Rory McIlroy at Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines (2024)

There were interesting developments all over the world of golf last week, and with Torrey Pines looming, we’re in store for another big week. The Grill Room is in session.

Rory McIlroy had the 54-hole lead in Abu Dhabi but failed to close the deal, shooting an indifferent even-par 72 and losing to Tyrrell Hatton by five shots. This comes on the heels of a disappointing 2019 for McIlroy. So, are you buying or selling Rory in 2021 as he looks to complete the career grand slam?

Josh Kendall: Can I hold? If I have to choose, I’m still buying. He was optimistic about his offseason, and he did play three pretty good rounds. McIlroy is scheduled to play a lot of golf in the next two months. Let’s see how he looks heading into the Masters.

John Hayes: What a great way to start the season for McIlroy. Third to world No. 5 Hatton is nothing to be upset about. As long as he’s hitting high, tight draws 320-plus yards, he’ll have a realistic chance at Augusta year after year. If McIlroy is able to string together four hot rounds with the putter, the green jacket will inevitably be his.

Aaron Suttles: I’m buying. His game suits Augusta National, and he’ll get one eventually. He’ll be 32 this year and has a kid now, which we’ve heard can change a player’s career in terms of putting things into perspective. However, he’s got plenty of time. This is a good start to the year.

Daniel Shirley: I’m buying. In fact, I expect him to get it done this April.

Mark Godich: With his tee-to-green game, I’m always buying. There will continue to be weeks when Rory laps the field solely with his ball-striking. That said, the putter can be an issue, and Augusta National isn’t suited for guys who can’t roll it.

Speaking of Hatton, who by the way is now up to fifth (!) in the world rankings, the European Tour last week released a hysterical video featuring a roundtable of angry golfers. Your reaction? It seemed to work with Hatton and Matt Wallace in Abu Dhabi. Dare we suggest this might have a positive effect on some of these guys?

Kendall: One thousand percent yes. First, the video was great and golf needs to do much more of this. The actual shotmaking is only absorbing television for diehards. There are a lot of viewers out there who can be pulled in by getting to know these players and getting a rooting interest one way or another.

Hayes: I enjoy watching some of the best players in the world lose their cool when their play doesn’t live up to the incredibly high standards set on tour. We have to get Hatton out of therapy and make sure Jon Rahm doesn’t change either.

Suttles: Not really. I think they had fun for the video, which was great by the way, but over time their personalities will reveal themselves. I don’t have a problem with a player showing emotion, and yes, even anger. It humanizes them to me. Now, abusing a caddie is not my cup of tea, but I think competition reveals realness. I’d rather have that than a fake smile and a thumbs-up.

Shirley: I enjoyed it, and it was well done for sure, but I can’t see it changing anything for these players, especially Hatton. It would hurt his game if he tried to play a different way. Keep doing what’s working.

Godich: I applaud the European Tour for its creativity, but players have to do the things that make them click. Nothing wrong with a little emotion. And as I watched the video, I couldn’t help but think about the camaraderie. That’s just more evidence for why the Europeans are so relaxed at the Ryder Cup.

Si Woo Kim birdied two of the last three holes to clip Patrick Cantlay at The American Express, but the big story was another lost opportunity for Tony Finau, who was looking for his second career PGA Tour win and his first since 2016. Tied for the lead through three rounds, Finau birdied the first two holes on Sunday, but he stalled after that and finished fourth, four shots back. What is the issue with Finau, who has played well enough to be ranked 20th in the world? And are you still a believer? Or are you ready to give up on the 31-year-old?

Kendall: I’m out on Finau, and yes, feel free to run this again in April with a picture of Finau in a green jacket if we get to that point.

Hayes: Everything about Finau’s mechanics screams “might not hold up under pressure.” He needs to make some fundamental changes, starting with his pre-shot routine from tee to green. Bob Rotella … Line 1.

Suttles: I’m not giving up on him yet. I would like to see more mental strength at times, but he’s a talented guy. Maybe he could use a little more anger in his life.

Shirley: I keep hoping and cheering for Tony to break through again, and he keeps putting himself in position to get it done. But for one reason or another, he just can’t seem to get it done in the clutch.

Godich: It’s in his head, no doubt about it. I’ll just have to be pleasantly surprised if or when he does win again.

The best tournament of the week unfolded at the LPGA season opener, at the Tournament of Champions. Danielle Kang was looking to go wire to wire, and on Sunday she battled in the same group with the Korda sisters, Jessica and Nelly. Jessica beat Kang on the first playoff hole, and the event got air time on NBC, albeit against the NFC Championship Game. So let’s throw this out there: The LPGA delivers a quality product, and most of us hacks could learn a lot from the way the women play the game. Now the organization is looking for a commissioner after 11 ridiculously successful years under Michael Whan. Put your commish hat on. What would you do to get the LPGA more exposure?

Kendall: See above with what the European Tour did. Give the golfers every opportunity to show their personality along with their talent. I’d love to see more LPGA players on PGA Tour broadcasts as analysts too, even if it’s just quick hits. Gives a pro’s insight and gets more exposure for their players.

Hayes: Social media. Golf fans are obsessed with social content. A network broadcast on NBC is nice, but what the LPGA needs to do is go all-in on Instagram and TikTok. Welcome to 2021.

Suttles: Get the product and its players in front of more eyeballs. Think outside the box. A docuseries introducing the players and giving fans storylines to follow while also showing the players and their personalities.

Shirley: Switch up the schedule and play your tournaments Monday-Thursday. Yes, it would take some getting used to for the players, but it would be a great way to get them more exposure when things are slower during the week. And this tour deserves more exposure. That finish Sunday was terrific, and that happens quite a bit on the LPGA Tour.

Godich: Great idea, Daniel. Yes, it would create some logistical issues, but it also would give the LPGA the spotlight. As it is, the women are playing third fiddle to the PGA and the Champions tours. That’s a shame because the golf is outstanding. This will be a huge challenge for whoever succeeds Whan, who was popular with the players and was behind the leap in events and prize money.

Monday brought the news that the WM Phoenix Open (Feb. 4-7) will feature a companion broadcast devoted solely to betting: a 2½-hour show on Peaco*ck Premium during each of the four rounds. Should we be surprised?

Hayes: Surprised? No. Excited? Yes. I’ll be tuned to Peaco*ck Premium. There’s a whole other way to watch golf out there besides the traditional network or Golf Channel broadcast. I’m a frequent PGA Tour live viewer on Thursday and Friday. I’ll take as many options as possible.

Suttles: It’s the future, and every sports league should be on board. It’s smart business and connecting with what a significant number of fans want. More of this should be commonplace and not strange.

Shirley: Not a surprise at all. It doesn’t interest me, but it does a lot of people, and I know many golf fans will be excited to watch it.

Kendall: It’s actually taken longer than I expected. Everyone is going to have a tie to the gaming industry soon enough.

Godich: It’s not like we golfers don’t like a friendly Nassau. I’ll be interested to see how it’s packaged and presented. The challenge will be in keeping it interesting — more than just a bunch of numbers on the screen.

The 2020-21 PGA Tour season kicked off last fall — remember the U.S. Open? — but we all know Torrey Pines is the site of the first big event of the season. Many big names are in the field this week in what will serve as a preview of the U.S. Open in June. Who’s the one player you’ll be watching most closely?

Hayes: I’ve got my eye on defending champion Marc Leishman at 40-1. It’s no secret the Aussie has been struggling to get his game back since the Tour’s restart. We finally saw a glimmer of hope at the Sony Open and now he has a chance to build on that confidence on a course he knows well.

Suttles: For some reason, I want to see how Matthew Wolff performs. He finished second in last year’s U.S. Open and sits 16th in the FedExCup standings. He’s got the one win in 2019, but I’m curious to see if he can put himself in contention.

Shirley: Thanks, Aaron. I was going to go with Wolff. But since you stole my thunder, I’m going to go with Jordan Spieth. Can he get back into contention? Can he play a clean round without the blow-ups he has been known for the past few years? Let’s hope so.

Kendall: Rory. I don’t love him as the second-betting favorite, but I like him for a bounce-back.

Godich: I was thinking Rory as well because I’m looking for guys who can win the Open. So I’ll go with Brooks Koepka. He’s built for courses like Torrey Pines South. It will be a good test to see where he is with his game.

(Photo of McIlroy: Andrew Redington / Getty)