by Gary Williams | Dec 4, 2023 | The Card
18 thoughts, observations and predictions…
- The reported rollback of the golf ball universally will be debated for the years ahead. As I’ve stated from the outset of the Distance Insights report, I support bifurcation. I have concerns about sustainability in 50 years not five years.
- The two biggest stars in the men’s game, Tiger and Rory, support the rollback which is helpful for the governing bodies but they will need smart and sensible data and messaging in the years ahead to calm the masses.
- Every tour player screaming about the rollback are paid messengers for the manufacturers. It doesn’t mean that they may not have reasonable concerns, but they are paid messengers.
- Tiger Woods’ week at the Hero was a start and that’s all it was. If he can’t build on this and his next start, wherever it is, and is starting over then he can’t build. Without a modest building to something, the big stuff is unattainable.
- Tiger is a genius and there are few others who could have as many iterations of a golf swing and continue to win like he has but this transformation is really impressive. Transferring speed produced in large measure from the twitchy lower body to the now yoked upper body is wild to see.
- As he approaches 48 at the end of December, Tiger has NEVER had more value to the PGA Tour. Him playing a little bit is massive. His voice publicly on the direction of the tour is vital and his weight on the issues is exponentially more significant than anyone else in the game.
- The Jon Rahm rumors to LIV are loud. His departure would be a massive hit to the PGA Tour. He’s dynamic, interesting, curious and good television. His loss would be far greater than any other the tour has stomached to date.
- If Rahm’s departure is followed by additional top 20 players in the world leaving for LIV, the tour will be in the most desperate position they’ve been in, to date, to find common ground with LIV. LIV is not desperate for financial solvency; the PGA Tour is in a very precarious position with multiple title sponsors while trying to compensate their top players based on something other than market conditions.
- Jordan Spieth has a multi win season in 2024 and will be in the deep end of the pool in two majors with chances to win both the Masters and the US Open.
- Joaquin Niemann won the Australian Open to become the first Chilean born player to win a truly historic event. It makes you wonder what the make-up of the U.S. and International Presidents Cup teams will be next fall. As a PGA Tour property it would appear there will be no LIV players on either side. Another tour property devalued by LIV.
- Matt Fitzpatrick reported the information regarding Collin Morikawa’s use of green reading data. Is he a snitch? No, he was trying to get clarification on what was permissible. He also has a responsibility to protect the field. He did the right thing even though it may have initially appeared smarmy.
- Ashleigh Buhai defended her title at the Australian Open. Winning any event in back-to-back years is rare especially an event sharing the stage with the men. Buhai will have a big 2024.
- Luke Donald running it back as European Ryder Cup captain is impressive. He knows what he’s trying to do in the most hostile environment in Ryder Cup history. He could have taken his blowout win and enjoyed lifetime lofty status. Rolling the dice at Bethpage speaks to his sneaky competitive streak.
- Paul McGinley should be the choice for lead analyst for NBC. Smart, plugged in and unafraid.
- The College Football Playoff proves again that anything that relies on an outside agency like a judge to determine outcomes is doomed. A card and pencil is unambiguous. Shoot a score, put the number on the board and fall where you fall.
- Tiger will not captain the U.S. Ryder Cup team at Bethpage. The PGA of America should think completely outside their historic model.
- Scottie Scheffler will figure out his putting woes with Phil Kenyon and no one will win more than him in 2024.
- As we embark on a week of digging in on the ball rollback, I just hope the discussion is civil. We can all make data dance in any direction we want and although I support the rollback, I also respect the concerns of the recreational player. This is about 2050 as much as it is 2030.
by Gary Williams | Nov 20, 2023 | The Card
18 thoughts, observations and predictions…
- Ludvig Aberg has done more to legitimize PGA Tour U than any million-dollar ad campaign. Plus, he may have just influenced a few college players to pass on potential LIV dollars. I said MAY HAVE.
- Nicolai Hojgaard is younger than Aberg and with his win at the DP World Tour Championship has secured his place in the first couple Signature Events on the PGA Tour. Along with his brother Rasmus the three of them represent the potential for three real stars simultaneously from Scandinavian countries. Who needs speed skating?
- The European pivot to the next generation is one of the swiftest restocking of the Ryder Cup cupboards of all time. Hovland, the Hojgaards, plus Aberg join Rahm and Rory to form a lethal first six. And that group is built to take on Bethpage.
- Ten PGA Tour cards were earned in Dubai this week. Not many likely took notice but the DP World Tour is going to benefit from co-opting space with the PGA Tour and their cash infusion compliments of the PGA Tour was a shrewd deal.
- The winners on the DP World Tour, PGA Tour and LPGA Tour this week were 21, 29, and 27 under par respectively. Any month, anywhere, any conditions, you put 18 flags in the ground and these aliens will knock them over. Absurd.
- Paul Azinger will not be back as the lead analyst for NBC’s golf coverage. There are basically two lead analysts at the network level, so the job is coveted and rarely available. The phone call may be very short, but NBC must gauge the interest of Tiger Woods. Price too high and interest likely next to zero, does not matter, you call him.
- The season of Tiger is open us. He will play the Hero World Challenge and likely the PNC parent child with Charlie. BEST case for 2024 is five events in my mind… four majors and the Genesis. Percentage chance of that happening? 10%
- The fall portion of the PGA Tour schedule gave us winners that included Sahith Theegala, Tom Kim, Colin Morikawa, and Ludvig Aberg plus heart-warming stories in Eric Van Rooyen and Camilo Villegas. As a moving target this fall was a fluky success.
- At 34 Amy Yang wins a massive event and two million dollars. Yang turned pro in 2008 and she’s been a respected professional for 15 years, so her win was wildly popular.
- By any metric Lilia Vu is the player of the year on the LPGA. I am not a fan of leaning on metrics for determining who is the player of the year. Players should vote. They know better than anyone, including an algorithm, who was the best among them for the year.
- Eric Cole is likely to get pinched now by Aberg for rookie of the year. Cole played 37 events! Wake up 1977, Eric Cole is here. He is one of the best stories in 2023 and the vote will be very close. He finished 43 in the FedEx cup and his last six starts including five top 5’s. I think Aberg’s win tips it, but Cole was a plow mule.
- The next ten into the first two full field events of 2024 were determined this fall. Beau Hossler, Matt Kuchar, Nick Hardy, Ben Griffin and Luke List were among that group. All of them exemplify that the pro game sizzles everyone to varying degrees but you can come back from the depths.
- Rory McIlroy leaving his board seat on the PGA Tour surprised some. Why? He did what he’s inclined to do which was be committed to it and it got him tons of unneeded stress and in the end, he was left out of the biggest decision. Onto 2024 and let others shoulder that unnecessary load.
- ESPN wisely secured digital rights to the LPGA for a limited number of events in 2024. Pro golf eats hours and its perfect for ESPN+. For the LPGA they have just put themselves on the monolith of all sports platforms. Winner.
- I spent two days at Congaree golf club in South Carolina. In addition to having the firmest and fastest playing conditions in America they have raised millions for their foundation which provides ample foundational support for aspiring college golfers who are from modest means. Dan Friedkin, the owner of the club, is truly changing lives through golf.
- The new book, “The Golf Courses of Seth Raynor” is a fantastic illustrative book on the work and impact of one of the true giants of course design. Get it for someone you love who loves Raynor courses for Christmas.
- I’ve put Jordan Spieth on the top of my list of people I want to have a long conversation with in 2024. There’s a ton there and will not be enough time.
- Giving thanks should never be reserved for just one day but we do celebrate it this Thursday. I am thankful for the support and compassion of so many and for anyone reading this line that signifies you supporting our efforts to talk about this game we love. Happy Thanksgiving.
