HBO’s White Lotus.
HBO
Welcome again to the Monday End, the place we’re handing out money as an alternative of sweet to trick-or-treaters in honor of LIV’s season finale. Let’s get to it!
Season 2 of White Lotus debuted Sunday evening on HBO, however the present’s enduring legacy is already cemented: For a minimum of the following decade, White Lotus will make Individuals barely anxious on trip.
The opening scene of the primary season, set on a resort in Hawaii, felt significantly related as I touched down in French Polynesia final week. (Shoutout to my Seattle homies — moderately priced direct flights to Tahiti now accessible!) My spouse Emily and I had been there celebrating our one-year anniversary, and though this job affords me loads of cool journey, this was the primary time I’d ever actually achieved the island-resort-stay factor. And as we arrived at our lodge by way of water-taxi, welcomed by a small group of waving Hilton staff, that’s the place my thoughts went: Season 1, Episode 1 of White Lotus, when lodge supervisor Armond (suppose Ian Baker-Finch with a mustache) and a gaggle of smiling staffers line as much as greet a brand new group of visitors. I couldn’t assist however wince.
Season 1, in any case, turned out to be a present about monsters. Monsters who insist they booked the Pineapple Suite. Monsters who name their moms and their journey brokers to get their means. Monsters who take full benefit of staff’ place within the guest-staffer dynamic. A lot of the characters within the present have some monster in them, and — if the premiere was any indication — Season 2 may have its share of monsters, too. As I arrived, I instantly if I might inevitably develop into a monster too. By Day 3 would I be sloshing my empty drink on the wait employees patrolling the seaside, grunting for a refill whereas staff muttered about me behind the bar?
And we did witness just a few new monsters on our trip. Condescending monsters. Demanding monsters. Hey-take-my-Instagram monsters. Good-lord-you’re-drunk-for-1-p.m. monsters. However we’d arrived with fairly easy targets — to see some fish, to catch some rays, to drink some fruity cocktails, to sluggish life down — and located these simply and delightfully completed. There have been some improvements I’d by no means considered (bean-bag chairs on the seaside and private tongs for the breakfast buffet had been two favorites). It was a dreamy week. Our hosts had been pleasant to speak to, interested by our world and wanting to share theirs. There was loads of magic to share.
Should you’re asking your self, how does this tie again to golf? It ties on to golf! Loads of golf programs are elements of resorts, and even people who aren’t stay firmly within the service trade. They operate due to their valets and cart-washers and bartenders and caddies. These are typically good, attention-grabbing people who find themselves keen so that you can have a superb time. And but there are monsters who play at each fancy golf course.
The 9 most egregious etiquette errors, ranked!
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However we had been quickly reminded that being an inexpensive resort visitor, like being a good golf course patron, is definitely an exceptionally low bar to clear. Each worker is completely different, in fact; some like to talk, gaining power out of your interactions, whereas others favor to maintain knowledgeable distance. However each particular person within the service trade likes to be handled like an individual. And the way tough is it to be well mannered on trip, with each affordable need at your fingertips? In different phrases, I believe White Lotus — and the accompanying nervousness of being an American vacationer — really has a easy, helpful lesson for golfers all over the place: Simply don’t be a monster.
(Value noting, although, that trip monsters don’t often appear to appreciate that’s what they’re. So it’s nonetheless attainable I used to be one anyway.)
GOLF’S WINNERS
What I missed.
It’s powerful, by definition, for me to know precisely what I missed, however right here’s what I collect occurred within the golf world the final couple weeks.
Rory McIlroy’s again at No. 1.
This because of his win eventually week’s CJ Cup, the place McIlroy out-dueled Jon Rahm and a star-studded subject down the stretch in what will need to have been the PGA Tour’s greatest occasion of the autumn season. It is smart that McIlroy sits at No. 1; he’s been on a run of ridiculously constant golf together with wins on the Canadian Open, Tour Championship and CJ Cup. It might simply really feel that rather more satisfying for McIlroy’s to return to No. 1 had he gained one among his 4 main championship top-10s this 12 months.
Rory McIlroy on the CJ Cup.
Getty Photographs
Scottie Scheffler falls from No. 1.
With each motion comes an reverse response, and it’s price tipping our cap to Scheffler for his run on the high. It was simply this spring when he capped off 4 wins in six begins with a victory on the Masters, in any case. Hell of a heater.
Jin Younger Ko falls from No. 1.
I did a double-take looking final week’s leaderboard: Jin Younger Ko shot 80-79-WD?! Ko was enjoying the BMW Women Championship Korea, her first begin since August, however she’s nonetheless battling a wrist harm. Ko had held the No. 1 spot on-and-off since April 2019 and has accrued 152 whole weeks on the high spot, closing in on Lorena Ochoa’s all-time document of 158.
Atthaya Thitikul’s made it to No. 1.
Right here’s the blissful facet of the story: Thitikul, 19 and an LPGA rookie, is the second teenager to hit world No. 1, becoming a member of 17-year-old Lydia Ko, who completed the feat in 2015. Thitikul has gained twice this season and her ascent has been as swift because it has spectacular. (She’s hardly brand-new on the scene, although: Thitikul’s first LET win got here at age 14.)
LIV pulled off a workforce occasion.
I’ll go away the insights on the specifics of LIV’s Miami occasion to in-house skilled Sean Zak, who was there. Nevertheless it’s clear that LIV pulled off the mega-millions occasion they’d deliberate for all season, distributing an entire boatload of money within the course of. YouTube views had been unimpressive, persevering with a downward late-season development. However that was to be anticipated throughout soccer season, and whereas restricted curiosity looks like a strike in opposition to LIV, it may not be fairly so easy. It is a lengthy runway. Talking of which…
LIV has income plans.
LIV shared it plans with media for the primary time, and the franchise factor is occurring. We now have captain-owners with 25% fairness, groups with uniforms, re-brands, trainers, salaried staff, merchandise and so forth. They are saying they continue to be in talks with broadcast companions and so they’ll dodge issues like main championships and the NFL season. It’s nonetheless not fairly clear the place LIV’s dream for the longer term meets with actuality — however time will inform.
Seamus Energy is a winner.
Bermuda is an extremely cool place to go on trip and really a fairly cool place to carry a golf event, too. It wasn’t one of many PGA Tour’s beefier fields, to place it mildly. However Seamus Energy was a worthy winner, transferring to No. 32 within the course of.
Lydia Ko’s altering coaches.
It’s Teaching Carousel Szn, and whereas it’s shocking to see Ko and Sean Foley cut up after a profitable two-year partnership, high-profile teaching modifications have been an everyday a part of Ko’s profession. Issues appear amicable; Ko wrote on Instagram that it was for “logistical causes.” Will probably be attention-grabbing to see who coaches her subsequent — and what that appears like.
It’s Hoodie Szn.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that Radmor, arguably the best attire model in golf, simply dropped its fall line. It’s actually, actually good. And yeah, they sponsor our Drop Zone podcast, so that is very a lot a biased view, however I legitimately consider it. Anyway, code DROPZONE at checkout will rating you 25 % off at checkout. (Take a peek at that Perkins Birch crewneck.)
WHAT’S NEXT
3 issues to look at this week.
Viktor Hovland’s protection.
Our Resort Golf King is gunning for a three-peat at Mayakoba. This man’s golf sport travels — recall that he owns the bottom rating at one of many northernmost programs on this planet.
Thitikul on the throne.
Atthaya Thitikul sits at World No. 1, and her first efficiency in that spot comes at this week’s Toto Japan Traditional. It’s a powerful subject as LPGA execs gun for late-season CME Globe factors, with Danielle Kang, Minjee Lee and Nasa Hataoka among the many huge names in attendance.
Vacation spot Golf.
We performed subsequent 12 months’s Open Championship course Royal Liverpool. I hit some good pictures in addition to one of many coldest shanks in my time on this planet. Right here’s how that went down:
