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VIDEO: Trump protestors carve Tiger Woods-inspired quote into green

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A group of activists vandalized Trump National Golf Course (Los Angeles) in Rancho Palos Verdes between Sunday night and Monday morning, allegedly sending a message to President Trump and his administration.

The group carved “NO MORE TIGERS, NO MORE WOODS” into the green of hole No. 5 in letters that ABC News said were 6-feet tall. One member of the five-person group captured the criminal activity on video, which is posted at the bottom of the article. A member of the group also spoke to ABC News using a voice-disguising mechanism.

“It’s a protest piece against Trump’s administration’s handling of our environmental policies,” the group member told ABC News. “He’s been very aggressive in gutting a lot of the policies that we’ve had in place for a very long time. We felt it necessary to stand up and go take action against him.”

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100 Comments

100 Comments

  1. KCCO

    Apr 9, 2017 at 7:27 am

    This is as low as keying someone’s car. If I caught someone doing either of the sneaky lack of balls actual I’d let them try make a video titled “running from a person crazy enough to make me dance on camera courtesy of SIG.” Vandalism like this gets under my skin. No balls, when caught, bury on practice range with only their heads above ground.

  2. Brains a golfer

    Mar 23, 2017 at 8:06 am

    Vandalism is NOT protest!

  3. JuNiOR

    Mar 16, 2017 at 12:32 am

    Amazing how fast Rachel Maddow flew to SoCal for with vengeance after embarrassing herself on her very fake new MSNBC.

  4. J

    Mar 15, 2017 at 5:17 pm

    I love golf. If civil war breaks out and we can’t play golf, I’m gonna go hulk mode on everyone. So, golfers, chill the eff out with the childish insults. Haha.

  5. Dave R

    Mar 15, 2017 at 3:46 pm

    I’m a Canuck and there are idiots every where . This type of response does your little gang of mutts nothing . Believe me these types are everywhere ,and the sad part is they are allowed to breed.

  6. Raven

    Mar 15, 2017 at 12:02 pm

    Argh! So many idiots! The people responding on Facebook with inappropriate language. The people defending poor actions because Trump does worse. Trump. Left wing lunatics. Right wing lunatics. Seriously, wait 24 hours and if you still think you need to post then come back.

    Anyhow, the whole thing was a hoax. This is just a huge and coincidental divot, and when the left wing golfer saw it he decided to pretend it was a political statement.

    • Casey Ford

      Mar 20, 2017 at 9:28 am

      this is the post everyone on here should be seeing

  7. Mike

    Mar 15, 2017 at 10:59 am

    If they really wanted to make their voice heard and cause a war cry, just try tinkering on down to Augusta National GC dig up their greens and see what happens ???? I’m not condoning this act by the way, but it sure would let the shit hit the fan, with the millions of golf lovers in America.

    Or if you wish to protest then phone Mr trump up arrange a meet, then you can sit down and discuss like normal citizens ways to overcome global warming, not much hope as someone on here said, that Mother earths being changing and evolving for millions of years, and she aint about to change her ways, when we burnt fossil fuels the world over didn’t hear a peep about global warming, probably we were too busy fighting world wars, if they want to protest about Tigers being drove to extinction then go to China and India and protest, if their concerned about trees and forests then go to Brazil and protest, and also the ivory animals, Elephants and rhinos the go to African countries and protest about the Poachers, and war lords condoning this mass killing, I mean Mr trump cant be held responsible for every frigging thing that goes wrong.

  8. David Ciccoritti

    Mar 15, 2017 at 10:29 am

    What’s the problem? Probably no more damage than Trump causes playing a round of golf 🙂

  9. GMatt

    Mar 15, 2017 at 9:43 am

    So many idiots on this site. I love the stupid comment about needing more liberals to grow the game. Vandalism is wrong nothing more to be said. Do you really think this stupid act will change policy? If you do then you’re less intelligent than you think you are. Hope and change by these tactics? Maybe another plan of attack that doesn’t involve anarchy might serve your agenda better, you can’t say that the conservatives would employ these kind of tactics. Stupid is as stupid does

  10. MrMayhem

    Mar 14, 2017 at 9:19 pm

    Forget the word activists, just plain vandals would be enough.

