IGF Finalizes Olympic Fields, Touts Younger "Gender-Neutral Audience"

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Fields have been confirmed for Olympic Games golf competitions and you can see them here. On the men’s side, just 28 of the 60 players are inside the Official World Golf Ranking top 100.

The women’s field of 60 features 36 players inside the Rolex Ranking top 100.

In making the announcement, International Golf Federation president Annika Sorenstam was able to pry away from her busy American Century Championship preparations and social media whitewashing to issue a very organic quote.

“We are extremely pleased with the strength and diversity of both the men’s and women’s fields, which reflect the continued growth and popularity of golf,” said Annika Sorenstam, President of the International Golf Federation, which oversees the Olympic golf competition. “We have such wonderful storylines to share, be it Jon Rahm and Nelly Korda both winning major championships in the final week of qualifying to become the No. 1 players in the world, or the variety of lesser known but equally inspiring stories of Olympic athletes representing their respective countries.”

Sorenstam is scheduled to play the U.S. Senior Women’s Open the same week as the Olympic Men’s competition. Maybe she’ll track the storylines from the course.

If there was any doubt that Olympics is all about the money, look no further than the release touting numbers only advertisers care about.

Golf is looking to build upon the success of its return as an Olympic sport at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games after an absence of more than 100 years, when it achieved significant numbers internationally and was watched by a younger, more gender-neutral audience than that generally achieved for professional golf events. In fact, golf finished as the seventh most popular sport in Rio in terms of fan engagements around the world.

I presume gender neutral was meant to be a way of saying more women watched than normal. Maybe the IGF could just say that?

Quadrilateral: The 2021 Links Season Begins!

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Taking cover on The Maiden, a long time ago (A History Of Royal St George’s Golf Course)

Taking cover on The Maiden, a long time ago (A History Of Royal St George’s Golf Course)

This Quad went out to all subscribers because not much excites me more than links season kicking off, all two weeks of it on the men’s side (though we do get the Women’s Open at Carnoustie this year as a bonus). ‘

I take a look at the Scottish-Open Championship combo and a few things to know about this week and next. But mostly this is an excuse to start emptying the notebooks on Royal St George’s, whose important place in the game grows on me the more I read about it.

I’ll also be revisiting the course history and other topics like cross-country golf in upcoming Quadrilaterals, so make sure you sign up and join to ensure a full-Open Championship experience.

East Lothian Week: All 18 From North Berwick, Plus Scotland Golf Guides

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David Jones has given us a few wonderful gifts to kick off Scottish Open week in East Lothian. With things not quite back to normal, don’t expect to see players posting videos of their rounds at North Berwick and Gullane, but that’s where Jones and his UK Golf Guy site come in handy with a fresh look at the West Links.

But before that, I’ve long been meaning to direct you to the fantastic map he’s created of Scotland golf courses. At first glance this might seem unnecessary in a world where we have phone maps. But if you’re planning a trip there, or just dreaming of one, having a hard copy is incredibly helpful thanks in part to elements Jones incorporated of all 550 courses. Key elements:

• Every golf course in Scotland open for public play


• Top 100 courses in Scotland noted by a different color

• Number of holes for courses under 18 holes shown 


• Detailed insets for the Edinburgh and Glasgow areas


• Journey distance times between key courses


• Clear road mapping of mainland and islands


• Ferry routes


The chart for driving distances is worth the price alone, especially when tour operators can be prone to schedule some odd day-to-day adventures for unsuspecting visitors.

The price? £9.99 with free delivery in the UK and £3 for global shipping.

Now, on to the magnificent North Berwick which is pretty well documented, but not like this. I’m normally not one to like rear views but Jones used the super-early light (4:30 am, gulp) and different perspectives to show off the links like we’ve never seen before. It does highlight a few fairway contours that could use some widening to show off even more features, but I won’t quibble. Sit back and enjoy:

College Golfers May Have To Delay Their Brand Rollouts

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Hoping to buy a line of logoed stuff from your favorite college golfer now that the NCAA has been forced to let them cash in?

According to GolfChannel.com’s Brentley Romine, the rules of amateur status will likely slow down efforts by any college golfer to begin their brand unveiling until the USGA and R&A update their Jan. 1, 2022 softening of amateur status.

