We now have reached the ultimate week of March, which signifies that Opening Day is correct across the nook. This explicit writer might be current and accounted for when the primary pitch is thrown for the Houston Astros on Thursday. Some are questioning whether or not any PGA Tour occasion members might be as nicely with the Texas Kids’s Houston Open happening on the identical time.
The Tour’s schedule has certainly moved to the Lone Star State with the Florida Swing now totally over. There have been some unbelievable moments and big-time photographs, to not point out a Gamers Championship gained and a legacy altered. All of it occurred so quick and so sluggish that I used to be not sure whether or not or not it was the Florida Swing or season 2 of Severance.
As issues ramp as much as The Masters we have to tie a bow on an essential a part of the calendar. In that spirit listed here are our winners and losers from the Florida Swing.
Winner: The literal winners!
Being matter of reality right here a congratulations is to ensure that every of Joe Highsmith (Cognizant Basic), Russell Henley (Arnold Palmer Invitational), Rory McIlroy (The Gamers) and Viktor Hovland (Valspar) as they had been the literal winners from the Florida Swing.
Russell’s win on the API was a severe shot within the arm for his profession and will have catapulted him to a spot on this yr’s Ryder Cup workforce. Successful signature occasions can have that affect.
Rory’s win we’ll get to in a minute, however profitable the Tour’s landmark occasion and doing so in a playoff the place you lastly are available in clutch for the primary time shortly… that was a giant deal.
Lastly, no disrespect to Joe Highsmith right here, for Viktor Hovland to interrupt via after crawling via some severe sludge was a flip that no person noticed coming. Seeing him within the winner’s circle reminded us that he’s fairly good at this silly, silly sport.
Winner: Rory McIlroy particularly
The Gamers isn’t a serious clearly, however it goes with out saying that there’s some major-related strain and notoriety that comes with it. Rory McIlroy gained it and that he did so after having to sleep on the considered a playoff for an evening exhibits some progress.
We now have seen Rory come so shut so many occasions in latest reminiscence that it was honest to surprise if he would ever win a giant event ever once more (probably not, however you get the purpose). McIlroy is of the stature the place it’s honest to demand this from him within the majors particularly and we now have but to get there this season, however don’t these really feel extra doable now?
The concept that Rory may win a serious this yr and perhaps even lastly win that one appears like one thing you’ll be able to legitimately say out loud with confidence. He has elevated his sport, which is unattainable to essentially take into consideration, and appears correctly polished and positioned to do no matter he needs as we transfer ahead.
Winner: Masters storylines
The thought of Rory McIlroy profitable The Masters feels actual and inside attain. If he had been to tug it off then I do not know what would occur to the web.
However Rory is much from the one good story happening the march to Augusta. Scottie Scheffler has but to win this season, extra on that in a bit as nicely, however nonetheless carries an air of inevitability. The signature occasions have given start to some huge storylines this season already, together with Ludvig Aberg who may win a serious championship for the primary time in his profession.
Xander Schauffele’s return from harm has dampened {that a} bit, however Justin Thomas is taking part in very well proper now. Tommy Fleetwood continues to lurk and even Shane Lowry has been having some shut calls as of late.
The Masters all the time delivers an unbelievable story, and proper now, its would-be characters are setting themselves as much as be part of all of it.
Loser: Jordan Spieth
Certainly one of Augusta’s most well-known characters in latest historical past had a little bit of a troublesome go within the Sunshine State if we’re being sincere. Jordan Spieth could have completed within the high 10 at the beginning of it on the Cognizant (T9), however he completed 59th at The Gamers and T-28 at Valspar. These usually are not outcomes befitting of his status.
What’s extra, these usually are not outcomes befitting of somebody who must be getting sponsor’s exemptions into signature occasions. Spieth type of publicly whined about not getting one for the API, which was not an excellent search for him. Take into account that we’re lower than a month away from the three-year anniversary of his most up-to-date win (2022 RBC Heritage).
It’s time for Jordan to show it up a notch. It has been time. It’s previous time.
Loser: Collin Morikawa
This one is a bit topic to interpretation, however like Jordan Spieth did… Collin Morikawa made some unfavorable headlines as he handed via Florida.
What appears like without end in the past, Collin got here up shut within the API in opposition to Russell Henley. He was in command down the stretch and left the door open, after which, earlier than he knew it, he was ending in solo second. Feelings can run excessive in sports activities and clearly did for Collin as he didn’t do media after the occasion, one thing that he took plenty of warmth for within the week main as much as The Gamers.
Apparently, Morikawa doubled down on ducking the media. He famous that he didn’t really feel like speaking after dropping, and whereas he’s definitely entitled to make his personal determination on this sort of factor, the truth is that historical past is written by the winners, and Collin hasn’t held the pen himself in fairly some time. These items get missed if you maintain trophies up, they usually look totally different if you don’t.
From a golf perspective, Morikawa has been coming actually, actually shut as of late. He hasn’t completed exterior of a T17 in any respect in 2025.
However is that sufficient to alter opinions? We are going to see as April arrives.
Loser: Scottie Scheffler, comparatively talking
Let me be very clear: I’m by no means doubting Scottie Scheffler or saying he’s not taking part in one of the best golf on the earth. However golf is a humorous sport in plenty of methods and a kind of is that you simply do much more dropping than you do profitable.
If we outline dropping in golf as ending wherever however first, that appears honest, then this logic tracks. Take into account that Scottie Scheffler has completed extra dropping so far in a season right here in 2025 than he has completed since 2021. Severely!
Scheffler didn’t win in any respect in 2021 after which totally arrived in 2022. He had three victories getting into The Masters that yr, which he clearly gained, together with two that got here earlier than mid-March.
A yr later, in 2023, Scheffler had two titles via The Gamers, an occasion that he gained for the primary time that yr. Final season, Scheffler repeated at Ponte Vedra proper after profitable at Bay Hill. This all signifies that his lack of victories so far this yr is a really uncommon factor for him.
Greater than something or anybody, I belief that Scottie Scheffler will determine issues out. It’s simply humorous and attention-grabbing that he’s winless so far. It’s virtually as if golf is difficult!
