Beman: "Why is it now so important to eliminate bifurcation?"

I finally got a few minutes to take in the entire Deane Beman address (text version) from last week's USGA Pace of Play event, and besides enjoying the image of folks squirming as he talked bifurcation of the rules where the rulemakers reside (and steadfastly oppose bifurcation), you have to admire the dry wit.

Beman, most certainly never considered for a sidekick role on The Tonight Show, turned the tide on the bifurcation discussion by accepting that we already have it, and why are we the big, bad governing bodies trying to get rid of bifurcated rules?

The former PGA Tour Commish lays out the ways we are bifurcated now (grooves, one-ball rule) and writes:

Why is it now so important to eliminate bifurcation?  There is no evidence that bifurcation has hurt the popularity of our game -- just the opposite can be creditably advanced.  Golf’s popularity was surging in the 1950’s and 60’s when two different size golf balls were played around the world.  Don’t let the stance on bifurcation stand in the way of addressing some of golf’s problems.

He ties it into the slow play discussion and makes this point about longer, narrower courses in championship play making their way into the everyday game:

The problem of slow play, as well as the decline in the growth and financial viability of golf in the U.S., has some of its seeds from the well-intended notion that in order to identify “a worthy champion” in major championships, it was necessary to alter the playing field to accomplish that objective.

The Red Sox won the World Series and they are the undisputed world champions of baseball.  Baseball did not feel the need to add another 10 feet to get to first base, grow longer grass in the infield or move the home run fence farther out.  They also have bifurcated rules that allow a designated hitter in one league versus the other and were able to make a mutual accommodation for the World Series for the good and harmony of the game.  None of these actions would lessen the crown that Boston wears or harm baseball as a popular sport.

Video: Euro Tour's Finest Play From The 22nd Floor

Another entertaining European Tour promo video, this time for the Atlantis in Dubai and the season ending points race. Nice surprise cameo too.

Update on 2013-11-12 05:33 by Geoff

**You may recall there was some tremendous First World complaining about the European Tour mandating players start two of three "Race To Dubai" events. Ernie Els even WD'd from this week in supposed protest.

Steve Elling explains part of the ire, justified in this instance I'd say:

Bigger cracks emerged at the second event in the series, the lucrative HSBC Champions in Shanghai. The co-sanctioned, 78-man event event is not run by the European Tour, which has little sway over the composition of the field. As a result, 10 of the top 40 on the Race to Dubai points list did not find a place on the tee sheet, including Ryder Cup player Nicolas Colsaerts, Thorbjorn Olesen, Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Shane Lowry.
In theory, a points race represents a season-long meritocracy. But if all three of Dubai’s lead-in events have fields of 78 players or fewer, it crimps the opportunity for top players in the points list to participate. In reality, designating co-sanctioned events as Finals Series stops meant even fewer spots were available to European Tour regulars.

It felt like a closed shop.

At the co-sanctioned BMW Masters, 14 players from the China Golf Association were included in the field. At the HSBC, because of the tournament format, Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald played, while players having better 2013 seasons were benched. In points, both players were outside the crucial top 60, the number required to land a spot in the Dubai finale.

Six of the 78 players at HSBC were from China, including two ranked outside the top 800 in the world. One of them failed to break 80 in three of his four rounds and finished a whopping 59 shots off the lead. Ouch.

Bring Long Drive To The Olympics!

In this week's Golf World I pen a column on last week's World Long Drive Championship in Las Vegas and while the new live, primetime edition still has some kinks to work out, the event was a super start on the path to something bigger.

Since the current Olympic golf format of 72-holes-of-stroke-play iss my preferred method of inducing deep naps, the column floats the idea of making Long Drive the next Beach Volleyball and adding it as an Olympic sport. Ty, this is my early Christmas gift to you, lover of skill competitions that you are!

In the column, make sure to note the input from former USGA Executive Director David Fay. Yet another reminder that there are no new ideas, just ones of the recycled 100-year-old variety.

A few photos from a festive and exciting night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: