Tiger Woods’ return and new LIV Golf players 

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 at @golf.com. This week, we talk about when Tiger Woods may return, the potential of extra gamers becoming a member of LIV Golf, Collin Morikawa’s win and extra.   

1. Tiger Woods introduced the sphere for his Hero World Challenge (Nov. 30-Dec. 3), with 17 of the 18 spots stuffed and one spot open for a “TBA tournament exemption.” Last 12 months, Woods left this spot open for himself, but he withdrew Monday of match week as a consequence of plantar fasciitis. What are the probabilities we see Woods play the Hero this 12 months? If not on the Hero, when do you expect we’ll see Woods subsequent?

Josh Sens, senior author (@joshsens): Woods used to make it fairly plain that the Masters was his high precedence. I believe you may argue that at this level in his profession, enjoying in his personal match within the tropics and together with his son within the PNC are actually proper up there in significance to him. So, barring any new bodily setbacks, I’d financial institution on seeing him on the Hero. And in fact within the father/son. And presumably the Genesis at Riviera, earlier than Augusta in April. Oh, and if we’re wanting additional out — the senior circuit. How about Woods saying he’s wanting ahead to getting on the market in a cart when he turns 50? Remember how unlikely that prospect used to look? The years put on on. People change.

Ryan Barath, tools editor (@rdsbarath): As a lot as I’m an optimist, I don’t have numerous optimism for Tiger enjoying much more skilled golf — even his personal occasion. Do I consider that the ultimate spot on the Hero is probably for Woods? Yes. But the spot may be stuffed by any variety of gamers, together with a participant from LIV. Considering the swings we noticed Tiger make just a few weeks in the past on the par-3 course at Pebble Beach, I believe best-case is we see Tiger subsequent on the Masters. 

Jack Hirsh, assistant editor (@JR_HIRSHey): I don’t assume Tiger would save himself a spot if he didn’t assume he might play. That mentioned, I used to be extra discouraged from the one swing video we noticed from him at Pebble Beach just a few weeks in the past. That seemed like a person who is nearly fully unable to push off his proper leg. The surgical procedure he had seems to be prefer it has vastly restricted his mobility in his proper ankle, so till I’m seeing him swing away at drivers, I believe that is extra of an optimistic hope for Tiger than a practical plan.

2. In a press convention throughout LIV Golf’s Team Championship, Phil Mickelson was assured that extra PGA Tour and DP World Tour gamers would be part of LIV. “Do I think that? No,” he mentioned. “I know that’s going to happen.” How a lot fact do you assume there may be in Mickelson’s assertion? Given the state of the present golf world and the truth that LIV was simply denied World Ranking factors, how intrigued do you assume professionals are to hitch LIV proper now?

Sens: Mickelson is each a LIV participant and a LIV PR agent, so every little thing he says needs to be taken in that context. In this case, although, I believe he speaks the reality. Seems inevitable that some further guys will leap; most individuals have a worth, in spite of everything. If there’s sufficient cash concerned, somebody can be intrigued. Whether these can be massive names or gamers of slim relevance is one other matter. With a lot up within the air with the merger, it’s laborious to make the calculus. Or make predictions. While the OWGR’s resolution to disclaim rating factors wasn’t excellent news for LIV, it might grow to be moot relying on the phrases of the deal. We could quickly see a world the place gamers can transfer fluidly between LIV and the opposite excursions. Only time will inform. I doubt even Jimmy Dunne and Yassir know precisely what’s going to occur at this level.

Barath: Similar to what Josh mentioned, I believe Phil is throwing no matter predictions he can into the void, so he can declare any that come true as him being proper. As for high gamers, I guess there might be just a few who’ve present main exemptions who’re keen to signal a take care of LIV if the quantity is excessive sufficient. Look, we might be as romantic as we wish concerning the recreation of golf, however on the skilled degree, there are numerous gamers who’re merely there to make use of their expertise to make as a lot cash as attainable — and if LIV nonetheless has a wide-open checkbook, why not take the cash?

Hirsh: Barath took the phrases straight outta my mouth, err, off my keyboard? Anyway, I completely agree: Mickelson is simply throwing you-know-what on the wall and seeing what sticks. I’m undecided he’s as keyed in with discussions as he lets on. I doubt many extra PGA Tour gamers will leap over given how LIV’s future has by no means been extra clouded, given the upcoming take care of the PGA and DP World Tours. If I’m a professional, there’s no means I’m leaving the PGA Tour for a tour that will not exist in 2025.

3. Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee reacted to Mickelson’s feedback and mentioned it’s “inevitable” different stars will be part of, however mentioned only a few gamers make a distinction. He additionally added: “Rahm worries me a bit as he seems open to the idea.” If the Tour misplaced one other star to LIV within the offseason, how detrimental wouldn’t it be to the PGA Tour in spite of everything that’s occurred to appease the Tour’s high expertise up to now 12 months?

Sens: If one big-name defection led to a slew of others leaping ship, it could make waves. But I don’t assume any single participant switching over can be a vital tipping level, not even somebody of Rahm’s stature. It wouldn’t instantly flip LIV into an thrilling product; and it wouldn’t smash the largest Tour occasions both. You can rearrange the puzzle items any means you need, however the reality stays that there are a restricted variety of tournaments anyplace that basically transfer the needle. That was the case earlier than the delivery of LIV, and it stays the case as we speak. The irrational market created by LIV could have created the impression that some particular person gamers are invaluable to the sport. That’s fantasy, not actuality. 

