Nine thoughts on the Olympics

Hey Everyone,

What a weekend. I played Concord CC on Friday and Saturday in the Dawson Cup. 54-holes on one of the toughest courses in the state was quite grueling. Thankfully it is a four-ball event, so I had a partner to lean on. It’s the highlight of the summer every year.

Joe Harney and Dylan Evans ran away with the title at 16-under par and won by six over John Stoddard and Nick Drago.

News and Notes:

• U.S. Women’s Amateur starts today: The Smith Sisters, Molly, Maddie, and Morgan are the first trio of sisters to play in a USGA event together. Live scoring.

• Mass Junior Championships start today. Bayberry Hills and Bass River are hosting the events. Players will play on both courses. Winners get a spot in next year’s U.S. Junior Amateur, if they don’t age out of the event. Boys’ live scoring and Girls’ live scoring

• Chris Francoeur in PGA Tour Americas. If you’re wondering how hard it is to make it as a pro golfer, Chris Francoeur (Amesbury, Mass.) shot 66-66-67-62 and finished T11 in the BioSteel Championship on the PGA Tour Americas. He earned $4,600. Insane.

• A top 15 for Alexa Pano. A year ago Alexa Pano won for the first time on the LPGA Tour on her 19th birthday. This week, she shot 68-64-66-74 for a T14 in the Portland Classic.

WRITING

The third pancake is often the best pancake. It’s a Simon Sinek theory about trying new things. The first two pancakes never come out right, but usually that third pancake is the one that starts to give you hope. It’s the one you’d be comfortable serving to a friend instead of tossing in the trash.

Olympic Golf had its third pancake moment this week.

Scottie Scheffler shot a 62 to win the gold, one shot ahead of perennial bridesmaid Tommy Fleetwood who won silver, and two ahead of Hideki Matsuyama who missed out on a bronze medal in 2021 in his home country.

This week, Michael Phelps appeared on the golf telecast, and he said it was the first Olympics that felt like an Olympics since 2012 in London.

Rory Mcilroy said as much after his round on Sunday.

“I think just this has been my first Games where it's felt like an Olympic Games, I guess. We weren't able to interact with any other athletes in Tokyo because of COVID. To be able to go to some of the other events and to feel the spirit of the Olympics and what it's all about and having dozens and dozens of athletes come from all over the word to compete in their individual sports and to be a part of that, it's felt really cool.”

In 2016, McIlroy was one of many athletes who skipped the Rio Olympic Games because of Zika.

Sunday felt like a full-throated, tense tournament. The cream had risen to the top. With its narrow fairways, deep rough, and lurking water, birdies and bogies were both easily attained at Le Golf National.

Here are a few thoughts I had after watching on Sunday:

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