By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.
For comments: [email protected]
Good Thursday morning, golf fans, as day one of the PGA Championship gets underway from iconic Valhalla. |
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1. Waugh: 2025 Ryder Cup talks continue with Tiger
Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner…”PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh said Wednesday that the organization continues to have conversations with Tiger Woods about captaining the U.S. Ryder Cup team in 2025 and there remains no firm deadline to get their pick in place for Bethpage Black.”
- “A day earlier, Woods told reporters here at the PGA Championship that he is undecided about taking on the role next year…”
- “He doesn’t do anything that he’s not fully committed to,” Waugh said, “and we totally respect that.”
- “Still, the PGA’s decision to hold off on naming an American captain for the September 2025 matches is a significant departure – at least three months late – from the past five captains.”
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2. Rory: Tour in a worse place with Dunne’s resignation
Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard…”McIlroy, who has become an outspoken proponent of a deal with PIF, was denied a spot on the board last week but was named to the “transaction subcommittee,” which will spearhead the day-to-day negotiations. But the loss of Dunne will be a blow to those talks, the world No. 2 said.”
- “Honestly I think it’s a huge loss for the PGA Tour if they are trying to get this deal done with the PIF and trying to unify the game,” McIlroy said. “Jimmy was basically the relationship, the sort of conduit between the PGA Tour and PIF.
- “It’s been really unfortunate that he has not been involved for the last few months, and I think part of the reason that everything is stalling at the minute is because of that.”
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3. Brandel on AK’s criticism: I thought it was a LIV bot
Our Matt Vincenzi…”On Tuesday during an interview with GolfWRX, Chamblee addressed the feud between Kim and himself.”
- “At first, I thought it was a bot. But it’s not, it was just somebody who’s been bought.
- “I thought it was juvenile. Social media is a perfect place for juveniles to go behave like children, like the ball pit at McDonalds without adult supervision. I’m sure Anthony Kim scrolls and gets positive comments and says ‘yeah, these people get me! I’m doing the right thing’. And it’s just juvenile and sad is what it is. I feel sorry for him.”
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4. Aberg (knee) ready for PGA
Cameron Morfit for PGATour.com…”Ludvig Åberg said lingering knee soreness that kept him out of the Wells Fargo Championship last week will not be an issue at this week’s PGA Championship.”
- “The world No. 6 Åberg, who finished second at the Masters Tournament in his very first major start last month, allowed that he is wearing a brace as a precautionary measure.”
- “Knee’s good,” said Åberg, 24. “It was more of a safety concern last week that I didn’t play. I’m consulting with my doctors, and I trust them with everything that I have, so it’s not bothering me at all this week, and I look forward to playing. I’m wearing a brace just for safety reasons, but it’s nothing that’s bothering me. I’m focusing on the golf.”
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5. Masters employee pleads guilty to stealing millions in memorabilia
Sean Leahy for Yahoo Sports…”A former employee of Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia pleaded guilty on Wednesday to transporting millions of dollars worth of stolen Masters memorabilia and historic items, including a green jacket belonging to Arnold Palmer.”
- “According to federal prosecutors, 39-year-old Richard Globensky made around $5 million over the course of a decade from selling items stolen from the Augusta National warehouse, which were then transported to another party in Florida.”
- “Globensky pleaded guilty to one count of transporting stolen goods across state lines. As part of his plea, he must hand the government a $1.5 million check this week.”
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6. Chamblee on why Rory hasn’t won a major
Our Matt Vincenzi…”While speaking with GolfWRX, Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee gave his opinion as to why McIlroy has come up empty.”
- “I just think he can’t find a place mentally where he plays his best golf.”
- “If you go back and look at what he did from 2011-2014, in that stretch, he led roughly 20% of the rounds he played in major championships. His game has not fallen off, not one bit.
- “He’s, on paper, pretty much the same player he was. He’s not quite the ball striker he was 2011-2014, not quite, but he’s made up for it with his short game around the greens and on the greens. He’s almost the same player.”
- “Yet, he’s led just two rounds beginning with the 2015 Masters to the 2024 Masters. I just think that tells you he can’t find the proper way to prepare, the proper way to ease into a round. When he’s needed to play his best, he’s played his worst. When he’s played his worst, he’s then followed it up with his best golf. That’ll tell you that he’s just not in the right place mentally.”
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7. Why Scottie’s caddie will have a fill-in Saturday
Paul Hodowanic for PGATour.com…”Scottie Scheffler will have a fill-in caddie on the bag for Saturday’s third round of the PGA Championship.”
- “Ted Scott, Scheffler’s full-time caddie, will miss Saturday’s round at Valhalla Golf Club to attend his daughter’s high school graduation. Scott will leave Friday night after caddying the first two rounds and return late Saturday to loop the final round.”
- “That’s something we talked about from the beginning of our relationship was family always comes first,” Scheffler said during his pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday. “It’s the same thing for me as it is for my caddie. It was a pretty easy decision. He told me at the beginning of this year that that was the date.”
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8. Chamblee: LIV format makes it impossible to judge player talent
Our Matt Vincenzi…”While speaking with GolfWRX, Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee explained why he believes the LIV format makes it impossible to determine if a LIV player is playing well.”
- “Describing the format as “stupid”, Chamblee stated
- “The format for LIV is just stupid. There’s no other word for it. 54 holes, 54 players start. Willy nilly here and there.
- “Nobody winning a golf tournament should finish on the third hole on some par three while his closest competitors finish on the 17th hole or the 18th hole.”
- “When we asked Brandel if LIV players should be in majors, Chamblee indicated that it would be tough to do with no way to truly measure their performance.
- “It’s just a laughable concept. There’s no way to judge the talents of these players out there. You look at their data, and again, their data is laughable. It’s very hard to hit 75% of your greens and it looks like everybody on their tour is hitting 75% of greens. Who’s keeping their stats? Who’s doing their data? They haven’t gotten their act together.”
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9. Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship
- Check out all of our galleries from the year’s second major!
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KK
Jun 16, 2014 at 7:07 pm
Ball don’t lie– T2 and his best major finish ever. For my grammar Nazis, ball doesn’t lie. Maybe Payne is not displeased.
Alex
Jun 13, 2014 at 1:55 am
Some of you guys are certified grinches. And that’s being generous.
Rich
Jun 12, 2014 at 10:01 pm
Even Rickie Fowler has nay sayers? Amazing! Seems like the nicest guy. He gets masses of publicity whatever he’s wearing. Why would he do this as a publicity stunt? There’s no reason. Good work Rickie, I think it’s a cool idea. RIP Payne Stewart.
Wade
Jun 12, 2014 at 7:01 pm
Gentlemen,
With all due respect, though none seems due hear, I love it when someone displays there lack of knowledge for the world to see. You make judgements about Fowler’s character and motives, yet the only thing you know about him is what you read or see in a short blurb on tv. Mr. Fowler was just given an award by the Folds of Honor Foundation for his selfless efforts to support the men and women who serve in our armed forces. Especially those who paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives. He has given so much of his time and resources to provide for the families of those soldiers that did not come home. If you only knew half the things he has done behind the scenes, I think you would be more than embarrassed by your fact-less judgements. I have spent quite a bit of time with him at the Patriot tournament every year on Memorial Day in Tulsa. This young man has so much character and sense of responsibility and gratitude. He gives freely of his time. He puts his money where his mouth is. The country would do well to have more 20 something’s just like him. Would love for my son to turn out just like him. Definite role model material here. Spend five minutes with him before you judge based on what you read online or see on tv. Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt! (Lincoln, Twain) Sorry, but makes my blood boil to see someone crucified for nothing.
RSinSG
Jun 12, 2014 at 7:25 pm
Well said. I think Ricky is one of the good guys. His Asian grandfather plays in my men’s leagues and we get to hear some of the family stories. Granted, they are from a proud grandpa but from all I see we could use more of him.
steve
Jun 12, 2014 at 8:09 pm
And that has nothing to do with the subject matter here. No one is judging his character, judging his motives. Two different things. Because he dresses for attention doesn’t make him a bad person. Sad that parents look for famous people to be role models for their kids. I will be my kids role model like my father and mother were to me.
Wade
Jun 12, 2014 at 9:26 pm
It has everything to do with his character. And I’m sure you are a great role model as am I. Do you think kids can only look up to one person? It’s not a bad thing to have more than one. Don’t be silly. Ricky’s motives are in question and that’s a character judgement. Now you are making judgements about my character when you most certainly don’t know me either. Obviously we should just agree to disagree and leave it at that my friend.
Me
Jun 12, 2014 at 10:55 pm
You might want do pull up you pants, your brains are showing. Motives are a formulated by character and this a direct result of character, the two are inseparable. To argue otherwise only highlights ones lack of vocabulary. I’ve got news for you, Payne was a very flashy dresser as well, well before he won anything. Why would you want to be your child’s only role model? Do you want them to be exactly like you? Your vanity will unfortuey limit your child’s growth as human being. I for one want my child to be an improvement over me. Also, just because you think you are your kids role model, doesn’t make it so.
steve
Jun 13, 2014 at 6:50 pm
Is it character formulated by motives or motives formulated by character? Let me know. Either way thanks for the interest and for following.
Enjoy Ricki and the golf.
steve
Jun 12, 2014 at 5:58 pm
Do really think it was about Payne Stewart? He didn’t even know the guy. Wasn’t he into dirt biking when he was very young then got into golf in his teen years. Payne died when he was eleven. Get attention with your game and not your clothes already. I love the guy that compares Ricki and Payne, who ever compared them to each other. I love when someone makes a point and then it gets twisted
Alex
Jun 13, 2014 at 1:59 am
I guess I couldn’t pay homage to Bobby Jones, or consider him a favorite because I wasn’t playing golf when he was?
Think about what you’re saying before you say it, please.
steve
Jun 13, 2014 at 6:51 pm
Exactly
Alex
Jun 14, 2014 at 1:25 am
Quote possibly the most ridiculous and illogical statement I’ve read.
steve
Jun 14, 2014 at 8:40 am
Your to hard on yourself.
Thanks for following
cheesehead42
Jun 13, 2014 at 9:00 am
So all of the years growing, I wore Micheal Jordan’s shoes, played Tiger’s clubs, and used the same baseball glove as Ken Griffey Jr.
Apparently I was wrong for being inspired by them because I didn’t personally know them? Crap, all those years down the drain.
steve
Jun 13, 2014 at 6:53 pm
You were paying homage to them?
bradford
Jun 19, 2014 at 7:27 am
So, you knew Payne?
Tom Stickney
Jun 12, 2014 at 5:22 pm
I do miss Payne…cool deal.
William
Jun 12, 2014 at 2:22 pm
Someone once posted that Ricky is the male Natalie Gulbis. Lots of flash, not so much game. To pull off the Payne Stewart gig, he needs more game to back it up.
Steve
Jun 12, 2014 at 4:07 pm
I played against Natalie in high school and my cousin played against Richie in Stockton. I would say that this statement is completely off…Richie is twice the golfer Natalie is on her best day.
Me
Jun 12, 2014 at 4:40 pm
Considering that Payne couldn’t get a playing card his first try, and Ricki did, and that Payne had to play a few years on the Asian tour, while Ricki is playing in the big show from the get go. And that Payne took nine professional years to win a major, I think ricki is more than holding his own. Payne should be honored that young golfers even know who he is. Honestly, if he hadn’t died he would have been just another 2nd tier golfer, with a few majors, in the Tiger era.
snapjack
Jun 12, 2014 at 1:57 pm
Looks like he’s putting with a model airplane but I like the duds!
robert
Jun 12, 2014 at 2:07 pm
Fowler is a walking billboard who has made 100 times as much money plugging corporate sponsors as he has playing. Even in the post round interview he’s standing there with a Red Bull in his hand,label facing camera. Please. None of this is unintentional, the guy knows exactly what he’s doing even if most people haven’t a clue. The Media sells his image to young kids not because he is a terrific golfer but because he has hip appeal and they are desperately scouring the field as Tiger and Phil age.
JJ
Jun 12, 2014 at 2:23 pm
None of what you stated has anything to do with paying homage to Payne. I didn’t see any Puma logos on his pants or socks. Keep your negativity at home, just because Ricky has a Red Bull, logo out, on his post round interview, doesn’t have anything to do with this outfit. I guess you should get mad at Phil for plugging KPMG on the front of his hat, or any other player with a brand on their gear. It’s ALL Marketing, moron, not just Ricky, and almost all of them make incrementally more amounts off course then on.
Jason
Jun 12, 2014 at 3:07 pm
You know MOST golfers make the majority of their money off the course right?
Tiger made $83M in 2013 – $8.5M was from tournament earnings.
Painter33
Jun 13, 2014 at 9:33 am
He needs to complete the look – real leather shoes with gold toe guards. Payne was class personified. Both seem(ed) like decent guys who was/is universally liked on tour.
ABgolfer2
Jun 12, 2014 at 11:27 am
He could have worn a different hat though.
Philip
Jun 12, 2014 at 12:43 pm
Yes and no, paying homage doesn’t mean copying – he’s honoring Payne while still being himself.
RI_Redneck
Jun 12, 2014 at 10:44 am
Lookin’ good!!!
perisho
Jun 12, 2014 at 10:20 am
Ha. That’s cool.
JJ
Jun 12, 2014 at 10:10 am
Awesome that Ricky paid homage in this manner. I was expecting someone in contention on the weekend to surprise everyone by pulling it off (Horschel maybe?) but still a great gesture nonetheless.
Class act Rick, well played.
Tom
Jun 12, 2014 at 7:46 pm
Your comment and kind heart will serve you well in life.