Tuesday Tidbits - Playoff Fever Edition

Not gonna be here for too long, so let's dive in, shall we?

Not So Fast, Mike - The latest incoming as relates to the proposed USGA/R&A Model Local Rules, which seems to indicate that the two PGAs have, well, gotten a room:

In a move that could have significant implications for the USGA and R&A proposal to roll back golf ball distance at the elite level, the World Alliance of PGAs has asked the governing bodies to indefinitely halt its march toward the changes.

In a memo obtained by Golf Channel and signed by PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh, the alliance—which includes nine PGAs from around the world—wrote, “We strongly believe in the need to completely scope out all unintended consequences before the introduction of any significant change. Whilst many aspects have been considered we are worried that the proposed changes will have far reaching implications for our game.”

In their memo, the PGAs, which represent thousands of teaching professionals, say they are “firmly opposed” to bifurcation of the golf ball: “It is something that we feel would lead to division and cause us to lose a very precious characteristic of golf; the fact that we all play on the same course with the same clubs and balls. In our view, this dynamic should be preserved as a fundamental tenet.”

Because the first thing that jumps into mind is that the governing bodies have moved precipitously....  Are you done laughing yet?

Well, don't stop laughing just yet, as it turns out that it's all about the "equity":

The PGAs cited operational issues, including policing players; retailers and driving ranges having to stock two different kinds of balls; and golfers playing different balls for different events, as reasons it opposes the proposal. The PGAs cited the effect on golf courses and handicap systems and said the governing bodies’ suggestion that elite women players could still play a “recreational” ball could be viewed "very negatively at a time when we are all trying to promote and champion women’s golf and participation.”

Got that?  It's apparently OK that they play a substantially shorter golf course, but we wouldn't want to make them play a ball that's different than the men, because....well, reasons.

Of course, there's this niggling issue that the PGA of America's members (you do remember that you represent members, right Seth?) manage golf programs for folks completely unaffected by the proposed actions, but whatev... Their actual interest in the matter is limited to their two or three championships, and it might only be the one that's actually in play.

Geoff is shocked to discover gambling in Casablanca:

Delay, delay, delay. This is the way. As the Mandalorians like to say.

The PGA of America came out against the proposed distance solution and put out a memo sounding suspiciously similar to the PGA Tour’s position revealed last week to help Jay Monahan fend off the Titleist wolves. (The PGA of America memo was reported exclusively by GolfChannel.com’s Rex Hoggard).

For added punch, the organization of club professionals known for rarely taking a stance on much of anything since the anchoring ban, billed their position as coming from the “World Alliance” of PGA’s.

I wonder what the World Alliance would think of moving the PGA Championship to international sites every four year? I digress. s

Notably, the American organization hosting of the PGA and KPMG Women’s PGA seem very focused on protecting the synergy between selling every day golfers what a few hundred male professionals play. The memo suggests the PGA is also disinterested in how their two biggest championships are played or whether time-honored skills still matter in deciding a winner. This hardly comes at a shock after the PGA of America, contradicting the findings of their lockstep partners at the PGA Tour, allowed rangefinders in the PGA Championship and KPMG Women’s PGA. You know, expensive devices that allow a severe mishit to be rewarded by allowing players to dial in an easy yardage from the wrong fairway.

They're all over the place and slinging BS against the wall, hoping that something might stick.  Geoff has the laundry list of their "concerns":

• The PGA of America believes the change to a Model Local Rule ball in elite events could “seriously interrupt the current momentum in the game and be fundamentally damaging and detrimental in the long run.” (The pandemic-fueled change in work and lifestyle patterns or a healthier-than-expected economy apparently pales compared to the pleasure of buying high-priced equipment all because a tour pro endorses it.)
• They claim to have seen “sets of data that conflict with the R&A and USGA materials” and call the data used “confusing”. The PGA of America does not say what data troubles them even though a vast majority of the Distance Insights data comes from the PGA Tour’s uber-reliable ShotLink.
• The PGA of America “firmly oppose” bifurcation, saying it will lead to division and “lose a very precious characteristic of golf.” Which is, in theory, golfers buying and playing what the pros play, even if most of that business is no longer handled by club pros and is instead sold online or in non-green grass shops helmed by a mix of PGA and non-PGA members.
• “We all play on the same course with the same club and balls.” Except most people pay for the stuff that pros get for free and play from about 1000 yards shorter tees if they can get on the “same course” pros play.
• “Need to scope out all unintended consequences before the introduction of any significant change.” The study started in 2018 and the elite ball would not be an option until 2026.
• They cite operational issues including policing players, the horror of “retailers” stocking two different spec balls (don’t they already do this on a grander scale?), and ranges having to provide different balls for different golfers (a very country club problem not likely to happen).
• The PGA cites handicap course ratings needing revision in a rare show of concern for the course rating and handicap system handled entirely by the USGA and R&A. It’s a fair point that the two organizations should address.
• The PGA of America has concerns about the image of elite women playing the recreational ball “at a time when we are all trying to promote and champion women’s golf and participation.” This is the lone time the memo cites a topic of note related to the conducting of a major championship.
• The PGA requests to extend the consultation period to review the conflicting data. Also known as just buying time and hoping this whole thing goes away.
• The PGA proposes to create a “white paper” using alternative data and pitching possible solutions other than what has been proposed. They also could have already done this if they weren’t just waiting to do what the PGA Tour asks them to support.
• The PGA offered to set up a phone call to discuss their position. How, uh, white of them.
• The PGA of America believes any altering of golf ball testing for elite players will lead “to changes to virtually all golf clubs which are built to perform best around the characteristics of the golf ball.” First, that’s total horse pucky. And even if true, this is something a launch monitor-proficient PGA of America instructor can help an elite player figure out in about fifteen minutes, maybe thirty if they stop for a breakfast burrito at the driving range comfort station.

