Quadrilateral: 2021 PGA Championship Monday News And Notes

Some good stuff to read and refine your sense of what kind of week we’ll have at Kiawah. Anytime the forecast is good we’re almost assured some special moments, but throw in a refined Ocean, some key players finding their form in time and some potential (rangefinder) controversy, and we’re off to a good start.

My roundup for Quadrilateral’s generous subscribers.

Subscription info (and remember Thursday’s will be available to allow followers of the newsletter).

Discovery-Warnermedia Merger Hatched Over Golf(ish)

As if the ego maniacal types congregating at each February’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am needed inflated sense of self, the megamerger of WarnerMedia and Discovery had origins in golf.

According to the New York Times’ Edmund Lee and John Koblin, Discovery CEO David Zaslav initiated the talks and it was always only a conversation with WarnerMedia.

Mr. Zaslav expected to meet with AT&T’s chief executive, John Stankey, at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament in February, but both had stayed home because of the pandemic. Instead, Mr. Zaslav sent an email to Mr. Stankey as he was watching the golf tournament on TV to discuss a possible deal.

“You around?” Mr. Zaslav said he wrote to Mr. Stankey. “I have an idea.” He added some emoji flair to his signoff with several 🏌🏻and one 😎.

Mr. Zaslav said the note kicked off a conversation that lasted several hours. Later, the two met several times “secretly from my brownstone in Greenwich Village,” Mr. Zaslav said.

Met secretly at my home would have sufficed.

Hollywood Reporter: Will NBC Turn Its Sights On ViacomCBS?

The Hollywood Reporter’s Kim Masters speculates on ramifications of the Warnermedia-Discovery merger and floats this doozy that would have huge ramifications for golf:

Before it emerged that Discovery was in the game, the betting had been that NBCUniversal would make off with the WarnerMedia assets, including premium cabler HBO, Warner Bros. studios and Turner networks like TNT and TBS. A decision to make an offer would have been up to NBCU owner Comcast, which may have hesitated and lost out on the chance. Now sources believe NBCU will turn its sights on ViacomCBS.

Whether or not that happens, says one knowledgeable source, depends on if ViacomCBS chairman Shari Redstone is a seller (she’d have to consider it, given the state of the media world) and if the deal — which would potentially bring assets including CBS and NBC, with their various news operations, under one roof, not to mention Paramount and Universal — can pass federal antitrust scrutiny. It would be sure to face a much harder look from regulators than a Discovery combination with WarnerMedia. No doubt assets would have to be shed if such a marriage were to be attempted.

Oh they know how to shed!

The story goes on to detail some golf stuff related to Jeff Zucker and AT&T Chief John Stankey.

Chris Powell's MacKenzie Reclamation Is Featured By The NY Times, Golf.com

During the coronavirus pandemic Chris Powell became obsessed with restoring a lost Alister MacKenzie design in Wales and mowed enough down to play it…for a day.

Josh Sens at Golf filed this take on the wild story, with a definite bent toward golfers who will enjoy the details.

And in Sunday’s New York Times, Jack Williams filed a similar feature with photos by Phil Hatcher-Moore.

While others in Britain spent the past year or so navigating coronavirus lockdowns and picking up indoor hobbies, Powell estimated that he had spent roughly 1,000 hours roaming this land that was once his town’s local golf course — a site that closed more than five decades ago and has slowly been melding into the landscape ever since.

Thanks to Powell’s dedication to discovery and his skills as a one-man renovation team, he managed not only to identify all of the previous tees and greens, hidden among the hills and foliage, but also to repair the course to a playable state. There were surprises along the way, too — like the discovery of ties to a certain course in Augusta, Ga. — and now he and the group were ready to tackle the Rhayader Golf Links once more.

Anyway, both are super reads about a pretty fun story.

Golf Waits To See Who Would Run Discovery-Warnermedia

Bloomberg broke the Sunday stunner: barring a last minute issue, AT&T will spin off its Warnermedia empire and merge with Discovery.

While most of the hardcore golfers have moved on from the ranks of AT&T leadership, Discovery’s David Zaslav is the brains behind the PGA Tour-GolfTV partnership and his company owns Golf Digest.

