Clippings: 2016 PGA Show This And That

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European Tour: Slow Play "Monitoring" Worked

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In the aftermath of Jordan Spieth's monitoring for slow play, I'm still trying to understand how the policy works for a full field event without an official for each group.

But leaving that aside, The Guardian's Ewan Murray reports the European Tour's numbers of successful "monitorings" at Abu Dhabi's HSBC.

In round one, 18 groups were monitored. By rounds two, three and four, that figure had been slashed to eight, four and six, respectively. The message, it seemed, hit home. When Daniel Brooks was issued with a warning on Friday after taking excessive time over a tee shot, he embarked on a run that saw him take 20 seconds or fewer – in one occasion just nine – before hitting.

But as Murray points out, the entire affair seemed silly on a course with slick greens and some of the most obnoxious hack-out rough we've seen in some time.

There are other ways in which golf’s ruling bodies could quicken tournament play. Abu Dhabi is an example of a course with ridiculous rough just a short hop from fairways, which is necessary to keep scoring down because, simply, equipment allows the ball to travel far too far. If that scourge was properly looked at, there would be a knock-on effect and courses could be set up differently.

R&A Chief On Match-Fixing, Shorts, Olympics, Trump

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In his most extensive interview to date (unbylined BBC story), new R&A Chief Martin Slumbers acknowledged that the group is monitoring the potential for betting irregularity issues coming to golf, is open to considering shorts for practice rounds, is excited about golf's Olympic moment, and is continuing the organization’s effort to punt on the issue of an Open at Trump Turnberry.

Interestingly, just last week new European Tour head (and fellow fast play advocate of Slumbers) Keith Pelley, said there was no concern betting scandals like those in tennis could find their way to golf. (He's sounding a bit like Tim Finchem a decade ago suggesting there was no need for drug testing in golf.)

Slumbers doesn’t agree even though no evidence has surfaced suggesting anything has taken place like tennis has seen. Still, with bookmakers offering daily wagering on head-to-head play in groups, the opportunity is there for match-fixing.

"I think the events of the last few months will bring it more to the top of those agendas, yes," he said.

"If there was evidence starting to build of inappropriate betting, the game is run by some very responsible and sensible people who have the game at heart and I'm sure will do the right thing. We are certainly keeping this under careful attention.

One PGA Show Item I Already Want: SwingSnap

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I'm still taking in all of the 2016 PGA Merchandise Show after day one and, barring a crazy day at Torrey, will post the best of.

That said, the GolfDigest.com crew nominated a few of their favorite things spotted on the floor, and without question the standout for me was this headcover that doubles as a camera holder.

Considering that I just watched an aspiring player trying to balance his camera phone on his bag yesterday with questionable results, I'm guessing there's at least one taker for the soon to be released SwingSnap.

As someone who used to lug a huge video camera and tripod to the range, I have no problem admitting that I'm envious of today's aspiring players.

Of course the SwingSnap also appears to be a discreet way to setup a camera to record when you tee off on one of the world's most famous golf holes.

Video: Phil Talks Torrey North And California Politics

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Hearing what Phil Mickelson had to say about the Torrey North project and still struggling with the $12.6 million budget, the ethusiasm is mild at best for the upcoming renovation of this property. On site here the phrase "missed opportunity" has been thrown about a lot (and it's only Wednesday).

Though I think Mickelson mistakenly kept his plans pretty private, the more I hear about them, the more I fear Torrey Pines missed an opportunity to improve.

From Cameron Morfit's golf.com roundup of Mickelson's lively press conference:

"I don't understand the politics of it at all," Mickelson said of the impending redesign of Torrey Pines North, which Mickelson had hoped to direct but which instead will be overseen by Tom Weiskopf. "It makes no sense. I think it's terrible business practices, but it's what we live with here."

Mickelson was one of the first designers to consult with the City of San Diego about Torrey North, perched on the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean, and had said he would even waive his design fee. But because he was part of the preliminary talks, the California Fair Political Practices Commission forbid Mickelson's design group from submitting a formal bid.

