First World COVID-19 Dilemma: Should TV Help Find Lost Balls?

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Twice during the Sky Sports/Golf Channel telecast of the Aberdeen Standard Scottish Open (at least that I saw) Lee Westwood was aided by television sharing the approximate coordinates of a lost ball. Both were found.

This prompted a tweet from European Legends Tour player David Shacklady that generated a wide variety of replies:

I didn’t think much of the assistance because television is part of the competition in so many different ways. Plus, only those devoid of a heart want to see an avoidable lost ball. (Though many commenters expressed delight in pros experiencing what we mere mortals go through.)

Since the fan-free return, Brooks Koepka predicted lost balls earlier this year and we did see two consequential ones created by Winged Foot’s rough. But this situation was different:

A) This is the most linksy course professional golf has visited since the restart, with lost balls more easily found due to the variety of grasses and other odd landmarks. (One of Westwood’s lost balls came down near some yellow wildflowers and a tree stump, which the Sky team relayed to the on-course reporter).

B) There was a view that one player, a likable veteran, received assistance because he’s a likable veteran, while another leader did not earn similar treatment. While happenstance is mostly likely the culprit, the inequitable treatment had a fair share demanding that television stay out of the proceedings in the name of fairness.

I don’t believe this is a Rules issue as much as it’s a philosophic question of what role should television play? With betting projected to become a prime revenue source and the fan based connected to the proceedings via capital, these weird little first world dilemmas take on a different edge with outside money on the line. We already know how upset viewers get when they perceive a slight when tallying up shots shown, so imagine if one player is seemingly helped more than another?

This topic may be moot when spectators return and any television assistance will return to its former role as the equivalent of fans identifying where a ball went. But for a while attendance will be light, cameras will still roll and I suspect, there will be a randomness to lost balls identified with the help of television.

Rai Edges Fleetwood In Scottish Open Playoff, Future Venues And LET Synergy TBD

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A week after a second place finish in the Irish Open, Aaron Rai took his first Rolex Series event and third European Tour victory at the historic Scottish Open. The 25-year-old Englishman made a handy up-and-down on the first playoff hole to edge Tommy Fleetwood, who missed a few key short putts, including on the Renaissance Club’s 18th green.

Martin Dempster with the full story for The Scotsman.

Here is the ending courtesy of the European Tour as autumnal light emerged and made for a rewarding finish:

One other fun note: both Rai and Fleetwood have participated in Gullane’s Wee Wonders program, started by their longtime pro Alasdair Good. Rai finished in the top ten of the 2018 Scottish just down the street at Gullane:

As for the future, Dempster reports on Martin Gilbert’s final state-of-the-Scottish as he retires from Aberdeen Standard and moves to a European Tour board role.

Gilbert says the four-year experiment of visiting the same course for both men’s and women’s Scottish Opens has not paid the hoped-for financial dividends and is likely to end.

Gilbert also hopes to see the event pursue Carnoustie or another top flight links while hoping the women visit a top-flight course perhaps no longer relevant in the men’s game.

Under Peter Dawson's reign as the R&A chief executive, the European Tour were told that Open Championship venues were off limits for the Scottish Open, but Gilbert is ready to test the water on that with Martin Slumbers.

"It would be fantastic," he said. "You would love to go to Carnoustie and St Andrews, though I don't know you'd ever get St Andrews. We'd also love to go back to the west coast as well at some stage. It's finding a course of the right calibre."

Asked if the plan was to keep the event on a links course, he added: It's obviously a decision between the Scottish Government, Aberdeen Standard Investments and the European Tour, but I'd say so.

"It's become a success since we moved it to a links course and I saw a video of players being asked about their favourite courses in Scotland and they were all links courses apart from one. I said to myself, 'that just shows'.”

What Can Golf Take From NASCAR's Schedule Shakeup?

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This AP story looks at the huge change in NASCAR’s 2021 move away from a schedule dominated by “cookie-cutter oval tracks” to a mixture. This includes six road course races and one dirt track race.

While professional golf sees a pretty solid variety of courses, a case could be made that the schedule’s almost complete reliance on 72 holes of stroke play is the NASCAR equivalent of cookie-cutter ovals.

From the story:

It is a true shakeup after a lack of imagination created the most predictable schedule in sports, one that favored new speedways — 1.5-mile ovals that not only all looked the same, but raced the same, too. Not since Indianapolis Motor Speedway was added in 1994 had a Cup race been awarded to a track that was not part of an ownership group for an active speedway.

