Have the Signature Events been good or did Erik van Rooyen properly cook them?

Of course Erik van Rooyen was thrilled to play his way into the Truist Championship with his performance last week at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. It's just the second Signature Event he's playing in this year. Bigger purse, better players, bigger stage. He wouldn't be proud of getting into one of those?

That doesn't mean he has to like the Signature Event model itself, though.

The South African made those feelings known following his Sunday 63 at TPC Craig Ranch, where he finished solo second to Scottie Scheffler and locked up a spot at the Truist via the AON Swing 5. Naturally, he drew some social media criticism for it. "Just give your spot to someone else, then" was a common refrain.

RELATED: Every player in the PGA Championship field (so far)

A better idea would be to listen to what he actually said and ponder ... was he right? Or have the Signature Events, particularly this season, actually been good? Look no further than the last two, the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the RBC Heritage, which both delivered on the entertainment front. Strong leader boards, strong winners, strong ratings. But are they really all that different from LIV events, which get a ton of hate for their small, top-heavy fields and exorbitant purses?

We discussed van Rooyen's spicy comments on this week's episode of The Loop podcast, among another of other topics including Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau's huge wins, two eyebrow-raising penalties in professional golf and whether or not the bachelor party in your 30s is the most overrated or underrated thing ever. Plus, an interview with DP World Tour pro Robin Tiger Williams. Please, have a listen below, and like and subscribe to The Loop wherever your get your podcasts.