"Trump may well rue the day he brought the lawsuit."

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James D. Zirin is a former federal prosecutor with a special interest in dissecting Donald Trump’s lawsuits.

Given the news of the Trump Organization suing over the voiding of its Trump Ferry Point contract after the January 6th insurrection, he explains in this Washington Post guest piece how the wide-open discovery process might backfire.

Attorneys for the city undoubtedly will want to probe in discovery the state of Trump’s finances. He is said to be deeply in debt. His precarious financial situation may disqualify him from operating a tournament-worthy golf course. They will also want to go into what Trump meant on Jan. 6 when he perpetuated the “big lie,” asserting that there had been mass election fraud, encouraging an unruly mob of his supporters to go to the Capitol and “fight like hell” to stop the certification of an election he had “won in a landslide” and to “take back our country.” The city will certainly call witnesses from the PGA and the British Open who would be expected to testify that they canceled plans for tournaments at Trump golf courses because Trump’s name has become mud.

The city lawyers will seek financial documents to show any connection between the Bronx golf course and Trump’s other business interests. They will want to probe the cost and quality of the improvements Trump claims he made, and may even go into the source of the money. If Trump borrowed the money, they will subpoena the banks and probe his banking relationships, including the financial statements he gave the banks to obtain the loans. They could even get into his controversial tax returns. Trump may well rue the day he brought the lawsuit.

Instant Classic: '21 Travelers Decided In An 8-Hole Playoff

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Maybe the craziest part of the Harris English’s 8-hole sudden death playoff win over Kramer Hickok: this Travelers Championship playoff was a thriller without anyone recording a birdie until the winning putt.

It’s one that’ll stick for a long time and the PGA Tour at its best: a fun final round, a few crazy how-did-that-not-go-in moments, beloved sponsor that knows how to put on a tournament, a course that regularly delivers, and the (mostly) welcomed sounds of a boisterous crowd.

The sides embellished this prime cut steak: golden light on a beautiful Connecticut evening, an energized CBS crew, and dramatic drone shots to help make the theater that much grander. It’s no surprise the network stayed two hours past their allotted time instead of handing off to Golf Channel. For that they were rewarded with several clutch saves before English’s winning putt. And yes, there there was appropriate Twitter grumbling about the 18th hole’s overuse. Particularly on a course with one of golf’s most combustible three-hole stretches at 15-17.

From David Dusek’s Golfweek story:

Little did anyone know that the tournament itself would wind up being the amuse-bouche. The main dish was an eight-hole playoff culminating with fans doing the wave around the 18th green and par after agonizing par being made on a course that yielded 263 birdies in the final round.

When it was over, English outlasted Hickok after eight playoff holes to earn his fourth PGA Tour win. This was the first time a PGA Tour playoff went to eight holes since 2012 when John Huh defeated Robert Allenby at the Mayakoba Golf Classic.

“This was awesome. The fans were keeping us in this it, getting the juice from them,” English said. “That’s been really all afternoon. Hats off to Kramer. What a competitor. We were both grinding. That’s what it was all about. We were grinding and trying our hardest.”

English’s second win of 2021 makes him the only player to win more than once. The winning check will also have 10% going to caddie Eric Larson, whose time in prison and new lease-on-life Mark Cannizzaro documented here in the New York Post.

Oddly, the most incredible shot of the playoff was not posted online but you can at least see the fried egg English overcame to keep the playoff going:

The winning putt:

For Hickok’s clutch breakthrough performance, he probably deserved an interview instead of a look at the updated FedExCup standings.

But there was at least this:

The round four highlights from PGA Tour Entertainment:

Nellie Korda Takes Women's PGA, First American World No. 1 Since 2014

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A terrific performance by Nellie Korda to win the KPMG Women’s PGA for reasons other than being just 22:

  • It comes just weeks after a bad missed cut in the U.S. Women’s Open

  • Arguably too fast of a golfer at times, she dueled with Lizette Salas, a wonderful player and amazing story, but a very slow one.

