Leftovers

I'm unfortunately playing hurt...I've been whacked by a nasty chest and head cold, which has also kept me indoors.  If I say anything more stupid than typical, and that's setting the bar pretty damn high, it's from insufficient oxygen.... or something.

Golf Does Politics - I refuse to lead with you-know-who, as I'm a bit burned out there.... But golf's bizarre relationship with our political class can sometimes cause embarrassment, necessitating reminding you of this quote from a galaxy far, far away:

"Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made." - Otto von Bismarck

True that.    So, here's Item No. 1:

The tours weren’t talking, the lobbyists fretted and not until late Saturday were some of golf’s biggest organizations assured their tax-exempt status was safe. 

That status was preserved in advance of the Senate vote on their version of the Tax Cuts And Jobs Act. The PGA Tour and LPGA Tour faced major changes to their 501 c(6) tax-exempt status. 

The Senate’s language amended the tax law to eliminate the words “professional sports leagues” from the 501(c) tax code and specifically prevent such organizations from using non-profit status when filing tax returns. Never clear in the effort was who wrote the clause and whether it was directed at golf or, more likely, the NFL, whose tax status was highlighted in an Oct. 10 tweet by President Donald Trump

As noted, this applies to pretty much every sports league, but just the leagues themselves.  One can see how this seemed logical initially, as league infrastructure was small and most revenues accrued to the franchises.  But with licensing , streaming and massive television revenues, the optics seem especially troubling...

That said, it's not likely that much in the way of additional tax revenues would be realized and there's other aspects of their tax treatment, including the amortization of player contracts, that deserve greter scrutiny as well.

Our second item on this theme involves one of our faves:

A tiny airport in central Wisconsin that’s seen an influx of private jets since a Republican donor’s world-class golf course opened nearby would get $4 million in improvements

under funding slipped into the state budget this week. 

The Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee approved the funding after the developer of the Sand Valley Golf Resort, Michael Keiser, donated $25,000 to the state Republican Party in February, records reviewed by The Associated Press show. 

That donation was three weeks after Gov. Scott Walker released his budget without funding for Wisconsin Rapids’ Alexander Field. Keiser has given at least $65,000 to Walker and Wisconsin Republicans since 2012. 

“It sure looks like Mr. Keiser’s campaign contributions to Scott Walker and Republicans teed up millions in taxpayer-funded improvements to help bring corporate jet ferried golfers to his Wisconsin courses,” said Mike Browne with the liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now. “Meanwhile, the rest of us will continue to have to deal with crumbling roads and bridges and delayed projects as these same Republicans take a budget mulligan and refuse to fix the state transportation funding crisis.”

I for one am shocked that there's gambling politics in Casablanca Wisconsin.... The first thing you need to know is that despite anything you might have heard about Wisconsin, Nice, politics there is a blood sport, at least when elected officials have an "R" after their name.  Here's just one example of how the art has evolved....

But it has the aroma of a hatchet job, at least to this reader.  First and foremost, Mike Kesier is not an especially political person, remember that he got his first resort off the ground in the People's Republic of Oregon, not exactly a Republican stronghold.  And he's a Chicago guy as well...  Of course he gave to the R's in Wisconsin, because they're the ones in power.

Plus, one needs to read to the bottom of the piece to find this little nugget:

The state Department of Transportation had planned to pay for the airport upgrades in 2021, but it would be moved up to this year to meet the demand caused by the added air traffic due to the golf course, Krug said.

The man is investing tens of millions of dollars in your state, which will employ your residents and pay healthy sales and other taxes.  Do you not want him to succeed?

Thoughts and Prayers -  Tour player Morgan Hoffman takes to Derek Jeter's Player's Tribune to share some horrible news:

Even though the type of muscular dystrophy that I have doesn’t pose an immediate threat to my life, there is a good chance that it will shorten it. I don’t know when that will happen, because there’s no way to gauge the speed at which the disease will spread.

But please know this: This disease won’t keep me from achieving my dream of winning on the PGA Tour — and it shouldn’t keep anyone else from chasing their dreams either.

I hope he wins one soon.....

Tour Doings -  A bit of this and that from professional golf....

You'll no doubt be relieved to hear that this guy nailed his audition:

Tim Mickelson will join his brother as a full-time caddie this season, leaving behind his role as rising star Jon Rahm's agent. Phil Mickelson split with his longtime caddie Jim

"Bones" Mackay in June, with Tim filling in for Bones since. Bones and Mickelson worked together for 25 years. Bones has moved on to a new role as an on-course reporter for NBC/ Golf Channel.

"Coach Mickelson will always be important to me and has done many good things to support my career, and I wish him and Phil well in their new partnership," Rahm said in a statement. The Spaniard is currently ranked fourth in the world.

He didn't play very well after the change, but no doubt a small sample size.  I suspect nepotism was involved, though perhaps he truly was the best candidate.

Additionally, Shack has posted that Sony has re-upped for the Oahu event through 2022, but sees something between the lines:

It may be nothing but the press release announcing the Sony Open extension through

2022 notes a "new agreement commencing following the 2018 event. Whether this suggests the possibility of a date move remains to be seen, but the Sony has been mentioned as a fall bridge event between mainland and Asian stops.

Worth noting as well: Waialae Country Club has hosed the event every year since 1965.

Once again we get a hint of the Tour changing that which works unnecessarily.  Prime time coverage from Hawaii in January is a no-brainer.....  so sure, guys, move it to November.

I still want my Western Open back.

I was going to to blog some of the Tiger detritus, but I'm feeling pretty spotty.  Can you live with a rain check?