Don't Try This At Home Files: Chris Wood Edition
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He got some speed alright! Props to Chris Wood for posting this, not every golf pro would.
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
As Long As You Love Me: Bryson And Brooks Get A Song
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Who knew a little tape could inspire such artistry?
Golf Channel’s aborted-but-massively-viral Brooks Koepka interview has inspired a retooling of the Backstreet Boys “As Long As You Love Me”. Well done Sam Harrop. Kudos for not dumbing down the lyrics and slipping in some stellar core-fan only lines.
The engagement! The authenticity! Get this man a record deal!
Or as they do the kids do these days, subscribe to his YouTube channel.
Come For A Vaccination, Stay For The Memorial Tournament Presented By Nationwide
/The Memorial Tournament steps up with an impressive opportunity for attendees of this year’s tournament. Maybe they’ll even get some players to join in the battle against COVID! Microchips sold separately:
the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide and OhioHealth partner to offer COVID-19 vaccinations
Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccines will be available to patrons attending the 2021 Memorial Tournament on June 4, 5 and 6
Dublin, Ohio – The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, in partnership with OhioHealth, announced today they will host on-site COVID-19 vaccination opportunities for patrons attending the 46th playing of the Memorial.
The Memorial Tournament’s on-site vaccination location will be conveniently located near the Tournament’s main entrance, adjacent to the Information Tent on the west side of the Practice Area. The vaccination station will be staffed by OhioHealth and offer Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccines to Memorial patrons from Friday, June 4 to Sunday, June 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“The Memorial is excited to welcome back fans to this year’s Tournament and happy to partner with OhioHealth to offer those individuals the opportunity to get vaccinated,” said Memorial Tournament Executive Director Dan Sullivan. “This is a perfect way to enjoy the world’s best golfers, and all that the Memorial Tournament has to offer, while also helping more Ohioans get vaccinated.”
Any patron who chooses to take advantage of the onsite COVID-19 vaccination opportunity must complete an OhioHealth health questionnaire, provided during their visit, and will automatically be enrolled as an OhioHealth patient.
“OhioHealth has been a leader in the COVID-19 vaccination activation, administering more than 210,000 vaccines,” Dr. David Lee, vice president, OhioHealth Employer Services said. “This opportunity to help vaccinate patrons at the Memorial Tournament is a tremendous honor, and one our teams are looking forward to participating in. The COVID-19 vaccine is the key in safely getting back to enjoying amazing events like the Memorial Tournament, and we are excited to continue our mission of improving the health of those we serve in a unique way, at such a wonderful, iconic setting. We’d like to thank the Memorial Tournament for being such a valued partner, and for the ability to do this work for our communities.”
Colonial To Go Under The Knife After 2022 Charles Schwab Challenge
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As play gets underway at storied Colonial Country Club, the often tinkered with John Bredemus/Perry Maxwell design has green lit more work, this time approving a Gil Hanse master plan. Work will start after the 2022 Charles Schwab Challenge, with the course reopening a year later.
From Randy Jennings in the Dallas Morning News:
The project will include a modern irrigation system, new bunkers, tees and green complexes.
Soil temperatures will be controlled by a subterranean cooling and heating system for the green complexes.
Features will be rebuilt and new turf will be established throughout the entire course.
“While Colonial is one of the most recognizable names in golf, the course has evolved far afield from its original vision,” Hanse said in a statement. “We are honored that the members have entrusted us with this classic gem and will work hard to make it more visually artistic and more interesting to play.
”We are similarly hopeful that upon playing the restored course the best players in the world will find that the attributes that make Colonial challenging will still be at the heart of the design.”
Tiger's Goal: "Walking on my own."
/GolfDigest.com’s Daniel Rapaport interviewed Tiger Woods in what I believe is the first post-accident chat with a media member.
The most sobering quote:
Asked about his hopes of playing golf again, Woods had no comment, but said, “My physical therapy has been keeping me busy. I do my routines every day and am focused on my No. 1 goal right now: walking on my own. Taking it one step at a time.”
Quadrilateral: Restored Southern Hills Gets Its National Unveiling
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I was enjoying the battle of the BRos to finish off the almost-complete weekly notes edition.
Bryson Transitions To Gentle Troll Mode In Battle Of The Bros, But Tom Brady Wins The Day
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Not only did Bryson DeChambeau jump on one of Brooks Koepka’s efforts at light ribbing, but so did PGA Champion Phil Mickelson.
For those tracking the Player Impact Program race instead of the Comcast Business Solutions No One Will Play The Wyndham Regardless chase, that’s 98.2k likes for Brooks, 24.5k for Bryson and 48.6k for Phil. We’ll let the algo comprised of Meltwater Mentions x MVP Index x Google Searches x Tuesday’s temperature in Ponte Vedra decides who wins.
But Bryson also made a quiet Instagram story play WITH Photoshopping (bonus points!), as caught here by No Laying Up:
This all came on a day when Tom Brady joined in the fun to promote The Match with some epic meme trolling of Aaron Rodgers and a funny, maybe a tad edgy reply by Bryson.
Glorious!
Except in the State-guided media world.
As I noted in an earlier post, NBC/Golf Channel is “investigating” the origins of the video. And while the episode is a little embarrassing in various ways for Koepka and the network’s leadership, it amounts to a very small deal in the grand scheme and hopefully will not lead to a low paid, overworked employee losing their job.
Given the incredible number of times the clip was watched before getting taken down—as many saw it as tuned in for the final round of the PGA—you’d think media operations constantly searching for “engagement” and “impressions” with a young, hip, male audience would be reporting the above fun that does possibly have ramifications for the Ryder Cup.
The efforts to run from such good fodder suggest this is a grave matter at the Global Home and their internal “listening” reports are being drawn up to analyze the reactions. (GolfChannel.com and PGATour.com have touched no part of the social fodder while GolfDigest.com has buried an item on it where stories go to die, also known as The Loop…yes it still exists.)
So I guess the attempts at make this gaffe go away tells us not to expect an update on the Player Impact Program ramifications. Darn.
"Brooks Koepka's obvious dislike of Bryson DeChambeau is so great for golf"
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That’s the question Andy Nesbit poses at For The Win and while I’m not sure I share his enthusiasm, we know the bro-buddy-backstopping-backslapping ways of pro golf are not as fun as an edgy rivalry.
Regarding the mostly vanquished-from-the-web aborted first take of Koepka showing disdain for DeChambeau, Nesbit writes:
This feud and that hatred is so great for golf.
Koepka and DeChambeau or two of the best golfers in the world and a personal rivalry like this can only make things more interesting when they find themselves battling down the stretch of a tournament, which could happen any week the two are in the field.
The PGA Tour can be a very vanilla place where lots of guys are happy for a top 20 finish and the six- to seven-figure payout that comes with that. There are lots of smiles, waves to the crowd after a nice shot or a big putt, and aw shucks reactions to big moments.
What the Tour lacks is any real disdain felt between some players that leads to some epic Sunday showdowns and cause casual fans to sit down and tune in.
As for outrage over the Live From interview getting taken down by NBC on various platforms, you can’t blame the network. After all, the clip never aired and is a poor reflection on an operation demoralized by labor and budget cuts. So it’s perfectly logical they would want it removed and not ever making the Golf Today rundown.
The channel replied to my request for comment about how the clip got out: a spokesperson said the channel is “investigating” how the tape was leaked.
The Match Goes To Big Sky, Montana With Mickelson, DeChambeau, Brady And Rodgers
/Set for July 6th, they’re taking The Match to a place called The Reserve at Moonlight Basin where they have a 777-yard par-5 and property to move.
And by then Aaron Rodgers might even know where he’s playing next year! If not, well that’ll be awkward.
For Immediate Release:
Turner Sports to Exclusively Present Capital One’s The Match Featuring
Phil Mickelson & Tom Brady vs. Bryson DeChambeau & Aaron Rodgers
TNT to Televise Premier Live Golf Event – Tuesday, July 6 – from The Reserve at Moonlight Basin, the Breathtaking Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in Big Sky, Montana
Turner Sports will present the next edition of Capital One’s The Match, the Sports Emmy-nominated premier live golf event series, which will feature World Golf Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson – following his historic 2021 PGA Championship win – and seven-time Super Bowl Champion Tom Brady teeing off against 2020 U.S. Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau and reigning NFL league MVP Aaron Rodgers.
TNT will exclusively televise the event, to be held Tuesday, July 6, with live coverage beginning at 5 p.m. ET from picturesque Moonlight Basin in Big Sky, Montana. In addition to live televised coverage, interactive social and digital content will be available on Bleacher Report and House of Highlights leading up to and during the event.
With a focus on the importance of supporting community, Capital One’s The Match will include donations made to Feeding America, among additional charitable beneficiaries.
Live event coverage airing on TNT will once again feature unprecedented access with all players having open mics throughout the entire competition, including the capability to communicate directly with other golfers and the broadcast commentators. More information on the live production, including the commentator team, will be shared leading up to the event.
The competition format will be modified alternate shot match play with six-time Major Champion Mickelson reuniting with seven-time Super Bowl Champion and three-time NFL MVP Brady against first-time participants in DeChambeau, the PGA TOUR’s current FedEx Cup leader, and Rodgers, a three-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl Champion.
Mickelson, a two-time winner of The Match, paired with Brady for last May’s Capital One’s The Match: Champions for Charity event. Most recently, Mickelson teamed with Charles Barkley to pull off one of golf’s biggest upsets, besting Stephen Curry and Peyton Manning in Capital One’s The Match: Champions for Change in November.
A Jack Nicklaus signature course, The Reserve at Moonlight Basin is set on the northwest side of Montana’s iconic Lone Park and is considered one of the most breathtaking settings in golf. The Reserve’s 8,000-yard private course – with a 7,500-foot elevation – is surrounded by some of the most picturesque scenery in Montana, and at the centerpiece is a 777-yard, Par 5, 17th hole.
The media agreement with WarnerMedia and Turner Sports was completed in partnership with global sports business agency SPORTFIVE, which represents Mickelson and is the tournament co-organizer with Excel Sports Management. Live event coverage will be produced by Turner Sports, in partnership with 199 Productions, Brady’s global multi-platform content and production company.
Turner Sports is proud to continue its partnership with Capital One as the title sponsor of Capital One’s The Match, which is a sanctioned PGA TOUR event. Capital One will collaborate on a number of social, digital and broadcast integrations leading up to and during the live event. To learn more about the company and its commitments to change banking for good, visit https://www.capitalone.com/about/our-commitments/.
Autotrader will be the presenting sponsor of Capital One’s The Match’s pre-show coverage. Progressive Insurance will return as a presenting sponsor, and DraftKings is back as content integration partner for Capital One’s The Match. Additional partners will be shared prior to the event.
Ryder Cup: Phil Won't Be Driving A Cart This Year; What To Do With Brooks And Bryson?
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GolfDigest.com’s Brian Wacker talked to 2021 Ryder Cup vice driver Davis Love about Phil Mickelson’s win and what it means for this year’s matches
From the sound of Love’s comments, Mickelson’s historic win—which would have exempted him to the team not that long ago—came just in time.
“We were going to talk to [Mickelson] about what he wanted to do,” Love said Monday afternoon at Belmont Golf Course where he was on hand for the reopening of the A.W. Tillinghast course and site of the 1949 PGA that he helped redesign. “I’m glad we didn’t do that.”
Hey buried lede there! More on Belmont another day. We have Ryder Cup drama to deal with.
Sure sounds like they have the keys to a cart with Phil’s name on it ready. Not now.
“The first thing I did [Monday] morning was look to see what number he was [in the standings],” Love said. “And he’ll [continue to] get more points.”
Captain Stricker is working with a record six picks this year.
Two players currently not needing a pick? Why it’s Brookson!
Bryson DeChambeau is currently second in Ryder Cup points while his buddy Brooks Koepka is sixth, but almost assured a Captain’s pick if he’s healthy. And while the PIP ramifications of their unusual bond was sealed with the leaked Golf Channel tape, the captain’s are going to need all of their powers to prevent those two from a table tennis room tussle.
Needless to say, they will not be in the same pod.
PIP Move: Bryson Responds (In An Instagram Comment!?)
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I’ll just say it: this PIP race is way more exciting than the FedExCup.
Though I must question Bryson DeChambeau’s use of a comment section at the expense of some key Meltwater mentions. Hogan would never have made such a PIP mistake.
8.9 million views and growing. Major Google search points accumulating for Brooks!
2021 PGA: Final Round Averages 6.5 Million, Peaks At 13 Million
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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.
Quadrilateral: 2021 PGA Winners & Losers Plus Media Coverage Wrap-Up
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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.
I’m really enjoying the format and invading your inboxes. Sign up options here.
LPGA Announces New Commish: Princeton AD Mollie Marcoux Samaan
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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:
Samaan appeared on Golf Today and made a good impression:
