In this Issue

1. 🏆 Results Recap

   • Young guns continue to rise - The American Express (PGAT)

   • Rory does it again - Dubai Desert Classic (DPWT)

2.  🍴Quick Bites

   • PIF and LIV boss accused of kidnapping

   • Big Jay flies to Saudi Arabia for talks

   • Tiger’s new apparel play

   • Paige and Bryson collab

3.  📅 Schedule for the Week

🏆 Results Recap

Young guns continue to rise - The American Express (PGAT)

College Sophomore, Nick Dunlap, became the first amateur to win a PGA Tour title since Phil Mickelson in 1991. He took out the American Express Championship held in the Coachella Valley closing out the tournament with a final round 70 (-2) on the Pete Dye Stadium course. Most Shank Show readers won't have a clue who Nick Dunlap is, but he is certainly a prodigious talent, having shot 59 at the incredibly young age of 12. He demonstrated his ability to go low on Saturday, where he shot a 12-under par 60 at La Quinta Country Club to take a 2-shot lead into the final round.

On the final day, all eyes were on the amateur to see whether he could withstand the pressure of trying to close out a PGAT title. After sending a ball into the water on the 7th hole and making double bogey, many him wrote off and turned their focus to Sam Burns. Burns had reeled in the young overnight leader and led by one going up the Par 5, 16th. However, Burns made a disappointing par on the 3rd last hole whilst Dunlap hit back with a birdie to square things up with two holes to play. Disaster struck for Burns with a water ball off the tee on the island green Par 3, 17th (leading to double bogey), whilst Dunlap made a solid par to take a two-shot lead into the final hole. Due to a late birdie by South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout in the group ahead, Dunlap needed to make a clutch 6-foot par putt on 18 to win, which he did with extraordinary confidence for such a young player. Add Dunlap to the list of young guns on the rise including Ludvig Aberg, Adrien Dumont de Chassart and Gordon Sargent. These are names you’ll be hearing a lot more of in coming years.

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The win creates a significant decision for Dunlap to make now as to whether he turns professional. He still has his college education to complete and various amateur titles to chase both as an individual and as part of his University of Alabama college team. As the current U.S. Amateur Champion, he already has entry to the Masters and the Open Championship this year if he keeps his amateur status. But his win at the Americal Express entitles him to a 2-year exemption on the PGAT if he turns pro now, and he would also gain entry to the U.S. PGA Championship (but would lose his spots at the Masters and Open Championship). A tough decision for a young kid to make, and no doubt a key factor in his withdrawal from the Farmers Insurance Open this week at Torrey Pines.

In terms of the Aussies, Min Woo Lee continued to catch the attention of commentators and fans alike with his pure ballstriking, finishing the tournament at T22 (-20). Jason Day and his funky Malbon gear cobbled together a T34 finish, whilst Cam Davis and Aaron Baddeley both missed the cut. Little known Aussie and newly minted PGAT member, Harrison Endycott, finished the week at T39.

Rory does it again - Dubai Desert Classic (DPWT)

PGAT mouthpiece, turned insightful golf globalist, Rory McIlroy, has won the Dubai Desert Classic for the 4th time, chasing down American Cameron Young and holding off Poland's Adrian Meronk. Rors continued his consistently good form and made amends for last week’s sloppiness at the Dubai Invitational (which he should have won as well). But it has to be said that Cameron Young wilted under the pressure, who at one stage led the tournament by 4 shots. A couple of sloppy doubles and a missed 2-foot birdie putt from Young opened the door for Rory, and the Irishman ran on through to take the victory.

