Rory aims to putt the politics to one side in chase for Major glory
The second Major of 2024 is just days away but, yet again, the build-up has been dominated by golfing politics.
Rory McIlroy’s proposed return to the PGA Tour policy board has overshadowed anything going on at the Wells Fargo Championship.
But the fact that he was thwarted by other members of that board – who include Patrick Cantlay, Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods – underlines the tensions behind the scenes.
In trying to find a solution to the LIV breakaway and reaching an agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), things have all become a bit House Of Cards.
Against this unseemly mess, players will now head to Valhalla in Kentucky for the US PGA Championship.
That will have to be put aside for one week as 16 LIV golfers are part of the field, with six given special exemptions by the PGA of America to take part.
It was at this venue in 2014 that McIlroy won the last of his four Majors as he thrillingly held off Rickie Fowler and Phil Mickelson.
Many chances have come and gone since to add a fifth, but he will hope to feel the good vibes from Valhalla.
His overall form in America this year has not been great, but he should be buoyed by his success at the Zurich Classic last month.
Playing in the pairs event for the first time alongside good friend Shane Lowry, it was clear that McIlroy was having a blast.
That carried over to the course where he and Lowry eventually won a play-off to claim the fourball and foursomes title.
That was a 25th PGA Tour win for the Northern Irishman and further proof of what a stellar career he has had.
In a year dominated by offcourse chat, it feels like the only time that attention has truly centred on the fairways is when Scottie Scheffler has been out there.
The world No. 1 has been the dominant player – with four victories and a second in his last five starts.
His win at Augusta last month – in beating Ludvig Aberg by four strokes to win his second Masters title – was a dominant performance.
He backed that up with a fourshot triumph in the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head the following week before stepping away to be with wife Meredith ahead of the arrival of their first child.
How much golf Scheffler has played away from prying eyes in the last couple of weeks is unknown and what sort of shape his game is in when he pitches up at Valhalla will be fascinating to see.
The rest of the field will hope for a slight downturn because in those last two wins especially, Scheffler’s presence has intimidated other players in a way not seen since Tiger in his pomp.
After a blank at The Masters, Scotland will be represented at Valhalla with Bob MacIntyre set to tee it up.
He qualifies courtesy of being in the Ryder Cup team last year as he continues to adjust to life on the PGA Tour.
There was a sixth in Mexico in February and an eighth alongside Belgium’s Thomas Detry in the team event in New Orleans but there have been a number of missed cuts along the way, too.
However, shooting 64-67 on the opening two days in Myrtle Beach was very promising and suggests that MacIntyre is starting to find his feet on the American circuit.
This will be his fifth showing at the US PGA, but it is not a Major in which he has yet produced his best form.
A tie for 49th at Kiawah Island in 2021 remains his best effort at the event. Tiger will also be in town for just his second tournament of the year, and first since he appeared at Augusta last month, where he broke a Masters record for most consecutive cuts made with a 24th four-round visit.
His presence will be welcomed at Valhalla, scene of one of his Major triumphs back in 2000, when he beat the unheralded Bob May in a play-off.
That was leg three of the famous Tiger Slam, a period when he was near-on invincible.
Given how injuries have decimated the latter part of his
career, four rounds for Woods in Kentucky would represent a fine week’s work at the 7,609-yard venue.
But whether Woods’ presence helps the TV viewing figures, only time will tell.
Audiences have tumbled this year, with a 20% drop in America for the final day of The Masters compared with 2023, with golf’s split and the constant talk about multimillion-dollar deals cited as factors for the decline.
And if even the Majors are losing their appeal with the wider public, then the sport has a problem that money cannot solve.
SCARLETS 20 ULSTER 31
Ulster ran in four second-half tries to give their BKT United Rugby Championship play-off hopes a major boost with a 31-20 bonus-point victory at Scarlets.
Scarlets were on top for much of the first period but two yellow cards to key players in the final five minutes of the opening period ultimately caused their downfall. Ulster scored two tries while Taine Plumtree and John Cooney were off the field to take firm control of proceedings.
The visitors found themselves trailing to two Sam Costelow penalties before Cooney got one back in the 27th minute.
It was a different Ulster that came out for the second half. McCloskey cut back against the grain to score at the posts.
Cooney added the extras and then improved a close range try by Nick Timoney before Davies returned.
That created some breathing space on the scoreboard and David McCann’s effort in the 55th minute allowed Cooney to add two more points to make it 24-6. Now it was a race to the bonus-point, although before Ulster got there they conceded a try to home number eight Carwyn Tuipulotu which Costelow improved.
Jacob Stockdale grabbed