Players Championship week and LIV Golf’s world-ranking fight 

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 part of the dialog by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week we focus on the Players Championship, PGA Tour playing cards, Full Swing, LIV Golf’s world-ranking combat and extra.  

1. The PGA Tour’s marquee occasion, the Players Championship, kicks off Thursday at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., though it will likely be with out a few massive names, amongst them Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, who had been the newest batch of PGA Tour gamers who jumped to LIV over the previous yr. Long considered “the fifth major” with its stacked area and iconic golf course, is there any match that’s been damage extra over the previous few years as a result of golf’s PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf battle than the Players?

Sean Zak, senior author (@sean_zak): Yes. I’d argue that quite a few the Signature Events have been damage extra, partly as a result of they’ve been pressured into smaller fields with the promise of one of the best gamers on this planet competing. And whereas that has largely been the case, quite a few them have nonetheless pivoted to LIV Golf. The Genesis Invitational’s defending champion the previous two years has been lacking. The RBC Heritage made extra headlines final yr for Rory McIlroy lacking it than for individuals who confirmed up. I’ve believed the Signature Events have been a great and necessary step for the Tour’s construction, however the Players nonetheless has a 144-person area. Scottie Scheffler is the defending champ. Justin Thomas goes to win this yr. It’s nonetheless a rattling good match, even with Tyrrell Hatton’s departure. 

Nick Piastowski, senior editor (@nickpia): Yes, I’d say it’s the Players. It had hung its hat on having “the best in field in golf” — the place now, it’s basically a Signature Event with an even bigger area. It’s not as distinguishable because it as soon as was when in comparison with occasions just like the Travelers, the Wells Fargo and RBC Heritage, all elevated within the PGA Tour’s new world order. That being mentioned, with extra gamers than these occasions, the Players may have extra storylines and the prospect for an unknown champion — however that thought takes us additional down the rabbit gap (golf gap?) and it’s most likely a complete different Tour Confidential query. And I assume we might discuss whether or not this all kills the concept of the Players turning into the fifth main. Clearly loads happening right here. 

James Colgan, information and options editor (@jamescolgan26): Man, what about all of the Non-Signature Events that misplaced their star energy when the Tour shifted to this mannequin? The Players has been damage by its advertising and marketing technique, but it surely stays related on the golf calendar. Not positive you possibly can say that about a number of the different Tour occasions.

2. Rory McIlroy mentioned he has no drawback with the PGA Tour’s Signature Events being restricted to smaller fields (69 gamers competed at Bay Hill) and added he’s all for “less players and less Tour cards.” Asked to increase on what number of Tour playing cards the PGA Tour ought to award, McIlroy mentioned, “I just feel like there’s a lot of categories on Tour that people are sort of still benefiting off what they did like five or 10 years ago. I feel like the most competitive professional golf tour in the world, you should have to come out and prove yourself year after year after year.” Do you agree with McIlroy?

Zak: Yes, I do. McIlroy actually isn’t attempting to cut down the entire variety of PGA Tour gamers by loads. He’s simply attempting to skinny the herd barely (possibly 10-15 %) and finally create an elite Tour that rests above the 40-week schedule that should cater to tons of. He’s dreamed up a Champions League-style entry to a Tour that covers the globe. That goes hand-in-hand with highlighting one of the best up-and-coming expertise far more than gamers holding on to standing from a victory they nabbed in 2019. 

Piastowski: I do too. The most in-form gamers, and the man above me right here within the responses splendidly broke down what which means, and you possibly can learn that right here. Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch additionally tackled the topic, with this thought: If you’re going to be cutthroat, what precisely do you do with that Tiger man, who hasn’t received shortly? That’s a helluva query, and you possibly can read that story here. 

Colgan: I believe you let Tiger do no matter he desires, as a result of he’s Tiger freaking Woods, and you narrow the fields elsewhere. Golf’s pursuit of a meritocracy died the day they took $3 billion from the SSG — now it’s about discovering the place the massive $$$ is hiding.

3. Season two of Netflix’s “Full Swing” PGA Tour docuseries launched Wednesday with eight episodes that lined the PGA Tour-Saudi PIF merger, the Ryder Cup and heaps extra. What was your favourite or most memorable second from season two, and what forgotten or little-covered subject do you assume deserved extra air time?

Zak: My favourite second was Rory McIlroy telling Jon Rahm that Rahm made him wish to be higher. It’s one of many greatest compliments a prime professional might give — that the existence of a selected expertise made an all-time nice wish to be larger. Rory mentioned this within the speedy moments following the Ryder Cup, when all felt proper within the golf world. Precisely two months earlier than Rahm jumped to LIV Golf. The stage of respect Rory has for Rahm, and vice versa, is what’s gonna make Europe nice once more on the 2025 Ryder Cup. 

Piastowski: Damn it, Zak, I’m solely midway via, and now you’re spoiling it. I imply, my favourite second to this point is seeing my fairly face for a fast second on episode two. Kidding, kidding. (Maybe.) My actual prime second, although, is the Wyndham Clark/Joel Dahmen episode, and the journey they take with the psychological aspect of the sport. There are takeaways there for us all. As for an undercovered subject? Easy. The LPGA. 

Colgan: The Ryder Cup episodes had been implausible and gave the present the sort of propulsive component it has been lacking in any other case. I perceive the character-driven format, but when it’s nonetheless round when the RC involves Bethpage in ‘25, TOSS out the format and make the entire season across the Ryder Cup.

4. LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman instructed LIV gamers that the league has withdrawn its software for accreditation from the Official World Golf Ranking, that means LIV gamers will not have that avenue to qualify for main championships in the event that they aren’t already exempt. “It is now clear that the best way forward for LIV as a league and you as LIV golfers is not through the current ranking system,” Norman mentioned. “A resolution which protects the accuracy, credibility, and integrity of the OWGR rankings no longer exists.” Are you shocked Norman ended this battle? And with LIV Golf including extra expertise (like Rahm), shouldn’t there be extra strain on the OWGR board to discover a technique to incorporate LIV? Or on the organizations that host majors?

Zak: Norman and his LIV golfers had been incessantly whining about this and weren’t being taken critically, so I’m not tremendous shocked that he gave up. It wasn’t a great look! As for the strain the OWGR ought to face, they’ve been fairly clear concerning the formatting points that LIV Golf has for its occasions and its seasonal turnover, so I believe there ought to all the time have been extra strain on LIV to return to the desk with a stronger presentation than a largely closed store of 54-hole tournaments. I believe the organizations that host majors might most likely kick a number of extra invitations LIV’s approach, but it surely’s utterly subjective and as much as them. If, say, the PGA of America doesn’t love that Talor Gooch began his LIV profession by brazenly mocking the Ryder Cup, they may really feel proper to contemplate that when assessing his rating by an independent-analysis group resembling KnowledgeGolf. LIV Golf was unprecedented, and I believe the organizations had been OK to deal with it accordingly. (Keep in thoughts the lingering truth that each one governing our bodies had been being introduced right into a frivolous lawsuit or investigations by way of LIV Golf lower than a yr in the past.) 

Piastowski: Whew. Rather a lot right here. First, I encourage you to learn right here what our Dylan Dethier wrote concerning the topic, and I very a lot agree with the factors there. Am I shocked LIV punted? Can I say sure and no? They want the factors for main invitations, and there’s just one group that arms out factors — and now you’re not making use of anymore? Odd. Then once more, would they’ve to alter their format? Yeah, most likely. Would the factors they ultimately get be small, just because their gamers have tumbled down the rankings as this course of has unfolded? Yeah, most likely. So they moved on. Drew a line within the bunker sand. I now have a sense there’s going to be a marketing campaign on the majors. Much more pitches like Talor Gooch’s, the place he thought future Masters winners ought to get asterisks as a result of not the entire greatest execs had been included. Who is aware of the place this goes. Can all of the majors agree on an impartial rating and/or a considerably unified approach on the best way to deal with LIV? Or do they imagine their occasions are positive with out? Stay tuned. 

Colgan: I’m shocked he ended the battle as a result of main championship eligibility nonetheless issues deeply to LIV. That mentioned, it appears remarkably silly to me that one thing referred to as the Official World Golf Ranking may very well be leaving out the dudes enjoying in LIV. I perceive the nuance and logistics required, and I don’t assume that LIV ought to be simply “allowed in” on benefit. But there must be an answer to correctly weight every part to permit LIV to be included. Feels like we’re dropping the forest for the timber right here.

5. Anthony Kim made 5 back-nine birdies and shot 65 on Sunday at LIV Hong Kong, recording by far one of the best spherical of his six since he returned to professional golf. He now heads to Macau to compete within the International Series on the Asian Tour. Does this Sunday surge change your ideas relating to his prospects going ahead?

Zak: I believe so? It wasn’t one of the best spherical of the day, nor the second greatest. But it was fifth greatest out of 54! Which is de facto good, and evokes some hope that this received’t be a tragic state of affairs by, say, LIV Houston. But there are really 1000’s of execs who might shoot that rating in a single out of six LIV occasions. It’s about doing it greater than as soon as and doing it with greater than a scorching putter. Kim made nearly every part he checked out Sunday, which is sweet. His stroke appears to be like nice! But his ball-striking has been fairly horrible since his return began, and that’s the place nearly all of your successes lie in professional golf. He’ll have to straighten it out if he desires to shoot extra rounds within the 60s. 

Piastowski: I’m kinda pondering we shouldn’t have drawn conclusions after his match final week — and I’m kinda pondering we shouldn’t draw conclusions after one good spherical. But because you requested, yeah, let’s be inspired. I like the concept of somebody on the comeback path tapping into what beforehand made them nice. That’s why we like sports activities, proper?

Colgan: Awesome story, and I’m pumped for AK personally, however I’ll reserve judgment till he does it on a course longer than 6,700 yards. 

6. Golfers who need a tee time on St. Andrews’ Old Course will not be allowed to earn a time by tenting out in a single day (however as an alternative attempt their luck in a drawing). What’s your favourite traditional golf custom that also exists?

Zak: I actually like when municipal programs (significantly well-known ones, like Bethpage Black or Torrey Pines) preserve discounted charges for native residents. Or, put one other approach, aren’t afraid to jack up the costs for out-of-town guests. It’s beautiful that San Diego residents can commonly play the identical course as Max Homa does throughout Farmers Insurance Open week, however not get gauged for it just because the Tour goes there yearly. 

Piastowski: Hmm, let’s be topical and say … at present! Turn-the-clocks-forward day, the place we really feel that annual feeling of pleasure of figuring out we get one hour further of sunshine to hit golf balls. 

Colgan: My favourite golf expertise on this planet is teeing off on the primary tee at Bethpage Black behind the famed warning signal. Nothing higher or extra important than that.