Oy Vey Files: Some In R&A Don't Want To Pick A Pro To Captain A Walker Cup Team

I saw the headline on Alistair Tait's Golfweek item about the R&A running out of viable candidates to captain future Walker Cup teams because, amazingly, after all these years, those men who turn pro and earn money playing the game are in some sort of permanent purgatory. Heaven forbid they taint the young amateurs who...are about to turn pro themselves! 

Here's the worst part: a number of former Walker Cuppers would bring a great perspective and much-needed spice to a Walker Cup that deserves more eyeballs.

Tait writes:

Former R&A chief executive Peter Dawson has considered using tour pros who had played in the match, names like Colin Montgomerie, Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington.

“We have a problem going forward since so few Walker Cup players remain amateur,” Dawson told Golfweek.

Ireland’s Jody Fanagan and Scotland’s Stuart Wilson are two possible candidates. Fanagan was a member of the 1995 GB&I team that defeated a Tiger Woods-led U.S. team at Royal Porthcawl. Wilson, the 2004 British Amateur champion, appeared in the victorious 2003 GB&I team at Ganton.

While Montgomerie, McGinley or Harrington would raise the match’s profile, expect the R&A to go with either Wilson or Fanagan, with the latter the more likely candidate since Garth McGimpsey in 2005 was the last Irish captain.

It's rather apparent the former Chief Inspector is floating this idea publicly because he knows the 21st century would welcome former Walker Cuppers with the stature of a McGinley, Montgomerie or Harrington to captain the biennial matches. But he must be facing some seriously old-school stiffs within the R&A who, amazingly, carry on the centuries-old tradition that professional golf is barely a level above porn star in the jobs department. 

Revamped Pine Needles Gets Another U.S. Women's Open

Beth Ann Nichols at Golfweek with all of the details on new/old look Pine Needles getting a record fourth U.S. Women's Open, this time sadly without patron saint Peggy Kirk Bell around but featuring revitalized architecture.

As he did at the must-play Mid-Pines, 36-year-old architect Kyle Franz is bringing some fun back to Donald Ross’ 1928 Pine Needles design. Not that there was anything wrong with the course restored about fifteen years ago by John Fought, but as The Forecaddie notes, with everything going on in the neighborhood, Pine Needles was starting to lack a certain visual sizzle that you can only find in the sandhills of North Carolina.

Some photos of the recent work, starting with this before/after (arrow on right of image will take you to the after):

Pine Needles, #13: the front-right bunker was expanded to guard hole locations; a 1910s #donaldross style hazard was added in dense native grass area left of the green to improve playability; and, the back-right hole location was restored. @kyle_franz_kmf_golf_design #pineneedles #golf #restoration Photo Credit: @kevinmurrayphotography

A post shared by Pine Needles - Mid Pines (@pineneedlesresort) on Feb 26, 2018 at 11:06am PST

Cog Hill Has Lost A Starting Time Per Hour To A Reachable Par-5

Since Jack Nicklaus spoke up about distance impacting pace of play, many have seized on his 20% reference as a nice way of distracting from the Golden Bear's core arguments. GolfAdvisor's Brad Klein joins that frey and while his piece makes a phenomenal case for distance restrictions due to a number of reasons, he tries to make the case that slow play could not possibly be caused by the ball flying longer distances.

Then writes:

Nicklaus seems to think the problem with distance is that it’s causing slow play. The evidence for that claim is scant and fleeting. The closest I have ever seen is a view voiced by course owner Frank Jemsek concerning Cog Hill Golf Course No. 1, part of a multi-course facility the family owns in Chicagoland. Jemsek is adamant that they’ve lost one starting time an hour because of slow play on the opening hole, a par-5 that lots of middle-handicappers think they can hit in two – and so they wait before playing up.

But none of that is relevant to PGA Tour pacing, where a major culprit for slow play is the players who play slowly.

