cleve981

The Honda was a perfect example of compelling golf WITH 72 holes of competition.
Those events are great for the “second tier” players to accel - with a more level field.
The stars aren’t there to take spots, points and money away. It will groom and showcase up and comers, while stressing the need to be competitive to EARN your money and status.

LOL! .....The PGAT has always had no cut events, that was one of the reasons for the wrap around season. Can't please everyone.

LOL! .....The PGAT has always had no cut events, that was one of the reasons for the wrap around season. Can't please everyone.

The designated events are fantastic as long as there's plenty of ways for players to work their way into them. A mixture of events will be critical. The PGAT does a great job of showcasing its stars and following the journey of struggling golf pros.

LOL! .....The PGAT has always had no cut events, that was one of the reasons for the wrap around season. Can't please everyone.

The designated events are fantastic as long as there's plenty of ways for players to work their way into them. A mixture of events will be critical. The PGAT does a great job of showcasing its stars and following the journey of struggling golf pros.

The designated events are fantastic as long as there's plenty of ways for players to work their way into them. A mixture of events will be critical. The PGAT does a great job of showcasing its stars and following the journey of struggling golf pros.

"Last week, despite the lack of household names, the final round (especially the last few holes) were absolutely electric to watch. Just goes to show that the PGA Tour field is DEEP, and the absence of big names doesn’t necessarily mean a boring tournament. Top-10 players? Who needs ‘em?"
I would go even further; I think that it's the format and the way the PGAT puts on events.
If all the top ten players went to play team golf the PGAT would still be just fine.....IMO
Stars are born every week on the PGAT......Right before our eyes.

The designated events are fantastic as long as there's plenty of ways for players to work their way into them. A mixture of events will be critical. The PGAT does a great job of showcasing its stars and following the journey of struggling golf pros.

The designated events are fantastic as long as there's plenty of ways for players to work their way into them. A mixture of events will be critical. The PGAT does a great job of showcasing its stars and following the journey of struggling golf pros.

Hopefully they change their minds, the no cut aspect takes away from the competitiveness.  What next shotgun starts?

G’day Golfers,
Last week, despite the lack of household names, the final round (especially the last few holes) were absolutely electric to watch. Just goes to show that the PGA Tour field is DEEP, and the absence of big names doesn’t necessarily mean a boring tournament. Top-10 players? Who needs ‘em?
Anyway, onto this week’s tournament and the triumphant return of the big names 😊
This week we’re onto the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the fourth designated event for the 2023 season, and a tournament that awards the 3rd most prestigious piece of clothing in golf behind the Green Jacket at The Masters, and the Gold Jacket in Happy Gilmore.

The Arnold Palmer Invitational is played at Bay Hill Club & Lodge a 7,466-yard par-72 course. Like the PGA National last week, water is a common site at Bay Hill with water hazards in play on 9 holes. The Arnie Invitational at Bay Hill has had the highest percentage of penalty strokes in three of the last four years, so avoiding hazards is paramount for any golfer looking for success on this course. Being able to bomb it accurately from the tee and a sharp short game will go far at this event.

Being a designated event, some of the biggest names in golf will tee it up this week, with forty-four of the world's top fifty playing, including nine of the current OWGR top 10. The only player in the current world top 10 not playing is Cameron Smith as he is away LIV-ing his best life.
Of the three designated events so far this year, Rahm has won two and Scheffler has won the other. Scheffler is also the defending champ here; last year he won by one shot over Hatton in some of the worst conditions in the tournament's history. It was a thrilling final round and hopefully, we’re treated to the same again.
A combination of the highly ranked field, a tough-ass course, and anticipated tough weather conditions means this is going to be a difficult weekend. Whoever comes out on top this week will have certainly earnt their huge cheque.
Field Highlights
·         The Big Three: Rahm, McIlroy, & Scheffler – Despite a highly talented field, three golfers clearly stand out from the pack. I’ve decided to join these guys together as whatever I can write about one can be cut and pasted to the other: Former/current world number 1, big bomber from the tee, currently playing some fantastic golf, strong short game, good history at this event (McIlroy and Scheffler have both won it, with Rahm a T-17 in 2022), I could go on. The odds are on one of these three slipping into that red cardigan on Sunday.
·         Will Zalatoris – Zal has had some back issues as of late which meant that after his first career win at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, he had to withdraw from the very next event at the BMW Championship. He then did not start at the Tour Championship with week after the BMW. But, if his recent record is anything to go by (and forgive the pun), Willy Z is BACK. Zal finished solo 4th at the very difficult Genesis Invitational a few weeks ago, he fired a final round 64 to put his name very much into the conversation. Zalatoris tends to thrive in difficult conditions and tough events, so this week will fit him like a glove.
·         Matt Fitzpatrick – Steady has been the name of the game so far this year for Fitzy with two T-13’s, a T-29, and a T-7 at The Sentry Tournament of Champions. He’s also missed two cuts, one at Pebble Beach and one at The Genesis Invitational. However, his history at this event is promising: T-9 in 2022, T-10 in 2021, T-9 in 2020, solo 2nd in 2019, if there’s anyone who can take it to The Big Three it's Matt Fitzpatrick. And, if you’ve watched Full Swing on Netflix, you just know Fitzpatrick has stackes of notes from his previous successes here.
·         Sam Burns – Current world number 14, Burns has had a good start to his 22-23 season. A T-30, T-7, solo-12th, T-11, and his best finish of the season a T-6 at the WM Phoenix Open a few weeks back. He missed the cut at The Genesis Invitational, an opening 75 ended up being too much to climb back from. Sam Burns is not a player I would ever count out, he won three times on tour last year and I’d expect him to get at least one or two more this season. Will his game be enough to compete at this difficult course the toughest competition in the world?
·         Sahith Theegala – Despite still waiting for his maiden win, Theegala is ranked 31st in the OWGR and 10th in the current FedEx Cup rankings. He’s had a busy season so far playing 11 events, and what’s more impressive is his record. He’s had one runner-up, 5 top-10’s, and 6 top-25s. He failed to make the cut here last year, but it was his rookie season and his golf this year is far steadier. Surely, he gets his first win this season, the only question is when?
The full field can be found here.
How is everyone finding these designated events so far?
I’m loving the ebb and flow it’s adding to the season; these higher-status events almost feel like mini-majors, and, if The Honda Classic is anything to go by, the non-designated events will be a great showcase for players that don’t normally have a spotlight.
For those in the MGS Pick ‘Em, we’ve found already that it’s critical to do well during these designated events, so make sure you pick the winner.
 