The NCAA's interim guidelines, which defer rule-making to the states and individual universities, will remain until official NCAA and/or federal legislation is passed.

However, college golfers must still abide by the Rules of Amateur Status set by golf's governing bodies. Though the USGA and R&A back in February announced modernized rules that don't figure to conflict with any state or school policies in regards to NIL, those new rules aren't slated to go into effect until Jan. 1, 2022.

So, what will college golfers do for six months?

Talk to their prospective agents about fine tuning their logos and online shops? Sorry, go on…

"While the NCAA’s announcement is not directly related to our own work to modernization the Rules of Amateur Status, we applaud the NCAA for making a positive step forward for collegiate athletics and note that their interim policy is closely aligned with where the Rules of Amateur Status will be come January 1, 2022," the USGA statement read. "We are now in contact with NCAA staff to seek clarity on a number of items related to their interim policy and will provide an update to the entire golf community as to how NIL related activities will affect a student-athlete’s amateur status no later than Tuesday, July 6."

Programs are already letting recruits know that if they are looking to help players grown their name, image and likeness, oh and help them get an education, too:

Mickelson Generates Discussion About The Role Of Golf Media

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Last week’s Phil Mickelson-driven backlash toward “golf media” lit up Twitter but seemed a tad misplaced given that the story in question…

(A) was written by a Detroit News court reporter,

(B) was buried behind a paywall that only Detroit News subscribers could enjoy and therefore would have been largely unnoticed if not for Mickelson keeping it going by threatening to not return to Detroit.

(C) was a two-decade old unpaid wager that was not known about by most folks on the planet but sounds increasingly newsworthy given Mickelson’s inability to let the story go and the PGA Tour’s gambling push,

(D) that Mickelson was so willing to essentially say the role of journalists is to serve as a sort of in-house Chamber of Commerce/protective force/filter for players.

So it was refreshing to read Eamon Lynch’s Golfweek column replied to by Mickeson, who reiterated his stance on Twitter. Lynch writes:

Mickelson has every right to object to coverage he considers unfair, but underlying his response is a troubling expectation that media must function as cheerleaders when the Tour comes to town, and that failure to do so—by writing unflattering stories about him, for example—hurts the event and its charitable beneficiaries. Conflating his embarrassment with damage to the Rocket Mortgage Classic is preposterous, and accusing a reporter of deliberately hurting citizens in a deprived city by denying them the pleasure of his presence is bush league nonsense.

By Friday, Mickelson was gently backpedaling on his threatened boycott, pointing to a fan’s online petition promising 50,000 signatories imploring him to change his mind. “The people here were so nice that I’ll make a deal with them,” he said. “If he gets 50,000 and all of those 50,000 agree to do one random act of kindness for another member of the community, I’m in.”

Thus can individual churlishness be rebranded as communal charity.

(The petition has received 10,591 signatures as of this posting.)

Mickelson replied to the Lynch column:

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Mickelson later added this suggestion the media look at “their own”, though I can safely say few golf media members placed half-million wagers with the cast of the Sopranos.

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Lynch concludes by summing up the crux of the problem: “media that applaud and help sling product are good, media that pose awkward questions are bad. It’s the same binary equation beloved by bullshitters the world over. Not just in golf. And not just in sport.”

The issue of players viewing golf writers as a subversive force out to bring them down started with Tiger Woods following his 2009 scandal. Even though late night talk show comedians roasted Woods as golf publications avoided the story for days (and only reported salacious stuff first revealed in non-golf publications), Tiger retained a hostility toward golf press over the coverage. Yet he returned to those same late night shows to plug products and laugh it up with people who did far more to embarrass him than any golf writer.

For me, the most telling sign of trouble came a few years ago when I learned some players referred to golf writer Tim Rosaforte as “TMZ”. The implication being, he writes gossip and sleaze. The recent Memorial Tournament honoree and recipient of the PGA of America Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism.

This, even though Rosaforte diligently reported stories shared by families, agents and “teams” that enhanced player images. While he did report the less positive stories, the overriding majority of his reporting was helpful to the players. He told those tales in Golf World or on Golf Channel when people still watched the surrounding shows and they carried real influence. The “teams” often wanted to get their player’s story out through Tim and his audience heard reasons to root for golfers.