Anyone who has seen pro golf at the same course over the last twenty years can attest that par-5s once barely reachable, can now be reached in two by at least half the field. And par-4s barely drivable are now long par-3s. The examples are extreme compared to the fine example shared by Mr. Jemsek above, but to say PGA Tour slow play is mostly caused by slow players ignores mountains of evidence suggesting otherwise, including from the recreational level where a longtime operator has seen and felt a change.

Ratings: Honda Up 38% Against Tough Competition

CBS drew a 2.9 overnight rating for the 3:15-6 pm ET block of Sunday’s 2018 Honda Classic, that’s up 38% over Rickie Fowler’s 2017 win on NBC according to SBD.  The Tiger effect played an incredible role given the competition in that window that included NASCAR (3.1), Winter Olympics (2.2) and NBA (Spurs-Cavs) on ABC (2.3). 

For those wondering about a strong lead-in from Michigan State-Wisconsin running long, the Big-10 matchup drew a 1.4 in its 1-3:15 pm ET window. 

Saturday’s Honda Classic third round drew a 1.8 on CBS, with a .8 lead-in audience from Louisville-Virginia Tech. 

2 Holes?! USGA Ends 18-Hole Playoff

To review: for years the 18-hole playoff was declared by the USGA as the only way to decide a tie and we all planned accordingly. Most times the U.S. Open playoffs have been decisive, but there have been some classics too. 

The evolution of playoffs in other significant tournaments has helped us land on the three-hole aggregate playoff as eliminating the flukiness of a sudden death affair, while still seemingly capturing the depth of a longer duel between those who tied.  The Players has added credibility since going to this format and producing satisfying moments, while The Masters sudden-death format looks dated** next to the PGA Championship (three holes) and Open Championship (four). 

The USGA had this information at its disposal and regrettably chose a two-hole aggregate playoff for all of its Open's, even after moving to a three-hole format at the Senior and Women's Opens. 

The explanation from USGA CEO Mike Davis, as noted in this Golfweek item from Kevin Casey:

“We know how important it is to everyone in the golf world to see play conclude on the Sunday of a major championship, and to award the trophy to the champion,” said Mike Davis, the USGA’s CEO and executive director. “After receiving input from a variety of constituents, including players, fans, volunteers, officials and our broadcast partners, it clearly came across as something that everyone valued, and would benefit from.”

And specific to two holes...

“Two holes will allow a player to recover from any single mistake, and at the same time, provide a memorable, and perhaps dramatic, experience for all involved,” Davis said.

It is hard not to conclude this was a decision driven by a desire to appease television, or worse, to anticipate what networks might want without an actual demand from the broadcast partner. Given that 18-hole Monday playoffs were kept in place because of the championship's importance, this declaration that the U.S. Open is using one less hole than the PGA or Players--and two holes fewer than The Open--subtly diminishes the stature of the U.S. Open. Given how satisfying the three-hole aggregate has been as an ideal solution between the vagaries of sudden death and the excess of returning on a Monday, this can only be chalked up to a decision in the best interests of an entity other than the U.S. Open.

If television is the culprit, I find it hard to believe Fox or any network would prefer to be blamed for compromising the integrity of America's national championship to get to some summer programming on a Sunday night. This feels more like the USGA Executive Committee anticipating the imaginary needs of a television partner overpaying to broadcast their championships. 

And apparently, other than the social media team, the Executive Committee that sometimes a playoff captures the nation's imagination. So what's the hurry to end it so soon?

With a new year comes a new playoff format for @usopengolf! A 2️⃣-hole aggregate playoff will decide the champion if there’s a tie after 72 holes. https://t.co/7w2B8SYvpT pic.twitter.com/zvT42EIGhM

— USGA (@USGA) February 27, 2018

**Since we know the Five Families have been known to work together, I am wondering if the two-hole number was chosen because The Masters could conveniently go to such a format using the 10th and 18th holes, allowing the USGA to say--Augusta National offers two and so do we. The Masters would be better with a two hole playoff over sudden death, but even should former USGA President and new Chairman Fred Ridley institute such a change, this should not guide the U.S. Open's approach. 

2023: Walker Cup Headed To The Old Course

The R&A finally got the hint after the USGA awarded future Walker Cups to Seminole and Cypress Point!

