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
Good news for the PGA: the final round rating on CBS drew something in the neighborhood of the thrilling 2018 finish featuring Tiger Woods.
Bad news? competition from the NBA and a Lebron-led Lakers, graduation season, etc…probably ate into the numbers and is a reminder that the PGA’s August date featured no major sports competition.
Austin Karp notes that the 3.9 rating was the fourth-best Sunday audience over the last decade.
Two more Quadrilaterals went out to paying subscribers, my version of Winners and Losers and a wrap-up of the best and least satisfying elements of PGA coverage.
Included in the latter are plenty of CBS and ESPN notes, plus comments from CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus on the commercial load and the wild scene at 18.
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Joel Beall with this at GolfDigest.com about the LPGA’s new leader:
Marcoux Samaan comes to the LPGA from Princeton University, where she served as its athletic director. She was a two-sport athlete at Princeton in soccer and hockey, earning All-Ivy League honors four times and won the C. Otto von Kienbusch Award, the top senior female student-athlete award at Princeton which recognizes “high scholastic rank, sportsmanship and general excellence in athletics.” She graduated cum laude in 1991.
Her predecessor is excited:
soooo excited for my @LPGA family. Mollie is truly special, and together with the world-class leadership team, the entire Association is poised for great things. #DriveOn https://t.co/wkh760BInv
— Michael Whan (@LPGACommish) May 25, 2021
Samaan appeared on Golf Today and made a good impression:
News today: Mollie Marcoux Samaan has been elected the next Commissioner of the @LPGA. She joins @shanebacon and @damonhackGC to share her ideas and plans for the future of the tour. pic.twitter.com/7tuPDfwOiP
— Golf Today (@GCGolfToday) May 25, 2021
Frankly, the Player Impact Program ramifications are just too complex. At least I think. Since that was meant to be a secret rewards program we just do not know what the algorithms will say about this Todd Lewis interview of Brooks Koepka where all Bryson DeChambeau had to do was walk by to elicit genuine pain, agony and swearing.
The key line from Brooks for the historical record: “Sometimes, uh I lost my train of thought, hearing that bull!@#$t…&*^%ing Christ.” Or words to that effect.
The tape obviously was left on the Live From The PGA cutting room floor, so I’ve reached out to NBC Sports for an explanation as to how it made it’s way to a Twitter account and very quickly, legendary PIP virality (2.5 million views not more than 120 minutes after getting posted). I’ll share an update on how the tape got out when I hear back from Golf Channel’s parent company.
The disdain he has for Bryson is the best thing going in golf these days. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/1bwMkUx0iy
— Ryan (@RJWinfield) May 25, 2021
A YouTube edition that gives the PVB Police another takedown to deal with:
Thanks god for @this_vid pic.twitter.com/aaS52WwESB
— Forrest M (@mctrees02) May 25, 2021
The PGA of America has condemned the excess of fans who poured onto the 18th hole in obvious jubilation over witnessing history. And of course I’m sure they were all fully vaccinated.
But the PGA has yet to address what it plans to do about the security and crowd control breakdown at Kiawah.
With a Ryder Cup coming and no apparent desire to limit adult beverage sales, barricades may be in order. Also yet another review of the alcohol policy might be in order.
There was also this as noted by ESPN.com’s Bob Harig:
The tournament originally announced that attendance would be capped at 10,000 spectators per day due to COVID-19 protocols. But with restrictions being loosened across the country and in South Carolina, the crowds were considerably larger throughout the event. There were thousands of people lining both sides of the fairway at the 18th on Sunday.
The late Monday statement from CEO Seth Waugh lacking any vow to make improvements for future events:
A statement from PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. pic.twitter.com/nY0IKCgqe3
— PGA of America (@PGA) May 25, 2021
Here is what Brooks Koepka said about the scene:
Q. What was that scene like on 18 and was anything today reminiscent of the 2019 Masters when you were right there, also, T-2 behind Tiger's win? The energy seemed very similar.
