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
PGA Tour and Trackman Expanding "Use of club and ball tracking and tracer technology" for nearly every shot to help enrich the fan experience
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I don’t have much to add until we see how this plays out, but you know the old saying: you can never have too much tracer on a golf broadcast. By most accounts, Trackman remains by far the best and most accurate of the launch monitors, so kudos to the PGA Tour for pushing this technology and hopefully making the fan viewing experience even better.
The most exciting potential revealed may be in the second to last paragraph, with the announcement of a mobile system to catch more shots from the fairway. Or, perhaps, the trees when a player has to shape a shot and viewers theoretically get to see the bend of the ball traced.
Overall, this means more data, better tracer coverage and more of it on PGA Tour Live coverage. How much is adopted by the networks using the Tour feed remains to be seen.
PGA TOUR selects TrackMan™ tracking and tracing solution beginning in 2022
TOUR events to see expanded use of club and ball tracking and tracer technology
for nearly every shot to help enrich the fan experience
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – The PGA TOUR and TrackMan announced today they are expanding golf’s most advanced club and ball tracking and tracing solution. By combining TrackMan’s cutting-edge Doppler Radar and club and ball tracking technology, TOUR events will have tracing capabilities for every golf shot hit during the season. This will significantly enhance how fans experience the world’s best golfers by providing more detail for television, OTT and digital platforms.
This agreement will double previous ball-in-motion tracing capabilities on the golf course, allowing nearly every shot to be traced and automatically shared with television and OTT partners and across TOUR digital platforms such as PGATOUR.COM and the PGA TOUR app. The arrangement with TrackMan begins in 2022 for PGA TOUR LIVE and TOUR digital platforms, while the domestic television partner agreement begins in 2023. This expansion will immediately offer fan enhancements such as the visualization of ball flight paths for shots inbound to the green in TOURCast.
“We’re excited to increase the volume and depth of tracking and tracing for every shot on the PGA TOUR,” said Ken Lovell, PGA TOUR Senior Vice President Golf Technologies. “TrackMan’s sensors will substantially increase content available for analysis and initiate the development of new insights, while creating the opportunity for us to develop innovative visualizations for fans to view all the incredible shots on TOUR.”
Fans will see more information beginning in 2022 on how and why the ball moves and arrives at a certain position. This is achieved by using TrackMan technology to capture club speed, ball speed, curve, landing spin, launch angle, spin rate, spin axis, apex, carry and more. The advanced aerodynamic models can also determine the effects of wind, weather, and altitude on a shot so that fans can understand how a shot was impacted by environmental factors.
In addition to doubling the collection of radar and tracing information, the new system will substantially increase the range and sensitivity of the content that will now be layered with video for use on any TOUR media platform.
Klaus Eldrup-Jorgensen, co-founder and CEO of TrackMan, commented “We have been working closely with the PGA TOUR for more than 15 years, to accurately measure and report data on club delivery, ball launch, ball flight, and tracers for the best players in the world. We are proud to be chosen to implement our new solutions with the PGA TOUR, which will ultimately include all shots for all players. The future of golf will be told in new and innovative ways, the fan experience will elevate to a new level, and the stories about how good these guys play is just beginning.”
The club and ball tracking and tracing solution has become a valuable element to “ShotLink powered by CDW,” the TOUR’s real-time data collection and scoring system. As the TOUR and CDW continue to innovate the acclaimed scoring system that has benefited tournaments, broadcast partners, players and fans in countless ways over the years, the TrackMan system contributes to the automated data collection efforts by allowing ShotLink to auto-trigger on shots without input from a person.
The new technology being deployed expands tracking capabilities from tee boxes only to shots hit from the fairway and around the green, where the system determines the exact 3D position of the ball at any point in its flight. The TrackMan technology has the ability to lock onto a ball that starts behind the trees and only becomes visible to the radar halfway through its flight. It’s able to accurately track balls up to 400 yards in any conditions; rain, fog, sunrise, and sunset.
For a typical TOUR event, around 40 units are placed around the course to track shots with advanced radar and camera units on tee boxes and greens to capture final resting position.
TrackMan also recently developed a mobile system that will be used for the capture of radar and tracing information from the fairway and will automatically integrate into TOUR media platforms, which is aided by AWS, the TOUR’s Official Cloud Provider. There are no cables or connections with the mobile system, which adds very little weight for the operator. The TOUR is testing the mobile system for expanded future use on PGA TOUR Champions, the Korn Ferry Tour and in other executions.
The club and ball tracking and tracing system will utilize AWS Fargate, Media Services, and numerous other AWS products to process and deliver radar and tracing on every shot in nearly real-time. The full suite of AWS products will allow TrackMan to reduce their onsite footprint and allow fast and easy access to the devices and information from anywhere around the world.
Viewing Times: PIFSIPSIA From Glorious Royal Greens
/With a number of players looking to broaden their horizons and soak up the culture of Saudi Arabia, they’ve chosen to take up residency on the Asian Tour this week in the Public Investment Fund Saudi International Powered By Softbank Investment Advisors (PIFSIPSIA).
For American viewers here are your broadcast times:
The PIF Saudi International is the first event of the 2022 Asian Tour season and will take place this week from Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. Dustin Johnson has won two of the past three editions of the tournament (2019, 2021) and looks to defend last year’s title.
Live coverage begins Thursday at 3 a.m. ET on GOLF Channel.
How To Watch – Thursday, February 3 – Sunday, February 6 (all times ET)
TV – GOLF Channel
Streaming – NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app
Thursday 3-5 a.m.; 6:30-9:30 a.m.
Friday 3-5 a.m.; 6:30-9:30 a.m.
Saturday 3:30-8 a.m.
Sunday 3:30-8 a.m.
LPGA All-Access Episode 2 From The CME Group Tour
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Episode 2 of the LPGA’s all-access docuseries is now live on YouTube and embedded below. The stories of Gaby Lopez and Amy Olson continue, including a pickleball primer from Olson.
Check it out.
This gives me an idea too: imagine a channel devoted to the game that would share these stories. Like, just spitballing here, an all-inclusive place that really is devoted to the sport? You just leave it on all day, they care about the sport we love that has an $84 billion economic impact in America but it also beloved around the world. Too crazy?
Oh well, at least we have The YouTube to pick up the slack:
Farmers First Saturday Finish Farmers Ratings: Down A Bit But...
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It would have been a disaster had someone tried to compete against the NFL’s AFC and NFC Championship games given this year’s massive numbers and the almost non-existent numbers for sports going against the football.
Showbuzzdaily has all the Nielsen numbers, starting with those eye-popping NFL numbers: 23.35/50.2 million for the NFC title game on Fox featuring the Rams victory over the 49ers, and a 23.62/47.8 million average for CBS’s broadcast of the Bengal’s win over the Chiefs.
The 2022 Farmers final round wrapping on Saturday drew a 1.71 Nielsen rating with a 2.67 million viewer average.
Friday’s third round on CBS drew a .95/1.4 million average viewership.
Without NFL games to compete against in 2021, the Farmers drew a 1.95/3.1 million average and a 1.27/2.02 million average viewers.
While there are still issues to be resolved for the tournament and lost revenue due to the finish, the Saturday finish on CBS looks like the right move. Assuming the Farmers remains in this date going forward.
As for the LPGA’s Gainbridge played on Sunday against the NFL, Lydia Ko’s win did draw an audience but it was miniscule (.16/236,000).
Today In Golf Saudi: Another $100 Million For Asian Tour, Norman Talks And Poulter Gets Huge Offer
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Have you showered yet? If not, wait until after you’ve read this post.
