Phil On Lexi Situation: "I think it should be reversed"

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Phil Mickelson's comments today on the Lexi Thompson situation make too much sense. Well, maybe not reversing it, but the sentiment is sound in suggesting what a black eye this is for golf.

From The Masters Press Building:

Q.  Curious to get your reaction to what happened to Lexi, and viewers calling in.

    PHIL MICKELSON:  So rather than address that specific instance, what I would say is this:  I know a number of guys on TOUR that are loose with how they mark the ball and have not been called on it.  I mean, they will move the ball two, three inches in front of their mark, and this is an intentional way to get it out of any type of impression and so forth and I think that kind of stuff needs to stop.

    But I think it should be handled within the TOUR.  I think that the TOUR should go to those players and say, look, we've noticed you've been a little lax in how precise you've been in marking the ball.  We'd like you to be a little bit better at it ‑‑ and see if that doesn't just kind of fix the thing.

    Because we've all marked the ball imprecisely, especially when you're standing on the side of the ball like she was and not directly behind the ball, in line with the hole, where it's easy to draw a line.

    And I think that that should have been handled within the LPGA saying, hey, look, you're a little lax in how you're marking the ball.  You need to be careful.  Here's a warning and let's go from there.

    But to have a tournament be decided like that, with all the scenarios going around, as far as viewers calling in, as far as it being a one‑foot putt with really no advantage, just a little bit of loose marking, if you will, something that happens all the time, intentionally and unintentionally, I just think that's ‑‑ I think it should be reversed.  I think that she should be given the trophy.

Danny Willett Tweets Out His Champions Dinner

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If memory serves the Champions Dinner Menu doesn't usually get released until the day after, but defending Masters Champion Danny Willett took to Twitter to share his to help his fellow Green Coats mentally prepare for mini cottage pies and, of course, Yorkshire pudding. At the same time a video at Masters.com goes into his menu choices.

 

 

ShackHouse 31: 2017 Masters Preview

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The tradition unlike any other is here and Joe House and I talk all things Augusta National.

Among the topics covered: pushing back at Drive, Chip, and Putt Championship cynics, the new press center, the food, your Twitter questions and lots of make gambling picks and predictions.

As always, you can subscribe on iTunes and or just refresh your device subscription page.

Here is The Ringer's show page.

Same deal with Soundcloud for the show, and Episode 31 is here to listen to right now!

As always, ShackHouse is brought to you by Callaway, who debuted the latest episode of Callaway Live with Luke Wilson last week.

We're also sponsored by Callaway’s new Steelhead irons, so visit CallawayGolf.com to try the Iron Selector tool.

Best of all, they're offering ShackHouse listeners an Epic driver for the best iTunes review for the ShackHouse pod between now and when the 2017 Masters winner slips on his green jacket - and use the word “EPIC” somewhere in the review - and you’re entered to win a Driver.

Masters.com Posts Full Telecasts Of Palmer's Four Wins, Tiger's 1997 Masters Final Round

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And just to completely ruin your productivity, Masters.com has embedded all sorts of amazing content available on their site that will also be available on their Apple TV app.

While the 1997 Masters was very special and the online coverage here excellent, including an interview with Tiger hosted by Jimmy Roberts, that tournament is still in our recent memory. So as much as I'd love to advocate watching the final round broadcast posted there...

The King's four wins, with full original telecasts and Jim McKay leading two of them, will give you goosebumps.

The best way to stumble on this is as I did: check out today's leaderboard featuring a classic image and click on Palmer's score in red.

Because for those who weren't alive during Arnold Palmer's seven-year run here at Augusta National, the combination of imagery and words posted at Masters.com will give you a greater appreciation for the partnership.

Here is John Steinbreder's piece on Palmer and Augusta if you want some good reading.

Here is the 1958 final round with Jim McKay opening the proceedings as only he can.

Here is the 1960 final round and do make sure you get to the 31:15 minute mark for the Green Jacket Ceremony to get a BIG Clifford Roberts-inspired chuckle.

Here is the 1962 final round telecast.

And here is the 1964 final round telecast.

Best Of Masters Merchandise, 2017 Edition

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I managed to make it into the Masters merchandise center off the first fairway and as usual the folks have put together some fun, fresh items.

There's a bit of something for everyone and while I know most buy shirts and hats, most of the pieces included in this Golfweek.com slideshow are of the gift/keepsake/one-of-a-kind.

 Just click on the first image and the slideshow will kick in. Enjoy!

Poll And Quick Wrap: Lexi's Infraction At The ANA

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Anyone for expediting the Rules of Golf simplification?

