Sherwood, Sherwood, always up to no good

Is there anything more entertaining than YouTube videos of dogs running full speed into a pile of leaves? No. The answer is no.

You don’t know what you’ve got (till it’s gone)

As you settle into your couch this weekend, we understand that golf may not be at the forefront of your mind. Here’s a pitch that it should be.

Along with the Masters, the U.S. Women’s Open, and the season-ending championships on the European and LPGA tours, this weekend’s Zozo Championship is one of the few events left in 2020 with fields full of marquee names. Eight of the top 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking are at Sherwood Country Club, along with defending champion Tiger Woods and Champions Tour legend Phil Mickelson. Should be fun.

We have a long, uncertain winter ahead of us. And so while there’s football and baseball on TV this weekend, make sure to soak in what’s left of the 2020 golf season. Zozo Championship Tee Times

Can Takumi win?

Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Jon Rahm are the headliners at the Zozo Championship, but Takumi Kanaya might be the player we’re most excited to see. Former No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, Kanaya turned pro this fall. He has already compiled an impressive résumé in his short career, winning the 2018 Asia-Pacific Amateur and the Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters on the Japan Golf Tour, and finishing T-3 at the Emirates Australian Open last winter. He has played in four majors, and just last weekend he placed seventh in his first pro start.

Already inside the top 250 of the OWGR, Takumi Kanaya is yet another young player to keep an eye on.

Sweet home Chicago

Sources have confirmed to The Fried Egg that the 2026 Presidents Cup is heading to Course #3 at Medinah Country Club. The event was originally scheduled to be held at TPC Harding Park, but earlier this year, the San Francisco municipal course was awarded a PGA Tour event hosted by Steph Curry. As a result, the Tour decided to find a new venue for the ’26 Presidents Cup. Medinah has hosted three U.S. Opens, two PGA Championships, and the 2012 Ryder Cup.

Quick Hooks

Phil Mickelson, Peyton Manning, Steph Curry, and Charles Barkley are officially on tap for The Match III on Friday, November 27. Barkley will team up with Phil against Manning and Curry at Stone Canyon Golf Club, a course outside of Tucson owned Mickelson Golf Properties. Opting for Chuck over Tiger Woods is certainly a quality-of-play downgrade, but we can definitely expect an entertaining television product.

Lee Westwood, Bernd Wiesberger, Victor Perez, and Matt Wallace headline the Italian Open on the European Tour. Tee Times

This year’s Hero World Challenge has been canceled because of pandemic concerns. Many of the Hero executives who fly in for the event are based in India, and tournament directors decided against the travel. The OWGR points giveaway is expected to return to the Bahamas in 2021.

Here are two new articles very much worth your attention: Lorne Rubenstein’s piece on Mike Weir and the pleasures of watching precision golf, and John Huggan’s beautiful interview with Ben Crenshaw about his life, achievements, and thoughts on the modern game.

The Latest from The Fried Egg

An Introduction to the Volcano Hole – For fans of strategic golf architecture, is there a place for the occasional do-or-die scenario? We think so, and one of our favorite examples is the Volcano Hole, often found on courses designed by Donald Ross. Our latest video offers an introduction to—and a defense of—this striking hole design.

Paulie’s Picks: 2020 Zozo Championship – The plodders might have a chance at Sherwood Country Club! Check out who Paulie likes for the Zozo Championship.

The Shotgun Start: Friar Tuck, Joey D, and the Pissbear

A Bixby-fueled early morning recording begins with a discussion of fast food preferences and an analysis of more dumb officespeak before addressing any golf. The shhhedule for the week begins with a lengthy chat on the Zozo Championship — namely, the field, the Kanaya hype, and some features and traits of this week’s venue,Sherwood Forest, home of Friar Tuck and Little John. The Joey D Match Play Championship on the Minor League Golf Tour results in a 10-minute chat on all things MLGT, including the Estates Course at PGA National, the all-time money list, and the potential for playing three rounds in one day at the same course. The LPGA event of the week leads to another mispronunciation adventure and there’s some intel on significant overhead power line problems at the Euro Tour event. News hits on the cancellation of the Hero World Challenge and Wyndham bailing on the rewards chase. Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify.

Pro Shop

It’s about time to get all those leaves on your lawn organized. Toss on your Fried Egg wool hat and grab that rake!