Tiger On The "Gear Effect" Of Old Persimmon Heads

You may recall that Justin Thomas posted about a seemingly random round with Rickie Fowler playing a persimmon driver.

Turns out, that was inspired by a round a few days prior when Tiger Woods brought out his high school driver for a birthday celebration round with Thomas, Fowler and Bud Cauley. He told GolfTV’s Hennie Zuel that it’s “fun to see those guys try and hit something that small”.

And then this for those who’d like to see pros play a slightly smaller driver head.

“The gear effect is incredible. You hit the ball off the heel, it starts so far left. You hit the ball off the toe, it starts so far right. But it always comes back. Our drivers don’t come back anymore. They don’t have that gear effect. 

The full clip from GolfTV:

The story of @TigerWoods making JT and Rickie hit his high school driver. pic.twitter.com/pLFGhWJ97a

— GOLFTV (@GOLFTV) May 14, 2020

California Governor Opens The Door To Possible Sports Events In June

Looking highly unlikely just days ago, PGA of America officials must be pleased to see California Governor Gavin Newsom opening the door to a possible return of sports in California.

Fans are out for the foreseeable future and many other conditions must be met, but the early August PGA still has a shot at being played. However, major changes in rules for world travel would need to change if the PGA wants to play with a traditional international field.

Recently, Tommy Fleetwood said he would not be partaking in the PGA Tour’s June return due to rules on quaranting on both sides of the Atlantic.

The governor’s remarks:

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state could see pro sports return by the first week of June without fans. pic.twitter.com/j4PPg56Yn7

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) May 18, 2020

Ratings: "Driving Relief" Draws A Traditional Tour Event-Sized Audience

While NASCAR’s return garnered massive ratings, golf’s “live” return up against most of the first race back did not stand a chance. Why the attempt at competing with non-exhibition sports, we’ll never know. (Golf was the second biggest sports event of the week in terms of eyeballs and just held off a strong challenge from the Beverly Hills Dog Show.)

More importantly: the only number from TaylorMade Driving Relief that matters: $5.5 million and counting raised for COVID-19 related causes, with United Health and Farmers doing the biggest check-writing.

As for the TV audience, golf fans returned. But when the release compares the exhibition with 2019 Tour events, it becomes clear sports fans probably went with NASCAR.

For Immediate Release:

TAYLORMADE DRIVING RELIEF EARNS 2.35 MILLION VIEWERS (TAD) ACROSS NBC, GOLF CHANNEL, NBCSN & STREAMING

Golf’s Return to Television Has Raised More Than $5.5 Million for COVID-19

Relief Efforts So Far; Donations Continue via PGATOUR.com/DrivingRelief

ORLANDO, Fla. (May 18, 2020) – Live golf returned for the first time in two months on Sunday, with TaylorMade Driving Relief supported by UnitedHealth Group, which saw a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 2.35 million average viewers (2-6:33p ET; P2+) across NBC, GOLF Channel, NBCSN, along with NBC Sports and PGA TOUR streaming platforms. Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson defeated Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff in a charity skins match that has raised more than $5.5 million for COVID-19 relief efforts. Donations are continuing at PGATOUR.com/DrivingRelief.

“Sunday’s telecast helped raise awareness for the American Nurses Foundation, CDC Foundation and Off Their Plate, three organizations on the frontlines of COVID-19 relief efforts. It’s a credit to the PGA TOUR, corporate partners and the players for making this event a terrific success,” said Pete Bevacqua, president, NBC Sports Group. “On top of the funds raised for these charitable entities, audiences were treated to their first look at Seminole Golf Club, which ultimately was the fifth star on Sunday in its television debut.”

A 2.35 million TAD for Sunday’s live broadcast is relatively flat for average viewership compared to CBS’ and NBC’s 2nd Quarter 2019 PGA TOUR Final Round average (2.32M vs 2.38M average viewership, -2%). Additionally, Persons 25-54 garnered 762,000 average viewers, up 44% vs. CBS/NBC’s 2019 2nd Quarter PGA TOUR Final Round average.

Instant Poll: Should The 2020 U.S. Open Go Forward As An Invitational?

