There’s a line from the Dan Jenkins novel — Dead Solid Perfect — about a particular character at the fictional Goat Hills (Worth Hills in reality) — a guy they called “Mr. Insurance” — because “he always had a great partner.”
The fellas from the PGA Tour are playing their own version of a Member-Member this week at this team championship (Zurich Classic) in New Orleans.
Lo and behold — Ryan Palmer, who somehow convinced then world No. 1 Jon Rahm to play with him last year, has landed current world No. 1 and Masters champion Scottie Scheffler as his partner this week. So seeing as the title sponsor (Zurich) is an insurance conglomerate, its fitting that we tag Ryan Palmer this week as “Mr. Insurance.”
Before Rahm, Palmer saddled up Jordan Spieth when he held the lofty ranking.
Let’s face it — Ryan Palmer is golf’s equivalent to the recruiters for Alabama and Georgia football.
So they begin tomorrow at TPC Louisiana where last year the Aussie duo of sixth-ranked Cam Smith and partner Marc Leishman outlasted South Africans Louie Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel.
Both teams shot 20-under to get in that playoff. Cam and Marc shots rounds that went: 63-72-63-70.
The format is first day four-ball (best-ball), second round foursomes (alternate shot), third round four-ball and Sunday, back to ye olde alternate shot.
Par at TPC Louisiana outside New Orleans is 72 so you can see the Aussies went 18-under for the best-ball rounds and just two-under when it was alternate shot. That’s the formula — you have to go pretty low in the best-ball and try to shoot something par of better in alternate shot.
Obviously sixth-ranked Cam Smith is having a really nice year. He was having a great Masters until he went Spieth-Finau-Koepka-Molinari at the 12th hole on Sunday.
Leishman is a pretty fair ball striker so you have to consider these two one of the favorites this week.
Here’s a quick look at some of the other top teams:
Collin Morikawa-Viktor Hovland: This is the glamour team. Second-ranked Morikawa and fifth-ranked Hovland. On paper, the two best individuals as far as world rankings. Two really fine ball strikers. Morikawa’s been an underachiever on the greens this season. Hovland’s short game isn’t as good as his world ranking. You would expect these two to be in the thick of it. Simply depends on the putting. But then again, can’t you say that for a lot of teams?
Patrick Cantlay-Xander Schauffele: Two U.S. Ryder Cuppers teaming up here. Cantlay lost in the playoff to Spieth last Sunday at Harbour Town. Patrick always hits it well, his putting hasn’t been up to his lofty standards as of late. As for Schauffele, he’s fallen out of the world’s top 10 for the first time in a long time. Not winning will have that effect. Still, you have fourth-ranked Cantlay and No. 12 Schauffele — a lot of talent here.
Billy Horschel-Sam Burns: Billy Horschel keeps popping up near the top of leaderboards, he’s quietly having a pretty good season. We’re getting to know Burns as he’s become a winner on the PGA Tour. A lot to like with this team. Burns should get a lot of local support — he’s an LSU guy.
Sergio Garcia-Tommy Fleetwood: Two European Ryder Cuppers. Really fine ball strikers but both can be shaky putters.
Tailor Gooch-Max Homa: Two sneaky-good players. Just a hunch that they’ll play well.
Shane Lowry-Ian Poulter: Two European Ryder Cuppers. Lowry played well last week at Harbour Town until the dunked his second in the water at the par three 14th. Poulter is having a so-so year. Still, an intriguing team.
Missing from the field was the other team involved in the 2021 playoff — Oosthuizen and Schwartzel. Oosthuizen has been having back issues so that may be one reasons this team isn’t in this week’s lineup.
As for everyone else, there are so many interesting pairings and a huge number of outliers. It’s not like top players were falling all over themselves to play in this one so no doubt the sponsors are hoping the big names play well.
Huge field with 80 teams that will be trimmed to the low 33 and ties come late Friday.
So welcome to the Tour’s Member-Member.
Which are the beer holes?
Television Schedule:
Thursday-Friday: The Golf Channel: 3:30 (EDT)-6:30 (EDT)
Saturday-Sunday: The Golf Channel: 1 pm-3 pm (EDT); CBS: 3-6 pm (EDT)
