Hoping For 72 But Women's Olympic Medals Could Be Decided After 54 By Weather, Nelly Korda

Rex Hoggard with the latest from Tokyo where the forecast pretty much stinks in every regard: oppressive heat with the great chance of severe storms. But it sounds like on site officials are doing their best by moving up tee times and at least trying to go early Saturday.

Though it may not matter after Nelly Korda posted an incredible 62 even with a double bogey on the last hole, opening up a four-stroke lead. Last week, Slovakia’s Rory Sabbatini recorded two bogies and still posted a final round 61.

Centroid Closes $1.87 Billion Purchase Of Taylormade And Already Planning For Public Offering

The Korea Herald’s Son Ji-hyoung reports on Centroid Investment Partners closing “a $1.87 billion deal to buy a 100 percent stake in TaylorMade Golf from US private equity firm KPS Capital Partners” and already announcing intentions of a public offering. I.E. exiting.

Ji-hyoung writes:

The buyout deal will lay the groundwork for the US-based golf equipment and clothing maker to go public in the future, the Korean investor said.

When TaylorMade does go public, the investor consortium will have enough room to seek a “considerable amount of capital gain” as they look to price the offered shares when comparing with US-listed peers, Centroid said in a statement.

According to Centroid’s company analysis, TaylorMade’s enterprise valuation is set lower than the two listed golf product rivals Acushnet Holdings and Callaway Golf, considering the three firms’ profit-generating capacity.

Now I don’t know a lot about this stuff, but “redeemable preference shares for risk hedging” sounds like a lot of debt to service.

The transaction comprises $532 million in equity, $405 million in redeemable preference shares for risk hedging, as well as $933 million financed for senior and subordinated debts combined.

Almost a billion. I think that’s a lot of drivers to sell to pay off the interest.

The story also implies apparel maker F&F will be a big part of the equation:

Centroid has worked with numerous partners in Korea, including outfit manufacturer F&F, Korea Federation of Community Credit Cooperative, National Credit Union Federation of Korea and Yuanta Securities Korea.

Of them, F&F is a strategic partner that has injected 500 billion won ($434.4 million) in Centroid, according to a filing submitted to domestic financial authorities. F&F holds the contractual right to be given priorities when the TaylorMade Golf shareholder is engaged in a new business transaction, according to Centroid.

Tour Says 85% Of "Constituents" Vaccinated But Bryson's Going To Wait Until It's Really, Really Mainstream

Bob Harig at ESPN.com with a couple of stories worth checking out if you’re not totally exhausted by First World COVID issues.

The Tour gave updated numbers on vaccination and while their testing program has ended a bit too soon given the Delta variant, the numbers are encouraging for conducting safe events.

From the story:

"Given the increase in cases across the country, resumption of some level of serial testing is a possibility," said Andy Levinson, senior vice president, tournament administration for the PGA Tour, in an email. "However, at this time with our high vaccination rates across core constituents, our medical advisors have not recommended testing of asymptomatic individuals regardless of vaccination status."

The PGA Tour reported that 85% of its "constituents' are fully vaccinated. That includes a rate above 70% for players and above 90% for caddies. Others who were included and were routinely tested at tournaments: rules officials, tournament administrators and media relations personnel.

This was overshadowed by Bryson DeChambeau’s return from a mild bout with COVID and his insistence that he not get vaccinated then or now.

DeChambeau seems to believe there are vaccine shortages.

"I'm young enough, I'd rather give it [the vaccine] to people who need it. I don't need it. I'm a healthy, young individual that will continue to work on my health.

"I don't think taking the vaccine away from someone who needs it is a good thing. My dad is a perfect example. He got it [the vaccine] early on because he's a diabetic. People like that need to get it. My mom got it. I don't want to take away that ability."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said there are no vaccine shortages in the United States.

DeChambeau added: "Now as time goes on, if it [the vaccine] is mainstream, really, really mainstream, then yeah."

On this topic, I wrote in this week’s Quadrilateral about the oddity of having rambunctious team bonding activities indoors at the Ryder Cup.

Quadrilateral: Major(s) News And Notes, August 5th, 2021

This week’s Quad takes in the yuuuuuge news this week of Scottish Open points availability for both the FedExCup and Race to Dubai. It’s been undersold how meaningless this news is to fans, so I tackle that and the more important topic of oversaturating markets with watered down events.

It’s still staggering to think the PGA Tour could not find a sponsor for a New York playoff stop. And yet it’s not after so many majors, Presidents Cups and playoff events in a short time. But this matters because the majors got pulled in on many fronts and, well, just check it out.

Plus a couple of Ryder Cup notes. It’s free every Thursday! Sign up!

Video: Monahan, Pelley Promote Strategic Alliance On Sportscenter

Since we haven’t heard from Commissioner Jay Monahan or Chief Executive Keith Pelley in a long time, it was a tad surprising to see them on Sportscenter announcing the Scottish Open becoming a co-sanctioned event. While it is historic in some sense and potentially the beginning of more such events, this was more about fending off disruptive forces. A grand vision was not shared and with the lucrative WGC’s fading away all of a sudden and the Rolex Series hardly looking healthy, this was not a game-changing announcement given the dollar amounts floated by disruptors.

You will, however, see that the Global Home does not have a TV studio for such hits. But its meeting rooms have plenty of power outlets and cabinet storage. I’m feeling a Room Rater 4, tops.

If you do watch the segment you’ll hear the ecosystem word a lot and see Pelley struggle to look at the camera, never the most convincing impression. It all seems a bit much given we’re talking about one significant event, two opposite field tournaments, and a co-sanctioning to be named later.

PGA Tour And European Tour Make It Official: Strategic Alliance Is Definitely Capitalized

Oh there was much more than simple Strategic Alliance style questions answered. A quick summary of ledes buried in what reads like a press release filed from Scientology headquarters.

• Two WGC’s are gone from the schedule. Only two remain and those are hanging by a thread, with constant rumblings about the match play’s future and an asterisk next to this fall’s HSBC event in China.

• New York and Boston no longer will have their joint PGA Tour stop after this August, to be replaced by the FedEx St Jude event as the FedExCup playoff opener.

• Genesis takes over Scottish Open sponsorship from abhrnt and becomes a co-sanctioned event between the PGA Tour and European Tour, with similar “joint” status given to the Barbasol and Barracuda Championships

• That’s it. Oh, and Strategic Alliance joins Global Home, Season of Championships, Regular Season and in the capitalization world.

The best news? Without question, the demise of the WGC’s. The mastermind of Tim Finchem, with an unintentional assist from Greg Norman, undermined the health of several PGA Tour stops and have not incorporated the “World” part nearly enough. Due to the high cost of sponsorship and having to use PGA Tour Championship Management for operations, the WGC’s priced out most major corporations. It’s not long now.

The most bizarre news? Bread crumbs for fans. Yes, the Scottish gets upgraded and secured, with hints the Irish Open could form a two-event Strategic Alliance swing, but otherwise there is little to get excited about here in terms of the Alliance.

Most stunning news? The PGA Tour has vacated the New York and Boston markets with the demise of The Northern Trust. A five year agreement is expiring. So the Northern Trustwill be contested one last time this month. While greater New York City will be fine with more majors and Cup events on the horizon, the end to even a biennial visit is pretty astounding. Couple that with Chicago no longer annually hosting the Western-turned-BMW and three huge markets have lost annual stops.

Anyway, let the jargon flow and the buried ledes begin…

PGA TOUR and European Tour announce details of historic Strategic Alliance 

Key Takeaways:

• As part of Strategic Alliance, Genesis Scottish Open, Barbasol Championship and Barracuda Championship will be included in both FedExCup and Race to Dubai, while Irish Open will see a significant increase in prize money

• PGA TOUR’s schedule of 48 events includes the move of the first FedExCup Playoffs event to TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, sponsored by FedEx

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida, USA, and VIRGINIA WATER, Surrey, England –The PGA TOUR and European Tour today unveiled new details around their Strategic Alliance, with the PGA TOUR also releasing its 2021-22 PGA TOUR Season schedule.

The landmark agreement, announced in November 2020, further enhances and connects the ecosystem of men’s professional golf through a number of areas, including global scheduling, prize funds and playing opportunities for the respective memberships.

B-speak connoisseurs, “ecosystem” replaces brand platform in case you were wondering.

In terms of scheduling, the most significant piece of collaboration is the fact that three tournaments will be co-sanctioned in 2022 and therefore count on both the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup and the European Tour’s Race to Dubai next season: the Barbasol Championship; the Barracuda Championship; and the Genesis Scottish Open.

It’s a fact!

The latter event also has a new title sponsor in Genesis, the luxury automotive brand from South Korea, who will now title sponsor two tournaments on the PGA TOUR, with the Genesis Scottish Open joining The Genesis Invitational, which Genesis has titled since 2017; The Genesis Invitational will once again be played at The Riviera Country Club next year (February 14-20).

The Genesis Scottish Open (July 4-10), which is part of the European Tour’s Rolex Series, retains its place in golf’s global calendar the week ahead of The Open Championship (July 11-17), a date confirmed through to 2025. The player field will be a split between members of both Tours.

The tournament will also benefit from the continued commitment of the Scottish Government, managed by Visit Scotland – the agreement also running through 2025.

Great news. Just keep it on a links or linksy course, please.

“We are delighted to welcome Genesis as a title sponsor of a European Tour event for the first time,” said European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley. “Genesis has a strong history of sponsorship on the PGA TOUR through The Genesis Invitational, and their commitment to the Scottish Open will further enhance one of our premier events of the season.”

The “strong history” consists of sponsorship for four years, but go on…

Although it will be on the PGA TOUR’s official schedule for the first time, the Genesis Scottish Open has a rich history on the European Tour, appearing in the Tour’s first two official seasons (1972 and 1973) and as part of the Tour’s International Schedule since 1986. It has also been part of the Rolex Series – the European Tour’s premium series of events – since the Series’ inception in 2017.

“Adding an existing, strong title sponsor in Genesis to our Strategic Alliance in the form of the Genesis Scottish Open – to be sanctioned by both Tours – is a significant step for the global game,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan.

And what a sentence, too.

“Coupled with their support of The Genesis Invitational at Riviera, we’re incredibly proud to forge a deeper relationship with this premier brand across the global game.”

Genesis will take over the title sponsorship of the event from abrdn, who are exploring ways for the decade-long partnership with the European Tour to continue moving forward. The venue for the 2022 Genesis Scottish Open will be confirmed at a later date.

“We are extremely excited to become title sponsor of the Scottish Open at this historic moment, as the PGA TOUR and European Tour announce details on their Strategic Alliance,” said Jay Chang, Global head of Genesis. “Genesis and golf share a culture centered on respect, mutual admiration and innovation. We will continue to strengthen our partnership with both Tours to deliver this spirit to golfers, communities and individuals around the world through successful tournaments.”

Paul Bush, Director of Events at VisitScotland, said, “We are thrilled the European Tour and PGA TOUR have identified the Genesis Scottish Open to further develop their Strategic Alliance, and there is no more fitting stage than Scotland, the Home of Golf, on which to embark on such a historic journey.”

It appears all were required to mention the Strategic Alliance at least once. Is SA the new WGC? Branding minds want to know.

In addition to the Genesis Scottish Open being co-sanctioned, there will also be access for 50 European Tour members to each of two PGA TOUR events in 2022 for the first time – the Barbasol Championship, which will be played concurrently with the Genesis Scottish Open, and the Barracuda Championship, which will be played alongside the following week’s 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews. Both events will be added to the Race to Dubai for European Tour members.

Lucky them. Get to leave Europe in summertime for Nicholasville, Kentucky and Truckee, California.

It was also confirmed today that as part of the Strategic Alliance and collaboration between the two Tours, the Irish Open will see a significant increase in prize money for its annual European Tour event – to $6 million, starting in 2022 – nearly double the amount on offer at Mount Juliet last month. In addition, the PGA TOUR will continue to work with the European Tour on commercial opportunities across the Tour.

Translation: eventually cutting more jobs, aka Strategic Streamlining.

“When we announced the Strategic Alliance at the end of last year, we said it was a landmark moment for global golf’s ecosystem that would benefit all members of both Tours,” said Pelley. “Today’s announcement underlines that promise, with further enhancements to the Genesis Scottish Open, a strengthening of the Irish Open for our members, and direct access for European Tour members to two PGA TOUR events.

“There has been considerable collaboration behind the scenes between our two Tours since November’s Alliance was unveiled, and we are delighted to share these initial developments, which demonstrate our commitment to working together for the betterment of our sport globally. We will have more to announce in the coming months – this is most definitely just the beginning.”

And Jay I sense you agree with this sentiment?

“With today’s news, I am pleased to say that the PGA TOUR and the European Tour are both stronger than at any time in our history, as we are positioned to grow – together – over the next 10 years faster than we have at any point in our existence,” said Monahan. “We are committed to continuing to evolve and adapt, and with our ever-strengthening partnership with the European Tour, to take the global game to the heights we all know it is capable of.”

Grow? I’d say it’s more like, Strategically Masked Consolidation. Some of that is good, some of it great and some of it shocking.

Wait, just one more thing. The 2021-22 schedule announcement was included.

It’s mostly spinning the deeper reliance on FedEx now for a playoff event and of course, the Season Long Chase that wraps up with the Playoffs ending the Season of Championships. All under the Strategic Alliance umbrella, as crafted at the Global Home. Yep, no cult here.

PGA TOUR Schedule Highlights
The 2021-22 PGA TOUR Schedule includes several significant enhancements and features a total of 48 official events – 45 during the FedExCup Regular Season along with three 2022 FedExCup Playoffs events.

The 2022 portion of the schedule will kick off the PGA TOUR’s new, nine-year domestic media rights agreements with ViacomCBS, Comcast/NBC and ESPN. As part of the agreement, all three 2022 FedExCup Playoffs events will be broadcast domestically on NBC network television, beginning a rotation that continues with CBS hosting all three events in 2023.

Headline news includes the change in location and venue for the kickoff of the FedExCup Playoffs to TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, starting in 2022, replacing the Regular Season event that has been held in Memphis since 1958. FedEx will serve as the title sponsor of the event, to be known as the FedEx St. Jude Championship (August 8-14), replacing existing title sponsor Northern Trust after this year’s playing of THE NORTHERN TRUST at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey.

“FedEx is excited that the first event of the 2022 FedExCup Playoffs will be hosted in our hometown of Memphis, Tennessee,” said Raj Subramaniam, President and Chief Operating Officer of FedEx Corporation. “We are proud of our history and the community impact we’ve had since becoming title sponsor of our hometown TOUR stop in 1986. We look forward to the impact it will bring to our local community and will continue to use it as a platform to showcase the groundbreaking work being done by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to golf fans around the world.”

“Since the inception of the FedExCup in 2007, we have made a number of changes to enhance the quality of the FedExCup Playoffs for our players, fans and partners,” said Monahan. “Thanks to the continued support from FedEx as the TOUR’s umbrella partner, we’re proud to bring the start of the FedExCup to Memphis and a course loved by our players. Not only will it be a great test worthy of Playoff golf, but we also anticipate tremendous enthusiasm from a community that has steadfastly supported the PGA TOUR for more than 60 years. And, of course, the important work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will continue to be front and center.

Front AND center.

“In totality, the 2021-22 PGA TOUR Schedule, combined with the momentum we have with our now-entrenched partnership with the European Tour, puts the PGA TOUR in a position of strength within professional golf like never before. We’re confident this schedule will give the world’s best players the opportunity to do what they do best – inspire and entertain our fans around the globe while helping our tournaments make a significant impact in their respective communities.”

The 2022 FedExCup Playoffs will continue to include the BMW Championship (August 15-21), which rotates next year to Wilmington Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware, and the FedExCup Playoffs finale, the TOUR Championship (August 22-28), once again slated for East Lake Golf Club.

The PGA TOUR’s flagship event, THE PLAYERS Championship (March 7-13), will anchor a true Florida Swing in 2022, which features four consecutive events through The Sunshine State in the spring, including the Valspar Championship, which was played in April/May this past year. THE PLAYERS will be in year three of its March date and as a kickoff to the Season of Championships, with Justin Thomas returning as defending champion.

The Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (May 30-June 5) enters the first year of a 10-year agreement in 2022 with new presenting sponsor, Workday. Founded in 1976 by golf legend Jack Nicklaus and held annually at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, the tournament partners for the first time with three-time NBA champion and two-time MVP Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, and Ayesha Curry, an entrepreneur, host and New York Times bestselling author.

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the RBC Canadian Open (June 6-12) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, returns to the schedule in 2022 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club. Rory McIlroy won the last RBC Canadian Open, played in 2019.

Other notable items and changes to the 2021-22 PGA TOUR Schedule include (in chronological order):

2021

• As previously announced, the Fortinet Championship (September 13-19), with new title sponsor Fortinet, kicks off the 2021-22 FedExCup Regular Season at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, California.

• The Ryder Cup will be played the week following the Fortinet Championship, with nine official events played during the balance of 2021 for a total of 10 events to be played in the fall.

• The reconfigured Asia Swing will begin with THE CJ CUP @ SUMMIT (October 11-17), which moves to the United States for the second year in a row and will be staged at The Summit Club in Las Vegas, Nevada, delivering back-to-back weeks of PGA TOUR golf in Las Vegas, as the Shriners Children’s Open will be contested October 4-10.

• Following THE CJ CUP @ SUMMIT will be the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP and World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, with additional details to be available in the near future.

• As previously announced, World Wide Technology embarks on its first year of title sponsorship of the TOUR’s original event in Mexico, the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba (November 1-7).

2022

• The Sentry Tournament of Champions – a PGA TOUR winners-only event – leads off the 2022 calendar year (January 3-9).

• The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (January 31-February 6) and the Waste Management Phoenix Open (February 7-13) trade spots in the schedule, as the TOUR’s event at TPC Scottsdale remains in its traditional date of Super Bowl week.

• The Puerto Rico Open (February 28-March 6) will be played as an additional event alongside the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard.

• The Corales Puntacana Championship (March 21-27), in its first year under an extended term, will be played as an additional event alongside the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play.

• The Mexico Championship (April 25-May 1) returns to the calendar as a PGA TOUR co-sponsored event, no longer under the World Golf Championships umbrella. With the field of 132 players, there is an anticipation of additional Mexican golfers in the field to help in inspire and grow the game in one of golf’s key emerging markets.

Growing the game!

• With the biennial Presidents Cup being held at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte in 2022, the Wells Fargo Championship (May 2-8) will be contested for one year at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm in Potomac, Maryland.

• The John Deere Classic (June 27-July 3), traditionally played the week prior to The Open Championship, moves one week earlier.

• Following The Open Championship, the 3M Open (July 18-24), Rocket Mortgage Classic (July 25-31) and Wyndham Championship (August 1-7) close out the FedExCup Regular Season.

The European Tour will announce the initial portion of its 2022 schedule later this month, with the full season announcement to follow in due course.

Fun times.

USGA CEO Whan On Distance: "It would be irresponsible for us not to relook at something that the last significant look was 1976."

Thanks to reader JT for Beth Ann Nichols’ interview of new USGA CEO Mike Whan that was posted July 13th, the week of The Open Championship.

It’s an odd bit of timing given that you’d think they’d not want to stampede on the R&A is having its big week. Either way, I doubt many saw it due to the poor timing. However, Whan makes a few noteworthy comments before the headliner on distance.

• He started the job in mid-May and called word of his July 1 start as “a nice media headline.” That’s because the media did not know otherwise.

• He’s says it’s “embarrassingly past time” for the USGA to jumpstart a “USA Development Team” for young women golfers. “It doesn’t come as a shock me that in my 12 years I think I saw maybe 11 weeks of a U.S. player being No. 1 in the world,” he said. Making the USGA into a talent development organization would certainly be a huge leap in philosophy and yet another eye-off-the-ball move. The U.S. currently has seven women in the world top 25.

On the distance debate he’s taking a smart approach probably shaped by the legal team he’s been meeting with since mid-May: why not review the 1976 Overall Distance Standard?

I’ve said this many times, but the last time really that the USGA (looked at it), in an attempt to establish a maximum distance with perfect launch conditions, was 1976. Think about any other sport or any other business, if the last time you really looked at the farthest standard was 30-plus years ago. The NBA didn’t have a three-point shot or a shot-clock; football’s goal post was on the goal line.

Everybody evolves not only to make the game better, but to make sure it’s great for the next 100 years. It’s important. I won’t lie to you and say it’s going to be popular, but it’s important and I think it would be irresponsible for us not to relook at something that the last significant look was 1976.

I feel like if you want to critique the USGA, the fair critique is why not before now? I think that’s a fair critique. But why now? I think you’re stretching if you don’t think at some point we need to make sure we establish some new parameters.

Nothing to complain about there. Well, in most communities.

Golf World Top 100: Fun Golf Courses In Great Britain and Ireland

Pennard

Golf World has returned with a second crack at a top 100 “fun” courses of Great Britain and Ireland. As always there are possible omissions and things to quibble about, but overall it looks like another fantastic effort to highlight the fun factor.

Chris Bertram introduces the list and writes:

What constitutes a fun course is a question that could take up several pages. I asked our panel to suggest what made a course fun for them, and by way of a hint as to the sort of courses you’ll see in this list, here are some of their thoughts: “A sense of intrigue and adventure, a little bit of the unknown”. “Clever use of slopes, green positioning and well-placed hazards, rather than heavy rough. Usually shorter than average”. “Short walks from green to tee, quick to play”. “A ‘good shot’ does not always end up in the perfect position”. “Do I want to return there soon?”

The list starts here, with North Berwick still holding off the Old Course for the top spot. I blame the excess of gorse for holding TOC back! Oh, and North Berwick is really, really fun.

Only quibbles: not including Old Moray, Peterhead or maybe even the Eden at St. Andrews. Still, it’s great to see so many super-fun lesser-knowns getting the validation of a ranking.

Links From The Road: Royal Cinque Ports

Sam Cooper has produced possibly his best film yet and it’s on one of my favorite links and towns: Deal.

It’s long been a mystery why Royal Cinque Ports is not afforded another Open given its quality and proximity to London. It’s closer to a town and rail line while featuring ample farmland space around the property to sell pints and hideous shirts. But I think Cooper hits on the poor luck of its last two scheduled Open Championships as a key to the problem (even with the sea wall now helping and making a great spectator walkway). I wrote about all this prior to the 2011 Open but sadly, Golf World archives have mostly vanished.

Anyway, enjoy the aerials and beauty provided by Cooper and give him a follow on Instagram. This is quite an exciting time in newfound appreciation for the great links thanks to these talented storytellers.

Every Course Needs An Angry Hole

Today’s Quadrilateral takes this spectacular video found and posted by Skratch as an excuse to return to the Kent Coast. I’ve been promising a case for the Maiden’s return and Kinya Fujita helped me see the light.

Anyway, the post is only for those on the paying side but you can enjoy the video courtesy of Skratch and YouTube:

And if you want a little more sense of what the course once looked like, the PGA Tour’s Instagram did this then/now slide show:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by PGA TOUR (@pgatour)

"One belated Olympics later, [golf] still feels like a strange fit."

Esteemed New York Times writer John Branch is underwhelmed by Olympic golf, and even more so after visiting Kasumigaseki for the final round.

The Olympics in Tokyo already feel as if they are taking place on a series of television sound stages, devoid of fans and atmosphere, inside and out. But no place has felt as disconnected, physically and spiritually, as the men’s golf event, held at an exclusive private club more than an hour’s drive from the city center and contested mostly by spectacularly rich and famous touring pros.

Back in Tokyo on Sunday, near the heart of the pandemic-muted Olympics, medals were awarded to mostly unsung athletes in sports like fencing, swimming, weight lifting, gymnastics and BMX. In one BMX discipline on Friday, a gold medalist from Britain was competing only because she had crowdfunded her training.

Well when you put it like that…

The tournament took a zany turn at the end, with a seven-man playoff necessary to determine the sole recipient of the bronze medal. Eventually, C.T. Pan of Taiwan claimed it in a head-to-head battle with Collin Morikawa of the United States.

Golf was reintroduced for the 2016 Rio Games after a 112-year absence. Justin Rose won for the men, Inbee Park for the women, but it was hardly popular and not particularly memorable.

One belated Olympics later, it still feels like a strange fit.

The 2024 venue is Le Golf National outside Paris and Riviera in Los Angeles. Both are better situated in terms of geography. But as for rich pros playing a stale individual stroke play event? That hasn’t changed.

Tokyo Olympics: USA's Schauffele Wins Gold, Converted Slovakian Takes Silver

Xander Schauffele (Olympic Golf Twitter)

Xander Schauffele captured Olympic gold with a clutch, final hole par putt. The American and San Diego native held off a spirited charge from Slovakia’s Rory Sabbatini, who posted a Kasumigaseki and Olympic record final round 61.

"For me I wanted this for my Dad more than anything, Schauffele told Golf Channel. “I tried to represent my country, and then my family. It was really fun."

Schauffele was introduced to golf by his dad and coach, Stefan. He picked up the game during the 1980s after hitting balls in a Tokyo department store simulator.

After an up-and-down for birdie at the drivable 17th, Schauffele missed the 18th fairway, wedged out and played this impressive third to set up his par:

WHAT. A .SHOT.@XSchauffele sticks it close on 18 - he'll putt for par and the gold medal 🥇#TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/Zk51SBQU0C

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 1, 2021

Schauffele joins George Lyon (1904) and Justin Rose (2016) as the only Gold medal winners in men’s golf. (If you count 1900, which most don’t, then Charles Sands is also in the club).

