For years, the PGA Tour enjoyed a virtual monopoly over professional golf. The minor tours system was developed over the past 20 years are basically feeder tours for the big leagues. This business model is nothing new and virtually every sport has a similar system. This process was fantastic for the PGA Tour coffers, but that is now being challenged by the LIV professional golf tour. The rumours of Jon Rahm heading to LIV, for 600 million dollars US, has sparked more debate about the ability of the PGA Tour to continue its dominance at the top of professional golf.
Continue readingJon Rahm
Congratulations To Jon Rahm The 2023 Masters Champion
Congratulations to Jon Rahm on winning the 2023 Masters Championship. On the 40th anniversary of when Seve Ballesteros won his second green jacket, another Spaniard eclipsed the top of the leaderboard at Augusta National. After a wild weekend of weather, Rahm proved that he has the winning game for all conditions. After a strong final round, Rahm outdistanced Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson to win his first of possibly many green jackets. It was fun to watch!
Congratulations Jon Rahm!
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Day One At The 2923 Masters
The first day at the Masters was exciting. With 44 players sitting at even or better (just over half), moving day is shaping up to be exciting. Three players shot minus 7 to lead the field as I expected. Hovland, Rahm and Koepka’s score is two lower than I thought, they did establish themselves as the players to beat. Now that Friday is here, Augusta National will start to rear its toughness expected by many during the first round. However, the playing conditions were perfect and 44 players refused to bow to the pressure. So what is instore for Moving Day at this year’s Masters? Can the players respond with the same scoring now that the weather is starting to roll in?
Continue readingDJ Leads After Moving Day At The 2020 Masters
Dustin Johnson shoots a 65 on moving day at the 2020 Masters. His second round of 65 opened up a four stroke lead heading into today’s action. I guess I am not really surprised at his score and I expect him to break the low score record of minus 18. He just needs to play his regular game and he will don his first green jacket and second Major. At this time, I am not sure anyone will catch him unless the slips on the again and lets hope that does not happen; right Brian?
Continue readingThe Players Championship
Starting tomorrow, some of the best golfers in the world will be teeing it up for the first major in 2020. Played at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, The Players is poised to grab the attention of the golf world. The field is strong and players are prepared for all the hype and pressure that is associated with what some consider the 5th major. It will be interesting to see who will rise to the top of the heap to claim the prize!
The odds makers have said their piece and picked their winner from the 144 man field. I am not sure exactly how they came up with the odds because depending on which odds maker you follow, the results are different. However, I am sure it was a little more scientific that gut feel.
In one poll, Rory McIlroy is the top pick to win this weekend. This is not a far stretch considering he is the world number one ranked player. Close on his heels in the odds is Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, and Patrick Cantlay. Of course there are many other top names in the field, but the odds makers believe these players have the best chance to win. I guess their thoughts are as good as any others. However, the poll I chosen to use is from PGATOUR power rankings. I figure their selections is something that most readers can support as the benchmark moving forward.
In the past, I have tried to select winners for the big five tournaments. I had mixed success, but it was fun pontificating on who would end up in the winners circle. At The Players this year I decided to try something different, I am randomly picking names from the field and will compare them to the odds makers to see how I do. I have decided to limit my comparison to the top 5 players for ease of math. The table is read from first to fifth, here it goes:
| Odds Makers | The Grateful Golfers |
| Justin Thomas | Kevin Kisner |
| Rory McIlroy | Charley Hoffman |
| Jon Rahm | Pat Perez |
| Webb Simpson | Abraham Ancer |
| Patrick Reed | Francesco Molinari |
As you can see, my team does not really stack up well against the odds makers. However, if one thing golf shows us is that on any given day, any player can win. My head and heart would not have picked my random players, but whose to say that this would be any better.
The Players is going to provide some exciting golf and I am looking forward to see some fantastic shots, great recoveries, and long unimaginable putts. It action is going to be worth watching.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 