In Week Predicted To Rival Pearl Harbor And 9/11, Golf's Leading Organizations Roll Out 2020 "Revised Calendar Of Events"

We are all clamoring for things to look forward to. It’s already been too long without sports and the dearth of competition stings a bit more as Masters week arrives with no Masters. That the planning has gone on behind the scenes is perfectly understandable. There is no playbook for dealing with a situation like this and golf will undoubtedly be the first major sport back.

However, the Surgeon General of the United States warned just yesterday that this week would be “the hardest and the saddest" for Americans.

"This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment, only it's not going to be localized, it's going to be happening all over the country and I want America to understand that," Vice Admiral Jerome Adams said on "Fox News Sunday."

There was this from the President of the United States on Sunday, too:

"This will be probably the toughest week between this week and next week, and there will be a lot of death, unfortunately, but a lot less death than if this wasn't done but there will be death," Trump said.

Worldwide, 70,000 people have died and as of this post, at least 9,600 in the United States where there are 337,000 confirmed infections. More than 3000 may die in a single day this week. Hospital bed shortages are prompting makeshift hospitals in multiple American cities. Another 600 lost their lives to the COVID-19 coronavirus in Britain yesterday, surpassing Italy’s death toll for the second day in a row. The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is in intensive care.

Yet, the leading organizations of golf—typically associated with charitable efforts more than all sports combined—have been working hard behind the scenes to help stop the spread by wheeling out a new fall schedule. Even as nearly all experts suggest large gatherings to not be on the table any time soon and doing so on a day when thousands more will succumb.

Feeling the need to share this information publicly, for no rational reason as every other sport quietly waits out this terrible time and with only faint regard for the threats posed by not taking every protective measure possible, diminishes the efforts of those attempting to stop this pandemic.

For Way Too Immediate Release:

Golf World Presents Revised Calendar of Events for 2020

Safety, Health and Well-Being of All Imperative to Moving Forward

April 6, 2020 – United by what may still be possible this year for the world of professional golf, and with a goal to serve all who love and play the game, Augusta National Golf Club, European Tour, LPGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, The R&A and USGA have issued the following joint statement:

“This is a difficult and challenging time for everyone coping with the effects of this pandemic. We remain very mindful of the obstacles ahead, and each organization will continue to follow the guidance of the leading public health authorities, conducting competitions only if it is safe and responsible to do so.

“In recent weeks, the global golf community has come together to collectively put forward a calendar of events that will, we hope, serve to entertain and inspire golf fans around the world.  We are grateful to our respective partners, sponsors and players, who have allowed us to make decisions – some of them, very tough decisions – in order to move the game and the industry forward.

“We want to reiterate that Augusta National Golf Club, European Tour, LPGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, The R&A and USGA collectively value the health and well-being of everyone, within the game of golf and beyond, above all else. We encourage everyone to follow all responsible precautions and make effort to remain healthy and safe.”

Updates from each organization follow, and more information can be found by clicking on the links included:

USGA: The U.S. Open, previously scheduled for June 15-21 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York, has been officially rescheduled for September 14-20 and is confirmed to remain at Winged Foot. For more information and comments from USGA CEO Mike Davis, click here.   

The R&A: The R&A has decided to cancel The Open in 2020 due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, and the Championship will next be played at Royal St. George’s in 2021. The Open was due to be played in Kent, England, from July 12-19, but it has been necessary to cancel the Championship based on guidance from the UK Government, the health authorities, public services and The R&A’s advisers. For more information and comments from The R&A Chief Executive Martin Slumbers, click here. 

PGA of America: The PGA of America is announcing today that the PGA Championship is now scheduled to take place August 3-9 and will remain at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, California.  The PGA Championship was originally slated for May 11-17 but was postponed on March 17.  

Furthermore, the PGA reconfirmed the Ryder Cup remains as originally scheduled, September 22-27, at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin.  For more information and comments from PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh, click here.

Augusta National Golf Club: Augusta National has identified November 9-15 as the intended dates to host the 2020 Masters Tournament, which was previously scheduled for April 6-12 and postponed on March 13. For more information, and comments from Chairman Fred Ridley, click here.

PGA TOUR: While collaborating with the PGA of America to find a viable date for the PGA Championship in August, the PGA TOUR worked with its host organizations and title sponsors to move the Regular Season finale – the Wyndham Championship – and all three FedExCup Playoffs events one week later, starting the week of August 10 and concluding with a Monday, September 7, Labor Day finish for the TOUR Championship.

The TOUR will seek to reschedule tournaments into the weeks formerly occupied by the U.S. Open, The Open Championship and the Men’s Olympic golf competition in June and July.  The TOUR will make further announcements about this potential, as well as its fall schedule, in the coming weeks.  For more information and comments from PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan, click here.

