PGATour Running Commentary January 2022

First topic message reminder :

Happy New Year.  After a nearly a year and half, its time for a new thread.

39 ofthe 40 Players eligible to play Sentry ToC are playing.  Only one missing is Rory McIlroy.

Was a good win for Tom Hoge last night, he really played well on the back nine and outlasted Spieth, who looks to be warming up nicely as the tour ramps up to The Players/Masters.

I see DeChambeau also pulled out of the Saudi event after one round with this wrist injury that forced him to miss the Sony Open (and he was struggling also with his back at Torrey Pines). Not in the field for this week either at Phoenix. Is the body beginning to show signs of strain from his bulking up?

Was Mickelson throwing the tour under a bus not discussed on here?

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/phil-mickelson-pga-tour-media-rights-obnoxious-greed

FIGJAM wrote:“For me personally, it’s not enough that they are sitting on hundreds of millions of digital moments. They also have access to my shots, access I do not have. They also charge companies to use shots I have hit. And when I did ‘The Match’—there have been five of them—the tour forced me to pay them $1 million each time. For my own media rights. That type of greed is, to me, beyond obnoxious.”

Phil, you are the tour you dipshit.

McLaren wrote:And when I did ‘The Match’—there have been five of them—the tour forced me to pay them $1 million each time.

I thought I read somewhere that it was the TV company that paid, not FIGJAM

That whole Mickelson interview is so out of touch with reality it’s unbelievable!
So many things wrong I wouldn’t even know where to begin pointing them out, totally ridiculous

Also, is he seemingly trying to leverage the PGA Tour by trying to use the Saudi government?! I’m sure that won’t turn out badly…

incontinentia wrote:Seamus Power has really blossomed on the PGA Tour.

There was a pretty good article on him in the Times a little while back…I really enjoy reading about some of the lesser known guys instead of endless sycophantic rehashed stories about the same old names. The different journeys they all  go through can be quite interesting and make great reading. There’s a recent one on there about Leona Maguire which is brilliant and was a real eye opener for me. I’ll see if I can post a link as I think you get a certain number of freebies without needing a subscription.

The footballers could definitely learn a thing or two about how to behave from her!


From playing off one aged 13 to undefeated in Solheim Cup – Maguire blazing trail for Irish golf

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/093cd23a-88d2-11ec-a837-0153f5f4adaf?shareToken=f609c3619cee348c989cf1a858a36459

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:That whole Mickelson interview is so out of touch with reality it’s unbelievable!
So many things wrong I wouldn’t even know where to begin pointing them out, totally ridiculous

Also, is he seemingly trying to leverage the PGA Tour by trying to use the Saudi government?! I’m sure that won’t turn out badly…

I am really not sure Mickelson has a strategy. It seems like he feels that someone owes him money and he will take it from where ever, no matter who he offends in the process. I also assume he understands more about sports image/media rights and TV deals than he is letting on.

I never liked Mickelson and this isn't making me doubt my position. Good old FIGJAM.

Charlie Hoffman has chewed out the PGA Tour and USGA after receiving a penalty after taking a drop. Could he be the latest defector to be-heading to Saudi Arabia?

I don't think Hoffman has any desire to go to the Saudi league. I think he was just ranting about a USGA rule that got him a penalty after not hitting a shot.

He hit a ball into a penalty area (fka water hazard), Took a drop on a slope w/o much grass, ball rolls back into penalty area. Repeat. Places the ball, finally finding a spot where the ball will not roll back in penalty area. Success! Rules official deems the ball is in play.

While Hoffman assesses his shot, ball starts to roll back into the penalty area.

Yet another penalty is incurred without Charley hitting a shot.

IMO, Charley is right. This rule is idiotic.

Charley biggest mistake was to mention defection to the Saudi league in his rant against the USGA (and PGA Tour). He should have only focused on the absurdity of getting penalized without hitting a shot.

Whilst you’re right in your description of everything there GPB it always amazes me when players don’t call rules officials over along with at least one of their playing partners whenever they’re taking any kind of drop/relief just to make sure they aren’t going to have issues of this sort. It’s a luxury is amateurs would love to have available to us!!

If Hoffman had concerns his ball could roll into the water and cost a shot, surely he would have been aware he had other options? Really unsure on why he thinks it's an issue.

Another ace @16 in Phoenix….fantastic scenes!
Think they just said before yesterday’s something like 2000+ attempts had passed since the last one there, now two in 2 days!

