Golf

[GrayTide]

I may be done watching golf now.

I had already cut back, but will still watch the Majors and several other higher profile tournaments. I have been watching quite a bit of the LPGA since my golf game more resembles the ladies than the men, plus I enjoy seeing which golfers wear the short skirts and short shorts. Admittedly there are quite a few who, for obvious reasons, who should avoid that attire.

 

[Padreruf]

I had already cut back, but will still watch the Majors and several other higher profile tournaments. I have been watching quite a bit of the LPGA since my golf game more resembles the ladies than the men, plus I enjoy seeing which golfers wear the short skirts and short shorts. Admittedly there are quite a few who, for obvious reasons, who should avoid that attire.

That last statement would get you roasted in the public venue....ha!!! I also watch the LPGA...they play golf and not "bomb and gouge."

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Make no mistake, people speak with their pocketbooks, feet, and remote controls. Look what happened to Nascar when they started making some stupid business decisions. I suspect the same is about to happen to professional golf.

*the next to last column is ratings and the last column is viewers*

 

[Padreruf]

Make no mistake, people speak with their pocketbooks, feet, and remote controls. Look what happened to Nascar when they started making some stupid business decisions. I suspect the same is about to happen to professional golf.

*the next to last column is ratings and the last column is viewers*

View attachment 34163

I lived in High Point, NC -- center of NASCAR for decades. Met Richard Petty many times and we supported their camp for special needs youth. Anyway, a couple of drivers who are no longer active told me back in 2015 that decisions being made would drive down the audience...and they were correct. One of those was that fixed wing racing had never proven popular in the US. Viewership is now less than ½ what it was in 2006 according to these figures. Professional Golf has never drawn really well but always hung onto the statistic of having the wealthiest viewership. Tiger changed a lot of that...but there's no Tiger right now.

 

[HighlandOak]

...but there's no Tiger right now.

Thank goodness.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I lived in High Point, NC -- center of NASCAR for decades. Met Richard Petty many times and we supported their camp for special needs youth. Anyway, a couple of drivers who are no longer active told me back in 2015 that decisions being made would drive down the audience...and they were correct. One of those was that fixed wing racing had never proven popular in the US. Viewership is now less than ½ what it was in 2006 according to these figures. Professional Golf has never drawn really well but always hung onto the statistic of having the wealthiest viewership. Tiger changed a lot of that...but there's no Tiger right now.

Another mistake NASCAR made was trying to cater to a market that never cared anything about racing and in trying to get that market they felt like they had to "clean up" some things that were a part of the market that loved racing. Ultimately, they never attracted the new market they were trying to get and in turn, lost a significant portion of the market that made them who they were.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

Another mistake NASCAR made was trying to cater to a market that never cared anything about racing and in trying to get that market they felt like they had to "clean up" some things that were a part of the market that loved racing. Ultimately, they never attracted the new market they were trying to get and in turn, lost a significant portion of the market that made them who they were.

Is the France family consulting for Anheuser Busch?

Couldn’t decide whether to use blue font or not.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Is the France family consulting for Anheuser Busch?

Couldn’t decide whether to use blue font or not.

When opening a business one has to decide upfront why they are in business. Are "you" in business to do business, or are "you" in business "to do business" as well as be a social/political activist?

 

[twofbyc]

Couldn't care less?

Sorry - should have been blue font.

 

[HighlandOak]

Sorry - should have been blue font.

No, just messing you with you. The correct phrase is "couldn't care less," not "could care less." Unless you actually care.

 

[Padreruf]

And coming back to the theme -- Jay Monahan has an undisclosed medical condition and is on medical leave from his position as CEO of the PGA Tour. No one is saying what happened...this announcement came late last night. Obviously he's been under an extreme amount of stress, but I'll not speculate concerning his illness. Prayers for him and his family...

 

[HighlandOak]

And coming back to the theme -- Jay Monahan has an undisclosed medical condition and is on medical leave from his position as CEO of the PGA Tour. No one is saying what happened...this announcement came late last night. Obviously he's been under an extreme amount of stress, but I'll not speculate concerning his illness. Prayers for him and his family...

Wouldn't be surprised if he was beat up by a bunch of golfers.

 

[BhamToTexas]

What is stopping the PIF from implementing this blueprint on other sports? They could take over anything they want.

That might deserve its own thread.

 

[HighlandOak]

What is stopping the PIF from implementing this blueprint on other sports? They could take over anything they want.

That might deserve its own thread.

Money talks.

 

[Moro Creek]

Ole Jay's medical condition probably comes from being roasted so much. Also, since some have mentioned Nascar, I quit watching them when they quit racing REAL cars.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

Jay Monahan is recovering from a “medical situation,” and won’t be leading the PGA Tour’s day-to-day operations. No time frame set for his recovery / return.

