Scottie Scheffler laughs, JT indicators a brow.
Getty Photos/Claire Rogers
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Hi there, buddies, and completely happy Saturday evening from the most popular spot on the town (the media middle at TPC Sawgrass)! The one factor preserving me from saying I’m tremendous excited for the ultimate spherical of the Gamers is the truth that we lose an hour of sleep tonight. Apart from that, morale is excessive. I bumped into some buddies on the course as we speak, had a scrumptious iced latte and used science (learn: Scheffler’s vest-wearing sample) to foretell a strong spherical from the World No. 2 on Saturday.
Household week!
My first commentary at TPC Sawgrass as we speak was simply what number of gamers have their households on the street with them this week. I’ve seen wives and children within the crowd in addition to hanging out by the scoring tent. The Finaus, Baddeleys, Days and Todds had been just some of the households I noticed bouncing across the course and clubhouse as we speak. I haven’t seen this many Tour youngsters on the course since December once I attended the PNC Championship in Orlando, the place every professional teed it up with their child (or guardian).
Tom Hoge
I’d wish to take a second to rejoice Tom Hoge. And never as a result of he broke the course file after reserving a flight residence from TPC Sawgrass.
I’m positive firing a 62 at TPC Sawgrass will impress a few of my readers, however what I actually care about is the truth that Hoge stood up for what actually issues this week: the player-dining state of affairs.
Too wholesome! I can relate. I headed into the media middle earlier this week determined for a snack. I used to be within the temper for some chips or a baked good, however all I used to be met with had been salads and uncooked greens. The letdown I felt was that of somebody who missed a putt to win a golf match. So, Tom Hoge, thanks for doing precisely what Proverbs 31:8 referred to as you to do: “Communicate up for individuals who can’t converse for themselves, for the rights of all who’re destitute.” As somebody whose voice is probably not heard on this entrance, your phrases imply greater than you already know.
Golf siblings
Step apart, Nelly and Jessica Korda! Completely kidding. There’s room for plenty of cool golf-sibling duos out right here, so I’m completely happy to focus on the Lee siblings as we speak.
Not solely is Minjee a two-time main champion, however the Lee siblings are each within the prime 50 on the earth. I’m undecided what was within the water within the Lee’s childhood residence, nevertheless it pumped out two complete stars.
Speak about expertise. All my siblings and I do is Tweet about golf, make enjoyable of one another and bicker over the tv distant.
James Hahn within the crowd
I used to be strolling across the course as we speak trying on the motion contained in the ropes when in actuality, I used to be lacking out on a number of the motion exterior of the ropes. As I approached the sixteenth inexperienced, I took a seat by a bunker and regarded behind me. And proper there was famous PGA-Tour stan James Hahn!
At first, I believed it would’ve been a James Hahn doppelgänger, however a fast Instagram cross-reference allowed me to match Hahn’s sponsors with the sponsors on the spectator’s shirt (shout out to Michelob Extremely and E-Z-GO automobiles for serving to me determine this out). Seeing professionals watch the golf out on the course after lacking the minimize is really certainly one of my favourite components of the game. They’re followers of the sport identical to the remainder of us! Additionally, it was a completely excellent afternoon in Ponte Vedra, so I can’t consider a day higher spent than out at TPC Sawgrass, enjoying or not.
Scottie Scheffler’s espresso routine
I’m really the final one who must be judging the espresso routines of others, however for the sake of the Rogers Report, I’ll do it. My espresso origin story started in March 2020 once I was dwelling at residence through the pandemic and located myself in want of a brand new vice. I used to be working from my childhood attic, getting exterior to stroll round a chilly and gloomy East Windfall, Rhode Island for possibly 40 minutes a day and sleeping on an air mattress in my sister’s room. Occasions had been robust, people. I’ve acid reflux disease and bronchial asthma, so something together with alcohol or smoking was fairly out of the query. I landed on espresso as an alternative.
Have you ever ever tried to wean your self on to espresso? It’s an expertise I wouldn’t want on my worst enemy. I began with, like, 1 / 4 of a cup, and would solely improve my dosage as soon as the god-awful uncomfortable side effects together with the shakes and a racing coronary heart subsided. It took till July, however I’ve been a proud iced espresso gal ever since! Anyway, Scottie Scheffler is a espresso drinker, however solely when he’s at residence in Texas. Very attention-grabbing!
I assume he simply should not be depending on it? In any other case, he’d have a headache by the twelfth gap each time he teed it up. I can’t assist however surprise if this may change as he enters his late 20s or has youngsters. I personally drink it for the style, and I look ahead to having it as just a little deal with each morning! I assume he’s capable of look ahead to profitable on the PGA Tour, so he doesn’t want espresso as the only motivator for getting off the bed every morning like a few of us do.
JT’s attention-grabbing autograph session
There’s nothing I am keen on extra throughout a golf match than hanging out by the clubhouse. Ninety-nine p.c of the motion occurs out on the course, however for those who stick round by the place the gamers and caddies chat post-round, you’re positive to see some great things. Exhibit A: Justin Thomas signing a fan’s brow. Had I been out following the ultimate group, I’d’ve missed this spectacular second.
Not solely did JT signal this fan’s brow, however he additionally signed one other child’s brow and drew a mustache on him. All in Sharpie! I’m positive his dad and mom had been thrilled. If I had been him, I’m making an attempt to maintain it on till college on Monday. As excited because the followers had been, I believe JT’s father, Mike, acquired extra of a kick out of it than anybody else. He took photographs of the entire thing.
Claire Rogers
Aaron Rai’s ace
Aaron Rai’s cool issue has elevated exponentially over the past yr and a half. Folks (learn: myself) had been fast to evaluate once they discovered he retains headcovers on his irons, however his reasoning behind it was excellent.
In September 2021, Rai defined that he “grew up in very a lot a working-class household, and golf has at all times been a really costly recreation. I began from the age of 4 years previous, and my dad used to pay for the tools, pay for my memberships, my entry charges. And it wasn’t cash that we actually had, to be sincere, however he’d at all times purchase me the very best golf equipment … I’ve just about had iron covers on all of my units ever since simply to understand the worth of what I’ve.”
How respectful is that? After which Rai adopted Tiger’s pro-am group at Riviera final month simply to get an opportunity to see him play close-up. This all leads us as much as as we speak, when Rai made an ace on No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass!
Justin Thomas wasn’t the one one with some attention-grabbing autograph requests as we speak. Rai ended up signing a Croc for a fan.
