Thursday Themes

Lots to cover, so consider putting on another pot of coffee.  We'll have some further thoughts on Bryson, but there's actual news to get to first.

Wither Mike Davis - The longtime CEO of the USGA will be moving on:

The course set-up man is changing course.

Mike Davis, a 30-year employee of the United States Golf Association who became the

organization’s first CEO in 2016 and who for more than a decade oversaw course setups at the U.S. Open, will leave the governing body by the end of 2021.

The news came Tuesday in a prepared statement from the USGA, which said that Davis will be shifting gears to work in golf course architecture as a partner with Tom Fazio II, Tom Fazio’s nephew, in a firm the two have formed, Fazio & Davis Golf Design.

Mike has been a fixture in the golf firmament for those thirty years, and has been the Far Hills jefe since 2011.  What do we make of that tenure?

During his tenure as top dog in Far Hills, Davis was credited with beefing up the USGA’s financial muscle by cultivating stronger corporate relationships, most notably through the inking, in 2013, of a $1.2 billion deal with Fox Sports (a deal that ended prematurely earlier this year, with NBC stepping back in as the USGA’s lead broadcast partner). He was also recognized for introducing welcome changes to U.S. Open setups, such as graduated rough and drivable par-4s.

So, you're a writer for a major golf publication, charged with capturing the man's 30-year career at the game's governing body, and you lead with his accomplishments in adding zeros to the organization's bank accounts?  I don't think your notoriously snarky yet humbler blogger could come up with a more passive-aggressive criticism than that.

Even worse, Davis played a curiously passive role in that, as per this from Ron Sirak's seminal article on that TV rights award:

After Wasserman was hired, the USGA's Carlson, who had done TV talks for 23 years, was no longer being invited to meetings. What was clear was that the two "golf people" on the USGA's Gang of Five—Davis and O'Toole—played the smallest roles in the talks, which were handled by the three "corporate people"—Nager, Hirshland and Stevenson.

 And is a fatter bank account at the USGA a good thing?  Presumably, though I find the organization increasingly irrelevant.

So, how should we we view Mike's tenure?  Let's briefly sort through his major accomplishments.  He first became a fixture in conjunction with those U.S. Open set-ups:

Before taking over as executive director, Davis served as the head of course setup for the U.S. Open starting in 2006. He was praised for his introduction of graduated rough, drivable par 4s and use of multiple teeing grounds to challenge players to take a more conceptual approach with how to play holes.

The significance of 2006 being mostly that it came after 2004, when the organization famously lost the seventh green at Shinnecock.  Losing greens happens, but it's awkward when it happens on Fathers Day on national TV.

Those Tom Meeks-era U.S. Open set-ups were simply dreadful, and I found Davis a wonderful breath of fresh air.  As much as I embraced half-par holes and graduated rough, the real world affect of such initiatives was a yawn.  I remember the attempt to turn the 14th at Torrey into a drivable Par-4, which mostly just created an awkward golf hole.

But, of course, then we come to those venue selections:

In subsequent years, however, players called into question setups at Chambers Bay in 2015, Erin Hills in 2017 and Shinnecock Hills in 2018, and Davis handed over those duties to John Bodenhamer in 2019. There was also the frustrating handling of a rules issue involving eventual winner Dustin Johnson at Oakmont in 2016 that caused Davis and the USGA to receive condemnation.

OK, apples and oranges.   To me, Chambers and Erin Hills weren't set-up issues, it was far more existential.  What made those look like U.S. Open venues to Mike?  Chambers was a weather-related disaster, but I never quite understood the logic of a links as a U.S. Open venue.  We already have one of those (except, ironically, in 2020), and a links seems a curious choice for America's national championship.

Others will cite the rewrite of the rules of golf and the world handicap system as major accomplishments, which merely elicits another yawn.  On the rules I continue to bitterly cling to words like "hazard" and "all-square", which I deem a more important issue than might seem immediately apparent.  That we would dumb-down the rules and vernacular of our game seems an admission of a failing in our sport, a rather curious admission from the guy in charge.

Others cite this step:

Also during Davis’ tenure, the USGA, along with the R&A, adopted a rule change that prohibits anchoring a club while making a stroke.

