Bryson Leaves It To The Tour To Address Brooks Who Says He's Growing The Game With Michelob Stunt

The headlines just write themselves these days!

For those tracking the Brooksy saga, we have updates.

Brooks Koepka spoke to Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch about his pledge to offer brewskies to his Brooksy-howling booted bros just living under par.

“I’d never condone anyone being a distraction during someone’s swing or when they are about to hit,” he said. “As professionals, we do enjoy fans getting engaged at the appropriate times. It’s part of sport and competition. Hecklers are always going to be a part of any live performance. We all know that out there. We all get called different names. I’ve been called DJ many times, even when I was slipping at Bethpage [where a faltering Koepka held off Dustin Johnson in the ’19 PGA]. It’s part of it. He even said he considers it flattering.”

“With the Michelob Ultras, I wanted fans to know I saw what was going on and I appreciate fans who care about golf. It’s great to see fans out there loving it, having fun after a year of no one.”

LUP it up!

This quote alone could be the swan song for “grow the game”:

“I’m not condoning disrespectful or inappropriate behavior,” he replied. “I’m engaging in helping grow the game of golf and growing the Tour. I’m here for people being engaged and excited about golf, as long as it doesn’t cross the line.”

Meanwhile Bryson DeChambeau sounds less amused with all of the back and forth in the name of game growth.

He was all over the place after his third round but talked about his PIP prospects rising thanks to Brooks mentions. Take that FedExCup!

Q. Did you see a certain video last night from Brooks?

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: I heard about it through my manager and whatever, but, no. First off, I wanted to say like the fans were awesome today. They came out, supported me. Obviously you're going to have people saying things, but again it doesn't -- like I said yesterday, it doesn't rile me up, it doesn't affect me or anything like that. So it's great banter, it's fun, but the fans were awesome, the golf course is in great shape, I can't say much more than that.

Q. You didn't see it, but you heard about it. Are you surprised? I mean, like that it's going to escalate it like sort of, is that sort of what happened, I think.

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: Yeah, I think that's something that the TOUR needs to handle, it's something I can't control. I tried to take the high road numerous times and I think that, from my perspective, I'll continue to keep doing so and people are going to do what they want to do. So it is what it is.

Q. Do you in any way think, in a strange way, that this is good that people are talking about it, people are talking about golf?

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: I mean, I don't even know how to answer that question. Like for, from an integrity standpoint and an honor of the game standpoint, you know, the game has always been played in a certain way. I think golf is changing, it's evolving, so there's going to come a time where it is going to be like this and if I'm the person to take the brunt of it and whatever, you know, great. I'm happy that there's more conversations about me because of the PIP Fund.

🤮

Q. That idea of honor and kind of the way that the game is played, for you, what's like that fine line of things that happen in other sports, right, where you might hear things from the stands versus out here?

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: I love what's been going on. I've had no issue with it whatsoever. I think that when it gets to a point where -- I would say tennis and golf are the only two sports where like when you're hitting a shot everybody's usually quiet. If it comes out to a point where they're affecting like your swing, like they're saying in your swing, that's a little over the line, but everything else, I don't care.

Q. Have you had conversations with the TOUR about this?

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: Yeah, my agent has.

Q. And can you give us a kind of a drift on which way, what it's about? I mean, obviously, you said it doesn't bother you.

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: Yeah, it's more about how, I think, and this is what I don't really know about, but I think it's something along the lines of how the TOUR wants players to act, I think. That's about it. But from my perspective, I mean, if he keeps talking about me, that's great for the PIP Fund.

And I’m sure he meant to mention his real focus remains on the FedExCup and the Comcast Business Solutions thing.

Sleuthing The Koepka Interview Origins: How Can We Ever Look At The Player Impact Program The Same Again?

Golf.com’s Dylan Dethier has dug into the leaked Brooks Koepka interview never aired by Golf Channel and it only raises more questions about the purity of the PIP race.

When a once-secret $40 million bonus pool with seemingly pre-determined standings is compromised, it really makes you wonder, why we even bother to get up in the morning?

Dethier went to the source, the mysterious @RJWinfield, who knows none of the individuals involved. Instead he obtained the video after it started going around via a MediaSilo link, Golf Channel’s preferred site for in-house video sharing. The big question with millions at stake: why was the interview’s first take uploaded?

Dethier has dug into the origins of the Koepka interview and it only raises more questions about the purity of the PIP race:

Multiple sources with direct knowledge of the matter said that Koepka himself had requested the clip from a Golf Channel contact to watch himself and send to friends for a laugh. He hadn’t intended for it to spread so widely, the sources said, but he might not have cared that it did, either. Remember how the video ended?

“I honestly wouldn’t even care,” Koepka said.

Maybe he meant it.

While there may not have been intent by Koepka for the clip to go viral, millions of views and some serious Meltwater/Google/MVP Index engagement, which, when multiplied by FedExCup standings rank and divided by a number of Vice Commissioner McIlroy’s choosing, Koepka may have improved his PIP status when things accidentally went viral.

Or, was it accidental?

This could be a $1 million difference in the final standings. I think I’ve lost all faith in formerly secret marketing program points races.

Super Golf League Meeting Called Quick, Underwhelming

Whether this was all code for something more we’ll soon find out, but the initial reviews suggest the Saudis did not throw much of a Kiawah party.

From Daniel Rapaport’s GolfDigest.com story on the gathering of ten-percenters and lawyers representing Golf Saudi’s ripped-off Premier Golf League push:

“It all happened pretty quick,” the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said. “It was like, We have everything sorted, it’s all going to work out.”

Present for the meeting were lawyers from a high-profile American law firm that is handling the venture’s contractual work. These attorneys assured agents that they were combing through any potential legal hiccups and that their process, too, would be completed sooner rather than later.

Oh yeah, nothing to worry about.

A rep for Golf Saudi also ZOOM’d in. Which is probably why the characterization shared by Rex Hoggard makes a lot of sense:

One manager who attended the meeting characterized it as “underwhelming” and given how long representatives from the Super League Golf concept have been pushing for the new tour it’s likely going to continue to be a topic and a distraction for some time.

Five Families Make Moves To Stop Disruptor Leagues

Nice work by The Guardian’s Ewan Murray to get ahold of Official World Golf Ranking language apparently crafted with stopping small field concepts.

Documentation seen by the Guardian confirms world ranking points only apply on the basis that: “Tournaments on a tour must average fields of at least 75 players over the course of each season.” On this rule, the proposed tour clearly falls short; their 14 planned tournaments are for just 48 players.

The guidelines add: “A tour must demonstrate it has complied with the above guidelines for a period of at least one year immediately prior to being admitted to the OWGR system and must continue to comply with such guidelines following its inclusion in the OWGR system.”

The “average” language helps offset players and agents pointing to something like the Hero World Challenge’s 18-player field earning points.

Another interesting twist in the disruptor golf league world came Tuesday at Kiawah, as PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh made clear the Ryder Cup will only accept PGA of America members who get that perk through their PGA Tour membership:

“If someone wants to play on a Ryder Cup for the U.S., they’re going to need to be a member of the PGA of America, and they get that membership through being a member of the Tour,” Waugh said. “I believe the Europeans feel the same way, and so I don’t know that we can be more clear kind of than that. We don’t see that changing.”

Translation: should someone sign up for an SGL or PGL, and the PGA Tour follows through with threats to toss them off their books (with potential legal ramifications), the players would be Ryder Cup ineligible.

Whether that is enough to dissuade Americans, is unclear.

Adam Schupak filed this Golfweek with more details of Waugh’s remarks and his interesting assertion that these league conversations are healthy for the game, to a point.

“I actually think it’s healthy. You either disrupt or you get disrupted. That’s what this is,” he said. “You know, should it be a hostile takeover of the game? I think is way too far. They’ve created this conversation, which by the way isn’t new. It’s been around since 2014 in different forms, has created change. It’s created an alliance of the European Tour and the PGA Tour, which we think is really healthy for the game.”

Padraig: Court Cases Loom If Saudi's Offer 10-12 Events

Padraig Harrington shared his views of the proposed Super Golf League backed by Golf Saudi, including possible Ryder Cup ramifications.

But this comment to The Telegraph’s James Corrigan was even more intriguing, implying possible “defectors” believe they can still dip in to the existing Tours on sponsor invites.

