NLU Podcast: Unpacking The USGA/R&A Announcement
/A chat with No Laying Up’s Chris Solomon not long after the USGA and R&A announced serious efforts to address the distance issue.
When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
Ratings: 2021 Farmers With Reed Controversy Off Slightly On CBS, Golf Channel Ratings Take Hit Without Tiger
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Not much year-to-year change for CBS at the season-opening (for them) Farmers Insurance Open according to ShowBuzzDaily. The PGA Tour moving to CBS and the NFL taking the week off meant golf won the sports week.
The 2021 final round on CBS dropped slightly from a 2.14 averaging 3.24 million in 2020 to a 1.95/3.1 million in 2021. Coverage last year include Tiger Woods within striking range and coverage impacted by news of Kobe Bryant’s death.
Embedded in the numbers are some signs of the Woods effect and Golf Channel’s ratings rough patch.
Weekend lead-in coverage numbers were down significantly from 2020 when Woods was in contention. Friday afternoon’s coverage essentially cut in half without the legend around.
Shocking Equipment Proposal Sets Up Major(s) Skirmish
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My latest in The Quadrilateral takes a look at the surprising aggressiveness of the governing bodies proposing equipment rule changes and how the men’s majors will get caught in the middle.
One follow-up note since this paid subscriber-only piece was posted: the PGA of America offered a statement in response to my request for comment.
"We look forward to providing feedback once we have the opportunity to review the areas of interest."
Augusta National Golf Club has not responded to a request regarding Tuesday’s rollout and what it might mean for The Masters.
Paul Casey Explains Why He Changed His Mind On Playing Saudi Arabia
/Last week’s winner in Dubai notably de-committed from the inaugural Saudi stop after the Kingdom was linked to gruesomely assassinating Washington Post columnist Jamal Kashoggi.
Paul Casey is back for the third playing and was asked what changed since citing his partnership with UNICEF as reason not to appear.
It was quite an exchange with the Daily Mirror’s Neil McLeman.
Q. Can we talk about the reasons why you're playing in Saudi this year? You previously declined to play for political reasons and now you're obviously there. Can you talk us, how difficult a decision has this been for you and what specifically changed for you?
PAUL CASEY: I don't think I was necessarily that political before, but you are correct, I took a stance where I didn't participate before.
I think something that -- which I felt at that time a couple of years ago, was that I think I was a little bit torn. You know I'm a father. I've got two kids. You know my charitable ties with UNICEF, and I felt that it was not right for me to play.
I've spent the last two years thinking about that a lot. I've learnt an awful lot. I've read an awful lot. And one of the things that I was flat-out wrong on was -- was with my UNICEF ties, is that they are not a political organisation. Their focus is purely on the vulnerability of children around the world, and making sure they look after children around the world and doing everything they can to save them. And that's important to me and that's my focus with my charitable views and endeavors.
And so I was reminded that if you stay away, if you don't engage, if you don't talk, you don't visit, then you're merely kind of hardening positions, and so that actually doesn't do any good.
Engagement and inclusion is really what it's all about. And look, I think things are not black and white. It's very much a grey area what we discussed in the last -- two years ago when I made a position. You know, if you mentioned something like children's rights -- there's not a country on the planet that meets every single rights of a child, not a single country on the planet. And so all you can hope for, Neil, is that a country is on a path towards meeting at many of those as possible.
There's something called the convention of a child, conventions of a child; the rights of a child. You can look it up. This country has signed up to those conventions and is making progress to ticking off as many of those as possible. And that's all I can hope for. And if my -- I felt that if my participation this year can assist in that process -- and if that can make a difference, one iota of a difference, then that's something important.
So it was more -- so I will hold my hand up and say that the position I had two years ago was probably not the right position to have. And so that is why I am here.
Q. You said in your October statement, "I hope my participation will make a difference." Amnesty International called golfers this week to speak up about human rights issues in Saudi Arabia, and since that statement, Loujain al-Hathloul has been jailed for five years for her activism. So would you like -- is part of that process to make a difference, would you like to condemn that?
PAUL CASEY: Run me through that again.
