Category: PGA Tour

Of God and Golf

Masters Champion Scottie Scheffler

A man of God and new Masters Champion, Scottie Scheffler Photo courtesy of news18.com

On Sunday, professional golfer, Scottie Scheffler, won his first Major Championship at The Masters.

As a golf fan and a player, I was extremely impressed with his game, his maturity, and his execution under the pressure of leading a tournament of this magnitude.

Scheffler has publicly expressed his love for family, the meaning of his family to him, but more importantly, his love for God.

In a day and age when speaking so openly about one’s faith can cost anyone a way of making a living, it was refreshing to hear Scottie Scheffler talk about God as a driving force and a motivation to do what he does in and outside of the golf course.

In his press conference he praised his caddie, Ted Scott, who joined his team this year and has helped him win three tour tournaments and a Major in less than sixty days. Ted Scott is a man of faith and they have known each other through the PGA Tour bible study group.

Of Scott, Scheffler said, among many things, “He’s a man of faith and I love him,” “I mean the qualities you look for in a person, Ted embodies pretty much all of them.”

Throughout the press conference Scheffler was very candid about how he felt prior to the final round and how he cried the morning of because of the stress. He told his wife, “I do not think I am ready for this. I am not ready.” “I don’t feel like I am ready for this kind of stuff.” He said he just felt overwhelmed.

He went on to say, Meredith, his high school sweetheart and wife, told him, “Who are you to say that you are not ready?” “What we talked about is that God is in control and the Lord is leading me, and if today’s my time, then it’s my time, and I shot 82 today, somehow I was going to use it for His glory.”

He was asked if his faith played a significant part in his victory. Scheffler went on to say, “Yeah, I would say so. Like I said earlier, what Meredith told me this morning is that we are not in control of our lives, and so I spoke a little bit about what playing golf for me is like, and why I do it. I mean, my faith affects all aspects of my life, not just my life on the golf course, and so the Lord has given me a skill and I am trying to use it for His glory.”

Scottie Scheffler is everything that is right in this crazy world. Scheffler represents the good in all of us and the world could use a few more Scottie Scheffler’s.

The PGA Tour Has Become a Self-Absorbed and Greedy Cult

PGA Tour; all about the money. Picture courtesy of mikeduran.com

Listening to Commissioner Jay Monahan in his press conference at TPC Sawgrass, it reminded me how much I love the game of golf, and how much I despise professional golf.

First off, addressing the war in Ukraine, Jay Monahan was just another parrot. Grandstanding and demonstrating, once more, the PGA Tour does not understand geopolitical nor internal or external political issues.

When asked about some of the sponsors who have chosen not to pull out from Russia, Monahan did the ‘Potomac Two-Step’ around the question. So much for caring about the Ukrainian people.

They did the same thing during the George Floyd riots by saving an honorary tee time for convicted felon George Floyd at the Charles Schwab Challenge, while ignoring the carnage caused to cities and businesses by those same rioters.

“Go Woke or Go Broke, that should be the PGA Tour motto.

During his press conference, Monahan was clear; the PGA Tour is all about money and revenue. I do not believe Monahan is sincere when he states the PGA Tour is about legacy and not leverage. Individuals establish legacies not organizations by themselves.

I think the PGA Tour position on the Saudi funded Super League is obtuse. This will be going to court, and I believe the PGA Tour will lose the case based on antitrust regulations. Competition and free market are part of business life, and the PGA Tour has no leg to stand on.

Players, as independent contractors, should have the right to play where they wish. Monahan gives the impression of strong-arming the players by telling them the PGA Tour or else, that is leverage. Sure, the players will not publicly talk about it, but I cannot believe independent contractors are fine with one individual telling them they cannot make money elsewhere.

What’s next? Is he going to tell players which sponsors are acceptable? Get real Jay!

The PGA Tour and the Saudi Super League can coexist, the problem is Jay Monahan and his greediness. Monahan wants the PGA Tour to be the only game in town and goes after any competition that can threaten his monopoly, or like he said, his “lunch money.” Frankly, in my opinion, it is disgusting.

In regard to Phil Mickelson, I think Monahan was a coward and did not address the questions with honesty. He stated the ball was in Mickelson’s court, well Jay, not if he has been suspended. Of course, Monahan refused to say if Mickleson was in fact under suspension. The secrecy of the PGA Tour mafia continues.

One thing is for sure, the Phil Mickleson saga opened my eyes as to the greedy nature of the PGA Tour and professional golf.

The PGA Tour has become a greedy and shameful institution.

Guess Who’s Sponsoring a PGA Tour Event

American Express and the Nation of Islam

American Express? Shame on you PGA Tour! Photo courtesy of the pointsguy.com

https://nypost.com/2021/08/11/american-express-tells-its-workers-capitalism-is-racist/

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.

https://www.adl.org/resources/profiles/the-nation-of-islam

Contact attempts with PGA Tour Headquarters were unsuccessful.

I am not watching a golf tournament sponsored by a company who clearly supports anti-Semitism and racism in America.

PGA Tour Confidential

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?

Jay, you and the Tour should be ashamed.

The Shark vs. The PGA Tour

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.

You can read Wolken’s opinion piece below.

Wolken: When it comes to Saudi Arabia-backed golf league, players must decide between money and morals

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.