Wells Fargo's Weak Field, Possible Pre-PGA Future

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The PGA Tour moves this week for a one-off Wells Fargo Championship at Eagle Point, a 2000 Tom Fazio design renovated by Tom Fazio in 2015. The club's president, Bobby Long, is an Augusta National member and potential future club chairman.

With Quail Hollow resting up for its August PGA Championship turn, just seven of the world top 30 means the traditional Wells Fargo turnout is absent, Adam Schupak writes for MorningRead.com.

More interesting in Schupak's story is this comment from tournament director Kim Hougham, anticipating an eventual PGA Championship move to Mother's Day weekend in May.

Hougham didn't point fingers, but the biggest hit to his field has been the move beginning in 2007 of The Players Championship from March to May, a week after the Charlotte stop. There's a lot of talk of the Players’ returning to its March date as soon as 2019. Would that be a good thing for Wells Fargo?

"It depends," Hougham said. "It's a zero net gain if the PGA (Championship) moves to May. We'd be a week before a major."

Sounds like Kim knows something we don't!

Flashback: LPGA Commish On Golf Digest's Paulina Cover

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With an LPGA tournament holding a Twitter poll to determine a sponsor's invitation, there is an apparent blessing from Commissioner Mike Whan that seems inconsistent with the outrage his organization directed at Golf Digest two years ago.

To recap: Golf Digest put Paulina Gretzky on the May 2014 cover and many in the women's golf world were outraged given how few females had ever graced the front page. And when a woman did make the cover, it was not one of the LPGA's many stars.

Whan at the time:

"Obviously, we're disappointed and frustrated by the editorial direction (and timing) Golf Digest has chosen with the announcement of its most recent magazine cover," Whan said in a statement released Friday. The tour's first major of the season, the Kraft Nabisco Championship, began on Thursday at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

"If a magazine called Golf Digest is interested in showcasing females in the game, yet consistently steers away from the true superstars who've made history over the last few years, something is clearly wrong. ... 'Growing the game' means a need for more role models and in these exciting times for women's golf, the LPGA is overflowing with them."

At the time, it was surprising that Whan to disrupt his tour's first major championship of the season given the importance of that event and the reduced importance of magazines or their covers. But given his membership's strong feelings about media emphasis of sex appeal over on-course accomplishment, many could understand why he spoke out.

Fast forward three years and the ShopRite LPGA Classic is essentially holding a beauty contest between four non-LPGA Tour members for a field spot. Only one of the four is on the Rolex Rankings (Booth at No. 365).

Golf Digest was trying to sell magazines and generate attention. No professional golfer was harmed by the cover.

But the ShopRite exemption could go to a promising Symetra Tour player in need of starts. Or a recent college golfer looking to "showcase" the start of her career could benefit. Instead, a spot in an LPGA Tour event will go to an attractive but undeserving player in large part to get the tournament attention.

Maybe Whan and the LPGA will think twice about letting this happen again? Because they risk losing credibility the next time a player is passed over because she doesn't fit someone's idea of what sells.

John Feinstein and I debated today on Golf Central:

New For 2017 Players: More VR, First-Ever Twitter Live 360 Video Of 17th Hole

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Since last year's Masters and Players, progress on the Virtual Reality front has been pretty quiet. So it's encouraging to see the PGA Tour continuing to push the envelope with what sounds like produced (?) coverage using three VR cameras. For those without a Samsung Gear phone and VR headset there is some consolation: Twitter's live broadcast of 360 degree video will be its first ever.

The full press release:

Live virtual reality comes to THE PLAYERS Championship

Live virtual reality and 360 video coverage of the famed 17th hole at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass will be distributed globally during all four rounds of the tournament

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida – The PGA TOUR and THE PLAYERS Championship announced today that fans will be able to experience the twists and turns of the island-green 17th hole at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass through live 360 video and virtual reality (VR) during all four days of THE PLAYERS Championship from May 11-14.

The live VR experience can be viewed on Samsung Gear VR headsets on a global basis through the “PGA TOUR VR Live” app available on the Oculus store. For fans who don’t have a Gear VR headset, the 360 video stream will be available exclusively on Twitter and Periscope during all four days of the event. Using any smartphone, fans will be able to watch live, 360 video from the 17th hole during THE PLAYERS.  Fans can find the coverage starting on May 11 at twitter.com/PGATOUR or by following @PGATOUR on Twitter and Periscope.

The live VR experience is done in collaboration with Intel and will be produced with Intel True VR technology, bringing fans closer to the action than ever before with three concurrent VR camera positions during competition. One camera will be placed on the 17th tee, one camera on the walkway from tee box to the green, and one camera mounted in the water next to the island green.

