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Good Wednesday morning, golf fans, as a mixed event highlights this week’s golf action.

1. Ranking the Grant Thornton teams

Golfweek’s Todd Kelly…”The highest-ranked PGA Tour golfers are Ludvig Aberg at No. 7, Rickie Fowler at No. 8 and Tony Finau at No. 16.”

• “Meanwhile, four of the top 10 LPGA players will be there: No. 3 Ruoning Yin, No. 8 Nelly Korda, No. 9 Megan Khang and No. 10 Celine Boutier.”

• “Who has the best combined ranking?

• “Here’s a look at the highest-ranked combos for the mixed-team event:

• “Nelly Korda (8) and Tony Finau (16) = 24

• “Megan Khang (9) and Denny McCarthy (29) = 38

• “Brooke Henderson (22) and Corey Conners (22) = 44”

2. ShotLink bugs swarm

AP report…”Those tiny clips all but a few players wore on the back of their belts at Albany is what the PGA Tour refers to as “ShotLink bugs,” enabling the tour to gather most data it typically gets at domestic PGA Tour events.”

• “It’s part of a massive upgrade in the tour’s scoring and data collection that has reshaped the game from a statistical standpoint, providing more data for the media, invaluable statistical analysis for players and more information for fans.”

• “They have been tested on the Korn Ferry Tour for the past 18 months.”

• “Ken Lovell, the tour’s senior vice president of golf technologies, said the devices players wore were accompanied by employees carrying a carbon fiber pole with GPS that can localize data within seconds.”

• “ShotLink is now handled remotely out of PGA Tour headquarters.”

3. LPGA player complains: “Why can’t men just have different driver heads?”

Our Matt Vincenzi…”On Monday, LPGA Tour player Jenny Shin took to X to express frustration with the expected announcements of the golf balls universally being rolled back.”

• “The issue has been a hot topic of discussion over the last few days, but most players and fans seem to be against the idea.”

• “Shin’s sentiment is similar to that of former Masters Champion Adam Scott, who argued the driver head was the real problem, not the golf ball.”

• “The biggest fundamental change in the game since I’ve been a pro, is traditionally the driver has been the hardest club to hit in the bag, and now it’s the most forgiving.”

4. Glover to host radio show

Golfweek’s Adam Schupak…”In his social media profile, PGA Tour veteran Lucas Glover lists the Oscar Wilde quote as a mantra of sorts: “Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.”

• “Glover, the 2009 U.S. Open champion who had a resurgence this season with two victories in consecutive weeks on the PGA Tour, lives up to Wilde’s words.”

• “In his latest effort to be himself, Glover is joining the SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio channel. The six-time Tour winner will host The Lucas Glover Show, which will premiere December 6 at 8 pm ET. The hour-long program will air regularly throughout the year exclusively on SiriusXM.”

5. On John Smoltz: Champions Q-School participant

Jeff Babineau for PGATour.com…“Few possess a passion for the game that even approaches anything in the same ZIP code as Smoltz. Though at varied times he has been limited physically by bad hands, bad shoulders, a bad back and bad hips – hey, at least he has two new hips – 18 holes a day, even while playing hurt, has seldom been enough. Smoltz goes around golf courses the way a spry greyhound wants to sprint around a racetrack, rarely stopping at 36 holes.”

• “As he tries to make his way through the arduous gauntlet that is Champions Tour Q-School – only five players will earn full-time cards this week – Smoltz said he does not attempt to fool himself regarding the difficulty of his assignment.”

• “I don’t live in a false reality,” he said. “This sport is really difficult. I’m not trying to think that this is something that I could do for a whole year or not … but it’s fun to attempt it.”

• “Many of his fellow athletes from outside golf will be watching closely. Former Major Leaguer Kevin Millar, who jokingly refers to Smoltz as his “swing coach,” said he’ll be exchanging frequent texts to keep up with Smoltz all week, as will many others. (“It’s been crazy,” said Smoltz, who acknowledges he is playing for something bigger than himself this week.)”

6. DeChambeau discusses OWGR

Joshua Lees for The Mirror… “…the former U.S. Open champion believes those in charge are attempting to usher the Saudi-backed series away from the top of professional golf. “I know their agenda,” DeChambeau told The Rick Shiels Golf Show.”

• “We know their whole playbook, we see exactly what they’re trying to do. They’re trying to hold us out long enough to where we’re irrelevant. ‘Oh we’ll give you points now, we’re gonna play nice in the sandbox’. But then we’re all irrelevant, we don’t have enough points to even fill a field.”

• “DeChambeau did however insist he had no bitterness towards the OWGR, and appeared content with relying on golf’s four major championships to improve his place in the rankings. “This last half of the season, yes, I feel like I’ve played way better golf.”

• “And that’s because the last three Majors I made the cut and played somewhat decent in them, 4th at the PGA, British Open I didn’t do very well, the US Open I did ok. That’s what’s really holding me at [152]. If I didn’t have those this year, I’d be 500-and-something, probably.”

• “And you know what, it’s OK, I don’t hold myself to that level. I’m not bitter, I don’t care. What I do care about is the people that aren’t being ranked right that don’t have a chance to be in the majors.” DeChambeau went on to highlight former top-20 golfer Joaquin Niemann as one of those who he believes should be at the four flagship events, but is not thanks to his fall in the rankings.”

7. Bryson on the path back to PGA Tour

Our Matt Vincenzi…”While appearing on the Rick Shiels Golf Show, LIV Golf superstar Bryson DeChambeau discussed what path back to the PGA Tour may look like for LIV players if a “merger” indeed takes place.”

• The former U.S. Open champion speculated that team golf could be the key to LIV players integrating into the signature event series on Tour.

• “What I could see is LIV integrating into the signature series on the PGA Tour in some capacity and having two championships in one, where you have the individual component in the signature series, and you have the team side of it,” DeChambeau said.

• “You have the teams you’re playing for, so no matter what on that final day that guy that’s playing really bad still matters, it’s still a big deal on the team championship aspect of the tournament.

• “Then you guys have the individual side that’s still competing for that individual title the way it is currently.”

• “We want to be mainstream. We believe we should be mainstream, we have some of the best golfers in the world that should be highlighted at these events.

• “That would be my blue-sky scenario where we integrate, we figure out how to make it all mutually be beneficial, and we play for the legacy that’s there with a new idea and concept on top.”

8. LIV’s first-ever trade

Adam Woodard for Golfweek…”Two teams have completed the LIV Golf League’s first-ever trade.”

• “David Puig, who competed for Joaquin Niemann’s Torque GC and finished 31st out of 50 players in LIV’s season-long standings in 2023, has been dealt to Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC for Carlos Ortiz, who placed 15th last season.”

• “The move will make the Fireballs a majority-Spanish team with Garcia, Puig, Eugenio Chacarra and Mexico’s Abraham Ancer. Torque is now fully comprised of Latin American talent with Chileans Niemann and Mito Periera, Ortiz, also from Mexico, and Colombia’s Sebastian Munoz.”

9. Rahm not in Am-Ex field

Sky Sports report…”Speculation that Jon Rahm is weighing a lucrative offer to sign with LIV Golf received additional fuel on Wednesday as the Spaniard was not included among the notable names listed as committed to the PGA Tour’s American Express field next month.”

• “Rahm has regularly played the tournament in La Quinta, California as part of his West Coast swing schedule, with one of his two wins at the event coming earlier this year.”

For comments: [email protected]

Good Tuesday morning, golf fans, as a mixed event highlights this week’s golf action.

1. And the nominees are…

PGATour staff report…”The PGA TOUR announced nominees for the Jack Nicklaus Award (Player of the Year) and the Arnold Palmer Award (Rookie of the Year) for the 2022-23 season as finalized by the PGA TOUR Player Directors and members of the Player Advisory Council (PAC).”

• “The five nominees for the Jack Nicklaus Award as the 2023 PGA TOUR Player of the Year are (alphabetically) Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler. The four nominees for the Arnold Palmer Award as the 2023 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year are Ludvig Åberg, Eric Cole, Nico Echavarria and Vincent Norrman.”

2. Reminder: First mixed-team, co-sanctioned event since 1999 this week

PGATour.com staff report…”The Grant Thornton Invitational marks the first mixed-team co-sanctioned event between the LPGA and PGA TOUR since John Daly and Laura Davies won the final JCPenney Classic in 1999.”

• “There’s never been a more exciting time in professional golf to see some of the game’s best – men and women – tee it up together on a familiar venue.”

• “Tiburón Golf Club, which hosts the LPGA season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, also hosted a previous iteration of this event, the QBE Shootout.”

• “With a unique format on tap and 16 teams featuring global TOUR stars like Ludvig Åberg, Justin Rose, Ricker Fowler and Jason Day, plus some of the LPGA’s best like 2023 Player of the Year Lilia Vu, four-time 2023 winner Celine Boutier and rookie sensation Rose Zhang, it’s set to be a special week.”

Our Matt Vincenzi…”Over the past week or so, the golf world has been captivated by rumors of the reigning Masters champion, Jon Rahm, potentially heading to LIV Golf in 2024.”

• “The London Times has now reported that the figure for Rahm will be in the $600 million range, although it doesn’t specify whether team equity is included in the figure. The report states that the Spaniard is considering the offer.”

• “What perhaps is most telling is the fact that neither Rahm nor his team has come out to deny any of the rumors, whereas in the past the Spaniard has been quick to squash the speculation.”

• “With LIV Golf’s Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who governs the Saudi Public Investment Fund, set to meet with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan on Friday, it seems likely that a Rahm announcement would come this week prior to the meeting.”

4. What’s next for Tiger?

Kevin Prise for PGATour.com…”For Woods, the Hero World Challenge wasn’t necessarily about contending or winning. He still believes he can win, as he clearly stated in his pre-tournament press conference, but the Hero marked his first start since undergoing ankle surgery in April. This week was about walking 72 holes without the type of severe pain that forced a WD midway through the third round of this year’s Masters. He was sore afterward and his face looked worn – “I feel like my game’s not that far off, but I need to get in better shape,” he said Sunday – but that’s the reality for the current version of Woods. The bone pain he felt at Augusta National has gone away, hence optimism for a return to official TOUR competition.”

• “Woods, who turns 48 on Dec. 30, knows a full PGA TOUR schedule will never be in the cards. His oft-reconstructed body won’t allow it. But can he play an event per month, as he referenced this week? He’ll team with son Charlie at next week’s PNC Championship – Team Woods’ fourth straight appearance at the PNC, which allows carts. Then, barring setbacks, he’ll prepare for a regular schedule cadence in 2024.”

• “I think that if you asked me right now, I’m a little bit sore,” Woods said after signing his card Sunday at Albany, cracking a grin. “Once a month seems reasonable, and it gives me a couple weeks to recover and a week to tune up. Maybe I can get into a rhythm or something like that; that’s what the plan was going into next year, and I don’t see why that would change.”

5. Eamon Lynch on Rahm departure

Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch…”For two years, we’ve seen skirmishes claimed as decisive victories. The moves by Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka to leave the PGA Tour for LIV were no more conclusive than the decisions of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy to remain. A jump to LIV by Jon Rahm – the subject of intense speculation – will be no different, whatever the banner-wavers and pearl-clutchers on either side say. But it would represent something significant, beyond being an example of what happens to a man of supposed character who remains in the mephitic orbit of people like Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia.”

• “A Rahm departure would be more impactful mostly by dint of timing, hastening a reckoning for the competing agendas that have all but paralyzed the PGA Tour’s Policy Board.”

• “Among players on the board, there’s a faction opposed to involving the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund in the future of the Tour, preferring to partner with one of several interested private investors. Their motivations are varied, whether it’s patriotism, a desire to see LIV continue for leverage or simple aversion to a Framework Agreement foisted upon them without consultation. Jay Monahan, however, is adamant that the Saudis be included, presumably because he’d rather not have a free-spending rival approaching apostate members who promise fealty only until the offer swells sufficiently.”

6. Ben Hogan brand back again

From a press release…”Ben Hogan, the golf equipment brand that was founded by one of the most legendary figures in the history of the modern game, and is responsible for some of the sport’s most iconic golf clubs, is set to make a welcome return to the golfing world after being brought out of retirement by Las Vegas-based Golf Brands Inc.“

• “For more than 70 years, Ben Hogan golf has been synonymous with making the finest golf clubs and Ben Hogan’s latest range has made a triumphant return after Golf Brands struck a licensing deal to resurrect the company that first introduced the Edge and Apex irons and has more recently launched a premium range of woods, irons, wedges, and putters, as well as a bespoke collection of golf bags and accessories.”

• “Golf Brands Inc has a history of reviving the fortunes of iconic golf brands, having successfully resurrected MacGregor in the USA and Ram and Zebra worldwide, and the opportunity to bring Hogan back to life is something that the company just couldn’t pass up.“

7. Chase Koepka out of LIV Promotions event

Jonny Leighfield for Golf Monthly…”Chase Koepka and former Team Europe Ryder Cup member Victor Dubuisson have withdrawn from the upcoming LIV Golf Promotions event at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.”

• “With only three places left in the LIV Golf League ahead of the 2024 campaign, this weekend’s 72-hole tournament in the United Arab Emirates represents a player’s final chance to earn a full card for the controversial start-up next year.”

• “But in a recent announcement by LIV, the aforementioned pair – plus World No. 440, Lee Chieh-po – have pulled out and will no longer tee it up in the three-stage event between December 8-10.”

8. Tiger rises 430 spots

Field Level Media report…”In what is sure to further rankle LIV Golf players, Tiger Woods vaulted 430 spots in the Official World Golf Ranking after finishing 18th out of 20 golfers in his invitational Hero World Challenge on Sunday.”

• “Woods, who was making his first start since withdrawing from the Masters in April due to a foot injury, had fallen to a career-low 1,328th in the OWGR by last week. He made his return at the Bahamas, and while the 47-year-old surprised many with his solid play, Woods bested only two players in the field.”

• “That didn’t prevent Woods from climbing to 898th in the OWGR, his highest since before withdrawing from the 2022 PGA Championship.”

9. “Married to the game,” indeed