I sat next to Rosaforte several times in press centers, listening to him get every detail about Louis Oosthuizen’s love of tractors or some players’ ability to bench press some imaginary number, or a light story of barista butchering a player’s name and it helping the drone shoot 65. These stories got shared around the 19th hole and were the kind of details that delineated certain players and caused people to pay them endorsement money.

TMZ? Give me a break.

No one could dare try to pull off the “Insider” beat now. Relentless praise is not enough. Throw in the pandemic and some PGA Tour players are even more pleased to see decreased press access. Their “teams” are looking 24/7 for something to be aggrieved about and are on the lookout for the slightest non-positive remark to blow out of proportion, all to show their man they’ve got his back.

“How could they do this to the local charities, reporting you were late for your tee time? The media!”

This sad dance around a completely unfounded victimhood sensibility is why we’re subjected to American TV golf announcers piling on with an excessive compliments just minutes after having dared to say someone pulled a putt or looks like they’re nervous. And the announcers are making the right call. It takes just one player to decided he’s been wronged, even when it’s a player of no consequence whose disciplinary file is housed in the Global Home’s extra heavy-duty safe.

That Mickelson did not receive a public rebuttal from Commissioner Jay Monahan for dragging a sponsor into this was surprising. I’m fairly certain Tim Finchem or Deane Beman would not have tolerated Mickelson’s misunderstanding of media’s role or his regrettable decision to unfairly draw a sponsor and city into the the discussion. Especially when it’s a corporate partner as strong as Rocket Mortgage trying to revive Detroit and build the stop into a special event.

But times have changed. Players run the show. God forbid someone ask them why they layed-up on a par-5 or what they had for breakfast. Plenty of fans will agree with their victimhood stance. But just as many will find golfers to be soft, silly and out of touch with reality if they keep protesting over anything but a deep tissue shoulder massage.

Mickelson Open To Detroit Return If Petition Gets 50,000 Signatures

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The bizarre saga of Phil Mickelson and his protest of Detroit’s tour stop over a news story this week has taken another bizarre turn. This time Mickelson has softened his stance and is willing to consider a return in 2022 if a fan’s petition hits 50,000 signatures. He’s also vowing to match the charitable funds raised for The Children’s Foundation in Detroit.

While some might think this is a cynical PIP play—engagement!—it’s also an unprecedented twist but certainly a more manageable way out of an awkward over-reaction by the PGA Champion.

From ESPN.com’s Tom VanHaaren:

"People were awesome and they were so nice, so I would say this, I don't want it to be divisive," Mickelson said Friday. "I didn't like the way that felt with the reporter. The people here were so nice that I'll make a deal with them. There's a guy, Mike Sullivan, trying to raise 50,000 signatures. If he gets 50,000 and all of those 50,000 agree to do one random act of kindness for another member of the community, I'm in."

Here is the Change.org petition.

Matsuyama Tests Positive For COVID-19, Open Championship Eligibility Unclear

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While Jon Rahm was able to take a private flight home to isolate and return after two negative COVID tests, the upcoming status of Hideki Matsuyama is unclear based on limited information.

The Masters Champion’s mid-Rocket Mortgage Classic WD came after testing positive is the fifth since testing began. A PGA Tour statement did not suggest he was part of a contact tracing watch or if he was tested due to possible symptoms. He may have simply chosen not to be vaccinated and was infected during travels.

But as Adam Schupak notes for Golfweek, the rules are much tougher in the UK and the Open Championship looms in 12 days.

But will that be soon enough to play in the British Open, which is scheduled to begin in less than two weeks at Royal St George’s in England. The R&A recently informed contestants of its stiff requirements. It’s unclear whether the 29-year-old Japanese star will be required to self-quarantine in England upon his arrival, given his recent case of COVID. Based on the information at hand, it would appear Matsuyama’s ability to compete in the final major of 2021 potentially is in doubt.

Round one playing partner Phil Mickelson was asked about the news following his round.

I'm certainly concerned because although I've made every effort to not be around people, even playing partners even though they were tested because you just don't know. With the British Open, I think it's a concern on whether Hideki-san is able to play the British Open. Hopefully, he can. We're at the point now where if you were to come down with COVID, like you can't go to the U.K. and play. That's why we're all being so careful. I've been vaccinated, but still, people who have been vaccinated still get it. We're doing--myself, my brother, Andrew Getz and the people we're with are trying to stay as isolated and as careful as we can.

