⛳️ Super Quick Recap: RSM Classic

Plus: Tiger is back, Azinger is gone.

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The Shanks Gator
November 20, 2023

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Good Morning. Welcome to Shanks. We’re working on our 2023 Gift Guide for Golfers, which we will send out on Saturday. Since most of the people who read this newsletter are men, we would tell you that this gift guide is going to be good, so be sure to send it to your wives…

Otherwise, you’ll end up with a pack of Noodles, or a shirt that your friends will make fun of, as your Christmas gift.

Golf Trivia: How many rookies have won on both the DP World Tour and The PGAT, while also winning the Ryder Cup?

Here's what we've got for ya today:

  • Quick Recap: RSM Classic

  • Tiger Is Back

  • Shots Heard Round The World

  • Azinger Is Out

  • Thing We’d Buy If We Weren’t Broke

Super Quick Recap: RSM Classic

The hype is real, people.

Ludvig Aberg closed out the RSM Classic with rounds of 61-61( 🤯 ) and grabbed his maiden PGAT victory in the process. He held off Mackenzie Hughes, who shot a final round of 63, by four strokes.

According to Justin Ray (the best PGA Stat dude on Twitter) here are some PGAT Records that Ludvig either tied or broke this weekend.

  • Ties lowest 72-hole total ever (253)

  • Lowest 54-hole score ever (rounds 2-4, 186)

  • Ties lowest 36-hole total ever (122)

  • Lowest score over final 2 rounds ever

Six months ago, this kid was still in college at Texas Tech. In his first six months on tour, he’s won the European Masters, the RSM Classic, and a Ryder Cup.

His maiden tour victory yesterday earned him an invitation to The Masters.

So far in his tour career, he has more rounds in the 60’s than he does the 70’s.

The kid is an incredible raw talent, which, as you’ll see below, has some pros comparing him to Tiger Woods. We think people should pump the breaks on that a little bit, but there’s no doubt this kid is a birdie-machine.

Ludvig Aberg when he gets home from golf.

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Tiger Is Back

You probably heard the news already, but Tiger Woods has announced that he’s back and will be competing at the tournament he hosts, The Hero World Challenge, in 10 days.

Buried in that news, was an another potentially interesting nugget.

Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, who caused all of that Ryder Cup drama over the hats, both dropped out of Tigers event this week. 

They will be replaced by Lucas Glover and Justin Rose and there was no cited reason for their withdrawal besides some general “needing a break” stuff from Xander.

Cantlay hasn’t played since the Ryder Cup and is set to participate in Rory and Tiger’s new TGL endeavor, which is kind of weird since Rory said they have nothing in common like a week ago.

Maybe it’s nothing, maybe it’s more evidence of the fractures in golf.

Shots Heard Round The World

Azinger Out At NBC Sports

What a weekend for golf news, huh? According to AP News, Zinger is out after five years as lead golf analyst for NBC Sports.

"With the golf and media landscapes now in a more challenging environment, Azinger and NBC will part ways as their current contract ends," according to a statement from his manager.

Supposedly, this move is part of a larger overhaul for NBC owned Golf Channel, and Azinger only said that it was a mixture of disappointment and surprise for him.

Is Brandel Chamblee next on the chopping block? Who will sit besides Dan Hicks in the booth now? Who will we have to describe every five foot putt as “a tester” now?

Golf Thing We'd Buy If We Weren't Broke

The Taylormade x Garmin Approach S70.

This bad boy allows you to both keep the time and check your distance to the pin on over 43,000 courses.

Also, since it’s attached to your wrist, you won’t have to worry about getting buzzed and losing it somewhere.

Trivia Answer: None. According to Justin Ray, Ludvig Aberg was the first to ever do it.

That’s all folks! See you Wednesday,