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It looks like the PGA Tour will remain a tax exempt organization. Should it?

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The PGA Tour has to be breathing a sigh of relief today. No, not because Tiger Woods played four rounds of golf in the Bahamas without any trouble from his surgically repaired back, but because of something that happened in the halls of government.

Per John Paul Newport for Golf Digest, as recently as Friday, the Senate tax bill being debated in the Senate contained a 14-line subsection titled “Repeal of Tax-Exempt Status for Professional Sports Leagues.” An updated version of that bill, however, was devoid of the subsection. The provision would also have threatened the PGA of America.

The tax bill that passed in the house November 16 contained no such provision.

Thus, it appears commissioner Monahan and company have dodged a bullet that was aimed right at their collective pocketbook.

Jay Monahan told Golf Digest

“We know we speak for the thousands of charities, communities and citizens across the country who have been positively impacted by the PGA Tour’s commitment to giving back when we say we are extremely pleased that the provision affecting our tax-exempt status was removed from the tax reform bill passed by the Senate last night.”

“The PGA Tour is unique in the world of sports, in that we have had a long-standing commitment to dedicate net proceeds of our tournaments to thousands of charities; since our formation in 1968 by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, the PGA Tour and its tournaments have generated more than $2.6 billion for charity, and we expect another record amount from the 2017 season. Giving back will always be at the heart of the PGA Tour, and we are pleased that we will be able to continue improving the lives of those in the communities where we play.”

Monahan’s remarks sound much like those made by his predecessor, Tim Finchem, who in 2015 wrote to the Senate Finance Committee saying the loss of tax exempt status would effectively reduce sponsor support of the Tour.

As you remember from Schoolhouse Rock, the House and Senate bills must be reconciled before they land on the Golfer in Chief’s desk.

The PGA Tour’s tax exempt status occasionally comes under fire because, while the Tour facilitates billions of dollars of charitable giving, it’s mostly a pass-through for corporate charitable giving, rather than a massive charitable giver itself. That said, there’s no professional sports league that facilitates charitable giving like the PGA Tour does.

Where do you stand on the PGA Tour as a tax exempt organization, GolfWRX members?

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19th Hole

“Is it a Titleist?” – Jerry Seinfeld shares never-before-heard details of iconic scene

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On Thursday, legendary comedian Jerry Seinfeld joined the Rich Eisen Show and shared an awesome story from a “Seinfeld” episode titled “The Marine Biologist.”

In the episode, a golf ball goes into the blow hole of a whale. According to Seinfeld, that was never in the episode’s script.

Seinfeld recalls saying the night before the filming of the episode, “What if what puts the whale in distress is Kramer’s golf ball?”

“He’s hitting golf balls at the beach. George is at the beach with a girl, we haven’t connected them!”

“We write that speech the night before at two o’clock in the morning…The sea was angry that day my friend.”

 

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A post shared by Rich Eisen (@richeisen)


Kramer finishes the iconic scene by asking “Is it a Titleist?” Seinfeld told Eisen the show sought Titleist’s permission to mention its name, saying the ball had to be a Titleist. Fortunately for lovers of the iconic show, the company agreed.

If (somehow) you’re unfamiliar with the scene, check it out below.

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19th Hole

Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game ‘on a much more global basis’

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While speaking with Bloomberg, golf legend Phil Mickelson acknowledged that he is inching close towards retirement.

“I’m 53 now,” Phil said, “and my career, you know, it’s — if I’m being truthful, it’s on — it’s — it’s — I’m a — it’s towards its end.”

Mickelson added that one of his focuses now is helping other young players.

“Now, I would like to help others find the same enjoyment and fulfillment that the game has provided me. I’d like them to experience that as well.”

The six-time major champion credited LIV with reaching new markets in golf to help it grow.

“I think that’s exciting for everyone involved in the game because we are going to reach markets that we didn’t reach before. I think it’s going to inspire more golf courses, inspire more manufacturers selling clubs and equipment, but also inspiring young kids to try to play golf professionally. I just see that the game of golf is going to grow on a much more global basis because of the excitement and the presence that LIV Golf has.”

Mickelson is playing at this week’s LIV Singapore and shot a first round 72 (+1).

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19th Hole

Tiger explains why golf has ‘negative connotations’ for daughter Sam

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While Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, has certainly inherited his father’s love for golf, his daughter, Sam, has not.

On Wednesday, Tiger made an appearance on The Today Show with Carson Daly and explained his daughter’s relationship with golf.

“Golf has negative connotations for her. When she was growing up, golf took daddy away from her. I had to pack, I had to leave, and I was gone for weeks. So, there were negative connotations to it.

“We developed our own relationship and our own rapport outside of golf. We do things that doesn’t involve golf. Meanwhile, my son and I, everything we do is golf related.”

The nine-minute interview touches on plenty of other subjects, such as Tiger’s relationship with his late father, Earl.

It’s arguably the most open we’ve seen the 15-time major champion in an interview and is most definitely worth watching.

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