When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
While it's more fun to look at Tiger Woods-infused ratings, SBD's Josh Carpenter reported on the 2018 Wyndham Championship on CBS and U.S. Amateur ratings on Fox.
Neither was particularly staggering, but neither was a negative story either.
The Wyndham's 1.9 for Brandt Snedeker's win was up from a 1.6 in 2017 and the U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach drew a .4, the same as last year's thrilling finale between Doug Ghim and Doc Redman.
Overcompensated retread alert!
Honma Golf USA is apparently unable to do basic Google searches to read up on how Mark King is not the man to run your equipment company unless you want an unhappy ending.
The former Undercover Boss star who wheeled out multiple Taylor Made drivers in a year in a move that set the company back with consumers, advocated 15 inch cups, sat on the two-meeting PGA of America task force to grow the game and eventually found himself stashed in Adidas North America offices somewhere, is back running Honma Golf USA.
Mike Stachura reports on King joining the Honma brand in what the former Taylor Made CEO calls a consulting role, though employees are already calling that nonsense. Great start!
“He’s in charge,” said one former Honma employee who requested anonymity. The employee indicated King’s position was announced internally at Honma last month. “It’s been in the works for awhile. Mark’s taking over everything.”
Got to love his description of the new boss, Chairman Liu of Honma.
“There were two things that made this attractive to me and the first one right away was him,” King said. “He doesn’t speak a lot of English, but his enthusiasm is mesmerizing. On top of that, with this brand, I see the opportunity to do different things, the right things for this brand, to understand who its customer is and how to reach that customer.
“He was interested in having someone help him who understands golf and understands golf in North America and how to present that brand to the market. My role is to help them build the brand.”
The playoffs arrive in New Jersey and Ridgewood CC for the first time in a sports-betting legal state.
Rex Hoggard reports for GolfChannel.com on what this means in 2018. In a nutshell, the PGA Tour does not expect any issues.
Although New Jersey was among the first states to embrace sports betting, wagers are currently limited to a few casinos and racetracks.
“I wouldn’t say the gaming would be any different than what’s currently being offered in Las Vegas or elsewhere, win bets and that type of thing,” said Andy Levinson, the Tour’s senior vice president of tournament administration.
There is one potential area of intrigue: soft-launched mobile betting apps in beta form according to this item by Devin O'Connor.
Resorts, one of the six Atlantic City casinos with sports gambling underway, received authorization with partner DraftKings from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (D) earlier this month for a soft-launch of mobile sports betting.
The app was released to a limited number of users. The DGE hasn’t said when it might permit Resorts and DraftKings to open up the app to the general public. Other casino sportsbooks are also in the process of releasing mobile sports betting platforms.
Of note will be if any of these mobile platforms offer negative outcome bets where a fan could interfere with play and profit. Presumably these beta apps are not offering anything that could derail their popularity or their coveted relationship with pro golf in the coming years. Presumably.
Viktor Hovland
Pebble Beach did not disappoint as a venue for the 118th U.S. Amateur and its fifth time hosting dating to 1929.
Viktor Hovland dominated his opponents all week including finalist Devon Bling. Hovland's winning scores in 2018 U.S. Amateur Match Play:
3&2
2&1
7&6
7&6
3&2
6&5
Yowsers!
Even better, Hovland is a big personality with a bigger brain and strong all around game that has even more upside. The first Norwegian to win the Amateur now heads back to Oklahoma State with likely spots in the Masters, U.S. Open and Open Championship as well as a chance to be a great international ambassador for amateur golf.
The game stories are worth your time on this one giving the many dimensions to Hovland.
Ron Driscoll gives us the nuts and bolts of a match where Hovland dominated, yet had Bling just been a bit better, would have made very interesting, a compliment to his skill and persistence.
Brentley Romine for Golfweek takes the college angle and explains how Hovland was an accidental find for OSU coach Alan Bratton, who was on the bag this week.
Ryan Lavner at GolfChannel.com has a wild anecdote about how Hovland killed some time in between the morning and afternoon sessions. If you had reading up on a philosophic debate over affirmative action in the pool, you win!
Dave Shedloski dives a little deeper into Hovland's wit and big personality.
Chris Keane's images from the final capture a bit of everything to perfectly sum up the combatants, the venue and the championship.
