by Gary Williams | Nov 13, 2023 | The Card
18 thoughts, observations and predictions…
- When a successful tour player ventures into a broadcast booth it’s a sign that that player has likely pondered their own professional mortality. Camilo Villegas did that in August at the Wyndham Championship and three months later he won for the first time in nine years. One of the best stories in years on tour.
- After Villegas had polished off his fifth win, and over time he has struggled mightily as he and his wife lost their 22-month daughter, Mia, to brain cancer, Villegas started by expressing how much the game had given him, not what he was deprived or stripped of, but what he was given. That’s a view of the world worth emulating.
- Rory McIlroy wrapped up the Race to Dubai on the DP World Tour without playing this week and a week before their final event of the year. He played in nine events that count and four were majors, a world golf championship played in Texas and zero events played in continental Europe. Bottom Line, he still plays a few events that count, and Pelley and company will take Rory anywhere and anytime.
- The Bermuda event picked up a few more years on their sponsorship. The event works. Jobs are on the line now with the “fall” and Bermuda doesn’t just like golf, they can’t get enough golf.
- Fred Biondi finished T13 at Bermuda and off a national title and individual title it’s a nice week for a guy with Korn Ferry status by virtue of PGA Tour U.
- On my 5 Clubs podcast this past week, CBS’ Frank Nobilo shared his thoughts on many subjects, all of them interesting but his opinion that tour players are overpaid has gotten a lot of attention. He’s right, this is not just fair market principles, this is the existence of LIV that has altered the pay scale. This will become a real issue if the public investment fund does not become an investor in the PGA Tour.
- LIV is going to have a transfer window, free agency and their new “qualifying” event. You can quibble and all out dismiss the league. These are wrinkles and they MUST be different. Different will not sway many but they have to employ new and different as their plan.
- In an excellent interview with the Irish Independent, Rory McIlroy shares details on the fallout from the Ryder Cup dust up with Joe Lacava and points out that he doesn’t vibe at all with Patrick Cantlay. The interesting thing about that is that they are both board members of the PGA Tour. That could be an issue as they determine the vacant board seat and the vision of the tour going forward.
- Max Homa won the Nedbank in South Africa. Winning outside the U.S. is a big deal and on the heels of being the best player for the USA at a road Ryder Cup, Homa has big mental “mo” going into ‘24.
- Justin Thomas had a top 5 week in South Africa. 2023 was his worst year since winning his first tour event and it will end up being his worst in the next seven. He’s going to have a big ‘24.
- I wrote about my day at Sweetens Cove this past week. To sum it up if you didn’t read my blog, the course, the staff, the environment is the perfect blend of everything golf should aspire to give to the golfer. It’s a game to the game.
- I spent Thursday night sitting with Andrew Green who has restored Oak Hill, Scioto, Inverness, is currently resuscitating East Lake and will soon renovate Charlotte Country Club. He is becoming the most capable guy next to Gil Hanse to breathe real life into the most historic venues.
- Playing Old Town in Winston Salem this past week was a chance to see one of the finest routed courses in the world. Perry Maxwell used a superior piece of land to create a masterpiece and Coore/Crenshaw has sprinkled their magic with tree removal, bunkers being re-built and the greens being returned to their prior character. It’s a bonafide star.
- Andy Ogletree took a spot start in the first LIV event when he had no money and no place to play. He’s now won their international series and will return to LIV a much better player with a spot on their roster.
- Keegan Bradley was left off the Ryder Cup team and suggested he was an outsider. He’s now a part of the Boston TGL team with Rory and Tyrell Hatton. He probably fits in better with them anyway.
- The soon to be revealed new reversible 9-hole course at Palmetto Bluff designed by Rob Collins and Tad King will be a grand slam.
- The Bryan brothers were cobbling together an existence in golf with YouTube videos of trick shots almost a decade ago. This week they both made the cut in Bermuda. That’s impressive.
- If Tiger doesn’t want the Ryder Cup job at Bethpage they should go off the page and give the job to Lucas Glover. He never played in a Ryder Cup, but he won the U.S. Open there and is undeniably one of the wisest and smartest guys in golf and players would love playing for him.
by Gary Williams | Nov 6, 2023 | The Card
18 thoughts, observations and predictions…
- November golf is sneaky sensational in the south. First freeze gives you dormant fairways and low humidity firmness across all the turf conditions.
- Padraig Harrington is a true star on PGA Tour Champions and he’s undeniably one of the five most engaging talkers in the game. On virtually any topic.
- Eric van Rooyen won with an eagle and returns to the winner’s circle after injury and a build back. He was considered a Presidents Cup hopeful four years ago and may be again.
- Excellent reporting from Eamon Lynch of Golfweek on the handful of private equity groups that are bidding on PGA Tour investment. It only amplifies that the framework agreement with the Saudi Public Investment Fund is hanging by a thread.
- The PGA Tour’s decision to let members participate in LIV’s qualifying event in December is practical on many fronts. There is no need to be territorial right now and even if the deal doesn’t get consummated the two tours will need to find a détente. This is a start.
- No Jon Rahm in the TGL means nothing more to me than a guy who doesn’t want to fly to south Florida a handful on Mondays before the first major of the year.
- Justin Suh is part of the Hovland, Morikawa, Wolff class and it’s taken him longest but he’s made 28 cuts since last fall and added another Top 5 this year to his resume. He’s going to win in 2024.
- Maverick McNealy returned this week after a long rehab from injury. He becomes more valuable with every Top 10 and him winning will make him a huge asset because he’s as impressive a young man as the tour has to offer.
- Bernard Langer finished in a tie for 2nd at the TimberTech Championship. His 46 wins all-time are truly absurd. Equally absurd are his 41 seconds!!
- The DP World Tour has the Nedbank Golf Challenge this week and Max Homa and Justin Thomas are in the field. It is great to see two top Americans exercise the opportunity to take their wives and go on safari but winning globally has always been true of the best players of each generation. Even when travel was much more challenging.
- Playing Sweetens Cove on Monday for the first time. The owners and King/Collins have created a cult following and a full review of the day and the experience coming next week.
- Played Lookout Mountain Golf Club on Sunday. The story of the Seth Raynor plans and the long road to where they find themselves today is amazing. What Tyler Rae and Kyle Franz have uncovered will be rightfully applauded and the profile of the club will skyrocket in the next year.
- It was great to run into Andy Johnson at Lookout Mountain. What he and Brendan Porath have built at the Fried Egg is inspiring and important. They pursue thoughtful and smart discovery and examination in the game, every single day.
- Rory McIlroy is starting his year in the Middle East on the DP World Tour, meaning he will miss the first “Signature” event at Kapalua. Maui has not been a regular stop for Rory but the Signature series can’t afford wholesale absences throughout 2024 for the top players.
- Appreciate the supportive feedback for the conversation with Brittany Horschel on alcoholism and recovery. I will continue to discuss the vital subject regarding my own journey and others willing to share to hopefully help others.
- Mackenzie Hughes’ Top 10 enhanced his chances of gaining entry to the first two signature events of 2024 on the mainland. Those starts are a HUGE boast to start the season.
- I think it’s necessary for me to play Calusa Pines this winter. I heard it mentioned today and I’m making that declaration now.
- I am playing Old Town this week for the first time. Perry Maxwell with TLC from Coore/Crenshaw. I have a feeling it’s going to make a hell of an impression.
by Gary Williams | Oct 30, 2023 | The Card
18 thoughts, observations and predictions…
- Celine Boutier won for the 4th time this season in a 9-hole marathon playoff. She won a major in her home country, was part of a victorious Solheim Cup team and is currently first in the Race to CME Globe. I would still take Lilia Vu’s season with two majors.
- Jasper Stubbs won the Asia-Pacific amateur championship, and with-it invitations to the Masters and the Open Championship. The 21-year-old came from six shots back of Sampson Zheng to get the win at Royal Melbourne. The event, created in 2009, is a fabulous showcase of young talent and a massive platform for 37 Asian Pacific nations.
- Royal Melbourne needs a significant global event every two years at minimum. The Alistair Mackenzie design is a mythical place for golfers in the western hemisphere.
- The controversy over the new Golf magazine world top 100 has much less to do with the courses and far more to do with who is doing the ratings. Designers should have nothing to do with the rating of courses for publications. Either trust those doing the rating, like most halls of fame, or find new raters.
- Jhared Hack was a top qualifier making it through first stage of Q school. Final stage will be in December in Ponte Vedra and Hack MUST be a factor late trying to secure a tour card.
