Bush received some of the best news he has likely heard in quite some time. Bush’s Heisman Trophy from his record-setting 2005 season at USC had been reinstated.
One day later, he was at the TravisMathew store in Century City, CA launching his collection.
The timing could not possibly have been more impeccable.
But as TravisMathew CEO Ryan Ellis said to Playing Through in an exclusive, “When you prepare, you get lucky. Reggie prepared more than ever for this collection to pop and here it is out at the perfect time.”
It certainly was.

Reggie Bush’s Heisman Trophy from 2005 season at USC

SB Nation – Kendall Capps

There was a ton of media coverage at the event, with FOX 11 news doing a live broadcast in the middle of it all.
As great as it was to see Bush getting his hardware back, deservedly so, that was just the cherry on top. The cake itself was a fantastic collection that golfers and anyone with an active lifestyle can get excited about.
Reggie Bush’s Love for the Game of Golf
Bush was recently inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He is undeniably one of the greatest college football players fans have ever been lucky enough to witness.
He transitioned into the NFL and was one of the most versatile weapons in the league for years. Bush ultimately helped the New Orleans Saints win Super Bowl XLIV.
He had an amazing career in football.

Reggie Bush celebrates after winning Super Bowl XLIV

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

However, like every professional athlete, the sun eventually sets. When that happens, there is one alternative to keep those competitive juices flowing: golf.
“I started playing golf two or three years before I retired from the NFL. I wish I had picked it up much sooner because I have learned a lot of life lessons in golf. It has also given me something to drive towards after football,” Bush said to Playing Through.
“I can’t play football at a high level anymore but I can go out on a golf course and play with my boys… talk trash… almost recreate that locker room feel.”
It was at that point that Bush explained his understanding of how difficult golf truly is.
“I always felt like I was a great athlete until I stepped into the golf world. The first time I swung the golf club, I couldn’t even hit the ball. I was frustrated… From that very experience it just grabbed me.”
“That is the thing that drives me. You can never master it [golf]. I am always working, my golf game is always under construction.”
It was through that newfound love of golf that brought about the harmonious connection with TravisMathew.
“That is where it organically started, my relationship with TravisMathew, was in the golf space. I love golf. They obviously have a huge presence in golf. I wanted to be able to bring my vision, my fashion vision to the golf world.”
The former USC Trojan then made me think of Happy Gilmore.
“I see a lot of guys on the golf course that don’t have a lot of fashion sense. I want to be able to help,” Bush said playfully.
In case the Happy Gilmore reference got past you, “If I saw myself in clothes like that, I’d have to kick my own ass.” Now you likely remember.
Needless to say, not only has Bush brought a fashion sense into the sport, he has brought his game along with it.
Ten years after retiring from football and picking up a club, Bush is a six-handicap on the golf course.
Reggie Bush X TravisMathew Collection
The Reggie Bush Collection had a goal. Both Bush and Ellis wanted to create something different, something anyone could wear whether they were on the green or in the air.
“You can wear it to work. You can wear it to play golf. You can wear it if you are traveling,” Ellis said.
“You think about a guy like Reggie, how active his lifestyle is, he doesn’t want to change five times in a day. So he wanted to build apparel that he can wear throughout the day.”
But not only was it important for both Bush and TravisMathew to create versatile apparel, but they wanted it to look sharp, look clean.

Reggie Bush TravisMathew Collection

SB Nation – Kendall Capps

They crushed that goal.
I was lucky enough to walk away with a couple pieces myself and cannot wait to rock them.
If you want to gear up yourself, you can find the collection here.
Typically, the designer or brand has all of the control. A brand ambassador, which Bush became with TravisMathew in 2023, is more or less a face to a product.
But that is not the case here.
“The Reggie collection is the first ever collection we have done with an ambassador, which is really unique. We have such an attention to detail and it is hard to get the time, or even the vision from a professional athlete,” Ellis explained.
“Reggie came in meticulous. He brought 15 pieces for us to look at and said ‘here’s all the things I like.’ We started envisioning together… Not only was he very involved, but he essentially designed it with our designers.”
Clearly, the clothing designer recognized that Bush knew what he was talking about. He has been known to have a keen eye on fashion sense.

The former running back took that role with TravisMathew very seriously, too.
“Shopping can be tough. When you are shopping for yourself… trying to find the perfect pieces, sometimes it is hard to match that all up. What we are doing here is creating here, we are taking all of the thinking out of it,” Bush detailed.
“It all works together. You can buy the shirt, buy the pants, mix and match and they all go together.”
The collection is available in both an army green and light brown, both of which I plan on wearing on and off the course.
As golf fashion continues to be part a more pertinent part of the sport’s lexicon, Bush will likely be a key figure for course attire.
Kendall Capps is the Senior Editor of SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social media platforms. […]

A video surfaced Wednesday of Gary Player and Donald Trump enjoying a round of golf at Trump International Palm Beach Golf Club.
Player, the 9-time major champion, made an impressive chip-in shot during the round. At 88 years old, Player is still enjoying golf and likely breaking his age in score.
The legend hits his shot and immediately says, “There it is.” Player confidently put his hand on his hip and just watches the ball track perfectly into the hole.

Someone in the group yelled, “Oh! He made it!”
The video shows Trump throwing up his hands in disbelief and walking off. It does not seem he celebrated with the legendary golfer. However, the caddie wearing a MAGA hat congratulated Player on the shot and sounded ecstatic.
But notice the text on screen of the video.
“9X Major Champ Chipping In To Shoot 36 To Break Kim Jong Il’s 18 Hole Record Of 37.”
I don’t care who you are. That is flat out hilarious.
We aren’t the only ones who thought so either.

The caption in the video is hilarious.Nice shot though!— Chief Paulo (@NESports8186) May 1, 2024

That is obviously playing off the theme of the North Korean dictator and his commonalities with former President Trump.
Trump has a propensity for stretching the truth, to put it lightly. He has also vocalized publicly his thoughts on extending a President’s tenure beyond the allowed two terms. Sound a little dictatorial?
To bring it back to golf; Player may be nearly 90 years of age, but he still a better player than most people on Earth. The South African maintains a strict workout and diet routine so he can continue to play golf.
This chip-in shot is also a reminder of how good his hands are around the green. He still has that touch required to make those shots.
It is uncertain who won between Trump and Player, but this shot appeared to be one of the highlights of the day.
Kendall Capps is the Senior Editor of SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social media platforms. […]

Tiger Woods joined NBC’s Today Show Wednesday morning. He sat with Carson Daly for 10 minutes and tackled a number of topics. They divulged their relationship as young golfers playing together in Southern California, Woods explained why he wears red and detailed the different relationships he has with each of his children.
But Daly kicked things off asking about the current history being made in professional golf.
Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda have combined to win nine of their last 10 starts, making their own marks in history in the process.
Woods was asked his thoughts on what Scheffler is accomplishing.

Golf connects so many people. Imagine MTV’s most famous face spent his early days competing against Tiger Woods in California. It’s just the best game ever. #golf pic.twitter.com/Nq0D4FFlds— Keith Stewart (@KJStewartpga) May 1, 2024

“For Scottie, his iconic foot movement belies what the club is actually doing through the golf ball,” Woods said.
Of course, he is referencing the viral videos of Scheffler’s feet sliding all over the place through impact. Yet, somehow he is the best ball striker on the planet and it is not even close.
“You just sit back and watch ball flight, there is something different about his. It’s just so consistent and he works it both ways.
“It’s just a matter if he putts decent, he is going to win. If he putts great, he is blowing away fields. If he has a bad putting week, he contends.
“He’s just that good a ball striker,” said Woods.
As simple as it sounds, Tiger is spot on.
Think back to 2023. Golf fans were wondering as Scheffler’s putting woes continued, ‘imagine if Scottie could putt.’
We are all finding out now what happens when he is strong on the greens. As Woods said, when he putts well, the tournament is over before it even starts. Even if Scheffler putts just decently, he is still winning tournaments.
We have not seen this level of domination on the PGA Tour since prime Tiger Woods nearly 20 years ago. The numbers back that up, too.
Scheffler has the best strokes gained tee-to-green numbers since Woods.