  11. Steve

    Mar 14, 2017 at 7:30 pm

    Vandalism is the most senseless crime.

    • Raven

      Mar 15, 2017 at 12:15 pm

      While activities like this are wrong, sometimes people have to cross boundaries to make a statement heard. There are a very small number of people who can change laws so that they don’t have to abide by them. The rest don’t have that luxury. Whatever you or I think, these people were smart enough to find a way to get themselves heard and they have us talking about it.

  12. Ben

    Mar 14, 2017 at 5:55 pm

    I don’t come to Golfwrx to talk about politics. This trash doesn’t belong here. It belongs on the dreck that is both sides of the media, desperate for a reason for being.

    • get off your high horse

      Mar 14, 2017 at 6:42 pm

      then why did you read/post in the article? just skip it, your lordship!

    • birdie

      Mar 15, 2017 at 9:11 am

      who forced you to read the article?

  13. birdie

    Mar 14, 2017 at 11:57 am

    I can only hope that criminals, vandals, violent paid protestors, anarchists, and nancy pelosi become the face of the democrat party. lol

    • good luck with your stupid wall

      Mar 14, 2017 at 6:51 pm

      you dumpsters just dont get it. go ahead and keep voting against your own best interests. in 20 months there shall be a reckoning. you’re welcome

      • MrMayhem

        Mar 14, 2017 at 9:22 pm

        I bet you lock your door and have a fence at your house!

      • birdie

        Mar 15, 2017 at 9:12 am

        oh look, another dem who thinks they should get to decide what someone else’s best interests are. curious, what are the best interests of someone in the working middle class and how were they met under previous president?

  14. Matt

    Mar 14, 2017 at 11:37 am

    Support this action 100%. Science denying, no-nothing republicans are the ugliest sentient beings in the history of the universe. No time for argument these days, its literally pointless to use facts anymore.

    • Matt

      Mar 14, 2017 at 11:40 am

      know-nothing*

    • birdie

      Mar 14, 2017 at 11:55 am

      so you’re saying its ok to vandalize others property?

    • birdie

      Mar 14, 2017 at 12:03 pm

      The truth is that fossil fuels have resulted in increased human health and prosperity and have extended human life in every nation where they have been used plentifully.

      • Double Mocha Man

        Mar 14, 2017 at 6:26 pm

        Birdie, I think you are making bogeys.

    • IHateLoveGolf

      Mar 15, 2017 at 6:03 pm

      Appreciate you once again insulting me for disagreeing with you enlightened ones. Budget-denying, do-nothing, lying libs are a scourge on this country. There – that really forwarded the dialogue, didn’t it. Name-calling never does.

      First amendment for libs only, right? Shout down conservatives and non-lib students everywhere.
      Require total transparency on Trump’s taxes but it’s ok for Wasserman Schultz to surreptitiously undermine Bernie’s campaign.
      Laws should be adhered to unless the crimes are committed against conservatives.
      Laws should be adhered to unless it’s for illegals, their families, and their voting.

      If we can’t even agree that crimes are crimes, where do we start? Your move, sport.

      Signed,
      A 1%er, ex-military, summa cum laude college grad who supports Trump while also supporting gay marriage, Roe v Wade, and legal immigration while condemning the incredible untruthfulness seen from Dems and from some on the GOP side

  15. Mat

    Mar 14, 2017 at 9:57 am

    Almost nothing to do with the sport of golf. Just clickbait.

  16. birdie

    Mar 14, 2017 at 9:34 am

    as usual, our media labels this as coragous and brave act of defiance (Wash Post) ….yet if this was a conservative they’d label it as hateful, intolerant, vandalism, and anarchists.

    the double standard among the media is stunning, yet predictable. As is the intolerance and hypocrisy among the left

    • PCR

      Mar 14, 2017 at 11:44 am

      Read. He wrote that the act was spun that way in the Washington Post. And suggestions that there is no media bias to the left, is as ridiculous as they come.

