Part 2: Q&A With Martin Ebert On Royal St George's And The 2021 Open

5th tee view. Ebert wonders if players will try a 330-yard carry over the dunes (Geoff Shackelford)

The Open Physician for several courses including 2021 host Royal St George’s, Martin Ebert shares more about what took place since the last championship at Sandwich.

He also faces down my hostile questions in defense of the lost Maiden, blind par-3’s and which of the three courses overlooking Sandwich Bay is best.

The Quad will be going behind the paywall for most of the next week so hop along for the ride if you’re looking for influencer and sponsored-content free coverage of the 149th Open!

Angel Cabrera Wears His Best Presidents Cup Jacket To Sentencing Hearing

There’s nothing funny about former U.S. Open and Masters champion Angel Cabrera getting two years for assault against his former partner. Especially given this from the prosecutor, as reported by AP:

“His situation is much more complex than this, he has other charges for which there are arrest warrants, too. There are other victims,” prosecutor Laura Battistelli told TV channel Todo Noticias.

The first charges were brought by Torres Mana, and two other women then did the same.

The golfer traveled to the United States in July 2020 without seeking permission, which led the province of Cordoba to request his arrest.

But you have to admire his devotion to the Presidents Cup cause in choosing to wear his team jacket to court. A crowning achievement for the brand. What better way to impress a judge, right?

Quadrilateral: Major(s) News And Notes In Advance Of The 149th Open

I try to read between the lines on NBC’s plans to produce The Open from Connecticut, plus a bunch of other things ranging from Rory and Rickie comments, to weather and a 150th Open ticket ballot tip.

The Quad is free to sign up but in major weeks like next, only paid subscribers are guaranteed to get all daily newsletters, access to all old editions and the discussion forum option to vent about the number of commercials.

Other past editions can be viewed here at the Quad’s homepage.

The Brooks Eye-Roll Comes Into Focus Again After Bryson's Caddie Split

Is this the moment Koepka hears Tim Tucker getting yelled at, Leading to the Man Feud with Bryson?

Or is that a catty split?

Anyway, it’s been a mystery what made Brooks Koepka lose his train of thought, swear and stop a Golf Channel interview that is the most watched golf of the year and the stuff of Player Impact Program dreams. At least until the unintentionally viral video was (mostly) deleted online.

NFL writer Ian Rapoport has sources telling him what Koepka was “sick of” when hearing DeChambeau yapping away. If what he said on The Pat McAffee Show is true, this could solve one of golf’s great unsolved mysteries.

The clip:

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Video: Brandon Stone Takes A Hickory Test

You may recall Brandon Stone’s wife got him some Longhorn-themed hickories during what turned out to be a victorious 2018 Scottish Open win. While he was mostly enamored with burnt orange grips applied at the Jack White shop in Gullane, the South African and Texas Longhorn went on to take his hickories to the Old Course.

I mention all this to point out he was not going into this sampling session for GolfTV without hitting hickories before. His strikes with the old irons are particularly impressive. And so is Stone’s swing, no matter what club he’s hitting.

How about try old equipment with the modern ball?

— Mark Salazar (@salazama) July 7, 2021

Whew: College Golfers Can Unveil Their Brand Rollouts ASAP, Other Am's Must Wait Until January

I know many of you are clamoring to buy some NFT’s and personal-logoed items from top college golfers and Ryan Herrington reports on the USGA paving the way for players to cash in.

The unlocking of NCAA name, image and likeness started immediately for most sports, with athletic departments creating in-house teams to develop logos and brand campaigns for both current athletes and recruits. What could go wrong there?

Anyway, non-college golfers can climb aboard the gravy train while other amateurs must wait for relaxed USGA/R&A amateur status rules to take hold in January. Let the merch flow!

Do's and Don'ts in USGA memo for college golfers and non-golfers alike regarding new name/image/likeness guidelines pic.twitter.com/V4uSsm3Lha

— Ryan Herrington (@GWcampusinsider) July 6, 2021

Ryder Cup Adds A Sportsmanship Award: The Nicklaus-Jacklin Presented By AON

Boy this is a tough on so many levels.

First, what are we going to be calling this Ryder Cup sportsmanship award? The branding experts who gave Aberdeen a flattop might shorten this to the Nick-Jack By AON. Excuse me, the nickjackbyAON?

Eh, no thanks.

The Tony? The Jack Tony? The Tony Jack? The Jack Jacklin?

And acronym doesn’t work either: TNJAPBAON.

And then there’s the whole matter of who will get this award at the Ryder Cup since, well, there haven’t been too many “concession” moments in recent times. More like, shushing and excessive celebrations and a few manspats at the after-parties.

This raises a whole new concern should someone win the nickjackbyAON and then act like an ass back at the team room gala. I digress.

Just know the committee is on it. And what a committee it is.

For Immediate Release:

The PGA of America, Ryder Cup Europe and Aon plc (NYSE: AON) ― a leading global professional services firm providing a broad range of risk, retirement and health solutions ― today jointly announced the creation of “The Nicklaus – Jacklin Award presented by Aon,” which will debut during the 43rd Ryder Cup, Sept. 24-26, 2021 at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin.

The first-of-its-kind award will be given to two players ― one each from the U.S. and European Ryder Cup teams ― who best embody the spirit of the event: seeing the bigger picture and making decisions critical to sportsmanship, teamwork and performance at the Ryder Cup.

Vice Captain McDowell, sensing Poulter’s energy was running low, ran back to the clubhouse in this cart-free COVID playing of the Ryder Cup, secured a perfectly ripened banana, then ran back to the 14th fairway to get Europe’s star some necessary potassium. Then, to the shock of all, McDowell offered a banana to Poulter’s singles opponent, Patrick Reed, in the greatest show of sportsmanship since The Concession. For that, we give him Team Europe’s 2021 AON!

Sorry, go on…

The recipients of the inaugural award will be selected by a committee consisting of Jack Nicklaus, Tony Jacklin, other past European and U.S. Ryder Cup Captains, PGA of America President Jim Richerson, PGA of Great Britain and Ireland Chairman Alan White, representatives from Sky and NBC Sports and Carlo Clavarino, Executive Chairman, International Business, Aon.

More like, who isn’t on the committee?

The Ryder Cup has a history of rivalry, excitement and passion, but is also the essence of true sportsmanship. Named after the famous 1969 concession by Jack Nicklaus, which saw him give Tony Jacklin a two-foot putt for a halved match that resulted in the first tie in Ryder Cup history, this new award commemorates sportsmanship, teamwork and the type of sound, strategic decision-making that attracts people to the game.

“Since its inception, the Ryder Cup was imagined as a spirited but friendly competition amongst allies. At its core, this remarkable tradition is based on the fundamental pillars of sportsmanship, teamwork and performance,” said Seth Waugh, PGA of America, CEO. “We want to recognise and celebrate that key foundational tenet and so in collaboration with Aon, created an award to honor Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin’s historic act from 1969 that exemplified those honorable traits and set the stage for the future of the Ryder Cup.”

“The players are the beating heart of the Ryder Cup,” said European Ryder Cup Director Guy Kinnings. “Once every two years, these individual giants of our sport come together as a team and have to make decisions under the utmost scrutiny that not only affects themselves, but also their team-mates, their fans and their continent.

“Decision-making under such intense pressure is a crucial part of any Ryder Cup. It is fitting, therefore, that this new award, presented by Aon, not only recognises the decisions that ultimately characterise success, but also the sportsmanship which has defined many of them over history and will continue to do so.”

Guy, let’s tighten up that empty quote next time.