Hovland's highlights in three minutes:
A week of great play at Pebble Beach has Viktor Hovland leaving with the #USAmateur 🏆 and Sunday's @Lexus Performance of the Day! pic.twitter.com/AZrAx6IJyi
— USGA (@USGA) August 20, 2018
As for Pebble Beach, I believe my views are fairly well documented in past blog posts about some of the lost architectural potential of the course. But in a week that is a big sacrifice for the Pebble Beach Company to give up the course, all in all the assessment is a positive one.
The nostalgic fan of golf history in me welcomes any chance to celebrate the 1929 U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach, arguably the tournament I'd most love to go back in time to experience. So check out Joe Bissen's story about the winner back then, Jimmy Johnston, a stockbroker from St. Paul.
And as The Forecaddie notes, it was a fantastic, amazing and slightly bizarre sight of having Jack Nicklaus walking the course early in the week (and not getting recognized by one player). Also, because of his history at Pebble Beach, here is a little-known link to that 1929 U.S. Amateur that Golden Bear buffs will enjoy.
To really bring it full circle, Nicklaus Tweeted his pride at the effort by winner Hovland and runner-up Bling:
Congrats #ViktorHovland! What an incredible year for you—an @NCAA title with @OSUCowboyGolf & now a #USAmateur! All before turning 21. From Norway to North Palm Beach, we are very proud of you! Also proud of @dbling65. Just 18, you went from 312 golfers Monday to finals Sunday! https://t.co/NgTl3jCuwT
— Jack Nicklaus (@jacknicklaus) August 19, 2018
I'm not sure if the best European Ryder Cup team on paper remains so in Monty's mind after this week's move by Thorbjorn Olesen, but we have time to mull! At least on current form, however, getting Olesen on the team appears to be a positive. Particularly since Captain Thomas Bjorn has already said he will be hard-pressed to pick his fellow countryman for fear of looking biased.
Will Gray reports for GolfChannel.com on Olesen's second place in the Nordea Masters boosting his spot on the World Points list and within shouting distance of Tommy Fleetwood on the European Points list.
Even if Olesen fails to qualify automatically for Paris, the 28-year-old continues to bolster his credentials for a possible pick from his countryman, Bjorn. Olesen won the Italian Open in June, finished second at the BMW International Open three weeks later and has now compiled four top-12 finishes over his last five worldwide starts including a T-3 result at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational earlier this month.
Also on the outside looking in: Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia.
Lexi Thompson is back on the LPGA Tour after taking a short leave to get refreshed and to gather her thoughts after a rough 2017.
And she's back to bad luck on the rules infraction side of things, though this one is most definitely on her shoulders.
Kevin Casey explains why her taking lift, clean and place relief caused the infraction.
A 65 by Devon Bling and six-under-through-16 by Viktor Hovland sets up a battle of two prototypical modern stars in the making. The first 18 commences at 7:30 am PT with streaming coverage at USGA.org starting at 9:30 am PT prior to Fox network coverage of the afternoon 18 from Pebble Beach (1:30 PM PT/4:30 PM ET).
Brentley Romine at Golfweek sets up the final match-up for the Havemeyer Trophy.
Ryan Lavner with GolfChannel.com "snapshots" of the two combatants.
If Tale Of the Tape is your preferred angle, Mike Trostel breaks down the two finalists by the numbers.
Dave Shedloski with more on Bling playing for his late mother.
If you're in the area, it'll be the best $25 you've ever spent walking the fairways of Pebble Beach watching two players displaying all-around talent.
As I write for Golfweek, it's been another grand amateur at Pebble. (With some architectural quibbling.)
Chris Keane and J.D. Cuban's images from Saturday capture just some of the incredible golf on display.
Hovland's highlights:
5 straight birdies on the back 9 will earn you a spot in the #USAmateur final! Congrats Viktor Hovland! pic.twitter.com/PpAj0AIc9B
— USGA (@USGA) August 18, 2018
Bling's highlights:
The California kid is having himself quite the week at Pebble Beach! @uclamensgolf’s @dbling65 is on to the #USAmateur final! pic.twitter.com/YmZDFZwme8
— USGA (@USGA) August 18, 2018
After some late afternoon golf the 2018 U.S. Amateur semi's get under way at 8 and 8:20, with Devon Bling playing Isaiah Salinda, followed by Cole Hammer vs. Viktor Hovland.
The winners earn a spot in the Masters.
Fox coverage begins at 9 am PT.
My Golfweek story on Bling's remarkable match with Davis Riley where he never led until a bold line of attack at the 18th set up a winning birdie.
