Video: Phil, Spieth Kick Off Golf's Talk Show Season

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I forgot to mention in my Forward Press column on golf's two cutting-edge talk shows that in addition to landing big "gets", the shows were likely to deliver entertaining fodder that most pre-scripted talk shows fail to produce.

Jordan Spieth's part-one sitdown with Feherty was interesting in ways I hadn't quite expected and the subsequent viewer reviews have been glowing for the season debut. (The show also drew a 325,000 avg. and was the second most-watched Feherty premiere ever). You can get a flavor of the first episode from this page of clips. The talk of Tiger has gone viral-ish because of Spieth's claim that players do not respect Tiger's greatness enough. His comments on underestimating Jason Day will appear in part two next Monday, March 14.

And Phil Mickelson was as engaging as expected on the season two debut of Callaway Live. What I didn't expect was the display of acting chops from Phil in this bit:

NoTrust: Ilini Golfer Qualifies, Spieth Helps Win $50K For UT

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Neither news item will impact your life a bit, but it's still neat for Charlie Danielson to come from University of Illinois to qualify for the Northern Trust Open after a 68 in Monday's collegiate showcase.

University of Texas kept up its good Riviera karma, earning another $50,000 for a program that won the 2012 NCAA's at the course. Jordan Spieth and friends won the pro-am portion of the gloriously warm winter day to kick of tournament week.

The full PGA Tour press release:

Charlie Danielson wins Northern Trust Open Collegiate Showcase, earns tournament exemption in this week’s field

University of Texas wins $50,000 for the school’s golf program
 
LOS ANGELES – Charlie Danielson shot a bogey-free 3-under 68 in today’s second Northern Trust Open Collegiate Showcase, the low score of the 14 collegians in the field – and the only player under par – earning the University of Illinois senior an exemption into this week’s Northern Trust Open at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.  In just the second iteration of the event, top PGA TOUR pros played alongside 14 standout collegiate golfers from across the country and two amateurs, representing their respective universities.  The professional and the two amateurs (not the collegian) teamed up in a best-ball competition and competed for the Collegiate Showcase Trophy and a donation of $50,000 to the university’s golf program.  That portion of the competition was won by the University of Texas, represented by PGA TOUR player Jordan Spieth, with a score of 10-under 61.
 
Each collegian played his own ball.  Danielson, playing with former University of Illinois star Scott Langley, finished three strokes ahead of Will Zalatoris from Wake Forest, last year’s winner of the Northern Trust Open Collegiate Showcase, and Jonathan Garrick from UCLA and will be making his first start in a PGA TOUR event.
 
“This was one of the cooler events I’ve had since I’ve been in college,” Danielson said following his round. “It means a lot to play this week at the Northern Trust Open because I was fortunate enough to be able to come on the trip because our team had such a great year. And to come play with donors and coach Small, it was a treat. To play in my first PGA TOUR event and have it be at Riviera, here at the Northern Trust Open, I am just grateful for the opportunity.”
 
Danielson, a senior at the University of Illinois, is a two-time All-Big Ten First Team selection (2014, 2015). He reached the round of 16 at the 2013 U.S. Amateur at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. Danielson is also a three-time PING All-American and won the 2014 Les Bolstad Award for having the lowest season stroke average in the Big Ten. In the fall, he finished in the top 10 in all three of Illinois’ tournaments, including two top-5 finishes, and he led the team in stroke average.
 
“He’s a great player,” said Langley, Danielson’s PGA TOUR playing partner for the day. “He’s definitely going to be out on the PGA TOUR someday.”

A few images of Spieth and Texas's Beau Hossler, who had a gallery of a 100 braving the warm, dry weather for a rare chance to watch the World No. 1 golfer coming off of one of golf's all time greatest seasons.


Jordan Spieth Rested And Has His Speeds Back

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With a week off following his trips to Abu Dhabi and Singapore where he complained of fatigue, Jordan Spieth says a week off has him refreshed and ready for Pebble Beach.

Will Gray reports for GolfChannel.com:

“I feel great. I feel very rested now,” Spieth said Wednesday. “It’s amazing what a solid week back here of kind of rest and regeneration will do. My speeds are where they need to be, my rest is back, everything feels good.”

Speeds? Could a Spieth linguistics slideshow be looming somewhere down the line?

Spieth and Jake Owen tee off at 11:55 Thursday with Dustin Johnson and Wayne Gretzky. Gray previews that and other notable celebrity/pro groupings.

Spieth Will Need Extra Day To Go For Coveted Sing Open Crown

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Jordan Spieth's quest to be the historic Singapore Open's first winner after the event took a three year world tour of Europe, Scandinavia and the sub-continent, now spills into Monday after yet another weather delay. Spieth had an 18th hole putt remaining when the horn sounded.

As the Asian Tour's game story notes, Spieth's last hole putt could put more pressure on leader Younghan Song, World No. 204 seeking his first win. Also in the mix is World No. 199 Liang Wen-chong and World No. 1030 Masanori Kobayashi, whose name reminded the television announce team of Keyser Soze.

The storylines! The drama!

On a serious note, at least the exhausted Spieth gets one more night in his Singapore bed, followed by one more day to discuss with agent-turned-caddy-this-week, Jay Danzi, the joys international travel in your run-up to the Masters title defense.

The almost-completed fourth round highlights from Golf Channel, if you're so inclined.

Forward Press: LPGA Kick-Off, PGA Show Coverage

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In this week's edition I speak to LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan about the refreshingly status quo state of the LPGA Tour after years of new events, new lineups and too much sponsor turnover.

Things are so improved for the tour that its number one star is not playing the opener and no one seems to mind because Whan has arranged plenty of playing opportunities.

Also covered: the PGA Show, Farmers Insurance Open and the mysterious Singapore Open where Jordan Spieth is turning up to cash a big check and build on the fatigue that threatens to mess up his year if he isn't careful (we discussed this surprising and not-surprising revelation on Morning Drive).

I'll be curious where PGA Show coverage goes this year after years of secrecy before finally joining the modern world the last few years. In 2015, Callaway was very active online and will be again. Sirius radio will have Matt Adams on hand (with Hank Haney also doing his show from the Show floor). What remains to be seen: how much show coverage is provided by Titleist, Taylor Made and PING. I'll add links if they appear.

The full column here.

Jordan Spieth: “I’m very tired."

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At 22, many have scoffed that Jordan Spieth would ever get tired crossing the globe contending in golf tournaments. And while the weight of taking home massive checks in Abu Dhabi and Singapore is clearly a burden that all would like to have, no amount of money can soften the blow of time zone changes and chasing appearance fees. Especially when your cerebral, grinding playing style is, in large part, energy-based and easily compromised when you are not 100%.

But in refreshing Spieth-eque fashion, the fall and wintertime globetrotter made clear after his final round in Abu Dhabi that he's zonked despite a T5 finish. Alistair Tait reports for Golfweek.com:

“It won’t be something I’ll do in the future, to bounce back and forth from Asia as much as we did, or Australia,” Spieth said here Sunday. “I’m very tired. As a team we’re beat up mentally and physically. I’m not 100 percent right now. It shows in certain places.”

Spieth tied for fifth at 11-under 277, five shots behind countryman Rickie Fowler. Spieth probably would have put up a better fight if he’d had his A game with him.

“The first day I was here, I was striping it,” Spieth said. “Since then I have been a little weak, and my decision-making has been off.”

It's impressive that he recognizes how his game was compromised. Though I'm guessing his agent won't find Jordan's conclusion and decision to share it publicly quite so appealing.

Here We Go! Spieth Calls For Shorts On The PGA Tour

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Something to giggle about at PGA Tour headquarters just became a minor itch and may be heading to a full-fledged rash soon enough.

Alistair Tait reporting from Abu Dhabi, where Jordan Spieth was asked about shorts in advance of his 2016 European Tour debut.

“I think it’s awesome,” Spieth said Wednesday at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, responding to the European Tour’s relaxed dress code during tournament practice rounds and pro-ams. "It will be something that I would love to see on the PGA Tour, as well. I’ve not heard one person complain about it."

In the early poll results, Yes to shorts has taken a big lead.

I remain unconvinced that this will be the breakthrough to the masses or even the only people who matter, as Rex Hoggard noted in this list of reasons shorts would be a good thing. If they need shorts to be happy in a pro-am, something is amiss.

As for the only people who matter, I'd counter that they have shown in surveys to actually like the dress aspect of the game. Whether that includes pants or shorts, only the survey designers know.

Grand Slam: Jordan 100-1, Rory 150-1!?

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As America virtually shuts down on Sundays because the NFL is betting friendly (and even exciting sometimes), golf remains a tough sell to those who like to wager, or, at the least, enjoy discussion of futures odds.

Consider this Martin Inglis story at Bunkered on prices for the 2016 majors.

As for achieving the grand slam, William Hill believe Spieth is more likely to do so than four-time major winner McIlroy, who failed to add to his total during a 2015 which was disrupted by an ankle ligament injury.

Spieth is 10/11 to be majorless, 6/4 to win one, 6/1 to replicate his sensational 2015 by winning two, 14/1 to win three and 100/1 to become the first player to win all four in a calendar year.

As for McIlroy, the odds are slightly longer. The Northern Irishman is 5/6 to win zero, 11/8 to win one, 13/2 to win two, 20/1 to win three and 150/1 to scoop all four.

How so very...not tantalizing. Spieth just finished one of the five best years in major championship history...HISTORY...winning two majors while finishing T4 and second. Repeating that is only a 6-1...opportunity?

Neither are any of these prices even remotely tempting...

And here are the odds for some selected others to win ONE major in 2016:

• Jason Day – 2/1 
• Rickie Fowler – 9/2 
• Bubba Watson – 6/1 
• Dustin Johnson – 6/1 
• Justin Rose – 6/1
 • Adam Scott – 8/1
 • Henrik Stenson – 8/1
 • Hideki Matsuyama – 12/1 
• Patrick Reed – 12/1
 • Brooks Koepka – 14/1 
• Phil Mickelson – 14/1 
• Matt Kuchar – 14/1 
• Louis Oosthuizen – 14/1 
• Martin Kaymer – 14/1 
• Sergio Garcia – 14/1

And…
• Tiger Woods – 14/1

Right now, we should get 14/1 if Tiger will even PLAY in a major.

What I can't gauge from these numbers is if it speaks to the bettors not understanding just how hard it is to win a major in golf, or the bookmakers just instilling this obliviousness in their customers. Either way, the numbers above are only good for discussing how silly they look on paper. Give me a $20,000 Maiden Claimer any day over this!

Meanwhile punters, Rory is looking ready to go as his 2016 is about to kick off in Abu Dhabi, getting dialed in on his new Trackman.

Is the just a little taller, the swing a little tighter/shorter, and the body even more fit?

Slow motion:

A video posted by Rory McIlroy (@rorymcilroy) on Jan 17, 2016 at 6:31am PST


And full speed. Pretty tight.

Full speed

A video posted by Rory McIlroy (@rorymcilroy) on Jan 17, 2016 at 8:50am PST