  17. chip

    Mar 14, 2017 at 9:32 am

    which is worse? Some damaged grass or a man trying to turn the United States into the most hateful, deceitful, and corrupt country in the world?

    • birdie

      Mar 14, 2017 at 9:49 am

      luckily obama is now out of office huh

      • Blake

        Mar 14, 2017 at 11:20 am

        What did obama do? Im sincerely asking because i see you people say things like this and then i cant find any speeches or quotes or actions that would justify it. So what did he do?

        • Toad2017

          Mar 14, 2017 at 12:23 pm

          His hope and change was nothing more than business as usual. He fixed nothing, just made existing problems bigger.

        • birdie

          Mar 14, 2017 at 1:33 pm

          used irs as political weapon, blamed benghazi on youtube video for months, lied about aca saving families money, fast and furious (illegal arms transfers to mexican cartels), jumped into every criminal cases based on race before facts and verdict known only to incite anger and divide, payment to iran, spying on journalist james rosen…… i can go on if you want…..

    • PCR

      Mar 14, 2017 at 11:53 am

      So we can tear up your grass and say, “Well, it’s not as bad as the President”.

    • Tom

      Mar 14, 2017 at 1:33 pm

      we’re not running a popularity contest

  18. JThunder

    Mar 14, 2017 at 6:46 am

    “Murdering grass”? Really? Grass is not an endangered species, nor is it difficult to grow back. Would you call taking a divot “murdering grass”? Because the average 130-shooting hack tears up that much grass with their play.

    • Double Mocha Man

      Mar 14, 2017 at 11:45 am

      Bubba doesn’t take a divot… but he does dent a lot of perfectly good trees.

  19. JThunder

    Mar 14, 2017 at 6:27 am

    It’s funny how to conservative golfers, this is such a “disgusting crime”, and they are appalled and judge all liberal-minded folks by these actions. But when conservative politicians manage to legalize the fleecing of the American people via things like the healthcare industry and pharmaceutical companies, which KILL people on an hourly basis, this is “just business” and defended to the hilt.
    (And when Trump, Bannon and Pence take charge on their vote, they can claim “but I’m not racist or misogynist”.)

    To say we have different values is an understatement.
    But the past 9 years have proven that.

    One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.

    • birdie

      Mar 14, 2017 at 9:36 am

      what are you talking about? were people not being fleeced under obama? were prescriptions cheap under obama? fun fact…obama oversaw a fleecing of the american working class. trump is reflection of americans turning against liberal policy.

  20. R

    Mar 14, 2017 at 4:46 am

    Liberals what is your problem.
    You are worthless. Just causing more
    and more problems. We have enough
    in the world as it is. Get over it.
    Grow up.

    • JThunder

      Mar 14, 2017 at 6:32 am

      They’re protesting the destruction of the environment, and your suggestion is “get over it”? Why couldn’t the billionaires and their corporations “get over” the regulations enacted to save the planet? Why couldn’t Republican Congress and 42% of the country “get over” the fact that Obama won two elections? People who put greed and ignorance above the good of the people and planet are the ones who need to “grow up”. But if you see shining a light on real problems as “causing more and more problems”, then that explains why the world is as f-ed up as it is now. I guess everyone should just keep their mouths shut and put up with whatever is done to them, and somehow it will all be OK.

  21. Michael

    Mar 14, 2017 at 4:15 am

    Fantastic work.

  22. Bubba Wilson

    Mar 13, 2017 at 11:12 pm

    Wow – Talk about a country divided right now.

    • mik

      Apr 7, 2017 at 11:22 pm

      So true, my local course installed separate restrooms. Liberals on the left and republicans on the right. It’s bad, very very bad.

  23. Bubba Smith

    Mar 13, 2017 at 10:05 pm

    Stupidity at its finest.

