"Caddyshack star Michael O’Keefe will caddie at 2020 US Open"

Any concerns you had that next week’s U.S. Open was all business, only allowing essential folks on site and not just Hale America 2, can rest assured, Danny Noonan is only coming out of retirement for the practice rounds, reports the New York Post’s Mark Cannizzaro.

The story is a fun look back at some of actor Michael O’Keefe’s backstory in jokingly throwing this idea out at Golf.com and his interesting tie to Winged Foot, along with the pro golfer who will go for the stunt, Danny Balin, and the looping gig broker, Michael Breed.

Asked if he plans to bring a lighter carry bag for O’Keefe next week, Balin said, “No, he’ll be carrying the full tour bag. I’m going to put him to work.’’

Balin said he DVRed “Caddyshack’’ on Tuesday night even though he estimated he’s watched the movie “15 or 20 times.’’

“I’m going to have to watch it to get the one-liners down so I can give it to him,’’ Balin said. “Because I’m going to be all over him during this whole … stunt.’’

Michael Breed, the former Golf Channel instructional personality who now teaches at Trump Ferry Point, was the middle man to this transaction, reaching out to Balin, his fellow Met Area pro, and pitching the idea of O’Keefe caddying for him.

“I try to take this somewhat serious, so I would never do this during a tournament round,’’ Balin said. “But I was like, ‘Yeah this will be cool. Danny Noonan. Monday and Tuesday.’ It’ll be a fun couple of days. It’ll lighten the mood up.’’

The USGA plans to have some fun with this, making it a social media event on its platforms.

Thank you for the warning.

2020 U.S. Open Flyover: Eleventh Hole At Winged Foot

The other short par-4 at Winged Foot is a visual gem with granite, strong fairway slope, attractive bunkering and a picturesque second shot.

The 384-yard 11th is arguably one of the more memorable on the property and could highlight how the game has changed since the West Course last hosted in 2006.

Given its distinct fairway tilt and narrowness, the intrigue during this year’s tournament may center around whether players automatically lay-up with an iron, or, use their strengthened ransverses abdominis’ to carry the ball 330 and gouge a lob wedge onto the green.

Another enjoyable flyover courtesy of the USGA and Deloitte:

Pinehurst Gets Five U.S. Opens As USGA "Accelerates" Strategy To Stage At "Iconic Venues"

Since we’ve had some idea what was coming—state funded incentives to bring more tournaments and USGA facilities to North Carolina—the main headline for golf fans involves the acceleration of a U.S. Open rota, as noted in the press release below. The positives are obvious: more regular returns to great venues, the downside being the excitement and intrigue that comes from occasional visits to a Merion, Los Angeles Country Club or Bethpage.

For Immediate Release…with interruptions.

USGA Announces Plans for Golf House Pinehurst, Test Center and 
Five U.S. Open Championships at Pinehurst

Agreement establishes a golf innovation hub in North Carolina and the
organization’s first U.S. Open anchor site  

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. (Sept. 9, 2020) – In an effort to expand its impact in golf and extend its mission to champion and advance the game, the USGA will establish “Golf House Pinehurst” in North Carolina, to include a new equipment-testing facility, innovation hub, museum/visitor center and offices by 2023, and host five U.S. Open Championships in the golf-rich state by 2047.

Is the innovation hub is where they come up with a tournament ball allowing Pinehurst No. 2 to be relevant again for one of those U.S. Opens well into the future?

The announcement adds four U.S. Open Championships to be contested on the famed Pinehurst No. 2 course – in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047 – to the already scheduled 2024 event. The decision accelerates the USGA’s strategy to stage its premier golf championship at America’s most iconic venues with greater frequency. By doing so, Pinehurst Resort & Country Club will serve as the USGA’s first anchor site for the U.S. Open.

Anchor site: that’s American for rota.

“There is no better place for the USGA to plant new roots than the Home of American Golf,” said Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA. “Thanks to the vision of North Carolina, Moore County and Pinehurst leaders, we are taking a bold step forward and forging a long-term commitment that will elevate our championships, foster greater innovation in golf, and ultimately help grow the game.”

