A Tale Of Two Champions Dinners
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The Brothers Johnson had very different approaches to their Tuesday dinner’s in Augusta.
When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
Quadrilateral: Masters Tuesday News And Notes
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Today’s newsletter for the kind supporters and many thanks for all the new sign-ups this week.
I’m humbled and glad you’re enjoying The Quad as much as I am.
Bryson: "There's not much more to gain from [the] technology side of golf club manufacturing"
/A multi-layered answer from Bryson DeChambeau’s pre-Masters press conference:
Q. Last year there was a lot of talk that, culturally, you were leading a revolution in golf, especially among young fans who are really energized by the way you swing the golf club and all those things. If so, what's the stage of that revolution now?
BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: I don't know the scope of that answer, either. You guys are giving me tough questions today.
I will say the Drive, Chip & Putt, what we saw with one of the kids imitating Kyle Berkshire, you're already starting to see it with kids. I've had numerous college kids DM me on Instagram and ask me, "How do I get stronger? How do I get faster?" So you're already starting to see it through -- from collegiate level all the way to junior golf level.
I think as time goes on, there's not much more to gain from technology side of golf club manufacturing, building. There are little things we can do, but where the massive gains will be is in athletes. Once you get somebody out here that's a 7-foot-tall human being and they are able to swing a golf club at 145 miles an hour effortlessly, that's when things get a little interesting. That's when I'm going to become obsolete potentially even.
Look, there's still a chipping aspect and there's still a putting aspect to it, but from a driving aspect, that's where the gains will be had, is with these athletes coming out in the future. And it won't stop. There's just no way it will stop.
I think it's good for the game, too. I don't think it's a bad thing you're bringing in and making it more inclusive to everybody when you're doing that. The athletes are the ones that are going to in the end move the needle in any sport you play, and I think that's pretty amazing.
One way it’ll stop? Injuries to the athletes trying to do things the body won’t enjoy over thousands of shots.
Quadrilateral: It's A Fast And Firm Monday
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A fun and busy Monday at Augusta meant a wide range of notes, with a huge emphasis on player praise for a much better golf course than they played in November.
Sorry, but you probably know the drill by now. This one’s for paying subscribers. Thanks for understanding.
Thursday’s edition will go to all followers of The Quadrilateral though so sign on up!
Uh, Your Masters Radio Lead Analyst Says Goodbye To His Beloved Shower As Only He Can
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Greg Norman, having sold his Florida home, wanted to share with us his final “sunset shower” at Tranquility, apparently the estate’s name.
Ladies and gentleman, (children cover your eyes), your SiriusXM Masters lead analyst this week…who also took a little jab at the other non-Fox golf networks approach to coverage as he prepares for his Augusta return:
Senator Rubio Asks If Commissioner Manfred Will Keep His Augusta National Membership
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One danger of wearing your Green Coat around Masters week: tipping the world to your membership in Augusta National.
I’m not sure I would have known Major League Baseball Commissioner was a member had he not been in green and who knows how Senator Marco Rubio became aware. But in the wake of MLB pulling its All-Star game from Georgia, the Senator from Florida is very upset at “woke corporate virtue signaling” and would like to know if it’ll extend to the Commissioner’s golf. (Apparently because Rubio’s state is next to Georgia’s he’s taken a keen interest in the matter.)
The full letter:
Tavatankit Missed Only 11 Greens En Route To ANA Win
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Patty Tavatankit’s -18 under performance in the ANA Inspiration held off Lydia Ko and probably will get lost a bit in the Masters focus, but check out here greens in regulation dominance despite okay driving and okay putting:
That’s 14 more greens than runner-up Ko and three more than the next closest player (Ally Ewing, -10).
Mallon On Woods' Recovery And Possibility Of Champions Dinner Visit
/Dr. Bill Mallon, a former tour player and orthopedic surgeon, tries to assess Tiger Woods’s recovery based on experience given the dearth of information. He does report he’s learned Woods suffered a Lisfranc fracture in his foot, a very difficult injury to recover from. The full tweet storm can be read by clicking on the initial post:
Spieth Returns To The Winner's Circle On Masters Eve
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You might not have known the Masters was just 96 hours away watching the final round of the Valero Texas Open. Only a few dared to mention Charley Hoffman was not in the field next week and the storyline of him trying to earn a trip back to Augusta was largely avoided. No one wanted the red phone ringing with the dreaded 904 area code. What a world!
Hoffman put up a valiant effort but came up short, sending Jordan Spieth to The Masters with his first win in 1351 days (The 2017 Open Championship).
Notes from the Tour Communications team on site:
Five players in the last 40 years have reached 12 wins before turning 28: Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Spieth
Spieth becomes the 92nd player in PGA TOUR history to reach 12 wins and moves into a tie for 82nd on the all-time wins list
Spieth improves to 10-for-19 in his PGA TOUR career with the 54-hole lead/co-lead
Charley Hoffman finishes solo-second for the second consecutive time at the Valero Texas Open; finished runner-up to Corey Conners in 2019
Since 2006, Hoffman leads all players at the Valero Texas Open in top-fives (5), top-10s (7), top-25s (12), cuts made (15) and score to par (-105)
Spieth called it a monumental win for himself, as noted in this Valero wrap-up by Brentley Romine:
Quote of the day: "Man, it’s been a long road. There were a lot of times I wasn’t sure if I’d be here talking to you [Golf Channel's Todd Lewis] about this right now. I never really doubted in myself to be able to get back to where I wanted to go, but when you lose confidence a lot of times it’s hard to see the positive going forward. ... This is a monumental win for me. It’s one that I’ve certainly thought about for a long time." – Spieth
About that golf tournament and Spieth’s move up the odds board, I am not afraid to call it by its name in Monday’s Quadrilateral news and notes roundup.
Fourth round highlights:
"Chairman Fred Ridley will surely field questions about Augusta National’s stance during his annual pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday"
/Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch calls on the major golf organizations to get involved in support voter registration and rights
The men facing this dilemma — Ridley, Jay Monahan and Seth Waugh — are measured, lawyerly types and not prone to intemperate or hasty responses, even in charged circumstances. All three have signed on to a collaborative effort to make golf not only more inclusive as a sport but more socially responsive as an industry. And while this is a situation not of their making, it is nevertheless a test of that commitment. Their responses (or lack thereof) won’t be without consequences.
All three organizations — the PGA Tour, PGA of America and Augusta National — would doubtless prefer not to be involved in the quagmire of Georgia politics. But there is a potential signpost for next steps, and it lies in the wording of the Tour’s statement, which used the term “critical priority” to describe efforts to “work together to make voting easier for all citizens.”
Golf’s bodies could use their reach, resources and events to support voter registration drives and back initiatives that increase voter access. In short, to join with other organizations and proactively shore up the democratic process against any insidious effort to undermine it.
And Christine Brennan of USA Today/Golfweek highlights the social activism of several Augusta National Women’s Amateur contestants that will likely not be repeated by the Masters contestants.
It has to be the first time Augusta National has ever hosted social activists of any kind and it certainly provides a stark contrast with what is likely coming Masters week as the eyes of the sports world turn to the very significant political and social issues percolating here in Georgia – and the predictable blank stares and no comments of the predominately white, rich, very conservative male golfers who will be playing here.
While I’m not sure the golfers see themselves primarily as social activists, it does seem the Masters might need to chime in sooner than later. If nothing else to avoid unwanted scrutiny of the membership.
Shirtless Shark: "I don't need to be seen to be seen."
/Given his proclivity for posting photos of himself on Instagram, I found Greg Norman’s indifference to Augusta National’s Big Oak social scene curious.
From the New York Post’s Mark Cannizzaro on Norman’s return to Augusta as SiriusXM’s lead analyst.
But you won’t see Norman schmoozing with the who’s who in golf under the big oak tree this week.
“I’m not that type of person that needs to hang around underneath the tree just to hang around,’’ Norman said. “I don’t need to be seen to be seen.’’
Sadly, he will be heard with Brian Katrek as their year-one radio team following Westwood One losing the Masters radio deal. Between those two, it could be a very tough listen.
What ANWA Told Us About Augusta National And Other Notes
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Blog readers, as predicted I will be a little less bloggy during major weeks now the The Quadrilateral’s main purpose has arrived.
Sunday’s letter focused on the ANWA, a couple of course surprises and an NBC broadcast review.
This week’s Thursday edition will be for all followers of the newsletter. The rest can be delivered to your inbox free of conflicts of interest, pop-ups, WAG’s of Augusta slideshows, product placements, tacky ways to buy traffic, and all for $5 a month or $49 a year.