  24. SlapHappy

    Mar 13, 2017 at 7:23 pm

    I mean seriously……. we ought to be able to hang these people in public once we arrest them

    • Brian

      Mar 13, 2017 at 8:46 pm

      Like Pete Dye said, “It’s just grass.” Really, hang someone from wrecking some grass? Did you think about those words before you typed them, or are you just a ridiculous reactionary like the morons that defaced this green?

      • JThunder

        Mar 14, 2017 at 6:43 am

        If you’re suggesting hanging people for hurting some grass, what do you suggest for all the Wall Street execs who destroyed peoples’ lives? Or the pharmaceutical companies and health care companies who kill people every day for profit?

        Oh, right, laws in their favor and achievement awards. Nice values.

        • Tom

          Mar 14, 2017 at 1:36 pm

          I don’t think so, that’s counter productive to the bottom line.

          • J

            Mar 15, 2017 at 4:05 pm

            I think you’re being over-simplistic. The reality is if you’re trying to bank a bonus, you couldn’t care much less if there’s a long term fallout on the bottom line. It’d be dishonest to say people only consider the company’s infinite bottom line. More likely, there are some individuals who focus on the near terms profits, without regard for what happens later. And these decisions have consequences much larger than turf damage. They just don’t have the image problem of someone carving into a green.

      • birdie

        Mar 14, 2017 at 9:38 am

        firing squad works too

  25. KoreanSlumLord

    Mar 13, 2017 at 7:16 pm

    So that is your new America, huh? If you don’t agree with another political party, just burn, vandalize, perform acts of violence against supporters of the other party. In Japan, were not shown this type of behavior that Republicans did when Obama was in office. Odd.

    • Bryan

      Mar 14, 2017 at 12:22 am

      It’s the liberal way, it’s how they roll. Kind of reminds you of a 3 year old when they don’t get their way.

      • JThunder

        Mar 14, 2017 at 6:34 am

        Reminds me of Republicans for the last 8 years. And I mean, ALL of them. Not a handful of people who “vandalized” some grass. Republican golfers care more about a patch of grass than peoples’ lives or the planet. That’s the conservative way, because that little patch of grass is PROFIT!

        • birdie

          Mar 14, 2017 at 9:40 am

          maybe you should go burn down a building or block people from getting to work…..vandalism is the liberal way. don’t agree or don’t get your way….stomp your feet and destroy others property…so pathetic yet so predictable. i can only hope these protestors become the face of the democrat party.

        • Tom

          Mar 14, 2017 at 1:39 pm

          play the victim card much?

  26. ROY

    Mar 13, 2017 at 6:19 pm

    Think I will go cut down some trees and dump some oil into the local lake to show my support for them and the environment!!!

  27. Barry

    Mar 13, 2017 at 5:49 pm

    This makes me angry

  28. Double Mocha Man

    Mar 13, 2017 at 5:44 pm

    I think we’re on to something here! 90% of the responses below are from conservatives/Republicans. If GolfWRX is a cross section of the average golfer then it’s obvious we need many, many more liberals to grow the game.

    • Barry

      Mar 13, 2017 at 5:55 pm

      Good luck with that. “Liberals” (nothing liberal about them these days) aren’t going to be attracted to golf because it’s too hard and requires too much patience.

      • JThunder

        Mar 14, 2017 at 6:52 am

        Yeah, liberals fight for the environment and the poor and disenfranchised because it’s not hard and requires no patience. Well said.

    • JThunder

      Mar 14, 2017 at 6:50 am

      Golfwrx is not a cross-section of the average golfer. it’s a cross-section of the avid golfer. It might be suggested the connection is avid golfer = likely wealthier golfer = likelier conservative.

    • birdie

      Mar 14, 2017 at 9:41 am

      they’ll start demanding that others pay for their round of golf…..because equality or something

      • Blake

        Mar 14, 2017 at 11:23 am

        Oh i get it. Your doing some bit where you act like a “typical dumb trump supporter”. Good one

    • Bert

      Mar 14, 2017 at 5:18 pm

      +1 exactly on the point.

    • mik

      Apr 7, 2017 at 11:04 pm

      I agree.