It remains unclear who will lead the new combined company, but Zaslav seems the likely candidate and his role as CEO would certainly help the cause of a few golf partnerships.

**Axios reports that Zaslav will oversee the company and Jeff Zucker may hang around to keep running CNN and the Turner sports empire.

Trump Ferry Point Situation May Become A Long Saga

AP’s Bernard Condon considers the possibility that New York City may not be able to break its contract with Trump Golf over the former President’s January 6th role.

The city intends for November 14th to be the last day of Trump Golf’s management deal. Eric Trump says the organization should be paid $30 million to go away.

Condon writes:

In response to questions from The Associated Press, the city referred to legal filings insisting Trump’s actions leading up to the riot caused a “plain and irrefutable” breach of the contract and that the Trump Organization’s last day running the course will be Nov. 14.

Area landscaper and sometime Trump course golfer Sean DeBartolo, who often drives past the hillside sign spelling out “TRUMP LINKS” in giant stones, says he could offer a temporary solution: Fill in those letters with sod and wait for tempers to cool.

“Worst-case scenario, it’s only going to cost a couple of thousand,” says the owner of DeBartolo Landscaping in nearby New Rochelle. “It’d be three guys and it’d be done in a day.”

David Coggins Q&A And Other Sunday PGA Notes

The Quad will be going out daily to paid subscribers all week with followers getting a free live look-in Thursday, but today I wrap up the PGA preview coverage with more insights on Charleston courtesy of author David Coggins, plus a few notes.

Shots Recreated: Seve at The Belfry

I remember it clear as day and still have no idea how Seve Ballesteros cut a shot into The Belfry’s bizarro 10th green. That was the 1989 Ryder Cup and it turns out, he also did it 1985 (embed below).

For this week’s Betfred British Masters, host Danny Willett was joined by Pablo Larrazabal & Renato Paratore in trying to recreate one of the most iconic shots in course history.

The yardage: 265 yards. The trio used replicas of Seve’s persimmon driver.

I won’t spoil too much but you might guess, it took a while to get adjusted to the old clubs. Extra kudos for the creativity, effort and cheap entertainment.

"Transgender woman wins Florida mini-tour event, sets sights squarely on LPGA"

Beth Ann Nichols does a superb job telling Hailey Davidson’s story, who works in social media but is dreaming of an LPGA career. She just won her first mini-tour event and is awaiting word on potential LPGA eligibility.

Davidson, 28, works in social media for NBC’s Peacock division under the Golf Channel umbrella but has dreams of competing on the LPGA. In January, Davidson underwent gender reassignment surgery, a six-hour procedure. She’s been undergoing hormone treatments since Sept. 24, 2015, a date that’s tattooed on her right forearm.

“We are currently reviewing Hailey’s application to participate in LPGA Tour events under the LPGA’s gender policy,” said Heather Daly-Donofrio, the LPGA’s chief tour operations officer. “The policy is designed to be a private and confidential process between the LPGA and the athlete.”

In 2010, the LPGA voted to eliminate its requirement that players be “female at birth” not long after a transgender woman filed a lawsuit against the tour.

Earlier this year, the USGA changed its Gender Policy to shorten the length of time transgender athletes had to wait to compete. Under the previous policy, a player must have undergone gender reassignment surgery at least two years prior to the entry deadline.

478 Starts Later, Richard Bland Is A European Tour Winner

Richard Bland’s Betfred British Masters win made for an extra-gratifying Saturday viewing experience, as the ultimate journeyman captured win one in 478 European Tour appearances.

The 48-year-old overcame Italian Guido Migliozzi’s best effort—including a huge par at the difficult (well, maybe goofy) 18th—to win a sudden-death playoff.

The win was noticed and celebrated all over the world.

While it won’t earn him a spot in next week’s PGA, he is lining up for a U.S. Open spot should he desire. From the European Tour notes:

The victory also puts him in pole position for a chance to earn a place in the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in June. The top ten aggregate Race to Dubai points earners (not otherwise exempt) at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett, Made in HimmerLand presented by FREJA and Porsche European Open will earn a place in the third Major Championship of the year.

Bland sunk this long birdie putt to ultimately land in a playoff against Migliozzi:

What a way to finish! 👏👏👏@blandy73 // #BetfredBritishMasterspic.twitter.com/6brTREgx3j

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) May 15, 2021

Even the consummate pro interviewer (and Bland’s instructor) Tim Barter let his guard down and had a discernible throat lump. A teaser of the interview below, which can be viewed in full here including an wonderful video chat with his parents.

"I've done it."

In his 478th event on the @EuropeanTour, @blandy73 made his dream a reality. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/r0KDrweleN

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) May 15, 2021

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tim Barter (@timbartergolf)

Guardian: "Authoritarianism for golfers? 'How big is the cheque?'"

The Guardian’s Ewan Murray wonders why the Golf Saudi-backed Super Golf League is not dying the same quick death as the European Super League:

Mickelson, DeChambeau and others can apparently entertain offers from the Saudis of eye-watering sums of money without anyone focusing on why they might associate with such a controversial – or abhorrent, depending on one’s level of background reading – regime. Authoritarianism for golfers? “How big is the cheque?”

When the European Super League crashed around the ears of the very executives who thought they had devised the perfect closed shop, it was against the backdrop of fury from supporters. There is no golf equivalent of that; save the Ryder Cup, which takes place once every two years, this really is not a tribal environment. Another key difference is that football clubs had already committed to their lucrative breakaway. Golfers have thus far only been in lengthy negotiations over a plan that would result in the PGA and European Tours losing players to a 14-event global environment where team and individual elements combine.

Given that the money is definitely from the Crown Prince’s Golf Saudi and not entirely sexy from a fan perspective—given reports of a Middle East-heavy schedule—it is odd the Premier Golf League ripoff is lingering.

Padraig: Court Cases Loom If Saudi's Offer 10-12 Events

Padraig Harrington shared his views of the proposed Super Golf League backed by Golf Saudi, including possible Ryder Cup ramifications.

But this comment to The Telegraph’s James Corrigan was even more intriguing, implying possible “defectors” believe they can still dip in to the existing Tours on sponsor invites.

Harrington fears that if the Saudis do keep pushing on, the issue could end in court, particularly as the SGL seems only to be planning for 10-12 events a year and not the 18-20 first mooted. “It is interesting because you could see somebody playing the SGL’s 12 tournaments and also playing 15 Tour events to satisfy their membership regulations,” the Irishman said.

That’s a big schedule for today’s stars who are, in part (after the money), intrigued by these proposed concepts because they reduce the schedule and theoretically work around the majors.

Phil Mickelson Receives (Much-Deserved) U.S. Open Special Exemption

A six-time runner-up with the U.S. Open returning to his hometown, this was a no-brainer use of the special exemption.

Glad everyone got on the same page…

USGA Announces Special Exemption for Phil Mickelson into the 121st U.S. Open Championship  

Five-time major winner to play in his 30th U.S. Open 

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. (May 14, 2021) – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that Phil Mickelson has received a special exemption into the 121st U.S. Open Championship, which will be conducted June 17-20 at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif. 

“Phil Mickelson’s incredible USGA playing record and overall career achievements are among the most noteworthy in the game’s history,” said USGA CEO Mike Davis. “We are thrilled to welcome him to this year’s U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.”

Mickelson, 50, is a six-time U.S. Open runner-up, most in championship history, and has recorded ten top-10 finishes in 29 appearances. He won the 1990 U.S. Amateur Championship and was a member of the 1989 and 1991 USA Walker Cup Teams and the 1990 USA World Amateur Team.  

“Winning the U.S. Open has been a lifelong and elusive dream, and I’ve come close so many times,” said Mickelson, a San Diego native. “You can’t win if you don’t play. I’m honored and appreciative of the USGA for the opportunity and look forward to playing in my hometown on a golf course I grew up on.”

