Tiger Woods could've easily played his way out of the PGA Championship in his opening round at TPC Harding Park. He was, after all, spending a lot of time in the rough. But when it was all over, he'd fought his way to 2-under 68. Here's how it happened.
Jeremy Turnage reports from Augusta on Mayor Hardie Davis saying he wants golf even if means the likelihood of no fans on site for the rescheduled 2020 Masters.
“I think that based on everything I know about what’s taking place at Augusta National, they’ve been on the front lines of reviewing what the PGA is doing. I think, as you see, the tournament’s happening tomorrow -- the PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park -- without fans. And that’s likely what probably will happen here in Augusta. We have a tournament without fans.”
Davis did say, however, that he has faith that the ANGC can move forward with a Masters tournament with fans provided the proper precautions are put in place.
“Do I believe that the Augusta National Golf Club can do it better than anybody? Absolutely,” Davis said.
Add the PGA Tour to the list of organizations cutting staff during the pandemic, reportedly around 50 this week according to several sources. Many of the cuts involved longtime employees presumably offered early retirement. The news comes as the PGA Tour has lost 11 tournaments due to the pandemic, but has not lowered purses for tournaments. Earlier this year, the PGA Tour signed a new $700 million a year television deal with CBS, NBC and Golf Channel commencing in 2022.
The PGA Tour issued this statement:
As a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the PGA TOUR – much like many other organizations – has had to identify ways to streamline our operations. While it is never easy to say goodbye to valuable members of the TOUR family, this week’s targeted job cuts will allow us to most efficiently deal with the current climate and prepare for 2021 and beyond.
The news comes as construction continues on the new Foster And Partners designed headquarters where more office space has now been freed up.
My Thursday contribution to The Athletic looks at how players are adjusting to the northern California climate after two months of playing in hot weather.
We can finally put some numbers to the COVID-19 effect on golf’s second-biggest player. Acushnet’s Q2 2020 Financial Report says pretty much what you’re expecting it to say. Sales were down and net income – or profit – was way, way down.
Specifically, global sales for all Acushnet brands in Q2 were an even $300 million. That’s down 35% compared to Q2 of 2019. What’s more, Acushnet is reporting a Q2 Net Income of $2.3 million. That’s down 94%.
As always, please note we are not, nor are we claiming to be financial analysts or investment counselors. We simply follow the golf industry, and we like to read. And with financial reports, the headlines may be sexy, but the real meat is in the details.
And Acushnet’s Q2 2020 Financial Report is no different.
Considering the golf world was effectively closed for roughly half of the entire second quarter, a 35% drop in sales could actually be considered a small victory.
The LPGA Tour reported no positive tests among its players this week, leading up to the Marathon Classic in Sylvania, Ohio.
The four-day forecast by Stewart Williams as of Wednesday afternoon
I’m sprinkling in investment thoughts for the (fellow) degenerates along with some fun notes from Wednesday at Harding Park. The 2020 PGA Championship kicks off Thursday with wall-to-wall coverage by ESPN+ and ESPN.
—COVID-19 testing has gone perfectly. From the PGA of America’s Kerry Haigh today: “With that, we ended up and are using the same testing entities that have been used for the first ten weeks, Drug Free Sport and Sanford Health, and with only one player remaining to be tested, all players and caddies in the field have cleared our COVID-19 protocol. So I can't tell you how happy I am to hear that, and I'm sure 155 players and 156 caddies are just happy, so thank you to all of them.”
—The forecast (above) is extremely favorable for an on-time finish—no thunderstorm chance for a PGA in August!—but suggests the players may be in for a very tough test. The cold makes 7,200 yard Harding Park play forever and even if we get some clearing, the forcasted breezes and sun (please!) should dry things out. The course is in a very good place to prevent an Olympic Club-style bake out, but I’m going to predict the winning score will be -10, which makes the 269.5 over/under intriguing (four-round par is 280).
—Tiger Woods is a great value at 35-1. Seems the money is going elsewhere according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Todd Dewey. I had my doubts given the climate, his Memorial performance and how he looked at the last three majors of 2019. This week? He’s got a determination to his steps, looks focused, is working hard on the greens and as I noted Monday, is in 100% mode with his swing. The course suits his style of play of these days.
Now that Ryder Cup matches have been postponed until 2021, Steve Stricker will still get his six captain's picks. The selection criteria had previously been altered when golf shut down for three months in America amid the coronavirus pandemic.
On the eve of the PGA Championship, Tiger Woods appears set to make a rare putter switch at TPC Harding Park.
I don’t want to judge and Rory McIlroy can certainly afford the hefty price, nonetheless it was a bit of a surprise when the topic of public golf and majors prompted AP’s Doug Ferguson to ask the last time McIlroy was asked to pay (most courses would pay to have a top player give them the time of day).
That it was a former Ryder Cup site, European Tour event site and rich’s guys place was, well, surprising.
From Steve DiMeglio’s item on McIlroy supporting muni’s for majors and the surprise answer:
“Valderrama, 2005,” McIlroy said. “250 Euros.”
That’s about $375 today.
But it was worth it to play the club that has hosted two different European Tour events, two World Golf Championships events won by Tiger Woods and Mike Weir in 1999 and 2000, and the 1997 Ryder Cup won by Europe.