      I like to keep the Republicans in the group ahead of me, I pick up their Prov1s and Prov1xs that they don’t want to look for along the tree line. I keep the Liberals in the group behind me in case I leave a club or a head cover, I’ll get it back on the next hole.

  29. golfomatic

    Mar 13, 2017 at 5:38 pm

    Kind of a stupid crime. Much less risky to make money as a Wells Fargo exec while looking the other way as thousands of employees open millions of accounts without customers’ permission over many years to meet absurd quotas, then retire with a 9-figure payout as your punishment, then play lots of golf on courses like this.

  30. larry

    Mar 13, 2017 at 5:36 pm

    Stuff like this makes me hate liberals even more, what a joke.

    • Dr Troy

      Mar 13, 2017 at 7:45 pm

      Could not agree more Larry.

      • JThunder

        Mar 14, 2017 at 6:55 am

        This thread makes me hate conservatives more. What a joke.

        • birdie

          Mar 14, 2017 at 9:44 am

          why because conservatives support law and order? or is the fact that liberals don’t get their way no matter how much they whine, destroy property, protest, or all the other useless means of organized intimidation and destruction they employ

          • Tom

            Mar 14, 2017 at 1:41 pm

            +1

          • J

            Mar 15, 2017 at 4:23 pm

            What a joke. What makes you think conservatives support law and order, and liberals do not? Those vandalizers = all liberals, just as Dennis Hastert = all conservatives. Non-reasoning individuals on both sides are the coals that keep this division going. It’s all so stupid. I’m not your enemy, and you’re not my enemy. Congratulations on both sides being used as pawns.

  31. alan

    Mar 13, 2017 at 4:56 pm

    destroy something the POTUS owns, and get caught on camera? and do interviews. amateur hour. i hope no one feels sorry for them when they get hammered for this.

    • Double Mocha Man

      Mar 13, 2017 at 5:41 pm

      They did the video recording themselves… didn’t “get caught” on camera.

  32. Bryan

    Mar 13, 2017 at 4:15 pm

    Liberals at their finest….

  33. Double Mocha Man

    Mar 13, 2017 at 3:25 pm

    It got the message across (and directly to Trump in this case) without anyone getting hurt. Other than hurting the wallets of some very well-off club members. On a positive note it caused the extra employment of some greenskeeping crew members, thus strengthening the economy as Trump has promised.

    Though the message was weak… if Tiger wants to rub shoulders with Trump that’s his right. Doesn’t mean we have to like him for it.

    • Barry

      Mar 13, 2017 at 6:37 pm

      If the message was “we are idiots and criminals,” then yeah, message received

  34. Blake

    Mar 13, 2017 at 3:20 pm

    Really? He has nominated a climate change denier to the head of the epa and he sees any regulations that protect clean air and water as bad and is actively trying to repeal them to benefit big business. His nom to the epa has actively sued the EPA to lighten restrictions on coal plants, and several other issues. Basically he is doing everything in his power to harm the environment.

    • Joey5Picks

      Mar 13, 2017 at 3:56 pm

      LIKE^^^

    • JThunder

      Mar 14, 2017 at 6:54 am

      Read a book.

    • Blake

      Mar 14, 2017 at 11:24 am

      Oh i get it. Your doing some bit where you act like a “typical dumb trump supporter”. Good one

    • Bert

      Mar 14, 2017 at 5:22 pm

      Great news! I didn’t know he was doing so well.

  35. Chris

    Mar 13, 2017 at 3:06 pm

    Idiots.

  36. Steve

    Mar 13, 2017 at 1:27 pm

    Disgusting. I’m not a big Trump guy by any means, but I find it absolutely disgusting that A) people would do this to a golf course just because it has his name attached to it, and B) that ABC would happily keep these people anonymous and disguise the voice just to get the scoop. THIS IS A FREAKIN CRIME. They belong in jail.

  37. Golfwhiler

    Mar 13, 2017 at 12:22 pm

    Eco-terrorists. They will be found out and will be shocked to learn the cost of repairing greens, not to mention felony trespassing.

