PGA Tour: The Arnold Palmer Love In: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).Back to typical Florida Tour golf this week, at Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club, originally designed by Dick Wilson who is still believed to be the only alcoholic course architect who went to University on a football scholarship. The course has been changed quite a bit since Dick's day, many of the modifications by Palmer himself and not necessarily for the better. But it is what it is and the pro who banks $1.1+M next Monday won't give a toss.

2).Course specialist Tiger Woods is still on sabbatical, apparently didn't think his game was up to it, but perhaps he'd received word that the greens are also not up to snuff - a "health warning" about them reportedly having been posted in the Innisbrook locker room telling Valspar contestants to beware.

3)Talking about the "Valspar Championship", there have been gushing articles in the press here about Spieth and Reed representing the new generation of American golfers, but precious little about Sean O'Hair who, ten years ago, trod the path that Spieth and Reed are now navigating.
Like Spieth, O'Hair won the John Deere Classic for his first win and followed up a few years later with Valspar victory.
And, like Reed, O'Hair came out on Tour estranged from parental guidance, soon entered Victory Lane and beyond but subsequently lost his way. Moving around the country with four young children couldn't have helped.

4).One constant for O'Hair, though, has been his play at Bay Hill where he could've, would've, should've won a few years ago before getting beaten (intimidated?) by Tiger and has Top40'd 7 times in 9 visits. But it's only a slight exaggeration for O'Hair to compare the depths of his struggles to those currently being fought by Woods.
Following his play-off loss on Sunday, and trying to explain his welcome return to form, O'Hair is rumoured to have said:
"I was thrashed in an Aronomink member/member match against a curler called Shotrock. He gave me some tips from his bonspiel battles, I took his advice to heart and here I am!"

5).And: On the subject of Pros being paired with Woods in Tour events, Golf Digest's April edition's "Undercover Tour Pro" describes: "Being paired with Tiger: It's a circus, good and bad." Nothing but good things to say about Tiger. Worth reading.

6).pgatour.com listed its Top 5 Irish Golfers in homage to St.Patrick's Day:
1st: McIlroy, 2nd: Harrington, 3rd: Himself, 4th: Clarke, 5th: McDool.
For Nor'n Irish post WWII golfers, I would think: McIlroy, Fred Daly, Clarke, McDowell, Rafferty?
For the Irish list I would agree with Harrington at #1. Then O'Connor Sr, Harry Bradshaw, Christy Jr (edges ahead of Smyth thanks to that 2-iron!), Des Smyth?
Whaddya think? (Sure I've forgotten one or two.)

7).For the Bill Frindalls amongst us who look at Tour stats, Jordan Spieth defied logic last week:
Driving distance: 26th
Driving accuracy: 51st
Greens in Reg: 32nd
Strokes gained putting: 26th
Scrambling: 18th.
Most important stat, just a hair (not ohair) ahead of Reed: Ability to get the ball in the hole: 1st.
Almost Woods-like, from both of them really.

8).Only two chances remaining for golfers to qualify for Augusta via the owgr's.
As far as I can see, and GPB will disabuse me if I've missed someone, all above 44th in the owgr's are arithmetically (or as close as damnit) certain of invites, which leaves Casey the highest placed golfer on the brink.
Others close but not yet certainties include:
Casey: 46th, Playing Bay Hill
Warren: 51st, Not playing this week
English: 52nd, at Bay Hill
Levy: 53rd, at Bay Hill
Sullivan: 58th, Not playing
Fleetwood: 62nd, Not playing
DeLaet: 63rd, at Bay Hill
Molinari: 64th, at Bay Hill
Siem: 65th, Not playing
Hopefully some of those not playing this week's Sam Saunders Invitational will get a final chance at next week's Valero Texas Open. (Plus the Houston Champ also gets into The Masters.)

9).Matt Every won last year's "Arnold Palmer Invitational", and has only surfaced on the Memphis leaderboard since then. Not sure about Matt, bags of talent but destined for the Tour's discard pile the way he's going.
Several of the British contingent have played well here in the past, Martin Laird best of all with his second Tour win. McIlroy makes his Bay Hill debut, but I fancy his Ryder Cup teammate Stenson whose stats and play last week made one wonder why he finished a stroke shy of the play-off. Distance is always a trump card at Bay Hill, but Brian Davis, Ian Poulter and McDool have good records here also.

10).The PGA Tour made the strange decision to increase the customary two-year winner's exemption for Bay Hill and the Memorial to three years, the same exemption as awarded to WGC's.
What's that all about? What about the Byron Nelson, or Ben Hogan's Colonial??
It's good to honour legends of the game, but the Tour was unkind to the Byron Nelson event when Lord Byron passed away; Jack and Arnie can expect more of the same.

Any notion that there should be a hard and fast finish time is ludicrous unless they don't want the option of covering any play-off.

Plus, they had tee-times a few minutes later on Sunday than Saturday. "Play faster in the final round, there's less on the line." Berks.

GPB wrote:when does it stop?

When it becomes like NFL and a 60 minute games turns into 4.5 hours

kwinigolfer wrote:Any notion that there should be a hard and fast finish time is ludicrous unless they don't want the option of covering any play-off.

