BMW Championship: First Look At The Restored Aronimink

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In the seven years since the PGA Tour visited Aronimink, the club has shed the architecture firm that gets shed a lot from classic courses--Fazio and friends--hired Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, and embraced its Donald Ross roots.

Jim McCabe with a PGATour.com primer on the place that will also hold a PGA Championship next decade (2027). 

But for now, it's the BMW Championship, which also means the preferred carmaker of No Laying Up has led to this fine piece on how the course has evolved since we last saw it.

Better Get A 747: Captain Furyk Adds Three Players And Three More (Egads) Vice Captains

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We all knew Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau were going to be picked for the 2018 Ryder Cup squad on Tuesday. Golfweek's Dan Kilbridge reports.

The real shocker: three more vice captains were added to the two in place. Not only does this add more weight to the flight overseas when you include the cart drivers for the VC's, the WAG's for all and various cart drivers for the cart drivers, but this also declares the end of Matt Kuchar and Zach Johnson's Ryder Cup careers along with David Duval's 2018 Ryder Cup broadcasting work.

I know what you're thinking: five vice captains seems excessive when you add on previously-announced VC's Davis Love and Steve Stricker, while subtracting now-former VC Tiger Woods, who moves to a full time player role.

Consider this:

--There is now one cart driver for every four PGA of America board members who will be lingering dangerously by the lavatories for the flight overseas, eager for an autographs, selfies or stories to tell the folks back home. Zach Johnson is a man who can stop a burly PGA blowhard from interfering with Bryson's sleep! 

--One VC for every C-level title at the PGA of America who will, unfortunately, try to share their thoughts on pairings, uniforms, inspiration speech lineups and Heaven knows what else they do in full-fledged hanger-on roles.

--One VC for every two USA players, if you subtract Tiger and Phil, who don't need no stinkin' VC's.  After all, they're Task Force VC's for life and likely captains in 2022 and 2024!

--The IFB industry rejoices, as does the golf cart maker charged with creating the custom shuttle-friendly rides that Mssrs. Love, Stricker, Kuchar, Johnson and Duval will tootle around in.

--Sea Island traffic. With three VC's from the greater Sea Island area, look for less time spent trying to turn into The Cloisters for the M-F evening 50% off Happy Hour!

The only real fun in the announcement press conference--embarrassingly light on attendance and questions since everyone knew who was getting picked and there was nothing new to ask--was Tiger's fun dance around the VC discussion over his selection, reports GolfChannel.com's Nick Menta.

Regarding Duval, who has never been given cart keys before after his criticism over Ryder Cup pay, is now seen as a contributor after his 2016 speech at Hazeltine following an on-air tiff with Brandel Chamblee, as reported by John Feinstein. 

Menta reports on Duval's belief that he can do more than just shuttle WAG's around Le Golf National and actually influence pairings. 

Bryson handled the trio's selfie duties:

‪We’ll see you in Paris!🇺🇸🇺🇸‬

A post shared by Ryder Cup USA (@rydercupusa) on

Live Under Par (Error) Files: Does Bryson Have Air Tolerance Issues?

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Since rolling out the Live Under Par campaign, the PGA Tour's social accounts have relentlessly pushed the cumbersome and vapid slogan on nearly every post at the expense of hashtags that might prove useful. Or even promotional ones for a company (#Fedexcup) ponying up millions of dollars to support the #playoffs.

The doltishness behind the Live Under Par effort and that has overtaken PGA Tour social media accounts, including forcing players to pose with any animal within fifty miles of a tournament venue in the name of likes, took on a new level of silliness today.  

Apparently, Bryson DeChambeau has a complicated relationship with the air he breathes. 

The PGA Tour posted an incorrectly transcribed quote with the word air supplementing "error" in sharing a Bryson DeChambeau quote following Monday's Dell Technologies win. Perhaps this was a subtle message from social media workers tired of living under water--where I hear air is limited--but multiple sources have confirmed to this website that Bryson said the word error, was understood by most who were listening to be using the word error, and has no known sensitivities to oxygen, clearing the way for him to be a Captain's pick on the 2018 Ryder Cup team. 

Now, mistakes are made all of the time, especially on this website, and transcripts are tricky business. Still, at some point the combination of reader feedback and the overall notion of struggling for air, probably should have gotten someone's attention once this went live.  Yet even after many users corrected the PGA Tour in the Instagram comments section, the post remains in place for 3 hours now without correction, as does the original transcript with the air, err...error.

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It might be wise for the PGA Tour to remove the post and apologize to DeChambeau, who has been lambasted in the comments section for his sensitivity to air. 

The Only Drama For Furyk: Who Not To Announce (Yet) As His Fourth Captain's Pick?

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Tiger's putting has been a little off but he continues to post low scores, Phil just shot 63 and thinks he's found something. He also talking like someone who knows he's going to be picked.

In the non-legend division, Bryson DeChambeau's play has been incredible and needs no further explanation. That leaves Tony Finau as the most likely fourth pick based on his continued strong play, though the chance for a political or golf course driven selection is still out there.

Finau is pretty bullish on his game and chances, writes GolfChannel.com's Will Gray.

Though as we discussed on Morning Drive today, there seems to be consensus about the picks. The only question now: who doesn't get the nod Tuesday at 5 pm ET (Golf Channel) when the first three are announced. The fourth-and-final will come after this week's BMW Championship. 

DeChambeau Takes First Two Playoff Events, Prepares From Coming Algorithmic Setback

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The Reset Cup has long been a silly way to decide $10 million and will continue the silliness this year now that Bryson DeChambeau has won the first two legs of the playoffs. As Will Gray notes for GolfChannel.com, DeChambeau could WD from the BMW and still have the top seed heading to Atlanta. 

But not before the algorithms work their misery and chop back the excellence cushion he's built for the sake of one last confusing points battle until a new format is unveiled next year.  DeChambeau is taking the mathematic shenanigans in stride:

“Look, if a guy wins the first three playoff events, if that was ever to happen, you’re still not guaranteed to win the FedExCup,” he said. “So this week – it’s funny I say that – this week I’ve got to regroup, sit down, analyze what we could have done better out here and make those changes for next week so I can perform at a better level.”

Or, take the week off and not lose any advantage while catching up on your beloved sleep! Come on, you know you want to Bryson!

On a serious note, DeChambeau is a budding superstar and one of the game's elite players at 25, writes David Dusek for Golfweek. 

The highlights of a bittersweet day where TPC Boston says goodbye to annual hosting duties on Labor Day weekend, to be replaced by a biennial Northern Trust Open hosting in early August.

Video: New Angle, New Camera View Of Hatton's 18th Hole Near Hole-Out

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Here was the original shot and replay from NBC posted by the PGA Tour if you didn't see Tyrrell Hatton's Sunday shot:

But the angle you have to see aired on Monday's Dell Technologies final round telecast from TPC Boston. Stay with this super slow-mo, ground level doozy.  (Apologies for this version but I could not find a cleaner one on the PGA Tour, Golf Channel or NBC Sports accounts):

Instagram Trophy Wrap: Sunday Winners Wallace, Alex, McCarron, Hickok, Wilson, USA Women

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While the Dell Technologies crowns a champion on Monday, Labor Day weekend's Sunday gave away mostly straightforward hardware. And yes, I'm lumping in Jeff Wilson's U.S. Senior Amateur win from a few days ago, because, why not?

Congrats to all of the big winners, starting with three-time European Tour winner in 2018 Matt Wallace, who birdied seven of eight holes coming in and survived an all-English, four-man playoff. For his effort, he won the largest salad bowl in golf:

A winner again 🏆🙌🏼 #MiD18

A post shared by European Tour (@europeantour) on

Marina Alex claimed her first LPGA title in Portland:

@marinaaadee FIRST EVER #LPGAWinnerSelfie 🤳👏🏽⛳️

A post shared by Cambia Portland Classic (@lpgaportlandclassic) on

Scott McCarron earned both a hat he'll never wear again and a trophy he'll hide ASAP in winning the Shaw Classic.

