Schupak: Why a WD edged out playing Seminole, Jordan’s resurrection and Phil’s major moment at 50 as the highlight of my year

The highlight of my year was a WD.

I had to withdraw from covering the Players Championship on the morning of the first round when my wife went into labor. Norah Elayne Schupak said hello world at 5:39 a.m. on March 12, and she’s already been to the Valspar Championship, witnessed Phil Mickelson win the PGA Championship at Kiawah, and took her first ferry ride to Liberty National for the Northern Trust. We’ve already applied for her passport so she can fly across the pond for her first British Open at the Old Course in July.

The nine months since I missed seeing Justin Thomas carve up TPC Sawgrass in person has been a whirlwind and it’s hard to remember my life before changing diapers. But there were a few moments from the golf season that were unforgettable. Let’s begin on the Golf Channel set at the Waste Management Phoenix Open where I interviewed Brandel Chamblee and asked him the following question: Who gets back into the winner’s circle first: Justin Rose, Jason Day, or Jordan Spieth?

Chamblee’s response included this bulletin board material for The Golden Child: “Spieth is headed into oblivion,” Chamblee said. “That’s hard to turn that ship around.”

“Headed into oblivion” were words that nearly knocked me from my chair so I asked a follow-up question to which Chamblee elaborated. You can read his response and the full Q&A here. A matter of hours later Spieth teed off and shot the first of a pair of 67s. But it was Saturday’s magical third-round 61 in the desert that was my favorite round of the year and the ultimate middle finger to Chamblee. It was a hot-tub time machine moment back to when Jordan could seemingly do no wrong. Limited fans were in attendance but the cheers when he drained a pair of birdie putts of more than 30 feet at 16 and 17 made the hair stand on the back of my neck.

Spieth didn’t close the deal on Sunday, but he’d presented real proof that he was rising again like a Phoenix in Phoenix. I knew then that it was just a matter of time before he would end his winless drought (and he did in early April at the Valero Texas Open). The PGA Tour is simply a better product with Jordan doing Jordan things again.

In late April, I was one of the few reporters that stuck around to talk to Phil Mickelson after he missed the cut late on Friday at the Valspar Championship. He complained about a lack of concentration and blamed cell phones ringing and cameramen moving for his inability to focus. His frustration was visible and he had more questions than answers about his game. Less than a week later, he fired 64 to lead the Wells Fargo Championship, but that proved to be a mirage as he stumbled to a 69^th-place finish. So, of course, he won the PGA Championship at Kiawah the following week.

What will Phil do next?
#PGAChamp @PGAChampionship pic.twitter.com/2wUjPjyruS

— Darren Carroll (@dcarrollphoto) May 23, 2021

Golf, what a crazy game! I was standing not too far from Lefty when the photo of the year was snapped (pictured above) and I was sitting greenside when he holed his bunker shot for birdie at the fifth. I wondered if that signature shot happened too early in the round but Mickelson seemed to gain confidence and the fans willed him to an improbable victory, his sixth major, at age 50.

This was the first tournament that had a pre-COVID vibe and the swarm of fans was most evident at 18, where the PGA lost control of the situation and it looked as if Mickelson and Brooks Koepka were in the middle of a mosh pit at a concert.

Adam Schupak at Walker Cup media day.

The other lasting memory was more personal and it revolved around the Walker Cup. Media day included the chance for some of us ink-stained wretches to play Seminole Golf Club. Shout out to my wife for granting me the hall pass to tee it up there 17 days after our daughter was born. Justin Thomas warmed up not far from me, before heading out with his dad, Mike, and Rory McIlroy’s dad, Gerry, who enjoys his membership to the fullest, so I’m told. I don’t blame him. Seminole is a course that lives up to the hype. I got to play with my dad,  Golfweek colleague Julie Williams and the reigning U.S. Amateur champ at the time Tyler Strafici. Helluva day despite all the three jacks.

Adam Schupak takes a selfie with childhood chum Ryan Brudner at the 48th Walker Cup.

I’m almost embarrassed to admit this but the 48^th Walker Cup was my first. Put it on your bucket list and try to go soon with this upcoming lineup of venues that is stronger than onions: The Old Course in 2023, Cypress Point in 2025, Bandon Dunes in 2029, and Oakmont in 2033. I’ve already RSVP’ed for the media days! You can walk down the middle of the fairway of these cathedrals of golf alongside the competitors – there’s nothing better. And you never know who’ll you run into there. I literally bumped into my childhood golf rival on Seminole’s 13^th hole. Hadn’t seen him in something like 25 years, but we picked up as if time had stood still. We walked a few holes together, showing pictures of our families and reminiscing. I’ll never forget one thing he said to me: “I had a feeling I might see you here.”

That’s what I love about golf: it brings people together. And I love that all these years later I’m still every bit as passionate about this game and still get to play a small but consequential role as one of its storytellers. Here’s to pars and birdies only in the New Year.