Now that the first LIV season has been completed, we’ve taken a look at which players had the greatest success heading into 2023. Players have been rated and ranked on the basis of events played, average finish, wins, runner up, top five and top ten’s–as well as performance at the 2022 major championships (LIV Player Rankings).
While sixty-eight players participated at various events throughout the year, we’ve included only the top forty-eight, using finishes in the individual portion of each tournament.
Not surprisingly, Dustin Johnson dominated pretty much from start to finish. Cameron Smith had an immediate impact following his jump to LIV after winning The Open Championship, and Joaquin Niemann played superb golf—at 24 years old, the young gun that LIV hopes will attract other talented PGA stars in their twenty’s.
Top 5
No. 1 Dustin Johnson: 80.9 Rating
After opening with an 8th place finish at the initial event in London, Dustin recorded a T3 at Pumkin Ridge in Portland, a T2 in Bedminster and then won the fourth event in Boston. In the seven stroke play tournaments on the schedule, Johnson recorded four top 5’s, a top 10 and a win—with his worst finish being a T15 in Bangkok. For the season, Dustin’s average finish was 5.1. When you add a T6 at the Open Championship, Johnson is at the top of the LIV power rankings by a wide margin.
Cameron Smith
No. 2 Cameron Smith: 62.2 Rating
Following his brilliant performance at St. Andrews, Cam came up a shot shy of joining the playoff in his first LIV event at The International Club in Boston, settling for a T4 at 14 under par. He kicked it up a notch by winning in his second event at Rich Harvest Farms in Chicago, so in the four events he played, Cameron recorded a win and top 5.
With his Open Championship victory and a T3 at The Masters, Smith is second on the LIV power rankings.
Joaquin Niemann: Young Gun
No. 3 Joaquin Niemann: 58.7 Rating
At 24 years old, Joaquin Niemann is one of the brightest young stars in golf. After joining the PGA Tour at 19, Niemann recorded 22 Top-10’s including 2 wins in 5 years–making the cut in just under 80% of the events he entered while reaching the Tour Championship in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Joaquin joined LIV prior to the fourth event in Boston, and immediately recorded a runner-up finish (losing to DJ in a playoff). With a T4 at Rich Harvest Farms in Chicago and a T3 at the final regular event in Jeddah, Nieman recorder three Top 5 finishes in the four events he played, with an average finish of 7.3–just behind Johnson.
Pat Reed
No. 4 Patrick Reed: 57.2 Rating
Patrick recorded a T3 in his first LIV event in Portland, and finished among the top 5 in three of the five events he played (including a runner-up at Bangkok and a 5th at Trump National Bedminster).
Reed also ended the season with a 10.8 average finish (3rd behind DJ and Niemann).
After winning the first LIV event in London, Charl recorded two additional Top 10’s (Chicago and Jeddah.). When you add his Top 10 at The Masters in April, Schwartzel comes in at number 5.
Notables
Sergio Garcia (No. 6–54.1 Rating)
Garcia got off to a slow start in his first two LIV events, but recorded four Top 10’s in his last five tournaments (including Top-5’s in Chicago and Jeddah). Garcia’s average finish for the year was 12.9 (the 6th highest of the top 48 players who competed in the 2022 LIV events)
Talor Gooch (No. 8–52.4 Rating)
Gooch finished among the Top 10 in each of the first four LIV events in 2022, but dropped off significantly in the final 3 (although he recorded a T12 at the final regular event in Jeddah).
Only seven players were better than Talor’s average finish of 13.6.
BrooksKoepka
Brooks Koepka (No. 9–52.2 Rating)
Brooks’ mediocre play in his first four LIV events is likely due to lingering pain from the knee injury he suffered in 2021, but he finished strong with a T8 at Bangkok and a win at the final regular LIV tournament in Jeddah.
Look for Koepka to make his presence felt in a big way when the 2023 season gets going—particularly at the major championships.
Phil: Poised for a run in 2023
Phil (No. 38—27.6 Rating)
Mickelson’s LIV season was not memorable to say the least, but he showed signs of the old Phil with a T8 at Rich Harvest in Chicago and a T15 in Bangkok.
While the media swarm undoubtedly took a toll in 2022, look for Phil to shake it off and come out strong at the first LIV event in February (Mayakoba).
Should Phil win at Mayakoba, it will be difficult for the powers that be at Augusta National to keep him out again (although they did it last year when he was the reigning PGA champion).
Trump National Doral
Team Championship-Miami
Dustin Johnson, Pat Reed, Talor Gooch and Pat Perez (the Aces) took home the team championship at Trump National Doral with a composite score of -7, one shot clear of Punch GC(Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Matt Jones and Wade Ormsby).
Smash GC (Brooks Koepka, Jason Kokrak, Peter Uhlein and Chase Koepka) finished a distant third with a composite score of +4.
If you’ve missed the opportunity to experience desert golf, Arizona offers some of the best courses in the country—particularly as the winter chill starts to set in. The Resorts below are listed by their GolfDay Rating, and we have also included links for Accommodations, Golf Packages and Golf Academies (if available). A link to the Resort website is also provided, as well as a link to Google Maps for each location.
The best Arizona resorts include designs by Tom Fazio (Ventana Canyon), Jack Nicklaus (Dove Mountain and La Paloma), Coore & Crenshaw (Wi-Ko-Pa), Tom Weiskopf (Troon North) and Jay Morish (The Boulders and Troon North).