😁 he couldn’t stop smiling. @shawclassic

A post shared by PGA TOUR Champions (@pgatourchampions) on

Kramer Hickok adds another breakthrough win for Texas men's golf in 2018, taking the Web.com Tour's DAP Championship.

Nice work by Jeff Wilson in finally winning a USGA event by taking the U.S. Senior Amateur at Eugene Country Club last week.

And finally, congrats to the American women at the World Amateur Team at Carlton House.

Europe's Ryder Cup Eight Set, Bjorn Has "One Little Doubt" On Picks

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Let the politics begin!

Now that Europe's eight automatic qualifiers have been determined for the 2018 Ryder Cup--and they even gathered for a picture already, imagine that!--we are left to wonder who will fill out the team. 

First, the eight who make it to Paris based on European and World points:

Captain Thomas Bjorn has quite the decision before him after Matt Wallace won his third European Tour event of the season, yet is well down both points lists, starting with the European list where he resides several other contenders for a pick:

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Same story with the World list:

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According to this Sky Sports report, Bjorn is solid on two picks but still has some thinking to do. 

"I'm pretty set on two or three names," Bjorn told Sky Sports. "We've still got a bit of discussion to do and a bit of golf to watch in America over the next few days and then we'll see.

"I'm pretty much there in my head of how I see this team being and how I want to try and mix and match everyone, but there's still one little doubt in my head."

Alistair Tait at Golfweek with more on Wallace, his amazing finish Sunday and the Englishman's unexpected rise in short time. Will it be enough?

Given that Captain Bjorn has emphasized form, it would appear the final pick is down to Sergio Garcia vs. Wallace, Rafa Babrera Bello, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Russell Knox and Eddie Pepperell. Got to go with the three-time winner this year, right?

Chris Kirk: “The driver and the ball don't go any further than they did eight years ago."

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Rex Hoggard on Chris Kirk's post-67 comments about "everyone missing" how the manufacturers have not made better equipment, it's just fitting and, sigh, better athletes who are propelling distance increases (including a major spike this year.)

From GolfChannel.com:

“The driver and the ball don't go any further than they did eight years ago. That's the thing that everybody is missing,” said Kirk, who opened with a 67 for a share of the early lead at the Dell Technologies Championship. “Guys are making it go further. People wanting to change the rule and change the ball and change the stuff, it doesn't matter.”

 

And there's why we don't consider PGA Tour pros as futurists.

 

Johnny: 50 Years On The Road May Be Enough

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Sounds like Johnny Miller is about ready to hang up his IFB even though he's still the one-and-only-Johnny.

From Doug Ferguson's AP notes column:

“It’s been 50 years on the road, and part of me is saying, ’That’s enough,’” Miller said Tuesday to promote the Safeway Open in Napa, California. “I haven’t gotten to that point yet. They’re still trying to convince me to keep going. So we’ll see. I usually listen to my gut, so to speak, and my wife. Right now, I am planning on scaling down even more. We’ll see what happens. Maybe I will say, ‘Hey, one more year.’”

Sexism Alive And Well Files: "If a No. 1 player can’t get replacement clubs after a long and successful relationship, what kind of message does that send to up-and-comers?"

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Forgive me for not seeing Beth Ann Nichols' Golfweek story from two weeks ago, but Bellerive had that kind of transitory effect. Anyway, we discussed on the latest State of The Game the absurdity of this story. Given the amount of free stuff given to young male golfers--young being 14 and up--the notion that a company said no to a future Hall of Famer, all-time great and player who actually might influence buying habits, I'm not sure if there is any way to defend the actions of Taylor Made as they relate to Inbee Park.

