When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
Reviewing Saturday's wild action and brouhahas. Plus, a look at Sunday Singles along with a few telecast notes. As is the case, this one is for paid subscribers but you’re always welcome to sign up, get some free issues or pay and not miss an issue of The Quadrilateral.
Whew, I’m exhausted! That was one wild and crazy Saturday but is anyone surprised?
Longtime readers know we’ve been through many ups and downs over Yale Golf Course, which, despite the university in question and many other factors that should prevent its masterful CB Macdonald/Seth Raynor design from ever falling into disrepair, has been a total soap opera. It’s doubly painful since the course hosts tournaments and has actually been a more affordable option for good players in the area.
Finally, after horrible changes by Roger Rulewich and overall decline, an agreement has been reached to do a proper restoration. Bradley Klein reports on Gil Hanse getting the gig to rejuvenate Yale Golf Course.
The foursomes are set for bright and early Friday morning with few surprises but some absolutely juicy match-ups.
It’s been three years but the most lively three days of golf have arrived. Enjoy the Cup!
Any creative, slightly bizarre original piece from the European Tour social team in advance of the matches:
Out of Context Ryder Cup 🤣#TeamEurope #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/oogrZ5Wp0s
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 22, 2021
I tried to take a more measured approach to the issue of potential fan behavior questions looming at this Ryder Cup, while the Irish Times’ Dave Hannigan went the full takedown route for poor fan behavior in golf and in particular, the Ryder Cup.
And what would a Ryder Cup be with out some grievance airing from overseas!
Theories explaining declining standards of behaviour and an increasing absence of decorum around tee-boxes and greens are manifold. Some say it is the increased availability of drink that is fuelling these miscreants. As if free booze had never been poured in a corporate tent on a course until recently. Others, including the PGA Tour commissioner, reckon the disruptive carry-on is the inevitable consequence of the sport drawing a younger demographic. Too many testosterone-driven lads think they are at a college grid-iron game and act accordingly.
Like mistaken Thatcherite generalisations about English football hooligans all being disenfranchised lumpenproles rather than white-collar weekend warriors, the evidence suggests otherwise. Plenty of those shouting “get in the bunker” or “Brooksie!” in mid-swing are actually prosperous middle-aged men getting their inner lout on.
This is a free edition for all subscribers so sign on up and check out what I’ve been filing from Kohler.
Yet more brilliance by the European Tour’s social team following up on Thomas Bjorn’s tattoo pledge if his team won the 2018 Ryder Cup. I’m not sure this was the location his players hand in mind but it’ll do…
A promise made. A promise kept 🖊#TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/nWp9EfRJEL
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) December 24, 2018
An unbylined Arab News story reports on Golf Saudi moving from the European Tour—where it was once a cherished “get” for Chief Executive Keith Pelley—to the Asian Tour for 10 years. The subtext will involve how this impacts the Asian Tour, the Saudi effort to disrupt pro golf via a ripped-poff version of the Premier Golf League concept, and what players might show up to cash a check.
From the story:
“Today marks a significant development for our flagship golf event and our vision to strengthen the depth of world-class golf events, both in the GCC and also on the international stage,” said Majed Al-Sorour, CEO of Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation.
“The importance and potential of Asia’s role in world golf is undeniable, not least due to its position as a global economic powerhouse,” he said, adding: “This partnership will unlock many opportunities for players, sponsors and fans of the game. Most importantly, we are eager to help build a more inclusive game for all eligible professional golfers that spans borders and cultures by fostering collaboration with major tours and see this as an exciting first step on that journey.”
You want wrap around, something has to pay.
That and some more research is needed to see just how historically awful the PGA Tour’s “Fortinet Championship” ratings were, but as far as season openers go it’s hard to imagine even the old Safeway or fall events of recent years failed to write for three days until a final round .03/330,000 average viewers.
Going against the NFL and it’s incredible season start will always be tough sledding, but to see what people watched in larger numbers than what was an interesting final round won by Max Homa, suggests something deeper going on. Namely, Golf Channel reaching fewer and fewer homes while all but giving up on promoting the “product”.
It’s alarming given the Fortinet was the beginning of the PGA Tour’s new nine year contract with the Comcast owned network.
I’m not sure where this one came from given how many times folks have wanted to see World Golf Hall of Fame “wings” to recognize contributors to the sport.
The Tuesday-of-Ryder-Cup week announcement of a huge change in WGHOF policy only heightens my suspicion that even some in Hall land know this will not help shed their image as a plaything for former Commissioner Tim Finchem.
While I respect both gentlemen and appreciate their contributions to the game, Dick Ferris was a longtime PGA Tour Policy Board member who signed off on Tim Finchem’s gargantuan pay packages (and don’t give me that nonsense about how he grew purses…Tiger did the heaviest lifting on that).
