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
Greg Norman, having sold his Florida home, wanted to share with us his final “sunset shower” at Tranquility, apparently the estate’s name.
Ladies and gentleman, (children cover your eyes), your SiriusXM Masters lead analyst this week…who also took a little jab at the other non-Fox golf networks approach to coverage as he prepares for his Augusta return:
One danger of wearing your Green Coat around Masters week: tipping the world to your membership in Augusta National.
I’m not sure I would have known Major League Baseball Commissioner was a member had he not been in green and who knows how Senator Marco Rubio became aware. But in the wake of MLB pulling its All-Star game from Georgia, the Senator from Florida is very upset at “woke corporate virtue signaling” and would like to know if it’ll extend to the Commissioner’s golf. (Apparently because Rubio’s state is next to Georgia’s he’s taken a keen interest in the matter.)
The full letter:
With the MLB All-Star Game being moved out of Atlanta, Senator Marco Rubio has sent a letter to Commissioner Rob Manfred.
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) April 5, 2021
"I write to ask you whether you intend to maintain your membership at Augusta National Golf Club."
The members-only golf club is also located in Georgia. pic.twitter.com/xqekb7pKrZ
Patty Tavatankit’s -18 under performance in the ANA Inspiration held off Lydia Ko and probably will get lost a bit in the Masters focus, but check out here greens in regulation dominance despite okay driving and okay putting:
That’s 14 more greens than runner-up Ko and three more than the next closest player (Ally Ewing, -10).
Dr. Bill Mallon, a former tour player and orthopedic surgeon, tries to assess Tiger Woods’s recovery based on experience given the dearth of information. He does report he’s learned Woods suffered a Lisfranc fracture in his foot, a very difficult injury to recover from. The full tweet storm can be read by clicking on the initial post:
Tuesday is the night of the Champions Dinner at Augusta National. Will Tiger Woods be there? What is his status since his automobile accident on 24 February? 1/n
— Bill Mallon (@bambam1729) April 5, 2021
If the only problem was his tibia, Tiger would likely be FWB about now. But he was noted to have fractures in his foot that were treated with several screws. One was a talus fracture and the other, I’ve since learned, was a Lisfranc fracture. 10/n
— Bill Mallon (@bambam1729) April 5, 2021
You might not have known the Masters was just 96 hours away watching the final round of the Valero Texas Open. Only a few dared to mention Charley Hoffman was not in the field next week and the storyline of him trying to earn a trip back to Augusta was largely avoided. No one wanted the red phone ringing with the dreaded 904 area code. What a world!
Hoffman put up a valiant effort but came up short, sending Jordan Spieth to The Masters with his first win in 1351 days (The 2017 Open Championship).
Notes from the Tour Communications team on site:
Five players in the last 40 years have reached 12 wins before turning 28: Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Spieth
Spieth becomes the 92nd player in PGA TOUR history to reach 12 wins and moves into a tie for 82nd on the all-time wins list
Spieth improves to 10-for-19 in his PGA TOUR career with the 54-hole lead/co-lead
Charley Hoffman finishes solo-second for the second consecutive time at the Valero Texas Open; finished runner-up to Corey Conners in 2019
Since 2006, Hoffman leads all players at the Valero Texas Open in top-fives (5), top-10s (7), top-25s (12), cuts made (15) and score to par (-105)
Spieth called it a monumental win for himself, as noted in this Valero wrap-up by Brentley Romine:
Quote of the day: "Man, it’s been a long road. There were a lot of times I wasn’t sure if I’d be here talking to you [Golf Channel's Todd Lewis] about this right now. I never really doubted in myself to be able to get back to where I wanted to go, but when you lose confidence a lot of times it’s hard to see the positive going forward. ... This is a monumental win for me. It’s one that I’ve certainly thought about for a long time." – Spieth
About that golf tournament and Spieth’s move up the odds board, I am not afraid to call it by its name in Monday’s Quadrilateral news and notes roundup.
Fourth round highlights:
Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch calls on the major golf organizations to get involved in support voter registration and rights
The men facing this dilemma — Ridley, Jay Monahan and Seth Waugh — are measured, lawyerly types and not prone to intemperate or hasty responses, even in charged circumstances. All three have signed on to a collaborative effort to make golf not only more inclusive as a sport but more socially responsive as an industry. And while this is a situation not of their making, it is nevertheless a test of that commitment. Their responses (or lack thereof) won’t be without consequences.
All three organizations — the PGA Tour, PGA of America and Augusta National — would doubtless prefer not to be involved in the quagmire of Georgia politics. But there is a potential signpost for next steps, and it lies in the wording of the Tour’s statement, which used the term “critical priority” to describe efforts to “work together to make voting easier for all citizens.”