As GolfDigest.com’s Daniel Rapaport notes, no one is happy about the U.S. Open having to be an invitational this year, on the slim chance it’s even played at Winged Foot this September 17-20.

The charm of an open national championship has become so profound, the USGA found a few extra pennies to come up with golf’s second worst slogan that is now in a sprint with Live Under Par to the trash heap of ad agency asininity.

So, put me down for conflicted, wanting to see a U.S. Open at Winged Foot but wondering how it can be called a U.S. Open when it’s no longer open. Which is my cowardly way of asking for a deciding vote on whether this is a good idea.

By the way before you vote, can you imagine what His Ownself is saying right now that the U.S. Open has been announced as an invitational while the USGA won’t credit Hogan with a fifth (Hale America) U.S. Open?

Should the U.S. Open be played as an invitational-only event or cancelled?

Yes, cancel it's just not an Open

No, any U.S. Open is a U.S. Open

 

pollcode.com free polls

From Many, None: Report Says USGA Cancels Local And Sectional Qualifying; No Fans On Site If 2020 U.S. Open Is Played

An unbylined Golfweek item, since deleted, offered a detailed report on the USGA cancelling local and sectional qualifying for the 2020 U.S. Open. The tournament was postponed to September 17-20, 2020 at Winged Foot Golf Club and would feature an all-exempt invitational field that the USGA is still working through along with many other details designed to play some form of a championship.

From the lengthy item (still posted at MSN’s golf page), which certainly did not appear to be an incomplete report, just perhaps an incorrectly timed release and delivering the not-surprising relating that large crowds will not happen:

Nor could the USGA’s championship team adequately function amid the pandemic. “The USGA is headquartered in New Jersey, the second most hard-hit state in the country with a higher mortality rate than the global average,” said Craig Annis, the chief brand officer. “Our ability to effectively put on all 14 championships with qualifiers when we can’t be physically together, can’t fly, and in some instances would need to quarantine for 14 days before being able to operate in some states, is severely limited.”

The new COVID-19 reality will be apparent even at the championships that are staged, especially at Winged Foot. The customary number of volunteers at a U.S. Open—between 5,500 and 6,000—will be cut to around 200. “Most of the volunteers at our qualifying and championships are of an age demographic that is at high risk,” Bodenhamer explained.

The targeted number of people permitted to be on-site each day at the Open will be around 2,000. With a typical complement of fans, that number would usually be around 40,000.

“We know with the U.S. Open it’s going to be significantly scaled back. We are trying to get our numbers as low as possible to get the necessary approvals to play,” Bodenhamer said. “Whatever we’re permitted to do by governments, we will build on that.”

The US Amateur and US Women’s Amateur remain scheduled.

**Subsequent reports say a decision has not been made on fans but at 2,000 people on site, any crowds would be relegated to tiny numbers after allotting for players, entourages, television, media, security and other essential personnel.

World's Seventh Oldest Club Offering Membership Specials

The incredible Fraserburgh is offering options for membership to help raise funds for both domestic and international players. I wrote about the course here for GolfDigest.com and Ran Morrissett published this profile many years back.

You can check out the primary offerings here and the more extensive options here.

Video: Seminole Portion Of The Donald Ross Doc

Before Seminole goes away a bit until the 2021 Walker Cup, the course might have intrigued you enough to here a few more minutes about what Donald Ross thought was one of his finest efforts.

This clip is from Cob Carlson’s documentary and viewable online:

Seminole - excerpt from 'Donald Ross: Discovering the Legend" from Cob Carlson on Vimeo.

Guardian: "UK's old university towns hit by Covid-19 'double whammy'"

The Guardian’s Caroline Davies considers the state of United Kingdom university towns and while several have ties to golf, there is really only one: St Andrews.

From her story:

Around 9,000 students make up one-third of the population, and Scotland’s oldest university, which generated £268.6m for the local economy in 2018, is the town’s major employer, supporting 4,260 jobs.

With the scenic coastline of north-east Fife, and the Royal and Ancient a golfing destination par excellence, tourism is the second major employer.