Here is Nichols' setup, though there is much more in the piece about issues LPGA players face in getting equipment as the free stuff flows on the male amateur and pro side of the sport:

Two months ago, when Inbee Park was No. 1, caddie Brad Beecher reached out to a TaylorMade rep on behalf of Park to get replacements for the 3-wood, 5-wood and two Rescue clubs she had in her bag. Park is a Srixon staff player but is only required to have nine Srixon clubs in the bag. For more than five years she has played with four TaylorMade woods. That timespan includes six of her seven majors, an Olympic gold medal and more than 100 weeks as the No. 1 player in the world.

Park received the same response as several other LPGAers: A new company policy stipulates that players must use a TaylorMade driver to get free product.

Anyone who has seen Park play in person is immediately struck by how well she plays her fairway woods to make up for less length off the tee. Next, you are struck by how beloved she is with Korean golf fans. One might think this would lead to companies lining up to stock her locker with fairway woods. All in hopes of being associated with an all time great and the strongest part of her game, driver counts be damned.

Apparently not for all. Taylor Made's response:

When asked to comment on their policy regarding Park, a TaylorMade representative said, “We don’t share information around our relationships with athletes (contracted or non-contracted) due to confidentiality reasons.”

It's a rare misstep from a player-friendly company and one that sadly screams of short-sightedness at best, whiffs of sexism at the very least.

Patrick Reed Gets Free Red Sox Tickets, Complains About Placement In The "Line Drive" Section

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Just when you felt like we were turning a corner, the PGA Tour's 21st century Bobby Joe Grooves took to Instagram to complain about free tickets to Fenway Park in the "line drive" section that prompted him to spend $650 on an upgrade that put him with other PGA Tour players who, hint, hint, got the good seats to begin with. And you wonder why Jay Monahan is prematurely grey?

The comments are pretty spectacular, as you might imagine for this case of extra-perverted first world griping over being too close to the action. For free. At Fenway. On a beautiful summer night. With your lovely wife. The year you won The Masters. 

State Of The Game Podcast 81: The Match, Waugh As PGA CEO And Sexism In The Free Equipment World

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We kept it varied and light on a rambling cross-section of State of The Game topics with Rod Morri and Mike Clayton. As always, you can subscribe in the usual places or listen below:

Sometimes there is so much to talk about you don't need a guest and episode 81 of State of the Game comes at just such a time. From the Tiger/Phil big money match to reactions to Bellerive to Inbee Park's slap in the face from one of the game's biggest manufacturers and the possibility of a PGA and PGA Tour merger, its all happening in the world of golf.

DJ Tests Jack's 1-Iron And Persimmon Driver, Early Reports Suggest He Survives The Experience

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We don't have all of the Trackman numbers, but with Jack Nicklaus' old 1-iron and driver it's said Dustin Johnson hit the ball 232 yards and 290 yards, respectively. 

Even better he survived the experience of hitting those non-game-growing, too-hard-to-hit clubs that somehow did not kill the game. Worse, it grew when people hit the ball shorter! Perish the thought!

Poll: Should Jim Furyk Revisit A Tiger-Phil Ryder Cup Pairing?

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While Eamon Lynch at Golfweek joins the choir of Phil Mickelson dissenters in saying Lefty should be left off the 2018 Ryder Cup team, we all know he's going to be on the team because of his match play prowess and ability to elevate the game of a younger playing partner (see Bradley, Fowler, Kisner). 

Given the unsuccessful 2004 Ryder Cup pairing by Captain Hal Sutton, the idea seems implausible, yet they each may play just 18 a day in Paris and could make for a natural pairing. I say no way, Jaime Diaz in today's Alternate Shot said yes it should happen. 

Since we all need a mental break from the relentless stress of PGA Tour Playoff golf, let's focus on the Ryder Cup and ask, should Tiger and Phil be paired together at some point?

Should Jim Furyk Pair Phil Mickelson And Tiger Woods Up For A 2018 Ryder Cup Match?
 
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