BROOKS KOEPKA: I never thought of it that way but I think so. Yeah it would have been cool if I didn't have a knee injury and got dinged a few times in the knee in that crowd because no one really gave a s---, personally. But if I was fine, yeah, it would have been cool. Yeah, it's cool for Phil. But getting dinged a few times isn't exactly my idea of fun.
Q. What is going through your mind as you're walking up 18 with all that commotion around you? You're incredibly focused but what's going through your mind in that moment?
BROOKS KOEPKA: Trying to protect my knee. I don't think anybody really understands until you actually you're coming out of surgery how -- I mean, even when I was doing rehab and there's five people kind of standing by your knee, you get a little skittish. Like I don't mind waiting or being in that crowd but getting my -- I don't know, it felt like somebody tried to, I don't know what the deal was, but it's what it is. Be putting it nice today. It feels like s--- right now.
Phil Mickelson, 2021 PGA Champion (PGA of America/Instagram)
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While I’m busy collecting thoughts, notes, quotes, anecdotes and much more from Phil Mickelson’s 2021 PGA win, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the day.
I tried to come up with a clever poll question but there really isn’t one. Just a special week, incredible win and one we won’t stop talking about for a long time.
Phil Mickelson Saturday at 16 (PGA Championship Instagram)
A stellar Saturday sets us up for a doozy Sunday at Kiawah.
Phil Mickelson leads by one over Brooks Koepka and looks to become the oldest male major champion.
Congratulations to Bel-Air for securing three USGA events over the next decade. The club was instrumental in the success of the 2017 U.S. Amateur hosted by Riviera and will be an incredible setting.
For Immediate Release:
Bel-Air Country Club, in Los Angeles, Calif., has been selected as the host site for the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, 2026 Curtis Cup Match and 2030 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. The historic golf course has previously hosted two USGA championships.
“Bel-Air is one of the country’s most prestigious courses, steeped in golf history, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate three more USGA championships there,” said John Bodenhamer, senior managing director of Championships, USGA. “The USGA is looking forward to continuing to build our relationship with this esteemed club.”
Located in the heart of Los Angeles, Bel-Air is a private club with an 18-hole course originally designed by George Thomas and recently renovated by Tom Doak and Renaissance Golf Design. The project focused on updating the course while restoring its archetypal integrity. The course previously hosted the 1976 U.S. Amateur, which was won by Bill Sander, and the 2004 U.S. Senior Amateur, where Mark Bemowski took home the trophy. It most recently served as the stroke-play co-host course for the 2018 U.S. Amateur at The Riviera Country Club.
“To be named host club for not one, but three USGA championships over the course of the next decade is an extraordinary honor for Bel-Air and its membership as well as our surrounding community,” said Jamie Widdoes, president of the club. “Hosting the U.S. Women’s Amateur and Curtis Cup is very special, as we are pleased to play a role in the USGA’s commitment to women’s golf during this exciting time for the game. To then welcome the U.S. Mid-Amateur represents the heart and soul of what we celebrate at Bel-Air, amateur golf.”
In the shadows of the Hollywood Hills, Bel-Air is known for its dramatic topography and one of golf’s most famous suspension bridges, which spans a canyon on the 225-yard par-3 10th and serves as a stunning backdrop for the 18th hole.
The U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship marks the beginning of women’s competitive golf in this country. The Women’s Amateur is one of the USGA’s first three championships, having debuted in 1895 along with the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Open.
In 2019, University of Southern California standout Gabriela Ruffels became the first Australian to hoist the Robert Cox Trophy at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss., while Rose Zhang of Irvine, Calif., earned the title by defeating Ruffels in a final match that went extra holes in 2020 at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md. The U.S. Women’s Amateur champion receives a full exemption into the following year’s U.S. Women’s Open.
The 2021 championship will be hosted by Westchester Country Club in Rye, N.Y., from Aug. 2-8. The dates of the 2023 championship at Bel-Air are Aug. 7-13. The 2024 championship will take place at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., and the 2026 championship will be held at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn.