Plus, they had tee-times a few minutes later on Sunday than Saturday. "Play faster in the final round, there's less on the line." Berks.

I think they adjusted Sunday Tee times based on how long it took to finish Saturday.

Hoffmann (in the last group)  finished at 5:46 pm ET on Saturday according to shotlink.

Aim for a 5 pm finish and allow for 1 hr delays / playoff / prize ceremony / interviews / drivel.

Pedro - That would not work with the TV people. They want "compelling" golf (or any sport) up until the last minute. Viewers abandon in droves once the victor has been decided. (That makes for unhappy ad people.)

Well, then call 5 pm "the last minute". I doubt a 6 pm finish will get better ratings?

Pedro - As someone who lives in the US and has purchased TV time, I can tell you that the networks want it both ways: They "generally" want a sporting event that is compelling to the last minute that feeds into the local news, and they want those same events to finish on time. If you have that potentially dead 5pm-6pm slot you will once again lose viewers and make for unhappy advertisers and station owners. They are happier managing the time crunch.

How do they manage tennis, football, baseball, ice hockey, basketball? It doesn't end at a specific time? (Soccer does however...)

Pedro - Like they manage golf ... Football games go into overtime so they get abbreviated news (sometimes cancel entirely). Also, late night programming runs late.

What if there was a 5-hole playoff last weekend? They will often give up the full 6pm - 7pm hour and then just drop the broadcast after that (if you have the golf channel they frequently pick it up, however).

Once again ... they are happier managing the compression than allowing ample (and possibly post winner) dead time.

What the hell is on at 6pm that is so important anyway?!!

Shane's got to turn off for his tea.

Inco - Fair question! A matter of "inertia" for US markets to start local news ... and give local advertisers a chance at some big numbers. (It's all fragmenting more each day.)

But the big sell remains: Sporting events don't replay well and the immediacy they offer brings a large audience. Hence, the need to manage it as best they can.

Television Network are one of PGATour's biggest partners.  Television is the primary reason why PGATour has 6 Million Dollar purses each week.

Madeira Islands Open had a total purse of 600,000 Euro last week.  A total purse.  PGATour events call that 2nd place in most of its events.

I notice the Medeira Islands open was eventually cancelled. I have no idea how easy it is to predict that sort of weather on the Island at this time of year but for some reason I feel like blaming the European tour for yet another very poor turn of events for Europes top golf tour.

incontinentia wrote:

GPB wrote:  TelevisionTiger Woods is the primary reason why PGATour has 6 Million Dollar purses each week.

That's nutsacks and you know it. EVERY mainstream sport has seen almost identical % rises in prize money over the years (some more), yet 9C doesn't compete in them.

He might have had some influence on it in golf in terms of gathering a sycophantic following, but it's media and how we consume media that is most influential in that sort of thing, and even if he wasn't in it, i'm sure golf would have got the same slick treatment in terms of media coverage that every other sport has had.

Tennis, Golf, F1, Football, Cricket, Rugby, Athletics, even darts has seen massive increases in prize money in line with broadband, satellite tv availability etc. Coincidently, it happened at a time when 9C appeared on the scene, but it also coincides with massive technological advances and changes in viewing behaviour. Sky Sports, Broadband, Smartphones, Youtube etc

9C may be part of the reason, but he's only a cog, not the engine.

Not true in the US super, only the NFL and shamateur "football" and basketball command the live Network TV coverage accorded to golf.

Tennis is seldom on Live, F1 is a non-entity, as obviously are cricket and rugby and athletics is never on except during the Olympics when it's all on "tape delay" anyway.

The power of Woods has elevated golf to a level that would be the envy of MLB, NBA and NHL exec's, and that's reflected in the prize money.

Golf's meagre schedule and purse structure in Europe pretty much proves that point.

Sadly golf is non entity in Europe in terms of general coverage and interest.

But it probably wouldn't be if you had the best Europeans playing in European tournaments - right now apathy is a two-way street.

I hope McLaren will "feel like" applauding the European Tour for rescheduling the Madeira Islands Open for end July/Begining of August 2015. Well done to them for responding so quickly.

GPB can pour scorn on this tournament but I would suggest that events such as this have a place on the European Tour - never going to be a full-field tournament and owgr points subsidy is probably too high, but it's decent prize-money for young players (US College Hotshot Uihlein won it two years ago).

Hope July 30th comes with four days of pristine weather.

US PGATour purses rose (as a percentage) from 1978-1996 than they rose from 1996-2014.

You can take just about any tournament that was around in 1978, 1996 and 2014 and you will see the rise in purses was substantially more from 1978-1996 than it was from 1996-2014.

The rise in from 1996 to 2014 correlates very closely to Tennis purses, and the four major US sports.  (NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL)

kwinigolfer wrote:GPB can pour scorn on this tournament but I would suggest that events such as this have a place on the European Tour - never going to be a full-field tournament and owgr points subsidy is probably too high, but it's decent prize-money for young players (US College Hotshot Uihlein won it two years ago).

