Rory and Pebble Beach – as good as it gets
Each week, we ask our panel of writers, PGA members and golf industry experts to weigh in with their views on the hot topics of the day.
Rory McIlroy won his 27th PGA Tour event on Sunday with a brilliant showing at Pebble Beach. It was a different Pro-Am tournament than previous years, with a limited field of pros, no cut and the amateurs not playing the weekend. Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth both made their return from injury and the crowded leaderboard left the outcome of this Signature event in question until the final nine. What was your biggest takeaway from the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am?
Jim Deeks, Fairways Magazine (@jimdeeks): A much more enjoyable television experience than the last two decades, when it had deteriorated into a burlesque show with the odious Bill Murray and a string of second-tier CBS-sitcom stars like Ray Romano and George Whatsisname, plus a parade of self-important CEOs who happily paid their way into the Pro-Am. Yesterday’s broadcast was terrific… a beautiful day, a “cathedral” golf course, lots of great action, and a crowd-pleasing winner. Biggest takeaway? All the Europeans at the top of the leaderboard, bodes well for the Ryder Cup later this year.
Michael Schurman, Master Professional / Hall of Fame Member, PGA of Canada: My takeaway is how good Rory can be when he is ‘on’. He drives it perfectly, hits his irons in the right spots, and can putt the lights out of it. I hope he brings this game to Augusta.
TJ Rule, Golf Away Tours (@GolfAwayTJ): I always love watching the guys play Pebble, it’s an iconic course and it makes for great viewing. I loved how many guys had a chance to win until Rory made that incredible eagle on 14 (that hole isn’t supposed to be reachable uphill, let alone with a 7 iron!). There were some big names as well as some out of nowhere players, which made for some nice Sunday afternoon drama. In the end, it was great to see Rory pull it out, and convincingly so, and hopefully this springboards him to a big 2025. I see him challenging Scottie for No 1 in the world by the end of the year.
Hal Quinn, Freelance Writer, Vancouver: It confirmed my choice of breakout player of the year. Rory’s driving distance and accuracy when combined with precise wedge play (thanks new ball) is mind-boggling to watch. Another takeaway is that when the best are playing a great course, the Tour is watchable and even great entertainment. That such a self-evident observation is a takeaway reflects just how far the Tour has plummeted on the must-see TV scale. The other is what a great idea it was to limit the Am part of the old Clambake to two rounds, with the best part being no Bill Murray.
Peter Mumford, Fairways Magazine (@FairwaysMag): No matter the outcome at this event, the golf course is always the star of the show. When you get a close match and a popular winner like Rory, it’s just icing on the cake. And I didn’t miss the amateurs one bit.
LIV Golf kicks off their 2025 season this week in Saudi Arabia with a new TV deal and a new CEO, Scott O’Neil. Assuming LIV will continue for at least a couple of years, what do you think O’Neil should prioritize as he begins his new job?
Deeks: Not further alienating the golfing public, if that’s possible. Even with their new TV exposure, I’m convinced that LIV will simply not exist in three years, unless there’s a merger or other kind of life-saving agreement with the PGA Tour. Team golf appeals to no one, the big stars have suffered from out-of-sight/out-of-mind, the public is disgusted with the greed, shotgun starts are confusing, and no one cares about the players’ short pants. If I was the Tour, I wouldn’t bother taking LIV phone calls anymore.
Schurman: He should make every effort to establish a FedEx point system so both tours can compete in all four majors and LIV can play in the PGA TOUR Playoffs.
Rule: Well, the TV deal was a big one, so maybe it’ll draw more golf fans to their product, although I still think a change in format is required. Perhaps guess the fact that TGL copied the team format from LIV means there is something to that, but I’m not sold yet. I’ll give them credit for sticking to their guns though. I think what O’Neil should prioritize now that he has a good TV deal is marketing the top names that they currently have at LIV. I do miss watching some of the guys play (certainly don’t miss some of them too!), so maybe I’ll watch one or two minutes of the broadcasts this year.
Quinn: Top priority should be lining up his next gig. Aside from fans of TGL and televised pickleball, no matter what O’Neil does or says no one will be watching and no one will care.
Mumford: If O’Neil wants to run a competitive league, he has to put it on a level playing field. The money is there, star players are signed and now there’s a TV contract in place. But the format is bush league. So, scrap the alternate shot circus, expand to four rounds of competition and add 20-24 spots for Monday qualifiers. That should satisfy the World Ranking people that the competition is open and comparable. With $20 million dollar purses and ranking points, a few more big names may get on board. At least the product would be watchable.
The PGA Tour is eliminating Monday qualifying at a number or tournaments this year and reducing the spots available from the Monday qualifiers at others. With field sizes reduced for the no-cut Signature events and due to be smaller at others to make sure they can be completed before darkness, there’s a feeling that the Tour is becoming something of a closed shop. Many say this doesn’t matter as the result will be the best playing against the best more often. Others argue that the loss of Monday qualifiers, Friday cuts and Cinderella stories is too big a cost. How do you see it?
Deeks: Sorry to say so, but I’m kinda with the “best playing the best” view. I’m sorry for the up-and-comers who will have less opportunity, but unless I personally know a rookie, I really don’t care if Billy Joe Newcomer gets a spot in the Idaho Potato Open or not.
Schurman: In days of yore, I loved trying to Monday qualify. The best I did was to win a playoff in New York for the 1st alternate spot in the Senior US Open and lose a playoff into the Canadian Open. However, times have changed, and there are tons of guys playing for their income. IF I got hot and qualified, I’d be taking a spot from someone who is putting a lot more into it than I am. Not too long ago, you could gain a spot in the British Open through one round of qualifying. Sure, it was fun, but every event deserves the best players. Although I think differently as we go down the list of tour strength of field, the top tour (male & female) should feature the very best.
Rule: It’s going to be harder and harder for guys to crack into the signature events, and by default, harder for those who do get there to lose their spots at the top of the mountain. I don’t think that’s good for the game. Some talented guys are going to have to give up their dreams sooner than previous years because it’s so hard to climb the hill and make enough money to fund their dream chasing. I’ll tune in to watch a Monday qualifier that is in contention on Sunday, it means more to them than any of the top guys.
Quinn: The first Phoenix Open qualifier was in 1948. The last one this week, with 672 golfers paying the ante to try for two spots. Sure only 30-35 per cent of Monday qualifiers eventually made the cut, but since 1980 five won including Corey Connors in 2019. The Monday qualifier is part of the fabric of the game, one of a precious few remaining aspects that separate it from the big pro sports. Whatever perceived efficiency is gained cannot be worth it.
Mumford: I’m in the nostalgia camp. Eight Signature events plus the Majors is enough best versus the best. Any more and it starts to dilute their special nature. But for the rest of the tournaments, keep the fields as large as possible, keep or even expand Monday qualifying and keep the Friday cuts. A Cinderella story or watching future stars develop can be compelling content and should not be dismissed so readily. The Tour needs to spend more time and money showcasing it’s future stars.