Announcing a return to the Old Course for the biennial matches was long overdue and most welcomed. It's a good time to be a 13 year old budding star!

For Immediate Release:

THE 49TH WALKER CUP TO BE PLAYED AT ST ANDREWS IN 2023

26 February 2018, St Andrews, Scotland: A historic milestone in the rich heritage of the Walker Cup will be reached at the Home of Golf in 2023 when the international match between Great Britain and Ireland and the United States is played at St Andrews.

The occasion will mark exactly 101 years since the biennial encounter was first contested at the National Golf Links of America in 1922 and will be the ninth time that the Walker Cup has been played at St Andrews; more than any other venue in its history.

The Walker Cup was last played over the world renowned Old Course in 1975 when the United States team, which included future major champions Jerry Pate, Craig Stadler and Curtis Strange, defeated GB&I 15½ -8½. GB&I won the Walker Cup matches played in 1938 and 1971 at St Andrews.

Duncan Weir, Executive Director – Golf Development at The R&A, said, “The Walker Cup is the pinnacle of men’s amateur golf in Great Britain and Ireland and the United States with many of the game’s greatest players including Bobby Jones and Sir Michael Bonallack having featured in memorable matches played over the Old Course at St Andrews.

“We are excited to be bringing the Walker Cup back to the Home of Golf for the first time in nearly 50 years and look forward to watching some of the world’s most talented amateur golfers contest the match over the famous Old Course in 2023.”

Euan Loudon, Chief Executive of St Andrews Links Trust, said, “We are delighted to see the Walker Cup return to our calendar of prestigious events at the Old Course. After a near 50-year absence we hope it will produce a memorable contest and reinforce the stature of amateur golf in Great Britain and Ireland.

“I am sure many talented golfers on both sides of the Atlantic, some of whom may just be at the beginning of their golfing journeys, will be inspired by the prospect of competing in amateur golf’s premier match at the Home of Golf.”

The match in 2023 will be the 49th playing of the Walker Cup and, of the 46 matches played to date, the United States has won 36 matches, GB&I nine matches, with one match tied.

The 2019 Walker Cup will be played on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 September at Royal Liverpool, the venue for the first ever match between teams from Great Britain and Ireland and the United States in 1921 which would become the Walker Cup one year later. 

Seminole Golf Club in Florida will host the Walker Cup for the first time in its history in May 2021 while the 50th Walker Cup will be contested at Cypress Point in California in 2025.

Distance Debate Reminder: Golf Pros Are Not Paid To Think

As we await an impending USGA/R&A reversal of position on swelling professional driving distances, we have to remember that the first professional reactions will range from smart, to reasoned, to embarrassingly shallow. While there will be lame takes, I’ve heard a subtle shift in player opinions on two fronts.

The first: a realization that the game is slower because of course reactions to distance (new tees, faster greens, narrower fairways), or courses not able to handle players hitting the ball longer and therefore causing bottlenecks. 

There is also concern from some elite players on the skill front, namely a view that great ballstrikers may no longer be enjoying rewards commensurate with their skill or physical strength. But there will also be reactions reminiscent of gun owners any time a common sense piece of legislation is suggested: don’t you dare take my guns away under any circumstances!

So even when it’s in a player’s interest to perhaps see some minor tweak to the rules to restore skill (a ball that spins more, a driver head size restriction), we are likely to hear mostly shallow, incoherent or financially-driven declarations that the governing bodies are evil people out to ruin lives.

Discussion of solutions has been stifled for so long that those of us who have watched the issue unfold have to remember that most assume extreme worst-case scenarios, when we know that even a small dent in the driving distance of today’s player would reap huge benefits for the sport’s sustainability. We also must not underestimate how many of the players actually believe they are in such prime physical shape and that NFL teams may be scouting them to fill out their linebacking core. 

This is all a precursor to sharing with you the first of many of these rants by players, with James Hahn taking to Twitter to air his grievances. Will Gray reports for Golf Channel.com. Here is Hahn's mini-Tweetstorm:

Breaking news. In addition to limited flight balls, the USGA plans to ban working out, proper diet and swinging faster than 105mph. They are also planning on removing the 3 point shot in the NBA.

— James Hahn (@JamesHahnPGA) February 23, 2018

OK @tour_insider so what is the point? Do you want to see higher scores, longer rounds, see pros struggle? I don't see how USGA reducing distance in balls grows the game. https://t.co/1r9edErUob

— James Hahn (@JamesHahnPGA) February 23, 2018

If we were playing a match, would you rather hit 7 iron to my 9 iron OR hit hybrid to my 5 iron? Oh and by the way, I can still hit par 5s in two with 3 wood. You can't.

— James Hahn (@JamesHahnPGA) February 25, 2018

The oddball takes won't be limited to players, as Brandel Chamblee displayed in a Morning Drive roundtable with Jaime Diaz, hosted by Gary Williams. Chamblee mostly stuck to his recent position that the ball is unfairly targeted, but then meandered off on some nonsense about the cost of green fees at Pebble Beach and the need to pay golf pros more money. What either had to do with the distance debate, is not certain. 

The video:

“Before Pete came along, golf architecture was Robert Trent Jones and that philosophy."

The cruel disease that is Alzheimer's is claiming Pete Dye, even as the 92-year-old architect remains physically fit and able to play golf daily. 

Dave Shedloski of GolfDigest.com talks to Pete's wife and sidekick Alice, as well as his sons and other architects about Dye's legacy.

“It’s the end of an era,” added Bill Coore, who worked for Dye for three years and is now enjoying a sensational run partnering with former Masters winner Ben Crenshaw. “Before Pete came along, golf architecture was Robert Trent Jones and that philosophy. That was the standard. Pete took the game and design in a different direction.”

Justin Thomas Has Fan Ejected For Good Reason

It amazes me that more and more people attend a golf tournament to get in a few taunts, lame comments or mashed potato screams, but as we've seen the last few weeks the stupidity has taken on an edge that even tolerant players are sick of.

There is a key distinction here: the offending comment came on the way to the tee, not post tee shot as some outlets reported in suggesting Thomas was soft.

Ryan Lavner has Thomas's explanation for GolfChannel.com, and anyone who knows golf will appreciate why he was annoyed. It's a problem that if not stopped, will spiral out of control into golfers becoming subject to regular heckling.

While walking up to the 16th tee, tied for the lead, Thomas heard a fan yell in his direction: “I hope you hit it in the water!”

Thomas looked back at the spectator but didn’t say anything.

After Thomas ripped a long iron into the fairway, the same fan began shouting for the shot to get into the bunker.

“I was like, OK, I’ve had enough,” Thomas said afterward. “I just turned around and asked who it was, and he didn’t want to say anything, now that I had actually acknowledged him. So he got to leave a couple holes early.

The offending moment, but again, without the pre-tee shot comment:

A fan yelled “Get in the bunker!” after Justin Thomas’s shot so Thomas quickly had him kicked out and told him to “Enjoy your day buddy” 👀 pic.twitter.com/0NxACneAzT

— High & Outside Sports (@HighandOutside_) February 26, 2018

Thomas went on to win his 7th title in 31 starts, and as Brian Wacker writes for GolfDigest.com, concerns about a post-Player of the Year slump seem unnecessary.

Full round highlights from the 2018 Honda Classic where Thomas had to apologize after the round for an F-bomb.

SUBSCRIBE to PGA TOUR now: http://pgat.us/vBxcZSh In the final of The Honda Classic 2018, Justin Thomas shoots 68 to get to 8-under and force a playoff with Luke List. Thomas would go on to claim his eighth PGA TOUR victory with a birdie on the first playoff hole.

Video: Tiger Hits A Birdie

We can enjoy this one because (A) for once the phrase "hit a birdie" is actually accurate, and (B) the goose is fine, with maybe just a brief ego bruise (but he or she doesn't know that she made all of the national highlight reels), (C) Tiger made birdie.