The GolfDay Resort rating is based on a variety of criteria, including the stature of the architect(s) who did the original design(s), the variety of courses located at the property, updates that have been done on the course(s), USGA Course and Slope Ratings, current local and national rankings by Golf Digest and Golfweek, the quality and diversity of practice facilities, general course conditioning and current reviews, as well as the quality of accommodations and level of service.
Click Top 15 Arizona Resorts for a map overview of the resort locations (hover over a flag and the resort name will come up, and click for details).
Course Architects: Lee Schmidt/Brian Curley/Fred Couples
USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.5 Rating/142 Slope
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and “Mini Dunes” Nine Hole Par 3 Practice Course (Open Dec. 15-April 1). Range Balls included with Green Fee.
Practice Facilities: Covered Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (2). Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Course Architects: Robert Von Hagge/Bruce Devlin/Tom Lehman
USGA Course/Slope Rating:
Catalina: 74.3 Rating/133 Slope
Sonoran: 70.7 Rating/129 Slope
Practice Facilities: Double Sided Grass Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers. Range Balls included with Green Fee.
Our updated list of the Top 10 public courses in southern New Jersey for 2023 is below. For the highest rated courses in the entire State, click NJ Top 75 Public and for top rated public courses nationally, click GolfDay Top 500 Public courses.
The GolfDay rating is based on a variety of criteria, including the stature of the architect who did the original design, updates that have been done since the course was built, USGA Course and Slope Ratings, current local and national rankings by Golf Digest and Golfweek (as well as other authoritative sources), the quality and diversity of practice facilities, general course conditioning and current course reviews.
When you start planning for your next golf get away, take a look at the GolfDay Top 100 U.S. Resorts below. Tom Fazio, with original designs or updates for 20 of the Top 100 resorts, is the leading architect for laying out the very best resort courses. Not surprisingly, Jack Nicklaus (18) and Pete Dye (14) are right there as well.
Looking at magnificent course architecture from a family perspective, however, it’s hard to keep up with the Jones’s, as Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Rees Jones and RTJ II designed or updated 27 of the Top 100 resort courses in the country (including Robert Trent Jones’ ultimate gift–the RTJ Golf Trail).
Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw have also sculpted many of the best resort courses in the U.S (7 in the Top 100—including Sheep Ranch, the latest addition to the wonderful courses at Bandon Dunes).
And speaking of Bandon, a special “thank you” has to go out to Tom Doak and David McLay Kidd for the spectacular layouts at Bandon Dunes, always #1 on the golf retreat bucket list (not to mention their work at Forest Dunes, Streamsong, Sand Valley and Gamble Sands).
The GolfDay Resort rating is based on a variety of criteria, including the stature of the architect(s) who did the original design(s), the variety of courses located at the property, updates that have been done on the course(s), USGA Course and Slope Ratings, current local and national rankings by Golf Digest and Golfweek, the quality and diversity of practice facilities, general course conditioning and current reviews, as well as the quality of accommodations and level of service.
Florida boasts the highest number of golf resorts in the Top 100 with 11 (including 7 in the top 50), followed closely by California with 8.
Wisconsin golf may well be the most spectacular of all with 7 in the Top 100 (4 in the top 50)—along with the amazing courses on the Wisconsin Golf Trail).
Michigan should also catch your attention when planning a trip as the weather starts to warm up in the Spring with 6 resorts in the Top 100 (4 in the Top 50).
Keep in mind that along with Bandon Dunes, the Pacific Northwest offers 5 additional resorts in the Top 100, so you may want to plan an extended stay.
For the best public courses, take a look at the GolfDay Top 500.
Holes: 103 (5-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses and Thirteen Hole Par 3)
Course Architects: Tom Doak/David McLay Kidd/Jim Urbina/Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Pacific Dunes: 72.3/143
Bandon Dunes: 76.3/141
Old Macdonald: 74.4/134
Bandon Trails: 73.6/130
Sheep Ranch: 72.1/122
Practice Facilities: 2 Grass Driving Ranges with Targets (North/South), Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers and Expansive Putting Course (Punch Bowl).
Holes: 81 (4-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses and Eighteen Hole Par 3)
Course Architects
Pebble Beach: Jack Neville/Douglas Grant/William Herbert Fowler/Chandler Egan/Robert Hunter/Roger Lapham/Sandy Tatum/Ed Connor/Jack Nicklaus
Spyglass Hill: Robert Trent Jones, Sr.
Spanish Bay: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Tom Watson/Sandy Tatum
Del Monte: Charles Maud
The Hay (Par 3): Peter Hay/Jack Neville/Robert McClure/Tiger Woods
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Pebble Beach: 74.9/144
Spyglass Hill: 75.4/145
Spanish Bay: 73.8/143
Del Monte: 71.6/131
Practice Driving Ranges with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (Pebble/Spyglass), Spanish Bay and Del Monte Golf Course-Putting and Chipping Greens
Course Architects: Walter Travis/H. S. Colt/C. H. Alison/Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Dick Wilson/Joe Lee/Rocky Roquemore/Tom Fazio/Davis Love III/Mark Love/Rees Jones
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Plantation: 74.1/130
Seaside: 74.2/141
Retreat: 73.9/133
Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers and Performance Center with Club Fitting.
Holes: 45 (2-Eighteen Hole Courses and Nine Hole Regulation Course)
Course Architects: Tom Bendelow/Hal Purdy/Pete Dye/Donald Ross/Sandy Alves/Allan MacCurrach
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Dye: 80.5/151
Ross: 75.7/149
Valley Links: 35.4/121
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets (Dye and Valley Links), Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Warm Up Net with Putting and Chipping Green (Ross).
Course Architects: Pete Dye/Jack Nicklaus/George Cobb/Clyde Johnston/Davis Love III/Scot Sherman
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Harbour Town Links: 75.6/148
Heron Point: 74.8/140
Atlantic Dunes: 74.3/143
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Ranges with Targets (Harbour Town and Heron Point/Ocean), Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers. Range Balls and Fore Caddie (Harbour Town) included with Greens Fee.
Practice Facilities: Lighted and Covered Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Dyer and Greg Norman Golf Academies.
Holes: 63 (3-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses and Nine Hole Regulation Course)
Course Architects: Tom Fazio/Robert Trent Jones, Jr./Ty Butler/Edward Peters/Rick Smith
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Atunyote: 75.7/135
Kaluhyat: 75.2/145
Shenendoah: 74.2/140
Pleasant Knolls: 35.5/119
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker (Atunyote/Shenendoah). Grass Driving Range with Targets (Kaluhyat). Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker (Atunyote/Shenendoah and Kaluhyat). Domed Indoor facility with two-tiered hitting stations, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Performance Center with Club Fitting and Golf Academy.
Holes: 70 (3-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses and 6 Hole Par 3)
Course Architects: Tom Fazio/Pete Dye
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Wanamaker 75.2/134
Dye: 75.7/142
Ryder: 73.2/133
Practice Facilities: Extensive including Lighted Grass Range with Targets, Wedge Range, Putting Greens, Chipping Greens with Multiple Bunkers and PGA Golf School.
Course Architects: Tom Fazio/Jack Nicklaus/Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay/George Fazio/Karl Litten/Andy Staples
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Champion: 75.4/144
Palmer: 74.7/142
Fazio: 74.4/138
Squire: 72.2/137
Estate: 72.6/138
Practice Facilities: Double Sided Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers, Leadbetter Academy and Pelz Golf School.
Course Architects: Tom Fazio/Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw/Arnold Palmer
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Canyons: 74.4/144
Foothills: 75.3/141
Cliffside: 72.6/133
Lakeside: 72.4/140
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Additional Grass Range with Targets and Short Game facility at Fazio Course.
Holes: 63 (3-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses and 9 Hole Par 3)
Course Architects: John Fought/Robert Trent Jones, Jr./Jim Ramey/Bob Cupp
Crosswater: 76.8/147
Meadows: 73.7/143
Woodlands: 73.9/144
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and Indoor Golf Simulators. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Course Architects: Michael Hurdzan/Dana Fry/Ron Whitten
USGA Course/Slope Rating: 9/145
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Fairway Bunkers and TopTracer Technology. Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers and Lighted Drumlin Putting Course. TaylorMade Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (at both locations). Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Course Architects: Pete Dye/Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay/Edmund Ault/Brian Ault/Tom Clark/Curtis Strange
USGA Course/Slope Rating
River: 73.2/136
Plantation: 70.9/130
Woods: 72.2/133
Practice Facilities: Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker (Grass Thursday-Sunday, Mats Monday-Wednesday), Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Ranges with Targets (2), Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Golf Academy with GEARS 3-D Body and Club Tracking System and Junior Golf Program. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Roger Rulewich/Jack Nicklaus
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Slick Rock: 73.2/134
Ram Rock: 75.2/139
Apple Rock: 74.6/140
Practice Facilities: 2 Grass Driving Ranges with Targets, Putting and Chipping Green (Apple Rock/Ram Rock and Slick Rock) with Eighteen Hole Natural Grass Miniature Golf Course.
Holes: 81 (4-Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses and Nine Hole Par 3)
Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Tom Fazio/Rick Smith
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Masterpiece: 74.8/147
Premier: 73.3/139
Signature: 72.9/140
Tradition: 70.0/130
Practice Facilities: 2 Grass Driving Ranges with Targets (Masterpiece and Treetops North), Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (both facilities). Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Practice Facilities: Double Sided, Two-Tiered Grass Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker, Wedge Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (3). Heated Performance Studio with TrackMan Technology, Flight Scope and comprehensive club fitting facilities. Pinnacle Premium Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Diving Range with Targets, Wedge Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. ProV1 Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets (Irons Only/200 Yard Max), Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus/Tom Weiskopf/Phil Smith
USGA Course/Slope Rating
Nicklaus: 74.1/129
Ke’olu: 74.7/133
Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (unlimited ProV1 Balls and complementary TaylorMade clubs provided).
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range with Target Greens, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (6). ProV1 Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Course Architects: Lee Schmidt/Brian Curley/Fred Couples
USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.5/142
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and “Mini Dunes” Nine Hole Par 3 Practice Course (Open Dec. 15-April 1). Range Balls included with Greens Fee
Course Architects: Fred Findlay/Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay/Pete Dye
USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.9/142
Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
Most everybody has heard of Bethpage, Chambers Bay and Torrey Pines—renowned municipal golf courses that have hosted the U.S. Open. But there are a great many fantastic muni courses throughout the country that are not quite as well known, and offer the golfing public an unforgettable opportunity to enjoy golf at its best. Take a look at our Top-25—perhaps you have one right in your own backyard.
