It’s PGA Tour’s Game to Lose

👋 Hey, golf fans,

Before we begin with today’s news, we want to take a moment to thank you. Today marks the 300th edition of Essentially Golf. This would not be possible without your constant encouragement and valuable feedback. A huge thank you for sticking with us.

Today, we are talking about PGA Tour events this week, LIV’s current crisis and what it spells for golf’s future, some words of wisdom from World No. 1 Nelly Korda, and a special headcover that caught our attention.

Let’s get started…

Before we start with today’s edition, let's kick things off with the stories that've been making waves.

Charley Hull drops worrying health update. Her recent injury, she fears, is affecting one crucial part of her game.

Brooks Koepka’s sincere efforts to play in all signature events receive massive support. It wouldn’t be long before he’s embraced by all on the Tour.

Lexi Thompson’s streak at the U.S. Women’s Open is in jeopardy after her withdrawal from the qualifier.

Truist Championship: Nothing stays buried forever, they say. Just ask those Atari employees who buried (at least tried to) thousands of video game cartridges in a New Mexico landfill at the height of the industry crash in 1983. Quail Hollow, like the Alamogordo burial, was under wraps, barred from public view by high fences of what was once the old Morrocroft Farm.

In 1961, legendary columnist Ronald Green got a sneak peek of the newfangled course and unveiled it to the good folks of Charlotte and the world. Sixty-five years later, the North Carolina layout is a PGA Tour mainstay and a ghastly horror show for the Tour’s best.

Just watch the suffering of this PGA Tour pro, and you will be thankful that your job doesn’t involve tackling this beast.

Last season, Quail Hollow ranked as the third-toughest course (+1.505) on Tour. But the true terror lurks on the notorious final three holes known as the “Green Mile,” which has reigned as the Tour's nastiest closing stretch since 2003, averaging +0.90 over par.

No one has been able to tame the course like Rory McIlroy, a four-time winner here. He also holds the course record (61; 2015). McIlroy is eyeing a fifth, but Cameron Young, the most in-form player right now, won’t make it easy.

Don’t ignore Chris Gotterup, either—if he nails his approach game, good luck catching that runaway train. Meanwhile, Sepp Straka aims to prove every prediction wrong, gunning to be the first Truist champ to defend his title.

Myrtle Beach Classic: The Tour's alternate event unfolds miles away at Dunes Golf and Beach Club, a par-71 layout stretching to 7,347 yards. Brooks Koepka headlines the 123-player field, eyeing a ticket to the rest of the signature events. Austin Eckroat, Marco Penge, and the crew will try to rain on his parade, though.

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LIV is not even five years old, and the leverage is already back with the PGA Tour. Stars who once tossed around “growing the game” like gimme putts are now scrambling to find alternate career options. Bryson DeChambeau would rather be a YouTuber-who-plays-majors than a PGA Tour member.

Why? Bryson is averse to facing consequences. He still thinks the PGA Tour needs him more than the other way around. Some astute observers have called it a game of chicken. Now, to deny Bryson’s appeal among young fans is foolishness. Check out the video below to see why we say so.

Surely he can make the Tour better, but the Tour can survive without him as well. A reality his colleague, Jon Rahm, has come to terms with, showing clear signs that he doesn’t want to be with LIV anymore. You don’t need to read between the lines to understand this.

Rahm has choked down his pride and ponied up those outstanding fines to the DP World Tour. The rest are calling the PGA Tour. Bryson suggested a successful merger would be, wait for it, a “Kumbaya moment.” Yet it might also spell the end for LIV as we know it.

The PGA Tour surely has a lucrative opportunity to pounce. But it has its own mess to sort out. The anger of those who stayed back is certainly one part of it. Nevertheless, if the merger ever happens, it looks increasingly likely that the terms will be dictated by Brian Rolapp and his team. So the writing on the wall is clear: if LIV doesn’t want to be the Lady Macbeth, washing its hands again and again, it needs to bow down. And fast.

Monday’s Poll Result: 39.75% of you picked Tiger’s walk-in putt as the defining PGA Championship moment. Meanwhile, 28.69% of you said it was Phil Mickelson’s last PGA Championship win, and 20.08% picked Rory McIlroy’s 2012 triumph.

We’ve all been there — chased the perfect swing but ignored the basics. So it’s always good to go back to the fundamentals and get things right. Nelly Korda does that every day, and she has three simple pieces of advice for you.

• Swing Your Way: Yes, Adam Scott’s swing is perfect. And so is Nelly’s. But Korda suggests, "find the ball, hit the ball" until you’re hooked, instead of copying another player’s swing.

• Short Game: Stop with endless driver drills. Instead, grind putts and chips around greens. Check out this chipping tip from Korda’s coach, David Whelan.

• Calibrate: Eyes (vision) change every day, says Nelly. Her advice: spend 10 minutes on the range with an alignment stick. Train your eyes and mind to recognize what a proper target line looks like. Listen to Korda explaining how she does it.

Your golf swing likely needs tweaks in just three or four spots to level up. But those adjustments can come later with coaching if needed. Before that, you need to get your swing plane right. Check out the tips listed below for that.

Simple Drills to Get Your Swing on Plane

Tour pros take their Chipotle seriously. Viktor Hovland scarfed it down after his Tour Championship win. Scottie Scheffler and Bubba Watson during Zurich Classic week. But nobody's more obsessed than Max Homa. How do we know? Check out this hilariously relatable tweet from 2013 for proof.

Little wonder that the Chipotle headcover Max Homa made famous last year vanished in three hours! But the limited-edition Chipotle x Cobra foil-wrapped burrito headcover hit stores again this week—take a glance at how cool it looks. The $90 headcover sold out just like last time. So if you're just now reading this without one in hand, here is another way to get it.

Meanwhile, watch Homa’s burrito-rolling skills for now (we’re doing the same).

Essentially Golf brings you handpicked, well-thought-out, and not-to-be-missed recommendations to make your weekend more fun.

🎥 Watch — Persona, the Ingmar Bergman classic, on HBO Max.

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⛳ Play — Pebble Beach Golf Links is inviting you to tee up.

🤌 Unwind — Rhubarb Gin is a delicious drink to make at home.

Have a golf story to share? Or a tip? Or just a picture of your equipment, garage golf setup? Better still, a hot take on a thorny issue? You can comment below or email us directly here.

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