The 289th Hole: Takeaways from the Major Season

The Open Championship is in the books, and with it goes the Major season. It was an unexpected one, to be sure. With the lineup of champions consisting of two first-time Major winners, there are certainly stories to be had about the progression from early April hopes to mid-July triumphs.

And I admit, like so many others, my Major focus throughout my life was limited to the green and gold of Augusta National. I remember watching Bubba’s snap-hook out of the trees; the rise (and fall) of the phenom known as Jordan Spieth; and the unexpected, nigh-impossible "Return to Glory" by Tiger. As for the other three tournaments, they were simply outside my purview, as the scope of my early game was limited. I played a bit in high school and fell off through my college years. It wasn’t until I could really sink my teeth into the tees that I finally began to get it.

Golf cascades throughout the season, with each event delivering high-stakes drama—hopes and dreams matched by agonizing defeat and heartbreak. For the first time in my golf career, I bore full witness to the pageantry of it all: 16 days of Major golf, with innumerable tales and takeaways.

Somewhat begrudgingly, I’ve limited my takes to four—one lesson from each Major champion.

Much was made about Rory McIlroy heading into the 2026 Masters, and for good reason: after 17 attempts, McIlroy finally broke through at Augusta National in 2025 to claim his career Grand Slam. Who can forget the club toss? The emotional fall to his knees? It was a triumph like no other, worthy of memories made amidst the April dogwoods and azaleas. Heading into this year’s tourney, all eyes were on the Northern Irishman (and his honorary dinner menu) as he prepared for his title defense.

Yet, seemingly, he was nowhere to be found on TOUR in the weeks leading up to the event. Indeed, McIlroy skipped the three contests prior to the Masters. He was, in fact, playing Augusta National time and again in preparation—a right reserved for few, borne of his success and honorary membership.

Hence, he surged to the top of the leaderboard when his tee time came. While not a wire-to-wire victory, McIlroy showed poise and confidence all four days, leading to a dramatic finish on Sunday.

Questions of "unfair" advantages and privilege aside, there’s no doubt McIlroy was ready to go. He said as much himself on Tournament Friday:

"I’ve been on this golf course so much the last three weeks, and that’s been a combination of practice and chipping and putting around greens, and then just playing one ball and shooting scores and ending up in weird places that you maybe never find yourself and just trying to figure it out... I think just spending so much time up here has been a big part of it."

McIlroy referenced Augusta National as his "home course," which invokes no small amount of envy from, well, everyone. Yet in that statement comes a point of reflection: we all have our home courses—those that challenge us time and again, serve as familiar terrain, and benchmark our progress as we seek to improve. At face value, we are going to play better on the courses we know versus those we don’t (shoutout to Lake St. Catherine Country Club and Queensbury Country Club).

Knowing the courses we play is one thing. Understanding them takes our game to the next level.

Every bunker. Every green. Every blind shot. The information we collect on repeated rounds serves us on our next one, just as the inverse makes a fresh 18 holes a mystery to be unveiled.

There is joy in the surprise of it. Frustration, too. Yet, while we have the privilege to play courses all over, we would be wise to remember to enjoy the experience. It’s natural to drop strokes on foreign turf, just as it is to pick them back up when we tee up at home. In these two sides of the coin sits wisdom: at the end of the day, we as amateurs play for fun, and the lessons we learn home and away are very different ones indeed.

Next, the TOUR took us to Aronimink, near Philadelphia. The suburban course delivered the satisfaction of seeing Aaron Rai claim the Wanamaker Trophy. Rai—always a steady contender, but who had yet to break through on the biggest stage—sealed his signature victory when a 68-foot putt on 17 locked up the win.

His story is one of modest upbringing, staying consistent, and sticking to the fundamentals we should all strive for. He proved it’s not just about how far you hit the ball off the tee, but what you do afterward, finishing the job in the short-yardage arena when you pull out the flatstick.

The takeaway from the PGA sits squarely with Rai, but not necessarily in his swing mechanics. Instead, stories were woven around his choice of gear. His TaylorMade M6 driver, castled tees, iron covers, and dual rain gloves gave him an appearance rarely seen in today’s game. Beyond the gear itself, Rai gave us the why: He uses iron covers to take care of the clubs his parents worked so hard to get him. His dual gloves combat the coastal English chill.

It’s a heartwarming story, and well worth diving deeper into if you have the time.

-He continues to use his M6 driver because he trusts it.

-He uses castled tees to stay consistent.

-He plays his gear, his way.

And he’s a Major champion for it.

Let’s not get it twisted—tech does make your game better (marginally year-over-year, though it might be time to upgrade that ’09 Burner in your bag). Yet, there is immense efficacy in standing tall with the gear that has proven itself to you. If it gives you confidence when you step up to the tee, doesn’t that count for everything?

In a game where the mental state is the biggest hurdle, setting yourself up for success means removing all doubt about what’s in your bag. Like Rai, when you play your golf, your way, you are one step closer to a happier, lower-scoring round.

So pick up those iron covers. Wear rain gloves. Own what makes you happy and confident on the course, and reap the benefits of a mind cleared of extra swing thoughts.