  38. Silky Johnson

    Mar 13, 2017 at 12:19 pm

    Why the voice-disguising mech, you wuss? You want to vandalize private property, own up to it. Coward.

  39. Blake

    Mar 13, 2017 at 12:08 pm

    Good. At least this way he cant say he never saw it.

  40. Joe

    Mar 13, 2017 at 11:55 am

    when it is against Trump (or conservatives) they’re called ‘activists’ and ‘protesters’. When it was against Obama (or the left) they’re ‘racists’ and ‘terrorists’.

    • JThunder

      Mar 14, 2017 at 6:41 am

      Yep, there’s no difference between fighting for the environment by harming some grass and carrying a sign with a painting of lynching an African American President. Yep, exactly the same.

      At least you admit that fighting for the environment is “against conservatives”.

  41. MikeyB

    Mar 13, 2017 at 11:47 am

    Well the solution is quite clear. These people have a deep abiding love and respect for the environment. I think they should be given the chance to experience the environment in all it’s glory.
    So, with just the clothes on their backs, they will be flown to a spot that is 500 miles from any trace of civilization and be chucked out of the airplane with a static line parachute attached.
    If they can survive, and walk out, they don’t have to go to jail. Seems fair. I mean since their point is the Trump administration has allegedly endangered the environment, a pen and notebook will be provided to our hapless eco-warriors so that they can log, in person and in real time, the effects of said policy reversals on their immediate surroundings. Well, it’s research, right?

    • Mower

      Mar 13, 2017 at 2:07 pm

      As long as it’s televised. #nakedandafraid lol

  42. Tom

    Mar 13, 2017 at 11:42 am

    putz(s)

  43. Whaatt

    Mar 13, 2017 at 11:41 am

    Vandalism isnt a protest it is a crime, Im no Trump fan, but I hope these criminals are prosecuted.

    • JThunder

      Mar 14, 2017 at 6:37 am

      As long as they’re not millionaire businessmen, they’ll likely be prosecuted for crime. If they’re millionaire conservative businessmen, they’ll be praised and have a chance to run for President.

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Four books for a springtime review

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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.

        

Rainmaker

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

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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

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open betting preview

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As the Florida swing comes to an end, the PGA Tour makes its way to Houston to play the Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course.

This will be the fourth year that Memorial Park Golf Course will serve as the tournament host. The event did not take place in 2023, but the course hosted the event in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Memorial Park is a par-70 layout measuring 7,432 yards and features Bermudagrass greens. Historically, the main defense for the course has been thick rough along the fairways and tightly mown runoff areas around the greens. Memorial Park has a unique setup that features three Par 5’s and five Par 3’s.

The field will consist of 132 players, with the top 65 and ties making the cut. There are some big names making the trip to Houston, including Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Tony Finau, Will Zalatoris and Sahith Theegala.

Past Winners at Memorial Park

  • 2022: Tony Finau (-16)
  • 2021: Jason Kokrak (-10)
  • 2020: Carlos Ortiz (-13)

In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value). 

Key Stats For Memorial Park

Let’s take a look at several metrics for Memorial Park to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their last 24 rounds:

Strokes Gained: Approach

Memorial Park is a pretty tough golf course. Golfers are penalized for missing greens and face some difficult up and downs to save par. Approach will be key.

Total Strokes Gained: Approach per round in past 24 rounds:

  1. Tom Hoge (+1.30)
  2. Scottie Scheffler (+1.26)
  3. Keith Mitchell (+0.97) 
  4. Tony Finau (+0.92)
  5. Jake Knapp (+0.84)

Strokes Gained: Off the Tee

Memorial Park is a long golf course with rough that can be penal. Therefore, a combination of distance and accuracy is the best metric.

Total Strokes Gained: Off the Tee per round in past 24 rounds:

  1. Scottie Scheffler (+0.94)
  2. Kevin Dougherty (+0.93)
  3. Cameron Champ (+0.86)
  4. Rafael Campos (+0.84)
  5. Si Woo Kim (+0.70)

Strokes Gained Putting: Bermudagrass + Fast

The Bermudagrass greens played fairly fast the past few years in Houston. Jason Kokrak gained 8.7 strokes putting on his way to victory in 2021 and Tony Finau gained in 7.8 in 2022.

