Now we have reached the ultimate week of March, which implies that Opening Day is true across the nook. This specific writer shall 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 shall be as properly with the Texas Kids’s Houston Open happening on the similar time.
The Tour’s schedule has certainly moved to the Lone Star State with the Florida Swing now totally over. There have been some unimaginable moments and big-time pictures, to not point out a Gamers Championship received and a legacy altered. All of it occurred so quick and so sluggish that I used to be uncertain 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 truth 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 have 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 should have catapulted him to a spot on this yr’s Ryder Cup staff. Successful signature occasions can have that affect.
Rory’s win we’ll get to in a minute, however successful the Tour’s landmark occasion and doing so in a playoff the place you lastly are available clutch for the primary time shortly… that was a giant deal.
Lastly, no disrespect to Joe Highsmith right here, for Viktor Hovland to interrupt by way of after crawling by way of some severe sludge was a flip that no one noticed coming. Seeing him within the winner’s circle reminded us that he’s fairly good at this silly, silly recreation.
Winner: Rory McIlroy particularly
The Gamers shouldn’t be a serious clearly, but it surely goes with out saying that there’s some major-related strain and notoriety that comes with it. Rory McIlroy received it and that he did so after having to sleep on the considered a playoff for an evening exhibits some development.
Now we have seen Rory come so shut so many instances in latest reminiscence that it was truthful to surprise if he would ever win a giant match ever once more (probably not, however you get the purpose). McIlroy is of the stature the place it’s truthful to demand this from him within the majors particularly and we’ve got but to get there this season, however don’t these really feel extra doable now?
The concept Rory might win a serious this yr and possibly even lastly win that one looks like one thing you possibly can legitimately say out loud with confidence. He has elevated his recreation, which is unimaginable 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 concept of Rory McIlroy successful The Masters feels actual and inside attain. If he have been to tug it off then I don’t 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 properly, however nonetheless carries an air of inevitability. The signature occasions have given start to some large storylines this season already, together with Ludvig Aberg who might 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 rather well proper now. Tommy Fleetwood continues to lurk and even Shane Lowry has been having some shut calls as of late.
The Masters at all times delivers an unimaginable story, and proper now, its would-be characters are setting themselves as much as be part of all of it.
Loser: Jordan Spieth
One in every of Augusta’s most well-known characters in latest historical past had a little bit of a tricky go within the Sunshine State if we’re being trustworthy. 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 should not outcomes befitting of his repute.
What’s extra, these should 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 amazing 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 damaging headlines as he handed by way of Florida.
What looks like eternally in the past, Collin got here up shut within the API towards 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.
Curiously, Morikawa doubled down on ducking the media. He famous that he didn’t really feel like speaking after shedding, and whereas he’s actually entitled to make his personal determination on this type 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 ignored if you maintain trophies up, and so they look completely 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 vary opinions? We are going to see as April arrives.
Loser: Scottie Scheffler, comparatively talking
Let me be very clear: I’m under no circumstances doubting Scottie Scheffler or saying he isn’t taking part in one of the best golf on the planet. However golf is a humorous recreation in plenty of methods and a kind of is that you just do much more shedding than you do successful.
If we outline shedding in golf as ending anyplace however first, that appears truthful, then this logic tracks. Take into account that Scottie Scheffler has performed extra shedding up to now in a season right here in 2025 than he has performed 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 received, together with two that got here earlier than mid-March.
A yr later, in 2023, Scheffler had two titles by way of The Gamers, an occasion that he received for the primary time that yr. Final season, Scheffler repeated at Ponte Vedra proper after successful at Bay Hill. This all implies that his lack of victories up to now 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 up to now. It’s virtually as if golf is difficult!