Major(s) News & Notes September 1, 2022

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The Strategic Alliance Presents: The Genesis Scottish Open

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The sun is out, the wind blowing and the fescue more brown than green at Renaissance Club. If the Tom Doak design can’t shine in this—and of course after Padraig Harrington’s design tweak advice—there may not be much hope for the East Lothian links. From what I’ve seen of the 10th hole, I’m hoping it plays less ghastly than it looks.

But with Genesis injecting new life into the grounds, the PGA Tour/DP World Tour Strategic Alliance (PGATDPWSA) bringing the two tours together for a world class field, it should be a dandy.

Tee times for a field with 14 of the top 15 golfers in the Official World Golf Ranking.

In the UK, Sky times go all day essentially and with 160 players this one will take most of the day.

Thursday: Sky Sport Golf and Sky Sports Main Event from 8am
Friday: Sky Sport Golf and Sky Sports Main Event from 8am
Saturday: Sky Sports Golf from 8.30am
Sunday: Sky Sport Golf and Sky Sports Main Event from 8.30am

Golf Channel times (all ET):

Thursday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. ET (Golf Channel – World Feed), 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Golf Channel). Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. (Golf Channel), 12 p.m.-3 p.m. (CBS)

The Alliance Strikes Back! PGA Tour And DP World Tour Announce Enhanced Partnership

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After rumors of a possible deal with Saudi Arabia’s LIV Golf, the DP World Tour has leveraged the perceptions—all the media’s fault—to get a better deal with the PGA Tour. Namely, ten cards, several hundred million dollars and more joint events promised through 2035.

The situation remains bizarre that so much boilerplate language is thrown about with so few details after nearly two years of disruptive possibilities. Nor do the sides seem to be addressing the oversaturation of their products and market forces indicating a desire to tighten things up. The market may address that in time. For now, and For Immediate Release with interruptions:

DP WORLD TOUR, PGA TOUR EXPAND AND STRENGTHEN ALLIANCE

* Move is a significant boost to a global pathway for competitive golf 

*PGA TOUR to provide operational support and additional investment to the DP World Tour

* DP World Tour prize fund levels set to grow annually 

The DP World Tour and the PGA TOUR have moved to significantly strengthen not only their existing alliance but also help develop players to compete at the pinnacle of men’s professional golf, by unveiling a ground-breaking new 13-year operational joint venture partnership.

The partnership, through to 2035, builds on the success of the existing Strategic Alliance between the two Tours that was unveiled in November 2020 and which has already seen tangible benefits for members of both Tours, not least the co-sanctioning of the Genesis Scottish Open on the DP World Tour, alongside access for both memberships into the Barbasol Championship and the Barracuda Championship on the PGA TOUR.

Such benefits that only a bunch guys departed for LIV Golf. But go on…

Collaboration has already borne fruit for the DP World Tour with the introduction of new tournament title sponsors such as Genesis and Horizon and new Tour partners such as Fortinet and Velocity Global.

Life changing stuff…for the people who got bonuses inking those deals.

In addition, working together to drive prize funds and commercial revenue will not only benefit the entire range of both memberships immediately, but also develop immense strategic opportunities for all members of both Tours for the future.

But will it be more interesting to watch? Bring more top players together on great courses?

As part of the new joint venture, the PGA TOUR will increase its existing stake in European Tour Productions from 15 percent to 40 percent, while utilising the DP World Tour’s recognised international credentials and global footprint to continue to coordinate a worldwide schedule.

Gobbledygook alert! Glad they found more millions found in the cushions! The PGA Tour spent $85 million for 15% so…

The DP World Tour will guarantee growth in annual prize funds to its membership for the next five years, all above the record 2022 levels unveiled as part of the DP World Tour title partnership arrangement announced last November. 

The new joint venture will provide additional competitive opportunities for professional golfers of both Tours and also establish a clearly defined pathway for top players around the world. Players from the Sunshine Tour and ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia, with whom the DP World Tour already has existing Strategic Alliances, now enjoy a formal pathway to the DP World Tour.

Now that’s a positive for developing players from other parts of the world.

With today’s announcement, DP World Tour members will now have direct and formal access to the very pinnacle of the men’s professional game on the PGA TOUR.

To achieve that, from 2023, the leading ten players on the end of season DP World Tour Rankings [in addition to those already exempt] will earn PGA TOUR cards for the following season.

