⛳️ McIlroy vs Cantlay

Hey fellow golfer, welcome to the Wednesday edition of the Red Birdie Golf newsletter, here’s what we got for you today:

TOURNAMENT NEWS

PGA TOUR

The RSM Classic in St. Simons Island, GA features a better field than last week’s tournament but is still lacking many of the biggest names on Tour. Cameron Young, Russell Henley, Corey Conners, and Denny McCarthy highlight the field.

This is also the final tournament in the 7-event “FedExCup Fall" that allows players who land inside the top-125 to earn their 2024 PGA Tour card.

Players close to that bubble will be playing for their professional lives this weekend which should make for a little extra drama and some good golf.

Our pick for the tournament is Russell Henley, a Georgian playing in his home state.

He plays well here and for a good part of the summer was one of the hottest golfers on tour.

If Henley does not play well, our dark horse candidate is Webb Simpson.

He has taken some time off recently, but he has the perfect game for this course.

LIV TOUR

There are no upcoming LIV Tour events until the beginning part of 2024.

DP TOUR

The DP World Tour Championship is this weekend, but it is a little more anti-climactic than what DP Tour officials were hoping for.

When Adrian Meronk and Ryan Fox did not put a major dent in Rory McIlroy’s lead in the Race to Dubai, McIlory ended the race with an insurmountable lead and a win in the Race to Dubai.

With that said, a winner of the DP World Tour Championship will still be crowned this weekend.

The final 3 holes in this Dubai course rival some of the best finishing holes on Tour with a long par-4 at 16, an almost island green on the par-3 17, and then a 620 yard par-5 to close out the tournament.

Tournaments are won and lost on these final 3 holes.

With 3 of the best golfers in the world teeing it up this weekend in Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, and Viktor Hovland, this DP World Tour event should be one of the best of the year.

Look for one of those three or Matt Fitzpatrick to come out on top this weekend.

LPGA TOUR

The CME Group Tour Championship is on tap for this weekend on the LPGA Tour and it constitutes the climax of the 2023 season.

The winner of this tournament will take home the season’s largest prize check at $2 million, and the only certainty is that last year’s winner will not take home the prize again.

Lydia Ko played her 10th season on Tour at the age of 26, but she finished 101st in CME points and will not be at the season-ending tournament.

Look for Lilia Vu to finish a strong 2023 with a victory at the CME Group Tour Championship.

If it is not Vu, the current points leader, Celine Boutier could come through with win.

GOLF NEWS

The McIlory/Cantlay Saga

In a recent interview, McIlory shared a little more about the “shouting match” he had with Patrick Cantlay and others at the Ryder Cup.

There is always 100 sides to every story, but it sounds like McIlory got caught up in the “hat controversy” that embroiled Cantlay throughout the Ryder Cup.

Then, Cantlay’s caddie got too close and too loud on the green when McIlory still had to putt and the rest just got heated.

The funny thing is that McIlroy said that he and Cantlay “see the world differently” anyway, so the argument was not too surprising.

The question is how much of an effect did it have on the Ryder Cup…Nothing at all.

The Europeans dominated from start to finish and that would have happened no matter what went on between McIlory and Cantlay.

NEW GOLF GEAR

The Straight Away

This device may or may not work, but it was developed by a very well-known swing trainer…David Leadbetter.

It is something that you clip on to each of your clubs and, in the words of the website, “gives you no choice but to start and finish your swing on track.”

Most training aids are either separate clubs or devices that have to be carried with you during a round or on the range.

This device actually clips directly onto any of the clubs in your bag and is designed as a device that can improve irons, woods, wedges, and drivers.

GOLF BIZ

Els For Autism Foundation

The Els for Autism Foundation recently started a new “inclusion initiative” that brings together golf and the work place struggles of those who suffer with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Participants of the program in the new Golf Pro Shop vocational lab will learn to sort and tag merchandise, organize displays, operate point-of-sale terminals, and other retail-centric skills.

The PGA Tour in general, and many individual golfers do a lot of great things in their community and world, and this foundation is one of them.

Until Friday!

Brian and Matt @ Red Birdie Golf