Kenyon Points Out The Inconsistency Of New Green Reading Rules

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The pending rule change attempting to restore certain skills by killing off green reading books and other gizmos has run into some criticism. And the point is a legitimate one but I have an easy solution.

Short game specialist Phil Kenyon argues in an Instagram post at the oddity of going after levels and other machinery possibly used to test green conditions. This seems like an effort to cut down on the number of people on greens, devices on greens or, if you’re a bit forward thinking, players bringing Stimpmeters or moisture-reading devices into the practice round equation. The entourages also add unnecessary traffic on the greens. Mostly, the art of golf’s rugged individualist scouting out things on their own is in danger.

Still Kenyon makes this point:

So you can take a TrackMan or quad or range finder on to the course and check how certain shots or holes “play” yardage wise but you can’t take a level onto a “practice” putting green to calibrate your feel for slope.

What a ridiculous rule. It’s stupid in fact. It serves no purpose. It’s indeed skill limiting.

I actually don’t think the governing bodies understand the complexity of the scenarios in front of them.

Is using a level in practice hurting the game more than how far the ball goes or the speed of play ?

There is an inconsistency here. Tee to fringe players can max out the technology and outside sources to gain insight, but once on the greens they must revert to conditions of a decade ago.

The easy solution: lose the launch monitors on the course. Oh, and stop providing slope-adjusted yardages in official books.

As for the ball going too far and slow play, well those two go hand in hand.

Kenyon’s full post:

Forget Disneyland, The Braves Are Going To Augusta

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Thanks to reader GS for Jeff Passan’s look back at the Atlanta Braves’ improbable late season turnaround and behind-the-scenes anecdotes that included this:

The celebration at Minute Maid differed by the square foot. In one area, Pederson was running up to Terry McGuirk, the Braves' chairman, and yelling: "We're going to f---ing Augusta! Hell yeah! I f---ing told you." McGuirk, a member at Augusta National, had told players that if they win a World Series, he can swing getting them a tee time.

Saudis Add Key Executives; Norman Teases Australia Stop And Questions PGA Tour's Attempt At A Counter

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A couple of reveals in the tussle between the upstart Asian Tour co-sanctioned Greg Norman helmed league.

ESPN.com’s Bob Harig reports that two executives with impressive careers in sport have joined the team, headlined by former PGA Tour and Augusta National executive Ron Cross. Also signing on as Chief Commercial Officer is a former ESPN executive, Sean Bratches, a key figure in F1 who managed their commercial operations until 2020.

Cross most recently worked at the PGA Tour as senior vice president of corporate affairs. Before that, he was special assistant to commissioner Jay Monahan and at one time prior to working at Augusta National he was executive director of the Players Championship. Cross also worked as a senior director at Augusta National for eight years and helped with various grow-the-game initiatives including the Drive, Chip & Putt, the Asia-Pacific Amateur and the Latin-America Amateur.

Bratches was executive vice president of sales and marketing and served on the board of directors at ESPN before becoming managing director of commercial operations for Formula 1.

Rex Hoggard spoke to Cross for a GolfChannel.com story explaining how thins ended with the PGA Tour for the former top advisor to Commissioner Jay Monahan.

When Jay Monahan took over as PGA Tour commissioner in 2017, Cross returned “back home” to where he started his career in golf. “I thought I’d retire at the Tour, but unfortunately the pandemic hit,” he said. As the pandemic hurt the circuit’s business his position was “eliminated” in December 2020.

Cross holds no hard feelings towards the Tour. He understands better than most the reality of a global pandemic on nearly every business. But he also understands – again, better than most – that the product can always be better.

“Continuous improvement,” he said, “that’s what we learned from [the late Clifford Roberts] and Mr. Payne at Augusta. It’s what everybody in golf strives for. You want to make the experience better for fans, for players, for clients, for volunteers.”

Besides teasing an Australia event, Greg Norman responded to an AP story suggesting the PGA Tour is looking at several options as possible responses to disruptor Tours and the coming demise of WGC’s.

Ferguson writes:

The PGA Tour is contemplating a “global series” in the fall with big purses, no cuts and appearance money based on a player’s FedEx Cup standing. It is looking into another bonus program for the top five going into the Tour Championship.

Norman’s reply at Australia Golf Digest:

“Isn’t that their fiduciary responsibility, to be doing that every year?” Norman asks. “Shouldn’t that be the precedent they set, rather than being reactionary to somebody else’s proposal? I shake my head because I’m just so perplexed about it all. I’ve been involved in golf for 40-plus years, and I think I’ve come up with some pretty good ideas based off a few observations. They’re not ‘Greg Norman’s observations’, they’re simply observations the sport should be seeing for itself.”

Norman was kind in his assessment given that the ideas floated merely compound an issue some top players would like to see change: the creation of an off-season.

Quadrilateral: Major(s) News And Notes, November 4, 2021

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This week’s News and Notes already landed via email but here is the weekly free edition brimming with joyful anecdotes about the biggest events in golf. Included this week are some thoughts on the sneaky-huge ramifications of PGA Tour players taking initiative on the skill discussion, plus notes on Ryder Cup shirts of yesteryear, next year’s Women’s Open finally securing official tournament dates, a dreamy view of the Old Course up for sale and more.

As always, you can get a better understanding of what The Quad is about here or sign up for free here.

Sportico Estimates Highest Paid Athletes Of All Time: Tiger, Arnold, Jack In The Top 4

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Based on inflation adjusted earnings and some guestimating about endorsement income, Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus landed in the top 4 of Sportico’s list of highest paid athletes of all time.

Phil Mickelson landed 11th and Greg Norman 15th. Not bad for a niche sport.

Dress Code Not Helping At Saudi Laudies International

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Remember ladies, you can eat at restaurants now according to Greg Norman so whatever discomfort you suffer adhering to the Saudi dress code is a small price to pay for the privilege of eating out.

Darren Walton of AAP reports world No. 5 Minjee Lee’s comments prior to this week’s Saudi Ladies International about coping with heat while adhering to the local dress code.

“We have to cover our legs so we don’t show too much skin so it just feels like we’re in like body suits in really hot heat.

“(Dress) below the knees for women. No sleeveless (tops), no shoulders showing.

“It’s just a respect thing but it does feel hot.”

Competing by the Red Sea in King Abdullah Economic City, Lee suspects the unique challenge will be as much psychological as physical.

“Mentally, because you’re always sweating and you never really cool down, that will be the main challenge,” the world No. 5 said.

“I just played nine holes and I was cooked. But 18 holes, I mean, it’s going to take, what, five hours to go around this golf course?

“So it will be testing all parts of your mental strength, I think.”

Foreign Players Entering U.S. For PGA Tour Events Must Be Vaxxed, Tour Has 83% Compliance

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Nice scoops by Rex Hoggard to report on the updated CDC policy for players entering the U.S. in the coming months and hoping to play—vaccination and a negative test will be needed.

Plus, he reports the PGA Tour spokesperson said they are up to 83% vaccination for the combo of players, caddies and essential staff.

McKellar Podcast With Lawrence Donegan And Mark Cannizzaro

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McKellar’s podcast is back and Lawrence Donegan and Mark Cannizzaro included yours truly in a discussion about Golf Saudi’s infusion of cash into the Asian Tour. We explore the possibility of anarchy should top players take some huge cash offers, plus the flaw in the concept and some of the people who’ve signed on to support the effort to remake professional golf.

Listening options: Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your pods.

Asia-Pacific Amateur Kicks Off With Winner Earning A Spot In The Masters, The Open

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Just a reminder to American audiences that the 12th Asia-Pacific Amateur kicks off Wednesday after a one year hiatus. It’s also the first playing since Hideki Matsuyama, a former two-time winner of the event captured the Masters.

They’re playing the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, which is most famous for its clubhouse and a floating tee. No one in the field cares where they’re playing with the winner earning and invitation to the Masters and The Open at St Andrews.

You can follow the scoring here.

Coverage times:

USGA, R&A Early Coverage Headed To USA Network; Is Golf Channel's End Near?

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Sports Business Journal's shocking reveal suggests the end is near for Arnold Palmer's bold vision.

As I explain in this Quadrilateral item, it may be too late to save the channel. But man, what are the USGA and R&A thinking as they get relegated to the place where reruns go to die?

**And the press release…

Premier League, NASCAR, INDYCAR, USGA and The R&A Golf Championships, and College and Olympic Sports Among Premium Properties and Events Moving to USA Network 

USA Network to Feature Premier League Tripleheader on January 1, 2022

USA Network Was #1 Sports and Entertainment Cable Network Throughout the Recent Tokyo Olympics

NBC Sports Content Also Moving to CNBC, Peacock and Other NBCUniversal Platforms

NBCSN to Conclude Programming on Dec. 31, 2021

LOS ANGELES, Calif. and STAMFORD, Conn. – November 2, 2021 – Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, USA Network broadens its slate with the addition of premium NBC Sports events, including coverage from the Premier League, NASCAR, INDYCAR, the Olympic Games, USGA and The R&A Golf Championships, college and Olympic sports, horse racing, cycling and more. In addition, CNBC, Peacock, and other linear platforms will also host a wide variety of live sports.

USA Network will kick off the 2022 sports calendar on Saturday, Jan. 1 at 7 a.m. ET with a New Year’s Day Premier League tripleheader, beginning with Arsenal hosting defending champion Manchester City. 

“We are excited to transition the cable coverage of many of our premium sports events to USA Network, Peacock, and other widely-distributed NBCUniversal platforms, which will give us a significant boost in television homes and will put us in an even stronger position as we grow our business,” said Pete Bevacqua, Chairman, NBC Sports.

“USA has always been home to big, iconic characters - on reality shows like ‘Chrisley Knows Best,’ premium scripted dramas like ‘Chucky’ and ‘The Sinner,’ and of course the high-octane energy of our WWE personalities – and larger-than-life pro athletes will fit right in,” said Frances Berwick, Entertainment Networks, NBCUniversal Television & Streaming. “We expect this expansion of our live sports offering will both engage existing fans and bring in new communities to USA, further cementing the network as a top destination for the best and broadest entertainment in all of its many forms.”

During the recent Tokyo Olympics, USA Network televised live coverage of track & field, men’s and women’s beach volleyball, indoor volleyball and softball, and ranked as the #1 sports and entertainment cable network in primetime with an average of 1.6 million viewers. In September, the Manchester United-Newcastle match featuring the return of Cristiano Ronaldo ranked as the most-watched Premier League game on USA Network.

NBC Sports Programming on USA Network in 2022

  • Atlantic 10 basketball

  • Horse Racing

  • IMSA

  • INDYCAR: Two races

  • NASCAR: Cup and Xfinity Series races

  • Olympic sports

  • Premier League

  • The R&A – The Open, AIG Women’s Open: Early round and weekend lead-in coverage

  • The Winter Olympics

  • Tour de France

  • USGA – U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open: Early round and weekend lead-in coverage

Note: Many of these sports will continue to have programming on the NBC broadcast network. In addition, all linear coverage can be streamed via authentication on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. (*All PGA TOUR events remain exclusively on NBC or GOLF Channel.)

PGA Tour Adds Green Reading Books Restrictions Effective January 1, 2022

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PGA Tour Memo To Players

This one is a little embarrassing for the USGA and R&A, who tried to limit green reading books by reducing their size and only prompted players to the silly cheat sheets closer to their face. But in a rare and welcomed moment of product introspection, the PGA Tour Advisory Council took bold action to all but limit their use in PGA Tour events.

Brian Wacker first Tweeted the message sent to players:

Enforcement of this should be interesting as players tuck books into leather covers and spotting “Committee Approved Book” may be tricky. But otherwise, it’s a welcome change and one that should have happened sooner in the name of protecting skill as well as pace of play.

Presumably the USGA and R&A will follow suit since they provide players yardage and green reading books at their majors.

The Masters does not allow surveying of their surfaces and therefore green reading materials have not been an option. The PGA of America will presumably follow suit but given their tendency to play an outlier role, there are no guarantees.

Shark On Saudi Arabia: There Are Women In Restaurants!

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As Commissioner Greg Norman tries to sell the Saudi golf move into the Asian Tour and an elite global tour inspired by the Premier Golf League, the Shark is out spinning his role. Speaking to GolfDigest.com’s Daniel Rapaport, Norman made clear there is nothing to see here when it comes to the home of 9/11 hijackers, public beheadings and women’s rights.

I’ve been going to Saudi Arabia now for three years. I was invited to do a golf course design project there. Unless you actually go there and see and understand exactly what’s happening there, you [can’t] sit back and make judgmental calls. I made the journey there to look at what was happening in Saudi Arabia before I made any decision on anything because I’m not a person who makes judgement calls. I make sound decisions on sound facts and information that is presented to you. So when the PIF wanted to become a majority investor, I knew what was happening in the country.

Women’s right issues—the women there now, I’ve been so impressed. You walk into a restaurant and there are women. They’re not wearing burkas. They’re out playing golf.

That last comment earned this from the Golf Digest editors:

Editor’s note: Saudi Arabia ranked 147th out of 153 nations in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index for 2021. And according to Human Rights watch, despite women’s rights reforms in recent years, “Saudi women still must obtain a male guardian’s approval to get married, leave prison, or obtain certain healthcare. Women also continue to face discrimination in relation to marriage, family, divorce, and decisions relating to children, including child custody.”

The Asia-Pacific Amateur Is This Week In...The Middle East

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There are a couple of ways to think about this week’s Asia-Pacific Amateur turning up in Dubai with a Masters invitation going to the winner.

It’s a fine opportunity to pull out a globe and see how the Asia-Pacific region you (thought you) knew is now incorporating the Middle East. This was news to me even if the venue, Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, is technically in Asia. Th course was only announced in late July and presumably selected due to COVID restrictions in much of the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia.

But more importantly, this selection puts some of golf’s leaders within a very short flight of Riyadh. It’s home to the Public Investment Fund of Saudia Arabia, now proud benefactors of some Asian Tour events and, as we presumably will find out soon, a global golf tour for superstars headed by Greg Norman.

The only bummer with this glorious coincidence of scheduling as the Five Families mull the ramifications of a disruptor golf tour? The fund’s head, Yasir bin Othman Al-Rumayyan, had to sit out last week’s conference celebrating all thing public investment under mysterious circumstances. But the Crown Prince turned up, so they’ve got that going for them. Both Reuters and the New York Times say it was a COVID positive test for Al Rumayyan and not unabashed excitement over landing Norman as Commish.

So no meetings with the possible head of a new Family in golf. This week anyway. .

For more on the Asia-Pacific Amateur, check out the official website. I’ll post official broadcast times when made available.

Bellerive To Host The 2030 Presidents Cup

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Just an FYI in case you were wondering, almost perennial captain Davis Love will be just 66 when Bellerive hosts the 2030 Presidents Cup. Definitely a favorite for the job.

Anyway, Stu Durando had the news first for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, saying a full announcement will come this week. The club last hosted the 2018 PGA Championship.

Until 2030, the Cup goes to Quail Hollow in 2022, Royal Montreal 2024 and Medinah in 2026.