19th Hole

54-hole tour granted Official World Golf Ranking points…but it isn’t LIV

Published

2 years ago

Jan 2, 2023

LIV Golf may just start twitching at the news that the OWGR has sanctioned the distribution of ranking points to a tour with 54-hole tournaments.

Related: Rory McIlroy will fail to break major drought due to pressure (and 4 other predictions for 2023)

The Gira de Golf Professional de Mexicana has existed since 2017, offering Mexican golfers the chance to progress through the ranks to the PGA Tour Latinoamerica, and has been the source of KFT players such as José de Jesús Rodríguez Martínez, five-time winner on the PGA Latinoamerica circuit and winner of the 2018 United Leasing & Finance Championship on the web.com tour (the predecessor to the KFT). It also assisted the Latino organization through the 2020 pandemic.

Related: Kevin Na’s caddie claims two anti-LIV pros tried to join breakaway tour

After a 16-month approval process, the Official World Golf Rankings released the following positive statement:

“As such, the Gira de Golf Professional de Mexicana is in keeping with long-standing OWGR eligibility and format criteria providing inclusion for professional tours at the development level with available ranking points commensurate with the format and anticipated fields.”

OWGR chairman Peter Dawson added, “This is a significant milestone for golf and OWGR is deeply encouraged by the achievement and the continued efforts in the advancement of the sport of golf in Mexico. We look forward to watching the progress of Gira de Golf Professional de Mexicana as it continues to play a key role in the development of players from the region.”

The tour differs from the Greg Norman-led tour with its 36-hole cuts, while offering qualification via a qualifying school to encourage regional players, and culminating its season with a no-cut championship.

GDG commissioner José Miguel Bejos confirmed his joy at the news.

“We are very proud that after almost 5 years of work, the Mexican Professional Golf Tour becomes part of the OWGR,” Bejos said. “It is one of the most important achievements that Mexican professional golf has had in recent years and we will continue with the commitment to promote golf in our country.”

With two of the best-ever Mexican golfers, Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz, now playing for LIV, the irony cannot be lost on Norman and, despite his organization’s “strategic alliance” with the MENA Tour, the OWGR steadfastly remain with the view that the tour does not comply with its qualifying procedure.

Still, players such as Joaquin Niemann believe the OWGR has no option but to grant ranking points, telling La Tercera:

“We already have all the criteria to have a world ranking in the LIV. If they haven’t done it, it’s because of a pure monopoly there, political issues for which they don’t take it out… But we already have all the criteria. We have the best players in the world on the Tour and, if they don’t, in the end they will look bad.”

Norman also believes it will be impossible for the ruler of golf rankings to ignore LIV for much longer, telling reporters in November that:

“I understand they have a process. I get all that. But the OWGR was never prepared for a new entity like LIV Golf. You have to expect the unexpected sometimes. When somebody comes along with an incredible business model that is working and, as we’ve shown, you’ve got to have that flexibility and adaptability to allow a new entity coming along.”

“OWGR was never, ever ready for that type of approach.”

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19th Hole

The Open TV ratings don’t make for pretty reading

Published

31 mins ago

Jul 24, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

According to Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal, last week’s Open Championship suffered its lowest television rating in almost a decade.

NBC and Peacock drew 3.39M viewers on Sunday for Xander Schauffele’s two-shot win in @TheOpen, down 4% from last year and Brian Harman.

That’s the lowest number for the final round since Zach Johnson’s win in 2015, which finished on a Monday on ESPN (cable) pic.twitter.com/9r7guxnfx1

— Josh Carpenter (@JoshACarpenter) July 23, 2024

The final round was down 4% from Brian Harman’s win in 2023 at Royal Liverpool, which offered very little drama down the stretch. It was the lowest rated final round since Zach Johnson’s win in 2015 at St. Andrews: and that was a Monday finish.

Stars such as Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland all missed the cut which may have contributed to the lack of interest from casual golf fans.

Both The Masters and The Open have decreased in ratings while the PGA Championship and U.S. Open saw an uptick. It’s fair to speculate whether the inclusion of Bryson DeChambeau deep into contention had an impact.

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19th Hole

‘That looks brutal’ – First photo of Tiger Woods’ leg without sleeve shows depth of injury

Published

1 day ago

Jul 23, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

It’s been a struggle of late for Tiger Woods on the golf course. The 15-time major champion has only teed it up five times in 2024, finishing 60th in The Masters and missing the cut in the other three majors. He also played in the Genesis Invitational and was forced to withdraw.

Woods has many ailments, but none as debilitating as his surgically repaired leg. Since his car accident three years ago, the 48-year-old has rarely been seen without wearing a leg sleeve. However, on Monday, a fan was able to take a photograph of Woods’ leg without the sleeve.

@blakebunkersgolf IG

??? #LOOK: A photo has emerged of Tiger Woods without his leg sleeve @TWlegion

(Via: blakebunkersgolf/IG) pic.twitter.com/ppaGLdXg8X

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 22, 2024

The photo was taken at an event Tiger’s son, Charlie, was playing in by “blakebunkersgolf” on Instagram, and one of the top responses on X towards the photo was simply “That looks brutal.”

Woods has struggled with the lack of reps on the course but hasn’t given any indication as to whether his schedule will look any different come 2025.

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While you’re here, check out BK’s look at Xander Schauffele’s winning WITB.

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19th Hole

John Daly says this is the best golf course in Scotland…and it’s not St. Andrews

Published

1 day ago

Jul 23, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

John Daly withdrew at last week’s Open Championship with a knee injury, but the 58-year-old was back on the links this week showcasing one of the most famous golf courses in the world for his fans.

While at Trump Turnberry, John Daly recorded a video of the 18th green.

In the video, the 1995 Open Champion shared his opinion that Turnberry is the best golf course in Scotland, even better than St. Andrews.

?????????? #BEST OF THE BEST — John Daly says Trump Turnberry beats out St Andrews for the title of best golf course in Scotland.

Do you agree?

(Via: @LGlick1) pic.twitter.com/Ya7FIJEfp2

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 22, 2024

“Hey everybody, John Daly here. I’m at Trump Turnberry today. I went out and tried to play a little bit. This place is amazing. It is the best golf course in Scotland, I think. St. Andrews is my baby, but I think I just found my new baby. I’m at the 18th green right here, this thing is unreal.”

Turnberry hosted its first Open Championship in 1977, which was dubbed “The Duel in the Sun” when Tom Watson beat Jack Nicklaus by a single stroke. The most recent Open the course hosted was 2009, where Watson almost won again, but lost to Stewart Cink in a playoff.

The course is not slated to host any Open Championships in the foreseeable future.