Beth Ann Nichols’ Golfweek story filed from Atlanta Athletic Club included this:

At 22, Nelly came into the KPMG Women’s PGA, her 26th major start, the undisputed best player on the LPGA without a major. By week’s end, kids lined the barricades that led from the 18th green up to the clubhouse shouting her name.

On a sweltering Sunday, Nelly fulfilled the promise she’d shown from a young age, becoming the first American to rise to No. 1 in the world since Stacy Lewis in 2014, ending a drought that stretched 2,678 days. She also became the first American to win an LPGA major since 2018, when Angela Stanford won the Evian Championship.

“I’ve put in a lot of work and to finally get a win,” she later said on the 18th green, “or two wins under my belt, or three wins, sorry.”

Former World No. 1 Shanshan May Be Retiring After The Olympics

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Upon missing the KPMG PGA Championship cut, Shanshan Feng revealed she’s contemplating retirement after representing China in the Olympics. The former World No. 1 and former KPMG PGA winner is a mainstay of major leaderboards and recently contended again at the U.S. Women’s Open.

From Beth Ann Nichols’ story for Golfweek.com:

Feng told instructor Gary Gilchrist from the start that she’d like give it her all for 10 years on the LPGA and then move on. The Olympics changed that timeline, and it was pushed back even further due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Feng took all of 2020 off, returning in March at the ANA Inspiration where she tied for third.

“Her swing is better than ever,” said Gilchrist.

Mercer Leftwich has been on Feng’s bag since 2011 and believes that a lot of Feng’s success comes from her confidence. She’s also not one to overwork.

Leftwich jokes that if Feng leaves the tour for too long, he’d fly over to China and bring her back.

“She started laughing,” said Leftwich on Thursday, “saying ‘No, he will!’ ”

Feng, who confirmed the same to Golf Channel after her second round on Friday, played the first two rounds at Atlanta Athletic Club with Anne van Dam, and said that she was routinely 50 to 60 yards behind her.

Report: Open Championship Contestants Face DQ For Protocol Violations

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The Telegraph’s James Corrigan obtained player requirements for the upcoming Open Championship calling for restrictions on public dining and how many on a “team” can stay together. Most stunning: vaccination appears to mean nothing and this is all juxtaposed against the United Kingdom okaying 32,000 fans a day on site. Most of those fans will be arriving via train.

Pete Cowen, the current guru to Brooks Koepka and Rory McIlroy, spoke to Corrigan about the issues. raised.

“There are going to be 32,000 fans allowed in every day and they’re saying we can’t stay in anything other than the dedicated hotels — most of which are already sold out — because we’d be mixing with the public,” Cowen said. “And we can’t stay together, like we have on the PGA Tour for the last year. We have all been vaccinated and will have been tested before we are allowed in. This ‘bubble’ we have created between ourselves has produced no problems at all.

“It makes no sense at all when there will be 60,000 at Wembley, 140,000 at Silverstone (race track) and all those at Wimbledon on the weekend before — sitting next to each other. I suppose I should be grateful I am going at all, as initially the wording of the regs made me believe instructors would be banned.”

In a follow up report, Golfweek’s Tim Schmitt and Steve DiMeglio report that unnamed PGA Tour players have considered passing and are miffed at the rules.

“If someone on your plane tests positive on way to the British and is sitting anywhere close to you, you’re out no questions asked, no matter if you’re vaccinated. It’s aggravating that they deem the tournament safe enough for 32,000 fans a day to attend, but won’t let a player’s wife, children travel and watch the tournament, nor will they even let players visit a restaurant without threat of disqualification.”

The player “teams” can stay together in a maximum of four at a private rental. Any violation of the protocols, including a simple visit from someone not in the player’s sphere, faces “withdrawal from the championship.”

“They care more about the revenue of the fans buying beers than they do about the actual people participating in the tournament,” said the player who spoke with Golfweek. “Any fan can go to a grocery store or a restaurant and we can’t. Does that make sense? And I’m vaccinated. How does that make sense?”