A Tiger Woods drive at the 2018 Honda Classic striking an Egyptian goose.

WATCH a Tiger Woods tee shot at Honda interfere with a goose: https://t.co/4ZAwwOTRh8 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/l12zoo4UiP

— Golfweek (@golfweek) February 25, 2018

Welcome: The New Look GeoffShackelford.com

Mobile responsive design has arrived! And hopefully a few other goodies that will make the site more interactive and fun for all.

So what's new besides a better read on your phone or tablet?

• Modern fonts (your initial feedback will be the gauge of that, so please let your eyes adjust)
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I hope the new site makes it easy to find the content here however you like to read, whether your arrival is via social media, newsletter, desktop, laptop, or on a tablet or mobile device, the goal is to make it easy to come and go as you please without too much eye strain. My primary goal remains to comment on the best writing or share my own thoughts on the game we love. 

For some time I contemplated significant format changes and was very close to a starkly different release, but I still prefer the site's "blog" format of scrolling and reading what you please by moving up and down the site with the fewest clicks possible.

There is still a quote-of-the-day to set the tone for the day or to bring a little historical perspective. Selfishly, I enjoy digging into my books and files for the old stuff (and you can continue to see an archive of those quotes at this Twitter feed, also linked in the righthand column).

You will notice some new additions on the right sidebar. There are Eye On Design videos, with a continued goal to produce more of as the year goes, and fun content from my partners at Golfweek/USA Today Sports, Callaway and The Ringer.

Many of you who've been coming here since the site was an offshoot of The Future of Golf know GeoffShackelford.com was created in the early days of blogging, and some of you have been receiving a Feedblitz newsletter listing posts. I'm working on something a little better than that, and for those who like to receive email newsletters, please sign up here. The release of that daily newsletter will be promoted when it's ready. Thanks for your patience!

Also, there was one very unfortunate issue in the transition to a new Squarespace 7 site from a Squarespace 5: we were able to get most comments over, but the last few weeks unfortunately have not yet been transferred. You will see I've moved some over manually and will do more in the coming weeks. Still, over 20,000 comments were moved as were thousands of posts and that was a cumbersome task that created a few hiccups, but it was worth the effort and wait. Apologies all around for any lost comments!

Finally, the banner has evolved into a minimalist approach with nods to the past, still featuring the first at Rustic Canyon. It's also designed to be friendly to all devices. 

In the meantime, please sign in and sign up and let me know what you think. Thank you for your support and your patience during the inevitable bumps in the road to a modernized site!

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Roundup: Honda Classic Set Up For A Stellar Finish

It's been a bit hard to watch for three days, between the post-West Coast Swing malaise, the sand splashing on the greens, too many crash possibilities and no player looking entirely comfortable at PGA National. But at least that sets us up for a compelling Sunday!

There's Justin Thomas looking for a "hometown" win after a brilliant Saturday 65 reports Golfweek's Dan Kilbridge. Luke List, 33 and looking for his first PGA Tour win, holds a one-stroke lead over Thomas.

Tommy Fleetwood has a shot at his first U.S. victory, sitting two back with Jamie Lovemark. GolfDigest.com's Brian Wacker on Fleetwood's view of American tests versus European Tour courses.

And we have Tiger, lurking seven back and playing his best golf of the young season. Both Tiger Tracker and Ryan Lavner at GolfChannel.com thought the round was on the cusp of something spectacular. Great minds think alike!

As Bob Harig notes in his ESPN.com story, Tiger concurred and said 69 was the highest score he could have posted.

Golfweek has your final round TV Times and pairings.

A nice shot of Tiger from Saturday, posted on the PGA Tour Instagram page.

Round 3 and Tiger highlights:

Na Pushes Back At Heckling Cricketer, Tells A Magnificent Lie To Bolster His Case

The embarrassingly slow Kevin Na, who should be put on the clock daily, given penalty shots regularly and run off of the PGA Tour until he makes an effort to speed up, scored a few points in countering cricketer Kevin Pietersen's heckling. Yes, the "tap-in" was three feet on a Sunday where big money was at stake.

