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
Brad Klein reports that Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw are completing the routing for a second course at the Cabot Links development to be constructed by 2014. From what I've seen in photos making the rounds the site is stunning. Of course, the first course looks pretty great in these trailers, too.
Anyone been this summer?
Golf Channel, Tuesday night. The shirts, the celebration that still irks them and the "I've got a feeling" Ryder Cup.
1999 Ryder Cup – Final Day
Airtime: Tuesday, 8:30-11:30 p.m. ET
Golf Channel looks back at the thrilling final day of the 1999 Ryder Cup from Brookline, Mass., when Team U.S.A. embarked on the largest come-from-behind victory in Ryder Cup history to retain the Ryder Cup.
Conor Nagle posts a thoughtful analysis of Rory McIlroy's plight in light of history and comments made to the Daily Mail about which country the World No. 1 might represent if he qualifies for the 2016 Olympics.
In other words, in the wake of McIlroy's clarifying letter posted Monday, Nagle offers a pretty even-handed look at the minefield McIlroy must navigate.
He is part of the first generation to self-identify as Northern Irish (a trend touched upon in this recent feature) and, in demonstrating a willingness, however tentative, to chart a course independent of the ideologies that have determined life in the six counties for nigh-on a century, he’s emerged an improbable spokesperson for a nascent political, or “post-political”, identity.
Precariously balanced between two contrasting identities, McIlroy has repeatedly asserted his right to a third option: a Northern-ness that supersedes all else, of which being British is a logical consequence rather than a matter of faith.
Yes, he’s availed of opportunities afforded him as a teenager by the Golfing Union of Ireland, but the issue of national allegiance, when forced, will hardly be decided by so trivial a matter as junior funding.
Brian Keogh with extensive comments from Ireland's Des Smyth. The gist:
“I don’t see how we can lay claim to people from Northern Ireland,” said Smyth, a highly repected Irish player and one of Ian Woosnam’s Ryder Cup vice captains at the K Club in 2006. “They are part of the United Kingdom.
“Jimmy Heggarty was my travelling buddy on tour for many years. He was from Ulster, part of the United Kingdom and I never had a problem with that.
Rory appears to have been helped, at least temporarily, by Andy Murray's triumphant U.S. Open win. Still, the various UK papers reported on McIlory's letter in Tuesday's editions.
Kevin Garside in The Independent declared that McIlroy "should be celebrating the best form of his career" but "finds himself caught on the horns of an uncomfortable dilemma."
The Guardian's "staff and agencies" report suggested McIlroy's letter "hinted that he may choose to play for Great Britain" in Rio.
The Daily Mail says the Rory clarification letter was issued because McIlroy "suffered abuse from a significant number of his 1.25 million Twitter followers as well as criticism from established broadcasters on Irish TV."
In Ireland, Phillip Reid offers an interesting solution for McIlroy: take a pass on Rio 2016.
Give it a miss! Save yourself the trouble and strife of having to declare allegiance one way or another! Focus on the Majors; for, truly, they are the defining moments in any player’s career! Be yourself!
There. I’ve said it.
The pulling and dragging over McIlroy’s nationality or otherwise is most unseemly and something of an irrelevance given that virtually week-in and week-out he is playing very much as an individual.
If he were to bypass the Olympics, the kernel of this issue, it would certainly present an easier way out – and avoid the hassle – for the player, especially given the over-the-top response to the comment that he felt “more British than Irish”.
The Indianapolis Star's Phil Richards with the exclusive on the recent BMW Championship host site Crooked Stick, reportedly making an "a formal presentation was made to PGA of America CEO Joe Steranka and managing director of championships Kerry Haigh on Aug. 30 and the BMW Championship served as a proving grounds of sorts."
I'll say!
The Nielsen overnights NBC's BMW Championship telecast where Rory McIlroy bested one of the best leaderboards you'll see in modern times.
Third round: 1.8 (1.0 in 2011)
Final round: 2.6 (0.9 in 2011)
**Golf Channel lowered it to a 2.5 in their press release...
o Overnight ratings for Sunday’s final round on NBC (2.5 household rating) was the best since the inception of the PGA TOUR Playoffs in 2007 and up 150 percent over last year.
o Golf Channel’s final-round, lead-in coverage (0.7/676,000) was up 154 percent over the same coverage in 2011.
o Saturday’s coverage of round three on NBC (1.8 overnight rating) was up 125 percent over 2011 and continuation coverage on Golf Channel (2.0/2,104,000) was the highest-rated and most-watched Saturday golf telecast on Golf Channel this year.*
o Round one on Golf Channel (1.0/979,000) was the highest-rated and most-watched round one of the BMW Championship as a PGA TOUR Playoff event (since 2007).
o Viewership for round two on Golf Channel (1.7/1,660,000) was up 200 percent over last year.**
Rory McIlroy, clearly hearing it from fans to the point he issues this letter today after his comments to the Daily Mail seemed to indicate he would represent Great Britain in the 2016 Rio Olympics if he qualifies.
The letter (click to enlarge):
From Golf Channel, Monday night at 10 ET for an hour:
Legendary Conversation: Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Trevino (Premiere)
Airtime: Monday, 10-11 p.m.
Guests: Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino
Moderator: Rich Lerner
Hall-of-Famers Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino come together for a rare, roundtable-style interview to share stories and experiences from their legendary careers. Rich Lerner hosts.
A preview from Rich Lerner on Morning Drive:
This shot with Tiger should make up for the family Labor Day photo John Daly posted on Facebook.
Thanks to reader Tom for the tip.
From Doug Ferguson's game story covering Rory McIlroy's impressive win over a star-studded leaderboard at Crooked Stick in the 2012 BMW Championship:
Any of the top 30 players who advanced to the Tour Championship have a mathematical shot at winning the $10 million prize.
The full results here.
Mike McAllister tells us about the top 30 advancing. He explains the movement of several players near the bottom, a series of truly spellbinding moments in golf television history that NBC covered dutifully to keep Ponte Vedra happy. Even better for us viewers, allowed for perfect channel changing to NFL and U.S. Open tennis until the telecast returned to the superstars clogging up the leaderboard.
Sean Martin breaks down each of the top 30 to advance and earn exemptions into the first three 2013. Way to go John Huh, overcoming the Q-School baggage!
Jim McCabe on a how Hunter Mahan played himself into the Tour Championship without a top 10 since April and weekend rounds of 80-77. In his usual canded manner, Mahan reveals he's "out of gas," showing perhaps how hard he worked to find his game for the Ryder Cup. I mean The Playoffs.
The SI Confidential gang was very happy to see Phil Mickelson finish T2 and T4 in consecutive weeks just before the Ryder Cup.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
