2023 Drive, Chip And Putt Registration Open

/

No experience necessary for what will be the 10th anniversary of this tradition unlike any other.

Nationwide qualifying starts May 1 with more than 350 local events capped off by the regionals and finals the Sunday prior to the Masters.

Register here.

Search venues by zip code here.

The impressive list of regional hosts:

  • Saturday, September 10 | Scioto Country Club (One of four courses to host the U.S. Open (1926), Ryder Cup (1931), PGA Championship (1950) and U.S. Amateur Championship (1968). Also hosted two U.S. Senior Opens (1986, 2016)

  • Saturday, September 17 | TPC Boston (Host of The Northern Trust PGA Tour playoff event in 2020)

  • Sunday, September 18| Castle Pines Golf Club (Host of The International on the PGA Tour for 21 years)

  • Sunday, September 18 | Oak Hill Country Club (Site of six USGA championships, including three U.S. Opens; and host of three PGA Championships, the 1995 Ryder Cup and two KitchenAid Senior PGA Championships. Oak Hill will also host the 2023 PGA Championship)

  • Sunday, September 25 | Pebble Beach Golf Links (Site of 13 USGA championships, including six U.S. Opens, and the future site of the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open and 2027 U.S. Open; and host of the 1977 PGA Championship)

  • Sunday, September 25 | Desert Mountain (Site of the 2015 and 2016 Senior PGA’s season-ending Charles Schwab Cup)

  • Saturday, October 1 | Medinah Country Club (Site of four USGA championships, including three U.S. Opens; and host of two PGA Championships and the 2012 Ryder Cup)

  • Sunday, October 2 | Champions Golf Club (Site of five USGA championships including the 1969 U.S. Open; and host of the 1967 Ryder Cup)

  • Sunday, October 2 | The Bear’s Club (Founded Dec, 31, 1999 by Jack and Barbara Nicklaus)

  • DATE TBA | Quail Hollow Club (Site of the 2017 PGA Championship and the host of the 2025 PGA Championship)

Same Old Story: Pretty Much No One Watches AmEx Final Round

/

The former PGA Tour Commissioner once predicted golf would compete with the NFL in the popularity department. Maybe he meant NFL Network Gameday Final? Eh, the PGA Tour was thumped by that cable post game show, too. And by Sunday’s LPGA coverage on both NBC and Golf Channel.

But as long as AmEx is willing to sponsor, more power to them through 2028.

For reasons we’ll never fully understand, the PGA Tour tries to go up against NFL action in the early season non-network weeks and in markets where they probably might draw just as many spectators on weekdays as weekends. (This coming Sunday the first notable exception when CBS and Farmers wisely move the final round to Saturday).

For those wondering what might happen if these early events moved to a Tuesday-Friday schedule, note that the Friday broadcast out-rated Sunday’s AmEx final round, won by Hudson Swafford. But even that rating was beaten by all sorts of random stuff like X-Games Aspen and late Friday Big Ten basketball games.

Last year’s AmEx and LPGA TOC ratings for reference, all courtesy of ShowBuzzDaily.com.

Women Better Then Men Files: Hilton Grand Vacations TOC Results

/

Check out Matt Vincenzi’s item at GolfWRX looking at the difference between the LPGA’s best and male amateurs playing from the same Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions tees. In particular, he notes the play of winner Derek Lowe and very good (+2.8) golfer Mardy Fish.

Golf Channel’s Tom Abbott pointed out that the amateurs and LPGA pro’s played under the same circumstances: “They played in the same groups, from the same tees, in the same conditions. The celebs had the advantage of playing a stableford format, which is slightly more freeing than straight stroke play, but as far as head-to-head tournament play goes, this was a pretty good comparison.”

Much to the dismay of the “A” player in the local men’s league, the professionals unsurprisingly came out on top. While the tournament’s champion, Danielle Kang, shot four consecutive rounds in the 60s, the amateurs in the event combined for a grand total of zero.

Additionally, former Red Sox pitcher and 0.2 handicap Derek Lowe, posted rounds of 76-72-75-72, the best of any celeb. It was an impressive performance from Lowe and resulted in a final score of +7, which was still 23 shots worse than Kang. 

No More Nice-Sounding Golf Orgs: "We Are Golf" Becomes "American Golf Industry Coalition"

/

The World Golf Foundation’s lobbying and educating efforts have a new name: American Golf Industry Coalition.

Clean. Tough. No grey area! We don’t need no stinking badges!

