Bevacqua: Talks Ongoing With PGA Tour To Rebrand Golf Channel

Joe Flint of the Wall Street Journal reports on the PGA Tour’s new media rights deal and included this.

NBC Sports Group President Pete Bevacqua said as part of the new deal, the PGA Tour would take on a greater role in programming and producing at NBC’s Golf Channel. Mr. Bevacqua said talks about rebranding the Golf Channel to reflect the significance of the PGA Tour to the network are ongoing.

Wild guess here, the PGA TOUR Network?

Monahan On Oversaturation Of PGA Tour Golf: "This is not the first time we've heard this"

There was much to chew on from Commissioner Jay Monahan’s press conference kicking off the 2020 Players, including not one, but three Wyndham Rewards mentions along with other topics of note. And the oversaturation topic did come up.

Several top players of late have said Monahan and the Policy Board are aware of “issues” with the PGA Tour product after the Premier Golf League’s vision became public. It’s not an easy one to answer publicly without upsetting tournaments. All 49 of them.

Q. I just wonder what you made of Rory's thoughtful argument last week that there were too many tournaments in professional golf. That, in his words, we'd reached saturation points and were in danger of exhausting the fans.

JAY MONAHAN: Well, we have a wonderful PGA TOUR FedExCup schedule with 49 events this year, and there really are very few weaknesses on our schedule. And when you look at our model and the fact that players are independent contractors, for us putting the best tournaments forward week-in and week-out, recognizing that in our sport players like to play in certain conditions, certain markets, like to sequence their schedule differently, a lot of factors that go into the schedule that we have, and we've got great commitments from the markets where we play, and that's what's gotten us to here.

But I think when you look at -- when players -- this is not the first time we've heard this. When you're in Player Advisory Council meetings, when we're in board meetings, we're constantly looking at how our schedule is performing. I talked a lot about where we are and where we're headed, and it's been reinforced by the marketplace, but I would say that because the schedule is so dynamic for our players, it's also as dynamic for us as leaders, and that's something that we'll continue to look at and say, what are the things that we can do to improve our schedule. But I would tell you, we feel really good about where we are today and the flexibility we have going forward.

Flexibility. Does that mean with 52 weeks in a year there is room for growth? Presumably not.

Rory Questions America's "Casual" Coronavirus Response; PGA Of America Says No Discussions "At This Time" About PGA Move

Derek Lawrenson on world No. 1 Rory McIlroy's concern that the United States is taking a less proactive response to the coronavirus causing cancellations of sporting events and concerts.

'It's obviously very worrying but the US seem to be very casual about it compared to the rest of the world,' said McIlroy.

The PGA Tour, meanwhile, has moved from task force to business unit in analyzing the virus, according to Commissioner Jay Monahan. I’m not sure what that means, but here’s what he said Tuesday at the Players regarding the WGC Dell Match Play in Austin two weeks.

I would tell you that it started out as a task force. It's now essentially a business unit, where we have two leaders, Tom Hospel, our medical director, and Alison Keller, our chief administrative officer, who have organized a large team to fully understand the coronavirus and its implications on all facets of our business. I think it goes without saying that the health, safety, well being of our players, our fans, our tournaments, everybody that's involved in our ecosystem is of utmost importance.

Meanwhile, yesterday’s report on discussions to secure a backup PGA Championship venue were inaccurate, a PGA of America statement says. At this time. From Brian Wacker’s GolfDigest.com report:

“Reports that the 2020 PGA Championship will be relocated from TPC Harding Park are inaccurate,” said a statement from the PGA of America released on Tuesday. “At this time, no such discussions have taken place. We continue to carefully monitor this rapidly evolving situation, in close coordination and communication with representatives from San Francisco. We will follow the guidance of state and city officials and public health authorities, keeping the safety and well-being of all involved as our highest priority.”

While they deemed yesterday’s report inaccurate, would anyone fault them for considering back up options?

Eight Members Sue Faxon's Group Over Proposed Metacomet Sale

The Providence Journal’s Kevin McNamara reports on the deteriorating situation involving Metacomet Golf Club, purchased last year by a group that includes Brad Faxon. Besides different views about the long term viability of the club, the suit figures to garner national attention given the courses Donald Ross roots. It’s rare these days for a Ross to be sold off for development.

The members are claiming that Faxon and his investment group, the Metacomet Property Company, misled the club and made numerous promises after buying the Donald Ross-designed course that they did not live up to. Metacomet Property Co. has announced its plans to sell the golf club to Marshall Development, which has said it plans to “redevelop the site into an exciting first-class mixed-use property that will bolster both commerce and community in the upper bay.”

Those plans contradict discussions Faxon and his partners had with members at a Nov. 18 town-hall style meeting at Metacomet, according to the lawsuit. The suit claims the owners “gave a visual and audio presentation to the dues paying members of the Club, describing in detail the intended golf operations for the Club for the 2020 golf year, which included, among other things, the costs and expenses to be incurred by the Members, the golf course and tournament schedule for the Club, specific improvements to be made to the Property, including the golf course, and other operation intentions and plans.”

Metacomet Property Company assessed each member $3,800 for the 2020 golf season but nearly three months later, on Feb. 20, 2020, the membership was alerted to negotiations to sell.

Some reports, including this one by Tommy Gorman, say the land could be worth $10 million without permits.

McManus On New PGA Tour Media Deal And Removing Broadcast Clutter

Adam Schupak files a lengthy Q&A with CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus upon the network’s signing of a 9-year deal with the PGA Tour.

The chat covers a lot of ground, but McManus addresses a key question many have had regarding the deal. Specifically, whether viewers will suffer to pay for it. McManus says the opposite is the case.

Q.  With CBS having to pay significantly more in rights fees, should viewers be concerned that you’re going to have to add additional sponsorship and promotional elements to make up that difference?

SM: Definitely not. In fact, we have regular conversations with the Tour about eliminating some of the clutter, so I would say if anything you’re going to see fewer interruptions than more. We’re going to continue to try to do more CBS Eye on the Course, the double box, so you don’t miss live golf action. We and NBC, although sometimes we get criticized, we and NBC run basically the same commercial load. You will not see that expanding in this deal, and if anything we’re going to try to reduce the clutter a little bit. We’ve already reduced the amount of on‑air promotions we do for other programs, and I think we and the Tour are really cognizant of the fact that you want to show as much golf as you possibly can, and the two box is one way to do that, and less clutter is another way to do it. But no, there’s not going to be increased sponsorship or increased commercial inventory in the new deal.

Rory On Pete Dye Courses: "They're like beer when you're younger"

Fun stuff from Rory McIlroy on Pete Dye as he prepares to defend his Players Championship title. This is the first Players since Dye’s passing earlier this year.

Q. You've mentioned that Pete Dye courses were a little bit of an acquired taste for you. I wonder was there a turning point where you started to feel a little bit more comfortable, could have been Kiawah in 2014 or could have been -- you had three top 10s here in a row early on. When did you start turning the corner on that, and is there a hole out there that still kind of drives you nuts?

RORY MCILROY: So 2010 Whistling Straits was when I turned a corner. I turned up there, it was the PGA Championship, and I hated it. Like I really did not like it. I had to tell myself, look, you just need to like it for one week. Just get your head around liking this place for one week and embracing the fact that it's different and the fact that it's visually a little funky and whatever. I ended up finishing third that week and one shot out of a playoff, and I think that was when I sort of had turned a corner in terms of not necessarily loving Pete Dye golf courses because of -- I think he's a wonderful golf course designer, but I never liked how he made you feel on the golf course in terms of hiding things and angles, and it makes you a little bit uncomfortable, which is obviously his plan. Like he's a wonderful designer of golf courses, but that was the week where I had to embrace what Pete tried to put into his golf courses.

Yeah, going on from there, winning at Kiawah, winning at Crooked Stick, winning here, I've started to quite like them. But as you said, an acquired taste. They're like beer when you're younger. You sort of don't like it but then you think it's cool to drink it and then you sort of acquire a taste for it.

Will The PGA Tour Ban Premier Golf League Early Adopters?

Jay Monahan’s fourth press conference as Commissioner featured five COVD-19 questions, four Premier Golf League questions, three on the new TV deal, and one combo TV/PGL question.

It was a surprising focus on the proposed league at the PGA Tour’s signature event, especially after the powerful statement made by a new TV deal that locks in PGA Tour golf with three enormous media companies through 2030 (and four if you include Discovery’s previously announced GOLFTV for international streaming rights).

You have to sympathize a bit with Monahan and friends after signing such a massive deal, only to have the PGL get so much attention. However, AP’s Doug Ferguson question early on, and Monahan’s open-ended answer, that might have prompted a few of the follow-ups.

The question:

 Q. So much chatter the first few months of the year have been on this Premier Golf League. I'm just curious how many of the top players have you spoken to, can you characterize the feedback you've gotten, and can you say one way or another if a player verbally pledges support of this new league, would they be no longer TOUR members immediately?

An immediate ban seems harsh, but also perfectly logical if the PGL is a legitimate threat to luring PGA Tour players away. Here was Monahan’s reply to that component:

If a player pledged -- you and I have a long history of hypotheticals and me not answering hypotheticals, but I would just tell you that we're encouraged by the response that our players have had in our discussions. I think that the value that we provide to our players, to our tournaments, to our fans, the news that we've just talked about, securing $12 billion in revenue through 2030, the strength and security and foundation of this TOUR has never been stronger, so that's what we're focused on. We're focused on the excellence that we want to continue to achieve with our players, and our commitment is always one to listen and to respond. That's a bridge we would cross when we get there, but going back to my earlier comments, this is a player-led organization, 51 years running. Our governance system has been driven by our players and our board, and we have regulations in place that allow us to protect the interests of our media partners, our sponsors and all of our constituents, and if we got to that point in time, we would take measures to vigilantly protect this business model.

That all seems sensible given the existential threat posed by the Premier Golf League. The league could siphon top players and expose PGA Tour schedule bloat that so many top players have acknowledged in recent weeks. Furthermore, the PGL’s “team concept” goes against PGA Tour regulations preventing players from having a financial interest in other players. Therefore, taking decisive action against early adopters seems warranted on Monahan and the Policy Board’s part.

Yet, the reluctance to go public with a ban policy prompts questions about the possible reasoning:

A) Gives the PGL legitimacy. Coming out with an unprecedented ban focused on one particular Tour certainly validates the PGL. Monahan’s stance of just waiting for a player to leave is probably the wise strategy. Unless a large group of players joins forces at once.

(B) Contradicts Rory. Rory McIlroy’s recent praise of independent contractor life, as opposed to a league requiring full participation, would suddenly sound less realistic under such a PGL ban. Particularly if a precedent is set that could be applied to other existing tours. Restraint of trade could be claimed.

C) Bad optics. Protecting the PGA Tour and its beneficiaries should not create a bad look, but the world is a funny place when it comes to perception. If a few top players or legends are threatened, they might get in a public war that benefits no one. Cutting off a long time star for good, while protecting the Tour, could also upset fans of that player.

Circling back to point A, why should Monahan take a tough public stance when no player has publicly committed? After all, the Tour’s board has been working to button up existing regulations related to competing tours.

In a January 24, 2020 memo to the PGA Tour Policy Board, Monahan explained his concerns to the board saying, “our current Regulations prevent players from taking actions that would cause TOUR harm (reputational or otherwise), as the Private Equity Golf structure would undoubtedly do.”

He went on to explain two more proposed regulation changes to ensure players “give their best efforts and to prevent free riding on the goodwill amassed in the PGA Tour brand.”

 The board was expected to ratify an action last week that “further crystallizes such intention and corresponding prohibitions.” However, a PGA Tour spokesperson would not confirm whether that vote was taken at last week’s Policy Board meeting.

There may also be more legal and financial ramifications not visible on the surface. Or, this tug-of-war could be a simple conundrum that has Monahan erring on the side of caution: there are big egos, massive dollars and too many sensitivities to take a tougher public stance that may already have been addressed in PGA Tour regulations.

The full press conference:

PGA TOUR commissioner Jay Monahan addresses the media @THEPLAYERSChamp. https://t.co/oqBJdz2oV0

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 10, 2020

Florida Swing: Is TPC Sawgrass Offering A Welcome Respite?

