Lexi Thompson’s PGA Tour debut, LIV Golf’s future

Check in each week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the most popular subjects within the sport, and be part of the dialog by tweeting us @golf_com. This week, we focus on Lexi Thompson’s PGA Tour debut on the Shriners Children’s Open, LIV Golf’s unsure World Ranking future, Korn Ferry Tour grads and extra.

Lexi Thompson turned the seventh lady to play in a PGA Tour occasion when she acquired a sponsor’s exemption into the Shriners Children’s Open. Playing from the identical tees as the boys, Thompson (73-69) had an inspiring cost on Friday as she tried to turn into simply the second lady to ever make a lower in a PGA Tour occasion, however she bogeyed two of her final 5 and missed by three. How impressed ought to Average Joe Golf Fan be with this efficiency?

Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): Incredibly impressed. Vegas sportsbooks are all the time irritatingly correct in relation to creating strains and props, and Thompson’s first-round over/beneath rating was set at 77.5. She blew that away. I’ve no challenge along with her getting a sponsor’s exemption right here — the eye it acquired and her excellent play confirmed it was price it — however that form of invite solely provides to the stress to carry out. She’s had some hiccups in huge occasions prior to now, however she was actually good in Las Vegas. How many individuals on the planet — male or feminine — may take that exemption, with that form of stress, and play in addition to she did?

Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@Jess_Marksbury): Shooting these scores from that yardage is unreal. There’s no query that Lexi deserves a ton of credit score for her efficiency. It appeared like an odd time for her to simply accept an exemption like that, given the troublesome yr she’s had on the LPGA Tour, however she dealt with herself admirably.

Josh Sens, senior author (@JoshSens): Not solely did she beat oddsmakers’ expectations, she additionally beat variety of Tour winners, together with just a few multiple-time winners. Hugely spectacular given the scrutiny she was beneath. An important use of a sponsor’s exemption.

What is it about Thompson’s recreation that made her aggressive (and exceed expectations)? Do you suppose she’ll now obtain extra invitations to males’s occasions?

Berhow: She hits it an extended methods, and the course and dry situations didn’t harm both. It was attention-grabbing to listen to her say that this setup might need really helped her because it allowed her to hit extra drivers than she’s used to on the LPGA Tour. “I don’t get to take advantage of sometimes my length on a few of those holes [on the LPGA]” she stated. Stats will even let you know she putted rather well, which isn’t all the time her robust go well with. But you want the suitable mindset for an occasion like this; it’s good to really feel such as you belong. And Thompson, who grew up enjoying along with her brothers (each now professionals, too) wasn’t intimidated by the second. As for extra invitations coming her method? It’s undoubtedly an intriguing choice for event organizers, particularly through the sleepy season, however I feel Thompson may additionally wish to deal with profitable LPGA tournaments.

Marksbury: Her size undoubtedly places her on a reasonably brief checklist of girls who may deal with a PGA Tour setup. And whereas I recognize the reception her efficiency has acquired, I’m undecided common PGA Tour exemptions are what the ladies’s recreation actually wants. When Annika did it, it made sense: she was completely dominating the LPGA and pitting her towards the boys made for an intriguing comparability. But I fear that regularly trotting out LPGA stars on PGA Tour setups could have the other impact. I’m excited to see girls’s golf elevated in different methods, just like the upcoming Grant Thornton, which can function blended groups of women and men.

Sens: Agreed, Jess. These exemptions needs to be handed out sparingly. I perceive the general public’s curiosity in seeing how the most effective girls stack up towards the boys, however I don’t suppose particular slots needs to be allotted regularly purely on the premise of gender. U.S. Open qualifying is open to all. Lexi or one among her friends may all the time attempt to play their method into that one.

After 16 months of deliberation, LIV Golf has been denied World Ranking factors, with the OWGR board primarily saying the most important strike towards LIV was its lack of assured promotion and relegation of gamers. Are you shocked? And was this the suitable transfer?

Berhow: Not completely shocked, as a result of it gave the impression of this was the doubtless consequence for some time now. What will get me is that LIV Golf needed its format to be totally different, sure, but when we’re going again to the early days, I’d wish to be sure my start-up league could be doing every little thing it may to make it extremely straightforward to be included within the system. Instead it appeared like LIV did what it needed and was anticipating everybody else to adapt. Apparently that tactic didn’t work.