Over at The Quadrilateral I summed up and dissected the lack of deep hidden meaning in Greg Norman’s pre-PIFSIPSIA presser to announce another $100 million for the Asian Tour’s new series of international events. Which, as first reported by Alistair Tait here and Ewan Murray here, is a bold foray outside of the Asian Tour’s normal confines. You can read more details on the series that might act as a feeder tour for the Saudi Golf League or even as placeholder events converted into stops should the superstar league go forward.
In The Telegraph, James Corrigan reported exclusively on the lavish offer of $20-30 million for Ian Poulter to commit and, in all likelihood, kiss a future Ryder Cup captaincy goodbye. Ironic since his Ferrari collection is worth about that much and built off of his Ryder Cup play.
Trying to gauge where all of this stands, Murray posted this analysis at The Guardian and wondered if using the Ryder Cup as leverage could backfire.
Should, for argument’s sake, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood be tempted by this promised land then their future involvement in the Ryder Cup either as captains or players becomes almost impossible to square. The debate in this case would be a furious one; is it fair for players to effectively turn their backs on an event that has done so much for their profile, or would administrators on either side of the Atlantic be wrong to ostracise them? Even in the short-term, if Europe cannot or will not appoint Stenson as the captain for 2023 in Rome because of Saudi links then their Ryder Cup environment is undermined. And that, whatever the rights and wrongs, is a key issue.
Rymer: "Announcers want to cover the game in ways that are relatable to the fans. These days, in so many ways, that’s just not possible"
/The former Tour player and longtime Golf Channel personality addresses some of the worst Tim Finchem messes left behind, namely the wraparound schedule’s ability to kill the opening day buzz, the FedExCup’s continued problems, the relentless FedEx “impressions” effort (that’s been worse under the new TV deal) and where the PGA Tour hides announcers that don’t follow their lame scripts.
FedEx has the relationship with the PGA TOUR because it’s a good business decision for them. Somewhere in Memphis, a bean counter does all the fancy math counting up “impressions” and distributing the beans across silos and gives the deal a thumbs up. Because of that (and if you haven’t noticed), there’s a season-long bonus pool where PGA TOUR players get astronomical bonuses for their finish on the final list. They have this thing called the FedEx Cup Playoffs that end the season, and somebody gets $15 million and a really cool trophy. I’m pretty sure the winner doesn’t care about the trophy.
Players finishing all the way to 125 on the list get nice bonuses, too. Great for the players. Great for FedEx. Great for the PGA TOUR execs who put the deal together.
Problem is, the event has an awkward format that has evolved over the years and every few years has to get reinvented. When it was first announced by former commissioner Tim Finchem at a press conference in Atlanta, he indicated that the PGA TOUR has the deal and will now get to work figuring out the format. Fifteen years later, they’re still figuring.
Report: Asian Tour Eyes London Area Stop
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Golf organizations are generally territorial when it comes to crossing continents, so as troops amass on several borders this week, now we learn the Asian Tour is reportedly looking at an unthinkable incursion on DP World Tour territory this June.
Alister Tait reports that Aramco (eh em…) is going to sponsor an event the week before the U.S. Open. The site: Centurion Club north of London, just 31 miles from DP World Tour headquarters and formerly home to a couple of European Tour events. Tait writes:
Aramco appears set to run back-to-back men’s and women’s events at the course between St Albans and Hemel Hempstead. The $1 million Aramco Series London tournament on the Ladies European Tour is set for June 16-18, one of four Aramco sponsored tournaments on the LET along with Sotogrande, New York and Jeddah. The men’s tournament is pencilled into the week previous to the London date, clashing with the $1 million Scandinavian Mixed hosted by Henrik & Annika, a co-sanctioned event between the DP World Tour and LET.
It’s also no unreasonable to assume any event added to the Asian Tour is a placeholder of sorts for a tour run by LIV Golf/Greg Norman/Journalist Murder.
Netflix, Schnetflix: LPGA Debuts "All Access" Doc On YouTube
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With all of the euphoria over Netflix’s investment into a documentary series that’s at least a year away, nice to see the LPGA taking on such project on a more manageable scale. Even better, it’s almost here to view for free on YouTube.
The press release and YouTube page where you can see a behind-the-scenes look at LPGA life:
“LPGA All Access: CME Group Tour Championship”
Behind-the-Scenes Documentary to Debut on LPGA Platforms
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Jan. 31, 2022 – The LPGA today announced the premiere of “LPGA All Access: CME Group Tour Championship,” a behind-the-scenes documentary detailing the excitement, competition and glamour of the Tour’s 2021 crowning event. The series will air on YouTube and LPGA.com, with three 15-minute episodes debuting at 8 p.m. EST on Jan. 31, Feb. 1 and Feb. 2.
Filmed on location in Naples, Fla., at the 2021 CME Group Tour Championship, “LPGA All Access” will share exclusive moments with players, caddies, sponsors and staff, both on and off the course. Featured moments include:
An in-depth look into the season-long competitive battle between Jin Young Ko and Nelly Korda, who fought all week for the titles of Rolex Player of the Year and Race to the CME Globe Champion
2021 Chevron Championship winner Patty Tavatanakit’s preparations for the red carpet for the Rolex Awards, where she received the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Award and the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award
Workout sessions and pickleball matches with Gaby Lopez and Amy Olson, who also shared a house for the week and made a relaxing meal of Mexican food from Lopez’s recipe book
Early-morning golf-course scouting with LPGA Tour Rules Official Annie Giangrosso and caddie Will Davidson, who looped for past CME winner Lexi Thompson
Interviews with LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan and CME Group Chairman/CEO Terry Duffy
“This documentary helps show the accessibility and personality of our players, along with the drama and intrigue of the CME Group Tour Championship,” said Brian Carroll, senior vice president of global media distribution for the LPGA. “Hopefully this is just the beginning of our storytelling in this format.”
The documentary was produced in partnership with toldright and Executive Producer Adam Hertzog.
Pebble Blues: Even Korn Ferry Players Passing Up Clambake For Panama's Level 4 Status
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With Level 4 State Department status (“Do Not Travel”) you’d think going to Club de Golf de Panama might be low on the list of Korn Ferry Tour members. But every dollar counts when you’re trying to secure a PGA Tour card and money made at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am doesn’t mean a thing toward your season long effort so, not surprisingly, players are opting to take on the double whammy of crime and COVID over the Monterey Peninsula.
In that sense, this is a win for the KFT structure and speaks to the player determination to get their card. But passing up what was once a signature Tour event where the prominent and powerful gather is also quite surreal to see. Some good news: the worst crime areas cited by the Department of State are a decent distance from the KFT’s Panama Championship. They’ve got that going for them.
The AT&T has seen its field depleted by all the waivers granted to play the Saudi’s PIFSIPSIA stop on the Asian Tour. So with three courses and pro-am slots needing a pro, the opportunity exists to play Pebble Beach, Spyglass and MPCC like never before. Yet it appears the AT&T is headed toward a Charlie Beljan late-add at this pace. And some lucky big spender is guaranteed to get Grayson Murray for three rounds. Enjoy that!
Special Saudi Edition Of Pros Say The Funniest Things Begins! First Up: Monty
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We know the grow-the-games will be flying this week when top player descent on Saudi Arabia for the PIFSIPSIA cash grab and audition for those two peas in a pod, Greg Norman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. I anticipate some fabulous rationalizations. But I did not expect Monty earn the week’s first eye-roll.
Andrew Wright summed up Monty’s contribution from a BBC interview at the Dubai Desert Classic.
"It's a shame it's come to this,” Montgomerie told BBC Sport. “We used to work well with the Asian Tour and now we are at loggerheads because of money. It's a problematic issue. It's that horrible, evil word, money. The mighty dollar ruling people's hearts and minds.
“We never played the game for money on the European Tour when I first started out. I was trying to see how much better I could get as a golfer. Now it's all about that evil word, money. Let's hope the European Tour is closer to the PGA Tour than we've ever been before and we can fight it off."
Ah yes, Monty just played to see how much better he could get while wearing logos on his shirt. Adorable.
Patrick Newcomb Wins APGA Tour Event To Farmers Insurance Invitational
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l have some reading to do because as the press release says below, the “APGA Tour is a non-profit organization with the mission to prepare African Americans and other minority golfers to compete and win at the highest level of professional golf, both on tour and in the golf industry.”
And the winner of the televised APGA Tour stop finishing Sunday at Torrey Pines has Korn Ferry Tour status, so why he is eligible is also unclear.
GolfDigest.com’s Tod Leonard was on hand and writes:
The APGA is a tour that was founded to give minorities more opportunities to play professional golf, but it has not closed the door on anyone either. Tour officials estimate that about 15 percent of the competitors are white, and Newcomb is one of those golfers. He qualified for the Farmers Invitational by finishing fourth on last year’s APGA money list, having started to play the tour in 2021 because it offered more events than other circuits during the pandemic.
I’m just going to leave it there and let you read Cameron Morfit’s game story at PGATour.com or the press release below, or below that, the funeral winning putt.
Patrick Newcomb wins the APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Invitational®
Newcomb edges Tim O’Neal with birdie on the final hole
LA JOLLA, CA – With a birdie on the 36th hole at Torrey Pines South Course at APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Invitational®, Patrick Newcomb earned his first APGA Tour victory at a landmark event for the Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Tour which included the Tour’s first ever nationally televised broadcast on GOLF Channel and the largest purse ($100,000) and winner’s check ($30,000) in APGA Tour history.
Newcomb, who qualified for the Farmers Insurance Invitational via his ranking in the 2021 APGA Tour Lexus Cup standings, earned 2022 Korn Ferry Tour status through qualifying school. The 31-year-old flew to San Diego on Thursday following a T40 at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club. Newcomb credits being able to play on the APGA Tour through the pandemic in 2020-2021 for the development and improvement of his game that earned him Korn Ferry Tour status this year.
“That's one thing that I've talked about at other tournaments when they've asked me. The opportunity to play, they kept going and we were playing fantastic tracks every week, good talent. I know me and Timmy go way back, me and Tim O'Neal. Willie Mack, we're good friends, too. A lot of the guys out here, I've known them for a long time and it's good competition. It really kept me going,” Newcomb said. “The guys on the APGA Tour have been great, and have welcomed me with open arms. They had no issues with me coming and playing. It's been a fantastic atmosphere. What they're doing is great for guys to grow their game has been fantastic.”
Newcomb started the day with a two-stroke lead after an opening-round 4-under-par on the North Course. On Sunday, tied for the lead with APGA Tour veteran Tim O’Neal as he stepped off the 17th green, Newcomb’s tee shot on the par-5 18th hole sailed right and took a fortunate bounce.
“I drove it fantastic all day long, maybe missed two fairways all day, and then I hit the worst tee ball ever,” said Newcomb, a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR Latinoamérica. “I actually got a great break; it bounced on the cart path. And I couldn't get to this green in two, I'm not long enough, got a great break to go for it. It was one of the worst shots I've hit in a long time. Honestly, it's really weird. But I got a great break and it went down the cart path and gave me an extra like 40 yards off the tee.”
With the extra distance, Newcomb decided to go for the green with his second shot, finding the greenside bunker to the left of the traditional Torrey Pines South Course Sunday pin placement. O’Neal laid up and followed with a near perfect approach, leaving him with a birdie putt. Newcomb’s up-and-down combined with O’Neal missing his birdie made Newcomb the first winner of the 2022 APGA Tour season.
After O’Neal, Marcus Byrd finished alone in 3rd at 4-over-par with 2021 APGA Tour Player of the Year and Lexus Cup winner Willie Mack III, Trey Valentine and Kevin Hall all finishing T4.
Byrd, who played alongside Newcomb and O’Neal in the final group, was in contention until a double-bogey on the 16th hole.
“It was a privilege and an honor to be able to play here and playing in these conditions,” said Byrd, 24, who was the 2019 Conference USA Player of the Year. “I can't thank Farmers and everybody enough for putting on this event, it was an awesome experience. I think it's good preparation for the goals that we have set and for us to get to the level that we want to get to. I just think it's a huge benefit to be able to play a golf course like this, learn and do things that you need to do to get better.”
Established in 2010, the APGA Tour is a non-profit organization with the mission to prepare African Americans and other minority golfers to compete and win at the highest level of professional golf, both on tour and in the golf industry. This is accomplished through professional tournaments, career development and mentoring sessions.
Earlier this week, in addition to announcing the purse for the event, Farmers Insurance® announced a five-year extension of its relationship with the Advocates Pro Golf Association (APGA) Tour and the renewal of sponsorships for APGA Tour players Kamaiu Johnson and Willie Mack III. The extensions and the announcement of the increased purse support Farmers ongoing commitment to the APGA Tour and its focus on the growth of the game. In 2021 Farmers expanded their relationship with the Advocates Foundation, which focuses on career and wellness youth programs, announced sponsorship of the Black College Golf Coaches Association (BCGCA) and added a three-tournament APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Fall Series to the APGA Tour season with events in Philadelphia, Atlanta and Los Angeles.
Hovland Heads To No. 3 In World After Dubai Triumph
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Highlighting world ranking status is not normally my thing but it’s mighty impressive to see Viktor Hovland win for the sixth time in less than two years and rise to No. 3 in the world upon winning the Dubai Desert Classic.
He had help from Rory McIlroy who needed to par 18 to join a playoff with Hovland Richard Bland. But found the water on his approach to the par-5 en route to a bogey six.
From Ewan Murray’s Guardian story:
Onlookers will speculate over whether McIlroy was correct to take on the last green from 260 yards. He had miraculously saved par from a bush on the previous hole, perhaps rendering a further dice with danger unwise. The counterpoints relate to McIlroy’s regular – and regularly successful – policy of being aggressive and that he was hardly planning to mis-hit a fairway wood. McIlroy did not become essential viewing by playing percentages.
The McIlroy approach:
Hovland’s eagle at the 17th helped vault him into a tie and eventual playoff win over Bland:
What We Learned From The 2022 Farmers
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The PGA Tour returned to the site of last June’s U.S. Open and always one of the top events of the year. Saturday’s finish did not disappoint, with Luke List finally capturing a win after 207 starts and reigning ROY Will Zalatoris continuing to impress.
Final round highlights from the PGA Tour:
Farmers Initially Balked At Saturday Finish, Now Seems Here To Stay
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Loads of good stuff can be found in this Bryce Miller column about the new and, apparently, permanent Saturday finish as long as the Farmers Insurance Open finishes on AFC/NFC Championship Sunday.
“Do you really want to know?” Farmers Insurance CEO Jeff Dailey told the Union-Tribune on Friday at Torrey Pines, when asked about his initial feelings. “It was presented as a choice at first. Do you go with Wednesday through Saturday? Or do you go to NBC and keep the Thursday-Sunday format?
“My initial, ‘upset’ reaction was, let’s go to NBC. Then cooler heads prevailed.”
Does this mean cooler heads prefer CBS to NBC?
Miller says the loss of the pro-am caused by a quick turnaround from the previous week cost the Century Club $1 million. But ultimately Farmers wants ratings and Saturday’s later finish is their best chance for the largest audience.
Without a Sunday round, the television was shifted later to create near-primetime finishes on the East Coast on Friday and Saturday — a first for a regular PGA Tour event. Golfers began to see benefits, from avoiding pro-am obligations that allowed them to focus on the first difficult course of the season, to an extra open day on the weekend to see family and more easily travel.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “It’s important to us that the ratings are strong, but we still get a tremendous amount of business benefit because we use this as motivation for our top agents around the country. That business benefit for us is probably stronger than a few incremental ratings points.
