PGA Tour: Seeking The Grand Slam: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

A busy time of year for moi, and a change of sport for a couple of days, so just a few thoughts to get the PGA Championship thread going:

1).Jordan Spieth goes for the Grand Slam this week, as Rory will do at the Masters, and Phil will also at the US Open - think I'd place my money on Rory to be the first, probably Phil will never do it, but it's a reminder as to how difficult it is to achieve. Palmer and Watson missed out on the PGA, Trevino had two of each, US Open, Open Championship and PGA but no Masters. Wonderful achievement to bag three nevertheless!

2).I'm not a fan of the changes to the Tour schedule and there are bound to be consequences, a ripple effect throughout the golf world (which, after all, is not 100% USA). It seems there's a hidden agenda in play, what with golf making an unnecessary intrusion into the Olympics, and the resultant dominos that are now falling and will continue to do so. I also fear what Pelley will do; the date of the BMW PGA is now in jeopardy, but where will it go? Perhaps the R&A will shift The Open back a fortnight, thus accommodating a summer's date for Wentworth? One possible benefit that Pelley could insist upon is keeping the Ryder Cup where it currently is - at a time when the Tour is starting downtime, but Europeans can play competitively in Europe.

3).One suspects that an "Asia" agenda is in play somewhere, just can't quite figure out how!
Regardless the Tour now has to cram in the:
WGC-Mexico
Arnold Palmer Inv
Players
Masters
WGC-MatchPlay
PGA Championship
Memorial
US Open
. . . . . . all in a 3-month span. Not to mention well-supported events such as "Honda", "Houston", "Quail Hollow", etc, that have loyal player followings. Something's got to give. If Pelley plays his cards right, Europe could be a big winner, if he overplays his hand, he could damage his Tour for years to come.

4).Quail Hollow has undergone changes since we last saw it, at last May's Wells Fargo - the first six holes have been almost totally redesigned, and the other twelve tweaked to bring them up to date. Nevertheless, Rory has a fantastic record there with his two wins and a play-off loss to Rickie Fowler. Would still expect course specialists to do well, including Lucas Glover who has a win, a runner up and other strong finishes. Hopefully the course will be allowed to stand on its merits without PGA set-up guys tricking it up - there are some super Par-5's and my favourite "short Par-4" on Tour, the 14th.

5).The owgr rankings this week saw Bubba wave bye-bye to the Top 50 for the first time in 7 years. While Charley Hoffman, after what seems like forever hanging around the rankings' second 50, all of a sudden is propelled to #20 on a string of fine play and nearly man finishes. Meanwhile, as suggested last week, Patrick Reed continues his slide down the rankings proving that playing every week wears even the young guns out.

6).Seamus Power squeaked into the FedEx Top 125 and could conceivably stay there this week even though he's not in the field. Will still need a good result at Greensboro and it may not be entirely certain that he'll make the field. Fingers crossed for him there.
And Henrik Stenson may have to play Greensboro too; he's only played 11 events so far this year, so still has to find four more. At 84th on the FedEx points list, he's not sure to go deep into the Play Offs so he probably has to play:
PGA, Greensboro and Northern Trust to reach Round 2 at TPC Boston.
Henrik being Henrik may choose not to do that, but hopefully a strong week at Quail Hollow will make that a moot point.

That's my lot, more on the Play-Offs and ramifications of FedEx points next week. Looking forward to seeing the changes at Quail Hollow - think they rebuilt all the greens and new greens are never as good as they're cracked up to be, could be on the firm side which is not necessarily a bad thing - and hoping Rory wins his 3rd PGA Championship.

Carries on like this SKY will basically be offering football and that's about it. No doubt they would push that 'the only channel to show exclusively football' then price it at 100 quid a month!

I get that the bbc/sky are restricted as to what is being picked up by american media however for the bbc to show such an insignificant amount of a major championship is piss poor! As for SKY, they should be ashamed at plugging the fact they have opened up a golf channel to host 'all 4 majors' and within 12 months they will be down to just two.

As for the PGA & Beeb, shame on them for entering a partnership which does nothing to put golf to a wider audience and then run with the claim that is why they both took on the deal. BBC would have known the World's were on and should have informed PGA as to how it would limit the ability to schedule it...and the PGA should have done their homework and realised that this year it just wasn't sensible to give it to the BBC.