Let’s face it, the seemingly neverending threats to the municipal sport always seem to forget golf’s economic impact and it appears the group highlighting the $84 billion economy, 2 million jobs and $4 billion charitable impact decided it was time to send politicians a more pointed message with its name.

Acronym-wise it’s not ideal but neither was We Are Golf. But highlighting that there is a real industry with jobs and livelihoods on the line seems shrewd.

The website is now Golfcoalition.org.

For Immediate Release:

Rebranded ‘American Golf Industry Coalition’ Focused on Addressing

Golf’s Collective Priorities, Led by Make Golf Your Thing DEI Initiative

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (Jan. 24, 2022) – Today, the organization formerly known as “We Are Golf” announced that it has rebranded as the American Golf Industry Coalition. Representing a partnership among golf’s leading organizations, the coalition is committed to addressing the collective interests of the industry.

A primary area of focus centers around helping to facilitate the industry’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiative, known as Make Golf Your Thing. Through those efforts, the coalition also provides support to the six cross-industry work groups dedicated to making golf accessible to all (education & skill development, talent acquisition, procurement, human resources, youth & adult player development, and marketing/communications). Additionally, the coalition contributes to advocacy efforts for legislative and regulatory issues of importance to the industry.

“The golf industry is comprised of more than two million people who wake up every day giving their all to a game that is growing and evolving,” said Rhett Evans, Chairman, American Golf Industry Coalition Executive Leadership Committee & CEO, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. “I am proud of the platform and vision the newly-branded coalition provides for addressing golf’s collective issues on behalf of the industry it represents.”

For more than a dozen years since its founding, the American Golf Industry Coalition has become a banner under which golf’s collective priorities can be addressed. The coalition assembles industry representatives annually in Washington, D.C., to meet with elected officials and advocate on behalf of golf’s $84 billion economy, $4 billion charitable impact and two million jobs throughout the U.S. The industry came together virtually for ‘National Golf Day’ in 2021 due to the coronavirus, and details on 2022 National Golf Day will be made available soon.

The coalition also works to amplify tangible examples of key initiatives at both the grassroots and industry workforce level and advocate in support of issues that impact the industry at the state and federal level.

Better Than Most Putting Contest Weeks

/

I thought it was time for the first of several pre-Masters, pre-Chevron player rankings but decided the silly season vibe meant we’re not ready just yet.

But silly did not necessarily equate to boring, as I round up here in The Quadrilateral, with notable work by players at the American Express, Abu Dhabi, Hilton Grand Vacations TOC, Singapore Open and Latin America Amateur.

A preview for all and full roundup for the loyal subscribers.

Caymans Islander 2022 Wins Latin America Am

/

Aaron Jarvis of the Cayman Islands and a freshman at UNLV captured the 2022 Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC).

The 19-year-old will play this year’s Masters, The Open, The Amateur and U.S. Amateur.

Jarvis was No. 1,669 in the World Amateur World Ranking (WAGR) to start the week at Casa De Campo. He posted a final round 69. Besides the exemptions, he also got a trophy to check his healthy head of hair. The highlights:

Santiago Tarrio Hits Backward Flop-Shot In Competition

/

Here’s something you don’t see every day. Especially in competition. From the DP World Tour’s Abu Dhabi Championship:

Hatton Rants About Unreachable Three-Shotters And Centerline Bunkers*

/

It’s been a while since we’ve had a player drop a big, whiny and strange rant about golf architecture. In this case it’s Kyle Phillips Yas Links in Abu Dhabi, home of the Abu Dhabi Championship won by Thomas Pieters.

But it was defending champion Tyrrell Hatton who unraveled after making nine to end Saturday’s third round. The Guardian’s Ewan Murray delivered a few account. From his story:

“It must be one of the worst par fives that I’ve ever seen in my life and, over the last two days, I’ve clearly played it about as well as it was designed,” said Hatton, who took seven there on Friday.

The problem seems to be the lack of reachable and a centerline bunker splitting a huge landing area, with the left round shortening the route to the hole.

Pressed on what precisely is wrong with the 18th, Hatton was not of a mind to back down. “What’s wrong with it? Where do you start?” he asked. “It shouldn’t have a bunker in the middle of the fairway and it shouldn’t be over 600 yards from a forward tee. If you hit a good drive as a pro you should have at least a chance to go for the green in two, otherwise the hole becomes a par three [after the first two shots] and that’s if you play it well. Hardly anyone will get there in two today.”

I’d say it’s showing that players rarely face a three-shot par-5 or a centerline bunker.

*Hatton kept at it after Sunday’s final round, reports The Guardian’s Murray. A return in 2023 seems unlikely.

