Stracka: Putting Stats Haven't Changed So Why Curtail Use Of Books?

Kind of like the folks who say the ball isn't going longer and advertise a new longer flying golf ball, Jim Stracka is treading that fine line in saying a product his Strackaline sells hasn't made a dent in putting stats, yet can't understand why the USGA and R&A want to curtail green reading book usage. 

From Brentley Romine's Golfweek story:

“Putting stats haven’t changed in 25 years,” Stracka told Golfweek via phone on Tuesday. “PGA Tour pros are still making about 50 percent of their putts from inside of 8 feet. … There is no exactness in putting.”

Which begs the question: if they haven't impacted putting numbers, then what is being sold other than a tool that slows down play, appears to cut down on the importance of local knowledge and experience, while enriching a few?

"Lyle Makes Toughest Call"

Martin Blake for Golf Australia and the horrendous news of the beloved Jarrod Lyle opting to no longer seek treatment. The two-time Web.com Tour winner has twice beaten cancer but will now seek treatment for pain only. 

Ben Everill at PGATour.com talked to several Australians about the life and legacy of Lyle. 

This from Adam Scott:

“I can’t imagine being in that position; it’s unthinkable,” Scott said. “He is one of the best blokes there is. Given all the difficulties he’s had since his late teens, he has lived the best life he could with the tough cards he has been dealt.

“He has done better than anyone would have. He was out on TOUR for so long, playing such good golf while battling illness. He has been through it all. His positivity and general demeanor have been so good and so infectious on others; it’s a good way to think of how I should live my life.”

PGA Tour Live Moving To NBC Sports Gold In 2019

After testing out PGA Tour Live with ESPN's new streaming service, the pre-Golf Channel telecasts will move to NBC Sports Gold in 2019 and feature more viewer-friendly synergy between Golf Channel and PGA Tour Live telecasts.  Obviously, as a Golf Channel contributor, I'm thrilled to see the move as it strengthens the Tour-GC relationship, but as a fan, the sense of a competitive vibe where the PGA Tour was not in lockstep with its cable partner did little to serve fans. 

Of course, I say all of this as a cable TV lover who will not cut the cord anytime soon, so I'm not the demo sought after here.

Judging by the "passes" offered at NBC Sports Gold, expect a golf pass that becomes a future option for cord cutters. 

In the meantime, For Immediate Release...

PGA TOUR & NBC SPORTS GROUP ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC OTT PARTNERSHIP

PGA TOUR LIVE’s Thursday & Friday Morning Coverage to be Distributed as Standalone Subscription Offering within NBC Sports Gold in 2019

PGA TOUR LIVE Joins Premier League, Tour de France, Rugby World Cup & Boston Marathon within NBC Sports Gold Offerings

Available on Desktop, Android and iOS Devices, Apple TV; and New for PGA TOUR LIVE via Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and Roku

ORLANDO & PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – (July 31, 2018) – Today the PGA TOUR and NBC Sports Group announced a new, innovative, multi-year digital partnership. Starting in 2019, NBC Sports Gold, NBC Sports Digital’s direct-to-consumer live streaming product, will be the United States’ home of PGA TOUR LIVE, the PGA TOUR’s over-the-top subscription video service. The partnership includes rights to all of PGA TOUR LIVE’s Thursday and Friday morning coverage from 28 events, starting with the CareerBuilder Challenge in January, featuring THE PLAYERS in March, and running through the FedExCup Playoffs in August.

Since launching in 2015, PGA TOUR LIVE has brought fans exclusive coverage of the best players in the world on Thursday and Friday mornings – the first time that complete, live coverage of morning marquee groups was offered. The platform also features real-time video highlights, complete round replays and tournament recap programming.

