Tiger Can't Figure Out Quail Hollow's Greens, Heads To Players For Marquee Pairing With Phil, Rickie

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From Bob Harig's ESPN.com account of Tiger's mediocre Wells Fargo Championship appearance in advance of his return to the TPC Sawgrass, where Woods has a two wins, a runner-up and a U.S. Amateur win.

For the fourth straight day, Woods needed more than 30 putts in his round, taking 126 for the week. And after hitting 15 greens in regulation on Saturday, he managed just 10 on Sunday and hit only four fairways. He hit just 25 of 56 for the week.

As well as Woods is hitting the ball off the tee -- he averaged 313 yards from the tee -- he's not been accurate enough to give himself chances to hit it close. And when you're putting poorly, even hitting it close is no guarantee.

Statistically, it was Tiger's best ballstriking week in his return, writes Golfweek's Dan Kilbridge.

He was inside the top 20 in stokes gained: putting at Torrey Pines, PGA National and Bay Hill. He was 39th while playing Innisbrook for the first time as a professional at the Valspar Championship, but he pulled off a runner-up finish due to his superior iron play.

Woods set season highs in strokes gained: off-the-tee (2.997) and strokes gained: approach-the-green (4.530) at the Wells Fargo, which illustrates just how uncomfortable he was around the greens while finishing T-55.

Tiger Tracker's round-up of notes features a fairly blunt assessment: great distance off the tee, too many wayward drives and way too many birdies, an inability to adapt to the green speed, but great spirits after the round. 

Now The Players awaits, where Tiger is excited to be playing with Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler, writes GolfChannel.com's Nick Menta and Rex Hoggard. 

As for his light birdie week, including Sunday's shutout, master statistician Justin Ray offered this:

Liberty National Loses Bid To Add Three New Island Holes, First Tee

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Terence McDonald reports that Liberty National Golf Club is giving up on hopes to leasing 20-acres to add what would have been three incredibly-situated holes. The concept was to free up space for a First Tee facility.

 The area in question sits in the small bay to the right of the 2017 Presidents Cup host's 18th hole and is essentially a bird sanctuary. 

The club, which hosts the PGA Tour's Northern Trust in 2019 and 2022, had wanted 20 acres but was rejected by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and is now apparently abandoning the ambitious plan.

Chidley's letter to Liberty National says the DEP rejected the golf course's bid as "nonresponsive" because it does not include a number of required items. Liberty National failed to demonstrate how its proposed rent — $10,000 annually or a one-time payment of $200,000 — was equal to the market value of the proposed use, the letter says. The bid also failed to specify the tangible public benefit of leasing the portion of the park to Liberty National, according to the letter.

It's not clear whether Liberty National will make a second attempt to lease the land. A request for comment from the golf course's spokesman was not returned.

Trying To Find A Positive In The Mostly Loathsome GolfSixes...

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On the golf desperation scale from 1 to Live Under Par, the second UK playing of GolfSixes registered a solid 8.  

There was the entrance smoke.

The mascot playing becoming a human bouncey house as key final day development.

The children on the tee feeling suspiciously like they’d been coached to generate excitement.

The overall agony of having the telecast playing with volume of any kind. 

Et. cetera.

Year two of this innovation all added up to a well-intentioned but at-times embarrassing effort to reach new audiences. 

As with most of these attempts to show the advertisers that golf has shed the dreaded rich old demographic for the one that either can’t or won’t pay for anything, GolfSixes empties the bucket of "fun" ideas. The ”greensomes” team format seeks to replicate Twenty20 from cricket and make golf cool, fun and watchable. In other words, it’s another well-intentioned effort to speed up a game that has become a slog, with telecasts that can’t do much about the pace and often all-day sensibility of our sport.

But the combination of unheard-ofs, the excess of forcing elements for the sake of doing something different and the gratuitous attempt to have kids hit shots to let the precious little ones know they are part of the proceedings, added up to some of the worst professional golf “product” imaginable. 

Simply unveiling the event's fresh format would have been enough innovation. But it’s all the other nonsense added on that announces to the world: golf is not comfortable enough in its skin. Oh, and the sport has not done much about the swollen scale of the sport so this is how we remedy that issue. 

The latter problem is not European Tour Chief Keith Pelley’s fault. He and the team are trying their best to liven things up.  They are just trying too hard.

