Unplayable Lies: Stuff

Just a few random notes from the golf world as we kill time until the Frys.com kicks off next Thursday. In the unlikely event that Commissioner Ratched reads this post, that's a little joke, as the Frys is a boredom-carrier...

DVR Alert - For anyone craving golf to watch this weekend, I'd recommend the Alfred Dunhill Cup for a last dose on linksy goodness. That's the Euro version of the old Crosby clambake, played at The Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. Given it's rather late date on the calendar, it features all the indispensable accouterments of the genre, multiple layers of clothing, oven gloves and, of course, colorful ski caps.

Shack had this video from yesterday's first round showing Rory playing with a black lab on the tee. As he notes, they're way more relaxed about dogs on the golf course over there, though the Myrtle Beach ad as a lead-in is quite the odd segue, and isn't Dustin Johnson supposed to be persona non grate these days?

It's field seems better than usual, logical given the festivities in Perthshire last week, and includes victorious captain Paul McGinley and #useless captain Sir Nick (that's a story I gave a pass on last week), as well as World No. 1 playing with his Dad. Though I sat up suddenly in my chair at an announcer referring to Sir Nick as the greatest English golfer ever. Ummmm really? I guess that gent doesn't use a Vardon grip....

Sponsorship/Venue Updates - The troubled event formerly known as The Bob Hope Dessert Classic is back in the news, as Humana has announced that it will exercise its option to terminate its sponsorship:

Just four years after the company stepped in and essentially saved the PGA Tour event in

the Coachella Valley, Humana will announce Monday that it will end its sponsorship of the tournament after the 2015 event in January.

But unlike the shaky future of the tournament when Chrysler ended its sponsorship after the 2008 event, officials of the PGA Tour and Desert Classic Charities are promoting a bright future for the Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation. That includes the continued participation of former President Bill Clinton and his foundation, which joined the event in 2012 along with Humana.

Shackelford always liked the "synergy" of this sponsorship arrangement, though my experience with the Clintons and their foundation is that their in the business of doing what's good for the Clintons. He also has some fun with this bit of corporatespeak:

But Humana, based in Louisville, Ky., and the tour say that a changing business environment for the healthcare company led Humana to exercise an opt-out clause in the deal after the 2015 event, to be played Jan. 22-25 at three courses in La Quinta.

"Humana's business is changing rapidly. As we continue to shift toward a direct-to-consumer focus, we have to align our marketing and sponsorship commitments to areas that are the best fit for our business, brand and members," Tom Noland, senior vice president for corporate communications for Humana, says in a statement that will announce the end of the sponsorship deal Monday.

Here I think Shack buries the lede, though I'll grant that it's above the pay grade of a golf blogger (though unlike your humble blogger, he actually has a pay grade). One of the coming big issues is the bailout of health insurers by Uncle Sam, a program offering the delightful euphemism of "risk corridors." The confluence of sucking at the public teet and sponsoring golf tournaments would no doubt be bad optics, so understandable.

In other sponsorship news, Commissioner Ratched has pulled another rabbit from his hat and landed a ~~sugar daddy~~ sponsor for this year's WGC match-play event at San Francisco's Harding Park.

Now we know the Match Play Championship really is coming to San Francisco — the PGA Tour found a company to foot the bill.

The tour announced today that Cadillac has agreed to become the title sponsor of next year’s tournament at Harding Park. The event will formally be known as the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Match Play (or simply “Match Play” on this blog).

Cadillac also sponsors another WGC event, held at Doral outside Miami.

This is a one-off, as the Commish shoe-horned the event into a later date on the schedule. he still has to find a permanent date, sponsor and venue, but at least we'll see the lads playing match-play next year, though. The format has been tweaked to involve round-robbin play, so while we'll lose that great first day of the event it's no doubt the least bad change they could have made.

lastly, in "I'm surprised it took this long news," the PGA Tour has announced that the Quicken Loans National will be moving to TPC-Potomac beginning in 2017. If this is all Greek to you, the Quicken is Tiger's event in the Washington, DC area and TPC-Potomac started life as TPC-Avenel. It was widely reviled by the players, though your humble blogger spent many hours there on an old golf video game. From the Tour's press release:

Opened in 1986, the facility was renamed TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm at the time of

the renovation. Numerous competitive and aesthetic changes were made to the golf course to make it more challenging for tournament play. This included significant modifications, re-shaping and enhancements to all 18 holes, featuring a complete re-design of Nos. 10, 11 and 13; lengthening of the course to 7,139 yards, with a new par-70 design; a new state-of-the-art irrigation system; an aesthetic and competitive design solution to storm water management issues on Nos. 4, 5, 6, 10, 11 and 12; the re-building of all bunkers, including the addition of some Scottish-style bunkering detail with tall fescue grasses; new green complexes and landscaping on all 18 holes; and an expansive new practice facility and short game area.

For those keeping a scorecard, they're at Robert Trent Jones Club this year (where we've seen the President's Cup), back to Congessional in '16 then to TPCPAF in '17. Congressional is no loss, especially in the inevitably soft conditions of a D.C. summer, but the best years of the event were when they took it to Aronimink in Philly, a wonderful old Donald Ross. I shoud probably holf off on trashing the new venue until I, you know, see it....

Today in BubbaWorld - After his amazing disappearing act at Gleneagles, I was kind of hoping that Bubba would go curl up in a fetal position and leave us in peace, but no such luck. In one of those stories that reminds me why I blog, get a load of this:

Bubba Watson might not have been a part of the winning Ryder Cup team, but he’s headed home to his very own personalized trophy. 

Remember the corn maze that Sweet Season Farms in Berrydale, Fla., created in Watson’s likeness? Well, it opened last week and it’s ready and eager to host the 2014 Masters champion this weekend. Watson grew up in nearby Bagdad, Fla.

No, actually I didn't remember that Bubba corn maze and right about now I wish I could forget it, but no such luck. Hopefully corn harvest is soon...

Tiger, Inc. - By now you may have heard about Tiger Woods, Restaurateur. Per Alex Myers:

Tiger Woods might have his own restaurant before he has his own golf course.

I don't expect the food to be this Flayverful.

Allied Capital & Development of South Florida made the announcement through a press release on Tuesday. The Woods Jupiter: Sports and Dining Club (doesn't really flow off the tongue, does it?) will be coming to Harbourside Place, the name of Jupiter, Fl.'s new downtown development, as early as the first quarter of 2015.

First and foremost, I just love the dig at his course design business. And he's not finished with his snark:

"I envision a place where people can meet friends, watch sports on TV and enjoy a great meal," Woods said. "I wanted to build it locally where I live and where it could help support the community."

No word on the menu yet, but we're not expecting it to be overly complicated like the restaurant's name. At the champions dinner before the 1998 Masters, Woods famously served cheeseburgers and milkshakes.

Is Lindsey on board with this? Because you know that they a lot of at sports bars? Yeah, cocktail waitresses. And do you know who has a well-document love of that genus-species? Just askin'....