You’ve got to admire what they’ve created in Phoenix….from a relatively anonymous, run of the mill, no offence intended, tour event they’ve made it quite unique and special using one hole. It must be great for a day out especially if there’s any hole outs, even if the snobby, golfing purists wouldn’t agree.
Not a peep of any crowd trouble either, can’t imagine the same being said for 160k footie fans!!

Once again, amazing crowds at this event.

Agree with you GPB, idiotic rule, but his "threat" to go on the Saudi tour is pretty amusing.

Not quite sure what the chants of U..S..A are all about seeing as Ortiz is Mexican but you’ve got to take your hat off to the PR/marketing team who’re responsible for coming up with this

TM2K - Right you are, it's a fun event inside and event. In fact, you need a separate ticket to get into the 16th hole "arena." I was there a number of years ago.

Agree SR…quickly becoming a must do for sporting events to attend! Probably significantly easier to get tickets for than most given the numbers allowed in each day. Plus there’s plenty of good desert courses to play as well as Vegas, LA/California not far away either!!

Suspect it’ll keep getting bigger and bigger while there’s drama like this and demand is there!!

Shotrock wrote:TM2K - Right you are, it's a fun event inside and event. In fact, you need a separate ticket to get into the 16th hole "arena." I was there a number of years ago.

I can only imagine….definitely not the day to be designated driver!

Only other place I can think of that requires more than one ticket is the All England Club for the show courts at Wimbledon. You can actually see the similarities in the type of spectators in attendance…..

Have to agree, this closing stretch of holes is great fun - love 17 too, great risk/reward par four!

In fact the upcoming stretch on the PGA Tour is a serious of fun courses - Riviera next week is a fantastic course too imo

beninho wrote:If Hoffman had concerns his ball could roll into the water and cost a shot, surely he would have been aware he had other options?  Really unsure on why he thinks it's an issue.

This is where the PGATour is to blame. The Course Prep & Setup committee should have realized the situation and drawn the hazard boundary line so this situation would be avoided.

I think the USGA could learn something by this. In many long rough makes courses easier for the long knockers. If the rough is kept at a reasonable length, crooked drives would be roll further off line. The ball could end up in penalty areas, out of bounds or behind trees. As it is, the rough kind of acts likes bumpers on a bowling alley. Keeping wayward drives from getting deeper in trouble.

Yesterday, Theegala's 2nd shot into #11 went over the green and headed to the penalty area. But the long grass behind the green kept the ball from the penalty area

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Have to agree, this closing stretch of holes is great fun - love 17 too, great risk/reward par four!

In fact the upcoming stretch on the PGA Tour is a serious of fun courses - Riviera next week is a fantastic course too imo

I hadn’t thought about that…you’re right, we’re in for a treat with those courses! And hasn’t this week been so much more interesting with the greens a bit firmer than usual. Just shows lengthening courses isn’t anywhere near as effective as the setting up of them.

Kwini was a big fan of the LA swing and the likes of Riviera,LA Country Club, bel-air etc if I remember his weekly notes correctly.

I think the tour (and many if not most of the players) would like firm & fast golf courses.

But Mother Nature does not take orders very well.

The 16th at WMPO is the most tasteless sight in golf.

McLaren wrote:The 16th at WMPO is the most tasteless sight in golf.

Have you seen what Rickie Fowler wears?

Riviera is a great course. Need to get out there one day!

(One of my sons attends UCLA and I've driven right by it a few times.)

No problem for me with the 16th at WMPO - but the 17th hole provides more drama for sure.

Interesting finish yesterday. Had to record it to be sure I didn't miss the Super Bowl ads.

McLaren wrote:The 16th at WMPO is the most tasteless sight in golf.

Bit harsh saying something as most tasteless sight in golf Mac….that kind of thing is subjective and I’ve definitely witnessed many examples far worse. Once I saw some guy on a bus who was clearly on first name terms with the driver, dressed in 19th century style plus fours, shirt and tie, v neck under his suit jacket and flat cap. Topped with a set of hickory sticks in an old leather bag whilst juggling a set of small, feather balls….

I wouldn’t want to see it all the time but it’s good fun, completely harmless and everyone seems to be having a riot…minus the hooliganism that’s plagued our football crowds over the years.

I quite like the thought of the stuffy suits in the R&A choking on their kümmels at the prospect of Harry Higgs and dahmen celebrating like that on the 18th at St Andrew’s after winning the 150th open this summer!!

Does no harm whatsoever to try something different and it has definitely been hugely beneficial to an event that had no prior USP and might’ve struggled to find continued sponsorship. I’ll bet they’ll all be signing up to play Phoenix after the scenes this weekend

McLaren wrote:The 16th at WMPO is the most tasteless sight in golf.