So while Ted Ray and Tom Weiskopf have yet to receive any Hall honors, and the latter is battling cancer, this is what friends of Finchem receive for their friendship. And why no Clint Eastwood?
World Golf Hall of Fame to Recognize Pebble Beach Company’s Dick Ferris and Peter Ueberroth at 2022 Induction Ceremony
Ferris and Ueberroth to receive new Lifetime Achievement Award
St. Augustine, Fla. (Sept. 21, 2021) – The World Golf Hall of Fame will honor two leaders in golf – Dick Ferris and Peter Ueberroth – as part of a newly created Lifetime Achievement Award at the upcoming Induction Ceremony on March 9, 2022. The ceremony will take place in conjunction with THE PLAYERS Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
“In 1999, we did something that had never been done before,” said Ueberroth. “We gathered a group of friends who shared our passion for Pebble Beach to purchase it with the goal to keep it, preserve it and enhance it for future generations. On behalf of all of us, we thank the World Golf Hall of Fame for this incredible recognition.”
“Giving back to the game and helping others has brought a lifetime of joy,” said Ferris. “To be so honored is humbling.”
Ueberroth and Ferris, alongside Clint Eastwood, the late Arnold Palmer and their other partners, purchased Pebble Beach in 1999 from Taiheiyo Club and Sumitomo Bank, returning it to U.S. ownership. They served as co-chairmen of Pebble Beach Company for 20 years, and together with their fellow board members and management team, worked to ensure Pebble Beach remained open to the public and a global, must-play, bucket-list golf destination.
Since its founding in 1919, Pebble Beach has hosted 14 major championships including six U.S. Open Championships, five U.S. Amateur Championships, two U.S. Women’s Amateur Championships and the 1977 PGA Championship. It also will host the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open, its first, and the 2027 U.S. Open, its seventh. Pebble Beach Company has hosted the PGA TOUR’s annual AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am since 1947 and the PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach impacting First Tee (a PGA TOUR Champions’ event) since 2004. The Company, under their leadership and in partnership with Monterey Peninsula Foundation and AT&T, raises more than $15 million annually for local charitable organizations.
“We are pleased to recognize the important and long-standing contributions that Dick and Peter have made to the game of golf through their thoughtful stewardship of Pebble Beach Company,” said Greg McLaughlin, CEO, World Golf Hall of Fame. “We are proud to recognize them through this new award at the 2022 Induction Ceremony, paying homage to their achievements and what those have meant for the sport.”
“Under Dick and Peter’s stewardship, Pebble Beach Company has invested over $600 million in resort improvements, hosted three historic U.S. Open Championships and made an immeasurable impact on our local community through both charitable giving and economic impact,” said David Stivers, CEO of Pebble Beach Company. “Their greatest legacy, however, is their passion for Pebble Beach that has become an integral part of our Company culture.”
Ferris, a long-time friend of Palmer’s, became a member of the PGA TOUR Champions’ Policy Board in 1985 and moved to the PGA TOUR Policy Board in 1993, where he served as chairman from 1994 to 2007. He was the Chairman and CEO of UAL Corporation (parent company of United Airlines, Hertz Rent-A-Car, Hilton International and WestinHotels), a position he held from 1976 to 1987. Between 1992 and 1998, Ferris and Ueberroth served together as co-chairmen and directors in three hotel companies: Guest Quarters Hotels, Doubletree Hotels, and Promus Hotels.
Ueberroth’s career began in the travel business. He founded First Travel Corporation in 1962, and when he sold the company in 1980, it was the second largest travel business in North America. From 1980 to 1984, Peter was President of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, the first privately funded Games which resulted in a $250M surplus earning him Time magazine’s Man of the Year award. He subsequently served as the Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1984 to 1989, and today is managing director of Contrarian Group, an investment and management company. His numerous charitable endeavors include serving as Vice Chair of the Monterey Peninsula Foundation and helping to establish First Tee – Monterey County.
Ferris and Ueberroth will be recognized at the upcoming Induction Ceremony, where competitors Tiger Woods and Susie Maxwell Berning along with contributors Tim Finchem and the late Marion Hollins will be enshrined into the Hall of Fame as members. The Induction Ceremony is returning to Northeast Florida for the first time since 2013. Most recent ceremonies have been held in St Andrews, Scotland (2015), New York (2017) and Pebble Beach (2019).
Tuesday practice at Whistling Straits (Geoff Shackelford)
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Signed! Digitally…please don’t ask me to explain this, as the whole thing eludes me until someone makes mind-blowing ways to display these things. And even then I’m still not sure…
For Immediate Release:
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Autograph, the company pioneering partnerships with the world's biggest sports and entertainment icons to usher in a new era of digital collecting, will debut the first set of NFTs co-designed by Tiger Woods. The collection will be exclusively available to view on Autograph.io and for sale on DraftKings Marketplace (Nasdaq: DKNG). The NFTs will drop over the next week allowing fans to have longer to access the collectibles with the second collection dropping on September 28th.
