The Asia-Pacific Amateur Is This Week In...The Middle East

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There are a couple of ways to think about this week’s Asia-Pacific Amateur turning up in Dubai with a Masters invitation going to the winner.

It’s a fine opportunity to pull out a globe and see how the Asia-Pacific region you (thought you) knew is now incorporating the Middle East. This was news to me even if the venue, Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, is technically in Asia. Th course was only announced in late July and presumably selected due to COVID restrictions in much of the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia.

But more importantly, this selection puts some of golf’s leaders within a very short flight of Riyadh. It’s home to the Public Investment Fund of Saudia Arabia, now proud benefactors of some Asian Tour events and, as we presumably will find out soon, a global golf tour for superstars headed by Greg Norman.

The only bummer with this glorious coincidence of scheduling as the Five Families mull the ramifications of a disruptor golf tour? The fund’s head, Yasir bin Othman Al-Rumayyan, had to sit out last week’s conference celebrating all thing public investment under mysterious circumstances. But the Crown Prince turned up, so they’ve got that going for them. Both Reuters and the New York Times say it was a COVID positive test for Al Rumayyan and not unabashed excitement over landing Norman as Commish.

So no meetings with the possible head of a new Family in golf. This week anyway. .

For more on the Asia-Pacific Amateur, check out the official website. I’ll post official broadcast times when made available.

Major(s) News And Notes, October 28th, 2021

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Time for the Masters to rethink PGA Tour winner invites? Plus, Faldo opens up about the '08 Ryder Cup (paging Dr Freud!), charges are filed in the massive U.S. Open ticket scam, and random good reads topped off by a shot at the hapless Rob Manfred. No, we don’t forgive or forget out here in Blue Heaven.

Of course this cookie and pop-up free read would already be in your inbox if you’d subscribed…and as always, thank you to those who have subscribed. I believe you’ll confirm that joining the Quadrilateral doesn’t get you added to any unwanted mailing lists (or any) and might even be worth a few bucks to keep the coverage coming.

Quadrilateral: Major(s) News And Notes, October 21, 2021

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It’s a long one for this week’s free Quadrilateral with a wide range of topics covering the major championship spectrum. So sign on up if you haven’t already.

Today I’m wrapping up the 46-inch local rule ramifications with a succinct statement about what went down and what’s next. Plus, an array of venue news and notes, a new golf film about the 1976 Open's rogue qualifier, another post-op Augusta aerial, Reads and a couple of podcasts to put in the queue.

Here’s more on The Quadrilateral, though as the year ends I’ll be updating the explanatory site in anticipation of evolving the newsletter in 2022. The current price you pay is the one you keep so if you’re tempted this is the time to sign up.

Quadrilateral: Major(s) News & Notes: August 19th, 2021

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Shirtless Shark Says Mother Nature Was "Good To Me", Deletes Nude Shower Shot At Sirius' Request

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Always great to hear Greg Norman singing the praises of the job Florida’s doing with COVID-19 as the state deals with a COVID surge. Oh, and the amazing body bequeathed to him by Mother Nature.

Appearing on Australia’s Today Show to plug a new Sydney housing development, the voice of The Masters on Sirius/XM admitted the satellite radio provider asked him to delete a nude shower photo posted just prior to tournament week.

“It’s just who I am!” Norman said to laughing hosts Allison Langdon and Karl Stefanovic. “Aussies are very outgoing people. I’m a very natural person, as you guys can tell. It is what it is and Mother Nature was pretty good to me.”

The Australian, who now resides in Florida, added that an American radio show pleaded with him to delete the photo because they thought that it would be the main news story “all week.”

“I love my outlook on life and it really is not offensive, to be honest with you,” Norman said. “I look after myself. I enjoy working out.”

Indeed, the post was taken down. What an insult to Mother Nature.

If you want to torture yourself, the full interview…

The Quadrilateral: Major(s) News And Notes, July 22, 2021

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This week’s major notes open to all analyze NBC’s ratings (and tiny streaming numbers), the Ryder Cup teams if the matches were this week, and fresh photos of Augusta’s summer work.

You know the drill by now: the Quadrilateral is free at least once a week, but to ensure you get all editions, access to past issues and the chance to opine on a dignified message board, you can upgrade without ever facing a membership committee.

A New Tee On Augusta National's 505-Yard Par-4 11th?

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Eureka Earth has posted another photo of the major work taking place to sand-cap and update Augusta National, with the latest view showing what appears to be the start of a new back tee at the 11th hole (very upper right corner of Eureka’s image).

Currently 505 yards, a more cynical mind might conclude the club is not expecting a distance rollback any time soon.

Another View Of Changes To Augusta National's 11th

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Looks like two trees remain judging by the well around them and the sand-capping work happening on the rest of the hole. Certainly progress in terms of restoring the old hole width and likely to produce some daring recovery shots. Not as far as some would go but this is exciting!

They're Just Doing All Sorts Of Things Down At Augusta National, Big Changes Coming To 11 And 15?

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Eureka Earth has posted new images of work taking place that could have a huge impact on future Masters.

First off, it would appear the long-term thoughts of a back tee on 13 remain alive and well, as some tree planting work appears to be going on with the long term in mind:

But the big ticket item: what appears to be a new back tee on the 15th hole based on the long platform extending into the 11th. Plus lots of sandcapping work elsewhere in the vicinity, including possibly around the 14th green.

The 11th tee shot will be impacted by this new tee, but barring new plantings or old ones coming back—it’s Augusta National after all—it looks like there is a dwindling tree population down the right side compared to the 2019 view below. I can’t quite figure out the carry number to get past the clump of pines remaining, but it would appear drives of a certain distance will be met with a much wider landing area.

I’m trying to contain my excitement until we know more but this is…exciting, unless trees are sitting in boxes just out of view.

2019 Google Earth view of the same area:

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