They're Just Doing All Sorts Of Things Down At Augusta National, Big Changes Coming To 11 And 15?

/
Screen Shot 2021-06-15 at 8.53.11 AM.png

Eureka Earth has posted new images of work taking place that could have a huge impact on future Masters.

First off, it would appear the long-term thoughts of a back tee on 13 remain alive and well, as some tree planting work appears to be going on with the long term in mind:

But the big ticket item: what appears to be a new back tee on the 15th hole based on the long platform extending into the 11th. Plus lots of sandcapping work elsewhere in the vicinity, including possibly around the 14th green.

The 11th tee shot will be impacted by this new tee, but barring new plantings or old ones coming back—it’s Augusta National after all—it looks like there is a dwindling tree population down the right side compared to the 2019 view below. I can’t quite figure out the carry number to get past the clump of pines remaining, but it would appear drives of a certain distance will be met with a much wider landing area.

I’m trying to contain my excitement until we know more but this is…exciting, unless trees are sitting in boxes just out of view.

2019 Google Earth view of the same area:

Screen Shot 2021-06-15 at 9.07.41 AM.png

Report: USGA Reached Out To Bryson About Brooks Pairing, 2021 Groupings Out

/

Tee times are out and the USGA did offer a few themes, albeit G-rated and safe.

Defending champ Bryson DeChambeau gets U.S. Amateur winner Tyler Strafaci and Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama. Most of the other themes consist of former champions, Californians, Dallas residents, etc…

Regarding the possibility of the ultimate &^%@ pairing, Brad Faxon made an interesting claim** on SiriusXM’s PGA Tour radio show hosted by Michael Breed. Full audio embedded above. The comments:

Breed: “The idea of having Bryson (DeChambeau) and Brooks (Koepka) playing together, do you think that this would be good for the game of golf? Do you think that having this type of animosity between players is good for the game of golf and grows the game of golf”?

Faxon: “I was with a bunch of the Titleist guys, as you know the club facilities out here. … We were talking about, what do you call growing the game? Is it viewership or is it participation? Because those are two different things. And Wally Uihlein, who was chairman of the board wasn’t there last night, but he would have said years ago when Michael Jordan was the best basketball player in the world, was he growing the game of basketball? He had more people watch, but he wasn't selling more basketballs. And that's exactly what's happening with Koepka and DeChambeau here. More people are knowing about this kind of little fight. It's kind of become a little bit of a Vegas sort of situation here. And I found out last night that the USGA actually did call Bryson DeChambeau and his agent to ask him if they would be okay with that, and Bryson declined.” 

Boy that must have been wild and crazy party talking how to sell more golf balls!  Hopefully Wally at least Zoomed in for an appearance!

**The agent has replied that Bryson was not contacted but does not address if he was approached…

Quadrilateral: 2021 U.S. Open Monday News And Notes

/
https _bucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com_public_images_c76087c0-545a-4e38-a14e-97908a7bd97d_900x506.jpeg

Monday’s Quad for paid subscribers is note heavy, with traces of snark and a little growing concern for the fog.

Plus a roundup of betting stuff, reads, Tweets and an update on The Open Championship after the UK extended the current COVID restrictions until July 19.

Thursday’s edition is free to all who’ve signed up free, but here’s the link if you want to join for the letters every day…

Korn Ferry Kerfuffle! Golfer Arrested For Assaulting Qualifying Partner While Daddy Stands Guard With A Putter!

/

There are some days more than others when you wish His Ownself could see satire playing out on the links. I’m not sure I’ve read a more bizarre account on multiple levels than this must click-on doozy from Firepit Collective’s Ryan French.

The short version: Wichita Open Monday qualifying featured an 8:10 am tee time with Austen Dailey, Derek Fribbs and Luke Smith. On the bag for Luke, a University of Tennessee-Martin golfer, is dad Oliver, President of Capital Prime. The group struggled and fell behind. Luke and Oliver Smith were reportedly not keen on helping the others look for a few lost balls and even did not like having to put the pin in the hole after putting out.

Well okay then.

The situation came to a boil on the Par-3 seventh hole. Dailey hit his tee shot left of the green. Fribbs, ever the sportsmen, went to help Dailey look for his ball. Allegedly, the Smiths did not help in the search for Dailey’s ball. In an effort to speed up play, Fribbs holed out first and headed for the eighth tee to play his next shot and try and get the group back in position. After Dailey completed the hole he said something to Smiths about how helping to look for shots might help speed the group up. This was apparently a bridge too far for the Smiths.  According to Fribbs Luke and Oliver Smith started yelling at Dailey about his quality of play and how it was affecting the group. Oliver went on to make it clear that his son Luke, “wasn’t here to look for balls.” 

Fathers and sons. From there son Luke jumped on Dailey while dad did this…

The elder Smith allegedly waved a putter at Fribbs- and anyone else with an eye on jumping into the fracas. (Oliver Smith’s putter-waving was was later confirmed by another PGA Section official on site.)

Anyway it goes on from there with an arrest for Smith but no word on dad for his role. Check out the full account here.

**Oh more fun imagery for the Dateline reenactment…

Morning Read To Supply Sports Illustrated With Golf Content

/
Screen Shot 2021-06-14 at 8.37.54 AM.png

Sports Illustrated announced an editorial partnership with MorningRead.com to host the website/newsletter’s golf content.

While Morning Read is generally one of the last places you’ll read strong points of view from writers like John Hawkins, Alex Miceli and Mike Purkey, it’s also worth noting that the site is owned by the Buffalo Groupe.

The public relations firm handles PSA work for the USGA, communications counseling, and media relations at the U.S. Open, among their known duties. The firm also has staff members contribute to Morning Read editorial content and a former Buffalo staffer working for the USGA.

While I know many of the Morning Read writers would not be compromised by the relationship, it would seem logical to disclose the USGA partnership in articles pertaining to the U.S.G.A. I know, highly doubtful, but if Golf.com can do it, so can Morning Read when entrusted with what’s left of the Sports Illustrated “brand”.

Getting Torrey Pines To Have Predominantly Kikuyu Rough

/

Having grown up playing over the noxious weed I’ll be curious what role kikuyu plays if it’s as prominent as billed.

Mark Zeigler in the San Diego Union-Tribune took a deep dive into the decision to make kikuyu more prominent in the U.S. Open rough compared to 2008.

“The rough, I think, will be the big differentiator,” says John Bodenhamer, the U.S. Golf Association’s senior managing director of championships. “The biggest difference between January and June will be the kikuyu.”

Knowing how much the USGA loathed the idea of playing a championship with kikuyu approaches and rough—possibly hurting Riviera’s chances at times—I dare say this is the first time a U.S. Open is played with it. (Two PGA’s at Riviera featured prominent kikuyu not seen in the winter months when it’s less active and the U.S. Senior Open).

Superintendent Rich McIntosh, who has dialed in Torrey, explained the approach to get it there this week:

So McIntosh and his crew shaved the rough down to an inch in some places, along with reducing overseed rates of the ryegrass and increasing chemical eradication “to get the kikuyu moving.” That seemed to help, although the gloomy, cloudy spring didn’t cooperate until this past week. The kikuyu is higher than in 2008, up to 6 inches or more in some area, although not uniform height and density across the course.

If it were uniform and that dense throughout we’d be almost assured of an injury or two. Either way, it’s old fashioned U.S. Open hackout stuff and with fewer crowds and marshals than normal to help find balls or mash it down, a potential difference maker.

Torrey Preview: The Course, The Broadcast And More

/

I haven’t gotten around to a prognostication post but we still have time and early week reports to sift through.

In the meantime, just my contributions to the 121st U.S. Open preview coverage.

NBC returns to the scene of their greatest golf broadcasts.

Why the USGA cannot go the *&^%@ pairing route this week.

U.S. Open News and Notes, June 10th.

What to make of Torrey Pines with lots of pictures dissecting lazy, dated and costly renovation work.

Podcast-wise, I discussed my history with Torrey Pines and the thinking behind my McKellar Issue 5 essay on its design:

And the latest State of the Game covered an array of topics including the U.S. Open:

The 1-18 flyover compilation from the USGA. Unfortunately it appears to have been shot a while ago, so we don’t see the final rough lines and buildout:

Caldwell Wins Inaugural Scandinavian Mixed; Equipment Data Is Interesting, Too

/
Screen Shot 2021-06-13 at 9.30.53 PM.png

Jonathan Caldwell won the Scandinavian Mixed hosted by Henrik Stenson and Annika Sorenstam and featuring 78 men and 78 women competing against each other for the first time. Alice Hewson finished solo third. Mike Purkey with the details here.

Caldwell’s emotional interview:

I thought this was particularly nice work by the European Tour’s social team to document the differences in bags. I didn’t see the women outnumber the men with wedges:

Quadrilateral: Why The Brooks-Bryson *&^%@ Pairing Can't Happen This Year

/

A featured Bryson-Brooks grouping would be entertaining but also a mistake. I explain in this edition without, spoiler alert—speculating on past three-balls featuring esteemed friends of the USGA.

Plus, notes on Jon Rahm, the course and this week's player interview schedule. This one is exclusive to those who support The Quadrilateral by chipping in a few bucks to the cause.

Brooks: "I just have a harder time focusing in regular PGA Tour events than I do majors"

/

After missing the Palmetto Invitational cut, Brooks Koepka says he’s still having trouble focusing in non-majors. From Steve DiMeglio’s Golfweek report:

“I don’t try to miss a cut. I just have a harder time focusing in regular PGA Tour events than I do majors,” he said. “Majors, I know I’m locked in from the moment I hit the first tee shot. Even walking from the first tee shot to the ball, my head is still going on what I need to do. Out here I kind of lose focus for a little bit.

“I’ve got to figure it out. That’s why I struggle, I think, in regular events. It’s the focus and the energy, the excitement level just isn’t there when it would be in a major. It’s different. I thrive off that bigger stage, that big moment where there’s a bunch of fans and a tough golf course. I love it.”

Well I know he meant to say PGA Tour events, playoff events notwithstanding.

At least Koepka finished and stayed to chat.

There was a fairly pitiful leaderboard sight involving many added late to help keep the field at 156 and those playing opportunity incentives safe.

Lexi Passes On TV Interview, Gets Backing From Peer

/

Lexi Thompson is T15 after two rounds at Lake Merced, not quite a week removed from losing the U.S. Women’s Open at nearby Olympic Club.

Given that Golf Channel’s LPGA Tour coverage teeters on sycophantic at times, it’s pretty amazing to pass on a post-round interview that is also a fine chance to display some logos. But as feared with the recent Naomi Osaka situation, coupled with some anti-media sentiment in golf, it seems we are likely to see more players pass on these generally inane chats. And even when they don’t pass, episodes like this put interviewers on notice to bring plenty of massage oil to future post-round therapy sessions.

Here is one defense of Thompson’s decision, with a wide range of replies.

MorningRead.com’s Mike Purkey challenged players, agents and some broadcasters making these situations worse than they (A) need to be (B) actually are in the grand scheme of life.

Thompson’s agent did her no favors by calling a halt to the media interviews after only two questions after the final round. If he thought he was protecting her, he’s wrong. What’s more, it’s not his job or his jurisdiction in that situation. Thompson, who is 26, might not have been required to face the media, but she does have an obligation as a professional athlete. This was her 15th U.S. Open, and she has been answering reporters’ questions all that time.

If Thompson wants another example, she only has to turn to Greg Norman, who infamously lost a six-stroke lead in the final round of the 1996 Masters. It was by far the most devastating day of Norman’s career.

Yet, he sat in the interview room in the media center at Augusta National, where every seat was taken and journalists were standing in the back and seated in the aisles and in the front. He answered every single question until no more were left to ask.

"I’m still trying to understand why bifurcation scares everybody as much as it does."

/

There is plenty to chew on in Mike Whan’s conversation with Alan Shipnuck for GolfDigest.com. But mostly it’s nice to see the incoming CEO is trying to understand why rules bifurcation is the golf administrator version of gonorrhea.

The key exchange with Whan, who starts July 1st:

For the men’s professional game, do you need to limit the distance players are hitting it?

If we’re talking about the men’s professional game, I’d be surprised if people don’t believe that some degree of reining in wouldn’t be good for the game long-term. I haven’t had those conversations with everybody yet, but I will. I’ve read the Distance Insights study, but I don’t know if the need for change really trickles down to other levels of the game. I question if we need change for the average player. I’m still trying to understand why bifurcation scares everybody as much as it does. I’m not really sure why.

Welcome to the club!

What To Make Of Torrey Pines This Time Around?

/
Torrey Pines third hole (Geoff Shackelford)

Torrey Pines third hole (Geoff Shackelford)

I penned a Quadrilateral on Torrey Pines South that’s open to all after forgetting to hit the old Everyone box yesterday.

And on this week’s McKellar podcast, I chatted with Lawrence Donegan about my Issue 5 article on Torrey Pines along with the recent U.S. Women’s Open and Pepperdine’s NCAA win.

U.S. Women's Open, Memorial 2021 Ratings About What You'd Expect When Two Great Tournaments Collide

/

Two of the biggest non-men’s majors went up against each other last week and as they will in the foreseeable future unless schedulers push for change. Still, with nearly matching TV windows and the conclusions happening in annoying congruity, it’s not a shock to see CBS’s 2021 Memorial broadcast and NBC/Golf Channel’s U.S. Women’s Open delivered smaller audiences than hoped-for.

Add on the an NBA Game 7, Tiger’s absence and the Memorial hit a three-year low according to Sports Media Watch’s Paulsen.

Final round coverage of the PGA Tour Memorial tournament averaged 2.82 million viewers on CBS last Sunday, marking the tournament’s smallest final round audience in three years (2.35M). Viewership fell 12% from last year, when the tournament marked Tiger Woods’ return from hiatus (3.28M), and 5% from 2019 — when Woods finished in the top ten (2.96M).

I suppose you could say the rating was pretty great all things considered, but with the previous day’s Rahm/COVID news, more were likely tuning in.

The U.S. Women’s Open went off split tees and played threesomes to fit NBC’s priority status for gymnastics given how it’s an Olympic year.

While the U.S. Women’s Open audience was up from some dismal showings in 2019 and 2020, this is still not a great number given an exciting finish, major start in Lexi Thompson leading and an ad-free telecast.