The Loop
Jordan Spieth's rise to No. 1 'likely to be a spur for Rory McIlroy'
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Rory McIlroy has been supplanted by Jordan Spieth at No. 1 in the World Ranking, which might prove to be an asset to McIlroy, Ewan Murray writes in the Guardian. "The simple analysis may be that McIlroy has been harmed by Spieth's success. In reality, the opposite may be true. Even Day's triumph is likely to be a spur for McIlroy, given the frustration he will associate with a major-less year. Few could have predicted that outcome. History tells us McIlroy is at his best when challenged by something or someone. He relishes the prospect of endorsing what is the case: that he is the finest golfer in the world."
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"If Justin Rose had been told at the start of the season that he would play the Masters, US Open, Open and US PGA Championship in combined total of 34-under he would have widened the trophy cabinet and prepared himself to become a multiple major champion instead of a mere major champion," James Corrigan of the Telegraph writes in a look at Rose's remarkable major championship play that went unrewarded.
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Tigermania might not be what it once was, but it still exists, as his appearance at the Wyndham Championship on Tuesday showed. "The crowds, albeit still much smaller than the ones Woods is used to, are nonetheless much larger than usual for a Tuesday practice round at the Wyndham," Paul Latimer of the Greenboro News & Record writes. "Even on a practice round, it's obvious that Woods' brand of celebrity brings a new element to the Wyndham. Usually a festive, smaller stop at the end of the PGA Tour's summer circuit, it will become something slightly different with Woods in the field and on the course."
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Fifty years ago, Sam Snead was 52 and four years removed since he had last won on the PGA Tour. He came back to the Greater Greensboro Open (now the Wyndham Championship), which he had won seven times, and he was to be celebrated for his past successes there. Little did anyone know that he wasn't done. Helen Ross of PGATour.com revisits what would become Snead's "last victory ride," an eighth GGO win.