News
Jason Day’s withdrawal at the API ignites debate on the implementation of weekly injury reports to protect daily fantasy sports users
Jason Day’s withdrawal from the Arnold Palmer Invitational during his seventh hole of the day sparked a lively debate on Thursday, with many daily fantasy sports (DFS) and gamblers feeling cheated.
A plethora of angry DFS players aired their thoughts on social media after the withdrawal, with some requesting that the PGA Tour implements weekly injury reports, as the relationship between golf and gambling begins to heat up.
Live look at Jason Day investors: pic.twitter.com/sCQMnBprhF
— Glass (@MikeGlasscott) March 7, 2019
The Australian called it quits during the seventh hole of his round, explaining to playing partners Ian Poulter and Rickie Fowler that he couldn’t continue due to the pain in his back. Day revealed after the round the significance of his injury, which involves an annular tear in his L4-L5 discs.
“I (aggravated) it last Sunday, and then got an MRI Monday which came back that I had an annular tear in my disc and then I’ve got ‘set problems’ as well.
“My back was sore when I was practising from Tuesday to Saturday (last week) and I was going to practise on Sunday, but I woke up and couldn’t really walk or sit in the car. I was on a dose pack to try get the inflammation out of it that didn’t get any better.”
The explanation had some questioning whether Day was right to tee it up in the first place, not just to protect those in the fantasy sports world but also for preventing first alternate Chase Wright an opportunity to tee it up, but Day had hoped that the injury would “loosen up” as his round went on.
Last week, Tour Chief Jay Monahan said to players at the Honda Classic
“We are aggressively and also carefully pursuing commercial deals in the U.S. gambling and daily fantasy spaces and expect to make announcements in the coming months. We see strong opportunities for commercial deals.”
But despite those opportunities and growing relationships with these DFS companies, in light of Day’s costly withdrawal for many of those gamblers, golf fans should not expect to see weekly injury reports like they do in the NFL and MLB in the near future, due to the players of the Tour being independent contractors.
Speaking to The Action Network, a PGA Tour spokesman stated
“For the foreseeable future, medical information is considered confidential. Players are not required to disclose an injury.”
The heated debate over Day’s withdrawal also involved Tour players, who were happy to share their view on the subject, with some holding strong opinions on the matter.
Kevin Kisner, co-chairman of the Tour’s Player Advisory Council, has little sympathy with those who lost money on Day’s withdrawal, stating to Golf Channel’s Will Gray.
“It’s nobody’s business. I mean, are we out here to gamble, or are we out here to play golf? I don’t really give a s*** about the DFS guys. You should have picked someone else. If he had shot 65 and he had a hurt back, those guys wouldn’t have said anything.”
Jimmy Walker had more sympathy and concern over those that could contain more inside information than others.
“I’m not saying that anyone did anything malicious, but yeah, it’s a bigger deal. There might have been a head-to-head (matchup) with Jason today, and if a few people know that he’s probably not feeling good, people need to know that. It’s a big deal. There’s a lot of money out there.”
As the PGA Tour’s relationship with gambling continues to evolve, it’s unlikely that the fiery debate will subside anytime soon. Whatever side of the fence you’re on though, the timeless words which Brandt Snedeker issued on Thursday afternoon are perhaps the most relevant, and a stark reminder to those DFS users: “That’s why they call it gambling”.
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Morning 9: Wyndham Clark on back injury | DiMarco’s bold Champions Tour take | Houston Open photos
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News
Four books for a springtime review
One thing that never changes over time: snowy evenings give purpose to reading (is it the other way around?) It has been a snowy 2024 in western New York, and I’ve had ample time to tuck into an easy chair with a blanket, coffee, and a book. You’re in luck, because despite the title of this piece, I’ll share five books and their worth with you.
There is great breadth of subject matter from one to five. Golf is as complicated as life, which means that the cover of the book isn’t worth judging. The contents begin the tale, but there is so much more to each topic presented within. If you’re like me, your library grows each year. Despite the value of the virtual, the paper-printed word connects us to the past of golf and humanity. Here’s hoping that you’ll add one or more of these titles to your collection.