And…

It's certainly unsettling to know that I spent the entire day that close, but also as I look back, I know that I kept my distance from everybody and tried to stay six feet and tried--so I think we're all being as responsible as we can. And I'm very sorry that that happened to him and I hope he's able to play the British, and I also hope that Rickie and his caddie Joey and myself and my brother, that we're okay, too.

When A Player-Caddie Breakup Spoils Your Brand Rollout, Rocket Mortgage Edition

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Not that the brand wizards at Rocket Mortgage could have anticipated a player-caddie breakup, but running the new golf-focused ad post-DeChambeau/Tucker divorce is going to make for a very long weekend.

DeChambeau missed the cut and declined to speak to media after his first and second rounds. He did post this to Instagram, however:

The Rocket commercial on the very likelihood you were doing something other than watching early round coverage:

If it were me—and I’m no brand expert—I’d beam over some Tracey Morgan spots pronto to make the weekend viewing a little less awkward.

Craigslist Ad Briefly Appears Looking For Detroit-Area Caddie

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This one has already been taken down, but thanks to savvy reader Isiah T. for screen-grabbing this Craigslist ad while searching for some work.

At first glimpse, it sounds like Bryson DeChambeau’s open caddie position was briefly advertised on Detroit Craigslist? However, I’m suspicious it might be a fake. I know, I know.

But Bryson’s not GoMacroBar guy. Or the Craigslist type. More of a ZipRecruiter chap if I had to guess.

Plus, he managed to get a fill-in for his Rocket Mortgage Classic-opening 72.

Bryson Splits With Caddie And Brooks Celebrates By Announcing Caddie Ricky Elliott Appreciation Day

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Brooks Koepka made a huge passing PIP move by taking news of Bryson DeChambeau splitting with his caddie and piling up the Meltwaters with upbeat social media!

Koepka’s positive news first because I really don’t like the world of manspatting.

But you have to be impressed by 49K likes on a Tweet. That’s some serious PIP pointage. There is also the enjoyment Koepka inevitably enjoyed hitting send on this. Because he loves his Ricky!

And many thousands of likes on the Gram, too!

As for DeChambeau, he lost the services of caddie Tim Tucker at some point Wednesday night or Thursday morning. The bagman for all of Bryson’s wins decided he’d had enough and No Laying Up had the news first.

From Golfweek’s Adam Schupak at the Rocket Mortgage Classic where DeChambeau is defending champion:

“I love the kid,” Tucker texted Golfweek. “Hardest worker I have ever seen. Proud to have been his caddie. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him win Rocket Mortgage. He is hitting it great.”

Tucker caddied for DeChambeau in the practice rounds this week, including Wednesday’s pro-am. Tucker has been on the bag for DeChambeau for all of his eight PGA Tour victories, including the 2020 U.S. Open. DeChambeau went through a slew of caddies early in his career, including a previous break with Tucker, before making him his steady bagman in 2018.

DeChambeau’s agent told various outlets that it was a mutual agreement, separate ways thing.

No PIP points for that kind of dreary news!

**Sam Harrop was inspired by the latest Brookson exchange to re-imagine The Scientist by Coldplay.

"Phil Mickelson, upset over report, Tweets he won't return to Rocket Mortgage Classic"

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Phil Mickelson won’t be returning to the Rocket Mortgage Classic over a Detroit News story about gambling with the help of goombahs in 2007.

Carlos Monarrez with more Mickelson explanation for why he’s holding a local news story against Detroit and Rocket Mortgage.

Mickelson, the reigning PGA champion, was highly critical of the article in the Detroit News. He said he did not feel appreciated for arranging his busy tournament schedule in order to play in Detroit, which marked his first tournament in Michigan since the 2008 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills.

“It was so much effort for me to be here and to have that type of unnecessary attack,” he said. “Not like I care. It happened liked twentysomething years ago. But it’s just the lack of appreciation. Yeah, I don’t see that happening. I don’t see me coming back. Not that I don’t love the people here. They have been great. But not with that type of thing happening.”

I’d like to say it’s somewhat amazing Phil is linking a local newspaper story with the good folks putting on a golf tournament. The laddie doth protest too much, methinks.