Heading into the event he was the 9-1 second choice while Sabbatini was a 150-1 longshot.

The 45-year-old Sabbatini birdied the 18th to set 17-under-par as the clubhouse leader on a day when multiple players had a shot at medaling. Sabbatini’s birdie putt included a celebration before the ball even reached the hole.

Sabbatini became a citizen of Slovakia in 2019 and is married to his Slovakian caddie, Martina.

The finale played out at around 3 a.m. ET/12 am PT on Golf Channel, but even well out of the prime time window when other sports take priority, NBC stuck with a round of 16 beach volleyball match between USA’s Claes/Sponsil vs. Canada’s Bansley/Wilkerson.

Golf’s return to the Games in Rio saw the network pick up the final 90-or-so minutes and, despite a less-exciting finish than 2021’s Schauffele win, averaged 8.8 million viewers. That made it the second most-watched golf event of 2016.

As of press time, the seven-way playoff for Bronze had not been decided.

Olympic Leaderboard Bunched: Medal Playoffs Could Be Exciting And Strange

Americans trying to stay awake for the men’s Olympic golf conclusion will be challenged by the lack of crowd energy, a soft and dull design, lethargic pace of play and a minimalist broadcast.

But, as Sean Zak notes for Golf.com, the bunched leaderboard means we could get some excitement.

Playoffs are coming … right? They have to be. This leaderboard is so bunched, it feels like we’ll have our first playoff for a medal, as there was none at the 2016 Games in Rio. How crazy is it that both men’s and women’s fields at the 2016 Olympics finished with a solo first, a solo second and a solo third place finisher?

With 27 players currently within five shots of third place, on a course where it has been difficult to create separation, we will almost surely see a playoff for a medal on Sunday. If it happens it’ll be sudden death, with the highest ranking medal up for grabs being decided first. The dream scenario? A four-way tie for first place.

This potentially wild scenario did not occur in Rio after the course magically separated the field and all medals were decided in regulation play.

Xander Schauffele (-14) currently leads by a stroke over 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama (-13) in a rematch of their Masters duel in April, as Rex Hoggard explores for GolfChannel.com. They tee off at 11:09 am JST.

Seven players are within four and twelve are within five strokes of the lead.

Golf Channel goes live in the United States from Kasumigaseki Country Club beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET, with the leading threesome going off a 10:09 p.m. ET.

Protestors Planning To Welcome Trump For Winged Foot's Celebration Of His Presidency

According to an NBC News report, Winged Foot members were already expecting security related disruptions when former President Donald Trump arrives August 4th for a celebration of his presidency.

Now, according to Abby Luby at The Examiner News, members arriving to the storied U.S. Open site that day can expect protestors. Leading one organizational effort is author and activist Amy Suskind, quoted in the story.

Pushback to Trump’s Winged Foot gala is expected, along with demonstrations in Briarcliff Manor the following day at an invitation-only Republican fundraiser at the Trump National Golf Club Westchester. The event is charging an entry fee of $1,000 per person. A photo-op with Trump costs $5,000 a couple, and to take part in a reception, a roundtable, and a photo-op costs $25,000 per couple.

“Trump’s not welcome either place,” said Siskind, adding that organizing protests is not only happening in Briarcliff Manor and Mamaroneck, but she has heard people were upset and shocked by the Winged Foot Gala from as far away as Oregon and Massachusetts. “Organizing is getting underway — activism takes a few days to come together.”

Meanwhile, the club has deleted its Twitter account after news of the celebration was revealed by NBC News.

Greg Norman Moves To The Extreme Narcissism Phase Of His Design Career

Moving back to Sydney, Greg Norman is bringing an inflated sense of self and leaving proof in the ground. Mercifully he’s not going with a Mother Nature-inspired homage to his favorite attributes and instead is designing a course shaped like a shark. Get it. Like a Great White Shark.

From the Daily Mail on the deal inked with developer Dean Lukin Jr.:

With Norman's name attached, Mr Lukin Jr hopes to attract investors to the one-of-a-kind project, estimated to be cost between $600 - $700million.     

'I am very excited to have Greg Norman involved as I am hugely passionate about this beautiful region,' he said.

'There is nobody better than Greg in achieving an aesthetic, well-planned and creative golf course development.

I’d keep an eye on how he shapes the shark. That could go wrong in a lot of ways.