Forbes: Rory 7th Among Athletes, Ahead Of Phil, Tiger, Jordan

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As always take these numbers with a grain or two, but at least we see where golfers are lining up with the highest paid athletes.

Rory McIlroy landed T6th on the Forbes list at $50 million, tied with Andrew Luck and ahead of Steph Curry. The year comes on the heels of winning the FedExCup and finishing fifth in the Race To Dubai. His $16 million in on course earnings accounts for his 2016 PGA Tour play, FedExCup and European Tour play in the June 2016 to June 2017 window used by Forbes.

Phil Mickelson ranked 12th, with $43.5 million overall, of which $40 million was from off course endorsements. Tiger Woods at No. 17 is credited with $37.1 million of which $37 million was made off the course. And Jordan Spieth ranked 21st, making $34.5 million, with $29 million of that credited to endorsement income.

Scott First Of Many To Put USGA On Notice Over Setup, Rules

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Take your pick of issues--TV rulings, greens too fast for contours, tough setups, green reading books, purse value--pro golfers have the USGA on their radar. The next few weeks will provide an opportunity for both sides to jockey for their positions, starting with course setup.

With Chambers Bay driving much conjecture given Erin Hills' similar newness as a venue, Adam Scott's comments to Golfweek's Jeff Babineau probably mirror the views of many players fearing a repeat.

“Maybe it’s time to do away with the even-par target, just thinking about the bigger picture of the game of golf,” Scott said after finishing up at Memorial on Sunday, where he shot 74 to finish at 1-under 287.

“If their major pinnacle event for them requires courses to be the way they are, it doesn’t set a good example for every other bit of golf that they try to promote. Maybe we should get the numbers out of our heads and try a new strategy.”

Good news with Erin Hills: it's far more lush than Chambers Bay and the greens are a pure strain of bent, so almost all issues with balls moving on greens, balls bouncing on greens and balls bouncing over greens, seem unlikely to arise.

Scott's comments on the USGA, however, probably won't get him an invited to the Bobby Jones Award ceremony.

“Whether it’s rules changes or any other decisions they make, I think their process is out,” Scott said. “I just don’t see how they get to some of these decisions. . . . They’re hanging onto the Rules of Golf by a thread, really. That’s why they’re panicky and they’re trying to see what’s going on out here on Tour.”

Interestingly, this is the gripe of many everyday amateur golfers who also just want to play some relaxed, less complicated rules. Every time I get an email asking for the Relaxed Rules bag tag put out by Golf Channel's Morning Drive, it's hard not to wonder why we aren't bifurcating.

Whether all of this speaks to a failed or successful roll out of revised views depends on your point of view. I happen to think that the proposed rules revisions were successful because a mostly positive response suggested golfers wanted what was delivered, only more. So will these last few months and next few weeks help shape and even stronger push to make the rules simpler, cleaner and easier?

R.I.P. Roberto De Vicenzo

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The World Golf Hall of Famer, 1967 Open Champion at Royal Liverpool and runner-up in the 1968 Masters has passed away at 94.

The World Golf Hall of Fame posted this nice note on news of De Vicenzo's passing and also has this page devoted to his career.

Golf Channel broke the news first, with this noted by G.C. Digital:

De Vicenzo enjoyed a decorated playing career, one that included more than 230 worldwide victories across five decades. The pinnacle came in 1967, when he won The Open by two shots over Jack Nicklaus at Royal Liverpool. He also represented Argentina 17 times at the World Cup of Golf and captured the inaugural U.S. Senior Open in 1980 at age 57.

Richard Goldstein's NY Times obit naturally centers around the Masters miscue but also includes much else about De Vicenzo's career.

This was heartening:

De Vicenzo told Sports Illustrated in 2008 that he had earned lucrative appearance fees as a result of the mistake. “I’ve gotten more out of signing the card wrong than if I had signed it correctly,” he said.