Another positive. Key language: in addition to. So this is not some top 10 who already would have a PGA Tour card.

Furthermore, the DP World Tour will work closely on the development and implementation of the new international events announced by PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan last week at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut, and DP World members will gain access to those events.

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive Officer of the DP World Tour said: “Building on the success of the existing Strategic Alliance between ourselves and the PGA TOUR, this move will significantly enhance the meritocracy that has successfully served the professional game on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 50 years. 

“It is a natural extension and progression of what we have been doing over the past few years and I passionately believe that this move is the right thing for our players, our Tour, our fans, and the game of golf in general.

“Our two tours have undoubtedly drawn closer over the past few years and today’s announcement strengthens both Tours for the betterment of both memberships.” 

And Jay, who did not include Pelley in last week’s scripted opening remarks, talks like he won this match on the 22nd hole:

Jay Monahan, Commissioner of the PGA TOUR, said, “It was clear from the outset that our Strategic Partnership with the European Tour Group was a powerful agreement for both sides, and we are thrilled with today’s announcement of this expanded partnership. 

“We will continue to collaborate on a global schedule and key commercial areas as we draw our organizations and memberships even closer together while innovating to provide the most entertaining and compelling golf possible to fans around the world. On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I want to credit and commend Keith Pelley and his team at the European Tour Group for their incredible commitment to this effort.”

It may be a tiny semantics deal, but it’s curious he keeps referring to the European Tour group and avoids DP World Tour.

As always, we’ll see what the two sides come up with. That they already had a partnership and yet no fall schedule plan suggests one side was distracted instead of pinning down details for Fall events. Which side? We don’t know.

"LIV Golf faces hurdles in applying for world ranking points"

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In his weekly notes column, AP’s Doug Ferguson details the issues facing the LIV golf quest to get world ranking points for players, vital for its younger stars to earn access to major championships.

While there are currently conflicting reports on whether an application has been submitted by LIV and received by the OWGR, Ferguson notes all of the ways the 54-hole, limited field size schedule will not qualify.

One is that every tournament be contested over at least 54 holes with a 36-hole cut or be in line with eligible formats. LIV Golf has no cut.

The OWGR guidelines indicate a standard format of 72 holes, with 54 holes acceptable “for those tournaments earnings fewer than 12 minimum first-place points.” In other words, a steady diet of 54-hole events is typically for developmental tours or offseason series, such as the Vodacom Origins of Golf in South Africa.

Guidelines also state that tournaments must average a 75-man field over the course of the season.

Other than that…

LIV can expand and tweak if this is of importance to its players. Given how many still have major exemptions or are simply taking the easy money, perhaps OWGR status will never matter to the league.

Pelley Vents About "What is transpiring right now across all media platforms"

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Now, even though he’s largely been in hiding, only denied one small part of a recent Golf Digest story via a DP World Tour statement, was the proud instigator of golf getting in bed with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, and was not mentioned in Jay Monahan’s prepared opening remarks last week, it still appears DP World Tour chief Keith Pelley is blaming media for speculation about a possible Saudi deal.

From Andrew Wright’s report on an in-house video message to his players and partners includes this:

"There's been a lot of speculation, a lot of rumours swirling," Pelley said. "There’s been very little fact and lots of fiction. Factually, I can tell you we're partners with the PGA Tour in our strategic alliance that has been very beneficial since we signed that back in November 2020. 

"There is a tremendous amount of fiction and you have to be careful with what is transpiring right now across all media platforms and I encourage everyone to again deal with the fact. 

"The one fact is that we will always concentrate on doing the best for our membership, our sponsors, and our stakeholders, and for our players and our members that is prize fund and playing opportunities."

Perhaps a little more transparency and a lot less hiding would help squelch these rumors? Just a thought!

The Strategic Alliance Is Alive! DP World Tour Gets Around To Sanctioning Defectors

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The PGA Tour’s “strategic alliance” with the DP World Tour seemed on thin ice after Wednesday’s presser where Jay Monahan did not include them in his opening remarks.

But a day after it was expected, the Tour formerly known as European fined defectors to LIV Golf and will not allow them to play in three upcoming co-sanctioned events with the PGA Tour, including the prestigious Genesis Scottish Open.

A Press Association piece noted this distinction between the Tours (on top of announcing fine amounts), which could suggest the Europeans are buying time while negotiating with LIV’s Saudi sugar daddies.

