When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
Overcoming hideous late-80s carpeting, a less-than-choice setting in the fluorescent-drenched Hilton Torrey Pines basement ballroom, the 2013 mandatory, non-mandatory players meeting was completed in just under two hours and reports say a good time was had by all. Except those who left early citing boredom or refusing to acknowledge the assembled media.
As a belligerent press corps bickered outside the room for nearly 2 hours about deserving World Golf Hall of Fame inductees, PGA Tour players unveiled a variety of peculiar fashion choices to kick off the new year in a fierce battle to see who could best impersonate a wealthy homeless golfer.
Since no one from the USGA or PGA Tour would even talk about the tone of the meeting or acknowledge that a discussion about anchoring a large metal object against one's torso was the topic of discussion, reporters were forced to ask players their views. Always a difficult task under even the the best of circumstances, players were equally as resistant to speak. Even as they debuted their best winter flip-flops and shabbiest t-shirts paying homage to the world's off-duty longshoreman, the PGA Tour's SVP and EVP corps appeared in their stock blue-blazered best to tell players what they planned to do regardless of the comments made at the meeting.
"Mike Davis and Tim Finchem are very gifted public speakers," said Geoff Ogilvy, the only player present who completed a sentence and one of the few able to complete full sentences. Several others declined to speak to the media gathered in hopes of landing just one nugget from this most first world of first world discussions.
Flying in for the meeting was noted anchorer Tim Clark, sporting this winter's must-have mandatory players meeting accessory: a carry-on hard case luggage piece filled with mysterious contents that could be construed as legal documents for a player considering a lawsuit to halt the putter anchoring ban. Clark declined comment on his way out of the meeting and remains the subject of speculation that he will be grandfathered in due to a physical handicap preventing him from putting like a normal human being, as will any other player that does 7 Hail Mary's and tells Tim Finchem that he's a first vote World Golf Hall of Famer.
Though all parties declined significant or revealing comment following two hours of meeting and one slightly jovial ovation later, it was revealed that Commissioner Tim Finchem will be briefing the media in an 8:30 a.m. PT press conference.
**Stephanie Wei talked to three players who anonymously shared insights from the meeting. Sounds like it was a lively discussion about bifurcation!
For Immediate Release...
Live Network Streaming Debuts this Weekend at Farmers Insurance Open
CBS’s coverage signals start of full live streaming for rest of 2013 PGA TOUR season
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – This week signals a landmark moment for expanded PGA TOUR coverage as network telecasts will be fully available online for the first time through live streaming, beginning with CBS Sports’ weekend coverage of the Farmers Insurance Open.
All 18 of CBS Sports’ FedExCup telecasts will be streamed live. Visitors to PGATOUR.com and CBSSports.com will be directed to a co-branded video player to watch live streaming of CBS Sports’ third-round telecast on Saturday (3-6 p.m. ET) and fourth-round telecast on Sunday (3-6:30 p.m. ET). The live streaming this weekend also will be available on PGA TOUR platforms as well as CBS Sports and CBS SportCaster applications for the iPhone, Android and iPad. CBS also will have a mobile web-based player available at m.cbssports.com.
All Golf Channel, through TV Everywhere availability, and NBC telecasts also will be streamed throughout the 2013 season, with Golf Channel available to multichannel video subscribers, and NBC’s weekend coverage of 12 FedExCup tournaments fully available beginning with next week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open. Golf Channel is televising the early rounds for all 30 FedExCup tournaments on NBC and CBS, as well as all four rounds for six tournaments.
“This is a significant milestone in the PGA TOUR’s digital history,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “We are excited to work with CBS Sports to bring live PGA TOUR action online, and look forward to continuing our efforts with CBS, NBC and Golf Channel to develop ways golf fans can access live coverage of the PGA TOUR from wherever they are.”
Golf Channel’s telecasts of the Farmers Insurance Open’s first two rounds and early weekend coverage will be streamed live in conjunction with NBC Sports Live Extra, accessible to Comcast subscribers on a co-branded video player via PGATOUR.com and GolfChannel.com, as well as on iPhone, Android and iPad through NBC Sports Live Extra and Golf Live Extra apps. Live streaming was available to Comcast subscribers during Golf Channel’s four-round coverage of the Sony Open in Hawaii and last week’s Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation. Availability of live streaming during Golf Channel telecasts of PGA TOUR tournaments will expand to additional satellite, cable and telco providers throughout the season.