Q. Right. You said in October, you said in the statement, you said, "I hope my participation" -- "my participation will make a difference."
PAUL CASEY: Yes.
Q. In Saudi, okay. Amnesty International called the golfers in Saudi Arabia to speak up about human rights issues in Saudi Arabia. And since that statement in October, Loujain al-Hathloul a very well known human feminist activist in Saudi has been jailed for five years. That happened in December. So would you like to take this opportunity as part of that process to condemn that action by the Saudi government?
PAUL CASEY: And that's who is jailed her?
Q. Saudi Arabia have.
PAUL CASEY: Okay. Neil, this is the first I've read of that. Clearly I'm not well enough read on that particular topic. Clearly with what I just said to you in our previous question, yeah, there's no question that that is not aligned with my beliefs, does it.
Look, I didn't want to go -- I don't want this week to be about this situation. You know, what I've just said in my statements to you to answer your previous question, I think it's very clear you know my views.
Tour Pros Say The Funniest Things: "Proposed Equipment Standards Changes" Edition
/Some genuine beauties here.
Not that it’s a surprise, but the first two submissions to this week’s edition of Tour Pros Say The Funniest Things happen to wear Titleist hats. Not sure if you know, but the Tour editions come with industry-leading moisture and common sense wicking. I cannot confirm, however that the lids contain a small frontal lobe zapper every time a player wonders if there might be something to this whole distance thing.
Webb Simpson, defending Waste Management Open champion with that amazing dry wit.
Wait you said there is video evidence? Oh.
Brace for Onionesque tree planting ideas…
Q. Today the USGA and R&A released some proposals regarding distance down the road, maybe limiting driver shaft lengths, maybe some ball testing things. Just wondering where you stand on the whole distance debate, and also how big a player should the PGA TOUR be in this whole discussion?
WEBB SIMPSON: Yeah, it's a great question. My first problem I have with the driver length is if a 6'10" really good golfer comes out, like are we really going to tell him he can't use anything longer than 46? So that's my only problem with the length of the driver.
Somewhere a seven-footer is thanking you for saving him from a career in basketball.
But I've been kind of saying for the last few years, I don't think equipment is the problem. I do think -- Jack Nicklaus hit it a lot further than Bobby Jones, and then the guys after Jack are going to hit it further than Jack. Distance was never really that big of an issue when Jack was playing and hitting it 300 yards.
I just think the issue comes down to golf course architecture. We need more doglegs. We need tighter fairways. We need longer rough. We need smaller greens. We need more firm greens. All those things I just named save money, saves water, saves land that you have to build a golf course.
To my superintendent readers, I’m sorry I didn’t give you a warning that you’d be subjected to first-year green committee-level ignorance. I’ll do better.
We know that 8,000-yard golf courses are not the answer. Books Koepka shot 16-under at Erin Hills. I believe that's what he shot. Lengthening courses is not the issue. Bunker placements, dog begs, tree placements. I even think at Augusta on 13 we don't need that tee 40 yards back. What they need is a mid-sized tree 20 yards in front of the tee box and five feet left of the tee box because the issue right now is guys can tee it up on the right and they can even cut it, some of these guys, over the tree. Well, if you put a tree there guys can't do that.
See, this is where Clifford Roberts would actually follow that advice and put a $200,000 bill in Webb’s locker this year. Kind of miss those dictators on days like this.
It's just like the 4th hole this year at Winged Foot; it's a dogleg left par-4 but there's a tree there with branches so the bombers can't hit their cut over that bunker, so a lot of the bombers just hit 3-wood.
Now, attaching branches, trickier task. Great golf architectural ploy though. Yikes.
So I really think the attention does not need to be on equipment or the golf ball. Billy Horschel had a great comment a couple years ago.
There’s something you almost never hear.
He said the golf ball is not an issue; I hit a 7-iron in college 180 yards and now I hit it 180 yards, so it can't really be the golf ball is the problem.
Can’t be the golf ball, says another Titleist guy!