Onto the golf; extremely big scores on course at the moment; it would seem the changes have had a larger affect than even some of the pro's were expecting. Some big names racking up the bogeys and even the two hottest streaking golfers in the world are struggling with Matsuyama & Hoffmann struggling. Spieth & Garcia over par too and Pieters showing that their is a huge jump from competing on the regular weekly tour and a major.

At the moment you would imagine Rory and DJ are licking their chops at going out and laying down a marker to the likes of Spieth etc.

The Beeb will be showing similar to what Sky showed for the first two days last year. Albeit on the red button, which is probably better then being on pay TV.

WOuld you rather the PGA was not on tv? The reports were that it was either BT sport or Twitter that were interested along side the BBC. Well done the PGA for understanding the bigger picture and not looking at this short term.

Actually they wouldn't....I know SKY gets a bad rep as it's a subscription based service unlike the free beeb.....however what SKY does offer is repeats, highlight packages and early access to set holes and two featured groups usually containing some of the big names.

The simple fact is that if your aim is to widen the net and pick up new fans and extra viewers then make sure you actually set out the best plan to achieve this. This has barely even been whispered about by the BBC, it has been given barely any 'main' channel access, even over the weekend, with a paltry 4 hours odd total combined BBC2 slot across the 4 days.

Whilst I appreciate it has been given 5 hours on average on the red button and iplayer;
how do people know unless they go out of their way to find out (which goes against trying to pull in casual viewers)

I don't have figures and can't find any; but I would hazard a guess that online viewing figures, especially live are not all that impressive for bbc.

Also are we forgetting that only last year the BBC cut short their deal for The Open and also recently stopped their masters coverage due to an inability to sustain the costs? On that basis forgive me for not believing in their wish to open up viewing to the wider audience and get more fans on board....the first sign that this is even slightly denting their end of year bonuses it will be thrown to the scrap just like every other sport the bbc get hold of.

Due to it being short notice, I wonder if the commentators are actually there? Remember the early days of Formula 1 when Walker and Hunt commentated from a studio in the UK?

I can't speak to what coverage you folks in the UK get..... But I understand the PGA of A move to BBC. Open coverage declined in viewership by 75% moving from BBC to Sky... And I think that spooked them.

Our PGA of A really is about growing the game and having the PGA Championship available to as many viewers as possible. My understanding is they actually gave up a little money to do that.

For your sake, I hope BBC does better for you next year, or at least by 2019 when it moves to May. I don't know what conflicts you folks have at that time

Nice chip in there from Rory, should help his putting stats that one.

Rahmbo joing the party, cummon Rickie you're next.

Yep, no pressure on Rickie's putt

A couple of hours into BBC red button coverage. Keeps buffering (says check my internet connection). Alliss and Mark James burbling on - Alliss about coy carp in the lakes, James just kissing his ar$e wherever possible

As I speak just lost red button coverage again.

Pathetic

Mark James: Lucas Glover - ironically doesn't wear a glove

Thanks Mark

Coverage disjointed to me. See approach shots and in no time at all they are putting. Don't think they are playing ready golf.

Just heard alliss say soneone was probably thick if he didnt understand how to watch on the red button. Very true. I know people are anti him, but I like him.

I think he was having a go at a Daily Mail reporter who was complaining about the BBC's coverage.

Excuse my ignorance... But what is red button

It is a means of accessing extra content on a channel.

For example, when the Masters is on, you can choose to watch the main coverage, or by pressing the red button you get a choice of watching a hole, a group of players etc.

Basic thing - the red button on your remote control

Hole in one for Luiten.

I think the same people that designed the European Tour website designed the PGA Championship website. I can't load up the leaderboard without loading the online video, and only 3 or four names show up on the live leaderboard.

Beef WD's after getting an exemption to play.

This is a brutal test! So severe! Great viewing

Big putt for Rory this.

Its a major test SirB, definitely playing tougher that the old QH did.

McLaren wrote:A website called "theundefeated" ran a public (I think just the USA) poll to determine a list of "50 greatest black athletes", and Tiger didn't make it onto the list.  http://theundefeated.com/features/50-greatest-black-athletes/


Here is a response to Tiger failing to make the list.

"Not including Tiger Woods on a list of the 50 Greatest Black Athletes is beyond an oversight — it’s an injustice"

https://theundefeated.com/features/50-greatest-black-athletes-not-including-tiger-woods-oversight-injustice/


Really, is it just that most people don't give a sh1t about golf?

Plus there are some other shockers, such as simone biles at number 8 and omissions like Lewis Hamilton or great footballers like Henry.

Technically Tiger is only 1/4 black. He just looks more black than he is. So how is black defined?

sirbenson wrote:Winner: Fowler
-10

Despite his triple, Fowler looks dangerous. He's currently at -2.

Rory's getting a little quick at the minute, he could do with calming down a bit. Plenty of golf to be played yet.

To be classified Black in America, IIRC, you only need to demonstrate a "drop" of black blood.

Mickelson looked very old today. I hope he takes his name out of Prez Cup consideration for a Captain's Pick.

Winners of the three opposite field events in 2017 (Puerto Rico, Alabama, and Reno-Tahoe) are all 3 under par in round 1. DA Points has a hole to go.

Great round by Oleson today. He always looks like he hot waxes his face rather than shave it. Most Scandinavian male golfers seem to have a very deep voice. Henrik, Blixt, Oleson, Bjorn, Lingmerth.

Apologies if this has been mentioned - haven't had time to read everything - but if you have Sky platform you can record BBC red button output on channel 980. Not sure how it works on other platforms, but assume same is possible. Just watching last nights golf.

McLaren wrote:A website called "theundefeated" ran a public (I think just the USA) poll to determine a list of "50 greatest black athletes", and Tiger didn't make it onto the list.  http://theundefeated.com/features/50-greatest-black-athletes/


Here is a response to Tiger failing to make the list.

"Not including Tiger Woods on a list of the 50 Greatest Black Athletes is beyond an oversight — it’s an injustice"

https://theundefeated.com/features/50-greatest-black-athletes-not-including-tiger-woods-oversight-injustice/


Really, is it just that most people don't give a sh1t about golf?

Plus there are some other shockers, such as simone biles at number 8 and omissions like Lewis Hamilton or great footballers like Henry.

Technically Tiger is only 1/4 black. He just looks more black than he is. So how is black defined?[/quote]

Probably because Woods isn't an athlete and he doesn't take part in an athletic sport. It's easy to see why he wasn't included in a list of top black athletes, because he isn't one. Hamilton isn't an athlete either. I wouldn't expect anyone from F1 or Golf to be featured in any sort of athletes list, whether it's the Biggest anus athlete list or a simple Athlete list. Most people don't see such sports as athletic.

GPB wrote:Great round by Oleson today.  He always looks like he hot waxes his face rather than shave it.  Most Scandinavian male golfers seem to have a very deep voice.  Henrik, Blixt, Oleson, Bjorn, Lingmerth.

Do I detect a man crush?

Super, you like a bit of Scandi. What do you think?

puligny wrote:Apologies if this has been mentioned - haven't had time to read everything - but if you have Sky platform you can record BBC red button output on channel 980. Not sure how it works on other platforms, but assume same is possible. Just watching last nights golf.

Thanks for that. I'll have a butchers!

beninho wrote:The Beeb will be showing similar to what Sky showed for the first two days last year. Albeit on the red button, which is probably better then being on pay TV.

WOuld you rather the PGA was not on tv? The reports were that it was either BT sport or Twitter that were interested along side the BBC. Well done the PGA for understanding the bigger picture and not looking at this short term.

How is the paltry BBC coverage better?

The Open had more viewers on BBC than Sky because they promoted it heavily, had hours and hours of coverage, and a legacy of covering the tournament for 50 years or whatever it was. People knew about it.

Hardly anyone knows about the red button coverage, and casual fans aren't going to be browsing the red button and stumble across it. Who has ever browsed the red button? I bet the majority of last night's viewers probably have Sky anyway.

My understanding (I could be wrong) is that the PGA and Sky got into a deadlock on negotiations. PGA wanted more money, Sky looked around and realised that there was no competition so refused to up its offer. So PGA said f-off then we'll give it away for next to nothing to BBC. And now there is all the propaganda about spreading the game, when the BBC is doing nothing to promote the game. The BBC made the decision not to invest in golf several years ago, I understand why - it's too niche and too expensive.

If it was on Sky you could have watched "USPGA breakfast" this morning with full highlights and analysis, seen action on the range on Wednesday, and every day before coverage starts, they would have had the main coverage on the Sky Sports 4 (aka SS Golf), and then red button coverage to see featured groups, holes etc, plus highlights packages. The downsides: some short advert breaks. There's a lot more upsides.

Yeah I don't think that the BBC coverage has been great but it's their first year back, they got it at short notice and it is coinciding with a major atheltics event which they are covering extensively so for this year, I'm going to give them a break

Ray 

Maybe it would be fairer to judge the BBC coverage and promotion of the PGA after year two. That way we will know what they can do with adequate preparation.

Ah, here come the BBC apologists.

"Give them a few more years to get it right".... what? The BBC is supposed to be the pinnacle of professional broadcasting, not rank amateurs. I know they stepped in at short notice, but they had several weeks to get some commentators to fly out.

They haven't got anyone out there on the course, they can't describe the shots properly because they're not there, they don't know what's going on.

This isn't a BBC v Sky thing. I'm just trying to assess the quality of the actual BBC coverage compared to where it should be. And it's fallen way short of doing justice to the game of golf.

Are you sure the commentators aren't actually there?

If they are not, then that is very poor. But still better than the listening to sky team.

McLaren wrote:Are you sure the commentators aren't actually there?

Don't know where they are, but "Ken on the course" is definitely not on the course.

McLaren wrote: But still better than the listening to sky team.

This is the kind of pointless subjective comment I was trying to avoid. I could equally say that Alliss is past his sell by date and radar riley is fantastic. Let's not focus on whether you enjoy the Alliss style, but rather the fact that so much is missing.

Ray

No argument here, Alliss is well past it.

Would you agree that golf coverage is in general (whether sky, bbc, whoever) is very boring?

The winning score will probably be a lot lower than I and a few others predicted. Instead of being in the mid teens it will probably be no better than - 10.

Verging on the ridiculously tough this year; I don't mind a challenging course but when players are spending 4 hours just clinging on to rounds then their is very little to enjoy from a spectators point of view....although given the cruddy tv schedule their is barely anyone watching this year so who really cares.

Mr 'can't put a consistent round together' McIlroy is playing shocking again with his short irons. Whoever gets the caddie job for him needs to have the Love sacks to say

''yes you could smash it 360 yards with your driver but given your Poopie with your short irons why not play an iron off the tee and use a mid iron into the green''

Fowler is playing conservative golf and while it isn't anything special its getting him round the course and keeping him in the hunt. I think the cut may even stretch to 5 over....if it stays at four then their is going to be a whole host of big names going home at the end of tonight!

I barely saw it last night. But tge sky civerage is always pretty good and is better then the bbc. Its just a shame they appear to have givem up on golf due to the premier leagues finances, and new bidding is due soon.

I woukd rather poor bbc coverage more tgen no coverage or bt sport coverage.

McLaren wrote:Ray

No argument here, Alliss is well past it.  

However "TweeterAlliss", is classic on twitter. By Jove!

DarthMonty is up there too...... all credit to him!

Kwini: Stenson is in the Wyndham field. That will be event #13, Northern Trust will be #14 and the 2016 Ryder Cup counts as event #15.

Play suspended due to the weather. Any idea on restart time?

Unbelievably, BBC seem to have switched off coverage rather than show highlights or sit in the studio. I'm guessing it's because they've got not editing team to pull any shots compilations together or show any graphics

Apparently an 11:25 resumption time!

Good to see Lowry playing well!

Great stuff from Matsuyama and Day

Reading this is the 6th year in a row of having a weather delay at the PGA....I suppose it cannot be any worse in May right?!

Back live on the Beeb, splendid

Shane undoing a lot of the good work

He must be gutted

Alliss obviously not familiar with Matsuyama's one hand off the club when he goes two feet off line with his driver...

Is Stroud not anchoring the putter?