2018 Ryder Cup Choice Is A "Proper" Course

There hasn't been this much swooning over a Von Hagge design since, well, never. Lawrence Donegan on the common $en$e choice for the '18 Ryder Cup and why Spain didn't get more consideration.

The truth is relations between Seve Ballesteros, and by extension his family, and the tour hierarchy had been poor for years. This isn't to say that those involved in taking today's decision were swayed by memory of that fractious history – the bidding process was overseen by independent observers, remember – although it is entirely possible it made them even less inclined than most to be swayed by the emotion of the Ballesteros-backed Spanish bid and even more inclined to go with their instincts.

The European Tour is a business. Golf in Europe is a business and awarding the 2018 Ryder Cup to France was a business decision. The good news is that it was also the right one.

Paul Mahoney says the mix of links golf and inland American golf is "proper," though I'm not sure what that means.

Sentimental voters were disappointed that Spain lost out, but the Ryder Cup is all about big business for the European Tour. "Follow the money" is always the best bet when trying to discover the truth hidden behind bidding wars. (See: the Olympics and soccer's World Cup.) Recent European Ryder Cup history has centered on the deep pockets of Sir Terry Matthews (Celtic Manor), Dr. Michael Smurfit (the K Club), and Jaime Patino (Valderrama). France 2018 had the full backing of the French government. It was a fait accompli. And the right decision.

Jack: Pitching 12-Hole Concept To Finchem

Joe Biddle reports on Jack Nicklaus' visit to "The Vinny" on Sunday, a charity fundraiser for Vince Gill.  Seems Jack was chatty about the game. Thanks to reader Jim for this.

“Since 2006, we’ve lost 20 percent of the women in the game and we’ve lost 20 percent of the juniors in the game,” Nicklaus said. “If you’re the CEO of a corporation and have those numbers, you say, ‘What do I do?’ The professional game is great. The showcase is great.

“But is the showcase bringing people into the game, or is it running them out of the game? It’s a good question.”

Jack feels the pro game is no longer relatable to the average man, woman and junior.

“Quite often, by local knowledge, he would beat me,” Nicklaus said. “You go to these courses today and play the club champion at 7,500 yards and you run in Phil Mickelson and there’s no chance in the world (the club champion) is going to beat them.

“I worry about that as it relates to what is happening in the game.”

Jack's now on the 12-hole kick.

Looking forward, Nicklaus believes cutting a round of golf to 12 holes would be more palatable for golfers who don’t want to make it a day-long process.

He tossed the idea past Finchem, who pooh-poohed it six or seven months ago. Finchem talked to Nicklaus at the Masters this year, and Nicklaus said Finchem is starting to consider the idea.

Now Jack just has to figure out how to make it Tim's idea!

At two of Nicklaus’ courses — Muirfield and the Bear’s Club — he had them make up 12-hole scorecards.

“My seniors are loving it,” he said. “The game is so difficult to start with. You take kids. They start basketball at a 6-foot hoop, 7-foot hoop, small ball, big ball.... All the sports work their selves up. In golf, you start with a set of clubs and a hard golf ball and it’s not easy.

“It’s the health of the game, the growth of the game, keeping people in the game, that I’m interested in.”

There's a video accompanying the story as well:

"I think golfers are more aware than ever that the game lost its way, and a correction is needed."

Jaime Diaz reports on the latest regarding Barney Adams' noble campaign to get people playing forward.

Adams posted his findings on the Internet (in the January Golf Digest, he advocated moving up a set of tees), and he received a positive response. But his persistence at lobbying for his idea was most meaningfully rewarded by American golf's powers that be. Beginning in late May, the USGA, the PGA of America and the GCSAA will begin a campaign -- with the tentative handle of Play It Forward -- to convince golfers to move up. It will start with television segments during the Senior PGA Championship, the U.S. Open and the U.S. Women's Open. Then the organizations will urge course operators across the nation to set aside two weeks beginning July 5 in which they ask customers to play from a shorter set of tees, following Adams' guidelines.

And will there be incentives in the form of reduced green fees? If not, I'm guessing this campaign won't register.

"That brings in shotmaking, even for an average player, and that's what really makes the game interesting." For all that, Adams doesn't believe scoring will be dramatically affected.

"Maybe a 13-handicap becomes a 10," he says. "That's where the USGA would have to really get involved, to make sure handicaps don't lose equitableness.

"This is about a change of habits, which is always hard," Adams says, "but I think golfers are more aware than ever that the game lost its way, and a correction is needed."

This is where I just don't get as excited about Adams' cause as some. He's absolutely right that people should play shorter courses but how can than happen when, contrary to what he says, people are using today's equipment to hit the ball longer? Courses were not lengthened because architects thought it would be fun for the average man, but in reaction to the demands of golfers, course owners and safety concerns. Reversing that trend will be tough. Still, it's certainly a campaign worth getting around because they are not advocating consumerism as the savior of golf.

Ryder Cup 2018: "This great victory is for everyone involved in French golf."

Mitch Phillips reports that France and Le Golf National won the 2018 Ryder Cup bidding.

The 2018 Ryder Cup will be played on Le Golf National course in Versailles, near Paris after the French bid won a five-way contest on Tuesday to host the biennial match against the United States.

European Tour officials made the announcement at their base in Wentworth, saying one of the main draws had been the "outstanding spectator viewing." France will become only the second country in continental Europe to stage the Ryder Cup after Spain in 1997.

"We always believed. The world of French golf was united and that did not escape European Tour bosses," Pascal Grizot, chairman of the Ryder Cup Committee at the French Golf Federation, said in a statement.

"This great victory is for everyone involved in French golf."

This Euro Tour site story quotes the disappointed Spaniards, who had made a late surge and had the most impressive looking bid. But we know looks meant little in this contest!

Following the announcement, Gonzaga Escauriaza, President of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation (RFEG), said: “Madrid would have been a fantastic venue for the Ryder Cup in 2018, but unfortunately our dream has not come true. I honestly believe we could not have produced a better bid, and I have been extremely proud to be a part of it. I hope that Spain will one day be given the opportunity to host the Ryder Cup again.  Congratulations to France on their victory, I’m sure they will do a fantastic job”.

A Wild And Wacky Local Qualifier

Garry Smits reports on Monday's US Open qualifier at Sawgrass. It included a DQ for a non-conforming wedge and one player qualifying in spite of a one-shot penalty for slow play.

There also was a controversy over the FSGA's pace-of-play policy, which requires groups to not only finish their rounds in a given time, but finish within 15 minutes of the group ahead of them on both nines.

Six players in two groups didn't make the deadline of four hours, 40 minutes to complete 18 holes; and were more than 15 minutes behind the group ahead of them. Included was Harman, whose 70 was changed to a 71 with the one-stroke penalty. He angrily berated tournament officials for not giving his group a warning during the round. He qualified anyway.

Under the FSGA policy, initiated two years ago, warnings are not issued during play. Stroke penalties can be assessed at the turn and when a group finishes, and can be waived at the discretion of the committee if players were held up by rulings or having to look for lost balls.

"They received the pace-of-play policy in a packet mailed to them before the tournament, got another copy on the first tee, and the policy also is posted on six holes on the course," Dudley said. "There's no excuse for them not knowing it. They don't need warnings from rules officials to know what the policy is. All they have to do is read the information they've been given."

Donald May Not Be Running, But Doesn't Mean People Will Stop Scrutinzing Scotland Project

Even though his presidential bid is over, there's still plenty of scrutiny of The Donald and much of it involves his work in the golf business.

Andy Wightman, a self-described "independent writer and researcher on issues of land and democracy" posts a paper looking at the many issues, brouhahas and other facts related to Trump's Scotland project. I haven't had time to do more than scan it, but there appears to be some interesting stuff.

And the Washington Post's Annie Gowen looks at Trump's environmental record. A photo gallery accompanies the piece.