Yes, for sure.  But at best this was done 15-20 years too late...  

But now comes the defining issue of Mike's tenure:

And, more recently, again in partnership with the R&A, the USGA initiated the Distance Insights Project, a comprehensive study on the impact of distance in golf that was released earlier this year. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the governing bodies have delayed the next phase of the project—specific topics of further research. That delay, Davis said, likely means that decisions based on the study might come after he has departed.

First, at the risk of stating the obvious, there is a direct link between distance and USGA set-up issues at Shinny and Oakmont.  Green speeds have become the principle defense of USGA venues, and balls don't remain stationary for long on glass surfaces.  

To me, the USGA had its head in the sand for far too long on this issue.  Prior to the most recent report, they gave the appearance to this observer of actively understating the effects of distance.  And while that most recent Distance Insights Report at least featured a welcome change of tone, the timeline for action lacked any sense of urgency.  Just as with the anchoring ban above...

The timeline also seems awkward, as a game in need of leadership will, for the next year+, be led by a lame duck.  With a segue into the design business, is Mike prepared to take on entrenched interests?  Of course, we sensed that with the deferral of follow-up due to the pandemic, so it's a dog-bites -man story.

I'm left with a profound sense of disappointment at Mike's tenure.  And it's hard to imagine a successor having the mandate (even assuming a recognition of the need) to take on this issue, so why even issue another report?

Danny Boy - A couple of follow-ups to that Danny lee story.  First and foremost, Lee has apologized:

“I apologize for my poor actions at U.S. Open last week,” the statement read. “It was very unprofessional and foolish. obviously hurt lots of my fans and followers and my sponsors out there... my frustration took over me and combined with injury I had to fight with it for all week.

“Still it’s just an excuse. I shouldn’t left like that... and also like to apologize to USGA they did Tremendous job last week at Winged Foot. On the course and off the course. Now I'm going to take some time off and think about what I did and starting next time I’ll show up as a better person and have better sportsmanship. Thank you.”

Lee has always seemed to me a delightfully-goofy kind of guy, so I'm glad to see him step up and take responsibility.  I'm also glad to see an apology that wasn't obviously written by a PR hack.  Obviously we can't know what's in Danny's head and heart, but this at least feels genuine.

That it took three days?  

But this is maybe the funniest riff on the incident:

5 things you can learn from Danny Lee’s six-putt meltdown

Ummm, there's really just the one....  But it's a biggie.

A Niche Sport - As you know, I've long been a sceptic about all those golf-in-its-death-throes stories that we see with regularity.  I typically react to those by reminding folks of the game's timeless appeal and that fact that said appeal has translated to generation after generation.

On this subject we have two interesting stories... Well, the stories themselves aren't all that interesting, the interest comes from the fact that they seem to point in opposite directions.  First, via Shack, this on golf's moment:

Kissimmee, FL., September 21, 2020 … On the heels of the U.S. Open, golf’s second major of 2020, Golf Datatech, LLC, the golf industry’s leading independent market research firm for retail sales, consumer and trade trends, has announced that U.S. retail golf equipment sales for August 2020 were up nearly 32% over the same period in 2019, exceeding the previous all-time high August (2006), by 15%.

In total, U.S. golf retail equipment sales for August 2020 were $331 million, compared to August 2019, which were $251 million, and the previous record year of August 2006, which were $287 million. Additionally, five equipment categories, set all-time records for August: balls, irons, wedges, bags and gloves. Overall, golf bags were the best performing equipment category in August, up 55% vs. August 2019, while YTD bag sales are up 5%.

The last time we had hard goods data, the oddity was the relatively slow growth in ball sales.  Given the insane number of rounds being played, I couldn't understand why the consumable category wasn't similarly exploding.  I guess we can deem that statistical noise.

But, while golf is having its moment, it still remains a niche sport:

The rescheduled 2020 U.S. Open provides a rare, and (hopefully) one-off look into what happens when a major championship moves to the fall against the NFL.

The numbers, courtesy of ShowBuzzDaily.com’s Mitch Metcalf, saw Sunday’s final round earn a 1.99 overnight rating, on par with the better “Return to Golf” events but easily a record U.S. Open low.

The previous benchmark for a U.S. Open final round came in 2014 when Martin Kaymer’s runaway win earned a 3.0 on NBC. However, that event was not going up against top-flight NFL matchups on CBS and Fox, where this year’s tournament was crushed by two dynamite games: Cowboys vs. Falcons and Chiefs vs. Chargers.

Against less competition Saturday, the 8-hour third round telecast averaged a 1.92, or 542,000 viewers in the only age group that purportedly shops.

 NBC’s weekday coverage drew more decently, with a 1.33 Thursday and a 1.51 Friday.

Golf Channel’s first-year televising U.S. Open action appears have established record overnight lows which will almost certainly improve in 2021 when the event returns to June and a west coast venue.

 

Those numbers are little more than rounding errors...

So, our game isn't dying, though perhaps it should see someone about that persistent cough...

Further Reflections On Bryson - It's fun to watch folks struggling to understand what they saw and what it all means.  Shall we sample some?  First, Tim Dahlberg at the AP:

The USGA and R&A are so concerned about the impact of long hitting on the game that they issued a report earlier this year that said, in part, that advances in distance off the tee were threatening to ``undermine the core principle that the challenge of golf is about needing to demonstrate a broad range of skills to be successful.’’

Now they may have to update that report. It was done before DeChambeau added 40 pounds during the pandemic break and began swinging at every tee shot like Barry Bonds used to swing at baseballs.

It was impressive to some, worrying to others. The fact is, golf has always evolved, from the days of hickory shafted clubs and gutta percha balls to today’s big headed drivers and balls that fly far and stop fast. But the beatdown DeChambeau gave Winged Foot this week might have been a tipping point in the debate over just how far the evolution of the game is allowed to go.

They are updating that report, it's just they're not in any hurry.  This as well, capturing the architectural challenge:

The first was that this was a dominant performance and his final round one to remember.

The second is teachers all over the world will be telling kids who watched on television and dream one day of winning a great championship that they had better learn to hit the ball 330 yards through the air, because there is nothing surer than that’s what the next generation will routinely be playing against.

Ultimately, though, watching DeChambeau with a driver in his hand is no more thrilling than watching Nicklaus, Daly, Woods or, indeed Bobby Jones, drive the ball.

Indeed, his biggest influence on the game is not likely to be his driver; but his understanding of data, statistics, probabilities and how they relate to strategy and the best shot to play.

The key for architects is to work out how best to disrupt the data without resorting to trickery – because this week the winner showed trickery in the form of narrow fairways and long grass can be defeated by power.

Mike, what else do you have in your bag of tricks?  let me know how it all worls out.

Alistair Tait points in the same direction as my thoughts take me:

That rumbling noise in the skies above Winged Foot was Old Tom Morris turning in his grave at what DeChambeau could potentially do to his beloved Old Course at St Andrews two years from now.

Let’s just put that in perspective. There were six par fours under 400 yards for the 2015 Open Championship at St Andrew: 375 yards for the 1st – thank goodness for the Swilcan Burn!; 398 yards for the third; 371 at the seventh; the 10th measured 386 yards; 348 yards at 12; and the 365-yard 18th.

Jack Nicklaus drew gasps when he drove the 18th green in the 1970 Open Championship. DeChambeau and co can probably hit 3 woods to carry the Valley of Sin in ideal conditions.

Do you think the R&A might be hoping for four days of strong winds for the 2021 Open Championship?

 Yeah, 2021 is now 2022....  Giving Bryson another year further beef up.  

Some smart guy made the pint recently that Augusta can always be defended, it's the Old Course that's at risk.  I'm not as sanguine as he on the former (commentary thereon is at hand), but the latter is quite true.

Before we segue to Augusta, one more bit from Padraig Harrington:

“With the capabilities at the moment, I would say Bryson is swinging at about, if you compare it to 100 metres, he’d be running at 12 seconds. The human capability, he’s running 100 metres at about 12 seconds at the moment, so he’s still got another 20 per cent more in the tank in terms of human capabilities for other players to come along.

