The border crossing scene in Sicario (2015) is pure control, the score never loosens its grip, every frame packed with threat, every glance loaded, tension wound so tight that when it breaks, it hits exactly how it’s been building the whole time.
Walked several holes with the JT-Spieth group yesterday and the Rory-Fleetwood group today at Marco Simone.
Some observations.
• It's *extremely* hot. I always associate Ryder Cups with fall weather, and this is far from that. Can't remember the last one that was this steamy. Not sure how it will affect play, if at all, but hitting that first tee shot does seem like it will be a bit easier.
• The crowd was tepid on Tuesday and Wednesday but absolutely awesome today. The first tee blows everything I've seen out of the water (I wasn't at Paris).
https://t.co/VhXM6rx6ED
• The way the course is set up means there are probably going to be a *lot* of birdies and some tremendous momentum swings on both sides. How a Ryder Cup should be. The course is a little weird and really wonky in spots, but I think for match play, it’s going to be perfect. Hovland's 1 on the par 4 is emblematic of this.
• The green complexes can be wild. Lag putting will be difficult and probably paramount. Also, there are going to be some fun short misses.
• The chopped rough (even from two weeks ago) is pretty interesting. Very unlike Paris. It doesn't seem like the course is being manipulated as much this time around.
• There is constant air traffic over Marco Simone. Not, like, "my American Airlines flight from SFO just landed," either. More like, "is the Italian air force being deployed in case the JT takes escalate further?"
• I’ve historically been all over the place on Brooks, but right now I am all the way in. That smug “very few” during his presser on Wednesday was perfection. It doesn’t even matter if it’s true, either. It only matters that he believes it's true.
• The U.S. vibe in general has been pretty good (not perfect, but good). Nobody is uptight or stressed. It feels mostly like a normal Tour week. That will change on Friday, obviously, but it’s a testament to the commitment the captains have made to remove anything inhibiting their regular flow.
• Europe's vibe is always good. That's kinda the whole deal.
• I think the event is going to be close after every single day. You have to go back to probably 2002 to find the last time that happened.
• Ludvig is flushing it, which I'm concerned about.
• But Spieth is late twirling irons, which honestly might mean it's over.
https://t.co/JxvwXTMDRS
During a 2019 Players practice round, I stood behind the 10th tee when JB Holmes, known for hitting a cut, hit a sweeping draw off the 10th tee.
Tony Finau: “JB, I didn’t know you could hit a draw!”
36 year old JB Holmes: “Hell yeah playa, I was all state”