Over the years, Donald Trump — the “Celebrity Apprentice” star, real estate mogul and impossible-to-ignore presidential candidate — has developed 11 luxury golf courses around the world, leaving a trail of happy golfers but angry residents and environmentalists in his wake. He infuriated neighbors in California for trying to plant trees to shield pedestrians from flying golf balls and in Northern Virginia for taking them out.

His fight with five gritty Scots who refused to move from the stone cottages standing in the way of his $1.6 billion golf course in Scotland inspired a film, “You’ve Been Trumped,” that played to sold-out crowds at Toronto’s documentary film festival this month. (Choice scenes: Trump worrying over his hair at a press conference on a windswept bluff and accusing one of the holdouts of living “like a pig.”)

What's unfortunate about reporting like this is that non-golfers will continue to associate all of golf with the Trump vision. Not helpful.

Michael Hiestand reports there is also this:

HBO's latest Real Sports on Tuesday includes a feature on Donald Trump building a lavish golf course and hotel in historic northeast Scotland — a project that sparked local environmental protests. But on HBO, Trump says: "You can't improve on God's work. But I'm changing it around just a little bit so we can putt." How considerate.

Tate The Golfer

I had noticed that James Tate - the clever prom date proposer who became a Facebook and morning news show sensation - was wearing an awful lot of golf shirts. Thanks to Mike O'Malley for tweeting this item that notes Tate is indeed, family.

Tate, who is a co-captain of the high school's golf team, was out on the course during the announcement, but spoke to a Connecticut Post reporter in the driveway of his Waverly Road home Saturday afternoon.

"I heard there was some kind of decision, but I didn't really know what was happening," said Tate as he kicked a clod of dirt. "I'm feeling great. I'm glad the correct decision was finally made. But I also feel bad that Dr. Smith was put in this position. I understand she has to maintain a position as a disciplinarian. It's not the policy that needs to be changed, it's the punishment."

Hope Rises For Another Season Of Trump's Wonderful World Of Golf As The Donald Passes Up Presidential Bid

I'm struggling with the shock of the news because it just seemed like such a lock that The Donald would run, but he blinded us with today's announcement.

"I maintain the strong conviction that if I were to run, I would be able to win the primary and ultimately, the general election," Trump said in a statement on Monday. "I have spent the past several months unofficially campaigning and recognize that running for public office cannot be done half heartedly. Ultimately, however, business is my greatest passion and I am not ready to leave the private sector."

In the end, however, his decision almost certainly had more to do with his lucrative NBC television contract for his "Apprentice" franchise than anything else. Trump was running out of time to decide whether he would sign on for another season of the "Celebrity Apprentice." Sources close to Trump said negotiations ran to the 11th hour with reports of Trump on hourly calls with NBC executives throughout the weekend who were trying to convince Trump to continue to helm the show.

There's a fun job!

Quick 2011 Players Roundup

Cameron Morfit suggests that K.J. Choi is a horse for tough courses.

"He plays good, focused golf on tough courses," said Andy Prodger, Choi's caddie for a dozen worldwide victories. "I put it in his head that he was going to win this week because he's been playing very well."

Coming into the Players Championship, where his best result was a tie for 16th place in 2006, Choi had tied for third in New Orleans, tied for eighth at the Masters and tied for sixth at Bay Hill. Said Steve Bann, his Australian swing coach for the last six years, "A win was coming."

Bob Harig focuses on David Toms' decision to go for No. 16 in two. Ironic since Toms famously laid up on a par-4 in his most famous win, the 2002 PGA.

Toms had 233 yards to the front of the par-5 16th green, the one that has a pond to the right of the putting surface. It is a birdie hole, and at worst Toms should have made par.

"When he got up to me, he said, 'Do you like 2-hybrid?'" Gneiser recalled. "I said, 'I like it.' With a 1-shot lead, I'm thinking just get it left of the green, chip it down. And if K.J. doesn't make birdie we've got a 2-shot lead."

But Toms did not catch it solid, the ball drifting to the right and into the water. Instead of a possible birdie, it led to a bogey. Instead of a 1- or 2-shot lead, Toms and Choi were tied.

"And now I'm second-guessing myself," Gneiser said.

Toms put it on himself.

I was standing behind 16 green and just assumed he would lay up because of the hanging lie, which never really shows up very well on television. And when he took a full swing, well...it was a shocker.

Jason Sobel on "Chois Boys," the gang that has been following KJ around for six years and who made their presence felt all week with their shirts and cheers.

When they returned this year, the group came outfitted in black t-shirts with its lyrical name printed on front. They wore ‘em every day, following their new favorite player all over the course, ignoring all social mores about cheering loudly for a non-superstar and keeping hygiene issues to a minimum.

“We’re probably a little rank,” Page admitted after four days in his shirt. “We’ve been wearing these since Thursday.”

Gene Wojciechowski wasn't too inspired by the "Champions Tour Lite" Players.

This is the supposed "fifth major," but the guy who won it hasn't cashed a tour victory check since the 2008 Sony Open. The guy he beat, David Toms, hasn't won on tour since the 2006 Sony. And the guy who finished third, Paul Goydos, hasn't won since the 2007 Sony.

PlayStations for everybody!

Choi turns 41 this Thursday. Toms is 44. Goydos is 46. It was like the Champions Tour Lite.

In fact, Toms actually mentioned that a win here Sunday would have given him a five-year exemption on the big boy tour -- almost long enough, he said half-kiddingly, to get him to age 50 and the Champions Tour.

David Whitley, on the other hand, kind of liked it

It’s understandable that golf wants to push fresh, young faces. But being a geezer myself, it was heartening to see guys born during the Johnson Administration show they still have it.
Toms hadn’t won a tournament since the 2006 Sony Open. Oddly enough, Choi’s last win was the 2008 Sony Open. Goydos’ last win was the 2007 Sony Open.

By far the biggest win among them was Toms’ 2001 PGA Championship. His interest in golf waned until his son started playing. Carter Toms thinks like a 13-year-old golfer.

“He’s watching Rickie Fowler and all those young guys,” his dad said. “And dressing like them.”
It’s okay to dress like them, but Carter should still watch how his dad operates. Especially on an exacting course like Sawgrass, where guile and experience count as much as talent as swagger.

"I was on the range with him for a half an hour on Tuesday."

A few of you noticed something we scribes missed during Tim Finchem's press conference to discuss various topics, including Tiger Woods. Steve Elling writes:

Making his first comments to the print media in two months, Finchem strongly reaffirmed statements he made on television earlier in the week after a Golf Channel analyst asserted on the air that Woods only played this week because he had been pressured by the tour to appear at its flagship event. Woods withdrew after nine holes after claiming that he had re-injured his ailing knee.

The tour called the Golf Channel and strenuously complained about the report and Finchem still seem riled about it on Sunday.

"Well, it's not about him, it's any player," he said. "I don't twist players' arms, and as far as Tiger being hurt, guys, that's a decision he has to make, and I had no information that he wasn't ready to play golf.

"I don't think anybody did. I don't think he did. I was on the range with him for a half an hour on Tuesday.  He was hitting it really well. He went and played nine holes, and he didn't have a problem. He played the next day, he didn't have a problem. He stayed on the range that day, he didn't have a problem."

Finchem was with Tiger for a half hour while he hit balls? No wonder Tiger got out of town. He needs to practice in peace!

First 2010 Players Question: How Did The Course Look?

I had to file a story for Golf World so I haven't had a chance to read the accounts of the final round nor share many thoughts about the week, but I am curious if the immaculate condition of the course and greens was apparent watching on television?

After last year I heard a lot of comments about how the greens looked "dead." That certainly didn't happen this year (nor last year). But in the HD era it is amazing how reaction to a course varies and how the slightest blemishes are noticed.

I can tell you from walking around, the conditions were incredible. How'd they look on your end? (And save your flower bed gripes for another day...that question is coming!)