- Vanderbilt’s men’s team won the St. Andrews collegiate over at the Old Course and did it without Gordon Sargent. This current group has piled up wins, but they need a national title next spring to cement themselves one of the best teams in recent memory.
- Planning a Scottish Highlands trip for the first time is joy and torture. There are so many desired spots and not nearly enough days.
- Korn Ferry tour members Vince India and Jake Staiano were suspended for violating the PGA Tour’s integrity program by wagering on events they were not participating in. The tour is now in bed with several betting outfits and while it might seem duplicitous the players know the rules and the partnerships are putting money in the players pockets through sponsorship.
- The eight best Halloween golf costumes are as follows in #10 – #17:
- Arnold Palmer at any age and any stage of his career.
- Ben Hogan the day of the 1950 U.S. Open playoff at Merion.
- Tiger Woods with the shirt sleeve rugby shirt and straw hat of the U.S. Am final in 1994.
- John Daly flowing mullet and green reebok pullover for 1995 Open Championship.
- Payne Stewart introducing the half sleeve style by necessity for the final round of the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst.
- Sergio Garcia in the canary yellow head to toe in the 2006 Open Championship.
- Jack Nicklaus in the blue diamond cashmere sweater for the final round of the 1978 Open Championship.
- Billy Horschel and the octopus pants for the final round of the 2013 U.S. Open.
- These are challenging times on many fronts, so I’ll leave you this week with a simple appeal. Be a little kinder to yourself and let those you love know you love them.
by Gary Williams | Oct 23, 2023 | The Card
18 thoughts, observations and predictions…
- The person responsible for the REDZONE, more importantly, the REDZONE on a two-hour flight deserves the same lofty status afforded Jonas Salk, Albert Einstein, Ben Franklin, and the Wright Brothers.
- The USA team of Gordon Sargent, Nick Dunlap and David Ford won the World team Amateur Championship in Abu Dhabi. These three were part of what I believe will be the most productive U.S. Walker Cup team collectively on the professional level since the 2011 team which included Spieth and Cantlay and a host of others with excellent professional resumes.
- Adrian Meronk is having one of the great non-Ryder Cup participating seasons from a European on the DP World Tour ever. It barely gets a shrug since Europe won.
- The assembled roster of players for the inaugural season for the TGL, starting in 2024 is akin to the 1927 New York Yankees line-up. Matched equally by the collection of celebrity/athlete/Wall Street investor roster of team owners. Expect the technology to be next level and with Tiger’s participation for it to be a primetime TV ratings hit.
- Played Old Barnwell in Aiken, South Carolina on Friday. The Brian Schneider and Blake Conant design is a BIG ballpark with immense scale. With plans for a kid’s course, another 18 hole course and founder Nick Schreiber’s mission of access and inclusion of all walks, expect Old Barnwell to be applauded for its impact on all generations and their desire to play the game.
- Ryo Ishikawa had a fantastic week at the Zozo Championship, finishing in the Top 5. His appeal, popularity and importance to golf in the Far East a decade ago is proven out by his multiple special invitations to the Masters. Those invitations are rarely extended, especially to the same person more than once.
- The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship is being conducted this week in Australia with an invitation to the Masters being extended to the winner. Augusta National has been clairvoyant identifying the emerging golf regions and has seen almost immediate validation with the success of Hideki Matsuyama from Asia and Joaquin Neimann from Latin America.
- My hour-long conversation with Alan Shipnuck, the author of “Live and Let Die” is available now on the 5 Clubs YouTube channel and all digital podcast platforms as well. There isn’t a single player either quoted or profiled in the book that I have any less affinity for than before I read the book. Conflict and chaos are humanizing, they are not sweeping indictments of everyone. I hope you enjoy the discussion.
- Colin Morikawa went roughly 27 months between his 5th and 6th win. One, he’s the most accomplished player of his specific vintage. Two, its exceptionally hard to win golf tournaments on that tour and every player has ebbs.
- The fall has produced wins by Sahith Theegala, Tom Kim and Colin Morikawa. Couple the pedigree of the winners with the additional wrinkle of players trying to get into early 2024 Signature events and the PGA Tour must be pleased.They just need to adjust the days and get out of the way of football at all costs on the weekends.
- Rory McIlroy has added F1 investor/owner to his business portfolio. Rory is not fond of Greg Norman, but he is following in his path of being a global businessman with a wide array of financial interests.
