subrew

I hadn't read/watched much about the prep and aftermath of the 2023 Ryder Cup event, just that the Euro team really did a deep dive into the data. On the latest episode of Peter Finch's podcast, they briefly mentioned a few things that seemed to be more well known. Like how the data suggested the Euro players had better strokes gained from 150-175yds, so the Euro team focused on tee box locations that would give most of their players 150-160yd approach shots. And compounded over multiple days, multiple pairings and single matches, it added up to something like +12sg in that one category. There has to be people on both sides nailing down to all of the SG categories, and see where there might be advantages. Then building the course structure and length to optimize those. Not just "long holes with deep rough cause we bomb and gouge..."

They just said a few minutes ago that rounds are taking 5h15m. And it's not even bad weather.

What's funny too for the Non-US group, is the fact that we US buyers often get long-wheelbase versions of many of the compact class crossover. You mention the Tucson, and they build a SWB and LWB version for global consumption. We only get the LWB version in the states. My wife has a Limited trim hybrid, and the backseat slides fore/aft about 6-inches. In the back position I can't quite fit a full bag when laying it down lengthwise. But if we slide the backseat forward a few inches, I can. And it still has more rear legroom than a X3. We had a second gen Tiguan before that, and it too was offered in SWB and LWB version for global consumption. But we only got the LWB in the states. It is usually only a 3-5" difference, but it is all the length of the rear doors. I think I read they started selling the LWB Tiguan in the UK. And then China has really oddball offerings, like LWB versions of Toyota Corolla sedans, and Audi A4s. They like to stretch everything out 3-5" longer, even if it is a compact class sedan.

What stops Keegan from renting out another tough/long course in the Northeast for two days, and just running a Ryder Cup clinic with everyone's coaches there, physio's, and stats guys working to get the best pairings? Get everyone up to speed, hold high stakes mini matches, and get the blood pumping. Then pack up and charter everyone to New York on Monday and go right into the event. I'm not sure playing a low-level individual event in Napa does anything for prepping for a team event.

I do have to say, I'm appreciating the non-US posters in this thread. Which is pretty much made up of people with hatchbacks, wagons, or coupes, and people talking about Skodas, Seats, Renaults etc. Then the US based group saying their 7,000# full size truck and SUVs have no issues holding a bag. 😆

2018 Mazda6 Signature trim, which has a typically huge trunk for a mid-sized sedan. Low lift over height, lots of width, full bag fits fine even with driver. Nice wide back bumper with a protective guard on it for changing shoes. 1968 Saab Sonett II V4, which has a fairly good sized rear trunk area...but a small access door from the back. So I have to slide a smaller bag in carefully, and I have to remove the driver from the bag,. Bag has to fit at an angle, since the car is narrow.

From Bryson's socials:

Got the Tourstage 901 built up:

Where it gets interesting is the middle group of players, in terms of earning. Guys who were journeymen, maybe had 1 win on tour, who have made $25m$30m in a few years on LIV. A bulk of those guys didn't get signing bonuses, they were mostly last minutes ads to the field when they struggled to get more players signed after the fallout from Phil's comments. People forget that Taylor Gooch had no sign on bonus, he was a field filler for the first LIV event in London. I think he has made $60m just from prize money and being a year-end champion. For some reason I was looking at Caleb Surrat, who was added last year as part of Jon Rahm's team. Rookie fresh out of the college locker room, he has made about $9.8m in 23 events. Or $426k per event. He could add a good chunk to that total today, as he is currently tied for 2nd. If he retains that position and Legion 13 holds onto the team win, he's going to add another ~$1.8m.

Probably get to see more of them later today, Bryson Breaking 50 video with Adam comes out.

I'm out of the loop on this stuff, because frankly, I never paid attention to it before or after LIV. I just read the snippets from players and mostly YT people who commented how difficult it often was to get a PGAT player on their channel. About three years ago Rick played a match with Rickie, and they said it took something like 10 months to iron out all the BS with the PGAT, and it mostly only happened because Cobra got involved. Now it seems much easier for YT channels to get the PGAT players on. But things have changed, to the point now that Tommy Fleetwood has a YT channel. So does Jason Day. Doing everything from instruction, to just showing how they practice, to having mini matches. My guess is a lot of what restricted players pre-LIV has been smoothed out.

It's funny looking back at that 21 Ryder Cup, and seeing the final points tally. Sergio and Rahm being the only Euros with winning records. And DJ going 5-0, and being the only US player who didn't lose or draw. Team Europe Paul Casey, 0-4-0 Matt Fitzpatrick, 0-3-0 Tommy Fleetwood, 0-1-2 Sergio Garcia, 3-1-0 Tyrrell Hatton, 1-2-1 Viktor Hovland, 0-3-2 Shane Lowry, 1-2-0 Rory McIlroy, 1-3-0 Ian Poulter, 1-2-0 Jon Rahm, 3-1-1 Lee Westwood, 1-2-0 Bernd Wiesberger, 0-3-0 Team USA Daniel Berger, 2-1-0 Patrick Cantlay, 3-0-1 Bryson DeChambeau, 2-0-1 Harris English, 1-2-0 Tony Finau, 1-2-0 Dustin Johnson, 5-0-0 Brooks Koepka, 2-2-0 Collin Morikawa, 3-0-1 Xander Schauffele, 3-1-0 Scottie Scheffler, 2-0-1 Jordan Spieth, 1-2-1 Justin Thomas, 2-1-1

Scottie and Bryson were fun to watch in 2020. Scottie was chest bumping!

I've been playing my yellow Spalding Pure Spin balls I got for just over $5/dozen. My daily course is a small local 6-hole Par 3 course. It's not a pitch and putt, it's real length Par 3 holes. I'm generally hitting 9i to 4i, sometimes one of the holes will play 200yd from the back tee box to a back flag and I'm pulling a hybrid or wood. I've played the same two balls for 10 days now. I usually play either best ball or worst ball, so I'm hitting each ball on every hole, and I can get around the course three times and play 18 holes in like 1h15m. we're talking about 180 or so full iron tee shots, plus 10-20 chips/pitches for each ball. These things are so durable. When I've played Callaway Supersofts, the inked logos are usually scraped off within a day or two. Srixon Soft Feels are better but seem to get scrapes and nicks easier. These Spalding have little to no damage to the cover or the "Spalding" ink. These 72 balls are probably going to last me about three years.