Alistair Tait of Golfweek did find one positive in all of this: the quarterfinal appearances by the teams of Charley Hull and Georgia Hall and Mel Reid and Carlota Ciganda may inch closer to a legitimate format that combines men’s and women’s combined team play in a professional event.

That’s the kind of novelty GolfSixes should focus on going forward. If it goes forward. 

Intriguing Tussling: Sky Sports And The Masters

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The Guardian's Ewan Murray says all is not rosy between The Masters and Sky Sports--exemplified in part by this year's late renewal of the 2017 edition. 

While this tussling is of seemingly no interest to American audiences, the move to a Sky/BBC split was part of a series of efforts by major championships and the people who own their rights to align with Sky and Fox for broadcasts. Both paid handsomely to strengthen their offerings, but have suffered financial losses and criticism for not reaching enough eyeballs. The Masters currently is seen live on Sky and on BBC for recap shows.

This all gains more intrigue when Fox and Comcast (Murdoch and Roberts) are attempting to purchase Sky, with Fox already owning a big stake and Comcast making what amounts to a hostile bid. 

Murray writes:

 

The standoff for the 2018 Masters meant it took Sky until January to confirm it had secured rights. They were, however, only for a single year. When the Masters took place, Sky’s top brass – as was customary before – chose not to attend. If matters are to be patched up once more, it appears likely this will again be a late call.

Astros Owner Jim Crane Joins Effort To Save The Houston Open

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The Houston Chronicle's Dale Robertson reports on Jim Crane's push to secure sponsorship dollars for the Houston Open, openly fearing the community impact if the event were to disappear. 

The Astros owner says they have until mid-June to get a deal done.

Multiple sources, all requesting anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the matter publicly, have told the Chronicle that the Tour has given Houston until early-mid June to pull together a viable sponsorship package that figures to cost at least $12 million annually, much of that going toward ad buys during the NBC telecasts. Crane wouldn't confirm the deadline, saying only that it's in all parties' best interests "that something gets resolved soon ... July at the latest."

Instagram: Wells Fargo Leader Peterson's Deadline, Tiger And Patrick In Pink, LPGA Rained Out Near Frisco, Kelley's Jenga Shot

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Wells Fargo first round leader John Peterson needs to make a few nice checks to earn his card off a major medical exemption, otherwise he's calling it a career. 

Tiger and Patrick playing the first together in pink? Nike scripters on vacation? 

On Thursdays, @preedgolf and @tigerwoods wear pink.

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They claim May in Frisco is lovely, just not today for the LPGA Tour where the North Texas Classic round one was washed out.

⛈ #VOAClassic

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Trick shot master Joshua Kelley with a gem:

Rickie's Interesting Analogy For Patrick Reed's Masters Win

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Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post landed an exclusive interview with Patrick Reed, who discussed just how likable his pro-am partners find him. Bobby Joe Grooves is alive and well!

More fascinating, however, was Rickie Fowler's analogy for Reed's win. (Thanks reader Mike.)

Fowler said he notices the negative perception attached to Reed and called it “unfortunate.’’

“Not to compare it but, hey, Donald Trump’s our President,’’ Fowler said. “He got elected. Accept it. That’s our President. Patrick Reed, whether you like him or not, he won the Masters. He went out and won it. There’s no politics involved. He played better than everyone else that week. He beat everyone.’’

Can Augusta National Get The MacKenzie And Jones Back In Their 5th Hole?

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John Boyette and the Augusta Chronicle report on landscaping work around what will be a new property line by Old Berckmans Road. A photo gallery and details from the club's permit filings suggest a robust effort. 

As The Forecaddie explains, this is pretty clearly the beginning phase to major work at the fifth hole. Once the new perimeter is established, the club will be closed and on-course work can begin.

While no changes have been announced, this will be a huge test of new Chairman Fred Ridley's devotion to MacKenzie and Jones.  For Golfweek's April issue, I wrote about the Ridley's comments and fascinating omission of Clifford Roberts in favor of a rare MacKenzie reference, as well as what the future portends.

Which brings us to the 5th hole. Other than the 11th hole's awful pine nursery plantings in place of what used to be fairway, no hole was more perversely compromised to prevent a driver and sand wedge approach than the 5th. In 2002, fairway bunkers were pushed forward to pinch the landing area and force a lay-up off the tee.

Jones, however, described the intent of rewarding those who carried the left bunkers to shorten the hole and enjoy a better angle. He noted the danger looking for the left tee shot pulled into the woods but also the distinct difference in angle and distance for the second shot.

Here is the George Cobb rendering from Golf Is My Game and take note of the contours included by Cobb. There was a high spot down that left side where the best angle was obtained, as well as nice mounding in the right center that added visual deception for the safely played tee shot:

1960 rendering by George Cobb for Bobby Jones' Golf Is My Game

1960 rendering by George Cobb for Bobby Jones' Golf Is My Game

In one of his earliest renderings and comments, MacKenzie even equated the dogleg corner and overhanging trees to the Road hole's station masters garden and the green design's principles inspired by the Old Course's 17th. 

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With additional space behind the tee to add length and Ridley's stated devotion to the original strategies, the fairway bunkers should come back a bit and the left side restored. However, with the tee possibly shifting to the right, this will change the view, angle and maybe effect the ability to restore the very classic risk-reward strategy. 

Time will soon tell if the nuances so well documented by the architects and rooted in the Road hole, are reclaimed during this summer's fifth hole work. 

Bifurcation: The Post-Erin Hills Narrowing And Resodding Of Shinnecock Hills For The U.S. Open

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Newsday's Mark Herrmann has the definitive account of Shinnecock Hills' last-minute narrowing. 

Given USGA CEO Mike Davis's public concerns about the role distance plays in being able to present courses as the architects intended, the admission that last fall's narrowing of this year's U.S. Open course at least does not come with any aggravating spin. This was a reaction to Erin Hills, where the freedom to hit driver lead to incredible driving distances and low scoring. 

Still, the expense to keep Shinnecock Hills relevant speaks to a very different version of the game.

“They did it almost overnight,” said Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA. “As someone at the club said, it was like a military exercise. When all is said and done, it looks tremendous. It fits your eye because these are the appropriate grasses.”

 

Herrmann notes that landing areas will still "be wider than they were for the previous three Opens in the modern era — in 1986, 1995 and 2004 — but slimmer than they had been after the club’s recent restoration project."

Three contractors were employed and the fairway grass taken out is resting comfortably at a New Jersey sod farm should the Shinnecock Hills members want it back.

“Some of the fairways had gone to 60 yards wide. It was great fun to play,” Davis said, adding that the average width had been 26 yards in 2004. “What we’ve done is come back and say, ‘You know what? You’re going to have to tighten it up some because accuracy is part of the test.’ ”

 

As absurd as all of this is to theoretically protect "accuracy", the real issue remains huge distance gains passing by the governing bodies. If the professional game were in balance, the width could be tolerated thanks to the green complexes serving as the defense. Angles would matter. A form of accuracy would be rewarded. Just not this year at Shinnecock. Again.

Another Golf Podcast Worth Checking Out...Hugh Marr's Talking Golf

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I was tipped to this new golf interview podcast with an emphasis on growing the game, but the discussions cover everything and make for very enjoyable listening. Paul Casey's episode was taped pre-Masters but is still an engaging listen about a nice array of topics, including Augusta National's architecture.

The R&A's Martin Slumbers goes into far more depth than normal, though he stops short of expressing his views on distance. The R&A Chief does, however, express his view that most architecture is too difficult for the every day game and has some excellent thoughts on some remedies. Though he's also very determined to see every club have WiFi for the kids so they can look at their phones. 

Check out Hugh Marr's Talking Golf wherever you listen to podcasts.

Good News (Really): PGA Tour Schedule Revamp Announcement Delayed

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Golfweek's Forecaddie with news that the expected release of the 2018-19 PGA Tour schedule--the first with a May PGA Championship and potentially shorter playoffs--has been delayed.

The reason, besides the obvious difficulties involved with a nearly year-round global calendar to line up, appears to be driven by efforts to find the Houston Open a spot.

They've been around since 1946, it's the nation's fourth largest city and a tournament run by the local golf association doing incredible things to sustain and grow golf in the region. They've earned the right!

Instagram: Tiger's Comeback Complete, Your U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball Champs, Pine Valley's New/Old Skyline Green, Holston Hills From Above

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Tiger during Wednesday's Wells Fargo Championship pro-am showed why he could never win again and still realize how much he was missed.

A gesture from @TigerWoods that goes above and beyond the ropes. #LiveUnderPar

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At El Caballero Country Club, Colorado State golfers Katrina Prendergast, 20 and Ellen Secor, 20, were 2-down with five to play before defeating Lei Ye, 16, of the People’s Republic of China, and Yachun Chang, 17, of Chinese Taipei, 1 up.

