The Round Table: The SSG deal, Signature Events and iconic par-3s

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.

Last week the PGA Tour signed a deal with Strategic Sports Group that could see up to $3 billion injected into a new for-profit company that would own and manage the Tour and all its business. While the deal puts the Tour on a firmer financial footing, it doesn’t do anything to bring LIV Golf into the fold. If anything, it may have driven a wedge into further negotiations. Some players have said that perhaps they don’t need the Saudi PIF money now. What’s your take on the deal?

Jim Deeks, Fairways Magazine (@jimdeeks): I’m not sure what to think.  On the one hand, it appears to be a welcome lifeline to the Tour, and perhaps a nail in the coffin to the Tour-PIF deal that’s shown no progress that we know of.  If so, all good in my opinion.  But it also marks the first direct investment in ownership of the Tour by a private corporate entity.  Does that mean that corporate interests will start dictating Tour direction, perhaps at the expense of fans and players?  Also, if Tour-PIF talks do progress, is this a way for Strategic Sports Group to get closer and friendlier to the PIF’s endless supply of money – again to the detriment of fans and players?  And will the arrival of SSG mean gambling on professional golf? God forbid.

Craig Loughry, Golf Ontario (@craigloughry): Interesting times in men’s professional golf. I have no idea what to make of this. I do know LIV Golf $10B > $3B. I also know that $10B + $3B is even greater. But how that would get settled into an agreement but all the egos in the room will be EXTREMELY difficult to navigate. I’ll just continue with the popcorn and watch as many make an ass of themselves around the situation!

Michael Schurman, Master Professional / Hall of Fame Member, PGA of Canada: It will be interesting watching a lot of critics back up! When the ruckus started with L1V there were three basic ‘camps’. The players’ unabashed lack of loyalty and greed, it’s good for the players who are independent contractors and of course, the issue of ‘blood’ money. So, the TOUR dipped into their reserves to make Signature Events which, if no deal came to their aid would have bankrupted the TOUR within two to three years. So far everything has benefitted the players, the ‘blood’ money remains in Saudi Arabia, and nobody has a lack of loyalty and greed. The two remaining questions are “What happens to the players in purgatory” and “What happens to the TOUR business model of the sponsors contributing money to charity”? Remember one more success story; that of Greg Norman who began in the 1980s working toward a world tour with gigantic purses. He finally got his wish, but he isn’t part of it.

TJ Rule, Golf Away Tours (@GolfAwayTJ): I’m confused, wake me up when it’s all over!  I thought they had a deal with PIF basically finalised.  That’s why I don’t want any more updates until they are final decisions.  It is nice to see money being invested in the Tour, but it comes across as rich guys wanting to get richer, and not necessarily for the good of the game and the fans.  But hopefully I’m wrong.  Regardless, they have to work something out with LIV as we all want to see the best players in the world playing against each other.

Hal Quinn, Freelance Writer, Vancouver: Even having said that it would take corporate America to save the Tour — to dodge the US government scrutiny of any Saudi deal —  didn’t think the cheque (check) would be for three large. Speith said that the Tour doesn’t need the sports washing money anymore. Think he’s right.

Peter Mumford, Fairways Magazine (@FairwaysMag): In my mind, the deal raises more questions than it answers. Like what happens to charitable donations, developmental PGA Tours and opposite field events when SSG wants to see an ROI? Where is the DP World Tour and the Strategic Alliance? Then there’s the concept of giving the players equity. Is this supposed to be a thank you for not jumping to LIV? What about equity for all of the players that came before who built the Tour? This is a business deal for an investment, and we shouldn’t confuse it with a golf deal that will get all the players together again, even though that was supposed to be the objective. It also doesn’t look like there’s anything to improve the golf product from a fan’s perspective.

The Pebble Beach Pro-Am was turned into a Signature Event this year with a smaller field, bigger purse, no cut and the amateurs only played for two days. Gone are former celebrities such as Bill Murray, Ray Romano and other celebrities from Hollywood and the music industry. Even though the weather-shortened event was very exciting, it seems the organizers have taken some of the fun and entertainment out of the old Crosby Clambake. What do you think?