“We are excited that THE PLAYERS Championship will host the PGA TOUR’s first live virtual reality production,” said Rick Anderson, PGA TOUR Chief Media Officer. “The PGA TOUR has experimented with virtual reality content for nearly two years. We tested Intel’s True VR technology on a live basis at the Genesis Open in February, and were very pleased with the quality. We decided that executing a live VR experience on one of the most dramatic holes in golf was something that our fans would love, and the fact that we are partnering with Twitter to deliver 360 video will offer tremendous scale.”

“The Intel True VR platform will provide golf fans with a new, immersive experience using our end-to-end solution. From our stereoscopic cameras at the iconic 17th hole to creating a PGA TOUR VR application for THE PLAYERS Championship, we work with our partners to create the best fan experience,” said David Aufhauser, managing director, Intel Sports Group. “Working with the PGA TOUR, as well as global distribution via Twitter and Periscope, gives us the ability to expand the Intel True VR experience to more fans.”

"The PGA TOUR continues to innovate for their highly-engaged fan base on both Twitter and Periscope," said Laura Froelich, Twitter's global head of sports partnerships. "Thanks to this collaboration, golf fans around the world will have exclusive and unique live access to the renowned 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass.”

THE PLAYERS Championship marks the first time Twitter has distributed live 360 video during a major sports event. The announcement of this collaboration between the PGA TOUR and Twitter follows the live streaming relationship announced earlier this year.

This is a fun inclusion:

Twitter’s early round distribution of PGA TOUR LIVE coverage, viewable weekly at pgatourlive.twitter.com, has averaged almost half a million unique viewers each day, more than 70% of which are under 35 years old.

Don't worry virtually dead people--over 35!--they care about you too. I think.

Video: Getting Fit With Justin Rose

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I believe now that Justin Rose is sleeping just fine after his heartbreaking Masters-playoff, as Brian Wacker wrote for GolfDigest.com before Rose and Stenson made a quick Zurich Classic departure.

Why?

Look how effortless it is for the man to explain his shoulder strengthening and body stretches with Morning Drive's Dr. Ara Suppiah. Get these two a golf fitness show!

LPGA Tour Event Giving Field Spot To Twitter Poll Winner

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And there is something these four finalists have in common. I've been trying to put a finger on it...just can't quite get it. Anyway, they are the lucky four, that we know!

Here is the ShopRite LPGA Classic Tweet, and do make sure to go read the fan backlash. While I'm all for sponsors invites being used as an event sees fit, the response on Twitter suggests this stunt may backfire.

As GolfDigest.com's Alex Myers notes, the tournament is working with MVP Index on this idea. That is the media tracking firm founded by Shawn Spieth, father of Jordan.

Analysis And Poll: "Optics, pace of play real issues behind new 'green-reading' review"

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I penned a Golfweek.com take on the USGA/R&A Statement today regarding green reading books.

This is a topic we've been hearing rumblings about for about a month now, though I wasn't sure the governing bodies were serious. Today's statement suggests they are very concerned about the impact these have on skill, something confirmed by the USGA's Mike Davis when I spoke to him at The Masters.

My take is a bit different in that I could care less what a player looks at while on the greens as long as he gets his putt struck in under 45 seconds. And as I lay out in the column, this is probably the ultimate reason the issue has arisen, but green speed is certainly another.

So what is motivating this possible crackdown? Your votes are appreciated!

What do you think is the primary motivation for possibly banning green reading books?
 
pollcode.com free polls

Blixt: "I haven't seen anything that good in an extremely long time."

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It was probably fitting that Jonas Blixt and Cameron Smith teamed to win the first Zurich Classic given that the duo never made a bogey. Leading from day one, the Jacksonville tandem--by way of Sweden and Australia--earn all sorts of exemptions and perks along with a $1 million check (each).

I loved Blixt's selfless quote, noted here by GolfChannel.com's Will Gray, which may capture the essence of why they may have been such a strong team:

"Seeing how he played golf, the sky's the limit for him," Blixt said of Smith. "Just watching these last four days, I haven't seen anything that good in an extremely long time."

Teryn's Schaefer's PGA Tour recap includes Smith's interview with Dottie Pepper where...well he couldn't come up with the words. In a good way!

Fittingly Smith made the winning putt. The playoff highlights from PGA Tour Entertainment are here.