While the PGA Tour immediately indefinitely banned all their members within minutes of the players teeing off at Centurion Club a fortnight ago the DP World Tour delayed making a decision until now.

Pelley consulted the organisation’s wider membership before the decision was taken to sanction the involved players, who in addition to the Scottish Open - traditionally used as a warmup for the Open Championship the following week - have also been banned from PGA Tour co-sanctioned Barbasol Championship and the Barracuda Championship next month.

The full release:

DP WORLD TOUR CONFIRMS MEMBER SANCTIONS

The DP World Tour today confirmed the sanctions to be taken against members who breached Tour regulations and participated in a LIV Golf event at Centurion Club from June 9-11, despite not having received releases to allow them to do so.

Such actions contravened the conflicting event Regulation laid down in the Members’ General Regulations Handbook as well as the Code of Behaviour Regulation, of which the members have been reminded on a number of recent occasions, and has led the Tour to take the following steps, which have been notified to all members concerned.

  • They will be fined £100,000*

  • They have been advised that they are suspended from participating in the following DP World Tour tournaments - the Genesis Scottish Open and Barbasol Championship (July 7-10) and the Barracuda Championship (July 14-17) and have been removed from the entry lists of these events where applicable.

It is important to note that participation in a further conflicting tournament or tournaments without the required release may incur further sanctions.

*Money raised from the fines will be shared equally in two distinct ways; (i) it will be added to prize funds of upcoming tournaments on the DP World Tour, to the benefit of Members of the DP World Tour who have complied with the Release rules and (ii) it will be distributed through the Tour’s Golf for Good programme to deserving charitable causes in the communities that the DP World Tour plays.

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, said: “Every action anyone takes in life comes with a consequence and it is no different in professional sport, especially if a person chooses to break the rules. That is what has occurred here with several of our members.

“Many members I have spoken to in recent weeks expressed the viewpoint that those who have chosen this route have not only disrespected them and our Tour, but also the meritocratic ecosystem of professional golf that has been the bedrock of our game for the past half a century and which will also be the foundation upon which we build the next 50 years.

“Their actions are not fair to the majority of our membership and undermine the Tour, which is why we are taking the action we have announced today.”

Is The Tour Formerly Known As European Considering A Saudi Partnership?

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GolfDigest.com’s Dan Rapaport and John Huggan talk to multiple sources suggesting the DP World Tour is mulling a “partnership of sorts” with the Saudi Arabia backed LIV Golf.

More than a dozen sources from across the DP World Tour and PGA Tour landscape have told Golf Digest that Pelley is mulling a rather impactful decision: a partnership of sorts between his tour and LIV Golf Investments, or a further integration with the PGA Tour. A spokesman for LIV declined to comment for this story, but a source intimately familiar with discussions between the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour says both sides see potential value in aligning more closely.

“[Pelley’s] getting serious pressure from his rank-and-file members to consider the Saudis,” says one high-profile player.

According to sources, Pelley was seen at Centurion Golf Club during LIV’s inaugural event last weekend, though it is not known whether any formal discussions with LIV took place. A spokesperson for the DP World Tour declined comment when asked about any conversations with either LIV Golf or the PGA Tour.

A partnership with LIV Golf for the former European Tour could present benefits to both sides.

The DP World Tour issued a statement in response to the piece but only addressed the whereabouts of the increasingly low profile Pelley last week:

We are aware of some reports in the media that DP World Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley attended the event at Centurion Club last week. This is categorically untrue as Keith was in Sweden attending the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed tournament.

Euro Tour Player On Playing For Saudi Arabia: "It’s time to stand up" And Boycott

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Journeyman Mike Lorenzo-Vera spoke out to Tom Kershaw about the question of taking Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia money. (Thanks to reader B for sending.)

His views were shaped after watching a BBC documentary on the war in Yemen.

“If you go to the players’ lounge at any time, at least one table is speaking about [the LIV Series],” he tells The Independent. “Even me, I’d love to play for that amount of money as well for my family, my passions, but there is a time when you need to stand up a little bit and be a human being. I know there are players who are uncomfortable with it but it feels like they are staying quiet just in case there’s a piece of the cake coming to them one day. Some players will speak but the crowd needs to boycott it as well, don’t go there.”