NBC Sports Gold is an industry leader in direct-to-consumer live streaming with a robust portfolio of properties. Launched in 2016, NBC Sports Gold’s offerings complement NBC Sports’ broadcast and cable distribution. In addition to PGA TOUR LIVE, NBC Sports Gold includes packages for fans of the Tour de France, Premier League, Rugby World Cup, Boston Marathon, Pro Motocross and also coming in 2019, IndyCar, among others. As part of NBC Sports Gold, PGA TOUR LIVE will be available on desktop, Android and iOS Devices, Apple TV; and will expand to Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and Roku next year. NBC Sports Gold is powered by Playmaker Media, NBC Sports Digital’s best-in-class live streaming and VOD solution, which in 2018 delivered 4.37 billion live streaming minutes for the three biggest digital events: Super Bowl LII, Winter Olympics, and FIFA World Cup.

“Since we launched PGA TOUR LIVE in late 2015, the fan feedback has been tremendous,” said Rick Anderson, Chief Media Officer of the PGA TOUR. “In 2018, virtually every key metric is up triple digits versus last year and the coverage gets better and better every week. Moving PGA TOUR LIVE over to NBC Sports Gold represents the next evolution of our product. Not only will Golf Channel and NBC Sports be promoting PGA TOUR LIVE to its massive audience of millions of television and digital viewers, but also, PGA TOUR LIVE will now be available on several new connected TV devices due to NBC Sports’ expanded platform distribution. In 2019, our live coverage will be significantly better, and more accessible, for subscribers of PGA TOUR LIVE.”

“We’ve worked together with the PGA TOUR on many projects across many platforms and we’re looking forward to taking the next step with PGA TOUR LIVE on NBC Sports Gold,” said Mike McCarley, President, Golf, NBC Sports. “Building upon years of partnership, NBC Sports Group and the PGA TOUR are raising the profile of PGA TOUR LIVE as a complement to the hundreds of live hours of PGA TOUR tournament coverage across Golf Channel and NBC Sports. As we help build PGA TOUR LIVE, we’re fortunate to be able to apply lessons learned from years of digital innovation in covering some of the biggest events in sports via NBC Sports’ best-in-class streaming capabilities.”

In 2019, PGA TOUR LIVE plans to stream more than 360 hours of exclusive subscription coverage, as well as hundreds of hours of free Featured Holes coverage, complementing televised coverage from 28 PGA TOUR events next year. PGA TOUR Entertainment will continue to produce the live coverage. Highlights of the PGA TOUR LIVE subscription package launching on NBC Sports Gold include:

• Pre-game Show: a 30-minute preview program that leads into the morning’s live competition coverage.

• Featured Groups: early round coverage on Thursday and Friday prior to Golf Channel’s afternoon television window. Featured Groups coverage follows two concurrent, high-profile groups throughout their 18-hole rounds. To-date in 2018, PGA TOUR LIVE has featured entire rounds (outside traditional televised windows) of Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, and dozens more.

• Featured Holes: live coverage of some of the PGA TOUR’s most iconic holes, concurrent with Golf Channel’s television window (traditionally from 3-6 p.m. ET).

• Integrated Statistical Feeds: Users never have to leave the action with integrated live leaderboards and player scorecards.

• Comprehensive Viewership Experience: Streamlines the PGA TOUR viewership experience by providing golf fans a continuous platform for streaming via NBC Sports Gold for PGA TOUR LIVE’s, Golf Channel’s and NBC Sports’ coverage windows.

• Featured Player Recaps: Users can get caught up on the day’s action with new condensed rounds from each player in the Featured Group coverage.

• Event Recaps: Watch an event recap in an hour-long cut down show that highlights the best of that weeks’ tournament.

Pricing options for PGA TOUR LIVE in 2019 will be announced in January. Users who sign up via www.pgatourlive.com will be kept aware of the latest news and announcements related to its 2019 launch on NBC Sports Gold. For golf fans outside of the United States, the same comprehensive PGA TOUR LIVE coverage will be available. More information will be announced by the PGA TOUR at a later date.

Rick Anderson of the PGA Tour discussed the move on Morning Drive:

USGA, R&A Hope To Make Green-Reading A Skill Again

An example of what won't be allowed.