“Every now and then,” he added, “I will drop a tear, but I’ve moved on. I got to see the world through golf. No one should feel sorry for me.”

A year ago, John Garrity filed this terrific Golf.com piece on the incident and De Vicenzo's often overlooked career outside of one week in April, 1968.

For a spectacular (and I mean spectacular) look at the 1967 Open won by De Vicenzo, check out this highlight film posted by GolfChannel.com. Yes, it's 53 minutes long, but you'll love having it on in the background while you work.

Vijay Loses TPC But Wins In Court Monday, Trial Coming Soon

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The beacon of misery and bitterness that is Vijay Singh faded from contention at The Players, but the 54-year-old won a key court decision Monday, reports Brian Wacker at Golf World.

On Monday, Judge Eileen Bransten issued a decision favorable to Singh on motions that had been pending since last fall, denying in part the tour’s motion for summary judgment.

“We can proceed to trial,” said Singh’s attorney Peter Ginsberg when contacted by Golf Digest.

The suit, which was filed a few days prior to the 2013 Players Championship, claims the tour was negligent in its handling of Singh’s anti-doping violation and breached its implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, which caused harm to the now 54-year-old Fijian’s reputation.

The tour had no comment.

Meanwhile, Singh's caddie at The Players announced he was moving on Sunday night. So it was a split decision week...

 

Steph On Tiger: "He made me want to watch every single shot of every single tournament he played."

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As Kyle Porter notes at CBSSports.com, the Players ratings news seemed conveniently timed with Steph Curry's comment to David Feherty that Tiger Woods inspired him not just as a golfer, but as an athlete.

"He was a ground-breaker obviously. For me when I was watching him, he made me want to watch every single shot of every single tournament he played."

And isn't this ultimately at the heart of why it's so hard to pinpoint the sagging numbers in pro golf?

There is no one like Tiger, except Phil at his best, who exudes a must-see quality due to their ability to surprise, excite and awe.

There are other factors to the recent ratings drop, from the presidential campaign, to the daily dramas in Washington, to cord cutting. The absense of mega-star power is one thing. But more than anything, the absense of players with an indefinable crossover intangible is dragging the numbers down. As the kids like to say, it is what it is.

The full clip:

Brandel Questions Poulter's Tactics Down Stretch

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Fast times at Ponte Vedra High!


Brandel After Kim's Victory: Distance Constrictions Make TPC Sawgrass Superstar Proof

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Following Si Woo Kim's Players win, Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee made a provocative charge: TPC Sawgrass' driver constrictions produced a scrambling contest.

“This is from a statistical standpoint perhaps the greatest upset you’ll ever see. In terms of upsets, this is Great Britain voting to leave the EU. This is Trump winning the presidency. In an era of big data, when you look for data to give you some idea of who might have a chance to do what, where and when… You’re talking about a guy in the ‘All-Around’ statistic that measures pretty much everything that was dead-last on the PGA TOUR. He was basically near the bottom of every single statistical category. Yet, because of the distance constrictions of this golf course, the very best players cannot play their best game. It’s not Tiger proof, it’s superstar proof, it really is. And so it turns into a scrambling contest. And who won the scrambling contest? Si Woo Kim… [This course] puts everybody on edge, pretty much turns it into a scrambling contest, and he won it.”

Kim's stats:

39 of 56 fairways

45/72 greens

Kim led the field in scrambling (22 of 27)

I'll have a few more words on this in a post tomorrow assessing the golf course, but the number of times driver is not used continues to be a debate worthy topic. Does it change the energy of an event the more players can hit driver?

Translation Help: What Should Jason Day's Nike SB Really Stand For?

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I know Jason Day is trying to fulfill his lucrative contract, but would he really wear this "skateboarding" outfit to the airport? On a Chipotle run? Anywhere there is light?

Let's think up a better definition of SB, please. Keep it clean kids.

