Quick note to Jon Rahm:
If you’re in the hunt at the TPC Scottsdale come Sunday at the Phoenix Open, please check the scoreboard to make sure where you stand.
Rahm may want to consider that after what transpired last Sunday at Torrey Pines when he thought all he needed was birdie at the final hole to force a playoff with Marc Leishman at The Farmers.
Obviously that wasn’t the case, Rahm was two back and needed an eagle. He came close but his long putt came up just short.
Rahm’s the big name in this week’s field at the tour’s loudest, most attended event. He’s an Arizona State guy and will have lots of support from the massive crowds. He’s also the highest-ranked player in the field. The world’s No. 3 has also been on a roll — no one in this week’s lineup is playing better than Rahm at this moment.
Two big names are in the field — Rickie Fowler and Gary Woodland — and both have something to prove after missing the 36-hole cut last week. It was at the pro-am here last year that Woodland made a friend for life in Amy Bockerstette. It was at the rowdy 16th hole where Amy joined Gary and promptly proceeded to make an amazing par on the hole. Amy, who has Down Syndrome, became a national media darling and has gone on to raise huge sums of money with her “I Got This” foundation that creates playing opportunities for those with special needs.
Amy inspired Woodland to go on and win the U.S. Open and the two reunited on the Today Show later that year.
As for other potential contenders, Collin Morikawa, who continues to impress with his overall game and skills, is there along with Brandt Snedeker, who contended down the stretch last week at Torrey Pines and eventually finished tied for third with Rory McIlroy.
Fowler comes in as the defending champion and is looking to rebound after his disappointing performance last week.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan was on hand Tuesday and basically put the hammer down on the announcement by the proposed Premier League. The PGA Tour will defend its turf to the max, as it always has.
Monahan also threw out the tidbit in an email to PGA Tour members that Saudi Arabia is the money-force behind the proposed world tour.
In the meantime, the show goes on in Phoenix.
Welcome to the party that garbage collection built!
