Will Nick Taylor pass Weir and Knudson’s Canadian record?
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 we rendered our verdict on the first episode of TGL. The League is scheduled to play 15 weeks of regular season matches before commencing playoffs. Do you see anything in the show that will keep fans tuned in each week or invested in which team will win the season?
Jim Deeks, Fairways Magazine (@jimdeeks): No, not really. At least, not the majority of the 939,000 who tuned in to the first show. (Although, there may be thousands who missed the first show and want to see what the fuss was about in the next couple of weeks.) But unless you’re a fan of stock car racing or UFC, I expect that the viewership will fall steadily over 15 weeks, especially as the weather warms and people will be out playing golf vs. watching it. Will they care about the team aspect? I don’t think so. Golf is an individual game, and I think fans prefer to root for individual players. That said, if TGL does survive into a second season, they should try to start their season in November and have it run through to The Players Championship. Then they might get some traction.
Craig Loughry, Golf Ontario (@craigloughry): The technology is cool. They need more spice on air though, as in interaction between players, hot dogging, maybe not a ton of smack talk, but a little more.
Michael Schurman, Master Professional / Hall of Fame Member, PGA of Canada: Everything is very new. They did a great job on the first show. I like it. It won’t replace golf, but it will be good on a Tuesday evening, even though it’s a bit late to be sitting in front of the fire with a glass of wine without wondering if you have a problem. Aberg had the advantage in the surface conditions as he grew up in a northern climate and has more experience with them. I wouldn’t change anything until a few more matches are played.
TJ Rule, Golf Away Tours (@GolfAwayTJ): Tiger Woods. People will tune in just to watch him. Beyond that, I’m not sure. I guess they could use one or two of the players to emerge as a character who adds some comedic interest, perhaps Max Homa is that guy. I’ll reserve my judgement though until I see a few episodes.
Hal Quinn, Freelance Writer, Vancouver: The cynics — and who among us is now not a pro golf cynic — quickly guessed that Eldrick and Rory sat out night one because they knew there would at least be the curiosity factor to boost ratings so decided to come out night two to salvage ratings. Sounds right to me. But don’t think even their star power will keep regular folk — or cynics — still watching after the front nine. Nothing much to see, or hear, here. Move along.
Peter Mumford, Fairways Magazine (@FairwaysMag): The big money behind TGL is from the entertainment business and sports moguls who own teams in other sports. Their deal is to engage fans to watch. Pro baseball, football and basketball aren’t trying to grow their sport so more people will play it. It’s all about eyeballs. The market for TGL is the roughly half of the so-called golfing population that has never or rarely set foot on a real golf course. They tend to be younger, into video games and YouTube entertainment and they ‘play’ their golf at ranges and on simulators. Traditionalists are generally older and play outside on grass. Both groups claim to play real golf. I don’t think TGL is trying to bridge that divide, just appeal to the younger demographic. I’m not on board but my grandsons are.
Last week, 24-year-old Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, who signed with LIV Golf straight out of college, griped to the media that he had no place to play after being dropped by his Fireballs team. He further alleged that LIV players were misled about world ranking points and access to the majors. All this despite winning $16 million over three seasons plus an undisclosed signing bonus. What’s your take on Chacarra’s complaint?
Deeks: Sounds like sour grapes to me, surely he knew the limitations of LIV Tour membership when he decided to go for the money right out of school. Or should have done more research to verify the alleged promises from LIV. And because he made that financial decision, I have no sympathy for the fact that his game went south after winning $16million. He says he wants to compete on the PGA Tour, and all I can say to that is, “good luck in Q-school, amigo.”
Loughry: OK, $16M not including his signing bonus (conservatively say $20M total). Really, you whine about what you didn’t get from a choice you made? How many other 25-year-olds made that kind of money in golf? Take your medicine and work your way to the PGA Tour or DP World Tour, and Major starts, it just may take you a few years.
Schurman: $16M is a nice ‘leg up’ on life at age 24. Deal with it, and next time, read the fine print.
Rule: That’s the risk they took by accepting the money up front, and we can’t be made to feel bad for them. There were always only so many spots on the tee sheet at LIV events, so risking not having a spot to play was always in the cards. He can just cry into his stack of 100’s.
Quinn: He, and all the other LIV instant multi-millionaires, do have a gripe that they were misled about world ranking points and access to the big events. But that’s the price a kid like that paid for financial security for life, and likely the lives of his loved ones. So, it’s impossible to muster sympathy, let alone empathy, for his whine. If he kicks around on the fringes of big-time golf for a couple of years, then qualifies for the PGA Tour, only then might we care a bit about his game.
Mumford: Tough to see where he’s going to find a sympathetic ear. He knew or ought to have known the risks of his decision. But all is not lost. There are options available to him this year and that $16M should keep him comfortable until more open up.
Canada’s Nick Taylor won his fifth PGA Tour title last week at the Sony Open after a getting into a playoff thanks to a clutch chip-in eagle on the 72nd hole. Taylor has wins in the last three seasons (2023 RBC Canadian Open, 2024 WM Phoenix Open) but has also struggled. Last year he missed a lot of cuts after the Phoenix win and failed to make the Presidents Cup team. If you were a betting person, would you wager on Taylor passing Mike Weir and George Knudson’s record for most wins on Tour (8) by a male Canadian professional?
Deeks: If Nick was 23 or 24, I’d put down a modest wager on his chances for 8 or 9 victories. But he’s nearly 37 now, and while he can still make a very nice living on the PGA Tour for another ten years or so (and then the Champions after age 50), I don’t see five or six more victories. Plus, he’s kind of a streaky player so that doesn’t generate a lot of confidence in my mind. I was delighted with his win in Hawaii, however, and hope he can snag another one soon.
Loughry: Pretty impressive by Nick, he gets sniff and closes. I think he’s making a case to be called ICEMAN (although Scheffler is the ultimate Iceman). I’m not sure Nick passes Goerge or Mike. He’s 36, 10th year out there and definitely on the back 9 of his career, and these young guns are more ready than they have ever been when earning their Tour card. The only thing going for Nick, and I mean this with respect, is that I think it’s easier to win now than in years past (weaker and smaller fields).
Schurman: Nick’s accomplishments are terrific, but passing Weir and Knudson is a tall ask at age 36. He is more than halfway there, but winning isn’t easy, and you asked for “passing,” which is nine. I’ll say “No,” but I hope I’m wrong.
Rule: For the first time, I think that number is achievable for another Canadian male player. He seems to be a streaky player, but he’s also clutch, so get him in a few more positions to win, and I can see him picking up 3 more wins in his career. He’s only 36 so he’s got some time. I’d say it’s a 50/50 chance at this time.
Quinn: Man, he does have a flair for the dramatic. But in 23 events since his last win at Phoenix, prior to this win Taylor had not one Top 10. And he’s now 36. His age and track record do not point to eight wins.
Mumford: Nick’s entire career has been streaky, but he’s figured out how to win when he gets in contention. One win every couple of years until he’s in his mid-forties will surpass Weir and Knudson. But the main goal now is probably a major. Would he trade a green jacket for the Canadian record? I think so.