The innovation word again. Rulemakers are innovators? Turfgrass research and the Green Section, absolutely. Otherwise…

“The USGA’s North Carolina history in golf is legendary, from Arnold Palmer to Webb Simpson, and we welcome this new chapter in golf history with the USGA’s new hub in Pinehurst,” said Governor Roy Cooper.

From Arnold to Webb.

“We welcome the USGA’s selection of our state for this significant new component of its operations and new jobs, and look forward to growing with the game across North Carolina.”

Ding, ding, ding! We have our first grow the game.

“The USGA’s plans for this significant new presence in Pinehurst elevates the Village’s reputation in the golf world and enhances North Carolina’s prestige as a destination for both businesses and tourists,” said Commerce Secretary Anthony Copeland. “Today’s news will add new energy to the leisure and hospitality services and significantly contribute to the long-term recovery of that important segment of our economy.”

I’m sure the bookings have overwhelmed the operators standing by.

The plan, conceived over the last several years, came to fruition through a comprehensive economic development effort that involved representatives from the North Carolina General Assembly, the Office of the Governor, the Department of Commerce, Moore County, the Village of Pinehurst and economic development experts. 

The total $25 million investment over the next several years includes the construction of two buildings to be located near the clubhouse on the historic Pinehurst Resort property, housing 50 full-time USGA staff members. 

The campus will feature the USGA’s Equipment Standards Test Center – a laboratory dedicated to testing golf balls and clubs for conformance to the Rules of Golf. It will replace the current facility on the USGA’s Liberty Corner campus and enable significant new investment in advanced technology required to perform this global governance function.

They won’t get outsmarted by the manufacturers thanks to this new lab?

Pinehurst will also serve as the USGA’s base for its work to advance the game of golf through innovation, research and science, in collaboration with some of the state’s leading universities. 

A USGA Golf Museum experience will also be added, giving visitors a chance to delve into the association’s premier collection of golf artifacts and connect them more deeply with the game’s rich history. 

Here, here, the best part of this announcement given the Village of Pinehurst’s charm, heritage and the likelihood visitors there should enjoy the museum’s offerings.

Independent studies estimate that the total economic impact of the USGA’s long-term presence will exceed $2 billion to the state of North Carolina. More than 1 million visitors travel to Pinehurst annually. 

The USGA, the Village of Pinehurst and Pinehurst Resort all celebrate their 125th anniversaries this year.  

“The USGA and Pinehurst Resort have a deep and storied history of partnering to foster the game of golf and crown its greatest champions,” said Bob Dedman, Jr., speaking on behalf of the Dedman family, which owns Pinehurst Resort. “We are honored to be selected as the U.S. Open’s first anchor site, an unprecedented distinction and testament to Pinehurst No. 2’s legacy and future as a championship test for the world’s greatest golfers.” 

Since it was a tad dusty and a “distant” spectating experience last time around, hopefully a water truck is purchase number one. And money for those pricey new back tees needed on No. 2 to offset all the innovation created next to the course.

“While so much of the game’s history is rooted in timeless traditions, both the USGA and Pinehurst have embraced innovation in golf course architecture, agronomy, equipment design, player development and the Rules of the game,” added Dedman.

“We’re excited to work with the USGA as they create leading edge equipment and training facilities to advance the game, as well as a new visitor center to link the past to the present and future.”

It’ll be interesting to see what constitutes “leading edge equipment and training facilities to advance the game.” As noted here, it sure sounds like the USGA is becoming a grow-the-golf-business organization. What could go wrong?

In addition to four newly scheduled U.S. Opens, the USGA will bring its other premier championships to the state at an increased rate, including, but not limited to, the U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women’s Amateur, U.S. Junior and U.S. Girls’ Junior. 

Increased championship frequency will allow the USGA and Pinehurst to make future investments that will enhance the association’s ability to create a first-class player, corporate partner, fan, volunteer and media championship experience.

Water truck! Binoculars to see the golf!

The streamlining of operating costs due to the permanent presence will also allow the USGA to increase its annual investment in the game. 

North Carolina has hosted 33 USGA championships since 1955, including last year’s U.S. Amateur Championship at Pinehurst Resort. The 2021 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship will be conducted at the Country Club of North Carolina in Pinehurst and the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open will be played at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in nearby Southern Pines before the U.S. Open returns to Pinehurst No. 2 for its fourth playing in 2024. 

Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2022. Formal design plans are not complete; however, the new buildings will be no more than two stories tall and reflect the aesthetic of the village and Pinehurst Resort.  

USGA staffers based in Pinehurst will include members of the championship operations, Research and Test Center and Green Section teams. The number represents approximately 15 percent of the USGA’s current workforce and will include some of the game’s foremost scientific and golf management experts. 

At least, the ones who didn’t take the buyouts last year.

The administrative building in Pinehurst will feature educational exhibits and memorabilia from the USGA Golf Museum and Library in Liberty Corner, which serves as the primary repository of golf history and learning in the world.

The majority of USGA staff will continue to be based at the association’s main campus in New Jersey.

On a serious note: all of this talk of innovation, growing the game, building a future comes during a pandemic when play is up largely for two reasons that have little to do with innovation, tournament golf, technology and other grow the game nonsense: time and outdoor physical distancing.

So spend away and innovate away, but remember, golf is thriving because folks have more time to take up something safe and outdoors.

2020 Masters Final Round Will Need To Start Early To Make Way For A Dolphins-Jets Mid-Season Thriller

CBS Sports President Sean McManus previewed the NFL season and Sunday, November 15th came up—aka rescheduled 2020 Masters week.

The final round sounds as if it’ll have a similar setup to the 2019 Masters when tee times were moved up to get play in before inclement weather. This time, however, the expedited start will be making room for a mash-up of mediocrity between 2019’s 5-11 Miami Dolphins against the 7-9 New York Jets.

What Clifford Roberts might have said to member/NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on that news? Maybe a passive-aggressive Heidi reference? Or a reminder that the Masters only happens once a year? Or…if you’d like to keep wearing that green jacket you’ll move this massive meeting of mediocrity?

Anyway, a 7:30-9 am or so setup, featuring threesomes off split tees, will be used again to accommodate the NFL on CBS based on the below Tweet and confirmation I received of the general window from CBS:

CBS sports chairman Sean McManus says Masters final round will end by 2:30 or so on Nov. 15 to make way for 3 NFL games at 4:05,including Fins-Jets.Also, in this ongoing call with writers,Romo explained to me why he likes how Dolphins are doing this rebuild.(More on this shortly)

— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) September 8, 2020

For those wondering, sunrise is expected at 6:59 am ET on November 15th and sunset is set for 5:24 pm ET.

Paul Lawrie Blesses Royal Dornoch's New 7th Hole For Tartan Pro Tour Event

We were delighted to welcome former Open champion Paul Lawrie to officially open our new 7th hole on the Championship Course 😊 Taking time out from this week's @tartanprotour event, Paul even made birdie at the first attempt! Look out for the footage soon... 👌 📸 @johnpaulfoto . . . #royaldornochlinks #friendsofroyaldornoch #lawrie #theopen #scottishhighlands #seventh #scenic #instagolf #golflife #linksgolf #photography #film

It’s not often that a nearly perfect golf course to get just a bit more perfect, so this a salute to Royal Dornoch for hosting the Lawrie Series/Tartan Pro Golf and unveiling a revamped 7th.

If you’ve had the privilege or dream of some day getting there, you likely know the walk from 6 to 7 at Royal Dornoch is one of the best in golf and while the view is elite, the revamp allows you to keep enjoying that scenery while playing a better-positioned version of the old hole.

As for the Tartan event, Chris Maclean subsequently won with rounds of 66-69. That’s some fine play.