Now, the driver, the face is a lot thinner. They're bigger. I understand that. But I don't think an equipment rollback does anybody any good when we can change the way golf courses are designed and it's better for amateurs, it's better for pros, and there are plenty of golf courses on the PGA TOUR that have stood the test of time because of the way they're designed.
Yeah amateurs love rough, trees and tiny greens that are bumpy because they can’t handle the traffic.
Equipment advances don't really pay off or pay a dividend on those courses, and I just feel like these tweaks we could make are really not that hard and they're cost effective.
He’s run the numbers has he?
Your last point about the PGA TOUR, I think their voice should be very loud. I respect the USGA and R&A a great deal, and I know that their intentions are great, but I don't think an equipment rollback is what we need. I think we need different -- I think we need to tweak our golf courses.
And you have, and other than the TPC’s, you send the bill to others. Such consideration!
Justin Thomas returned from a few weeks off to gather his thoughts after microphones caught him uttering a homophobic slur and not to worry Wally, he appreciated the Acushnet support through trying times and stuck to the party line.
Q. I'm sure you've probably heard the USGA and the R&A today announced some proposals regarding distance, things like possibility of limited driver lengths or maybe regulations on the ball. Just curious your kind of overall thoughts on distance and the whole distance debate and maybe where you stand there.
JUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah, I didn't know that. I mean, I think that they -- I think distance is what it is right now because of us, and I think because of a lot of the players are taking the training and becoming more athletes and becoming stronger and more optimal in their distance. It is what it is.
It sure is.
I mean, if you give us different stuff we're still going to try to find a way to hit it as far as we possibly can. I don't think there's any reason or it's not necessary at all to change the golf ball.
Why of course not!
I am fine with them maybe not going any farther with it, but I think Tiger said it a while ago that they missed that opportunity probably 20 or so years ago.
Yes back when Uncle Wally and friends were totally open to the idea! Damn, those missed openings.
Strap in, it’s about to get silly.
Companies have put billions of dollars I would say -- I mean, I don't know that, so I'll say millions of dollars into the construction of golf balls and equipment, and to be perfectly honest, I think it would be extremely selfish of the USGA and the R&A to do that because of all the hard work that they've put in to make their equipment and golf balls as great as they possibly can and maybe just take a step back and realize that we're doing some pretty awesome things with the golf ball and the golf clubs, and also look at your everyday golfer and go up to him and tell him that you want him to hit it shorter because just the top .001 percent of all golfers are hitting it too far, if you will.
So much in one sentence but we’ll just go with “extremely selfish” for non-profit organizations to make people obey their totally voluntary rules.
I think it's not a very good decision, but you know, I'm not sitting in the boardrooms and making those decisions. But hopefully the right thing will be done.
Agreed. Roll it back!
Kind of all makes this Tweet from Wesley Bryan look dignified if it too wasn’t so 1998.
Taylormade Is For Sale (Again) And The Company Is Also Opposed To Distance Rule Changes
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The New York Times’ Dealbook reports that KPS Capital Partners has hired Morgan Stanley to handle a sale of Taylormade.
Perhaps at a tidy profit.
A deal could value the company at more than $2 billion; KPS bought it for $425 million from Adidas four years ago. Spokespeople for Morgan Stanley and KPS declined to comment, while TaylorMade was unavailable for comment.
KPS bought Taylormade from Adidas in 2017.
According to Golfweek’s David Dusek, the company issued a statement in response to news of possible major equipment rule changes.
The statement from CEO David Abeles suggests his mind is made up:
“We have meticulously reviewed the USGA and R&A’s 2017 Distance Report and discussed its findings with key stakeholders. Additionally, we have carefully considered the inferred implications that the study may have on the game moving forward. The TaylorMade Golf Company firmly opposes any potential rollback of product performance or bifurcation of the rules in any form as we believe these movements will be detrimental to the game at every level.”
Taylormade is free at any time to make any product they would like. The USGA and R&A’s rules are completely optional.
Or, bifurcation of the rules could allow Taylormade to make “forward moving” products for the average golfer yet under the rules of golf.
“We are optimistic about golf’s future and we believe that the growth initiatives our industry has invested in are beginning to drive participation momentum in our sport.
The “industry” being non-profit organizations.
The outlay to support “growth initiatives” by the for-profit manufacturers has been minsicule, at best.
“Any separation from the rules or any step backward in performance would be disadvantageous to the growth of the game.
As the sport enjoys incredible sales due to golfers having more time, not due to any new innovation.
For millions of golfers of all skill levels, we believe innovation and technology lead to better performance, and better performance brings more joy to the game for all who play it.
Equipment has never been better. Ever. Never easier to hit but it took additional free time caused by a pandemic to spike rounds.
“As the discussion around bifurcation and rollback formalizes, we look forward to having a seat at the table to lend our voice. Until then, we will continue to create the best performing products for all golfers.”
He’s openly hostile to the equipment news, not for bifurcation that might allow for more “game improvement” innovation, yet wants a seat at the table. Audacious.
Also possibly cornering the company at the time of a sale. Courageous.
Proposed Equipment Changes: Is Everything On The Table?
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I think so.
Granted, this may just be the USGA and R&A sending manufacturers down various paths just for the fun of it, but I’m still wrapping my head around this section of the “Topics of Interest” presented today:
In order to progress these matters, The R&A and the USGA will assess potential changes to both club and ball specifications over a wide range of skill levels and swing speeds that could lead to a reduction in driving distance, lead to a reduction of the distance for other clubs in the bag and lead to an enhancement in the balance between hitting distance and other skills, while at the same time conducting research in other areas beyond those directly associated with equipment specifications.
Regarding club and ball specifications we will evaluate the following:
•Reduction in the limit within the overall distance standard
•Modification in the limitation of ball efficiency (update to IV)
•Other ball specifications (size, mass)
•Reduction in the performance of drivers: club length and clubhead dimensions (including volume)
•Changes in the clubhead specifications on spring-like effect and moment of inertia, also considering the utilization of radius of gyration limitations
•Production of spin from all clubs from all areas of the course.
We will also evaluate the potential use of a Local Rule option to specify use of a defined subset of conforming clubs and/or balls intended to result in shorter hitting distances and/or an enhancement in the balance between distance and other skills. The concept is that a Committee or golf facility would have the option of requiring the use of equipment meeting these specifications or a subset of them. We are seeking feedback from manufacturers and stakeholders on this concept and how any of the above listed research topics could potentially be considered for use as a Local Rule.
Sure sounds like driver head size, the ball, grooves and most everything is a possible target.
Though it still seems most likely, based on the Distance Insights conclusion, that ball aerodynamics and the driver face will be what ends up changing.
Thoughts?
"The USGA and R&A Announce Golf Equipment Research Topics and Proposed Equipment Standards Changes"
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We have a lot to get to! For now, the press release says a lot. With, admittedly, a fun buried lede.
The USGA and R&A Announce Golf Equipment Research Topics and Proposed Equipment Standards Changes
Research topics include potential Local Rule and review of club and ball specifications
to help mitigate continuing distance increases
Proposed changes to current Equipment Standards on club length, test conditions for golf ball testing and tolerances for club spring-like effect to ensure effectiveness in relation to distance limits
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J., USA and ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (Feb. 2, 2021) – The USGA and The R&A are re-engaging with the golf industry on the Distance Insights project, which aims to help achieve a more sustainable long-term future for golf.
Strong lede.
The governing bodies are issuing specific Areas of Interest to help mitigate continuing distance increases and three proposed changes to the Equipment Rules to ensure their effectiveness in relation to distance limits.
Areas of Interest=Person of Interest.
The delivery of research topics related to hitting distances and golf’s sustainability was delayed in 2020 to allow the golf industry to focus on the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The Areas of Interest notice, sent on Monday to golf equipment manufacturers, follows the conclusions of the Distance Insights Report delivered last February. It is the first step of the established Equipment Rulemaking Procedures, which give the opportunity for golf’s stakeholders to provide research and perspectives on topics that might lead to equipment Rules changes.