NASCAR set aside all the old ways of doing business.

“We said back in 2019 ... 2021, you were going to see some really bold changes from NASCAR,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s executive vice president. “We believe we’ve delivered on that. We are excited for our fans, it’s an historic schedule, the most changes since 1969.”

With obvious support of its TV partners at FOX and NBC, conservative NASCAR is shaking things up despite having stabilized ratings. It may simply be a result of upstart interests hoping to start new circuits emphasizing driving skill over technology. But even the most unimaginative executive on the planet has to know a weekly sameness does not make for great TV.

While the European Tour has been more experimental with formats in better times, the PGA Tour has struggled to find different formats that work or that simply rekindle a long-missed event (the male-female JC Penney mixed team, for instance).

In the face of a possible competitor(s) equivalent to those NASCAR is facing—the Premier Golf League’s 54-hole, shotgun start, team component—it would seem like there is no better time for golf tours to read the room and at the very least, watch NASCAR’s moves closely. Four rounds of Thursday to Sunday stroke play works for the big events, but so many others should be considering something less cookie-cutter.

Lawrie Calling It A Playing Career: "I'm kind of almost pleased that I'm 51 and not 22 the way it's going."

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Scotland’s Paul Lawrie is calling it a playing career at this week’s Aberdeen Standard Investment’s Scottish Open but plans to continue what has already been one of the more impressive off-course careers. From his Aberdeen golf center, his foundation, this summer’s Tartan Pro Tour and managing five players, the 51-year-old former Open Champion has already carved out multiple off-course roles.

From a BBC story at Renaissance Club, host of this week’s rescheduled Scottish Open:

"To have played 620 events is not a bad innings considering I turned pro [in 1986] with a five handicap and didn't think I'd play any," he added. "I haven't been a great player, but I've been decent and that's all you can ask for.

"I'm kind of almost pleased that I'm 51 and not 22 the way it's going. Technology has been unbelievable. My body is in bits and I'm still hitting it the same distance as I did when I was 22."

Oh he’s so modest. Those hours in the gym have done it! Come on, you know it Paul.

This short but enjoyable Sky video interview with Lawrie adds a bit more context to his retirement announcement.

Mooooo! Irish Open's Only Spectators Resist Social Distancing, Masks

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Great stuff from the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open today—if you look past he lack of distancing and facial covering apparently just off the 14th hole at Galgorm Resort and Spa. Aaron Rai leads heading into the final round.

But the scenes just off the course got most of the broadcasters and social media attention Saturday, and why not:

Off The Clock: Longtime Euro Tour Rules Officials Paramor And McFee Retiring After BMW PGA

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Two legends of the rules world are about to turn in their walkie talkies and conspicuously stalk their last slow poke. The European Tour announced the joint retirement of John Paramor and Andy McFee this October.

For Immediate Release:

END OF AN ERA BECKONS AS PARAMOR AND McFEE CALL TIME

The world of professional golf will witness the end of an era in October when John Paramor and Andy McFee, the two most celebrated and respected rules officials in the game worldwide, call time on their storied careers.

In total the duo have administered the rules of the game on the fairways of the world for over 80 years, John (65) having started with the European Tour in April 1976 while Andy (62) saw his time with the Tour begin in September 1983. 

But both have decided that the time is now right to step down. Their final event together will be this year’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club from October 8-11, the tournament taking place, fittingly, in the shadow of the European Tour headquarters itself.

In recognition of the impact they have had on the game of golf, the European Tour recently invited the pair to reminisce about their careers in a fascinating face-to-face discussion.

The topics covered ranged from how they got into refereeing in the first place to what being a European Tour referee actually entails. They also touched on their interactions with the greats of the game such as Seve Ballesteros, Ernie Els and José María Olazábal, and also with a certain golf-mad US President!

Typically modest about their many achievements over the years, the duo, instead, preferred to offer an opinion on each other.

“The great thing about Andy is that if I have a problem and I simply cannot see a way through it, I know I can ring him and he will be able to find a way,” said John.

“The word I would use about John is gravitas,” said Andy. “He has empathy with the players and he is honest and fair. When John Paramor speaks about the rules of golf, people listen.”

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “The word ‘legend’ is sometimes used too often in sport but in terms of golf, and the administration of the rules of our sport, it is the perfect word to describe both John Paramor and Andy McFee.

“They are rightly recognised for being the best in the business and have represented the European Tour with honour and distinction across the world for decades, bringing professionalism and integrity to the role not only inside the ropes, but also outside them in the important work they have undertaken with the R&A and the USGA to constantly develop and modernise golf’s rule book.

“I am convinced that neither John nor Andy will be lost to the game for good but, at this time, I join with everyone at the European Tour, to wish them both all the very best for the future.”

 

The two conducted this most enjoyable discussion posted on YouTube:

R.I.P. Kate Wright

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Knowing how heartbroken so many with the European Tour must be, I can only say that Kate Wright was one of the great friends to golf media members and players. Maybe you weren’t so sure upon meeting her but in time you quickly appreciated Kate’s wit, brains and efficiency at running what is, essentially an adult day care center. AKA a media center.

Her tragic passing at 36 from cancer was noted in this lovely European Tour write-up, and while nothing about losing such a young, valued member of the golf world and planet earth can be spun in a positive light, I did get a nice smile imaging her getting coaching from Poulter. What a scene that must have been:

As the Tour’s Media Relations Co-ordinator for the past 12 years, Kate was a hugely popular figure amongst staff and players, but also amongst the journalists and broadcasters she worked with in media centres around the world.

Known affectionately as ‘Wrighty’, Kate was an accomplished golfer at Leighton Buzzard Golf Club, in Bedfordshire, England, where she was coached as a youngster by future Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter.

After graduating from Staffordshire University with a BA Hons in Journalism, Kate initially worked in cricket, another sport she had a passion for, taking the role of Media Relations Assistant for England & Wales Cricket Board in 2006 before joining the European Tour’s Media Department in January 2008.

She quickly became a familiar and popular face in Media Centres as the main point of contact for all accredited international media and broadcasters and, through her role, helping to co-ordinate European Tour press conferences.

Kate passed away at her family home in Great Brickhill with parents Brian and Sue and her cat Frankie at her side.

She will be missed in so many ways and for those visiting from afar, the European Tour will never be quite the same without Kate. From her boss and friend, Scott Crockett:

“While we all feel a sense of loss right now, it is incomparable to what her dad Brian and mum Sue are going through. It goes without saying our hearts go out to them and that the thoughts of everyone at the European Tour who knew Kate and worked with her over the years are with them now. RIP Wrighty.”

Some of the tributes, starting with Tommy Fleetwood, naturally:

European Tour Confirms October Scottish Open, BMW PGA

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While the Alfred Dunhill Links is cancelled this year due to its pro-am format and COVID-19, the European Tour has scheduled two of its Rolex events for early October: The Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in Gullane, and the BMW PGA at Wentworth. The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Galgorm resort precedes.

Both events are listed as $7 million purses.

Better Than Most: A Wealth Of Golf Offerings This August Sunday!

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I’ll admit it’s the links golf. Deprived of a proper links season, we have an epic day ahead this Sunday book-ended by links golf (and yes purists, I’m aware neither is technically a links).

I know I don’t have to tell you about the Wyndham Rewards runner-up race and Playoff(C) ramifications Sunday at soggy Sedgefield. Frankly, I just don’t want to add any stress in your life.

So let’s focus on the “other” golf. In the pandemic era this one is set up to be a doozy.

If you’re up at 5 am ET, Golf Channel will have the European Tour finale where a 2017 Walker Cupper, Conor Syme, leads a teammate, Sam Horsfield. Beef, now comfortable playing in a COVID-19 world, is lurking.

Easily the most compelling Sunday leaderboard can be found at a firmer, faster Renaissance Club in lovely Gullane, and other than the creepy Aberdeen Standard adverts on the tees, the final round on Golf Channel runs from 7-11 am ET.

Azahara Munoz leads links-lover Stacy Lewis by one, and Jennifer Song by two. Lydia Ko and Cheyenne Knight are a stroke farther behind.

The women’s Scottish Open is the precursor to next week’s AIG Women’s Open Championship at Royal Troon.

That’s followed by the Senior Players at Firestone where Jerry Kelly leads.

Then, the cherry on our Sunday sundae is the 2020 U.S. Amateur from glorious Bandon Dunes. Sunday’s semi’s played out in the late light, with firm, fast conditions that could not have been more spectacular to soak up.

Tyler Strafaci takes on Charles Osborne in the NCAA Summer Match Play, aka America’s oldest championship, the U.S. Amateur.

Here’s a “Tale of the Tape” on the two finalists.

Saturday’s semis included some drama, from another rules situation, some intriguing match play tactics and either really poor manners or lame gamesmanship. Either way, Aman Gupta’s dreadful pace of play had already won him few fans.

The deer were a bit surprised one match made it to the end.

Coverage begins at 7 pm ET on Golf Channel.

European Tour Is Not Messing Around, Files: American John Catlin DQ'd For Dining Outide The Bubble

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This week’s English Championship on the European Tour will be minus world No. 242 John Catlin and his caddie after the two dined out Tuesday night.

From Ewan Murray’s Guardian report on the strict bubble and consequences for a violation in Europe.

Catlin said: “I apologise to my fellow players and everyone involved with the tournament this week for this error of judgement. I understand the European Tour’s decision and accept the sanction.”

Catlin will be replaced in the tournament by South African Wilco Nienaber.       

Among the other elements in this story noted by Murray: Catlin played last week and was familiar with the “bubble” policies.

Not noted but I can say as a fellow countryman: of course it was an American who couldn’t obey the bubble rules.

The full European Tour statement:

The European Tour has withdrawn American John Catlin and his caddie Nathan Mulrooney from this week’s English Championship at Hanbury Manor following a breach of its Covid-19 protocol.
The duo visited a local restaurant on the evening of Tuesday August 4 outside the tournament bubble, hence compromising the Tour’s health guidelines, and were withdrawn from the tournament with immediate effect as a result.

Catlin said: “I apologise to my fellow players and everyone involved with the tournament this week for this error of judgement. I understand the European Tour’s decision and accept the sanction.”

Catlin will be replaced in the tournament by South African Wilco Nienaber.

Johan Rupert On COVID-19 Cancellation Of 2020 Dunhill Links: "Sorry, I love St Andrews too much"

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Martin Dempster catches up with Alfred Dunill Links chief Johan Rupert about cancelling the annual fall European Tour event in St Andrews that includes a pro-am. Safety was at the forefront of his decision.

“People could be acting in good faith and just accidentally cause reinfection. If you look at that time of the year in September and October, it’s cool, so people are indoors, they are going to be in pubs. Imagine everything going well and a couple of asymptomatic people come and they restart it. It is not responsible.

“Sorry, I love St Andrews too much and I love the Old Course too much. It is the culture, the space and the people that we love and we are not going to do anything to endanger that.

“My only sadness about the event being called off this year is for the community of St Andrews and also the community of Carnoustie because I know how much this event means to them. Also the caddies. I’ve had the same caddie for 17 years. It is devastating in that respect.”

The event would have been played in early October immediately following the Ryder Cup, which has also been postponed until 2021.

2020 Betfred British Masters: Paratore (Speedily) Wins European Tour's Restart Event

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There is something especially comforting having the day start with some European Tour golf, even if the field won’t go down as one of the all time great assemblages in golf history. Those who tuned into the Betfred British Masters on Golf Channel were treated to a freakishly good (and fast) performance from 23-year-old Italian Renato Paratore, who played bogey-free for the first 62 holes.

The good news was flowing from Close House, including a triumphant return of European Tour play, a sponsorship extension and positive reviews from most players. But after the final round, host Lee Westwood opened up about his concern for traveling to the U.S. for upcoming majors and as The Guardian’s Ewan Murray notes, it was not the intent to overshadow the proceedings. But he probably did.

Either way, just one of many examples where Paratore wasted little time moving in when it’s his turn:

The final round highlights:

Guardian: Premier Golf League Delivers Player Offer Letters, European Tour Talks Continue

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There were glimmerings of possible Premier Golf League activity recently when Jon Rahm was overheard discussing something team-driven to Viktor Hovland (perhaps influencing why the world No. 2, on the cusp of moving to No. 1, did not make the Memorial Featured Group coverage).

Now The Guardian’s Ewan Murray reports several interesting developments: formal offer letters have been sent to players, the European Tour issued a soft non-denial denial over possible partnership discussions, hundreds of millions in guaranteed money are on the table despite the global pandemic, and Murray even references the PGA Tour’s new TV deal possibly funding “commercial incentives” to players.

Those who have been linked with the breakaway include Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Henrik Stenson, Brooks Koepka, Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler and Paul Casey. The PGL declined to comment on recent events when approached. Yet whether the PGL can convince elite golfers to offer a commitment against the PGA Tour in particular remains to be seen. As part of a recently agreed broadcasting deal, the PGA Tour agreed to offer commercial incentives to players who provide the greatest value.

The idea of directly paying some players would be a new path for the PGA Tour after remaining principally an independent contractor-driven organization.

Meanwhile in Europe, Chief Keith Pelley has been largely dismissive of the concept even though his Tour and the PGL seem like a potential partnership fit, particularly now that the pandemic has hit the Tour especially hard. This week’s British Masters is playing for 1,250,000 Euros.

As recently as June Pelley told the McKellar podcast that partnership conversations with the PGA Tour have never been stronger.

Intriguingly, Raine is also understood to have held talks with the European Tour. This at least infers an increased willingness to involve golf’s existing stakeholders in the PGL plan. When asked about such discussions, a European Tour spokesperson said: “For the past couple of years we have been proactively sought out by a number of private equity companies, all of whom recognise the strength and influence of the European Tour across golf’s global ecosystem.”

Hardly a denial.

The heightened efforts of the league’s backers were first reported here at GeoffShackelford.com in January and have been declared dead on arrival at various points after Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm all pledged their preference to play the PGA Tour.

Meanwhile, another Raine Group-backed enterprise, the Premier Lacrosse League, makes its second season debut tomorrow in the United States on NBC.

Strange Mix Of WD's: DJ, Romo And Beef

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Three tours, three famous golfers, all teed off and each stopped mid-round for reasons both normal and abnormal.

Most alarming with a major championship looming and having recently recorded a win at the Travelers was Dustin Johnson, who posted 78, talked about his round at the 3M and never mentioned a bad back that was cited for his WD.

From Brian Wacker at GolfDigest.com:

Johnson made no reference to his back in the post-round interview before pulling out of the tournament 30 minutes later.

What it means for him moving forward remains to be seen. Johnson has twice won at TPC Southwind, site of next week’s WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, and the 2019-’20 season’s first and only major, the PGA Championship, is the following week. Though it’s unlikely he will miss any time.

“He absolutely plans to play,” Johnson’s agent, David Winkle, told Golf Digest in a text message. “He was experiencing some tightness in his back, which requires rest and treatment, both of which he’ll get the next few days."

Johnson missed the cut at last week’s Memorial Tournament with rounds of 80-80.

Former NFL quarterback Tony Romo was playing in this week’s Price Cutter Charity Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour and played just four holes before withdrawing with more wrist issues. He recently injured his wrist during the American Century Championship July 4th weekend. From Joel Beall’s GolfDigest.com report:

“If I could hold the golf club, I’d still be out there playing,” Romo said. “I just can’t.”

Romo dropped out of the celebrity-driven American Century Championship two weeks ago with the same injury. Getting a field invite through sponsor exemption, Romo said he was still able to hit his driver “80 to 90 percent” early in the week with the ailment.

The most surprising came in Europe where Andrew “Beef” Johnston played nine holes of the Betfred British Masters that started Wednesday before his WD. According to Ewan Murray’s report, Johnston was struggling with hotel “lockdown” life and after nine around Close House, before deciding he wasn’t ready to be playing golf.

Johnston explained he considered not entering the British Masters . “I’ve been on-off saying I’m going to play, I’m not going to play, for months,” the 31-year-old said. “I kept changing my mind. But being here and being confined to the hotel, confined to the course and not being able to bring my family is ultimately not what I want and not how I want to live my life.

“We like to travel as a family and it’s just been very difficult to get my head around being stuck in those two places and then coming out and trying to compete. It just doesn’t feel right. I tried to come up here but I was leaving it later and later. I came up Tuesday morning to try to be away as small a time as possible, but it’s not good prep for a tournament and it shows I don’t really want to be here.

"European Tour creates a ‘bubble’ as the UK Swing gets underway at Close House"

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The Scotsman’s Martin Dempster channels what most of us feel about these pandemic-era returns as the European Tour begins its reboot to 2020 with a six week UK-run of events, starting with the British Masters at Close House, a course renovated by host Lee Westwood with Scott Macpherson.

Regarding the European Tour’s efforts to return, Dempster writes:

The tour has spent £2 million plus in developing a health strategy for the rest of the year, and I have every faith that it will be a proper “bubble” compared to what the PGA Tour, at the start at least, had for its return last month.

Dr Andrew Murray, the circuit’s chief medical officer, has been one of Keith Pelley’s key advisors as he plotted these careful first steps and the Aberdonian will be ensuring that everything is carried out exactly how it needs to be at the moment.

“Although golf is back, as Keith Pelley has said, these will not – and should not – feel like normal golf tournaments,” said Murray. “It’s good that we are all back to work in a familiar environment, but things will be completely different with all the measures that we will be putting in place as part of our health strategy.”