“I’ve always liked the look at Valderrama,” McIlroy explained his decision to pay to play. “I was in Spain. Obviously Ryder Cup course. The Tour Championship of the European Tour was there for a lot of years. I was there and spent a few months’ worth of pocket money to go and play.”
He had not amassed four majors and two FedExCup’s then, but still pretty funny to imagine the pro shop ringing him up.
Greg Roskopf, the trainer for Bryson DeChambeau, understands why there might be conjecture after the PGA Tour golfer gained 50 pounds -- and 20 yards off the tee -- in less than a year.
Each type of club requires a unique approach for your setup and swing. Unfortunately many recreational golfers attempt to use the same swing for every club and they pay the price. Actually the sweep of your club across the ground has the same type of arc but your point of impact has a huge affect on your success with each type of club.
You can easily adjust your draw or fade with any club by changing your face direction, your swing path and your trailing foot back or forward. A side hill lie (up or down) also has a huge impact on the success of your shot. Before you can master your swing with any club you need to see the resulting impact of a properly lined-up shot verses a poorly lined-up shot. This blog is primarily concerned with avoiding mishits with your driver, your fairway woods/hybrids and your irons.
Launch your drives as you impact with an upward angle of attack off your trailing foot.
Setup to LAUNCH your Drives
Your driver has a limited angle on its face. It’s really designed so that you can hit up on your ball and LAUNCH it in an upward angle. Of course that’s why you tee your ball up and line up your ball with the heel of your LEADING foot. That’s also why you need to impact your ball as your club arcs upward on an inside to outside path (AFTER it passes the low point of your swing arc).
To help you create longer drives you should setup with your shoulder line tilting slightly down on your trailing side and 55% of your weight on your trailing foot. Give yourself a count of 1, 2 to create time for a full backswing rotation (and count 3 for you downswing). Keep your leading ear behind the ball through-out your swing. Release up your target line as you thrust forward to LAUNCH YOUR BALL UPWARD.
Oregon offers a wide range of scenery and views throughout the state. And built into that scenery from border to border are also dozens of exciting, one-of-a-kind golf courses to test your game. From deep forestland to mountain views, rivers and creeks, and much more, Oregon should be on every avid golfer’s list of must-play […]
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Golf may not be the first thing that comes to mind when people think about visiting the state of Maine, but the natural beauty and varied terrain have helped create some fantastically memorable golf courses. Between mountains and foothills, pristine woodlands and coastal winds, Maine has a unique set of features that make for some […]
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Scenery and selection are the names of the game when it comes to Michigan golf courses. The state’s natural beauty and dense forests create an outstanding setting for golf, and the 600+ public golf courses in Michigan are a testament to the fact that there isn’t a bad place to enjoy a round. Whether you […]
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From the north suburbs of Chicago to Effingham and throughout the state, Illinois is dotted with great golf courses that virtually every golfer will enjoy playing. Once the state finally shakes off the winter weather, you’ll be in for a treat with gorgeous greens and rolling fairways. And whether you’re near the Windy City or […]
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American golfer John Catlin and his caddie Nathan Mulrooney have been removed from this week's English Championship by the European Tour after they breached its COVID-19 protocol.
There are a couple of super reads to help you enjoy this week’s Harding Park PGA Championship just a bit more. Besides the obvious rare major championship playing at a public course, it’s the stories the Cypress can tell that makes this place different.
The San Francisco City has played such a part in that and Sean Martin looks at its history and the many stories to easily forgotten from that championship, with winners ranging from baggage handlers to future pro stars (with a famous 49ers QB contending a few times, too).
One man and multiple winner of The City stands above all others with his ties to Harding Park: Ken Venturi.
The Athletic’s Brendan Quinn takes a deep dive into the life, times and stammering issues overcome by Venturi when he found golf, a story that will certainly be addressed by his longtime CBS colleague Jim Nantz as the tournament unfolds. Nonetheless, this should give you an idea why the Venturi connection here is so profound:
The Venturis lived less than three miles from Harding. Ken played his first round there using borrowed clubs with hickory shafts. His father’s only advice was to count every shot, no matter what, including whiffs. Ken claims to have shot a 172 on his first 18-hole round. (He later said he quite possibly held the course record at Harding for both the lowest score, a 59, and the highest score, that 172.)
Ken stuck with it, playing alone. Blissful seclusion. Just him, his thoughts and his swing. He learned by replicating the swings he saw when caddying, then picked up lessons along the way. He’d play two balls at once, hitting only draws with one and fades with the other. He talked to himself as he played, finding and hearing his words. He saw a correlation between the rhythm of the swing and the rhythm of a sentence. The course became a second home as Fred stopped selling twine at the marina and took a full-time job running Harding’s pro shop. Ethel eventually joined him there, working alongside him in the shop, turning the place into their own mom and pop operation.
This week’s English Championship on the European Tour will be minus world No. 242 John Catlin and his caddie after the two dined out Tuesday night.
From Ewan Murray’s Guardian report on the strict bubble and consequences for a violation in Europe.
Catlin said: “I apologise to my fellow players and everyone involved with the tournament this week for this error of judgement. I understand the European Tour’s decision and accept the sanction.”
Catlin will be replaced in the tournament by South African Wilco Nienaber.
Among the other elements in this story noted by Murray: Catlin played last week and was familiar with the “bubble” policies.
Brooks Koepka goes for his third straight PGA Championship against the best field in golf in this season's first major. Here are our experts' best bets.
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