The news first reported here by Golfweek during The Open sounds like it will curtail the use of green reading books in competition.

For Immediate Release for those who will be affected by this:

USGA, The R&A Announce Plans to Limit Use of Green-Reading Materials Beginning in 2019

Clarifications reaffirm the position that a player’s ability to read the greens is an essential skill that should be retained; still allows for traditional yardage books, handwritten player and caddie notes

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. AND ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND (July 31, 2018) - The USGA and The R&A are proposing regulations regarding the use of green-reading materials, reaffirming the need for a player to read greens based on their own judgment, skill and ability.

Following a six-week period of feedback and consultation with interested parties that begins today, the regulations will be finalized in a published “interpretation” of Rule 4.3 (Use of Equipment) and adopted Jan. 1, 2019, when golf’s new rules take effect.  

“Both the USGA and The R&A are committed to the position that a player’s ability to read their line of play on the putting green is an essential skill that should be retained,” said Thomas Pagel, Senior Director, Rules of Golf and Amateur Status for the USGA. “The focus of the interpretation is to develop an approach that is both effective and enforceable.”

David Rickman, Executive Director – Governance at The R&A, said, “We have looked carefully at the use of these green-reading materials and the extremely detailed information they provide and our view is that they tip the balance too far away from the essential skill and judgment required to read subtle slopes on the greens. It is important to be clear, however, that we still regard the use of yardage books and handwritten notes to be an entirely appropriate part of the game.”  

The key elements of the proposed interpretation are as follows:

• Minimum Slope Indication Limit – A minimum slope indication limit of 4 percent (2.29 degrees) is proposed (this includes lines, arrows, numbers or any other indicators); this will have the effect of eliminating such indicators of slope from those areas of the putting green where the hole is most likely to be positioned (which tend to be cut on reasonably flat sections of the putting green with a degree of slope of less than 3.5 percent - or 2 degrees). This proposed limit also equates roughly with the amount of slope that is readily visible to the naked eye. 

• Maximum Scale Limit – A maximum scale of 3/8 inch to 5 yards (1:480) is proposed; this will limit the size in print form to a pocket-sized publication and has the effect of restricting the space for handwritten notes (also referenced below).

• Indicative Information - General information that is included in traditional yardage books or course guides, such as basic illustrations that show the outline of the putting green and include indicative information like the tops of ridges or general slopes, will continue to be permitted.  

• Handwritten Notes - Handwritten notes will continue to be allowed, but such notes cannot be used to create either a direct copy or a facsimile (replica) of a detailed green map. 

Interested parties are encouraged to contact the USGA at rules@usga.org or The R&A with questions, feedback or suggestions for improvement prior to Sept. 14, 2018. 

The draft interpretation and illustrations can be viewed here.

The governing bodies will issue the regulation by no later than Oct. 15, 2018 for its planned Jan. 1, 2019 adoption. 

Bevacqua To Manage NBC's Move Into ESports, Sports Betting, Will Sit Out PGA TV Talks

John Ourand looks at Pete Bevacqua's departure from the PGA of America to NBC and reveals a few things, while also clarifying the soon-to-be-former CEO's new duties. 

Besides revealing that Bevacqua declined the USOC job after interviewing, Ourand shares this:

Bevacqua will start in September and will focus on growth opportunities, which include everything from gambling and esports to rights fee negotiations, which will become especially heated in the next few years. NBC already has said it is interested in bidding for rights to the PGA Championship, which are up next year. Lazarus said Bevacqua would stay out of those talks.

“He’s coming in to help me manage the expansion of our company and work directly with the programming, marketing, digital RSN and golf groups while getting involved in the new areas of esports and gambling,” Lazarus said. “He will work with me and the team on strategizing about the next series of rights deals that are all coming up over the next few years.”

Video: Bobby Jones Wins The 1926 Open At Royal Lytham

There is no sound and the Claret Jug ceremony is set in the middle of the footage, but it's still fun to look at the swings, the clothes, the caddies and especially Royal Lytham & St Annes, host of this week's Women's British Open. (Here are the coverage times.)

Note the bunkering at Lytham then--more sand faced--than the sod wall, typical links style you'll see this week. 

Bryson's Lousy Handshake: Keep Calm And Carry On

@b_dechambeau
Didn't do yourself any favours there Bryson! Plenty of style - but no class. pic.twitter.com/bLD4Pies4I

— Noel Gallagher (@estshuffle) July 29, 2018

Of course his brusque handshake was rude. But any sports fan who watches tennis or college basketball knows there have been thousands of equally as quick and chilly handshakes in the heat of battle. The difference in Bryson DeChambeau's brisk congratulatory post-round greeting: freshly-minted winner McEvoy did nothing to warrant rudeness other than make a putt at the 18th green and finally win when a young, passionate player made a major mess of the last hole. 

For this, DeChambeau has apologized.

But on a weekend when Sergio Garcia could have hurt someone (or himself) tomahawking his clubs, the reaction to DeChambeau's incredible final round meltdown is threatening to get out of hand. 

Are folks just relishing the chance to pick on DeChambeau, who makes his share of detractors with extreme confidence? After all, he took of his hat and did shake hands with his playing partner, albeit in rapid fashion.

When he's not running hot, DeChambeau can actually be one of golf's more respectful young players. He calls adults he doesn't know Mr. or Mrs., studies the history of the game, and wants to set a fine example. That he doesn't exhibit this side more often and to the frustration of many is for him to work out. 

In a sport where we have seen so few genuine characters in recent years, it would be a shame to see DeChambeau's individuality and eccentricity muted by a Zapruder-like analysis of a split-second action. 

Granted, the recent signs of excess stress--including this amazing Golf Channel footage from The Open--are disconcerting for a player on the cusp of making his first Ryder Cup team. Yes, the desperation and frustration with his game should be noted and he probably needs a short vacation. But to rule him out of Ryder Cup consideration because he did not make perfect eye contact to the liking of some, seems excessive.

Feinstein On Watson's Impressive Old Course Showing

While he faded to a final round 77, Tom Watson's opening 69-68 in the Senior Open at St. Andrews and continued contention until early Sunday was a thing to behold on many levels. 

But as John Feinstein notes for Golf World, with it only being Watson's fifth start of the year due to wife Hilary's battle with cancer, the ability to perform as the 68-year-old did was something special not to be overlooked.

the Senior Open was his fifth event of 2018 and he hadn’t played anywhere since April. The reason for his absence was simple—and sad: His wife, Hilary, has been battling cancer. There was no way he was leaving her side during chemo and radiation treatments that began last fall. Only during respites in her treatment—at her urging—did he play.

A few weeks ago, Hilary Watson completed yet another painful round of chemo, this time in Houston. Still, she wanted her husband to play at St. Andrews, a golf course and a place he loves. 

Weekend Instagram Roundup: Sergio's Club Slam, Senior Open Images From St. Andrews, Gullane Gets Weather, Dodgers Putt To Pass Time

Even the master club throwers make mistakes sometimes, with Sergio Garcia committing the ultimate sin of throwing his club hard at the bag. 

Sergio's caddy thought his life was over 😳

A post shared by ZIRA GOLF (@ziragolf) on Jul 28, 2018 at 10:40am PDT

A PGA Tour Champions slideshow captures the incredible array of weather changes and imagery from Sunday at the Old Course, where Miguel Angel Jimenez won the Senior Open.

Swipe through for the moods of Scotland. ⬅️⬅️👆

A post shared by PGA TOUR Champions (@pgatourchampions) on Jul 27, 2018 at 7:56pm PDT

The weather finally turned more Scottish-like at Gullane Sunday. 

The white caps say it all! #windy #wheninscotland #asilso

A post shared by LPGA Tour (@lpga_tour) on Jul 28, 2018 at 12:21pm PDT

The Dodgers turned hallways at Suntrust Park into a putting green.

Doc for the win.

A post shared by Los Angeles Dodgers (@dodgers) on Jul 28, 2018 at 4:07pm PDT

Trophy Wrap: Johnson Wins Final Canadian At Glen Abbey, Ariya Loves Gullane, McEvoy Takes The Porsche, Jimenez The Senior Open At St. Andrews

Dustin Johnson wins what is expected to be the final RBC Canadian Open played at Glen Abbey Golf Club. 

🏆😁🇨🇦

A post shared by PGA TOUR (@pgatour) on Jul 29, 2018 at 5:10pm PDT

Ariya Jutanagarn wins the Ladies Scottish Open at fast and firm Gullane.

#LPGAWinnerSelfie with @Titleist golf ball loyalist Ariya Jutanugarn  @ladies_scottish. Ariya won with her Pro V1x. #TeamTitleist

A post shared by LPGA Tour (@lpga_tour) on Jul 29, 2018 at 10:29am PDT

In his 285th start, Richard McEvoy takes the Porsche European and a trophy which, at first glance looks fairly hideous but is pretty cool up close.

The first ☝ @RichardMcEvoy79 has his first European Tour title in his 285th event. #peogolf

A post shared by European Tour (@europeantour) on Jul 29, 2018 at 9:18am PDT

Miguel Angel Jimenez fought off an all-star cast of seniors and his balky blade to win an exciting Senior Open at the Home of Golf. 

Try to get it away from him. Congrats to Miguel Angel Jimenez on winning the #SeniorOpen at the Old Course at St. Andrews. 🏆👐

A post shared by PGA TOUR Champions (@pgatourchampions) on Jul 29, 2018 at 12:21pm PDT

R.I.P. Bruce Lietzke

One of his era's best ballstrikers and a true joy to watch shape shots, longtime PGA Tour member Bruce Lietzke fell victim to an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was 67.

Jim McCabe at PGATour.com details the life of a great natural talent whose glorious rhythm and distinctive left-to-right ball flight would have made him a fan favorite in the shot tracer era. 

When word circulated a little more than a year ago about Lietzke’s cancer, it was a jolt to his friends, and one could make the case that few players of his era were as beloved as this big man who never took himself too seriously. He was once asked to compare his golf game to one of the many cars he kept at his farm. “An old El Camino,” he laughed. “Half ugly, half decent. It fits me more than anything.”

“He was a classic, and that’s the right word,” said Rogers, who along with Jerry Pate – Lietzke’s brother-in-law – and two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw accompanied Lietzke for some early hospital appointments more than a year ago. Curtis Strange visited and kept in touch with Rogers, and the Wadkins boys – Lanny and Bobby – were part of the close circle, too.

“In the end,” said Rogers, “the Good Lord felt 67 years was enough, that he was satisfied Bruce deserved eternal peace. It’s a good place to be.”

Here's an analysis from Gary Koch of Lietzke's fade-bias swing from his later career.

Guardian: "Trump golf resort wrecked special nature site, reports reveal"

Thanks to all who sent Robin McKie's Guardian shocker that running bulldozers, installing irrigation systems and planting new turfgrasses has fundamentally altered the sensitive dunes at Foveran Links, home now to Trump International Links north of Aberdeen.

The news here is in how long it has taken to reach this conclusion publicly and how it might impact recently announced plans to go forward with the remainder of the development.

Scottish Natural Heritage, which has been under pressure for years to speak out on the issue, now acknowledges that serious damage has been done to the site of special scientific interest (SSSI) at Foveran Links on the Menie estate, north of Aberdeen, since the course opened in 2012, the documents show.

As a result, Foveran’s SSSI status – given because of its unusual shifting sands and diverse plant life – now hangs in the balance.

“Construction of the new golf course involved earthworks, planting of trees, greens and fairways, drainage, irrigation and grass planting,” states one of the reports released by Scottish Natural Heritage inspectors. “This has affected the natural morphology of the dunes and interfered with natural processes. Most of its important geomorphological features have been lost or reduced to fragments. Nearby marine terraces have also been reduced to fragments.”

Van de Velde And Brief Bagman From 1999 Reunite At St. Andrews

The feel-good stories abound this week at the Old Course where the Senior Open is underway, and Ryan Lavner, who compiled an oral history of the '99 Open, reports on another: Jean Van de Velde reuniting with his long lost caddie Christophe Angiolini. 

“I said, ‘How about you come caddie for me?’” Van de Velde recalled recently. “And he said, ‘You bet.’ So that will be fun.”

They teamed up for a 1-over 73 Thursday in what is believed to be the first time they’ve been on the same team since their short-lived partnership ended in August 1999.

Earlier that year, Angiolini, in just his third year as a professional caddie, was looping for Fabrice Tarnaud when he heard that Van de Velde was looking for a new bagman. Van de Velde and Angiolini began working together in April ’99 and instantly hit it off. 

Van de Velde opened with a 73 on a day of incredible scoring at the Old Course, led by Kirk Triplett and Thaworn Wiratchant's 65.

Speculation Begins On Next PGA Of America CEO...

At least, amongst people and even some very important people. 

While most golfers could care less who oversees the PGA of America, insiders on golf's business side of golf are eager to see what direction the organization goes after Pete Bevacqua resigned this week to work at NBC Sports.

In a very informative analysis of the Bevacqua era, Dave Shedloski at Golf World throws this out:

John Easterbrook, the PGA’s Chief Membership Officer, has been tapped to serve as interim CEO, a selection that raised a few eyebrows from observers in and out of the organization. It was thought that Darrell Crall, who has served as Chief Operating Officer since Bevacqua came on board in the fall of 2012, would be the logical choice. Crall, sources say, was runner-up behind Bevacqua among the six candidates interviewed for the CEO post when a retiring Joe Steranka vacated six year ago. However, Crall also is believed to be deep in the woods on the PGA’s prospective move to Texas, given his longtime role as executive director of the Northern Texas PGA Section prior to joining the PGA in 2011.

Both Easterbrook and Crall would have to be considered candidates to succeed Bevacqua. Past presidents Roger Warren and Jim Remy, who also interviewed for the post in the last search, might get another look.

“I’d be shocked if Darrell Crall isn’t hired into that position,” said one past PGA officer. Still another countered, “I don’t think that’s necessarily what we need.”

I would also suggest LPGA Commish Mike Whan seems ready for a new challenge and will likely be a name submitted by some. He already is well-versed in Five Family code, conduct and conformity, if nothing else. 

The Open Muddles U.S. Ryder Cup Picture...In A Good Way

With only three weeks until the U.S. Ryder Cup team's first 8 spots are finalized, GolfChannel.com's Rex Hoggard points out the issues facing Captain Jim Furyk in rounding out the team. Strong play at The Open by Xander Schauffele and Kevin Kisner have them in the picture, particularly given the anticipated setup of Le Golf National. Kisner's play in last year's Presidents Cup might give him an edge as well.

Kevin Kisner, who finished second at The Open and is finding his form at the perfect time, could be a good fit, as could Brian Harman, another fairways-and-greens type whose reputation as a fierce competitor would fit in well with Furyk’s no-nonsense approach. Kisner and Harman rank 13th and 15th on the U.S. points, respectively.

Given his play at Carnoustie, Furyk will also give Xander Schauffele (No. 11), the reigning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year who also finished runner-up last week in Scotland, a close look; and Zach Johnson (No. 18), a veteran on five U.S. Ryder Cup teams, would be a popular addition to the team room.

Needless to say, but TIger's play at The Open would seem to have locked up a spot if he does not make the team on points.