Premier: 2020 Genesis Invitational Lands 9 Of World Top 10, 19 Of Top 25

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Poor Pebble Beach could only draw six of the world top 30, but the first Genesis “Invitational” with a smaller field, three-year exemption and Tiger Woods presence. The Genesis lands 9 of the top 10, and 19 of the top 25. A premier, eh em, field.

For Immediate Release:

WORLD’S TOP PLAYERS – TIGER WOODS, BROOKS KOEPKA, RORY MCILROY, JON RAHM, JUSTIN THOMAS, DUSTIN JOHNSON AND 2019 CHAMPION J.B. HOLMES – HEADLINE 2020 GENESIS INVITATIONAL FIELD

The majority of the 121-player field for The Genesis Invitational was confirmed today. The 94th edition of the tournament and its first year with invitational status, will be held Feb. 10-16 at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

The $9.3 million Genesis Invitational field is highlighted by the top six players in the Official World Golf Ranking, and nine of the world’s top 10 golfers: tournament host, 2019 Masters champion, 82-time PGA TOUR winner and 15-time major champion Tiger Woods; World No. 1, 2019 PGA Championship winner and four-time major champion Brooks Koepka; World No. 2 and reigning PGA TOUR Player of the Year Rory McIlroy; World No. 3 Jon Rahm; World No. 4, 12-time PGA TOUR winner and current PGA TOUR FedExCup points leader Justin Thomas; World No. 5, 20-time PGA TOUR winner and 2017 tournament champion at Riviera Dustin Johnson; World No. 8 Patrick Cantlay; World No. 9 Xander Schauffele; World No. 10 and 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist Justin Rose; defending champion and five-time PGA TOUR winner J.B. Holmes; three-time event winner and 2012 and 2014 Masters champion Bubba Watson; and 44-time PGA TOUR winner, 2012 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee, five-time major champ and 2008 and 2009 tournament champion Phil Mickelson.

The Genesis Invitational field includes six PGA TOUR FedExCup champions – McIlroy (2016, 2019), Rose (2018), Thomas (2017), Jordan Spieth (2015), Jim Furyk (2010), and Woods (2007, 2009) – and 25 of the top 30 in the 2019-20 FedExCup standings.

Overall, The Genesis Invitational field includes 19 of the top 25 golfers in the world, 19 major champions who have combined to win 46 majors, and 91 golfers who have amassed 468 PGA TOUR titles. Operated by TGR Live, The Genesis Invitational raises funds and awareness for the TGR Foundation.

The full field and, for a change, promising weather forecast (above) if you don’t mind cool (dry!) mornings and evenings.

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2020 Waste Management Ratings Hit Nine-Year Low

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Paulsen at SportsMediaWatch.com reports the nine-year-low Waste Management Open ratings despite a solid leaderboard and compelling finish on CBS. Webb Simpson defeated Tony Finau on the first playoff hole for his sixth PGA Tour win.

Sunday’s final round of the PGA Tour Phoenix Open averaged a 1.75 rating and 2.87 million viewers on CBS, marking the tournament’s smallest final round audience since 2011 (2.70M). Webb Simpson’s playoff win, which ended shortly before the Super Bowl began, declined 30% in ratings and viewership from both last year and 2018 (2.5, 4.08M).

Third round action on Saturday averaged a 1.45 and 2.19 million, down 16% in both measures from last year (1.7, 2.60M) and down 30% and 34% respectively from 2018 (2.1, 3.30M).

Last year’s Waste Management featuring Rickie Fowler drew a 2.5/4.075 viewers, a six-year high on NBC due to it being a CBS Super Bowl year, which was the event’s second largest audience ever.

According to ShowBuzzDaily, the early round weekend coverage drew nice-sized audiences as long as you are not an age-discriminating ad executive, where the coveted 18-49’s were in short supply (126k, 132k averages).

Sunday’s .1 placed the early coverage 61st among cable shows, edging out Nickelodeon’s Lego Jurassic World.

Dustin Johnson Wonders If Olympic Golf Will Fit His Schedule

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Currently easily in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games based on his No. 5 world ranking position, Dustin Johnson wondered aloud if the event falling 11 days after The Open Championship will fit his schedule.

OlympicTalk at NBCSports.com reports on Johnson’s comments ahead of his appearance in Saudi Arabia this week.

“Obviously representing the United States in the Olympics is something that, you know, definitely be proud to do,” he said when asked if the Ryder Cup and the Olympics are goals this year. “But is it going to fit in the schedule properly? I’m not really sure about that, because there’s so many events that are right there and leading up to it. So you know, I’m still working with my team to figure out what’s the best thing for me to do.”

Rahm Was Not Aware He Needed To Eagle The Last Hole To Force Farmers Playoff

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With everyone’s minds on Kobe Bryant’s untimely passing, admittedly the 2020 Farmers Insurance Open outcome become secondary at best. Marc Leishman ultimately prevailed by one over Jon Rahm who left an 18th hole eagle putt just short.

Turns out, Rahm was not aware he needed the eagle putt to go in at 18.

From GolfDigest.com’s John Strege:

“What people probably don’t know is that on 18, after I made that [birdie] putt on 17, I never looked at the scoreboard, so as far as I was concerned I was … one back. So with a birdie I was going to be in a playoff.

“That putt, that’s a tough putt. You can’t just ram it by 10 feet. It’s just not going to go in. So I did hit it with trying to make it with perfect speed thinking a two-putt would get into a playoff, but when [caddie] Adam [Hayes] told me the news, he’s like, ‘Hey, good try.’ I’m like, ‘What do you mean? We’re in a playoff.’ He’s like, ‘Nope, he birdied 18.’ ”

There’s one for the ole, watch your leaderboards, kids.

We discussed on Golf Central:

1:25 2:26


Torrey Pines Update: Tougher, Way Fewer Trees, Same Architectural Humdrum

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As a pair of Farmers Insurance Opens and the 2021 U.S. Open are set for Torrey Pines, the stakes are high for Tiger Woods in pursuit of win no. 83 and who-knows-what-major-number next summer. The conditioning struggles of 2008 are long gone and a pricey new irrigation system will continue to ensure sound turf conditions as long as superintendent Rich McIntosh is around.

For the 2020 Farmers, you will see some scarring left over from the two-hole-at-a-time irrigation installation method of last summer, but the courses are in otherwise excellent condition, with the North sporting more stout rough (and pretty narrow landing areas). With disease and beetle issues claiming a tragic number of Torrey Pines, the property has better views but is lacking a little something without the native tree for which the facility is named.

Also on tap will be our first look at newly configured elements on the 4th, 9th, 10th and 17th holes.

The 4th features a reshaped landing area designed to remedy issues from the 2008 when balls would not stay in the fairway under faster, firmer conditions. The shaping of the new work is quite good, fitting the hole better to existing landforms and presenting a more intimidating looking hole. How the balls react and where they finish, is still to be determined.

The most dramatic work from last summer can be seen at the par-4 17th, long a bit of a snoozefest for a penultimate hole and now hugging the canyon edge. It will force a decision between laying back and leaving an uphill 200-yard approach or hitting driver to get less club in. A huge risk that I suspect most players will not take, but at least it’s there and we’ll see just how aggressive the world’s best will get.

My summary for Golf Central followed by my Instagram post showing the new look 17th:

Facebook Watch And PGA Tour Launch Highlights Deal This Week

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I’m not sure what this means at this point given Facebook fatigue, inflated Facebook Live numbers leading to advertiser payouts and the platforms’ aging demographic.

But today’s announced PGA Tour-Facebook partnership could mean a few crazy uncles spend a little less time watching propaganda and instead take in the best of Brendon Todd’s third round 65. A very good thing.

Facebook Watch, where the highlights and other elements are set to appear, announced a major deal with ESPN last fall.

For Immediate Release:

Facebook and PGA TOUR announce global content agreement 

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – The PGA TOUR today announced an expansive agreement with Facebook to distribute daily highlight packages globally on Facebook Watch in 2020 starting at this week’s Farmers Insurance Open. 

The PGA TOUR will publish daily round recaps and player-specific highlights from more than 30 events, including THE PLAYERS Championship and FedExCup Playoffs.

These expanded highlights will feature content from the TOUR’s core telecasts, along with content from PGA TOUR LIVE, the TOUR’s OTT service featuring more than 1,200 hours of exclusive Featured Groups coverage in 2020.

“We’re excited to expand our partnership with Facebook by delivering additional content for our fans,” said Chris Wandell, Vice President Media Business Development at the PGA TOUR. “This is in response to our fans’ appetite for additional coverage packaged in a way that is convenient for them to consume.”

The TOUR will create a robust and timely highlights experience for PGA TOUR fans around the world on Facebook Watch. Fans can stay up to date with the latest highlights by following the PGA TOUR Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/PGATour. Content will be posted daily at the completion of each tournament round. As part of the agreement, the TOUR will also engage fans in its Facebook Group, The Gallery, with interactive elements such as Facebook Lives and Facebook Watch Parties.

“We’re thrilled to add PGA TOUR recaps to our growing portfolio of sports highlights on Facebook Watch,” said Sidhant Rao, Facebook Sports League Partnerships.” Through this content, as well as products such as Facebook Groups and Watch Party, the TOUR will be able to engage its fans in exciting new ways this year.”

In 2018, the PGA TOUR and Facebook teamed up to stream live coverage from THE PLAYERS Championship and several other PGA TOUR events leading into the 2018 FedExCup Playoffs.

Instant Poll: Where Will Tiger Win No. 83?

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Ben Everill poses that question to various media figures and not surprisingly, the storytellers are rooting for Riviera, the realists see another win at Bay Hill.

Given his ties to Southern California, breaking Sam Snead’s mark at either Torrey Pines or Riviera would be a fitting way to set the new standard for PGA Tour wins. I’m rooting for Riviera but given the strong state of his game and fondness for Torrey Pines, it seems more likely this week.

Your opinions, please.

Where Will Tiger Woods Win PGA Tour Title 83?
 
pollcode.com free polls

Justin Rose On Channeling His Federer Speed

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Defending Farmers Insurance Open champion Justin Rose has returned to Torrey Pines in search of his first win since last year’s incredible 21-under-par performance.

While his press room sessions are always enlightening, the reflections on the state of his game, the Presidents Cup and where he’s at with game analysis proved most interesting.

This is in response to a question I asked about his successful pursuit of “speed” while not letting other parts of his game to suffer. His thinking provides a stark contrast to some peers pursuing speed.

What do you attribute your ability to do that, gain speed, and not have it hurt the rest of your game?

JUSTIN ROSE: Well, I think, yeah, I definitely had a Project 300 in play since 2015, 2016, and although it didn't help my game, maybe it did help my body. I think I paid for it actually in 2016. The back wasn't that great, so I've had to learn to go about it a slightly different way.

I look at it now in terms of, I look at Roger Federer. There's guys that serve at 135, but he serves at 121 in the corners. He's at the back end of his career, so it's incredibly effective.

So yeah, I'm not going to be a 185 ball speed guy and if I chase that, it is going to hurt me and it's going to hurt my swing and body because you've got to reabsorb that force. But I can serve it 121 in the corners is kind of where I'm at. And for me, that's like 172, 175 ball speed. I carry the ball 300. If I can carry the ball 300 in the air, I can compete on any golf course against any player. So that's kind of my benchmark.

Sigh...Keven Na Roots For His Backstopping Ball To Help Another Player

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Just when we thought the whole backstopping thing was over, along comes Kevin Na adding a new layer.

To be clear, no violation of the rules took place. But the spirit of the rules? That’s another story.

Russell Knox was in golf’s deepest bunker and later took to Twitter clarifying he had Na idea what was going on 25 feet above him. But as we see in video posted by the PGA Tour Twitter account, Na has hit his approach, left it, is standing just a few feet off the green and can be heard rooting for Knox’s shot to hit his ball (“hit my ball”). Thanks to reader Gray for noting this shot, only seen while Playing Through during second round American Express action:

You know the drill by now. Backstopping is the scratch-my-back-I-scratch-yours weirdness that has been endorsed by those yearning for some sort of club membership in the world of professional golf.

The practice seemingly subsided since last February’s embarrassing episode featuring Amy Olson and Ariya Jutanugarn. But as fans have come to understand the strange little practice, they don’t like it.

Just check out the overwhelming number of to a magnificent bunker instead focusing on Na’s actions. A sampling screen capture:

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In a week where cheating in sports has been dominating news and social media as the Patrick Reed situation lingers, logic dictates that players and officials are on heightened alert for anything that could be misconstrued. Nope.

Now imagine in the near future when sports gambling is legal and Na is heard rooting for another player’s ball to hit the one he purposely left near the hole. Given the reactions to this shot to the PGA Tour’s Tweet there will be an outcry or worse, gamblers wanting inquiries and refunds.

All of this would be a non-issue if Na merely walked the six or seven paces to slap a coin down behind his ball. But pretty soon, if not already given what’s going on in sports, this bizarre cultural practice will be put in a different spotlight. And not one with soft lighting or minor consequences.

Indonesian Genocide Leader Is Back In The American Express Pro-Am

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Nothing warms the heart like father and son getting in some pro-am golf at The American Express. Except in one case.

Yapto Soerjosoemarno teed off in previous years but it was 2019 when his hideous history of masterminding the deaths of possibly hundreds of thousands (and not really ashamed of it) was reported on by Deadspin (RIP).

The former military leader was featured in a gruesome Netflix documentary titled The Art of Killing.

Soerjosoemarno is back playing in the Pro-Am in 2020 and opened with a net 75 after his pro, Brice Garnett shot 77. H

Son Yedidiah opened with net 62 on the back of Andrew Landry’s 66.

It is beyond comprehension why Soerjosoemarno is allowed to play in the first place.

Cam Smith Facing Fine Threat For Ever Calling Out Patrick Reed Again?

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The PGA Tour does not comment on any fine situations as we all know, and Cameron Smith might get fined for commenting on whether he was fined or threatened to be fined for calling out Patrick Reed’s Hero World Challenge lie improvement fiasco.

So the recent Sony Open winner wisely took a rain check when Golf Digest’s Brian Wacker checked in post-Sony and asked if he had been threatened with future fines for discussing Reed’s antics.

The comments caused a stir, on social media and beyond. According to a source, an official from the PGA Tour spoke to Smith about the remarks, essentially issuing a warning that he would be fined in the future if he made similar statements. The tour, through a spokesperson, said it does not comment about disciplinary matters, though the player handbook does include a section with language that states a player can face sanctions for public attacks on fellow players. Smith, for his part, would not comment on the Reed matter, preferring to move on and put it behind him.

You know what they about the cover-ups and crimes…

At least Smith was not fined since it appears he was merely issued a warning. A fine for him, but not for Reed, would be scandalous.

Here is the PGA Tour policy courtesy of Robopz:

Jupiter Here He Comes: Mickelson Announces Florida Move As He Takes Over Coachella Valley Hosting Role

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I’m not sure American Express expected their host whose foundation is now the centerpiece of a a revamped desert stop to announce he’s moving in a few years, but it’s Phil Mickelson’s world and they’re just living in it.

Rex Hoggard at GolfChannel.com reports on San Diego native Mickelson’s surprise announcement at the American Express press conference, his first as host and foundation beneficiary.

Mickelson, who is the host of this week’s event, said the family’s current plan is to move to Florida after his youngest child, Evan, graduates from high school in a year and a half.

Lefty would join a growing list of Tour players who call South Florida home including Tiger Woods, world No. 1 Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson.

Although Mickelson didn’t offer a reason for his potential move, in 2013 he suggested he might move out of California because of his federal and state tax bill, which he estimated had pushed his tax rate above 60 percent.

Mickelson also made clear he’s not moving there to be closer to the Champions Tour’s Chubb Classic. As long as his speed is up, Mickelson plans to keep playing the PGA Tour:

Pursuing Speed Files: Bryson, Phil And Matthew Wolff Edition

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Someday when the PGA Tour is just a traveling long drive exhibition with launch monitors on tee boxes and players earning FedEx points only for drives, historians will look back at these posts embedded below. They’ll ask why the USGA and R&A didn’t just reduce the driver head size a bit or take away a few dimples on the ball to retain some semblance of the sport that somehow grew and attracted millions for a few hundred years. One that called on a variety of attributes to score.

Chiropractors and surgeons, these are for you, starting with Bryson DeChambeau’s explanation for his new build, followed by Phil Mickelson showing how he’s addressed his huge strokes gained drop to outside the top 100 putters and approach artists, and ended by Matthew Wolff giving a long drive show for members at the Vintage Club.


Going Against The NFL Playoffs, 2020 Sony Open Rates About How You'd Expect

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We’ll just move on past how the weather and freak show that was the 2020 Sony Open may go down as one of the worst PGA Tour events ever played. It ended on Sunday, and that’s all that mattered.

Then again, as considered in this post and poll last weekend, you as golf fans agree that trying to compete against the NFL makes little sense. Yes, a Monday Sony Open finish would have meant finishing against the start of college football’s national championship game. Then again it probably could not rate any worse than the weekend rounds of the 2020 Sony.

According to ShowbuzzDaily.com, Saturday’s overnight was a .03, averaging 215,000 in the 18-49 yo demographic, making it the 142nd ranked cable show that day while going against two NFL Divisional games.

Sunday’s Sony final round against the Seahawks and Packers on Fox drew a .03, with 282,000 avg viewers, making it the 137th ranked cable show. Good news though, it just beat out Secrets of the Zoo: Tampa on National Geographic. Though they drew more 18-49 year olds with a 309,000 average.

It’s supposed to be a great zoo!

Trinity Forest Out As Nelson Host After This Year

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The Dallas Morning News’ Tim Cowlishaw explains why the 2020 AT&T Byron Nelson will be the last at Trinity Forest. The bold Coore-Crenshaw design was just one issue, along with the courses location, the lack of shade and a huge decline in tournament revenues.

We have learned that it’s over, that the 2020 Nelson will be the final one held on the south Dallas course. Eventually, the tournament will move to PGA Frisco but it may need to make a stopover back at the Four Seasons TPC for 2021, which is sort of like telling your ex-wife: “Hey, things didn’t work out with my new partner, but I need to come home and crash before moving on to my next one, is that OK?’’

The tournament was expected to eventually move to the PGA of America project in Frisco, but that is at least two years away, meaning the Nelson may have no choice but to return to the TPC it left. Indeed, as Cowlishaw notes, that’ll be an awkward reunion.

It’s a shame. Trinity Forest may be the most eccentric Coore-Crenshaw design of all and one of their more amazing accomplishments given the not-thrilling landscape. But without the lively bunkering they are known for, an emphasis on the ground game (except during Nelson week when things were kept softer), and an awkward clubhouse/course/range setup for a big tournament, this was going to be a tough sell in May date prior to the PGA.

(The course would be the perfect Open Championship tune-up test, but the club is closed by July when players are prepping for the last major.)

The only good news in this case? From the start, sponsor AT&T was involved in the tournament move and former AT&T executive VP Ronald Spears is a club co-founder with Jonas Woods.