Listen, we don’t like the term “track” in reference to a golf course, either, but Gwen Stefani is entitled to her opinion. We don’t know her stance on “golfing,” so don’t ask.

A sensible approach

It’s a curious week in pro golf, as the three biggest tours (in action) are in the same, or similar, locations as they were last week. The PGA Tour is in Columbus for another go-around at Muirfield Village Golf Club; the Korn Ferry Tour has remained at TPC San Antonio, just shifting to the Oaks Course from the Canyons Course; and the Challenge Tour has driven three hours down the road for a second event in Austria.

This is probably what pro golf during the pandemic should have been like all along. Yes, a ton of considerations go into the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour schedules, but staying put controls a lot of variables. Here’s hoping for no positive tests this week.

Kick your shoe game up a notch

Have you heard about Midwest humidity? Well, it’s no joke, and it’s hot right now in Chicago. Rounds of golf in July can be a slog, but it’s always nice to slip out of your golf shoes afterwards and enjoy a cold one. Do so with Riomar shoes! With waterproof leathers and odorless linings, Riomar shoes help keep your feet cool and stylish on and off the golf course.

Head over to riomarshoes.com and enter promo code TFE for 15% off your entire order!

BUY YOURSELF A PAIR

Class acts

Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka have developed something of a rivalry—or maybe more of a pseudo-rivalry—over the past year. It started when Brooks commented on Bryson’s slow play at the 2019 Northern Trust. On the practice green at Liberty National, Bryson approached Ricky Elliott, Koepka’s caddy, and told him that his boss should say those comments to Bryson’s face. Brooks obliged. In January, Bryson made some playful comments about Brooks not having any abs, and Brooks replied with a photo of his four major championship trophies: “I am two short of a six-pack!”

When Brooks appeared to subtweet Bryson regarding steroid allegations, many golf fans begged the PGA Tour to pair them up at the Memorial. Of course, the Tour didn’t. Brooks will play with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy for the first two rounds while Bryson will stomp around alongside Collin Morikawa and Patrick Cantlay. Just once, it would be nice to see the Tour to lean into a juicy storyline. But even playful drama seems to get swept under the rug.

Quick Hooks

We might not get Brooks vs. Bryson, but there will be a ton of big names at the Memorial this weekend. Tee Times

The Korn Ferry Tour gets busy on the other side of the TPC San Antonio property. Tee Times

Jack Nicklaus prematurely congratulated Justin Thomas on his win last week. Nicklaus watched JT roll in a 50-foot birdie on the first playoff hole, sent the text, and boarded a plane to Columbus. He was in the air when he found out Morikawa had won.

Joost Luiten, Adri Arnaus, and Nicolai Højgaard headline the Challenge Tour’s second week in Austria. Tee Times

In case you were wondering, R&A Chief Executive Martin Slumbers has been paying attention to Bryson’s recent feats of strength. “I still come back to the belief that golf is a game of skill,” Slumbers said in an interview with the Daily Mail. “And we believe we need to get this balance of skill and technology right.”

The Latest from The Fried Egg

Paulie’s Picks: 2020 Memorial Tournament – For the Tour’s second straight loop around Muirfield Village, Paulie is still betting on ball-striking. Check out his full picks for DraftKings and one-and-done leagues!

Shotgun Start: A Norwegian once talked to me about Norway

This Wednesday episode meanders about before an event with the strongest field ever on the PGA Tour tees off in Columbus. This quickly devolves into a discussion about branded golf courses and sports team golf courses, a nice compliment to last week’s discussion of zoo golf courses. A featured groupings discussion leads to criticism of the Tour’s decision not to lean into the entertainment of conflict and put Brooks and Bryson in the same group. Fan Vote Friday Jr. returns which leads to a discussion on the whereabouts of the Swedish Pancake and a player with a name that evokes “sailor or pirate.” There’s also discussion on the benefits of Norway, per a discussion once with a Norwegian. Another Wednesday charity match is praised as Tony Finau and Jon Rahm face off against two Euro stalwarts. News focuses on a potential quarantine problem with players going from the Safeway to the U.S. Open, the overanalysis of Tiger’s return, and Marty Sleeps rising from his slumber to talk about reining in distance. This ends with a digression on American baseball stadiums. Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify.