For Your Consideration: Bryson DeChambeau's "Quarantine"

I’m not particularly sure why Bryson DeChambeau chose Day One of the PGA Tour’s return to drop his take on quarantining in the COVID-19 era. But he did. While the length, caused by 13 minutes or so of moody filler, might make you hate “Quarantine”. I see it as a profound insight into the life of a 2020 professional golfer.

Whether it’s the bold decision to convert the garage into a gym, the 12 pieces of bacon for one man in one sitting, the convertible Bentley offering a needed respite from the Fox News viewing at home, or countless other bizarre moments, I promise you will thank me. Sure, it’s 15 minutes you’ll never get back but come on, how often do you get to see an Instagram video in all its almost-Terence Malick self-indulgence? With a side of Bobby Joe Grooves stuffing?

Or you can just read Sean Zak’s highlights here at Golf.com.

Or read about his body work as reported by Rex Hoggard following DeChambeau’s opening 65 (T7).

But live a little! Plus, be thankful you are not Bryson’s next home architect. It already has a name. And he’s wanting to see the limestone in person. And…oh just watch.

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Started quarantine feeling a little lost but slowly found ways to connect with things I haven't done in a while, refocused on new business ventures and found a renewed appreciation for the game and fitness. Ready to make the most of this week and what's to come on tour! The wait is over 💪🏼

A post shared by Bryson DeChambeau (@brysondechambeau) on Jun 11, 2020 at 5:21am PDT

Schwab Challenge Tourney Director Predicts Huge TV Ratings For Colonial Return

Art Stricklin reports this bold prediction for ratings this week.

Fifteen of the top 20 players in the world are in the field, including all of the top five. Earlier in the week, Colonial tournament director Michael Tothe said he expects huge TV ratings.

“It’s won’t be the best ever [in golf], because we don’t have Tiger in the field and he drives everything, but I think we’ll do a 6.0 or higher,” Tothe said, referring to the Nielson [sp] ratings. “If we had Tiger we could do a 10.”

In the last decade, Colonial has never drawn better than a 2.0 rating.

6’s and 10’s would put the event in very elite ratings company.

Coverage windows and other broadcast details are here.

No COVID-19 Cases At Colonial, But Four Test Positive Within Korn Ferry Tour

Commissioner Jay Monahan told assembled media at Colonial that the players and caddies on site all tested negative for the COVID-19 virus. However, as players so far displayed signs of not taking all precautions as meticulously presented by the PGA Tour, one player and three caddies tested positive at home and will not be part of this week’s Korn Ferry Tour return.

Though Hoggard says it was “just” four results, the number highlights how pro golfers and those handling their golf course luggage are not immune.

One positive test was from a player and three were from caddies. All four of the positive results were from tests players and caddies took before traveling to the tournament city.

The Tour also administered 487 in-market tests at the Charles Schwab Challenge with no positive results. At the Korn Ferry Tour event, there were 407 in-market tests with no positive results.

Also noteworthy and important: the PGA Tour’s transparency in revealing numbers of tests and the positives.

The news is also vital since after the Tuesday practice round signs were not exactly encouraging on the caution/distancing front. Not coincidentally, the PGA Tour sent out this text to players, as reported by ESPN.com’s Michael Collins:

Spoke to a PGA Tour player last night who told me it was business as usual yesterday on the golf course. This morning the tour sent this out text: https://t.co/2thf0jWDdv pic.twitter.com/JcoTZrSDzr

— Michael Collins (@ESPNCaddie) June 10, 2020

Ryder Cup Debate Dominates Early "Return To Golf" Week Chatter

The PGA Tour’s “Return to Golf” at Colonial features influencer-enhanced global live content executions, predictions of record-shattering ratings and all-star field. Yet on the eve of coming back after three months of hiatus, the Ryder Cup remained a a bigger topic in press conferences.

While threatening to becoming as tedious as Major League Baseball’s bickering, the debate over a Ryder Cup with or without fans continued the Charles Schwab Challenge. Team USA Captain Steve Stricker suggested a compromise might make all sides happy.

From Rex Hoggard’s GolfChannel.com report.

Although no decision has been made on that front, Stricker was confident a compromise could be reached, pointing out that if Wisconsin were to allow 50-percent occupancy, that would be good enough for players.

Where that falls with two-time Ryder Cupper Brooks Koepka is not clear. The World No. 2 reiterated his belief that money is the only reason the matches would be contested without fans, and his view that players will not play if fans are not there, fist pumps would not be forthcoming.

From Brian Wacker’s GolfDigest.com item:

“If we’re not playing in front of fans, it’s just like us playing a game in Florida,” Koepka said. “If there's no fans out there you're not going to see guys fist pumping and that passion behind it.

“The Ryder Cup is a true sporting event. It’s different than any other golf tournament we play. It’s a true sporting event, and I think if we can have fans, that’s perfect, and if we can't, it just seems kind of like an exhibition—which it kind of already is. I just don’t want to play it without fans.”

Expectations? Who Knows Says Rahm At Quiet Colonial

Lots of good stuff from Kevin Robbins who is covering the Charles Schwab Challenge for GolfDigest.com, including noting the bizarre quiet across Colonial and this from Jon Rahm

“Expectations?” asked Rahm. “Who knows?”

Rahm has never played in a professional golf tournament that looks like a Sunday skins game. He actually hasn’t even played golf in seven weeks, he said, so the matter of expectations isn’t only about what Colonial will look like, or sound like, when the shots matter Thursday morning.

But it’s what he was thinking at his remote press conference (also a first). “Can you imagine if somebody makes a 30-foot bomb on 18 to win the tournament? Nothing? Crickets?” said Rahm, the 2017 champion at Colonial who, like everyone here, had more questions Tuesday than answers.

Here’s one answer he did have: “It’s going to be a little weird.”

For the punters of the world who are bullish on Rahm this week given his strong run prior to the play stoppage, news of how little he’s playing might have you reconsidering.

Bamberger Reports From Day One Inside The PGA Tour's "Bubble"

Golf.com’s Michael Bamberger is one of the few regular media members on site at the COVID-19 era’s first fan-free tournament and reports on day one.

The “bubble” at the Charles Schwab Challenge has some durability issues from the outset, starting with Bamberger noting not three, but FOUR hotels inside the player bubble, in addition to may stay in rental houses.

As always with Bamberger you’ll want to read the full thing. But there was this:

Some players and caddies, as they gathered on the 1st tee or 10th tee at the start of a practice round, made no effort to keep six feet apart. Likewise, some players and caddies were handing clubs back-and-forth as they normally would. They’re outside, in a hot wind. Nobody has ever confused tournament golf with meal-distribution at a nursing home. Around the clubhouse, in the club’s traditional milling areas, there was one instructor wearing his mask around his left upper arm, like an old-school USGA arm bandage. A few caddies wore them. The players did not.

Not What It Sounds Like: PGA Tour, Twitter Launch "Global Live Content Execution"

After hearing about cumbersome task facing CBS in returning during a pandemic and social unrest, it’s noteworthy that the first events back appear to be anything but a soft re-launch.

Down the road I see the merit here, but I’m not sure anyone really wants to hear from the influencer/presenter/personality sector just yet. But good news, it’s totally optional.

Though I am wondering how, after all those Zoom meetings, someone didn’t squelch the “execution” word. For Immediate Release:

PGA TOUR, Twitter announce innovative fan engagement initiative
TOUR’s return to golf to feature celebrity and athlete commentary across nine different live video streams

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA, AND SAN FRANCISCO – To mark the PGA TOUR’s return to competition at the Charles Schwab Challenge, June 11-14 at Colonial Country Club in Ft. Worth, Texas, the TOUR and Twitter today announced a global live content execution that will be a first-of-its kind for the social media platform.

“Twitter Multicast” will take place on Thursday, June 11, from approximately 1-2:30 pm ET and will showcase athletes, celebrities and other personalities creating their own live, audio/video commentary in conjunction with PGA TOUR LIVE Featured Groups coverage during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge. Twitter Multicast will feature the likes of Danny Kanell, Dude Perfect, Darren Rovell, Darius Rucker, Annika Sorenstam, Golden Tate and others.

“The PGA TOUR is proud to be among the first major sports leagues to return to competition,” said Rick Anderson, Chief Media Officer of the PGA TOUR. “With no spectators on site, we want to work harder than ever to connect our fans to the event, across numerous platforms and devices in addition to the PGA TOUR LIVE, Golf Channel and CBS broadcasts. Working with Twitter on this all-new fan engagement initiative is a nod to how important fans are to the TOUR and our players.”

The Charles Schwab Challenge features the top-five ranked players in the world and 17 of the top 20 in the FedExCup Standings. The Twitter Multicast will offer nine versions of the live stream with distribution from more than 20 different Twitter accounts. The video streams will cover pre-game, practice sessions, and the first two holes of competition of players such as Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth. Each stream will carry PGA TOUR LIVE featured groups coverage complemented with live audio/video commentary from commentators who will provide their point of view on the return of the TOUR.

A full list of the guest commentators across nine video streams:
CBS Sports:  Charles Davis (@CFD22) and Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) 
SKY Sports/NBC Sports:     Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) and Conor Moore (@ConorSketches)
Discovery/GOLFTV:    Henni Zuel (@hennizuel) and Eddie Pepperell (@PepperellEddie)
Golf Digest:     Hally Leadbetter (@hallylead) and David Leadbetter (@davidleadbetter)
The Action Network/GolfBet:Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell), Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) and guest
LPGA: Annika Sorenstam (@ANNIKA59) and Brittany Lincicome (@Brittany1golf)
Celebrity Stream:  Darius Rucker (@dariusrucker) and Golden Tate (@ShowtimeTate)
Celebrity Stream:  Dude Perfect (@DudePerfect)
Celebrity Stream:  Paige Spiranac (@PaigeSpiranac) and Wells Adams (@WellsAdams)

“This first-ever Twitter Multicast will give golf fans a viewing experience they won’t find anywhere else,” says TJ Adeshola, head of U.S. sports partnerships for Twitter. “By adding conversation and commentary from a range of Twitter notables to premium golf content, the Multicast will have something for everyone, regardless if you’re looking for real-time reactions, analysis or just some laughs to pair with live footage from Colonial. This is a prime example of how to create a richer, more customized fan experience through the power of Twitter.” 

The Shack Show With Guest Gil Hanse

Gil Hanse

While the Colonial focus for this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge is rightfully on the “challenge” of putting on the first major COVID-19 era golf tournament, the course is always an integral part of Colonial week.

So I called up Gil Hanse, recently commissioned to do a master plan for the oft-changed classic (you won’t believe the list!). We also chatted about a few other topics I hope you’ll enjoy, plus me questioning his world top 10 published this week on Golf.com.

The Apple podcast option for listening and subscribing, or you can listen here on iHeartRadio:

**Here is one of the lost Colonial golf holes discussed in the show by Gil, courtesy of Mr. Maxwell! ;)

One of the holes lost Gil mentions, #8. https://t.co/e1aLBadAYv pic.twitter.com/dD6wcXdNiR

— Perry Maxwell (@DornickMaxwell) June 9, 2020

Nantz: “I consider this to be perhaps the most important moment in our country in my lifetime...We have to get this right."

From the lengthy (but-worth-it) CBS conference call preparing us for what to expect with the return of golf coverage.

Jim Nantz on the moment, as reported by Doug Ferguson:

“I consider this to be perhaps the most important moment in our country in my lifetime,” the 61-year-old Nantz said. “We have to get this right. We can't let this opportunity pass. I hope to express that at the top” of the broadcast.

Jay Monahan Talks Financial Impact On Tournaments, Charity

Doug Ferguson talks to Jay Monahan about the PGA Tour’s return at this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge.

Now that golf is returning, Monahan couldn’t predict when spectators would return. He said the tour has worked with tournaments the last several years on building a reserve fund for a crisis such as this.

“If you’re not selling tickets, and there’s not hospitality, you don’t have the pro-am experience or the honorary observer program for the sponsor ... that’s a significant financial impact on those tournaments, and the impact on the way tournaments connect with their communities,” he said.

Tournaments and their title sponsors still have managed to raise money for their local charities. The Zurich Classic matched last year’s donation of $1.5 million to a children’s services foundation. The John Deere Classic expects $10 million in donations, even though it canceled its July event.

Who knew that the folks in khakis awkardly walking down the fairway helped make a significant financial impact!

Either way, given that the Tour’s non-profit tax status is dependent on tournaments operating as drivers of charitable giving and that purses have not (apparently) changed, we will learn soon what plans the Tour has to maintain giving or help to events.

Meanwhile, the tournament announced featured groups earlier than normal and they are mighty strong.

Not so good: bad signs on the COVID-19 front for the good people of Texas, with surging rates of hospitalizations.

Memorial To Limit Crowds To 8000, Television Crew To Be Reduced To 50%

Rob Oller of the Columbus Dispatch has more on The Memorial’s plans to be the first COVID-19 era golf tournament with spectators. A maximum of 8000 a day and the elimination of any shuttles should keep things safe, as should other restrictions.

This caught my eye:

Nonsurgical masks will be required upon entry for all attendees, with exempted exceptions recognized.

Temperature readings will be conducted at all entrances and to all those on the property through handheld units and thermal temperature readers.

There will be no on-site bleachers.

Players will be advised to not interact with fans.

All general public shuttle transport will be eliminated.

Media will be limited to 25% of typical attendance, and there will be a 50% reduction in CBS and the Golf Channel’s on-site crew.

That’s a big reduction on the media and TV sides. We’ll learn more Monday about CBS’s plans for covering the first 11 events of the PGA Tour’s return.

Golf.com’s Art Stricklin reports that there will already be one big change: Jim Nantz will be on site with a remote camera and Nick Faldo will not be by his side.

Ohio Governor Says Memorial Tournament Can Go Ahead With Lighter Crowds

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who has won widespread approval in his state for his strict COVID-19 measures, gave his blessing to the Memorial Tournament’s plans to bring fans back to golf.

From Bob Harig’s story about the July 16-19 event:

"In each one of these cases, they have come up with a plan that in many cases dramatically decrease the number of people and provide for sanitation,'' DeWine said. "In some cases, [they] provide for one-way traffic. They are quite elaborate plans.''

The tournament press release in response:

June 5, 2020 

THE MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT PRESENTED BY NATIONWIDE RECEIVES STATE SUPPORT TO ALLOW PATRON ATTENDANCE FOR 2020 EVENT

The Memorial presented by Nationwide would like to recognize the successful efforts led by Governor DeWine, Lt. Governor Husted and Dr. Amy Acton in the fight against the spread of COVID-19. The State of Ohio has been a leader in identifying the tremendous threat that began to appear in January and was one of the first to take drastic action to curb the spread and reduce deaths. Their implemented plan has produced encouraging results and allowed for the slow process of opening the State to business and gradually allowing Ohioans to return to a level of normalcy, including the ability to permit patrons at this year’s Memorial. With the support of the PGA TOUR, who the Tournament has worked jointly with throughout this process, the Memorial is looking forward to partnering with State, County and City leadership, along with the Memorial COVID -19 Task Force, to offer the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide as an example of how public gathering events can be developed and implemented with approved and accepted protocols in place. 

 The Memorial Tournament will issue a full release with more details over the coming week.

In other news regarding the first major championship of three scheduled for August, 2020, California officials signaled that more loosening of restrictions will be announced next week, including regarding audience-free sports events.

News was expected this week regarding plans for August’s PGA Championship at Harding Park.

PGA Tour's Return At Colonial Draws Stellar Field And Some Real Headscrachers, Too

One minor first world golf mistake of the COVID-19 era was the PGA Tour committing to expanded fields upon returning to action. It was done in the name of playing opportunities—the lifeblood of VP bonuses and pace of play killer.

So in spite of an incredible field gathering featuring an impress 101 PGA Tour winners, the Charles Schwab Challenge also brings a grandfathered in clause giving lifetime exemptions to 20th century winners at Colonial. With super-senior tour eligible names like Frost, Clearwater and Lehman pushing the field to 148, combined with sponsor invites to fellow geezers Langer, McCarron and Stricker, topped off by a gift to a longtime Colonial member's relative, it’s another reminder that fields feature embarrassing add-ons even in a time of pandemic.

Given the recent uproar over Vijay Singh wanting a spot in the Korn Ferry Tour’s return, only to WD, you’d think the Schwab folks might have played it a bit safer with their exemptions. Especially since the field actually includes a shocking number from an age group more vulnerable to the virus. Furthermore, no one will now watch this event with the inclusion of PGA Tour Champions players. No one. Zilch. Nada. Zip. Diddly squat. Squat. Did I mention no one?

For Immediate Release and also note the nice tribute planned for frontline workers:

Field set for PGA TOUR’s return at Charles Schwab Challenge

World’s top-five players to compete as PGA TOUR resumes FedExCup season  

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – The PGA TOUR announced today the field for next week’s Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, marking the TOUR’s return to competition after a 12-week hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 148-player field includes each of the top-five players in the Official World Golf Ranking, highlighted by defending FedExCup champion and World No. 1 Rory McIlroy, FedExCup leader Sungjae Im, and a total of 101 PGA TOUR winners, led by 44-time winner Phil Mickelson and defending champion Kevin Na.

With 101 winners in the field, the 2020 Charles Schwab Challenge becomes the first tournament in the FedExCup era other than THE PLAYERS Championship to showcase 100 or more TOUR winners. Only 47 players in the field will have an opportunity to win their first PGA TOUR title – a feat only Sergio Garcia (2001) has accomplished at Colonial Country Club since 1990.

This is the first time in the OWGR era (1986-present) that all five of the top five players in the OWGR are in the field at the Charles Schwab Challenge. The last time it happened on TOUR was earlier this season at The Genesis Invitational.

Jon Rahm (No. 2) has made three starts at the Charles Schwab Challenge, earning top-five results in 2017 (T2) and 2018 (T5). No. 3 Brooks Koepka also owns a runner-up in his lone start at the event, finishing second in 2018 after shooting a pair of 63s in the second and final rounds. McIlroy and World No. 4 Justin Thomas, who are also both in the top five in the FedExCup standings, are making their tournament debuts.

Both Koepka and World No. 5 Dustin Johnson are currently outside the top 100 in the FedExCup standings after missing significant time at the start of the season due to injuries (Koepka/213, Johnson/111).

FedExCup leader and 2019 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year Sungjae Im will make his 15th start of the season. Im, one of nine players in the field currently ranked in the top 10 of the FedExCup standings, won The Honda Classic and finished third at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard in the last two events completed before the season was suspended.

Two-time Charles Schwab Challenge champion Phil Mickelson, who won the event in 2000 and 2008, leads the field with 44 career wins on TOUR.

When the PGA TOUR released schedule adjustments for the remainder of the 2019-20 season on April 16, it was announced that the field size for the Charles Schwab Challenge had expanded from 120 to 144. However, winners of the event prior to 2000 who are not otherwise eligible are added to the starting field of 144. There are four such players in the field.

The Charles Schwab Challenge, originally slated for May 18-24 will be the first PGA TOUR tournament played since the season was suspended following THE PLAYERS Championship, which was canceled after the first round. The event will be played in accordance with strict health and safety guidelines and without spectators on-site.

To honor those fighting the pandemic, players’ caddie bibs will feature names of local frontline workers alongside the players’ names. The 148 players in the Charles Schwab Challenge field will represent 148 different frontline workers from across North Texas who have been working tirelessly since the pandemic began – often at the risk of their own personal health and safety – to meet the needs of those most directly impacted in the Fort Worth area. 

Why Was Zika A Non-Starter For Some Golfers But Not COVID-19?

That’s the question Dave Seanor asks at MorningRead.com as players are going to be locking up their field spot officially for next week’s Charles Schwab Challenge.

You may recall that several top players passed on the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, concerned they might bring back the virus to their loved ones. Players like Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth all expressed worries about health in passing up golf’s return to the Games.

All four are entered for the Colonial return. This, as testing increased in Texas by 31% while the number of confirmed infections rose by 51%.

Seanor makes several strong points about the “credulity” strain of arguments in 2016 versus now and says it is “mind-boggling that more Tour members haven’t questioned the wisdom of going back to work so soon.”

He writes:

What changed? Is the health of their families no longer a priority? Do they have that much trust that the Tour can protect them, and everyone affiliated with the tournament, from exposure to a virus that has infected more than 1.8 million Americans and has yet to plateau – indeed, has increased – in some parts of the country? Or was their expressed concern about Zika, as widely suspected, just a convenient smokescreen to hide their lack of enthusiasm for the Olympics?

We certainly know issues surrounding the Olympics and enthusiasm played a role, as did the travel distance. But given the threat posed by Zika (2400 U.S. cases, one death), the current situation does seem significantly more concerning.

Muirfield Village To Host Deere Classic Replacement In Addition To The Memorial

The Memorial Presented by Nationwide is curiously opting to water down one of the premier events in golf with a John Deere Classic-replacement tournament at Muirfield Village this July. But these are strange times and playing opportunities clearly take priority over optics, reason or the lack of entertainment value in watching the same course for two weeks (perhaps they will flip the nines to help differentiate the viewing experience?).

More vitally in a time of strife, suffering and pandemic, hopefully there will be a grand charitable component for local organizations that Nationwide already supports, particularly the Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

From Doug Ferguson’s AP exclusive:

In a memo sent Tuesday afternoon to players, the tour said the new event would be July 9-12 and held without spectators. The following week is the Memorial at Muirfield Village, with spectators still a possibility.

The name of the tournament was not mentioned, along with other details such as the size of the purse.

But it said the field for the first event would be 156 players, allowing the Memorial to return to its elite status as an invitational with a 120-man field.

The fill-in tournament sponsor will be Workday, which has had a topsy-turvy relationship in trying to start a Bay Area Tour stop and in serving as a temporary sponsor of the Desert Classic.

From The Forecaddie last year:

The Forecaddie hears the last-minute demise of the 2019 edition came after Workday CEO Aneel Bhusri piled on one too many last-minute requests and complained about how the event was rolled out. With the PGA Tour having another potential event and sponsor as an option and no time to find another sponsor for the Curry event, The Man Out Front hears host management company Octagon pulled the plug after not being able to meet Bhusri’s demands.

Agronomically, everything should be fine since Muirfield Village intends to rebuild their greens following the 2020 tournament(s).