Total Strokes Gained Putting (Bermudagrass) per round past 24 rounds (min. 8 rounds):

  1. Adam Svensson (+1.27)
  2. Harry Hall (+1.01)
  3. Martin Trainer (+0.94)
  4. Taylor Montgomery (+0.88)
  5. S.H. Kim (+0.86)

Strokes Gained: Around the Green

With firm and undulating putting surfaces, holding the green on approach shots may prove to be a challenge. Memorial Park has many tightly mowed runoff areas, so golfers will have challenging up-and-down’s around the greens. Carlos Ortiz gained 5.7 strokes around the green on the way to victory in 2020.

Total Strokes Gained: Around the Green per round in past 24 rounds:

  1. Mackenzie Hughes (+0.76)
  2. S.H. Kim (+0.68)
  3. Scottie Scheffler (+0.64)
  4. Jorge Campillo (+0.62)
  5. Jason Day (+0.60)

Strokes Gained: Long and Difficult

Memorial Park is a long and difficult golf course. This statistic will incorporate players who’ve had success on these types of tracks in the past. 

Total Strokes Gained: Long and Difficult in past 24 rounds:

  1. Scottie Scheffler (+2.45)
  2. Ben Griffin (+1.75)
  3. Will Zalatoris (+1.73)
  4. Ben Taylor (+1.53)
  5. Tony Finau (+1.42)

Course History

Here are the players who have performed the most consistently at Memorial Park. 

Strokes Gained Total at Memorial Park past 12 rounds:

  1. Tyson Alexander (+3.65)
  2. Ben Taylor (+3.40)
  3. Tony Finau (+2.37)
  4. Joel Dahmen (+2.25)
  5. Patton Kizzire (+2.16)

Statistical Model

Below, I’ve reported overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed.

These rankings are comprised of SG: App (24%) SG: OTT (24%); SG: Putting Bermudagrass/Fast (13%); SG: Long and Difficult (13%); SG: ARG (13%) and Course History (13%)

  1. Scottie Scheffler
  2. Wyndham Clark
  3. Tony Finau
  4. Joel Dahmen
  5. Stephan Jaeger 
  6. Aaron Rai
  7. Sahith Theegala
  8. Keith Mitchell 
  9. Jhonnatan Vegas
  10. Jason Day
  11. Kurt Kitayama
  12. Alex Noren
  13. Will Zalatoris
  14. Si Woo Kim
  15. Adam Long

2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open Picks

Will Zalatoris +2000 (Caesars)

Scottie Scheffler will undoubtedly be difficult to beat this week, so I’m starting my card with someone who I believe has the talent to beat him if he doesn’t have his best stuff.

Will Zalatoris missed the cut at the PLAYERS, but still managed to gain strokes on approach while doing so. In an unpredictable event with extreme variance, I don’t believe it would be wise to discount Zalatoris based on that performance. Prior to The PLAYERS, the 27-year-old finished T13, T2 and T4 in his previous three starts.

Zalatoris plays his best golf on long and difficult golf courses. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 3rd in the category, but the eye test also tells a similar story. He’s contended at major championships and elevated events in the best of fields with tough scoring conditions.  The Texas resident should be a perfect fit at Memorial Park Golf Club.

Alex Noren +4500 (FanDuel)

Alex Noren has been quietly playing some of his best golf of the last half decade this season. The 41-year-old is coming off back-to-back top-20 finishes in Florida including a T9 at The PLAYERS in his most recent start.

In his past 24 rounds, Noren ranks 21st in the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, 30th in Strokes Gained: Around the Green, 25th in Strokes Gained: Total on long and difficult courses and 21st in Strokes Gained: Putting on fast Bermudagrass greens.

In addition to his strong recent play, the Swede also has played well at Memorial Park. In 2022, Noren finished T4 at the event, gaining 2.2 strokes off the tee and 7.0 strokes on approach for the week. In his two starts at the course, he’s gained an average of .6 strokes per round on the field, indicating he is comfortable on these greens.

