⛳️ PGA & PIF To Meet This Week

Plus: Poll results for LIV vs. PGA

Author

The Shanks Gator
December 11, 2023

Good Morning. Welcome to Shanks. Thank you to today’s sponsor Voraus Golf who make the only golf gloves we know of that you can wear while using your cell phone. Oh, and this week, we get to see Tiger Woods play again.

Golf Trivia: Who was the oldest rookie to ever win PGAT Rookie of the Year?

Here's what we've got for ya today:

  • Quick Recap: Grant Thornton Invitational

  • LIV Golf Poll Results

  • Shots Heard Round The World

  • PIF and PGA To Meet This Week

  • Thing We’d Buy If We Weren’t Broke

Quick Recap: Grant Thornton

Lydia Ko and Jason Day Win

They didn’t have a cool team nickname, but they won anyway.

After going into the clubhouse on Saturday with a 4-stroke lead, Jason Day and Lydia Ko looked poised to run away with it, but the Canadian duo of Brooke Henderson and Corey Conners went 7-under through 16 holes to tie it.

On the 17th, playing modified four-ball format (your partner hits your drive, you hit your partners drive) Jason Day hit Lydias tee-shot into the greenside bunker.

Lydia hit Jasons tee-shot to 10 feet for an eagle look. CLUTCH. Two putt bird.

Conners and Henderson couldn’t find a birdie in their last three holes.

You Know What Sucks?

This event is actually quite fun and it was totally overshadowed by the Jon Rahm news, which dominated the attention of golf fans this week. It also didn’t help their cause that Tony Finau, who was playing in the event and is a fan favorite, is rumored to be headed to LIV as well.

The last co-sanctioned event between the two tours (LPGA and PGA) was the 1999 JCPenny Classic.

24 years goes by without a mixed event like this, and it happens to take place on the most insane golf week ever, news-wise.

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LIV Poll Results

On Saturday morning, we sent out the poll above to our readers.

73% of respondents answered NO with the remaining 27% falling into the other two buckets.

Written Responses

We also had some readers write in to share their sentiments. Here are some of the more interesting ones.

“F*ck the Saudis” - This one was sent in by multiple people, by far the most popular response.

“Format sucks and the coverage sucks”

“I may end up not watching golf all together. What a shit show. ”

“54 holes and no cut. I’ll never watch it.”

“The chance to watch great golfers at any course and in any format is good for all golf supporters. In addition PGA is really a US tour while the LIV is truly international and also it is interesting that both South Africa and Australia welcome LIV members to its tournaments. ”

“Watch infrequently, but will likely watch more now. I always stayed up to date with the leaderboard. ”

“My 4 favorite golfers are now LIV golfers with Rahm defecting, and Mickelson, Johnson and Kaepka already being there. I’m not a fan of the format and the way it’s broadcasted but it’s definitely becoming more competitive by the day”

People seem overwhelmingly positive about the future of golf!

Shots Heard Round The World

PGA & PIF To Meet This Week

Yesterday, the PGAT announced that they are in “advanced discussions” with a list of deep pocketed investors, including, but not limited to, PIF. 

The Tour is calling the group of non-PIF investors the “SSG” also known as the “Strategic Sports Group” which the tour describes as “consortium of U.S.-based professional sports team investors led by Fenway Sports Group.”

Jay Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan will be meeting this week.

Who’s in SSG?

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, Boston Red Sox owner John Henry, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck.

Shanks Says

This reads to us like the PGAT has accepted that they can’t shake the Saudis, but what they can do is take their money and dilute them along with a bunch of other deep pockets.

This gets the Saudi cash in the door, gives them an empty board seat with little say or control, but probably means elements of LIV are incorporated into the larger schedule.

With that being said, of all the deep pockets listed, PIF is still the deepest.

He who has the deepest pockets often has the most leverage.

That’s what happens when you involve a world government and not, you know, real businesses that have to compete on merit.

Golf Thing We'd Buy If We Weren't Broke

“Golf thing we’d buy if it wasn’t sold out” would be a better description today, actually.

Kirkland, better known as Costco’s house brand, released a full set of irons this weekend - for $500.

The sets are right-hand only, 4 iron through PW and come outfitted with True Temper Elevate 115 Steel Shafts and Lamkin Crossline 360 Grips. Product details also note a multi-material build consisting of stainless steel, a urethane insert and an internal tungsten weight.⁠

Just read this review from Tony: After 1 round my handicap dropped 7pt. I Shot 14 under and never even pulled driver. The feel and confidence these irons gave me was almost unholy. BUYER BEWARE!!!!

Trivia Answer: Todd Hamilton, 38, in 2004.

That’s all folks! See you Wednesday.