Bryson is just the current symptom....  Remember, evolutionary vs. Revolutionary.  Then again, if you're put off by Bryson adding forty pounds, you might want to skip this excerpt:

“I actually think the biggest change could come in women’s golf. You’re going to get a woman out there playing well into the mid-170s ball speed and would be competitive on the men’s tour.”

 I don't actually think he's right with that last bit, but it's good to know things can still get worse.

From here I'll segue into the latest Ask Alan mailbag feature, just to leave on a more amusing note.  Here's the signature query:

Alan, with one major under his belt, will this performance propel Bryson to overpower the field at The Masters 2020? — @forearmshivers

 I’ve been thinking a lot about how Bryson will play Augusta National. Of course, it depends on the weather and wind, and he has to execute, but it’s easy to imagine him having wedges into 1, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17, and 18. And he can drive it onto the green at number 3. On the par-5 2nd and 15th holes he might have at most a 9-iron in, and he’ll get home on 8, too. Short-irons on three par-3s: 6, 12 and 16. If he’s driving it well the only long clubs he’ll have to hit all day are on 4 and the second shot into 8. Yowza!

Certainly this applies to a few other bombers like Matt Wolff, Cam Champ, and Bubba, but Bryson has shown himself to be the most ruthlessly efficient at executing this overpowering style of play. Sad to say that Augusta National has become laughably short for the modern game. Of course, every other course on the planet has, too.

Just a reminder that Bryson was seventh in driving distance at Winged Foot.  He's long, but so are they all... Of course, he's not done:

Bryson DeChambeau says that prior to the Masters he aims to put on another 10lbs and might be using a 48 inch driver on the hallowed turf at Augusta National. How might Fred Ridley respond to this in terms of the way in which the course is set up, do you think? — @TheGolfDivoTee

No doubt the Sub-Air will be humming. Firm greens remain the best defense, and especially at Augusta National. But it’s an outdoor game and if there’s rain — a distinct possibility in November — there is only so much that can be done to dry out the course. The green jackets could go full on USGA-at-Merion and concoct a series of ridiculous pin placements, but Ridley is a purist and he doesn’t want a bunch of goofy four-putts in a futile attempt to protect par. The best thing Augusta National could do is shave down the ill-conceived rough so drives run into trouble instead of being stopped short of the trees and water hazards.

Alan certainly knows the joint better than I, but color me skeptical on that last bit.  The takeaway from Winged Foot is that rough no longer carries a sufficient penalty, so the solution is less rough?  I mean, yes but no...

Augusta's defenses are quite different, and I'm not advocating 5" rough there.  But if you shave those areas down to fairway height, you lose the challenges of controlling the golf ball with that little bit of grass on the face.  Isn't that all we have at this point?

I'm old enough to remember when Augusta National was our last, best chance:

If boom and bang succeeds next month is there an Augusta Tournament Ball for 2021? “We look forward to welcoming you to Augusta National and here’s your ball supply for the week” — @TimAggettsport

I sincerely hope not. That’d be like raising the rims to 11 feet just for the NBA Finals. Players spend years/decades perfecting their games and equipment, and now they have to change everything at the most important tournament of the year? That would be tacky. The green jackets don’t want anything that might besmirch their tournament and the debate/complaining about a dumbed-down ball would overshadow the Masters itself.

It's a bit much to expect from a club, even this particular club.  

Who and what can stop Bryson? — @Swingtheclubken

Obviously there is concern about how Bryson’s body will hold up in the long term — his Achilles tendons and knees and elbows and the discs in his back and neck are suddenly dealing with a lot more weight and torque. But as for other distractions, I don’t see it. Last year, when I was hanging out with Bryson for a GOLF Magazine cover story, I asked about his then-girlfriend. He said they had recently broken up. When they were hanging out she’d catch him staring off to space and would ask, ‘Honey, what are you thinking about?’ The answer was always the same: golf.

Which is spot on with this timeless Dan Jenkins' comment:

"Only two things can stop Tiger — injury or a bad marriage."

Well, Tiger has gone two-for-two, though Alan throws cold water on one of those as relates to Bryson.

I shall leave you here.  I've got more from Alan's mailbag, as well as some udder stuff quarantined for tomorrow.