Bryson Very, Very Briefly Posts Video To Confirm He's Not Using Steroids**

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This is one of those instances where you wonder how much thought and analysis went into the conceptual phase, only to have to embarrassingly remove it within minutes of posting.

Given the camera assistance and potential spon-con play with Quest Diagnostics, there appears to have been a “team” decision for Bryson DeChambeau to debunk any rumors of steroid use. And judging by the Twitter comments posted before the video came down, DeChambeau also revealed he’s a cat person. This could be the real reason the post came down, not some a frantic call from Cult Ponte Vedra warning that the video was a terrible, terrible PIP play was he’s closing in on the same fifth place finish headquarters penciled him in for at the season’s start.

Either way, it was “uploader” deleted:

Thankfully, G.C. Digital is not taking the holiday week off and posted this description of the short-lived video:

DeChambeau said he had bloodwork and a urine sample done before the video cut to him doing an intense speed-training session. The video then transitioned to a shirtless DeChambeau scrolling through his emails on his phone at 10:30 one night during the Hero World Challenge earlier this month in the Bahamas. DeChambeau held up the email of the results on his phone, while the PDFs were also posted to the video.

"All negative," DeChambeau exclaimed, as the lab report showed a long list of negative results, including for amphetamine, methamphetamine, anabolic and masking agents, dozens of anabolic androgenic agents and growth hormone. "Nothing!"

DeChambeau then capped the video sitting next to Greg Roskopf, found of Muscle Activation Techniques, while saying, "This is better than steroids."

Subtle plug there.

As for the Twitter comments during the short time the video was up, they’re, uh, informative..

**It lives!!! Warning: this is six minutes you’ll never get back!

Bubba On Saudi: See If You Can Guess How Long Before He Mentions Growing The Game

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If you had took the over—50 words—you’re a winner.

It took Bubba Watson 51 before he dropped a “grow the game” to rationalize his hopes of a PGA Tour release to the Saudi International. Quite a contrast to Lewis Hamilton’s stance before the recent Saudi F1 race.

Speaking before this week’s QBE Shootout:

Q. Just your thoughts on you're on the list for the Saudi Arabia tournament and obviously a lot of players are just waiting to see what happens or what the Tour says. How are you approaching that part of it?

BUBBA WATSON: Yeah, it's one of those things where I love to travel and I wanted to travel somewhere else.

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

And Saudi Arabia, they're trying to change.

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

They started with women's golf, started supporting the women's golf and then they started supporting men's golf. There's women's tournaments already that they sponsor. Trying to grow the game.

ROFLROFLROFLROFLROFL

They're trying to change industry over there, bring golf, bring tourism to Saudi Arabia with the beautiful beaches that they already have.

ROFLROFLROFLROFLROFL

It will be interesting to go over there and play, but also see the beauty of other parts of the world that God's created. I can't wait to get over there.

Okay this is not funny now. Someone needs to convey to Mr. Bubba that in the eyes of those paying him lavishly to come see their country, his God did not create those beautiful beaches. And they don’t really like his God. At all.

Hopefully the Tour lets us go. Again, you know, the charity dollars is what's most important, so the more money I can get in my hands, the more I can give away. So it's an honor and a privilege if they let me go over there and play.

BINGO!

We got a grow the game, God and charity.

Latest "Grow The Game" Variant Threatens The Reputation Of Golf's Leading Pros

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Comments this week from Justin Rose and Collin Morikawa offer a reminder that the terrible virus known as “grow the game” has failed to go away.

My Quadrilateral plea to be vigilant plus speculation on grow the game’s origins.

**After filing this latest newsletter, I saw Mark Cannizzaro’s lengthy NY Post story on the Bahamas buzz over the new league. Naturally, it included this:

One high-profile player, who has been approached by representatives for a potential “league,’’ told The Post this week that he’s “concerned for the game’’ if an all-out legal brawl ensues between the PGA Tour and what it would consider another organization infringing on its empire.

“This should all be about growing the game,’’ the player said.

Barf.

R.I.P. Lee Elder

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The Associated Press story on the passing of Lee Elder led this way:

Lee Elder, who broke down racial barriers as the first Black golfer to play in the Masters and paved the way for Tiger Woods and others to follow, has died at the age of 87.

Golfweek’s Adam Schupak notes that while Elder had been struggling with health issues, his passing was a surprise.

No immediate details were available about the cause of death but Elder had been experiencing respiratory difficulties. Arthur Johnson, a Jacksonville resident and a friend of Elder’s for more than 50 years, said Elder died Sunday during a visit with his wife Sharon to his step-daughter Dory’s home in San Diego.

“I talked to him on Thanksgiving and he sounded really strong, in good spirits,” Johnson said. “This is really difficult. He was like a big brother to me. … we were the best of friends.”

Richard Goldstein files the New York Times obituary and leads with the Masters.

But those performances did not persuade the Masters to bend its new rule and accord Elder a spot. Elder broke through after capturing the 1974 Monsanto Open at the Pensacola Country Club in Florida, where six years earlier he and other African American PGA Tour members playing there had been refused entrance to the clubhouse. They had to dress in a parking lot.

That victory finally brought the 1975 Masters invitation. In the run-up to the tournament Elder received death threats. He rented two houses near the Augusta National course and moved between them as a security measure.

GolfDigest.com’s Tod Leonard on how Elder will always be linked to the Masters for better or worse, from the battle to earn an invitation to last year’s stirring tribute by Chairman Fred Ridley.

Golf.com’s Michael Bamberger also looked at the meaning of Elder’s two Masters appearances and what they meant for the game. This was nice:

But the ultimate gift, stemming from Ridley’s invitation and Mr. Elder’s acceptance of it, was to us, to millions of us across the world, to get acquainted or reacquainted with Elder’s remarkable life and example. 

If professional golf has a Jackie Robinson, it is Charlie Sifford, for whom Elin and Tiger named their son. If the game has a Henry Aaron, it is Lee Elder.

No, Mr. Elder did not dominate professional golf as Henry Aaron did professional baseball. Not even close. But Henry and Lee, sons of the Jim Crow South in the years before and during World War II, both pursued their sports with quiet professionalism and little flash. 

Bill Fields in The Albatross on the influence Elder had on Tiger Woods.

The young man had been walking fast, en route to Butler Cabin at Augusta National Golf Club to be given a green jacket, the first man of color to slip into that unique shade. The older man, 22 years prior, had been the first African American to play in the Masters. He got a speeding ticket on his way to watch Tiger make history. The fine was worth it. Tiger Woods and Lee Elder hugged amid the tumult along a corridor of cheering spectators, the excitement of a new day in a golf that was a long time coming. 

For all the fantastic golf Woods played over those 72 holes, that moment with Elder when the tournament was over stands out as a marker of history and potential for change.

Trail opened, trail climbed.  

For those of us who didn’t see him in his prime when he won four PGA Tour events, Elder was a staple of the Senior Tour for several years where he won eight times during its heyday and took home $1.4 million in earnings.

And here is the best of Twitter regarding Elder’s passing. I’ll add more when some notables chime in who so far have not:

Major(s) News & Notes, November 11th, 2021

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This week’s edition free for all to read and subscribe to for free explores the danger of pro golfers talking money. Plus, an update with links to the best reads about the chase for money.

Then the Quad dives into how major venues fared in Golf Mag's World Top 100, followed by a Frisco update, and some non-golf reads.

Unhinged Files: useGolfFACTS Resurfaces As Reed's Hero World Challenge Digging Anniversary Nears

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We’re coming up on the two-year anniversary of Patrick Reed’s excursion in the sands of Albany and for reasons only clear to his devout Twitter supporter at useGolfFacts, also widely believed to be a family account, there is no time like the middle of the night to dredge up Reed’s suspicious behavior en route to winning the 2019 Hero World Challenge.

In reply to a January 30th—yes January 30th—Tweet by European Tour player Eddie Pepperell, useGolfFACTS randomly decided on October 26th to offer a robust set of screen shots and analysis questioning the “accuracy of the digital integrity verification testing” conducted by rules officials who ultimately penalized Reed.

It’s wild and wacky stuff:

The account also responded regarding Reed’s college days at Georgia.

Glad we clarified that last part about the free putters.

