Good Thursday morning, golf fans, as day one of the Rocket Mortgage Classic gets underway.
1. Optimistic Phil
Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior Writer…”In his first public comments since the PGA Tour’s stunning alliance with the DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund was announced June 6, six-time major champion Phil Mickelson said he’s happy the sides are working to bring the fractured sport back together.”
“During a news conference Wednesday ahead of this week’s LIV Golf League tournament in Spain, Mickelson told reporters that he thinks the plan to reshape the sport is ahead of schedule.”
“I would say I felt appreciation that we got to this point where we’re working together because it makes me confident with where the game of golf is headed in the future,” Mickelson said. “We felt like it was going to be about two years roughly before we got to that point. It took a year and a half or six months quicker than I thought it would be.”
2. Player meeting re: PIF (and a statement of their own)
AP report…“The PGA Tour sought to assure players Tuesday that they will have a say in the Tour’s new partnership with the Saudi funders of LIV Golf, with its policy board issuing a statement that noted players would have to approve any final agreement between the once-rival tours.”
“The statement was released after a meeting of the board, which includes five players: Patrick Cantlay, Rory McIlroy, Charley Hoffman, Peter Malnati and Webb Simpson…”
“Entering the framework agreement put an end to costly litigation. Management, with input from our player directors, has now begun a new phase of negotiations to determine if the Tour can reach a definitive agreement that is in the best interests of our players, fans, sponsors, partners, and the game overall,” the statement said.”
“If future negotiations lead to a proposed agreement, it would need approval by the Tour’s policy board, which includes player directors. In the meantime, we are all committed to the safeguards in the framework agreement that ensure the PGA Tour would lead and maintain control of this potential new commercial entity,” the statement continued.”
3. Friends again
Our Matt Vincenzi…”Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy were once close friends, but Garcia’s decision to join LIV Golf, the relationship deteriorated quickly.”
“At the U.S. Open earlier this month, the pair crossed paths. The Independent reported that when McIlroy walked past Garcia, he “put his right little finger to his mouth and his thumb to his ear”, indicating he would call the Spaniard. Apparently, the two eventually found each other and had a conversation at Los Angeles Country Club.”
“While speaking to the media ahead of this week’s LIV tournament, Sergio called the U.S. Open a “great event” due to the fact that he reconciled with the man who was an usher at his wedding in 2017.”
“More than anything, because I gained a friend back, a friend that I kind of felt like I lost in the last year or so.
“We talked and we had a great conversation, and I feel like I have that friend back, and that to me means a lot. That’s a very positive thing.”
4. The Match: Team Curry-Thompson’s golf origin story
Jeff Eisenband for PGATour.com…”Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have achieved more victories than most other athletes in their era, but one of their early losses still lingers in their minds.”
“Our first time playing golf as a two-man team, was it the Grand Canary Islands?” Curry begins. “We were playing on the 2014 Team USA together if memory serves me right. I think we got beat by Clyde Drexler and who was the other guy?”
“That’s right. And we were betting milkshakes at the time, no money.”
5. Koepka, DJ in no hurry to return to Tour?
Paul Higham for Golf Monthly…”Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson say they have no desire to return to the PGA Tour even if allowed under the big merger – saying LIV Golf will only get bigger and better.”
“…Johnson insists he’s happy to stay with LIV Golf, which he says will get better as a result of a deal between the PGA Tour and PIF – and certainly doesn’t want to play more golf.”
“I’m excited for the future,” said Johnson ahead of the LIV Golf tournament at Valderrama. “I think with this agreement, the only thing that’s going to happen is LIV is going to get even better than what it is now, which it’s already great. I’m happy exactly where I am, and I’m definitely not looking to play more golf than I’m playing now, that’s for sure.”
6. Morikawa’s frustration
Colby Powell for Golf Channel…”Frustrating.”
“That’s how Collin Morikawa characterized his season when asked about his play prior to this week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic.”
“After bursting on the scene with five PGA Tour wins – including two major championships – within a span of two years, Morikawa finds himself in a dry spell of nearly the same length.”
“His last Tour victory came at The Open Championship in 2021…”
“It’s been a while, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to [win], it’s still there,” Morikawa said. “You’ve got to put together some solid golf. … This year hasn’t been great, but I’m not giving up. We’re still right there, we’re 32nd FedExCup. A win puts us pretty high up so just focus on how to win.
“I think it’s just coming down to control the golf ball. Right now I brought in left on the golf course. That’s when I was playing my best, when I was winning, I could swing as hard as I’d want and the ball was never going left.”
7. DJ Khaled, OBJ hit the links
8. JT credits wife for change in mentality
Jimmy Reinman for PGATour.com…”Thomas once took the TOUR Championship almost for granted, but now he’s grinding to secure a spot in the top 70 to qualify for the Playoffs. He’s playing this week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic with some positive momentum after a T9 at last week’s Travelers Championship, flipping the script after back-to-back missed cuts at the U.S. Open and the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday, the first time Thomas missed the cut in consecutive events since July 2017.”
“So, what changed? He received a text last Wednesday night from his wife Jillian, which he received Thursday when he woke up. She gently nudged him to remember the spirit of why he loves this game.”
“With rounds of 70-64-62-67 at TPC River Highlands, his third-round 62 marking a season-low, it paid dividends.”
“It resonated to me and it really hit home better than anything I’ve heard,” Thomas said of his wife’s text. “Just basically said (to) remember why you love this game and why you play this game and why you’re out there, just enjoy that and kind of take it in. It hit home for me. So last week, any kind of challenge I faced, anything good that happened, anything bad that happened, I just kind of remembered this is why I play professional golf and that’s, it’s why I’m doing this.”
9. Rocket Mortgage Classic photos
Check out all of our photos from this week’s event!