The epic view looking down on the sixth and tenth before turning to the new seventh (you may need to click on the image and hit play to see the video):

The 1999 Open Champion Paul Lawrie brings his Tartan Pro Tour to Royal Dornoch in a few hours ⛳️ so will be interesting to see what he and the rest of the pros playing make of our classic links and the new 7th hole 🤔 🎬@golflife_matt . . . . #scottishhighlands #linksgolf #golflifestyle #golflife #video #summervibes #oceanview #golftravel #scotspirit

Does The USGA's Pinehurst "Project Woodpecker" Hope To Spur The Creation Of Carlsbad East?

I couldn’t help but scratch my head reading Laura Douglas’ excellent Pilot story on the forthcoming marriage of the USGA and Pinehurst, complete with more majors, more USGA jobs and more exposure for golf lovers to the organization’s collection.

The downside? Some will not be thrilled at all of the tax breaks given to a for-profit resort and a tax-exempt 501(c)3 which specifically mentions such charitable organizations are forbidden from attempting “to influence legislation”:

County leaders unanimously approved a 10-year incentive grant for the project primarily in the form of tax breaks calculated as 90 percent of the total property taxes paid above and beyond the current property tax value — provided the USGA meets job creation and capital investment goals. Funding would be paid from new tax revenues collected as a result of the organization’s investment.

More disconcerting for those who believe the USGA is to govern the game is the suggestion of trying to create a new golf manufacturing and business community in Pinehurst. These are the folks in charge of regulating such matters, yet seem to be in the business of trying to be part of growing the overall golf business in North Carolina.

From Douglas in the Pilot:

“Their desire to construct a permanent home here also comes with a commitment to honor the traditions and respect for the game found here, and to preserve the historic nature of this community,” said Pat Corso, executive director of Partners in Progress (PIP), the county’s economic development arm.

Corso was president and chief operating officer at Pinehurst Resort when the first U.S. Open was held at No. 2 in 1999.

He noted USGA has committed to work directly with PIP to facilitate the recruitment of additional golf-related companies, including headquarters, research and development, manufacturers and associations.

“To have the USGA in Moore County puts our community in an enviable position as we look towards the future,” Corso said. “There cannot be a better suited project for our area.”

The reaction from Golf Pride’s Jame Ledford would appear to confirm this business push:

“I can’t think of a better opportunity for this community,” said Jamie Ledford, president of Golf Pride. “I could see this being something of a tipping point.”

He said USGA’s move could spur an even greater golf development cluster, potentially creating “an East Coast” version of the community that built up around Callaway Golf in Carlsbad, Calif.

“All you need to do is recruit just a handful of companies and with that come really attractive jobs for the community. There are a lot of jobs tied up in this opportunity, specifically, but you also need to think about downstream development.”

And here is the crux of the Project Woodpecker matter: does this mean the USGA is a pro-business support organization, or one that governs the game with only a regard for what’s best to support the sustainability of golf?

We’ll find out more Wednesday when the plans are explained in more detail.

USGA Moving Museum, Ball Testing, Green Section To Pinehurst

John Dell reports for the Winston-Salem Journal on the USGA moving some of its museum, Arnold Palmer Golf History Center, Green Section and ball testing from the recent multi-million dollar renovated Golf House to Pinehurst. The move comes less than a week after North Carolina’s legislature voted on a bill to subsidize a significant chunk of the cost for new satellite facilities with the USGA on the hook for at least $5 million worth.

”Project Woodpecker” requires the creation of 35 new local jobs and a staff of 50 for ten years, along with multiple championships and a corporate hospitality tent for local politicos.

From Dell’s report:

The moves of the museum, the ball-testing facility and the agronomy department from headquarters in Liberty Corner, N.J., were confirmed Tuesday by a source who did not want to be identified. A news conference at the Pinehurst Resort to make a formal announcement is expected Wednesday morning.

In exchange for up to $43 million in incentives from N.C. lawmakers to the USGA, golf fans in the state can expect to see more USGA events, including its most high-profile, played more often in North Carolina. Legislation requires the USGA to host a major men's championship at least once every five to seven years and one major women's championship at least every 10 years.

The Palmer history center was reopened in 2008 after a three-year $20 million renovation. Arnold Palmer attended the opening.

The Jack Nicklaus Room was added in 2015 and was attended by Nicklaus.

More recently, a three-story administration building was created and opened on the site with an undetermined price tag.

**Update: A GolfDigest.com story says only a wing of the museum is headed to Pinehurst (thanks reader NH), leaving the primary museum and history center in Far Hills. That certainly makes more sense in terms of recent spending, while still spreading the gospel of the game’s history at America’s golf mecca.

From the GolfDigest.com story by Mike Stachura:

The association’s primary headquarters would remain in New Jersey, as would the USGA Golf Museum and the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History.

“We will be creating a golf museum experience for all the people that come to the Pinehurst area,” Annis said during the council meeting. “Our intent is to keep that facility [the current library and museum] and create an annex of sorts to ensure that we can share some of that history.”

Justin Thomas Is The PGA Of America's Player Of 2020, FedExCup Champ Finishes 5th

The best player of the year award for my money is free of politics and top secret votes. Unfortunately, it lands well before 2020’s schedule has played out. With two majors to go, the PGA of America has opted to acknowledge the PGA Tour’s wraparound schedule pandemic push that centered around the FedExCup holding its dates, followed by a “new” season this week in Napa.

In return, the system used to determine winner failed to acknowledge the FedExCup champ in the top 4 spots despite an incredible run by Dustin Johnson, putting the playoff’s place in a surprising historical context given the shortened season placing even more emphasis on those events (theoretically at least).

PGA Tour players and the Golf Writers Association of America will award POY winners in September and December, respectively.

For Immediate Release:

JUSTIN THOMAS CAPTURES SECOND CAREER PGA OF AMERICA PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Webb Simpson wins his first Vardon Trophy

Click here for the final 2020 PGA Player of the Year & Vardon Trophy standings

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (Sept. 8, 2020) – Justin Thomas edged Jon Rahm to capture his second PGA of America Player of the Year Award, presented by the PGA of America for excellence by a PGA TOUR professional.

Thomas, who won three season events, earned his second career PGA Player of the Year honor and first since 2017. 

Thomas collected 66 overall points, including 30 for winning The CJ Cup at Nine Bridges, Sentry Tournament of Champions and the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational. Thomas shared runner-up honors in the FedEx Cup with Xander Schauffele. 

Rahm finished with 56 points for his highest-ever PGA Player of the Year performance, while PGA Champion Collin Morikawa (54) was third and Webb Simpson (52) fourth, while collecting his first Vardon Trophy. 

Thomas won the season money title (20 points) based upon events prior to the 30-player FedEx Cup finale, and he finished third in the Vardon Trophy race for 16 points.
 
Schauffele posted a 265 total for 72 holes in the TOUR Championship, earning 10 points under PGA of America rules that reward the low scorer to determine the PGA Player of the Year. 

Since 1948, the PGA of America has honored the game’s best players with the PGA Player of the Year Award. It is presented to the top TOUR professional based on a point system for tournament wins, official money standings, and scoring averages. Points for the 2019-20 season began with the A Military Tribute at the Greenbrier on Sept. 12, 2019, and concluded Monday, Sept. 7, at the TOUR Championship.

With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the TOUR schedule, there was only one major championship -- the PGA Championship -- played within the regular season points system.  

In the Vardon Trophy race, Simpson finished with a 68.978 adjusted scoring average based upon 52 complete rounds. Rahm was runner-up at 69.127; followed by Thomas (69.128), Rory McIlroy (69.219) and Schauffele (69.227).

Since 1937, the Vardon Trophy, named by the PGA of America in honor of legendary British golfer Harry Vardon, has been presented annually to the touring professional with the lowest adjusted scoring average. With 11 PGA Tour events canceled due to the pandemic, the Vardon Trophy required a minimum of 44 rounds, with no incomplete rounds, in events co-sponsored or designated by the PGA TOUR. The adjusted score was computed from the average score of the field at each event.

The PGA TOUR also recognizes its annual Player of the Year, with the winner announced in September, determined by a vote of the membership.

U.S. Open: "Is the famed West Course set up for another Massacre at Winged Foot?"

Mike Dougherty of the Rockland/Westchester Journal News stopped in at Winged Foot where the rescheduled U.S. Open is set to start next week.

The focus appears to be on winning scores and rough, which is too bad since such projections rarely end well.

There is plenty of good stuff about the agronomic shift the club had to make due to the pandemic and the tournament’s new mid-September playing.

Speaking to superintendent Steve Rabideau about the hoped for outcome of preparations, it seems a high winning score would be gratifying.

As he reached into the rough to retrieve the golf ball Tuesday, Rabideau quietly offered a familiar refrain.

“Plus-8. Plus-8. Plus 8. … That would cap a very difficult summer,” he said. “And my guys know that’s what I’ve been thinking.”

Several of them were applying fertilizer to the rough nearby.

The USGA’s Jeff Hall says the team plans to “let Winged Foot be Winged Foot,” and from the sounds of this, I hope there are plenty of marshals ready to look for balls:

"There were extra hours invested and extra cost involved for water to irrigate the rough and nurse it through a difficult summer so it’s typical Winged Foot U.S. Open rough," Hall said. "They’ve done a masterful job ensuring the rough will be a key component in the golf course setup."

It will again be graduated, but less so than in 2006.

The primary cut will be narrower and will initially top out around 3 1/2 inches, according to Hall. It will only be utilized on a select number of holes. The danger zone will be more prevalent and start the week at 5-plus inches. Even the rough under the majestic specimen trees is dense.

In case you were wondering, the length of days is addressed by Dougherty. He reports the split tee start will begin 6:50 a.m Thursday and Friday despite a sunrise just a few minutes before that. However, the field has been reduced to 144 from the tournament’s traditional 156 with finishing rounds in mind.

ANA Inspiration Forecast: Extreme Heat But At Least The Winner Can Dive Into Poppie's Pond

While it’s hardly a surprise that September in the greater Palm Springs area is dangerously hot, seeing the forecast for this week’s rescheduled ANA Inspiration still elicits the obvious question: why?

Obviously television and other tournament needs somehow left this date to the women for 2020’s second major championship.

Still, the Desert Sun’s Larry Bohannan tackles the very legitimate question: how hot is too hot?

The LPGA decided last week to allow caddies to use carts.

Johnson Claims $15 Million And Now We Don't Have To Hear About The FedExCup Again Until Thursday

My daily Tour Championship Mindfulness session started after the 15th hole and ended with Dustin Johnson in the 18th fairway. In between I had this strange dream that he announced he was donating a nice chunk to a Tour charity hit hard by the pandemic AND finally marry Paulina. That’s why they’re called dreams.

Anyway, the 2020 playing at East Lake was mildly interesting at times, but without fans and only two dangerous shots to a PGA Tour (as Paul Azinger noted…8th and 15th tees), this 2020 Tour Championship will elicit as many fond memories as the year it was played.

Year two of the staggered scoring system ultimately rewarded the best player in the playoffs, where Dustin Johnson was -45, well clear of next closest competitor Jon Rahm (-29). But due to the staggered start, Johnson had to work much harder than necessary given his playoff dominance. I point this out for those taking seriously the importance and excitement of the season long race and playoffs.

The twist: a legit scoring system would have been even less dramatic Sunday if the old format was in place, with Xander Schauffele winning a Tour Championship and Johnson the FedExCup.

As Brian Wacker reports for GolfDigest.com, this is Johnson’s 23rd PGA Tour win and installs him as the favorite at Winged Foot in just over a week. The FedExCup as a piece to his Hall of Fame puzzle was noted by Sean Martin at PGATour.com.

If you’re looking for change, note that most of the game’s writers and in particular the younger set—hint, hint marketing mavens at Cult PVB—want a match play conclusion to this event.

From the Golf.com weekly roundtable where only the guy outside the coveted demo was not peddling a match play idea.

Golf.com’s gang:

Sens: I know a lot of careful, number-crunching thought went into it, but giving a professional golfer a head start at the beginning of a tournament is too absurd for me to accept. This isn’t a weekend club competition. Get rid of the handicapping.

Melton: I’m not sold on the current format. I know it makes viewing more friendly for the casual fan, but the lack of contenders as a result of the handicapped leaderboard can make it a bit of a snoozer. Incorporating some sort of match-play component to determine the FedEx Cup champ could be a fun twist that still allows for the casual fan to easily comprehend.

Zak: Stroke play for two days, then match play for two? Feels like we all want that. If we need to give the season a bunch of value, allow for FedEx Cup ranking to guarantee a spot in match play. 

Colgan: I love the idea of incentivizing strong performance, but I think — as my colleague Josh Berhow pointed out last week — the best way to do that is to shift to match play. This weekend was a great proof of concept for how beneficial it is to start a tournament at 10 under, but it was decidedly not a great proof that doing so manufactures compelling golf. It’s time for match play.

Bamberger: I’ve been down this road before: play all three tournaments, winner is the winner of one 216-hole event. Cut players after each round.

Emergency Zoom PVB style and pronto, because the 2020-21 season starts Thursday in Napa (smoke permitting).

Club Pro Guy’s take on the net championship concept might also be good meeting fodder.

My congratulatory letter to #FedEx Champion @DJohnsonPGA pic.twitter.com/bCoJPx5lR4

— Club Pro Guy (@ClubProGuy) September 8, 2020

Highlights from PGA Tour Entertainment:

2020 U.S. Open Flyover: Tenth Hole At Winged Foot

The “3-iron into some guy’s bedroom” (Hogan) at 190 yards will play 214 this time around, so 3-irons are unlikely even with the added length to offset better absorption of Vitamin D fueling linebackers-turned-golfers.

What is so charming about Winged Foot’s 10th when, on paper, it’s seemingly pretty simple?

There is the aesthetic factor, for starters. As Tom Nieporte, the club’s long time pro once said, “it’s like a painted picture, every time you play it”.

The hole is undeniably beautiful, simple and crying out to be painted. Most of the best holes sit on a landscape in ways that are attractive to an artist.

There is also the 10th’s location in the round. Buried elsewhere on the West Course it would undoubtedly be a much-talked about par-3. But put it in front of the clubhouse and the 10th takes on a different majesty, particularly since so few clubhouses in the world are accented by views of a par-3.

Then there is the cross bunker short of the green, somehow not filled in by a committee trying to appease less-skilled golfers or citing maintenance budgets, even though A.W. Tillinghast was just such a culprit during his PGA of America Tour. Such bunkers help create painting-worthy holes and disturb depth-perception.

The green provides a charming combination of elements. It’s elevated 8-10 feet above the surrounding ground, is steeply pitched and is somewhat pear-shaped, the opposite presentation of the preceding hole. Recoveries from the bunkers are rare and the overall effect is a green playing smaller than it appears. So think Postage Stamp, only 80 yards longer.

As with the other Winged Foot holes we’ve looked at so far, the restoration of putting surface space and hole location options adds so much character. I particularly love the 10th’s “infinity” look of the rear putting surface area peeling over the back. The effect from the tee, at least in this flyover, is to make an already intimidating shot look tougher. This, even though the addition of putting surface on the back slope could be used to a player’s advantage during this year’s rescheduled tournament.

No. 10 at Winged Foot is a 214-yard par 3 that features the deepest bunkers on the course, sitting 8½ feet below the putting surface. It's also the only hole to play in a westerly direction.

In collaboration with @DeloitteUS. pic.twitter.com/XTmqeQyd3x

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) September 5, 2020

Report: Moribund PGA Tour "Playoffs" To (Mercifully) End Monday

2020 has been positive in one very small sense: it has spawned some spectacular, even unprecedented “playoff” naps. We’re talking circa 2012, 2014 level melatonin injections after mere minutes of tuning into the PGA Tour’s three season-ending non-thrill rides.

While I enjoyed some drool-inducers during Olympia Fields week, nothing has come close to Sunday’s third round siesta extraordinaire.

You know the kind: wake up to a golf telecast with no idea what day it is, what year it is, or what tournament is making that background noise.