You didnt enjoy Higgs' dadbod?

Latest Saudi rumours...

Phil, DJ and Bryson are essentially signed up as the "three leaders" of the new league. Anywhere between 12-18 others likely to join them, including the likes of Westwood/Stenson/Poulter, seen Casey mentioned too.

First events to happen as soon as June/July this year!

Bryson has released a "denial" (the least denial, denial ever) to the rumours he was saying to players in Saudi he's played his final PGA Tour event.

Seems like this is going to happen fairly soon, and fairly quickly!
Personally think PGA Tour should stand firm and give them all the boot - the names lined up are hardly "surprising" (which says a lot about the characters...), and while they have the likes of Rahm/Rory/JT/Spieth/Koepka/Morikawa et al, losing a few douchebags and OAPs is not likely to effect things too much? Of course that is presuming some of those "star" young names aren't signed up...

There was a good article I read last week on the legal side of things - https://www.conductdetrimental.com/post/can-the-pga-tour-outdrive-legal-challenges-if-they-ban-players-who-defect-to-the-super-golf-league

Not sure why the Saudis are getting involved in golf, everyone knows they're a bunch of hackers!

Good Golly

You can probably add Charlie Hoffman to the Saudi list as well now. Bizarre outburst for him not knowing the rules.

And did you see his rant was liked by Mickelson?


BDC was increasingly becoming a side show, I think we all feared the game had irrevocably changed after winged foot but he hasn't been able to keep it going. If anything a short (ish) but deadly accurate iron player has become the next big thing since then. At this point the loss of BDC to the Saudi's wouldn't have a meaningful impact on the mainstream game. I actually think DJ would be a more concerning loss.


One thing on the PGAT banning players, do we know the Saudi's won't ask anyone signing up for them to stop playing on the PGAT anyway? I doubt they want to spend $130m on BDC to then have to watch him tee it up on the PGAT some weeks?

Trouble with De Chambeau is he thinks he's clever when he isn't.

His insufferably slow play is his biggest problem. Good riddance if he goes to Saudi Arabia. He wont be missed.

I’d agree with all that super…seems to have let his successes go to his head and is lacking any real sensible advice or guidance from a more experienced member on his team, surrounding himself with yes men who tell him what he wants to hear. Perhaps the split with his caddy had something to do with him not liking what was said.

I do think it’s quite a common issue among a lot of sports. I’ve always thought there’d been similarities between Woods and Tyson in that respect. Just before they went off the rails both lost their mentor and father figure with strong enough personalities to keep them focused and in check. Woods obviously had his actual father but Tyson’s was Gus D’Amato. Once both had gone there was literally nobody keeping them inline or calling them out when they crossed that line

McLaren wrote:Good Golly

You can probably add Charlie Hoffman to the Saudi list as well now. Bizarre outburst for him not knowing the rules.

And did you see his rant was liked by Mickelson?


BDC was increasingly becoming a side show, I think we all feared the game had irrevocably changed after winged foot but he hasn't been able to keep it going. If anything a short (ish) but deadly accurate iron player has become the next big thing since then. At this point the loss of BDC to the Saudi's wouldn't have a meaningful impact on the mainstream game. I actually think DJ would be a more concerning loss.


One thing on the PGAT banning players, do we know the Saudi's won't ask anyone signing up for them to stop playing on the PGAT anyway? I doubt they want to spend $130m on BDC to then have to watch him tee it up on the PGAT some weeks?

We really know very little about the Saudi side of this, apart from a few nuggets about seemingly endless money to throw at players, and they linked up with the Asian Tour (separate to this league, but you'd think they will supplement the "high profile" signings with some Asian Tour players?). Obviously part of the overall sportswashing agenda they have going on...

Rumours seem to indicate it will be a series of 12/14 events, taking place around the globe (a lot of "Trump" courses mooted as venues in the US). Nothing about a schedule or TV deal to broadcast this...
40 man field, no cut events with a bunch of golfers who have their money in hand already hardly sound enthralling to a viewer...

Mac - very good point about the Saudis likely not wanting players to play PGAT events either.

I guess the next big obstacle/domino to fall outside of who has signed up, is what the majors will do (I think pretty likely nothing...) and whether these Saudi events contribute to OGWR.

