This week the PGA Tour is playing The American Express in La Quinta, California.
But, why would the PGA Tour want a sponsorship from a company who associates with an anti-Semite group such as the Nation of Islam?
The Nation of Islam is known for their antisemitism and hatred toward whites. Their leader, Louis Farrakhan has been classified by the Anti Defamation League as a “divisive figure and one of the most prominent antisemites in America.”
Either the PGA Tour is willfully ignorant or they agree with American Express and the Nation of Islam.
Which one is it Jay Monahan? Perhaps Jay needs a little bit of education.
You can always count on Phil to spill the beans! Thank you Phil!
One can always count on Phil Mickelson to expose the shenanigans, be those of the USGA or the PGA Tour.
This time Mickelson went on Twitter to claim he was the recipient of the $8 million big ones, first place prize, of the secretive Player Impact ‘Welfare’ Program. But did he? Is this another one of Mickelson’s pranks?
Could it be Tiger Woods, who hasn’t played any meaningful golf in months, the surprise winner? Either way, to me, it is a bull$%#@ program that proves nothing about a player’s caliber or talent.
Yes, I call it a welfare program because it has nothing to do with performance and everything to do with how a player interacts on social media and how they engage with their sponsors.
If true, I want to thank Phil Mickelson for coming forward despite the fact the PGA Tour Commissar, Jay Monahan, wants to keep the ‘welfare’ program a secret.
Player Impact Program and the Rewards of Being Mediocre
The PGA Tour should not reward mediocrity! Photo courtesy of tlnt.com
By now, most of my readers know my total disdain towards the PGA Tour and its mafioso style commissioner Jay Monahan, so my next opinion blog will not be a surprise.
The $40 million dollar Player Impact Program has been clouded under ridiculous secrecy. Most people think that if it needs to be kept secret, is probably garbage, and I agree.
When you understand the purpose of the program, which is to compensate players based on them driving their fan base and sponsor engagement, you come to realize this program is nothing more than a PGA Tour welfare program.
It gives the mediocre player an opportunity to make money, not because they are a talented player, but because they can tweet the most or have the most endorsements.
I have not given the program much though until today. Tiger Woods posted a video of him on Tweeter hitting some golf balls just months after his almost fatal car accident.
Former PGA Tour player Colt Knost was quoted as saying, “So @PGATour we just need to know who finishes 2-10 on the PIP. Enjoy the 8 mil @TigerWoods.”
Seriously Knost? I do not know if he meant to be funny or cynical about it, but it was a ridiculous comment in my opinion.
So, Tiger Woods got over a million hits on Tweeter and that entitles him to make $8 million dollars? The man is lucky to be alive, which is a good thing.
After today’s frenzy, I was reminded how this indeed is a welfare program for professional golfers. Ricky Fowler has been a bust for most of the past two seasons, but he can sell you some mortgages and some beer.
He is a better advertisement agent than a golfer these days and he will probably make more money by selling stuff and tweeting than playing golf, go figure. We will never know because the PGA Tour has decided to keep the program and who gets the money a secret.
What are you ashamed of Jay? You do not want people to find out how mediocre players are going to make more money from this welfare program than on the course?
I understand in today’s society, when everyone is a victim and working hard is an afterthought, the PGA Tour had to do something to try to keep the mediocre players happy.
What kind of message the PGA Tour is sending to kids learning the game? Be a better online personality than a player? Mediocrity pays?
The Korda sisters must love the attention. This time they are complaining about an LPGA Tour rule that require players to play a minimum of 70 rounds or 70 percent of tournament rounds to qualify for the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average on tour.
Nelly Korda claimed she learned of the rule recently on a chat room, going to the extend of calling the rule, “weird.”
Seriously? She has been on tour for quite some time and do not know her employer’s rules?
But their comments at the Pelican Women’s Championship is what got me thinking and made me write about them. Some of the answers to the questions went like this.
Nelly Korda: “I mean, I would say Jin Young has had an amazing past couple of events. If she was to win, she deserves to win it. I would say the same for me. It kind of sucks that that’s just how it is. Yeah, that’s all I have to say.”