The Curtis Cup Match, a biennial international women’s golf event contested by teams from the United States and Great Britain and Ireland, was last played in 2018 at Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, N.Y., when the USA defeated GB&I, 17-3. Many U.S. Women’s Open champions have competed in the Match, including JoAnne Gunderson Carner, Juli Inkster, Laura Davies, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer, and Michelle Wie, as well as LPGA Tour stars such as Georgia Hall, Stacy Lewis, Jessica Korda, Nancy Lopez, Mel Reid and Lexi Thompson. The 2021 Curtis Cup will take place at Conwy Golf Club in North Wales from Aug. 26-28, and the 2022 Match will take place at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., from June 10-12. The dates of the 2026 Match are June 12-14.
The U.S. Mid-Amateur champion receives a full exemption into the following year’s U.S. Open. The 2021 U.S. Mid-Amateur will be held at Sankaty Head Golf Club, in Siasconset, Mass., from Sept. 25-30. In 2022 the U.S. Mid-Amateur will be contested at Erin Hills, in Erin, Wis., and the 2023 championship will be held at Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, N.Y. The dates of the 2030 championship at Bel-Air are Sept. 14-19.
Whether this was all code for something more we’ll soon find out, but the initial reviews suggest the Saudis did not throw much of a Kiawah party.
“It all happened pretty quick,” the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said. “It was like, We have everything sorted, it’s all going to work out.”
Present for the meeting were lawyers from a high-profile American law firm that is handling the venture’s contractual work. These attorneys assured agents that they were combing through any potential legal hiccups and that their process, too, would be completed sooner rather than later.
Oh yeah, nothing to worry about.
A rep for Golf Saudi also ZOOM’d in. Which is probably why the characterization shared by Rex Hoggard makes a lot of sense:
One manager who attended the meeting characterized it as “underwhelming” and given how long representatives from the Super League Golf concept have been pushing for the new tour it’s likely going to continue to be a topic and a distraction for some time.
*Whoops, sent this one out only to the paying folks. I send the first round’s notes to all subscribers. The link above though should give you access.
Padraig Harrington’s comments yesterday understandably got a lot of attention since we don’t usually hear profound lines from golfers. A couple of Quad subscribers emailed wanting to see the full context after it ran in yesterday’s newsletters, so here is the Ryder Cup captain’s full answer:
Q. You just talked about Kiawah being a good test and you won the World Cup there in '97 with McGinley, but he didn't mention this is your 21st PGA Championship. How much is the accumulation of all this experience you've got and also the experience of playing Kiawah, how comfortable will it make you feel this week?
PADRAIG HARRINGTON: Yeah, look, people often ask in a general term about experience. Well, as you gain experience, you lose innocence. I suppose if you drew a graph, there's a crossing point of equilibrium where you have some experience and a certain amount of innocence and enthusiasm. As you get a little bit older and you get all this experience, on paper people might think you get better with experience, but as I said, you've seen a few things that you know in your game that you probably never wanted to see, so you kind of lose that little bit of, I suppose, innocence.It's not everything it's cracked up to be to have experience. I know I've played 21 times in the PGA, and to be honest, when you come to a great golf course like this and you look back, you realize how many different types of tests we've had at the PGA over the years.
I think when I first came out the PGA was considerably played on probably a pretty typical U.S. golf course, U.S.style golf course. But we've played a great variety now over the years, and it's really matured as a major championship from what I would have had an image of it in the '80s. It really is sitting up there now giving us a good variety of tests. You never know what you're going to get from year to year in terms of style of golf course, and it's -- as all the majors, they're putting it up to each, it's upped its game, it's improved its standing, and coming to places like this for a week where this is going to be a great championship, there's going to be plenty of excitement on this golf course, and whoever wins this week will be a worthy winner.
I only briefly touched on today’s Saudi stuff and took a pass on the Ryder Cup talk.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
