Mexico City Putting Much-Needed "World" In WGC

As "tumbleweeds" rolled across the Blue Monster during Greg Cote's Wednesday visit for the Miami Herald--not literally but figurately--the WGC that left Miami after 55 years is off to a good start, writes Alan Shipnuck for golf.com.

In spite of the high-profile food poisoning cases involving Rory McIlroy (-2) and Henrik Stenson (WD), Shipnuck explains how event organizers are showing signs of positioning the tournament for a long run.

These kind of cross-cultural exchanges are the whole point of taking a World Golf Championship out into the world. "It's important to the brand of the PGA Tour," says Casey. "There are so many fantastic events in the U.S., but it's almost to the point of saturation. PGA Tour members get a bad rap that they don't like to travel but plenty of us do. It'd be a shame to miss out on a week like this. Mexico City is damn cool and so is this event. It has a different flavor, just a nice feel to it. And it's still in its infancy. It's going to be fun watching this tournament grow up."

The PGA Tour's first round highlights, including a nifty hole-out by Justin Thomas. Altitude hasn't led to any 500 yard drives or even 400 yards yet. There were 39 over 350 yards in round one, notes Rex Hoggard. And Phil Mickelson is enjoying the altitude's influence.

Update on 2017-03-03 17:32 by Geoff

**On the flip side, MorningRead.com's Gary Van Sickle recounts the past of Ricardo Salinas and reminds us how Commissioner PriceWaterhouse spun the deal last year:

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem was sailing along smoothly in a news conference at Doral last year when he announced the new sponsor and move to Mexico City until I asked a question about Salinas and his SEC troubles. Heads turned in the room, but an unflustered Finchem, who retired at the end of the season, said the Tour had researched Salinas and was aware of the case, adding, “Given the facts, it should not be something that would preclude us to do this particular transaction.”

What are the facts? Salinas knowingly violated SEC rules for his own gain and paid a relatively petty fine rather than risk a courtroom conviction. If former inside traders Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken sponsored a marquee PGA Tour event, wouldn’t that be fairly controversial? Well, the feel-good vibe about taking the WGC event to the poor people of Mexico has eliminated any talk about Salinas.

They're (Maybe) Back! New Costco Ball On Conforming List

Nice spot by GolfNewsNet's Ryan Ballengee to locate a new Costco golf ball on the March 1st USGA conforming ball list.

He writes:

The new ball is the Performance One Kirkland Signature ball. It also has four pieces and has a triple cover, but not a solid core. These balls are rated for medium to high spin and are made by SM Global LLC, an American subsidiary of a Korean company that is the new manufacturing partner for Costco.

While the original Costco four-piece ball remains dead as a likely one-off product, the buying craze and ability of the ball to get people in stores seems to have inspired Costco to move quickly on another ball, just as a company executive predicted.

Update on 2017-03-03 17:38 by Geoff

**Tony Covey at MyGolfSpy.com posts an excellent analysis of the latest news.

Apart from the fact that the USGA has approved a new Costco ball, the rest is admittedly speculation. Take it for what it’s worth, but my 2 cents; it’s unlikely the K-SigP1 will be $15/dozen. Nobody, the factory included, makes reasonable money at that price. $20/dozen is plausible, I’d say even likely, but if there are legal threats, that won’t put an end to them.

Kasumigaseki Has Deadline To Take Women Members

Reading this unbylined AP story on the IOC setting a June deadline for the 2020 Olympic golf venue to change its membership policies, it feels like no matter what they do, the club will have a tough time overcoming the perception that they were forced into this change.

Quoting IOC Vice President John Coates...

"It's possible to go elsewhere but I think this is going to work," Coates said. "It's heading in the right direction for them to have a nondiscriminatory membership procedure. It would appear that we would have this result by the end of June."

One Rule Change (Almost) All Agree On: The Caddie Lineup

While I'm still reading through many of the new Rules of Golf language and many responses, I'm certain nearly everyone is ecstatic to see the new rule preventing caddies from lining up players.

Not only was it inconsistent with rules attempting to unify the professional and amateur game, but also contradicted efforts to speed up the game.

Caddies lining up players also undermined respect for LPGA Tour players, who were most likely to take advantage of this rules book gap. With that in mind, Randall Mell at GolfChannel.com explores what this means for the LPGA Tour and while most were positive, there was one player not pleased.

Brittany Lincicome, however, didn’t seem pleased.

“I disagree!” Lincicome tweeted. “Lining up players has nothing to do with pace of play. I get 40 [seconds], I should be able to do what I want!”

Lincicome tweeted a pair of angry emojis after her comment.

The story goes on to explore some of the dynamics of why female tour players rely on caddies to line them up. Now that the rule will be changed, this freed up the opinions of Jerry Foltz and Karen Stupples are the most forthright that I've read.

“I think women in general are more likely to delegate stuff to other people,” Stupples said. “I think it’s about reassurance more than anything else. I think that’s just conditioning. When you have someone behind you saying, `You’re good,’ that’s just confirmation.”

That is why the practice had to go.

"The people at Doral feel like they got caught in the middle"

Bob Harig examines the loss of Trump Doral from the tour schedule after 54 years and what it could mean for the Florida Swing now that Mexico City hosts the next seven years.

This from Joel Paige, former VP and managing director at Doral.

"The people at Doral feel like they got caught in the middle," said Joel Paige, a former vice president and managing director at Doral. "It wasn't the venue. It wasn't the community. It was the politics. The political thing was a lot more.

"Did both sides really work hard on trying to work it out? I don't know what the timing triggers were, but did the guys in Mexico have a take-it-or-leave-it offer, and the tour decided they had to take it?"

If there is a bitterness today in Miami, it is understandable.

McGinley On Rory Backlash: "This is not a noise you really want to have."

Rory McIlroy ably defended himself during his Tuesday press conference in Mexico City, yet seems to be on the ropes concerning his golf round with President Donald Trump.

Brian Keogh reports the comments of Paul McGinley, who points out that McIlroy has not played well when facing criticism, is nonetheless befuddled by the anger expressed on social media toward McIlroy.

"I think it is disappointing that this noise doesn’t seem to be abating, looking at his press conference yesterday again. It dominated his press conference again, and in preparation for the Masters, this is not a noise you really want to have.

"He will be focussing on his injury, focussing on his game. He has walked into a storm, and I certainly won’t be critical of him, but I think it has taken him by surprise, and it has taken a lot of people by surprise, the vitriol that he has received.

"He was in a no-win situation, and that's the problem. When you get asked by the President of the United States to go and play a game of golf, it's very hard to say no."

New Changes To The Rules: DMD's For All (Maybe)

The proposed Rules of Golf language related to distance measuring devices becoming permissible contains a  key provision worth noting.

Here's what is said:

(3) Distance-Measuring Devices  

·      DMDs allowed: You may use DMDs to measure distance, except when prohibited by Local Rule (this reverses the default position in the current Rules).

This default reversal certainly makes sense given that many believe the game would be much better (and faster) with rangefinders in widespread use. Others will be glad to sell you an expensive device.

I'm happy for all of those who have been clamoring to use their devices. But having watched enough amateur and college golf in person, elite players really only get a speed bump from the devices when they hit a ball so far out of play that they can't get a yardage off of a book.

Otherwise, DMD's merely are used to confirm yardages computed the old fashioned way, especially when the course played is well-designed. Even remotely decent architecture and setup means the yardage to the flagstick is less meaningful.

The retention of the Local Rule language is where this gets fascinating.

Does anyone believe that the folks at Augusta National will want the leader of the Masters to walk up to the 12th tee and, after acknowledging the crowd patrons, pulls out a rangefinder?

Will the PGA Tour really embrace the sight of a player arriving at TPC Sawgrass' 17th tee only to pull out his rangefinder? Worse, what happens when a player can't get the yardage because of competition behind the flagstick? So instead of hearing a great tactical conversation on Sunday of The Players, we hear the leader asking his caddy if he can get a reading?

I suspect the USGA, R&A and PGA of America will allow them at their events given the rule change and their desire to look like they are not impeding something the kids want. But I'm having trouble seeing the other families signing on where they are more conscious of the "look" presented by DMD's.

First Look: New 7th And 8th Holes At Royal Portrush

Thanks to reader PG for catching photographer David Cannon's Tweeted first-look images of the new 7th and 8th holes at Royal Portrush.

The holes were created for The Open Championship's arrival in 2019, allowing for the use of the current 17th and 18th holes as staging.

First views of new 7th and 8th at @royalportrush ready for @TheOpen in 2019 great job by @golfarchitects #martinebert @GettySport #brilliant pic.twitter.com/jCYHH7oNiR

— David Cannon (@Cannonball63) March 1, 2017

New Golf Rules: A Closer Look At Changes Related To Bunkers

I'll leave some of the proposed Rules of Golf changes to the wonks to dissect after they are unveiled, but from an architecture and course setup perspective, I'm fascinated by the change of approach to bunkers.

Here is what is outlined in the proposal:

•    Relaxed restrictions on touching the sand with your hand or club when your ball is in a bunker: You are now prohibited only from touching the sand (1) with your hand or club to test the condition of the bunker or (2) with your club in the area right behind or in front of the ball, in making a practice swing or in making the backswing for your stroke.

We all know this is a response to multiple video replay issues where the club could be seen touching the sand and the player was prosecuted for an inadvertent mistake. No one will miss those days.

•    New unplayable ball relief option: For two penalty strokes, you may take relief outside the bunker by dropping a ball back on a line from the hole through where your ball was at rest in the bunker.

I haven't a clue what this unplayable option does to improve the game other than speed things up on a golf course with quicksand bunkers, so let's ignore that one.

•    Removal of special restrictions on moving loose impediments: There is no longer a penalty if you touch or move loose impediments in a bunker.

"Play it as it lies" is a principle of importance since it was a bedrock of the original rules. Rules, Decisions and other changes in the game have dented the meaning of playing it as it lies in a sport that originally resonated because it was nature-based. So will this new language make bunkers more or less hazardous and more or less maintained.

I'm hoping more hazardous and less maintained.

We all hate rocks in bunkers and what they do to a pretty new wedge. And perhaps with a loose impediment rule the governing bodies are actually applying reverse psychology here by saying to courses you don't need to spend so much time on making bunkers perfect, rock-free sanctuaries for recovery.

Yet I can't help but think that given the freedom to fidget with the playing surface, modern players will continue to see bunkers as a sacred place where all golfers are entitled to a recovery and pristine lie at all times. Or, play it as I want it to lie.

Yuck!

We shall see...

First Look: Proposed Changes To The Rules Of Golf, What Stands Out?

Scheduled for a rollout on Golf Channel's Morning Drive (7 am Wednesday) along with a media teleconference at the same time, the new Rules of Golf will aim to "modernize the Rules and make them easier to understand and apply."

The expedited proposal, going out for public consideration with a January 1, 2019 implementation goal, appears determined to speed up the game and, intentionally or not, bifurcate elite tournament golf and the everyday game.

From the materials I've seen and in discussions with those briefed, here are the highlights of the many "relaxed" rules (where have I heard that term?):

--No more penalties for accidentally moving a ball on the putting green or in searching for a ball

--Golfers may putt without having the flagstick attended or removed. A speed of play, play.

--Repairing spike marks and other damage on the putting green to be allowed. Not a speed of play helper.

--More red hazard lines to include desert areas and no penalty for touching the hazard in such an area, which also includes moving loose impediments.

--In bunkers, no penalty for touching loose impediments or for touching the sand with a hand or club. Still no grounding the club next to the ball or in front of the ball. We'll call this the Anna rule.

--We trust you, we really really trust you rules. This is a video evidence situation again, allowing for "reasonable judgement" when estimating point of entry drops, etc...

--Reduced time for searching for a lost ball from five down to three minutes

--You can keep playing a damaged club during a round. No penalty for an altered club, even if you wrapped it around a tree in a childish hissy-fit.

--Use of distance measuring devices permitted at all times, except by Local Rule (this should be fun for Augusta and the PGA Tour).

--No more caddies lining up players before a shot. This was almost strictly an LPGA Tour problem.

--A new “Maximum Score” form of stroke play, where your score can be capped to a number set by the Committee. In this proposed format you can pick up and move to the next hole when your score "will be at or above the maximum."

--New presentation of how the rules are presented

--New "plain" language in the writing of the rules

So what stands out?

For my money, the positives are various headache situations in everyday tournament golf coming to an end.

The use of rangefinders will be applauded, hailed and declared the key to speeding up the game. Little difference will be seen, but at least we'll be able to put another savior to bed on the pace of play front.

The ability to repair "spike" marks in a sport almost devoid of spikes contradicts the efforts to speed up the sport and appears to be mostly for tour players.

Shorts In Practice! PGA Tightens Its Grip On Fourth Major Status

Would The Masters do it?

This simple question will be used as a barometer in the coming months and year as the sport faces pressure to relax rules in an effort to appeal to more people. While many of those efforts are necessary, the professional golfer's uniform has been a collared shirt and pants. Whether at a course or club, a well-dressed professional has more gravitas than one in shorts and anklets.

And of course you'll never see pros wearing shorts at The Masters, the best in golf.

So even though the PGA Championship is likely moving to the cooler month of May, the PGA of America announced today that they will allow players to wear shorts during practice rounds of all their championships. Let those grow-the-game sweeping declarations begin!

PGA's Paul Levy announced today that shorts may be worn during practice rounds of PGA of America member and major championships.

— PGA of America (@pgaofamerica) February 28, 2017

NY Post On Adidas Taylor Made Sale: "May Have To Give It Away"

Josh Kosman on the distressing news that TaylorMade-Adams-Ashworth is losing between $75 million and $100 million a year, and no post-Tiger signing momentum has expedited sales talks.

Now Adidas, the parent company of Taylor Made, may have to give the brand away.

Losses at TaylorMade are much greater than many potential bidders anticipated, causing suitors to walk away, sources said.

The golf division that Adidas announced was for sale last May — which includes golf club maker TaylorMade, and the much smaller Adams and Ashworth brands — is losing between $75 million and $100 million a year, according to sources close to recent deal talks.

That is quite a fall from 2013 when TaylorMade was posting $1.7 billion in sales and a healthy profit, sources said. Today, sales are a little better than $500 million.

Adidas last year was asking for more than $500 million for the business, but now may have to give it away, a source who considered making a bid said.

The story goes on to say Callaway's new Epic driver taking the top spot from Taylor Made hasn't helped, but neither did the parent company CEO talking down the golf business. Or releasing three drivers in one year.

ShackHouse 28: Honda, Rules, Mexico City & Crossfield

Golf instructor Mark Crossfield has quickly become one of the more trusted voices in golf equipment, instruction and travel reviews. The golf pro-turned-YouTube star joins us to discuss how he got became a disruptor and where he sees golf headed.

Before that, however, we discuss Rickie Fowler's Honda Classic win, the (embarrassing) outrage over Johnny Miller's frank commentary, forthcoming rule change news and some insights into Club de Chapultepec, host of this week's WGC Mexico.

As always, you can subscribe on iTunes and or just refresh your device subscription page. Here is the direct iTunes link to this week's show.

Here is The Ringer's show page.

Same deal with Soundcloud for the show, and Episode 28 is here to listen to right now!

As always, ShackHouse is brought to you by Callaway, who start season 3 of Callaway Live this week. Tuesday's debut episode features Jim Furyk, followed by next week's newly-appointed primetime host of NBC's Olympic coverage, Mike Tirico.

Be sure to visit Callaway community that provided some of today's interview questions (thanks group) and to make yourself eligible to win a Furyk-signed 58 ball if you can accurately post how many times host Harry Arnett says "Ryder Cup" on the season premier.

Even Jack Doesn't Know What To Think About Tiger At This Point

Golfweek's Jeff Babineau quotes Jack Nicklaus discussing the state of Tiger Woods following the recent WD's and Genesis Open no-show due to back spasms.

This probably about sums up how most feel

Nicklaus doesn’t live very far from him, but he really doesn’t have much of a handle on what his happening with Woods and his health these days.

“That is the biggest puzzle to me that I know,” Nicklaus said Sunday at the Honda Classic. “I just don’t know where he is and where his mind is. I don’t know.