For Quadrilateral subscribers, I wrote about the inconsistency of the UK’s plan and apparent blind eye turned toward the many successful championships run to date. And none of those attempted to welcome as many fans back as the UK is, with trains and a Delta variant added to the mix.

"The Monster is back."

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Oh My! The 10th and 11th holes at Oakland Hills South. Look at that land! (Larry Lambrecht)

Oh My! The 10th and 11th holes at Oakland Hills South. Look at that land! (Larry Lambrecht)

That’s what the Detroit Pree-Press’ Carlos Monarrez says about one of America’s most storied championship venues sidelined while undergoing reconstructive surgery to repair damage done by the Jones family.

Oakland Hills South has seen Hanse Design attempt to bring back more Donald Ross and prepare it for 21st century tournaments. The course reopened Thursday but has no events locked in right now.

Last week the USGA announced more future sites for the U.S. Open. The next open date is 2028, a year after Pebble Beach hosts the tournament. That could bode well for Oakland Hills’ chances since the USGA likes to alternate eastern and western sites every year for the Open.

“Restoring the South Course at Oakland Hills was a master class in scale from architect Donald Ross,” Hanse said in a statement Thursday. “By returning the proportions of the features to the large scale of the property, we learned so much about how to create interest, strategy and beauty. This was a truly thrilling project for us to be involved in and we are excited about the transformation that has occurred.”

Quadrilateral readers know 2028 is out barring some sort of last minute change, while 2024 and 2029 are already locked in at Pinehurst #2. So the likely next option is 2030 but there is a certain anniversary that makes Merion a possibility that year. Time will tell!

It Seems Like The Post Round Interview Is Doomed

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A couple weekends ago I watched the end of two events: an Indy race on NBC and a competitive sailing competition on CBS.

At the Indy race, about ten drivers were interviewed to help fill time when the race ended early. This included a driver who crashed.

On the sailing, which was on tape, the American team’s jib broke, or someone’s Sperry’s slipped, I don’t know. But they were knocked out of the race and within seconds they went to the captain wearing a microphone to hear what went wrong. He answered while they were still reeling from what went wrong.

Both sports were also full of sound allowing us to eavesdrop on the proceedings. During the interviews, logos were visible, the drivers let you get to know them better and all that screen time pleased the people who write the checks.

Pro golf is going the opposite direction.

In-round interviews have died (again). Sound of conversations seems like it’s less prevalent. And now post-round interviews of anyone but the winner seem in danger.

Following Naomi Osaka’s French Open WD over post-round media stress , some golfers have opened up about how much pressure they feel from announcer criticisms or post round interviews. While these sessions generally don’t yield much, it’s still a shame that some feel questions starting with the world “how” or “talk about” can be seen as so stressful.

Of course writers and television will miss them and the shirt logo and watch deals might start to disappear, but mental health does take priority. And maybe if there is no danger of losing access, announcers can call the action more accurately.

Maybe these are isolated cases, but here’s a review of some recent comments on the topic, starting with Bubba Watson at the U.S. Open.

“The sad part for me is we celebrate every sport in the world. We celebrate accomplishments. We celebrate a guy scoring 50 points in the NBA. They are not saying quit shooting three-pointers. But we don't celebrate when a guy makes eight birdies or a guy bombs it 400 yards. I don't understand how we're not celebrating. We're trying to make golf courses bigger, harder, dumber, however you want to word it, but we're not celebrating our great players. I'm definitely not in that group of great players. I'm saying I want to see these guys hammering the ball. I want the next up-and-comer. I want a 6'8" guy not playing in the NBA, I want to see him on the PGA Tour bombing the ball. We're the only sport not celebrating accomplishments of being a guy working out in the gym that can hit the ball miles. We're mad at that guy. I don't know why, but we are. I'm not, but some people are -- golf course designers. The NBA, Tom Brady winning, throwing touchdowns, we celebrate that. ESPN talks about it nonstop. They don't ever talk about us chopping out of the -- hey, he laid up again. That's great. Anyway, that's my rant for the day.”