"Autograph is thrilled to be the driving force behind the first-ever Tiger Woods NFT as a part of a larger, exclusive series of his digital collections," said Dillon Rosenblatt, CEO and co-founder of Autograph. "Autograph's incredible partners and team are committed to producing cutting-edge content that brings our audience one step closer to icons. Releasing a collection for Tiger Woods, one of the greatest golfers of all time, is a huge milestone as we usher in the new era of collecting."
Tiger's digital collectibles are the latest addition to Autograph's Preseason Access Collection, joining other sports heroes like Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Tony Hawk, Derek Jeter, Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles. All prior collections have sold out within minutes, so fans looking to purchase the highly-anticipated Tiger drop are encouraged to join the queues early. The Premier edition drops on September 21st and the Signed edition drops on September 28th, both starting at 3:00pm ET, with queues opening at 2:30pm ET.
"Autograph's team is at the forefront of digital collectibles and enhancing the fan experience around NFTs, and I'm thrilled to be a part of the new era of collecting," said Tiger Woods. "It will enable me to grow closer to my fan base and I'm looking forward to seeing that all fans have the opportunity to participate. I could not be more excited for future drops with Autograph."
While the Premier editions will offer thousands of Tiger's digital collectibles, the Signed editions will have significantly fewer, with less than 300 total in the whole batch. Each owner of a Preseason Access Pass NFT, regardless of edition, will also be granted preferential access to a future NFT drop from Autograph.
To view the latest exclusive NFT drops, collectors can visit https://www.autograph.io and registered DraftKings customers can visit https://marketplace.draftkings.com/ to explore and transact on DraftKings Marketplace.
Men of the people in their $1995 sweaters display the Cup at Heathrow
Today I cover the Europeans (all five) making the voyage from Heathrow, the powerful in flight mood lighting, and lots from the Captain press conferences. Plus a roundup of Reads, Tweets and Bryson’s speed experiment. If you’d signed up as a paid subscriber this was already in your inbox. So come on aboard!
The PGL’s Andy Gardiner
All signs suggest the disruptor golf leagues declared dead multiple times by Tour toadies are, miraculously, still hanging around. There may even be a conversation or twelve this week between Vice Captains and players about who is in and where.
The Saudi’s and their SGL, a rip off of all things Premier Golf League only with a Middle East-heavy schedule?
Or will the new Strategic Alliance keep everyone a happy PGA Tour/European Tour camper?
Judging by Phil Mickelson’s remarks to Gary Williams, the PGA Champion is still very much interested in the proposals. Armed with major championship exemptions for another few years, his fearless jabs at the PGA Tour model suggest he’s open to the ideas.
A few curious and noteworthy comments by Mickelson:
He said of the wraparound, the Tour is “going away from that next year”. Not sure if that was a slip up or slip of the tongue regarding the 2023 schedule and beyond.
Mickelson lamented that only 26% of the revenue goes to the players and agreements requiring the Commissioner’s approval. He said that while players use the engine of the PGA Tour to be successful, “we don’t make a majority of our revenue from the PGA Tour” we don’t own our media writes, and YouTube “make millions” off it, citing Bryson’s 6th hole tee shot at Bay Hill earlier this year. The clip does have 1.4. million views and in YouTube money, that’s not much barring a massive sweetheart deal with the Tour.
He says “top guys are being taken advantage of” and believes the PIP money offered by Ponte Vedra “sounds like a lot” but in the “big scheme” doesn’t “even come close to being equitable.”
Mickelson said the “competition is going to be good” for all.
He said for the first time “the top players are being valued by the PGA Tour” and the players are “so far down the line on, kind of, the bullying tactics that have been used to suppress the top players on the PGA Tour,” that this will all come down to what’s best for fans.
He said it’s “tough when only 4 people have a vote” and of the PGA Tour, says “I’m not sure we have, internally, the structure to fix it.”
On the PGL side, co-founder Andy Gardiner gave an interview to Golf Monthly and reminded how this week’s event is the inspiration for the concept:
If you can bring any of the brilliance of the Ryder Cup into a more regular format, then it’s got to be a good thing.
It’s easier for a fan to have allegiance to a team than it is to an individual.
Some individuals can have it – that’s where Tiger was utterly brilliant because he was so dominant that you could fall in love with him as the dominant player, or you could be fascinated by him.
But what everyone else was doing was backing the underdog because everyone else was an underdog.
What he did was to ignite both sides.
You had one group who wanted to see him win everything and you had those who wanted someone else to win.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