Hatton doubled down on fierce criticism of the 18th hole here from Saturday, when he took nine at the par five. Asked what he thought when walking onto the same tee on day four, the defending champion replied: “That I would love for a bomb to drop on it and blow it up to oblivion to be honest. It’s just such a terrible finishing hole.

“And the fact that they moved the tee back today is ridiculous. I hit a really good tee shot and still had 290 yards to the front [of the green]. I could pick driver up again and still not get there. It would be a much better finishing hole if you’re actually rewarded for hitting the fairway which, as it stands, you’re not.”

There was more. Hatton won this event at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, meaning his desire for it to return there is perhaps logical. “Also, this place for spectators is just awful,” Hatton added. “Seeing where the rope lines are and where spectators have to walk, it wouldn’t be surprising to hear a lot of people have hurt their ankles and all sorts this week.

Daily Mail: Captain Luke Sounding Good To Harrington

/

While it’s hardly an official announcement, Luke Donald has received a very public endorsement from the most recent Ryder Cup captain, leading the Daily Mail’s Derek Lawrenson to report that the captaincy race is all about over.

Lawrenson writes of Padraig Harrington’s blessing…

‘As players, we’ve certainly discussed who will be the next captain,’ the Dubliner admitted to Sportsmail.

‘It was assumed it was going to be Lee but I can see where he is coming from, he is playing good golf and he wants to concentrate on that. His decision certainly put the cat among the pigeons though, didn’t it?

‘All I can say is that Luke would be great. Behind the scenes he does a terrific job. His management style... he knows. 

Henrik Stenson, also thought to be a leading candidate, was given an ultimatum to decided between a Captaincy or taking Saudi Golf League money, the Telegraph’s James Corrigan recently reported.

R.I.P. Bob Goalby

/

The 1968 Masters champion, 11-time PGA Tour winner and longtime NBC golf announcer passed away at age 92.

The team at KSDK in St Louis was first to report the sad news. 

Dan O’Neill’s lengthy and detailed remembrance for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is a fitting salute to the only native of that city to win a major. He opened with this:

Shortly after he won the 1968 Masters, Bob Goalby received a letter from Bobby Jones, the legendary patriarch of the championship. In his correspondence, Jones wrote:

“I ask you to always remember that you won the tournament under the rules of golf and by superlative play.”

Adam Schupak at Golfweek noted this in his story:

Goalby was drafted into the Army in 1950 and he served until 1952. Afterwards, Goalby began playing professionally and was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 1958. He also played in the 1963 Ryder Cup Matches.

But it was the 1968 Masters that was his signature triumph. Goalby’s heroics down the stretch often have been overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the tournament. It shouldn’t be forgotten that Goalby birdied Nos. 13 and 14, then made eagle at No. 15, drilling a 3-iron from 200 yards to 6 feet. He shot 66 and posted 11-under 277 at Augusta National.

In a PGATour.com salute by Jim McCabe, he writes:

Born into the Great Depression, he persevered and made a beautiful life. He contributed a voice in building the PGA TOUR into the mega-enterprise it is. The PGA TOUR Champions didn’t exist until he and a few friends relentlessly campaigned for it.

On so many occasions he should have heard “thank you” for being a man of strength and vision. Instead, often he was expected to say “sorry” for playing a brilliant round of golf on April 14, 1968.

Go figure.

One of the better interviews Goalby gave was this 2018 My Shot for Golf Digest.

Here is the final round broadcast starting at the 14th hole, where Goalby made birdie followed by eagle at the 15th:

Some tributes:

Who Needs A Pro Jock? Bhatia Wins Korn Ferry Event With Girlfriend On The Bag

/

The 19-year-old prodigy who skipped college and turned pro has only shown glimpses of greatness. But facing uncertain Korn Ferry Tour status Akshay Bhatia, pulled off a win that will change his year, notes GolfChannel.com’s Brentley Romine:

Bhatia got into this week’s field courtesy of the category reserved for Nos. 151-200 in FedExCup points, and his original goal, one that remained as he began his final round, was to finish inside the top 10 and automatically qualify for another week. Such is the life of a tour pro without full status. Only Bhatia, who played his final nine in 5 under with birdies on three of his last four holes, no longer has that problem.

He finished the win off in style, hitting the 18th hole flagstick:

The week started off with Bhatia and girlfriend Presleigh Schultz explaining the partnership that all started with an Instagam DM and without her knowing anything about golf. (But she is a content creator and business manager!).

Who needs a pro jock?

