Ratings: LPGA's Season Finale Down 33%; RSM Classic Not Great Either

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2019’s final weekend of official tournaments drew very few eyeballs.

According to Sports Business Journal’s weekend roundup, the CME Tour Group Championship drew a .3 and an average of 395,000 viewers on NBC, down 33% from last year’s final round on ABC. The rating made it by far the lowest rated sports event on network TV last weekend and as Paulsen notes at Sports Media Watch “easily” the lowest since its run on broadcast TV dating to 2015.

Figure skating, on tape, drew double the audience.

Meanwhile the PGA Tour’s 2019 RSM Classic’s compelling final round won by Tyler Duncan over Webb Simpson in a playoff did not land in the top 150 cable shows among the 18-49 year olds, meaning only two rounds of the entire fall showed up on those lists (the ZOZO Sunday and delayed Monday rounds featuring Tiger Woods).

It should be noted: the CME and RSM aired in matching time slots, further dividing the audience.

Also to be noted: Loud House on Nicktoons is geared toward 6-12 year olds, yet with its .3/122,000 still earned a spot in the top 150 for a 10 pm showing while the RSM Classic did not.

Sergio Returning To The Scene Of His Saudi Meltdown Free Of Charge!

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The Telegraph’s James Corrigan reminds us that (A) the European Tour is again returning to Saudi Arabia for the Crown Prince-inspired Saudi International, and (B) Sergio Garcia will turn up again despite damaging greens and throwing hissy fits at the inaugural playing.

But there is good news! He’s not asking for an appearance fee. The Crown Prince entered code FOOTDRAG in the online request form and Sergio is showing up free of charge.

But as the Spaniard tries to make reparations for his outrageous meltdown, he will agree to participate without an appearance fee this time around.

It is understood this was one of the conditions placed on the 2017 Masters champion by the European Tour as it spared him a suspension.

What some guys will sacrifice not to be suspended!

García received in the region of £500,000 for this year’s tournament and was not asked to return any of it, despite smashing his putter into one of the greens in anger and then continuing this fit of pique for the next hour or so, as he raked up as many as four other greens. 

There was that.

When Too Much Money Is Still Not Enough: European Tour Chief Confronts "Optionality" Issues

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European Tour Chief Keith Pelley chatted with media during round three of the DP World Tour Championship and Race to Dubai conclusion. And while it’s been a successful year, there are signs in Europe and in the United States that big money is reducing the urge to play often.

Alistair Tait at Golfweek noted the Rolex Series both succeeding at maintaining a certain status quo of quality while also not giving the boost promised. In defending the state of affairs, Tait says Pelley made his point that the money and options are probably too plentiful.

“I had an interesting discussion with Victor Perez, who is ninth in the Race to Dubai. Last year he was a Challenge Tour player but he got into the WGC-HSBC Champions but he doesn’t want to play four in a row, so he made a decision not to play in Turkey or South Africa.”

If a relative unknown like Perez can afford to skip two tournaments worth a combined $14.5 million, it sends a pretty strong signal. It’s why Pelley is looking at ending the 2021 schedule with just two Rolex Series events instead of the current three.

Another problem is that some Rolex Series sponsors are still having to shell out appearance money to lure the top stars. So potential sponsors have to dig deeper into their coffers to stage tournaments, and that’s not an easy sell in the current financial climate.

John Huggan at GolfDigest.com quoted the Chief Executive using a word that only Tim Finchem could love when confronted with stats showing stars playing less.

Expanding on his point, Pelley pointed out the modern reality of professional golf in the 21st century. Awash with cash, the top players are tending to compete less often than they used to. On average, that very best performers teed-up 24.9 times as recently as 2015. That number is now 22.3.

“If we expected the top players to play on a weekly basis, then out expectations would be unrealistic,” Pelley said. “There is unbelievable optionality for the players right now. There are probably less than 10 golf tournaments in the world now that are mandatory. And there are 35 tournaments offering prize money of at least $7 million. So there is no point in us obsessing over any of the above.”

Maybe there needs to be obsessing over culling the herd a bit before the sponsors do it on their terms?

Todd Comes Up Short In Quest For Three Straight, Pro Laments Why We Miss Out On More Great Potential Stories Like Brendon's

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Brendon Todd finally flatlined after a dominant run of late on the PGA Tour (Adam Schupak reports for Golfweek).

But the former four-time All-American at Georgia who struggled with swing yips and confidence inspired many fans with his recent run and also prompted golf professional and former amateur golf great Steve Scott to offer this thought on Instagram before Sunday’s finale on Sea Island.