A showdown of top amateurs features Hovland v. Hammer, and as Brentley Romine notes for Golfweek, Hovland is playing stellar golf coming off two straight 7&6 wins.
There are several typically compelling U.S. Amateur stories to follow, particularly at sun-splashed Pebble Beach Golf Links. Ron Driscoll at the official site has a perfect roundup of the close Round of 16 action and a quarterfinal preview. Mike Trostel with more on the players who all earned exemptions to next year's Amateur at Pinehurst.
The lead quarterfinal match at 2:30 pm PT and features Davis Riley v. Devon Bling.
Brentley Romine at Golfweek has the Riley angle, while I penned this story on Bling's recent rise and play for his late mother. Both are playing well and for a lot, so it should be a good one.
Ryan Lavner reports on Isaiah Salinda's win over former US Mid-Amateur champion Stewart Hagestad. Salinda cracked a driver head but helpful technicians on hand were there to help with a replacement. Stanford's Salinda recently won the Pacific Coast Amateur and is from South San Francisco.
Lavner reports on the unfortunate round of 32 loss by Akshay Batia thanks to a mistake ride taken by his caddie from what he thought was a rules official.
Mercifully, the Riley-Bling match starts off the afternoon and should finish inside Fox Sports 1's allotted broadcast window. The network signed off on Thursday's action with two matches All Square to rack up a tape of some sort of U.S. Women's Open mini-documentary. I'm told an on-time sign off with action still going also occurred Wednesday.
So to recap: do you go with prime time match play golf from Pebble Beach or save an hour of overtime pay? Fox execs went the save-money route for their USGA partners.
It's little wonder then that fans do not make an effort to find USGA-Fox broadcasts. Overnight ratings for Thursday's Round of 16 coverage were down 29% from last year's Thursday play at Riviera, drawing a .05 despite the prime time slot and Pebble Beach.
The quarterfinal matches starting late in the day for Fox.
Today's coverage on FS1 starts at 4 pm PT.
Round highlights from the USGA social squad and Fox:
Highlights from the #USAmateur Round of 16 at Pebble Beach. The quarterfinals begin on Friday at 2:30 p.m. PDT!https://t.co/5WYxElkhr3 pic.twitter.com/KkcisUIk79
— USGA (@USGA) August 17, 2018
Golf Channel's Jaime Diaz pens an interesting look at the evolution of Tiger Woods' driving and feels we may be seeing a change in driving philosophy. Diaz argues that Woods should commit to a stronger pursuit of accuracy over distance in the face of a Brooks Koepka world, but I'd gently disagree that in the last few months the decline in clubhead and ball speed suggests he's already transitioned to an emphasis on rhythm and shot-shaping over yardage.
As always, I'd encourage a full reading for context. But in the interest of discussion and before Diaz makes that case, I thought this was interesting:
But those numbers started to decline, in part because Woods never really quite felt as comfortable with oversized titanium heads and lightweight shafts as he had with a smaller metal head and heavier steel shaft.
Regarding Tiger's shifting approach:
In his post-round interview on Sunday, he twice – unprompted – pointed out that there is a level of drivers above him – not only longer, but straighter.
“He’s a tough guy to beat when he’s hitting it 340 in the air,” Woods said of Koepka. “Three-twenty in the air is like a chip shot. And so that’s the new game … Dustin’s done it now, Rory’s doing it … Those guys, if they’re driving it well, they have such a huge advantage because of the carry.”
It was a rare concession from Woods. In former days, if another player was better than he was at some part of the game – be it distance control with short irons, bunker play, lag putting – he would quietly make that strength a target to match or exceed.
The more distressing question for the game--given its history of older, more accurate players maintaining relevancy against young long hitters?
Whether giving up some power for accuracy is feasible given the extreme distances we're seeing. I believe so on a baked Carnoustie or Old Course, and maybe if Augusta National were firmer and faster, but otherwise it's hard to see the current emphasis on power providing us age and style-diverse leaderboards.
Thankfully for Tiger's fans, his "short" drives are still long enough to compete. For now.
Stewart Hagestad (JD Cuban/USGA)
The 118th U.S. Amateur got underway after a 24-for-1 playoff (Ryan Lavner reports) Wednesday morning at Pebble Beach.
Brentley Romine of Golfweek on the top three players losing in round one.
Cole Hammer continued his great play, surviving a round one match by chipping in for eagle at the 18th, beating Alvaro Ortiz. The Western Amateur champion's highlights:
A chip in on No. 18 hammered home a victory for @cole_hammer6765 over Alvaro Ortiz during the Round of 64, earning him the @Lexus Performance of the Day! #USAmateur pic.twitter.com/H7rTrOeJYH
— USGA (@USGA) August 16, 2018
Zhen Kai Bai aced the 7th hole and his mom caught it on her cell phone!
🚨Ace Alert🚨 Zheng Kai Bai’s hole-in-one on iconic No. 7 from the Round of 64 at Pebble Beach! #USAmateur pic.twitter.com/N8EqcM4qTt
— USGA (@USGA) August 15, 2018
Pepperdine's Clay Feagler holed out at 15 en route to a Round of 64 win.
What a way to take the lead! @clayfeagler holes out for eagle on No. 15 to go 1 up. #USAmateur pic.twitter.com/5uMOXz6O6V
— USGA (@USGA) August 15, 2018
Stewart Hagestad finally made it to match play in the U.S. Amateur, defeating the dapper Harry Hall of England and his strong fisherman's hat. My story for Golfweek.
Thursday's round of 32 tee times and other info.
My account for Golfweek on Jack Nicklaus' return to the scene of a U.S. Amateur and a U.S. Open win to watch his 49-year-old son Gary play the 2018 U.S. Amateur.
While there are so many great stories at the U.S. Amateur, seeing the greatest ever walking 36 and treating the other competitors with his usual touch of class, added something special to this year's U.S. Amateur.
A few of my shots of the Golden Bear out spectating where he won this championship 57 years ago:
The USGA is live streaming action at Pebble Beach's par-3 7th hole hosted by Ned Michaels, Ewan Porter and Mike Trostel. Tuesday is day two of stroke play qualifying.
Here's the Periscope.
YouTube option:
Live coverage of Round 2 of the #USAmateur, from the iconic seventh hole at Pebble Beach.
And now, a survey...
The USGA and The R&A to Engage Global Golf Community in Distance Insights Project
Sports Marketing Surveys Inc. appointed to conduct research to secure feedback
and perspectives this fall
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. AND ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND (Aug. 14, 2018) - In an effort to thoroughly inform the Distance Insights project through the lens of the global golf community, the USGA and The R&A will engage with golfers and a wide range of golf’s stakeholders to gather perspectives on the potential causes and impacts of increased distance, beginning in September.
The Distance Insights project began in May as part of the governing bodies’ overall efforts to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sport. Primary and third-party research is currently being conducted to review historical data and ascertain the past, present and future implications of increased distance on how the game is played.
In this latest phase of the Distance Insights project, research will be conducted with a series of golfers and stakeholder groups worldwide, banded into 12 general categories. Each group will be asked a series of universal questions to elicit broad perceptions of distance in golf, as well as group-specific questions relating to their area of expertise. The findings of the global perspectives research are expected to be a vital component of the full Distance Insights report, scheduled to be released in 2019.
Sports Marketing Surveys, Inc., an independent and international full-service sports research consultancy, has been selected through a global RFP process to provide multi-layered research and insight expertise for this phase of the project.
Stakeholder categories are as follows:
Championship committees
Course Facility professionals/managers
Facility maintenance providers, including superintendents/greenkeepers
Golf administrative organizations
Golf course architects/construction professionals
Golf equipment retailers
Golf equipment manufacturers
Golf professionals/teachers
Golfers
Media
Non-golf stakeholders
Tournament golf spectators
The SMS Inc. research will be conducted throughout the world and in several languages, including Chinese, English, French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish, and involving golfers and those working in the industry in both established and emerging golf communities.
The work will principally focus on gaining an understanding from various stakeholder groups into how distance in golf has impacted them over their full golf experience, if at all, and its projected impact into the future. It will include analysis of feedback received to date from the global golf community, following the project’s initiation earlier this year.
Information on the Distance Insights project, including frequently asked questions, historical data and general terms and conditions for submitting data, can be found at usga.org/distanceinsights or randa.org/distanceinsights.
The PGA Tour and PGA of America have partnered at significant cost to provide ShotLink at the PGA Championship.
So a thank you as always to the crew on site and the volunteers documenting shots for helping us better understand the big picture.
If only Brooks could chip better...he'd win by ten as evidenced by the above embed.
Then there were these numbers suggesting a driving exhibition like few others. A 25-yard advantage over the field average is pretty staggering given how soft the landing areas were following Tuesday's rain. And check out his starts in this year's majors.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