European Tour:  Due to the many complexities involved, the European Tour is currently working through various scenarios in relation to the rescheduling of our tournaments for the 2020 season. The European Tour will make further announcements on these in due course.

LPGA: On April 3, the LPGA released a revised look at the LPGA Tour’s 2020 summer schedule, beginning on the week of June 15 with the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G. In addition, the LPGA Tour announced that they have successfully rescheduled their first two majors of the year (the ANA Inspiration moves to the week of September 7 at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California; and the U.S. Women’s Open conducted by the USGA moves to the week of December 7 at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas). For more information, click here.

Summary:

A listing of the revised schedule of events announced today follows:

• TO BE CONFIRMED: June 15-21 (formerly U.S. Open week) – potential PGA TOUR event

• CANCELED: July 13-19, The Open Championship, Royal St. George’s GC, Sandwich, Kent, England

• TO BE CONFIRMED: July 13-19 (formerly The Open Championship week) – potential PGA TOUR event

• TO BE CONFIRMED: July 27-August 2 (formerly Men’s Olympic Competition week) – potential PGA TOUR event

• CONFIRMED: August 3-9 – PGA Championship, TPC Harding Park, San Francisco, California

• CONFIRMED: PGA TOUR’s season-ending event/FedExCup Playoffs

  • August 10-16 – Wyndham Championship, Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, North Carolina

  • August 17-23 – THE NORTHERN TRUST, TPC Boston, Norton, Massachusetts

  • August 24-30 – BMW Championship, Olympia Fields CC, Olympia Fields, Illinois

  • August 31-September 7 (Labor Day) – TOUR Championship, East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Georgia

• CONFIRMED: September 14-20 – U.S. Open, Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, New York

• RECONFIRMED: September 22-27: Ryder Cup, Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin

• CONFIRMED: November 9-15: the Masters Tournament, Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia

Roundup: Majors Jockeying For Fall Positions, PGA Tour Aiming For Mid-May Restart, Irish Open Postponed

Given the fluidity of the situation and the overall unlikelihood of a significant event being played for some time, I find the hope of at least seeing some tournaments later this year a decent diversion.

Ron Green covered all of this in his Global Golf Post look at the best case scenario planning, including the challenge of the majors trying to be played on television against the NFL and college football games that could resume.

Television factors into the equation as well, with the behemoth that is the NFL seemingly still ready to re-emerge in September. CBS, which televises the Masters, and Fox Spots, which airs the U.S. Open, would have serious scheduling issues.

GolfDigest.com's Joel Beall and Brian Wacker have tried to decipher sources and tea leaves to figure out a possible major schedule that starts with a late July PGA, a September Open Championship, an October U.S. Open and an early November Masters. The latter two would have to reduce their field size given the length of days and time it takes to move a field around.

This schedule, admittedly a best-case-scenario situation, would appear to be working around the PGA Tour’s playoff events. However, it’s hard to imagine many outside of Ponte Vedra Beach would prefer to see the playoff events contested over majors, particularly if the Grand Slam events have to reduce…playing opportunities by playing when the days are shorter. Graeme McDowell has already echoed the sentiment that majors take priority over all else. Common sense says the playoffs should come after the majors.

Green in his GGP column also featured this quote from Kevin Kisner regarding the PGA Tour’s thinking on a mid-May restart.

“The No. 1 thing we need to do is get back to work. They may try to expand some fields so guys can catch up with playing opportunities but it all depends on when we go back.”

The intention to return in mid-May at Colonial was echoed in this Daniel Rappaport story about the PGA Tour’s loan program for players based on their FedExCup status.

Meanwhile, the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open has been postponed, meaning the earliest restart in Europe would come in June.

The European Tour’s statement:

Postponement of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open

The European Tour today confirmed the postponement of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open due to the continuing threat posed by the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The tournament was scheduled to be the European Tour’s second Rolex Series event of 2020, taking place at Mount Juliet Estate from May 28-31, with Major Champion Graeme McDowell as host. 

Keith Pelley, European Tour Chief Executive, said: “The decision to postpone the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open follows consultation with all stakeholders and was made with public health and well-being as our absolute priority. Our thoughts are with everyone right now and we are all united in trying to fight the spread of the pandemic. 

“With this in mind, we will continue to evaluate all aspects of our 2020 European Tour schedule, and discussions on the rescheduling of postponed events will remain ongoing until we have clarity on the global situation.”

And the Tokyo Olympics have been rescheduled for next July 23 to August 8th, meaning we get to do schedule “compaction” all over again next year. Oddly, that tedious topic seems refreshingly quaint these days.