In addition, three proposals related to Equipment Standards were also sent to the manufacturers yesterday and have been published – two to modernize equipment testing protocols and the other to consider the adoption of a Model Local Rule that would provide flexibility for committees, if they so choose, to limit the maximum length for clubs other than putters from 48 to 46 inches. Notice and comment periods have begun immediately to invite feedback on each of the three proposals from golf industry stakeholders.
The Model Local Rule. Also none as, a gift to Augusta National’s stately 13th tee pines that will live to see many more Masters and allow Bryson DeChambeau to say he’s been unfairly targeted. Maybe.
It’s a little too targeted and personal. Which might be the goal given that I see early reports by those who had the embargoed version of this leading with DeChambeau targeting in their headlines. Could backfire. Or could be a brilliant bait and switch to protect the big ticket changes.
Research Topics/Areas of Interest
Document link: Official USGA/R&A Document
(Research due by Nov. 2, 2021)
The Areas of Interest notice addresses two specific Areas of Interest:
The potential use of a Local Rule that would specify the use of clubs and/or balls intended to result in shorter hitting distances. This would enable committees conducting competitions to stipulate whether such equipment should be used. It could be available at all levels of play and would also allow golfers playing outside of competition to choose for themselves.
That is bifurcation whether they will call it such or not. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
A review of the overall conformance specifications for both clubs and balls, including specifications that both directly and indirectly affect hitting distances. This review would consider whether any existing specifications should be adjusted or any new specifications created to help mitigate continuing distance increases. It would not consider revising the overall specifications to produce substantial reductions in hitting distances at all levels of the game. A list of club and ball specifications to be reviewed can be found in the official notice.
Stakeholders are invited to participate in the process by sharing any data or perspectives they might have on these topics by Nov. 2, 2021.
Oh so much time to rack up billable hours!
The topics are purely areas for research. No solutions or decisions are being proposed at this stage. Any proposals for Rule changes that might result from this research will be communicated in accordance with the Equipment Rulemaking Procedures.
Proposed Equipment Standards changes
The USGA and The R&A are addressing the effectiveness of current equipment-testing processes, protocols and standards with respect to distance limits. As a result, the governing bodies are seeking comment from equipment manufacturers on three proposed Equipment Standards changes, as follows:
Proposal #1: Club length – reduction to 46 inches available as a Model Local Rule (MLR) (Original proposal delivered in 2016 and paused in 2017 due to the Distance Insights Project). Comment period ends on March 4, 2021.
And on March 5th…sorry, go on.
Proposal #2: Update on testing method for golf balls. Comment period ends on Aug. 2, 2021.
Proposal #3: Change to testing tolerance – Characteristic Time. Comment period ends on Aug. 2, 2021.
These items were telegraphed in the Distance Insights report, so should come as little surprise to manufacturers.
The 2020 Annual Driving Distance Report
The USGA and The R&A also today released the 2020 Annual Driving Distance Report. The full report can be found here: Report Link
Key quotes
Mike Davis, Chief Executive Officer of the USGA, said, “The research conducted through Distance Insights clearly shows that hitting distances have consistently increased through time and, if left unchecked, could threaten the long-term future of our game at every level and every golf course on which it is played. This is the first forward step in a journey and a responsibility the USGA and The R&A share with the worldwide golf community, to ensure that golf continues to thrive for the next hundred years and beyond.”
Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “We are now able to progress with the work on this critical topic and are beginning the next phase as expeditiously as possible. The research topics and the proposed changes we have announced will be the focus of our attention in the coming months and we look forward to gaining insights from the golf industry and fully understanding their perspectives on these key areas. We remain fully committed to conducting this hugely important exercise for the sport thoroughly, efficiently and collaboratively.”
Strongest quotes yet. They’ve made up their minds. Let the whining begin!
And now for your buried lede.
Updates Since February 2020
During the pause in distance-related research caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the USGA and The R&A completed their regular review of equipment-testing processes, protocols and standards to ensure their effectiveness in relation to distance limits. The proposals detailed above are the outcome of this regular review of equipment-testing processes, protocols and standards to ensure their effectiveness.
As such, these proposals were not conceived and are not intended to be solutions to the distance issues identified in the Distance Insights Report.
But we did add the 46-inch driver rule based on what we were seeing.
The summary below of the issue at hand is also quite well said.
All notices related to golf equipment follow the Equipment Rulemaking Procedures adopted in 2011 by the USGA, The R&A and golf equipment manufacturers, which provide an open process of dialogue for all involved. The procedures can be reviewed here.
The Distance Insights Report released last year highlighted the impact of long-term hitting distance increases on some of golf’s essential elements, including changing the strategic challenge of the game, altering the variety of skills needed to be successful and risking courses becoming less challenging or obsolete. Further, the report states that the overall trend of golf courses becoming longer has adverse consequences that ultimately affect golfers at all levels of the game. The governing bodies are working with the key stakeholders in golf to address these issues in a way that brings the game together and which ensures it will continue to thrive for many years to come.
Work is also currently being conducted to develop industry-wide recommendations and best management practices on course design, setup and course conditions related to distance for all golf courses and golfers, as detailed among next steps in the Distance Insights conclusions document delivered last year. The USGA is currently conducting field testing and research, with outcomes to be delivered throughout 2021.
And there you go. Easily the most confident statements we’ve ever seen from the governing bodies.
Would Things Have Been Different For Patrick Reed Under The Old Rules Of Golf?
/That would be the pre-January 1, 2019 rules.
Alistair Tait believes so in recoiling at the soft glove treatment Reed received thanks to a change in language.
Reed called for a rules official because he believed his ball was embedded. Ninety-nine percent of players would have waited for the official to arrive on the scene. Not Reed. He lifted the ball and moved it.
The current rules give Reed the benefit of the doubt that he acted reasonably. Here’s an excerpt from the new rule book that helps exonerate Reed:
“The player’s reasonable judgement will be accepted even if, after the stroke is made, the determination is shown to be wrong by video evidence or other information.”
The professional golf tours must have celebrated when that line was written, when the new rules came into effect. In most instances now they can just accept a player’s word and move on. No need to hand out too many pesky penalties.
By receiving no punishment for his crime of rushing to his ball and lifting it from underneath that huge lip, Reed used both the rules and the fear of modern players to his advantage. You have to tip your cap. But when these things keep following him around and he’s seen as having gotten away with something, the new rules ultimately let him and the game down.
Saudi Arabia Prepares To Welcome Patrick Reed, New Jack Nicklaus Design
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Banner times in the Kingdom as a strong field is set to turn up at glorious Royal Greens for appearance fees, maybe some grumbling about the state of oil and presumably a safe week outside Riyadh. They’re having a little COVID uptick there, though nothing like Arizona where the PGA Tour is teeing it up this week.
Patrick Reed, fresh off his totally-perfect, by-the-book ball drop will be joined by Bryson DeChambeau, Tyrell Hatton, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and last week’s winner Paul Casey in the Saudi Invitational.
Meanwhile the country will also be welcoming Jack Nicklaus and his design team who announced their first-ever Middle East effort. From Brian Keogh at the Irish Golf Desk:
Nicklaus, the most decorated player in the game’s history, commented: “I am excited by this project and my first golf course design in the Middle East. To be selected as one of the first international designers to work in the Kingdom is a great honour. I’ve already spent time looking at the topography of the land, images of the backdrop and terrain, and discussing with our design team a strategy for the course. The design will fully integrate the natural environment and the beautiful Qiddiya landscape, bringing together green spaces and mountainous terrain to form a picturesque canvas for both a beautiful and challenging golf course.”
Oh yeah he totally said that.
Open de France Returns To Le Golf National In May
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Not long ago we were leaving the European Tour and pro golf in France for dead, so it’s nice to see Gregory Havret has been signed up to host and keep the Open de France going this May.
From the press release:
Continental Europe’s oldest national Open, first played in 1906, returns to the European Tour’s International Schedule after being cancelled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Like other tournaments on the 2021 Race to Dubai, the Open de France will be played under the auspices of the European Tour’s health strategy which will continue to evolve in line with French Government guidance. The European Tour and the Fédération Française de Golf acknowledge the recent changes to travel in and out of the country, and will continue regular dialogue with the French authorities, with the intention of staging the event without general admission in May.
It will be the fourth tournament in a five-week spring stretch on European soil between the first two Major Championships of 2021 - the Masters Tournament and US PGA Championship – the Open de France joining the Tenerife Open, Gran Canaria Open, Portugal Masters and Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett.
Like the latter event, the Open de France will also have a tournament host this year, with three-time European Tour winner Havret becoming the first player to take on the ambassadorial role.
Havret is joint fifth on the all-time list of most successful French players on the European Tour and he finished runner up in the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach, one shot behind winner Graeme McDowell.
CBS Golf Enjoys A Strong Start To 2021
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Live drone shot over the 2021 Farmers Insurance Open
You know how the old saying goes: one man’s suspicious embedded ball relief is another man’s gain.
The 2021 Farmers Insurance Open breathed some much needed life into the PGA Tour schedule by returning to scenic Torrey Pines with a strong leaderboard, multiple (compelling) storylines and a well-produced broadcast. But it was CBS’s strong production and announcing effort that sustained the shows much needed drama until Reed’s lead became insurmountable.
With Sellers Shy taking over for Lance Barrow, we knew several innovations and tweaks were coming. Other changes were more evident in adding zip to the normally dreary task of broadcasting golf. Random observations from the weekend:
—The new lower right scoreboard will be a fantastic addition. It may take some getting used to for viewers and camera operators. During Sunday’s show it was already apparent the camera operators were trying to better incorporate it into the frame. The new feature was helped by a close tournament and it cleverly keeps the leader displayed at all times, adding just a bit more understanding and even urgency to the proceedings.
New lower right scoreboard
—Shy Shows Less Standing Around. Many times CBS came right up to player as they were pulling the club back. This meant more live shots but also a little less time seeing players addressing the ball, mashing down rough with their club or conversing with caddies. That also may have been intentional for another reason…
—Sound seemed less prevalent overall. Almost as if they are worried about picking up less-than-savory player comments? This was a setback from 2020’s focus on sound to make up for the lack of crowds. And remember my motto: the least interesting player-caddy conversation is almost always more informative than anything an announcer can add.
—The drone shots were (even more?) spectacular. Maybe the Kaze Aerial team upgraded the camera or the soft light helped, but the shots seemed even sharper and more mesmerizing. Make sure to thank Torrey Pines in your Emmy acceptance speeches.
—The Goodyear Blimp still has its role. We’re spoiled on CBS shows with both the blimp showing a shot from above while the drone provides birdseye scenics. Without fan energy, these extras help make a slow sport more visually attractive on modern televisions. And note to beancounters: breathtaking views are appreciated by all demos.
—Quick departure to Eye On The Course. Too much of our time has been wasted hearing music and a slow toss to an Eye On The Course break. That ended this weekend where the split screen of a commercial and golf happened abruptly. The pivot was jarring at first, but was soon welcomed in moving the telecast along. So was the addition of Eye on the Course as the on-tape CEO interview played. Let’s keep shrinking that CEO box to the size of the leaderboard and expanding the live action, please. Pretty please?
—College Basketball ate into the telecast again and this year, perhaps because of the breaking news or a return to old form, CBS did not start on Golf Channel as they did during last year’s West Coast Swing to great acclaim.
—Nantz in Monterey. The remote effort worked well. There was no detectable delay. Given how little Jim Nantz can roam around under CBS COVID protocols, he may be doing more events from there. You know Sean how I love Memphis in July and the people at FedEx, but I see there’s been a tiny outbreak near Southwind and you know, just to be safe…thinking of my carbon footprint too. What do you think?
—Smartcart graphics. The new hole graphic showing ShotLink scatter charts akin to technology Fox and Turner have tried, was used sparingly. It has great potential and just looks cool on screen. Let’s face it, anything that demonstrates an effort to stay current will help golf broadcasts. Another plus: host Amanda Balionis and others could see it well, Tony Finau who said he liked the new “cool technology”.
