Late Week Lamentations

I don't have all that much time but, then again, there isn't all that much to cover....

Charlotte's Web -  I know, a lame pun to start your day.....  LKD takes on Eamon Lynch's contention that Rory has peaked:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – By all accounts, Rory McIlroy’s game has been pretty good this year. Really good actually. He’s first in SG: Off The Tee, 2nd in SG: Tee to Green, and 4th on SG: Overall. But hang around Tour players enough and you’ll learn that the

journey towards getting better never stops, which is why Rory is introducing a few swing changes starting at the Wells Fargo Championship this week. 

“I felt like going into Augusta, if I wanted to shape one, I would shape it a lot right to left or I would shape it a lot left to right where you’re aiming so far in either direction you’re playing for a big curve or a big miss,” Rory said. “That’s never really been my game.” 

So Rory got to work on his mechanics. He changed two things. The first is relatively simple: He’s working on his posture, sticking his butt out slightly more to increase the amount of hip tilt. 

But Rory’s also working on something else that could prove hugely significant: His backswing. 

“I’m trying to get a little bit steeper in my shoulder plane, which starts with posture and staying in my posture. I was sort of coming up out of my posture and sort of falling back on my heels.”

So Rory is working on his swing to create shot shapes he'll need at Augusta, and he thinks the time to do that is in Charlotte?   Not so good with a calendar, is our lad....

As for sticking his tush out, a cursory glance at my photo library indicates he's used this move previously:

And here:

And here:

Oops!  My bad....That's a different move, one that comes next in the sequence....

But perhaps Luke is onto something:

Rory McIlory and Joel Dahmen lead

Rory McIlroy headed into this week as as the heavy favorite, with 6/1 odds. The Northern Irishman has not only won the Wells Fargo twice (2010 and 2015) but he’s also firing on all cylinders thus far this season, with a prestigious win at the Players Championship and six other top-10 finishes. 

So it’s really no surprise to see him taking charge at the top of the leaderboard from the very beginning at Quail Hollow. An opening round of 66 (five under) included six birdies and a bogey, giving McIlroy a one-shot lead over a five-player lock in second at four under par.

It's Thursday and it's Charlotte, so it's not the least bit surprising that Rory is playing well....  If I seem unduly tough on the lad, it's because there's so much damn talent there and little apparent commitment to getting the most out of it.  

But I'm happy to see Joel Dahmen up there as well.  One of my faves after his bravura performance in taking on that horrible Sung Kang drop last year.  One guy out there that understands the responsibility to protect the field....  so we've got that going for us.

Charlotte's Web, Part II -  Employee No. 2 and I were in Scotland in August of 2017, or perhaps that was Wales....  It all kind of blurs together into a miasma of linksy goodness.  But the gist of it is that I missed that PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, though without a touch of remorse from what I gather.

Shack is here with the news that we'll have Quail Hollow to kick around in future years, under this amusing header:

Wells Fargo Extends For Five Years Except When Quail Hollow Hosts The Presidents Cup, Reminding Us Of News We'd Tried To Forget

What, Liberty National was booked?  But Shack, in his typically droll fashion, informs us that there may be more bad news on the horizon:

Congrats to all for extending Wells Fargo’s sponsorship of the Charlotte stop at Quail

Hollow, the oft-remodeled and over-extended design that was probably once very charming.

In 2021, when Quail lulls us to sleep during the Presidents Cup, the Wells Fargo will go north to the TPC Potomac outside Washington D.C. where players will experience “Scottish style bunkering”.

Also note this extension takes Quail Hollow through 2024 as host of the Wells Fargo. Remarkably, the club is believed to be a candidate for the 2026 PGA Championship as well. Currently that date is open, which is saying something given that almost all PGA dates have been filled or penciled in until 2031.

It's not the worst venue in the world and May works a whole lot better than August, but the logic of taking majors to regular Tour venues eludes me.  And wasn't Kerry Haigh just extolling the joys of cool weather grasses?