Harrington fears that if the Saudis do keep pushing on, the issue could end in court, particularly as the SGL seems only to be planning for 10-12 events a year and not the 18-20 first mooted. “It is interesting because you could see somebody playing the SGL’s 12 tournaments and also playing 15 Tour events to satisfy their membership regulations,” the Irishman said.

That’s a big schedule for today’s stars who are, in part (after the money), intrigued by these proposed concepts because they reduce the schedule and theoretically work around the majors.

Haney V. PGA Tour Gets July 6th Trial Date

The PGA Tour’s effort to have Hank Haney’s lawsuit thrown out has apparently failed.

According to filings, Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz, II set the date of July 6th.

Last week a rebuttal to the Tour’s attempts at having the case thrown out was revealed by The Athletic’s Daniel Kaplan. The filings revealed ignorance of the women’s game and even how the PGA Tour Radio partnership worked. Also included where emails—that I’ll circle back to on a slow news day—shows how they make sausage down in PVB. Digestive enzymes are recommended.

There are also PIP ramifications. Big time.

Given the crux of Haney’s SiriusXM downfall centered around his flippant take on the women’s game, The Athletic story raised questions about the PGA Tour’s care for the LPGA Tour it was representing in media rights negotiations.

I dissected some of that here.

GolfChannel.com: "Super League Golf will continue to linger as long as there's player 'interest'"

It’s fascinating to see how many players who will not rule out the latest world tour concept even as it’s been revealed to be even more directly funded by Saudi Arabia. Or that it’s a possibly-stolen concept and all of this after PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan (reportedly) drew a line in the sand.

Fascinating given that it feels like a shift for some players from a year ago when the Premier League concept was discussed. But why?

Do players see signs of the European Tour either fading away or getting swallowed (and inevitably muzzled to death) by Cult Ponte Vedra? That would condense their loyalties have been condensed to a pair of options.

Also surprising: there are more blatant Saudi ties to the “SGL” concept and the money source does not seem to have caused players much concern.

Or maybe, as I wrote in The Quadrilateral Monday, these outside hostile takeover attempts will just keep happening because of market forces and the unwillingness of the Tours to address some fundamental issues making them vulnerable.

Anyway, GolfChannel.com’s Rex Hoggard filed this look at player comments and the surprising open-mindedness or shifting curiousities. One standout portion:

Asked about the then-PGL concept last year, Adam Scott also seemed to be squarely in the “interested” category.

“Selfishly, for me, there is some appeal. I might have the opportunity to park myself up in Australia for a little bit if I’m being selfish,” Scott said.

And Patrick Reed said this, “Honestly I have my team grabbing all the information about it, and I don't know enough about it yet to really say anything about it, but once we get all the information, I'll go make my mind up later on."

Tommy Fleetwood appears to have adjusted his outlook toward the SLG since he was asked about the proposed circuit last year.

“Money is one side of it, world ranking points is a side of it. The Ryder Cup is always such a huge thing on people's minds, European and American,” he said. “There's a lot that goes into the criteria of why people play where they play. … I know [Monahan] has a very, very firm stance on it. We'll see where that leads.”

Haney Case Depositions Shed Light On Tour's Handling Of LPGA TV Deal, Lack Of Top Player Awareness

The Athletic’s Daniel Kaplan has obtained portions of Hank Haney lawsuit depositions in the case against the PGA Tour and the details do not paint a flattering portrayal of PGA Tour leadership. With just under two months left in office, outgoing LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan may need to address the situation.

To recap: Haney is suing the Tour after he was forced off SiriusXM’s PGA Tour Radio following a flippant comment about LPGA Tour favorites in the then-upcoming U.S. Women’s Open. But he is also alleging PGA Tour interference in several of his business interests beyond their pressure campaign alleged.

Unable to settle, the sides moved to a deposition phase and in the excerpts obtained by The Athletic, their story focus locked in on the LPGA’s percentage of the new PGA Tour TV deal. We don’t know enough about the structure to evaluate the percentages seized-on in the story to evaluate exactly what this means for LPGA revenues. But Monahan testified to the LPGA receiving “several million dollars of additional media rights revenue in 2020 than they did in 2019.”

