Dustin Johnson Latest To Announce Allegiance To The PGA Tour, What Does Greg Norman Do Now?

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In a statement issued through the PGA Tour—the PR equivalent of saying I’m sorry I flirted with the enemy—Dustin Johnson has pledged his allegiance to Ponte Vedra:

Meanwhile this all turns the focus back to Greg Norman and friends who have been very quiet as Phil Mickelson implodes their effort and players on board jump ship. His old nemesis at the Sydney Morning Herald Peter FitzSimons has some advice:

What should you do?

Well, anyone with a conscience would resign. But with you I guess that is beside the point here. Your best plan is probably to do what you have been doing, and do better than anyone – hold your nose and go after more money. The damage to your own “brand” gets worse every week on this one, and will take an even more colossal hit on Mickelson’s truth-telling. Hit the Saudis now, Greg. “Gimme more money, or I will tell the world that Mickelson is right!”

It just might work.

Anything to help Greg pay the electric bill!

WaPo: Trump Involved In Bringing Saudi Golf League Events To His Properties

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The golf audience already knows of a likely Trump/Saudi Golf League partnership if they’ve listened to No Laying Up’s podcasts or assumed the worst combination of character possible.

Still, to see the Washington Post’s Josh Dawsey and Jonathan O’Connell report on a possible partnership and the ensuing reporting as a national story will do wonders for all involved. And this detail suggests the former President has been active in the recruiting process.

Officials from LIV Golf Investments, the apparatus funded by the Saudis to host the tour, have held conversations with the Trump Organization, these people said.

One of the people familiar with the matter said Trump had spoken to Greg Norman, the head of LIV Golf Investments, about having his properties involved in the tour.

It really is a match made in Heaven or wherever all of these game growers will land some day.

Peter Kostis Tries And Fails To Equivocate Tiger With Fuzzy Zoeller

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Breaking free from the whatever rage-inducing nonsense he’s watching to take in the third round Genesis Invitational telecast, Peter Kostis attempted to equate Fuzzy Zoeller’s pithy, racist “fried chicken or collared greens or whatever they serve remark with Tiger Woods telling Jim Nantz and Nick Faldo that he was looking forward to the sushi at this year’s Champions Dinner.

Hideki Matsuyama is the defending champion and has signaled he’s likely to serve sushi.

At the 1997 Masters, Zoeller infamously said, "So you know what you guys do when he gets in here? Pat him on the back, say congratulations, enjoy it. And tell him not to serve fried chicken next year .... or collared greens or whatever the hell they serve."

Can Phil Mickelson Return To The PGA Tour? Captain A Ryder Cup?

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Unhinged comments from forthcoming Alan Shipnuck book appear to be disqualifying on many fronts. As in, eery really doing any of the usual things a player of his magnitude does as their playing career winds down.

What a bizarre thing to kill your legacy over. My latest Quadrilateral viewable for all.

Oakland Hills Clubhouse Appears To Be A Total Loss

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Terrible pictures from Bloomfield Hills today as Oakland Hills’ iconic clubhouse has suffered extensive fire damage. The building dates to 1922. The Detroit News’ coverage here.

Whoa: Drone Flies 100 M.P.H. To Capture A Rory Shot At Riviera

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Someone, somewhere thinks drones aren’t great for golf but it’s a tiny audience thinking that way.

This is spectacular.

100: Riviera First Tee Tribute To Charlie Sifford

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When you watch this week’s Genesis Invitational you may notice first hole signage sporting “100”. It’s a TGR Foundation tribute to Charlie Sifford, the namesake for the annual sponsor’s invitation going this year to Aaron Beverly. Sifford would have turned 100 this June.

Tiger Woods explained the tribute in the pre-tournament press conference Wednesday.

TIGER WOODS: Well, Charlie was a person, he was a pioneer. I mean, he was the person that he broke down the Caucasian clause that was part of the Tour. I think that he should have been the first person to ever play in the Masters but unfortunately that didn't happen after his win here in the Los Angeles area at Rancho Park. Charlie was the grandfather I never had. He was -- to me, he was Grandpa Charlie. I would see him at Firestone every year. I was telling Aaron over here that I would get these yellow teletexts in my locker every time I had a chance to win a tournament and I'll summarize it by saying "go out and win." If you guys know Charlie, it wasn't exactly in those words but that was the summary of it. Grandpa Charlie was fantastic. It was great to have President Obama award him the Medal of Freedom before he passed.

You know, I named my son after Charlie, he meant that much to me and my family. My dad would never have been able to play the game of golf, he would have never taken it up if Charlie hadn't broken down the Caucasian clause. It's very important for us to honor what he has done, has meant to this great game of golf. To have Aaron here be a part of it, he'll talk here in a little bit, what he's doing, what he's going through, for him to be part here at Riviera.

I just asked him, what do you do on the first hole. He said, "I'll pipe it 200 right down there and hit it right on the green." Oh, yeah, that's what I used to think, too. I remember when I hit my first tee shot there, I hit my little 3-wood out there, I looked like the size of a 3-wood, but it was neat to be a part of that first tee shot.

You look back at that tee shot, okay, every great champion has basically from the '40s on has hit that tee shot. You see photos of Hogan and Nelson and everyone after that, subsequent after that, all hit that tee shot. You can't lengthen that tee shot, it's not going anywhere. The clubhouse is in the same spot, the same road, the same cart path, same everything. It's an iconic tee shot and it's one that Aaron will always remember. And then us having the flag have 100 on it, that means that much more because of what Charlie has meant to this event, to me and the great game of golf.

Flash From The City: PGA Tour Considers Off-Season

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Daniel Rapaport shares a few insights gleaned from the PGA Tour’s Player Advisory Council meeting and stunner of all stunners, it appears the creative juices are warming. A possible fall team series was discussed—a light version of the PGL franchise concept—and in a stunning twist, an actual off season concept. Novel as it may seem.

From his report:

A separate but potentially related topic of conversation during the meeting, however, focused on possible alterations to the fall portion of the PGA Tour schedule, which has been mentioned as a target for change in recent years. While nothing is finalized, a source told Golf Digest that the council discussed the idea of having a fall series that is not tied to the FedEx Cup or the Official World Golf Ranking and instead uses the fall to experiment with different tournament formats. Multiple team concepts were discussed, including a model similar to a college golf tournament that could feature six-man teams with a certain number of scores counting each day.

Something fresh and who knows, a potential Olympic golf format trial? Getting ahead of myself again.

There was also this nice visual:

Hoffman, who took to Instagram last week to criticize the PGA Tour for a ruling and suggest that a lack of accountability and protection for players is a main reason guys are considering the rival league, was present for the meeting. A source said Hoffman stood up and apologized for the way he handled the situation and the post, which has since been deleted from Instagram.

There was also this from Rex Hoggard with more details on the team concept and a possible ban for defectors.

Today In Saudi Silliness: Player Claims 17 Are On Board, Morikawa Declares Himself A PGA Tour Man

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As the Tour wars seem headed for some sort of clarity, PGA Tour player Kramer Hickok claimed 17 players have officially enlisted to the Saudi-backed league. Speaking on the Stripe Show podcast, Hickok said:

“You're going to see a lot of big names jump over there. I think there have already been 17 guys that have jumped over, I can't say who they are but there is going to be some big names going over there.”

Meanwhile at Riviera, where both PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and DP World Tour Chief Keith Pelley were on hand as are more VP’s than normal. A Tuesday night Player Advisory Council meeting is on tap, as is some schmoozing of sponsor Genesis, host this week and later this summer in Scotland.

The PGA Tour received a better-than-most endorsement from Colin Morikawa, reigning Open Champion.

Q. It feels like news about the competing Saudi league continues to percolate. As one of the top young players on the PGA TOUR, how are you dealing with all the noise and do you find it sort of distracting?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: No, it's not distracting. It was a great read, props to you on the Morgan Hoffman thing. I didn't realize how long the article was, but it was a very good read. I've never met Morgan and to learn about something like that was impressive, really meaningful.

But as it goes to the Saudi stuff -- yeah, it was good. As it goes to the Saudi stuff, I'm all for the PGA TOUR. I've been a pro for two and a half years. My entire life I've thought about the

PGA TOUR, I've thought about playing against Tiger, beating his records, whatever, something that might not even be breakable, but I've never had another thought of what's out there, right? I've never thought about anything else, it's always been the PGA TOUR.

Has it opened up things for us as professional golfers to open up things for the PGA TOUR to look at what to do better? Absolutely. We've seen a lot of changes, some good, some bad, some that are still going to be amended I'm sure as time goes on.

Right now you look at the best players that I see and they're all sticking with the PGA TOUR and that's where I kind of stay and that's where I belong. I'm very happy to be here. I've played I think three events this year, feels like I've played nothing and part of that was designed in the fall to only play two events. But after missing a lot of the West Coast Swing, I decided to go over there and play on the DP World Tour. I miss being out on the PGA

TOUR. I miss seeing these guys, I miss playing out here and I just want to compete against the best in the world and right now that's where it is. I'm very happy, I'm very thrilled to be here.

It's not distracting. I think a lot of other guys are thinking about -- I don't know what they're thinking about, but a lot of guys are probably making the decision what to do, what not. A lot of uncertainties at least from my end. For me, I know I have a place right here, open arms, come out here and let's play some golf.

The View From Scotland: WM Open Post Hole-In-One Scene “Simply can’t be allowed to happen again.”

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Everyone, pray for Martin Dempster.

The Scotsman’s golf correspondent will be subjected to the inevitable mindless millennial rage after daring to suggest the unthinkable in two different pieces: the downturn on decorum—a.k.a. Live Under Par 3.0—is out of hand.

He’s writing in a follow up story of the Wasted Open scene where fans heaved nearly full beers onto the 16th green after hole-in-ones by Sam Ryder and Carlos Ortiz. And even kept throwing them as crews were out trying to return the hole to playability. Of course, in any other sport, this would lead to ejection but in the latest and most embarrassing cry of desperation to lower that viewing demo, the behavior was not discouraged.

Dempster writes this “simply can’t be allowed to happen again.”

It’s a disgrace that the tournament organisers have not come out and condemned such behaviour at a golf event and don’t give me that nonsense about “golf had a brief glimpse of a crowd and players having fun”.

“Refine rather than reject” was the suggestion from another person to comment on the hot topic and that just about hits the nail on the head.

Bottles and cans should be instantly banned at next year’s event and plastic cups be used instead for that consumption of alcohol, which is clearly part of why so many people want to be around that green in the first place.

Yes, but Martin, they’re demo-friendly, party-hearty, ASU-almost-grads living at mom and dad’s house and most vicariously through overpriced brewskies. A.k.a. the coveted demo! So what if someone gets hit and loses an eye? Or suffers a brain injury? It’s like, you know, young fans who, like, think it’s so dope!

The Open, of course, is another perfect illustration of how golf events have evolved and the same goes for the Women’s Open and the Scottish Opens.

Now, I do have to point out to my fine colleague in golf writing how The Open has put too much hospitality on the 18th holes at some of its championships and disconcertingly close to play. A crazed, pint-holding drunk attempted to interfere with Tiger’s final tee shot at Carnoustie in 2018, only to not be ejected or made an example of. But continue…

Yes, the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale can continue to be something different in the game and appeal to people who might not necessarily follow golf on a regular basis.

But it’s never going to grow golf and, make no mistake, will do more harm than good if Saturday and Sunday is a sign of what we can expect there going forward.

Oh it’s here to stay. Just with chicken wire around the grandstands next year and really good WiFi so you can gamble on the madness. Live Under Par lives, baby!

Harrop's Latest Hit (Job) Single: Growing The Game

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I know it’s predictable to say this is Sam Harrop’s finest work to date, but his take on Phil, Bryson, Greg and Saudi Arabia set to America’s A Horse With No Name really is magnificent. I believe this debuted after Phil Mickelson blocked Harrop on Twitter during the recent binge.

Give Sam a follow on Twitter if you haven’t already.

Here is the YouTube option: