2023 PGA tour thread

[calgarygeologist]

The Koepka hole in one at the watering hole was awesome.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Obligatory "of course they are relaxed, they are playing pressure free, exhibition golf". Always more fun and relaxed when there is little meaningful on the line.

Sure, but for the fans, who really cares? Like I can’t get too excited about one group of people with a pile of money feuding with another group of people with a lot of money. I like watching the majors and maybe some parts of the other tournaments. At the end of the day, I just want to see good golf. I don’t care about players wearing shorts or music while they play or whatever. The LIV golf seems pretty good, and it just seems like a good fan experience.

[Senator Clay Davis]

"Who really cares"? is an interesting question, because in America, so far, virtually no one does (see: TV ratings, massive ticket giveaways etc...). Which is why I've said they should lean into Australia and other non-serviced markets. Even if the level of intensity is lower than most mid-amateur events, the star power is higher than people in Australia will ever see. So for the first time since its inception not only did LIV get a good crowd, it was a crowd they didn't give away the majority of their tickets too. This should be their business model for the foreseeable future. Hell even somewhere like here, where a PGA event is unlikely to ever come, I could see them drawing well for a LIV event at Mickelson National. Go get blasted drunk, see some star players putting in a C+ effort, see some C-List country star or DJ playing a concert, I could see it doing alright.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

"Who really cares"? is an interesting question, because in America, so far, virtually no one does (see: TV ratings, massive ticket giveaways etc...). Which is why I've said they should lean into Australia and other non-serviced markets. Even if the level of intensity is lower than most mid-amateur events, the star power is higher than people in Australia will ever see. So for the first time since its inception not only did LIV get a good crowd, it was a crowd they didn't give away the majority of their tickets too. This should be their business model for the foreseeable future. Hell even somewhere like here, where a PGA event is unlikely to ever come, I could see them drawing well for a LIV event at Mickelson National. Go get blasted drunk, see some star players putting in a C+ effort, see some C-List country star or DJ playing a concert, I could see it doing alright.

Oh yeah, I agree it’s not a big concern. I don’t care if LIV makes it or not. I just know from talking to my friend that it was a great fan experience.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Oh yeah, it's an added benefit to the fact so few people care is your fan experience will be better when you're one of a couple of thousand at the event, as opposed to going to an event like Waste Management, where total event attendance is north of 600,000 people. When you're fighting in that big a crowd it's probably a grind to see anything decent, whereas at LIV events in America where attendance for an event probably doesn't even touch 10,000 people it's way more likely you can enjoy the experience.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

"Who really cares"? is an interesting question, because in America, so far, virtually no one does (see: TV ratings, massive ticket giveaways etc...). Which is why I've said they should lean into Australia and other non-serviced markets. Even if the level of intensity is lower than most mid-amateur events, the star power is higher than people in Australia will ever see. So for the first time since its inception not only did LIV get a good crowd, it was a crowd they didn't give away the majority of their tickets too. This should be their business model for the foreseeable future. Hell even somewhere like here, where a PGA event is unlikely to ever come, I could see them drawing well for a LIV event at Mickelson National. Go get blasted drunk, see some star players putting in a C+ effort, see some C-List country star or DJ playing a concert, I could see it doing alright.

I was actually just thinking this morning that Liv would be an awesome event in Canada, especially western Canada. PGA comes to Ontario but it is poorly scheduled and a poor field although last year it was significantly better. The Shaw event in Calgary with the Champions always gets a good turnout so I don't see why Liv couldn't draw a good crowd in the Calgary region or Vancouver or Edmonton.

[DoubleK]

Aaron Cockerill lost in a playoff in Japan on the DP world tour stop. Should be enough points to get him to Dubai.

Hadwin and Taylor couldn't find a birdie down the stretch and finished two back at the Zurich. (That event needs to die).

[Strange Brew]

What happened to Svensson yesterday? In contention and then a snowman on the par 4 18th.

[dobbles]

Just wanted to chime in related to LIV. They had their tournament in the course that encircles my neighborhood over the weekend. All reports seemed to have been positive and turnout was reported higher than expected. Apparently they were quite pleased with turnout from younger aged folks as well.

I was pretty worried about the logistics of the weekend and traffic and spectators trashing the neighborhood but everything went extremely smoothly.

I don't particularly like golf, but my 6 and 8 year old were very intrigued by the 'teams' and seeing who would win. We mostly watched to see our neighbors houses on TV. There was definitely a lively vibe with music each day.

[DoubleK]

JT Miller is attempting to qualify for the US Open at a local qualifier in Ohio. Doesn't look like he will get through, T20 right now. 78 guys for 4 slots.

https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/4041440

[3thirty]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I was actually just thinking this morning that Liv would be an awesome event in Canada, especially western Canada. PGA comes to Ontario but it is poorly scheduled and a poor field although last year it was significantly better. The Shaw event in Calgary with the Champions always gets a good turnout so I don't see why Liv couldn't draw a good crowd in the Calgary region or Vancouver or Edmonton.

Mickelson National seems like a logical host. Private airport and luxury houses nearby and a person heavily involved in LIV.

[Flabbibulin]

Yep, I could see that. Do they have the parking and stadium set up though?

[DoubleK]

Oak Hill is looking tough for the PGA.

Random aside: internal out of bounds is dumb AF

[transplant99]

PGA start is delayed due to.......frost.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Flabbibulin

Yep, I could see that. Do they have the parking and stadium set up though?

Lots of empty space around there for parking and using shuttle buses such as the Sports School, Calaway Park, that event centre across from Calaway or even the Springbank rec centre/school up the highway. Might even be able to use the new shopping centre land depending on what construction looks like at the time.

No stadium but from what I remember about the course the greens at 9 and 18 would set up pretty well for stands. The third hole is probably the only par 3 where you could set up a "watering hole" / WM stadium experience.

[calgarygeologist]

Rory is +3 so far today. I love it. Missed cut at the Masters and PGA Championship would be awesome.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Well after dropping a 40 footer from off the green for par to potentially save his week, Rory gets back to back birdies, so perhaps not dead yet.

[DoubleK]

Conners putting nicely.

[jayswin]

Hopefully Conners can keep this up tomorrow. Anyone else not a fan of absurdly long rough? I get it, they want to make it punishing when you leave the fairway.

I agree with that in principle, but I disagree with "you're basically ****ed if you're not on the fairway" length.

[jayswin]

Today I watched a near perfect, long drive from Conners, that rolled a bit left and eventually nestled on the fringe of the fairway.... in 4 inches of grass, creating a "save" shot.