 Dinosaurs, Extinct - This item reminds me of the classic Far Side cartoon:

Completely off-topic, but far funnier than any of my musings are likely to be...

Back to our subject, in which your humble correspondents admits that he still has a print subscription to Sports Illustrated....  perhaps even more surprisingly, that subscription remains in spite of, not because of, the swimsuit issue, which I've not so much as opened in years.  I do like the outraged letters about same that show up in the succeeding weeks, but fact is that I don't pay enough to be worth the trouble to cancel....

The business model is obviously quite broken, and as we've seen elsewhere, such as Newsweek, the death throes can be amusing.  As we old timers like to say, "Get woke, Go Broke"  Think I'm kidding?  The current version of the swimsuit issue, once so scandalous and risque, features this Halal compliant model:

Yeah, that's the ticket....They got a few headlines, perhaps, but if you're core market is 16-year old boys, good luck with that.

The garment is called a burkini, a portmanteau of of burka and bikini....  available I'm sure from all similarly woke retailers.

Hope you enjoyed our amusing digressions, we'll now return to our regularly-scheduled blogging, specifically this item about the pursuit of Sports Illustrated:

If Authentic Brands Group is successful in snapping up Sports Illustrated, it would undoubtedly become primarily a licensing and digital play.

According to sources, the print magazine would continue to be published for at least the next two years as ABG works to capitalize on its content to extend the brand’s reach into a number of sports-related businesses. That could include everything from camps for kids to sports rehabilitation clinics, sources said. 

AGB owns 50 brands, 45 percent of which are in the fashion space, and is the world’s fourth-largest licensing company. It has $9.3 billion in annual retail sales. Among its sports-affiliated brands are Greg Norman, Shaquille O’Neal, Muhammad Ali, Prince, Spyder, Volcom, Hind, Above the Rim and Julius Erving.

It's very sad, because SI provided so much great writing over the decades.  But I picked that very issue picture out of curiosity as to how they would capture Tiger's epic Masters win, and the burkina was more interesting.  But see how you think this will play:

One source close to the company said a Sports Illustrated site could potentially include golf tips from Norman or basketball strategy ideas from O’Neal. “This would be very different from just making Sports Illustrated jackets,” the source said. “That’s not the business they’re going into.”

You have to admit, basketball strategy from Shaq could be unintentionally hilarious....  The other, yeah, not so much.

A Little Cheese With That Whine? - Life can be so darn unfair, though this is a little rich....  I don't know how you good folks reacted to yesterday's rant directed at Alan Shipnuck and that Carly Booth/Saudi Arabia story, but I suspect my criticisms might be misunderstood.

Saudi is a noxious regime, but it's been what it is for the entirety of its existence...  In a geopolitical sense, we ally ourselves with it only because its in our interests to do so, and there's little need to apologize for that.  Folks that think differently should make their case, to which I'm open but skeptical.

My strongest objection is to the treatment of the players, whether it's Carly or the men earlier in the year....  Alan at least admitted he didn't know the woman, but seemed to think the the worldview of a 26-year old bit of cheesecake should be of interest to the rest of us...  

Today we have Keith Pelley decrying the unfairness of the world:

In January, the European Tour held the inaugural Saudi International in Saudi Arabia, an

event marked by heated debate over the appropriateness of playing the tournament in the Middle East country. Months before Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor who lived in Virginia and was a critic of the Saudi government, was killed at the country's ministry in Istanbul. Khashoggi's murder brought other Saudi Arabia human-rights issues to light, putting the European Tour, Pelley and players—many of whom received million-dollar appearance fees—in a precarious position. 

“To turn a blind eye to the butchering of a media member in some way euphemizes the egregious atrocity that not only took place with the Khashoggi murder but what goes on there all the time,” said the Golf Channel's Brandel Chamblee at the time. “By participating, [the players] are ventriloquists for this abhorrent, reprehensible regime.” 

