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.

Augusta has never been about compiling the absolute most competitive field.

What IMO can't be underestimated is just how much a veteran or burgeoning professional wants to play in that event.

Again, will be interesting to see if the green coats make any accommodations for LIV players.

There is a person on Twitter with a username of Monday Q Info. They have just posted some interesting info (for me, anyway). He mentions that the PRE Qualifying tournaments for the Waste Management Phoenix Open are available for registration now. The tournament takes place in February. There are 8 pre qualifying tournaments local to Phoenix spread over a few days, but you can only enter one. If you finish on the top two of these tournaments you can then play the Monday Qualifier where the top three will qualify for the WMPO. It will cost $250 entry fee for the pre qualifier, and anything from free to $500 for the Monday qualifier depending on your status. So it could cost you $750 plus expenses. You've got to be good or sponsorship.

I'm never wrong wrote:There is a person on Twitter with a username of Monday Q Info. They have just posted some interesting info (for me, anyway). He mentions that the PRE Qualifying tournaments for the Waste Management Phoenix Open are available for registration now. The tournament takes place in February. There are 8 pre qualifying tournaments local to Phoenix spread over a few days, but you can only enter one. If you finish on the top two of these tournaments you can then play the Monday Qualifier where the top three will qualify for the WMPO. It will cost $250 entry fee for the pre qualifier, and anything from free to $500 for the Monday qualifier depending on your status.  So it could cost you $750 plus expenses.  You've got to be good or sponsorship.

I'm sure there are plenty (local) well off low handicappers who'd love to splash out on this. Pretty sure they'll fill up the field.

Nothing really new about this story, but it sure adds evidence against the ever-wacky commentary from Greg "The Ego" Norman. Hope the link works for you all, but if not it's a story from the "New York Times" from Dec 11:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/11/sports/golf/liv-saudi-pga.html

Archived version of LIV NY times article posted by shotrock.

https://archive.vn/jUR5y

Looks like we know what outcome the Saudis got from their analysis document.

"By contrast, a league mired in start-up status — defined as attracting less than half of the world’s top 12 players, navigating a “lack of excitement from fans,” reeling from limited sponsorships and confronting “severe response from golf society” — stood to lose $355 million, before interest and taxes, in 2028."

Mac - An enormous failure thus far ... but time will tell if the other tours can continue to hold their ground. And, just how much patience the LIV investors have? I'm guessing they will absolutely need a TV/Streaming Service deal of some sort very soon.

McLaren wrote:Looks like we know what outcome the Saudis got from their analysis document.

"By contrast, a league mired in start-up status — defined as attracting less than half of the world’s top 12 players, navigating a “lack of excitement from fans,” reeling from limited sponsorships and confronting “severe response from golf society” — stood to lose $355 million, before interest and taxes, in 2028."

This was almost a best case by 2028 wasn't it? I appreciate the goal isn't to make money, but they are talking astronomical losses...surely there must be some sort of return on investment required by the Saudis beyond "ha we've got a few decent golfers signed up".

There was much buzz about a TV deal a month or two ago - which seems to have died down again?

I guess the document we actually need to see is the analysis of what the Saudi golf tour has to look like for the sportswashing goal to be achieved. I think the Saudis would run the golf tour at whatever loss is counteracted by gains to the general Saudi economy. If the sportswashing is running smoothly then they will continue to pour money into this.

I wouldn't think that this tour is currently doing much sportswashing but who knows?

And the current World Cup in Qatar doesn’t seem to be doing anything good for the LIV Tour, or sportswashing in general. If anything, the Qatar WC has probably (inadvertently) increased awareness about sportswashing, at least in our part of the world - which happens to overlap with where the best golfers reside.

Tiger's play at the PNC was impressive. Ball speeds of around 180mph and good approach play and putting. He just cant walk. Do you think he'll play regular PGA Tour events or Majors using a cart?

I think he was asked this question at a press conference at the end of November. He replied he would never use a cart on the PGA Tour as walking was an integral part of the game.

BlueCoverman wrote:I think he was asked this question at a press conference at the end of November. He replied he would never use a cart on the PGA Tour as walking was an integral part of the game.

I dont quite get that myself, but I'm sure he'll recover from the plantar fascitis soon and start walking again.

incontinentia wrote:Tiger's play at the PNC was impressive. Ball speeds of around 180mph and good approach play and putting. He just cant walk. Do you think he'll play regular PGA Tour events or Majors  using a cart?

I don't think you're allowed to. Wasn't there some American with half a lung and John Daly who wanted one but got told to eff off?

super_realist wrote:

incontinentia wrote:Tiger's play at the PNC was impressive. Ball speeds of around 180mph and good approach play and putting. He just cant walk. Do you think he'll play regular PGA Tour events or Majors  using a cart?

I don't think you're allowed to. Wasn't there some American with half a lung and John Daly who wanted one but got told to eff off?

Yep, think so. No-one does it, or they are all allowed to.

Oh ok so. Thought some sort of medical exemption may have allowed it

incontinentia wrote:Oh ok so. Thought some sort of medical exemption may have allowed it

You are correct. A college buddy (I think) of Tigers called Casey Martin challenged the PGA Tour and won. See HERE

I'm never wrong wrote:

incontinentia wrote:Oh ok so. Thought some sort of medical exemption may have allowed it

You are correct. A college buddy (I think) of Tigers called Casey Martin challenged the PGA Tour and won. See HERE

I doubt 9 Chins could argue that his self inflicted injuries due to his own stupidity were a genuine disability.

Huge round from Rahm to snatch victory from Morikawa. That has to sting.

incontinentia wrote:Huge round from Rahm to snatch victory from Morikawa. That has to sting.

I'm wondering if Morikawa:s career will dim like Gordon Spieths.
Too much, too young?

super_realist wrote:

incontinentia wrote:Huge round from Rahm to snatch victory from Morikawa. That has to sting.

I'm wondering if Morikawa:s career will dim like Gordon Spieths.
Too much, too young?

Was Spieth's decline mainly due to swing changes? Kaymer was also a victim of that. If Morikawa can stay motivated and make good career decisions (ie not mess too much with his swing) then he has the goods to be a top 10 player for many years to come.

Rahm seems to be the closest thing to a Tiger Woods in the post-Tiger era. Very exciting to watch when in contention, he really makes a full-blooded run for the win.

Will you watch it?

Probably not, once a tournament is over it's of very little interest. Exception being Medinah. There's some great players documentaries on that day featuring Donald, Poulter, Rose and Colsaerts

Yes I'll be watching. Will be interested to see from a behind the scenes point of view. What about you Inco?

Will definitely watch it - interesting they have quite a few LIV defects followed, will be interesting to see how they are portrayed and if any new nuggets drop

The Gordon Spieth one will be rivetting

BlueCoverman wrote:Yes I'll be watching. Will be interested to see from a behind the scenes point of view. What about you Inco?

Yes I'll give it a look. I'm also interested in the behind the scenes aspect, interactions we wouldnt usually see etc.

As an aside, I really enjoyed this video from DP world tour that came out over Xmas. Hopefully the netflix show will be a similar format, but obviously with more drama.

Actually really enjoy "Drive to Survive." And if I can suffer through the first season of "Severance" (man, that was slow to get going), I can sure pull this up at some point.

Shotrock wrote:Actually really enjoy "Drive to Survive." And if I can suffer through the first season of "Severance" (man, that was slow to get going), I can sure pull this up at some point.

Drive to Survive is proving very popular, even with non-F1 fans.

incontinentia wrote:

BlueCoverman wrote:Yes I'll be watching. Will be interested to see from a behind the scenes point of view. What about you Inco?

Yes I'll give it a look. I'm also interested in the behind the scenes aspect, interactions we wouldnt usually see etc.

As an aside, I really enjoyed this video from DP world tour that came out over Xmas. Hopefully the netflix show will be a similar format, but obviously with more drama.

Is that a film about Lowry's obsession with Tuber based fare?

super_realist wrote:
Is that a film about Lowry's obsession with Tuber based fare?

No, that's only a small part of the film.

super_realist wrote:The Gordon Spieth one will be rivetting

You mean Jordan Spieth? Noticed you make that mistake a few times.

As a traditional F1 fan I found drive to survive just too contrived. Didn't capture what F1 is really about at all. Basically it was a reality TV reimagining of f1.

McLaren wrote:

super_realist wrote:The Gordon Spieth one will be rivetting

You mean Jordan Spieth? Noticed you make that mistake a few times.

It's intentional Mac.

Why?

Rahm - In a class of his own at the moment. Some may find dominance a bit boring, but I enjoy watching a top athlete lap the field. Keep it up.

I read based on his best 8 scores in his last 20 rounds his WHS Index would be +13!

That's a 59 gross required for 36 points in the Saturday roll-up! 

Gareth Bale playing in AT & T tournament in a couple of weeks time. Wonder who he will be paired with?

I'm never wrong wrote:Gareth Bale playing in AT & T tournament in a couple of weeks time. Wonder who he will be paired with?

Got to think it will be a British player like Fitzpatrik or Donald. I think Donald might be a Spurs fan.

The curious case of Anthony Kim ...

For those of you that are interested (and don't hit a paywall) this is an interesting read:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/26/sports/golf/anthony-kim-tiger-woods.html

McLaren wrote:

I'm never wrong wrote:Gareth Bale playing in AT & T tournament in a couple of weeks time. Wonder who he will be paired with?

Got to think it will be a British player like Fitzpatrik or Donald. I think Donald might be a Spurs fan.

Sounds about right, Luke’s been a bit short of trophies as well lately!

Shotrock wrote:The curious case of Anthony Kim ...

For those of you that are interested (and don't hit a paywall) this is an interesting read:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/26/sports/golf/anthony-kim-tiger-woods.html

Sorry I don't read the New York Times because of how much they shafted Trump.

incontinentia wrote:

Shotrock wrote:The curious case of Anthony Kim ...

For those of you that are interested (and don't hit a paywall) this is an interesting read:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/26/sports/golf/anthony-kim-tiger-woods.html

Sorry I don't read the New York Times because of how much they shafted Trump.

They're very anti British.

super_realist wrote:

incontinentia wrote:

Shotrock wrote:The curious case of Anthony Kim ...

For those of you that are interested (and don't hit a paywall) this is an interesting read:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/26/sports/golf/anthony-kim-tiger-woods.html

Sorry I don't read the New York Times because of how much they shafted Trump.

They're very anti British.

I'd see that as a positive.