Wyndham Clark capped off his season with his second U.S. Open victory. His tale of the tape in 2026 was red-hot after missing the cut at the PGA Championship and switching to a PING Ally Blue Onset putter (covered in lead tape). Since then, he has been electric on the greens, posting a TOUR-best 1.694 putting average while ranking 3rd in one-putt percentage and 5th in putts per round. (PGA)

Riding this momentum into the U.S. Open, Clark took advantage of ideal evening weather on Day 1 to shoot a commanding 64 and take the top spot on the leaderboard. Days 2 and 3 were steady (69 and 70). Challenging, wind-swept conditions at Shinnecock Hills tempered most challengers, leaving Clark in prime position to finish off the field on Sunday.

Sam Burns, though, refused to go quietly, roaring into contention with a final-round 67 and barely missing a tying putt. Clark survived a mid-round bleed of strokes to finish with a 73 as pressure mounted, setting up a poignant moment as he embraced his father as a champion on Father’s Day.

With a final line of 64-69-70-73, Clark’s U.S. Open provides a perfect allegory for our most temperamental rounds. There will be stretches of good and bad, and the wise golfer treats the law of averages not as an enemy, but as a reassuring reminder that the sun will rise again.

As Ben Hogan famously said:

"Golf is a game of misses. He who misses best, wins."

We are never going to play a perfect 18 holes. Speaking from experience, my blow-ups usually happen on the 9th and 18th tees, much to my chagrin. Managing expectations means accepting the reality that sometimes you’re going to shank it, skull it, or plop one into the water. Yet, you are just as likely to land one pin-high, carry your fade around the dogleg, or drain a 40-foot putt.

The moments in which we struggle make the triumphs that much sweeter. It doesn't matter if it's the first tee or the last, Day 1 or Day 4: golf demands its tax in trial. We are better served when we stop fighting it and embrace the suck when it comes, knowing our next breakthrough is right around the corner.

Much like Aaron Rai’s victory at Aronimink, Ryan Fox gave everyone a feel-good story with his weekend surge at Royal Birkdale. Tying the Major scoring record with a stunning 62 on Saturday, he vaulted into contention alongside Sam Burns, who was eager to build on his U.S. Open run.

Cameron Young had plenty to say on Sunday as well, posting a near-perfect card of 3s and 4s until Birkdale’s behemoth 500-yard par-4 18th caught him in a pot bunker, leaving him with a lone bogey, a round of 64, and a 9-under total.

That left Burns and Fox trading blows down the stretch. Fox proved victorious, grinding out a 10-under finish after starting the day at -8, while Burns faded slightly to solo third behind Young.

And boy howdy, did the Kiwi move fast. Fox wasted no time teeing up, launching his drive on the daunting 18th, and marching up with absolute confidence—barely waiting for the group ahead to clear before firing his approach to under 12 feet.

From there, it took Fox under 10 seconds to line up his putt and drain it for the win. It took him just as little time to exit the green.

The golf world chuckled at the rapid pace. "A victory for pace of play!" rang out across social media and from golf pundits. While true—Fox’s tempo will hopefully convince amateurs that they don't need four practice swings—the deeper story is less about speed and more about playing assertively, confidently, and without hesitation.

Fox said as much in his post-round interview:

"The less time I have to think about [the shot], the less bad stuff can creep in there."

Anyone who plays the game gets this. Every extra second over the tee is another swing thought creeping in. Every extra look at a putt adds unnecessary noise.

The reality is simple: a shift in our game happens when we turn anxieties into matter-of-fact tasks.

"Oh no, I have to hit my 4-iron," becomes "This is my 4-iron distance. Let's execute."

Of course, lie, green conditions, and wind matter. They are essential variables. What we can learn from Fox is that it pays to address those variables head-on. "Grip it and rip it" isn't just a casual cliché; it’s a strategy for eliminating self-doubt.

A quiet mind promotes better golf, and you keep it quiet by not giving doubt room to breathe. Each shot exists in a vacuum—an opportunity to translate your practice into results.

Shrink the game. Fox did, and he has a Claret Jug to show for it.

There’s something special about taking the time to consume golf four days at a time. I take joy in watching how pairings develop, or tracking who makes and misses the cut. "Moving Day" is uniquely electric, setting the stage for unforgettable moments across Major season.

Golf is bigger than The Masters. While most players logically know that, it takes a full season of following the storylines to truly feel it. It’s across the entire TOUR schedule that names rise and fall, gear innovations take center stage, and world-class talent displays what peak golf looks like.

And yet, plenty of these pros still miss cuts. Many more don't even break par. Sure, scratch on TOUR is light-years ahead of scratch at your local club, but the lessons remain identical:

Play your game. Swing your swing. Trust your process. Commit.

Simple ideas to write down; challenging ones to master. But endlessly worthwhile to pursue.

Our amateur victories aren’t rewarded with Green Jackets or Claret Jugs. They are found in the bliss of a quiet morning tee time, an approach landing pin-high, and the unexpected long putt that drops for birdie. They are found in the vicarious thrill of watching these players succeed, and the shared heartbreak when they fall just short.

So take a breath, soak it all in, and gear up for 2027. There’s still plenty of golf left to play this season, and great memories to make. And that, friends, is pretty Major indeed.

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