On Sunday night, after the conclusion of the Genesis Invitational, PGA Tour player Adam Schenk took to X to complain about Riviera Country Club’s difficult par 3 fourth hole.

?.?? Riv but #4 is terrible. Can get behind 10 bc so entertaining & adds value. 17 fun/fair holes & hole 4? @TigerWoods Ask them, no tell them to grow poana short of 4 for the left 2/3 of green rewarding good shots & keep current grass short on right 1/3 of green ??????? https://t.co/Pcya3GQWYy

— Adam Schenk (@acschenk1) February 19, 2024

Schenk isn’t alone in thinking that the fourth hole at Riv is too demanding, but there are also plenty of players and fans who love the hole.

Ben Hogan called the hole “The greatest par-3 hole in America.”

Smylie Kaufman also said that he believes the hole is more about luck than skill.

I grit my teeth every time the 4th hole at Riviera CC comes on. @ColtKnost mentioned yesterday 16% of players found the green in regulation last year (I believe was the stat). I’m all for challenging the players but the hole doesn’t reward great shots. It rewards a lucky bounce

— Smylie Kaufman (@SmylieKaufman10) February 18, 2024

Ultimately, there is a fine line between challenging and unfair, and the 4th at Riviera will continue to generate mixed opinions on which category it falls under.

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On Monday, Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee took to social media to discuss Scottie Scheffler’s putting stroke, referencing the banning of “anchoring” in the process.

The USGA and R&A made anchoring illegal beginning in 2016 because the fulcrum established when one anchors simplifies the putting stroke such that one can merely let gravity return the putter to the ball. BUT one can legally simulate an anchored putting stroke by letting the… pic.twitter.com/HzHzohWZer

— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) February 19, 2024

“The USGA and R&A made anchoring illegal beginning in 2016 because the fulcrum established when one anchors simplifies the putting stroke such that one can merely let gravity return the putter to the ball. BUT one can legally simulate an anchored putting stroke by letting the putter head move substantially more than the handle and most of the best putters throughout history have done this.”

“So when I look at Scottie Scheffler continue to struggle with his putting (he was dead last in SG Putting amongst those that made the cut at Genesis) I wonder why he simply doesn’t try to get more flow and take the wooden look of dragging the handle out of his stroke. Compare the degree to which Scheffler drags the handle as opposed to some of the best putters of all time in the pictures below.”

Brandel then posted by side-by-side pictures comparing Scottie’s strokes to some of the game’s great putters of the past.

Also, when one drags the handle there is a sense in transition that one needs to create speed, so the grip pressure changes and the path of the putter is susceptible to deviations that it wouldn’t be if the player felt like all he or she had to do was drop the putter on the ball.… pic.twitter.com/1y0f8QvDx1

— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) February 19, 2024

Chamblee then posted a video of why he believes Scheffler is more prone to having “heel strikes” in his putting stroke.

Scheffler finished 10th at the Genesis Invitational where he lost 4.4 strokes putting.

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On Sunday at Riviera, Hideki Matsuyama shot one of the most impressive rounds in the history of the event (check out Matsuyama’s winning WITB here).

The Japanese star was six shots back of Patrick Cantlay to begin his final round with a handful of very good players ahead of him as well. Matsuyama went on to shoot 62 and won the event by an unthinkable three shots. During the round, Hideki made a few incredible shots including a dart on the par-4th 15th to less than a foot.

HIDEKI NEARLY EAGLES 15? pic.twitter.com/jzTFV8wrS1

— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) February 18, 2024

After the round, Matsuyama spoke to Golf on CBS’ Amanda Renner via a translator about the round. Inexplicably, the 2021 Masters Champion said he felt like he shot 3 over par on the day.

Hideki says he feels like he shot 3 over par today ? @thegenesisinv pic.twitter.com/8Q3cdePqcc

— Golf on CBS ? (@GolfonCBS) February 19, 2024

Renner seemed shocked by the comment and took to X later to share her thoughts.

My chill here was… zero. https://t.co/zBfh8n51BU

— Amanda Balionis Renner (@Amanda_Balionis) February 19, 2024

“My chill here was… zero,” she said.

Hideki is truly one of a kind!

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