Golf Players Poll: Brandel Up, Trump Down, Tour Setups About Right, A Third Concerned About Distance

The old SI and now all-Golf Magazine/Golf.com players poll is great fun as always, with bad news for President Donald Trump, good news for Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee and a host of other fun topics covered.

But since this blog leans toward course setup, architecture, history and distance debates, the obvious questions of note for yours truly:

ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT TOUR PLAYERS ARE HITTING THE BALL TOO FAR?

YES: 32%
NO: 76%

“I just wish I hit it farther.”
“Equipment has taken a ton of skill away from the game.”
“The problem is that the ball goes too straight.”
“Yes — 300 yards doesn’t cut it anymore.”

32% is a steady number given that 100% believe they are paid to say all distance, some manufacturers are actively pressuring players to preach distance and the PGA Tour and PGA of America leadership believes more distance will grow the game.

Three years ago, the number was at 29%, so the slight increase is amazing given the pressures exerted on players to brag about that athleticism and declare the joys of modern technology advances.

As for bifurcation:

SHOULD THERE BE TWO SETS OF EQUIPMENT REGS: ONE FOR PROS, ANOTHER FOR EVERYONE ELSE?

YES: 39%
NO: 61%

“It would ruin the golf industry.”

Amazing to think the golf industry is seen as dependent on what the players play, not on how much people are enjoying the sport or buying equipment based on need or design intrigue or something other than pro golfers.

This one is a huge win for the PGA Tour Rules referees. Huge!

TOUR SETUPS ARE GENERALLY…

…TOO SHORT: 0%
…TOO LONG: 7%
…ABOUT RIGHT: 93%

“Tour setups are typically, well, too lame.”
“Fact: No one bitches when they’re leading the tournament.”

That 44% thought Phil should have been DQ’d does not suggest much admiration from the PGA Tour set for the USGA rules committee.

SHOULD PHIL HAVE BEEN DQ’D AT SHINNECOCK?

YES: 44%
NO: 54%
NO COMMENT: 2%

“He acted like an idiot. If it were me, I’d be out.”
“He should’ve been praised.”

European...Bonding! Bjorn Vows Revenge Over Team's Cryotherapy Prank

You have to give credit to whoever cooked up the idea to put four European Ryder Cup team stars in a car and call Thomas Bjorn with a ridiculous request. (Kind of) Carpool Karaoke for golf!

First, the video if you didn’t see Rory’s post and award-winning performance requesting $20k cryotherapy units to help with team recovery and (Captain’s) weight loss.

Calling the captain. 😉 Here is what happens when @RyderCupEurope players share a BMW... #BMWCHAMPS #DRIVENBYPASSION pic.twitter.com/2cRnln6rxU

— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) September 9, 2018

According to this Sky Sports report, Captain Bjorn has now vowed revenge though it’s hard to picture an equally devious and as visible a response.

Spieth: The Thin Line Between Success And Struggle

As Joel Beall notes in this Golf World op-ed, the line between struggle and success in today’s game has grown ridiculously thin given the ascension of younger players and lofty standards set by the likes of Jordan Spieth.

In considering Spieth’s failure to make the PGA Tour’s top 30 and a spot in the Tour Championship field, Beall points out the ways Spieth toed the line between success and struggles in a 2018 he’ll ultimately try to forget.

And there's the rub. Spieth has fumbled away his share of titles—the '14 and '16 Masters, the '15 and 18 Opens, darn-near the '17 Open—proving he's no stone-cold assassin. They're falters that warrant criticism. Continuing to put himself in positions to win, though, also deserves a share of acclaim.

Especially at his age. Arnold Palmer, after all, didn't win his first major until 28. Phil Mickelson, 33. Though arguments can be had when a golfer "peaks," there's no debate that careers, thanks to training, medical and equipment advancements, have been extended longer than ever. Also in that vein: unlike the game's of his fellow young guns, Spieth's is predicated off precision, not power. While that occasionally works against him, his attributes should age gracefully in the next two decades. The sport has cruelly proved that you can't count on anything as a guarantee for the future … but save for injury or off-the-course issues, Spieth is on pace to be one of the greats.

Which, unfortunately for him, is part of his current problem.

AP’s Doug Ferguson reports that Spieth will be getting married this November and likely adding a couple of fall starts to get out of the rehearsal dinner tasting dinner, or something like that.

Evian Eve, ANWA And College Golf: State Of American Women's Golf In The Spotlight

The forces are strong, contrasting and fascinating: no American has won a major in 2018 and barring a miracle, the fifth and final LPGA major teeing off this week will produce just the fourth year ever when at least one American prevailed in a major.

Matt Adams and I debated on this week’s Golf Central and with all due respect to the many fine players, the struggles of American women is the top storyline for me. My expression in the screen capture summarizes the fixed nature of the topic, but I digress.

Clearly, next spring’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur will add another bit of incentive for aspiring American women, and we are about to start seeing if the Drive, Chip and Putt produces elite talent, but there appears to be some disagreement about the role college golf has (or has not) played in developing talent.

With six scholarships available at fully-funded Division I programs, the reports of unused scholarships have raised eyebrows about what we are doing to develop junior girls. Jack Nicklaus brought this up in his Morning Drive appearance this week hosted by Gary Williams and in conjunction with Gary Player and Lee Trevino.

But as Beth Ann Nichols notes in this Golfweek story, the misconception is not a great one given how many programs are not fully or even partially funded.

Or as she writes, “Junior girls can’t pluck a full ride to college like an apple from a tree.”

From the story:

“I think it’s a very common assumption that full rides are readily available,” said Kelly, whose program does not have six full scholarships. “I hear this frequently … ‘You are at a wealthy institution. Your school has the money.’ ”

Brandi Jackson hears it too. For nearly 10 years the former LPGA pro has guided players and their families through the recruiting process.

“There’s a big chunk of your better academic schools who may only have one scholarship among the whole team,” Jackson said. “Eight girls on the team … the majority of those girls are paying to be there.”

Something to keep in mind…

A) when you wonder why Americans are falling behind in a sport they once dominated

B) when donating to the athletic department’s general fund

C) when wondering why your alma mater’s women are not attracting the best players

But hey, on that bright note, the scenarios for a new No. 1 and other highlights going into the fifth (gulp) and final LPGA major played for the last time in September.

Speaking of LPGA majors, one of the American rally killers earlier this century spoke of the new Augusta National Women’s Amateur and it’s potential influence today on Morning Drive:

The French Are Already Cranky About What This Ryder Cup Will Not Deliver

As the LPGA’s Evian Championship gets underway, Graham Dunbar of the AP reports on Evian chair Franck Riboud grousing about what the Ryder Cup will do for French golf. You know, the Ryder Cup that was going to lead to 100 new six or nine hole courses and new fans galore.

Let the grouchiness begin!

“Perhaps you are surprised,” Riboud said. “Because personally I think the Ryder Cup is not building or helping to reach the objective” of developing talent.

Though Tiger Woods is making a rare visit to France, Riboud played down the impact his selection for the United States team could have.

“No, the best ambassador for golf in France is going to the next French champion at the same level (as) Tiger Woods,” the businessman said.

Right, good luck with that!

More importantly, is the media center going to have fresh baked croissants in the morning and suitable wine/cheese spreads at filing time? That could determine the future of French golf, in this reporters’ opinion.

R&A Rules Chief Rickman Confident New Rules Will Speed Up Play

As the USGA and R&A rolled out the actual written Rules of Golf coming in 2019—please give them clicks, much editing went into this!—Golfweek’s Alistair Tait asked the R&A’s David Rickman about the proverbial elephant in the room: spike mark tapping.

While spikes are virtually gone, the idea that players can massage their line continues to not sit well with many, including yours truly, who is struggling to reconcile playing the ball as it lies while being freed up to manipulate the ground between your ball and the hole.

Besides the philosophic disconnect, Tait zeroes in on the past lessons learned from allowing spike mark tapping on the European Tour and Rickman says times have changed.

“It was an area in the extensive discussions that we talked about for some time because in all of this we were interested in speeding the game up, and this change in particular could potentially even go the other way. But what I would say is that it does present a completely different dynamic,” he said.

“I think we’ll see people repairing damage as a collective at different times. I think what you will also see is that the putting green surfaces will generally be maintained throughout the day through the actions of all the players at different times in a much higher standard. So those players at the end of the are only repairing the minimal damage that hasn’t already been repaired. I think in reality it will work.”

I don’t. And this is someone who believes in Rickman’s views on the rules. Primarily, I just can’t see how you can instill a “play it as it lies” mentality in today’s players or future generations when you can now make it lie on the greens. They already complain when all 18 greens are not of the same firmness and speed, and providing a free-for-all to manicure lines seems like less of a slow play issue and more of a core value undermining problem.

Certainly a case could be made that introducing spike-mark tapping could have alleviate pressure on supers to present perfect conditions. But the first time you watch an elite player turn golf into curling by massaging their line, I’m confident you’ll miss the old play it as it lies days.

We’ll find out soon enough!

NBC To Broadcast Augusta National Women's Amateur, Logo And Ticket Applications Unveiled

Augusta National has announced the broadcast partner—NBC Sports—and other details for the first-ever Augusta National Women’s Amateur, including its very own acronym!

There is a lot to consider in this announcement and surprise choice to have NBC broadcast, but for now…

AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN’S AMATEUR NAMES NBC SPORTS AS BROADCAST PARTNER 

Five Presenting Partners Join Augusta National in Support of Women’s Golf; Ticket Applications Now Available 

AUGUSTA, Ga. – In less than seven months, golf’s best women amateurs will compete in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA). Today, it was announced that NBC Sports will produce and broadcast three hours of live final-round coverage of the event, which is being supported by five presenting partners: AT&T, Bank of America, IBM, Mercedes-Benz and Rolex. In addition, ticket applications are now available for those interested in attending any of the championship via www.ANWAgolf.com. 

“Since the announcement of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April, we have remained determined to organize a competition that will provide a meaningful impact on the development of the women’s game,” said Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament. “While we aim to stage a first-class championship, our motivation goes beyond the scores posted between the ropes. By providing this opportunity and shining a brighter light on this important segment of the sport, we expect role models to emerge who will help inspire a new generation of golfers.” 

Gathering the week before the Masters Tournament next April, the international field of 72 players will compete over 54 holes of stroke play, with a cut taking place after 36 holes. The first two rounds will take place on the Island and Bluff nines at Champions Retreat Golf Club Wednesday, April 3 and Thursday, April 4. The entire field will then play Augusta National for an official practice round Friday, April 5. The final round will take place at Augusta National on Saturday, April 6 and will feature the top 30 competitors who made the cut. 

NBC Sports will provide pre-event promotion across NBCUniversal’s portfolio and live coverage of the ANWA across its television and digital platforms, including live final-round coverage on NBC at Augusta National from Noon – 3 pm EST. Golf Channel will deliver highlights, live reports and news coverage throughout the event, including onsite during the first two competitive rounds at Champions Retreat. Additionally, Golf Channel’s “Live From the Masters” will commence on Friday, April 5 from Augusta National and wrap ANWA coverage on Saturday, April 6 and the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals on Sunday, April 7. 

Golf fans wishing to attend any of next year’s competition rounds can now request a ticket application via www.ANWAgolf.com, the event’s official website. Tickets will be sold in advance, but only after receipt of an online application. Applications will be accepted through September 30. All applicants will be notified in late October when the selection process is complete. 

Based on the qualifications for the ANWA published in April, the following players are currently eligible for invitation: 

♦ Kristen Gillman (USA), U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion 

♦ Leonie Harm (Germany), Ladies’ British Open Amateur Champion 

♦ Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand), Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Champion 

♦ Yealimi Noh (USA), U.S. Girls’ Junior Champion and Girls Junior PGA Champion 

♦ Emma Spitz (Austria), Girls’ British Open Amateur Champion 

The following criteria will fill the next 60 positions in the field, based on the World Amateur Golf Ranking at the end of the 2018 calendar year: 

♦ The top 30 players from the United States of America not otherwise qualified 

♦ The next 30 highest ranked players not otherwise qualified 

The field’s remaining spots will be filled by special invitation from the ANWA Championship Committee. 

Tony Finau's Ryder Cup Selection: "The American Dream"

The Playoffs off-week affords an opportunity to reflect on the Ryder Cup team pursuit since the USA team will go directly from the Tour Championship to Paris.

With Tony Finau getting the final selection, Ryan Lavner at GolfChannel.com considers what an improbable story this is.

He’s the son of a Tongan immigrant. The precocious talent who learned the game from a novice. The tenacious product of Rose Park, the hardscrabble neighborhood just outside Salt Lake City. That area has produced NFL and NBA stars, but world-class golfers, with just a par-3 course and rundown muni to offer? Never.

“I’m still in shock,” says Finau’s father, Kelepi. “Seriously, what are the chances? What are the odds?”

One in a million? Worse?

And yet Finau, 28, has reached the pinnacle of his sport – a major contender, a top-20 world ranking and now a spot on Jim Furyk’s U.S. team.

Now, neither Matt Adams or yours truly see him as the breakout rookie this year. I chose Justin Thomas because of his experience in team matches and the likelihood he’ll play every session, but Finau certainly should get his shot in four-ball play.

Either way, his celebration as part of his foundation’s fundraiser will be legendary:

A day you make the @RyderCupUSA team is a day you feel like dancing! Thanks to everyone who came out to support the @TonyFinauFoundation Luau. #inspiresomeone pic.twitter.com/imizdP6X7d

— Tony Finau Golf (@tonyfinaugolf) September 11, 2018

Megha! Fourth Time Is The (DCP) Charm All Over Again

Megha Ganne has qualified for the Drive, Chip and Putt finals at Augusta National for the fourth straight time she has attempted qualifying.

As Ryan Herrington notes at Golf World, Ganne missed in her first attempt, skipped in 2016 but in the other years the 15-year-old attempted what is a very difficult feat to pull off just once, she’s headed to Augusta National again next spring.

Check out the story.

And I note this for those wondering if the “DCP” interest has warn off. From Ganne:

“I can definitely say that each year it gets harder and harder to qualify because there are so many more kids that try and compete in it,” Ganne said earlier this spring. “Even at the local stage, the number of kids who were there my first year compared to this past year is not even comparable.”

The 2016 Ryder Cup Has Not Aged Well To Thomas Pieters

A breakout star for Europe in 2016 who made a late, unsuccessful bid to make the 2018 team, does not have fond memories of the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National.

Snippets of a full length interview slated for Bunkered magazine, include his views on American fans and their inability to handle alcohol that is sold by the PGA of America starting at 7 am.

Pieters was particularly concerned by fan comments directed at Rory McIlroy.

“They shouted stuff at him that you shouldn’t shout at anybody anywhere. Maybe that’s because they sell beer at 7am and Americans can’t drink. 

“But to be honest, you don’t really hear the words most of the time. It’s just a big wall of noise.” 

Pieters called the setup a one-dimensional putting contest and without question, the placement of nearly all hole locations the final day in the green centers stripped a course already devoid of much strategy and made it…a putting contest.

This will be fun at the next Callaway group ad shoot!

“The set-up of the course was ridiculous. You could hit it anywhere."

