Tiger: "It was the ultimate capitulation."

As John Strege notes, the combination of rain, an already oversaturated product re-starting way too soon, and Tiger's WD has the new PGA Tour season dragging.

But as he always does, Tiger still overshadows the week. The SI gang kicked around his WD in this week's Confidential, with Alan Shipnuck declaring the end nigh and the WD the ultimate capitulation.

I also thought this from Gary Van Sickle is a key point for those trying, a week later, to understand how someone enters a tournament on Friday and WD's on Monday.

Johnny Miller said he wasn’t convinced Tiger would play give how gingerly Tiger got in and out of the carts at the Ryder Cup. Back surgery isn’t knee surgery, and knee surgery is no snap. Maybe Tiger is so used to being able to cobble together a game in a few days that he forgot that everything — his age, his body, his desire — is different now.

Trending: Sand Coming (Back) To St. Andrews!

We saw it at Troon and Turnberry and the world continued to revolve on its axis. So it is with great delight that Adam Lawrence reports on a New Course at St. Andrews effort to remove the gorse that so annoyed Old Tom Morris, and restore it to the sandy/grassy aesthetic of old.

This news is fun on multiple levels: this makes for a better looking course, better playing and better functioning. And what happens in St. Andrews has the potential to influence countless other links that have been compromised by gorse and the loss of dunes.

Lawrence quotes Graeme Taylor, course manager for the New and Jubilee.

Taylor told GCA that the reason for converting the gorse areas back to exposed sand was primarily ecological. “Bob Taylor, our ecologist from the Sports Turf Research Institute, actaully first suggested the exposed sand areas back in 2005,” he explained. “Bob explained that exposed sand was a habitat common to linksland and was ecologically important. We tried a few areas then, but nothing like the scale of what we are now doing. Bob visited us again after last year’s Open, and again suggested that creating open sand areas would be very beneficial ecologically, restore natural habitats, and be an interesting feature to otherwise scruffy areas.”

The news of an architect's involvement at St. Andrews is also intriguing given Ebert's fine work at Turnberry, Troon and presumably based on the track record of he and partner Tom Mackenzie, Portrush.

Could this be leading to a consulting role for The Old Course? Given the many disappointing tweaks in recent times and the overabundance of gorse that would have Old Tom fuming, let's hope so.

Se Ri Pak Retires In Style

To many players she's the Tiger Woods of women's golf, a pioneer/all-time great and class act extraordinaire. Se Ri took one last turn around the links before calling it a career following round one of the KEB HanaBank Championship.

Beth Ann Nichols filing from Incheon, Korea with a nice Golfweek send-off handled in first rate fashion.

Generations of Se Ri Pak fans filled the grandstands as moving tributes played on the big screen and the angelic sound of a children’s choir filled the air.

It was a farewell fit for a queen.

“I must be the only athlete ever to be sent off with such a moving and beautiful retirement ceremony,” Pak said.

Pak’s first loop around the Ocean Course at the KEB HanaBank Championship was the last of her career. It had to end here on home soil, even if a nagging shoulder injury kept her from completing 72 holes. Pak cleared the stage for the next generation of “Se Ri’s” kids. She’ll hang around Sky72 the rest of the week signing autographs and making everyone – from CEOs to eager fans – feel like they matter most.

“She’s got class you can’t teach,” said Mo Martin.

An LPGA tribute video:

Greg Norman Redirects! World Grapples With New Shark Logo

Sam Weinman talks to Greg Norman about the big change from Great White Shark Enterprises to the Greg Norman Company, which will fascinate, shock and interest almost no one.

But why, oh why Shark is there a logo change when we were so attached to the multi-color shark...

"If I didn't redirect, it was going to die on the vine," Norman said by phone on Tuesday.

Hence the announcement earlier this month that Norman would be re-branding and transforming his business in 2017. Say goodbye to Great White Shark Enterprises, say hello to the Greg Norman Company.

Norman's repositioning of his company from a mostly consumer-facing brand to one that will expand to business-to-business services was an idea that began some 18 months ago, and has involved everything from the influx of new personnel, to a new partnership with Verizon that will revolve around educational technology.

And you think this blog doesn't bring you life-changing news.

FYI, Shark's gramming his way to a new beginning with this inspiration...

#mondaymotivation Amen!!!

A photo posted by Greg Norman (@shark_gregnorman) on Oct 10, 2016 at 3:54pm PDT

And btw, a hurricane to most people is not an opportunity to brand your fitness devotion and love of chainsawing shrubbery. Unless you are the Greg Norman Company.

I have picked up 851 of these palm fronds with more to go 2days after #hurricanematthew brushed by my property. #workout

A photo posted by Greg Norman (@shark_gregnorman) on Oct 8, 2016 at 8:37am PDT

Tribunal Offers Glimpse Into Behind-The-Scenes European Tour Executive Drama

Thanks to reader David for Joseph Curtis' Daily Mail story on an "employment tribunal" involving the European Tour versus Scott Kelly, 61, a former lieutenant under George O'Grady fired by new chief Keith Pelley.

Kelly is alleging age discrimination.

Scott Kelly, 61, travelled the world attending high profile tournaments for two decades, forged close relationships with important figures including Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco and even brokered a £126million sponsorship deal with Rolex.

But he claims to have been dismissed by the tour's new chief executive Keith Pelley after he was told to stop attending major events including the Solheim Cup, the female equivalent of the Ryder Cup, and adopt new 'data-based' approaches to gather sponsorship.

The tribunal in Reading heard that the Mr Pelley wanted Group Marketing Director Mr Kelly to use computer programmes to attract new partnerships.

He said he was even asked to take an 80 per cent salary cut and retirement options, which he refused.

The story goes on and on about the case, documenting the shift in sales approach and other interesting tidbits about the Pelley approach.