Kerr Apologizes For Slow Play; LPGA Still Mum On The Insanity Of Playing The Same (Lame) Hole Six Times

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Credit Cristie Kerr for taking to Twitter to (sort of) apologize for her deliberate tactics in Sunday's Volunteers of America Shootout. But the silence from the LPGA Tour, which damaged its product in the name of bringing golfers back to corporate tents over and over again, and noted here in Randall Mell's GolfChannel.com rant. The move did a disservice to Las Colinas Country Club and the tournament. Given that this is not the first time a playoff has done this merry-go-round, the tour deserves the hits being leveled.

The Kerr Tweets:

 

 

USGA, R&A Are Going After...Green Reading Books

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I'm working on some more extensive thoughts with quotes from the USGA's Mike Davis, but in the meantime, this should get some fun discussion going! #ABTB (Anything But The Ball)

Joint Statement Regarding Green-Reading Materials

May 1, 2017

The R&A and the USGA believe that a player's ability to read greens is an essential part of the skill of putting. Rule 14-3 limits the use of equipment and devices that might assist a player in their play, based on the principle that golf is a challenging game in which success should depend on the judgement, skills and abilities of the player. We are concerned about the rapid development of increasingly detailed materials that players are using to help with reading greens during a round. We are reviewing the use of these materials to assess whether any actions need to be taken to protect this important part of the game. We expect to address this matter further in the coming months.

LPGA Nightmare: Playoff Tests The 18th Hole Six Times, Cristie Kerr Slow Plays

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The LPGA had a chance to share the spotlight with a rain-delayed Zurich Classic on Golf Channel, and while the network (in my biased view) did a solid job managing a real traffic jam, they could not overcome the LPGA product failings.

Namely that the tour, even after criticism following past deja-vu-all-over-again fiascos, insisted on conducting a sudden death playoff on only one hole. That would be Las Colinas's less-than-perfect 18th hole.

This meant eventual winner Haru Nomura and slow-poke Cristie Kerr played the 18th hole six excruciating times.

And then there was Kerr, who played at a painfully slow clip and was eventually called out by lead analyst Judy Rankin for trying to slow play her opponent. Twitter appreciated Rankin's tough call.

 Rooting for Cristie Kerr to lose now. Glad Judy Rankin finally called her out for the ridiculous slow play. Rather see PGA finish only here.

To be clear, none of this taints Nomura's win in the Volunteers of America Shootout. In fact, the world No. 18 ability to channel Kerr's gamesmanship and the lousy playoff hole makes it that much more impressive.

Will Gray at GolfChannel.com on how this does, however, taint the LPGA:

The LPGA should have learned from that particularly monotonous ending, but apparently they did not. So let Sunday’s anticlimactic conclusion outside Dallas serve as final reinforcement that any playoff rotation that calls for the same hole over and over needs to be thrown away and promptly re-written.

The LPGA should have learned from that particularly monotonous ending, but apparently they did not. So let Sunday’s anticlimactic conclusion outside Dallas serve as final reinforcement that any playoff rotation that calls for the same hole over and over needs to be thrown away and promptly re-written.

Kisner! Zurich Saved By Thrilling Eagle, Playoff Coming Monday

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The first team event since 1981--did you hear that enough?--was looking like a bit of a dud. A six hour delay, gray skies on soggy Bermuda and only Jordan Spieth left among the headliners were hardly the ingredients to success.

But in that classic bit of team play irony, Cameron Smith appeared to seal the victory and you could practically hear the screams of joys from the CBS truck. Furthermore, Smith and partner Jonas Blixt did not make a bogey all 72 holes, an amazing feat with 36 holes of foursomes.

Then Kevin Kisner brazenly holed out for eagle to send the event to a Monday playoff and the first Zurich Classic as team play will have a highlight we'll see for years to come.

Tune in to Morning Drive as we lead in to the 9 am ET playoff!

From Brian Wacker's GolfDigest.com report at the Zurich:

“We knew we had to have it,” Kisner said. “All I was trying to do was make sure I didn’t leave it short.

“It’s just one of those shots you dream about.”

Jeff Babineau's story from Golfweek on the playoff pairs, which pits longtime buds Kisner and Brown, against neighbors who bonded during the week in Smith and Blixt.

Not one of the four finalists (Blixt, like Kisner and Brown, is 33, and Smith is 10 years younger) was born the last time the PGA Tour conducted an official team event (1981 Walt Disney World National Team Championship). There is a good deal at stake on Monday morning: The winners will receive an official PGA Tour victory and two-year exemption, 400 FedEx Cup points and divide a winner’s check of more than $2 million. A victory also would get Smith, a Web.com Tour grad, into the Players Championship and PGA Championship.

Smith and Blixt were the only team in the field to get through the week without a bogey on the card, and they didn’t go away once they fell behind on Sunday. They ran off three birdies to start the back nine, cutting the deficit to one.