- I had a very lengthy discussion with someone who has spent their career in mergers and acquisitions at the macro level and the most telling thing shared was that parties run out of things to negotiate after a couple weeks. Translation, the proposed partnership between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia is on life support.
- The St. Andrews Links collegiate starts Monday with the women’s and men’s teams from Vanderbilt, North Carolina, Georgetown and Notre Dame competing at the Jubilee and Old Course over three days. Topgolf is now a strategic partner of St. Andrews Links and along with World Wide Technology they’ve brought this college event to life. Expect more and a brilliant stroke on their part to give the American college programs the stage at the Old Course.
- George Savaricas arrived at Golf Channel a few years after I did, and he not only is exceedingly likeable on the air, but he’s also become a very versatile broadcaster. Hosting live golf, studio anchor, field reporter, George can handle all of it, quite well.
- Eric Cole is a plow mule. Another start, number 36 on the season. He was built to play in the 80’s. Cole’s last four starts include a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. He’s a lock for rookie of the year.
- Minjee Lee won the BMW ladies Championship. In winning she held off Alison Lee, Lydia Ko, and Angel Yin. Minjee did not have the type of major championship season she expects of herself but at 27 with double digit wins on the LPGA she is a Hall of Fame player reaching the height of her powers.
- Steph Curry will receive the Charlie Sifford award from the World Golf Hall of Fame at the induction ceremonies next June in Pinehurst. His impact on the game is just beginning but shining a brighter light now will only increase his ability to use the game for good.
- The state of South Carolina is on fire with new and great projects. Palmetto Bluff commissioning King/Collins and Coore/Crenshaw for projects only increases the buzz about the Palmetto State beyond the new Tree Farm and Old Barnwell and the fairly recent gem, Congaree.
by Gary Williams | Oct 16, 2023 | The Card
18 thoughts, observations and predictions…
- The Lexi Thompson invite seemed ill timed and clunky considering the season that she’s had on the LPGA, but she was compelling and competitive, and she deserves big credit for all of it.
- The merits for a mixed event were already there and should not be predicated on ONE female player being competitive in a men’s event. Find the right facility in the middle of the season to accommodate hosting men and women simultaneously, its overdue.
- Eric Cole is a professional golfer in the purest way. He’s always wanted to play for a living and finally given the opportunity he’s thrived on the best tour in the world. He would have fit in at the time his dad played the tour. No weeks off.
- Talor Gooch is not a top 10 player in the world. I’m not sure where he falls in the world rankings, I suppose in the top 25, but he’s getting paid like a top 10 quarterback in the NFL.
- Ludvig Aberg is a plow mule. Forget that he’s young and full of energy, he can’t help himself when it comes to competing. He insists on contending no matter the venue. That is an uncommon trait.
- Guys playing for spots in Signature events for early 2024 is the kind of inside golf nerdiness that we all need to watch events coming down the stretch on Sundays up against the NFL.
- Angel Yin getting her first win on the LPGA by going through Lilia Vu in a playoff is the very best way to break into the winner’s circle.
- Alan Shipnuck’s new book, “LIV and let Die” about the last year of turbulence in the professional game is interesting.The tension, friction and battle lines doesn’t make people look less appealing; it just makes them human.I recommend the book if you like professional golf.
- Sean McDonough is a generational broadcaster and hearing him on the NHL and college football this past week reminded me how his voice is missed during the major championship season.
- Playing Shinnecock this past week reaffirmed my belief that along with Oakmont they are the best and sternest championship venues America can offer the world.
- Fishers Island is a singular experience from the boat ride to the Raynor template holes to the panoramic joyride from 1 through 18.
- National Golf Links of America on a fall afternoon with knee-high fescue providing glorious contrast to the hurling fairways along the Peconic Bay is the finest golf day imaginable.
- Tiger Woods hit a few wedges on video this past week at the Hay at Pebble Beach and they were analyzed like swings of players playing closing holes in majors. He’s still the needle.
- Jon Rahm playing in Spain is an inspiring thing and is not dissimilar from Americans supporting tour events in their home states.
- There have been plenty of plugged in pundits who have predicted the demise of LIV since before it began. It’s not going anywhere soon.