But in this Instagram post, screen captured just in case he decides to edit out the hilarious lie, suggests that Na's group was "on pace all day" and "waited, if anything," and therefore his antics were unfairly criticized.

Naturally, as someone who was at the Genesis Open, I and approximately 30,000 witnesses can attest to the Na group falling a hole behind by the 7th tee only to briefly catch up thanks to a 10th tee back up. They again fell behind by the time I saw them again at the 14th tee, if not earlier. 

Patton Kizzire On First Tee Shot In Front Of Tiger: Didn't Feel I Was Holding The Club

You have to love the honesty and respect Patton Kizzire (74-78) has for his elders and in particular, Tiger Woods.

From Bob Harig's ESPN.com account at the Honda where Woods fired a second round 71.

Kizzire, 31, is the only player who has won twice this season, but of course nothing could quite prepare him for what he faced the past two days at PGA National.

For the first time in his career, he was grouped with Tiger Woods.

"Extremely nervous," Kizzire said of his opening tee shot Thursday morning at the Honda Classic. "I didn't feel like I was actually holding the club. It was a rough start. Any time I'm uncomfortable, I'm learning something. It was a great experience for me."

Two fun moments from the opening 36, where Woods demonstrated improvement, writes Dan Kilbridge for Golfweek: a fun PGA Tour Instagram caption for the geese watching Tiger and that beautiful iron shot on the brutal par-3 17th:

"Dude, just act normal." -🦆(probably)

A post shared by PGA TOUR (@pgatour) on Feb 21, 2018 at 8:40am PST

The 17th is the most difficult hole of the day. Don't tell Tiger.

A post shared by PGA TOUR (@pgatour) on Feb 23, 2018 at 2:27pm PST

Uihlein Tries To Challenge Nicklaus, Governing Bodies

I remember the days when now-retired Acushnet CEO Wally Uihlein's arguments were a little stronger and resonated with more folks. Perhaps there are simply more people who've seen professional golf bog down, become less interesting and less relatable thanks to the modern ball.

Anyway, Rick Young caught up with Uihlein to get his take on Jack Nicklaus' recent remarks about Titleist and the "golf ball goes too far nonsense." And of course, it's all about the Vancouver Protocol.

“Mike Davis has not told us (Acushnet) that he is close (there is the Vancouver Protocol of 2011 that we had assumed was in force) and he has not asked us for help if and when he gets there,” said Uihlein.

*Note: The Vancouver Protocol was a document that came out of a closed-door USGA and R&A forum with equipment manufacturers in Vancouver back in November, 2011. It was meant to assist with transparency to any proposed equipment rules changes or testing procedures while allowing participation of the OEM’s to the process.

Slow down there Wally, we haven't even gotten the distance report yet! This is fun:

“It appears from the press conference that Mr. Nicklaus was blaming slow play on technology and the golf ball in particular,” he said. “I don’t think anyone in the world believes that the golf ball has contributed to the game’s pace of play issues.”

Actually, anyone who has watched great players stand around in a fairway on a par-5 or back up on a drivable par-4 tee that was once not drivable, they blame distance gains.

This really isn't a very sharp point, either.

“There are no golf courses being closed due to the advent of evolving technology,” Uihlein said. “There is no talk from the PGA Tour and its players about technology making their commercial product less attractive. Quite the opposite, the PGA Tour revenues are at record levels. The PGA of America is not asking for a roll back of technology. The game’s every day player is not advocating a roll back of technology.”

Record revenue! Maybe Titleist can sponsor one of the available tour events? There are three!

Also, Bubba Watson recently opened eyes as he is prone to do when showing people how much fun the game is when a great player manipulates the ball. In his case, a Titleist again! But he's now an anomaly. Wouldn't it be fun to see more like him?

Ultimately though, this is all the fault of you know how? Da medja!

“Perhaps the media,” he said, “should be asking, ‘If there is a problem, what is the problem?’”

I wonder why the media has spent so little time asking, discussing and analyzing the issue? It's a mystery!