Most Pro Tournaments Unlikely To Be Covered In The Case Of A Pandemic

ESPN.com’s Bob Harig looks at the Valspar Championship—which is supposed to be well into round 2 of the 2020 event—tearing down and dealing with issues related to the COVD-19 cancellation.

This from Harig’s piece answers a question many have had about significant professional golf tournaments and whether insurance covers pandemics:

Making matters worse? Although the Valspar Championship and most events take out insurance for business interruption, a pandemic is not covered in such instances.

"We can't go back to them at all,'' she said.

I can confirm this is the case for most tournaments. Another blow to lost events and communities benefiting from their charitable dollars.

Roundup: Whirlwind Of Tournament Postponements, Cancellations And Possible Reschedulings Amid Deteriorating COVD-19 Crisis

In about a fairly small window, several major golf organizations announced tournament cancellations, postponements and rumors of possible reschedulings this fall surfaced.

While moves to reschedule could be seen as premature given the deteriorating pandemic conditions and horrifying worst-case projections, golf tournaments need time to prepare for new dates and, more bluntly, we all need something to look forward to.

Starting in order of importance with the PGA of America officially postponing May’s PGA Championship at Harding Park. (See above embed for full statement.)

Brian Wacker reports for GolfDigest.com on that and the possible re-positioning of the PGA to August before the PGA Tour playoff events, which would all get bumped back a week assuming by then there is any plausible reason for professional golf tournaments.

All of these best-case new dates also are working around the Olympic Games, which are still on schedule according to the IOC.

The PGA Tour took decisive action on a number of events on all tours and offered this as part of their statement:

As we receive more clarity in the coming weeks, the TOUR will be working with our tournament organizations and title sponsors, in collaboration with golf’s governing bodies, to build a PGA TOUR schedule for 2020 that ensures the health and safety for all associated with our sport and a meaningful conclusion to the season.  We will provide further updates when those plans come into focus.

Today’s cancellation of PGA TOUR events through May 10 applies to all six Tours, although PGA TOUR Champions has rescheduled The Regions Tradition. Originally slated for May 7-10, the event will now be played September 24-27.  PGA TOUR Champions previously announced on March 16 that the Mastercard Japan Championship (June 12-14) will not be contested due to the current travel advisories in place from the CDC, the WHO and the U.S. Department of State.

The full list of tournaments cancelled or postponed on all PGA Tours.

The PGA Tour Commissioner, Jay Monahan, issued this statement to players via YouTube, mentions several “business decisions” made as well as offering a “cross-developmental” team to give players a “menu of options” for helping in their communities:

Meanwhile the USGA has cancelled its two four-ball events and local qualifying for the U.S. Open and all qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open in late May. Both national championships remain scheduled.

This appears to be the first time the local qualifying stage has not been used since 1959 when the initial round was started.

The full USGA statement:

On those dispiriting notes, one glimmer of hope first noted by Twitterers and reported on by ESPN.com’s Bob Harig: hotel rooms have suddenly become hard to find in Augusta, Georgia this October.

The week in question coincides on the current calendars with the European Tour’s Italian Open (uh, not happening) and the Shriner’s Hospital For Children Classic in Las Vegas as part of the 2020-21 PGA Tour schedule.

So how far the leaders of the Masters have proceeded in trying to figure out when to play the tournament in 2020 is unclear. And obviously, how the pandemic plays out will also have a big impact on whether the tournament is rescheduled.

But LPGA Tour player Marina Alex went to Twitter on Tuesday to complain about a room reservation she had in Augusta being canceled for what she said was no reason. And she figured it's due to a rescheduling of the Masters for that time in October.

This fall’s Ryder Cup is a go, say the official Twitter accounts of the event.

However, The Telegraph’s James Corrigan says a delay is likely coming until 2021.

And finally—for today anyway—Randall Mell reports for GolfChannel.com on a creative approach by LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan to consider combining some cancelled events and sponsorships in open calendar spots later this year.

Some will find the rescheduling efforts distasteful given the state of world affairs. My first reaction to initial speculation on a re-imagined late summer/fall schedule was also, “too soon”.

But given the difficulties of putting on major events, the advance planning in these cases appears to be with best case scenarios in mind. If nothing else, the news provides us all a little something to look forward to.

As America Shuts Down To Stave Off A Pandemic, The PGA Tour (Eventually) Joins The Cause

We’ve all tried to refute the charge: golf is not as elitist as you think.

No, really, it’s full of good people and a beautiful sport. With, sure, moments we’d like to forget.