Jessica Korda went on to say: “is just that the person who’s now in the running, is it consider an asterisk or- I don’t know. It’s just a weird rule when you’re No.1 and 2 player in the world.”
Nelly Korda: “And 3, right?
Jessica Korda: “And 3 player- is it 1,2, and 3 aren’t eligible? So it’s just weird.”
There’s nothing weird about a rule that has been around for a long time Jessica.
Note to Jessica Korda, if you are going to complain about another player, in this case Lydia Ko, do not be a coward. Everyone knows Lydia Ko is the next in line for the award, so if you are going to call out a multiple Major winner out, do it by name.
Lydia Ko is much more than an asterisk, she is a class act and very talented player. The comment was a low punch and classless.
When asked if the rule should be changed, Jessica was quick to say, “One-hundred percent.” But when asked if they would alter their playing schedule, Nelly was quick to say, “No.”
Well, it sounds like a Korda problem, not an LPGA problem and they should not change the rule to accommodate any one player.
Perhaps instead of crying and insulting their fellow LPGA players, the Korda’s should learn the rules and requirements of their employer.
Awards are earned, not given.
Disclaimer: Quotes were verbatim. Any grammar or syntax issues should be brought up with the Korda’s publicist.
The Shark, Greg Norman Photo courtesy of newsofamerica.org
To read holier than thou commentators, including the mostly underachieving PGA Tour Radio ankle bitters and The Golf Channel less than stellar crew, disparaging Greg Norman, and his new position as CEO of LIV Golf investments, is laughable and hypocritical at best.
Sure, for people like me, golf is just a game, but for people like Norman, it is also a business.
Norman will be the commissioner of a new golf league, funded by Saudi Arabia, and with emphasis on the Asian Tour. By attaching this league to the Asian Tour, players who wish to play on it will be able to gain world rankings. If that is the case, well, that is a smart move.
Greg Norman attempted something similar back in the mid 90’s, but was blocked by the PGA Tour, and the idea never flourished. This time it appears Norman’s chances are much better, and with a $200 million dollar investment, there’s money to be made.
Of course, the media is having a field day and jumping on Norman and anybody who even dares to approve of such an idea.
USA Today writer, Dan Wolken, suggests players must decide between the money and morals. Is this guy serious?
He forgot how the PGA Tour saved an honorary tee time for crackhead, convicted felon, and women’s abuser, George Floyd, at the Charles Schwab Challenge in June 2020.
Spare me the morality Dan. Wolken is nothing more than your typical USA Today leftwing writer. Not much substance, little facts, and tons of nonsense.
PGA Tour Commissioner, Jay Monahan, has said any player who joins this endeavor will lose their PGA membership. Well, I am not sure is that easy Jay.
I guess the PGA Tour is ready to spend lots of money on legal fees and high power attorneys.
Typical Jay Monahan, he sounds more like a mafia boss than the PGA Tour commissioner. He was quoted as saying, “anybody who joins a breakaway tour would be suspended and likely barred from playing the PGA Tour.”
What’s Jay afraid of? Let the free market speak Jay, that is the American way.
I am happy to see a viable alternative to a PGA Tour that has become, political, preachy, woke, and anti-free market. I do not watch PGA Tour events other than the four Major Championships, and even then, I do not get out of my way to do so.
I applaud Greg Norman for having the guts to go against the PGA Tour and the PGA Tour lapdog, the European Tour. These organizations have monopolized the golf industry while at the same time preaching phony equality and inclusiveness.
As to the government of Saudi Arabia’s involvement? This is not news. They are host to the Saudi International, an Asian Tour event and only professional golf tournament played in the Kingdom.
Furthermore, Jack Nicklaus announced he will be designing a new golf course in Saudi Arabia, outside Riyadh. Is the PGA Tour going to shun Jack Nicklaus for his business enterprise with Saudi Arabia? I think not.
The PGA Tour, and all the golf governing bodies, wanted golf to be a more inclusive and a more global sport, well, they succeeded, and Greg Norman is taking full advantage of it.
The only controversy here is the one created by the mafia bosses at PGA Tour headquarters. The PGA Tour is damaged goods, morally and ideologically.
