For comments: ben.alberstadt@golfwrx.com

Good Tuesday morning, golf fans, as we gear up for the final major of 2023.

1. “Majors matter more than ever”

Golf Digest’s Joel Beall…”The PGA Tour? Battered and bruised. It is still standing, and that in itself is perhaps a win. It also lost a lot of itself and the things it stood for to remain standing. And it sure seems like membership has lost trust and confidence in tour leadership. Any doubt to that needs to look at Xander Schauffele, a man with no appetite for spectacle, calling out the commissioner with an ease and candor that only comes when speaking the truth. PGA Tour players? The bewilderment and shock that was so prevalent at the U.S. Open and Travelers Championship has been replaced by disillusionment, the upshot of knowing they were sold out by the very body they were trying to defend. They feel scammed and cheated for bypassing the chance at generational wealth. Many have turned apathetic, wondering why they should care about something they apparently don’t have a say in.”

• “The DP World Tour? Its financial health is a mess, its fate in the hands of others. LIV Golf? Incapable of taking a foot forward without stepping on its other foot. LIV players? Their reputations forever tainted by some for aligning themselves with a brutal, repressive regime for a payday. Saudi Arabia? Yes, the kingdom achieved its goal, buying its way into the ecosystem. Yet buying yourself a trophy doesn’t make you a champ. Saudi Golf may be in; respect may never come. And not least of all, the fans have been hurt, their beloved game turned into a sideshow with the worst type of actors.”

• “The majors, however, have remained intact. On the surface there is an inherent, self-serving value in providing a unified platform during a schism, where the propaganda of both leagues genuflects to the cold-hard gospel of meritocracy…”

2. Cam Smith’s year with the claret jug

Golfweek’s Adam Schupak…“It’s the coolest trophy ever,” said Smith, who among other trips took the trophy back to Brisbane, Australia, where he grew up and celebrated with the members at the club where he learned the game.

• “Had a ripping night,” he said. “For a little country club outside of Brisbane to have the Claret Jug in it I think was a pretty cool moment.”

• “On the night Smith won his first major, Australian Penfolds Grange wine, tequila and beer all were poured into the Claret Jug, which got quite a workout in the days and months to come. What Smith loved most was seeing the reaction of lovers of golf when their eyes would meet with the famed jug.”

• “It’s like they’ve seen a ghost,” he said.

• “During his year of having custody of the trophy that dates back to 1872, Smith recalled some random moments when he’d walk into his home office in Florida and be sorting through mail and he’d bump into it as surreal.”

3. ….and LIV optimism

ESPN’s Paolo Uggetti…”the Australian delivered a message on the future of LIV Golf in the wake of the PGA Tour’s framework agreement with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF).”

• “There’s obviously a lot of things that are up in the air that no one really knows at the moment,” Smith said at a news conference Monday prior to the 151st Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. “There’s a lot of uncertainty but I’m optimistic LIV will be around in the future.”

• “It was this time last year that Smith put together a final-round 64 to surpass Rory McIlroy and outlast Cameron Young to win the 150th Open at St. Andrews only to, shortly after the tournament, become LIV Golf’s biggest signing since its inception.”

4. Rory skipping pre-Open presser

Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner…”For the second consecutive major, Rory McIlroy will skip his pre-tournament press conference.”

• “McIlroy was scheduled to speak with the assembled media at 9 a.m. local time Tuesday, but R&A officials announced Monday that he will no longer participate.”

• “Though McIlroy won’t speak to reporters in a formal setting in the run-up to the 151st Open, he did a walk-and-talk interview with Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis during a nine-hole practice round Monday at Royal Liverpool.”

5. Open brothers

Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner…”Two sets of brothers will tee it up in the year’s final major.”

• “The Hojgaard twins, Rasmus and Nicolai, have become fixtures on the DP World Tour, but The Open’s return to Hoylake is also a family affair for the Fitzpatricks.”

• “Matt, the world No. 9, is being joined in the field by his younger brother Alex, who earned one of the five spots at a final Open qualifier two weeks ago at West Lancashire.”

• “This will mark Alex’s first major championship start – a decade after Matt made his Open debut at Muirfield, where he earned the silver medal as the low amateur”

6. Koch to receive Payne Stewart Award

PGATour.com report… “In recognition of his character, sportsmanship and commitment to charitable giving, six-time PGA TOUR winner and former NBC Sports golf commentator Gary Koch has been named the 2023 recipient of the PGA TOUR’s Payne Stewart Award presented by Southern Company. Koch will be honored on Tuesday, Aug. 22, at the Payne Stewart Award Ceremony in conjunction with the TOUR Championship. The ceremony will be televised live on Golf Channel as part of a “Golf Central” special from 7-8 p.m. ET at the Southern Exchange in downtown Atlanta.”

• “Gary Koch is the epitome of what it means to be a Payne Stewart Award recipient,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “For someone who spent more than three decades telling the PGA TOUR’s story to the masses, at the heart of his character is the desire to usher the game forward through his charitable work.”

• “That’s what would make Payne smile: A passion and love for sharing the game with the world while looking after the next generation.”

7. Rahm re-ups with Callaway

Matt Cradock for Golf Monthly…”Posting to their social media, Callaway revealed the news in a 40-second video, which showed a timeline of Rahm’s career since joining the recognized brand. Captioned: “Run. It. Back. Happy to announce a NEW long term extension with @jonrahm. VAMOS!” The video also has the World No.3 narrating over the top of it.”

• “When I started with Callaway I had a good feeling about it,” stated Rahm, who was seen practicing on Monday at Royal Liverpool ahead of The 151st Open Championship.

• “Whilst the video shows Rahm’s winning moments, it concludes with the 28-year-old saying “it’s hard to believe you can improve, so let’s get it ready,” with the words ‘Callaway and Jon announce long-term partnership extension’ on the top of the video.”

8. Police braced for ‘Just Stop Oil’ protests

Fergus Bisset for Golf Monthly…”After disruptions by activist group Just Stop Oil at high profile sports events through the spring and summer, SportsLens asked their traders to assess the likelihood of Just Stop Oil actions at future events. The Open Championship came out as favourite to be targeted with a 4/7 chance of the event being affected by a protest.”

• “Merseyside police will be part of a large-scale security effort at Hoylake to prevent any disruption occurring. With over 260,000 spectators attending the championship through the week, it’s a significant task. Just Stop Oil has already targeted the Grand National, the World Snooker Championship, the Ashes and Wimbledon in 2023.”

9. Brooks: Golf to take backseat when I become dad

Matt Cradock for Golf Monthly…”Returning to form at the tail-end of 2022, Brooks Koepka has enjoyed a hugely successful 2023, with the American adding a fifth Major title to his incredible CV, as well as a second LIV Golf title.”

• “It’s not just on the course where Koepka has had wins though, as the 33-year-old revealed back in May that he and wife, Jena Sims, are expecting their first child. At The Open Championship, he revealed that it has been one of the biggest factors in what he has learnt about himself over the past 12 months.”

• “What have I learned? I’m going to be a dad, so that’s probably a little different,” stated Koepka, who is looking for a first Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool. “I’d say definitely more off the golf course. Just getting ready to be a dad I think is the main thing.

• “It’ll be fun. I’m excited for it. It’s been an interesting few months just prepping for it all. Golf is probably going to take a backseat. My family will take priority. Yeah, got to manage my time a little differently, which will be interesting. I’m excited for it.”