 

 

Players Final Round '17: A Few Sunday Reads & Preview

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If you were to dream up a leaderboard...this isn't the one. Never helps when one of the leaders gets you so excited about how life changing a Players win could be, even though it would be a career defining win for J.B. Holmes.

Q. Could you just talk to what winning a tournament of this magnitude would mean to you?

JB HOLMES: It would be great. You know, it's a golf tournament. It's a huge event, don't get me wrong, but in the end, it's just golf, and hopefully I can go out there and play well and win tomorrow, and if I do, my life is not really going to change. I'm going to load the car up and go to next week and play next week, and we'll live in the same house and I'm going to drive the same car. Don't get me wrong, I would love to win, and it would be awesome. Such a cool tournament, and to be able to lift that trophy would be amazing, but I'm not going to dwell on everything.

Well on that note...

It was a brutal Saturday for the stars. At Golfweek.com, I highlight some of the big numbers on a windy, nasty day for scoring.

Trying to figure out a winner is a tough task, notes Bob Harig in sharing player comments.

Sergio is lurking after a tough start and as Kyle Porter writes, the dramatics if he comes to 17 with a shot should make for fun viewing.

Pat Perez was a quote machine as usual, and Jeff Babineau profiled someone who is five back.

This is the 35th anniversary of the first Players at TPC Sawgrass, and Sean Martin has some fantastic memories from those who were there, including, Dodger fans, Vin Scully.

Ian Poulter is in a far different position than he was a few weeks ago, and as I write at Golfweek.com, at three back he has a chance to reposition his career. And buy more gifts for Brian Gay.

The Spanish language broadcast of Sergio's hole in one was fun, notes Alex Myers at The Loop with video.

Golfweek Staff explains the MDF's you saw on the leaderboard for the first time at the Players (Saturday cut).

Si Woo Kim with the shot of the day and maybe of his life. Wow:

Video: Hahn's Caddy Hits 17th Green...With A Ball Throw

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The unofficial estimate is about 102-104 yards for this golf ball toss on to No. 17. Caddies traditionally hit a shot to raise some funds for the Bruce Edwards Foundation.

James Hahn's caddie, Mark Urbanek, instead threw a golf ball across the lake and onto the island green. I'm not sure how many would understand how impressive this feat is, but my rotator cuff hurts just watching:

@looper62 hand cannon to like 20ft on #17. 💪🏼🏝🔫

A post shared by Justin Ragognetti (@jragognetti) on May 10, 2017 at 10:36am PDT

 

WSJ: "How Pro Golf Became a Bromance"

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Thanks to reader John for Brian Costa's WSJ look at the bromancing of professional golf after year two of the Casamigos Bakers Bay Challenge Presented by Wheel's Up.

He pulls together quotes from Arnold Palmer and Rory McIlroy the fine line between competition and a tour getting too comfortable, and includes this from Smiley Kaufman on the marketing side of their bromancing.

Kaufman said social media offers them “a huge opportunity” to appear relatable and likable to a wider audience. He described the Bahamas group almost as if he were talking about characters on a show.

“Rickie is the go-getter, the racer, the fearless kid,” he said. “Jordan’s the genuine, honest, Arnold Palmer-type of kid. Justin is the kid who’s always been successful at every level. And I’m just the one that likes to have a good time.”

New For 2017 Players: More VR, First-Ever Twitter Live 360 Video Of 17th Hole

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Since last year's Masters and Players, progress on the Virtual Reality front has been pretty quiet. So it's encouraging to see the PGA Tour continuing to push the envelope with what sounds like produced (?) coverage using three VR cameras. For those without a Samsung Gear phone and VR headset there is some consolation: Twitter's live broadcast of 360 degree video will be its first ever.

The full press release:

Live virtual reality comes to THE PLAYERS Championship

Live virtual reality and 360 video coverage of the famed 17th hole at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass will be distributed globally during all four rounds of the tournament

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida – The PGA TOUR and THE PLAYERS Championship announced today that fans will be able to experience the twists and turns of the island-green 17th hole at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass through live 360 video and virtual reality (VR) during all four days of THE PLAYERS Championship from May 11-14.

