Smithy wins in NJ, Glover works up a sweat

Cameron Smith has won his third LIV Golf tournament, and his second in just five weeks, taking out the Bedminster event on Monday morning (AEST) in emphatic fashion. Smithy was in a league of his own at Trump’s course in New Jersey, finishing the tournament on 12-under — seven strokes ahead of the second-placed Anirban Lahiri, and eight ahead of Abraham Ancer, Patrick Reed and Dean Burmester who tied for third. Smith started the final round at Trump National with two bogeys in his first three holes but swiftly steadied the nerves to produce his stunning short game, which led to five birdies. Smith pockets the winner’s cheque of US$4m (A$6.15m), while his team of Aussies, Ripper GC, also won the US$3m team event, giving each of the boys US$750,000 (A$1.15m). Ripper GC won the team event by 11 strokes ahead of Crushers GC, making it the first victory for the all-Australian outfit of Smith, Jed Morgan, Matt Jones and Marc Leishman.

Meanwhile, in oppressively hot conditions in Memphis, Lucas Glover went back-to-back to win the FedEx St. Jude Classic in a one-hole playoff with Patrick Cantlay. Glover didn’t have his best stuff on Sunday from tee to green, but rolled the ball beautifully making some clutch putts coming down the stretch. Not satisfied with his win last week at the Wyndham, Glover literally worked up one of the most gross sweats ever seen on a golf course to edge out Cantlay after Pat put his tee shot into the drink on the first playoff hole. The win rockets Glover up the FedEx Cup standings to #4 and he’s earned US$5m in the last 7 days. He is now virtually a lock for the US Ryder Cup team and must be pinching himself at the change in his golfing fortunes. Aussies Cam Davis and Jason Day finished T6 and T52 respectively, but both are inside the Top 50 of the FedEx Cup standings, so will be playing this week at the BMW Championship.

In women’s golf, American Lilia Vu is now a two-time major champion. After entering the final round tied with Charley Hull for the lead at the AIG Women’s Open, Vu pulled away and secured the victory with a dominant five-under 67 in the final round, despite the home crowd support for Hull at Walton Health GC. Vu finished at -14 to win the tournament by six strokes. The R&A boosted this year’s purse to a record US$9m, with VU taking home the first-place check of US$1.35m. Grace Kim was the best of the Aussies finishing T36, whilst Minjee Lee had a shocking final of +5 to close at T50. Hannah Green missed the cut.

Quick Bites

At The Shank Show, we’ve got you covered with some quick bites to bring you up to speed and give you a few laughs as you enjoy all things golf. Snack on these:

More PGAT shenanigans - It seems things keep going from bad to worse at the “Home of Golf” in Ponte Vedra. PGAT HQ has been hit by further scandal in the last week with sudden exit of senior executive Andy Pazder. After 30+ years with the PGAT in very senior roles, the PGAT issued a memo to players saying Pazder was “resigning” and his duties (including very recent appointments to a suite of key subcommittees) would be taken over by Tyler Dennis. Whilst this “party line” from the PGAT was light on detail, Twitter (or X as it now appears) aired more of the PGAT’s dirty laundry with a former PGAT sponsorship manager labelling Pazder “demonic” and a “sociopath”. There was also speculation about a workplace affair with a subordinate whilst Pazder was married. Regardless of what actually went on, this is simply more turmoil for the PGAT at a time where it needs strong leadership and a steady hand. How long before the PGAT realises Big Jay is not the man for the job?

Phil gambling stories, Rory still bitter - In a book from renowned gambler Billy Walters, an excerpt has come to light detailing the massive alleged betting impulses of Phil Mickelson. Walters said he believed the hall of fame golfer has lost as much as $100 million gambling while betting $1 billion over 30 years. Some believe that Mickelson’s gambling debts were so huge that he saw LIV Golf and the deep pockets of the Saudis as a way out. As we know, he became one of the key faces of the upstart league, signing for a reported US$200m up front, and helped bring other prominent players to join him while jolting the PGA Tour into the action. Of course, the mainstream golf media served up a meatball to Rory on the issue of Phil, and true to form, Rory couldn’t resist showing his bitterness towards Phil and LIV Golf - taking a swipe at Phil not being part of the Ryder Cup this year and therefore free to bet how he likes on the event.

LIV boys dancing all the way to the bank - Lucas Glover had to win back-to-back events at the peak end of the PGAT schedule to equal the same prize money Cam won at a regular event on the LIV tour. Most of the PGAT purses are circa $7m, whilst each LIV purse is $25m. One of the best memes we’ve seen in a long time came out this week showing the LIV boys making bank and juxtaposing the fellas carrying bags of cash as bitter Rory watches on with his standard scowl. Enjoy!!!

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Schedule for the Week

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

• PGAT: The BMW Championship- Olympia Fields Country Club (Illinois), $20m purse, Friday 18/8 to Monday 21/8 - Coverage on Foxtel & Kayo, starts 4am Friday.

• DP World Tour & LPGA: ISPS HANDA World Invitational - Walton Heath GC (England), $1.5m purse, Thursday 17/8 to Sunday 20/8 - Coverage on Foxtel & Kayo, starts 10pm Thursday.

No LIV Golf this week and for the next few weeks. The LIV schedule resumes on 22 September 2023 at Rich Harvest Farms GC in Chicago, which will be followed by the final 2 events of the LIV season in Jeddah and Miami.

Subscriber Giveaway

We are running a giveaway over the next week to one lucky Shanker that refers a new subscribers to our newsletter. Details are:

1. Subscribe to the newsletter (if not already, use button below)

2. Follow The Shank Show on Instagram (@theshankshow_) and Twitter (@TheShankShow_)

3. Get 3 of your mates to subscribe to the newsletter

4. Email [email protected] with the names of your 3 subscribers

The lucky winner will receive a $50 Drummond Golf gift voucher and will be chosen randomly from the eligible entries on Wednesday 30 August 2023.

We’ll be back next week with our debrief of the BMW Championship and a preview of the Tour Championship which will determine who wins the season long FedEx Cup on the PGAT.

This week we are going to leave you with something different to our Shank of the Week. Instead, take a look at Smithy flushing this fairway metal from the cart path 🔥🔥🔥.

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