Here was the social content posted by the Tour and lambasted by some respondents before Bhatia went on to win:

American Express To Keep The Desert Tradition Going Through 2028

/

Larry Bohannan reports the stellar news for what was once a staple of the PGA Tour schedule which has seen a revolving door of sponsors and hosts. But armed with a blue chip sponsor, The American Express is enjoying its strongest field in years.

The story says Phil Mickelson’s foundation will continue to benefit from tournament proceeds through 2024, but there is no mention of Mickelson’s role as host (announced in 2019) and he did not give a pre-tournament press conference.

American Express Extends Sponsorship of The American Express through 2028

Title Sponsor, American Express, helps TOUR continue sixty-two-year tradition in the Coachella Valley  

LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA — The PGA TOUR today announced American Express will continue its role as title sponsor of The American Express in La Quinta, California, through 2028. The annual tournament, which features a unique pro-am format, takes place January 20-23 at PGA WEST Stadium, PGA WEST Nicklaus and La Quinta Country Club.

“Giving back to the community while celebrating the passions of our customers is at the center of what we do at American Express,” said Stephen J. Squeri, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Express. “We’ve seen the positive impact this tournament has on golf fans and the local community in the Coachella Valley. We’re honored to continue this legacy by extending our role as title sponsor and growing the total charitable funds raised to support so many outstanding local organizations focused on helping small businesses, the health and wellness of the community, youth sports, education and more.”

Since its introduction in 1960, the tournament has generated approximately $63 million for numerous non-profit organizations in the Coachella Valley that enrich the lives of Valley residents. In just two short years, The American Express has since donated $2.1 million to Coachella Valley-based charity organizations and looks forward to continuing to make a significant impact within the local community for years to come.

“Extending our partnership with American Express secures the future of PGA TOUR golf and its impact in the Coachella Valley for years to come,” said Jay Monahan, PGA TOUR Commissioner. “In the past two years alone, American Express has helped produce tremendous growth and awareness for this historic event, offering up a great field and a first-rate tournament experience. All this while generating significant charitable impact in the region.”

World No. 1 ranked player Jon Rahm, FedExCup champion Patrick Cantlay and Phil Mickelson, a 45-time PGA TOUR winner and World Golf Hall of Fame member headline The American Express field. Si Woo Kim of South Korea, winner of The American Express last year by one stroke over eventual FedExCup champion Patrick Cantlay, returns in 2022 to defend his title. All four rounds throughout the weekend will be carried live on Golf Channel and streamed on ESPN+.

du Preez: 6-Foot-9, 144 M.P.H Clubhead Speed, 212 M.P.H. Ball Speed

/

The Desert Sun’s Shad Powers files a look at James Hart du Preez, a 26-year-old South African making his PGA Tour debut at the American Express. Du Preez is 6-foot9, 260 pounds and led the Sunshine Tour last year in driving distance. His average? 373.1 yards.

His combination of clubhead speed and raw power — his fastest clubhead speed is 144 miles per hour and his fastest ball speed is 212 miles per hour — has become the stuff of legend. His exploits are popular on YouTube as videos of him hitting tee shots have hundreds of thousands of views.

But he doesn’t like to be pigeon-holed as just a long-drive specialist.

“When people see me, obviously they don’t see 6-9 golfers come around very often so the first thing they gravitate towards is the long-hitting,” du Preez said. “But funny enough putting is the best part of my game and has been since I was a little kid. I didn’t grow until late in my life until about 16 or 17 so before then I never hit the ball far so I had to learn how to score chipping and putting.”

Check out the column as it’s a fun read, but I’d be remiss in not copying these “stock yardages” of du Preez:

  • Driver: 345

  • 3-wood: 305

  • 3-iron: 275

  • 4-iron: 253

  • 5-iron: 240

  • 6-iron: 227

  • 7-iron: 206

  • 8-iron: 190

  • 9-iron: 180

  • Full wedge: 160

  • 50-degree wedge: 145

  • 54-degree wedge: 127

  • 58-degree wedge: 105

Quadrilateral: Major(s) News & Notes: January 20, 2022

/

Southern Hills after a recent storm (Southern Hills)

CBS Returns With Saturday Farmers Finish And More Technology

/

The CBS golf gang briefed media on plans for the upcoming 2022 season, the 65th consecutive for the network. A few highlights:

  • CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus said the relationship with the PGA Tour “has never been better” as they start a new production arrangement

  • The Tour provides “below the line” personnel and pictures, CBS retains control of personnel and ability to deliver enhancements

  • McManus credited Farmers for “coming up with” this year’s Saturday finish to avoid AFC and NFC Championship games

  • Jim Nantz will work the opening Farmers event remotely from the AFC Championship game site and said “my longing for golf is the one that I feel the most” of sports he covers.