Noren has been due for a win for what feels like an eternity, but Memorial Park may be the course that suits him well enough for him to finally get his elusive first PGA Tour victory.

Mackenzie Hughes +8000 (FanDuel)

Mackenzie Hughes found himself deep into contention at last week’s Valspar Championship before faltering late and finishing in a tie for 3rd place. While he would have loved to win the event, it’s hard to see the performance as anything other than an overwhelming positive sign for the Canadian.

Hughes has played great golf at Memorial Park in the past. He finished T7 in 2020, T29 in 2021 and T16 in 2022. The course fit seems to be quite strong for Hughes. He’s added distance off the tee in the past year or and ranks 8th in the field for apex height, which will be a key factor when hitting into Memorial Park’s elevated greens with steep run-off areas.

In his past 24 rounds, Hughes is the best player in the field in Strokes Gained: Around the Greens. The ability to scramble at this course will be extremely important. I believe Hughes can build off of his strong finish last week and contend once again to cement himself as a President’s Cup consideration.

Akshay Bhatia +8000 (FanDuel)

Akshay Bhatia played well last week at the Valspar and seemed to be in total control of his golf ball. He finished in a tie for 17th and shot an impressive -3 on a difficult Sunday. After struggling Thursday, Akshay shot 68-70-68 in his next three rounds.

Thus far, Bhatia has played better at easier courses, but his success at Copperhead may be due to his game maturing. The 22-year-old has enormous potential and the raw talent to be one of the best players in the world when he figures it all out.

Bhatia is a high upside play with superstar qualities and may just take the leap forward to the next stage of his career in the coming months.

Cameron Champ +12000 (FanDuel)

Cameron Champ is a player I often target in the outright betting market due to his “boom-or-bust” nature. It’s hard to think of a player in recent history with three PGA Tour wins who’s been as inconsistent as Champ has over the course of his career.

Despite the erratic play, Cam Champ simply knows how to win. He’s won in 2018, 2019 and 2021, so I feel he’s due for a win at some point this season. The former Texas A&M product should be comfortable in Texas and last week he showed us that his game is in a pretty decent spot.

Over his past 24 rounds, Champ ranks 3rd in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 30th in Strokes Gained: Total on long and difficult courses. Given his ability to spike at any given time, Memorial Park is a good golf course to target Champ on at triple digit odds.

Robert MacIntyre +12000 (FanDuel)

The challenge this week is finding players who can possibly beat Scottie Scheffler while also not dumping an enormous amount of money into an event that has a player at the top that looks extremely dangerous. Enter McIntyre, who’s another boom-or-bust type player who has the ceiling to compete with anyone when his game is clicking on all cylinders.

In his past 24 rounds, MacIntyre ranks 16th in the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, 17th in Strokes Gained: Around the Green and 10th in Strokes Gained: Total on long and difficult courses.

MacIntyre’s PGA Tour season has gotten off to a slow start, but he finished T6 in Mexico, which is a course where players will hit driver on the majority of their tee shots, which is what we will see at Memorial Park. Texas can also get quite windy, which should suit MacIntyre. Last July, the Scot went toe to toe with Rory McIlroy at the Scottish Open before a narrow defeat. It would take a similar heroic effort to compete with Scheffler this year in Houston.

Ryan Moore +15000 (FanDuel)

Ryan Moore’s iron play has been absolutely unconscious over his past few starts. At The PLAYERS Championship in a loaded field, he gained 6.1 strokes on approach and last week at Copperhead, he gained 9.0 strokes on approach.

It’s been a rough handful of years on Tour for the 41-year-old, but he is still a five-time winner on the PGA Tour who’s young enough for a career resurgence. Moore has chronic deterioration in a costovertebral joint that connects the rib to the spine, but has been getting more consistent of late, which is hopefully a sign that he is getting healthy.

Veterans have been contending in 2024 and I believe taking a flier on a proven Tour play who’s shown signs of life is a wise move at Memorial Park.

 

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