Bethpage State Park is home to the world-renowned Black course, one of the crown jewels among so many great courses designed by A. W. Tillinghast. Bethpage offers far more than just the Black course, however, with 90 holes of golf including two additional Tillinghast designs (the Red and Blue Courses), a Deveraux Emmet design (the Green Course–later remodeled by Tillinghast), and the Yellow Course (designed by Alfred Tull).
The Park originally opened in 1935, and the courses were updated over the years by Francis Duane, a native New Yorker and architect of high regard who worked with Robert Trent Jones throughout the 1940’s and 50’s.
Rees Jones (“The Open Doctor”) was asked to retore the Black Course to its former glory in preparation for the 2002 U.S Open, and he made additional updates for the 2009 Open.
The Black Course also hosted the Barclays Championship in 2012 and 2016 as well as the PGA Championship in 2019.
Built on the shores of Puget Sound, Chambers Bay is a classic links course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Host to the 2010 U.S. Amateur and then the U.S. Open in 2015, Chambers Bay also offers a top-notch practice facility as well as the Chambers Bay Academy with a variety of outstanding junior golf programs.
When John Harbottle III passed away suddenly in 2012 at the age of 53, he left us with two wonderful course designs to remember him by, the Olympic and Cascades at Gold Mountain Golf Club. Sculpted from the magnificent terrain and majestic pines of northwestern Washington, each course is demanding yet playable, and kept in beautiful condition by course superintendent Abel Anderson.
With breathtaking views from the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean, the North and South courses at Torrey Pines, originally designed by William F. Bell, are something special. An annual PGA tour venue with the Farmers Insurance Open, Torrey Pines also hosted the 2008 U.S. Open where Tiger Woods had one of his most memorable victories.
Since each of the courses at all eleven locations on the RTJ Golf Trail are outstanding, it’s hard to single out Cambrian Ridge as the best of the group—but suffice it to say that you will not be disappointed. With 3 amazing nine-hole courses (Loblolly, Sherling and Canyon) along with a terrific 9-hole par 3 track, Cambrian Ridge should be at the top of the list when you plan your trip along the Trail.
TPC Scottsdale offers desert golf at its finest, with two great tracks designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish. The Stadium course is host to the Waste Management Phoenix Open each year, one of the most popular and exciting stops on the PGA Tour. When you reach the par 3 sixteenth hole you may still hear echoes of the raucous cheering from the massive “coliseum” crowd.
Located about an hour northwest of Chicago, this Larry Packard original design is a wonderful track. The course was updated by Ken Killian and Dick Nugent, and most recently by Keith Foster and Art Schaupeter to keep the layout current and challenging. The Highlands also offers a lighted grass driving range to hone your game in spring, summer and fall, and an indoor golf simulator for the winter chill.
Tanglewood includes two terrific Robert Trent Jones, Sr. eighteen-hole layouts (Championship and Reynolds) as well as an eighteen-hole par 3 course. The championship course was the scene of Lee Trevino’s thrilling victory over Jack Nicklaus in the 1974 PGA Championship. A lighted grass driving range and complete short-game practice facility provide a perfect place to work on your game.
Whenever Jack Nicklaus designs a golf course, it’s pretty much guaranteed to be a stiff test–and Breckenridge is no exception. Three tough nine-hole courses (Beaver, Bear and Elk) with gorgeous mountain views, first rate practice facilities and a variety of Junior golf programs provide residents and visitors alike with the opportunity to experience a bit of golfing heaven.
Incline Village and Crystal Bay/General Improvements District
Incline Village offers both an eighteen-hole championship course and eighteen -hole executive course (Mountain Course). Robert Trent Jones, Sr. did the original designs, and they have been updated by Robert Trent Jones, Jr, and Kyle Phillips, so it’s no surprise that the layouts are second to none. In addition to the great courses and beautiful views of Lake Tahoe, Incline Village also includes a Golf Academy that includes programs tailored for lady golfers and juniors.
Magnolia Grove is another gem on the RTJ Golf Trail, offering 2 Eighteen Hole courses (Falls and Crossings) as well as a beautifully manicured eighteen-hole par 3 course. As with all of the RTJ courses, the practice facilities are pristine—and The Lakewood Club (another RTJ beauty in Point Clear), is not far as well.
The RTJ Golf Trail is the golfer’s gift that keeps on giving. Grand National includes two fantastic eighteen-hole courses (Links and Lakes) plus an eighteen-hole par 3 course, picture perfect practice facilities and accommodations at the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa.
PGA Tour architect Chris Gray did a masterful job bringing the TPC course at Harding Park back to the original vision of Willie Watson, who also designed the Olympic Club and holds a special place in golf history. In addition to the TPC course, Harding Park includes “The Fleming Nine,” an executive nine-hole course designed by Jack Fleming, an outstanding course designer in his own right and one of the most important figures in the history of San Francisco golf.
TPC Harding Park hosted the PGA Championship in 2020 as well as the WGC American Express Championship (2005), WGC Match Play Championship (2015) and the Charles Schwab Cup Championship for the Champions Tour (2011-2013).
The original nine holes at Mooresville were designed by Donald Ross, with an additional nine added by J. Porter Gibson in 1978. Kris Spence remodeled and updated the course in 2016, and today the residents of Mooresville enjoy a wonderful course that is both challenging and playable. Mooresville Golf Club also offers a top-of-the line practice facility, men’s and lady’s golf leagues, and a terrific junior golf program.
Another great pair of eighteen-hole courses on the RTJ Golf Trail (Ridge and Valley). Add to that a wonderful eighteen-hole par 3 course, outstanding practice facilities, and terrific accommodations at the near-by Renaissance Resort Hotel, and you have a perfect day on the links.
Located about 80 miles northeast of Birmingham, the 3 nine-hole courses at Silver Lakes offer a stiff test of golf (Backbreaker, Heartbreaker and Mindbreaker). You can also sharpen your short game on a nine-hole par 3 course, and work on the driver and long irons on a beautiful grass range.
If you are enjoying a golf trip on the RTJ Golf Trail, Capitol Hill offers first rate accommodations at the Montgomery Marriott Prattville Hotel & Conference Center. Of course, the golf is shear perfection as well, with 3 demanding 9-hole courses (Judge, Legislator and Senator).
Gorgeous views, roaming wildlife and a perfect golf course—what could be better. Bob Baldock originally designed the course back in 1961, Robert Trent Jones, Sr. made revisions and updates in 1974, and Robert Trent Jones, Jr. added the finishing touches in 2007. Accommodations include the Jackson Lake Lodgeas well as a wonderful RV Park.
Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and Robert Trent Jones, Jr. collaborated on two wonderful eighteen-hole tracks at Heron Lakes (Greenback and Great Blue). Located along the Columbia River just outside of downtown Portland, Heron Lakes also offers a Ladies Golf Association, junior golf camps and first-rate practice facilities.
When Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry completed these wonderful 27 holes in the farmlands of western New Jersey, their next project was Erin Hills, a true masterpiece and site of the 2017 U.S. Open. In addition to three splendid 9-hole courses, Neshanic offers a 9-hole executive “Academy” course as well as a grass driving range, putting and chipping greens with bunkers and 2 additional practice holes.
Billy Martindale and Don January laid out Pecan Hollow back in 1973 and the course was remodeled and updated in 2010 by D.A. Weibring and Steve Wolford. In addition to a terrific eighteen-hole course, Pecan Hollow also includes a 5-hole par 3 course, lighted grass driving range and junior golf academy.
Jack designed another stiff test of golf, this time complete with beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline for residents of New York and visitors alike. Ferry Point also offers a manicured driving range and short game facility that’s as good as it gets, along with being home to the Michael Breed Golf Academy.
Ross Bridge is the seventh location on the RTJ Golf Trail that we’ve included among the top 25 municipal golf facilities in the country (and they all could easily be listed). While Ross Bridge opened for play in 2005 after Robert Trent Jones passed away, Roger Rulewich and Bobby Vaughn created a masterpiece in his honor. In the addition to the fabulous eighteen hole course, the practice facilities are first class and wonderful accommodations are available at the Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Resort & Spa.
Only ten minutes from Hazeltine National (host of the 1970 and 1991 U.S. Opens as well as the PGA Championship in ’02 and ’09), Chaska Town Course is one of the finest municipal facilities in the country. Featuring an 18-hole championship course designed by Arthur Hills and a wonderful Robert Trent Jones, Sr. executive layout, Chaska also offers a complete practice facility and variety of junior golf programs.
Illinois boasts some of the best public golf in the country, and Thunderhawk is right at the top. Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designed another masterpiece, and the residents of Beach Park are lucky indeed. Along with the great eighteen-hole layout, the practice facilities are superb and the scenery is beautiful (Thunderhawk is recognized by the Audubon Society as a Signature Sanctuary Course).
Denis Griffiths created the terrific layout at Heatherwoode in 1991, including a comprehensive practice facility that includes a grass range with target greens, putting and chipping greens with bunkers, and an indoor golf simulator with club fitting for when the snow begins to fly.
Only minutes from Dallas-Forth Airport and less than an hour from downtown Dallas, Texas Star is a challenging Keith Foster masterpiece that will keep you coming back. If you were under the impression that Texas courses are pretty much flat, the Star will dispel that notion immediately with elevation changes throughout the course, tall trees and picture postcard scenery. Texas Star also offers top-notch practice facilities, including a grass driving range, putting and chipping greens and bunker.
Cherokee Run was designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, opening for play in 1995. The magnificent eighteen-hole layout was carved among tall Georgia pines, and offers a strong test of golf with a course rating of 74.5 and a slope of 144. Cherokee Run also features first rate practice facilities, including a grass range with targets and complete short game facilities.
Scottie Scheffler took home the Jack Nicklaus award as PGA Tour Player of the Year for 2022, and it was certainly well deserved after such a fantastic season—but it was definately not a “slam dunk” as some are saying. When you take a close look at the season Rory McIlroy put together, you pretty much need a razor blade to separate them.
The Majors
Scheffler’s win at The Masters was a brilliant performance, but keep in mind that Rory finished runner-up at Augusta with a magnificent final round 64 (a shot off the lowest rounds ever recorded at The Masters—63 by Nick Price in ’86 and again by Greg Norman in ’96).
Scottie also had a superb run at the 2022 U.S. Open, finishing a shot behind Matthew Fitzpatrick for runner-up. But remember that Rory was also among the leaders at The Country Club on Sunday afternoon, finishing with a T5.
Scottie Scheffler: 2022 Masters Champion
And while Scottie missed the cut at the PGA Championship, and was outside the top 20 at The Open Championship, Rory recorded a Top 10 at the PGA (8th) and finished 3rd at The Open.
In 16 rounds at the major championships in 2022, Rory recorded 9 rounds under 70 with a scoring average of 69.2, while Scottie recorded 7 rounds under 70 with a scoring average of 69.7.