I see both sides on this one. Why was Lexi Thompson picking up her ball and twisting her hand? Most likely for alignment purposes but there is always the possibility it was in a spike dent she didn't like. This was not addressed after the round anywhere I can see.

But like the Dustin Johnson situation last year at Oakmont, the evidence seen by someone at home (not apparently known to the rules staff according to this Nichols Golfweek column), was just not strong enough to fit the crime. But I suspect Rules of Golf experts don't agree even as we are likely to not face this situation in 2019.

The infraction, which again needed HD and slow motion to see, and the ensuing mid-round informing of a leader during the final round of a major:

Thompson lost the tournament on the first sudden-death hole to Soyeon Ryu, a fine player who has been trending toward a major win for some time. Sadly though, this one will be remembered for the four-stroke penalty.

From Beth Ann Nichols' Golfweek excellent report from Mission Hills:

LPGA rules official Sue Witters later said she was 100-percent certain that Thompson did not do it intentionally.

“It was a hard thing to do. To be honest, it made me sick.”

The LPGA said she breached USGA Rule 20-7c and Rule 16-1b. She incurred an additional penalty for incorrect scorecards under Rule 6-6d.

Ah the dreaded intent word.

As Missy Jones explains, the rules re-write will address this.

When you need to estimate or measure a spot, point, line, area or distance under a Rule, your reasonable judgment will not be second-guessed based on later evidence (such as video review) if you did all that could reasonably be expected under the circumstances to estimate or measure accurately.

The LPGA's statement:

Your thoughts?

Was the LPGA correct in assessing a penalty to Lexi Thompson for not replacing her ball correctly?
 
pollcode.com free polls
 

DCP Wrap: Golf's Best "Grow The Game" Effort?

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Not surprising a "grow the game" initiative centered around fun, family, simplicity and a possible trip to Augusta National, is a success.

Still, as I point out in this short Golfweek assessment from Augusta after year four of the Drive, Chip and Putt, it's an event that could have fizzled. Yet it has succeeded both in exposing talented kids to fun competition, but  also is "growing the game" in ways we might not have imagined. The characterization by officials of the numbers suggest the event is not slowing down.

Rex Hoggard tells some of the kids' stories for GolfChannel.com and what's motivating them to get to the DCP.

Ryan Herrington at GolfDigest.com on Fred Couples livening up one of the trophy ceremonies. Not Gary Player livening up, but still better than just a boring speech.

Jordan Spieth, favorite of most of the participants, checked out the proceedings.

The official website's gallery of images.

Rich Lerner and Peter Jacobsen recap the day with highlights of the best moments.

The winner's interviews:

Girls

7-9 Division (Maye Huang – Katy, Texas)

10-11 Division (Lucy Yuan – San Diego, Calif.)

12-13 Division (Alexa Pano – Lake Worth, Fla.)

14-15 Division (Savannah Grewal – Mississauga, Ontario)

Boys

7-9 Division (Carter Gaede – Manhattan Beach, Calif.)

10-11 Division (Liam Hartling – Redlands, Calif.)

12-13 Division (Zachary Colon – Bolton, Mass.)

14-15 Division (Mason Quagliata – Scottsdale, Ariz.)

And it's not too early to sign up for next year!

2017 Drive, Chip & Putt Preview: These Kids Are Good

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The kids are back!

Given the bleak forecast in Houston, it may just be the wondrous little ones and the first major of the year from Mission Hills for your Sunday viewing pleasure.

But beyond the mere necessity of needing some golf viewing, the Drive, Chip & Putt has been entertaining, humbling and inspirational. To see these young people thrown out into such a potentially intimidating situation and perform has been a privilege for me to cover. The skill and fortitude of these young golfers is something to behold. As is Gary Player's annual lecture on whatever he sees plaguing the youth!

Golf Channel will do its best to cover these amazing DCP participants starting earlier at 8 am ET following a shortened Morning Drive, meaning we'll see even more shots than the first three years.

Ryan Herrington filed this article with graphic explaining how it all works for the kids from the drive up Magnolia Lane to the actual competition.

All of the finalists are listed here at the official website.

Easily the best story is that of Alex Panos, making her third appearance in the "DCP". Here is her story, narrated by Rich Lerner:

PGA Of America To Forbid Sweater Sales During New May PGA Championship

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Fearing a backlash from veteran members, the PGA of America's planned shift to a May PGA Championship has been held up by an internal struggle over the organization's ties to the complicated art of sweater folding.

It turns out neither cool weather or television ratings have proven to be main stumbling blocks in the bold calendar move that will end the Championship's run as an August event. No, the last issue in making a May move official involves sweaters and how they are presented to shoppers in the PGA Championship Merchandise Center.