- It’s the start of the winter season in south Florida and the proliferation of new courses in Martin County plus the new Coore & Crenshaw course at McArthur and the first full season at The Park in West Palm makes it a winter wonderland of golf.
- Tom Kim is a star. Three wins already and an infectious manner, plus the superstars of the game love his company. He’s a real asset for the PGA Tour.
- Playing Old Barnwell this Friday, the new offering outside of Aiken, South Carolina. Hearing great things and will provide a thorough recap next week.
by Gary Williams | Oct 1, 2023 | The Card
18 thoughts, observations and predictions…
- Luke Donald was appointed Ryder Cup captain in the middle of utter turmoil for Team Europe and the DP World Tour. He did a brilliant job in every facet starting with flipping the format of Friday’s opening session. Superb in all departments.
- Zach Johnson let the team pick the team and his captains picks went 4-12-4. An atrocious winning % and Sam Burns, Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas came up small. He has to own the decisions… which he will.
- The cries for less captains’ picks will come from American fans. I can only hope the PGA of America will resist reverting back to the old system. Trust the next captain and remember he is constructing a team not rewarding 12 all-stars.
- USA golf needs some new faces and voices inserted in the brain trust system. Furyk, Stricker & Love have all had their decades of inclusion. It’s time to give others time and a chance to contribute like Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson and Hunter Mahan.
- Tiger Woods has first right of refusal for every captaincy going forward until he decides to take the wheel. Bethpage seems logical and it is especially with a lot of guys he’s close to in their prime BUT Adare Manor in 2027 presents him with a chance to end the road drought and he’s close to the owners of the property.
- The next European captain may be its last, Luke Donald but the cleansing of LIV has started and in less than a year I expect the exiled to be returned to the system. There are simply too many worthy candidates if they are all eligible to give the post to Donald again.
- The Ryder Cup should always be thinking about ways to improve itself as a sports property. Its beyond time for the captains to be picking pairings together like the Presidents Cup. Its compelling and adds big time juice. Don’t shy away from confrontation, take it on. Now.
- Jordan Spieth was asked about the lay-off between the Tour Championship and the Ryder Cup and he said he’d ideally like a week or two. Expect the Tour and the PGA to configure the schedule in 2025 with less weeks between their last individual event and Bethpage.
- The European team now has three huge pieces in Rory, Rahm and Hovland. Add the steady Hatton, Fitzpatrick and Fleetwood and a potential star in Aberg and they will have a very capable group rolling into New York and they have made their BIG pivot.
- Max Homa is a star. He’s not a superstar because you have to contend in majors to be at the very small table that those players dine, and by 2025 he may have that box checked, but his appeal and his response to the environment make him a huge asset for the USA.
- The USA appeared to have several great pairings for the long haul, but the game can change that very quickly. While it appears Cantlay/Schauffele will still be viable Thomas/Spieth is now a question mark and all the other pieces are not tethered to anyone.
- Joe Lacava is a great dude and a universally respected caddy, but it appeared he suffered temporary insanity on Saturday night. Can only imagine what his player was subjected to all day BUT you cannot do what he did. Period.
- The USA team’s inability to hit the fairway on the first hole may have been a byproduct of nerves but the necessity to hit that fairway should have demanded a different approach from just ripping drivers with impunity.
- Scottie Scheffler is a great player, but his putter is an issue that may be remedied by Phil Kenyon, but him going winless in his last two team competitions is borderline implausible.
- The environment at a Ryder Cup is a departure for golf and most of it is great but there were some imbeciles in Rome and there will be more at Bethpage. The level of security and the explicit language on each ticket that will be grounds for removal MUST be a top priority. The place is a time bomb and I’m not exaggerating.
- Comcast/NBC needs to sell a redzone version of the Ryder Cup. There is an appetite for “featured groups” as a sellable piece to their coverage. People who invest in the Ryder Cup want all the shots and I mean all of them.
- Team Europe always treats the Ryder Cup like a complete and total privilege, and while the US team absolutely cares a great deal there is a mild undercurrent of obligation. Little things matter when everyone is pulling the sled, it has to be all privilege and zero obligation.
- Europe earned the win, USA golf has to own this loss starting with odd opening pairings on Friday morning, complete ineptitude in foursomes play and abject failure from the captains’ picks. Always a great show, the Ryder Cup is now on a five straight blowout result streak. Let’s hope that ends in two years, because Medinah is now a long, long time ago.