Brendon Todd’s average driving distance for last 6 seasons= 278.3. This year it’s up to 294.5, but still ranking him 136th...well behind more than half of the @PGATOUR. (And this is before the big guns start to play) ‪

These last 3 courses he has conquered are amongst the top 7 shortest on TOUR, all under 7,100 yds, so his timing couldn’t be better as far as his game matching up with these courses like Port Royal, Mayakoba and Sea Island. ‪

He’s on a remarkable run, but sadly it wouldn’t even be possible at venues like Torrey Pines, Quail Hollow or Bay Hill which boast venues north of 7,450 where the bombers almost always rule. ‬ ‪

It’s just sad that the correlation between distance and world ranking are so tight nowadays and we miss out on more great potential stories like Brendon. ‪Keep it up B Todd and close out that rare trifecta tomorrow!‬

Wishbone! Ogilvy Scores Walk-Off Ace In Throwback Club Fundraiser

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John Ashworth’s annual gathering of golf professionals playing retro equipment at Goat Hill to benefit junior golf ended in rather spectacular fashion: a Geoff Ogilvy hole-in-one in sudden death to win the persimmon wood exhibition match with partner Chris Riley over Xander Schauffele and Dean Wilson:

Another view from Matt Ginella:

It wasn’t Jones at St. Andrews in ‘27, but still a fun scene:

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As pure as it gets. Pros, persimmons, mini muny, no ropes, more kids than adults, there were even puppies charging greens, all for charity and the good of the game. Today makes me believe in unicorns, guardian angels and Golf Gods. The Goat gives back in magical ways. There are countless tales of the unexpected. @katie.ginella and I had our wedding reception here, which was a good party. And then there was today. Chris Riley and Geoff Ogilvy vs. Dean Wilson and Xander Schauffele in the third annual Wishbone Brawl at Goat Hill Park in Oceanside, Calif. With Wilson and Xander as heavy favorites, it was Riley early who did most of his talking with his putter. Which is saying something. Wilson and Schauffele didn’t have the lead all day. It was all they could do to get even. Which they did on 7, 13 and 18. Which meant there was a playoff. Everyone scrambled to the 9th green, which is a golf coliseum. John Ashworth was proud of the new mulch around the back of the green. The putting surface was littered with long shadows. Wilson went first, middle of the green. Xander was tight, until it spun off the front, down the slope. “Goated!” And then Ogilvy grabbed wedge. From 132. He had hit full wedge over the green earlier. He would dial it back. And he dialed it IN. Swish. As you can see, off the lip. Pandemonium. And the forever question: “Where were you when?” It just doesn’t get any better than what just transpired. Set aside the adults for a second, there were hundreds of kids who walked away reflecting on a day in which they got prioritized, up front, in the mix of all the fun. It wasn’t long, it wasn’t slow, it wasn’t expensive, it wasn’t about the money. It was about giving back, paying it forward, and a can’t-write-that-script finish. “Ogilvy is back!” Was one spectator’s observation. “Chris Riley is still one of the best putters in the world,” was Ogilvy’s first humble retort. But when pressed for more... “It’s crazy! How do you make that up?!” You don’t. You just go to www.wishbonebrawl.com and click on “online auction.” And now we celebrate. Ogilvy is buying! (Video courtesy of @foredagolf & @jbarto22)

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Checking In On Can't-Miss Akshay Bhatia After Four Starts

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Through four PGA Tour sponsor invites, former world No. 1 junior Akshay Bhatia bypassed college golf after playing for the U.S. Walker Cup team, turned pro and has yet to make a cut. Granted, it’s not kind to fair on a teenager and most remain bullish on the 18-year-old as prototype of future greats by focusing on speed (Bhatia finished 36 holes leading the field in driving distance and was second-to-last Strokes Gained in putting).

Still, as Alex Myers writes for GolfDigest.com from the RSM Classic, the early signs are discouraging for those pinning their hopes on Bhatia as the next way young golfers develop and break through. He reports after talking to instructor George Gankas:

Bhatia was making his fourth PGA Tour start on a sponsor's exemption since turning pro, but is still in search of a first made cut. He's also got an uncertain schedule after failing to make it past the second stage of Korn Ferry Tour Q-school.

"I'm not sure, I'll sit down with the team and we'll see," Bhatia said of his upcoming schedule. "But I have three (PGA Tour) starts left and I'll definitely do some Mondays and maybe go to Europe and play some golf over there."

While Gankas was glad to fill-in on the bag, the in-demand instructor who also coaches Matthew Wolff says it won't be a common sight.

"But I did enjoy it and he's a great kid," Gankas said. "And I think he's going to be one of the best players in the world."

Shouldn’t teenagers only be referring to their college “team”?

