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
An Inconvenient Sunday: Wins By Saudi Golf League Potentials Kokrak And Mickelson
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As middle-aged executives work the Global Home phones to stop a disruptor golf league from messing with their bonus structrue—imagine a Jerry Lewis telethon with way too many men in Gingham and khaki—the task got tougher Sunday. That’s because two potential players who have been linked to taking a dictator’s “sovereign” money happened to win on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions.
Jason Kokrak, Golf Saudi’s proud ambassador, recovered from Saturday’s back nine 41 to win the Houston Open and the privilege of posing with a furry “Astro” clad in the colors best associated with owner Jim Crane’s special brand of dishonest baseball. See, I resisted the urge to call them cheaters. Progress! But boy, for a game of integrity, golf sure has its share of shysters.
Anyhoo…over on the PGA Tour Champions, Phil Mickelson, who has recently blasted away at the PGA Tour’s business structure and could pocket a massive payday if he doesn’t mind mingling with Greg Norman, won for the fourth time in six geezer Tour starts as Bernhard Langer took his sixth Schwab Cup. The key differences between Mickelson and Langer? One captured a major this year and seems primed to bolt from the PGA Tour while wearing his sunglasses to trophy ceremonies. The other is just a freak at age 64.
Houston’s final round highlights. Though they might vanish from The Tube if Kokrak takes the SGL money…
It'd Be Great To Hear From Tiger And For Tiger To Hear From Us
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My latest offering at The Quadrilateral about Tiger Woods and how now would be a really, really good time for him to assume his inevitable elder statesman role as pro golf deals with some big ticket items. Plus, he should hear how he's missed and his opinion valued. Because I know he loves this kind of advice, I dancered around the real point of this missive: does Tiger really want Greg Norman shaping pro golf’s future?
Cookie Jar Golf Podcast Episode 110
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I joined Tom Mills and Sam Williams for a wide-ranging chat on everything from state of the game issues to vodka Pimms and bunch of things in between.
Hopefully you’ve seen some of the wonderful video profiles of courses and have signed up for their occasional newsletter to keep up with this non-British but British take on the game. Recent pods have included Zac Blair discussing his recent Heathlands trip, Matt Faldo and Keith Wood discussing the Faldo Series, along with their “diaries” issues that make for great listens.
Report: PGA Tour Floating Detail-Light And Eerily Familiar Sounding Plans To Stop Players From Fleeing
/We’ve moved to the bad movie phase in this Leagues v. PGA Tour. This is the scene where law enforcement calls and starts off by saying, I just want you to know before I say anything else, the FedExCup is safe. Now, for the bad news…
Years after first learning of different approaches to the pro golf model and months after knowing those pesky Saudi’s are offering silly money, the PGA Tour is (finally) formulating plans for a fall world circuit of WGC-style cut-free events and—are you ready—possibly a team component. Breathtaking originality.
The real takeaway from this Eamon Lynch Golfweek exclusive is that (A) the Tour is very worried about the Saudi offers and (B) no where in the Global Home was there a plan tucked in a drawer should this very predictable scenario arise. Oh, and (C) the FedExCup is not why players show up to tournaments.
To say the details are not well formulated or even close to fruition is an understatement:
The Tour intends to stage between four and six events annually outside of the United States, in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The series will begin in the fall of 2023 at the earliest, though possibly not until 2024.
Three years? That’s a lifetime in this world. Are we going to blame the global supply chain for the lag time? Then again, when you haven’t planned accordingly, that time is needed.
This almost makes the PIP look original and smart.
While internal discussions are continuing on specifics, tentative plans call for between four and six events, with fields limited to 50 or 60 competitors and no halfway cut. It has not been decided if the fields will be determined by the Official World Golf Ranking or FedEx Cup standings. A range of format options are being considered, including the possibility of a team component.
“Nothing firm on formats yet,” the well-placed executive said, “but a team format is certainly one of the ideas on the table.”
See, that baking option in the Global Home Cafe has drawn real outside-the-box thinkers!
And again, so you can rest easily, the most important thing of all…
A PGA Tour source told Golfweek that a mechanism will be devised to ensure players who compete in the overseas series will not be disadvantaged in the FedEx Cup points race as a result of having skipped the U.S. schedule.
“Top guys want to have a break from the FedEx Cup,” the source explained. “The setup would be so they don’t have to worry. If they play in these big events, the idea is they don’t fall behind in the FedEx Cup.”
Big relief! Maybe one less points reset too? Oh…that was aggressive, sorry.
Given that we have full confirmation even decent fall leaderboards draw no audiences, it will be fascinating to see star player reaction to something assuring the schedule is year-round and asking them to divert their energies away from the core part of the schedule surrounding the majors.
"Salute To Golfers Who Served"
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I’ve never seen this wonderful salute to the golfers who served. What better day than November 11th, Veterans Day, to check it out. Thanks to the unbylined scribe at Professional Golfers Career College for piece together the backstories and photos.
Major(s) News & Notes, November 11th, 2021
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Then the Quad dives into how major venues fared in Golf Mag's World Top 100, followed by a Frisco update, and some non-golf reads.
Wanted: Captain Willing To Helm S.S. Golf Channel As It's Listing
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Thanks to the crack reader who reminds me it’s really time I spent more time on LinkedIn.
Seems Golf Channel needs an SVP to report to EP Molly Solomon while the once-grand ship is listing even after throwing the USGA and R&A over to the wrestling and rerun channel because it’s leaking homes and overall, not appearing to try any longer.
About the job
Responsibilities
Overview: The SVP, Golf Production is responsible for managing the production, both studio and remote, for the 24/7 sports network, Golf Channel. This role will report to the Executive Producer, Golf.
Based: Position will be based in Stamford, CT. Will be required to travel
Job Responsibilities
• Oversee remote production of 80+ annual live tournaments and drive remote production transformation using new technology and transmission workflows
• Responsible for production, talent, and operations budgets for tournaments and studio programming on Golf Channel & Peacock
• Work with NBC Sports technology leaders to identify on-screen golf technology, analytics, and on-screen information
• Work closely with Tours to identify and develop next generation of on-air tournament and studio announcers
• Provide announcer and production feedback to studio and tournament teams to improve their impact
• Oversee News and Features team to assist in daily planning, budget and execution
• Work closely with GolfPass team to align Instruction and lifestyle content
• Work with Peacock content team to find increased synergies and live golf content opportunities
• Works with Executive Producer and EVP, Programming and Partnerships on maintaining close communication with governing bodies of golf
Qualifications/Requirements
• Minimum 15 years experience in network or cable sports production
• Experience in working with and maintaining partnerships with governing sporting bodies
• Must have a strong knowledge of Golf and the Tours
• Experience in building content strategies in partnership with other core departments
• Experience in managing budgets
Desired Characteristics
• Proven success in building and developing on-air talent
• Professional history in network sports
• Ability to work effectively in a matrixed environment
• Demonstrates executive-level presentation, leadership and interpersonal skills
• Strong understanding of building content strategies
• BA/BS or equivalent experience
Slugger! Today In C-Suite Bolstering News Via The Super Saudi Golf League
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LIV Golf Investments—aka the Super Saudi Golf League until further notice—continues to rack up the impressive list of executives.
The big name here for golf fans is Slugger White, longtime co-head of Rules and Competitions for the PGA Tour who retired this year only to be lured back to grow the game (Check out Adam Schupak’s Golfweek story on Slugger’s now short-LIVed goodbye). Also joining the group are two media officials, including a former Endeavor executive as Chief Media Officer.
For Immediate Release
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. and NEW YORK, Nov. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LIV Golf Investments, the new entity focused on making strategic investments in golf, announced today the C-Suite appointment of Will Staeger as Chief Media Officer. Also joining LIV Golf Investments' leadership team are Slugger White, Vice President of Rules & Competition Management and Jane MacNeille, Vice President of Communications.
Will Staeger, an experienced executive in the sports and entertainment industries, brings over 25 years of experience managing media rights deals and production groups for iconic brands. He has overseen acquisitions, production, streaming, and event divisions for companies such as ESPN, Endeavor, WWE, and Dick Clark Productions. Staeger's most recent role was at Endeavor, where he managed original production before overseeing the company's NeuLion acquisition, later renamed Endeavor Streaming, as President of that division. Prior to Endeavor, Staeger managed all production strategy for WWE as Executive Vice President during the launch of the company's premium OTT platform.
"Each of us at LIV Golf Investments has one shared mission – to holistically improve the game of golf at every level – so I am elated to have the opportunity to join Greg Norman and his team to achieve that goal," said Staeger. "The innovation we will bring to production will excite and entertain fans in every corner of the globe. I look forward to unveiling our plans very soon."
Further strengthening LIV Golf Investments' leadership team are the additions of Slugger White and Jane MacNeille. Widely respected in the world of golf, White recently completed a legendary 40-year career as a rules official for the PGA TOUR. MacNeille, highly regarded in the marketing communications sector of the golf industry, has 15 years of experience, having most recently spent seven years as Head of Communications at the Greg Norman Company.
"As we pursue our goal of enhancing the global golf ecosystem, we are focused on building upon our strong foundation of sustainable growth, and are pleased to welcome Will, Slugger and Jane to the leadership team," said Greg Norman. "Their combined experience and expertise will be invaluable and instrumental, guiding LIV Golf Investments into the future."
All three team members have transitioned into their new roles.
LIV Golf Investments is building an exceptionally talented team of distinguished professionals from golf, sports and entertainment with deep experience in event operations, marketing, sponsorship and broadcasting. These new appointments follow the announcement last week naming Sean Bratches as Chief Commercial Officer and Ron Cross as Chief Events Officer. Additional leadership announcements are to follow.
Introducing The DP World Tour In Stilted, Painful SponCon Fashion
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Having raised the bar on “content”, this Europ…DP World Tour rollout video is well, just what you’d expect from the team at the DP World Tour Productions. Not European Tour Productions.
Perhaps there was a gunman just off camera or maybe the players just couldn’t bring the energy knowing this was not the Middle East cash infusion they were dreaming of seeing in their off shore accounts, but either way, this is an amazing bit of sponsor integration out of the chute. Kind of gives you new admiration for FedExCup not subjecting us to shots of shipping crates and planes taking off while updating us the FEC standings.
"Players competing for 55% of consolidated revenue from roughly $1.5 billion"
/Phil Mickelson’s claim of only 26% of revenues going back to PGA Tour players appears to have earned him a rebuttal from the Global Home, albeit a slow one given that he mentioned it in a September 14th podcast with Gary Williams.
This comes from a Doug Ferguson column advocating against paying players salaries instead of through purses, Ferguson writes of where the PGA Tour is finding money for PIP and Play 15-Get-50K guarantees:
At least two players have coined a similar phrase of $50 million “magically appearing” to pay for the Player Impact Program and another program called “Play 15” that doles out $50,000 to anyone playing 15 tournaments.
The tour would suggest nothing magical about it. In a presentation to the Player Advisory Council, it showed players competing for 55% of consolidated revenue from roughly $1.5 billion, courtesy of a nine-year media rights deal worth about $7 billion. It also includes $32 million from the reserve fund to help pay for the earnings increase.
Obviously “consolidated revenue” is a different way of interpreting the Tour’s revenues and most of us probably don’t really care. But the disparity in Mickelson’s understanding versus the Global Home’s number is worth keeping an eye on as the situation unravels.
Also, it’s a bit surprising to see the television rights valued at $7 billion over nine years, putting the network/cable rights at just under $800 million a year.
Goodbye European Tour, Hello DP World Tour
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Emirati multinational logistics company DP World has taken over naming rights of the European Tour. In exchange they’re guaranteeing $2 million minimum purses and of course, to grow the game.
Besides the obvious sadness in saying goodbye to the European Tour name, the logo above is DP’s. Theoretically it could be a shipping container so they’ve got that going for them.
Something tells me we won’t see a European Tour player video discussing this rebrand.
For Immediate Release:
The European Tour group and DP World today jointly announced a ground-breaking evolution to their long-term partnership, with DP World becoming the new title sponsor of the group’s main tour from the start of the 2022 season.
The agreement heralds a new era in the history of the European Tour group, which, along with DP World, will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2022, the first season of the newly named DP World Tour.
Today’s announcement represents a significant deal in terms of global sports partnerships, with DP World’s substantial commitment dedicated to three key areas: elevating the Tour in every way, growing the game of golf globally, and driving positive community impact.
The new look DP World Tour will see total prize money break through the $200 million mark for the first time, with a new minimum prize fund of $2 million for all tournaments solely sanctioned by the DP World Tour.
In 2022, the DP World Tour will represent a truly global tour through an international schedule, that will feature a minimum of 47 tournaments in 27 different countries, including new tournaments in the UAE, Japan, South Africa and Belgium and an expanded Rolex Series comprising five events: the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic, the Genesis Scottish Open, the BMW PGA Championship and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
For the first time, it will also feature three tournaments co-sanctioned with the PGA TOUR - the aforementioned Genesis Scottish Open, as well as the Barbasol Championship and the Barracuda Championship taking place in the United States – as a result of the Strategic Alliance between male professional golf’s two leading Tours. To view the full 2022 schedule, please click here.
