Long Overdue Concession To The NFL: PGA Tour To Finish Saturday Before NFC/AFC Championship Sunday

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The PGA Tour, Farmers and CBS have wisely decided not to fight the behemoth that is the NFL, moving up the Farmers Insurance Open to a Saturday finish. In previous years the NFC and AFC Championship games finished the Sunday of the Hope/Clinton/Phil/Chrysler/Humana/Careerbuilder/AmEx. In one of the many mysteries to rule the day in Ponte Vedra, that event stubbornly stuck to its Sunday finish and rarely saw much of a final round audience.

With the NFL’s expanded schedule for 2020-21, the Championship games have been pushed into Farmers weekend, the traditional start of CBS’s broadcast schedule.

The full press release and note the initials NFL never appear:

2022 Farmers Insurance Open® will feature Saturday finish on CBS

CBS Sports’ 2022 kickoff event to run Wednesday-Saturday including evening finish

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA, AND SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – The PGA TOUR and Farmers Insurance® – title sponsor of the Farmers Insurance Open since 2010 – announced that the Farmers Insurance Open will shift its tournament competition days to Wednesday-Saturday – January 26-29, 2022 – at Torrey Pines Golf Course. With a crowded sports weekend, the PGA TOUR, CBS, Farmers Insurance and the Century Club are excited to shift to a Saturday final round that will result in a Friday and Saturday evening viewing on the East Coast with finish times of 8 p.m. ET both days on CBS.

Golf Channel will carry the opening two rounds on Wednesday and Thursday (January 26-27). The final two rounds will be played Friday and Saturday (January 28-29), with more than six hours of coverage on CBS. Lead-in coverage on Friday and Saturday will be broadcast by Golf Channel.

Additionally, the diversity-focused Advocates Pro Golf Association Tour’s (APGA) Farmers Insurance® Invitational, now in its third consecutive year playing, will expand to two rounds, with round one being played on Saturday, January 29, on the North Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course. The final round will be held Sunday, January 30, on the South Course and will be broadcast live on Golf Channel, marking the first time an APGA Tour event will be televised. 

“We appreciate Farmers Insurance’s collaboration and innovative thinking with this shift in competition days,” said PGA TOUR President and EVP Tyler Dennis. “The PGA TOUR’s first network event of 2022 wrapping up on Saturday combined with football games the following day will create an action-packed weekend for sports fans. Farmers Insurance has also shown extraordinary commitment to diversity in our game, and we are thrilled with the expansion of the APGA Farmers Insurance Invitational which will include Golf Channel coverage of the final round.”

As a California-based organization, Farmers Insurance initially committed to sponsor the 2010 tournament just 10 days before the opening round and just months after arriving in the San Diego community in response to devastating wildfires.  Nearly a decade later, disaster resilience continues to be an important component of the business and community efforts of Farmers®, while the focus on diversity and inclusion has grown. 

“Over the course of more than 10 years serving as the Farmers Insurance Open’s title sponsor, the Farmers team has worked with the Century Club and PGA TOUR to evolve and grow the tournament’s impact on the game of golf, and in the San Diego community,” said Farmers Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Joye. “As we approach the 2022 event, we’re proud to continue our sponsorship and look forward to hosting the APGA Tour’s first-ever nationally televised event.”

“The teamwork, flexibility and creativity exhibited by the PGA TOUR and Farmers Insurance to adapt the schedule for a Saturday finish was outstanding,” said Dan Weinberg, Executive Vice President, Programming, CBS Sports. “For over a decade the Farmers Insurance Open has launched our season. Thanks to our terrific relationships, our viewers are in for a fantastic sports weekend on CBS with golf, football and college basketball.” 

“There is tremendous interest and momentum on the APGA Tour as we continue our mission to prepare African Americans and other minority golfers to compete and win at the highest level of professional golf,” said APGA Tour CEO Ken Bentley. “Farmers Insurance has been a founding and consistent supporter of our efforts for several years. The opportunities, connections and exposure that we already received through the Farmers Insurance Invitational being held the same week at the same venue as the PGA TOUR were already tremendous for the development of our Tour and our players. With today’s announcement of a 36-hole event with a final round on Torrey Pines’ South Course that includes our first live broadcast on the Golf Channel, we couldn’t be more thankful and grateful for the effort and support from the Farmers team, the Century Club, the PGA TOUR and Golf Channel. The Farmers Insurance Invitational will be a fantastic showcase of the talented players on the APGA Tour and their stories of perseverance and determination.”  

“We’re proud to present the first-ever national telecast of an Advocates Pro Golf Association Tour event with the Farmers Insurance® Invitational next January on GOLF Channel,” said Tom Knapp, EVP, Partnerships and Programming, NBC Sports. “NBC Sports and GOLF Channel are committed to growing the game of golf and utilizing our platforms to help the sport become more diverse and inclusive. We’re excited to showcase the competition on the APGA Tour and provide a national platform for the Tour and its players.”

In collaboration with Farmers, the Century Club has contributed more than $15 million to deserving organizations benefiting at-risk youth through the tournament since 2010. Patrick Reed, who claimed a five-stroke victory in 2021 at the Farmers Insurance Open, is expected to defend his title in 2022.

Ryder Cup Ratings Up From 2018, Down From 2016

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Television ratings for the 2021 Ryder Cup are in and they’re solid given a number of factors.

  • These were the first matches played this century without Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson

  • It was Sunday runaway going up against some stellar NFL action

  • The Friday to Sunday broadcast windows were all 11, 10 and six hours

  • Plenty of cords have been cut since the last domestic playing and almost all ratings are down

Final day audiences increased from the 2018 edition at Le Golf National where Europe won handily.

Sunday’s final day at Whistling Straits drew a 2.14/3.5 million total audience. That’s up from a 1.8/2.67m in 2018 but down from a 2016 final day 2.7/4.27m.

The 2012 final day at Medinah drew a 3.8/5.5 million average viewers) over a similar six hour window as recent Cups.

Showbuzzdaily.com has all the numbers here.

The Friday increase for Friday’s action is solid given the decline in homes reached for Golf Channel compared to five years ago:

Friday in 2018 on Golf Channel averaged 765k viewers but also started at 2 am ET.

In 2016, previously touted as the most watched weekday for Golf Channel, Ryder Cup coverage posted 1.3 million average viewers per minute and a 0.94 rating in 11 hours of coverage, nearly identical to this year’s .93 but can attribute the 16% rise presumably to additional streaming numbers.

Not so hot was Thursday’s Opening Ceremony, which drew a .13 and average of 209,000 viewers. So not far off from a fall PGA Tour final round.

Quadrilateral: Straits Shellacking

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Quadrilateral: Saturday Ryder Cup Wrap: USA Opens Record 11-5 Lead

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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?

All Hail Yale! Restoration Of The Macdonald Masterwork Finally Set To Happen

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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.

Quadrilateral: Finally, The Ryder Cup Is Here

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The foursomes are set for bright and early Friday morning with few surprises but some absolutely juicy match-ups.

In this edition for my dear subscribers, I also review the typically dreadful opening ceremony and drop some lighter fare in the form of a merchandise review.

It’s been three years but the most lively three days of golf have arrived. Enjoy the Cup!

"Like mistaken Thatcherite generalisations about English football hooligans all being disenfranchised lumpenproles rather than white-collar weekend warriors"

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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.

Quadrilateral: Wednesday Ryder Cup Wrap

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Bjorn Gets Tatted: "Told you I would do it"

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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…

"Saudi International and Asian Tour announce historic golf partnership"

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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.”

The PGA Tour's 2021 Season Opener Barely Draws A Rating

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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.

Showbuzzdaily.com with all the weekend numbers.

Friends Of Finchem: WGHOF Randomly Adds "Lifetime Achievement Award"

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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).