Greg Norman and Dustin Johnson are among those involved in LIV’s offseason news.
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Welcome back to Monday’s Finish, where nothing goes together like filling a week and challenging the world of heroes. For the news!
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I LIKE GOLF
Speaking the language.
I had a chance to preview the Ryder Cup documentary on Team Europe, A Familywhich debuts tomorrow (12/3). And while I won’t give anything away, I’ll just say that watching the film took me back to the opening ceremonies in Rome, where the European captain Luke Donald took the stage and greeted the crowd in (what sounded like to me, someone who doesn’t speak any Italian) perfect, fluent Italian.
It ended up being an emblematic moment for the week that followed. The Europe team obsessively prepared for all the little things and they treated every detail as if it were of vital importance. That is carried over to the action in the course; they did the little things to win games and their collective preparation and attitude elevated the experience for their players and fans as well. The more we are asked to appreciate different forms In terms of golf competition and content, that’s something I consistently enjoy: If you care as a competitor, I care as a viewer.
Taking the time to learn the language – these are the things about golf that I love.
wINNERS
Who won the week?
This was the first week of the offseason for both the PGA and LPGA tours, but never fear: there’s always golf on tour.
Ryggs Johnston won the ISPS Handa Australian Open, turning his new DP World Tour card into the biggest win of his young life in his second start on the tour.
Peter Wihlein won the Qatar International Series on the Asian Tour, his second International Series win of the year; as a result he jumped to #1 in the series rankings. (More on that in a moment.)
AND Shaun Norris won the Nippon Series JT Golf Cup at the end of the season on the Japan golf tour, marking an emotional end to a three-year title drought for the South African master.
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Non-winners
Some golfers who didn’t win, but still somehow won.
Marc Leishman finished T3 at the Australian Open, earning a spot in the following year’s Open Championship as a result. The team’s time at Royal Portrush guarantees the Australian will play a leading role for the first time in three years as he has seen his chances dwindle since joining LIV Golf.
Anthony Kim jumped nearly 2,300 places on the OWGR after earning his first world ranking points in a dozen years; His T37 finish in Qatar took him to No. 2,314.
And these aren’t winners so much as intriguing travelers: PGA Tour supports Max Homa, Corey Conners, Will Zalatoris and Mackenzie Hughes top the Nedbank Golf Challenge on the DP World Tour. Throw in top homegrown talents Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Thriston Lawrence plus Team Europe Ryder Cup hopefuls like Thorbjorn Oleson, Jordan Smith, Nicolai Hojgaard and more and you have a solid first week of December field.
SHORT HITS
LIV making moves.
-The view seems to be getting clearer all around Greg NormanS ‘ REPLACEMENT as CEO of LIV Golf; SPorts Business Journal reported for the first time that LIV was expected to hire former Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment CEO Scott O’Neil for the position.
–Thomas Pieters was traded by Bubba Watson‘s Range Goats of Dustin Johnson4 Aces in LIV’s first official offseason transaction; said GM Range Goats Sports Illustrated the move was made to clear a spot for another free agent. Many Internet savvy have made the connection between the opening of that country and the fact that Tony’s controversy withdrew from the world of heroes challenge without explanation. It’s always wise to wait for details when it comes to the LIV hot stove, but there’s no doubt more news to come.
-It has an interesting ripple effect Peter Wihlein taking the lead in the International Series standings; if he stays in that spot, it will simply secure his return to LIV for 2025. Since LIV abandoned its pursuit of world ranking points, it has sought to increase the flexibility for teams to sign whoever they want; the only other “excluded” venue will come from the tournament’s Q-School this month. expect John Catlinwho has played as a LIV signee in the past and is now #2 in the International Series standings, to find a home in LIV regardless of how the season ends – but this is a reminder that LIV is indeed trending towards a league which is almost all free agency.
–Bryson DeChambeau AND Phil Mickelson have been busy this offseason well beyond the confines of tournament play; DeChambeau’s ace chase was perhaps the biggest golf news of the week, his Break 50 challenge with Tom Brady wasn’t far behind, and Mickelson made waves by announcing that he and Grant Horvat will be teaming up for some challenge matches. The wrote about it over the weekend but until there’s a mega-resolution in the pro game, it feels like we’re looking at an increasingly decentralized sport. Especially in the off-season, of course…
– LIV Promotional event will compete Dec. 12-14 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for that single spot; it will be interesting to see who signs up and, of course, who leaves.
A SIGNIFICANT THOUGHT
By Mark Blackburn.
You’ve definitely heard golfers talk about using the putter for power, but what’s a simple way to describe how they do it? Enter the Top 100 teachers and coach of the tournament Mark Blackburn.
“Pulling our trail foot back and pushing our lead foot forward creates spin,” Blackburn said. here. “The best players are pulling really hard with their foot and pushing forward with their lead foot.”
Easier said than done, of course. But this is at least an easy view to start with.
A BIG QUESTION
Who’s Next for LPGA Commissioner?
Mollie Marcoux Sameresigned Monday as LPGA commissioner after three and a half years in the role, with her resignation unplanned but not shocking. Her tenure was characterized by ups and downs; she oversaw increased purses, subsidized health care coverage and increased travel pay that make a very real difference to players’ lives. But there was a feeling the league hadn’t had was fully assembled in moments of opportunity, as Nelly KordaThe historic winning streak or a scary moment turned to horror at the Solheim Cup and Marcoux Samaan did not articulate a clear path to take the tournament to the next level.
So what’s next? It feels like the LPGA Tour is at a crossroads. This is a moment of opportunity for a popular sport with potential superstars. But it’s also a league that needs its own sense of events bigger — faster, more dramatic and with better TV coverage. Perhaps in time, Marcoux Samaan will be seen as a successful bridge from Mike Whan, who served for more than a decade starting in 2010, to the tour’s other inspired thinker. I have a question, but not an answer: Who will it be?
ONE THING TO PRESENT
Tiger Woods Tuesday Presser.
It’s time for Tiger WoodsState of the Tiger’s annual (semi-annual, if you count Genesis) address, which will take place in the Bahamas on Tuesday before this week’s World Heroes Challenge. We’re likely to get a lot of non-response about the status of negotiations between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund – but that doesn’t mean we won’t learn anything. Woods is near the center of all things professional golf, which means it will be very interesting to read between the lines. What he says or doesn’t say should tell a story of its own.
I’m also curious to hear him project his playing schedule for the PNC Championship and all of 2025. How engaged is he in TGL? How likely is he to play Genesis? Where does his health compare now to a year, two or three years ago? We haven’t seen much of Woods since the Open; even as tournament host, golf will be happy to have him back.
NEWS FROM SEATTLE
Monday Finish headquarters.
I have come to the conclusion that the most important element for off-season golf is low wind. Sunny and windy? Br. Cloudy and windy? Double brr. Smooth and quiet? We can make it work. Grateful for a sunny stretch here though. Easier to get out and away from the stuffing.
See you next week.
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Dylan Dethier is a senior writer for GOLF Magazine/GOLF.com. Resident of Williamstown, Mass. joined GOLF in 2017 after two years of struggling on the mini-tours. Dethier is a graduate of Williams College, where he majored in English, and he is the author of 18 in Americawhich details the year he spent as an 18-year-old living out of his car and golfing in every state.