“But we are a long way from knowing how students will be able to come, and how many. It’s very difficult to see how international students will be able to return in any numbers at all if normal term times are able to start again,” said Alan Mitchell, chief executive of the Fife chamber of commerce. “Equally, it’s hard to see international golf tourism happening any time soon.”

TaylorMade Driving Relief Roundup: Good Reviews But Then, What's There To Quibble About

Well, there were problems. A few doozies though all well-intentioned unless you’re tired of decisions based on chasing a broader audience, made by folks not comfortable enough to just trust the product: super golfers, great course and enough modern television tricks to put on a good show.

Anyway! Overall, in between too many bad production choices was an impressive telecast visually given only six cameras and a plane view—funds were raised for good causes, as Doug Ferguson notes in his AP story.

PGA Tour Charities allowed for online donations during the telecast, raising more than $1 million. The donations will continue until Tuesday. When the exhibition ended, more than $5.5 million had been pledged, starting with the $3 million guarantee from UnitedHeath Group.

Players carried their own bags.

The bag carrying was a great look and arguably the highlight for most golfers. Those caddies should not lose any sleep, as Alan Shipnuck and Dylan Dethier noted in the Golf.com roundtable, there appeared a few moments the players needed a caddy to lean on.

Shipnuck: I think it had more to do with rust, and some wind, but a lot of times they looked off by half-a-club. Makes me wonder if caddies could have had them more dialed in. And nobody made any putts besides Fowler. Again, Seminole’s greens are tough, but I think these guys missed the ritual of confirming their reads.

Dethier: I think a good caddie helps his player commit to shots. A couple of these guys looked like they could have used some help in that department.

Bob Harig at ESPN said there was plenty to wonder about, but mostly appreciated seeing live golf again.

But more than anything, golfers competing and getting a chance to watch them was the star attraction.

"It's a lot of fun to get out here, do something fun and do something for charity,'' Johnson said during the NBC broadcast. "Feels good to get to the golf course and have a little competition. I know we're all looking forward to playing some golf.''

Johnson rather sheepishly admitted earlier in the week that he had not played a round of golf since the Players Championship until May 10. And at times, his game looked a bit ragged, as did parts of the proceedings.

In a perfect world, perhaps there would be some nit-picking, but in the one we are a part of now, this event should be celebrated more than analyzed.

Sam Weinman makes the astute point that from a sports perspective, only one thing mattered: safety, and the relief fund effort passed that taste despite some dreadful physical distancing several times (Ford walking the players in from the parking lot, first Sands interview) and jokes that probably didn’t fit the times (McIlroy on FedExCup money won and Wolff making a testing crack before quickly realizing it wasn’t great).

Two handed out largely positive grades, with me wishing I had David Dusek at Golfweek as my professor, and Dylan Dethier at Golf.com handing out a few D’s and F’s underneath mostly good grades.

Trump On Driving Relief Telecast: Normal Return Means Big Crowds, No Masks At Golf Tournaments

Doug Ferguson reports on President Donald Trump’s 10-minute phone appearance during the COVID-19 relief event at Seminole that started with his views on China and some other odd moments.

From a golf perspective, Trump addressed what he sees as a return as part of his push to reopen the American economy.

“After that, hopefully, it will be back,” Trump said in his interview with NBC host Mike Tirico. “We really want to see it back to normal so when we have all these thousands, tens of thousands of people going to your majors and going to golf tournaments, we want them to be having that same experience. We don’t want them having to wear masks and be doing what we’ve been doing for the last number of months. Because that’s not getting back to normal.”

Will Gray also noted the President’s comments about slightly reduced numbers of fans at the Masters.

The appearance appeared to lose a lot of viewers based on the post-Trump slowdown in social activity.

As Jay Rigdon notes for Awful Announcing, with the appearance on top of a predictably painful Bill Murray segment on top of Trump’s chat, the combination stunted any momentum for the broadcast.

There was also some over-interpretation of Mike Tirico’s “kick-in” putt comment—I’m sensed some had not heard that phrase, a “tap in” alternative—rounded up here by Yahoo’s Jason Owens.

A Seminole Primer And Preview Plus A Distance Debate Note

Michael Bamberger predicts that Seminole will be the real star of Sunday, May 17th’s TaylorMade Driving Relief Skins Game.

The club’s history with elite players dates to Ben Hogan’s era and his affinity for the place, as Jim McCabe writes for PGATour.com.

Making its national TV debut Sunday on NBC and Golf Channel (2 pm ET), the Donald Ross design could come off a bit underwhelming with limited production values due to safety concerns. But Andy Johnson’s article about the Ross approach to a tough site is worth a read as well as for Jeffrey Bertch’s photos.

David Normoyle also looks at Seminole and captures some of what makes it special.

Seminole is admirable and worthy of study because Donald Ross, helped by several other architects since 1929, offers for us today a course in the swamps of Florida very much like St. Andrews and the National in that: 1) it is remarkably easy for a group of average golfers to get around quickly, while 2) being remarkably difficult for an expert in that same group to get the ball into the hole quickly.

That is the holy grail in golf design, and Seminole achieves it. Few others do, though many more should.

Finally, there is the foursome taking on the course and what Mssrs. McIlroy, Fowler, Johnson and Wolff might do to make Seminole look like a museum piece.

Bamberger has a theory that this could be one final eye-opener to kick start distance regulation conversations currently on hold.

Henry Kissinger likes to say that great historical events begin with great personalities. The resurrection of the 560-yard par-5 may not qualify as a great historical event, but it would make for better golf.

Rees Jones, a Seminole member and the course-architect sometimes called The Open Doctor, believes that. Mike Davis, the USGA’s CEO, is a Seminole member and a driving force behind the USGA’s recent Distance Report, believes that. Nick Price, a Seminole member and USGA executive committee member, believes that.

Seminole will be the site of next year’s Walker Cup match. That will give Jimmy Dunne, the Seminole president, and Mike Davis plenty of opportunity to compare notes and their wish lists. McIlroy, as the son of a Seminole member, as a U.S. Open winner, as a former GB&I Walker Cupper, can offer his insights. He can help chart a course. He can persuade the lodge brothers — his fellow touring pros — that the time has come.

Tipping points are movements. Movements start with people. They start with a message. Enter Rory, a microphone under his chin.

Quail Hollow Lands 2025 PGA Championship On Top Of Next Year's Presidents Cup And Maybe Even This Year's PGA

Don’t get me wrong. LOVE Charlotte. The people, the places, the food, the short rental car center walk.

But how Quail Hollow became America’s southeastern St Andrews, I have no clue.

The over-renovated, over-extended and over-glorified club is kind of everything that seems past its time, if it had a time: long, light on character, ugly and expensive blinding-white bunkers set on the outside of doglegs, bales of Bermudagrass rough, an elitist vibe and extreme overexposure.

With that said, the club finalized a second PGA Championship in 2025 today in case you were mapping out your summer five years from now. The club is scheduled to host next year’s Presidents Cup, probably has Wells Fargo’s on PGA Tour the 2022-24 calendars, and based on what I’m reading from Dave Shedloski of Golf World, this year’s PGA. That is, when it’s officially apparent California and other states are not an option.

The PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh acknowledged California’s “Phase 4” reopening of the state will not happen by August, all but killing Harding Park’s chances of hosting with or without fans.

You do not need a doctorate to see a possible replacement site is down to a pair of venues if the PGA Championship is played in 2020.

As for major-caliber layouts on the CBS schedule, once you eliminate California contenders Riviera Country Club and Torrey Pines, the leaders would be Muirfield Village Golf Club, in Dublin, Ohio, and Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte. It’s doubtful Muirfield Village, which has held a Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, would get the nod when it’s annual Memorial Tournament, hosted by Nicklaus, is rescheduled for July 16-19. Quail Hollow was the site of the 2017 PGA, won by Justin Thomas, and was just announced Thursday that it was being awarded the 2025 PGA Championship. The course wouldn’t require much extra effort to get into shape, because the Wells Fargo Championship that Quail Hollow was slated to host through May 3 was among the nine tournaments the PGA Tour was forced to cancel during the pandemic.

Rory On McKellar Podcast: Appreciating Architecture, Ohoopee, Seminole, Carrying His Clubs On Sunday, Swing Ownership, Golf With Trump (Probably Not Again)

Rory McIlroy joins the latest McKellar podcast to discuss this Sunday’s charitable match at Seminole and anything else Lawrence Donegan and John Huggan asked. Thankfully, the hosts did their best Columbo impression and drew all sorts of fun things out of the world no. 1 past the allotted time.

Highlights:

—McIlroy discussed his appreciation for golf course design as he’s gotten older, wiser and played enough less interesting courses.

—Seminole and his fascination with the design.

—He confirmed players will be carrying their bags at this Sunday’s charity relief fundraiser, saying the look of golfers in carts would have been a poor one (perhaps the Woods-Mickelson-Brady-Manning event a week later in carts will rethink that dreadful look).

—Playing with less than 14 clubs and the importance for young players to learn shots by playing and perhaps doing so with fewer clubs in the bag.

—He’s a big fan of Kingston Heath and considered playing the Australian Open there this year just to rekindle his affinity for the course.

—Shared that he is a founding member of Hanse Design’s Ohoopee Match Club and why he loves the course.

—Instruction and the importance of players taking ownership of their swing.

—He discussed his golf with President Donald Trump, was critical of his leadership during the COVID-19 crisis and seems unlikely to accept a future invitation to tee it up.

—McIlroy continues to believe the Ryder Cup should not be played without fans and should be postponed a year if galleries are not permitted at Whistling Straits

Head to the iTunes link to listen or below or wherever you get your podcasts. And don’t forget to support McKellar Magazine!

Golf Take Note: NASCAR's 90-Minute iRacing Series Yields Ideas For Major Change

The LA Times’ venerable sports business writer David Wharton considers NASCAR’s return Sunday—an hour after live golf begins at Seminole—and the recent iRacing invitational series’ impact. (For those from a more experienced demographic, that’s the video game deal.)

While golf was not able to muster up anything like the iRacing series due to various issues and a concern about perception, Wharton notes that NASCAR’s continued concerns about fandom remains a major focus. As noted here, they’ve already instituted efforts to make the racing more strategic again by slowing down cars and ratings have improved.

But post iRacing, they reported attracting new fans who had not watched a real race. The length of races and an open mind to more variety of track settings in a fan-free world, was also noticed.

The success of the 90-minute iRacing broadcasts has reinforced an already existing push for shorter Cup Series events.

“I don’t think we need all those four-hour races,” said Myers, a long-time motorsports fan. “It’s hard to ask a family guy to carve out that much time on a Sunday.”

Shifting away from traditional, oval tracks — at least some of the time — could counteract NASCAR’s reputation as a “left-turn league.”

More road courses, popular in the past, could help. So could the occasional dirt track and street circuits akin to the Long Beach Grand Prix. NASCAR has planned a first-ever doubleheader with IndyCar later in the year.

“It really is about the fans,” NASCAR president Steve Phelps said recently. “We need to make sure we are putting on compelling racing and having full grandstands when we do that.”

Another thing about the iRacing series — it helped personalize a sport born of moonshine runners and larger-than-life personas. Fans saw drivers’ faces normally obscured by helmets and window nets. They listened to favorites talk strategy and crack jokes.

Wharton goes on to note other elements, but should NASCAR put into practice shorter races and more variety of approaches, the lessons for golf could be both tangible and backed up with real data.

Just off the top of my head, the upcoming exhibitions at Seminole and Medalist probably should have been nine holes, and without large gatherings of fans, might the professional game reemerge looking at more “boutique” or remote venues for tournaments?

Top Europeans Not Likely To Travel To U.S. For PGA Tour Restart

From Ewan Murray’s Guardian story on PGA Tour testing and the issues facing European players who will face a 14 day quarantine to play, with another 14 days awaiting in the United Kingdom upon returning.

Mostly notably, Tommy Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari do not expect to be among those supporting the planned restart.

Speaking at the start of this week, Fleetwood suggested he regards the restrictions as too prohibitive. “I’m not going to travel to America and stay away for four months, that is simply not a consideration,” the world No 10 said. It is understood Molinari, who lives in London, will not travel for the June events either.