I can’t say I really know Bryson DeChambeau, but it certainly felt like it after he won the U.S. Open on Sunday at Pinehurst in such dramatic fashion. DeChambeau was just a kid out of Southern Methodist University when he won the U.S. Amateur at Olympia Fields in 2015. Chicago rarely gets an event…
Author: lenz
It’d be helpful to get Nicklaus’ take on the PGA-LIV issue
OCALA, FL. – My starting point as a golf writer came at the 1968 Western Open at Olympia Fields. Jack Nicklaus won it. Over the next 56 years I’ve reported, commented and interviewed many people in the golf industry. Many times I’ve been asked who is the best interview in the golf world, and my…
Here’s the Illinois players teeing off in the U.S. Open
In most years there are two, maybe three, Illinois-connected players in the finals of the U.S. Open. This year, for the 124th Open that tees off on Thursday in Pinehurst, N.C., there will be four such players among the 156 starters. Interestingly, though, none of them are among the area’s regular PGA Tour players….
Cantigny starts a renovation just as Dubsdread re-opens
It may have been coincidental, but two of the Chicago area’s most prominent public golf facilities made announcements on the same day last week that will have a big impact on the area’s golf community. At Cantigny, in Wheaton, it was the ground-breaking for an extraordinary three-year redo. At Cog Hill, in Lemont, it was…
My reflections on a mind-boggling two weeks in pro golf
OCALA, FL. – Who would have thunk it? There’s some developments over the last two weeks in the pro golf world that defy the imagination – at least mine. These are changing times in golf, and that’s been the case for a while – but I never would have imagined the following series of…
Defending champ says PGA Tour needs more John Deere Classics
Illinois is one of those few states to have both a PGA Tour and a LIV Tour tournament this year. The friction between the two circuits is still there, but Sepp Straka downplayed it during the John Deere Classic’s annual Champions Day in Rock Island last week. Straka will defend his title in Illinois’…
Nelly Korda should be the leading story in golf this year
OCALA, FL. – Unfortunately all the noise impacting the men’s pro golf tours has detracted from what is a huge story in the sport overall this season. The extraordinary accomplishments of Nelly Korda haven’t received nearly the attention they’ve merited. This week should change that. The 79th U.S. Women’s Open tees off on Thursday…
Illini men could contend for NCAA golf title again
Mike Small has had better teams than his current one at the University of Illinois. Several of them, including last year’s veteran squad, even came close to winning the NCAA title but couldn’t finish the job. The current Illini did make it to the NCAA finals, which begin a week-long run on Friday (MAY…
Bizarre — that’s the best way to sum up the PGA Championship
Bizarre. I’d say that was the best way to sum up the 106th PGA Championship at Valhalla in Louisville, Ky. No question the golf was great. So was the drama. Xander Schauffle was 21-under-par in finally winning a major championship on Sunday. You couldn’t beat the drama, either. Bryson DeChambeau renewed the PGA Tour vs….
Will a PGA Tour visit bolster Myrtle Beach tourism? We’ll see
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Having about 100 courses, an oceanside setting and tons of lodging and dining options made Myrtle Beach a popular place for golfers to visit. It wasn’t good enough for the PGA Tour, however – at least not until this year. Golf’s premier circuit brought its first-ever tournament to the stunning Dunes…