Kaplan’s story also highlights deposition snippets that reveal stunning ignorance of women’s golf by PGA Tour brass.

Why is that important?

The perception alone is terrible given the particulars of the case (and Haney’s subsequent apology). From a business perspective, the ignorance suggests the LPGA might not have been a PGA Tour focus in the media negotiations or going forward.

This, despite the PGA Tour’s claims of a deep affinity for the women’s game. When denouncing Haney at the time, the Tour and Sirius professed their close working ties with the LPGA:

“The PGA TOUR is committed to and proud of the increasingly diverse makeup of our fan base, not to mention the power and accomplishments of the game’s world-class, global players -- both on the PGA TOUR and LPGA, whom we are working with more closely than ever before.

“SiriusXM proudly covers and supports both women’s and men’s golf and the athletes that make them great. At the PGA TOUR’s instruction Mr. Haney has been suspended from the SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio channel. SiriusXM is reviewing his status on SiriusXM going forward.”

There is one LPGA Tour show on the network.

The PGA Tour has been unable to create a mixed team event despite obvious fan interest. And as for the pride in the accomplishments of female golfers while working closer than ever before?

To hammer home the charge that the PGA Tour isn’t concerned about the LPGA, counsel for Haney quizzed Monahan on his knowledge of women’s golf. Monahan could not name the top golfers and said he had not attended an LPGA tournament as commissioner. (He had before his tenure.)

Maybe the Citation fleet only flies to PGA Tour cities?

“Can you give me the top five ranked players playing in that tournament this week?” Haney’s lawyer asked. (The LPGA played the U.S. Women’s Open in Houston that week.) “I can’t specifically give you the top five players ranked in that tournament,” Monahan replied. Haney’s lawyer then asked, “Who is the top-ranked woman playing in the tournament?”

Monahan: “I’m not sure what the latest iteration of the world ranking is.”

Psst, Jay, that’s the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

Haney’s lawyer: “Who are the top several players playing?”

Monahan: “I’m focused on the business of the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions, Korn Ferry, PGA Tour Latino America,  PGA Tour China, PGA Tour Canada, our relationship with the European Tour and our industry relationships. The person who is in a position to tell you the top players in the world would be Mike Whan. He runs the LPGA Tour.”

I feel like the video version of that answer probably is not going end up in Jay’s career highlight reel.

The PGA Tour’s SVP of Communications, Laura Neal, had an embarrassing performance given that her past job at the LPGA Tour from 1997 to 2006 under then-Commissioner Ty Votaw. Kaplan writes:

His lawyer asked Neal, the PGA Tour’s senior vice president of communications, in a Dec. 15, 2020, deposition about her own knowledge of top women golfers. When she couldn’t name them, he asked her, “Do you think it’s disrespectful for a senior member of the PGA not to know who the leaders of the LPGA are?”

She replied, “No, I don’t think it’s disrespectful.”

Just ignorant and demonstrating a lack of deposition prep on a topic purportedly very dear to PGA Tour hearts.

Which brings us to the LPGA Tour’s outgoing commissioner.

Mike Whan handed the LPGA Tour’s media negotiations over to the PGA Tour and probably made the right move at the time given the options. But with Golf Channel’s dwindling reach (by cable home counts), even fuzzier future digital plans, lack of complimentary LPGA coverage (their website writer was cut), and slashed marketing budget, the LPGA has a low priority status on the channel.

At the very least, Whan should be displeased with PGA Tour leadership’s lack of preparation or knowledge. Will he say so publicly or dare discuss these performances with his players?

If he was moving to another sector, Whan might be able to skate by. But given his move to the USGA CEO job and the organization’s hosting of the U.S. Women’s Open, he probably needs to get out in front of this one.

The Premier Golf League Still Exists Separate Of Golf Saudi's "Super League"

Nice work by the Firepit Collective’s Alan Shipnuck to report on the difference between this week’s leaked Super Golf League concept, back by Golf Saudi, and the idea we’ve recently known as the Premier Golf League.

The reason for the confusion in early reports appears a simple one: Golf Saudi has taken the framework for the “PGL” and made it their own.

I can confirm from a well-placed source and separate of Shipnuck’s report: the PGL remains a separate entity with aspirations still tied to their initial plans first revealed here a year ago.

