19th Hole

Report: LIV Golf pull offer for PGA Tour pro following new TV deal with CW Network

Published

1 year ago

Jan 23, 2023

When LIV Golf announced their ambitious 2023 schedule, they spoke about 14 events, increased prize funds, and a recruitment drove to sign up, “maybe seven players” that wanted to “be liberated” and join the likes of Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Cam Smith.

However, with just a month to go until the first event in Mayakoba, the public is yet to hear details of over seven tournaments, although that could quickly change after the recently agreed broadcasting deal with CW Network, or of any new names confirming the move.

It’s extremely likely that current world number forty five, Mito Pereira, will join his compatriot and friend, Joaquin Niemann, but even the heartiest of speculation has gone awry in recent months, and it seems the new tv deal has had further effects.

On Friday, Barstool Sports reporter Dan Rapaport tweeted that all may not be that rosy with the recruitment process, so often seemingly free and easy with the cash supplied by the Saudi Public Investment Fund.

One player on the LIV fence told me LIV pulled their offer once they got the TV deal and will come back to him with another offer. He seemed to think the offer will now be *lower* since they’re going to get more exposure with the CW deal. Interesting wrinkle.

— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) January 20, 2023

One reply was from writer Amanda-Biers-Melcher, who gave one explanation for a tv deal with a network with a different demographic than usually seen watching golf:

The CW is restructuring. This explains their new mandate. https://t.co/ZZQNg7kpGZ

— amanda biers-melcher (@amandabiers) January 20, 2023

Nexstar (the group that owns CW) chief operating officer Tom Carter, outlined the plan for the network, stating that” its programming is targeted for an 18-to-34 audience demographic, while the average age of the CW broadcast viewer is 58 years,” and, over time, they will be “taking a different approach to our CW programming strategy.”

The report from tvline.com concludes with the revelation that The CW will add “high-quality syndicated programming,” to its lineup, which he indicated is “a departure from the prior predominant focus on expensive, original scripted content, which is uncommon among major broadcast networks.”

It seems likely that any player signing up for 2023 is going to be lagging behind the sort of numbers paid to the class of 2022.

Collin Morikawa makes surprising late putter switch at Masters

Published

16 hours ago

Apr 11, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Collin Morikawa has had plenty of success with a blade in his hands over the course of his young career, but after a lean spell on the greens lately, it appears that the 27-year-old is ready to try something new.

Related: Brooks Koepka and Sergio Garcia make significant equipment changes as 2024 Masters looms

The California-native began the year with his TaylorMade TP Soto before switching to a Logan Olson proto last month. Now at this week’s Masters, Morikawa has been spotted with a Spider Tour X, the same flatstick that Scottie Scheffler will be using at Augusta.

The move would represent a big change, but it has been a very frustrating year on the greens for Morikawa, who will hope the TaylorMade mallet can offer him a similar upturn in fortune to that of Scheffler. In 2024, Morikawa ranks 164th for Strokes Gained: Putting, and 157th for Total Putting.

We’ll keep an eye whether Morikawa puts the mallet into action on day one of the Masters.

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Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters

Published

2 days ago

Apr 10, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Fresh off of winning $2.76 million on UConn’s victory over Purdue on Monday night, Barstool Sports’ founder Dave Portnoy has just placed a massive bet for this year’s Masters.

Tweeting on Wednesday morning, Portnoy revealed that he has placed $300,000 on Scottie Scheffler to win this year’s Masters at odds of +450.

Should he win, that’d be a total payout of $1.65 million.

Keep the momentum. For people who wanted me to hedge for is why I didn't. So I could take another shot at glory. #DKPartner #scotty pic.twitter.com/X9a0X8HOTZ

— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) April 10, 2024

Scheffler is one of the shortest priced favorites of recent times at the Masters, and is looking for what would be his third win in his last four events.

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Brooks Koepka was asked if a 59 was possible at this year’s Masters. His answer did not disappoint

Published

2 days ago

Apr 10, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

During Brooks Koepka’s pre-tournament press conference for this week’s Masters Tournament, the five-time major champion was asked a bit of a silly question and gave a brilliant response.

Q. It sounds like the course is already pretty dialed this week, but under softer or optimal scoring conditions do you think 59 is obtainable on this golf course?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Have you played here?

Q. Not yet.

BROOKS KOEPKA: I can tell by the question.

Q. What number is attainable in your mind? 63’s the low.

BROOKS KOEPKA: I mean, now, anything’s attainable. But, yeah, if you want to go play the members tees and maybe play like 15 holes, yeah, I could do that.

With the course record being 63, it’s somewhat unclear why the reporter thought a soft golf course would be enough to result in a score four shots better than the record.