Ok, strap in, the shot and stellar reaction. Now, this was entertaining!

 

And just to show how little light remained...

France's Ryder Cup Hopeful: Alexander Levy Wins In China

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It's way too early--shoot they don't even start collecting points until August--but I'm fairly certainly most of golf will be rooting for Frenchman Alexander Levy to enter the discussion given the location of next year's Ryder Cup.

Moving to 11th on the European Tour money list with his four career win will also send him into the world top 100 again.

Levy was not shy after his win in mentioning the goal, writes Golfweek's Alistair Tait.

The Frenchman said his attention now is on making next year’s Ryder Cup team for the match at Le Golf National in Paris.

“It’s a goal and a dream for me to play the Ryder Cup in France,” he said. “I will do a lot of work to play the Ryder Cup and I will do my best to be part of the team.”

The winning Volvo China Open playoff putt:

Congratulations @alexlevygolf83! 🏆

A post shared by European Tour (@europeantour) on

The Brian Gay-Ian Poulter Decision

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Several of you emailed to ask why there is not more outrage at the retroactive tour card status given to Ian Poulter and Brian Gay. As much as I'd love to revel in a conspiracy theory, it's pretty simple: Gay questioned why his major medical exemption, based on one set of standards had he been able to play a full healthy season, was played under this year's new FedExCup points allotments.

More startling: in the rush to make the FedExCup a more accepted way of life (or "true equalizer" as the player notice puts it), this is a pretty significant miss.

Golfweek's Jeff Babineau explains why Gay's questions helped change the Policy Board perspective on his and Poulter's play under the major medical exemption.

Poulter, 41, who missed four-plus months with a foot injury last season, had 10 events to earn $347,634, or 218 FedEx Cup points; he fell short of both marks in his 10th start last week at the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.

Gay, 45, has been in a similar position. Having missed 2014-15 with a back injury, he had 14 available starts this season to earn $461,851 or secure 309 FedEx Cup points. Gay, who tied for sixth in each of his last two starts (RBC Heritage, Valero Texas Open) has surpassed the earnings threshold. But he failed to get to 309 points, which meant he was not eligible for the lucrative Players Championship May 11-14.

Gay did some numbers crunching, though, and found a discrepancy in the way points are doled out this season compared with a year ago, which was the season against which he was being measured.

So the right thing was done and the FedEx points system probably is the best long term way to handle things in a purse-discrepancy world. However, in the move to the new system (please renew, FedEx, please!), having Gay discover this is a concern.

Congrats to both on earning their status for the rest of the year!

The player notice posted on Instagram by Poulter:

 

PGA Tour China In Limbo, Golf's China Hopes Dimming

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Thanks to reader John for Wayne Ma's WSJ story on the latest blow to golf's China hopes.

PGA Tour China has struggled with the business practices of its China operations partner and has also been unable to get Chinese tournaments approved for its upcoming season, due to begin in May.

The game was banned by Mao Zedong as a bourgeois pastime, and more recently nearly 200 golf courses have been closed amid President Xi Jinping’s campaign against corruption by government officials and ostentatious displays of wealth.

The PGA Tour came to China with high hopes, seeking to expand the game’s popularity and perhaps find a breakout star who could do for golf what Yao Ming did for basketball.

And there was this from Shanghai University professor Liu Dongfeng on China's Olympic aspirations likely not including golf.

Seeing the potential for economic returns, China is now moving to make sports more of a commercial enterprise, he said, phasing out the old system where a government office is paired with a quasi-government association.

Liu said soccer was the first sport to abolish its government office in 2015 and basketball appears to be next, with Yao this year becoming the first head of the China Basketball Association not drawn from government ranks.

“In terms of priority, golf is absolutely not on the agenda,” Liu said. “The prospect for golf is not very bright, unfortunately.”

Not To Be Outdone, Euro Tour Hands Lee A Slow Play Penalty

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The PGA Tour's first slow play penalty since the Clinton Administration's first term awoke the world's pace policeman emeritus, John Paramor.

The same European Tour rules official who penalized a 14-year-old playing in the Masters, did not even wait 48 hours to be outdone. This time, Paramor added a stroke to Soomin Lee's card following his third bad Volvo China Open time.

From Alistair Tait's Golfweek story:

Lee had already been handed two bad times before European Tour chief referee John Paramor informed Lee he’d picked up a third bad time on the 14th. The 23-year-old’s bogey on the par 4 turned into a double bogey, and contributed to his 1-over 73 to move him to joint seventh

Paramor delivers the news here...I love seeing Lee start running immediately. See, penalties work!