Welcome to Status Update — a free Friday newsletter featuring long and short stories, general ramblings from the week that was, the most interesting things to have recently caught my eye and any other golf-related nonsense I believe to be worth your time.
The Opening Drive
“Number one, you look at his passion for the game, his knowledge and understanding of the game, he's very familiar with the PGA Tour, he's very familiar with the team at the Public Investment Fund,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said. “Like us, he has a very clear picture of what should happen and he wants to help. The game means that much to him. And he's the ultimate dealmaker, so having him in the mix is a great thing for the game.”
Ahh, so that’s what Monahan meant when he said “everything is on the table.” Well, consider President Trump firmly in the mix.
Details have continued to flow out from Trump’s meeting with Monahan and Adam Scott. Saudi PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan was reportedly on the phone, while Tiger Woods — despite his name being listed on the PGA Tour’s announcement — was neither present nor on the phone but “he was there with us in spirit.”
Rory McIlroy made it known he played a round of golf with Trump in early January and insists Trump does not like the LIV Golf format and that “he’s on the Tour’s side.” Mind you, this is the same Rory McIlroy who said in 2020 he would never play a round of golf with Trump again.
I don’t disagree with the assertion Trump does not like the LIV Golf format — he is a traditionalist by nature, his golf courses are all par 72s if you haven’t noticed — but I do question the second half of McIlroy’s statement.
Is Trump really on the Tour’s side? Let’s look at the all-22.
We have a man who has been labeled the anti-establishment figurehead in Washington.
A man whose golf course was set to host the 2022 PGA Championship before the PGA of America cancelled it.
A man whose world famous golf course in Scotland — where the likes of Tom Watson, Greg Norman and Nick Price have raised the Claret Jug — is no longer a part of the Open rota.
A man who used to host one of the best PGA Tour events but no longer does.
It’s true Trump is a golf fan and he understands the difference between the PGA Tour and the PGA of America unlike half the country, but it may also be fair to assert he sees those same parties in professional golf as the establishment.
Brokering a deal to unify the game does a number of things if you are Trump: (1) you are seen as the guy to save golf, (2) you force the establishment to bend the knee, (3) you get back in the good graces of the decision makers and (4) you give yourself a chance to host a major championship.
“We've played at Trump venues in the past,” Monahan said. “While we haven't talked about that with the president, I certainly see a day where we're adding Trump venues to our schedule, certainly.”
While we were away …
We’re going mobile
The end of February and the beginning of March have somehow turned into a busy travel period for me. I am wheels up to Florida tomorrow morning, and the plan is to attend one match of the highly anticipated TGL Presidents Day triple header at the SciFi Center on Monday. I’m like 63% certain I have a line on three tickets — I am bringing my father and uncle since they are the opposite of TGL’s intended audience — as I want to take in all the action as a civilian and a member of gen. pop.
Please, please, hold your applause until the end. I am just like you.
Once we wrap up that excursion, I am heading out west to Tucson, Arizona for the Cologuard Classic on the Champions Tour. It seems the tournament officials have really enjoyed my tweeting as of late and have invited me to fly out and play in the pro-am.
Lord, if you have a heart you will pair me with Padraig Harrington. My game is non-existent.
That’ll put an end to the extracurriculars before the Players Championship in Ponte Vedra, Florida the second week of March. I’m barking up the tree as we speak since it is a short drive from Charleston, but I think I’ll get my way (famous last words). There’s been some really good tournament coverage coming out of the West Coast Swing, but I have a few things up my sleeve people may like.
Guess how much has been spent on LIV Golf
How I am just now coming across this newsletter is borderline irresponsible, but we are here now and that is all that matters. Money in Sport took a look at the financial statements of LIV Golf UK (i.e., LIV Golf excluding the U.S.) from 2023, and the numbies are staggering.
LIV Golf UK brought in $37 million in revenue in 2023 — $17 million from its event in Australia — with an operating loss of nearly $400 million. Most notable perhaps is that the PIF is about to cross the $5 billion investment mark — a key threshold in the financial world where one looks in the mirror, turns to the wasteland behind them, shakes their head with a grin and says, “Son of a bitch, you’ve done it again.”
Patrick Reed makes hole-in-one at LIV Golf Adelaide
If you don’t know by now, I ride or die with my fellow Patricks and P Reed is chief among them given his 2018 Masters victory which funded my lavish college lifestyle for a couple months (won $500 that week). I can’t stop laughing at the handshake he does with the random 4 Aces guy (?) Basketball players, football players, sure, do your silly little handshakes but golfers? I don’t know about that.
Quotes of the week
“I learnt that he’s not a fan of the LIV format…” - Rory McIlroy
“I have nothing against Lucas, but if we're banning AimPoint I think we should ban long putters as well.” - Collin Morikawa
Rephrased — I have nothing against this guy, but let me say something directly about him.
“That’s so strange. I haven’t hit a hook in a long, long time.” - Jordan Spieth