Scottie Scheffler celebrates 2024 Masters Tournament win

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Scheffler has won four of his last five starts. The last player to do that was Tiger in the 2004-2005 season.
Of course, Woods went on to win three more, making it seven of eight. But that is why he is widely regarded as one of the two greatest golfers to ever live.
Scheffler has a long way to go to earn any type of distinction like that. But if he continues this torrid pace, he is sure to climb the ranks historically.
Kendall Capps is the Senior Editor of SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social media platforms. […]

Bernhard Langer is one of the legendary figures in golf. In fact, I believe it would be quite difficult to tell the history of the sport without detailing his exploits.
Langer is a two-time Masters champion, having beat out Seve Ballesteros and Raymond Floyd for the Green Jacket in 1985. Then, eight years later, he ran away with the tournament with a four-stroke victory.
He was slated to make his final Masters appearance last week. An unfortunate Achilles injury derailed that. However, his recovery is progressing smoothly with eyes on Augusta National in 2025.
Beyond his Masters presence though, Langer is also one of five players to have ever won a professional golf tournament on six continents.
He ranks second all-time in European Tour wins with 42. The German native has won on the PGA Tour, the Asian Tour, and has 46 titles on the PGA Tour Champions, the most ever.
It is safe to say that he is someone worth listening to when it comes to important matters within the sport.
Luckily, I was granted that opportunity to spend some time with him during The Masters. We spoke at length regarding a number of hot topics, and Langer was incredibly candid during an exclusive with Playing Through.

Bernhard Langer with Augusta National Drive, Chip and Putt winner

Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Sports

Golf Ball Rollback; “Too Little, Too Late”
One of the more prominent conversations among golf fans is the golf ball rollback.
The USGA and the R&A, golf’s two governing bodies, announced that the ball will be rolled back for both professionals and amateurs alike. It is not slated to take effect until 2028, but that did not stop Langer from stating just how ridiculous the current approach is.
But not for why you might expect.
“Rolling the ball back seven-to-12 yards, I think that makes no sense. That is too little, too late,” Langer said boldly.
“In four years time, the guys will already hit it seven-to-12 yards farther. When you roll it back just that much, we are going to be where we are right now. In three or four more years, they are going to have this problem again.”
As the 66-year-old would go on to detail, athletes are getting bigger, stronger and faster in all sports. That is not likely to stop.
When you combine that with the advance of technology, learning “the perfect spin rate, launch angle, speed training, nutrition,” players are simply going to keep hitting it farther.
“If they are going to roll the ball back, roll it back substantially. Seven-to-12 yards does nothing in the long run for the game of golf,” Langer said.
He did however acknowledge how complicated the situation is.
Golf ball manufacturers are not going to want to pour tens of millions of dollars into a ball that only professionals will use. So, bifurcation was dead on arrival.
But that means what is already a tough sport for Sunday golfers like you and me, is only going to get harder.
“That makes it harder for the amateurs. The game is already hard and now you are going to hit it shorter. That will make it even harder.”
It was refreshing to hear Langer speak frankly and it was only made possible because of his role with Mercedes-Benz.
Langer Mercedes-Benz: The Perfect Marriage
Langer is one of the brand ambassadors for Mercedes-Benz. The German automaker has been one of the longest running sponsors within the sport for decades. As they like to say, focus, persistence and a concentration of power are qualities they have sought and found in golf, which aligns with what they bring to their products everyday.
But Langer’s relationship with them, and in particular how it came about, is pretty fantastic.

Bernhard Langer, Senior PGA Championship

Photo by Traci Edwards/The PGA of America via Getty Images

“I won here [Augusta National] in 1985 and had a contract with Jaguar,” Langer said while wearing one of his Green Jackets.
“Someone asked ‘how come a German guy is driving an English car when there are so many great German car manufacturers?’”
“I said, ‘good question.’ I then got a call from Mercedes-Benz and we connected and have been together ever since.”
Mercedes has been a huge proponent of the sport for a very long time, but also imbues its values.
The automaker recently announced a multi-year partnership with lifestyle golf brand Eastside Golf to forge a more inclusive game of golf and increase access and opportunities to play and grow the sport. Together, they will support local community golf, spotlight HCBU’s and their golf teams, and they recently released a co-branded women’s capsule collection to celebrate women in the game – all in an effort to build a more inclusive community around the game and attract a new generation of diver golfers and fans..
In a sport filled with philanthropy and giving back, Mercedes-Benz does their part.
LIV Golf and the OWGR Problem
Langer also did his part during our time together, pulling no punches.
We, of course, had to discuss the current state of professional golf. I asked for his thoughts and he provided one very obvious sentiment, while another perked my ears up.
“There’s two things for sure.”
“All the professionals are making more money, whether they play on the LIV Tour or the PGA Tour. They are all making more money, so it is a good thing for all of those involved,” said Langer matter-of-factly.
Everyone talks about the money that LIV players are making. But what gets overlooked is the PGA Tour purses increasing. No, not to the level of LIV, but Langer is correct that the creation of LIV Golf has bulked up the pockets of many PGA Tour players as well.
“But the other thing is that it is not good for the game of golf. It’s dividing, it’s not good to not see the best players play against each other on a regular basis.”
“The whole world ranking is out of whack now too. You don’t have all of the best players getting world ranking points… they dug themselves into the trenches a while ago and now they have to find their way out.”
Langer is referencing the fact that the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) system has refused to award LIV Golf with any points. That has led to the majority on the Saudi-funded circuit to plummet in the standings.
But everyone knows that Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, Cam Smith, and such are some of the best players on the planet.
Ryder Cup – Euro Stars Emerge thanks to LIV Golf
Following the Europeans decimation of Team USA at last fall’s Ryder Cup in Rome, Luke Donald was awarded captaincy in 2025 as well.
It will be the first time since the 1990’s when Stephan Gallacher was captain back-to-back for Team Europe.
Part of last year’s success, was in part, thanks to LIV Golf, according to Langer.
“Luke had a lot of success last year. It may not have happened if some of the guys not gone to the LIV tour, like Westwood, Garcia and Stenson. That left a little bit of a void.”
That void opened up spots for rising talents like Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg and Nicolai Hojgaard. Aberg and Hovland historically embarrassed Team USA, hammering Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka.

Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland, Nicolai Hojgaard celebrate Ryder Cup win

Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images

There is so much young talent coming from Europe these days. Langer went so far as to point out the number of German players now on Tour, which is uncommon historically.
“Even Germany has eight or 10 guys on tour now, which is unheard of.”
“The game of golf is growing in that part of the world. It took a while but it is happening. More and more of the top European youngsters are coming over to go college in America. They get the best coaching, the best facilities, practice and competition as well.”
“That has helped them be much better at a much younger age.”
Indeed, Aberg is 24 years old and nearly just won The Masters. Hovland is the reigning FedEx Cup winner at 26.
The rising stars from across the pond are going to help make an incredibly contentious Ryder Cup rivalry for years to come.
Kendall Capps is the Senior Editor of SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social media platforms. […]

Jon Rahm entered the grounds at Augusta National this past week as the reigning champion. He then hosted the annual Masters Champion Dinner, with an epic menu that was well received.
But in the back of his mind, he was aware that there might be moments of awkwardness during his return.
That is, of course, because Rahm left the PGA Tour behind for LIV Golf and at least $400 million.
As the Spaniard scuttled his way around Augusta, Rahm detailed his perceptions, per Spanish outlet El Mundo.
“Yes, I have noticed hostile attitudes, but I expected it, my friends have continued to be my friends, but some with whom I had a very cordial relationship have not even looked at my face,” Rahm said.

#MIXED REACTION — Jon Rahm says some of his old friends on the PGA Tour didn’t receive him with open arms at The Masters: “Some did. I expected it. And then, there was someone else who I expected to be a little tougher… and one of them hugged me. I think that, among all… pic.twitter.com/lW07lMKoSt— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) April 14, 2024

“These are things that happen, if someone changes their opinion of me, it is more their problem than mine. I am not worried. I knew it was going to happen. I didn’t know who.”
The two-time major champion did not drop names. But there are certainly some we can probably rule out, like his Ryder Cup teammates. He and Rory McIlroy were seen getting along as the tournament progressed.
That did not help his play, however. Rahm finished tied for 45th at 9-over par.
Despite the mixed reaction from his former competitors on the PGA Tour, Rahm lay the blame for his poor play solely at his own feet.
Sadly, the next time most golf fans will get to see Rahm tee it up will be at the PGA Championship next month.
The framework agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV does not appear to be making any substantial progress. So the division within the sport remains, leaving fans as the biggest losers.
Kendall Capps is the Senior Editor of SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social media platforms. […]

Rickie Fowler entered the 88th Masters Tournament looking to become the first ever Masters Par-3 champion to also win the Green Jacket the same year.
He will fall woefully short of that goal as he just barely made the cut on the number at 6-over par.
Unlike most players who were doomed by the wind Friday, it was actually Fowler’s opening round 76 that crushed his hopes.
Nevertheless, he bounced back Saturday to post a strong round of 1-under 71.
Afterwards, he was asked about the Masters Par-3 curse.
“It’s got to be broken at some point.”

Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images

“You know, tough conditions first two days. I got off to a tough start the first and just kind of trying to battle back after that… I thought it will always be fun to try and do both. I’ve got one leg of it. Got work on the big course next.
Despite not being in contention, Fowler managed to keep things in perspective.
“It’s cool winning the par-3 contest and being a part of that, having that is something, and to have done with it Maya and my wife on the bag.”
He was also given a nice trophy for his efforts Wednesday.
“I got some great crystal, nice Crystal bowl out of it. Got my name over there forever. Whether they like it or not, my name is a part of Augusta forever.”
The former Oklahoma State Cowboy snapped his winless drought at the Rocket Mortgage Classic last year. His play down the stretch earned him a spot on Team USA’s Ryder Cup team as well.
But thus far in 2024, Fowler has reverted back to his poor form. He has made nine starts with three missed cuts. His best finish was T35 at the Genesis Invitational.
But as he said, he’ll always have his name on that crystal bowl.
Kendall Capps is the Senior Editor of SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social media platforms. […]

The 88th Masters Tournament thus far has been a wild test of skill, grit and resilience. But even some players who typically display those characteristics, missed the cut this year.
Following a rain delay Thursday, which prompted 27 of 89 golfers in the Masters field to finish their first rounds Friday morning, things were even more difficult in Round 2.
The wind whipped consistently between 20 and 30 miles per hour, with gusts up to 40 mph. That wreaked havoc on the field, leaving former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel to call the conditions “borderline unplayable.”
Yet, a number of players persevered and either held tough or improved their position Friday.
Collin Morikawa for example, whose game had been in the tank this year, carded a 2-under 70 to finish at 3-under heading into the weekend.
Ludvig Aberg went even lower, posting a second-round best 3-under 69.

Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images

Beyond those guys though, it was slim pickings. Only eight of 89 players finished under par Friday, with the vast majority dropping massive numbers.
In fact, the second round scoring average of 75.08 is only the fourth time in the last 30 years to finish three strokes over par, per The Athletic’s Justin Ray.
It was wild out there. That led to a ton of big names missing the cut.
Masters 2024: Biggest Names to Miss the Cut
Dustin Johnson
Johnson followed up a 6-over 78 with an even worse 7-over 79 to close at 13 over par. It is his worst performance at Augusta National in his career.
He opened with four bogeys on the front and matched that on the back with a single birdie mixed in.
The two-time major champion, who many believed had a decent chance at another Green Jacket, fell flat and will go home early.
Jordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth had to finish up his second round early Friday and made a mess of things. The 2015 Masters champion became the first player this century to card multiple 9’s on the par-5 15th, crushing his chances of a title.

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Then his second round began and things didn’t get much better. He carded a 2-over 74 to finish the tournament 9-over, three off the cut line.
Brian Harman
The reigning Open champion was one of the few to play well Friday.
Problem was, he was equally atrocious Thursday after a 9-over 81. There was no coming back from that.
Viktor Hovland
Viktor Hovland entered 2024 with a ton of momentum and for good reason. He had caught fire and captured the FedEx Cup in 2023, winning both of the final events of the Tour Championship.
That came to a screeching halt immediately this year. The Norwegian has struggled mightily all year and that continued at The Masters.
Hovland posted an 9-over 81 Friday to miss the cut by two shots.
Justin Thomas
Thomas found himself in contention on the back nine Friday at Augusta. He had braved the wind and played at even par through 14 holes for the round and the championship.
Then Thomas played his final four holes.

Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images

The two-time PGA Championship winner found the water with his third shot on 15. He finished with a double bogey seven.
It only got worse from there.
JT shot an unbelievable 7-over during his final four holes to miss the cut by one. From Masters contention to going home Friday night; that sums up Thomas’ week at Augusta National.
Wyndham Clark
Wyndham Clark was playing as well as anyone on the planet not named Scottie Scheffler in 2024. And even that was close, as he finished runner up in back-to-back weeks to Scottie at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players.
The second of which, Clark was a heartbreaking lip-out on 18 from forcing a playoff.
Due to that, a lot of people likes his chances entering Augusta. Through 23 holes, they would have looked really smart.
The reigning U.S. Open champion was even par for the tournament and 1-under for his round.
It was all downhill from there. Clark bogeyed 6, 7 and 9 to close out the front. He then followed that up with bogeys on 10, 14, 15 and 17 to also just miss out on the weekend.
The future is very bright for Clark. I feel extremely confident writing that. But this was a lesson that maybe Jack Nicklaus could teach.
Kendall Capps is the Senior Editor of SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social media platforms. […]

13 members of LIV Golf are in the field this week for the 88th Masters Tournament. A number of people have talked about guys like Brooks Koepka, Joaquin Niemann and even Dustin Johnson as ones to watch.
But it was Bryson DeChambeau who blistered Augusta National Thursday.
He carded a 7-under 65 to take a three shot lead into the clubhouse. With it, he came within a couple strokes of the lowest opening round score in Masters history.
That honor belongs to the LIV Golf CEO, Mr. Greg Norman. He shot a 9-under 63 back in 1996.
A handful of players have since carded a 64, most recently Jordan Spieth in 2015.

Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Nevertheless, DeChambeau will happily take his Augusta National start. After all, his previous three trips here, he posted a combined 10-over par during his first round.
“I felt like I placed my golf ball in the right place today. I didn’t put myself into too many poor spots,” DeChambeau said from Butler Cabin after his round.
“For the most part, I rolled it well, drove it well, hit my irons pretty well and took advantage when the opportunity presented itself.”
He did just that.
DeChambeau has also almost doubled up the field in strokes gained tee-to-green. He also leads the field in strokes gained putting with an absurd 3.60 shots.
Never was that more evident than on 17, a notoriously difficult hole to birdie. Yet, DeChambeau drained a lengthy birdie putt that surprised even himself.
“I wasn’t expecting to make that. But it’s certainly nice when it drops.”
The 30-year-old pro posted his lowest round of any major in his career. But he is going to have to back that up as a number of stars are in the hunt a couple shots back.
Kendall Capps is the Senior Editor of SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social media platforms. […]

The Masters Tournament is finally upon us. That magical week that every golf fan looks forward to is here. But this year might very well be different than any other.
The PGA Tour is in flux as the emergence of LIV Golf has forced the former to make major changes.
With so many stars leaving for LIV, the Tour started the Player Incentive Program and created Signature Events that bring with it significantly larger purses. That, of course, put pressure on sponsors, some of which announced they were ending their partnership with the PGA Tour.
It has been a wild two years with no end in sight.
Thankfully, we at least get all of the best players in the world in one place at the same time. So, that begs the question: Which league will shine the brightest and send a member into Butler Cabin donning a Green Jacket?
PGA Tour Badly in Need of a Win
Upon the Saudi-funded LIV Golf hitting the scene, Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan went scorched earth on the upstart league. He went so far as to get 9/11 Justice on its side, considering Saudi Arabia’s ties to the terrorist attacks in 2001.
Yet, one year later a shocking deal was announced between the two sides.

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

From there, it has been one public relations hit job after another for the PGA Tour. 9/11 Justice has since turned on Monahan, and understandably so. Players themselves have expressed disappointment and anger toward being left in the dark.
It is safe to say, the PGA Tour could use a PR win.
Well, what better place to get one than at Augusta National?
Scottie Scheffler leads a stacked, deep lineup of talented players looking for a major trophy. World No. 2 Rory McIlroy appears to have turned a corner after meeting with swing coach Butch Harmon.
Xander Schauffele has been incredibly consistent this year. Wyndham Clark is having not only the best year of his career, but if he wins this week, one could argue one of the better years in recent memory.
But it is the depth of the PGA Tour that truly stands out compared to LIV.
Jordan Spieth is always capable of winning any tournament. Tony Finau is playing very well and knows Augusta well. Patrick Cantlay is a dog and won’t ever back away from a challenge. Did you watch last year’s Ryder Cup?

Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Viktor Hovland, Will Zalatoris, Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood, Hideki Matsuyama, Matt Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa, Cam Young, Sam Burns, Max Homa, Sahith Theegala, Jason Day, Adam Scott and Brian Harman are all world class golfers.
Any one of them could win and no one would be surprised.
Depth is on the Tour’s side.
LIV Golf Heavy at the Top
LIV, no matter what the shills online like to say, cannot compete with the Tour in terms of depth of talent.
That is inarguable.
However, at the top, a very strong argument can be made that they are in better shape.
The rival circuit currently has players who have won two of the last four U.S. Open’s, PGA Championships and Masters Tournaments.
They are highlighted by Jon Rahm, the reigning Masters champion. But when your second best option is Brooks Koepka, a five-time major champion, that’s impressive.

Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images

Phil Mickelson might be getting up there in age, but a second place finish last year in Augusta proved he can still compete. Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Charl Schwartzel and Sergio Garcia are all former major winners.
They didn’t just peel off talent from the PGA Tour. They took some of the very best.
Coincidentally, Jaoquin Niemann might be playing better than any of those guys right now.
In total, there are 13 members of LIV playing in this year’s Masters. Each of them are a legit threat to take home the Green Jacket.
As I mentioned above, the PGA Tour really needs to put a check mark in the PR win column. A victory at Augusta would do that.
But I just don’t see it. The only odds-on favorite to win the Masters this century is Tiger Woods, who did it three times. Scheffler will contend, but I don’t foresee him winning it again.
Too many others either don’t play well here, or are not in good form entering this week.
Meanwhile, the LIV players are coming in looking to make a statement, as Garcia pointed out.
If I am favoring one side or the other, I believe the scale tips toward LIV Golf.
Kendall Capps is the Senior Editor of SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social media platforms. […]