Regards,
Splatt

Great win. She was in the mix a week or two ago, glad to see she got it done. Congrats!

Great win. She was in the mix a week or two ago, glad to see she got it done. Congrats!

Great win. She was in the mix a week or two ago, glad to see she got it done. Congrats!

I think the PGA Tour should be a little more careful with their tweets.  Due to the unfortunate placement of the "play" icon... Bhatia looks less like he is getting ready to play his shot, and more like he is getting ready to "take relief" if you know what I mean  🤣🤣

By the way... If I looked like that with my shirt off... I would find opportunities to take it off too.  Unfortunately, I more closely resesmble...

haha. 
 

It is a nice change of pace from watching all the superstars pull off crazy shots. We get to see some normal-ish golfers playing a tour event. If I were on tour I’d be targeting events like this just to try and get an invite to Augusta!

... Can your experts get me a job as a ranger at Augusta National? Salary not important as I Imagine the ProV1 golf balls I find will be pristine and of course free golf. I would like to work Saturday and Sunday so I could play free Monday - Friday. I am not a fan of Pimento on White Bread so the chef will need to come up with something similar to the Champions Dinner I can pick up while rangering. Of course this would only be a summer job and I would need the same job at Desert Mountain during the winter here in Phoenix. 

I think that LIV will have a TV contract next year (2023) and if it remains free the viewership will go up. Keep in mind that the goal is not to make money, it's to make the pgatour a feeder tour. They seem to think that by taking most of their top players will achieve that goal.
LIV has created a fanatical following, that cannot be denied based on this thread alone. Will the general public adapt to team golf is the question. Will some billionaire buy a team?
The RC & PC is hugely popular, but that's because they're once every two years.
As far as contracts go....I think that if LIV makes it to the fifth year, they'll pick up most player's option.

I think that LIV will have a TV contract next year (2023) and if it remains free the viewership will go up. Keep in mind that the goal is not to make money, it's to make the pgatour a feeder tour. They seem to think that by taking most of their top players will achieve that goal.
LIV has created a fanatical following, that cannot be denied based on this thread alone. Will the general public adapt to team golf is the question. Will some billionaire buy a team?
The RC & PC is hugely popular, but that's because they're once every two years.
As far as contracts go....I think that if LIV makes it to the fifth year, they'll pick up most player's option.

The under reported and kinda tbd with Liv is viewer numbers. They were so low! If it was a tv show it would be cancelled after the first few episodes. 
Now they had to pay to get on a network (unheard of for sports) so those numbers may be the most telling. 
Liv golf seems like the match series to me. Had some story and intrigue at the beginning and now I completely forget it's even going on unless i see something here about it. 
They have to funds to sustain themselves for a long time. However will any of these current players see s second contract? 
 

It is hard to jump on LIV if they are using bots. Just 6 months ago, the PGA tour told players there wasn't enough money for increased purses and caddy assistance, and not they are paying to show up. It is ugly both ways sadly and now before the next defections, LIV has half of the last 5 years worth of major winners. 

Not really.
Pros with exempt status on the PGA get to pick and choose what events they want to play in as long as they meet their obligations for minimum events played based on where they plan to play an event they haven’t in several years or not. This allows them to choose if they want to go overseas or not. The benefits of exempt status.
The fall events don’t carry many FedEx cup points so not a big incentive to play and they don’t get hurt that much if they don’t.
This has always been the case, nothing new.
LIV is basically an invitational tour that allows all participants to get a paycheck regardless of their success for 3 days. Almost like union jobs where you get if to show up and do the minimum.

Wow! My "A" players definitely differ from yours. I see maybe 2-3, four if I stretch it. Four "B" players. The rest are non-factors IMO. But each to his own.

Only on the LIV Series. #2740+ in the world rankings winning a tournament with some of the best in the world (according to them). The guy is basically a college senior.
Would he have won on the pgatour with four rounds and a cut? I don't think so.