When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
SOG 122: Enough LIV, Time To Talk the Old Course
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Rainbow at the 2015 Open (Geoff Shackelford)
It won't go away but LIV Golf and all its implications can take a back seat for the next two weeks as golf hopefully celebrates everything good about the game with an Open Championship at the Old Course.
Come along as Rod Morri, Mike Clayton and yours truly talk all things St Andrews.
Here is the Apple podcast option.
The State of the Game page where you can get links to your favorite podcast players.
The Strategic Alliance Presents: The Genesis Scottish Open
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The sun is out, the wind blowing and the fescue more brown than green at Renaissance Club. If the Tom Doak design can’t shine in this—and of course after Padraig Harrington’s design tweak advice—there may not be much hope for the East Lothian links. From what I’ve seen of the 10th hole, I’m hoping it plays less ghastly than it looks.
But with Genesis injecting new life into the grounds, the PGA Tour/DP World Tour Strategic Alliance (PGATDPWSA) bringing the two tours together for a world class field, it should be a dandy.
Tee times for a field with 14 of the top 15 golfers in the Official World Golf Ranking.
In the UK, Sky times go all day essentially and with 160 players this one will take most of the day.
Thursday: Sky Sport Golf and Sky Sports Main Event from 8am
Friday: Sky Sport Golf and Sky Sports Main Event from 8am
Saturday: Sky Sports Golf from 8.30am
Sunday: Sky Sport Golf and Sky Sports Main Event from 8.30am
Thursday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. ET (Golf Channel – World Feed), 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Golf Channel). Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. (Golf Channel), 12 p.m.-3 p.m. (CBS)
Horschel On LIV "Hypocrites" Who Want To Play Less But More When It's Convenient: "I believe they made their bed"
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After a hearing this week, Ian Poulter, Adrian Otaegui and Justin Harding had DP World bans lifted and they were added to the field at Renaissance Club, followed by LIV Portland winner Branden Grace.
“They decided to go play on that tour and they should go play there. They shouldn’t be coming back over to the DP World Tour or the PGA Tour.
‘“To say that they wanted to also support this tour, whether the DP or PGA Tour, while playing the LIV tour, is completely asinine. Those guys made their bed. They say that’s what they want to do, so leave us alone.
“They keep talking about how the PGA Tour doesn’t listen. I’ve been really frustrated by it because there’s a lot of guys that are hypocrites, that aren’t telling the truth and are lying.
“I just can’t stand to sit here any more and be diplomatic about it.”
Meanwhile sponsors seem to be quietly leaving the Poulter camp as his logo tally has been greatly reduced:
R&A Warns: Don't Take ScotRail To The 150th Open
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On the 150th Open’s eve, the R&A is asking fans who planned to attend by rail to find other means of getting to St Andrews. This is a result of its on-going dispute between ScotRail and train drivers.
Last month Willie Rennie warned of the need for a contingency plan in this scenario.
Here is what the R&A sent to ticketholders:
Dear Ticketholder,
We are contacting you to provide an important update and guidance regarding travel to and from The 150th Open at St Andrews on 10-17 July.
Based on information we received at the start of this week and in order to minimise disruption for fans, unfortunately we have to advise all ticket holders that they should not travel by rail using ScotRail services to and from Leuchars when attending The Open each day.
All ticket holders should travel by road or use alternative public transport.
This is due to circumstances not in our control in which ScotRail will continue to operate a reduced timetable on the dates of the Championship as a result of its on-going dispute with ASLEF members (train drivers).
We cannot guarantee that fans using rail services will be able to get to and from Leuchars without disruption. There is a risk that fans who travel by train may find there are no services to get them home.
If you have purchased GolfLink tickets, you should contact ScotRail for a refund.
We are increasing capacity at our Park and Ride facilities to cater for more vehicles using the road network. We strongly recommend that fans purchase Park and Ride tickets in advance to minimise waiting times and to take advantage of a £5 discount.
If you are travelling by road for The Open, you should expect longer journey times and delays due to increased traffic and plan ahead for these.
All drivers should follow the directional AA road signage in place on designated routes for accessing the Park and Ride facilities and not use satnav or equivalent devices. Designated routes are being prioritised by Police Scotland and other traffic management measures to ensure everyone has the smoothest journey possible.
Alternative public transport, including buses and taxis, is available for fans to use. Local bus services are complemented by an express network that connects St Andrews with Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Cupar and Glenrothes. More information on bus services can be found via Stagecoach and Moffat and Williamson.
A designated taxi rank and private hire drop off/pick-up area will be in operation and is located at Petheram Bridge within walking distance of the course.
We appreciate that some fans will be disappointed with this update and that the resulting situation, not of our making, is less than ideal, but we wish to reassure you that we are doing all that we can to ensure your experience of attending The Open is a memorable one.
Please visit TheOpen.com for more information.
Kind Regards,
The R&A Ticket Office
North Berwick! Gullane! The Genesis Scottish Open Returns To East Lothian
/The Genesis Scottish Open’s return to Renaissance Club and greater North Berwick provides fine opportunities to celebrate this vital place in the game.
Thanks to David Jones for getting up early to capture the great North Berwick in morning light. Enjoy!
Golf In Scotland (In The Black & White Era): Q&A With Steve Finan
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The Amazon US link.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Golf-Scotland-Black-White-Era/dp/1845359003/geoffshacke07-20
https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/gifts/golf-gifts
Quadrilateral: Major(s) News & Notes, June 30th, 2022
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The Open nears and a key prognosticating angle surfaces. Details at 11!
In case you aren’t aware, The Quadrilateral is a year-round place for coverage of the events that matter and free of Strategic Alliances or dirty dictator money. It’s going to be an exciting month or so with links season and everything else in the game.
Former PGA Tour Players Try To Explain Why They Took Saudi Cash And Remind Us Why They Won't Be Missed
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I should just post that photo and end the post there.
But you have to soak some of the wisdom shared by PGA Tour defectors and genuinely-hard-to-care-one-iota-about individuals.
From Bob Harig’s account of this LIV Portland prick conference.
Asked if there was something the PGA Tour could have done to thwart the LIV Golf effort or improve, Reed said: “Listen to the players for once.’’
For once! Maybe he didn’t know about Justine’s direct line to the Global Home.
This was nice from Perez:
“I don't think I did anything wrong,’’ Perez said. “Plus, I want the money that I earned from this year. I played 20 events. So I'm still entitled to my FedEx money and whatever this other money that we're talking about. I'm not resigning from anything.”
Another one who forgot his disdain for the whole Saudi thing until he didn’t.
And Koepka, the four-time major winner going from finding the whole thing shady, growing angry about questions during the U.S. Open, to signing on the dotted line.
“My opinion changed; that was it,’’ he said. “You guys will never believe me, but we didn’t have the conversation 'til everything was done at the U.S. Open and figured it out and just said I was going to go one way or the other. Here I am.
“Like I said, opinions changed. And I feel very comfortable with the decision I made. I’m happy, and I did what’s best for me.’’
In the just plain pitiful division, Matthew Wolff spoke repeatedly of missing college golf, 54 hole tournaments and the best years of his life, suggesting he’s been converted by the team aspect where he’ll join the Hy Flyers: Phil Mickelson, Bernd Wiesberger and Itthipa Buranatanyarat. The team van trips to mediocre courses will be just like the old Cowboy days!
I think, you know, it's hard when you're out there struggling and you've gotta play three, four weeks in a row, and you feel like you're in a rut. You feel like you just can't get out of it. And, you know, here, being able to really prepare, have more time. I mean, also, I know this is my job, but it's like on your off weeks, too, I mean sometimes when you're traveling for three weeks in a row and you got one week off, my coach, he lives in California. So it's like do I want to spend time with my girlfriend and my dog at home and enjoy my time off and sleep in my own bed or do I want to go travel again across the country and go work with my swing coach and then not have time for that.
The folks at LIV did seek to refute Brandel Chamblee’s suggestion players will be earning on-course money against their advances. Without seeing contracts we won’t know if the folks here are telling the truth.
The Alliance Strikes Back! PGA Tour And DP World Tour Announce Enhanced Partnership
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After rumors of a possible deal with Saudi Arabia’s LIV Golf, the DP World Tour has leveraged the perceptions—all the media’s fault—to get a better deal with the PGA Tour. Namely, ten cards, several hundred million dollars and more joint events promised through 2035.
The situation remains bizarre that so much boilerplate language is thrown about with so few details after nearly two years of disruptive possibilities. Nor do the sides seem to be addressing the oversaturation of their products and market forces indicating a desire to tighten things up. The market may address that in time. For now, and For Immediate Release with interruptions:
DP WORLD TOUR, PGA TOUR EXPAND AND STRENGTHEN ALLIANCE
* Move is a significant boost to a global pathway for competitive golf
*PGA TOUR to provide operational support and additional investment to the DP World Tour
* DP World Tour prize fund levels set to grow annually
The DP World Tour and the PGA TOUR have moved to significantly strengthen not only their existing alliance but also help develop players to compete at the pinnacle of men’s professional golf, by unveiling a ground-breaking new 13-year operational joint venture partnership.
The partnership, through to 2035, builds on the success of the existing Strategic Alliance between the two Tours that was unveiled in November 2020 and which has already seen tangible benefits for members of both Tours, not least the co-sanctioning of the Genesis Scottish Open on the DP World Tour, alongside access for both memberships into the Barbasol Championship and the Barracuda Championship on the PGA TOUR.
Such benefits that only a bunch guys departed for LIV Golf. But go on…
Collaboration has already borne fruit for the DP World Tour with the introduction of new tournament title sponsors such as Genesis and Horizon and new Tour partners such as Fortinet and Velocity Global.
Life changing stuff…for the people who got bonuses inking those deals.
In addition, working together to drive prize funds and commercial revenue will not only benefit the entire range of both memberships immediately, but also develop immense strategic opportunities for all members of both Tours for the future.
But will it be more interesting to watch? Bring more top players together on great courses?
As part of the new joint venture, the PGA TOUR will increase its existing stake in European Tour Productions from 15 percent to 40 percent, while utilising the DP World Tour’s recognised international credentials and global footprint to continue to coordinate a worldwide schedule.
Gobbledygook alert! Glad they found more millions found in the cushions! The PGA Tour spent $85 million for 15% so…
The DP World Tour will guarantee growth in annual prize funds to its membership for the next five years, all above the record 2022 levels unveiled as part of the DP World Tour title partnership arrangement announced last November.
The new joint venture will provide additional competitive opportunities for professional golfers of both Tours and also establish a clearly defined pathway for top players around the world. Players from the Sunshine Tour and ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia, with whom the DP World Tour already has existing Strategic Alliances, now enjoy a formal pathway to the DP World Tour.
Now that’s a positive for developing players from other parts of the world.
With today’s announcement, DP World Tour members will now have direct and formal access to the very pinnacle of the men’s professional game on the PGA TOUR.
To achieve that, from 2023, the leading ten players on the end of season DP World Tour Rankings [in addition to those already exempt] will earn PGA TOUR cards for the following season.
Another positive. Key language: in addition to. So this is not some top 10 who already would have a PGA Tour card.
Furthermore, the DP World Tour will work closely on the development and implementation of the new international events announced by PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan last week at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut, and DP World members will gain access to those events.
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive Officer of the DP World Tour said: “Building on the success of the existing Strategic Alliance between ourselves and the PGA TOUR, this move will significantly enhance the meritocracy that has successfully served the professional game on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 50 years.
“It is a natural extension and progression of what we have been doing over the past few years and I passionately believe that this move is the right thing for our players, our Tour, our fans, and the game of golf in general.
“Our two tours have undoubtedly drawn closer over the past few years and today’s announcement strengthens both Tours for the betterment of both memberships.”
And Jay, who did not include Pelley in last week’s scripted opening remarks, talks like he won this match on the 22nd hole:
Jay Monahan, Commissioner of the PGA TOUR, said, “It was clear from the outset that our Strategic Partnership with the European Tour Group was a powerful agreement for both sides, and we are thrilled with today’s announcement of this expanded partnership.
“We will continue to collaborate on a global schedule and key commercial areas as we draw our organizations and memberships even closer together while innovating to provide the most entertaining and compelling golf possible to fans around the world. On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I want to credit and commend Keith Pelley and his team at the European Tour Group for their incredible commitment to this effort.”
It may be a tiny semantics deal, but it’s curious he keeps referring to the European Tour group and avoids DP World Tour.
As always, we’ll see what the two sides come up with. That they already had a partnership and yet no fall schedule plan suggests one side was distracted instead of pinning down details for Fall events. Which side? We don’t know.
