Mao Saigo celebrates her first LPGA win (and first major) at the Chevron Championship on Sunday.
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Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we discuss the Chevron Championship, Lexi Thompson’s semi-retirement, another win for Joaquin Niemann and more.
Mao Saigo won the LPGA’s first major of the year, the Chevron Championship, emerging from a five-person playoff to win for the first time in her LPGA career. Although the talk of the tournament wasn’t just the 23-year-old’s win, but the chaotic finish, controversial 18th hole and more. What was your takeaway from a dizzying Sunday at the Chevron?
Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@Jess_Marksbury): The LPGA has done so much to combat slow play this year, and it’s a shame that some long decisions down the stretch ended up as a part of the storyline on Sunday. But, that aside, the grandstand issue is worthy of discussion. It’s a topic that comes up at plenty of PGA Tour events — and for good reason. I don’t think a grandstand should double as a why-not-go-for-it bail-out, but who can blame players for strategizing that way when the rules allow it?
Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): The grandstands aren’t great. Here’s one way to look at it: middling weekend golfers would swing way more confidently if they had a backstop like that they could use. The best players in the world shouldn’t have that option. It’s especially rough when it’s on the last hole. That said, a five-way playoff to decide a major? Hard to beat that. Good on Mao Saigo for staying tough.
Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): It was delightful chaos. Good but bad. Maybe the perfect encapsulation was Haeran Ryu, who was out of contention but playing in the final group with two players who would end up in that playoff. But Ryu took forever to pull a club in the fairway, eventually took one extra, nuked it into the stands long, took forever to pick a spot to drop and then chipped in for eagle. Just a combo of the silliest stuff you could imagine and incredible shows of golf skill. That’s the beauty of tournament golf — but safe to say there’s room for improvement.
Lexi Thompson contended at the Chevron and tied for 14th, and all of this comes in her first season following last year’s announcement that she’d no longer play a full-time schedule. Despite her plan to scale back, she’s already played four events this season and has received some criticism for her “retirement.” Is this fair or not?
Marksbury: Yes, I think it’s fair. Playing four out of nine tournaments this year certainly doesn’t look like a proper “retirement.” But Lexi did say that her plan was more of a “stepping away” from a full-time schedule than a proper retirement. When I spoke with her last year, it sounded like she was looking forward to enjoying more of what life had to offer away from tournament golf, like additional unstructured time with family, friends and not having to wake up to an early alarm every day. This schedule doesn’t seem to jive with that plan, so maybe that’s still in the future.
Berhow: I think the argument here should be regarding the definition of the word “retirement,” which is one she never used when she announced this on Instagram last year. Her words were “stepping away from a full professional golf schedule.” But let’s be honest, “retirement” rolls off the tongue a little easier than “will no longer play a full-time schedule,” so that’s what everyone has been going with. I don’t think she’s doing anything wrong. She said she won’t play full time; it’s up to her what that means. And when she does play it still gives tournaments more juice, so it’s a win for events and fans.
Dethier: It’s all a little strange and awkward, isn’t it? Like, we probably just didn’t need to do the farewell tour — we could have just come together and been excited for Lexi to find a little more balance in her playing schedule. I think we’ll get used to her being mostly around at the big events, and hopefully her newfound freedom continues, too.
Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin won the Zurich Classic, holding off the Højgaard twins at TPC Louisiana. Now nine(!) years into the team format, what’s your review? Does it work? Would you tweak it even more? Should other Tour stops take notice?
Marksbury: I think this tournament format works so well because it’s unique, and not one of several team-play events on the schedule. It’s fun and different. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
Berhow: It works because it’s the only one. I don’t mind it; and I think players kind of like the change of pace. If they don’t, they get a week off. Although since it already doesn’t count for World Ranking points I’d even consider leaning into the uniqueness a little more with the format. What does that mean? I don’t know yet. But there’s opportunity here.
Dethier: It works because it’s the only one but also because we get just enough compelling teams. Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry upped the juice of this event the last two years. The Højgaard twins are an electric pair. And Griffin and Novak are the perfect duo of guys-that-seem-like-everymen but could actually just kick your teeth in at golf. Thrilled for them, happy for the tournament, bummer about the bizarre mid-Sunday power blackout. Thank goodness for the volatility of alternate shot; see you again next year!
Joaquin Niemann ran away from the field at LIV Golf Mexico City, claiming his third win in just the sixth LIV event of the season and securing a spot in the 2025 U.S. Open. Although why hasn’t this success translated to majors yet?
Marksbury: I guess there are a lot of factors you can cite here — you could compare LIV courses and its format to the PGA Tour, the depth of field, mental prep and more. But really, majors are just so, so hard to win. Rory is a prime example! I can’t help but think that Joaquin will have his major breakout soon — perhaps even this year.
Berhow: His case is particularly odd because he’s yet to record a major top 10, but it’s coming. Like Rory going for the career Grand Slam, he got enough at-bats and someone with that kind of talent was bound to take advantage. The same will happen for Niemann eventually.
Dethier: What’s bizarre is that Joaco’s game so clearly travels. Winning in Mexico City at altitude — where you need plenty of math and some comical carry distances to contend — was just another reminder. We’ve known for a while just how talented he is. He’s become a better closer in recent years, too. But yeah, it’s time to see more in majors, though I get the sense he’s putting more pressure on himself than anyone could from the outside.
Last week, we unveiled our May GOLF Magazine women’s package, which included features, profiles, interviews and more. We also introduced readers to 31 game-changing LPGA personalities. Who is one pro in particular you think more fans need to know about?
Marksbury: Angel Yin is fun, funny and oh-so-talented. She’s one of my favorite personalities on the LPGA Tour, and I was so happy to see her claim a much-deserved win earlier this year. Here’s hoping she keeps the positive momentum flowing so more people can get to know her.
Berhow: Sarah Schmelzel is 30 and has yet to win on Tour, but if you listen to her appearance on our Subpar podcast last week you’ll become an instant fan. I highly recommend it.
Dethier: She’s arguably the hottest player on the planet, so she’s hardly off the radar, but I’m not sure people know enough about her story; Jeeno Thitikul came from a small town in Thailand that literally didn’t have a golf course, learned to play on a range because her grandfather liked reading about Tiger Woods in the newspaper and the rest is history. What a world. What a sport.