Golf Pro Sets Off Epic Falling Golf Bag Domino Effect

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I believe this is a Dick’s Sporting Goods but am not positive. If anyone knows for sure and which location, we’d all love to talk to this poor lad…

Garrigus: "It’s OK to take Oxycontin and blackout and run into a bunch of people, but you can’t take CBD and THC without someone looking at you funny."

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While he has his facts wrong on a few fronts, recently suspended CBD user Robert Garrigus scores a few points with his very legit gripes about the consistency of suspension penalties and the overall treatment by WADA and the PGA Tour of various substances.

From Adam Schupak’s reporting for Golfweek:

“I get suspended in the middle of the year. Matt Every gets suspended at the end of the year and he misses three tournaments,” Garrigus said. “There also needs to be some discrepancy there. There’s a gray area there, but the Tour has always been black and white.”

He needs to spend more time in California, because this sure isn’t the case, but I don’t doubt it is the way things are in most areas:

“The fact that it is socially unacceptable for cannabis and CBD right now blows my mind. It’s OK to take Oxycontin and blackout and run into a bunch of people, but you can’t take CBD and THC without someone looking at you funny. It makes no sense,” Garrigus said.

Hope! Mickelson Becomes Host To PGA Tour's Desert Stop

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Along with a blue chip sponsor in American Express, the once-vital Bob Hope Classic now has a blue chip host in Phil Mickelson, who expands his role as the tournament’s front man.

Larry Bohannan with all of the Desert Sun details, including these comments from Phil, who even put on his best flip-flops for the presser.

“The last couple of years, we asked to give us a few years to really showcase what this tournament can do, and have needed and had the help of many people,” Mickelson said, specifically pointing to officials with Discovery Land, developer of Madison Club and other desert courses, and Lagardere Sports, which operates the tournament for non-profit Desert Classic Charities.

“Now we have the partner that we want to bring it to a whole other level,” Mickelson said, a reference to the new five-year sponsorship deal with American Express. “American Express asked that myself and my foundation take on a bigger role, the PGA Tour asked me to take on a bigger role. My wife and I, Amy, we’ve decided this is the right fit, and we want to have a more direct involvement with the charitable support and donation here in the valley.”

Fall Schedule Wraps Up With Low-Key, Low-Points RSM

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While players rave about the RSM Classic and it’s made for great viewing at Sea Island thanks to some compelling visuals, the field of 2019-20’s final fall stop remains one of the weakest non-opposite fields on the schedule.

Eamon Lynch of Golfweek noted that no matter how you cut it, fall events continue to struggle to have the urgency of calendar year events.

This is a head start initiative for journeymen, an opportunity to bank points and coin before the elite return to vacuum up both in the New Year.

Even one of the more prominent guys in the field admits struggling to get amped up.

“I probably have the old-school mindset that the Tour doesn’t start until January,” said Zach Johnson, one of the many players enjoying a home game at Sea Island. “I’ve got to get out of that because there’s a lot of competitive golf and motivations to play in the fall.”

Lynch goes on to note the fourth exemption of Dru Love to the field by dad/host Davis Love, despite have made just 3 of 18 cuts in Tour.

"Here’s why Augusta National slipped"

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Noel Freeman deserves kudos for taking the job of explaining why Golf magazine’s panel dropped Augusta National out of its top five courses on the planet.

His take was sympathetic with the dreadful plight of trying to keep up with the modern game:

Technological advancements and the rise of the so-called bomb-and-gouge movement are vexing dilemmas not only for Augusta National but also for tournament courses all over the world. But the feeling here is that Augusta has gone too far in its efforts to “modernize.”

The club could and should pay more homage to the design’s original intent by removing trees and rebuilding a firm course that presents players with more angles and therefore more options. The result would be both a more complete and more compelling test for players, and more interesting theater for viewers.

Prince Andrew's Royal Duty Retirement May Get Extended To Several Famous Golf Clubs

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With news refusing to go away involving Prince Andrew’s ties to the lowly Jeffrey Epstein, The Telegraph’s Ben Rumsby reports that officials at Royal Portrush and Royal Liverpool are reconsidering their ties to the golf-adoring prince.

Portrush will be reviewing his ties to the site of this year’s Open after the Prince visited there in September before announcing this week that he is retiring from public duties:

“The allegations surrounding Prince Andrew, and especially the trauma and distress suffered by the victims of Jeffrey Epstein is a matter of deep regret,” the club said in a statement.

“Royal Portrush will continue to monitor the ongoing investigative process. There are no scheduled plans for him to return to the club.

“The council of Royal Portrush is acutely aware of the widespread public concern about these allegations, and Prince Andrew’s decision to step away from public duties will be discussed at our next meeting.”

Royal Liverpool Golf Club is on the record saying it would “not call upon” its patron’s services during his exile.

Not addressed? The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. While the list of associations ended with Andrew, the R&A has said nothing about his future role as honorary this and captain of that…

The Duke is also a member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, which will stage the 150th Open in 2021. He is the only royal to have served on a committee there and was captain for the year of its 250th anniversary.

The R&A would confirm only that he was a member, while Women’s Open venue Sunningdale Ladies’ Golf Club declined to comment on the status of the Duke’s patronage there.

Should he disappear from circles over his ties to Epstein, the equipment manufacturers will lose one of their leading advocates for unregulated distance.

PGA Tour Still Slow Playing Updated Slow Play Policy

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Rex Hoggard’s GolfChannel.com story from the RSM Classic gives the impression the PGA Tour PAC and Policy Board have signed off on giving their referees more leeway to zero in on slow-pokes.

Naturally, they remain in no hurry to usher in the policy:

The new policy is aimed at avoiding situations where players take an inordinate amount of time to hit a shot, like Bryson DeChambeau at The Northern Trust in August. The plan is to also empower Tour officials to take action if a player is impacting pace of play.

According to the Tour, the revised policy will go into effect in the second quarter of 2020.

Augusta National, Pebble Beach Take (Not Too Surprising) Hits In Revamped Golf Magazine World Top 100

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Ran Morrissett now helms the revamped Golf Magazine World Top 100 ranking, long the most respected listing of the planet’s best architecture. And while it’s a little tough to take a list covering the world seriously when there are only 80 or so voters and five panelists are said to have not voted at all, the overall statement says the list is once again about architecture.

Gone are more than twenty panelists, former head Joe Passov and numerous courses that appeared to have bought their way onto the list. The full 2017 list can be seen here and not surprisingly, the controversial Ayodhya Links and Oitavos Dunes are gone this time around, with Nine Bridges and Trump International Aberdeen both plummeting (53 and 54 spots respectively).

Another sign of the changing times? These five courses were said last time to be destined for the top 100 but none made the list. Only one, Royal Aberdeen, made the magazine’s 2019 list of the 50 next best.

Here is the full ranking.

The print package includes the panel, criteria and some dazzling, slightly over-Photoshopped images.

(Note: accessing the list on a mobile device can be jarring as the outdated Golf.com platform is unable to display images and an ad while scrolling, leading to a terrible viewing experience. The early rollout today featured many other glitches and timeout problems reported on discussion groups.)

Anyway, the headline from the list revamp is the dip of Augusta National and Pebble Beach, as Josh Berhow notes in this item focusing on these two icons taking some hits from the architecture-focused panel dinging both for not keeping up with the times by emphasizing restoration.

Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters, dropped from 5th to 9th in the most recent ranking (its lowest ranking ever), and Pebble Beach Golf Links fell out of the top 10, from 9th to 11th.

This from an unnamed rater probably summed up the views of many sensing the architecture just isn’t dialed in enough to warrant top five status any longer:

The raters acknowledged Augusta National’s drop in the December issue of GOLF, saying “When the trend everywhere is to remove trees, widen playing corridors, increase playing angles and promote strategic and attacking golf, something had to give. We appreciate that Augusta National is in the uniquely difficult position of annually hosting the Masters. Still, the founding vision of Bob Jones and Alister MacKenzie matters, and a sense is starting to develop among panelists that the club is moving too far away from it.”

For The Low, Low Price Of $14 Million: "‘Open Doctor’ Jones ratchets up the challenge on Torrey Pines South"

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I haven’t a clue how you spend $14 million at an exsiting golf complex—oh wait, Landscapes Unlimited was involved, I stand corrected.

You’d think for that amount Torrey Pines might take on some character but judging by the photos and descriptions offered by the San Diego Union Tribune’s Tod Leonard, the course appears to have fewer trees, more visible cart paths and additional bunkers in that inimitable Rees Jones style: looking like bad puzzle pieces dropped randomly from a helicopter.

Players arriving for future Farmers, the 2021 U.S. Open or simply to pay a green fee, will find more examples of Jones’s imprint. Most heartbreaking of the various changes outlined by Leonard come at the 10th. As someone who first played there in 1991 and remembers how charming the 10th hole and green complex once was, this was particularly dispiriting:

The next hole, No. 10, was arguably the most bland on the course.

“The back nine really started at 11,” Jones said., “The 10th was a driver, wedge every time.”

A new tee was built to make the hole longer, and the visual changed dramatically, with the left side of the fairway split with a bunker, while a right fairway bunker pinches the landing zone.

Judging by the photo above by K.C. Alfred, it should be encircled in yellow tape.

But hey, the views are great, The Lodge makes a killer burger and you can get great fish tacos within 15 minutes of the course.