Although Rory was unable to record a major win in 2022, finishing in the top 10 at all four majors is a rarely accomplished feat. Tiger did it in 2000 when he recorded a T5 at The Masters and then won the other 3 major championships. Jack did it 3 times (1971, 1973, 1974), Brooks Koepka did it in his fantastic 2019 season (win at the PGA, 2nd at the U.S. Open, T2 at The Masters and a T4 at The Open Championship) and Rickie Fowler recorded Top-5 finishes at all four majors in 2014 (including runner-up at the U.S. Open and The Open Championship).
Scottie gets the edge with a major win and a runner-up, but Rory had one of the most outstanding major championship seasons on record—so it’s pretty darn close.
McIlroy: Leads Tour in Scoring
The Tour Season
In addition to his Masters win, Scheffler recorded 3 regular tour wins (including the WGC Match Play Championship). McIlroy also recorded 3 regular season wins, including the Tour Championship. Rory made the cut in 14 of the 16 events he played in 2022 (88%) and recorded 10 Top 10 finishes (63%), while Scottie made the cut in 21 of 25 events (84%) with 11 Top-10’s (44%).
Scheffler: 3 Tours wins and Major Championship
From a performance standpoint, Rory led the Tour in scoring average at 68.7 and he was 2nd in driving distance at 321.3. Scottie was fourth in scoring average at 69.3 and 19th in driving distance at 311.6—but Scheffler was #1 in greens in regulation (72.3%) while Rory was #12 at 69.9 %.
Scheffler also recorded 3 regular season runner-up finishes—a T2 at the Houston Open, 2nd at the Charles Schwab Challenge and a T2 at the Tour Championship).
Both Scottie and Rory had phenomenal regular seasons on Tour, and from the numbers it looks pretty much like a flat-footed tie.
The FedEx Cup
Scottie Scheffler was No. 1 in the FedEx Cup standings going into the Tour Championship, so under the new format he began the tournament at -10, six shots ahead of Rory who was No. 7 and began at -4.
Scheffler and McIlroy played flawless golf through the first 3 rounds, and both were -13 going into Sunday’s final round—but Scottie still held a six-shot advantage due to the FedEx standings adjustment (Scheffler was -23 and Rory was at -17).
Although Rory wasn’t able to put four fantastic rounds together at any of the 2022 major championships, he put the hammer down at the Tour Championship and fired a closing 66 to finish at -17 (21 under total with the adjustment). When Scheffler faltered with a final round 73 (20 under total), McIlroy had erased the massive deficit to take the championship—and also the FedEx Cup for a record third time.
McIlroy: Wins Tour Championship and FedEx Cup
The Wrap Up
Scottie Scheffler had a great year in 2022, and he will be a force to reckon with on the PGA Tour for many years to come. His win at The Masters, strong showing at the U.S. Open, and consistent performance throughout the year make it hard to argue with his choice as Player of the Year.
With his impressive comeback victory at the Tour Championship and third FedEx Cup, however, McIlroy closed the gap with Scottie to a photo finish—and most certainly not a Scheffler “slam dunk” as some are saying.
Rory played only 16 events on the PGA Tour in 2022 (he also played 2 on the DP World Tour, finishing 3rd at the Dubai Desert Classic and runner-up at the BMW PGA Championship), while Scottie played 25 Tour events, and that also moves the needle a bit more toward Scheffler—but we think Rory edged him by a nose with his third FedEx Cup.
One thing is for sure, the 2022-2023 PGA Tour season (and major championships) are going to be pretty exciting with Scottie and Rory going head-to-head.
When you put Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantley, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Jordan Spieth and Tony Finau into the mix, and then top it off with young stars like Sungjae Im, Cameron Young, Will Zalatoris and Victor Hoveland—2023 is shaping up to be one heck of a year on the PGA Tour.
Ernie Els was 42 years old back in 2012, and it had been ten years since he won The Open in 2002. He had missed the cut in 3 of the 4 major championships in 2011, with only a single Top 10 finish on the PGA Tour in 21 starts. And although Els recorded 5 consecutive Top-10’s at Augusta National from 2000 through 2005 (including 2 runner-up finishes), he had dropped out of the top 50 in the World Golf Rankings, and The Masters Committee declined to offer him a special exemption—so he missed the Masters for the first time in 17 years.
As the sting of missing The Masters receded, Ernie’s game began to get in gear with a runner-up at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in late April, and he started looking very much like the Els of old with a Top 10 at the U.S. Open in June at the Olympic Club.
The 2012 Open was played at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, and Ernie got off to a solid start with a 67 in the first round—but Adam Scott fired a brilliant 64 and he was 3 shots off the lead. Els continued to play well in the second and third rounds to stand at 5 under, but Adam was playing even better, and as the final round got under way on Sunday Scott had opened up a 6-shot lead.
It didn’t get any better for Ernie through the first 9 on Sunday as he posted a 2 over 37, including a bogey at the ninth, and Scott’s lead remained at 6 shots going to the back—with seemingly little hope that Els would lift the Claret Jug for a second time.
Although Ernie got hot and birdied 3 out of the first 5 holes on the back nine, he still trailed Scott by 4 with only 4 holes to play. But anything can happen down the stretch at an Open Championship.