The affairs at East Lake have been made worse by a random confluence of factors. There is the soul-crushing sight of watching the Johnson brothers reading greens, Feherty buttoning up in fear of a 904 party-pooper questioning his jokes, and the traditionally energy-light venue which somehow feels even more moribund than usual. I’m almost pining for the East Lake Cup college mascots to make a cameo. Almost.

Juxtapose this stagnant $45 million snoozer against compelling NBA games, NBC’s impressive Kentucky Derby coverage (where no controversy was ignored), and Sunday’s bizarro Djokovic U.S. Open antics, and the PGA Tour’s Super Bowl seems more unimaginably dull than normal.

Good news: just one more day in the 2019-20 season remains until players regroup from the playoff stress and assorted hard-contact injuries to start all over again next Thursday in Napa.

Until then, Dustin Johnson seems primed to add $15 million to his bank account on the back of an impressive fourth-straight week holding a 54-hole lead. He leads by five. But it’s such a joyless form of golf to watch that goes beyond on the, uh, placid demeanor of the leader. Risk and reward is almost non-existent. The players rarely smile or seem remotely happy to be there. The NBC telecast looks like a show with a slashed budget and sounds like a live infomercial. A far cry from the aforementioned big-time events where the storytelling and honesty lures the viewer in. But, this is what the players and Ponte Vedra brass demand no matter how synthetic and dull.

So if your Labor Day schedule is light, then 4 1/2 hours of NBC coverage begins at 1 pm ET. And if you’re wondering, Xander Schauffele would be leading a way more compelling final round setup if this was not a net championship.

But I doubt you were wondering.

2020 U.S. Open Flyover: Ninth At Winged Foot

The first par-5 reduced to a par-4 in 2006 returns to its three-shotter roots for the 2020 U.S. Open.

However, due to the influx of brussel-sprout based dieting and more players incorporating standing one-arm preacher curls into their workouts, a driving hitting the fairway should set up a long iron into the green.

The putting surface shape and contouring here is masterful, with the wide front gradually shrinking as the green goes. A simple looking green has so much going on with seemingly random contours and bumps, meaning even with its reachability, it should serve as a much better short par-5 this time around.

No. 9 at Winged Foot is a straightaway, 565-yard par 5 that played as the longest par 4 in #USOpen history to that point in 2006. Its greenside bunkers will pose a challenge for players attempting to reach the green in two.

In collaboration with @DeloitteUS. pic.twitter.com/FlvkEKZjO9

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) September 4, 2020

Next Week's Champions Event In Sioux Falls Welcoming Fans Back With Plenty Of Precautions

Golfweek.com’s Adam Schupak reports on the Sanford International (September 11-13) becoming the first COVID-19 era event to welcome back the paying public.

Played at Sioux Falls, South Dakota’s Minnehaha Country Club the event is sponsored by the PGA Tour’s official COVID-19 testing partner and while typically well-attended, will be playing it extra things carefully knowing they are the first.

Schupak spoke to tournament director Hollis Cavner and writes:

All spectators are encouraged to take their own temperature before heading to the tournament. Upon arrival, FDA approved non-contact wrist thermometers will be utilized at each parking lot prior to spectators getting on a shuttle bus. Temperature checks will also take place at the main entrance for those that arrive without taking a shuttle. Anyone with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher will be turned away and asked to seek medical attention.

Fans will be given free masks, if needed, as well as gloves, if requested. The golf course has been roped so fans won’t be able to get as close to the players as usual. Stationary hand sanitizer units will be placed at entrances to public bleachers, hospitality structures, and the clubhouse. Portolets and restroom trailers will each be equipped with sanitizer pumps and handwashing stations as well. For the safety of the players and gallery members alike, autographs will be prohibited.

“We’re on 250 acres. Spacing people on 250 acres is like 12 people inside a Super Wal-Mart,” Cavner said. “We’re the guinea pig for bringing people back to golf with live crowds, so we’ve gone overboard to make sure we don’t have any issues.”

Not likely to be welcome at the tournament: retired company founder T. Denny Sanford, who is currently under investigation.