Garry Smits of the Florida Times Union talked to players still recovering from difficult tests at the Honda Classic and Arnold Palmer Invitational. And while no one has lost respect for the immaculately groomed TPC Sawgrass, host of this week’s Players, some of the bite sounds gone.

This from Denny McCarthy and super Jeff Plotts stood out:

“Believe it or not, this might be the easiest course on the Florida Swing because of the way the last two played and how [the Copperhead] is historically tough,” McCarthy said. “The weather looks good this week, so this one might not have the teeth of the others. But you still have to hit quality shots.”

TPC Sawgrass director of agronomy Jeff Plotts said he and his staff felt a bit of envy when watching the players struggle at PGA National and Bay Hill.

“We were laughing last week ... ’Why can we have that kind of wind this week,” Plotts said. “The best defense for a golf course against these guys is wind. They’re so good that if the wind doesn’t blow, they’re going to shoot good scores. We thought we were firming up, but then we got the rain [Monday morning] and the firmness of the course can erode with just the rain we got.”

For the wagering inclined, Jeff Sherman seems convinced there will a low winning score. And no weekend golf for Phil.

THE PLAYERS Championship outrights, 20 matchups and 40 propositions now available @SuperBookUSA

Winning Score: 274.5

Lowest Round: 64.5 Under -200

R McIlroy Make the Cut: Yes -1000 No +650

J Spieth Make the Cut: Yes -120 No EV

P Mickelson Make the Cut: Yes +200 No -250

— Jeff Sherman (@golfodds) March 9, 2020

Mushnick Looks At Golf's Gambling Push: "On-course, incivility...only can grow worse"

New York Post graphic illustration

The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick considered the NFL and PGA Tour pushes into gambling, and highlighted PGA Tour Vice President Norb Gambuzza’s declaration that “Golf is open for the business of betting.”

Mushnick’s use of PGA instead of PGA Tour is hardly a first or a serious crime, and it’s his concern for gambling on shots played that is what matters. Especially with fans able to (someday soon) place bets on their phone.

Gambling on golf — more specifically on golfers — creates disturbing sooner-or-later scenarios. Even more gamblers, who already could bet via “fantasy sites,” can now stand just a few feet from those they bet on — or more significantly, bet against. On-course, incivility, already on the rise with the PGA’s reliance on alcohol sales, only can grow worse.

Just think of the patron, drunk or sober, who can win 10 grand if this guy misses a 6-footer on 18.

He also raises the specter of player’s being abused by those who lose a bet.

At last year’s Masters, Jason Day, among the betting favorites, withdrew during the first round after reinjuring his back. The direct vitriol he then received from “fans” on social media left him staggered. Think any of those hateful missives were from gamblers?

While those cases are likely to be rare, with alcohol sales not being cut off until late in the day…

Anyway, the question raised by Mushnick matches the initial reaction a lot of longtime observers have about golf gambling: there may be troubles.

Another reason, in my view, the PGA Tour’s initial focus should be on fantasy lineup play and perhaps live betting to start. Though even the live betting could create on-course problems unless security is upgraded and alcohol sales are cut off a lot earlier.

"On the death of a brother, Tiger's epic Masters and the bonding power of sports"

A touching read from ESPN.com’s Ian O’Connor. Just a snippet…

As a sports journalist, you are not allowed to root for a team or an athlete. You are allowed to root for the best available story. So I was rooting for Tiger Woods for selfish reasons, at least until I saw the look on Dan's face with two holes to go.

Then I stopped rooting for Tiger to win for me. I started rooting for Tiger to win for him.

Monahan: FedExCup Payments Could Multiply Three To Four Times Of 2018's $35 Million Payout

There are a few things to consider in Commissioner Jay Monahan’s extended CNBC interview off camera and written up by Jessica Golden at CNBC.com. This one went better that the on-camera chat.

The primary focus was of Golden’s story was on Monahan’s rebuttal to the Premier Golf League: more FedExCup money!

In terms of bonus money, FedExCup and Wyndham’s rewards for the Top-10 golfers goes from $70 million this year to $100 million in 2022.

Wyndam’s rewards.

“Every single person on our tour is going to see an increase,” Monahan said.

Monahan said over course of the new deal, PGA Tour golfers could see FedExCup payouts three to four times that of the $35 million paid out in 2018 and increased prize money for some of the biggest events.