  • Colt Knost expands his role as on-course reporter and will team with Amanda Balionis to host a 16th hole set at the Waste Management Open

  • McManus said “the sales marketplace for golf in the first and second quarter is extremely strong,” noting “advertiser interest is very high”

  • The network is promising upgraded drone coverage and more tracers week-to-week

  • McManus said CBS is fully supportive of the Tour’s deal with Netflix: “We’re all in on it.”

  • Asked about the Saudi disruptor league, McManus said “we’re focused on the PGA Tour.”

The press release contains more details on what to expect in the way of technology improvements:

CBS SPORTS TEES OFF 65th CONSECUTIVE SEASON OF PGA TOUR COVERAGE FEATURING 20 PGA TOUR EVENTS ORIGINATING FROM FOUR COUNTRIES

 CBS Sports’ 2022 PGA TOUR Season Begins with Farmers Insurance Open on Friday, Jan. 28 and Features a Special Saturday Finish

 Increased Drone Usage, More Tracer Coverage than Ever Before, Graphic Enhancements and Virtual Interview Area Highlight 2022 Coverage Advancements

 CBS Sports begins its 65th consecutive year of PGA TOUR coverage, as once again the network features the most comprehensive lineup in network television, with 20 total PGA TOUR events originating from four countries.  

CBS Sports tees off its 2022 PGA TOUR season at the Farmers Insurance Open from Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif., with play concluding with a special Saturday finish. The third-round on Friday, Jan. 28 (5:00-8:00 PM, ET) and final-round on Saturday, Jan. 29, (4:30-8:00 PM, ET), will be broadcast on the CBS Television Network and streamed live on Paramount+.

Jim Nantz serves as CBS golf anchor, beginning with the Farmers Insurance Open, broadcasting the event live from the site of the AFC Championship game. Lead analyst Sir Nick Faldo, along with Ian Baker-Finch, Frank Nobilo and Trevor Immelman, handle announcing and analysis from the Super Tower throughout the season. Lead on-course reporter Dottie Pepper, with Mark Immelman and Colt Knost in an expanded role, along with reporter Amanda Balionis, round out the CBS golf announce team. Andrew Catalon will host select CBS broadcasts as well. 

CBS Sports continues its legacy as the gold standard for broadcasting and innovation in golf television, building off last season’s successful elements and enhancements including the constant leaderboard and rules official in conjunction with the PGA TOUR, among others.  

This year, the network will add additional technology and equipment throughout the course of the season to enhance the broadcast and better serve viewers. Some of those developments include increased drone usage that present picturesque and never before seen views of the course to provide overviews of holes; additional cameras and more tracer coverage than ever before to showcase ball flight information and shot shaping on key holes; graphic enhancements – including utilizing more Shotlink data to provide additional data on a given player or hole through virtual overlays – and a new, virtual interview area for Balionis with augmented reality to better contextualize different holes and shots on the course.

Sellers Shy is lead producer, with Steve Milton as lead director, for CBS Sports’ golf coverage. Sean McManus is Chairman, CBS Sports. David Berson is President, CBS Sports. Harold Bryant is Executive Producer and Executive Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

CBS SPORTS’ MULTI-PLATFORM COMPLEMENTARY GOLF PROGRAMMING 

CBS Sports will provide multi-platform, complementary golf programming throughout the season as well. Beginning Monday, Jan. 24 (11:00 PM, ET), CBS Sports Network will air COURSE RECORD WITH MICHAEL BREED, featuring renowned golf instructor Michael Breed and co-host Greg DuCharme discussing the latest in the golf world.

Additionally, CBS Sports Network will air both classic PGA TOUR telecasts each week leading up to the tournament on CBS, as well as encores of CBS’ final round coverage on Monday nights.

The CBS Television Network will broadcast, with Paramount+ streaming live, five PGA TOUR Specials and six Korn Ferry Tour Specials, multiple COURSE RECORD WITH MICHAEL BREED and FALDO FORMULA episodes, along with additional golf programming throughout the season leading into live golf coverage. 

The CBS Television Network and CBS Sports Network will also each air an hour special highlighting the Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Tour this summer, highlighting the stories of the golfers and the rich history of the Tour.

For all PGA TOUR events this year, CBS Sports’ full coverage will be available to stream live in markets across the U.S. on Paramount+ with additional coverage on CBSSports.com, the CBS Sports app, and CBS Sports HQ, the 24/7 streaming sports news network.