Flashback: HSBC Dude Was For Appearance Fees Before He Was Against Them

What's funny about HSBC's Giles Morgan lamenting Tiger and Rory's absence from his WGC event this week in China?

That Rory and Tiger committed (extremely) early to HSBC's January event in Abu Dhabi where they are undoubtedly receiving huge appearance fees? No.

That the Morgan has 13 of the top 20 in the world at the HSBC, and is unhappy, even though a field like that will make it one of the strongest fields of the year?

No, downright LOL funny: speaking on behalf of sponsors who are concerned about star players not teeing up every single week, Morgan apparently forgot that back in January he praised the very thing that is undermining his event this week.

Speaking to Bob Harig in his look at the role of appearance fees, Morgan was defensive about the notion of appearance fees "commercial arrangements" with some players:

"The commercial arrangements we have with some of the players is long seated,'' said Giles Morgan, group head of sponsorship for HSBC, which is in the second year of a five-year contract to sponsor this tournament. It also sponsors the WGC-HSBC Champions in China, as well as several other tournaments.

"Golf is a product and golf is a product particularly in new markets. And you have to ensure that the players are able to showcase what the sport is to the broader public. We are trying to take this sport to a new audience, which means that commercial arrangements are much more likely.''

Of course, such "commercial arrangements" are not allowed at a PGA Tour sanctioned event like the HSBC Champions.

Asia-Pacific Amateur Telecast Times

ESPN is broadcasting the Asia-Pacific Amateur event from Thailand and run by Augusta National with a birth berth in the Masters on the line.

All times Eastern:

Thu., Nov. 1 First Round (live) 4 - 6 a.m. ESPNU, ESPN3
Fri., Nov. 2 Second Round (live) 4 - 6 a.m. ESPNU, ESPN3
Sat., Nov. 3 Third Round (live) 4 - 6 a.m. ESPN2, ESPN3
Sun., Nov. 4 Final Round (live) 3 - 5 a.m. ESPN3
Final Round 4 - 6 a.m. ESPN2
 
Final Round Highlights 4 - 4:30 p.m. ESPN2
Mon., Nov. 5 Final Round Highlights 1 - 1:30 a.m. ESPNU

In two years the event will be played at Royal Melbourne.

HSBC Suit Slams Tiger And Rory For No-Show, Claims To Speak On Behalf Of "The Industry"

James Corrigan with a nice unleashing of misery by Giles Morgan, "group head of sponsorship" at HSBC, who sponsors the soulless $7 million WGC event this week in China.

“On one hand we are delighted to have 13 of the world’s top 20 here, but of course we’re disappointed not to have the two top players in the world,” said Morgan. “Both have sent me apologies but this is an event which should be regarded by all players as it is by the tours and the media as one of the top events in the world.

Well that was thoughtful of them!

This next part was interesting. Especially if you set it to some particularly depressing Schubert's Ave Maria.

“Therefore I feel strongly that the top players should be here. I believe that golfers have a responsibility to their sponsors. Without the sponsors there isn’t professional golf. I speak on behalf of the industry.”

Speaking of thoughtful...

Morgan has been contacted by other sponsors who share his concerns that they will not be able to justify the huge outlays without the top names. “I feel very strongly, as I know a number of sponsors do particularly, in a downturn, particularly when there are financial difficulties around the world, that golf cannot be immune either,” he said.

I hate to break it to the sponsors, but with Commissioner Growth Is My Mantra's "calendar year" schedule, no downtime, and plenty of folks willing to pay appearance fees, the stars will not play more less and will gear their schedule around who pays. I think they call this market forces, no?

Jack: Presidential Election Will Determine Recovery Of Stalled Golf Course Construction Industry

Art Stricklin reports that Jack and Barbara Nicklaus will make more appearances in Ohio for Mitt Romney leading up to the November 6, 2012 election. 

Nicklaus told those gathered at the opening of his new Summit Rock course in Horseshoe Bay, Texas that the future of the golf course construction industry is dependent on the presidential election results.

"It all depends on who is elected next Tuesday," Nicklaus said Tuesday during the opening of Summit Rock, his new course in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, just west of Austin. "It will take longer if the wrong guy is elected."

Acushnet And McIlroy Announce Mutual Admiration, But No Future Together

They really, really like each other. Just not enough to continue working together. For Immediate Release...

ACUSHNET COMPANY AND RORY McILROY ANNOUNCEMENT

Fairhaven, MA (October 30, 2012) - Acushnet Company, which manufactures the Titleist and FootJoy brands, and Rory McIlroy, jointly announced today that McIlroy's relationship with Acushnet will not extend beyond December 31, 2012.  McIlroy has trusted Titleist and FootJoy equipment throughout his professional career that commenced as an 18-year old in September 2007.

"Our goal has been to provide Rory with the best equipment and service that would help him be the best player he could possibly be," said Wally Uihlein, Chief Executive Officer, Acushnet Company. "He has been a great ambassador for the Titleist and FootJoy brands, and in turn, we are proud of how our equipment has contributed to his success. We wish Rory all the best, both personally and professionally, going forward."

"I would like to thank Wally Uihlein and all of the tour staff and employees at Titleist and FootJoy for everything they have done for me since I turned professional in 2007,” said McIlroy.  "I have enjoyed five very exciting and successful years with the company and I will always appreciate the contribution Titleist has made in helping me become the player I am today.”

This is not a huge surprise given Acushnet's tradition of not severely overpaying one player to use their stuff (Davis Love exempted). But the mutual statement is unusual.

From Doug Ferguson's story:

Even as McIlroy was getting courted by other companies, Titleist did not put up a big fight. The company has a history of putting the brand before the player, as it did with Woods, Mickelson, David Duval after he reached No. 1 in the world and Sergio Garcia.

It prides itself on having the most tour players use its golf ball, though it also has some 80 players around the world under contract to use its golf balls and golf clubs. This year might have been particularly costly, however, especially with incentive clauses in the contracts. It had six players from the top 16 in the world as full staff players – McIlroy, Adam Scott, U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson, Jason Dufner, Steve Stricker and Nick Watney.

Update on 2012-10-30 16:02 by Geoff

**John Strege on Nick Faldo calling McIlroy's club switch "dangerous" during a "Morning Drive" appearance Tuesday.

"I've changed clubs and changed equipment, and every manufacturer will say, 'We can copy your clubs, we can tweak the golf ball so it fits you.' But there's feel and sound as well, and there's confidence. You can't put a real value on that. It's priceless."

Tiger: "Plus I've been struggling with Sean. Hitting my short irons so *&^%$# far."

I asked earlier if Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, who were obviously wearing microphones during their Monday exhibition, knew that their conversation could be heard. After watching this Golf Channel clip it's hard to believe Tiger thought this was going out live.

I base this assumption on the number of casual f-bombs that were dropped. (Deep, I know.)

You be the judge:

Update on 2012-10-30 20:01 by Geoff

**Bob Harig on Tiger's comments, included this:

It is no secret that, despite the progress Woods has made in the past year, the short irons have yet to come around. He often hits his approach shots just as close to the hole with his long irons as he does with the short ones.

For example, Woods ranks second on the PGA Tour this year in proximity to the pin from 175 to 200 yards, averaging roughly 30 feet from the pin. Yet, from 125 to 150 yards, he ranks 69th at roughly 22 feet.

Another way to look at it: He is first in greens in regulation percentage (65.13 percent) from 175 to 200 yards, but is only 115th (70 percent) from 125 to 150 yards.

McGinley Gets Another 2014 Ryder Cup Endorsement

Karl MacGinty of the Irish Independent slips in some fun details about the cutthroat battled to be Europe's next Ryder Cup Captain while endorsing Paul McGinley for the 2014 job.

Meantime, reporters at last week's BMW Masters in Shanghai were advised before Clarke's pre-tournament press conference that he would not be taking any questions on the Ryder Cup captaincy. Wise move.

And the endorsement of McGinley...

The Ryder Cup is the financial powerhouse which drives European golf, so one understands why the Tour executives might consider it vital to have someone of Clarke's charisma to focus support in the run-up to a home match.

Yet the staggering atmosphere at Medinah showed how irresistible the Ryder Cup has become to the corporate sector and golf fans, making it utterly futile to waste one of the most naturally gifted team captains Europe is likely to produce.

Over the weekend, McGinley was endorsed by Luke Donald.

Eavesdropping On Rory And Tiger: Were They Aware They Could Be Heard?

Mind you, I'm not complaining. But since the streaming feed of the Rory McIlroy vs. Tiger Woods "Duel at Jinsha Lake" wasn't streaming, I never heard any of the banter.

Thankfully, Ryan Lavner did, and recounts all of it.

The most awkward revelations:

On the 10th hole, Woods admitted to “struggling with Sean (Foley),” his swing coach, saying, “I’ve been hitting my short irons so (expletive) far.” He went on to explain how he rarely took a divot with his short clubs under former coach Hank Haney, but now, though, “all of a sudden, I’m thinking divots.”

Whoa Nellie!

Woods said he lost eight pounds last week in Kuala Lumpur, and that the heat was so suffocating, “it felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. I had sweat dripping off my shirt when I was over the ball.” Apparently, he also lost his pin sheet on Saturday, which could help explain the third-round 69 that dropped him off the pace. (He eventually finished joint fourth.)

They couldn't get him a replacement pin sheet?

They talked scheduling. Woods noted that this was his first full season since 2005; that he likely will dial back his number of events next season; and that, post-British Open, U.S. players are plenty busy – maybe even too busy – with the FedEx Cup and all of the late-season jet-setting.

Problems, problems, problems!

Update on 2012-10-30 06:26 by Geoff

**The Golf Channel highlights.

First Sandy Storm Surge Photos Surfacing

Hurricane Sandy's track appears ominous with flooding for a massive area expected, but in the near term coastal storm surges are the primary concern. Including for some prominent golf courses. Not as dramatic as the fake photos making the rounds, but serious stuff.

Brian Benedict of Seawane Golf And Country Club posted these on Facebook:

Rockaway Hunt Club, near New York's Kennedy Airport, courtesy of reader Jim. I'm told this shot of the 15th normally looks like a dogleg left golf hole:

Update on 2012-10-29 20:43 by Geoff

**Greg Millard tweeted this of Country Club of Fairfield before high tide at noon.

Update on 2012-10-29 21:49 by Geoff

**Mark Andrews Tweeted this photo of Fishers Island's 13th.

Update on 2012-10-31 03:31 by Geoff

**More photos, starting with Robert Deruntz showing an unidentified pro shop on Facebook.

And Oak Hill Country Club, site of the 2013 PGA Championship, posted this gallery:

Update on 2012-10-30 17:05 by Geoff

**From Maidstone super John Genovesi, courtesy of the GCSAA, the 15th tee:

Update on 2012-10-31 02:43 by Geoff

**Greg Millard Tweeted this of Country Club of Fairfield Tuesday.

Update on 2012-10-31 20:40 by Geoff

**Rye Golf Club from reader Sam: