Torrey Slow Play: What Can Contractless Rules Officials Do?

Jason Sobel talked to Brad Fritsch this week about his group holding up Tiger Woods during the final two rounds of the Farmers Insurance Open. Fritsch had this to say:

At the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Tuesday, Fritsch maintained that not only was the threesome never put on the clock, they were never even warned by a PGA Tour rules official.

“Nobody ever even approached us,” he said. “I tell you what, all we ever heard on the Web.com Tour was, ‘We’re doing this to you guys now, because it’s worse out there in terms of them getting on you and staying on you.’ We didn’t see anybody all day.”

As you may recall, the rules staff has been working without a contract since the start of the year. And you may also recall Commissioner Tim Finchem gets the willies just thinking about a penalty for slow play, something that has not happened under his reign.

He infamously told John Feinstein:

"Slow play is a legitimate issue," he said, "but not to the point where I think we need to do something like that."

Considering that he's giving himself and his senior executives lavish bonuses and can't afford to take care of the people (outside of the players) most important to running a successful event, the contract situation is embarrassing.

But I also wonder if it's neutering the rules officials to the point that they don't want to upset the apple cart has created a situation where the Commissioner's attitude means they no longer feel empowered to get tough on slow play? I hope not, but it is a danger of letting such a silly contract situation linger, especially as Rules of Golf and slow play issues are such hot topics. Another danger of letting this linger is that the officials could be accused of doing nothing on purpose as a negotiation ploy.

Or as Finchem calls these things, "distractions."

Video: Phil Fires 60 With Power Lipout On Last Hole

Fighting through the painful emotions of seeing old sparring partner Vijay Singh overcome some seriously bad press, Phil Mickelson fired an 11-under 60 in the opening round of 2013 Waste Management Open play.

As of now, the PGA Tour's YouTube page has posted Phil's birdie putt on the 8th hole, his 17th, which he left short. Why, I have no idea.

Thankfully, the putt we actually want to see was posted by a fan is now posted by the tour. Note the multiple cameras and great work by NBC's crew to capture the moment.

Update on 2013-01-31 23:19 by Geoff

**Sam Weinman says this one already ranks in the top 5 of all time lipouts.

Update on 2013-02-01 02:38 by Geoff

**Phil's post round interview with Mark Rolfing is fun...if you can handle the plugs for his new Callaway driver. Phil gets to see the lipout for the first time on video:

Update on 2013-02-01 02:37 by Geoff

**A wise reader who wished to remain nameless notes that some golfers shoot their age, with this 60 Phil shot his tax bracket.

Update on 2013-02-01 02:47 by Geoff

**Michael Collins caught up with Jim "Bones" Mackay in the parking lot to talk about the round.

Update on 2013-02-01 05:13 by Geoff

**Nice roundup of the 60 and player comments by Gary Van Sickle.

Ugh: Time Inc. Layoffs Hit SI, golf.com

It pains me to see comrades at Sports Illustrated/golf.com losing their jobs as part of Time Inc's 6% global work force reduction. Some very talented people were let go today, and while this Keith Kelly story doesn't name names, it won't get them their jobs back to point out who is suffering today.

This IBTimes.com story cites the layoff numbers, advertising issues and quotes the new CEO, Laura Lang, in a memo to staff:

In a memo obtained by Bloomberg News Wednesday, Laura Lang, the company’s CEO, spoke of a new normal in which magazine companies have to learn how to do more with less. “With the significant and ongoing changes in our industry, we must continue to transform our company into one that is leaner, more nimble and more innately multi-platform,” Lang wrote.

Innately multi-platform. As opposed to multi-platform.

“To make this change, we need to operate as smartly and efficiently as possible to create room for critical investments and new initiatives. These reductions are part of this important transformation process.”

Vijay WD's To Spend More Time WIth His Lawyer

AP's John Nicholson reports, though it's light on details. Not that anyone really is shocked following the admission that he violated the PGA Tour's doping policy.

Update on 2013-01-31 16:02 by Geoff

**Steve Elkington's latest editorial cartoon. The Vijay edition.

Update on 2013-01-31 16:07 by Geoff

**The official reason for the WD is "back soreness." Oy vey.

Vijay "Shocked" To Learn He Was Using Banned Substance

Guess Vijay Singh hasn't heard of Google either.

His statement following the SI story where he is quoted confessing to using a banned substance was sent out by the PGA Tour:

"In light of the recent article on sportsillustrated.com, I want to issue the following statement:

"While I have used deer antler spray, at no time was I aware that it may contain a substance that is banned under the PGA TOUR Anti-Doping Policy. In fact, when I first received the product, I reviewed the list of ingredients and did not see any prohibited substances. I am absolutely shocked that deer antler spray may contain a banned substance and am angry that I have put myself in this position. I have been in contact with the PGA TOUR and am cooperating fully with their review of this matter. I will not be commenting further at this time."

SI Writer On Morning Drive: “I’m guessing that Vijay Singh doesn’t know the product has been called out by the PGA Tour specifically.”

I was a tad skeptical of Vijay Singh's admission to using deer antler spray from his friends at S.W.A.T.S.  But after listening to SI's very credible and thorough David Epstein on Morning Drive for ten minutes, it's going to be very hard for Singh to claim a context issue. Especially when the writer has seen the big check Singh wrote for the products! (Uh Veej, pay cash next time big guy, you have plenty of it.)

Ryan Lavner summarized the Espstein interview and noted this:

Asked if he thought Singh knew he was taking a banned substance because of how forthcoming he was in discussing the products, Epstein said, “It makes me think that he probably didn’t know that. It would be a little strange because the guys in the company are usually very upfront that their products are banned by major sports organizations, but they can be a little equivocal about why it’s banned sometimes. But a quick Google (search) would tell anyone it’s banned.

“I’m guessing that Vijay Singh doesn’t know the product has been called out by the PGA Tour specifically.”

Check out the Epstein interview with Morning Drive here:

Rex Hoggard contacted the PGA Tour for comment.

“We were just made aware of the report and are looking into it,” said Ty Votaw, the Tour’s vice president of communication and international affairs.

Votaw declined to comment on whether Tour officials had spoken with the Fijian, who is in the field at this week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open