USGA: Chief Commercial Officer Out On Day One Of The Mike Whan Era

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Mike Whan suggested he’ll have a better feel for the USGA after 100 days on the job.

So it’s not saying much for Navin Singh that his time as Chief Commercial Officer ended before the new CEO knew where to find the Coke machine.

Golfweek staff penned the news first:

The USGA also confirmed to Golfweek that Chief Commercial Officer Navin Singh has left the organization to pursue other professional opportunities. Singh was responsible for creating, directing and implementing the USGA’s commercial strategy, which included the broadcast production of USGA championships as well as the organization’s digital media rights portfolio and its digital media products.

Singh joined the USGA in 2016.

Given Singh’s willingness to leverage the USGA’s business with Golfweek Custom Publishing to complain about stories he didn’t like (including some of mine), it was probably wise no one at Golfweek put a name on this story should Singh pop up in another golf job. And given the propensity of golf organizations to go to the been-there-done-that “talent” well, he’ll probably land somewhere. With a raise.

But as I’ve written in recent Quadrilaterals here and here, the U.S. Open’s over-commercialization grew embarrassing in recent years. Under Singh’s watch we got Lexus courtesy cars in play and dreadful digital media products like this year’s U.S. Open apps. And with the move back to NBC and Golf Channel (where Singh worked), the USGA got railroaded into being part of Peacock rollout to the inconvenience of viewers, all while flooding the broadcasts with USGA partner messaging. Other than that…

Quadrilateral: Major(s) News And Notes, July 1, 2021

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I just figure we’ll have all of August and September to dive deep into the Ryder Cup, so if you really want to see if Patrick Reed will make the team on points, Google is your friend this week.

An Open at Sandwich looms and zany things happen there, as The Quadrilateral will be reviewing in coming editions for the great humanitarians who’ve signed up to pay. But the weekly news and notes are for all to enjoy, and for the July 1 edition I praise players for not barking more about the UK government’s mixed signals, John Deere's Open exemption getting restored, tips on traveling to Sandwich by rail, news on 2022 U.S. Open tickets and Oakland Hills wanting back in the major rota, but where?

More on The Quadrilateral here and subscription info here.

Phil Concerned For Detroit Tourism After Press Report On 2007 Wager

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The Detroit News’s Robert Snell reported on a previously undisclosed trial transcript revealing how a Grosse Point Park mob-connected bookie was unable to pay Phil Mickelson and friends their winnings.

The 2007 trial centered around “Dandy” Don DeSeranno and $500k in winnings he could not come up with. Get ready for the Goombah Classic:

According to the trial transcript, DeSeranno was questioned about Mickelson after receiving immunity from federal prosecutors and testified as a government witness in the 2007 racketeering trial of Jack Giacalone, a reputed organized crime leader in Metro Detroit. Giacalone's dad was the late, admitted mob captain Vito "Billy Jack" Giacalone, a suspect in the unsolved disappearance of Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa. And his uncle, the late mob captain Anthony "Tony Jack" Giacalone, was supposed to meet Hoffa the day the labor leader disappeared in 1975.

Mickelson did not know about DeSeranno’s background while placing sports bets with the bookie, the golfer’s lawyer, Glenn Cohen, told The News on Tuesday.

Mickelson’s attorney spoke at greater length to ESPN.com’s Bob Harig and admitted that his client does not deny the activity which sounds, well, illegal. Cohen was more concerned with the timing of the story:

"He didn't say anything [in the story] that wasn't true; I'm not complaining about that,'' Glenn Cohen, Mickelson's attorney, said in an interview with ESPN. "But why? Why are you going to embarrass Phil Mickelson when he's there to support your tournament and the charities it supports and the [PGA] Tour? Rocket Mortgage is a Detroit-based company. Phil has never played there before.

"I'm disappointed they would curiously pick this week to write an article about a bet that was made over 20 years ago and a jury trial that took place in 2007, where the guy who was convicted is dead and where the only purpose for this article is to embarrass Phil Mickelson.''

Mickelson replied to a frustrated fan on Twitter and is thinking of the greater good, or at least, greater Detroit tourism in light of “Rob” and his report.

It’s not clear how the Free-Press report might prevent people from coming to Detroit and helping any way they can. Unless it’s the news of one less bookmaker available to take half-million dollar wagers?