The European Tour and DP World were both established in 1972 and have since developed into global enterprises with DP World, which is headquartered in Dubai, evolving into the leading provider of global smart end-to-end supply chain and logistics solutions.
DP World’s association with the European Tour spans more than a decade, first becoming a presenting partner of the European Tour’s Race to Dubai finale at Jumeirah Golf Estates in its inaugural year in 2009, before the Rolex Series event was renamed the DP World Tour Championship in 2012. It was in this year that DP World became the tournament’s title partner.
DP World then became an Official Partner of the European Tour in 2015, and they will now become the Official Title Partner of the Tour from the start of the 2022 season, which begins with the Joburg Open in South Africa, from November 22-25.
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour group, said: “Today’s announcement is undoubtedly a momentous one in the proud history of our Tour. The launch of the DP World Tour in 2022, coinciding with both of our 50th anniversaries, will herald a new era in global golf, and crucially it will benefit everybody involved – all our players, caddies, fans and partners – as well as making an important contribution to wider society.
“The entire ecosystem of our Tour will be strengthened because of this hugely significant deal, and that was essential to us and to DP World, who have been an incredible supporter of our Tour as well as golf more widely, from grassroots through to the elite professional game.
“The DP World Tour is, therefore, a natural evolution of our decade-long partnership, and the presence of ‘World’ in our new title better reflects our global reach.”
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said: “DP World has been a partner of the European Tour for over a decade. Our long-standing partnership has provided an excellent platform to engage with customers, prospects, and stakeholders, and build our brand. We have relished the opportunity to support the Tour in growing the game of golf and improving access to the sport at all levels. The key to this success has been and will continue to be the shared vision and values that underpin the partnership.
“We both have a global mindset, are committed to inclusivity, and invest in new technologies to stay competitive – attributes which today become the fundamental principles of the DP World Tour. As the leading provider of smart logistics solutions worldwide, we will use our people, assets, and connectivity to help grow the Tour further and change what’s possible in golf.”
Jay Monahan, Commissioner of the PGA TOUR and Board Member of the European Tour, added; “Thanks to the support of long-standing partner DP World, today’s announcement significantly elevates the European Tour on a global basis. We are excited for the continued growth and evolution of the European Tour, as well as the momentum this provides toward our Strategic Alliance. I’ve said before that our respective Tours are positioned to grow – together – over the next 10 years faster than we ever have at any point in our existence, and today’s announcement is another point of proof in those efforts.”
The other particulars:
ELEVATE THE TOUR IN EVERY WAY
Biggest prize fund in European Tour history: Overall prize funds in 2022 will be more than US$140 million for all tournaments outside the Majors and World Golf Championships, outstripping the previous all-time pre-pandemic high of US$130 million in 2019. Including the Majors and WGCs, the total prize fund on the 2022 DP World Tour will exceed US$200 million, benefitting all tournaments and all membersacross all categories.
New US$2 million minimum tournament prize fund: For the first time, every tournament solely sanctioned by the DP World Tour will have a minimum prize fund of at least US$2 million, ensuring that all members benefit from this boosted investment.
A record US$10 million prize fund for the 2022 DP World Tour Championship: This will make the season finale – the final Rolex Series tournament of 2022 – the first European Tour event in history outside the Majors and WGCs to feature an eight-figure prize fund.
A full and comprehensive 12 month schedule: The DP World Tour’s International Schedule for 2022 was also unveiled today and can be accessed by clicking here. It features a minimum of 47 tournaments across 27 different countries from November 2021 to November 2022.
HELP TO GROW THE GAME GLOBALLY
A significant investment in the Challenge Tour: To elevate prize funds and increase playing opportunities, as well as improving the overall infrastructure of events.
Establish the annual John Jacobs Bursary Award: Supporting the top five players on the Challenge Tour Rankings at the end of the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A with their travel and expenses the following year on the DP World Tour.
A commitment to grassroots golf: Promoting golf at all levels in the countries we play in, including the UAE, where the DP World Tour will work closely with the current grassroots programme.
DRIVE POSITIVE COMMUNITY IMPACT
Expansion of the Tour’s ‘Golf for Good’ overarching CSR initiative: Focused on supporting good causes and the communities where the Tour plays; sustainability; diversity, inclusion and health benefits of golf.
Support of Charitable Initiatives and Disability Golf: Such as UNICEF’s COVAX Programme and EDGA European Tour.
Continued collaboration with the women’s game: including support of mixed events such as the ISPS Handa World Invitational and Scandinavian Mixed.
The requisite awkward photo is also a call for tailoring assistance:
Quadrilateral: Ranking The Disruptive Forces
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So much is at stake in the coming months and it’s a pretty stunning change from not that long ago when the “league” idea was declared dead.
Mexico Open Is Now A PGA Tour Event In Parternership With Grupo Salinas And A Greg Norman-Designed Course
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The organizers of the WGC Mexico City Championship are back, minus the city and the WGC moniker, announcing a PGA Tour stop in late April. The new location is Puerto Vallarta’s Vidanta Vallarta resort. Conspicuously left out of the press release: the course to be played.
However, the resort did confirm that players will be teeing up on The Norman Signature Course. As in, Greg Norman, the man currently helming a possible global golf tour hostile to the PGA Tour’s interests. I’m sure it’s just part of a slow drip approach to revealing this exciting news.
For Immediate Release:
Vidanta Vallarta in Vallarta, México to host Mexico Open
Grupo Salinas, PGA TOUR continue commitment to promote golf in Mexico
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – The PGA TOUR and tournament host, Grupo Salinas, announced today that Vidanta Vallarta in Vallarta, México will host the 2022 Mexico Open, April 25-May 1, 2022, previously listed on the 2021-22 PGA TOUR Schedule as the Mexico Championship.
The Mexico Open, which dates back to 1944 and is considered Mexico’s national championship, will appear on the PGA TOUR schedule for the first time as an official FedExCup event, offering 500 FedExCup points to the winner and a purse of $7.3 million. The field of 132 players will include 12 sponsor exemptions, with a minimum of four players from Latin America.
Since 2017, Grupo Salinas partnered with the PGA TOUR to stage a TOUR event in Mexico – the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship – with efforts to inspire and grow the game in the country, especially among juniors. Starting in 2022, the Mexico Open will continue Grupo Salinas’ commitment, uniting the PGA TOUR with the history of professional golf in Mexico in the form of the Mexico Open.
The new name and tournament venue were announced during a press conference in Mexico City, Mexico, featuring Fernando Lemmen-Meyer, President of the Mexican Golf Federation; Iván Chávez, Executive Vice President of Grupo Vidanta; John Norris, Senior Vice President of Tournament Business Affairs of the PGA TOUR, and Benjamín Salinas Sada, Vice President of the Board of Directors of Grupo Salinas. Also in attendance were PGA TOUR members Carlos Ortiz and Abraham Ancer. Both Ortiz (2020 Vivint Houston Open) and Ancer (2021 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational) captured PGA TOUR events during the 2020-21 PGA TOUR Season, becoming just the third and fourth citizens of Mexico to win on the PGA TOUR. Ancer, who played for the International Presidents Cup Team in 2019, recently qualified for his third straight TOUR Championship in 2020-21, finishing ninth in the FedExCup.
“At Grupo Salinas we are honored to host a world-class event in our country, reaffirming our commitment to grow golf in Mexico and to generate new interests and passions around this sport, especially in younger generations,” said Benjamín Salinas Sada, Vice president of the board of directors of Grupo Salinas. “For this reason, we are convinced of the importance of taking this type of events to other locations within the country and thereby sending a clear message; golf is not owned by just a few, it belongs to everyone: that is what we will always defend at Grupo Salinas.”
The press conference highlighted the progress of The First Tee México program, a non-profit organization, launched by Grupo Salinas in 2017, which has promoted golf and its values for the development of Mexican young generations. The First Tee Mexico has grown to include nine chapters and has made a positive impact on more than 250 young people through the game of golf, promoting key societal values such as honesty, respect, trust, integrity, perseverance and teamwork.
“We’ve worked closely with Grupo Salinas since the inception of the Mexico Championship in 2017. As tournament hosts, Grupo Salinas has been first-class in every respect – making this stop a favorite among our players while entertaining fans in Mexico and around the world,” said John Norris, PGA TOUR Senior Vice President of Tournament Business Affairs.
In the United States, the event will be broadcast live on CBS, Golf Channel, PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ and Sirius XM PGA TOUR Radio.