According to a MorningRead.com report by former PGA of America President Ted Bishop, the organization was set to announce the May, 2019 move following discussion about the agronomic ramifications of unseasonably cool weather years in northern regions. When a vote was to take place, the 19-member board of directors wondered cool spring weather might undo years of progressive initiatives highlighting how PGA Professionals are more than just experts at folding a lambswool half-zip. 

“A board member mentioned the S word," a source told Bishop, referring to the insensitive phrase sweater-folder. "That's when the repressed emotions and deep-seated fears came out. It wasn't pretty."

The source revealed the comment of another board member.

"The first spectator who walks into the merchandise tent and sees someone folding a sweater will associate us with the very thing we’ve worked so hard to move on from, so we just can't move to May without further exploration,” one board member reportedly announced.

Bishop’s report says the PGA of America’s current solution is to simply ban the sales of sweaters at the PGA Championship no matter how chilly the temperatures get in Rochester or on Long Island. Another source says there will be a last minute attempt to have the PGA Tour make up for lost cool-weather gear revenue since the Tour spearheaded the schedule shake-up.

“Maybe it’s sweet justice,” the source told MorningRead.com, "that the flatbellies have to pay out of their Lululimen pockets after decades of disrespecting proper soft-goods merchandising. Just because they don't wear cotton anymore doesn't mean they should disrespect those who know how to work with natural fibers.”

The term “sweater-folder” has been used in derogatory fashion by vengeful club board members and retail reps spurned by club professionals who ignored suggestions to stock $350 cashmere V-necks. While the term's origins are unclear, golf historians believe the apocryphal roots of the epithet trace to 1958 in the Winged Foot restroom. Legendary pro Claude Harmon is said to have overheard a member conversation when he went to the upper level of the men’s locker room moments after having been spotted neatly restoring three folding-unfriendly Alpaca cardigans to their factory-folded state.

Since that fateful morning, hurt caused by the term has driven some out of the business altogether and is considered so toxic that the PGA of America is set to do the unimaginable: forsake revenue.

Agent Refutes Reports: Tiger’s Champions Dinner Entrée Will NOT Be Decided Until After The Appetizers

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Agent Mark Steinberg is once again scoffing at reports about his legendary client's 2017 Masters plans just hours after Tiger Woods announced he will not play. Steinberg has denied a story suggesting Woods already has asked for the Augusta National dinner menu instead of embracing defending champion Danny Willett’s main course, expected to be an Southern-inspired take on bubble and squeak.

“I talked to Tiger three days ago and I have no idea who these really close sources are who know what he’s ordering for dinner,” said Steinberg. “We’re not in a position to even talk about the main entrée right now. He has to see how his back holds up after whatever deep fried stuff Willett wheels out for a starter.”

Steinberg said his client always samples the defending champion’s choices no matter how exotic. 

“Even the year Vijay won!” Steinberg said.

An online report said Woods has been spotted at his Woods Jupiter restaurant "relentlessly downing" digestive enzymes before and after meals as a cautionary ploy to prevent extra back strain.

“He looked like he’d had one-too-many of the Tuna Tartare’s the night I saw him,” the source said. “And we all know the slightest bloating could re-injure the back, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he bypasses Willett's entrees and just orders some soup to get through the Champions Dinner.”

Chairman Billy Payne Joins Twitter, Starts By Tweeting His '17 Masters Tie Scripting

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After years of his tournament carefully embracing social media, Masters Chairman Billy Payne has finally joined Twitter at @chairmanbilly.

As with many new Twitter users, Payne first posted the dreaded "testing" Tweet that has since been deleted.

He then jumped into Twitter head first, picking up on the trend of companies telegraphing what their players will wear Masters week, only offering up his tie scripting for the 2017 Masters week.

The image of Chairman Payne's ties puts an end to any rumored patron-wagering on Chairman tie choices. The practice was thought to be inspired by bettors at Royal Ascot speculating on the Queen's dresses. His Tweet shows one Augusta National tie and two from the R&A's Open collection.

In the Chairman's first interaction with a follower, he clarified that the rest of his ensemble never changes:

Spieth After Pre-Masters Missed Cut: Other Players Know "We Strike Fear" Next Week

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Will Gray reporting from the Shell Houston Open where Jordan Spieth's missed cut wouldn't have turned many heads except for a fascinating post-round quote.

The 2015 Masters champion said:

“I think we know, and the other players that are playing next week know, that we strike fear in others next week,” Spieth said. “So that’s our idea, that’s going to be my confidence level going in, and we’ll step on the first tee ready to play.”