“Inspired by the events at the 1969 competition, this new award embodies values we aspire to at Aon, and also celebrates the decisions that will continue to shape the future of this iconic team event,” said Carlo Clavarino, Executive Chairman, International Business, Aon. “In golf - as in business - the decisions that really make an impact aren’t always obvious. Every day, we work to ensure our clients have the information, insights and advice they need to make better decisions that deliver successful outcomes.”

So you would not have put Tiger and Phil together at Oakland Hills? I think that’s what you were saying.

“The excitement and energy surrounding the Ryder Cup always tests your poise, composure and decision-making, and when it matters most,” said Jack Nicklaus, record 18-time major champion, 2-time U.S. Ryder Cup Team Captain and 6-time U.S. Ryder Cup Team Member. “The challenge is that every decision is magnified to its fullest because we’re not playing for just ourselves, but we’re playing for our country, teammates, captains, and fans. I’m glad to see that everyone involved in the Ryder Cup is identifying the importance of the choices these players make in the heat of competition and on one of golf’s biggest stages, and that they are recognizing and celebrating individuals who approach this competition with the proper spirit and who put an emphasis on good will and camaraderie.”

Just, don’t vote on this until after the loser’s press conference, ok?

“There’s always a decision that defines you in the Ryder Cup and to have an award that also highlights that decision is innovative for the game of golf and the Ryder Cup,” said Tony Jacklin, Major Champion four-time European Ryder Cup Team Captain and seven-time European Ryder Cup Team Member. “When I look back on my career, to be a part of Ryder Cups, the team atmosphere, and the importance of the decisions that followed - to giving players the opportunity to win an award based on that decision carries a lot of weight and will be a key accomplishment in their career.”

That’s four “decisions” in one press release quote, a new record.

To support the award and create momentum leading up to the event, the Ryder Cup and Aon will launch two digital content series, one focused on providing key course insights that will inform players’ decision-making at Whistling Straits, and another that will showcase the most unforgettable, defining decisions of the Ryder Cup to date.

To watch The Nicklaus – Jacklin Award presented by Aon launch video, narrated by Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay of NBC/Golf Channel, and for more award information, click here.

Hint, I think the word decision will come up a time or, 400.

Royal St George's: Q&A With Martin Ebert, Part I

Newly restored bunkering at the 7th, Royal St George’s (Mackenzie and Ebert)

I can’t thank golf architect Martin Ebert enough for supplying so much insight and accompanying imagery of Royal St George’s. A wealth of information so vast that it required breaking up our Quadrilateral chat into two parts.

Whether you know the course or not, I think you’ll enjoy learning more about what went into analyzing the historical record, stats from recent Opens and Ebert’s common sense approach to our most treasured venues.

And don’t forget to sign up if you haven’t already! Next week’s going to be a busy one and subscribers will get daily newsletters.

Here is flyover of the 18th referenced in the interview. You can see the pinching bunker filled in down the right that made this one a bit of a crap shoot in firm conditions:

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

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!

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

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:

And the good folks at Scotland’s Golf Coast have a downloadable guide if you go to their website:

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GoFundMe For Georgia Golf Pro Murdered Doing His Job

A tragic and senseless-beyond-comprehension story of Pinetree Country Club Director of Golf Gene Siller responding to an armed trespasser driving onto the course. Two others were also murdered and the gunman remains at large.

You can help out the family he leaves behind here.

College Golfers May Have To Delay Their Brand Rollouts

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:

The biggest brand with the best resources. #LEVERAGE pic.twitter.com/6hU4J7e6Ik

— Texas Men's Golf (@TexasMGolf) July 1, 2021

Excellence in all that we do as our student-athletes 𝗮𝗿𝗲 the brand ⛳️

💥 https://t.co/jtY299ifNW#Sooners | #ForgeYourFuture pic.twitter.com/tKi3b7POCF

— Oklahoma Golf (@OU_MGolf) July 1, 2021

Mickelson Generates Discussion About The Role Of Golf Media

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:

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.

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

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.