Lorenzo-Vera also mocked the format:

Until such a rival league is properly established, though, Lorenzo-Vera likens the invitational events, which will be played over 54 holes without a cut, to a “comedy show”.

“If you play like s***, you still take a hundred grand,” he says. “The guys at the top will be fighting but for the rest, it’s like a paid holiday. The format is not golf. It’s just a show.”

Trouble In Europe: 40 Players Ask For Releases And Other Signs Of Player Point-Missing

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As John Huggan documents in this story from the British Masters, the then-European Tour went very far with the Raine Group and Premier Golf League folks discussing a deal that fell apart at the last minute. European Tour Chief Keith Pelley went with a PGA Tour alliance instead and now as the Saudi-backed LIV Golf threatens the rebranded DP World Tour’s existence, players are realizing the PGA Tour may not be the hoped-for salvation.

And there is this:

“I’m 41 and I don't want to be playing golf for the rest of my working life,” says another tour player who asked not to be named. “This week [at the Betfred British Masters] we’re playing for €2 million, which is the basically the same as 15 years ago. And I have to finish in the middle of the pack to clear maybe £1,000. That’s not much, when expenses have quadrupled in that time.

“So I’m tempted. The tour doesn’t care about me. They say they do, but they don’t. If I disappeared tomorrow, it would make no difference to them. Plus, there is hypocrisy here. The Saudi event was OK for three years and now it’s not? I worry for the future of this tour. It might be here in 10 years time, but I can’t imagine it will look like it does now.”

The Telegraph’s James Corrigan reports that 40 players asked the DP World Tour for releases to the forthcoming London event. The deadline was Monday, May 9th and the number appears to be higher than expected.

But given the slow movement strengthening the “strategic alliance” should anyone really be surprised? We learned last week the PGA Tour is still devoting excess energy to its fall slate and and rehashing many of the same issues that have weakened their product in the wraparound/FedEx first era. The Tour was weakened trying to save those fall events and now appears to be vulnerable devoting more time to saving events that attract tiny audiences.

Then you have the players who, besides the unnamed one quoted above lamenting the state of affairs, appear to genuinely believe they are worth extreme courting and lucrative measures to lure them away.

While I’m sure Matthew Southgate is a tremendous human and his cancer survival is inspiring, he spoke on a recent Sky Sports podcast about all the things the Saudi money could do to develop new talent and build something big four or five years from now. His comments provide a window into the kind of delusional thinking that believes we are living in a time of players like the game has never seen before and ones that fans are clamoring to see like no other generation.

Mind you, it’s been years since a European Tour event drew a measurable rating on Golf Channel and the turnover rate of players and parity is extreme. Plus, a new condensed PGA Tour schedule is now hurting tournaments between majors, reducing the amount we see stars in the weeks between the Grand Slam.

But an unsettling number of players believe this moment has become because of them instead of, say, Tiger Woods or the Saudis wanting to use golf to improve their terrible image.

From a Golf.com item summarizing Southgate’s remarks:

“The most overlooked thing with the Saudi tour at the minute is that everybody is focusing on the players of today and nobody is thinking of the players of tomorrow,” the DP World Tour player said on the podcast. “Five years ago, we didn’t know Bob MacIntyre, we didn’t know Scottie Scheffler, we don’t know Viktor Hovland or either of the Hojgaard brothers. When you start going through the list of players who weren’t on Tour five years ago, it’s quite significant.

And most of those names could walk down any street on the planet and not be recognized, but please, continue.

“Should they have a stumbling block today because they can’t get the players of today, there’s nothing stopping them producing the players of tomorrow. That’s where it’s tough.

“If Saudi were to put on a tour school for the youngsters and start to produce their own players, which would be easy enough for them to do, then as soon as you ban one current player going to play, there you can’t possibly invite a future player coming back to play.

“Let’s just say the next Bob MacIntyre is 18 years old, and he’s sat somewhere in Scotland today. He goes to the Saudi Tour school and wins, or gets an invite to play on the Saudi Tour, then in five years’ time, he’s world No. 1. You can’t then invite him back to play Scottish Open if you’re banning everybody else already on that Tour from going off to play in the Saudi events.

That’s true, assuming someone is willing to pony up money to develop players and go off the radar for a few years in hopes of building a tour. Perhaps the Saudis have that kind of long term commitment but so far, they’ve pivoted about five ways to make the upcoming events work and have shown little temperament for the building scenario outlined.