Deeks: I loved the old Crosby Clambake, until Bill Murray and Ray Romano and someone named George Lopez showed up. It was like a bad Marx Brothers movie.  I stopped watching then. I’m glad to hear they’ve made these changes.  Good golf (60 anyone??) and Pebble Beach are enough to satisfy me.

Loughry The changes to the AT&T Pro-Am were good. The Ams for two days was a good change, and they seemed to have the right mix of participants. I do sigh though, it’s not the old Clambake it once was. There is something to be said for showing all the celebrities and other sports athletes playing golf, it helps the game look a little sexier than it is at times.

Schurman: It will take a couple of years to see what the PGA TOUR becomes. Do they need or want sponsors, will the TOUR business model have a team format, do they need or want fans? TV and other media will become vital to support the PGA TOUR’s contract with gambling from which they can generate as much revenue in a month as they earned in a year. I’m a huge fan of Rock ‘n Roll from the 50s, 60s and 70s. It was fun and I knew the words to each song. Adults laughed at us when they recalled Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Benny Goodman. My point: times change. In fact, they don’t even bake clams on the beach anymore.

Rule: Well, it certainly isn’t the Clambake anymore, but it’s hard to recreate that event.  I’m not a huge fan of watching the celebrities play golf, so I’m ok with the change to only do the pro am for 2 days.  If people want to see Tom Brady hit a 7-yard drive, they can watch it on Friday or catch the highlights on social media.  Otherwise give me the best players on an iconic course.  Although I’m not that big on no cut events, it’s nice to see the best players on Tour competing in a given week.

Quinn: In the new world golf order, it only mattered that the limited field of corporations valued having their execs wandering around with the pros for a couple of days and paid the huge green fees. The TV audience — a remnant of the old good days — had tired of the tiresome B-listers, so it all ‘appears’ good in Bing’s old stomping grounds. Will anyone watch next year? Tough question.

Mumford: It’s sad that pro golf has become such a serious business that it doesn’t have a spot for a fun week. That said, with Pebble Beach as the backdrop, almost anything works in terms of a format or field size. The golf course is the main attraction and everything else is secondary.

Pebble Beach presents us with iconic par-3 holes such as the 7th and 17th, Augusta has the 12th, TPC Sawgrass the 17th and this week’s event in Phoenix has the raucous 16th with it’s elevated stands and noisy crowds. Nearly every PGA Tour event we see on TV has a short hole that has become legendary. Which hole would you put at the top of your list to play?

Deeks: I’ve played the 17th at TPC a few times and love it, but I’d really like to get a shot at Pebble #7 and Augusta #12.  Of those two, I’d take Augusta #12, because then I’d probably be allowed to play the other 17 holes.  (Another great par 3, which I’ve played often and never parred, is the 16th at Sea Pines in Hilton Head.)

Loughry So many good choices. If it’s blowing, I’d take Royal Troon’s Postage Stamp (8th hole), a great short hole! A close second would be hole #12 at Augusta National, just for the history and the challenge.

Schurman: I’ve played them all except #12 at Augusta and if it was offered to me, I wouldn’t take it. I’m not going all that way unless I can play the full 18.

Rule: Well, Golden Bell would top the list for obvious reasons.  Augusta sits right at the top of my bucket list, as it does with most golfers.  Beyond that, there are two par 3’s I’ve played before but can’t wait to return to play, the 4th at Royal County Down and the 5th at Royal Melbourne.  In particular I can’t wait to return to the Sandbelt in Australia as I fell in love with the golf while there.

Quinn: Sawgrass 17th is fun, even without the grandstand, and the TPC’s 16th is as overrated as the 17th is underrated. Haven’t played Pebble (most that have tell me Cypress is a better course) or Augusta National, but would have to pick Golden Bell. Played a replica but nowhere does the wind swirl like it does through the Georgia Pines. Bucket list would include a small bucket.

Mumford: We could also add the 17th at Pete Dye’s PGA West Stadium Course, another treacherous island green. The 7th at Pebble Beach tops my list though. The scenery along the California coast is heavenly and that little hole with the wind howling and the waves crashing is as good as it gets.

The Round Table
The Round Table is a panel of golf writers, PGA members and industry experts.

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