Phil Mickelson’s losses, PGA Tour-PIF prospects, playoff heat

Check in each week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the most popular matters within the sport, and be part of the dialog by tweeting us @golf_com. This week, we’re discussing Jay Monahan’s media sit-down, Phil Mickelson’s bombshell playing allegations and Lilia Vu’s main achievement.

1. In PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan’s first sit-down interview with reporters since he returned from a go away to handle well being points introduced on by nervousness (try our Nick Piastowski’s recap right here), he revealed little element concerning the standing of the Tour’s ongoing negotiations with the Saudi Public Investment Fund apart from to say: “We’re hopeful that we’re going to reach an agreement, but ultimately these conversations — we’re going to get to a place where we feel like we have something that we recommend [to the Tour policy board], and if we feel like we’re in that position, then I think you can assume that you think it’s going to get done.” He added: ‘I’m decided and impressed to get there on behalf and for our gamers and for our followers.” With Jan. 1 looming, do you watched a deal will get completed? 

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): I do suppose the deal will get pushed by means of finally. Monahan and Dunne have put all their eggs in a single basket, and failure can be an unmitigated catastrophe. With either side extraordinarily motivated (though for various causes), it seems like they’ll make the deal occur.

Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@Jess_Marksbury): I agree, Zephyr. It appears unfathomable that this might disintegrate on the Tour aspect, given what has already transpired behind closed doorways. And now with Tiger Woods within the combine, it looks like no matter is set sooner or later could have the backing of the Tour membership. What nonetheless appears unclear is whether or not or not the Justice Department will pursue a block.

Josh Sens, senior author (@JoshSens): True that, Jessica. And among the many issues we realized about that preliminary framework settlement is that the events concerned both knew little to nothing about antitrust points or opted to easily look previous them as they rushed to place an finish to the authorized battle with a half-baked peace accord. The satan might be within the particulars, and people particulars might be checked out carefully by regulators. I anticipate there to be an settlement by Jan. 1. But that settlement will nonetheless be a great distance from a completed deal.

2. Did something Monahan advised reporters, on any subject, shock you?

Melton: While I’ve my reservations about a few of Monahan’s latest strikes, I did admire his candidness about his struggles with nervousness. It’s not all the time straightforward to be forthright about such a taboo subject, however Monahan didn’t beat across the bush. Here’s to hoping his psychological well being is in a greater place.

Marksbury: If there’s something this merger scenario has taught us, it’s that there’s a heck of rather a lot occurring behind the scenes that we aren’t aware of. So, in saying that, whereas there wasn’t something that Monahan mentioned lately that shocked me, I did suppose it was attention-grabbing when he mentioned the Tour would nonetheless be sustainable within the occasion the PIF deal collapses. I’d love to listen to extra on that. Sustainable in what manner? The present mannequin, or a skeleton model? I think about there’s a contingent of gamers on the market who might discover such an avenue extra engaging than the present framework settlement.

Sens: Talk of sustainability even when the PIF deal collapses made me marvel if there’s something to one of many theories I’ve heard knocked round: that Monahan and Co. are hoping that the deal falls aside beneath federal evaluation, leaving the Tour to then go search a partnership with non-Saudi, personal fairness cash. But all of that’s entering into the realm of spy-novel-like hypothesis, in a monetary world so opaque to most of us that we’d have extra luck gazing with our bare eyes into the depth of a black gap.

3. A brand new ebook from famed gambler Billy Walters alleges that Phil Mickelson — with whom Walters had a betting partnership — racked up $100 million in sports-betting losses and even tried to wager $400,000 on a U.S. win on the 2012 Ryder Cup, at which Mickelson competed. (Mickelson mentioned in a press release that he didn’t wager on that occasion however didn’t deal with whether or not he tried to wager on it.) Mickelson’s playing dependancy shouldn’t be information — previously he has acknowledged that his behavior grew to become “reckless and embarrassing” — however Walters’ allegations add extra texture to the breadth of Mickelson’s recklessness. What’s your largest takeaway from Walters’ account?

Melton: The Ryder Cup allegation is loopy! We’ve seen different high-profile athletes black-balled from their sports activities beneath comparable circumstances, so listening to that Mickelson tried to not solely wager on golf, however a contest he was taking part in in, is jarring. 

Marksbury: Reading about Walters’ and Mickelson’s alleged playing hijinks was like being transported to a unique planet. I can’t even start to attempt to relate to or touch upon that form of way of life. Obviously, betting on a aggressive occasion you’re taking part in is past the pale, and I actually hope Phil’s penchant for playing by no means crossed that line. He’s a beloved determine within the recreation, and he appears to get increasingly more bulletproof as time goes on. Judging by social media response, this newest allegation seems to have solely added to his lore for his followers.

Sens: A number of the social-media criticism of the excerpt I’ve learn has targeted on the truth that Walters is a convict with an ax to grind and to not be trusted. True about his prison background and that ax. But these feedback ignore how harmful and irrational playing turns into when it turns right into a illness. Mickelson clearly had the sickness. Having identified many individuals with that very same ailment, and having seen what the illness did to them, I didn’t discover Walters’ account arduous to consider in any respect.

4. Lilia Vu received the AIG Women’s Open by six strokes, dominating the sector for her second main title of the season. With the ladies’s main season now behind us, what efficiency or story line most sticks with you?

Melton: It’s gotta be Lilia Vu’s total season. Not way back, she was getting ready to quitting the sport. But after a magical 2023 main season, she’s a two-time main winner and the No. 1-ranked participant on the earth. An spectacular and meteoric rise from Vu this yr.

Marksbury: No query, Z. Winning two majors in a yr is big-time stuff, to say the least! And now Vu is barely the fourth American participant to carry the highest spot on the Rolex rating for the reason that rating debuted in 2006. Bonafide celebrity.  

Sens: Agreed. Nothing tops Vu’s season. But I can also’t assist pondering of Lydia Ko’s total 2023. She had such a terrific run in 2022, the cap to a exceptional comeback. And then she begins this yr with a brand new caddie and a brand new swing. I do know she’s not the primary in golf to make huge modifications proper when issues seem like going nice, however Ko’s total 2023 was a head-scratcher in that manner.

5. Lucas Glover received the FedEx St. Jude Classic, the primary of three legs of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Just 50 gamers superior from the St. Jude to subsequent week’s BMW Championship, from which 30 extra gamers will qualify for the Tour Championship. Has the brand new smaller-field playoff format for 2023 made the playoff extra attention-grabbing, or have fewer gamers within the combine diluted the drama? 

Marksbury: The major drama-driver this weekend was who would make the top-50 lower, and never as a result of that was the BMW Championship discipline quantity, however extra so due to the ramifications the FedEx Cup rating has for subsequent yr’s eight signature occasions, which the highest 50 might be exempt into. That was enjoyable to trace, regardless that there wasn’t a ton of motion on both aspect. I nonetheless favor an even bigger discipline with a lower, a minimum of for the primary playoff occasion. 

Sens: I favor the smaller discipline. The playoffs already undergo from a way of manufactured pleasure, with nothing a lot at stake apart from cash. If it’s going to be a free roll, a minimum of prohibit it to a smaller variety of gamers who’re acting at their finest.

6. In Memphis, the gamers and caddies suffered by means of real-feel temperatures that had been north of 110 levels. The extreme heat sidelined one caddie, clouded Jordan Spieth’s decision-making and had many asking whether or not in such sweltering situations gamers ought to be permitted to put on shorts. Should they?

Melton: They completely ought to. Tradition ought to be thrown out the window when participant security is at stake. When temps get that top, match organizers ought to be doing every little thing of their energy to maintain gamers protected from heat-related sickness. 

Marksbury: I was pro-pants in any respect prices. But now that I’ve been desensitized by practice-round shorts, they don’t hassle me as a lot. You have my blessing for match rounds, too! That mentioned, I’m unsure how a lot it would assist. Caddies can put on shorts, they usually had been nonetheless struggling. It’s simply powerful to fight temps and humidity that extreme.  

Sens: When it involves golf gown codes, I just about have a don’t ask, don’t care coverage. You wish to put on shorts, knock your self out. That’s between you and your style god and your sponsor. Besides, as local weather change continues to speed up, whether or not to indicate a bit leg goes to be the least of the questions. There might be growing uncertainty concerning the viability of sure venues at sure instances of the yr.