Citing Phil Mickelson as an example, Pieters added: “He was sometimes hitting it, like, six fairways left or right but was still able to get it on the green and then make a 40-footer. I didn’t think it was a great Ryder Cup set-up, to be honest.” 

"Strokes gained guru Mark Broadie’s pioneering analytics have radically altered the game"

Nice work by Golf Magazine’s Josh Sens to profile strokes gained creator and professor Mark Broadie as the stat has become more mainstream than ever.

Here’s a fun one I found in preparing for today’s Alternate Shot topic of best comeback win in 2018: Keegan Bradley is 174th in strokes gained putting heading to the Tour Championship following his win at the BMW Championship. Where, amazingly, he lead the field in strokes gained putting according to the numbers gurus at ShotLink:

While that number may be foreign still to a lot of fans, more and more people are understanding that the numbers say Bradley did something both impressive for the week and astounding given his season-long performance on the green.

For that kind of wisdom and satisfaction as fans in knowing something just a little bit deeper about the performance, we have Broadie’s work to thank. So for those who don’t know his story, check out the piece. And for those who do, I’m clipping this nugget as a tantalizing possibility on the stats front:

As for future projections for golf analytics, Broadie sees nearly boundless opportunity for exploration, limited only by the availability of good data. One area he has in mind is strokes-gained categories that account for factors such as wind, turf conditions and the contours of a shot. Another is quantifying performance under pressure, a topic Broadie has been working on of late. He believes he’s onto something.

“For mental toughness, the only stat that attempts to measure it is bounce-back,” he says. “And I think there are better ways.”

Hmmmmm!

PGA Tour Driving Distance Average At 296, Rory Has Chance To Be First To Average Over 320

The 2002 Joint Statement Of Principles

Since the Ryder Cup will distract us from the final tallies post-Tour Championship, I thought I’d offer a refresher course for those interested in the distance debate.

To recap: the triathletes of the PGA Tour head to the 2018 finish line with their foam rollers and four-hour workouts fueling distance gains. However, as any player paid by Titleist will tell you, it’s not the amazing equipment advances made by engineers and coaches cleverly using launch monitors to improve their students, but instead the purity of athletes who may get called at any time by NFL teams looking for mid-season injury replacements.

In May 2002, the USGA and R&A drew a line in the sand and said any distance increases, no matter the cause, were not sustainable.

The PGA Tour driving distance average in 2002 was 279.84 yards.

279.8.

Since then, the governing bodies have eroded their credibility by claiming their rules have capped distance and things have flatlined.

The 2018 PGA Tour Driving Distance average heading to East Lake is at 296.0 yards, up over three yards from the 2017 numbers and over 16 yards from the sand-line drawing.

296.0.

More impressive is Rory McIlroy’s shot at history, with a current driving distance average of 320.0 yards heading to East Lake. The previous high for a season was by Dustin Johnson in 2015: 317.7 yards.

Back in March I noted this year’s spike and if we use the 295 barrier as another high water mark, we see another big leap in 2018.

2013-14
Honda:  45 players averaging 295 or higher
End of season:  49 averaging 295 or higher

2014-15
Honda:  50 players averaging 295 or higher
End of season:  53 averaging 295 or higher

2015-16
Honda:  65 players averaging 295 or higher
End of season:  55 averaging 295 or higher

2016-17
Honda:  63 players averaging 295 or higher
End of season:  77 averaging 295 or higher

2017-18
Honda:  111 players averaging 295 or higher
Heading to the last tournament:  108 averaging 295 or higher

So since 2014, we will have doubled the number of players averaging over 295 yards off the tee. Averaging.

While these numbers would be relevant if anyone actually believed in the governing bodies or had faith their ability to act in a credible way, we know the ship has sailed. The USGA and R&A can’t overcome years of saying things have flatlined when the numbers (and eyeballs) say otherwise.

More interesting to me, as a longtime distance student, is that eye-test element and just how many people continue to realize how distance does not make professional golf more entertaining.

Look at poor, defenseless Aronimink last week or even Bellerive. No one watching felt like the courses could pose the questions and strategic dilemmas intended by their designers, even after both layouts had received updates to address the changes that aren’t happening. The question before the PGA Tour and PGA of America, supporters of distance gains to “grow the game,” is whether such a brand of golf is interesting to watch and will captivate the younger audiences they obsess over. They’ll point to 2018’s ratings as evidence, but we all know that’s largely Tiger-driven.

And in case you don’t know, Tiger supports an end to the distance chase madness via bifurcation, just as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Bobby Jones have before him.

Happy (long) driving boys! I have full faith you can keep the average over 296 yards next week.

ShackHouse 76: Ryder Cup Finalized, Playoff Fever, Alan Shipnuck

House and I are back after a three week playoff break to discuss the impressive wins of Bryson DeChambeau and Keegan Bradley, the solidification of Ryder Cup squads and to cover a range of topics with Golf Magazine/.com writer and podcaster Alan Shipnuck.

Alan’s pods mentioned in the show can be found here.

For those interested in the Links at Petco mentioned on the show, here is the link for more info.

As always you can find ShackHouse wherever fine podcasts are streamed and here at the iTunes store. Or here:

Tony Finau Holds Off Late Charges, Gets Final 2018 Ryder Cup Team Pick

Well 72% of you voted for him in the short time between the end of the BMW and Captain Furyk’s announcement. He’ll be counted on to make some four-ball birdies with Phil Mickelson, most suspect. And a most deserving selection rewarding season-long consistency and stellar play in the majors.

For Immediate Release:

Tony Finau is Final U.S. Captain’s Pick for 42nd Ryder Cup

Click here for interview transcript with Tony Finau

Click here for interview transcript with Captain Furyk

WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PENNSYLVANIA (Sept. 10, 2018) –  United States Ryder Cup Captain Jim Furyk today announced that Tony Finau has been added to the U.S. Team as the final Captain’s selection for the 42nd Ryder Cup, which will be contested Sept. 28-30 at Le Golf National in Paris, France.

Finau joins Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods as Furyk’s four Captain’s Selections. Furyk named DeChambeau, Mickelson and Woods to the U.S. Team on Sept. 4.

"He has an unbelievable body of work this year," said Furyk. "All those top-10 finishes, the play in big championships and the Majors, and then his current form, a second, a fourth and an eighth in the playoffs. He checked a lot of boxes and made it impossible not to pick him."

Although this will be Finau’s first Ryder Cup, he has posted 11 top-10s this season, including three in major-championship play (T-10/Masters, 5th/U.S. Open, T-9/Open Championship).

A consistent presence on Sunday leaderboards throughout the year, Finau’s second-place finish at last month’s Northern Trust was his third runner-up of the season. The 28-year-old (he’ll be 29 when Ryder Cup play begins) ranks third on the PGA Tour with an average driving distance of 316.3 yards. He’s currently No. 17 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

“It’s a dream come true for me,” said Finau. “I got the goosebumps when he told me, and I’m excited to add my skills and talent to the team, a team that’s stacked already. Hopefully I bring something to the team that can help us bring that Cup back.”

The final composition of Furyk’s 2018 U.S. Ryder Cup Team includes three Ryder Cup rookies (DeChambeau, Finau, Thomas), nine major champions (with 31 total major victories) and experience gained in 34 previous Ryder Cups.

Poll: Who should get the final Team USA Ryder Cup pick?

Captain Jim Furyk has had a few wrinkles thrown his way given that a week ago Tony Finau was a near-unanimous pick, but with Xander Schauffele making a strong BMW Championship bid and Keegan Bradley (Phil's buddy!) winning. The late pick was created for situations like this, so who would you like to see Captain Furyk pick?

Who should get the final Team USA Ryder Cup pick?

Xander Schauffele

Tony Finau

Keegan Bradley

 

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