Latest news with #PhoenixOpen
Boston Globe
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Scottie Scheffler is chasing the claret jug at the British Open and searching for what it all means
He delivered an amazing soliloquy ahead of the British Open about fulfillment. The short answer: It's not the Advertisement 'Is it great to be able to win tournaments and to accomplish the things I have in the game of golf? Yeah, it brings tears to my eyes just to think about because I've literally worked my entire life to be good at this sport,' Scheffler said. 'But at the end of the day, I'm not out here to inspire the next generation of golfers,' he said. 'I'm not out here to inspire someone to be the best player in the world because what's the point? This is not a fulfilling life. It's fulfilling from the sense of accomplishment, but it's not fulfilling from a sense of the deepest places of your heart.' His comments came in a year when Rory McIlroy Advertisement 'I probably just didn't give myself enough time to let it all sink in. But that's the nature of professional golf,' McIlroy said. 'They do a very good job of keeping you on the hamster wheel, and you feel like it's hard to get off at times.' Related : This is where Scheffler might be different. He seems to enjoy the hamster wheel. There is no next mountain to find because he's busy scaling the one he is on. He loves the chase. He wants the prize. He finds satisfaction in putting in the work. The thrill comes from competition. Scheffler also hates losing, no matter what's at stake. 'Scottie don't play games when he's playing games,' said his caddie, Ted Scott. They played a match at Cypress Point this year. It was Scheffler's fourth day swinging a club since puncturing his right hand with a wine glass in a freak accident while making ravioli. Scheffler gave him 10 shots, and the countdown began. Scott his his approach into 5 feet and was feeling good about his chances, right up until Scheffler's shot spun back and hit his caddie's golf ball. They both made birdie. Scheffler won the next hole and said loud enough for Scott to hear, 'Nine.' He won the next hole with a par and said even louder, 'EIGHT.' 'He was 6 under through six,' Scott said. 'I gave him the $100 and said: 'Don't say anything else. I want to enjoy my day.'' Advertisement This is what drives Scheffler — winning the Masters, winning a bet with his caddie, winning anything. He has won 19 times since his first title at the 2022 Phoenix Open. Strictly by his math, that would be 38 minutes worth of celebrating. 'Sometimes the feeling only lasts about two minutes,' he said. 'It's pretty exciting and fun, but it just doesn't last that long.' So where does fulfillment come from if it's not winning? Scheffler is grounded in his faith, in a simple family life with a wife he has been with since high school, a 15-month-old son, three sisters, and friends that are not part of the tour community. 'I love the challenge. I love being able to play this game for a living. It's one of the greatest joys of my life,' he said. 'But does it fill the deepest wants and desires of my heart? Absolutely not.' The weather kept changing. The fans kept smiling. The players kept preparing. — The Open (@TheOpen) He often says golf doesn't define him as a person, and he said if it reached a point where the sport ever affected life at home, 'that's going to be the last day that I play out here for a living.' He's had moments of appreciation, for sure. There was one moment last summer when his wife, Meredith, was in the living room and he was in his office. He walked out with the Masters green jacket and the plaid jacket from winning Hilton Head. He had The Players Championship trophy in one hand and another trophy in his other hand. 'Wassup, Mere,' he said to his wife. Scheffler laughed telling the story. He's not sure why he did it, except it was fun. And then it was back to work. There's always the next tournament. Advertisement 'There's a lot of people that make it to what they thought was going to fulfill them in life, and you get there — you get to No. 1 in the world — and they're like, 'What's the point?' I really do believe that because what is the point? Why do I want to win this tournament so bad? That's something that I wrestle with on a daily basis. 'It's like showing up at the Masters every year. Why do I want to win this golf tournament so badly? Why do I want to win The Open Championship so badly? I don't know,' he said. 'Because, if I win, it's going to be awesome for two minutes. 'Then we're going to get to the next week.' Xander Schauffele spent time with him at the Olympics last summer. 'That's why he's been No. 1 and hasn't even sniffed looking backwards,' Schauffele said. 'If he was sitting there looking at all his trophies every day, I'm sure he'd still be playing great golf, but I don't think he's that guy.'
USA Today
21-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Former PGA, LPGA caddie worried about rising Scottish golf prices: 'There's a real risk'
Former PGA Tour and LPGA caddie Roy Clarke worked on the bag for some influential golf stars, including Jessica Korda. Now, Clarke serves as manager of international operations at All Access. He says the business is keen to grow further by offering its North American customers a "true taste" of Scotland, but there is a risk the industry here is pricing itself out of reach. Here's an interview done with Clarke by business correspondent Kristy Dorsey for Newsquest, which is part of the USA Today/Gannett family. So how did a golf tourism company come to evolve out of an events business? Roy Clarke: It all started when Ryan took a personal golf trip to Scotland and fell in love with the links experience. He was inspired to bring that same joy to his network back in New York and along the East Coast. What began with just 20 tours per year quickly grew to over 100 annually, despite the interruption of the pandemic. It's a pure love. Because we were already organizing premier experiences to events like The Masters, Phoenix Open, Waste Management, the Players Championship, Kentucky Derby, and the Indy 500, there was a natural opportunity to cross-sell these to our golf clientele. The response was tremendous, and demand has kept growing ever since. In fact, we're constantly hiring to keep pace. Where are your clients from? RC: Our customers are all inbound tourists from the U.S., particularly the East Coast, but we're seeing growing interest from Canada, the West Coast, and now further south like Texas and Alabama. And what are they after? RC: While bucket list courses like St Andrews, Turnberry, North Berwick and Royal Dornoch are always in demand, we've built our brand around delivering more than just the classic stops. We focus on full-service, high-end experiences with attention to personal touches, whether it's custom transport, premium accommodation, or access to under-the-radar gems. What new trends have you noticed emerging? RC: The big-name courses will always have their place — who doesn't want to tick off the Old Course or Muirfield? But increasingly we're seeing golfers keen to explore more authentic and less crowded destinations. Places like Brora, Elie, Nairn and Crail have become client favorites. There's a real appetite for courses that deliver that traditional links feel without the crowds or sky-high green fees. Experiences like Kingarrock Hickory Golf, where clients play with hickory-shafted clubs, have also been a hit. So how do you respond to that? RC: We're continually refining our offerings. This season, we've added accommodations like Seaton House and No.1 Apartments in St Andrews. We're also including newer courses such as Dumbarnie, Dundonald and Old Petty near Castle Stuart in our itineraries. And beyond the classics, we're showcasing lesser-known gems that offer incredible golf and a true taste of Scotland. What led you into this line of work? RC: I spent over a decade caddying on the LPGA and PGA Tours. In 2017, while saving for my wedding, I started driving golf tours around Ireland during my off weeks. That's when I met Ryan on one of those trips and we hit it off immediately. We stayed in touch, and as he expanded into Ireland, the timing was perfect. I had three kids under the age of four and was looking for something that kept me closer to home, yet still connected to golf. Our vision going forward is simple: continue to deliver unforgettable experiences, build strong relationships with our clients, and form meaningful partnerships in the golf industry. We have a young, dynamic team balanced by experienced leadership — it's a formula that's working and one we're excited to grow. What has been the impact of the announcement that The Open will return to St. Andrews in 2027? RC: Demand is exceptionally high as always in Scotland, the home of golf. We see a spike in interest every time a venue is featured in The Open rota, and the upcoming return to St Andrews is no different. We're already running pre- and post-Open itineraries in the Highlands and Ayrshire to meet the surge in demand. That said, rising prices are a concern. Costs for hotels, courses, and transport have jumped more than 10% in a single year. If the trend continues, there's a real risk that Scotland might price itself out of reach for many travellers, especially with Ireland charging less which is becoming increasingly attractive alternative. But the excitement around The Open is always a huge boost. It energizes the industry and has a ripple effect for two to three years after each event. We're preparing for that wave with bespoke Open packages that make the most of Scotland's world-class golf and hospitality.
