Anthony Kim’s return? Charlie Woods and more

Check in each week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the most well liked subjects within the sport, and be a part of the dialog by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week we focus on Anthony Kim’s return to aggressive golf, the general public consideration surrounding Charlie Woods, tweaks to Augusta National, and more.

1. According to Golf Channel, Anthony Kim will play in LIV Golf’s Saudi Arabia occasion this week, which might mark his first skilled begin in more than a decade. We reported final month that Kim was mulling a return to both the PGA Tour or LIV Golf, and now, it seems, Kim has made his resolution. Does LIV really feel like the correct touchdown place for him?

Josh Sens, senior author (@joshsens): Seems like a straightforward resolution for Kim. Safe and smart. So a lot in order that I can’t think about he actually gave the PGA Tour a lot severe consideration. The route he has chosen is basically a free roll. Guaranteed cash. If he performs properly, it’s heroic. If he struggles, he has an excellent excuse. 

Jack Hirsh, assistant editor (@JR_HIRSHey): I agree with Sens. Kim will seemingly not less than be getting the worth of his insurance coverage coverage (reportedly $10 million) upfront. Do I believe he desires to fly all the best way to Saudi Arabia to return to aggressive golf? It’s attention-grabbing, to say the least. For LIV it’s a no brainer as a result of, not less than for this week’s occasion and its subsequent U.S. occasion (the week earlier than the Masters in Miami), a number of golf followers will little question tune in to see the person who has develop into one thing of a legendary determine within the sport. The timing is questionable on condition that LIV’s subsequent two occasions are each in Asia, which means the broadcasts will both be within the wee hours of the morning or on tape delay in different main markets.

Sean Zak, senior editor (@sean_zak): This is gonna promote some tickets in Miami. You can guess on that. In truth, I LOVE the comeback beginning in Saudi Arabia. Golf followers within the States will get up to his scores each morning. And the place can they watch highlights? LIV’s YouTube channel. LIV’s social feeds. Two weeks overseas, then again to Miami, which has most likely been probably the most comfortable location for LIV to this point. All of that one week earlier than Augusta. It checks out more than folks will give credit score to. 

2. All these years later, what’s your learn on Kim’s Q score and the type of affect he probably might have on drawing consideration and eyeballs to LIV?

Sens:  I’d count on the curiosity issue to attract a number of eyeballs to start with. How are you able to not wish to see how he fares after such an extended layoff and all of the questions that surrounded him? But except he performs nice — which appears unlikely — I believe the curiosity shall be short-lived. Some tales are more compelling after they stay a thriller. 

Hirsh: I discussed this above, however not less than for his first rounds, I’m keen to financial institution on LIV drawing some pretty good rankings, however they’ll be damage by the point variations. If Kim performs properly in Jeddah and Hong Kong, LIV Miami might present some severe competitors to the PGA Tour’s Texas Open the week earlier than the Masters.

Zak: He’ll be the discuss of Twitter this week. What is that really value? It’s more than the opposite wildcard gamers on LIV are doing. Which makes him value one other drop-in-the-bucket bunch of cash. 

3. Charlie Woods shot 86 in a Cognizant Classic pre-qualifier — the primary PGA Tour-sanctioned occasion he’s entered — to overlook out on qualifying for subsequent week’s occasion at PGA National. A 12 and a few different massive numbers derailed his spherical, which was reportedly marred by unruly fan conduct. Charlie’s play led to a lot dialogue on-line about what’s the applicable quantity of consideration — from followers, media and spectators in attendance — to concentrate on a 15-year-old’s aggressive pursuits, even when his father does occur to be the world’s most well-known golfer. What’s your learn?

Sens: All the thrill round Charlie Woods has been fully unsurprising. But that hasn’t made it any much less cringey, as the children say. It feels low-cost and voyeuristic but in addition in line with our sports activities/celebrity-obsessed tradition. It jogs my memory of what the Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic stated when he was requested what he thought of followers’ fascination with realizing each wrinkle of his life. He stated he thought it was ‘sad.’

Hirsh: He clearly has expertise. Playing in a PGA Tour Pre-Q at 15 is spectacular regardless of the way you slice it. Getting these sorts of aggressive reps is invaluable. We know he’s put up some good scores. I believe most individuals notice it’s unfair to place the expectations his father had on him, however on the identical time, the curiosity may be simply as nice. I’m hesitant to point out a lot curiosity in Charlie as a result of the possibility of him incomes his PGA Tour card within the subsequent 5 years might be the identical as him deciding he doesn’t wish to play golf in any respect. I don’t assume a crowd of fifty following him at a qualifier is outrageous, however what’s outrageous is grandparents pulling their granddaughters out of college in hopes of him going out with them. Same goes for asking him for autographs whereas he was enjoying. It’s attention-grabbing as a result of LeBron James’ youngsters didn’t have the identical stage of pandemonium at their highschool occasions. I believe when he wins one thing massive or tries to play on the professional stage, it’s actually newsworthy, however he nonetheless must be handled like a human. Other than that, let {the teenager} dwell his life.

Zak: My learn is that that is precisely how society usually acts. He’s marketable due to his final title, so folks flock to him. Unfortunately, he hasn’t requested for any of that focus, nor has he deserved it. So it’ll really feel fairly angsty on-line every time he performs one other high-level event. But that’s the net world for ya. 

3. Augusta National introduced three particular invitations to the 2024 Masters in Joaquin Niemann, Thorbjørn Olesen and Ryo Hisatsune in what chairman Fred Ridley stated was part of the event’s “long-standing tradition of inviting leading international players who are not otherwise qualified” to the Masters. Niemann’s temporary bio, nevertheless, didn’t point out his LIV Golf accomplishments, together with his newest win earlier this month. Is that one thing…or nothing? And, if one thing, what does it inform us?

Sens: The individuals who run the Masters don’t simply communicate off the cuff. A acutely aware resolution was made to omit any reference to LIV, and the implicit message is that the inexperienced jackets are both delay by LIV and the ruckus it has brought on (antitrust investigations, lawsuits, and many others)  or don’t regard LIV as competitively related. Probably a little bit of each.

Hirsh: Agree with Sens right here. It tells you that Augusta doesn’t but consider LIV carries a number of weight. The Niemann exemption certainly caught me off guard and will probably be attention-grabbing to see if some other non-exempt LIV winners are invited given how small the Masters discipline shall be this yr.

Zak: It tells us that Augusta National might be nonetheless irritated that its existence has been made more troublesome due to LIV Golf. Augusta members had been being included in lawsuit paperwork. The membership’s management was being accused of collusion. The Department of Justice was investigating ANGC’s position in honest competitors practices. That places probably the most unique and well-known membership on the earth in a spot it doesn’t wish to be. And I believe they haven’t forgotten it. Also, their reigning champ was purchased. 

4. The subsequent made-for-TV Match — and the primary to incorporate feminine gamers — is about for Monday at The Park in West Palm Beach, Fla. The 12-hole occasion will function Rose Zhang, Lexi Thompson, Rory McIlroy and Max Homa. What are you hoping to see from this ninth iteration of the occasion?

Sens: I hope Lexi and Rose win all of the skins, speaking ample smack alongside the best way. 

Hirsh: Thank god there are not any amateurs on this one. I’m truly excited for this one, particularly after Lexi nearly made the lower in a Tour occasion final yr and how profitable the Grant Thornton was. Mixed golf is the way forward for the game!

Sens: The way forward for the game? It provides a enjoyable dimension, however let’s not go overboard right here, Jack.

Zak: I’m with Sens. I need some smack discuss from Rose Zhang. I don’t know if she has that in her character, however she’s adequate to stroll the stroll, and she’s enjoyable to take heed to. So a mic’d up alternative for her to speak some discuss? I’m in. 

5. Augusta National lengthened its par-5 2nd gap — shifting the tee field again 10 yards and to the left — so the downhill dogleg will now play 585 yards. Last yr the 2nd performed as the best gap at Augusta, and it ranks because the second-easiest all time. Will we discover the change come Masters week? And, only for enjoyable, what’s a semi-aggressive tweak you’d make to the course that the inexperienced jackets seemingly wouldn’t think about however ought to?

Sens: I’m unsure I perceive the necessity to tweak the 2nd. One of the 18 holes has to play the best. What’s incorrect with it being a par 5 early within the spherical? Because Augusta doesn’t do issues with out cautious consideration, I’m relying on it making not less than a modest distinction over the course of the week. If it’s a must to hit it farther with a bit more form, it stands to purpose that fewer gamers will attain in two. I don’t know whether or not that makes it a greater gap. As for different tweaks, what a couple of larger potential for disaster on the ultimate couple holes, like there may be on the Players, simply to place the squeeze on somebody with an enormous lead? Adding water could be goofy. But for those who put a deep fairway bunker on 17, you’d tighten up an already robust tee shot and go away the potential for a really robust method from the sand to a really perplexing inexperienced. 

Hirsh: This is an apparent option to additional fight the most recent pattern within the sport. More and more of the most effective gamers on the earth are enjoying cuts off the tee. Moving the tee again and to the left makes hitting a left-to-right shot a lot more troublesome. I personally love No. 2, it may be my favourite gap after 13, however I like the concept of going all in on asking your champ to hit a draw across the timber and contained in the bunker 4 days in a row. 

This won’t ever occur, however Augusta could be brutal with four-inch tough. Make ‘em undergo.

Zak: I believe we’ll see more balls find yourself in that proper fairway bunker on No. 2. And perhaps fewer balls within the left timber, aka the Delta Counter, for the quickest flight residence. That isn’t essentially nice, not essentially unhealthy. Probably a slight bump within the scoring common. But nobody will discover. It’s too removed from Amen Corner for anybody to care sufficient.