For those in contention for the 10 PGA Tour cards, especially those numbered 8-10, the difference between success and failure went far beyond mere prizemoney. For them, the next year of their professional lives was on the line.
One by one, in the wake of their opening rounds at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, leading European players lined up to verbalise their own attitudes regarding playing for pay or playing for pride.
The Open is a heck of a place for a first-timer to find his patience, but Brown appeared sanguine throughout his round, never panicking even when he dropped two shots on the front nine in the second round.
Lowry and McIlroy celebrated, as only Irishmen can, and both were thrilled that what they discussed some six months ago had come to fruition. Then, proof that the party took a dramatic turn showed up on X/Twitter an hour later.
Tournament favourites Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry delivered on the first hole of a playoff, giving both a ‘much-needed’ victory at this point in the PGA Tour season.
Players have been unsuccessfully asking Rory for years since the PGA Tour’s annual stop in New Orleans became a team event in 2017. Including one fellow major winner in particular.
Scottie Scheffler insisted this type of performance was coming. At Bay Hill, he mowed down the field with a red-hot putter and claimed his second Arnold Palmer Invitational. (Next up: TPC Sawgrass.)