Some obvious implementation issues, but that's pretty much how we justified the inactivity that puts us where we are today, and it only gets harder the further we delay.

But this is interesting, given that one man might actually be the difference:

In a 2023 interview with high school students, former U.S. Amateur champion and Masters Tournament Chairman Fred Ridley said he would lose around six yards off his drives if he played the new ball. He made clear this is not a big deal to him.

Did I mention he governs one of the four majors, of which two already plan to adopt this Model Local Rule? The math still isn’t on the PGA’s side.

Well, it's certainly a big deal to the rest of us....

Assuming the two governing organizations don't run back to Mommy, this all appears to hang on Fred.  If the Masters is on board with the change, it's a bit hard to see how that fourth major and the world's dominant tour don't go along.  That said, it's also clearly a high-stakes poker game, and perhaps best thought of as an opening negotiation position.

The other aspect that's clear is that Jay isn't jamming this down his players throats in the current moment.  He's got bigger issues, still presumably sleeping with one eye open...

Per Churchill, perhaps this represents the end of the begiining:

The notice and comment period for the proposed MLR is set to end next Monday, and the PGAs are asking that the governing bodies push back their implementation of the rollback and keep the status quo as the industry further contemplates “the thorny challenges of bifurcation.”

The PGAs offered to discuss the matter with the USGA and R&A. The USGA responded to the memo, as it did with the PGA Tour, by saying, “We remain in a Notice & Comment period, accepting feedback from voices from across the game. The PGA is an important stakeholder and we appreciate the feedback they have contributed to this conversation.”

Developing, as the kids like to say....

Ryder Cup Projections -  Still quite murky on both sides, but shall we see how Brian Harman's surprise win at Hoylake has moved the needle?

First, current U.S. standings from 

That's via Geoff and might be a week or two old, it's just an easy graphic to grab, though Sam Burns and Rickie seem to have swapped spots in the current update.

There's obviously the playoffs yet to come, but only for some of those guys, due to a chip shot not falling.  here's a screenshot of that updated list for those below No. 14:

Anybody on that list rock your world?  Denny McCarthy can putt, at least on Thursday through Saturday) and I've no clue what's up with Finau, but happy hunting.

Geoff had this which I think is on point:

Zach Johnson received a gift with Brian Harman’s win and lock status for the 2023 Ryder Cup squad. Harman is just the kind of player who would never be pick-worthy in the task force “task force” Task Force world and it’s addiction to analytics.

Assuming he brings his straight driving and putting to Rome this September, Harman is just the type of player who will annoy an opponent in any format and even if his iron shots in foursomes are not crisp, will be there to make the par putt. And given how the Europeans have set up courses in recent years to annoy America’s bomb-and-gougers, Harman’s style of play should fit that setup style.

But, gotta ask, where is that American juggernaut I was promised?  I'm pretty lukewarm about the guys at the top of the list, even before we get to Zach tough decisions....Scottie is clueless with the putter and Cantlay and Schauffele appear to be sleepwalking through their seasons, although perhaps the terrific penis has been distracted by trying to lead the next revolution?

Here's a longish take from Geoff, most of which seems about right:

Good play at The Open by Max Homa and Cameron Young also should please Captain Johnson, as confirmed on Sirius radio by assistant captain Fred Couples speaking to The Fred Couples Show. He labeled the duo along with Jordan Spieth as locks.

The rest of USA’s situation is a tad messy.

• Brooks Koepka will keep sliding down the list and may require a pick. During his Open press chat, Koepka went out of his way to make clear he’s a family-first man at this point, which I took to mean the arrival of a new child in Cup’s vicinity may complicate his participation.
• Vintners Schauffele and Cantlay remain steady but unspectacular, an underrated trait for most captain’s who will take that over hot and cold types (which America has plenty of). While neither had the 2023 major breakthrough they long for, Schauffele finished T10-T18-T10-T17 this year while Cantlay went T14-T9-T14-T33
• The Spieth-Thomas duo is hardly firing on all cylinders, but Spieth should get a pick while Thomas should not barring a turnaround the next two weeks.
• Keegan Bradley and Collin Morikawa would have helped their causes with better Open Championship weeks. They have the next few to make their cases for picks.
• At 12th Rickie Fowler feels like more of a lock than some of the above names given his resurgent putting. A good showing in the coming weeks would make Captain Zach’s job easier.

The names from 13th to 20th hardly jump out as exciting alternatives based on current form.

He's  probably correct that Homa and Young are safe, especially given Fred shooting his mouth off, but don't expect much excitement from me on that score....  Koepka might well slide out of that top six, but one assumes he will be picked, just to keep the Tour-LIV negotiations polite....

But everybody is conceding Morikawa his slot, notwithstanding that he seems clueless out there.  he and Keegan Bradley actually bring the same skill-set to the table, good ball strikers with suspect putters.  You need those guys the first two days, but how many is the question?

As I said yesterday, it's a binary choice of JT or some other palooka, Keegan or Denny or Tony.  As such it's completely arguable, and Eamon Lynch offered his thoughts here:

“He should book his plane ticket to Rome… In match play, form doesn’t matter as much as fire, and you just don’t leave heart & soul sitting at home when you’re getting on a plane to go somewhere where you haven’t won a Ryder Cup - foreign soil - for 30 years,” Lynch said.

He can get fire from Keegan, just not from Finau or Denny McCarthy....

I don't necessarily think that he should be on the team, but my Spidey sense is tingling that he will be, just because the options aren't so great.

That's all for today kids.  I'll do Europe later in the week.