Gary Player On Tiger’s “Lessons” And Sleep Deprivation

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My post at The Loop on Gary Player telling Colin Cowherd that Tiger shouldn’t have signed up for that series of buy five, get the sixth lesson free after winning the U.S. Open by 15, and sleep issues Woods told him about.

I guess what is said at the Champions Dinner doesn’t always stay at the Champions Dinner.

Elevated To PGA Tour COO: Jay Monahan

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If there was any question about Deputy PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan having to wait longer for Commissioner Tim Finchem to give up the keys to the corporate jet, any doubt was set aside with the naming of Deputy Commissioner as the new COO.

With his contract soon up, this essentially ensures a few more years of Finchem bringing his special blend of wit, wisdom and commissioning prowess to the golfing world. Even though he likes to run off most folks at 60 and a Monahan elevation would have mirrored the progressive leaps that MLB and the NBA have taken with their commissionerships, somehow the Policy Board run by Finchem just can't get enough of his charm.

Here's the release on Monahan's promotion, which also ensures that he has even more thankless tasks added to his plate already filled by sponsors lunches and sponsor meetings.

No word yet on the status of the current co-COO's Charlie Zink and Ed Moorhouse, who are still listed on the tour's Executive Bio page.

COO added to PGA TOUR Deputy Commissioner Jay Monahan’s Job Title

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (March 24, 2016) – PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem announced today that Jay Monahan has been named Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the PGA TOUR, effective April 1. Monahan has served as Deputy Commissioner since April 1, 2014.

“This is another step in the organization’s succession planning as Jay continues to work closely with me pertaining to all business matters,” Finchem said.  

Prior to being named Deputy Commissioner, Monahan served as Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President at the TOUR from 2013-2014. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President for Business Development from 2010-13 and oversaw THE PLAYERS Championship as Executive Director from 2008-2010.

Monahan came to the TOUR from Fenway Sports Group (FSG), where he served as executive vice president.  

Video: Pinehurst No. 2 Five Years Later

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Lee Pace walked Pinehurst No. 2 with Bill Coore five years after the restoration that transformed the resort back to its architectural roots. While Donald Trump and a few were turned off by No. 2's presentation, the Donald Ross course has returned to prominence thanks to the work.

I found this about the rugged look of the course interesting. It's always amazing how folks equate a rustic look with more maintenance than a maintained look.

Indeed, there were plenty of cynics early on. Members and resort guests in 2010 in the backwash of the 2008 financial collapse simply thought Pinehurst didn’t have the money to maintain the course. Some in the design and maintenance business said you might get an interesting look out of the gate, but the vintage aesthetics would be difficult to maintain. All were wrong.

“Five years is a long time,” Coore says, gazing at the jagged bunker outlines up near the ninth green. “Look at those bunker edges, some people said they wouldn’t hold up. I’d say they’ve held up pretty well. The biggest fear we had was it would not be maintainable. Some people said the bunkers would fall in, you can’t maintain them. I guess it worked. They’re still there.

 The video:

Man Cave Gem Up For Auction: Augusta National Entrance Sign

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While my mancave budget would go to the Charles Lees photogravure of Musselburgh that Green Jacket Auctions is offering in their latest sale, I know that arguably the single most dreamy man cave item ever to be sold at auction will be the original Augusta National Golf Club entrance sign that hung in front of Magnolia Lane, circa the 1960s.

From the description:

It was discarded by Augusta National many decades ago, but was (thankfully) saved by an Augusta, Georgia resident. That original owner didn't understand its value to the collecting community until he briefly posted it on eBay six years ago. That auction sent collectors into a flurry (and we would know, we immediately heard about it and had every intention of buying it), but the sign was quickly pulled from auction and quietly sold to a collector that made a substantial offer. Though we missed out on this historic sign in 2010, we are overwhelmed with the opportunity of finally offering it for public auction.

House Q&A, ShackHouse Podcast Episode 1 From The Ringer

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John Ourand at SBJ beat me to the earth-shattering reveal: The Ringer is getting into golf and to host the latest addition to their podcast network they've enlisted longtime Bill Simmons podcast confidante Joe House and yours truly.

You can subscribe by going to the usual spots: Soundcloud, iTunes or if you'are an Overcast app user, just search for ShackHouse. (And I have to say this while I can, the show is current #1 on iTunes in Sports/Recreation and 15th overall.)

Simmons discussed the new podcast at the 33:00 minute mark of this week's Rollin' With House episode and noted the golf podcast world lacking any standout shows. That may be true, but as with most things, golf is late to the podcast game but there are some folks building followings and helping the sport catch up with the times.

As for ShackHouse, 21 episodes are scheduled around most of golf's biggest events, though we won't shy away from tackling topics outside of the pro golf realm. Mostly we just hope to add some fun, informed conversation to your golf media consumption menus.

The best thing so far with the show? All of House's fans getting over the shock that he not only plays golf, but follows golf religiously.

A few questions with House, who kindly answered even though he's enjoying a family vacation in Jamaica.

GS: Why a golf pod for your 1st as co-host?

JH: I have been pestering Simmons for a full decade now to get back into the game so we can tackle middle-age in the most cliched way possible. Aside from a 6 month stint where he caught the bug - and then promptly lost it again - no luck. It's a true fact that we have never played a single round of golf together in our 25 years of being pals. Though I did kick his ass in an epic 36 hole putt-putt match down in Orlando Florida that also included Rembert Browne and David Jacoby (that's a story for another day...) Anyhow, I believe this podcast was his clever way of getting me to shut up and stop bothering him about golf.

GS: You're a big consumer of all things media and golf is going through a similar transition to the digital era that other sports have dealt with. So what do you watch/read? What is different about golf media vs. other sports?

JH: I am an avid and fervent consumer of all golf media. Obviously the Golf Channel is in heavy rotation. I read Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, Golf Illustrated, Golf WRX, Golf World and Golf Playboy. I may be mis-remembering one or two of those. I enjoy very much the Twitter-feed of the dude(s) behind @NoLayingUp. I visit Pat Mayo and Geoff Fienberg's weekly picks:gambling angles and YouTube chat. The Instagram feed of GolfProTracer is a rabbit hole I go down for about an hour a week. And GeoffShackelford.com, duh. One thing I have been on the lookout for - that seems to be easier to find in other sports media - is a person or place that is regularly synthesizing the incredible data on the performance of the pros each week.  And breaking it down into digestible bites for a dummy like me. It's easy to get nuggets on the accuracy of the dudes who win each week, but I'm also interested in some analytics that help explain/provide context for where the guys that didn't win came up short.

GS: Your favorite Course in the DC area?

JH: This is an easy one, there is nothing like the East Potomac Golf Course in East Potomac Park. I wish I could write this up in a way that doesn't sound like I'm shilling for them, but it's one of the two courses where I've bested 80 so lovefest. The facility is owned and maintained by the federal government and situated on a tiny piece of land that juts into the Potomac River barely 10 minutes from downtown DC. There is an 18 hole course and two other 9s (one executive, one par-3) that get up to 90,000 rounds a year according to the folks who run the joint and the whole track sits at or below sea-level so conditions are never what anyone would call pristine. Two things make it special (not including my 78): it is a place where you can potentially play golf with someone from anywhere on planet earth. I have played there with Brits, Germans, Japanese, Australians, Africans and the rarest of all - native Washingtonians. Secondly, the views and experience are pure DC. On no less than 5 holes, the Washington Monument is a good aiming point. The Marine Barracks are across the river so if you are playing at the right time, you can catch the afternoon bugle call. And I have had the President's trio of helicopters pass overhead at least a half-dozen times.

GS: You're a renowned foodie, your best golf course food?

JH: Again, have to rep the DMV here a little bit.  Breakfast is served all day long at the historical Langston Golf Course in NE DC (opened in 1939, first non-segregated course in the DC area) and the breakfast sandwiches are extraordinary. Do not be afraid to ask for jelly on the egg & cheese. I have also had the good fortune to play the golf course at Piedmont Driving Club outside of Atlanta a couple times.  The cup of 'cue at the turn (a Dixie cup filled with five bites of pulled pork) is quite brilliant and quite delicious and I have never been through there with just one cup.