Hughes Norton interviewed with Mark McCormack for 20 minutes (30 if you count the missed exit at Logan International) while driving the founder of IMG from Harvard to the airport. The lesson of taking advantage of each moment, of every dollar, because you might not get another opportunity, is the most valuable one that life offers. I say to you, be certain to read this book, because another opportunity to bend the ear of Hughes Norton may not come our way.
Hughes Norton was with Tiger Woods for waaayyy fewer years than you might guess, but they were the critical ones. Be warned: not all of the revelations in this tome are for the faint of heart. Some, in fact, will break your heart. Golf was a sleepy hamlet in the 1990s, until the 16-lane interstate called Eldrick “Tiger” Woods came into town. Everything changed, which meant that everything would change again and again, into eternity. Once the ball starts rolling, it’s impossible to stop.
My favorite aspect of this book is its candor. Hughes Norton is well into his time on Planet Earth. He has no reason to hold back, and he doesn’t. My least favorite aspect is that George Peper got the call to co-author the book (and I didn’t.) Seriously, there is no LFA for me, so this is the best that I could do.
Decision: Buy It!
The Golf Courses of Seth Raynor
Michael Wolf, James Sitar, and Jon Cavalier, in abject partnership, collaborated to produce a handsome volume on the work of gone-too-soon, engineer-turned-golf course architect. Seth Raynor was pulled into the game by Charles Blair MacDonald, the crusty godfather of American golf. Raynor played little golf across the 51 years of his life. His reason? He did not wish to corrupt his designs with the demands and failings of his own game.
Jon Cavalier began his photography career as a contributor to the Golf Club Atlas discussion group. I met him there in a virtual way (we still have yet to shake hands) and have exchanged numerous emails over the years. Despite the demands of his day job, Cavalier has blossomed into the most traveled and prolific course photographer alive today. His photography, both hand-held and drone, makes the pages pop. Michael Wolf invited me and two friends to play his home course, despite having never met any of us in person. His words, melded to those of James Sitar, are the glue that connect Cavalier’s photos.
My favorite aspect of the books is the access it gives to the private-club world of Raynor. Fewer than five of his courses are resort or public access, and knowing people on the inside is not available to all. My suggestion? Write a letter/email and see if a club will let you play. Can’t hurt to try! My one complaint about the book is its horizontal nature. Golf is wide, but I like a little vertical in my photos. It’s not much of a complaint, given the glorious contents within the covers.
Decision: Buy It!!
Big Green Book from The Golfer’s Journal
Beginning with its (over)size, and continuing through the entire contents, there is no descriptor that defines the genre of the Big Green Book. It is photography, essay, layout, poetry, graphics, and stream of consciousness. It harnesses the creative power of a lengthy masthead of today’s finest golf contributors. Quotes from Harvey Penick, verse from Billy Collins, and prose from John Updike partner with images pure and altered, to immerse you in the diverse golf spaces that define this planet.
One of my favorite aspects is the spaces between the words and photos. Have your friends and others write a few notes to you in those blank areas, to personalize your volume even more. One aspect that needs improvement: the lack of female voices. I suspect that will be remedied in future volumes.
Decision: Buy It!!!
Troublemaker and The Unplayable Lie
Books that allege discrimination and mistreatment check two boxes: potentially-salacious reads and debate over whose perspective is accurate. In the end, the presentation of salacious revelation rarely meets the expectation, and the debate over fault is seldom resolved. Lisa Cornwell spent years as a competitive junior and college golfer, before joining The Golf Channel as a reporter and program host.
Despite the dream assignments, there were clouds that covered the sun. Cornwell documents episodes of favoritism and descrimination against her, prior to her departure from The Golf Channel in 2021. Her work echoes the production of the late Marcia Chambers, who wrote for Golf Digest in the 1980s and 1990s. Chambers took issue with many of the potential and real legal issues surrounding golf and its policies of access/no access. Her research culminated in The Unplayable Lie, the first work of its kind to address issues confronted by all genders and ethnicities, and immediately predated the professional debut of Tiger Woods in 1997.