The tournament produced some interesting storylines aside from the McIlroy 4-peat, starting with Joaquin Niemann. You might ask the question how was Niemann in the field for a DPWT event given that he is a LIV Golf player and captain of Team Torque? Well, Joaco’s win at The Australian Open in December 2023 entitled him to DPWT membership, which he took up, and therefore gained him entry to the field. This is not with a view to playing long-term on the DPWT, but rather, in pursuit of OWGR ranking points so he can gain entry to this year’s Majors, and in particular, the Masters in April. Niemann finished T4 in Dubai, which improved his OWGR ranking to #64. The Top 50 as of 31 March 2024 get a ticket to the Masters, so it’s going to be tight for Joaco to make it, especially given the LIV season kicks off on 2 February 2024.

Enigmatic Chinese player Haotong Li showed some decent form with a T7 finish, which could easily have been higher. The guy has really been nowhere of late, struggling with the driver yips. Shankers might recall he played himself into the International Team for the 2019 President’s Cup, and then disgraced himself with a heartless effort at Royal Melbourne. But, given the huge potential in the Chinese market, it is good for world golf if Haotong continues to play well (and to his potential). Fellow International Team member and Aussie, Adam Scott, also finished T7 with a sneaky “under-the-radar” week in Dubai. Scotty will be priming himself for the Majors this year, knowing that the number of legitimate chances he has left to bag a second major are dwindling as he gets older and the influx of young guns increases.

The DPWT also created a bit of interest before the Dubai tournament kicked off, getting Rory to hit some 25-year-old clubs off the iconic 8th tee at Emirates Golf Club. Using old TaylorMade and Callaway drivers, Rory managed a best ball speed of 171mph and carry of 275 yards. Compare that to his current statistics using modern day clubs where his ball speed is around 190mph with carry distances of 315+ yards. There is a lot of fuss at the moment about rolling back the ball, but for those that want rollback measures, looking at driver heads might be just as effective.

🍴 Quick Bites

Here are some golf quick bites for you to snack on:

• PIF and LIV boss accused of kidnapping - Yasir al-Rumayyan, the chairman of LIV Golf and EPL club Newcastle United, is facing a $112 million lawsuit and allegations he “carried out the instructions” with “malicious intent” of Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammad bin Salman, including the act of kidnapping. This is sure to be a distraction from Yasir’s current challenges in trying to land the framework agreement with the PGAT.

• Big Jay flies to Saudi Arabia for talks - speaking of the Framework Agreement, PGAT Commissioner Jay Monihan flew to Saudi Arabia in the last week to continue negotiations with Yasir and the PIF. Was Jay summonsed by His Excellency? We’re not sure, but it certainly was more convenient for Yasir to have Big Jay fly over rather than going to the US, where he now has legal proceedings filed against him.

• Tiger’s new apparel play - Tiger Woods and TaylorMade have teamed up to file a new apparel trademark. Protagonists on X have called out the likeness of the new trademark style to that of The Shark used by Greg Norman. Take a look for yourself below.

• Paige and Bryson collab - two of the biggest social media stars in golf have teamed up to collaborate for some new content. Paige Spiranac (who has more Instagram followers than Tiger Woods - 3.9m vs 3.3m) and Bryson DeChambeau (who has built a YouTube channel that is getting plenty of accolades) got together on course to shoot the content, with Paige saying she is excited for fans to watch and to get to know each of them better. We’ll share the content as soon as it pops up.

📅 Schedule for the Week

Your golfing schedule for the week, and how to watch is below:

• PGAT: Farmers Insurance Open - Torrey Pines (San Diego, CA), $9m purse, Thursday 25/1 to Sunday 28/1 - Coverage on Foxtel & Kayo, Main Coverage starts 6am AEST Thursday, Featured Groups from 3.15am.

• DPWT: Ras Al Khaimah Championship - Al Hamra Golf Club (UAE), $2.5m purse, Thursday 25/1 to Sunday 28/1 - Coverage on Foxtel & Kayo, starts 6pm Thursday.

• LPGA: Drive On Championship - Bradenton Country Club (Florida), $1.75m purse, Friday 26/1 to Monday 29/1 - Coverage on Foxtel & Kayo, starts 3am AEST Friday.

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