"I'm not bitter about it," Mickelson said. "I just kind of learned to accept that as being one of the sacrifices of living in California. It is a personal place, it is a personal thing for me because of the memories, the history, the nostalgia that I feel every time I walk on the grounds here.

The Art Department has taken the Weiskopf plan, which is simple upgrade of the existing design, and placed it in an aerial for better study. Yes, it doesn't ruin what is a very nice course, but for $12.6 milllion, I'm not sure how many golfers will be thrilled with this or feeling like the character of the Bells was retained. Mickelson's plan was said to have been half the price and included a kids par-3 course:

Todd Lewis and I discussed what went wrong for the North Course project on Golf Central, and Phil's comments cited above can be heard. He offers his best stiff upper lip effort but can only hold on so long...

Johnny To USGA: Roll Back The Ball To Bring Back Cool

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Billy Casper's son Byron stopped by the Farmers Insurance Open media center Wednesday and I had the privilege of having watched his dad play the Champions Tour. Byron kindly listened to me ask about how his dad went from a gentle fade in his prime, to the most amazingly well-controlled draw show in his Champions Tour.

Naturally, this got me thinking of the great shot shapers who moved the ball and how today's fans would be in awe watching these craftsman of yesteryear pursue their craft.

Translation millennials: they were artisanal, small-batch, locally-sourced ball strikers.

I bring this up because Jim Achenbach says Johnny Miller called out he USGA for not having better regulated the ball. Addressing members of the International Network of Golf at Orlando's PGA Show...

Then he asserted the USGA is "afraid to stand up for what they should be standing up (mandating a golf ball that goes shorter distances for touring pros).

"With that ball (more spin, less distance) you can hit all kinds of cool shots."

Ruffled! Phil Won't Be Teeing It Up With Ryan Anytime Soon

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Well, unless the Australian lad making his pro debut at Torrey Pines Thursday is primed for a less-than-friendly game with Phil Mickelson. The same Mickelson who tried to recruit him to his alma mater and teed up at Torrey Pines last month in a friendly game.

Ruffels, you may recall if you followed this obscure little story, claimed to have birdied six of seven holes to take $5000 off of Mickelson, who gave the 17-year-old 2-1 odds. He shared the story, then had to downplay it. But that wasn't enough to appease Phil who spoke to the media on the North Course's 9th green following his pro-am round.

From Ryan Lavner's item at GolfChannel.com: 

“He’s young,” Mickelson said, “and he’s got some things to learn.

“One of them is you don’t discuss certain things. You don’t discuss specifics of what you play for. And you certainly don’t embellish and create a false amount just for your own benefit. So those things right there are – that’s high school stuff, and he’s going to have to stop doing that now that he’s out on the PGA Tour.”

Parents, let this be a learning lesson on the perils of golf course wagering!

Wounded Warrior Execs Spending Lavishly On...Themselves?

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The Wounded Warrior Project is closely aligned with golf through programs, formerly with the PGA Tour's Birdies for the Brave and mostly through the efforts of many players to raise money for the group. Jordan Spieth made a major 2014 contribution to the group. (The PGA Tour has not given money to the project for three years according to a tour spokesman.)

And while I'm not entirely comfortable questioning lavish spending by those doing the difficult task of fundraising, a New York Times special report posted by Dave Phillipps raises troubling questions. Especially since the bulk of the Jacksonville, Florida non-profit's funds come--$372 million in 2015 alone--through small donations from people over 65, not through the corporate sector.

Besides mentioning instances of excess spending and targeting of employees who questioned the culture of spending, the story points out that as far as charities go, WWP's spending on overheard is excessive at best.

About 40 percent of the organization’s donations in 2014 were spent on its overhead, or about $124 million, according to the charity-rating group Charity Navigator. While that percentage, which includes administrative expenses and marketing costs, is not as much as for some groups, it is far more than for many veterans charities, including the Semper Fi Fund, a wounded-veterans group that spent about 8 percent of donations on overhead. As a result, some philanthropic watchdog groups have criticized the Wounded Warrior Project for spending too heavily on itself.

Some of its own employees have criticized it, too. During five years with the Wounded Warrior Project, William Chick, a former supervisor, said of the charity, “It slowly had less focus on veterans and more on raising money and protecting the organization.”

Fox Going With A Three-Man Booth: Azinger Joins Faxon On 18

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The formula that proved successful for producer Mark Loomis at ABC will define year two of USGA golf on Fox. With the expected announced of Paul Azinger's hiring, Fox also mentioned in its press release that Brad Faxon has been promoted from 17th hole tower to the 18th hole broadcast booth, with Joe Buck playing traffic cop. The banter should be lively, funny and edgy between the three.

The full press release:

PAUL AZINGER NAMED FOX SPORTS’ LEAD GOLF ANALYST
 
Major Champion to Team with Seven-Time Emmy Winner Joe Buck in 18th Tower
New York – Paul Azinger, winner of the 1993 PGA Championship and veteran broadcaster, has joined FOX Sports as lead analyst for its golf coverage, beginning in 2016. Azinger joins seven-time Emmy Award-winning announcer Joe Buck and analyst Brad Faxon in the 18th Tower for FOX Sports’ USGA Championship telecasts. The announcement was made today by John Entz, President, Production & Executive Producer, FOX Sports and Mark Loomis, Coordinating Producer, USGA Studio & Event Production.
 
"Paul is a respected and trusted voice in the golf community, and he has the credibility of being a major champion with a strong track record of experience in the broadcast booth,” Entz said. “He has been one of golf's most candid and thoughtful analysts and we are excited to add him to our team.”
 
A 30-year PGA Tour veteran, Azinger was a 12-time winner on the tour, highlighted by his triumph at the 1993 PGA Championship at Inverness Club. Azinger joined the tour in 1981 and hit his prime later in the decade, earning PGA Tour Player of the Year honors in 1987 and spending nearly 300 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1988 and 1994. He also represented the United States on five Ryder Cup teams, participating four times as a player and serving as captain of the victorious 2008 squad.
 
"I am honored to partner with FOX Sports and the USGA to provide analysis for the compelling slate of USGA Championships,” Azinger said. “It will especially be an honor to call our nations national championship, the U.S. Open, beginning in June at storied Oakmont Country Club."
 
Azinger began his broadcasting career serving as an analyst for ABC’s PGA Tour golf coverage for 2005 and 2006, quickly becoming one of the most well-respected voices in the industry. He remained at ESPN through 2015 and has called early round coverage of the U.S. Open Championship, anchored coverage of the British Open Championship and contributed to early rounds of Masters Tournament coverage.
 
In his new role at FOX Sports, Azinger is scheduled to broadcast the 116th U.S. Open Championship at Oakmont Country Club, the U.S. Women’s Open at Cordevalle and the U.S. Senior Open at Scioto Country Club. He will also broadcast the 116th U.S. Amateur at Oakland Hills Country Club and the 2017 Walker Cup Match at Los Angeles Country Club.

Pieters: PGA Tour Provides (Photoshop) Grooming Services

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Jason Crook reports on Thomas Pieters going to Facebook to show how the PGA Tour altered his stock photo. Pieters, who finshed second to Rickie Fowler in last week's HSBC in Abu Dhabi, appears to have run into Commissioner Kiehl's and his army of Photoshopping barbers.

Look out Boo Weekley!

Generation Z Video: PGA Demo Day Stars

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Nice post by Stephen Hennessey to note these two stars from Tuesday's PGA Demo Day at Orange County National outside Orlando, including one-handed golfer Tommy Morrissey.

At the Golphin junior golf-club pavilion, sampling the company's new clubs for children. Look at the clubhead speed from these young 'ems:

Tweeted by Golfinforkids:

Paul Azinger Taking Over For Greg Norman At Fox Sports

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This should sharpen the announcing focus and also de-burden the Fox crew of Greg Norman's presence, despite the views of one that moving on without Norman will be tough.

Jaime Diaz at Golf World with the report citing sources who say Azinger will work the big events for Fox (the U.S. Amateur was not mentioned).

When news of Norman's firing was first reported by Links, it was reported here that Azinger was the likely and inevitable choice given his excellent analysis for ABC and ESPN over the years.