How convenient that this arise to explain his absence during the week of the US Open.

I don’t know the nature or severity of Monahan’s medical situation, or if it even exists at all. I do know that he irreparably cratered his personal credibility by getting in bed with the Saudi royal family’s investment arm. Absent independent confirmation, I don’t trust a single word that comes out of his mouth.

My personal speculation is: With nasty attacks from players, significant pushback from families of 9/11 victims (which Monahan brought on himself by citing state terrorism in previous attacks on LIV, then conveniently forgiving that little bit of nastiness in the merger), a looming Congressional investigation, and a separate anti-trust investigation from the DOJ, the kitchen just got too hot.

I’m also guessing he got a healthy goodbye kiss (seven figures, minimum) to just go away.

This article from the WSJ is probably paywalled, but here’s a link…

PGA Tour Commissioner Recovering From ‘Medical Situation’ at a Tense Moment for Golf

Jay Monahan informed the tour he would be absent from day-to-day duties just a week after announcing the tour’s blockbuster combination with rival Saudi-backed LIV Golf.

www.wsj.com

 

[Padreruf]

Jay Monahan is a principled person of integrity who, with about 2 others, made the most difficult decision of his corporate (and probably personal) life. All of the Tour golfers I know say that he is nothing if not trustworthy. I believe that time will show that this was the only way for the PGA Tour to maintain a viable existence. PIF has more money and could have bankrupted the Tour if it so desired.

I have no doubt that he has suffered some sort of physical/emotional setback; you cannot change the course of your life/profession this quickly and get all the blowback without some repercussions. I just hope he personally has not paid too big a cost. He is well paid -- @ 10 million per year plus perks. None of these would make up for the loss of physical and/or emotional health.

If PIF decided to start buying NFL franchises -- or CFB for that matter -- no entity could stop them. They have upwards of 1 trillion total at their disposal if needed...

"...the times they are a'changing..."

 

[mdb-tpet]

I hope this merger between the PGA and LIV is the death knell for tax exempt major league sports. Clearly, they don't NEED to be tax exempt with all those Billions of Dollars swashing around. For once, let's do something nice like spruce up our family parks, kid's schools, and nice connecting bike lanes/sidewalks with all that blood/oil/religious fanatic money. And, there's no need to pile on and ridicule me for being totally ideologically/politically/real life ignorant about how taxes/oil/religion/power all run our governments.

 

[Padreruf]

1st round of The US Open is in the books -- what an incredible day. 2 players shot 62 -- 8 under par -- Rickie Fowler and Zander Schauflee. Never happened before in the 1st round of this tournament. Also, the overall lowest 1st round in US Open history -- by almost 1 full shot.

BTW, Fowler and Schauflee may be the 2 nicest tour pros in the world. No one ever says a bad word about them and other pros love to play with them.

Why such low scores? Misty rain softened the course up...clouds kept the sun from drying it out. Pins were accessible as officials were worried about pace of play and finishing with 156 players. Look for it to be tougher each day. The water spigot is turned off for the forseeable future!!

All in all a fantastic day of golf. The greens are magnificent, manicured, and as a result, perfect for putting. This course is incredible...the layout is spectacular. This is the 2nd toughest tournament in the world to get into and to win -- after The Open (British is omitted by golf afficianados!)

 

[CrimsonNagus]

I hope this merger between the PGA and LIV is the death knell for tax exempt major league sports. Clearly, they don't NEED to be tax exempt with all those Billions of Dollars swashing around. For once, let's do something nice like spruce up our family parks, kid's schools, and nice connecting bike lanes/sidewalks with all that blood/oil/religious fanatic money. And, there's no need to pile on and ridicule me for being totally ideologically/politically/real life ignorant about how taxes/oil/religion/power all run our governments.

Yep, even if this merger goes through the PGA Tour should be stripped of it tax exempt status. No non-profit company should have a CEO who makes millions per year. Pro sports leagues should never be allowed to get non-profit status, including the NCAA.

The NCAA—America’s Worst Nonprofit? - NonProfit PRO

The NCAA says that it regularly “financially assists student-athletes in need of educational materials, clothing, and emergency travel expenses.” However, its 2019 tax form reveals it paid $0 in “grants and other assistance to domestic individuals” that year. In 2014, when the University of Connecticut Huskies won the Division I men’s basketball championship, star guard Shabazz Napier said he often went to bed starving because of NCAA rules. Although it is unusual for a college athlete to speak out in this way, this situation is not uncommon.

Thanks in large part to March Madness, and the television and marketing revenue it generates, the NCAA now takes in more than $1 billion a year in revenue and has $300 million in the bank. Its president, Mark Emmert, has a base salary of $2.7 million a year, more than any public college president in the U.S.