Given the influence his advice has had on Matthew Wolff, here is what Wolff had to say while dealing with undisclosed issues.

“I was talking to Bubba Watson earlier on the range this week and he told me he stopped watching golf, he only watches LPGA because they're so positive. He goes, LPGA is like the commentators, like everyone is just so positive, like every shot they hit is the best shot ever. And I think that -- and I'm not, I'm not like hating on the LPGA, I think it's awesome, because like these shots are hard out here and it's like, you know, sometimes they're describing a shot and they make it sound easy and it's not. And it's just, I'm only trying to have positive thoughts in my head and be positive. And I mean, kudos to pretty much every professional athlete out there, it's, I haven't been in this world for a long time, but it's fucking hard.”

And this in advance of the KPMG LPGA from Jessica Korda:

“You have fans coming to follow you, and if you're not playing your best, you obviously feel like you're disappointing everyone, and you get asked about it right after. It's never easy not playing well and then kind of answering the questions why because you're trying to figure it out yourself.”

This could just be a short term post-pandemic thing that will change when crowds come back and some normalcy returns. But this also could build momentum in the other direction and lead to more players saying no. I’m not sure that’s great for “growing the game,” but we’ll find out soon enough.

Quadrilateral: The 2021 U.S. Open Ratings Have A Story To Tell

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KPMG Upgrading Women's PGA Stats Effort, But Still A Ways To Go

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In all of the talk gender equity discussions of late, purses get most of the focus. But a closer look at the ANA Inspiration, U.S. Women’s Open, Women’s Open Championship or KPMG PGA shows room for growth in statistics.

Granted, the priorities have been on just funding the events, trying to get more network coverage and upgrading to quality venues. Now that those things are happening and more cash is great, there is a glaring disparity in available stats for women’s events versus the men. With incredible advancements like ShotLink and a similar system developed by the USGA/Augusta National, it’s time to have real data at women’s majors. Because whether it’s for bettors or simply the increased interest, context and sophistication that comes with compelling stats, talk of raising the women’s game bar must include data.

So it’s nice to read the first step with KPMG continuing their pretty relentless push at bettering the Women’s PGA this week at Atlanta Athletic Club. As Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols writes, “it’s not ShotLink, but it’s a quantum leap in the right direction.”

The KPMG program will be similar to what’s on the European Tour, with caddies recording shots, club selections and the lie of every shot. They’ll turn in a special scorecard after every round and get paid a stipend for the efforts. KPMG is covering that, too.

Overall strokes gained and strokes gained by game area (off the tee, approach, around the green, putting) will be available as well as deeper insights into individual strokes gained by 25-yard increments and individual shots taken. Players, fans and media will know how close players hit it on average from certain distances. There will be shot dispersion charts, average birdie putt length and performance indexing over time against the field.

"R&A World Golf Museum Opens Following A Complete Redevelopment"

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Great news for those visiting St Andrews as the renamed R&A World Golf Museum has been renovated and “re-interpreted”. It sits right across from the R&A clubhouse, so if you’re there for golf or just killing time during an Open Championship wind delay, make sure to check it out.

I thought the museum told the story of golf quite beautifully—the cafe upstairs is also handy for St Andrews golfers—but it sounds like they’ve made the place better.

For Immediate Release…

THE R&A WORLD GOLF MUSEUM OPENS FOLLOWING A COMPLETE REDEVELOPMENT

21 June 2021, St Andrews, Scotland: From today, The R&A is pleased to welcome visitors to The R&A World Golf Museum, in St Andrews, which has undergone an extensive redevelopment.

Beginning as a cabinet of curiosities in the 1800s and known as the British Golf Museum for the past 30 years, the Museum based at the home of golf enters a new era as The R&A World Golf Museum.

Closed since early 2020, the Museum galleries, have been redisplayed and re-interpreted, ready to welcome visitors to explore the rich history of golf.

Visitors will be uplifted and inspired as the past, present and future of golf is brought to life around them through immersive, eye-catching and interactive displays.

Phil Anderton, Executive Director – Chief Development Officer at The R&A commented, “Golf is synonymous with St Andrews – it was first played here in the 1500’s and The Old Course is the first 18 hole course in the world, so it is fitting that The R&A World Golf Museum resides just steps from its 1st tee.

“Golf is rich in tradition which has been built through centuries of enjoyment. It is these traditions and the evolution of the game which are explored in the galleries of The R&A World Golf Museum.

“Through the interactive galleries we hope to engage with current and new fans to deepen their knowledge and connection to golf.”

The story of golf is presented through six new thematic zones, each designed to engage and entertain through experiential and video displays.

From July 2021, The R&A World Golf Museum will also feature an exhibition celebrating the life of legendary golfer Severino Ballesteros. Seve – His Life Through the Lens - will run for 18 months, including throughout The 150th Open in St Andrews, and visitors will enjoy a unique collection dedicated to his greatest achievements in golf, including winning The Open on three occasions in 1979, 1984 and 1988.

The R&A World Golf Museum has created a five-star visitor experience that is accessible to all.

Angela Howe, Director – Museum & Heritage at The R&A said, “Our goal when developing The R&A World Golf Museum was to re-imagine the golf heritage experience; making it appealing to established golf fans whilst attracting and educating those new to the sport.

“The refurbishment of the galleries provides a modern back drop for people to learn about golf’s heritage via immersive, interactive and interesting exhibits.

“We are looking forward to opening on the 21 June and welcoming guests to enjoy all that The R&A World Golf Museum has to offer.’’

The R&A World Golf Museum is located on Bruce Embankment, St Andrews, Scotland and is open from 09:30 until 17:00 Monday – Saturday and 10:00 until 17:00 on Sunday from 21 June, 2021. The Café is open five days a week, from 09:30 until 17:00 Wednesday-Saturday and 10:00 until 17:00 Sunday.

In addition to the galleries The R&A World Golf Museum also offers a retail shop and a café which overlooks the famed West Sands Beach.

Entry into the Museum is £12 for adults, £10 for concessions, £6 for children and free for children under the age of four.

What Needs To Happen For Torrey Pines To Host Another U.S. Open?

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After Sunday’s thriller and with no Torrey Pines on the future venue list, the natural question was raised by several writers: will it be back?

AP’s Doug Ferguson writes:

Ten players were separated by one shot at one point when the final group was on the front nine. Separation came from bad decisions, bad lies, bad shots, typical of a U.S. Open. Four players who were within one or two shots of the lead made double bogey on the back nine. The winner, Rahm, was the only player to not drop a shot on the back nine.

GolfDigest.com’s Joel Beall went to David Fay for insights and the former Executive Director who steered the USGA to Bethpage and he sees a positive outcome, regardless of what happens.

Fay, however, says that’s not the case. Instead he views the era as a tip of the hat to the USGA’s constituents. “People who play public facilities, they could say a true public links was good enough to host a U.S. Open,” Fay says.

As for its goodbye? Fay says don’t get too sentimental, because in this world goodbyes don’t exist. “I understand why golfers who play true publics would be disappointed, I do. But golfers love their history, and history lives. Once a U.S. Open has come, you are a U.S. Open course in perpetuity.”

Rex Hoggard makes the case of players liking it as almost enough reason even if the course is flawed, but wonders if the USGA’s “anchor site” concept will get in the way.

There have been quiet indications that the USGA is considering a championship “rotation” like that used by The Open. Although officials declined to comment on those rumors, they also didn’t deny them.

“Nick Price said a few years ago on our championship committee, he said, 'You know, it's important where the players win their U.S. Open,'” said John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s senior managing director of championships. “I would just say buckle up because there's really some cool things coming. I would say that on both sides, of the U.S. Open and the U.S. Women's Open.”

Finally, I made my case in The Quadrilateral for the paying folk (here). I say yes and believe it will happen because of money more than anything golf architecture related, but a few key things still need to change.

Trump Sues New York Over Ferry Point Contract Termination

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The Trump Organization, which had a 20-year contract to operate Ferry Point in the Bronx, claims it was unfairly targeted by Mayor Bill DeBlasio.

Jonah Bromwich of the New York Times reports on the Trump Organization is suing New York City for wrongful termination of the Ferry Point contract. In a statement, the company told the Times the course was “widely recognized as one of the most magnificent public golf experiences anywhere in the country.”

Plenty of tee times still available, especially with those twilight rates…

Anyway, this from Bromwich’s piece:

Now, the organization has made its case in an 18-page petition saying that it was never obliged to attract an actual tournament but merely to maintain “a first class tournament quality daily fee golf course.” The petition included several statements from professional golfers, including Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau, attesting to the course’s being “first class” and “tournament quality.”

A spokesman for the city’s law department said that it would “vigorously defend” its decision to terminate the contract and that it “looked forward to selecting a new vendor for Ferry Point.”

More Men's Olympic WD's: Sergio, Tyrrell, Louis

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While Zika was a convenient excuse, COVID-19 remains a threat, particularly to the unvaccinated. And those who have taken the jab still face absurd restrictions that nullifies everything about the Olympic “experience".

So far, no eligible player has pulled out due to safety fears. Instead it’s been mostly about the schedule, majors, Ryder Cup and of course, resting for the playoffs.

Before analyzing the angles of WD attack, this is just your friendly Tuesday reminder that the PGA Tour rebuilt the men’s pro golf schedule into a tighter window for the FedExCup Playoffs, the Olympics and the NFL season. The PGA moved to May and the major season still feels too condensed, with the U.S. Open build-up feeling less robust compared to the past.

Now, only one of those three wraparound reasons appears a legitimate rationale at this point (NFL…).

Anyway, who says these guys aren’t creative? We’ve got Olympic WD’s for all sorts of reasons, starting with Sergio turning his focus to the Ryder Cup.

The next eligible Spaniard is Rafa Cabrera Bello, currently ranked 140th in the world.

Next up is world No. 10 Tyrrell Hatton, who blames the congested schedule that is definitely congested.

Hatton’s replacement would normally be Matthew Fitzpatrick, but reports suggest he’s already telegraphed his intention to pass. Lee Westwood would then be next but he’s already said he would not play. Next on the clock with the fifth round pick for Team England is Tommy Fleetwood.

Louis Oosthuizen is passing up a chance to represent Team South Africa to spend more time witht he family and play the FedExCup season (get that man a Playoff(C) memo).

This presumably opens up a spot for Christian Bezuidenhout to join Garrick Higgo in Tokyo.

Before these latest WD’s on Twitter, G.C. Digital had the scoop on the field yesterday. Impressive, that kid.

Actually, the final rankings already knew these players were pulling out before they took to Twitter. Here is the “final” list.

Men's Olympic Golf Field Finalized, For Now

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You can view the full list here at GolfNewsNet.

Slovakian great Rory Sabbatini is in easily and that has to be a huge sigh of relief in those parts.

Whether all of these players go is another story.

Xander Schauffele after his U.S. Open final round:

Q. Secondly, I'm assuming you're going to go to the Olympics since you're qualified. Is that true?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: That is a decision -- my goal was to try to win this. I haven't really reached. I knew I had to try and qualify for the team. It was getting really bunched up with everyone behind me. I haven't really made a decision yet. It's something I was going to decide tonight or tomorrow morning.

Q. What would keep you away if you decide not to go?

XANDER SCHAUFFELE: Logistics are tricky. There's no opening ceremony, no experience of Japan. You're kind of locked down in your hotel. You can't go and see other venues or events. In terms of an actual Olympics, obviously, you're playing for some hardware, some gold medals and what not, but the overall experience, which I hear is really cool, isn't going to be there in Japan this year.

Fun!