11th March February Newsletter 2024

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This coming week sees The Players Championship at TPS Sawgrass take place, certainly one of my favourite events on the calendar, and a bucket list course to play.

Matteo Manassero came back from the golfing depths of despair to claim his first DP World Tour title since 2013, what a fairy tale story. Loads of news this week including, OWGR developments, Presidents Cup and R&A announcements, and some interesting news regarding the PGA Tour.

Let’s jump in. 🏌️‍♀️⛳☕

RESULTS
Weekly Results From Around The World

Image: Complete Golfer

PGA Tour: Puerto Rico Open - Brice Garnett | -19
PGA Tour: Arnold Palmer Invitational - Scottie Scheffler | -15
DP World Tour/Sunshine Tour: Jonsson Workwear Open - Matteo Manassero | -26
LIV Golf: Hong Kong Championship - Abraham Ancer | -13
LPGA Tour: Blue Bay LPGA - Bailey Tardy | -19

NEWS
Short News Snippets From Around The World

Image: PGA Tour

No More OWGR for LIV. In a letter to players, LIV CEO Greg Norman announced that they would cease efforts to gain OWGR eligibility, citing the system's lack of cooperation. Despite previous attempts, Norman states it's improbable for LIV golfers to regain top rankings. Instead, he pledges to liaise with major championships for fair representation and viewer access.

Keep Hustling. Joaquin Niemann receives a special invitation to the 2024 PGA Championship, making it three out of four majors he's in this year, including the Masters. Despite LIV Golf's failure to meet OWGR criteria, Niemann's vocal advocacy gets him noticed.

Presidents Cup Shake Up. LIV Golf players won't participate in the Presidents Cup, confirmed by captain Mike Weir. He's strategizing to make the American team uncomfortable at Royal Montreal, aiming for a hockey-like atmosphere with fan engagement and black attire. Despite this limitation, Weir remains optimistic about his team's prospects. The event takes place on the 24th - 29th September 2024.

New Regulations for The Open. The R&A announced changes to The Open exemption categories, notably reducing the age limit for past champions to 55. Despite concerns over qualification amid LIV Golf's absence from OWGR points, no concessions were made. Major winners and select players secure spots, while new provisions include exemptions for champions from the Africa Amateur.

PGA Enterprises. Tiger Woods, John Henry (Liverpool owner), and Arthur Blank (Atlanta Falcons owner) are part of the new PGA Tour Enterprises board of directors, formed to enhance commercial activities and fan engagement. The group, including player directors and sports executives, aims to drive growth and value for the PGA Tour. Jay Monahan will lead as CEO. I explain things in a little more detail in the section below.

Tiger Out of The Players. Tiger Woods will not participate in the 2024 Players Championship, marking his absence from the event since 2019. Despite being a two-time champion, Woods' recent performances and schedule constraints have led to his decision to skip the tournament, with his focus possibly turning to the upcoming Masters.

PGA Full of Stars ⭐NBA superstar LeBron James, music icon Drake, along with Lindsey Vonn, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Chris Pratt have joined forces to invest in PGA Tour Enterprises. They are part of the group led by the Strategic Sports Group, which includes influential franchise owners such as John W. Henry, Steven A. Cohen, Arthur M. Blank, and others.

PGA TOUR
What Is The PGA TOUR Enterprises ⛳

Image: PGA Tour

The establishment of the PGA TOUR Enterprises Board of Directors marks a significant development for the PGA TOUR's commercial endeavours. Comprising nine PGA TOUR Directors and four Strategic Sports Group (SSG) Directors, the board will focus on driving fan engagement, growth, and exploring new media and sponsorship opportunities.

The board includes six current Player Directors from the PGA TOUR Policy Board, namely Patrick Cantlay, Peter Malnati, Adam Scott, Webb Simpson, Jordan Spieth, and Tiger Woods. Former PGA TOUR player Joe Ogilvie has been appointed as the "Director Liaison" to serve on both Boards.

PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan will lead the Enterprises as its Chief Executive Officer, with Tiger Woods serving as Vice Chairman. The four SSG Directors, including John W. Henry, Arthur M. Blank, Andrew B. Cohen, and Sam Kennedy, bring their expertise from various sports franchises to the board.

The establishment of this board signifies a collaborative effort to propel the PGA TOUR's commercial initiatives forward. With a focus on player ownership and engagement, the board aims to maximize revenue generation and expand golf's global reach.

The PGA TOUR Enterprises Board of Directors will elect a chairman at an upcoming meeting, further solidifying its leadership structure. This development underscores the commitment to shaping a vibrant future for professional golf and enhancing the PGA TOUR's position as the premier competition in the sport.

TWITTER
The Slowmo Makes It Just That Much Better ⛳🏌️‍♀️

EVENTS
What Can We Expect From The Upcoming Events

Image: PGA Tour

PGA Tour: THE PLAYERS Championship - Defending Champ | Scottie Scheffler
DP World Tour Porsche Singapore Classic | 21 - 24 March
LPGA Tour: FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship | 21 - 24 March
Asian Tour: International Series Macau - Defending Champ | Inaugural Event
Sunshine Tour: Stella Artois Players Championship | 21 - 24 March

That’s a wrap for this week. Thank you for taking the time to read the nineteenth edition of this newsletter, please feel free to leave me a comment or reply with some feedback. If you are looking to sponsor this newsletter let me know, I would love to have you on board.

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Cheers,

TJ 🏌️‍♂️