Schauffle finishes drought, thiticul finishes the bar

control each week For the unjustified thoughts of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest themes in this sport, and join in the conversation by tweeting us to us in @golf_com. This week, we discuss the return of Xander Schauffle to the winner’s circle, Jeeno Thiticul breaking a LPGA tape, from the pros play in the US Mid-A-am, the latest Tiger Woods operation and more.

Xander Schauffle won the first two diplomas of his career last season, but was without winning to a 2025-dot injury this weekend when He won the Baycurrent classic In Japan beating Max Grayserman, who has now finished the race in the tournament five times and is still without a win. Who needed Sunday’s trophy more – Schauffle or Greyserman?

Sean Zak, elderly writer (@sean_zak) :: The correct answer is probably Greyserman, as we have seen when it comes to boys who need to overcome the first Victor bumps. But Schauffle had really fought some issues of trust all this year. Remember, it was Xander that we counted to mount any serious protection against Scottie Scheffler’s war against Pro players. Schauffle considered themselves a couple of pins down Scheffler in early 2025 and this had to grow and grow as the season was worn, with no winning or even real moments in quarrel. That was massive for him just to remember himself – You are one of the top five players in the world.

Nick Pastowski, high editor (@nickpia) :: I think the answer comes down to what you like most-a progress or a renewal. Grayserman has joined a few rigid years in PGA Tour and is one of the most difficult pro -golf workers, and you get the feeling that a victory would lead to three faster – so you can argue that he needed it more, as you want to see him continue to roll. But if you are a fan of stars and players playing at the highest levels, then the answer is Schauffle. This season, the big winner twice is leaving the injury, and for him to start next year with a victory at the top of his mind is undoubtedly useful.

Josh Sens, elderly writer (@Jossens)): This is a good way to fit it, Nick. Greyserman is still looking for that first W, so he needed it more. But the game as a whole is more compelling when a guy like Schauffle is in synchronous.

Jeno Thitikul won lpga Shanghai in a play off to be done The first winner of the LPGA Tour this seasonFinishing a startling belt in which the previous 26 events this season were won by 26 different players. This comes just a year after Nelly Korda won seven times last year. Which is better – equality or a player or two dominant?

ZAK: It’s not equality. I promise you it’s not equality. TV assessments, general interest, etc. Will support it. The LPGA needs at least one, if not two or three runners that are closing the horns against each other and setting some standards for 5-30 players to fight.

Pastowski: The depth of the talent in the LPGA is stunning – but the greatness sells. You allocate to Tom Brady. For Michael Jordan. For nelly cords. Hope, I would think, is that the players around her will push her to even greater heights.

Sense: A fiery rivalry is the best. This undoubtedly requires a rare talent, but also certain types of personality. I have heard some grasses complain about the effect of the “Pete Sampras” effect of Sccheffler Scottie – Flash or a complete embrace of attention can have a dull effect. As Sean says, the LPGA needs a player like the cord in the best – greatly with some noodles around it.

2025 mid-US mid-US champion Brandon Holtz joined the golf podcast to break down his middle title and Playing augustaand he also discussed the controversial topic about The former goods that recover amateur status. In Mid-am, USA, 14 of the last 16 players were formerly pro. Do you have any problems with this? Should it be more difficult for the good to recover amateur status?

ZAK: The problem with the expression of this question is that it makes all the 14 cases look the same. They are not! I think USGA can do a much better job to publish its criteria for ex -protes that regain AM status. Does what does a cup of coffee in PGA Tour mean on that trip? To answer the question, I am largely conflicted without information and good, difficult context. Dear USA, help us and maybe we will stop talking about it!

Pastowski: I just wonder if this cannot be resolved by another category-to play those who have always played as amateurs in one category, and have them pro-once once in another. Only one thought.

Sense: I’m not sure exactly what the answer is, but the issue should be addressed as events like Mid-A-am they losing contact with their original identity. A similar issue raised his head on this year’s Walker Cup, who presented a boy who would play Pro Golf just a year ago. Remember the pub links, which left its roots and became so exceeded by the College’s attitudes that it became unknown and jumped into the dust of dust? No one wants to see a repetition. A smart friend suggests that as with so many things in Golf, Augusta National holds the cards in this: if the green jackets put a foot down and said something like that, we do not want to see the ex -projection entering the strength of an amateur victory; It is not in the amateur spirit of Bobby Jones. So do something about this or we will stop extending the invitation in April to some of your amateur events winners.

Two announcements in the television center came last week: The Full Season 2 Program of TGL and the news of The full Netflix Lithmm. Now with the sample size at our disposal, have these two complementary products expand the extension of the sport? Thing anything you want to see different from everyone?

ZAK: As much as possible in the shooting results from TGL. Everything you think is a lot, I want more. And in terms of full swing, my attention space for that show is now minimal. I am not the audiences who are following, though! So if I were to look for something, it would be the concentration of hyper-narrow in all ways of PGA Tour is different from F1 or Tour ATP. Because the same company has produced a lot of the same documents followed in prospects, these world tour all looks like cousins ​​slightly different when in reality they are very, very different.

Pastowski: For the first question, the answer is yes. Golf on Monday evening in winter dead, as TGL offers, is something extra. Golf stories on request, as it offers “full swing”, are something extra. Here are some requirements. In TGL, fewer home ads; We do not need constant memory for why we are allocated. (And I like the idea of ​​sean – gimme the funny.) As for “swing full”, you have created ‘your stars’, so now let’s go deeper. I don’t care about the season’s annual book approach, but, as my editors say, tell me something I don’t know.

Sense: I’m not sure if I will think about these shows as change engines or mirrors that capture the way the game is evolving. Maybe a few of the two. Personally, I have a hard time getting very excited. But I am not the target market, and based on my anecdotal experience (pairing with foreigners in the course; listening to the children of friends talk about golf), I am not the best barometer of success. In fact, if I find it boring, there is a good chance of having a fugitive success.

Tiger Woods announced that he Had a seventh back operation On Friday, this by replacing a disk at the bottom of it that caused issues of pain and mobility. Do you think we will see Tiger in 2026?

ZAK: Not as a player. Hopefully as a very comfortable father/coach, walking-18 years old! And most likely as a non-player TGL captain. For all the desperate tiger obsessors to see Woods as another American captain Ryder Cup, I think we are forgetting that his main advantage in 2027 will be watching/traveled along with Charlie Woods growing college career.

Pastowski: I don’t see it, and it will also be a little frustrating not to see her and son Charlie at this year’s PNC championship. But then again, this is his call and he knows his body better. Golf Champs Tour also allows carts, you know.

Sense: Not in competition. But he has other roles to play in the game and in life. It seems too long as we all give up on anything more.

Corn Ferry Tournament season ended Sunday at French Lick in Indiana 20 players gaining membership in PGA Tour For 2026. Who is a player that random fans should have on their radars?

ZAK: Coincidences want to be fixed for longest Golfists in the Pro Game – I’m excited for them to be afraid of Davis Chatfield, who does not hit him away, but just know how to get the damn ball into the hole. He was the 14th at the distance of the direction, but 1 in accuracy. In Kft-Turneu Mash-and-Chase-It is not necessarily a recipe for success, but he found many of him with three Top-3 ends. This will lead you to the big leagues. No, w what can you do with it?

Pastowski: Neal Shipley. He is a personality. He is a player. He is a Waffle House seller. PGA Tour needs all this.

Sense: Christo lamprecht. Crazy tall. Crazy long. Far from another robopro in the look and style of the game. We have seen his ignition, as when he briefly held the lead in Open a few years ago. It will be a pleasure to see more.