Mickelson seeks to join Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods and become just the sixth in history to win all four majors. Among Mickelson’s 44 career professional victories are five major titles – the 2004, 2006, and 2010 Masters Tournaments, the 2005 PGA Championship, and the 2013 British Open Championship. In addition, Mickelson has represented the USA on 12 Ryder Cup teams and 12 Presidents Cup squads.  

Mickelson is the sixth player since 2010 to receive a special exemption into the U.S. Open. The list includes Tom Watson (2010), Vijay Singh (2010), Retief Goosen (2016), Jim Furyk (2018), and Ernie Els (twice, in 2018 and 2019). Hale Irwin is the lone player to win the U.S. Open playing on a special exemption, doing so in a 19-hole playoff over Mike Donald in 1990 at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club to claim his third U.S. Open title. 

The 121st U.S. Open will be the third USGA championship to be played on the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course, which hosted the 1998 U.S. Amateur Public Links won by Trevor Immelman, and the 2008 U.S. Open memorably won by Tiger Woods in a 19-hole Monday playoff over Rocco Mediate. The U.S. Open will be the 85th USGA championship conducted in the state of California. Two weeks earlier, the 76th U.S. Women’s Open will be played at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.  

Quadrilateral: Q&A With Dottie Pepper, Author Of Letters To A Future Champion

While she’s a former Kiawah resident and a pivotal part of the CBS announce team, that takes second fiddle in this Q&A to Dottie Pepper’s remarkable new book.

As I noted in The Quadrilateral introduction, there has never been a book like Letters To A Future Champion in golf’s vast library. I think it’s an especially important read for a young golfer aspiring to greater things. Those searching for necessary comfort to offset the blows this game delivers will also take heart in George Pulver’s letters.

It’s also just a very understated autobiographical story of a player on the cusp of Hall status who, like many women of her generation, were not afforded some of the opportunities today’s players enjoy.

You can read more about Letters To A Future Champion here and also find an easy link to purchase a copy of this magnificently produced tome.

Details Of Cancelled NCAA Women's Regionals Keep Getting Worse, TPC Louisiana Offers To Host

TPC Louisiana is open and willing to host the @NCAA Women's Regionals following the recent cancellation. Let us know if we can help. pic.twitter.com/uNK4xW2kGE

— TPC Louisiana (@TPCLouisiana) May 13, 2021

While the failed NCAA Women’s Regional in Baton Rouge is unlikely to be salvaged due to timing issues, the sequence of events and lack of action to address issues just keeps getting worse.

From ESPN.com’s Tom VanHaaren, explaining that teams practiced Sunday and again Tuesday afternoon following rains and saw the lack off effort to getting the course’s flooded bunkers playable. Or to rule them ground under repair.

A similar scenario played out Tuesday, but the teams were allowed to practice on the course later that day.

The coaches were told the bunkers on the course were a concern, with standing water making them unplayable. The rules officials did have the option to mark the unplayable bunkers as such, which would give the players relief if their ball entered the marked area.

"I specifically asked the head rules official why we can't play, what do we have to do," Kieschnick said. "The answer was that 'We don't think you get the right champion if we don't play the bunkers.' I said, 'Well, you're well within your rights to make those ground under repair; that's truly your opinion.' You don't know if that determines the right champion or not -- that's an opinion."

Approximately 12 coaches from the participating teams went to the games committee Tuesday to get some questions answered. The objective was to determine whether there was a way to resume golf and a way to get the tournament in by the Thursday deadline.

Part of what confused the coaches was that the bunkers and standing water were presented as the big issue but they did not see an attempt to clear the water or repair the course. According to Kieschnick and another source, there were no pumps on site to pump the water off the course.

"A great coach said, 'If bunkers are the problem and you're doing nothing about the bunkers, we ought to leave right now,'" Kieschnick said. "That was on Tuesday. They didn't want to take the bunkers out, but this happens all the time and we can do this. When bunkers are the problem and nothing is being done, that's really hard to swallow. It was bizarre."

As noted yesterday, host LSU made it to the finals thanks to the committee simply advancing the top seeds.

Forgive my ignorance, but why did they get home course advantage to begin with? Did I miss a memo?