The live VR experience can be viewed on Samsung Gear VR headsets on a global basis through the “PGA TOUR VR Live” app available on the Oculus store. For fans who don’t have a Gear VR headset, the 360 video stream will be available exclusively on Twitter and Periscope during all four days of the event. Using any smartphone, fans will be able to watch live, 360 video from the 17th hole during THE PLAYERS.  Fans can find the coverage starting on May 11 at twitter.com/PGATOUR or by following @PGATOUR on Twitter and Periscope.

The live VR experience is done in collaboration with Intel and will be produced with Intel True VR technology, bringing fans closer to the action than ever before with three concurrent VR camera positions during competition. One camera will be placed on the 17th tee, one camera on the walkway from tee box to the green, and one camera mounted in the water next to the island green.

“We are excited that THE PLAYERS Championship will host the PGA TOUR’s first live virtual reality production,” said Rick Anderson, PGA TOUR Chief Media Officer. “The PGA TOUR has experimented with virtual reality content for nearly two years. We tested Intel’s True VR technology on a live basis at the Genesis Open in February, and were very pleased with the quality. We decided that executing a live VR experience on one of the most dramatic holes in golf was something that our fans would love, and the fact that we are partnering with Twitter to deliver 360 video will offer tremendous scale.”

“The Intel True VR platform will provide golf fans with a new, immersive experience using our end-to-end solution. From our stereoscopic cameras at the iconic 17th hole to creating a PGA TOUR VR application for THE PLAYERS Championship, we work with our partners to create the best fan experience,” said David Aufhauser, managing director, Intel Sports Group. “Working with the PGA TOUR, as well as global distribution via Twitter and Periscope, gives us the ability to expand the Intel True VR experience to more fans.”

"The PGA TOUR continues to innovate for their highly-engaged fan base on both Twitter and Periscope," said Laura Froelich, Twitter's global head of sports partnerships. "Thanks to this collaboration, golf fans around the world will have exclusive and unique live access to the renowned 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass.”

THE PLAYERS Championship marks the first time Twitter has distributed live 360 video during a major sports event. The announcement of this collaboration between the PGA TOUR and Twitter follows the live streaming relationship announced earlier this year.

This is a fun inclusion:

Twitter’s early round distribution of PGA TOUR LIVE coverage, viewable weekly at pgatourlive.twitter.com, has averaged almost half a million unique viewers each day, more than 70% of which are under 35 years old.

Don't worry virtually dead people--over 35!--they care about you too. I think.

Video: Getting Fit With Justin Rose

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I believe now that Justin Rose is sleeping just fine after his heartbreaking Masters-playoff, as Brian Wacker wrote for GolfDigest.com before Rose and Stenson made a quick Zurich Classic departure.

Why?

Look how effortless it is for the man to explain his shoulder strengthening and body stretches with Morning Drive's Dr. Ara Suppiah. Get these two a golf fitness show!

Padraig & Sergio Agree To No Longer Revile Each Other

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One columnist took bizarre exception to Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll keeping their wedding a private affair but the rest of us will be able to live peacefully ever after knowing that Sergio and Padraig are on "much better footing."

That's Padraig Harrington's quote to the Irish Independent, clarifying that love in air brought the former rivals back to a place where, well, a place.

"Sergio and I are on a much better footing," Harrington said in quotes reported by the BBC. "We've had a chat, because obviously there was a bit of an elephant in the room about what I said.

"I've got to say, Sergio made it very easy. He was exceptionally good about it. He already was well informed, which was nice.

"We have decided that we will look, going forward, at our similarities and the good in each of us rather than any other way."

Ahhhhhhhhhh...next thing you know Padraig will be offering Sergio one of the six cart-driving roles at the 2020 Ryder Cup. Then we'll know all is well between these two!