Scott struggled on the closing holes, finishing with 4 consecutive bogies to finish at 6 under. Els made par at 15, 16 and 17, and then hammered a perfect tee shot down the middle on the last. After a crisp wedge that came down 20 feet from the pin, Ernie drilled the putt for birdie to shoot 31 on the back and a 68, posting 7 under to become the 2012 Champion Golfer in one of the greatest comeback victories of all time.
Ernie Els: 2012 Open Championship
Number 9: 1995 PGA Championship– Steve Elkington
Seventeen years before his dramatic comeback victory at The Open, Ernie Els began the final round of the 1995 PGA Championship at Riviera Country Club with a 3 shot lead over Mark O’Meara and Jeff Maggert, 5 shots over Colin Montgomerie, and a 6 shot margin over Steve Elkington and Craig Stadler.
Ernie was at the top of his game in 1995, having recorded 4 major Top-10’s and a U.S. Open title between 1992 and 1994. The only player among the leaders with a major victory was Craig Stadler, and his win at The Masters had come almost twenty years earlier in 1976—so it seemed inevitable that Els would raise the Wanamaker Trophy when play concluded on Sunday.
Steve Elkington, however, was on a mission. With perhaps the greatest swing of all-time, Elk was at the top of his game with a T5 at Augusta in April and a T6 at The Open Championship in July. And although he was again battling the severe sinus problems that plagued him throughout his career, Elkington knocked down stick after stick on Sunday to post a magnificent final round 64—overcoming a 6 shot deficit to finish in a tie with Montgomerie at 17 under par.
When his birdie putt dropped on the first playoff hole, Elkington had won the PGA Championship—and completed one of the greatest comebacks in history.
Phil Mickelson: 2013 Open Championship
Number 8: 2013 Open Championship– Phil Mickelson
Phil had suffered yet another devastating U.S. Open loss at Marion in June, his sixth runner-up finish at the championship he so much wanted to win, so it seemed unlikely that Lefty could bounce back and make a serious run at the Claret Jug in July.
Mickelson, however, continued to push by sharpening his links game while winning the Scottish Open in the week leading up to The Open Championship at Muirfield.
While Phil got off to a good start with a 69 in the first round, he disappeared from the leader board completely with a second round 74—so it seemed highly unlikely that lefty would make The Open his 5th major championship. Muirfield was proving a tough test, however, and Phil fought his way back with a solid 72 in the third round, but still found himself 5 shots off the pace set by leader Lee Westwood heading into the final round.
As the wind started to blow on Sunday, Phil uncharacteristically went to his 3 wood and fashioned a masterful closing round 66 to finish at 3 under par—one of the greatest performances of his illustrious career. And when Westwood faltered with a closing 75, and the other players at the top of the leaderboard succumbed to the weather, Phil won going away with a 3 shot victory in one of the most memorable comebacks in major championship history.
Nick Faldo: 1996 Masters
Number 7: 1996 Masters– Nick Faldo
In the fifteen Masters championships Norman had played heading to August National in 1996, Greg had recorded 2 runner-up finishes, 2 third place finishes, 2 top-5’s and a top 10. And when he opened with a dominating 63 in the first round, it appeared that 1996 would be the year that Norman would slip the green jacket over his shoulders at last.
Norman continued to play solid golf on Friday and Saturday, posting rounds of 69 and 71 for a 54-hole total of 13 under and a commanding 6-shot lead over Nick Faldo going to Sunday.
With his customary laser focus, Faldo applied the pressure in the final round by posting 2 under on the front nine as Norman began to disintegrate with 3 bogeys and a lone birdie—a 4 shot swing that left Faldo only 2 behind going to the back nine.
While Norman imploded completely with 41 on the back, Faldo kept his foot firmly on the gas with a 33 on the closing nine, a final round 67, and a 5 shot victory. Most remember the 1996 Masters for Norman’s colossal collapse, but Faldo’s magnificent final round was stunning—and one of the all-time comebacks in major championship history.
Padraig Harrington: 2007 Open Championship
Number 6: 2007 Open Championship– Padraig Harrington
Sergio Garcia fired a sizzling opening round 65 in pursuit of his first major championship at Carnoustie Golf Links in the 2007 Open Championship, jumping out to a 2 shot lead over Irishman Paul McGinley. At 27 years old, Garcia had recorded 12 major Top-10’s in his career without a win, and it was looking like this would be the week when he finally broke through.
Sergio increased his lead through 54 holes with rounds of 71 and 68 on Friday and Saturday as he climbed to 9 under par going into the final round on Sunday—and it seemed he would just need to hold off Steve Stricker, who had pulled within 3 shots with a brilliant 64 on Saturday.
With all eyes focused on Garcia and Stricker, another Irishman, Padraig Harrington, who had begun the day six shots back at 3 under, slowly began creeping up the leaderboard with birdies on the 3rd, 6th and 9th holes. Meanwhile, Garcia began to stumble with 3 bogeys and a birdie on the front, so his lead had shriveled to a single shot over Harrington.
When Padraig made birdie at 11 and then eagle at 14, he moved to 9 under par and the outright lead. At the 18th hole, however, it suddenly appeared that Padraig’s gutsy charge had come to an end when his approach found the water—resulting in a disastrous double that dropped him once again to a shot back of Sergio’s lead.
Garcia, however, was unable to make par at 18, and his bogey gave Harrington a reprieve as they both finished at 7 under par and headed to a 4-hole playoff.
Padraig made the most of it, playing the extra holes in even par to defeat Sergio by a shot— completing.one of the most exciting finishes (and greatest comebacks) in major championship history.
Payne Stewart: 1989 PGA Championship
Number 5: 1989 PGA Championship– Payne Stewart
Payne Stewart opened the 1989 PGA Championship at Kemper Lakes Golf Club with a 74, 8 shots behind Mike Reid, who fired a flawless round of 66. And although Stewart came back strong in the second round with a 66 of his own, he picked up only a single shot as Reid followed up with another great round of 67.
Reid began to back up a bit with a 70 in the third round on Saturday, but again Stewart picked up only one shot while recording a solid round of 69, so Payne found himself six shots back of the lead going into Sunday. On top of that, there were four major champions on the leaderboard between he and Reid (Craig Stadler, Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam, and reigning back-to-back U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange).
Having recorded 10 Top-10’s in his previous 17 major championships and coming up empty, Stewart refused to be denied once again. After playing the front nine at even par, Payne birdied 5 holes on the back without a bogey for 67, a tounamnet toal of -12, the first of his 3 major championship wins, and a comeback victory that continues to bring a smile to the face of everyone who witnessed his magnificent performance all those years ago.
John Mahaffey: 1978 PGA Championship
Number 4: 1978 PGA Championship– John Mahaffey
John Mahaffey had a solid career on the PGA Tour with 10 wins, but his performance at the 1978 PGA Championship would become his defining moment. Opening with a first round 75 at historic Oakmont Country Club, Mahaffey began the final 54 holes in a very deep hole—eight shots behind Hall of Famer Tom Watson, who had posted a 67.
Mahaffey began to claw his way back into contention with a 67 on Friday, but still found himself six shots behind going into the weekend. And although he backed it up with an outstanding round of 68 on Saturday, he actually lost ground to Watson, who fired a third round 67 and stood at -10 heading into Sunday, 7 shots clear of Mahaffey who was at 3 under par.
But when Tom faltered on Sunday with a 73, Mahaffey maximized his opportunity by carding a magnificent 66, erasing a 7 shot deficit to force a 3-man playoff with Watson and Jerry Pate.
When Mahaffey birdied the second playoff hole, he claimed the Wanamaker Trophy and recorded the biggest Sunday comeback in PGA Championship history.
Gary Player: 1978 Masters
Number 3: 1978 Masters– Gary Player
Gary Player had already won at Augusta twice before with 11 Top-10’s when play got under way at The Masters in 1978. With even par rounds of 72 on Thursday and Friday, Player appeared to be treading water while waiting to make a move, and trailed the leaders (Rod Funseth and Lee Trevino) by 5 shots going to the weekend.
Although Gary kicked it up a notch with a 69 on Saturday, it seemed he had waited just a bit too long as Hubert Green fired a 65 in the third round for a 54-hole total of -10, opening up a 3 shot lead on the field, and a whopping 7 shot margin over Player.
As Sunday’s final round began to heat up, Player crept closer to Green with 3 birdies and a bogey on the front, but Hubert was playing solidly at even par and Gary was still 5 shots behind him going to the back nine.
Since it appeared that Green would not be giving anything away, and Tom Watson had made eagle at 13 to join the lead at 10 under, Player decided it was time to light the afterburner.
With 6 birdies on the back (7 in his last 10 holes), Player charged to the clubhouse with a 30 on the back nine for a final round 64 and a 72-hole total of 11 under par—a shot ahead of the field, and biggest comeback ever at Augusta National.
The 54-hole leaderboard at the 1973 U.S. Open included many of the all-time greats in the history of golf, including Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player (tied for ninth, 4 shots back at +1), Lee Trevino and Bob Charles (tied for 6th, 2 shots back at -1), and Tom Weiskopf (alone in 5th, 1 shot back at -2). The co-leaders at -3, included Arnold Palmer and Julius Boros, as well as two unheralded tour pros–Jerry Heard and John Schlee.
With so many great players at the top of the leaderboard, it would be pretty much impossible for anyone more than four shots back to win the championship, since even if all of the co-leaders were to falter, one of the other legends who were lurking in the wings was likely to post a low score.
Johnny Miller was seven shots behind the leaders at +4 when play began on Sunday, and to win the championship he would have to go extremely low. Making it even more improbable, the ’73 Open was being played at famed Oakmont Country Club, one of the toughest U.S. Open venues in the rotation.
But Miller did exactly that, firing laser-like approach shots to record 9 birdies on his way to a record setting 63 and the U.S. Open Championship trophy in one of finest rounds ever played, and one of the greatest comebacks in history.
What most remember when thinking back on the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie is Jean Van de Velde’s disastrous triple bogey on the 18th hole—and that was certainly a difficult and painful moment for the Frenchman who fought so hard throughout the week.
What is less often talked about is the fantastic final round played by Paul Lawrie. Carnoustie, one of the most difficult courses in the Open Championship rotation, had played particularly tough all week with no one in the field under par when play began on Sunday.
Lawrie began the day in a tie for 14th place at +10, ten shots behind Van de Velde. In one of the greatest rounds ever recorded at a major on Sunday, Lawrie navigated the yawning pot bunkers and gnarly rough through gusting winds to post a magnificent four under round of 67. In the entire field, only 3 other players were able to break 70 (Davis Love, Scott Verplank, and Steve Allen—who each shot 69).
When Lawrie defeated Van de Velde and Justin Leonard in a playoff to claim the Claret Jug, his charge from ten shots off the lead became the biggest Sunday comeback in the history of major championship golf.