The confusion stems from Golf Saudi essentially lifting the format and concept. I know, you’re shocked.

Shipnuck writes:

After the idea for the PGL was born in 2019 there were advanced discussions with Golf Saudi to underwrite the all-star new tour. A deal was never consummated and now Saudi Arabia is making its own play with the Super Golf League. “They 100% stole our idea,” says the PGL investor, who hails from Europe.

There are substantial differences between the two would-be tours. The Super Golf League is conceived as 10-12 tournaments a year based in the Mid East and in particular Saudi Arabia, which has a stated goal of building dozens of new golf courses and introducing a million citizens to the game over the next decade. Golf Saudi’s motivation in creating the SGL is continued reputation-laundering for the brutal regime that supports it.

The Premier Golf League was backed by Raine Group for a time, but are no longer fronting the PGL concept after merger talks with the European Tour fell through. Shipnuck explains where the PGL stands:

Having parted ways with the Saudis, the PGL is now staked by three dozen investors described by the insider as “guys who own existing sports franchises, high net-worth individuals who love golf and multinational corporations.” It is a mix of mostly American and European interests. The schedule would be comprised of 18 tournaments running January-October. The Tour would begin in Florida, migrate to Australia and Asia before returning the Southeastern U.S. ahead of the Masters. Ensuing tournaments would be played Stateside through the U.S. Open, followed by a long swing through Europe and then a return to Asia, with the grand finale contested back in America. Each tournament would have 48 players vying for a purse of $20 million. (Winner’s checks would approach $4 million while last place would pay out $250K; there is no cut.) Each event would crown an individual stroke play champion but there would be a concurrent, season-long 4-man team competition that would be decided in the season finale.

That does leave behind specifics on a team element that was a huge part of the PGL concept (and which I think remains fascinating both for fans and perhaps changing the commercialization of pro events).

Shipnuck’s story goes on to detail the world of Saudi Arabia if you are interested.

Mickelson: Super League Good For Fans And Media, But Not So Schedule Friendly

Phil Mickelson’s remarks to Bob Harig at ESPN.com suggest he continues to be intrigued by the Super/Premier/World Golf Series/Tourdeforce League concept:

"I think the fans would love it because they would see the best players play exponentially more times," Mickelson said after playing in the pro-am for the Wells Fargo Championship. "Instead of four or five times, it would be 20 times ... I don't know what the final number is.

"But that's a big deal to give up control of your schedule. I don't know if the players would be selfless enough to do that. But every other sport, the entity or teams or leagues control the schedule. The players kind of play where they are told to play. Whereas here, we're able to control it."

I’ve never heard the selfless angle, but given the apparent vaccine resistance on the Tour, he’s probably accurate.

McIlroy On Super League: "I don't see why anyone would be for it."

Rory McIlroy has steadfastly disliked the various iterations of the Super Golf League and even sarcastically noted some of its past names before offering this prior to the Wells Fargo Championship.

I was surprised at the cash grab angle, but otherwise the remarks are consistent with his past disdain for the concept.

And then with the SGL, yeah, look, they first contacted me back in 2014, so this is seven years down the line and nothing has really changed. Maybe the source of the money's changed or the people that are in charge have changed, but nothing has happened. No sponsorship deals, no media deals, no players have signed up, no manufacturers have signed up.

Manufacturers? They don’t sponsor events and rarely get near grow the game initiatives so I’m not sure they will be joining the frey.

There's been so many iterations at this point. I think people ‑‑ you go back to what happened last week in Europe with the European Super League in football. People can see it for what it is, which is a money grab, which is fine if that's what you're playing golf for is to make as much money as possible. Totally fine, then go and do that if that's what makes you happy.

BTW, FYI…500 FedExCup points on the line this week!

But I think the top players in the game, I'm just speaking my own personal beliefs, like I'm playing this game to try to cement my place in history and my legacy and to win major championships and to win the biggest tournaments in the world. That's why I'm playing this game. Golf has been very good to me obviously over the years by playing in Europe starting off, coming over to the PGA Tour and playing here. I honestly don't think there's a better structure in place in golf, and I don't think there will be.

You have the strategic partnership as well between Europe and the PGA TOUR and that's only going to strengthen the structure of golf going forward as well in terms of scheduling and all sorts of other stuff and working together a little bit more.

Yeah, I mean, I don't think it was a coincidence that the news came out yesterday just as the PGA TOUR's having their annual player meeting and Jay's addressing the membership. Yeah, I think you all know my feelings on it and I'm very much against it. I don't see why anyone would be for it.

I could see someone finding 30 million reasons that still allows them to play the majors. And not have to sit in a policy board meeting talking slow play.

Saudi-Backed "Super League" In Offer Mode, PGA Tour Commish Vows Possible Expulsion

Ewan Murray revealed the latest edition of a proposed upstart tour, this time fully backed by Golf Saudi proposing largely the same Premier Golf League proposal they invested in. This time the lucrative proposal comes minus the Raine Group, without much prospect of Tiger Woods able to play soon, and follow the Super League football debacle.

Oh, and Golf Saudi is backed by a Crown Prince who sports plenty of irredeemable qualities.

That said, the updated stories report on a rebuttal from PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan vowing immediate suspension and possible expulsion.

A few things of note from Murray:

The PGA Tour, though, is unmoved. Monahan articulated to players that he will fiercely abide by regulations that protect the PGA Tour membership, which guard against those trying to cause fiscal or reputational harm to the organisation. Anyone signing up with the Saudis will straight away lose PGA Tour status.

Despite reports elsewhere, the Guardian understands players do not yet have contracts and offer letters signed by the Saudis. The brief delay to that scenario has been linked in part to the ESL debacle. When the paperwork does become formal, leading players will be offered equity in the new tour. In what has been likened by one individual with understanding of the negotiations to a football transfer, there will also be huge signing on fees as incentives.

Going through the contracts, crossing out “Premier” and “Super”?

The PGA Tour is well aware the Saudis have been on a Florida-based recruitment drive for a concerted period but has stressed to its own players the lack of solid proposals in relation to tournaments or media deals. There were no questions from the floor on the Saudi scheme, let alone any of the ructions speculated upon elsewhere, after Monahan’s wide-ranging speech.

No questions?

I remain intrigued by the team concept and other elements, but it’s hard not to wonder about this:

The two-times Open champion Greg Norman is believed to be among those advising the Saudis. Norman’s spokesperson offered no comment when approached.

The Telegraph’s James Corrigan broke a similar story not long after Murray’s and included several details worth filing away, including possible $30 million offers for Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose.

While the majority considered the Premier Golf League to be dead in the water after significant Tour efforts to kill the idea, Telegraph Sport can reveal that formal offers worth $30m to $50m up front are being mulled over by 11 players, including - alongside Johnson and Rose - Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Henrik Stenson, Adam Scott and Rickie Fowler.

Phil Mickelson has purportedly been offered  $100m as the de facto head of the rebels.

Corrigan also says the Saudis want replies quickly with a September Ryder Cup looming. But if the PGA Tour and European Tour are serious about suspensions, Corrigan said word of participation might have consequences.

That means this affair could even affect the Ryder Cup in September and, if that was the case, the Kingdom, in its ever increasing mission to ‘sportswash' its reputation, could see the plan badly backfire.

“This will all kick off in the next few weeks, starting with this meeting tonight,” a source told Telegraph Sport. “It will be fascinating to hear how aggressive Monahan was with his language to the big names. The Saudis believe the Tour can’t expel members and it could end up in a big legal fight.”

Maybe that’s why he stuck to possible expulsion. Good call, legal team!

Rex Hoggard added this from the player’s mandatory meeting where Monahan spoke.

According to one player who attended the meeting, Monahan said he was not aware of any communication between officials with the Super Golf League and any of the major championships or various media companies that might be included in a new broadcast agreement.

Then again, technology allows for the easy launch of a streaming deal and those deals only come with enough recognizable names.

According to multiple sources @PGATOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan told players Tuesday night at @WellsFargoGolf that any player joining the Saudi-backed golf league will face immediate suspension and possible expulsion from the PGA Tour. Monahan taking this threat seriously.

— Todd Lewis (@ToddLewisGC) May 5, 2021

“I think this is where golf is going to be for the foreseeable future, if you want to play at the highest level.”

Those strong words uttered by Shane Lowry to RTE Radio’s Greg Allen were a blow to the European Tour’s future prospects.

The Irish Golf Desk’s Brian Keogh with the full remarks from the 2019 Open Champion:

“[My daughter] Iris has just turned four and she starting school soon so we have big decisions to be made in the next six months,” Lowry told RTE Radio’s Greg Allen on Saturday Sport. “I think this is where golf is going to be for the foreseeable future, if you want to play at the highest level.”

Alistair Tait reviewed where this leaves the European Tour’s potential star power “drain” and wonders if the “strategic alliance” with the PGA Tour may not have addressed the issue. I know, shocking.

Tait writes:

Thankfully, the European Tour still has the Rolex Series events to attract the top Europeans back to their home circuit. However, Covid-19 has had an impact on that series. It consists of just four events this year, down from a high of eight despite a hoped for 10 when the series was announced.

Ryder Cup participation is another reason for the top stars to play in Europe, since only European Tour members can play in the biennial match. But membership only requires a handful of regular starts along with the majors and World Golf Championships.

Whatever way you cut it, the European Tour has its work cut out to stop the talent drain to the PGA Tour becoming a flood. Wonder if that subject was discussed when the “strategic alliance" was agreed?

Couples: "The only tweets I’ve ever heard make you money are birdie tweet tweets!"

Let me get this straight. There’s 40 mil in play for the guys on the @pgatour based on social media likes and follows and tweets ?! The only tweets I’ve ever heard make you money are birdie tweet tweets! Good luck with that 🤔🤦‍♂️🤷

— fredcouplesgolf (@fredcouplesgolf) April 25, 2021

The PIP mocking can’t be going over well down in Ponte Vedra Beach where they kept this secret until Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch exposed this bizarre bonus pool

And especially when it comes from a former Presidents Cup captain and World Golf Hall of Fame member.

For those wondering where things stand on social media, even GOLFTV got into the PIP tracking.

The five most-followed.

Who's your favourite golfer on social media? pic.twitter.com/5RJdafX4WY

— GOLFTV (@GOLFTV) April 25, 2021

The Golf.com Monday morning roundtable also chimed in with plenty of fodder. Just some of the points delivered:

Sens: What do I make of them? They are the inevitable result of a media culture that has turned everything in life into a high school cool-kid contest. It’s depressing, but I get it. I’m not a boomer, after all. Almost, but not quite. And I suppose it could be interesting to see what crazy lengths some players go to get a higher “impact score.”

Bamberger: That’s perfect, Josh. But that doesn’t mean we have to sit here and take it. I think it demeans the PGA Tour.

Dethier: Players were already being rewarded for their popularity and “impact” through ad deals, sponsorships, appearance fees and more. I’ve always seen the PGA Tour’s job as putting on tournaments and paying the winners. It seems off to me, then, for the Tour to pay its most popular players — but I guess the simplest way to think about it is that they’re advertising for themselves and they’re investing where they’ll get the highest return. It can make sense but I don’t have to particularly like it.

Bamberger: I agree with that, too. But do we really need ‘particularly’ in that last sentence? I don’t have to like it and I don’t.

Zurich Classic: Time For Four-Ball To Go?

Should this event just be four rounds of alt shot?

— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) April 25, 2021

Four adults playing their ball and picking up when they’re out of the hole? That should (theoretically) go faster than four grown men playing pure stroke play.

Four-ball is a complete slog of a format with the best male golfers and needs to be eliminated where possible. But since the world’s best rarely are out of a hole and they’re slow as it is, the format produces a death march.

The Ryder Cup will not abandon four-ball matches even though they were not added until 1963. But the Zurich Classic is supposed to be entertaining. Its two best ball rounds drag on forever and produce so little tension.

But foursomes? Straight alternate shot certainly brings a different tension level. Maybe an excess of intensity given that foursomes is a match play format and was never envisioned as a form of stroke play.

As No Laying Up tweeted, four rounds of alternate shot might make the Zurich better. But four days of pure alternate shot would prove too fan-unfriendly over four days. I’d prefer to see the event go to Scotch foursomes (both players hit drives). Maybe play that version for three days and move to straight alternate shot for the final day?

Your thoughts?