Midweek Musings

Just a few items for y'all today, as we should all savor the final day of the off-season...  It seemed to really fly by, no?

Lemons, Lemonade - OK, people will rationalize things but were I a Bridgestone shareholder, the sell order would be in at the open:

Tiger Woods is more valuable as an endorser than he is as a player, Angel Ilagan, Bridgestone Golf CEO, told CNBC in a recent interview.

I know, I'm usually heavy-handed with the excerpts, but that's a statement so insane that it could only come from a college professor.... OK, I'll give you some more:

In December 2016, Bridgestone Golf signed the golf legend to a multiyear deal to exclusively play with its Bridgestone balls. Yet as a result of ongoing back surgeries,

Woods hasn't played a single game since the deal (and was also arrested on DUI charges). 

Still, Bridgestone still saw record growth for the first half of the 2017 year.

"Tiger Woods has been very positive for the game. As you know with golf, we've been experiencing declines in the recent years, but with Tiger on board, it's bringing a lot of consumers back to the game and excitement to the game and to Bridgestone," Ilagan said on CNBC's "Power Lunch" last week.

We don't know the details of Tiger's contract with Bridgestone, though we've been told that TaylorMade at least had the good sense to base it upon tourney starts.

It's inconceivable that this deal is looking too smart right now, especially with even Tiger conceding that he may never  peg it again.  

He added that Woods is "the Michael Jordan of golf" and "the single golfer who's had the greatest impact of bringing consumers into [the game]."

Ilagan's suggested that as long as Woods is around (on or off the green), the golf industry is safe. 

"I think the industry is in a little bit of panic, although it really need not be," he added.

No word on the anxiety level among Bridgestone shareholders.... 

Drama Queens - Thank God that the Tour ensures that no one has to see things like this:

As the Web.com Tour Finals wrapped up Monday, the tense final holes featured both joy

and heartbreak for those players battling on the PGA Tour bubble at Florida’s Atlantic Beach Country Club. 

After missing two consecutive cuts and sitting at No. 66 on the money list, Jonathan Byrd considered not even playing the final event. After a pep talk from his wife, he said, he drove down to Atlantic Beach—and proceeded to win the event by four shots. 

"I had nothing to lose this week," he told the Golf Channel, "and that helps." The five-time PGA Tour winner shot a 24-under 260 to book his ticket back to the big Tour.

You've got a mix of kids and grizzled vets like Byrd fighting for their professional lives, perhaps you'd cede them the stage?  Nope, wouldn't be prudent....

There was action all the way down the leaderboard. Byrd and four other players: Shawn Stefani (t-2), Matt Jones (t-5), Cameron Tringale (t-5), and Tom Hoge (t-12) all moved from outside to inside the 25 on the Finals money list. In doing so, they secured their Tour cards for the 2017-18 season that begins in just two days at the Safeway Open. 

Hoge played his last 12 holes in seven-under, capping off his round with a 15-footer for birdie on his 72nd hole. 

And Stefani, who shed tears of joy after putting out on 18, shared runner-up honors with Sam Saunders.

And then there was this unfortunate lad:

The amount of heartbreaks suffered by minor leaguers in pursuit of their PGA Tour card are so plentiful that books have been dedicated to the subject. Add Matt Harmon's tale to

this mountain of misery. 

Harmon entered the Web.com Tour Championship in 29th place in the circuit's Finals standings, with the top 25 earning a PGA Tour card for the 2017-'18 season (which, coincidentally, starts this week at the Safeway Open). He put himself in position to gain status through three days at Atlantic Beach C.C., in 16th place starting the final round. And through 16 holes, his ship was steady, two under on his round with just two holes to go. 

However, Harmon missed a chance to get to three under on the 17th, missing a three-footer for bird. His putting woes continued on the 18th, as the Michigan State grad three-jacked for bogey. Harmon finished one under on the day, a score that moved him outside the Finals top 25.

Coincidentally?   Sorry, had to interrupt the excerpt because that is the funniest thing I've read in a while....

What the GIF stops short of showing is Harmon snapping the offending putter in half before walking to the scoring area.

OK, I'm of mixed minds here...  I of course would never condone violence against defenseless golf clubs, but certain putters have it coming....

I'm favorably disposed to the Presidents Cup, but it stole the audience from this drama-rich event, myself included.  But how much more interesting was this than that which will unfold in Napa starting tomorrow?

The State of the Game -  This was not a particularly well-kept secret, especially as I was there twice this season:

Developer RXR Realty is seeking to purchase the historic 138-acre Engineers Country Club in Roslyn Harbor, the head of the club said Tuesday.

The iconic Two-or-Twenty Green.

On Monday, members of Engineers Country Club, which owns the 18-hole championship golf course, voted overwhelmingly in favor of the proposed purchase by Uniondale-based RXR, said Cliff Saffron, president of the club. 

The developer proposed buying the course and building a luxury residential project on a portion of the property. A price was not disclosed. 

Of the club’s 84 equity members — those who are entitled to a vote — 81 participated in the voting, with 77 in favor and 4 against the RXR proposal, Saffron said. The club has more than 200 members.

In lamenting this news, Shack has some ill-considered comments about the club:

Besides being a sensational course (reviewed here by GCA's Ran Morrissett), it's been a vital part of golf history with its 2 or 20 hole and other bold features. The course has enjoyed restoration efforts by Gil Hanse and Tripp Davis. Apparently, however, the membership has other priorities beyond stewardship of an important early American design.

What membership, Geoff?  They have 84 equity members, not half of what you'd need for the club to be viable....

Way Coul -  An update from the Scottish Highlands:

Nearly two years ago, Bandon Dunes domo Mike Keiser made headlines with his bold intentions to build a course in northern Scotland—"intentions" being the operative word. Keiser and co-developer Todd Warnock had proposed teaming with golf's greatest 

An oddly featureless photo of the site.

current design duo, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw to craft a seaside layout just north of fabled Royal Dornoch, to be called Coul Links. At the time, we called the prospects for the Scottish Highlands course "tantalizing." The mere dune-flecked, beachside setting alone had course connoisseurs salivating. Inevitable, however, were the fierce protests from the anti-development factions, of which there were many. Fast forward to September 29, 2017. The site is still without golf holes, but the door has creaked open ever more slightly. 

As reported by The (Aberdeen) Press and Journal, Keiser and Warnock have spent two years modifying their original proposals, and on September 29, they submitted a planning document to the Highland Council, proposing to move forward with the construction of the 18-hole championship course in the town of Embo.

Not to worry, this will be epic:

Coul Links would occupy hallowed golfing ground, on rumpled seaside linksland less than two miles north of Royal Dornoch, ranked Number 15 in GOLF Magazine's Top 100 Courses in the World.

Coore told Keiser that the land was spectacular—perhaps the best ever. That's saying something, as Keiser is no stranger to jaw-dropping on-the-ocean spreads, having created or co-created Bandon Dunes, Cabot Links, Cabot Cliffs and Barnbougle in Tasmania. 

While the groundbreaking appears to be at least a year away, you can't help but anticipate greatness, given the site and the development and design teams. Royal Dornoch occupies some of the most remarkably varied terrain ever made available for golf. It combines that variety with unparalleled vistas.

Mike has amassed quite the resume.... But this is a Joe Passov item, so they'll be nonsense included:

Regardless of how it winds up comparing to Royal Dornoch, Coul Links will undoubtedly provide one more compelling reason for tourists and purists alike to make the pilgrimage to the region. As recently as the 1960s, Dornoch was considered too remote to be worth the bother. With the recent re-discovery of hidden jewels such as Brora and Golspie, and with the addition of Trump International Golf Links Scotland and Castle Stuart (both with second courses in the planning stages) to the south in Aberdeen and Inverness, respectively, northern Scotland is poised to be a breakout destination all its own.

Yes, this adds to to appeal of the journey North and, while it's a bit of a drive, I'll concede him castle Stuart (and he could have added Nairn).  But Aberdeen, including Trump's course, is nowhere near Dornoch and the other courses he cites.  Sheesh!

Kaching - It isn't often that top-ranked amateurs don't chase the filthy lucre, but this guy at least head-faked in that direction:

The final pieces to the professional puzzle are in place for Maverick McNealy. 

Just two days before his pro debut at this week’s Safeway Open, the former Stanford standout announced several sponsorship deals. McNealy, 21, will play Callaway clubs, ball and glove, wear Under Armour apparel and display KPMG on the front of his hat. 

“The only criteria for me was what’s going to make me play the best, now and for years to come,” McNealy told Golfweek. “Based on the trajectory of the Callaway equipment the last couple of years and how good it is now, it was a pretty easy decision that I want to be a part of that going forward.”

I completely get how KPMG will help you play your best....This interview is also interesting, as like your humble correspondent he's a big fan of the Mack Daddy wedges....  I'll just share this slam of his more-famous father:

OK, final question and most important one: Has your dad started asking for free clubs yet? 

Yeah, except mine are way too stiff for him now. They have right trees written all over it for him. But we’ll work on that.

 These kids today...  No respect for their elders.