So as questions remain about America’s infrastructure to handle the COVD-19 outbreak, the world of sports— minus the PGA Tour until 9:54 pm ET,—took painful, and perhaps even excessive steps to stop the spread. We can only hope to someday declare today’s actions an earnest but shrewd overreaction. Absent information to the contrary, however, every major needed to take action to prevent the spread.

So amidst everything taking place and health matters that should be the primary focus, it still must not be forgotten that the PGA Tour, in “full speed ahead” mode all week at its wonderful but overinflated home event, became the last major American sports league to pull the plug.

This, after waiting until 12:15 am earlier in the same day, to issue a statement about the status of Players Championship opening round, and only then to offer first round refunds if so desired.

There were no pleas for vulnerable seniors to stay home.

No pleas to those under-the-weather to stay away.

No, “we-got-this”, to volunteers who consume consummate news outlets and might be uncomfortable exposing themselves to large crowds.

Business-as-usual.

Market-by-market.

From Task Force to Business Unit-approved.

Yet as first round play got underway, major events continued to be cancelled, financial markets kept sending the same grim messages, and America began boarding up the windows.

Yet in marching ahead with the Players and upcoming schedule, Commissioner Monahan again teed up the vast acreage card during a midday press conference. The very same assertion that property size would keep people safe and shot down in Monday’s surreal CNBC appearance, then uttered Tuesday to reporters, and somehow schlepped out again in an answer that soured within hours.

Q. Similar to that but in layman's terms, can you explain what the difference is between the PGA TOUR which is continuing with events and, for example, the NBA, and I think I'm right in saying the MLS and other sporting bodies which have just shut down completely. Why do you feel golf is different?

JAY MONAHAN: Well, I think if you look at our venues, obviously we're an outdoor sport, we're not in a stadium, and here this week at TPC Sawgrass our players are making their way over 400 acres. And so we feel like we have, because of the nature of that and the fact that you've got 144 players here and over the course of a round our players generally do socially distance themselves, we felt like by taking this step to address the problem with our fans, we're in a position where we can continue to operate the events as of right now. And you look at there are other circumstances that led to the decisions that those leagues made that are unique to those leagues that we're not currently faced with. And that's something that we thought about and talked about, but ultimately when you break it down and you think about what's going to happen here over the course of the next three days and then going forward, we're comfortable having our players continue to play at this time.

In the meantime, players coming off the course or scheduled to go out, questioned the wisdom of going forward as other sports leagues ended major events. CT Pan pulled out of the tournament in the most significant show of wisdom. From overseas, Lee Westwood was sounding alarms as his colleagues were busy contesting the first round.

Oh, and players were subjected to random drug testing, in quite possibly the ultimate display of tone deafness as noted in this piece by Ryan Lavner.

As the round neared completion (one group did not finish), the PGA Tour stood firm with a 6:45 pm. operations update reaffirming the midday plans: players and volunteers only, with media outside the ropes. Next week’s Valspar event was on schedule. This, even though the LPGA Tour had postponed its next three events and the NCAA basketball tournament cancelled.

But the PGA Tour was set to play round two and beyond. Until someone read the room. Finally.

Truly unbelievable. What changed from the 6:45 operations update until now? https://t.co/APwknZNBP7

— Jay Coffin ⚰️ (@JayCoffinGC) March 13, 2020

We will never know what light bulb went off or what information the Business Unit obtained. Maybe someone pointed out to the PGA Tour how they would be the only major sports league besides a spectator-free NASCAR pushing forward while the rest of sport shut down to help contain the potentially civilization-altering virus.

Pausing here to let you reflect: the PGA Tour was going to forge ahead with The Players while others retreated in hopes of promoting quarantining and making the pandemic less awful.

But at 9:54 pm players were texted. The Players was cancelled, as were the next three events in Tampa, Austin and San Antonio. They had “no choice,” one player told Rex Hoggard.

It took a “no choice” situation to finally shut things down. No choice, as in, we-waited-to-long-to-be-proactive and we will look foolish now playing golf while the world addresses a pandemic.

The inability to sooner recognize the absurdity of proceeding, should serve as a wakeup call when the golf can get back to addressing First World problems. In the coming weeks and months, with tournament golf halted and the future so uncertain, there will be no better time for the sport to assess who represents the game best and which organization is most intuitive. And a rough few days in Ponte Vedra exposed an unenlightened PGA Tour not quite in harmony with the world at large.

Instant Poll: Should The Players Championship Proceed For Three More Days?

Short and sweet question on a bizarre day: galleries are staying home, but the PGA Tour is currently planning to finish the Players without crowds. Your thoughts?

Should The Players Championship proceed for three more days?

Yes

No

 

pollcode.com free polls

Ponte Vedra Bubble Burst: Players Championship Goes On With Spectators As Rest Of Sports World Shuts Down

As a series of incredible pandemic-driven events played out, the PGA Tour held their ground.

Take your pick of clues that it was time to rethink spectators at The Players Championship, if not an all-out cancellation.

There was a Presidential address to the nation announced in the early evening and given at 9 p.m. ET. Landmark restrictions were announced by President Donald Trump.

The NCAA and NHL eliminating spectators from tournament games, the Seattle area teams are also eliminating games.

The NBA was rumored to be meeting to take drastic measures (later in the evening there was a season suspension and game cancellation after a player, who mocked the virus earlier in the week, tested positive for the coronavirus.)

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson tested positive for the virus in Australia, where, mercifully they could at least be tested.

The virus can linger in the air for up to three hours, according to preliminary study findings.

St. John’s County, home of the Players, had its first positive CODV-19 case announced Wednesday afternoon.

Oh, and the World Health Organization declared a pandemic earlier in the day. Among other signs.

The world of sports has been forced to lead the way in quarantining and slowing the spread of COVD-19, no matter how expensive and painful the move may be at a busy time of year for championships.

The PGA Tour, whose Players Championship is heavily attended by seniors as fans or volunteers and who are more susceptible to the virus, had nothing to say. Zilch.

Finally, this statement arrived at 12:15 a.m. ET and less than 8 hours before the first tee time:

The PGA TOUR is aware of rapidly changing developments regarding COVID-19.  With the information currently available, THE PLAYERS Championship will continue as scheduled, although we will absolutely continue to review recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization and local health administrations. This is obviously a very fluid situation that requires constant review, communication and transparency, and we are dedicated to all three aspects. The PGA TOUR will provide an additional update by 12 p.m. ET on Thursday.

In the meantime, players in the field have been notified to be prepared to play round 1, as scheduled.  

Fans who no longer wish to attend THE PLAYERS Championship may request a refund or exchange; details on how to do so will be announced shortly.  Please visit PGATOUR.COM/THEPLAYERSfor more information.

Since Monday’s painful and unnecessary appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Commissioner Jay Monahan and his team have clung to the notion that vast outdoor acreage will be the PGA Tour’s primary defense against a virus with so many unknowns. And there was Monahan’s emphatic statement about converting a “Task Force” to a “Business Unit”, as if that was a discernible course of action with any real meaning to fans or players.

His full answer:

I would tell you that it started out as a task force. It's now essentially a business unit, where we have two leaders, Tom Hospel, our medical director, and Alison Keller, our chief administrative officer, who have organized a large team to fully understand the coronavirus and its implications on all facets of our business. I think it goes without saying that the health, safety, well being of our players, our fans, our tournaments, everybody that's involved in our ecosystem is of utmost importance.

So for us, we are relying heavily, as other leagues and sports and entertainment venues are, relying heavily on the World Health Organization, the CDC, but primarily given the fact that we're playing 175 tournaments over six tours, this really is about a market-to-market exercise and truly understanding what local public health officials, local government officials, what's happening on the ground through our tournament directors in every single market where we play.

That answer spoke to a level of disconnect from reality, particularly for a Commissioner who was so welcomed because he seemed much more grounded than his sometimes aloof predecessor. Now, with everything that happened Wednesday, his statement has aged even less gracefully given the actions of the World Health Organization and other sports leagues.

Tour executives spent Wednesday entertaining “partners” from around the country and hosting them for the annual Wednesday night party, while some senior staff were reportedly lecturing player agents on the push to make people associate the color gold with The Players. Important stuff.

And the only sign anyone in Ponte Vedra realized they might regret having an on-site concert Wednesday? It came with the deletion of a Tweet showing The Chainsmokers playing to fans packed in like sardines at the 17th hole.

Since this is The Players and owned by the the players, the event is more than entitled to carry on with the PGA Tour’s finest taking whatever risks they choose. But hundreds of television personnel, tournament workers and volunteers will now be subjected to spectators, despite increasing signs that large public gatherings are a bad idea.

However, the PGA Tour’s reckless indifference to public safety should come as no surprise.

Six were injured on Saturday of last year’s Tour Championship when the PGA Tour refused to move tee times up despite just a 30 player field and a 1 pm planned start. There was an 80% chance of storms at the time and a 90% chance for Saturday predicted Monday of that week.

Just as with the coronavirus, signs of impending trouble apparently do not penetrate the Ponte Vedra bubble. When dissent is so strongly discouraged and executives must pass conformity examinations before getting hired, a culture of fear is bound to develop. That a decision on Thursday’s opening round was not even made until after midnight is one thing, but to only offer refunds and not take more aggressive action, could end up looking like willful neglect.

