Instagram: R.I.P. Phil Rodgers, Tiger Benches His Scotty, Freddie & Davis At The Broadmoor, Inverness From Above

/

Jack Nicklaus, who competed against, with and even learned from Phil Rodgers, says farewell to the short game wizard.

Rodgers is remembered with this sensational obituary by the San Diego Union-Tribune's Tod Leonard.

Today we lost one of golf’s greats, one of its most colorful individuals, and one of my dearest friends in Phil Rodgers. Phil had been battling leukemia for years, but thanks to the efforts of a close mutual friend in Bryan Naugle, my wife Barbara and I had a chance to reunite with Phil in May at the @insperityinvitational. He was struggling greatly, but it meant the world to me to see him, even if it was briefly. I have known Phil Rodgers for almost 65 years. We started out as young rivals. I think we first competed in Columbus, Georgia, in 1955 at the U.S. National Jaycees. I was 15 and Phil was 17. We tied for medalist honors and he won via a tiebreaker. But from that week on, we played a lot of golf together. We competed against each other and as partners. In fact, my first @pgatour tournament as a pro—the Los Angeles Open—Phil and I were both rookies. Phil won going away (9 shots) and I finished 50th and won $33.33. Phil was a terrific junior and tremendous college player, winning the 1958 NCAA title at Houston. As a pro, Phil won six times—all by the time he was 28. He was a terrific ball-striker, had a great short game, and became a gifted teacher. Phil was instrumental in my resurgence in 1980, and I give a lot of credit to him for my success that year. At the end of 1979, my game—particularly my short game—was awful. I called Phil and we worked together in Los Angeles at the start of 1980. He taught me his famous “Figure 8” method and I went on to win two majors that year, thanks to Phil. We golfed, fished and socialized together. Phil was one of my dearest friends in the game and out, and I will miss him. I will miss him dearly, just as the game will miss this very special man. Barbara and I send our love and prayers to his wife Karen and their family. Our hearts hurt for them, and his many friends in and outside of the golf world. 🙏🏼

A post shared by Jack Nicklaus (@jacknicklaus) on

Tiger Woods benched his Scotty Cameron Newport 2 in favor of a TaylorMade TP Collection Ardmore 3 for Tuesday's practice round at TPC Potomac.  More details here from Dan Kilbridge.

Fred Couples and Davis Love are aging gracefully as they walk around The Broadmoor for this week's U.S. Senior Open.

The Fried Egg offers an aerial view of Inverness, post tree-removal, bunker remodeling and overall effort to put as much Ross back into an American classic.

Quite the championship test. Inverness has got its Ross soul back.

A post shared by the fried egg (@fried_egg_golf) on