—Painful FanDuel integration. At least Frank Nobilo pounced on Nick Faldo’s bold selection of west coast native Xander Schauffele likely excelling in the coming weeks at west coast venues. The banter helped save some otherwise stilted and painful sponcon that made the announcers uncomfortable.
—Sunday’s opening segment recapping Reed’s situation ate into vital tournament storytelling time, but it was the national buzz and a recap proved both necessary and compelling. As I noted in The Quadrilateral analyzing the various responses to the ruling, the announce team’s willingness to explain why this was just not normal behavior came through loud and clear. The Tour may not have liked it but as sports television the conversation was compelling. The only thing lacking? Perhaps a segment on tape with one of the team members explaining how most elite would have approached the situation and what they would have done to avoid the reaction Reed got. But this would have contradicted the rules official’s claim Reed did everything right and highlights my final point…
—The in-booth rules official role must go independent. This was the reaction I had when CBS announced the new plan and within a half hour it was apparent the experiment, while forward-thinking, will not work as long as the official is also paid by the players he’s commenting on. Ken Tackett was thrown into the fire immediately, as Jim Nantz said Sunday in a follow-up chat regarding the Reed situation. Having a rules expert will be huge given how much CBS leaned on Tackett over the weekend. But the role will need to be someone independent similar to network NFL rules experts. As a paid employee of the Tour, Tackett and other officials in the planned rotation will not be able to analyze or educate, something the Reed situation should have allowed for.
Reed Mess Highlights The PGA Tour's Complicated Relationship With Golf
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So many forces and so many strange things happened down at Torrey Pines this weekend. There were winners, losers and warning signs.
I tried to put them together and what this means for the game, the rules and the rulemakers (who also run majors…The Quadrilateral’s focus).
This one is for paid subscribers only.
But the membership committee is not opposed to new subscribers.
"He's protected by the Tour and that's all that matters, I guess.”
/It was the final line in Xander Schauffele’s post-round 2021 Farmer’s Insurance Open press conference but it should also set off alarm bells in the Global Home.
Q. Did you have a chance to see what happened with Patrick Reed yesterday?
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Not ‑‑ I didn't search for the videos, I just have heard talk amongst the boys out here.
Q. Have you ever ran into a situation like that on the golf course?
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: I would not put myself and create a situation like that. That's kind of ‑‑ I wouldn't. If my ball's embedded, I usually will wait and call someone and kind of wait until everyone's on the same page, wait to look at video. So I try to avoid situations like that just for that reason.
Q. Just to be clear, you wouldn't have picked the ball up?
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: No. I would wait for an official. You can put a tee in the ground and check your ball. I mean, he did everything by the book according to the official and everyone stood by there. Obviously the talk amongst the boys isn't great, I guess, but he's protected by the Tour and that's all that matters, I guess.
Oh boy.
Protected by the Tour is not a good perception to have players sense about a player, particularly one with a less than stellar body of work.
Well Xander, say hi to Ross Berlin for all of us. Loves the ponies and has great stories to tell along with taking excellent notes for the folks back at the Global Home.
Farmers: PointsBet Refunds All Pre-Tournament Outright Win Bets Not On Patrick Reed
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PointsBet Sportsbook, NBC and the PGA Tour’s top preferred gaming partner, announced a refund after Patrick Reed’s Farmers Insurance Open win for those who bet pre-tournament on an outright winner other than Reed.
Given the nefarious drop excused by on site officials but widely panned by most everyone else, including his peers, the result was tainted even with Reed ultimately securing a five stroke win. It’s a brilliant ploy by PointsBet for publicity and setting the tone of doing the right thing as gambling enters American wagering.
The dollar amounts were likely miniscule at this point, making the gesture a brand-building play as much as anything. Still, it’s not a glowing endorsement of the Tour’s handling of Reed while setting a bold precedent.
That said, this also highlights the issues golf will face when perceived cheating, questionable rulings, undisclosed injuries or even course setup gaffes could lead the betting public to feel the “product” is untrustworthy.
Will Gray explains at PointsBet where the announcement even came with a graphic.
