Berger: "I've never taken a bad drop in my life and I’m not about to take one now"

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Daniel Berger’s ball is circled in black

Another rules incident was reported but not shown on NBC’s broadcast of the Players, this time involving Daniel Berger being openly questioned by playing partners Joel Dahmen and Viktor Hovland.

It would have been tough to go into great depth with the tournament coming down to the last few holes and Berger having fallen out of contention. Still, this uncomfortable one comes on the heal of similar sticky situations at Bay Hill the previous week.

Thanks to PGA Tour Live and a more progressive Tour posting such things, you can view the Berger shot and lengthy discussion between the three, joined too by chief referee Gary Young who ultimately left things up to the players.

Golfweek’s Adam Schupak wrote about the episode.

Both Berger and Dahmen declined to speak to the media after the round, but Hovland answered a few questions on the subject.

“It’s not a fun conversation, but when you strongly believe in something, you kind of have to stand your ground,” Hovland said. “It’s not like we’re trying to dog on Daniel and trying to screw him over. It’s just, that’s what we believe, and he obviously felt strongly the other way. It’s just what it is. I’m not accusing him of anything. The golf ball is in the air for a couple seconds, so it’s tough to exactly pinpoint where it crossed and not. But Joel and I saw it in one way and he saw it differently.”

As with the events at Bay HIll, it’s disconcerting the video evidence was not shown on network on TV or that in the Berger case, it was determined there was no such evidence to influence the discussion.

Maybe a PGA Tour Live sub for the referees?

ShotLink also appeared to capture the trajectory of the ball. Note the dashed line. Whether this would have settled the debate is another matter.

The dashed line captures the approximate point of entry.

Note the dashed line, lower left (ShotLink)

Reviewing the evidence and reporting on it with pictures continues to be desperately needing to be addressed on broadcasts. It’s also just good TV.

At least in this case there were social media postings by the PGA Tour sharing the episode and a close viewing would suggest both sides scored legitimate points. The video evidence supports Berger’s belief and ShotLink may lean a bit toward Dahmen and Hovland’s view. That we got to see it via social media is progress and in a weird way, the transparency seems beneficial to all of the players.

Quadrilateral: What We Learned From The 2022 Players

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Island Green Madness: When Unlucky Gets Confused With Unfair

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Shotlink’s 17th hole through Saturday’s play in the 2022 Players

An intense Saturday of rain-delayed play saw high winds after a front moved through Ponte Vedra. Temperatures dropped and the TPC Sawgrass’ 17th saw one of those days of trouble, with 19 water balls spread between first and second round play.

While that’s nothing compared to the all-time worst of 50, Kevin Kisner said the conditions produced “pure luck” and impugned The Players Championship’s “integrity.” Other players seemed to take things in better stride if you read Adam Schupak’s Golfweek wrap of the antics. Credit to players like Collin Morikawa who said he just missed his shot and while difficult, the task was doable.

And if you take a look at PGA Tour’s compilation of all 19 water balls—drop area shots included—it’s staggering how many shots were dead just a few yards off the club face. Or how many purely awful strikes were made trying to play the ball down. I estimated 9 of the 19 just were unlucky due to a gust or just missing the 3,912 green. The rest never had a chance.

On Golf Channel’s Live From, it was nice to have some sparring back on set that’s been lost since Frank Nobilo and David Duval left.

Paul McGinley held firm in believing the conditions were tough and nothing more than a “freak day”.

Brandel Chamblee insisted the day was unfair. Most surprising were Chamblee’s claims that a tournament he calls a major also has “far too capricious of an element to have at the end of a major championship.”

There goes the major status!

The element he’s referring to: the par-3 17th, playing 136 yards for second round play.

Chamblee insisted that all efforts are made to have a sameness throughout the course in the name of fairness—a topic to debate for another day—and that “sport begins to break down if it’s seen as unfair.”

McGinley pushed back that “you can’t standardize golf” as an “outdoor sport.”

Chamblee countered that the 17th green was far too penal and “tilts the tournament more toward chance” before citing the shots of talented iron players like Morikawa and Scottie Scheffler.

I was surprised he went to those. Both hit shots that looked like trouble right after impact.

Anyway, Rich Lerner countered with some of the chance on 12 at Augusta National by Chamblee argued there is a difference Alister MacKenzie’s diagonal green backed by bunkers and TPC Sawgrass’s 17 with water all the way around (and suggested that would be a good fix for Pete Dye’s infamous hole).

It’s a lively discussion worth watching. But McGinley ultimately won the match by pointing out how players who “flighted” their shots below the wind reduced the element of chance. And his case was backed up by ShotLink data in a graphic.

Golf Channel “Live From” graphic using ShotLink data of tee shot apex, 17th hole 2022 Players

The full Live From discussion:

Monahan: "Let's move on."

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Jay Monahan sat down for a solid exchange of many questions and gave pretty frank answers as the 2022 Players week begins. It’s fascinating to ponder what might have happened had he taken the tough tone toward disruptors sooner. Now that things have unraveled thanks to Phil Mickelson and other players committing to the PGA Tour, Monahan made clear the PGA Tour is moving on.

Before I make some additional comments on THE PLAYERS Championship, I wanted to take a moment to address all of the news, discourse and conjecture lately about the world of professional golf. 

I'd like to emphatically reiterate what I told our players at our mandatory player meeting two weeks ago at the Honda Classic. 

The PGA TOUR is moving on. We have too much momentum and too much to accomplish to be consistently distracted by rumors of other golf leagues and their attempts to disrupt our players, our partners, and most importantly our fans from enjoying the TOUR and the game we all love so much. 

I am grateful for the strong support our top players have shown recently and publicly, and I'm extremely proud that we've turned the conversation around to focus on what we do best: Delivering world-class golf tournaments with the best players to the best fans, all while positively impacting the communities in which we play. We are and we always will be focused on legacy, not leverage. 

You saw it a few weeks back with Joaquin Neimann winning the Genesis Invitational, a historic venue in Riviera Country Club, huge crowds following his every move and Joaquin receiving the trophy from tournament host Tiger Woods, the player who literally inspired him to take up the game. Those are personal moments that cannot be replicated at any price. 

History shows that the PGA TOUR is bigger than any one player. Arnold and Jack both expressed that thought throughout their careers, and Tiger echoed that very sentiment in December and at the Genesis Invitational when he said, the PGA TOUR will always be his home. 

So there is no better place than at the home of the PGA TOUR to reiterate our focus and promise to our fans and our players. Let's move on. 

Well okay then.

He offered these remarks on the Ukraine situation:

Before I open things up for questions, I did want to take a moment to realize what's happening overseas right now in Ukraine. Our hearts go out to the people of Ukraine and those caught in the crosshairs of the conflict. We hope for an end to the senseless violence and a peaceful resolution. 

I believe Jon Rahm shared some thoughts with you already in his press conference about our Golfers For Ukraine effort. The PGA TOUR is proud to join this industry-wise initiative to provide financial support and awareness for the crisis. 

At golfersforukraine.com the industry is collecting donations for UNICEF, a United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and development aid to children impacted by this crisis. The PGA TOUR and many others have already made donations, and we are encouraging support from the broader golf ecosystem. 

Here at THE PLAYERS, ribbons in the colors of the Ukrainian flag have been made available to players, caddies and staff. Thank you for shining a light on this effort through your media outlets as you see fit. 

He chose he words carefully and strangely on the notion of a team element reportedly under consideration.

Q. When that player and investor group approached you in the fall about a streamlined team type series that essentially would have nixed the Saudi threat or infringement or whatever you want to call it, what were your impressions of that idea, and why did the TOUR nix it? And just as a follow, do you see down the line the TOUR incorporating some team events into your schedule? 

JAY MONAHAN: I always act in the best interests of the PGA TOUR, and in that instance and in many instances there are proposals that come our way that just don't make sense. That was one of them. 

As it relates to how we move forward and whether or not we're going to incorporate team events, we have a team event in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The two greatest franchises in team events are Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup. And as an organization, we're going to continue to challenge ourselves to make certain that we're evolving and developing our product to the benefit of our players, our fans and all of our constituents. 

Evolving and developing leaves the door open for a franchise-driven team concept, which seems inevitable at some point (and don’t we have it with certain sponsors and de facto appearance fees?).

Sounds like the World Golf Hall of Fame is just about done:

Q. Can you comment about the future of the Hall of Fame in its current state as far as the museum, Hall of Fame? Now, I understand with COVID that most, if not all, museums have struggled regardless of what they're displaying, golf artifacts or works of art. But as far as where it is in St. Augustine and moving forward, can the TOUR or the World Golf Foundation commit to any great extent that it's going to be at that site for a certain amount of time going forward? 

JAY MONAHAN: We're excited about our induction ceremony tomorrow night. We're committed to the World Golf Hall of Fame through 2023. We're looking at all of our options as we go forward. We're fortunate to have been in St. Augustine for 25 years and are proud of the presence that we've created there, but to your point, the business of the Hall of Fame and the way that people consume Hall of Fames has changed, and we just want to make certain that any decision that we make about the next 25 years maximizes our ability to showcase the incredible careers and impact that every single member that's in the Hall of Fame has had on our game. 

As for Phil Mickelson, the total package of questions seem to suggest he’s been given time off until he apologizes, but we’ll never know. Happy reading between the lines…

Q. Jay, you spoke in your opening remarks about wanting to move on from the controversy that no player is bigger than the TOUR. Could you at least -- from Phil's perspective, can you give me your take on how long you think this is going to last? Will this quickly be moved aside? Obviously it's going to be incumbent on Phil to bring the forgiveness that's necessary so that you can truly move on? 

JAY MONAHAN: Yeah, I think that as it relates to Phil, you said it; the ball is in his court. He has said that he's stepping away and he wants time for reflection. That's something that I and we are going to respect and honor. 

When he's ready to come back to the PGA TOUR, we're going to have that conversation. That's a conversation I look forward to. 

And…

Q. Jay, have you spoken to Phil since all of this came out, and when he does return, does he need to do something first? Does he need to speak to you, or can he just show up at a tournament and tee it up again? 

JAY MONAHAN: I have not talked to Phil since he made his comments and since he said that he was stepping away. 

Like I said, I think the ball is in his court. I would welcome a phone call from him. But it's hard for me to talk about the different scenarios that could play out. 

Listen, he's a player that's won 45 times on the PGA TOUR. He's had a Hall of Fame career. He's won here at THE PLAYERS Championship. He's inspired a lot of people and helped grow this Tour, his Tour. 

So as difficult as it is to read some of the things that were said, ultimately a conversation will be had when he's ready to have it, and I will be ready to have it, as well. 

Today in openly bigoted ageist talk on the same day we’ve seen historic ratings (and coveted demo) lows the last few weeks:

Q. The five leading players in the world are all under 30, and I believe I'm right in saying that this is the first time this has ever happened. What does that tell you about the current state of golf? What's your interpretation of that statistic? 

JAY MONAHAN: Well, Andy Pazder would be proud of you because he opened up our Monday morning meeting with that statistic. 

You know, I think it's a reflection just on the system at work. I mean, these young players are coming from all over the world at a young age, having success on the Korn Ferry TOUR and the PGA TOUR at a very early age, and that depth of talent, you talk about the top 5, you extend it past the top 5 into the top 30 and the top 50, the athleticism, the youth, the preparedness, the system is working, and it's arguably the most exciting time in the history of the PGA TOUR for that reason. 

I think when we're over at our headquarter building tomorrow night and Tiger is being inducted into the Hall of Fame -- I mentioned my comments earlier about Joaquin -- I think a lot of that is reflected in what happened back in the late 90s and the early 2000s and throughout his career and the inspiration a great player, transcendent player like Tiger provided, and now you're seeing more players compete at a higher level at a younger age, and it's going to continue. 

Every signal that you see would suggest that this is something that's here to stay, and that's pretty darned exciting. 