Good golly

I think the reason the Saudis invested in the Asian tour is so that a player signing up to them can at least get OWGR points playing on the Asian tour (especially the 10 Saudi elevated events) even if they don't get any OWGR points for playing in 12/14 Saudi super league events. This way they have taken some power away from the actions the majors can take because the Saudi defectors can now be legitimized through playing the Asian tour.  Although I am not sure how easy it is to qualify for the majors from the Asian tour.

Sorry for the continuous bombardment of Saudi news on this thread, but Mickelson's latest quotes are truly unbelievable.

See here - https://firepitcollective.com/the-truth-about-phil-and-saudi-arabia/

Again I don't even know where to begin

Mickelson obviously value his hands as much as you would think he would,

What perfect publicity for Shipnuck's book...

Why is Figjam doing this at the end of his career, money for gambling? A retirement fund?

It's possible FIGJAM is broke? Wasted all his wealth.

McLaren wrote:It's possible FIGJAM is broke? Wasted all his wealth.

I also sometimes doubt whether he is 100% sane. For example when he ran after that putt at the US Open and hit the ball still in motion, seemed like he had lost it temporarily.

Bryson sort of saying he's not joining SGL.

https://twitter.com/b_dechambeau/status/1495482361437376512?t=WelHI6mH9fuEbDbS-xrb0g&s=19

With both Bryson and DJ saying No to the Saudi's, it looks like the SGL is dead.

https://twitter.com/Daniel_Rapaport/status/1495534824794300423?s=20&t=4N3vtJRYW6DSi_ZgELdcwg

Rory laying the boot into Mickelson now too - what a disaster this whole episode has been for Phil

GPB wrote:With both Bryson and DJ saying No to the Saudi's, it looks like the SGL is dead.

I was really hoping the insufferable De Chambeau was going to go.

I did wonder if Mickelson had a brain - now it's been confirmed  What an idiot!

Greg "the Ego" Norman will need to get more players than FIGJAM to have any chance for this thing to get off the ground. Not going to happen. I'm not surprised old Phil is so clueless. Never seemed particularly bright to me.

I can't see the Saudi's giving up on this. They may be struggling to get the top PGAT names but it they can still plunder Europes RC hero's to get the thing off the ground.

Stenson, Poulter, Westwood and some other guys currently struggling (Molinari, Peiters etc) would be enough to start with. I could even see someone like Fleetwood who just can't quite crack getting to the very top of the game taking the guaranteed millions.

They have at least $300m to burn, they can afford to be patient. In time they can slowly temp players across to the dark side.

Will it get off the ground if the main players are Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood?

I just can't see how a tour with a terrible format (proposed at least), with over the hill old players who are basically irrelevant bar the odd week where they recapture old glory, will gain any viewers or suddenly tempt these top PGA Tour names across. Especially as the PGA Tour is making more and more concessions to players (despite Mickelson's propaganda).

Anyways on the course, massively enjoyed The Genesis over the weekend - not the most exciting in terms of a close run for the winner, Niemann had it pretty secure all the way through bar the odd missed close putt, but great crowds, some great shots (Morikawa with two chip ins!) and a great course.

That was a great course. I know some think all US courses and events are bomb and gouge, but there is a lot more variety than that on tour.

Very good point about the over the hill gang ... gate and viewership on the Sr. Tour tells you pretty much how that story ends.

Rory gets a lot of back door top tens, while Morikawa is mastering the back door getting into contention.


Shotrock, agreed. The genesis is now one of the most interesting tour stops. Great course and one the best fields. Try recreating this week out of nothing in the middle of the desert.

McLaren wrote:
Shotrock, agreed. The genesis is now one of the most interesting tour stops. Great course and one the best fields. Try recreating this week out of nothing in the middle of the desert.

It always been one of the most interesting Tour Stops. It didn't get better just because Tiger has his name attached to it, It has always attracted a good field, now a little better with the elevated status in terms of FEX points and Money.

Previously, Tiger had his name attached to a tournament that was (mostly) played in Washington DC. It never attracted a good field and could not secure a permanent relationship with a well regarded US Open venue (Congressional).

This week is the Honda, and the field strength (in terms of OWGR formulas) has severely suffered. It was the lead-in event to the Doral WGC and got a good field because of it. I am only counting a few names from the OWGR Top 50 this week. Oosty, Koepka, Westwood, Sungjae, Niemann, and a few others.

Poulter is playing, and he needs a good tournament to confirm his spot in the Matchplay and a real good finish to get inside the Top 50 for a Masters invite.

Poulter tweeted he is away for "23 days" so presumably that's The Honda, Arnold Palmer and Players. Agree GPB about him doing well as he's a few spots outside various cut offs. Can't remember when the deadline for thr Masters is.