A few highlights from today's Tiger Woods press conference at the Farmers Insurance Open. Looking as fit as ever, Woods answered questions from the assembled slingers and local TV newshounds.
Q. Slightly different topic here. Phil Mickelson made some comments regarding the higher taxes here in California. You being a resident now of Florida, but from here, any comment or any reaction to what he said?
TIGER WOODS: Well, I moved out of here back in '96 for that reason. I enjoy Florida, but also I understand what he was, I think, trying to say. I think he'll probably explain it better and in a little more detail.
Looks like Jerry West has more lobbying to do on getting Tiger back to Riviera for the Northern Trust Open:
Q. Just wanted to check in on your immediate schedule going forward. What tournaments you are going to be playing in, and specifically with the Northern Trust Open, whether you're playing or not, or still undecided? I wanted to know what your thought process is in whether or not you play that one?
TIGER WOODS: I'm going to play a few tournaments coming up.
Q. Which one next?
TIGER WOODS: I don't know.
Q. What will it take for you to play Rivera again?
TIGER WOODS: I don't know. We'll just see.
Is that a non-denial denial? Or just a denial denial?
On anchoring...
Q. With the player meeting tonight and the anchoring ban being discussed, have you ever kind of reflected on how anchoring has impacted the game in terms of your career, in terms of winning certain events and without naming names, obviously, but do you ever feel you've been deprived of some wins because you putt in a conventional way and there was somebody putting using anchoring?
TIGER WOODS: No. I'm not going to look at it like that. Generally, in the past if guys switch methods, it's usually because they're uneasy, they're a little twitchy or just don't feel comfortable, so they'll switch methods.
But we have a whole other generation that have never experienced having those twitches or having any of those type of problems, and they've grown up with anchoring the putter.
And I think that's what Mike was trying to explain when he was trying to implement this new rule is that we're getting a whole 'nother generation that have only putted with anchoring the putter, and they've just learned that one method. He believes every club should actually swing, and I agree with that.
After talking about his memories of the unforgettable 2008 U.S. Open, he was asked about Torrey and another Open. I'm not sure if he knows it's off the USGA's radar.
Q. Your thoughts on the U.S. Open ever coming back to Torrey, and are you in favor of that?
TIGER WOODS: Absolutely, absolutely. I think they've proven that they can host a great U.S. Open here. We, as players, play here each and every year, and we love the golf course. It's hard.
And I think the USGA is trying to make a concerted effort ever since '02 going to Bethpage for the first time and big public venues. This is the west coast version. And it was amazing. The turnout, the fans, the support, the crowds, I mean, it was just a great atmosphere.
I think with having the other golf course right here for parking and all that, I think certainly I think Torrey Pines and everyone here involved in it really made this tournament special, and I think the USGA will definitely come back.
Pssst...that's a negative!
On a serious note, I'm still trying to figure out how to word this question of Tiger: do you want to see the U.S. Open return here one more time before you are, uh, uh,
You can watch about 7 minutes of former President Bill Clinton talking about a range of topics to the press at the Humana Challenge, his last appearance there before heading back for the inaugural events this weekend.
You'll have to sit through 5 minutes of Commissioner Platform first. Sorry.
And sorry about the iPod mini player window, it's not my call.
You can read the transcript here and see if the Commish out-platforms the Humana board chair.
So as with last year, the Clinton Foundation's "Health Matters" conference at La Quinta Resort was filled with lots of interesting and inspirational messages about health and fitness. This year's edition seemed a bit wonkier and probably played that way on the live stream if you were so bold as to watch. The crowd seemed less eclectic and a tad more corporate. Several panels seemed aimed a bit more at the corporate and community sector just as Clinton had suggested he was hoping would happen after everyone took their marching orders in 2012.
Golf was well represented again even though Annika Sorenstam and Notah Begay were quite inspirational last year. However, with one Humana Challenge (aka the Bob Hope Classic) under their belts, Clinton and Commissioner Tim Finchem seemed more at ease in discussing the tournament's role in elevation discussion of health matters. Gary Player was a tremendous natural fit for the Clinton message of preventative behavior to help improve American health and reduce health care costs. Still, it would be nice to see one or two active players make the effort to appear.
However, the stunning takeaway of the day came during the panel session including Commissioner Finchem. After his introductory remarks spiced up with all the usual jargon (activate definitely word du jour), the Commish had nothing to say until the topic of taxing certain bad behavior-related products was mentioned by panel moderator Chelsea Clinton.
