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Issue No. 201 | May 17, 2025 | Read Online
Hey,
I know we have 17,000 readers of this ridiculous newsletter … but we abide by the Blockie School of Thought in that if we had 170,000 readers you would see the really good stuff.
Promise.
Today’s newsletter is presented by Holderness and Bourne, which is perfect no matter the size of your audience. I’m so eager to show you guys what we’re cooking up with Norman on the chest. Possible generational stuff.
And while I’m not sure what to make of this ridiculous leaderboard at Quail Hollow, I do always know what I’m getting from the good folks at H&B. The best fit, best quality, best collars and best material in the game. Every time, no matter which product you choose.
One of my good buddies, who barely plays golf, has been all over me about H&B.
Dude, they have THE best stuff.
Yes! Why do you think I’ve been with them for the last three years?!
OK, now onto the news.
1. Given the state of this leaderboard (still), I was trying to think of all the templates that excite me most when it comes to major winners.
I have wanted to make this list for a long time, and this is what I came up with in order of the type of major winner I most look forward to seeing to the one I look forward to least.
1. The Legend: These are your Brooks’, Rorys and Phils. The four, five, six, or more club who are only adding to resumes that fell out of the annals.
2. The Kid: Think Spieth in 2014 or 2015 at ANGC. He was 20 the first time and 21 the second. Anything — literally anything — is possible when you win a Masters at 21. The term “a body you can dream on” was a memorable quote used in Moneyball that I remember. This is more “a Wikipedia page you can dream on,” but same concept applies.
3. The Last Stand: Phil at Kiawah, Tiger at the Masters, Ernie at Lytham (kinda): These are legends who are on the back side of it but find the slot one final time. These are wild, wild majors. Almost not believable.
4. The Vet: This is Stenson in 2016. Somebody who has been around for a long time, somebody you’re familiar with, who has been in your life forever and has been in and around majors and team events but has never won a big one despite winning a lot elsewhere in the world. Stew Cink in 2009. Darren Clarke in 2011. Francesco in 2018. Sergio in 2017. These are almost always joyous times even if they aren’t necessarily the greatest champions. It’s easy to feel good about these wins.
5. The 1.5-Major Guy: Think Rose at Merion or Adam Scott at ANGC. Jason Day at Whistling Straits. DJ at Oakmont. Rahm might be in here. He also might be in category No. 1. Time will tell. These are wins that happen in the middle of somebody’s career that make sense and could lead to more later on. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t win a second major, but the over/under for these guys is 1.5, and you’re taking the over.
6. The One-Major Guy: Very similar to the 1.5, but guys you’re taking the under on if given that number. Lowry, Reed, Woodland and Cam Smith. Those types of guys. Could they win two majors? Sure. But you know in the moment they probably won’t, which is what makes that particular major win so special.
7. The Unknown: These are rare and more desirable than the last category even if they are similar at face value. Think Todd Hamilton or John Daly. Just so strange and from out of nowhere that they are wildly celebrated as extraordinary feats of achievement.
8. The NPC: Players who are too old to be The Kid and too young to be The Vet. Too familiar to be The Unknown and not good enough to be The One-Major Guy because NPCs have no real shot at a second. These are the worst major wins, in my opinion. Danny Willett, Mike Weir, Charl Schwartzel. If Alex Smalley or Ryan Gerard wins this week, it would go in this category.
2. Max was so good in his presser after shooting 64. It’s difficult to pick just one quote, but I’ll go with this one.
It's been difficult because I felt like I was so broken, and whatever the swing change was going to be was going to be some grand thing, like something I've never done before.
Max Homa | 2025 PGA
My partner in crime on this newsletter — Jason Page — likes to use the phrase, simple is hard, but simple works. And that applies here. I think it’s sometimes shocking to hear world class golfers who are unable to figure out how to simplify their jobs … and then I look at the 89 tabs I have open in my browser and … yeah.
When things are going poorly in any profession, the answer that feels the best is always a complete overhaul. But the answer that is the best — but also the toughest because of the humility and discipline it requires — is usually a reduction to simplicity.
Will Mr. Rake lead us to golf’s first major winner who signs his full last name to mark his ball?
3. Very normal sport that a rake affected a $20 million (or whatever it is) tournament.
J. Vegas blockied one on the par 3 17th, but it slammed off a rake and rolled to the middle of the green where he made a par.
It’s like the old Jordan-Bird McDonald’s commercial … but if they did it in the NBA Finals.
Normal stuff.
This post will continue below for Normal Club members, and it will include some thoughts on the following …
• More weird major leaderboards I found.
• An amazing in-studio moment from Friday.
• Scottie’s path to victory.
If you aren’t yet a Normal Club member, you can sign up right here.
If you are, keep reading!
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Normal Sport is exploratory, ometimes emotional, always entertaining. It also has one of my favorite writers in the biz at its foundation.
Kyle is the best columnist in sports. That he has channeled those talents through strokes gained and Spieth memes is a blessing to golf.
Kyle is one of the best in the golf world at finding and synthesizing the absurd, the thoughtful and the fun things that make being a golf fan worthwhile.
Few make the sport feel as fun and as thought provoking.
Kyle sees golf in a way that no one else does—and we're all fortunate to get to share in that view through Normal Sport!
Kyle approaches coverage of the game with both conviction and curiosity
It's a treasure trove of the important, the seemingly important, and — importantly! — the unimportant stuff. It's an asset in my inbox.
The way Kyle has been able to mold a silly Twitter joke (normal sport) into a must-read newsletter on the weekly happenings in our silly game gives a great look into why he's one of the smartest people in golf.
I’ve always enjoyed your love for golf. So often I see favoritism showed to golfers in the social media world, but I enjoy reading you telling a situation how it is regardless of the person.
Kyle's content is a product of a sick sense of humour, a clear passion for golf and unquestionable dedication to hard work. That's not normal!
There’s been no one else in golf that has tickled my funny bone as often as Kyle Porter does. He’s been instrumental in ushering in a new era of golf coverage and it’s been a pleasure to be along for the ride in that.
Kyle is a perfect curator of the necessary moments of levity that accent a sport that will drive most of us insane.