Did Madeira tournament invite any players from the Euro Cialis Circuit as you wanted the Puerto Rico tourament to do several weeks ago.

As I recall, you called the Puerto Rico field, "Truly Horrendous"

GPB wrote:US PGATour purses rose (as a percentage) from 1978-1996 than they rose from 1996-2014.

You can take just about any tournament that was around in 1978, 1996 and 2014 and you will see the rise in purses was substantially more from 1978-1996 than it was from 1996-2014.

The rise in from 1996 to 2014 correlates very closely to Tennis purses, and the four major US sports.  (NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL)

Exactly, so you can't say it's because of 9C. It's the way we (or those who view Yank sports) tend to consume them.

beninho wrote:Stenson has made a lot of money from golf. That is mainly through tv and sponsorship. If he has to finish by 6pm then so be it. Can't have it both ways. And that guys shorts don't look tip top but if he is ok to advertise your event then he should be ok to enter your clubhouse. Dress codes in golf clubhouses are just nonsense be it bay hill or pinner hill.

Kwini was right. Stenson should have told them to XXXX off and dared them to do something afterwards.

navyblueshorts wrote:

beninho wrote:Stenson has made a lot of money from golf. That is mainly through tv and sponsorship. If he has to finish by 6pm then so be it. Can't have it both ways. And that guys shorts don't look tip top but if he is ok to advertise your event then he should be ok to enter your clubhouse. Dress codes in golf clubhouses are just nonsense be it bay hill or pinner hill.

Kwini was right. Stenson should have told them to XXXX off and dared them to do something afterwards.

Good point actually. Is there anything to stop a pro wearing shorts on course? Surely it couldn't do any harm, and if anything make the "sport" look less stuffy and even slightly more athletic.

super_realist wrote:

navyblueshorts wrote:

beninho wrote:Stenson has made a lot of money from golf. That is mainly through tv and sponsorship. If he has to finish by 6pm then so be it. Can't have it both ways. And that guys shorts don't look tip top but if he is ok to advertise your event then he should be ok to enter your clubhouse. Dress codes in golf clubhouses are just nonsense be it bay hill or pinner hill.

Kwini was right. Stenson should have told them to XXXX off and dared them to do something afterwards.

Good point actually. Is there anything to stop a pro wearing shorts on course? Surely it couldn't do any harm, and if anything make the "sport" look less stuffy and even slightly more athletic.

I think there is, I can't give any evidence but I'm sure I have read something, somewhere.

Yours not much use-ly
Roller

I think that's pretty pathetic then Roller. No reason why they shouldn't wear them. Caddies can, spectators can, women golfers don't have to wear trousers.

Wonder what would happen if someone was to take off waterproofs mid round to reveal a pair of shorts.

Stenson once played a shot in his boxers didn't he? Players have played shots without shoes. Seems a very odd rule.

If I'm right, I agree entirely. Ridiculous. Especially when you consider some of Mr Daly's long trouser designs, which could be considered as bringing legs, never mind any "dress code", in to disrepute!

Maybe the tours are concerned that all the adoring female fans might simply treat the golfists as sex objects...

<written word sarcasm alert in case it's not clear>

Roller_Coaster wrote:If I'm right, I agree entirely. Ridiculous. Especially when you consider some of Mr Daly's long trouser designs, which could be considered as bringing legs, never mind any "dress code", in to disrepute!

Maybe the tours are concerned that all the adoring female fans might simply treat the golfists as sex objects...

<written word sarcasm alert in case it's not clear>

Mac wouldn't be able to contain himself.

super_realist wrote: Is there anything to stop a pro wearing shorts on course?

The only thing I have heard was when (I think) Sam Torrance was asked about it on TV. He said it was for decency. i.e. you don't want to see anything untoward when a player is crouching down to view a putt.

How this is different to woman golfers, tennis players etc I don't know.

super_realist wrote:

Roller_Coaster wrote:If I'm right, I agree entirely. Ridiculous. Especially when you consider some of Mr Daly's long trouser designs, which could be considered as bringing legs, never mind any "dress code", in to disrepute!

Maybe the tours are concerned that all the adoring female fans might simply treat the golfists as sex objects...

<written word sarcasm alert in case it's not clear>

Mac wouldn't be able to contain himself.

Sorry - should say "all adoring fans", I didn't intentionally mean to discriminate against any male fans that would wish to objectivise any golfer, past or present, whether (or not) that includes (or does not) Mac as an adoring fan.

"Other sexualities are available.............."

It used to be the case that shorts were acceptable with long socks. Brian Barnes quite often played in shorts, but always with long socks.

golfermartin wrote:It used to be the case that shorts were acceptable with long socks. Brian Barnes quite often played in shorts, but always with long socks.

That's a truly awful look.

I wear shorts on the course at any opportunity. I usually go for a trainer style golf show, short but funky socks and then shorts that are short of the knee. It just feels a lot better playing any sport in shorts. I never tuck my t-shirt or shirt in when wearing shorts, it just looks odd.

I dunno super I don't think it's always a bad look...

It certainly can make a difference to whether or not you keep the socks on if you are getting jiggy.