Minjee Lee Sets The U.S. Women's Open Scoring Record
/
Minjee Lee wins at Pine Needles (John Mummert/USGA)
In golf construction art and utility meet; both are absolutely vital; one is utterly ruined without the other. GEORGE THOMAS
It’s back!
Twenty years later Tatra Press has kindly allowed me to bring back Grounds For Golf now that golf architecture is of more interest to the masses. A new Introduction looks at what’s driven the interest growth and two new chapters I had a blast adding (plus a few edits to keep things up-to-date).
The Amazon purchase page for the book arriving June 15, 2026.
Norman On Nicklaus: “One hundred percent truth? Jack’s a hypocrite."
/The Washington Post’s Kent Babb profiled Greg Norman on the eve of LIV Golf’s first event and shared several eye-opening anecdotes. Including how he’s “cut off his longtime mentor” according to Babb’s description.
“One hundred percent truth? Jack’s a hypocrite,” he says. “When he came out with those comments, I’m thinking: Jack must have a short memory.” He says Nicklaus attended a LIV presentation and later wrote in an email that the new tour had his blessing.
“Quote-unquote, he said: ‘This is good for our game. If it’s good for the game of golf, it’s good by me,’ ” Norman says. “So, you want the facts? You’ve got the facts. Know what you said before you open your mouth.”
A spokesman for Nicklaus, who’s being sued by his own company partly because of his negotiations with the Saudis, declined to make him available for an interview but sent a statement reiterating Nicklaus’s “unwavering support” for the PGA Tour and wishing Norman well.
I think their mutual friend, hero and favorite President Donald Trump should bring these two back together! The Palm Beach Peace Accords! Jared can package it so everyone profits.
Norman on critics and players who’ve signed up:
“It doesn’t bother me,” he says. “I’m not going to back off. I’m not going to show weakness to my team. I’m not going to show weakness to monopolists. I’m going to stand up for the rights of the players.”
He pauses before continuing. “The players who decide to come on board, God bless them,” he says. “They’re going to make a lot of money.”
Norman recently went to say goodbye to his dying father and, well…
Three weeks before this year’s Masters, Norman traveled to Brisbane. The time had come to say goodbye. He walked in for the first time in four years and saw Merv in a chair he rarely leaves, where he sleeps 17 hours a day, the once-muscular man who had raised and taught and scarred him now frail at 135 pounds.
He won’t let Norman pay for a nurse, won’t sit in a wheelchair. Imagine being that stubborn, Norman says. Merv faded in and out, and Norman spoke fast as he tried to explain this thing he’s building. It’s big, he said, though Tiger and Phil and Jack, of all people … But Merv couldn’t hear him. He’d fallen asleep.
Norman talking about LIV Golf will do that to a lot of people.
Seems his sister and mother aren’t enjoying this much, either.
When Norman was in Brisbane this spring, his mother and sister tried probing him. Toini was alarmed by some of what her son was saying, in particular that Nicklaus had flipped on him. Janis said she recently stopped reading about LIV and her brother in the Australian press because, she says, they’re “crucifying” him.
“I know he doesn’t always care,” Janis says. “But we do.” “We don’t want his reputation to be ruined completely,” Toini says. “He’s always been looked up to, and now …”
Norman’s 91-year-old mother pauses.
“We don’t know,” she says. “He’s certainly becoming more and more like Dad,” Janis says. “When he gets an idea,” Toini says, “then he will just — he won’t give up on anything.”
LIV Golf's London Fire Sale: Free Tickets For Anyone Who Wants Them!
/
England’s Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter are the top stars returning to home turf for LIV Golf’s first event in London this week. To celebrate, they gave out a coupon code offering free passes to the first 100 fans using the codes POULTER25 or WESTWOOD25.
Days later the offer still works in Westwood’s case, while 24 hours in the freebies are still there using Poulter’s name. Note in the example above, I asked for the max of 8 and
Some just tried for fun, put in JOHNSON25, and also got a free pass. Or up to 8 if they want.
One player + 25 who did not work? MICKELSON.
Some Google searchers are also getting this 70% off ad when entering a query for the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia’s grow the game initiative:
LIV's Cutting Edge Talking Points: We're Here To Grow The Game
/
One can only close the eyes to picture the jubilation that must have come over the LIV Golf executive team as they landed on the real mission of their scheme to get-rich off the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. Hoping to find their Think Different vision for the league and appeal to the young people who have not been wowed by modern game messaging, they brainstormed and landed on? Grow the game!
I’ve written about this virus before and its ability to keep going even as the game has grown substantially the last few years. But it’s such an elusive strain. So much so that LIV’s high-paid executives aren’t dialed in enough to know it’s a laughing stock amongst those in the coveted demo they are so hungry to sportwash on The YouTube.
You’d think a young, hip leader like Greg Norman would have known this.
Nice job by The Fried Egg to obtain and share these profound talking points which, unfortunately, were put in writing. Generally a medium not conducive to reaching the world’s leading golf professionals.
The fan stuff and how they reached their conclusions on format is, of course, extra ridiculous given that the blueprint and details for LIV Golf were stolen from the Premier Golf League concept.
Kevin Na Address His Lone Fan: I Must Resign From The PGA Tour
/
In a blow to slow play and delusional entitlement, Kevin Na announced his resignation from the PGA Tour.
In a Tweet addressed “To my fan-”, Na tells his legion of one that he did not want to deal with PGA Tour sanctions for his future in the LIV Golf event and “the buzz it brings to golf.” He will not be missed. But don’t tell his fan.
"[LIV Golf is] something that doesn't represent the grind."
/
Graeme McDowell explained his rationale for moving to the LIV Golf series and essentially admitted it’s an easy way out.
From Brian Keogh’s Irish Golf Desk report:
"It has been very demoralising, especially when you've got kids," the struggling world 376 told National Club Golfer of his struggles over the past 18 months.
"You look around and think, is this worth the sacrifice? It is worth the sacrifice when you're being successful and financially it's very lucrative. But when you're not successful and you're leaving your kids 35 weeks a year, you do ask yourself the question."
He added: "[LIV Golf is] something that doesn't represent the grind. The prize money is guaranteed, there are no cuts. It's new and exciting and it's given me a shot in the arm from an energy point of view. It's come at a perfect point."
The item also includes some comments from Paul McGinley. This stood out:
"There's no doubt that this will go down as a historic moment in the game. If this Saudi league does gather a head of steam and it does challenge the established two tours, considering the background and who's involved and the whole ideas of team events, it could turn golf upside down and on its head."
"Skyline Seats for a 100 foot high golf viewing experience like never before"
/
Set against the self-proclaimed audacity of next week’s LIV Invitational outside London, a crane hoisting Canadian Open spectators sponsored by a betting company seems almost quaint.
Nice spot by Jay Rigdon at Awful Announcing with the details for those who’ve wanted to view golf from the drones-eye perspective.
The seating structure hosts 22 people, who will be harnessed into their seats.
The experience in the sky is 30 minutes with additional time allotted for embarking and disembarking. Food and beverage is included in the experience.
Colonial 2022: Another Rough Ratings Week On The PGA Tour
/
The 2022 Charles Schwab Challenge featured World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler as the third round leader and Jordan Spieth in contention, but that was not nearly enough to help CBS’s ratings.
Eventually won by Sam Burns in a playoff over Scheffler, the final round telecast drew a 1.46/2.43 million average audience, down 2021’s 1.79/3.11 million for Jason Kokrak’s win over Jordan Spieth. All numbers courtesy of ShowBuzzDaily’s weekly sports report on a busy weekend for viewers.
Saturday’s CBS broadcast from Colonial and all Golf Channel telecasts showed declines. The LPGA’s match play event at Shadow Creek was also down across the board and did not draw a top 150 rating for Sunday’s final match.
The NCAA Women’s Championship earlier in the week on Golf Channel also failed to rate.
Darren Clarke Turns Down Lucrative LIV Broadcasting Due To Threat Of Champions Tour Sanctions
/Miller Brady, the president of the PGA Tour Champions, delivered the bad news to Clarke in a phone call on Tuesday, stating that Clarke’s involvement in the broadcast would be a breach of regulations and would be subject to disciplinary actions.
“I really enjoy my time on the Champions tour and didn’t want to jeopardize it,” Clarke said in a call with SI.com/Morning Read from the Principal Charity Classic in Des Moines.
Clarke would not disclose the amount of the offer but was clear that the offer was considerable.
The initial tournament in London is expected to be exclusive to YouTube barring a last-minute media rights deal.
Report: Dustin Johnson Got £100 Million Because Phil Hasn't Committed Yet
/
So imagine if James Corrigan and Tom Morgan are correctly reporting that Greg Norman lured Dustin Johnson away from the PGA Tour after Phil Mickelson refused to fully commit what Phil is worth now?
After all, Johnson’s not exactly P.T. Barnum in the sales department so Mickelson must be worth double to make the LIV Golf thing go, right? A spot awaits Mickelson for next week’s event and now it seems this has been less about wishing to remain reclusive and more about Phil wanting to get the best deal.
Meanwhile, Johnson and Graeme McDowell were dropped by RBC, sponsor’s of next week’s Canadian Open they were probably contractually obligated to play.
“It was a very difficult decision. It’s a difficult decision as a player when there’s so many unknowns. We don’t know what the reaction is going to be.
“It just boils down to the fact that I am a business and I’ve operated all over the world for 20 years. This is a compelling opportunity. It’s a fun format and there are some guarantees there.
“It wasn’t a decision I took very lightly. I realised the consequences could be far ranging. But I felt like it was the right decision for me and my family – to be able to take an opportunity like this and play on something new.
“At the end of the day, it’s another golf tour, which we’ve operated on all over the world for the last 20 years. I feel like I have the right to do that.”
Quadrilateral: Major(s) News & Notes, June 2, 2022
/
Bailey Davis tees off the 10th in practice (Chris Keane/USGA)
The U.S. Women's Open is here and the Quadrilateral has your final preview.
Plus, Justin Thomas will play his way into majors, Stenson visits Rome, Open rail concerns, vital ticket news, ANGC's Par 3 gets a facelift, Valhalla sells, and many Reads.
You can learn more about The Quad and subscribe to the newsletter here.
Texas Captures Its Fourth NCAA Title With Win Over Arizona State
/
The team was inspired by a young man named Sonny Santrelli, who is battling cancer and was able to be on hand to watch. Quite a moment after:
The full highlights package:
The final day also marked another sad chapter in Golf Channel and NBC Sports, as the network’s coverage was off air for around 50 minutes of the final match and viewers let them have it. Not the synergy and support the NCAA signed up for but life in the world of Comcast chintziness.
The Match Is Back With Only Superstar QB's And A Producer Who Did Time
/
The latest iteration of Capital One’s The Match is back on Wednesday with quarterbacks Tom Brady, Josh Allen, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes playing at the awful Wynn course.
While Phil Mickelson is no longer involved in the made-for-TV events as he ponders how to be a better man, The Match is again being produced by Bran Zuriff.
As noted in Alan Shipnuck’s book Phil in writing about Mickelson’s shady associations and gambling problems, Zuriff was previously sentenced to home confinement and two years probation for his role in an illegal gambling enterprise with Russian mob ties.
BZ: No. I swear to God, people think I’m making this up — Phil is enjoying his time off the hamster wheel. He’s enjoying it. He has gone balls to the walls for 30-plus years — doing every interview shaking every hand being an incredible ambassador. He’s taking a break and he actually is enjoying it. So we will eventually see him, but he’s enjoying his time off. And he’s really happy about that. But I consider him a lifelong friend and a partner. And when he wants to come back, he’s welcome to come back.
I wouldn’t bet on it.
LIV Lands DJ For First Event Filled Out Mostly By Once-Greats, A Lot Of South Africans And Mostly People You've Never Heard Of
/
The LIV field lives! It took a while but the June 9-12 event finally has a field, almost.
There’s so much to shake your head at and so much to laugh at who will play for gobs of undeserved money next week in London.
Dustin Johnson is the headliner for now and despite being a well-know RBC team member obligated to play the Canadian Open—one would think—he will likely lose his partnership based on this RBC statement obtained by Adam Stanley:
Johnson’s participation is silly on so many levels. Besides the lack of loyalty to the PGA Tour and a sponsor like RBC that puts him in ads despite being a less than eloquent pitchman, the 2020 Masters champion has been back and forth on his desire to grab the Saudi cash. In February he was out, but by May’s PGA he was looking forward to seeing how the event played out.
He’s all about the money.
The move rules out a future Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup captaincy. Ok those were not happening anyway. The Hall of Fame might be tougher now despite those two majors. Not that he cares. And definitely no Rolex billboard on Washington Road—that might actually matter to him.
From February:
What a brand!
As for others in the field, you have to wonder what’s going on in South Africa to make eight of their guys sign up, including Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace. The RSA’s are also wheeling out a Hennie Du Plessis and JC Ritchie who make Shaun Norris and Justin Harding seem like global superstars.
Decent PGA Tour players to make the leap include Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones. Not exactly folks anyone is paying to see.
Decent European Tour players include Sam Horsfield, Bernd Wiesberger and Pablo Larrazabal.
Aging stars like Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer probably ended any hopes of captaining a Ryder Cup squad to take the easy money.
Randoms include former US Am Champ Andy Ogletree, whose done nothing with the perks of winning that event, and the same goes for last year’s NCAA individual champ and current world No. 706 Turk Pettit. Then there’s former Titleist CEO Wally Uihlein’s son Peter Uihlein jumping ship.
Note to Jay Monahan: Taylormade makes a great ball now and ChromeSofts are getting better! Plus, the ball goes too far and straight.
The Friends of Greg division suggests the Shirtless Shark’s Rolodex is not filled with many Aussies. That contingent is led by the recently hapless Wade Ormsby (one top 10 in the last two years), another Aussie named Jediah Morgan and one more named Blake Windred. The latter won the Australian PGA this year.
Then there are the amateurs, including one competing in the NCAA final Wednesday as part of the Arizona State squad.David Puig sounds bitter he has not received European Tour sponsor’s exemptions but still dreams of playing the PGA Tour. He’s taking an NIL deal to appear, as Ryan Lavner reports after hearing Puig’s thoughts.
Current U.S. Amateur champion James Piot is also playing in London and teeing up in this week’s Memorial. Ah the spirit of Bobby Jones…is gone.
As for Phil Mickelson? Morning Read’s Bob Harig says this is still just a field of 42 and more openings means Phil’s probably just waiting as long as possible. You know, because that grey Old Tom beard will be tough to say goodbye to.
Nicklaus On Saudi Meeting: “I did it out of courtesy to them because we're doing a golf course for them."
/Jack Nicklaus offered a perfectly reasonable counter to Howard Milstein’s claim. Now we’ll have to see what the response is from the Nicklaus Companies head suing the company namesake.
From Bob Harig’s story at Morning Read:
“They obviously called me,’’ Nicklaus said. “And we’ve had a contract on a golf course in Saudi Arabia for over a couple of years. Essentially the same group.
“So when they called Jackie — my son Jackie organized the meeting, and they came into the Bear's Club (in Florida). We met a couple of guys. John Rees and Paul Stringer from the Nicklaus companies were there because we were doing the golf course, and they proposed this thing to me.
“I did it out of courtesy to them because we're doing a golf course for them. I've got zero interest in wanting to do something like that. I don't care what kind of money they would have thrown at me. My allegiance has been to the PGA Tour. I grew up on the PGA TOUR. I helped found the PGA Tour as it is today. My allegiance is there and it’s going to stay there.’’
In an interview with Michael Bamberger, Nicklaus claimed the offer was in excess of $100 million.
It remains a curious situation given how Nicklaus and Milstein both have no qualms about doing business with Saudi Arabia, but see a line crossing when it comes to supporting a rival golf tour.