PGA Tour, PGA of America Issue Statements On Georgia Voting Law, Stand By Upcoming Events
/G.C. Digital has the statements from the PGA Tour (Tour Championship, RSM Classic) and PGA of America (KPMG Women’s PGA) standing by their upcoming events in Georgia after MLB pulled its All-Star Game over the state Senate’s move to change voting laws.
The PGA Tour statement rightfully leans heavily on East Lake’s mission as the basis to stay put:
At the heart of the PGA Tour’s charitable mission is a commitment to serving and supporting communities where we play, across the country and around the world. In Georgia, this commitment has resulted in more than $38 million generated for local charitable organizations since the Tour Championship – our season-ending event – moved to Atlanta in 1998. The Tour Championship’s commitment to East Lake has helped our partners transform distressed neighborhoods into healthy and thriving ones, which is a key to ending the cycle of intergenerational poverty.
The charitable and economic benefits that have led to these substantial changes would not continue if we simply walked away from those in need. We intend to maintain our commitment to the East Lake Foundation, Grove Park Foundation, Purpose Built Schools Atlanta and First Tee of Metro Atlanta by staging the Tour Championship at the East Lake Golf Club in September. We love these partners, and we will work with them to continue to deliver much-needed support and influence positive change.
Our intention to stage an event in a particular market should not be construed as indifference to the current national conversation around voting rights. The PGA Tour fully supports efforts to protect the right of all Americans to vote and to eliminate any barriers that may prevent citizens’ voices from being heard and counted. It is the foundation of our great country and a critical national priority to listen to the concerns about voter suppression – especially from communities of color that have been marginalized in the past – and work together to make voting easier for all citizens.
The PGA of America is "monitoring developments”:
The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is a partnership between three organizations committed to diversity, equity and inclusion: PGA of America, LPGA and KPMG. Like many entities, we are monitoring developments related to the new state legislation on voting access. We believe elections should be accessible, fair and secure, and support broad voter participation.
Rose Warns Of Shorter Careers Due To Distance Obsession
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Talking to James Corrigan about this fall’s Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship at Walton Heath, Rose said his back has improved ahead of the Masters and that he could have played the Players and Match Play.
The 2017 runner-up at Augusta is instead going in off a five week break and was asked by Corrigan what he’ll tell the juniors who qualify for his championship.
“If you look at my generation — say me, Adam Scott and Sergio [Garcia] — we are probably the first wave that’s grown up with the fitness and physio side and I kind of feel we're in the sweet spot, the way we approached the game in the last 20 years, focusing on our mobility and flexibility and looking at the big picture. And I think our best golf could well be in front of us, as weird as that is to say with us all in our 40s.
“Whereas I feel like that the generation coming up behind us is pushing the limit much harder than than we did from a physical point of view and even though science is improving and we are understanding more and more about the body, eventually those aggressive motions have to take their impact.”
This wisdom should be appreciated by the various ageist Tour types…
"If it carries on like this and if everyone coming out here is looking for the power game, then maybe careers will get shorter and there won’t be players in their 40s still able to compete at the top of the sport.
“Apart from the physical issues that might be suffered, I think that would be a huge shame. Watching Westy [Lee Westwood] and Bryson going at it at Bay Hill [last month] was great because you had a 48-year-old taking on a 27-year-old. That sort of battle between the generations is unique to golf.
“Westy and what he has done in the last year and a half is a huge inspiration. It’s a great part of what I love about golf. Lee is playing with wisdom and experience and gratitude. They are powerful words, but there is something so noble about it. That longevity and endless hunger should be celebrated and it is. That is my concern with this drive for length — the professional male game could lose all that.”
Yes but people in their forties are not what the advertisers want Justin! Please, think of the brands!
Quad: This Week's Masters Notes And 2021 Power Ranking
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Well now that your NCAA brackets are dead it’s time to focus on Masters prognostication and today’s Quadrilateral features my look at favorites, longshots and a surprisingly large group this year who are tough to figure out. This one’s only for the paying folk.
Open to all is The Quadrilateral’s Masters league on the tournament’s official app. The prizes are all theirs.
But the weekly notes column, focused heavily on exciting TV plans and details is for all to enjoy.
Sign up and you get the weekly notes in your inbox for free. I’ll throw in the postage and spare you of pop-ups.