However, Pelley is apparently undaunted by the fallout, telling Reuters that the tour will return to Saudi Arabia in 2020.

Again with the style book treatment of Kashoggi, perhaps not Brandel fault since the media refuses to share the truth about the man.  WaPo begrudgingly admitted only that which they could no longer hide, but the rest of the media gave us crickets.

My point of course isn't that the murder of Kashoggi was a horrible act, just that it should change anyone's opinion of this regime....  As for Pelley, he's going with the why us? defense:

Somewhat curiously, Pelley said he was “perplexed” at his sport was being singled out for holding an event in the country. 

“After the incident [murder], many blue-chip businesses and many governments continued to do business in Saudi, [and the] entertainment business is still flourishing,” Pelley said. “There was Italian Super Cup with AC Milan and Juventus [in January], and Ronaldo scored the winning goal and celebrated, and we tried to find any kind of criticism for Ronaldo, yet our players were criticized. Why was golf singled out? I was perplexed why we were. 

“I went over there first and listened to his Excellency (Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman) at a sports conference, talk about how … the country wanted to change, needed to change, wanted to use sports as a catalyst, was committed to golf.”

 Committed to golf?  If he got that out with a straight face, we'd best watch him closely....

But Golf Digest acquits itself no worse than WaPo and the lamestream media:

The country's civil liberties continue to be a concern.

Ya think?

More Alan -  Not an epic mailbag, but let's dive in as a peace offering....  I'm not going to excerpt it, because I'm not a Game of Thrones viewer, but he pairs current players with GoT characters, quite a few of them....Give him a click if you actually know those characters.

Presidents Cup dress rehearsal and there’s bitching about pairings, Scott/Day trunk slam, Louis/Charl make a nueve— does my boy Ernie need to go plane-mode on these chumps as an attention-getter? — @Lou_TireWorld 

This is indeed an underrated aspect of the Zurich: the International team getting to preview pairings for the Presidents Cup, since they don’t have the luxury of a Ryder Cup dress rehearsal. This is going to be the most-anticipate Prez Cup ever because of the intrigue surrounding Tiger’s role as a playing captain. It would be nice if the Internationals can at least make it interesting but the goings-on in New Orleans do not inspire confidence. To quote Captain Els, on his long-ago private jet ride with Steve Marino: “Now we fight.”

Plane-mode?  Can anyone tell me what the questioner means here, because I'm guessing it's not this.... But while the Zurich won't tell us much about the Prex Cup, that Steve Marino story is quite epic and a side of Ernie we don't see much of....

Is Tiger approaching/considering a Hogan post-wreck appearance strategy? Surely he’ll play more than 6-7 tournaments a year (see: Japan $). But… curious if you’re hearing anything we’re not. — @CHFounder 

It’s becoming clear that Tiger pushed himself to the brink last year and he is still paying the price, physically, but not spiritually — the green jacket makes it all worth it. Rickie Fowler told me during Masters week that he and Tiger share the same physio and during tournament weeks he always tries to get in first because it takes so much time to get Woods’s body ready to play. Why should Tiger put himself through all of that for the likes of the Wells Fargo Championship? I love the idea of Woods drastically reducing his schedule. It will prolong this final act of his career, make every start monumental and give him the best chance to be fresh for the majors.

I don't know, Alan, but I was reliably informed that he needed his reps to get back his golf feelz.  Is that no longer operative?

It'll be a little interesting to see how he schedules himself over the summer, as one assumes he'll show for all three weeks of the FedEx money grab.  Nothing after that that matters until December, though Hogan wouldn't have flown to Japan for a money grab.

I assume he'll skip the WGC formerly known as the Bridgestone, and I'm not sure beyond The Memorial where he would see the need to show up.