The 9th at Pine Valley has seen the old "skyline green" effect restored after decades of framing by trees.

Holston Hills gets a thumb’s up from the Sugarloaf Social Club gang.

Rory: Masters Now The Biggest Tournament, Doesn't Care About The Open Or U.S. Open

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The former Champion Golfer of the World may need a food tester at Carnoustie this year, though his comments were clearly made with an understandable bias toward wanting to win the Masters and become a career Grand Slam winner.

From James Corrigan's Telegraph story, with comments made before this week's Wells Fargo Championship.

"I don't care about the US Open or The Open Championship – The Masters is now the biggest tournament in the world, the most amount of eyeballs, the most amount of hype, everything is at Augusta,” he said. “It's the most special tournament we play and it's the one everyone desperately wants to win.”

The story goes on to say that McIlroy's wife had to push him out of the house after suffering an understandable bout of post-final round misery following the 2018 event where he trailed by three heading into the final round.

PGA of America's Next Big Move: Moving To The Land Of Added Brand Value

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PGA of America employees in Palm Beach Gardens

PGA of America employees in Palm Beach Gardens

I'm not sure a single American golfer--male or female--cares where the PGA of America brass takes their phone calls, gather around the water cooler and raise their families. But in analyzing the association's likely move from Palm Beach Gardens to Frisco, Texas, Golf World's Dave Shedloski talks to many people who are convinced the move will enhance brand value. 

The story does not explain how being in Frisco helps the average club pro equipment and apparel sales back from non-green grass accounts, nor does moving to Frisco return the PGA pro to status on par with superintendent or manager. But many people who wouldn't go on the record are, nonetheless, bullish on the dreaded value proposition.

The response to the PGA’s request for proposal was “an eye opener,” said one longtime PGA official. More than 100 municipalities responded when the RFP was disseminated in mid-2017. “It’s obvious,” said another, “that our brand is very valuable, based on the interest the RFP generated. And whatever decision is made is going to bring more value to the brand.”

Shedloski writes that the "central question arising from a prospective address change—which could come as early as 2020—is what benefits would it bring to the thousands of club-professional members? And in turn, would those benefits impact every day golfers?" A good question! Not a good answer:

Among them is that the PGA can further separate itself from the PGA Tour, based in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., both geographically, and in terms of its identity. It is 50 years ago this year that tour players broke away from the PGA of America to form their own organization. But the lay sports fan often still confuses the two entities.

And they both have gobs of money in the bank. And people will still not know the difference. 

Ultimately, even after past real estate ventures gone bad loom as cautionary signs, the motivations for such a move sound similar to the late Frank Hannigan's longtime concern for the USGA: a decision driven by a desire to be loved. 

It’s hard not to see the PGA of America as appearing to be a more dynamic organization when, if it were to move its headquarters to Frisco, it would share a zip code with one of the NFL’s top franchises, the Dallas Cowboys, along with the NHL’s Dallas Stars and the FC Dallas soccer team of the MLS. Liberty Mutual, FedEx Office and Toyota are non-sports companies who recently have moved to North Texas, in nearby Plano. Two other companies with golf connections—AT&T and Topgolf—are also deeply connected in the metro area. Having such impressive neighbors could afford the PGA of America more commercial and economic opportunities, which could be poured into member benefits and grow-the-game initiatives.

And more money to add to the $140 million already in an account. 

As for open dates to host a championship at the new venture, the first available PGA Championship date appears in 2025. The first Ryder Cup opportunity for Frisco would be 2036. 

More Changes To Quail Hollow, With A Lemonade Twist

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Preparing to host the Wells Fargo Championship, last year's PGA Championship host underwent yet more design modifications on top of modifications made to the previous modifications. 

The good news: Quail Hollow's green speeds and rough are more subdued this week thanks to a ryegrass overseed and elimination of some teeing grounds from consideration.

The one tee someone said was better suited to a lemonade stand is not available according to club chairman/host/lead tinkerer/comedian Johnny Harris. From Rex Hoggard's GolfChannel.com report:

“I had a number of my friends who were playing in the tournament tell me that tee was better suited as a lemonade stand,” Harris joked in the video of the new tee box on the fourth hole. “I doubt we’ll ever see that tee used again in competition.”

True to his word, on Tuesday as players made their way around the course to prepare for this week’s event, there was an actual lemonade stand perched on the back of the fourth tee box.

George Savaricas reports for Golf Central on player reaction.