As I Tweeted once I'd gotten up from my seat and cleaned up the mess of papers that went flying after I fell over, Commissioner Controversy not only said he would support "heavy taxation" on tobacco products, but that he'd support an "all out ban."
Yes, the same man who resisted drug testing on the PGA Tour, would ban smoking in the United States if he had his druthers! Of course, he'll be tickled pink to know I wholeheartedly support his stance. Call any time Tim. Don't be a stranger. I'm here for you, brother.
I'll be attending the Clinton Foundation's Health Matters conference Tuesday as part of the Humana Challenge. The lineup is interesting once again. It appears you can watch the stream of the various events. The standouts for golfers are copied below.
Just go to this link and "RSVP" with an email address so you can watch.
10:30 AM – 11:45 AM
Access to Healthy Lifestyles
Speakers
Framing Speaker: Dr. Deepak Chopra, Founder, The Chopra Foundation
Featured Pledge: Barbra Streisand, Philanthropist and Actress
Panel
Moderator: Chelsea Clinton, Board Member, William J. Clinton Foundation
Tim Finchem, PGA TOUR Commissioner
Dr. C. Noel Bairey Merz, Director, Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center
Dr. Dean Ornish, Founder and President, Preventive Medicine Research Institute
Dr. David Satcher, Director, Satcher Health Leadership Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine; 16th Surgeon General of the United States
Ryan Sistare, Renaissance Hotel Complex General Manager, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Andrea Thomas, Senior Vice President of Sustainability, Walmart3:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Living Healthy
Speakers
Framing Speaker: Haile Thomas, Youth Advisory Board, Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Featured Pledge: Casey Wasserman, Chairman and CEO, Wasserman Media Group
Jen Kessy, U.S. Olympic Silver Medalist, Beach Volleyball
April Ross, Professional American Beach Volleyball
Rebecca Soni, Professional American Beach Volleyball
Panel
Moderator: Jillian Michaels, Fitness Expert and Wellness Coach
Dan Buettner, Founder, Blue Zones
Gary Player, International Ambassador of Golf
Mike Roberts, CEO, LYFE Kitchen Restaurants
Kristin Armstrong Savola, 2x Olympic Gold Medal Cyclist
Haile Thomas, Youth Advisory Board, Alliance for a Healthier Generation
5:00 PM – 5:15 PM
Closing Remarks by President Bill Clinton
Just kidding!
PGA Tour. PGA TOUR(C).
Dustin Johnson won the Hyundai Tournament of Some Champions and while it had its moments, according to Doug Ferguson, the reaction first centered on Johnson again teasing us with his epic talent (John Strege has that covered) before the online chatter turned to Paulina Gretzky, interested spectator.
Alex Myers provides the speculation on her presence, J.D. Cuban the images.
Meanwhile Brent Musburger is taking some heat prompting ESPN to apologize for the 73-year-old announcer fawning over Alabama QB A.J. McCarron's girlfriend early into the BCS title game.
Mary Pilon's NY Times story on Musberger included this condemnation of the geezer game caller:
“It’s extraordinarily inappropriate to focus on an individual’s looks,” said Sue Carter, a professor of journalism at Michigan State. “In this instance, the appearance of the quarterback’s girlfriend had no bearing on the outcome of the game. It’s a major personal violation, and it’s so retrograde that it’s embarrassing. I think there’s a generational issue, but it’s incumbent on people practicing in these eras to keep up and this is not a norm.”
Generational? That goes for you too, Myers and Cuban! Different generation.
Jason Sobel writes about Johnson's win and all the reasons to envy him and it sounds like Johnson was better prepared than an understandably stunned McCarron was when he realized how much personal life prying was going on.
When asked about his relationship with her after the tournament, Johnson responded, “Does it matter?” When informed that inquiring minds wanted to know, he followed, “I don’t know who you’re talking about,” while a huge smile splashed across his face.
We need to cut Musburger some slack. It’s true that a guy who has renewed his AARP discount card this many times should know what’s creepy and what’s not and what’s the time and place and what’s not. Still, he has this affliction. He is one of hundreds of millions of human beings who carry the Y chromosome. It causes them to shout out the occasional geriatric-perv-whoop.
The difference is, most do it in privacy. Musburger did it on national television. Viewers were shocked -- shocked, I tell you -- to hear a grown man go slightly off his rocker in the presence of a beautiful woman. But it has happened before. The first time it happened to me, I asked the girl to marry me. She said yes. Mumblety-mumble years later, we’re still married and she sat alongside me when Musburger sang his aria to Miss Alabama.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