My favorite aspects of the two works, are the courage and conviction that it took to write them, and believe in them. My least favorite aspects are the consistent bias that many groups continue to face. Without awareness, there is no action. Without action, there is no change.
Decision: Buy Them!!!!
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.
As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.
General Albums
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Thorbjorn Olesen – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ben Silverman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jesse Droemer – SoTX PGA Section POY – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- David Lipsky – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Martin Trainer – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Zac Blair – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jacob Bridgeman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Trace Crowe – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Daniel Berger – WITB(very mini) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Chesson Hadley – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Callum McNeill – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Rhein Gibson – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Patrick Fishburn – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Raul Pereda – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Gary Woodland WITB (New driver, iron shafts) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Padraig Harrington WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Pullout Albums
- Tom Hoge’s custom Cameron – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Piretti putters – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ping putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Kevin Dougherty’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Bettinardi putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Erik Barnes testing an all-black Axis1 putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Tony Finau’s new driver shaft – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Rich
Mar 9, 2019 at 1:55 pm
I could care less what DFS players think of some jock’s injury-like Jason Day. No sports player knows when he/she is going to get injured.
Jason Day, don’t pay a whit of attention to their whining.
FkKisner
Mar 8, 2019 at 9:59 pm
I don’t bet or gamble – but Kisner is an absolute b1tch.
SImms
Mar 8, 2019 at 4:41 pm
Maybe I should play on Tour, I would be a shoe in to miss the cut each week and gamblers would love me as a sure thing…
dat
Mar 8, 2019 at 4:14 pm
Imagine betting on sports. Lol.
I Man
Mar 8, 2019 at 2:21 pm
Nobody on tour could care less about people gambling on their sport, nor should they. If you aren’t prepared to lose, don’t make the bet. Worst thing the PGA Tour could have done .
Prut
Mar 8, 2019 at 2:00 pm
…and now that WRX writes about it, we’re supposed to think it’s an actual issue. Just because people say shit doesn’t make it important.
Phil D. Snuts
Mar 8, 2019 at 12:20 pm
Fantasy sports lmao. Get a grip people
HacknGolf
Mar 8, 2019 at 12:12 pm
As a DFS player there are certain rules:
1) Don’t pick Jason Day
2) Don’t pick Kevin Na
3) Don’t pick Danny Lee
4) Don’t pick John Daly
If you stick to those rules, you avoid 99% of WD’s
Loto
Mar 8, 2019 at 6:58 pm
You forgot Tiger
ryan
Mar 8, 2019 at 12:07 pm
anyone who cant own the fact that the guy they picked WD’d is truly a cuck and sucks at gambling. In Sports gambling every outcome is out of your control. Take your losses like a man and realize these guys play for a living, and your some idiot who lost a 50$ entry fee and will be over it in about 4 hours time
Tom
Mar 8, 2019 at 12:01 pm
Gianni is a beast!
LD
Mar 8, 2019 at 11:20 am
It’s gambling, what do the people betting expect? A sure thing? Like assuming when you go to Vegas you’ll win, yea right.
Barney
Mar 8, 2019 at 10:40 am
Kisner would be wise to keep his mouth shut and let folks presume he’s a fool rather than open it and remove all doubt.
JugHead
Mar 8, 2019 at 10:28 am
People crying about losing money gambling… Sounds about right in this day and age. Gotta side with Snedeker and Kisner on this one.
Thomas A
Mar 8, 2019 at 10:23 am
Feeling bad about GAMBLERS losing money? It’s called gambling for a reason. You lost, tough s**t.
Mower
Mar 8, 2019 at 12:01 pm
Exactly! If they’ve got money to throw away on sh*t like this – zero sympathy.
2putttom
Mar 8, 2019 at 1:25 pm
spot on
Chuck
Mar 8, 2019 at 6:03 pm
spot on