Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns in Memphis.
PGA Tour, Getty Images
Hello friends and welcome to this week’s edition of the Rogers Report! Between the PGA Tour Playoffs and the AIG Women’s Open at the Old Course, we’re gearing up for an exciting week in golf. The Women’s Open made me feel really good last fall, when the GOLF team headed to St. Louis. Andrews 10 days to sign the Notre Dame men’s and women’s golf teams in St. Andrews Collegiate, and is already exploring the area. I had never been to Scotland before that trip, and now I can’t wait to come back one day. If you’re there, I wrote all about the things you can do if you don’t join here. Be sure to stop at Jannettas Gelateria. No need to thank me.
Okay, until the last week of golf.
Bear Burns and Bennett Scheffler
Best friends Sam Burns and Scottie Scheffler each welcomed new babies into their families earlier this year, and Bear Burns and Bennett Scheffler were the stars of the show at FedEx St. Jude Championship last week. The boys were born just days apart, which is kind of the dream for the Burns and Scheffler families. The second generation of best friends! We’ll start with Bear Burns (good name), who accompanied his dad to work during practice in Memphis.
Bear watched “Uncle Xander” walk out, then was handed over to the two-time major champion while his father played.
Bear Burns is living life and is clueless (yet). You have a front row seat to watching the best golfers in the world.
Bear’s friend Bennett Scheffler seems to be doing pretty well, too. Little Scheffler got a great idea for his dad putting it together on Friday thanks to the help of Sam Burns.
I know they say it takes a village to raise a child, and it’s nice to see a village of PGA Tour bros helping each other out and taking care of each other’s children. The Lion King-esque moment reminded me of when Jordan Spieth promoted his son, Sammy, to the 2022 Presidents Cup. We wish you many of these lovely moments in golf!
The masters of the content of FedEx St. Jude Championship
When I think of golfers who create great content, I think of Bryson DeChambeau and Min Woo Lee. I usually consider Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele to be on the serious side of the golf course, but they rose to the occasion last week in Memphis. And for that, I declare that they are the kings of Playoff content this year.
They’ve already been heralded for their healthy children’s content in this article, but there’s more. The two had a funny interaction in the flash zone, when the players were talking to the media – and I think Xander Schauffele, depending on the day – after their round.
Schauffele has really picked up some media tricks over the years. I doubt he actually recorded Scheffler’s answers, but he knew to hold his phone up, and looking the part is part of the battle.
But it didn’t end there. Schauffele had fun with the PGA Tour team over the weekend. As someone who is known for joking around at work, I respect these guys’ decision to get serious on the golf course and take it easy afterwards. There is room for both!
My favorite part of putting together events is seeing the players show some personality, and that’s exactly what Xander and Scheffler did last week. I’m all in on this and hope it continues. It makes golf so much more fun. I think it’s easy to relax a little when one of you has won two majors this season and the other has won six this year, but my point remains.
A great performance by Scottie Scheffler
Oh look, another reason to admire Scottie Scheffler!
World No. 1 and his caddy, Ted Scott, took time to chat with nine-year-old Liliana on the 18th green in Memphis on Sunday. After a liver transplant, chemotherapy and radiation, Liliana is now back home with her family and getting back to normal.
I’ve seen players mingle with young golf fans during practice, but Liliana served as the honorary flag bearer for FedEx St. Jude Championship, so he met Scheffler right on the 72nd hole on Sunday. What an amazing memory for everyone involved.
The return of Shota Hayafuji
Hideki Matsuyama’s team was robbed leaving the Paris Olympics, and left his caddy and coach without passports. They had to go back to Japan to get new ones, so Matsuyama put a Ryo Hisatsune looper in the bag last week.
For those of you who are not familiar with Shota Hayafuji, allow me the privilege of giving you some information about this guy. He first went viral by showing respect at Augusta National with a bow on the 18th green when Matsuyama won the 2021 Masters.
Hayafuji also gained attention when he sat above the 18th green at Riviera and smoked a vape while waiting for the final teams to finish at the Genesis Invitational. Matsuyama was about to win the event, and Hayafuji was there, taking everything.
It’s fair to say that I’ve been a huge fan of Shota Hayafuji over the years, so I was saddened to hear what happened to him after the Olympics. Sure, Matsuyama played well without his guy in the bag and won last week, but I missed Hayafuji’s presence there.
So I was a lot I’m glad to hear that all is well at Hayafuji. He returned to the United States this week and is ready to race against Matsuyama in the BMW Championship.
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