Ok as nobody else seems to be doing it, I am going to come out and defend the seemingly indefensible, or at the very worst add a bit of perspective. Hank Hainey made a pretty unwise statement and was clearly mistaken in taking what might be described as ‘locker room humour’ to the airways. But, was he being ‘racist, xenophobic, and sexist’ as stated by the PGA Tour’s lawyers?
According to Rory McIlroy, he is approaching 2020 with a new mindset, one in which he plans to play carefree golf. But what exactly does ‘carefree’ mean in terms of playing the game? Consulting the dictionary carefree is an adjective meaning free from anxiety or responsibility. Checking the thesaurus, I happen to have to hand synonyms for carefree include ‘breezy’ ‘cheerful’ ‘jaunty’ ‘happy go lucky’.
I didn’t think I would hear myself say this, but I feel sorry for Patrick Reed. Don’t get me wrong the guy has handled the whole affair badly and he clearly was borderline cheating at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas last December. However, due to the Tour’s insistence that the matter has been dealt with it has basically thrown the American to the lions, who in this case are the media and the golfing public.
GolfNow the biggest online tee time agency in the golf industry has grabbed an even bigger share of the market following the acquisition of EZLinks Golf by GolfNow owner, NBC Sports Group. Part of the EZLinks Golf portfolio is the online tee time booking platform TeeOff. So, what does this consolidation signal to the golf industry?
Remember when Europeans dominated the Masters? From 1980 to 2000, the tournament was won 11 times by European golfers. Since then, not so much, with only two winners in the last 18 years. It's worth noting, however, that those wins (Danny Willett and Sergio Garcia) make up two of the last three Masters. Maybe the transition of power at Augusta has already begun?
It takes a lot for Tiger Woods to turn down a massive appearance fee (reportedly north of $6m) and a free yacht, but that's what happened recently when the European Tour came knocking with an invite to the Saudi International, the country's first professional significant golf tournament.
It's back! The event that totally signals the start of the golf season proper. I look forward to this week as soon as Christmas makes way for the new year and, no offence to the Saudi International, there's only one game in town this week.
It's the big one. The match up we've all been waiting for. It's Tiger 'The Immovable Glute Whisperer' Woods versus Phil 'The Gawping Dandy' Mickelson. And this time it's for monnneyyy!!. GP Editor tells us why this is 9 million donuts down the hole...
As Bryson DeChambeau celebrates yet another win in an incredible 2018, my mind is cast back to April 2017 and The Houston Open. I was on the range watching Phil, Beef, and Rickie launching drives when I noticed a lone, almost forlorn figure over by the short game area.
Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed. Quite the odd couple. Super talented. Serial winners. They should be all-American heroes. But they’re not. For some reason, no one really ‘gets' them.
The Ryder Cup. It's back on September 28th. The anticipation is building. It promises to be one of the most exciting for years. But who's going to make the teams? And who's going to win?
Whatever happened to all the talk of 'The Big 4/5/6'? Two words. Tiger Woods. Actually, four words: Tiger Woods & Brooks Koepka.