GolfDigest.com’s Joel Beall reviewed the account history of zaniness and bashing Reed’s peers, while offering this HOF Non-denial Denial from Reed’s attorney:

But to those who believe Reed’s tweet on Saturday is the smoking gun, Reed’s attorneys say that’s not necessarily the case. In response to a Golf Digest email about Reed’s Saturday night Tweet and his connection with “useGolfFACTS,” Reed’s lawyer, Phillip B. Costa, replied “Please be advised that the person who manages Patrick Reed’s Twitter and Instagram accounts does not run the @ use GolfFACTS account.” As of writing, a direct message to the “useGolfFACTS” account from Golf Digest has not been returned.

"Pro golf is approaching its own mental health reckoning"

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There’s a lot to take in via Daniel Rapaport’s GolfDigest.com story on pro golf “approaching a mental health reckoning”, including some frank disclosures from players and predictions of mental health becoming a big topic in years to come.

But this stood out from Dr. Michael Lardon, a clinical psychiatrist “who has worked with Phil Mickelson, David Duval, Will Zalatoris and dozens of other tour professionals.”

Rapaport writes:

But meditating and blocking Twitter only go so far if there is a chemical imbalance in the brain. A growing number of tour players are seeking professional help not only from the types of sports psychologists that have hung around the tour for decades, but from medical doctors like Dr. Lardon, who can diagnose psychiatric conditions and prescribe medication to treat them.

“There’s a number on the men’s tour that I help,” says Dr. Lardon, “but we never talk about it. There are some super-high-profile golfers, and ones in the past, that are on medication. And what does the media say? They say what the player’s PR person or agent says. I hurt my back. I got dizzy. I wish more would come out and just be honest about what’s happening, but it’s not my place.”

Of course it’s understandable he wants to normalize the disclosure of mental health issues to help the greater good, but it’s ridiculous to expect media to draw this out of players. It has to come from them.

Rahm: "I don't want to see a golf club"

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To no one’s surprise, top players are running on fumes after an 18-month window of six majors and obligations to turn up all over the world. World No. 1 Jon Rahm spoke of plans to shut it down after the best and also most dramatic stretch of his career when he captured the U.S. Open, contended regularly in majors, lost a probable title after testing positive for COVID-19 at the Memorial, and became a father.

His comments after a 78 and missed cut in Madrid, as reported by AP:

"This is the first time in my life that I don't want to see a golf club," Rahm said. "And this comes from someone who loves this sport, and after a year in which some pretty good things have happened to me."

Rahm said he needs to take a break and may not play for one month until the World Tour Championship in Dubai.

"More than my body, it is my mind that can't take it. I am going to hang up my clubs for four weeks," Rahm said. "I haven't stopped since the stoppage because of COVID. ... If we add it all up, I need to rest."

Quadrilateral: Major(s) News And Notes, October 14th, 2021

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I had to leave a few lesser notes on the cutting room floor but there’s always next week! In the meantime, we have plenty to chew on with the 46-inch Local Rule reactions ensuring widespread adoption in 2022's majors. But Phil doesn't agree and I speculate as to why.

Plus, a cow pasture wants the '31 Ryder Cup, Masters job offerings and a whole bunch of good reads both on golf and not

This would already have landed in your inbox if you signed up. And of course, if you have and a paid subscriber you can comment and read all past issues.

Turkey Day? DeChambeau v. Koepka Match Set For The Wynn

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This one could go a lot of ways so those of us with no lives will sit back and let those with a meaningful existence know how it went.

They’re playing 12 holes because that’s more than enough and a number many would like to see more golf played at—I’m sure Prestwick was on their minds—or was it because 18 is a slog? Anyway, that’s splendid and hopefully the first of many events validating 12 hole rounds.

Also, for all the claims of making up during the Ryder Cup, these Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka will undoubtedly retain their charming form of brotherly tension and maybe some of it will even spill out on national TV.

Not mentioned in the new release but likely the most interesting element in this: Phil MIckelson moving to the broadcast booth. He tipped us off during a recent Gary Williams podcast about this possibility.

For Immediate Release:

TNT will exclusively televise the 12-hole event, to be held the day after Thanksgiving — Friday, Nov. 26, with live coverage beginning at 4 p.m. ET from Wynn Las Vegas, home of top-ranked Wynn Golf Course, the only golf course on the Las Vegas strip. TNT’s presentation of Capital One’s The Match will also be simulcast on TBS, truTV and HLN.

DeChambeau won in his first time competing in Capital One’s The Match – pairing with Aaron Rodgers – this past July, when they topped Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady. Winner of the 2020 U.S. Open and an eight-time winner on the PGA TOUR overall, DeChambeau is currently the No. 7-ranked player in the World.

This will be Koepka’s first appearance as a competitor in Capital One’s The Match, though through his foundation he donated $100,000 to COVID-19 relief efforts during Capital One’s The Match: Champions for Charity in May 2020 in connection with a memorable front-nine birdie from Brady. Koepka also owns eight PGA TOUR titles, including four Major Championship victories over a three-year span:  the 2018 and 2019 PGA Championship and 2017 and 2018 U.S. Open.

DeChambeau (2-0-1) and Koepka (2-2-0) were both members of the victorious U.S. Team’s resounding win over Europe at the recent Ryder Cup.

Live coverage of the match play event will once again feature unprecedented access with players having open mics throughout the entire competition, including the capability to communicate directly with their competitor and the broadcast commentators.

Can we bet an over/under on how many holes it takes before Brooks has to back off a shot because Bryson’s yammering to his caddie? I’ll take the under!

Capital One’s The Match has raised nearly $30 million in support of various charities and initiatives and has generated nearly 10 million meal donations through Feeding America and other organizations.

A partner since the event’s inception, Capital One will return as title sponsor of Capital One’s The Match, which is sanctioned by the PGA TOUR. Presenting partners will include Michelob Ultra, and DraftKings will return as sports betting partner. E-Z-GO, Wheels Up and Wynn Resorts will also serve as associate partners. Further details about social, digital and broadcast brand integrations throughout the event will be shared in the coming weeks.

Designed by Tom Fazio and his son, Logan, the Wynn Golf Club is a 6,722-yard, par-70 championship length golf course and is considered one of the best courses in Las Vegas. 

Considered one of the best of its kind!

R&A's Seve Documentary, Exhibit And Book Debuts

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Based on the reviews and track record of the R&A’s recent film efforts, the new Seve film, exhibit and book of David Cannon images sounds like the fitting tribute his epic career deserves. While I think the 2014 film Seve is fascinating mix of documentary and re-enactment scenes highlighted by Jose Luis Gutierrez’s performance as the young Ballesteros, a pure documentary was needed.

The debut screening took place this week in St Andrews where Javier Ballesteros, playing in the Alfred Dunhill Links, and sister Carmen were on hand to watch and participate in a Q&A.

From TheOpen.com story:

Supported and co-produced by The R&A and directed by David White and Joss Holmes, SEVE tells the story of the three-time Champion Golfer through interviews with members of his inner circle and peers, and never-before-heard audio clips and footage of Ballesteros himself.

As well as capturing the joyous highs of Ballesteros’ career, including his trio of Open wins, two successes at the Masters and his revolutionary impact on the Ryder Cup, the film also examines the tough times the Spaniard faced as he battled injury, a dramatic loss of form and ill health.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said: “Seve was an inspiration to so many of us in golf and we wanted to celebrate his life and show just how much he meant to the sport. Working with Seve’s family and other key contributors, this landmark documentary chronicles the life and story of this charismatic, flamboyant and inspirational golfer who is without doubt one of the greatest of all time.”

The story says the film can only be screened in Europe as of now, with efforts to secure an international distributor underway.

The exhibit will be on display for 18 months, coinciding with the 150th Open at St Andrews.

Martin Dempster wrote the film for The Scotsman and while I don’t agree with his assessment of the prior Seve film, I’m glad to see such a rave review

It wasn’t all sweetness and light for Seve, of course. From a very early stage in his career, he suffered chronic back trouble while he also suffered from depression.

To try and counter the latter, his manager, who, incidentally, reveals he was taking a 25 per cent cut, set up a phone chat between Ballesteros and the great Muhammad Ali.

Wife Carmen shares some great memories, as do his three children - Javier, who has followed in his footsteps and is playing in this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Carmen and Miguel.

Efforts have been made in the past to try and do justice on the big screen but failed. Not this time, though.

Bryson Steals The Long Drive (Streaming) Show

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Let’s call it the Golf Channel bounce.

In its transition to an all-PGA Tour focus all-the-time, the long drive property built-up by NBC and Golf Channel was abandoned a couple years too soon.

A weird, almost security-camera vibe to the streaming coverage didn’t stop the coveted young demographic from enjoying Bryson DeChambeau’s terrific showing (final eight) in the post-Golf Channel, re-imagined-on-a-shoe-string-budget World Long Drive Championships

Golf.com’s James Colgan covers the backstory of how long drive reached the point and is now resurgent thanks in large part to Bryson DeChambeau’s performance this week. Heck, maybe there’s a sports network out there that’ll take a chance on them? Cheap content!

When you have drama like this, who wouldn’t want to put this on TV:

Bones Is Transitioning...From Announcing To Justin Thomas's Bag

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Surprising news on many levels, but Jimmy Johnson’s backup has been promoted to carry Justin Thomas’s bag. Jim Bones Mackay will be missed on NBC broadcasts where he’s become established as a reliable on-course reporting voice entrusted with some of the network’s biggest assignments.

First reported by Golf Central’s Twitter account:

Cantlay Voted By Peers As Player Of The Year Despite Struggles In Majors

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I reviewed the PGA Tour Player of the Year vote in the latest Quadrilateral and rounded up the Tweets puncturing the case for Patrick Cantlay deserving the award over Jon Rahm.

Nothing against Cantlay’s season, but for players to so openly ignore major success, prompted the question and attempted answer: do they put cash ahead of majors?

Anyway, for posterity and some laughs from the case for Cantlay (seven top tens when Rahm had 15 in 22 starts), here is the full Player Of The Year press release:

FedExCup Champion Patrick Cantlay voted 2021 PGA TOUR Player of the Year

California native earns Jack Nicklaus Award after four-win season 

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – The PGA TOUR announced today that FedExCup Champion Patrick Cantlay has been named the 2021 PGA TOUR Player of the Year as voted by the TOUR’s membership for the 2020-21 season. Cantlay won four times on the season including back-to-back victories in the FedExCup Playoffs. 

Cantlay, who will receive the Jack Nicklaus Award for winning PGA TOUR Player of the Year, was selected for the honor over (alphabetically) Bryson DeChambeau, Harris English, Collin Morikawa and Jon Rahm.

“On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I would like to congratulate Patrick Cantlay on being honored as the 2021 PGA TOUR Player of the Year,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Receiving this award through a member vote reflects the respect his peers have for Patrick. His play throughout 2020-21 was phenomenal, and in stepping up to win consecutive FedExCup Playoffs events and the FedExCup, Patrick was at his best when it mattered most in our season.”

With wins at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, BMW Championship and TOUR Championship, Cantlay (4) was the only player with more than two during the 2020-21 season. The last player with four or more victories in a single season on the PGA TOUR was Justin Thomas in 2016-17.

Cantlay shot a final-round 65 to win the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP by one stroke over Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas, with his second win of the season coming via a playoff against Collin Morikawa at the Memorial Tournament. At the BMW Championship, Cantlay set the record for most Strokes Gained: Putting during the ShotLink era (14.577) en route to defeating Bryson DeChambeau in a six-hole playoff. He beat Rahm by one stroke at the TOUR Championship the following week. Every player that finished runner-up to Cantlay in his four wins either won a major championship or THE PLAYERS at another point in the season (DeChambeau, Morikawa, Rahm, Thomas).

In all, Cantlay made 24 starts and recorded seven top-10s, with top-five finishes at The American Express (2nd) and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (T3) complementing his four titles. He was the only player to finish in the top 30 in the four major Strokes Gained categories (Off the Tee, Approach the Green, Around the Green, Putting).

Cantlay joined the PGA TOUR as a member for the first time in the 2013-14 season but made just six starts over the next three seasons as he recovered from a back injury. In 2016-17, Cantlay qualified for the TOUR Championship despite making only 13 starts and finished 29th in the FedExCup standings. He won twice on the PGA TOUR before the start of this season (2017 Shriners Children’s Open, 2019 the Memorial Tournament) and has now qualified for the TOUR Championship in four of the last five seasons.

PGA TOUR members who played at least 15 official FedExCup events during the 2020-21 season were eligible to vote.

Patrick Reed Reinforces The Ryder Cup Case Against Picking Patrick Reed

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