Marksbury: Spot on, Josh. There was by no means any indication that this was going to work in LIV’s favor. But I did discover it attention-grabbing that LIV has a little bit of a roadmap to OWGR legitimacy now. Time will inform if they’ll make any adjustments — or if their gamers will even care that a lot.

Sens: PIF chair Yasir Al-Rumayyan performed golf with the R&A’s Martin Slumbers and OWGR’s Peter Dawson on the Dunhill proper earlier than this resolution got here down, so none of this could come as a shock to LIV. Or to anybody else. Dawson’s letter on the choice lays out lots of the rationale (primarily, restricted channels for gamers performing their method onto LIV or dropping off the circuit), all of which sounds defensible sufficient on the face of it. LIV’s failure to satisfy a variety of the standards gave the OWGR believable floor to face on. At the identical time, it’s exhausting to think about that each one sorts of different political and financial issues weren’t additionally at play, and that we aren’t being advised the complete story. One of the numerous classes of the previous year-plus is that we shouldn’t depend on golf’s main energy brokers being completely clear with us.

There are nonetheless a number of questions relating to how issues will shake out with the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf merger, however now that we all know LIV gamers received’t obtain these essential World Ranking factors — the gateway to majors for almost all of LIV gamers — what do you suppose it means for the future of the league? Do you suppose any LIV gamers, particularly ones who didn’t signal mega assured contracts, now have purchaser’s regret?

Berhow: I might guess some gamers joined LIV considering — or being advised — it was a mere formality that they’d quickly be enjoying for World Ranking factors, however on the similar time they knew the danger degree of becoming a member of a brand new, controversial golf league wasn’t zero. It can be actually attention-grabbing to see precisely what LIV is a yr or two from now, and I’m much more intrigued on what the trail again to the PGA Tour could be for these gamers, if they need it.

Marksbury: The huge names who joined LIV needed to count on this as a risk, no matter what they have been advised when signing. But I do suppose it may very well be a deterrent for future high-profile amateurs, a number of of whom LIV has signed over the previous two years. The World Ranking information have to be disappointing for them. But two of the majors supply open qualification, so there’s all the time that avenue.

Sens: Possibly some purchaser’s regret for just a few of them. But since these guys are all extremely paid entertainers, I feel the extra related query is whether or not the paying buyer ought to have any regrets. After all, isn’t this imagined to be about bettering skilled golf as a product? That’s what we’ve been advised all alongside. Six LIV gamers are previous Masters champs and exempt into Augusta. Other high LIV gamers, together with Koepka and Smith, have main exemptions as effectively. Viewers is not going to be disadvantaged of them in 2024, and after that, who is aware of what’s going to occur with LIV anyway. In the meantime, does the concept among the lesser LIV gamers might need to qualify their method into, say, the U.S. Open, actually strike you as some form of grave injustice, worthy of your deep regret? There are higher makes use of of power and time.

Earlier this month, the PGA Tour gained 30 new cardholders who superior out of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship. Some gamers golf followers might need heard of, whereas others most likely fly beneath the radar. Give me one title on that checklist golf followers have to learn about for 2024?

Berhow: Norman Xiong. I’m extra aware of his story than I’m with the others — I wrote about Norman’s rise and fall two years in the past — however he’s a 24-year-old former faculty famous person at Oregon (NCAA Freshman of the Year, Fred Haskins and Jack Nicklaus award winner). He was the subsequent huge factor in golf however his profession bought sidetracked. He’s labored his method all the way in which again from zero standing and received twice on the Korn Ferry Tour. Now he’s on the PGA Tour. Very cool.

Marksbury: I’m dishonest and selecting two: the Coody twins, Pierceson and Parker. What a cool story: third-generation professionals whose grandfather received the Masters and whose father performed two PGA Tour occasions. Will be enjoyable to observe them each attempt to add extra accolades to the household legacy.

Sens: Rico Hoey. Mostly for the nickname: WGD, for World’s Greatest Driver. That’s fairly a literal moniker. Let’s see if it’s true.