Here's a couple that go together:

Would Web/PGA pros have lost their s— if Chase Koepka went from no status to a two-year exemption thanks to a bro win-vite? — @ChristofAppel 

Many would have, for sure. But Chase is a humble, well-liked kid who has been chasing it hard on mini-tours, Mondays and the Challenge Tour. Fellow pros respect the grind. Also, Brooks is now one of the game’s big dogs, and that status affords him a few DGAF moves, like inviting his little brother to play alongside him instead of a more established pro. I think it’s cool they’re out there together between the ropes. 

Saw a lot of Americans on the leaderboard at the Euro Tour event this weekend. Is this viewed as an easier/financially more rewarding route to the PGA Tour, or more a reflection of how high the standard and number of players are on the Web.com tour? — @afc_van 

This is an acknowledgement that there are no easy routes to the PGA Tour. When I hung out on the Latinoamerica Tour last year many of the players despaired about the cut-throat competition, and that’s just to move up to the Web. Some were considering playing the PGA Tour China – which, like the LAT, is basically double-A ball – and some were considering trying the Challenge Tour, which is the feeder for the European Tour. Like all sports, there is a copycat factor, and Brooks has provided an inspirational example of how Americans can prosper by cutting their teeth in Europe. Considering all the cool places and great courses you get to see, why wouldn’t you give it a try?

I'm guessing that Chase was the cost to get Brooks, and given the field's weakness one can understand why they'd play ball.

As for that last bit, we've seen some evidence recently that the Euro Tour, in certain situations, award healthy doses of OWFR points.  But I also respect the grind, and you take any opportunities that present.   I think Alan great overstates the quality of the golf courses, but there's a bit of history to be found for sure....

You win the Trophee Hassan II, what are you doing with that knife for the following year? Use it as a steak knife at the table? Reserve it for carving tenderloins and roasts? Champagne corks only? — @ANTIFAldo 

Oh, c’mon, I love that trophy. Who needs another crystal flower vase?

Plus the great photo ops....

I don't know what this guy is smoking, but hope he brought enough to share:

If Scott Hoch isn’t one of the most underrated golfers of all time, who is? 11 wins, two Ryder Cups, and and made a lot of $$. — Matthew (@SonOfAFitch) 

I agree that he is almost never talked about considering what a productive career he enjoyed. Hoch would be on the short list of the best non-major winners of all time, including Doug Sanders, Kenny Perry, Calvin Peete, Buce Lietzke, Jay Haas, Steve Stricker and sundry others.

Hoch as in....?  No love for Monty?  

After seeing Pasatiempo on TV for the Western, it got me thinking that college golf could be the perfect platform for getting super private courses on TV. No crowds or infrastructure to deal with other than TV set-ups. Any chance it could ever happen? #AskAlan — @UnbeatableTweet 

Well, it already has happened with the Walker Cup, which has a richer history and more prestige than any college event but offers the same appeal of small crowds and minimal infrastructure. That’s why ultra-private joints like Chicago Golf Club (2005), Merion (’09) and National Golf Links (’13) opened their doors to the Walker Cup, and up next is Seminole (’21) and Cypress Point (’25).

Alan is right to expand it to amateur golf....  We're tough on the USGA when warranted, but their Walker Cup venues have been great, and I also loved the Curtis Cup at Quaker Ridge.  But also why we are so frustrated by taking a Prez Cup to Quail Hollow....  it's a missed opportunity to visit an actually interesting venue.

This is one right up my alley:

Scottish Highlands: your 3 recommendations to play? Do you train (i.e. TPI)? What ball do you play? — @RLMgrandpa 

Castle Stuart, Royal Dornoch, Tain. I do sit-ups and push-ups and run stairs when the spirit moves me, plus play tennis and pickup hoops – does that count? Pro-V1x.

Nothing wrong with Tain, though Brora is the far more interesting track....It's a delightful James braid, made the more wonderful because you share the course with sheep and cattle.  The greens have those low-voltage fences to keep the livestock off, also part of the charm....

Have a great weekend.  Schedule is quite uncertain because of family issues, so please bear with me....