Tiger Woods, Max Homa and Phil Mickelson

Keyur Khamar, Cliff Hawkins, Jamie Squire

Hiya buddies and Blissful Honda Basic week, or as I’ve been calling it, The Return. I used to be on the highway for 2 full weeks on the WM Phoenix Open and Genesis Invitational, and as nice as each tournaments have been, I’m thrilled to be again dwelling with the chance to compensate for some sleep. The final two weeks have been a lot enjoyable. I acquired to know new gamers and caddies, made some new buddies within the media heart and ate lots of nice meals. Extra on that later. Let’s get to it.

Max Homa carrying his coronary heart on his sleeve

Max Homa didn’t get it completed on Sunday on the Genesis Invitational, but when I had the power to crown a winner at Riviera, it could’ve been the six-time PGA Tour winner solely resulting from his spectacular interview.

Homa is as emotionally clever as he’s humorous — and he’s very humorous. He speaks so eloquently on the spot. It’d take me 5 drafts of writing and two editors to get the identical message throughout. What a gifted man.

And props to Homa for sticking round SoCal for one more day to host the inaugural TTC Max Homa Invitational.

I’ve by no means come near experiencing the way it should really feel to placed on a smile the day after a crushing defeat, however I respect the hell out of Homa for it. I feel the closest I’ve come to his mindset on Monday was performing in my highschool expertise present the morning after getting rejected from the school I needed to attend. That one stung.

A well-known Tiger fan

Subsequent up now we have Josh Allen, who you would possibly know because the quarterback for the Payments, however I do know as simply one other Tiger fan. Allen arrived early on Sunday to observe Woods tee off, and caught across the media space nicely after his spherical ended for the possibility to speak (identical to the remainder of us media members).

I in all probability acquired slightly too near Woods and Allen throughout this interplay, however I did it for you, my loyal Rogers Report readers.

Their interplay was temporary, however they did throw out the thought of teeing it up collectively. I’d be into that. I hear there’s ample time on the schedule for The Match XXV.

A LIV mistake

Earlier than I get into the drama that engulfed LIV’s visible division Monday, I need to make it abundantly clear that graphic design will not be my biggest expertise. I’ve acquired a splendid coworker, Darren Riehl, who’s spectacular at it. However LIV’s graphic was shared to Twitter, which is a cesspool of overanalyzed trivialities, so I’m permitting myself to do the identical right here. Let’s have a look, we could?

Earlier than we get into Mickelson’s partly-amputated thumb, we should talk about James Piot, who apparently modified his dominant hand in time for the 2023 season.

Within the spirit of transparency, I have to admit I wasn’t certain if Piot was a lefty earlier than I noticed this put up. However like all good journalist, I cross-referenced Piot’s Instagram web page. He’s not a southpaw in actual life. He’s one within the graphic.

Maybe his picture was flipped so all of the gamers might match into the graphic? But when the picture was flipped, the logos on Piot’s socks and footwear would’ve been backward. So whoever edited this photograph should’ve fastened the backward Nike and FootJoy logos after which referred to as it a day? I’m actually confused by this, people.

Okay, on to Phil. The poor man’s proper thumb has been minimize off close to the putter. Luckily for golf event attendees worldwide, it appears his real-life thumb is simply superb. Who’s Lefty with out his signature thumbs-up, anyway?

Fortunately, the graphic was fastened and reposted after just a few dozen (or hundred) folks introduced consideration to the errors.

So, with none additional interruption, the Rogers Report is pleased to current you with the FINAL picture of the 2023 Hy Flyers, that includes a right-handed James Piot.

Sadly, a part of Mickelson’s thumb remains to be lacking.

Niall Horan on the Genesis

I’m guessing most of my readers have been fairly excited to see Josh Allen following Tiger. That’s honest! However I hope none of you’ll be stunned to listen to I used to be extra excited to see Niall Horan on website. He was following Tyrrell Hatton, who simply occurred to be taking part in with Tiger. This was excellent information for me, as a result of it meant I acquired to comply with the 15-time main champ whereas strolling alongside Horan contained in the ropes.

Earlier than I acquired on the market, although, my pal and Golf Digest employees author Chris Powers was first on Horan-watch. Powers, I owe you my life for this one.

I need to particularly thank Powers for capturing the superior second photographed beneath. Think about a golfer breaking your cellphone, solely to stay his pal who occurs to be a particularly well-known musician on the job of getting your contact information? I kinda want I’d gotten hit with that drive.

I joined Powers to comply with Niall for the previous few holes, the place I used to be reminded of my favourite golf secret: you may get away with speaking to a star at a golf event by speaking about golf and solely golf.

Final July, I bonded with Nick Jonas by asking him about his PXG gear. A lot as I used to be dying to ask him about his function in Camp Rock whereas professing my love for the track 12 months 3000, I caught to golf. And he was way more prepared to talk with me due to it. I feel.

Similar factor with Niall on the Genesis! I needed to inform him that I cried tears of happiness as a preteen at his live performance at Gillette Stadium, however as a substitute I requested him if he’d ever been to Riviera earlier than.

For the subsequent jiffy, we chatted about how cool it was to have an inside-the-ropes badge and the way a lot enjoyable he was having watching the motion unfold in entrance of his eyes as a substitute of on tv.

On this level, I feel a PGA Tour occasion is a reasonably protected house for somebody like Niall Horan or Joe Jonas. A lot of the followers are barely much less educated about 2010s boy bands than yours really, and all of them are centered extra on the golf than the opposite folks strolling contained in the ropes. Horan flew underneath the radar, a lot in order that there isn’t a single picture of him on Getty from over the weekend. Bummer!

Some actually good meals

I’d wish to take a second to personally thank Jim “Bones” Mackay. Not for his contribution to the game as a caddie or commentator, however for his contribution to my general happiness throughout Genesis week.

Typically (learn: usually) after I’m on the highway for occasions, I don’t enterprise out to new eating places. After working lengthy days, I’m often simply seeking to get again to our group AirBnB as shortly as potential. Bones modified all that this week when he gave my colleague Sean Zak and I two suggestions so nice, I think about it my civic obligation at hand them off to all of you.

First up was Caffé Delfini in Santa Monica. This little Italian spot was excellent. I had the gnocchi the primary evening we went there, after which we ordered takeout from the place two extra instances final week. I’ve been on a BIG penne vodka kick of late, and Caffé Delfini had the perfect I’ve ever had. We additionally went to Capo in Santa Monica, per Bones’ advice, the place I loved the perfect burrata and bruschetta of my life. Bones, I owe you my life!

It wouldn’t be a correct Rogers Report if I didn’t communicate not less than slightly about ice cream. My coworkers and I headed to Candy Rose Creamery in Santa Monica and it was unbelievable. I acquired cookies and cream with rainbow sprinkles and waffle cone chips, pictured on the underside left.

Tiger’s candy gesture

9-year-old Madelyn Quinn has been by means of lots, however she had a memorable day on Saturday at Riviera when she achieved No. 2 on her bucket checklist: meet Tiger Woods.

What a particular second. Not solely did Tiger examine off Madelyn’s purpose on her signal, he handed her an autographed glove and gave her a high-five earlier than heading to the subsequent tee.

Moments like these are why I like golf! I’m so pleased for Madelyn!

Claire Rogers
Patacon.org Editor