In his first extensive interview since his February car crash, Tiger Woods said his hope is to return to competitive golf, but that he never expects to compete again at the highest level, "and I understand it, and I accept it."
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Every serious study or article on golf course architecture all the way back to Old Tom Morris has grasped the cardinal principles of strategic golf-course design but, strangely enough, these principles are not understood as clearly today. One reason for this is that modern designers don’t give themselves enough room—or are not allotted enough room by developers—for their layouts. A golf course with different ways to play each hole requires a good deal of land. BEN CRENSHAW
Lee Elder, the first Black player to compete in the Masters and a four-time winner on the PGA Tour, has died at age 87.
Every serious study or article on golf course architecture all the way back to Old Tom Morris has grasped the cardinal principles of strategic golf-course design but, strangely enough, these principles are not understood as clearly today. One reason for this is that modern designers don’t give themselves enough room—or are not allotted enough room by developers—for their layouts. A golf course with different ways to play each hole requires a good deal of land. BEN CRENSHAW
Spirit of the Game: Remembering Lee Elder
Nov. 29, 2021
The USGA contributed to this report
In 2019, during the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links, the USGA honored Lee Elder with its highest honor, the Bob Jones Award.
Elder, who passed away this past evening at the age of 87, was the first African-American to receive the prestigious award, which recognizes an individual who demonstrates the spirit, personal character and respect for the game exhibited by Jones, winner of nine USGA championships.
Suzann Pettersen, who won the Solheim Cup for Europe in 2019 with the last shot of her career, will captain the team four years later for its second straight title defense.
The Best Cyber Monday Golf Deals 2021
Historically Black Friday was primarily in store offers, while Cyber Monday was focused on online sales. The last few years, especially since Covid, online sales have been bleeding into Black Friday and even earlier, as more and more retailers are trying to get ahead of the curve by offering pre-Black Friday sales. Nevertheless, there are still some great deals reserved for Cyber Monday, and we’ve selected some of the highlights below.
Golf Clubs:
Sub70: 10% Off New Equipment or 20% Off Pre-Owned
Sub70 Golf is offering 10% off all new equipment, apparel and accessories, and 20% off all pre-owned equipment. The discount will be auto applied at checkout and shipping is free on orders $99+. For example you can get our Best Value utility iron winner of this year, the Sub 70 699 Pro for $89.10.
$99.99 / $89.10 (10% OFF)
Callaway Golf Preowned: 20% Off Used Clubs
Callaway Golf pre-owned is offering 20% off sitewide. An example deal you can get is the Callaway Epic MAX LS Driver (our 2021 Most Wanted winner) for $325 in very good condition.
Every serious study or article on golf course architecture all the way back to Old Tom Morris has grasped the cardinal principles of strategic golf-course design but, strangely enough, these principles are not understood as clearly today. One reason for this is that modern designers don’t give themselves enough room—or are not allotted enough room by developers—for their layouts. A golf course with different ways to play each hole requires a good deal of land. BEN CRENSHAW
Samuel Agini of the Financial Times explores the Saudi efforts to start a golf league and does a nice job reviewing how we got to the point. In the way of original reporting, he gets some comments from Callaway’s Chip Brewer, the R&A’s Martin Slumbers and a strange “statement” from the PGA Tour’s Jay Monahan. So two of the three like the FT and felt it was worth the time to call back.
But I think what I enjoyed most is a reminder that we will get to hear Greg Norman act like he thought of things that are just totally stolen from the Premier Golf League concept. Like this on franchising:
But the structure of golf means teams cannot be bought and sold. Unlike in football and basketball, golfers are individual contractors. They work for themselves, while the tours run competitions, aggregate media rights and monetise the coverage. Despite the apparent independence of players, they typically require permission from their member tour if they are to play on rival circuits. Norman argues that this model is a missed financial opportunity. “You look at that value that’s been generated through other sports, for other players and other franchises,” he says. “Golf has never recognised that or had the ability to capture that market.”
As for quotes, the R&A’s Slumbers tried to distinguish between investment and blowing up the current structure, though he doesn’t make a case for why the current structure is that special.
He distinguishes between LIV proposals for breakaway golf leagues and initiatives such as oil company Saudi Aramco’s sponsorship of the Ladies European Tour, the women’s golf group of which Slumbers is a board member. “I think there is a difference between wanting to invest and support within the current structure and wanting to be a disrupter,” he says.
Every serious study or article on golf course architecture all the way back to Old Tom Morris has grasped the cardinal principles of strategic golf-course design but, strangely enough, these principles are not understood as clearly today. One reason for this is that modern designers don’t give themselves enough room—or are not allotted enough room by developers—for their layouts. A golf course with different ways to play each hole requires a good deal of land. BEN CRENSHAW
Rex Hoggard looks at the PGA Tour’s Player Impact Program as the exciting, unpredictable season-long race for Meltwater Mentions nears its secretive conclusion. He quotes several players who either do not understand it or care for the program’s secrecy.
“No idea,” Herman laughed when asked to explain how the PIP list is created. “I wish we had a list. I wish we knew, so if a guy is on the list and he’s close and had an idea of what they needed to do to crack the top 10. That’s the hardest part for the rest of us. They are throwing a lot of money out there without a real good understanding of how you can crack the top 10. We feel like it’s a popularity contest.”
According to various sources, the Tour will not show the entire list to players but will tell each player where they are on the list, which only seems to fuel the confusion over how the list is compiled.
And these fellows cut right to the chase:
“It’s a way for Tiger Woods to be rewarded even more for what he’s done for the game of golf,” Chesson Hadley said.
The Charlotte Observers Michael Gordon with the bizarre story of San Diego Padre Wil Myers getting sued by Charlotte’s Carmel Country Club and then countersuing in what can only be called the First World at its Finest.
The short version: Myers joined the club, the pandemic hit and tee times became tough to get. Hardly a news story to any golfer. But the story gets strange given that Myers will make $22.5 million next year and is being sued for non-payment after resigning due to the lack of availability.
According to Myers’ counter-claim, all of this came as an unpleasant surprise. He said he joined the club after being assured that there were ample tee times available on both of Carmel’s courses. Instead, according to his court filing, Myers “found it almost impossible to find a tee time and frequently could not even use the driving range.” He and Margaret resigned their membership in December, telling the club that they had been duped into paying for golf privileges that they couldn’t enjoy. The club responded by citing the provisions of the Myerses’ membership contract and billing them for the $64,000 initiation balance, with a due date of Dec. 31, 2020, and some $785 in outstanding golf shop purchases and overdue charges. Carmel sued last March.
Myers fired back in June, claiming in his countersuit that he and his wife had been victimized by Carmel’s “knowing misrepresentations and omissions” which his complaint described as “immoral, unethical and unscrupulous.”
That seems a tad excessive.
Criticizing a golf course is like going into a man’s family. The fond mother trots up her children for admiration. Only a boor would express anything else than high opinion. So it is a thankless task to criticize a friend’s home golf course. ‘Where ignorance is bliss ‘tis folly to be wise.’ It is natural one should love his home course. He knows it, and with golf holes familiarity does not breed contempt, but quite the reverse. C.B. MACDONALD
South African golfer Thriston Lawrence won the Joburg Open on Saturday after the third round was abandoned because of bad weather, meaning the result was called after 36 holes of the inaugural event on the DP World Tour.
Brooks Koepka had four birdies in his match against Bryson DeChambeau on Friday en route to an easy 4-and-3 victory in a 12-hole match in Las Vegas.
Finally, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau are taking their rivalry out on the course. We have you covered the entire way -- from the play to the commentary to the trash talk.
Thriston Lawrence claimed a four-shot lead at the Joburg Open on Friday as imminent travel restrictions caused a turbulent second round.
The Best Black Friday Golf Deals 2021
For a second year in a row, most retailers are opting for online sales rather than in-store. While golf clubs and balls are lacking this year, there are plenty of deals to be had in the electronics category. We’ve compiled the best Black Friday deals from across the web with your golf needs in mind. It’s a great time to buy holiday gifts for the family, get some new golf tech, or upgrade your closet. We’ve divided the deals by category for your convenience
Golf Clubs:
Callaway Golf Preowned: 20% Off Used Clubs
Callaway Golf pre-owned is offering 20% off sitewide. An example deal you can get is the Callaway Epic MAX LS Driver (our 2021 most wanted winner) for $325 in very good condition.
$393.99 / $325.14 (20% OFF)
Taylormade: 20% off MyPutters
MyPutters allows you to personalize color, sightline, weights, and more. You can choose between the Spider EX, X, Tour, or TP.
A batch of British and Irish golfers withdrew from the Joburg Open before Friday's second round after the U.K. government announced it was banning flights from South Africa to counter the spread of a new COVID-19 variant.
South African sport faced a shutdown on Friday due to the detection of a new coronavirus variant, with British rugby teams scrambling to leave before travel restrictions are imposed, and the first event of golf's new-look DP World Tour under threat.