When too many executives are focused on maximizing revenues, minimizing inconvenience and juggling jargon to get a promotion, you get moments of profound incompetence. The 2020 Players Championship, no matter how it plays out or who it plays in front of, has burst the bubble. We can only hope that the innocent folks in this do not leave north Florida with a virus all because the non-profit PGA Tour put profit ahead of common sense.

Monahan On Oversaturation Of PGA Tour Golf: "This is not the first time we've heard this"

There was much to chew on from Commissioner Jay Monahan’s press conference kicking off the 2020 Players, including not one, but three Wyndham Rewards mentions along with other topics of note. And the oversaturation topic did come up.

Several top players of late have said Monahan and the Policy Board are aware of “issues” with the PGA Tour product after the Premier Golf League’s vision became public. It’s not an easy one to answer publicly without upsetting tournaments. All 49 of them.

Q. I just wonder what you made of Rory's thoughtful argument last week that there were too many tournaments in professional golf. That, in his words, we'd reached saturation points and were in danger of exhausting the fans.

JAY MONAHAN: Well, we have a wonderful PGA TOUR FedExCup schedule with 49 events this year, and there really are very few weaknesses on our schedule. And when you look at our model and the fact that players are independent contractors, for us putting the best tournaments forward week-in and week-out, recognizing that in our sport players like to play in certain conditions, certain markets, like to sequence their schedule differently, a lot of factors that go into the schedule that we have, and we've got great commitments from the markets where we play, and that's what's gotten us to here.

But I think when you look at -- when players -- this is not the first time we've heard this. When you're in Player Advisory Council meetings, when we're in board meetings, we're constantly looking at how our schedule is performing. I talked a lot about where we are and where we're headed, and it's been reinforced by the marketplace, but I would say that because the schedule is so dynamic for our players, it's also as dynamic for us as leaders, and that's something that we'll continue to look at and say, what are the things that we can do to improve our schedule. But I would tell you, we feel really good about where we are today and the flexibility we have going forward.

Flexibility. Does that mean with 52 weeks in a year there is room for growth? Presumably not.

McManus On New PGA Tour Media Deal And Removing Broadcast Clutter

Adam Schupak files a lengthy Q&A with CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus upon the network’s signing of a 9-year deal with the PGA Tour.

The chat covers a lot of ground, but McManus addresses a key question many have had regarding the deal. Specifically, whether viewers will suffer to pay for it. McManus says the opposite is the case.

Q.  With CBS having to pay significantly more in rights fees, should viewers be concerned that you’re going to have to add additional sponsorship and promotional elements to make up that difference?

SM: Definitely not. In fact, we have regular conversations with the Tour about eliminating some of the clutter, so I would say if anything you’re going to see fewer interruptions than more. We’re going to continue to try to do more CBS Eye on the Course, the double box, so you don’t miss live golf action. We and NBC, although sometimes we get criticized, we and NBC run basically the same commercial load. You will not see that expanding in this deal, and if anything we’re going to try to reduce the clutter a little bit. We’ve already reduced the amount of on‑air promotions we do for other programs, and I think we and the Tour are really cognizant of the fact that you want to show as much golf as you possibly can, and the two box is one way to do that, and less clutter is another way to do it. But no, there’s not going to be increased sponsorship or increased commercial inventory in the new deal.

Will The PGA Tour Ban Premier Golf League Early Adopters?

Jay Monahan’s fourth press conference as Commissioner featured five COVD-19 questions, four Premier Golf League questions, three on the new TV deal, and one combo TV/PGL question.

It was a surprising focus on the proposed league at the PGA Tour’s signature event, especially after the powerful statement made by a new TV deal that locks in PGA Tour golf with three enormous media companies through 2030 (and four if you include Discovery’s previously announced GOLFTV for international streaming rights).

You have to sympathize a bit with Monahan and friends after signing such a massive deal, only to have the PGL get so much attention. However, AP’s Doug Ferguson question early on, and Monahan’s open-ended answer, that might have prompted a few of the follow-ups.

The question:

 Q. So much chatter the first few months of the year have been on this Premier Golf League. I'm just curious how many of the top players have you spoken to, can you characterize the feedback you've gotten, and can you say one way or another if a player verbally pledges support of this new league, would they be no longer TOUR members immediately?

An immediate ban seems harsh, but also perfectly logical if the PGL is a legitimate threat to luring PGA Tour players away. Here was Monahan’s reply to that component:

If a player pledged -- you and I have a long history of hypotheticals and me not answering hypotheticals, but I would just tell you that we're encouraged by the response that our players have had in our discussions. I think that the value that we provide to our players, to our tournaments, to our fans, the news that we've just talked about, securing $12 billion in revenue through 2030, the strength and security and foundation of this TOUR has never been stronger, so that's what we're focused on. We're focused on the excellence that we want to continue to achieve with our players, and our commitment is always one to listen and to respond. That's a bridge we would cross when we get there, but going back to my earlier comments, this is a player-led organization, 51 years running. Our governance system has been driven by our players and our board, and we have regulations in place that allow us to protect the interests of our media partners, our sponsors and all of our constituents, and if we got to that point in time, we would take measures to vigilantly protect this business model.

That all seems sensible given the existential threat posed by the Premier Golf League. The league could siphon top players and expose PGA Tour schedule bloat that so many top players have acknowledged in recent weeks. Furthermore, the PGL’s “team concept” goes against PGA Tour regulations preventing players from having a financial interest in other players. Therefore, taking decisive action against early adopters seems warranted on Monahan and the Policy Board’s part.

Yet, the reluctance to go public with a ban policy prompts questions about the possible reasoning:

A) Gives the PGL legitimacy. Coming out with an unprecedented ban focused on one particular Tour certainly validates the PGL. Monahan’s stance of just waiting for a player to leave is probably the wise strategy. Unless a large group of players joins forces at once.

(B) Contradicts Rory. Rory McIlroy’s recent praise of independent contractor life, as opposed to a league requiring full participation, would suddenly sound less realistic under such a PGL ban. Particularly if a precedent is set that could be applied to other existing tours. Restraint of trade could be claimed.

C) Bad optics. Protecting the PGA Tour and its beneficiaries should not create a bad look, but the world is a funny place when it comes to perception. If a few top players or legends are threatened, they might get in a public war that benefits no one. Cutting off a long time star for good, while protecting the Tour, could also upset fans of that player.

Circling back to point A, why should Monahan take a tough public stance when no player has publicly committed? After all, the Tour’s board has been working to button up existing regulations related to competing tours.

In a January 24, 2020 memo to the PGA Tour Policy Board, Monahan explained his concerns to the board saying, “our current Regulations prevent players from taking actions that would cause TOUR harm (reputational or otherwise), as the Private Equity Golf structure would undoubtedly do.”

He went on to explain two more proposed regulation changes to ensure players “give their best efforts and to prevent free riding on the goodwill amassed in the PGA Tour brand.”

 The board was expected to ratify an action last week that “further crystallizes such intention and corresponding prohibitions.” However, a PGA Tour spokesperson would not confirm whether that vote was taken at last week’s Policy Board meeting.

There may also be more legal and financial ramifications not visible on the surface. Or, this tug-of-war could be a simple conundrum that has Monahan erring on the side of caution: there are big egos, massive dollars and too many sensitivities to take a tougher public stance that may already have been addressed in PGA Tour regulations.

The full press conference:

PGA TOUR commissioner Jay Monahan addresses the media @THEPLAYERSChamp. https://t.co/oqBJdz2oV0

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 10, 2020

Mushnick Looks At Golf's Gambling Push: "On-course, incivility...only can grow worse"

New York Post graphic illustration

The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick considered the NFL and PGA Tour pushes into gambling, and highlighted PGA Tour Vice President Norb Gambuzza’s declaration that “Golf is open for the business of betting.”

Mushnick’s use of PGA instead of PGA Tour is hardly a first or a serious crime, and it’s his concern for gambling on shots played that is what matters. Especially with fans able to (someday soon) place bets on their phone.

Gambling on golf — more specifically on golfers — creates disturbing sooner-or-later scenarios. Even more gamblers, who already could bet via “fantasy sites,” can now stand just a few feet from those they bet on — or more significantly, bet against. On-course, incivility, already on the rise with the PGA’s reliance on alcohol sales, only can grow worse.

Just think of the patron, drunk or sober, who can win 10 grand if this guy misses a 6-footer on 18.

He also raises the specter of player’s being abused by those who lose a bet.

At last year’s Masters, Jason Day, among the betting favorites, withdrew during the first round after reinjuring his back. The direct vitriol he then received from “fans” on social media left him staggered. Think any of those hateful missives were from gamblers?

While those cases are likely to be rare, with alcohol sales not being cut off until late in the day…

Anyway, the question raised by Mushnick matches the initial reaction a lot of longtime observers have about golf gambling: there may be troubles.

Another reason, in my view, the PGA Tour’s initial focus should be on fantasy lineup play and perhaps live betting to start. Though even the live betting could create on-course problems unless security is upgraded and alcohol sales are cut off a lot earlier.

Monahan: FedExCup Payments Could Multiply Three To Four Times Of 2018's $35 Million Payout

There are a few things to consider in Commissioner Jay Monahan’s extended CNBC interview off camera and written up by Jessica Golden at CNBC.com. This one went better that the on-camera chat.

The primary focus was of Golden’s story was on Monahan’s rebuttal to the Premier Golf League: more FedExCup money!

In terms of bonus money, FedExCup and Wyndham’s rewards for the Top-10 golfers goes from $70 million this year to $100 million in 2022.

Wyndam’s rewards.

“Every single person on our tour is going to see an increase,” Monahan said.

Monahan said over course of the new deal, PGA Tour golfers could see FedExCup payouts three to four times that of the $35 million paid out in 2018 and increased prize money for some of the biggest events.

 A) It’s intriguing the Commish used 2018’s $35 million as the number the pot will jump three to four times from. In 2019 the FedExCup jumped to $60 million, with a $15 million first prize.

B) The focus on “every single person on our tour” seeing an increase won’t inspire fans and seemed tone deaf on a day the markets were cratering and news of a new media deal really shouldn’t be about the cold hard cash. Yes, the Commissioner reports to the players, but he should have saved that talk for the player meetings and instead focus in this rollout on how the rights deal will improve the “product”.

Jay Monahan Rolled Out The New TV Deal As Markets Crashed, And It Went About As Well As You'd Expect

Presumably somewhere down in Ponte Vedra Beach this weekend, the good folks discussed whether Commissioner Jay Monahan should make the rounds promoting the next PGA Tour media deal.

With cratering markets, major event cancellations and the world trying to squash a pandemic, Monahan forged ahead with a CNBC Squawk Box appearance. And as any upright, non-comatose adult might have predicted, hosts Joe Kernen, Becky Quick, and Andrew Ross Sorkin could not hide their disdain for having to conduct the interview while anticipating the worst market day in a decade.

It was tough to pinpoint the the most awkward moment, but…

Was it Kernen’s apologetic intro asking viewers to pretend to go back in time a few weeks to hear about such a thing?

Quick interrupting when Monahan noted the size of golf course properties (“3-400 acres”) implying a coronavirus light space, and Monahan answering, “we’ve stood up a business around this subject and we did so several weeks ago. And we have leaders within our company that are pouring themselves into this.”

Or was it Sorkin wanting to know answers to about 15 tough questions to just make the whole interview go away?

CNBC’s social team did not push this one out on the Squawk Box Twitter feed for all in public relations circles to learn how the cancellation button is your friend. But the interview was posted on YouTube:

PGA Tour, LPGA Tour Media Deal Becomes Official: CBS, NBC, Golf Channel Return, ESPN+ To Take PGA Tour Live

It’s rare to get a public relations opening like Monday, March 9th. It’s not like the Sunday prior the futures were setting off circuit-breakers, or the price of oil was cratering, or the world was staring down a pandemic.

In the meantime, Ron Green Jr. has most of the next PGA Tour media deal details in this Global Golf Post story.

While the GGP story validates previous reporting (links below), Green confirms the new PGA Tour media deal is for 9 years. He says dollar figures are undisclosed and beginning in 2022, NBC and CBS will alternate early coverage of the FedExCup playoff events. That last bit of news is important to no one.

The LPGA Tour, which turned over its rights deal negotiating to the PGA Tour, picks up some more weekend network finishes and Golf Channel will show more of the Symetra Tour.

More will be revealed Monday of 2020 Players week, with Commissioner Jay Monahan scheduled to make the rounds unless there is bigger news than the new media deal—I know, blasphemy.

Until then, previous posts:

The ESPN+ role in PGA Tour Live reported by AP.

Tour operation of TV compounds/world feed.

The biggie first reported by Sports Business Daily: CBS/NBC/Golf Channel returning.

Video: Brandel’s For Bifurcation…Of Rules On Marijuana Use In Golf

We had him for a time on bifurcation of equipment rules, but as Brandel Chamblee his ownself eloquently explains there is one b word he’s for: the complicated issue of marijuana as a performance enhancer. Noting that “science says the medical efficacy of marijuana is undeniable” Chamblee pointed out that “cannabinoid receptors that control behavior and mood” could make it easy to “argue it’s a better place to perform” when under the influence.

And he points out the big picture issue of whether we want golfers to "come “to an ideal athletic state through a chemical metamorphosis” or “through natural processes, discipline, self discovery”.

The full discussion on Golf Central was very interesting. Also noteworthy, in the wake of Matt Every’s post round comments that prompted the discussion embedded below: the PGA Tour had no comment.