 A) It’s intriguing the Commish used 2018’s $35 million as the number the pot will jump three to four times from. In 2019 the FedExCup jumped to $60 million, with a $15 million first prize.

B) The focus on “every single person on our tour” seeing an increase won’t inspire fans and seemed tone deaf on a day the markets were cratering and news of a new media deal really shouldn’t be about the cold hard cash. Yes, the Commissioner reports to the players, but he should have saved that talk for the player meetings and instead focus in this rollout on how the rights deal will improve the “product”.

Heads Up: College Golf TV Carrying Final Round Live Stream Of The Bandon Dunes Championship

Just a heads up for those who aren’t aware of College Golf TV, they’ve got final round coverage of The Bandon Dunes Championship at, Bandon Dunes!

Oregon State leads Oregon heading into Tuesday’s final round.

Coverage is from 9 am to 2 pm Pacific Time at the link.

ANA Inspiration Next? Coachella Seems Headed To Fall, BNP Paribas Open Cancelled

Jin Young Ko dives into Poppie’s Pond after winning the 2019 ANA Inspiration

With a huge senior citizen population, the first recorded case of COVID-19 in the region and events drawing significant crowds adjusting, the LPGA Tour’s first major of 2020 now appears in jeopardy.

The Desert Sun’s trusted golf correspondent Larry Bohannan, is on the case regarding the ANA Inspiration at Mission Hills. The LPGA’s statement to Bohannan:

“The LPGA Tour continues to closely monitor all information related to the coronavirus in partnership with our security and medical teams, the (Centers for Disease Control) and the (World Health Organization),” the women’s tour said in a statement to The Desert Sun on Monday. “At this time, there are no plans to cancel any upcoming LPGA Tour events.

The LPGA Tour has already lost three events to coronavirus concerns and has not played a tournament since February 16th.

AP’s Beth Harris on the economic blow caused by the BNP Paribas Open’s “postponement”.

Dave Brooks of Billboard on the Coachella music festival’s efforts to postpone until October.

PGA Of America Considering Backup Option For May's PGA?

Nice scoop by Robert Lusetich on the possibility of the PGA of America considering its options for May’s PGA Championship in San Francisco. He reports the TPC Sawgrass as a possible backup should the coronavirus spread rule out a large sports event at TPC Harding Park.

I'm told officials from the PGA Tour and PGA are discussing a contingency plan that could move @PGAChampionship from Harding Park in San Francisco to TPC Sawgrass. PGA statement below. #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/vb1JhQtNUp

— Robert Lusetich (@RobertLusetich) March 9, 2020

It’s a logical move in this sense: the TPC Sawgrass will have infrastructure already in place and a golf course capable of hosting a major championship. The PGA Tour and PGA of America are strategic partners and should be able to work out the details.

Not so logical: given the cancellation of so many events and unpredictability of the coronavirus, a contingency venue may not be enough to save the event.

Jay Monahan Rolled Out The New TV Deal As Markets Crashed, And It Went About As Well As You'd Expect

Presumably somewhere down in Ponte Vedra Beach this weekend, the good folks discussed whether Commissioner Jay Monahan should make the rounds promoting the next PGA Tour media deal.

With cratering markets, major event cancellations and the world trying to squash a pandemic, Monahan forged ahead with a CNBC Squawk Box appearance. And as any upright, non-comatose adult might have predicted, hosts Joe Kernen, Becky Quick, and Andrew Ross Sorkin could not hide their disdain for having to conduct the interview while anticipating the worst market day in a decade.

It was tough to pinpoint the the most awkward moment, but…

Was it Kernen’s apologetic intro asking viewers to pretend to go back in time a few weeks to hear about such a thing?

Quick interrupting when Monahan noted the size of golf course properties (“3-400 acres”) implying a coronavirus light space, and Monahan answering, “we’ve stood up a business around this subject and we did so several weeks ago. And we have leaders within our company that are pouring themselves into this.”

Or was it Sorkin wanting to know answers to about 15 tough questions to just make the whole interview go away?

CNBC’s social team did not push this one out on the Squawk Box Twitter feed for all in public relations circles to learn how the cancellation button is your friend. But the interview was posted on YouTube: