What Went Wrong? First PGA Tour Player To Test COVID-19 Positive Had Symptoms Before Arriving At Course

PGA Tour Statement On Nick Watney

News of Nick Watney becoming the first PGA Tour player to test positive for COVID-19 was met with a fairly consistent chorus of “a matter of when, not if”.

However, a quick review suggests the PGA Tour “bubble” has burst in just week two of the “Return to Golf.”

There are wide-ranging implications for public health, Watney’s peers, golf tournaments going forward and even the entire sports business world. This was no secret and why overcautious behavior was vital. So the “matter of when, not if” view discounts what appears to be sloppiness by Watney, at the very least, and validates concerns early on that PGA Tour policies were too lenient.

A review, starting with this sequence of events from AP’s Doug Ferguson reporting from the RBC Heritage on Watney’s movements.

Before arriving to the course for his second round, he reported symptoms consistent with COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. Watney was tested again, and the result came back positive.

Si Woo Kim saw him in passing on the range, and Rory McIlroy said he chatted with Watney on the putting green. McIlroy said they were at a distance, and that Watney sent him a text about the positive result after McIlroy finished his round.

''He was just saying, `Look, I hope I didn't get too close to you.' He feels badly that he was here today at the golf course,'' McIlroy said. ''I said to him, `If I was in your position, I probably would have been here, too. At this point, you just have to concentrate on getting better and getting healthy.'''

Brooks Koepka, world No. 2, reported being “right next to” Watney in the player parking lot. That’s the world’s no. 1 and 2 possibly exposed at a PGA Tour venue even with testing, protocols and other practices in place. Unreal.

Also noteworthy: during the Golf Channel broadcast, on-course reporter Mark Immelman said upon hearing the news he was watching Watney on Wednesday and thought the 35-year-old five-time winnner seemed lethargic, out of sorts with his swing, and not exuding 100% health.

This all begs the most obvious question: what happened to the PGA Tour’s daily questioning and temperature checks as outlined in their guidelines? In a state where cases are spiking?

How did Watney, feeling symptoms, get to places on the property like the range, putting green or clubhouse area?

From the PGA Tour Participant Resource Guide:

While a tad confusing on the “daily medical screening” portion which then outlines the first on-site test protocols for players, the final paragraph notes “abnormal daily on-site medical screening” and a tournament designated area for those potentially needing evaluation.

And yet the player in question was apparently awaiting test results outside of this area and free to roam among his peers? Unreal.

Which ultimately brings us to the apathy element obvious to those on site or watching on television: despite repeated pleas by PGA Tour officials asking for compliance, it’s not happening even with a national TV audience. That doesn’t bode well for taking all precautions necessary when the red light is off.

Robust testing is in place, as ESPN.com’s Bob Harig notes with the numbers here.

But testing is only one element. Note this from GolfChannel.com’s Rex Hoggard who looked at what the Watney situation means for tournaments going forward.

Unlike the bubble the NBA is creating in Orlando, Florida, the Tour’s bubble is only as strong as those it’s intended to protect. This inherent vulnerability has always been the primary concern.
As late as Thursday, players were warned, again, in a memo to maintain social distancing, minimize exposure and to avoid a sense of “false security.”

“Please be advised that failure to follow these protocols and the rules outlined in the Participant Resource Guide may result in a player or caddie being ineligible to receive the stipend provided by the PGA Tour for those constituents who are eligible,” read the memo from the Tour’s chief tournaments and competitions officer Andy Pazder.

Also potentially impacted are those who were around Watney Thursday at Harbour Town and who were informed of the news midway through their round (though with Watney WD’ing before the start of play, the possibility had to be in their heads).

From Brian Wacker’s GolfDigest.com story quoting Vaughn Taylor and Luke List, Watney’s playing partners.

“I was a little shocked, to be honest,” Taylor said. “Heart started racing, got a little nervous. Just hope Nick’s doing well and we get through this.

“It was on our minds that second nine. We were all chitchatting about it. It’s hard not to think about it.”

Though both players said they felt fine, Taylor and List, along with their caddies, confirmed they would undergo testing on Friday.

“Yeah, it was hard to concentrate out there for me, just thinking about different stuff, and I wasn't playing my best anyway,” said List, who won in the Korn Ferry Tour’s return to action last week at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach but shot two-over 73 on Friday to miss the cut.

Wacker notes Watney must quarantine for 10 days in Hilton Head or drive home immediately to Austin, Texas. He will receive $100,000 for his troubles and we hope, nothing more than some mild symptoms.

As for where this leaves the PGA Tour and future events, the viability of future events relies on actual enforcement of the guidelines and some major screw-tightening.

From Ferguson’s piece, noting the next “scheduled” event, the issues with Hilton Head this week, and a more responsible approach to testing next week:

The PGA Tour is scheduled to play next week in Cromwell, Connecticut, where the Travelers Championship is testing everyone - including volunteers and media - who will be on property.

Tournament organizers made that decision. The PGA Tour has tried to create a bubble of its key people at tournaments, designating player hotels as an option and urging everyone in the bubble to avoid outside contact. Some players have been renting houses. There is no regulation if they choose to eat out.

Hilton Head has been particularly busy this week, with local restaurants packed with people who typically come to this quiet island on the Atlantic coast for vacation.

''South Carolina's open. If you go anywhere to a restaurant, there's a lot of people there right now,'' Spieth said. ''So I guess that's probably best case is that he got it on his own outside'' the bubble.

Watney then brought it inside a bubble.

Maybe players need to hear this in more plain language. Let me help.

The flawed “bubble”—as Adam Scott felt and why the world no. 8 is not playing yet—was designed to not only protect players and others on site, but the viability of the golf industry in a time of pandemic. That means everyone from the pro ranks, to the everyday golf course, to every constituent in an $85 billion industry.

Let’s hope for all involved that Watney merely just has some light symptoms and no others at Harbour Town get COVID-19. Oh, and reading the regulations would be nice, too:

The news came on the same day Major League Baseball shut down all of its facilities to voluntary player workouts after multiple outbreaks.

Also, one of the nation’s elite college football programs, Clemson, revealed an outbreak of 23 positive tests.

Today In Microphone Wearing Wars: Koepka Scolds Announcers, Hadwin Gives Us Access To His Penalty

As galleries are kept away and likely will for most tournaments this year, the importance of sound continues to be a topic. Who knew it was this sensitive? Oh right, anyone who has dealt with modern golf pros who think they’re carrying out an NSA mission.

World No. 2 Brooks Koepka added this on the eve of the 2020 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town, reports Stephen Fastenau of the Island Packet.

Asked about his thought on players wearing microphones after his first round at the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing, Koepka didn’t hold back.

“I don’t understand why they want us to wear a mike when there’s a boom mike that stands 10 feet away from every shot that I hit,” Koepka said after opening with a 4-under-par 67 in his first start at Harbour Town Golf Links. “If the announcers would just shut up and listen, you could hear every word that we’re talking about.”

For Thursday’s Heritage first round, Adam Hadwin wore one. Besides providing several instances of insight and something different than stock, Melatonin-producing coverage, the Canadian gave us more than he ever hoped. After touching what he thought was a rock near his bunkered ball, he immediately declared it was, actually, sand. He immediately suspected he’d made a mistake and we got to hear the entire exchange with official Mark Dusbabek thanks to his microphone.

Brian Wacker with the full conversation here for GolfDigest.com.

Sadly, video showing the initial realization of the moment is not on the official Tour accounts, so enjoy this truncated version until the Cult PVB Fun Police zap what is a very harmless and informative mistake.

Here's Adam Hadwin vs the rules of golf... pic.twitter.com/0rDCnK7vrA

— RJ Choppy (@rjchoppy) June 18, 2020

Rory To Europeans Avoiding America For Restart: "It’s not a hardship for two weeks to come over and quarantine."

With elite players like Tommy Fleetwood, Francesco Molinari and Lee Westwood opting to sit out the PGA Tour’s restart, I didn’t expect anyone to question their decision to stay home. Particularly given travel constraints and the two-week quarantine time (each way) for British golfers. And then there is the restarted in two COVID-19 hotspots (Texas and parts of South Carolina) and in a country with the runaway lead in positive tests.

Rory McIlroy, however, was asked in his pre-RBC Heritage Zoom conference and leveled a pretty harsh rebuke of his European Tour peers, reports Gareth Hanna of the Belfast Telegraph.

“If I were in their shoes and I was asked to come over to the States and quarantine for two weeks before these tournaments, I would have done that,” he said.

“If you really care about your career and care about moving forward, you should be here, I think. Last week was 70 World Ranking points for the winner, this week 74.

“I get there are different variables and families involved, but we all have the means to rent a very nice house in a gated community in Florida. It’s not a hardship for two weeks to come over and quarantine.”

McIlroy passed up the 2016 Olympics over concerns about the Zika virus.

PGA Tour COVID-19 Testing Remains Perfect, Two More Korn Ferry Caddies Test Positive, WD's Need Explanation

Almost perfect news across the PGA Tour’s testing of players, caddies and family, reports Bob Harig at ESPN.com.

The total of 954 tests over two weeks includes the 98 players, caddies and family members who boarded chartered flights from Dallas on Monday to travel to Hilton Head for the second event on the PGA Tour's revised schedule after a 13-week shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic. Those who traveled to South Carolina on their own were required to take a test on-site.

Ian Poulter shared his testing experience and the, uh, sensations he felt after the swab went up his nose.

Have you ever wondered what Corona Virus testing in sport looks like...bet you don’t want to know what it feels like! pic.twitter.com/GUCxdn7oiI

— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) June 17, 2020

In less positive news, Harig reported this in addition to the previous week’s Korn Ferry Tour’s four positive tests…

On the Korn Ferry Tour, there have been 408 total coronavirus tests conducted, with two positive results, both from non-players.

Obviously issue #1 is the health of those who did test positive. Here’s hoping they get the support necessary to get well and get back looping with no reprecussions for having contracted the virus.

Issue #2, very much a distant second but nonetheless one totally foreseeable: the PGA Tour does not like to disclose much, including who tests positive for anything. In the case of the virus, while perfectly understandable, the current policy leaves players open to unfair speculation.

But this week, Scottie Scheffler, Kevin Na and Cameron Tringale all WD’d from the RBC Heritage. There were some reports about Na’s back if you poked around Twitter, but no clear explanation was given for Scheffler and Tringale upon the news breaking.

Again, it’s a difficult situation. But without a clearer disclosure for WD’s during the COVID-19 era it causes fans to immediately worry about the player’s health.

2.1: Charles Schwab Hits Event High But It's No 6 In The Ratings Department

CBS did not make any ratings predictions for the “Return to Golf”, but the Charles Schwab Challenge tournament director predicted a final round rating of a 6, which would have been equal to a lot of majors.

The rating is dismal when you consider:

—This was the first live, official PGA Tour event since mid-March.

—Network competition was non-existent. Fox’s presentation of NASCAR was delayed by rain (eventually airing in prime time). NBC was airing the Beverly Hills Dog Show (again). And ABC wheeled out Last Dance (still!).

—Heading into the final round, the leaderboard featured star players and the promise of a close finish (and it was, with Daniel Berger beating Collin Morikawa in a sudden death playoff).

For Immediate Release:

CBS SPORTS DELIVERS MOST-WATCHED FINAL ROUND OF CHARLES SCHWAB CHALLENGE IN 16 YEARS

 Final Round Averaged 3.091 Million Viewers, Up +50% from Last Year

CBS Sports’ return to live PGA TOUR golf scored with viewers as Sunday’s coverage of the Charles Schwab Challenge was the tournament’s most-watched final round in 16 years. 

The final round averaged 3.091 million viewers, an increase of +50% from last year. The national average household rating/share also was up +50% with a 2.1/6.

 The audience for the final round peaked at 3.88 million viewers and a 2.6/7 household rating/share from 5:45-6:00 PM, ET

Thursday’s opening round drew the best non-major Thursday since the 2019 Masters, with an average audience of 683,000.

Friday’s second round dropped to a .07 and 540,000 viewer average, which, while not great, at least edged out Dead Files Repack: TDFL-7R2R04H’s .07 on Travel Channel. So golf has that going for it.

“For tennis and golf, tournaments without fans come at a cost”

AP’s Howard Fendrich looks at how various sports will fare without fans and it’s worth reading to consider where golf’s issues in the COVID-19 era fit with other spectator-friendly sports.

The golf portion from the PGA Tour’s perspective (but not the major championships).

Eliminating spectators means eliminating significant chunks of a tournament’s revenue. That starts with big-earning hospitality tents and pro-ams that can bring in upward of $1 million, and includes other revenue sources like merchandise and ticket sales. Tournaments rely heavily on title sponsors — “We wouldn’t be able to return” without them, Commissioner Jay Monahan said. But it’s the local sponsorship that sustains each tournament. And if discretionary spending by corporations dries up, the effects could be greater in 2021.

Shack Show 16: Quick(ish) Takes And On PGA Tour's Return

I spoke my piece in this Winners and Losers post, but wanted to touch on a few of those and just zero in on the most absurd of first world issues, players and microphones that they treat as their Kryptonite.

I’m also joined by show producer Tim Parochka to dive into a few things thar arose Charles Schwab Challenge week, and he dares to bring up the distance issue! No explicit tag was needed, however.

The Apple podcast link where iPhone users can subscribe.

The iHeart link or you can always play the embed below:

"It’s not that the show must go on. It’s that the Tour has decided to let it go on."

The above quote belongs to Golf’s Michael Bamberger, who covered the PGA Tour’s return at Colonial. It has prompted a thought, but first, the exchange from the SI roundtable, starting with John Wood, looper extraordinaire for Matt Kuchar this week (71-68=MC).

John Wood, PGA Tour caddie for Matt Kuchar (@Johnwould): Pretty much an A+ across the board. The Tour did a phenomenal job of preparing for each and every eventuality. Testing and safety were the number one priorities, and there were redundancies in place for everything. I couldn’t have been more impressed with their preparation. The players were just excited to be back and playing golf, and seemed to handle all the newness in stride. Once they got inside the ropes, things were the same as always. Shoot the lowest score, win the tournament.  

Josh Sens, senior writer (@JoshSens): Watching from afar, it sure seemed to go smoothly. And you could sense the genuine excitement of the players to be back out there competing, which helped make up for the lack of fan electricity. There were oddities, of course, with Nantz flying solo in the booth and no gasps or cheers from a gallery, but there are oddities in almost all of our old rituals these days. Whether there were any public hiccups, I guess we won’t know that for certain for a couple of weeks. But from a distance, it looked a whole lot safer than some pool parties I’ve seen on social media.

Michael Bamberger, senior writer: It was odd. These are odd times. The Tour is being as responsible as it can be by appearance. It’s obvious that the system is not by any means foolproof. It’s not that the show must go on. It’s that the Tour has decided to let it go on. I think they’ve made the right move. But there is no bubble. Way too many variables.

Obviously Bamberger’s remarks stand out because he supports the return, but is highlighting that “too many variables” remain. This presumably is after a week of seeing players spread about in multiple hotels or other locations in the “bubble”. It also suggests pro golf will have to decide if the variables are worth risking and if organizations not governed by the PGA Tour will accept similar risks: namely, the PGA of America, USGA and Masters, all with majors scheduled in late summer and fall.

As I noted in this Schwab Challenge roundup, the optics of seeing several non-players who work for the PGA Tour not adhering to the safety suggestions so clearly on national TV proved jarring and terribly shortsighted. Bad optics or actual viral spread could easily derail the Tour’s plans, the majors and even the perception that golf is a safe haven. The sport is placing a an excessive amount of trust in the PGA Tour to do the right thing.

One Last Look At Hogan's Alley And That Swing

Oh NOW they spring this on us at the PGA Tour Social Account Central.

Better late than never as the circuit heads east from Texas.

Ben Hogan's record at Colonial from 1946-1953:

1st
1st
T2
T3
T4
1st
1st pic.twitter.com/12iiDrloe8

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 15, 2020

Charles Schwab Challenge: Winners And Losers From The 2020 "Return to Golf"

Busy week! The PGA Tour is back in the COVID-19 era and there was a lot to unpack.

Winners

Daniel Berger – On the comeback trail from a wrist injury and in extra-fine form when the season was abruptly stopped, the Golf Gods guided this once-young gun back to winning glory. His tears of joy made up for the lack of energy caused by the lack of fans. It was immensely satisfying to see what the win meant to Berger. Thanks.

Collin Morikawa – Just another stellar week from, eh em, the game’s steadiest player. A slight push on a putt that clearly was harder than it looked (ask Xander), and a heartbreaking loss should do nothing to discourage this young star.

Xander Schauffele – Somehow recovers from an epic misplay from a 15th hole fairway bunker and into the water to sink a long bogey putt, then birdies 16, suffers a brutal horseshoe lipout at 17 and conducts himself with class after the round. But it was the obvious facial disappointment (and was that steam out of the ears?) made us realize we were watching golf that mattered.

Colonial – Pre-tournament week we heard it was firm and fast, but the course was clearly softened up early in the week to protect the bent greens and move a bloated 148-player field around. Things firmed up enough on the weekend to weed out those who were just a bit off their game. As it should be.

CBS – They pulled it off with a strange concoction of announcers in one location and tech teams in others. There were polished new almost 3D graphics paid some sponsor bills, added some stats and offered a fresh look.

Live Drone – While wind probably minimized its usage Sunday, CBS’s use of a live drone took advantage of having no fans on site to provide us some different perspectives Saturday, including trailing leaders up some fairways and overall, delivering a sense of the golf course and scene. Just don’t give us a groovy view and then hide it with a leaderboard.

Points Lists And Other Signs Of Not Grasping The Current Times – Kudos to all for minimizing talk of money, points races and most other signs of excess that no one needed to hear about this week. Oh sure we got FedExCup lists but overall, talk of money and perks was minimal.

PGA Tour Messaging On COVID-19 – Jay Monahan and team said all the right things heading into the week about wanting to set the right example, outlined plenty of extra-stringent guidelines and even texted players, caddies and others reminders during the week to set an example. The execution within range of a national television audience, however… 

Losers 

PGA Tour Execution Of Distancing, Safety Precautions – The sight of multiple PGA Tour officials without masks indoors or outdoors and not even trying to physically distance was jarring enough that, oh, everyone who knows who is who noticed during Sunday’s final round. If you flipped over to rain-delayed NASCAR, masks were aplenty and the safety rules were still in full display (even as they are several races into their restart and could easily grow lax). While the CBS crew fully complied, players and caddies understandably struggled with some of the guidelines (wiping flagsticks and rakes down is pretty silly). But those with a PGA Tour employee ID number need to do better when the cameras are on. Or any time.

PGA Tour Stars – Ok, that was one less-than-idea day all the way around, especially for the world No. 1 posting 74 after a front nine 41.  But Sunday was a good reminder that the excessively-worshiped official world ranking does not mean a thing once you step on the first tee.

Golf As The First Sport Back Excitement – A 1.5 overnight rating for Saturday’s action is not the stuff of, “the world was watching” and Monahan did not make the invite list to Sportscenter’s commissioner roundtable tomorrow.

Brandel Chamblee – Not the way to draw in a younger audience.

CBS Commercial Load – Saturday’s broadcast went along pretty smoothly but as we were warned early in the week, “Eye On The Course” would be used heavily and it was indeed, to the usual Sunday horror of social media watchers overwhelmed by make goods, ads and a pre-recorded Zoom with Charles Schwab (it was at least useful since a surprising number were not aware he is a living, breathing person-American…). With a deep leaderboard needing some time for viewers to take in, they were often hurriedly taken down. Storytelling for the new audience expected to tune in could not happen, and the telecast could have used a ticker to show us scores, stats and take some burden off the telecast having to deal with so many promotional obligations.

“Inside The Ropes” – The new on-course interview element may have been the single worst waste of time in golf television history. I think I speak for all but immediate families or maybe sponsors paying for collar logos, that we did not need to know what Jim Furyk is working on or that Keegan Bradley is happy to be back playing golf in full hostage video voice.  

PGA Tour Live - Given the chance to be lead-in coverage on CBS, we were reminded that the Tour’s in-house effort is very much in the broadcasting minor leagues. It’s cruel to judge much in such a strange time for TV crews, but without fans the camera angles remained awful, there were focus issues and just an overall state TV vibe that made it tough sledding.

Golf Without Fans – The energy just wasn’t there Sunday despite the best efforts of the CBS announcers. While the week showed the PGA Tour can go on with a less exciting product and still function, the three remaining majors have to be re-examined if fan-free or even fan-minimal is how they want to present their jewels.

Colonial Set Up For A Wild Finish: 13 Within Three Of Schauffele's Lead

We know it’s golf and someone might runaway, hide and without fans it could be a snoozfest at Colonial. But as Rex Hoggard notes for GolfChannel.com, this is an unlikely scenario for Sunday’s Charles Schwab Challenge final round.

A whopping 13 players are within three strokes of Xander Schauffele’s lead.

The scenes of pro golf without fans are admittedly odd on TV—more East Lake Cup than Ryder Cup—and as Darren Carroll’s photo essay for GolfDigest.com shows, producing some odd scenes.

Mike McAllister at PGATour.com highlights some of the other oddities to expect in the first COVID-19 era final round, but there is also the unknown element of who will feed off the quiet atmosphere.

The determining factor might very well be how players handle the unusual circumstances of a high-pressure environment without being able to feed off fans.

Some may like it.

Some may find it difficult to play their best.

“I'm into it, and it's a little bit more competitive honestly than I thought it would be,” said Justin Thomas, who joins Grace, Jordan Spieth, Gary Woodland and Collin Morikawa as the closest pursuers to Schauffele. “I thought it was going to be very odd. I was hoping that I'd be in this position to where I'd have a good chance to win the tournament and see how I feel, but it is going to be different, especially come those last couple of holes if you have a lead or if you're trying to chase someone down or if you're tied for the lead.

“It'll be interesting to see how that adrenaline plays a role.”

The obvious rooting interest for many is Harold Varner, who has knocked on the door several times. Kevin Robbins files a terrific GolfDigest.com piece on Varner and his 79-year-old coach who is watching from North Carolina.

“He’s streaky, OK?” his 79-year-old coach said Saturday afternoon on the telephone. He wanted people to know that Varner won the North Carolina State Amateur [and was the first male African American to do so]. He wanted people to know that Varner was the Conference USA player of the year as a senior at East Carolina University. He wanted people to know how diligent and disciplined Varner is. (A story, told by the coach: Varner was 16 and working in the bag room at Gastonia when he asked Sudderth, “Would you help me get better?” Sudderth sized him up. He saw a hint of potential. “The next day, at 10 o’clock in the morning, we started.” End of story.)

“When he comes home,” Sudderth said, “he always wants me to watch him.”

And Sudderth will Sunday when CBS goes live with the telecast. He’ll be watching for any sign of nerves. He doubts he’ll see any.

Varner is a former First Tee Open contestant at Pebble Beach and the PGA Tour Champions account posted this of him playing the 17th hole thirteen years ago:

"This kid has been unbelievable."

13 years ago, @HV3_Golf won junior title at @PUREFirstTee.

He leads @CSChallengeFW. pic.twitter.com/9ETgHuv2Vg

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) June 13, 2020

Video: Nantz's Introduction To CBS's Return In Era Of Unrest, COVID-19

As previewed earlier in the week during a CBS conference call, Jim Nantz opened the telecast with some prepared thoughts. Here it is if you missed the telecast.

Jim Nantz 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾wow...powerful! I encourage you to watch this. 🙏🏾 #BLMpic.twitter.com/tas6nGHTr6

— Anthony Calhoun 📺 (@ACwishtv) June 13, 2020

David Barron On Lance Barrows Working His Last Colonial

Plenty of good stuff in this Lance Barrow profile by David Barron in the Houston Chronicle. The longtime CBS golf producer is working his final Colonial tournament since joining the network in 1977.

There was this on his predecessor Frank Chirkinian:

Along with CBS veterans like Steve Milton and Jim Rikhoff, Barrow is one of the few network employees who worked with Chirkinian, who relished his nickname as “The Ayatollah.”

“My personality is different, but Frank taught all of us,” he said. “We used to call CBS the ‘Chirkinian Broadcast School.’

“If somebody compared our telecast with Frank’s, which is hard to do because of technology and all the things we have now, I would view that as the ultimate compliment. I’ve always tried to ensure that nothing gets in the way of covering the golf tournament and the competition, and that’s what Frank wanted to do, too.”

"Mic'd Rickie Fowler delivered good stuff, even if his game did not"

AP’s Stephen Hawkins covered the television angle to the “Return To Golf” and Rickie Fowler’s “mic’d up” approach got the most attention. Deservedly so. As I Tweeted at one point, had Fowler not done so I’m pretty sure the telecast would have been considered a real drag. But just getting inside the ropes with him a few times and overhearing other comments from his group, took us to some places we rarely get in a PGA Tour event.

And there was a bit of a rocky start when a normal microphone picked up an obscenity-infused compliment. Here is the offending moment, should be inclined.

From Hawkins’ story:

“Well, we were hoping for better audio with no fans, surrounding the course,” commentator Jim Nantz then said on the broadcast. “Apologize if anybody was offended with what they may have heard there.”

That threesome of the world’s top three players — No. 1 Rory McIlroy, No. 2 Rahm and No. 3 Brooks Koepka — was being followed by TV support people, a coach, a trainer and a small group of media during the first PGA Tour event in three months.

The expletive was audible even though none of the players in that group were wearing a microphone, like Rickie Fowler did throughout the first round of Charles Schwab Challenge.

As for Fowler, Brian Wacker at GolfDigest.com covers the highlights of what we learned and notes what just hearing these exchanges did to help in a fan-free environment.

In the process of shooting a three-over 73 that included four bogeys in the last five holes, he offered a PG-version of commentary that was mostly a terrific listen to a world so few have access to. It wasn’t explosive, but did provide added value, especially as the day wore on.

After the first two holes of silence—sans for the sounds of Fowler’s shirt moving as he walked—viewers were welcomed into the conversation as Fowler and his caddie, Joe Skovron, shared their thoughts on a 154-yard approach with a 8-iron that sailed about 10 yards too far.

He also details the very fascinating Inside Baseball discussion between Fowler and caddie Joe Skovron.

Draftkings: Schwab Challenge Round One Most Bet PGA Tour Event In Their History

JUST IN: @DKSportsbook tells me is Charles Schwab Challenge is the most-bet @PGATOUR event in its history ... and Round 1 hasn’t even ended yet.

Watch featured groups LIVE:https://t.co/J4IyL2VzJM

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 11, 2020

Guess we know why ShotLink was an essential service for the PGA Tour’s fan-free return: DraftKings reported its best day yet of PGA Tour betting (admittedly a brief life cycle of just under two years).

Now, as someone who has put a few bucks down here and there—never a dog track!—I did not even ponder the notion any sane individual would bet on golfers coming off an unprecedented three month hiatus. But that’s why they offer betting on anything, assuming you live in a sport-betting friendly state.

As Christopher Powers reports for GolfDigest.com, DraftKing’s Johnny Avello says the Texans got a lot of attention.

According to Avello, Jordan Spieth received the most money to win at Colonial at 45-to-1 odds. A few years ago, getting the three-time major winner at that number would be unheard of, but his recent struggles have caused his odds to skyrocket. Ryan Palmer, a member at Colonial, was a close second, along with Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Kevin Kisner and Justin Rose—the latter opening with a seven-under 63.

Spieth was a good bet given his performance last year in the event. Still…