SOG 122: Enough LIV, Time To Talk the Old Course

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Rainbow at the 2015 Open (Geoff Shackelford)

It won't go away but LIV Golf and all its implications can take a back seat for the next two weeks as golf hopefully celebrates everything good about the game with an Open Championship at the Old Course.

Come along as Rod Morri, Mike Clayton and yours truly talk all things St Andrews.

Here is the Apple podcast option.

The State of the Game page where you can get links to your favorite podcast players.

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The Strategic Alliance Presents: The Genesis Scottish Open

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The sun is out, the wind blowing and the fescue more brown than green at Renaissance Club. If the Tom Doak design can’t shine in this—and of course after Padraig Harrington’s design tweak advice—there may not be much hope for the East Lothian links. From what I’ve seen of the 10th hole, I’m hoping it plays less ghastly than it looks.

But with Genesis injecting new life into the grounds, the PGA Tour/DP World Tour Strategic Alliance (PGATDPWSA) bringing the two tours together for a world class field, it should be a dandy.

Tee times for a field with 14 of the top 15 golfers in the Official World Golf Ranking.

In the UK, Sky times go all day essentially and with 160 players this one will take most of the day.

Thursday: Sky Sport Golf and Sky Sports Main Event from 8am
Friday: Sky Sport Golf and Sky Sports Main Event from 8am
Saturday: Sky Sports Golf from 8.30am
Sunday: Sky Sport Golf and Sky Sports Main Event from 8.30am

Golf Channel times (all ET):

Thursday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. ET (Golf Channel – World Feed), 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Golf Channel). Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. (Golf Channel), 12 p.m.-3 p.m. (CBS)

Horschel On LIV "Hypocrites" Who Want To Play Less But More When It's Convenient: "I believe they made their bed"

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David Kent shares Billy Horschel’s stunning-even-by-Billy-Ho-standards lashing out at “hypocrites” who are petitioning to play this week’s Genesis Scottish Open while also defecting to LIV golf events in the name of reduced scheduling.

After a hearing this week, Ian Poulter, Adrian Otaegui and Justin Harding had DP World bans lifted and they were added to the field at Renaissance Club, followed by LIV Portland winner Branden Grace.

“They decided to go play on that tour and they should go play there. They shouldn’t be coming back over to the DP World Tour or the PGA Tour.

‘“To say that they wanted to also support this tour, whether the DP or PGA Tour, while playing the LIV tour, is completely asinine. Those guys made their bed. They say that’s what they want to do, so leave us alone.

“They keep talking about how the PGA Tour doesn’t listen. I’ve been really frustrated by it because there’s a lot of guys that are hypocrites, that aren’t telling the truth and are lying.

“I just can’t stand to sit here any more and be diplomatic about it.”

Meanwhile sponsors seem to be quietly leaving the Poulter camp as his logo tally has been greatly reduced:

R&A Warns: Don't Take ScotRail To The 150th Open

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On the 150th Open’s eve, the R&A is asking fans who planned to attend by rail to find other means of getting to St Andrews. This is a result of its on-going dispute between ScotRail and train drivers.

Last month Willie Rennie warned of the need for a contingency plan in this scenario.

Here is what the R&A sent to ticketholders:

Dear Ticketholder,

We are contacting you to provide an important update and guidance regarding travel to and from The 150th Open at St Andrews on 10-17 July.

Based on information we received at the start of this week and in order to minimise disruption for fans, unfortunately we have to advise all ticket holders that they should not travel by rail using ScotRail services to and from Leuchars when attending The Open each day.

All ticket holders should travel by road or use alternative public transport.

This is due to circumstances not in our control in which ScotRail will continue to operate a reduced timetable on the dates of the Championship as a result of its on-going dispute with ASLEF members (train drivers).

We cannot guarantee that fans using rail services will be able to get to and from Leuchars without disruption. There is a risk that fans who travel by train may find there are no services to get them home.

If you have purchased GolfLink tickets, you should contact ScotRail for a refund.

We are increasing capacity at our Park and Ride facilities to cater for more vehicles using the road network. We strongly recommend that fans purchase Park and Ride tickets in advance to minimise waiting times and to take advantage of a £5 discount.

If you are travelling by road for The Open, you should expect longer journey times and delays due to increased traffic and plan ahead for these.

All drivers should follow the directional AA road signage in place on designated routes for accessing the Park and Ride facilities and not use satnav or equivalent devices. Designated routes are being prioritised by Police Scotland and other traffic management measures to ensure everyone has the smoothest journey possible.

Alternative public transport, including buses and taxis, is available for fans to use. Local bus services are complemented by an express network that connects St Andrews with Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Cupar and Glenrothes. More information on bus services can be found via Stagecoach and Moffat and Williamson.

A designated taxi rank and private hire drop off/pick-up area will be in operation and is located at Petheram Bridge within walking distance of the course.

We appreciate that some fans will be disappointed with this update and that the resulting situation, not of our making, is less than ideal, but we wish to reassure you that we are doing all that we can to ensure your experience of attending The Open is a memorable one.

Please visit TheOpen.com for more information.

Kind Regards,

The R&A Ticket Office

How Will LIVfectors Be Greeted In The Home Of Golf?

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Golf In Scotland (In The Black & White Era): Q&A With Steve Finan

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Quadrilateral: Major(s) News & Notes, June 30th, 2022

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The Open nears and a key prognosticating angle surfaces. Details at 11!

Plus, OWGR intrigue, the grim Ryder Cup future for LIVers, an Old Tom-channeling Old Course greenkeeper, and much, much more including a robust roundup of Reads.

In case you aren’t aware, The Quadrilateral is a year-round place for coverage of the events that matter and free of Strategic Alliances or dirty dictator money. It’s going to be an exciting month or so with links season and everything else in the game.

Read more about The Quad here.

Subscribe here.

Former PGA Tour Players Try To Explain Why They Took Saudi Cash And Remind Us Why They Won't Be Missed

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I should just post that photo and end the post there.

But you have to soak some of the wisdom shared by PGA Tour defectors and genuinely-hard-to-care-one-iota-about individuals.

From Bob Harig’s account of this LIV Portland prick conference.

Asked if there was something the PGA Tour could have done to thwart the LIV Golf effort or improve, Reed said: “Listen to the players for once.’’

For once! Maybe he didn’t know about Justine’s direct line to the Global Home.

This was nice from Perez:

“I don't think I did anything wrong,’’ Perez said. “Plus, I want the money that I earned from this year. I played 20 events. So I'm still entitled to my FedEx money and whatever this other money that we're talking about. I'm not resigning from anything.”

Another one who forgot his disdain for the whole Saudi thing until he didn’t.

And Koepka, the four-time major winner going from finding the whole thing shady, growing angry about questions during the U.S. Open, to signing on the dotted line.

“My opinion changed; that was it,’’ he said. “You guys will never believe me, but we didn’t have the conversation 'til everything was done at the U.S. Open and figured it out and just said I was going to go one way or the other. Here I am.

“Like I said, opinions changed. And I feel very comfortable with the decision I made. I’m happy, and I did what’s best for me.’’

In the just plain pitiful division, Matthew Wolff spoke repeatedly of missing college golf, 54 hole tournaments and the best years of his life, suggesting he’s been converted by the team aspect where he’ll join the Hy Flyers: Phil Mickelson, Bernd Wiesberger and Itthipa Buranatanyarat. The team van trips to mediocre courses will be just like the old Cowboy days!

I think, you know, it's hard when you're out there struggling and you've gotta play three, four weeks in a row, and you feel like you're in a rut. You feel like you just can't get out of it. And, you know, here, being able to really prepare, have more time. I mean, also, I know this is my job, but it's like on your off weeks, too, I mean sometimes when you're traveling for three weeks in a row and you got one week off, my coach, he lives in California. So it's like do I want to spend time with my girlfriend and my dog at home and enjoy my time off and sleep in my own bed or do I want to go travel again across the country and go work with my swing coach and then not have time for that.

The folks at LIV did seek to refute Brandel Chamblee’s suggestion players will be earning on-course money against their advances. Without seeing contracts we won’t know if the folks here are telling the truth.