Golf’s bodies could use their reach, resources and events to support voter registration drives and back initiatives that increase voter access. In short, to join with other organizations and proactively shore up the democratic process against any insidious effort to undermine it.
And Christine Brennan of USA Today/Golfweek highlights the social activism of several Augusta National Women’s Amateur contestants that will likely not be repeated by the Masters contestants.
It has to be the first time Augusta National has ever hosted social activists of any kind and it certainly provides a stark contrast with what is likely coming Masters week as the eyes of the sports world turn to the very significant political and social issues percolating here in Georgia – and the predictable blank stares and no comments of the predominately white, rich, very conservative male golfers who will be playing here.
While I’m not sure the golfers see themselves primarily as social activists, it does seem the Masters might need to chime in sooner than later. If nothing else to avoid unwanted scrutiny of the membership.
Given his proclivity for posting photos of himself on Instagram, I found Greg Norman’s indifference to Augusta National’s Big Oak social scene curious.
From the New York Post’s Mark Cannizzaro on Norman’s return to Augusta as SiriusXM’s lead analyst.
But you won’t see Norman schmoozing with the who’s who in golf under the big oak tree this week.
“I’m not that type of person that needs to hang around underneath the tree just to hang around,’’ Norman said. “I don’t need to be seen to be seen.’’
Sadly, he will be heard with Brian Katrek as their year-one radio team following Westwood One losing the Masters radio deal. Between those two, it could be a very tough listen.
Blog readers, as predicted I will be a little less bloggy during major weeks now the The Quadrilateral’s main purpose has arrived.
Sunday’s letter focused on the ANWA, a couple of course surprises and an NBC broadcast review.
This week’s Thursday edition will be for all followers of the newsletter. The rest can be delivered to your inbox free of conflicts of interest, pop-ups, WAG’s of Augusta slideshows, product placements, tacky ways to buy traffic, and all for $5 a month or $49 a year.
G.C. Digital has the statements from the PGA Tour (Tour Championship, RSM Classic) and PGA of America (KPMG Women’s PGA) standing by their upcoming events in Georgia after MLB pulled its All-Star Game over the state Senate’s move to change voting laws.
The PGA Tour statement rightfully leans heavily on East Lake’s mission as the basis to stay put:
At the heart of the PGA Tour’s charitable mission is a commitment to serving and supporting communities where we play, across the country and around the world. In Georgia, this commitment has resulted in more than $38 million generated for local charitable organizations since the Tour Championship – our season-ending event – moved to Atlanta in 1998. The Tour Championship’s commitment to East Lake has helped our partners transform distressed neighborhoods into healthy and thriving ones, which is a key to ending the cycle of intergenerational poverty.
The charitable and economic benefits that have led to these substantial changes would not continue if we simply walked away from those in need. We intend to maintain our commitment to the East Lake Foundation, Grove Park Foundation, Purpose Built Schools Atlanta and First Tee of Metro Atlanta by staging the Tour Championship at the East Lake Golf Club in September. We love these partners, and we will work with them to continue to deliver much-needed support and influence positive change.
Our intention to stage an event in a particular market should not be construed as indifference to the current national conversation around voting rights. The PGA Tour fully supports efforts to protect the right of all Americans to vote and to eliminate any barriers that may prevent citizens’ voices from being heard and counted. It is the foundation of our great country and a critical national priority to listen to the concerns about voter suppression – especially from communities of color that have been marginalized in the past – and work together to make voting easier for all citizens.
The PGA of America is "monitoring developments”:
The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is a partnership between three organizations committed to diversity, equity and inclusion: PGA of America, LPGA and KPMG. Like many entities, we are monitoring developments related to the new state legislation on voting access. We believe elections should be accessible, fair and secure, and support broad voter participation.
Talking to James Corrigan about this fall’s Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship at Walton Heath, Rose said his back has improved ahead of the Masters and that he could have played the Players and Match Play.
The 2017 runner-up at Augusta is instead going in off a five week break and was asked by Corrigan what he’ll tell the juniors who qualify for his championship.
“If you look at my generation — say me, Adam Scott and Sergio [Garcia] — we are probably the first wave that’s grown up with the fitness and physio side and I kind of feel we're in the sweet spot, the way we approached the game in the last 20 years, focusing on our mobility and flexibility and looking at the big picture. And I think our best golf could well be in front of us, as weird as that is to say with us all in our 40s.
“Whereas I feel like that the generation coming up behind us is pushing the limit much harder than than we did from a physical point of view and even though science is improving and we are understanding more and more about the body, eventually those aggressive motions have to take their impact.”
This wisdom should be appreciated by the various ageist Tour types…
"If it carries on like this and if everyone coming out here is looking for the power game, then maybe careers will get shorter and there won’t be players in their 40s still able to compete at the top of the sport.
“Apart from the physical issues that might be suffered, I think that would be a huge shame. Watching Westy [Lee Westwood] and Bryson going at it at Bay Hill [last month] was great because you had a 48-year-old taking on a 27-year-old. That sort of battle between the generations is unique to golf.
“Westy and what he has done in the last year and a half is a huge inspiration. It’s a great part of what I love about golf. Lee is playing with wisdom and experience and gratitude. They are powerful words, but there is something so noble about it. That longevity and endless hunger should be celebrated and it is. That is my concern with this drive for length — the professional male game could lose all that.”
Yes but people in their forties are not what the advertisers want Justin! Please, think of the brands!
Well now that your NCAA brackets are dead it’s time to focus on Masters prognostication and today’s Quadrilateral features my look at favorites, longshots and a surprisingly large group this year who are tough to figure out. This one’s only for the paying folk.
Open to all is The Quadrilateral’s Masters league on the tournament’s official app. The prizes are all theirs.
But the weekly notes column, focused heavily on exciting TV plans and details is for all to enjoy.
Sign up and you get the weekly notes in your inbox for free. I’ll throw in the postage and spare you of pop-ups.
Oh I know you think I’m going all April 1 here and it would seem very foolish to advocate an away game to Saudi Arabia given the scarcity of courses and the Crown Prince’s murderous ways.
But that’s just what Golf Magazine has done in its latest issue as part of an overall package that also included Golf.com relentlessly hawking a new Jack Nicklaus design deal for parent company 8AM Golf.
Based on the screen captures sent my way, the (wisely) unbylined story appears to outline Saudi Arabia’s five courses and gets yet another mention in for the unbuilt Nicklaus project. Since the magazine’s ads are mostly just 8AM companies owned by Howard Milstein and times are clearly tough, the copy apparently must become the ad. Sad. Especially given The Kingdom’s well known sportwashing goals and the absurdity of Americans needing to know about the region for a buddies trip.
I can safely say there are better golf trip alternatives closer to home now and for the next 1000 years.
Oh and I haven’t seen the full copy but I see the Road hole got dragged into this somehow. Charming.
Google Earth view of Camp Masters
Not many people get to spend the night on the grounds of the 2021 Masters.
Few enjoy the privilege besides member accommodations in familiar cabins named after former Presidents, and the lucky amateurs choosing the Crow’s Nest.
But now Augusta National is offering its first ever “glamping” experience for select guests as part of the super-exclusive Berckmans Place hospitality operation. The glorified camping concept appears born out of the pandemic and allows lucky guests to pay a premium price for overnighting on the grounds of Augusta National.
In a prospectus obtained by GeoffShackelford.com, staging for the Berckmans Place glamp site is just beyond the 12th green on newly acquired land from Augusta Country Club. Club sources say the revenues will help pay for the expensive land acquisition.
Here is the document detailing the Camp Masters offering. No price is listed.
Justin Thomas uttering a homophobic slur was not the final straw. Nor were the many other salty language moments picked up by television microphones.
Multiple sources have shared Commissioner Jay Monahan’s email to players outlining restrictive measures designed to reduce the PGA Tour’s overheard conversations and obscenities. High-quality audio became a focus of player ire in recent weeks when NBC microphones captured balls hitting the water.
“It seemed like it was louder this year and we got agents complaining about player brand damage due to the ker-plunk sound,” said a source.
The news all but dashes hopes of players wearing microphones or placement of mic’s in cups. Players have publicly pushed back at recent broadcaster efforts to share more of on-course conversations and have defied requests for on-course interviews.
Just last week at the WGC Dell Match Play, Jon Rahm told writers it was a privacy issue.
When asked for comment, the PGA Tour deferred all questions to their network partners. However, GeoffShackelford.com obtained the email sent to players by Commissioner Jay Monahan:
Always looking to fine tune their approach, the committee charged with running the Augusta National Women’s Amateur is considering moving the tournament’s practice round to a different day.
Currently, the “ANWA” underway near Augusta plays two competitive rounds at Champions Retreat and a 36-hole cut is made. The tournament is then stopped to allow the entire field a practice round at Augusta National whether or not the player has made it to Saturday’s final round.
The unusual tournament structure was created to avoid a club tradition.
“Johnny Harris has a popular Scotch foursomes game on Wednesday’s,” said a club source. “So moving the practice round to before the tournament just isn’t in the cards. Speaking of which, Trophy Room card games are also a big part of Mr. Harris’s Wednesday game.”
While playing the practice round after a winner has been decided might seem peculiar, sources within the club think it could make for great television despite the excitement created at the inaugural ANWA where Maria Fassi and Jennifer Kupcho dueled.
“The Club has looked at how the Par-3 Contest has turned into a family affair,” said the source. “Seeing the women smiling in a more relaxed setting and charting the greens could really grow the women’s game.”
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