Barath: The complete sports activities panorama is constructed on regularity, familiarity and historical past, and regardless of how laborious LIV tries to power themselves into the skilled golf ecosystem, it’s going to take a seismic shift to: 1) carry non-major occasions into the world of informal golfers; and 2) have informal sports activities followers take note of LIV. At the tip of the day, sports activities rankings soar solely when informal followers perceive what’s on the road. For sports activities like baseball, soccer and basketball, that’s the playoffs. In tennis, it’s the 4 Grand Slams. And as a lot because the PGA Tour gained’t admit it, golf’s 4 majors are when informal golf followers care probably the most. So with all of that in thoughts, I believe LIV might get just a few high gamers, nevertheless it gained’t make an enormous distinction.  

Hirsh: We name him the needle for a cause. Unless Tiger is doing it, it’s not going to matter. And he’s not doing it. Besides, even when they may sway one participant, it’s wanting more and more like it could be for under a 12 months or so.

4. Collin Morikawa gained the Zozo Championship in Japan, ending a winless drought that dated again to the 2021 Open Championship. What had been holding him again the previous couple of years? And now, as he jumps from twentieth to thirteenth within the World Ranking with the win, do you count on him to crack the highest 10 in 2024? Top 5?

Sens: The stats inform a fairly clear story. Heading into the week, he was second on Tour in Strokes Gained: Approach and 112th in Strokes Gained: Putting. Golfing his ball effectively however rolling it poorly. This week, he rolled it nice. Putting is streaky. The excellent news for Morikawa is that his ball-striking isn’t probably going anyplace. And I’d wager on him having sufficient good weeks on the inexperienced to crack the highest 10.

Barath: For Collin, it has all the time been about his placing, and it looks as if his latest gear change has been a giant assist to that a part of his recreation. If he is ready to keep a gentle degree, even when it’s not prefer it was this week, he’ll proceed to indicate up on leaderboards in 2024 and past. (And right here’s the story on his putter!) 

Hirsh: Morikawa simply must have common PGA Tour performances across the greens to win. We actually noticed how a lot his quick recreation holds him again when he blew a six-shot lead on the Sentry. And his placing was simply by no means what it wanted to be. We didn’t get strokes gained knowledge from the Zozo, however judging from his 26 putts in spherical 4, I guess he’d no less than rank among the many high 20 within the discipline in placing. That’s scary for a man who is sort of assured to hit 13 to 16 greens a spherical. Plus, he was seventeenth within the discipline in scrambling for the week, with 5 of his seven missed up-and-downs coming in Friday’s 73. The work he’s doing with Stephen Sweeney and Parker McLachlin is clearly paying off.

5. Netflix introduced its first-ever dwell sports activities property within the Netflix Cup (airing Nov. 14), which is able to function Rickie Fowler, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas competing in groups alongside Formula 1 stars Alex Albon, Pierre Gasley, Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris. What are your ideas on the most recent golf/celeb match?

Sens: Given the stake the Saudis additionally maintain in Formula 1, I believe we will see this as additional proof of their rising affect within the recreation. A slam-dunk alternative for cross-branding. I count on we’ll see extra of this as time wears on. Personally, I’d quite get a root canal than sit on my sofa watching Formula 1. And I’d take a root canal with out novocaine over watching a bunch of Formula 1 drivers play golf with Tour professionals. But I additionally know that that in all probability places me within the minority, and I’m positive that this celeb hoo-hah will draw loads of eyeballs and sponsorship {dollars}. I simply can’t get enthusiastic about it. As a sensible pal not too long ago put it, there’s simply an excessive amount of of everybody these days, clamoring for extra cash, extra consideration, extra … you title it. Thomas, Morikawa, Fowler, Homa — nice golfers, all. But do we actually have to see extra of them in watered-down codecs? What all this fluff does is make the majors and just a few different significant occasions appear all the higher. I’d quite save my free time for these competitions than spend it on a televised celeb match. And whereas we’re at it, you youngsters, get off my yard!

Barath: On a private degree, I’m with Josh in that it’s not one thing I’m going to spend so much of time consuming, however — and it’s a giant one — most of these leisure occasions should not designed to usher in hardcore followers, and due to that, I believe it’s going to be an enormous hit! I’ve quite a few informal {golfing} associates who don’t know the Genesis Invitational from the Farmers Insurance Open, however they have been fast to achieve out and ask me questions on this made-for-TV occasion, which I believe is nice for golf as an entire. Lots of curious individuals can be tuning in.

Hirsh: I actually have little interest in watching people who find themselves not higher than me at golf play golf. It’s not enjoyable watching well-known individuals battle to make par on programs arrange for birdie fests. I don’t like watching celeb golf tournaments or the Match when professionals aren’t concerned. Now what can be an amazing concept is the one floated by our GOLF Subpar guys this week. Let’s eliminate the celebrities and give the caddies their time to shine. A player-caddie group occasion can be sick.

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