The Herald Scotland
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Golf tourism in Scotland faces 'real risk' of overpricing
So how did a golf tourism company come to evolve out of an events business? It all started when Ryan took a personal golf trip to Scotland and fell in love with the links experience. He was inspired to bring that same joy to his network back in New York and along the East Coast. What began with just 20 tours per year quickly grew to over 100 annually, despite the interruption of the pandemic. It's a pure love. Because we were already organizing premier experiences to events like The Masters, Phoenix Open, Waste Management, the Players Championship, Kentucky Derby, and the Indy 500, there was a natural opportunity to cross-sell these to our golf clientele. The response was tremendous, and demand has kept growing ever since. In fact, we're constantly hiring to keep pace. Where are your clients from? Our customers are all inbound tourists from the US, particularly the East Coast, but we're seeing growing interest from Canada, the West Coast, and now further south like Texas and Alabama. And what are they after? While bucket list courses like St Andrews, Turnberry, North Berwick and Royal Dornoch are always in demand, we've built our brand around delivering more than just the classic stops. We focus on full-service, high-end experiences with attention to personal touches, whether it's custom transport, premium accommodation, or access to under-the-radar gems. The All Access team on a familiarisation trip earlier this year (Image: All Access GTE) What new trends have you noticed emerging? The big-name courses will always have their place — who doesn't want to tick off the Old Course or Muirfield? But increasingly we're seeing golfers keen to explore more authentic and less crowded destinations. Places like Brora, Elie, Nairn and Crail have become client favourites. There's a real appetite for courses that deliver that traditional links feel without the crowds or sky-high green fees. Experiences like Kingarrock Hickory Golf, where clients play with hickory-shafted clubs, have also been a hit. So how do you respond to that? We're continually refining our offerings. This season, we've added accommodations like Seaton House and No.1 Apartments in St Andrews. We're also including newer courses such as Dumbarnie, Dundonald and Old Petty near Castle Stuart in our itineraries. And beyond the classics, we're showcasing lesser-known gems that offer incredible golf and a true taste of Scotland. What led you into this line of work? I spent over a decade caddying on the LPGA and PGA Tours. In 2017, while saving for my wedding, I started driving golf tours around Ireland during my off weeks. That's when I met Ryan on one of those trips and we hit it off immediately. We stayed in touch, and as he expanded into Ireland, the timing was perfect. I had three kids under the age of four and was looking for something that kept me closer to home, yet still connected to golf. Our vision going forward is simple: continue to deliver unforgettable experiences, build strong relationships with our clients, and form meaningful partnerships in the golf industry. We have a young, dynamic team balanced by experienced leadership — it's a formula that's working and one we're excited to grow. The team in St Andrews (Image: All Access GTE) What has been the impact of the announcement that The Open will return to St Andrews in 2027? Demand is exceptionally high as always in Scotland, the Home of Golf. We see a spike in interest every time a venue is featured in The Open rota, and the upcoming return to St Andrews is no different. We're already running pre- and post-Open itineraries in the Highlands and Ayrshire to meet the surge in demand. That said, rising prices are a concern. Costs for hotels, courses, and transport have jumped more than 10% in a single year. If the trend continues, there's a real risk that Scotland might price itself out of reach for many travellers, especially with Ireland charging less which is becoming increasingly attractive alternative. But the excitement around The Open is always a huge boost. It energizes the industry and has a ripple effect for two to three years after each event. We're preparing for that wave with bespoke Open packages that make the most of Scotland's world-class golf and hospitality. Access the entire series of Around the Greens here.
USA Today
15-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Does Johnny Miller wish he stayed in TV longer? You've got to see his phenomenal answer
Does Johnny Miller wish he stayed in TV longer? You've got to see his phenomenal answer OAKMONT, Pa. — As great as a golfer as Johnny Miller was in his day, winner of two majors and 25 wins, he was an even better TV personality and golf announcer for NBC for 29 years. I once asked him in a Golfweek Q&A what he thought of NBC reacquiring the U.S. Open broadcast rights and he gave this response: "If I had known that, I might have gone another year," he said. It revealed how much he loved broadcasting the U.S. Open, the tournament he won at Oakmont in 1973 with a final-round 63. On Saturday, during a news conference with Miller and Jack Nicklaus, who won it here in 1962, I asked Johnny another TV question and it produced this fantastic response: "Do I wish I kept announcing? That was my 50th year in golf when I got to 29 years with NBC. It seemed like a nice time to leave. I still had my wits about me and had my own way of doing things. When I played on the East Coast especially, they'd go, 'Hey, Johnny, we love you, keep telling it like it is.' What people liked about my announcing was that I just said what I'd say to my best friend in my own house and talking to the TV," he said. "If a guy duck hooks it on the last hole and hasn't hooked a ball in the last month, he might be choking. I was the first guy to use that word, which is not a very nice word. "But I thought the greatness of golf was the choke factor. I just still think that that's the greatness of golf is to be able to handle pressure. If you can handle pressure — Jack liked to hang around the first three days and then just feel like on the last day he had a huge advantage. He believed in himself, and not only believed in himself, he could produce on that last round and handle the putt or the shot. "I was more of a guy that didn't like it to be close. He liked it to be close. I wanted to win it by — when I won the Phoenix Open by 14 shots, I liked it. If that ball is going in the hole, I'm going to fill it up until the round is over if I can. None of this fancy stuff about hitting away from the target. I wanted to have the thrill of going for knocking down pins out of the green. That was my fun. I liked to drive fast and hit hard with the driver and that kind of stuff. "I don't know, everybody does it differently. But that's just the way I thought." I was looking for an answer about TV, which he addressed, but he gave so much more — talking about the 'choke factor' was classic Johnny — including this line that may sum up Miller better than anything that has been written: "I wanted to have the thrill of going for knocking down pins out of the green. That was my fun. I liked to drive fast and hit hard with the driver and that kind of stuff." Yes, he did and golf was better for it.
Mint
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Scottie Scheffler braces for US Open showdown at Oakmont, says 'I don't pay attention to...'
Scottie Scheffler, ranked number 1 in golf, is set to play the US Open at Oakmont. With his unmatched precision and ability to stay calm under pressure, he is the clear favorite to tackle one of golf's toughest courses. The thrilling game is on the cards, but Scheffler's focus remains sharp. Even though Scheffler will enter the golf course as the favorite to win, he is focused on the game. 'I don't pay attention to the favorite stuff or anything like that,' he said. He also shared why he ditched Venmo: 'That's why I had to get rid of my Venmo because I was either getting paid by people or people requesting me a bunch of money when I didn't win. It wasn't a good feeling.' Oakmont is known as America's toughest golf course with thick rough buries and dangerous bunkers. Bryson DeChambeau described the golf course, 'When you've got those putts inside 10 feet, you've got to make them. It's a great test of golf.' 'Man, it's just tough,' Collin Morikawa said. Scheffler highlighted the bunkers' difficulty, 'Starting Thursday morning, we're at even par and it's up to me to go out there and play against the golf course." Scheffler's first PGA Tour win at the 2022 Phoenix Open sparked a dominant run. He has won 25% of his starts since then. He has amassed 19 worldwide titles in just over three years. His third major, a commanding performance at last month's PGA Championship, saw him win three of his previous four events by 17 shots combined. Scheffler' hasn't won the US Open yet, but he came close at Torrey Pines in 2021, Brookline in 2022, and Los Angeles in 2023. Those near wins make him a great contender. Scottie Scheffler will face tough competition in the US Open. Rory McIlroy, also a top pick after winning the Masters to complete his career Grand Slam, worked hard after a poor Canadian Open. 'At some point, you have to realize that there's a little bit more golf left to play this season,' McIlroy said, focusing on Oakmont's narrow fairways. Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau emphasized accuracy: 'You have to hit the fairways, you have to hit greens, and you have to two-putt, worst-case scenario.' Jordan Spieth, Scheffler's Dallas neighbor, is stunned by his consistency. 'Scottie's level is something I haven't seen personally out here,' he said.