Are people over 30 inferior? Oh right…Golf Desperation To Please Mystery Marketers Syndrome is very contagious. I keep forgetting!

Q. To follow up, Rory was just in here and said one of the things he'd like to see improved is transparency and he said specifically as it applied to disciplinary matters or even suspensions. Would you consider that, beyond the communication you have with players, would you consider making those things public? 

JAY MONAHAN: He just said that? 

Q. I can read you the quote, but one of the things -- he was asked to give you a report card, which was very good, by the way -- 

JAY MONAHAN: I would just say effective immediately, Rory McIlroy is suspended. (Laughter.) 

No, listen, Rory is a member of our policy board. He's a player director. That's something that has been raised in the past, and if that's something that a member of our board feels strongly about, rest assured it's a conversation we'll have with our Player Advisory Council and ultimately our board. That's the way the system works. 

It's a criticism that has been lobbied against the PGA TOUR through the years, and I think we always have to be open to evolving. That's something that we are open to. 

Open to yes, but actionable (in PVB parlance)?

This got to the point…

Q. I wonder if I could address some things that have been said against you and against the TOUR. Phil accused the TOUR of "obnoxious greed," Greg Norman in his open letter to you said you had bullied and threatened players. Those are quite strong claims. How do you address them specifically? 

JAY MONAHAN: I think people know me and they know how I play and how we operate and the values that we stand for, and I don't think there's any question that that's not how I operate. I haven't had a lot of people ask me about it because people know me. I'm right here. 

More Phil…

JAY MONAHAN: Listen, I'm not going to comment -- we don't comment on disciplinary matters, and Phil has asked for some time to step away, and I'm not going to comment any further on that. 

Q. From the time Phil's comments were published until five days later when he put out his statement saying he's going to take time away, did you ever feel like the ball would have been in your court to reach out to him? 

JAY MONAHAN: No, I didn't. 

Q. Why not? 

JAY MONAHAN: I've had a lot of conversations with Phil, and my conversations with Phil will stay between the two of us. But I know the man well enough, and I've had enough conversations with him where that's not something that I thought at that point in time I should or needed to do. Certainly had my phone on. 

He’s just searching for the right way to say sorry. In time.

Q. As much as you talk about moving forward, do you still consider this to be a threat, and is there any part of you that still looks over your shoulder? 

JAY MONAHAN: I think I've said this before. I wake up every day assuming someone is trying to take my lunch. That's the way I operate. That's the way we operate as a team. 

Yes we’ve noticed.

But we're here at THE PLAYERS Championship. The best players in the world have told you how they feel. I mentioned our partners firmly behind this Tour. I see the possibilities for what we are going to become and how we're going to evolve. I see the incredible working relationship we have with our players. 

So long as we focus on the things that we control, which is what I've always tried to do and what we've always tried to do as a team, I think we're going to win, we're going to grow, and I'm not looking over my shoulder, I'm looking forward. I'm excited about what's ahead of me and what's ahead of this organization, and if you're a young player and you're aspiring to play on the PGA TOUR, what's in store for you in the future. 

2.8: 2021 Players Ratings Hold Steady

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Steady is a huge victory as cordcutting chips into sports ratings, so 2021’s final round 2.8, while almost identical to the 2019 Players final round’s 2.75, means it was a successful for NBC.

ShowBuzzDaily.com with all the 2021, 2020 and 2019 numbers here. The 2020 numbers were of the short-notice 2019 Players after the tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19.

Justin Thomas Rebounds To Win The Players In Grand Fashion

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So much impressed with Justin Thomas’s Players win but I’m not sure any number is more powerful than 14. While that many PGA Tour wins doesn’t put him in the upper echelon of greats yet, it’s a robust number in the modern game and at his age and upside.

And in the modern World Golf Hall of Fame, a PGA, a Players and 14 wins makes him a first-ballot lock 18 years from now.

For subscribers, I posted a winners/losers round-up with the Masters in mind over at The Quadrilateral.

Michael Bamberger on Thomas turning around his game after a rough start to 2021.

Taking in that scene, it was hard to imagine Thomas on a plane, flying home from L.A. “My head was not in a good place then,” he said Sunday night. Flying home from Abu Dhabi, surely the same. Flying home from his grandfather’s funeral, the same. Sending texts to Tiger knowing they are going to his hospital room? That can’t be a good feeling. They should be planning a scouting trip to Augusta.

Thomas’s ballstriking performance was one for the ages and rights a ship that was running adrift. Had he not missed the 18th green with a sand wedge, Thomas would have done something six others had done at TPC Sawgrass, notes GolfDigest.com’s Brian Wacker:

Only six times in the history of the Players Championship has a player hit all 18 greens in regulation at TPC Sawgrass. Thomas was on pace to do that Sunday before his final approach came up a couple of inches short.

He didn’t mind.

Thomas is a maestro with an iron in his hand and he was all week, but especially so on Sunday. To lose more than two strokes putting on the field in the final round and still shoot four-under 68 speaks volumes about how good his ball-striking was.

As I noted here with the Masters in mind, seeing a notorious left-to-right player hit such distinct draws is one thing. Doing it under pressure on holes that give him fits may have been the final round highlight. (With a tip of the cap to the tracer.)

The social posts:

And a starry, starry night send off to the week:

The PGA Tour’s final round highlights:

Going Forward, Bryson Won't Be Discussing Possible Alternative Start Lines

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After the PGA Tour installed internal OB earlier this week, Bryson DeChambeau has learned his lesson.

No more teasing potential bold approaches to courses.

Last week’s Bay Hill winner telegraphed a possible alternative route to the 18th hole and the PGA Tour Rules staff responded with OB stakes left of TPC Sawgrass’ 18th.

And now Bryson, in contention again this week, learned a valuable lesson.

Q. What was your reaction when they told you about the internal OB on 18?

BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: I understand it. I probably shouldn't have said anything. Knowing that now, I won't, now I won't ever say any lines that I'm taking anymore, but that's okay. I understand it. I've got no issues with it. I understand why, from a safety precaution reason, totally get it. But I'm going to keep myself a little quiet next time for lines that I'm going to try to obtain.

This was also fascinating in explaining why he looked left of the lake:

Q. Do you even have a driver play off of 18? Is there one?

BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: No. Not with my dispersion.

Q. What would you be doing? You'd be trying to aim it where?

BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: I'd be trying to hit a rope hook down the same kind of curve of the fairway.

Q. It just doesn't make sense?

BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: If I overdraw it it's in the water. If I hit it just a little straight it's in the trees. There's nothing -- I've got nothing there. That's why I was thinking about going down 9. Dangit.

And if there was any doubt about not previewing future alternative lines, well he’s off to a good start.

Q. I know you said you didn't want to talk about where you might start cutting angles after what happened this week, but when you look at courses going forward for the rest of the season, are there places where you feel like you can do what you did at No. 6 last week?

BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: Not as drastically as what I did at No. 6, but there are holes where it gives you a much better opportunity to have an advantage on that hole, if it can be played in the way that I'm going to try. It's a little bit bigger risk, but maybe it's a bigger reward.

Q. I'd ask you where but clearly you don't want to tell me.

BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: Sorry.

17th At TPC Sawgrass: 23% Of Balls Miss The Island On A Pretty Calm Day

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Antics on 17? On a pretty calm day by Ponte Vedra standards? Fun! Unless you were playing.

The 2021 first round antics will go down in Players history as one of the stranger days on this much-studied hole. Similar carnage has occurred but never on such an agreeable day weather-wise.

From Ryan Lavner’s GolfChannel.com report:

The 17th hole measured 143 yards in the opening round and was the second-hardest hole on the Stadium Course. On a teeny par 3 that required no more than a 9-iron, and oftentimes just a pitching or gap wedge, the hole surrendered just 30 birdies, had an average proximity of 27 feet and doled out plenty of pain.

There were 13 double bogeys and nine others, two of which were extraordinarily awful. In all, 35 shots – a whopping 23% – found the water.

“That’s not a fun hole today,” Nick Taylor said, and that’s coming from the guy who hit one of the best shots of the day: to 5 feet.

It’s the most talked- and written-about par 3 in the world – and for good reason, amplified by the setting and its position in the round, so close to the finish line, with such potential to be a round-wrecker.

I saw very few shots go in where I thought, oh he was hosed. It appeared most were just a little aggressive or slightly pulled their tee shots. That upper left hole is awkward in that the hole location is just left of center for a righthander, meaning it’s easy to hit a slight (or full) pull.

Ben An was 1 over for the day when he made 11, second only to Bob Tway’s 12, doubled the last for 83.

An’s brush with history got plenty of social coverage:

An posted this later on:

NBC had it’s patented slow-mo reaction cam and boy did it get work Thursday. You can also see Kevin Na’s back went out on him, as it’s prone to do. And before he posted 81 and WD’d. As he’s prone to do.

Trying To Figure Out The TPC Sawgrass Bias Against A Bias

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I love Justin Ray not because he’ll crunch the numbers so we don’t have to, but he genuinely uses the new trove of statistics in such creative ways.

In his latest installment for PGATour.com, Ray tackles the utterly bizarre lack of back-to-back winners at TPC Sawgrass. And also attempts to detect any rhyme or reason as to who might succeed there.

Besides learning there are two events with longer droughts without having a back-to-back winner, I also learned there may be no explaining the lack of any discernible TPC Sawgrass bias.

In 2018, Webb Simpson won his first PLAYERS title despite losing strokes to the field on approach shots. A staggering 95% of his strokes gained for the week came on shots around the green and on putts.

Contrast that to the winning formula McIlroy utilized the following year, when 85% of his strokes gained came in the form of tee shots and approaches. He gained less than 5% of his strokes on the field with his putter, the lowest percentage of any PLAYERS champion the last 15 years.

Those jumpy trends persist throughout recent history when analyzing PLAYERS champions. In 2018, Si Woo Kim gained more than 35% of his strokes over the field on tee shots. In 2007, though, Phil Mickelson actually lost strokes on his tee shots, but managed to win thanks to spectacular iron play.

Cirque du Bryson Arrives In Ponte Vedra: Internal OB Added In The "Interest Of Safety"

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TPC Sawgrass’ 18th hole without tournament tents (Google Earth)

TPC Sawgrass’ 18th hole without tournament tents (Google Earth)

All Bryson DeChambeau did was mention he might consider driving left of TPC Sawgrass’ 18th hole lake after Sunday’s Arnold Palmer Invitational win. And Tuesday the PGA Tour was putting up internal OB stakes to discourage the play in the “interest of safety, volunteers and other personnel.”

From Bob Harig’s ESPN.com report:

Bryson DeChambeau was not cited, but the rule was clearly put in place after the winner of the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday talked about trying to drive his tee shot over the lake on the 18th hole for what he said would be an easier shot to the par-4 green.

"I have thought about sometimes on 18 going left into 9," DeChambeau said after his victory Sunday. "We'll see, with the stands and everything, if it's even worth it ... it just gives you a better shot into the green, personally, where you can just hit it a little long and you're always going to be OK.”

The official statement from the Tour:

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Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis reported this nugget later on:

I think it’s well established that no single chintzier setup element exists than internal out of bounds. It goes against everything that made people start whapping wobbly balls around a cross-country path before indoor plumbing and floss.

Naturally, the safety notion is absurd given that you stand a much better chance of getting hit by a 325 yard incoming Titleist while minding your own business than in that area at TPC Sawgrass.

But this adds to the Bryson legend and hopefully highlights the distance issue in a way that hits home. At the Global Home.

Players Championship To Have 20% Capacity, No Chainsmokers Reunion

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The upcoming Waste Management Open will feature a reduced 16th hole corporate hospitality, 5000 a day where America’s highest infection rate currently resides and take the PGA Tour where they are begging spring training to stay away.

So by that measure and many others, The Players appears to have a more sensible plan based on Executive Director Jared Rice’s comments.

From Will Brown at the Jacksonville Business Journal detailing the 20% capacity plan for the March 11-14 event.

“…From a hospitality perspective, we have modified everything. So, that means in hospitality zones we will have open-air venues. We’re looking for ways to make sure it's as safe as possible, limiting some access there. From a fan perspective, we are looking at ways we can focus on social distancing as part of the food and beverage experience and make it great for our fans.”

Rice also announced The Players will begin selling tickets to previous attendees on Feb. 1. Tickets for the general public will be made available on Feb. 16.

Masks will be required and social distancing will be strongly encouraged.

The tournament will feature digital ticketing, contactless commerce as well as altered food and beverage protocols at The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. There will not be a Military Appreciation Concert this year, but there are plans to honor members of the armed forces as has been the case in years past.

The Chainsmokers probably won’t be back for a while and that’s ok on many levels.

As America Shuts Down To Stave Off A Pandemic, The PGA Tour (Eventually) Joins The Cause

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We’ve all tried to refute the charge: golf is not as elitist as you think.

No, really, it’s full of good people and a beautiful sport. With, sure, moments we’d like to forget.

So as questions remain about America’s infrastructure to handle the COVD-19 outbreak, the world of sports— minus the PGA Tour until 9:54 pm ET,—took painful, and perhaps even excessive steps to stop the spread. We can only hope to someday declare today’s actions an earnest but shrewd overreaction. Absent information to the contrary, however, every major needed to take action to prevent the spread.

So amidst everything taking place and health matters that should be the primary focus, it still must not be forgotten that the PGA Tour, in “full speed ahead” mode all week at its wonderful but overinflated home event, became the last major American sports league to pull the plug.

This, after waiting until 12:15 am earlier in the same day, to issue a statement about the status of Players Championship opening round, and only then to offer first round refunds if so desired.

There were no pleas for vulnerable seniors to stay home.

No pleas to those under-the-weather to stay away.

No, “we-got-this”, to volunteers who consume consummate news outlets and might be uncomfortable exposing themselves to large crowds.

Business-as-usual.

Market-by-market.

From Task Force to Business Unit-approved.

Yet as first round play got underway, major events continued to be cancelled, financial markets kept sending the same grim messages, and America began boarding up the windows.

Yet in marching ahead with the Players and upcoming schedule, Commissioner Monahan again teed up the vast acreage card during a midday press conference. The very same assertion that property size would keep people safe and shot down in Monday’s surreal CNBC appearance, then uttered Tuesday to reporters, and somehow schlepped out again in an answer that soured within hours.

Q. Similar to that but in layman's terms, can you explain what the difference is between the PGA TOUR which is continuing with events and, for example, the NBA, and I think I'm right in saying the MLS and other sporting bodies which have just shut down completely. Why do you feel golf is different?

JAY MONAHAN: Well, I think if you look at our venues, obviously we're an outdoor sport, we're not in a stadium, and here this week at TPC Sawgrass our players are making their way over 400 acres. And so we feel like we have, because of the nature of that and the fact that you've got 144 players here and over the course of a round our players generally do socially distance themselves, we felt like by taking this step to address the problem with our fans, we're in a position where we can continue to operate the events as of right now. And you look at there are other circumstances that led to the decisions that those leagues made that are unique to those leagues that we're not currently faced with. And that's something that we thought about and talked about, but ultimately when you break it down and you think about what's going to happen here over the course of the next three days and then going forward, we're comfortable having our players continue to play at this time.

In the meantime, players coming off the course or scheduled to go out, questioned the wisdom of going forward as other sports leagues ended major events. CT Pan pulled out of the tournament in the most significant show of wisdom. From overseas, Lee Westwood was sounding alarms as his colleagues were busy contesting the first round.

Oh, and players were subjected to random drug testing, in quite possibly the ultimate display of tone deafness as noted in this piece by Ryan Lavner.

As the round neared completion (one group did not finish), the PGA Tour stood firm with a 6:45 pm. operations update reaffirming the midday plans: players and volunteers only, with media outside the ropes. Next week’s Valspar event was on schedule. This, even though the LPGA Tour had postponed its next three events and the NCAA basketball tournament cancelled.

But the PGA Tour was set to play round two and beyond. Until someone read the room. Finally.

We will never know what light bulb went off or what information the Business Unit obtained. Maybe someone pointed out to the PGA Tour how they would be the only major sports league besides a spectator-free NASCAR pushing forward while the rest of sport shut down to help contain the potentially civilization-altering virus.


Pausing here to let you reflect: the PGA Tour was going to forge ahead with The Players while others retreated in hopes of promoting quarantining and making the pandemic less awful.

But at 9:54 pm players were texted. The Players was cancelled, as were the next three events in Tampa, Austin and San Antonio. They had “no choice,” one player told Rex Hoggard.

It took a “no choice” situation to finally shut things down. No choice, as in, we-waited-to-long-to-be-proactive and we will look foolish now playing golf while the world addresses a pandemic.

The inability to sooner recognize the absurdity of proceeding, should serve as a wakeup call when the golf can get back to addressing First World problems. In the coming weeks and months, with tournament golf halted and the future so uncertain, there will be no better time for the sport to assess who represents the game best and which organization is most intuitive. And a rough few days in Ponte Vedra exposed an unenlightened PGA Tour not quite in harmony with the world at large.

USGA Increases Purses, Including $1 Million To This Week's U.S. Women's Open Champ

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With all the player whining about USGA purses in Golf Digest’s U.S. Open confidential, it’s noteworthy that the U.S. Open’s will both have the largest prize funds in championship golf (the $12.5 million for the men ties the Players). The PGA Championship did not increase its purse this year, sticking with $11 million, while the R&A has not announced an increase to the 2019 Open fund that will already be low with a weakened pound.

On the women’s side, the KPMG LPGA jumped to $3.5 million in 2017 and has seen bumps each year, now sitting at $3.85 million in 2019.

For Immediate Release:

USGA Solidifies Largest Purses Among All Major Championships

Prize money to be raised by $500,000 for 2019 U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open

 LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. (May 28, 2019) – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that it will increase the purse for both the 119th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links and the 74th U.S. Women’s Open at the Country Club of Charleston by $500,000, furthering its commitment to provide competitors with an unmatched championship experience.

The purse for the 2019 U.S. Open will be $12.5 million, making it the largest of all major championships. This year’s U.S. Women’s Open purse will total $5.5 million, positioning it as the largest in women’s golf and ensuring that its champion – provided that she is a professional – will receive $1 million for the first time.

The announcement builds on substantial investments the USGA has made in all of its Open championships. Along with the debut of the U.S. Senior Women’s Open in 2018, which provides the largest purse in senior women’s golf at $1 million, the organization hosts the U.S. Senior Open, which also leads its demographic with $4 million in total prize money.

The USGA also provides a portion of the purse to all professionals who miss the cut at all four Opens. Amateurs in the field, a number that nears 30 in this week’s U.S. Women’s Open, receive reimbursement for travel expenses incurred during the championship week.

“The USGA is committed to providing an unparalleled experience to every player competing in its championships,” said John Bodenhamer, senior managing director, championships. “Through strategic investments in our player relations program, we are continuing the effort to create a competitor experience commensurate with the game’s most prestigious championships, and that includes an increased purse and a continued commitment to make playing in an Open championship unforgettable for the world’s top amateur players.” 

In March, longtime PGA Tour player and four-time U.S. Open competitor Jason Gore was hired as the association’s first senior director, Player Relations. His primary role focuses on interacting with professional and elite amateur players across the game, particularly competitors in the USGA’s Open and amateur championships. He also leads a full-time staff dedicated to player relations, including Liz Fradkin, who in her new role primarily focuses on women’s championships.

2019 Players Ratings: 3.3, Down 21% From Tiger Contending Last May

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With only some conference title games and the NCAA Selection Show, the Players stood a good chance of matching last year’s stout ratings when Tiger Woods was in contention at the 2018 Players.

Didn’t happen.

According to Sports Media Watch with a full weekend sports numbers wrap up, the rating reverted to pre-Tiger for from a 4.2 to a 3.3, with Saturday’s 2.4 down 8%.