Quick Nine Golf

⛳️ What a finish!

Nick Bastone — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 02:39:31 +0000

Akshay Bhatia wins the Valero Texas Open.

For much of Sunday, heck for much of the week, Akshay Bhatia looked like he was going to run away with the Valero Texas Open.

But a back nine 28 (!!) from Denny McCarthy, that included seven birdies on his final seven holes, forced a playoff with Bhatia (who had to make an 11.5 footer himself at the last to stay alive).

In the end, McCarthy dunked a ball into the water and Bhatia (having partially dislocated his shoulder after his celebration on 18) sealed the victory on the first playoff hole with a 6-foot birdie.

The 22-year-old Bhatia now has two wins on the PGA Tour, and importantly, earned a spot in next week’s Masters.

That’s where the story ended on Sunday, and where I think I’ll leave things for now with the Quick Nine as well.

Wait, what?

Yes, I know. It’s terrible timing (Masters week is officially upon us!) and it’s hard to imagine not writing this newsletter anymore. But life has a funny way of working itself out.

I recently started another job that’s going to require my much of my attention. And, with two young kids at home, life is already a bit of a blur.

I do hope to come back to writing the Quick Nine in the future. So, I’d love for you to stay subscribed (I won’t spam you in the meantime, I promise).

Also, with the Masters this week, I wanted to make sure you were in good hands.

For newsletters: If you aren’t already subscribed to The Fried Egg, you should. They bring you golf news and insights every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

And, if you’re a true golf fanatic, I’d also follow Kyle Porter’s Normal Sport newsletter. It’s full of good thoughts and ridiculous happenings that this game offers on a weekly daily basis.

For podcasts: I’d listen to CBS’ The First Cut to stay in the loop on golf news. The Shotgun Start is good as well (and Rory approved, as we learned in Full Swing).

Alright. It’s totally bittersweet to say goodbye, but thanks so much to all of you who followed along over these past six-plus months. I loved writing this newsletter, and I hope it brought you some joy as well.

All the best and hope to talk again soon,

Nick B. ✌️

Big win for bucket caps

Nick Bastone — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 06:09:28 +0000

Top stories:

Peter Malnati wins the Valspar Championship
Another runner-up finish for Cameron Young
Nelly Korda wins two-in-a-row
“Happy Gilmore” sequel

1. Peter Malnati, an unlikely name to emerge from a busy leaderboard on Sunday, captured his first PGA Tour win in over eight years at the Valspar Championship.

ESPN

Malnati — who wears a bucket cap, plays a yellow ball, and is better known these days for his role on the PGA Tour’s Player Advisory Council — had an eventful final round.
- He topped a 3-wood at the 5th, made a 15-footer for birdie that he absolutely hated at the 11th, and converted a clutch birdie at the difficult par-3 17th that helped seal his second-ever victory on Tour.
“To have this moment, it just feels so amazing,” Malnati said, carrying his young son and holding back tears during a must watch, green-side interview. “This is my dream job, and it's absolutely amazing. But life is really, really hard, too.”
Entering the week, Malnati’s odds of winning were 325-1.

Malnati celebrates with his son on Sunday.

2. More notes from the Valspar

Cam Young had a share of the lead heading into his final hole on Sunday. But a wayward drive and ultimately, a three-putt bogey on 18 left Young in solo 2nd and still searching for his first PGA Tour win.
- Young now has seven runner-up finishes on Tour.
Keith Mitchell, the leader by two heading into Sunday, pulled his drive at No. 1 into a “makeshift parking lot” and never fully recovered. His final round 77 dropped him to a T17.
Justin Thomas was lurking (one shot off the lead) after 36-holes. But a disastrous putting performance Saturday led to an 8-over 79 and raised even more questions about the status of his game heading into major season.
Jordan Spieth, Sungjae Im, Min Woo Lee, Tony Finau, and Sam Burns were among the notables to miss the cut this week, which was the final leg of the PGA Tour’s Florida Swing.

3. Good posts 💯

4. More scores ⛳️

Nelly Korda victorious in Los Angeles this weekend.

Nelly Korda won the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship on Sunday, making it two wins in three starts to kick off her 2024 LPGA season.
- Korda is now projected to be No. 1 in the women’s world golf ranking for the sixth time in her career.
Padraig Harrington — the man who thinks he can teach every golfer to be a single-digit handicapper — claimed his seventh Champions Tour victory on Sunday in Newport Beach, CA.
And, Jesper Svensson outlasted Kiradech Aphibarnrat in a playoff to win the DP World Tour’s Porsche Singapore Classic.

5. More news 🗞️

“Happy Gilmore 2” could go straight to Netflix, per Deadline.

A “Happy Gilmore” sequel is in-the-works, according to actor Christopher McDonald AKA Shooter McGavin.
- It may go straight to Netflix.
There are just under 100 days until the field for this summer’s Olympics is finalized.
- The current American roster includes Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Xander Schauffele, and Patrick Cantlay.
- Brian Harman and Max Homa are the first two out.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said player directors from the Tour’s policy board had “constructive” conversations with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund last week in the Bahamas.
- Still, no word on whether the Tour will receive investment money from the PIF.
Jon Rahm revealed his Masters Champions dinner menu, including an impressive “tapas y pintxos” lineup.
And, the Masters unveiled its much-anticipated, 2024 garden gnome. Behold:

6. Up Next

Scottie won the Arnold Palmer and The Players in his last two starts.

Can Scottie Scheffler win three-in-a-row? We’ll find out this week at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.

That’s all for today! Have a wonderful week and see you back here soon. - Nick Bastone

New to the Quick Nine? I’d love for you to follow along and subscribe 👇

🏆 History at The Players

Nick Bastone — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 06:09:48 +0000

Top stories:

Scottie makes history, defends title at The Players
Wyndham’s lip-out at the last
Tour players expected to meet with the Saudis this week

1. Scottie Scheffler shot a final round 64 to win The Players Championship for a second straight year, solidifying his position as the best player in golf.

ESPN

Scheffler started his final round five shots off the lead. But a 31 on the front (including a hole-out eagle at the 4th), put him in striking position.
A pair of late bogeys from Xander Schauffele and a brutal lip out for Wyndham Clark at the 18th helped Scheffler become the first back-to-back winner ever at The Players.
Scheffler is now 2/2 with his new mallet putter and has won a combined $8.5 million over the last two weeks.

2. Memorable moments from an especially memorable Players Championship

Scheffler battling a neck injury throughout the week and receiving on-course treatment.
- His caddy, Ted Scott, didn’t think he’d make it to the weekend.
- And rightfully so. This was the scene on Friday.

Xander Schauffele’s back nine on Sunday, especially his missed 7.5-foot birdie putt on 17.
- “This one sucks a little bit more,” Schauffele said after his round, referring to his T2 finish at the 2018 Players. “Just another close call.”
Wyndham Clark’s lip-out on 18, which deserves a closer look.
- Golf can be so cruel.

Maverick McNealy’s handshake with his caddy after chipping-in on Saturday.
- My take: A nice week for McNealy (T9), but this was very much a “my dad co-founded Sun Microsystems” moment.

Rickie Fowler’s “You!”
Jay Monahan’s boos.
And of course, the 8-minute, on-course discussion (and subsequent Golf Channel segment) to decipher where Rory McIlroy’s drive landed on Thursday.
- Whether his ball bounced outside the hazard line or not, McIlroy stalled out after an opening round 65, finishing T19 for the week.

3. Good posts 💯

It was a good week for the PGA Tour’s social team.

This was savage. (Watch the full video to find out why 👇)

And, this was wonderful. (The new, updated Players logo)

4. Up next: A meeting with the Saudis and the Valspar

Patrick Cantlay confirmed an upcoming meeting with LIV Golf’s backers.

Members of the PGA Tour Policy Board, including Patrick Cantlay, are expected to meet with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund on Monday, as part of ongoing discussions over the PIF’s potential investment.
- During his annual “State of the Tour” address last week, commissioner Jay Monahan said he had recently met with PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan and that “while we have several key issues that we still need to work through, we have a shared vision to quiet the noise and unlock golf's worldwide potential."
- Monahan added: “I do believe that negotiating a deal with PIF is the best outcome.”
Negotiations aside, the PGA Tour heads to Palm Harbor, Florida this week for the Valspar Championship.
- Headliners include Xander, Brian Harmon, Sam Burns, Cam Young, Justin Thomas, and Jordan Spieth.

That’s all for now! Have a wonderful week and see you back here soon. - Nick Bastone

New to the Quick Nine? I’d love for you to follow along and subscribe 👇

⛳️ Scottie catches fire

Nick Bastone — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 05:16:10 +0000

Top stories:

Scottie’s putter catches fire, dominates at the Arnold Palmer
Anthony Kim goes low on Sunday, first time since his return
LIV passes on OWGR points
Padraig Harrington thinks everyone can be a single-digit handicapper
The Players is upon us

1. Scottie Scheffler ran away with the Arnold Palmer Invitational this weekend, thanks to a long-awaited, strong putting performance.

ESPN

Heading into Bay Hill, Scheffler was the top ranked ball-striker on the PGA Tour, but 144th in putting.
He switched to a mallet this week — a move Rory McIlroy suggested on-air at the Genesis — and finished the tournament 5th overall in putting.
On Sunday alone, Scheffler gained 3.88 strokes with his flat stick and didn’t miss a putt inside 15-feet.
“Part of the problem is just trying too hard,” Scheffler told reporters on Sunday.
Before the Arnold Palmer, Scheffler had gone winless in his previous 19 starts, but had 15 (!) top-10 finishes.
He’ll look to defend his title this week at The Players Championship.

2. Abraham Ancer won the individual event, Crushers GC took top team honors, but Anthony Kim stole the spotlight on Sunday at LIV Hong Kong with a 5-under final round.

Kim’s 65 on Sunday was his first under-par round since his return and his best performance by seven shots.
“Coming from where I came from over the last 10, 12 years, I’m just very grateful for this opportunity,” Kim said on Sunday. “Every step I walk, I feel blessed. So [no] matter what I shoot, I feel like I’ve won.”
LIV’s next tournament is at the start of April at Trump Doral in Miami.

3. More headlines 🗞️

Regarding the men’s professional game …

LIV Golf withdrew its efforts to obtain Official World Golf Ranking accreditation on Tuesday.
- My take: I kinda like the move. The OWGR is already losing credibility within the golf world. And now, LIV is further forcing the majors to reconsider their eligibility criteria.
Rory McIlroy said this week that he wants a “more cut throat, more competitive” PGA Tour with fewer players.
- “You should have to come out and prove yourself year after year after year,” McIlroy said.
- Wyndham Clark agreed, saying “it would be amazing” if the Tour had 100 players and 20 were relegated each year.
Meanwhile, Lucas Glover called the PGA Tour’s new limited-field, higher-pursed Signature Events “selfish” and “a money grab.”

Regarding the fun stuff …

Full Swing executive producer Chad Mumm is launching a new golf entertainment company called “Pro Shop,” which raised nearly $20 million and will work in partnership with the PGA Tour.
TGL says its upgrading its virtual golf stadium with “a steel supported roof” after extensive damage to the structure late last year postponed the upstart league’s inaugural season.
And, Padraig Harrington said this week that his instructional videos should “be able to get every golfer in the whole wide world to a single figure handicap.”
- He added: “I think that’s a very reasonable goal.”
- My take: This sounds completely unreasonable. But, I love the optimism from Paddy, and I am now one of 127,000 to subscribe to his YouTube channel.

4. Good posts 💯

5. Up next: The Players Championship starts on Thursday.

Fun Fact: If Scottie Scheffler wins, he’ll be the first back-to-back champ ever at TPC Sawgrass.

That’s all for now! Have a wonderful week and see you back here soon. - Nick Bastone

New to the Quick Nine? I’d love for you to follow along and subscribe 👇

AK's return raises questions

Nick Bastone — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 07:09:36 +0000

Well, hello there. A strange weekend in professional golf — complete with a Monday finish in Florida — delayed me sending this newsletter earlier. I hope that’s alright!

Since this edition is going out at a different time, I figured I’d switch up the format a bit as well. If you like it, I’d love to hear from you!

For now, here are nine thoughts / questions / things that stuck with me from this weekend in golf:

Anthony Kim played his practice rounds in a white tee.

1. Anthony Kim’s comeback left me feeling kind of … sad.

And not because he finished last or that his anticipated return took place in a Saudi Arabian desert in front of practically no fans.

Mostly, I think the sadness came from the murmurs throughout the week that maybe there was more than a $10 million insurance policy that had kept AK away from the game. LIV CEO Greg Norman alluded to AK’s struggles during the tournament broadcast, saying he’d fallen into a “dark hole” and “about a year ago, cleaned himself up.”

But Norman didn’t go into more detail. And, until AK decides to share more of his story (if he ever does), I guess we should do our best to focus on his golf. Though, it is hard not to wonder.

2. As for his golf, Kim said on Sunday that he looked forward to “being in contention at some point this year.”

Seeing AK with a chance to win again would be awesome, don’t get me wrong. That just feels so far away. And in the meantime, I wonder how long a mediocre-at-best AK can keep people’s attention?

I guess, as the Fried Egg’s Brendan Porath put it: “Much of the myth built over the last decade was always going to vanish once that seal was broken.”

Joaquin Niemann has now won over $8 million in three LIV tournaments this year.

3. Joaquin Niemann won LIV Jeddah on Sunday, which makes the 25-year-old Chilean the hottest player in golf right now.

His last seven professional starts — Win, 3rd, T30, Win, T4, Win, 5th.

The victory also makes Niemann’s recent Masters and PGA Championship invites even more deserving. And, if the majors end up changing their qualifying criteria (like, letting in top LIV players regardless of their OWGR status), Niemann’s red hot start to 2024 could be seen as a catalyst.

4. Speaking of LIV players getting (or not getting) into majors …

Kyle Porter dedicated an entire edition of his Normal Sport newsletter to Talor Gooch’s Masters snub and subsequent asterisk comment. It’s worth a read!

Sam Harrop’s song on the asterisk matter is also very much worth your time.

5. We’re on point #5 and haven’t talked about the PGA Tour yet, which is wild.

But, that’s what happens when the stars of your circuit aren’t winning.

Sure, this year’s winners have offered interesting storylines. But where are players like Viktor Hovland, Max Homa, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, and Collin Morikawa? It’s been a lackluster start to 2024 for many of the PGA Tour’s biggest names.

6. As for this week’s Cognizant Classic winner, his name is Austin Eckroat.

On a Monday morning finish, the 25-year-old Eckroat was able to hold off a charging Erik van Rooyen and Min Woo Lee to claim his first ever PGA Tour victory.

7. Masters week starts in 34 days and wonderful things are starting to emerge online, like these “Taste of the Masters” party kits.

8. This is also wonderful. Big fan of the warm-up hole idea.

9. And, here’s what’s coming up this week:

Full Swing season 2 premiers on Netflix tomorrow.
The PGA Tour’s top players head to Bay Hill for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, while the “normies” are off to Puerto Rico.
LIV, meanwhile, will play this week in Hong Kong.

That’s all for today! Thanks so much for reading ya’ll, and I’ll see you back here next week. — Nick Bastone

New here? I’d love for you to follow along full-time and subscribe to the Quick Nine.

💪 Former bouncer wins

Nick Bastone — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 07:11:59 +0000

With the PGA Tour handing out more and more money for its Signature Events, fewer and fewer big names are playing in the regular olé tournaments — like this weekend’s Mexico Open.

Still, despite the lackluster field, a mustachioed smooth-swinger emerged victorious and provided plenty of wonderful storylines.

Before we get into it, a quick reminder that the Quick Nine is a twice-weekly newsletter I started last year to help you keep up with the top stories in golf. If you like what you read, I’d love for you to share it with a friend or two.

Share with a friend

Now, onto the news …

1. Knapp time!

ESPN

Jake Knapp lost his Korn Ferry Tour status in 2021. And so for nine months, to pay the bills, he worked as a nightclub bouncer in his native Orange County, California.

After this week, the 29-year-old Knapp can add another fun fact to his bio page — PGA Tour winner.

Knapp, a UCLA alum, started Sunday’s final round four shots clear of Finland’s Sami Valimaki.

Things tightened after Knapp made two bogeys in his first three holes.
But despite only hitting two fairways and nine greens on Sunday, Knapp — who shot 64-63 in his previous two rounds — found a way to steady the ship and scramble his way around Nuevo Vallarta.
When Valimaki’s tee-shot sailed right at the 18th, the two-horse race was down to just one.

Knapp’s victory earned him $1.5 million, a PGA Tour exemption through 2026, and importantly, a trip to this year’s Masters.

“I'll never forget this,” he said after his round on Sunday. “Whether it's … [the] only one that I ever have or it's the first of many, this will always be one that I remember.”

If you haven’t watched Knapp’s silky-smooth swing (which generates a ton of club head speed), you should.

Currently, he’s the 11th longest driver on Tour.

2. Quick news ⛳️

Carlos Ortiz, playing alongside several other LIV golfers, won on the Asian Tour on Sunday, racking up precious OWGR points ahead of this year’s major season.
Anthony Kim is expected to emerge from a 12-year professional golf hiatus at next week’s LIV tournament in Saudi Arabia.
Ronald Rugumayo became the first Ugandan to make the cut in a DP World Tour event. His clutch putt on Friday to make the weekend was awesome. So too was this video.
Fifteen-year-old Charlie Woods tried to qualify for this week’s PGA Tour event (the Cognizant Classic), but had a tough round, which apparently included some bizarre behavior from spectators. Olin Browne Jr. and Luke Leonard (son of Justin Leonard) played in the qualifier as well, but also came up short.
Luke Donald will be in the NBC broadcast booth over the next two weeks — the latest person to audition for the lead analyst role vacated last year by Paul Azinger.
LIV Golf’s 2023 Player of the Year Talor Gooch is starting a professional bull riding team called the Oklahoma Wildcatters.

3. Good posts 🧑‍💻

It’s official. He is the mayor.

My wife and I have had this conversation many times. Never in a nightclub (and hopefully never this way). But still, relatable.

And … yes. Yes, they do.

4. Coming up this week

The Match — featuring Rory McIlroy, Rose Zhang, Max Homa, and Lexi Thompson — takes place tonight, under the lights, at 6:30 PM ET on TNT.

The Fried Egg’s Andy Johnson posted a good video on the venue to get you ready.

The Cognizant Classic (formerly known as the Honda Classic) kicks off on Thursday in south Florida.

Despite its “general population” status, the Cognizant still managed to attract a decent field, including McIlory, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tom Kim, Min Woo Lee, and defending champ, Chris Kirk.

LIV Golf returns this week in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

All eyes will be on whether the Anthony Kim reports are true.

That’s all for today! Thanks so much for reading and talk soon! - Nick Bastone

New here? I’d love for you to follow along full-time and subscribe to the Quick Nine.

🔥 Hideki’s heater

Nick Bastone — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 10:55:00 +0000

Greetings! What a performance from Hideki Matsuyama, who started six shots back on Sunday and ended up walking away with the victory at Riviera.

Before we dive in, there are lots of new readers here this week, which is awesome. I’m so glad you found the Quick Nine!

As a reminder, my hope for this newsletter is to curate the top news from across the wide world of golf and deliver a quick, easy-to-read email twice-per-week. I hope you enjoy!

Some housekeeping:

Several readers submitted picks for our Genesis Invitational contest, but sadly, no one selected Hideki to win.
So, let’s roll over that $50 to the next Signature Event (the Arnold Palmer in early March) and up the top prize to $100. Sound good?

Alright! Onto the news …

1. Hideki Matsuyama shot a final round 62 — one stroke off the course record at Riviera — to capture the Genesis Invitational and take home its $4 million top prize.

ESPN

Patrick Cantlay led after each of the first three rounds at Riviera this week.

And on Sunday, paired in the final group with his best man Xander Schauffele, the Southern California-native was poised to claim the tournament he said is atop his list to win.
But a lackluster start for Cantlay opened the door for the chase pack, and a charging Hideki Matsuyama took full advantage.

Hideki’s shot into the 18th green on Sunday.

Matsuyama — who later said he wasn’t happy with his ball-striking on Sunday — was 6-under thru 14 holes and for a moment, found himself in a five-way tie at the top of the leaderboard alongside Cantlay, Xander, Luke List, and Will Zalatoris.

Then, the shot of the tournament. At the difficult Par 4 15th, Matsuyama hit his 189 yard second shot to 8 inches and tapped in for birdie.
He proceeded to stick his tee shot at the Par 3 16th to 6 inches for another easy birdie, and on the Par 5 17th, he made it three-in-a-row.
A par at the 18th all but officially sealed the deal for Matsuyama, who would go on to claim his first win since the 2022 Sony Open (and his first top-10 finish in nearly a year).
His playing partner on Sunday, JT Poston, said the nine-under 62 was “definitely the best [round] I've ever seen on Tour.”

Matsuyama now has nine PGA Tour victories — breaking his tie with KJ Choi to become the winningest Asian-born player in Tour history.

2. More headlines from Riviera

A tough scene on Friday — Tiger being carted off the course.

Tournament host Tiger Woods withdrew mid-round on Friday due to “influenza” and wasn’t around Riviera for the rest of the weekend.

My take: With so much buzz surrounding Tiger’s first start of the year (and his new attire), it was a bummer to see this unfold.
Matsuyama even said he was “a little disappointed” not to get a photo with Tiger after his win.
Still, a WD from illness is probably a lot better than an injury-related exit?
We’ll see if Tiger’s one-tournament-per-month proclamation for 2024 holds up after this week’s false-start.

Jordan Spieth, who was towards the top of leaderboard early on at the Genesis, signed for a incorrect score on Friday and was disqualified.

Later reports indicated that Spieth was also fighting some sort of bug and an emergency bathroom trip may have sped up his score checking process.
The DQ ignited debate across the golf world as to whether pro players should still be responsible to keep their own scores.
My take: Several pros spoke out in favor of keeping the tradition, but I sorta think it’s silly.
As CBS’ Kyle Porter wrote awhile back: “Imagine making Ja and LeBron add up their box score after the game today and if they get any of it wrong then their team loses.” This would be insane. We would never do this.
Some pros mentioned a softening of the rule, like Michael Kim, who suggested a one- or two-shot penalty for a wrong scorecard instead of a DQ. This seems like a reasonable middle ground.
But I’m curious what you think. Hit “reply” and share your thoughts.

Will Zalatoris — who said in an emotional post-round interview Sunday that he unexpectedly lost a family member earlier in the week — finished T2, his best showing since returning from back surgery late last year.

Zalatoris’ also had a hole-in-one on Friday, which landed him and his caddy a pair of Genesis SUVs.

Scottie Scheffler is officially very frustrated with his putting, and rightfully so.

Out of 51 players who made the cut this week, Scheffler finished dead last in putting.
This, of course, comes after another incredible ball-striking performance (ranked 2nd in strokes-gained tee-to-green) and another top 10 finish.
Rory’s suggestion for the world’s top ranked golfer: “Try a mallet.”

3. Good posts 👨‍💻

Speaking of Rory, he continued his call this week for a World Golf Tour, and thankfully, CBS’ Rick Gehman broke down what that could actually look like. More here.

The attempts to distinguish between Cameron Young and Carson Young carry on.

And, this from Jordan Spieth was perfect.

4. What’s next — Mexico Open

2023 Mexico Open champ Tony Finau and family

With the West Coast Swing officially over, the PGA Tour heads south to Puerto Vallarta this week for the Mexico Open.

Tony Finau looks to defend his title against a field that includes just three other golfers ranked inside the OWGR’s top 50.

That’s all for today! Have a wonderful week, and I’ll see you back here on Thursday. - Nick Bastone

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🐅 Tiger's big reveal

Nick Bastone — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 10:55:00 +0000

Hey there! The PGA Tour tees off today at the historic Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles for the Genesis Invitational.

It’s a Signature Event, which means the Tour’s best players will be on hand with plenty of money on-the-line ($4 million to the winner, which is more than double what Nick Taylor took home last week).

🔥 Since it’s a big tournament, let’s spice things up a bit and try something new.

Reply to this email and tell me the name of the player who you think is going to win this week at Riviera. (Here’s a list of the full field.)
The golf starts early today, so I’ll accept responses until noon ET.
The reader who picks the outright winner correctly will take home the $50 grand prize. (It’s totally free to play along.)
If multiple readers pick the correct winner, I’ll split the $50 among them.
Sound good? I’ll look forward to your replies and announce the winner(s) on Monday. Good luck!

Now, onto the news …

Top stories:

Sun Day Red
Riviera cheat sheet
Verne’s last Masters

1. After recently parting ways with Nike, Tiger Woods unveiled his new clothing line “Sun Day Red” earlier this week.

Tiger Woods during Monday’s reveal.

In partnership with TaylorMade, the brand will reportedly sell polos between $115 and $175, cashmere sweaters for as much as $350, and other items like golf shoes, which Woods took for a test drive during practice rounds this week.

The logo (a tiger) has 15 stripes representing Woods’ 15 majors, and its name stems his long tradition of wearing red on Sundays.

But, the big question coming out of Monday’s big reveal: Why three words?

You can watch TaylorMade CEO David Abeles try to explain the reasoning for Sun Day Red vs. Sunday Red, though your head may explode.
Abeles said the “rule of three” played a big part in the decision. But honestly, who knows!

My take: Some people thought the logo looked a lot like Slazenger's or, when turned on its side, “like a bunch of vertebrate that have been surgically fused together.” (Which is hilarious.)

I struggled seeing “Sun Day” broken up mostly because “Sunday” itself carries so much meaning in golf.
Sun Day Red’s acronym also gives me trouble. When I see it on their designs, I’m immediately transported to my first job out of college when the only thing “SDR” meant was “sales development representative.” (Sorry if you can’t unsee that now.)

Tiger, alongside Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, sporting his new gear for the first time at Riviera this week.

Still, the more photos I see of Tiger wearing his new brand, the more it’s growing on me.

The understated tiger logo on his hat and sweater is kind of a clean look.
And, the athleisure sweater he wore during Monday’s announcement is admittedly pretty cool.

Will I buy something from Sun Day Red when they start taking orders May 1st?

No. But granted, that’s coming from someone whose new attire mostly comes from Costco.

2. Here’s what you need to know heading into this week’s Genesis Invitational.

Tournament host Tiger Woods will play this week — his first event of the 2024 season.

Surprisingly, Woods has never won at Riviera, the site of his first professional tournament as a 16-year-old back in ‘92.
On his bag for the first time is Lance Bennett, who’s caddied for Matt Kuchar and Sungjae Im in the past.

Twenty-three out of the top 25 players in the world (based on OWGR standings) will tee it up in LA.

Recent LIV additions Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are the only two missing.

Unlike most Signature Events, the Genesis will have a 36-hole cut —though most will make it to the weekend.

Specifically, the top 50 and ties (out of 70 golfers), as well as those within 10 shots of the lead will play on Saturday and Sunday.

Riviera is one of the most revered courses in the world, and it’s been the main host of this tournament (known originally as the LA Open) since 1929.

It’s also the future site for the 2026 Women’s US Open, 2028 Olympics, and 2031 Men’s US Open.

Look out for the bunker in the middle of the green on the Par 3 6th, as well as the drivable Par 4 10th — which can turn into a big number, fast.

Also, watch the strategy off the 15th tee, as Viktor Hovland and others might elect to hit their drives onto the 17th hole instead.

3. Good posts ⌨️

Pretty disappointing that Tiger isn’t a pickle guy. But man, can you get better than In-N-Out at Riviera?

This can’t be real, but it was fun.

And, this answer from Joel Dahmen’s caddie Geno Bonnalie was wonderful.

4. Netflix dropped its first trailer for “Full Swing” season 2, which premiers March 6. Watch 👇

5. And finally … Legendary announcer Verne Lundquist will call his 40th and final Masters this April.

CBS legend, Verne Lundquist

News of the 84-year-old Lundquist’s retirement on Wednesday prompted many to revisit the most memorable moment of his career (when Tiger chipped in on 16 at the 2005 Masters).
Lundquist’s call was perfect (“In your LIFE have you seen anything like that!?”) and never gets old.
Take a minute to rewatch it yourself 👇

That’s all for today! Thanks so much for reading y’all and a reminder to reply to this email with your pick for the Genesis Invitational. It’s free! And hopefully, it’ll be fun for you to follow throughout the weekend.

Talk soon! - Nick Bastone

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🏌️‍♂️ While you were away

Nick Bastone — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 11:30:00 +0000

Patrick Mahomes delivered again on Sunday. And so did the drama at the Waste Management. But maybe the PGA Tour’s biggest party got a little too rowdy this year?

Let’s dive in …

Top stories:

Nick Taylor’s triumph
Waste(d) Management
DJ’s no practice pays off

1. Canadian Nick Taylor catches fire late on Sunday to win the WM Phoenix Open — his fourth PGA Tour victory.

ESPN

Nick Taylor was three strokes back of the leader Charlie Hoffman on Sunday when he decided to lay up on the Par 5 15th — a decision that could have cost him a chance at the tournament.

Instead, while much of the sports world was already watching the Super Bowl, the Winnipeg-native stuffed his third shot to 3-feet for an easy birdie.
Taylor went on to birdie the 16th and 18th, sinking a clutch 9.5 footer at the last to force a playoff with the veteran Hoffman.

Both made birdies on their first playoff hole.

But it was Taylor — the best putter in the field this week — who birdied the second playoff hole as well, draining an 11.5-footer for the win.

Nick Taylor celebrates his walk-off birdie.

Asked after the round if he’d ever putted better in his life, Taylor — who shot an opening round 60 on Thursday — simply answered: “Probably not.”

My take: Not great that the weather delay put the Waste Management up against the Super Bowl. But for those who tuned-in, what a show!

After his last victory at the Canadian Open (when he drained a 72-footer to close out Tommy Fleetwood in a playoff), the 35-year-old Taylor is becoming one of the more clutch players on Tour.
As CBS’ Patrick McDonald noted, he’s likely going to be a menace in Montreal at this year’s President’s Cup.

2. Has the Waste Management gone too far?

Photo taken shortly after this person’s snow angel on 16 (and right before they were arrested).

The WM Phoenix Open (aka The People’s Open) has long been about the party. But even with its raucous reputation, this year was wild.

Videos of mud-sliding, mud-slipping, and … public urination flooded the internet. One woman fell from the grandstands on 16 on Friday, but thankfully, the injuries appear to be non-life-threatening.

By Saturday afternoon, tournament officials closed the gates due to the heavy crowds and stopped alcohol sales.
The decision prompted the chant “we want beer” amongst fans.

Of note: While it’s hard to definitively measure if the crowds have gotten crazier at the Stadium Course, it did seem like more players this year were complaining about the distractions.

Byeong Hun An said Saturday was a “sh*tshow. Totally out of control on every hole.”
Billy Horschel told a fan to “shut the hell up.”
So too, did Jordan Spieth and Zach Johnson — in their own, unique ways.

My take: Zach Johnson playing in the Waste Management was probably a bad idea from the start.

Still, it does seem like a lot of players have had enough with the party outside the ropes — especially when it impacts their play.
With the WM no longer holding Signature Event status (which means, smaller purses), we might start to see fewer and fewer top players make the trip to Scottsdale in the years to come.

Whether the drinking and shenanigans have gotten out of hand — who knows.

I wasn’t there, AND I’m getting too old to weigh-in on these types of questions.
From the outside, though, the WM does seem like one of those events (Coachella, Burning Man, etc.) that blew up in popularity and might be past its glory days.

3. Dustin Johnson wins LIV Las Vegas.

ESPN

Dustin Johnson birdied two of his final four holes on Saturday to edge out Talor Gooch and Peter Uihlein, winning his third individual LIV title.

Of note: The victory comes after DJ told reporters earlier in the week that he didn’t spend much time at the golf course during his offseason.

“Woulda, coulda shoulda,” DJ said, regarding his regiment.
Still, the two-time major winner now has a first place and T5 so far this season.

Dustin Johnson took home $4 million for his win in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, Brooks Koepka’s revamped Smash GC took home the team title.

What I’m watching: Jon Rahm.

Last week in Mexico, Rahm was in contention late before a bogey-bogey finish derailed his chances of winning.
And this week, he had a similar final-round stumble that included a dead shank.
In a way, it’s cool to see one of golf’s best feeling the pressure in these LIV events. But, it also has to be frustrating (and a little concerning) for Rahm as he navigates his new circuit.

4. Good posts ⌨️

5. Up next, Riviera

Riviera Country Club

The PGA Tour heads to Los Angeles this week for the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club.

Tournament host Tiger Woods will tee-it-up for the first time in 2024.

LIV, meanwhile, is off until March.

That’s all for today! Thanks so much for reading y’all, and I’ll see you back here later this week. Talk soon! - Nick Bastone

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🍻 Golf's party weekend

Nick Bastone — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 10:55:00 +0000

Golf’s a party! At least this weekend.

The PGA Tour kicks off its wildest event of the year today at TPC Scottsdale, while LIV is in Las Vegas alongside the Super Bowl.

If you’ve been enjoying the Quick Nine, I’d love for you to share it with a friend — maybe someone you golf with regularly. We’re a small (but growing!) publication, so every reader truly counts.

Share Quick Nine

Now, onto the news…

1. Leaked memo shows how PGA Tour players will soon become a whole lot richer — at least those at the top.

Rory McIlroy will almost certainly be one of the top paid players within the PGA Tour’s new equity program.

The recent $3 billion deal between the PGA Tour and Strategic Sports Group promised that players themselves would receive equity stakes in the Tour’s new for-profit endeavor.

On Wednesday, a leaked memo provided more details on how the PGA Tour plans to award those grants.

Essentially, there will be four groups:

Group 1: Includes 36 players, who will split $750 million ($20.8 million on average).

Group 2: Includes 64 players, who will split $75 million ($1.2 million on average)

Group 3: Includes 57 players, who will split $30 million ($526,000 on average)

The PGA Tour will divide current players into these groups based on several criteria, including career achievements, recent achievements (past 3-5 years), and Player Impact Program results (which, in part, measures a golfer’s impact on the Tour’s annual revenue).

Of note: Grants within groups will likely vary. For instance, Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns will probably both be apart of Group 1. But, we should expect Rory’s equity deal to be worth much more than Burns’.

Meanwhile, Group 4 includes 36 players “who were instrumental to building the modern PGA Tour.” Think Fred Couples, Davis Love III, and maybe players as far back as Jack Nicklaus.

This group will split $75 million (around $2 million on average).

Moving forward: The memo mentioned that another $600 million will be set aside for additional grants in the years to come.

That money ($100 million over the next six years) could be awarded to players who received initial equity grants or to those who are new, up-and-comers.

My take: I understand that stars, like a Rory McIlroy, move the needle in ways that a middle-of-the-pack player, like a Tom Hoge, never will. (Sorry Tom! I had to pick someone.)

Still, it’s pretty shocking to see such a top heavy plan ($750 million in Group 1 vs. $75 million in Group 2) laid-out on paper.
I guess the top players who stayed are getting their “LIV contracts” after all.

I’m also excited to watch how this all unfolds when golfers learn their actual payouts (which is expected sometime after The Players Championship next month).

There’s almost certainly going to be some drama and players who think that they’re worth more than their grants reflect.

2. More news 🗞️

🐅 Tiger Woods will play his first event of 2024 next week in Los Angeles at the Genesis Invitational.

Across social media, Woods also teased an announcement for next Monday — likely tied to the unveiling of his new clothing brand.

👀 Executives from McKinsey and Boston Consulting Group say Saudi Arabia has threatened to imprison employees for up 20 years if they cooperate with US lawmakers and provide information relating to a potential PGA Tour / LIV Golf merger.

Meanwhile, the Saudi’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) said “we have made, and are continuing to make, significant efforts to facilitate the production of requested information.”

📺 Over 430,000 people tuned-in last Sunday to watch LIV’s final round in Mexico — almost 50% more viewers than the upstart circuit had last year at the same event.

Still, on Sunday, the PGA Tour pulled in 3x the number of viewers compared to LIV (1.2 million) while playing a re-run of Saturday’s round.

🧐 Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas said this week that LIV players should face some consequences should they return to the PGA Tour — a different stance from Rory McIlroy, who said recently he wants players reunited and doesn’t think punishment is realistic.

❌ Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland withdrew from the WM Phoenix Open field earlier this week — stirring conversations about more high-profile moves to LIV.

Hovland, however, appears to be practicing in Florida after a lackluster start to his season and ahead of Riviera next week.

3. Schedule reminder

The famed 16th hole at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course.

PGA Tour: WM Phoenix Open (aka “The People’s Open”) starts today.

How to watch.

LIV Golf: LIV Las Vegas also starts today (and ends Saturday).

How to watch.

4. The best 16th hole moment

Tiger’s ace in 1997 is probably the best. The place absolutely erupts — even without all the grandstands and hospitality towers. (Those didn’t come until 2011.)

But, the scenes from 2022 are probably the most memorable for me. Sam Ryder made an ace on Saturday and chaos ensued.

Carlos Ortiz backed it up with another hole-out on Sunday and similar chaos followed.

And, of course, there was the Harry Higgs and Joel Dahman tarps-off incident, which is something I’ll never forget or, be able to unsee.

That’s all for today! Enjoy the golf this weekend and hopefully you’ll be able to get out there as well. Talk soon! - Nick Bastone

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🌬️ Wyndham wins

Nick Bastone — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:25:37 +0000

Hey there! Severe weather shortened the AT&T at Pebble Beach and LIV’s playoff in Mexico finished in the dark. A memorable weekend of golf, indeed.

Let’s get into it.

Top stories:

1) Play suspended. Wyndham wins.

2) Niemann outlasts Rahm, Garcia.

1. Wyndham Clark’s historic 3rd round ends up clinching the weather-shortened AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am.

ESPN

Perhaps it was meant to end this way.

Reigning US Open champ Wyndham Clark shot a Pebble Beach course record 60 on Saturday to move one-shot ahead of Swedish phenom Ludvig Åberg.

And, after severe weather cancelled play Sunday, tournament officials made the call late last night that a Monday finish wasn’t happening either.
The decision meant that Clark — the 54-hole leader — won the AT&T outright and took home its $3.6 million top prize.

Notably, in a press conference Sunday, Clark confirmed that he met with LIV Golf during the offseason, but said: “I felt like I still have a lot of things left in the tank on the PGA Tour and I wanted to chase records, I wanted to chase world ranking … Ultimately, I chose my legacy over LIV.”

Wyndham Clark walks off the 18th green Saturday after his historic round.

My take: No one wants to see a shortened tournament, especially in one of the PGA Tour’s elevated events. BUT, this might be the rare occasion where I’m totally satisfied by the outcome.

Clark’s 60 on Saturday was — for lack of better wording here — so sick.
Eagling both Par 5’s on the front nine is one thing. But birdieing 8, 9, and 10 — all incredibly tough Par 4’s along the Pacific Ocean — that just shouldn’t happen.
Clark shot a 28 on the front at Pebble — a score many of us would gladly take for nine holes at our local Par 3 courses.
And, although he barely missed out on 59, holding the course record at Pebble Beach has to be one of the coolest accomplishments in all of golf.

2. Joaquin Niemann outlasts Rahm, Garcia to capture his first LIV Golf victory.

ESPN

Jon Rahm was poised to win his anticipated LIV Golf debut this weekend in Mexico. But, a bogey-bogey finish derailed those dreams — at least on the individual side.

Instead, it was Joaquin Niemann and Sergio Garcia who tied atop the leaderboard in regulation.

Then, on the fourth playoff hole, in the darkness, Niemann sunk a 10-foot clinching putt made visible thanks to the illumination from a greenside scoreboard.
His payout for winning LIV’s first event of the season: $4 million.
In a post round interview, Niemann — who isn’t currently exempt for all of this year’s majors — was asked about his goals for 2024.
“I want to win majors,” said Niemann, who shot an opening round 59 this week. “But I gotta get in first.”

The scene on 18 during the fourth and final playoff hole Sunday.

On the team side, Rahm’s Legion XIII finished first, thanks in part to impressive play from 19-year-old Caleb Surratt (T13).

Surratt, who left the University of Tennessee recently to join LIV, took home over $1 million in his professional debut between his team and individual earnings.

3. Good posts ⌨️

Technically, the AT&T was the PGA Tour’s second Signature Event of the year. But still, very ironic.

A draw would have been an interesting finish, but pretty cool that Niemann and Garcia decided to play it out in the dark.

I can’t stop watching this man’s swing. Hbu?

And, this was wild. Do we think this person was using the PGA Tour’s new Apple Vision app?

4. More news 🗞️

Dylan Frittelli won the DP World Tour’s Bahrain Championship on Sunday.
TaylorMade is suing Costco over its new Kirkland Signature Irons claiming patent infringement.
LIV Golf, in partnership with Google, will launch a feature this summer that allows fans to watch any shot from any player.
8-handicapper Tom Brady cold topped his opening tee shot at Pebble Beach Friday, proving he is human.
Patrick Koenig broke the world record for most rounds played in a year (580). On Sunday, Koenig said his favorite course out of all of them was Sand Hills in Nebraska.
And, sadly, actor Carl Weathers — who played Chubbs Peterson in “Happy Gilmore” — passed away last week. He was 76.

5. What’s next 🚮

The famed 16th hole at PGA Scottsdale.

It’s Super Bowl week, which means the PGA Tour’s biggest party of the year is upon us at the WM Phoenix Open.

Some 18,000 people are expected to pack the “coliseum” grandstands surrounding TPC Scottsdale’s 16th hole.
Meanwhile, world number one Scottie Scheffler is looking to win the WM for the third year in-a-row.

LIV is also hoping to catch some of that big game buzz.

Their tournament this weekend is in Las Vegas — the site of Super Bowl LVIII.

That’s all for today! Thanks so much for reading y’all, and I’ll see you here again later this week. Talk soon! - Nick B. 🏌️‍♂️

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💰 Billions injected

Nick Bastone — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Happy Thursday! Professional golf is changing before our eyes, and the PGA Tour tees off today at Pebble Beach.

Before we get into it… If you’ve been enjoying the Quick Nine, I’d love for you to share it with a friend or two. We’re a small (but mighty!) publication, so every reader truly counts. 🙏

Now, onto the news…

Top stories:

PGA Tour strikes $3 billion deal
Rahm’s team takes shape
Full Swing Season 2

1. The PGA Tour reached an agreement with Strategic Sports Group (SSG) on Wednesday — a deal worth up to $3 billion.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan (left) and Strategic Sports Group manager John W. Henry (right)

SSG is a consortium of billionaire sports owners, including John Henry (Boston Red Sox), Steven Cohen (New York Mets), Arthur Blank (Atlanta Falcons), and Wyc Grousbeck (Boston Celtics).
As part of the deal, the PGA Tour will launch its for-profit entity (known as PGA Tour Enterprises) in which certain players will have the opportunity to receive equity stakes. Grants will be decided based on recent and career achievements, services to the Tour, and more.
The injection of cash from SSG — $1.5 billion to start and another $1.5 billion to be triggered at a later date — is separate from a potential investment from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) — which funds LIV Golf. Those negotiations are “ongoing,” the Tour said Wednesday.
Notably, SSG did consent to the PGA Tour striking a future deal with the PIF, pending approval from the US government.
Meanwhile, golfers on the PGA Tour and LIV (including Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau) spoke out this week on the importance of getting the game’s best players back together.
“I hope people can just put down their weapons and come to the table and figure it out because that's what's good for the game of golf and for fans in general,” DeChambeau said Wednesday.
Jordan Spieth, however, had a slightly different tone after the PGA Tour announced its lucrative deal, saying that an investment from the PIF wasn’t necessarily needed.
“I think the short answer is we don’t have to,” Spieth, a recent addition to the Tour’s Player Advisory Council, said Wednesday. “The long answer is, the positive there is unification … but I’m not sure if or how or when it would get done.”

2. Jon Rahm’s LIV team — Legion XIII — officially takes shape and will make its debut this week in Mexico.

Legion XIII captain, Jon Rahm Rodriguez

Reigning Master’s champ Jon Rahm said that his team name is a nod to the Roman army unit, Legion XIII Gemina. “I wanted to go down the warrior spirit mythology side,” he said.
They are also LIV’s 13th team.
Joining Rahm is Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton, who reportedly snagged $63 million for making the switch to LIV, and Caleb Surratt, who, three weeks ago, was a sophomore at the University of Tennessee and 10th ranked amateur in the world.
Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent — one of three golfers who qualified for LIV through its promotions event — rounds out Rahm’s squad.
In other LIV news, Adrian Meronk and Lucas Herbert have officially joined — Meronk to the Cleeks and Herbert to Cam Smith’s Rippers.

3. Full Swing Season 2 to premier March 6th.

The Netflix docuseries will feature Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Tom Kim, Joel Dahmen, Matt Fitzpatrick, Alex Fitzpatrick, Wyndham Clark, Keegan Bradley, Justin Rose, and Ryder Cup captains Luke Donald and Zach Johnson.
Producer Chad Mumm said his team shot 900 hours of footage for Full Swing’s anticipated second season. He also confirmed Wednesday that “no cut explanation” would be needed.
This is the only trailer for Season 2 thus far.

4. Good posts ⌨️

Rain is expected this week at Pebble, along with heavy winds on Sunday. Maybe we’ll see more drivers into No. 7? Longer irons, at least, would be fun.

For those keeping track, the 6th hole at Pebble will look different this year.

And, this was the best.

5. Good videos 🎥

GOLF’s Dylan Dethier stood on the range with Phil Mickelson for 30-minutes, as the 6-time major winner worked through his bag and talked through it all.

I especially liked when Mickelson said he has two stock-shots for each iron — one full swing and one with a slightly shorter backswing that goes 10 yards shorter (around the 7:30 mark).

The Golfer’s Journal recently published a 25-minute video on Nashville that’ll make you immediately want to listen to country music, eat at Hattie B’s, and find a way to play the Golf Club of Tennessee.

6. Schedule reminder 📺

PGA Tour: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am starts today. How to watch.
LIV: LIV Golf Mayakoba starts Friday. How to watch.

That’s all for today! Thanks so much for reading y’all and enjoy the golf this weekend. Hopefully, you can get on the course as well. Talk soon, Nick B. 🏌️‍♂️

👀 AK rumors

Nick Bastone — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 11:55:00 +0000

Hey! With the NFL playoffs today, the Farmer’s Insurance Open ended on Saturday. So, I thought I’d send the newsletter now.

It’s a shorter format — a style I’ve been thinking about for awhile. Let me know what you think below👇 .

For now, onto the news…

Frenchman Matthieu Pavon wins the Farmers Insurance Open

Top stories:

Pavon wins at Torrey
Dunlap turns pro
Anthony Kim rumors are swirling

1. Pavon takes top honors at Torrey Pines

ESPN

Matthieu Pavon — in just his third start since joining the PGA Tour — won on Saturday in dramatic fashion.
Pavon’s 8-foot, winning birdie putt on 18 came after a miraculous, 150 yard approach shot from think rough over water (which could have easily ended in disaster).
Pavon became the first Frenchman to win on the PGA Tour, and earned his way into next week’s limited field event at Pebble Beach.

2. American Express champ Nick Dunlap turns pro

An emotional Nick Dunlap announces he’s leaving Alabama for the PGA Tour.

Also heading to the Monterey Peninsula this week is Nick Dunlap, who announced on Thursday he’s turning pro after winning recently in La Quinta.
Dunlap — the first amateur to win on the PGA in 33 years — is exempt on Tour through 2026 and has a place in at least three of the four majors this year (the Masters, US Open, and PGA Championship).

3. Rumors of an Anthony Kim return are swirling

Anthony Kim’s blinged-out belt buckles became his signature look back-in-the-day.

Anthony Kim is once again the talk of the golf world after a recent report said the 3-time PGA Tour winner and 2008 Ryder Cup star is planning his return to the game.
Sidelined by injury in 2012, Kim hasn’t played a professional event (or surfaced much publicly) in over a decade. Still, “his cult hero status has continued to grow,” GOLF reporter Dylan Dethier writes.
It’s unclear whether Kim would join the PGA Tour or LIV. Though, his $10 million insurance policy (that would be torn up if he competed again) will likely play into his decision.
Here’s video of a recent “AK” practice session that has the internet buzzing:

4. More whispers and murmurs

The PGA Tour could receive billions of dollars of outside-investment as early as next week, Sportico reported.
- That deal would be separate from the PGA’s talk with the Saudis.
Adrian Meronk, the 39th ranked player in the world and reigning DP World Tour Player of Year, is reportedly set to join LIV.

5. Good posts ⌨️

6. Good podcasts 🎧

Fully Equipped: “In depth Scotty Cameron interview with never before heard Tiger Woods stories”
No Laying Up: “The Tall Tales of Gary Player”

7. Team USA Olympic uniforms revealed

Scandinavian brand J. Lindeberg unveiled its Team USA golf uniforms for the 2024 Olympics this summer in Paris.
- Here’s a full-look at the men’s and women’s attire.

8. More headlines

Golf lifestyle brand Bad Birdie will now outfit Si Woo Kim — adding to the list of intriguing apparel deals thus far in 2024.
The next edition of “The Match” will take place February 26 and will feature Rory McIlroy, Max Homa, Rose Zhang, and Lexi Thompson.
Bubba Watson, Brendon Todd, and Chris Kirk are among a group of University of Georgia alum opening an exclusive, 200-300 member club just outside of Athens.

9. PGA Tour heads to Pebble, LIV kicks off 2024

Rory McIlroy among the big names playing at Pebble

The PGA Tour’s first full Signature Event of the season is this week at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am.

With only 80 players in the field (compared to 156 last year), the amateur/celebrity lineup has been cut down as well. (Star athletes like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers will still play, while other tournament staples like Bill Murray and Ray Romano will not.)
Amateurs will also only compete on Thursday and Friday instead of all four days.

Meanwhile, LIV’s first event of the year — and Jon Rahm’s debut on the rival circuit — is this weekend in Cancún.

That’s all for today! Thanks so much for reading y’all and before you go, let me know what you thought of today’s newsletter. I’d love to her your feedback.

Talk soon! - Nick B.

🏆 History!

Nick Bastone — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 08:24:51 +0000

What a day!

Lots to cover, but a simple ask at the top. If you enjoy this newsletter, I'd love for you to share it with a friend or two. We've witnessed some awesome golf already this year, and hopefully, it just keeps getting better.

For now, onto some highlights from an historic weekend.

Amateur Nick Dunlap sinks a 6-footer on the 18th to win by one.

1. Nick Dunlap, a University of Alabama sophomore, won The American Express on Sunday to become the first amateur golfer to capture a PGA Tour victory since Phil Mickelson did so 33 years ago.

Quick thoughts: Just incredible. This is why we watch golf! I was near tears after Dunlap's win, and it sounds like others were too.

Dunlap (last year's US Amateur champion) held a three-shot lead heading into the final round, but things turned after he drove his ball into the water at the 7th and made double-bogey.

Dunlap's 10-foot birdie putt at the 16th brought him back atop the leaderboard — tied with 5-time PGA Tour winner Sam Burns.
Golf's #3 ranked amatuer then made two pars at the difficult 17th and 18th (including a nervy, 6-footer at the last), while Burns found water and made double-bogeys on both of the final two holes.

"Nothing like I have ever felt," Dunlap said of his emotions on Sunday. "It is so cool."

With the win, Dunlap won't see any of the $1.5 million winning payout. That goes to 2nd place finisher Christiaan Bezuidenhout.

But, he will be fully exempt on the PGA Tour through the 2026 season (should he choose to turn pro).

“It’s a conversation I need to have with a lot of people before I make that decision," Dunlap told reporters when asked about leaving school.

For now, the second-year finance major said he had homework on Sunday night, but "probably won't do it."

2. More winners (and losers) from Coachella Valley

👍 Justin Thomas (T3) — A solid start to 2024 for JT, who's coming off his worst season as a pro last year.

👍 Michael Kim (T6) — Pro golf’s most prolific tweeter carded a nice 65 on Sunday to finish inside the top 10.

Kim celebrated with In-N-Out after the round, which is always a win.

👍 This guy, who really got the weekend started off on the right foot.

👎 Sam Burns (T6) — Standing on the 17th tee-box tied for the lead and finishing double-double is very tough.

It's also tough that the former LSU standout had "RTR" shaved into the side of his head ("Roll Tide Roll") after apparently losing a bet with Alabama alum Justin Thomas. Not great timing to get outplayed at the end by a current Alabama student.

FWIW, Dunlap brought up Burns a bunch of times in his interviews Sunday, saying he was "awesome" and "talked [him] through the round." That's cool to hear.

👎 Rickie Fowler (MC) — The SoCal native's poor play continues.

Since the Ryder Cup, in his last three official events, Fowler's finished T64, 56th, and now, MC.

3. Half-a-day before Nick Dunlap captured the golf world's full attention, Rory McIlroy claimed his 38th professional win at the DP World Tour's Dubai Desert Classic.

McIlroy, who started the weekend 10-shots back of 36-hole leader Cam Young, shot his way back into the tournament with an impressive, 9-under 63 on Saturday.
His final round 70 was enough to hold off the DP World Tour's 2023 Player of the Year, Adrian Meronk, by one-shot.

Young, meanwhile, shot two-over on Sunday and finished third.

The 25th-ranked player in the world is still searching for his first win since the Korn Ferry Tour in 2021.

By the numbers: McIlroy has now won the Dubai Desert Classic four times.

His title back in 2009 was his first win ever as a professional.

"It's always been a place where I come back to and reminisce about my career because I really feel like it's where everything started," McIlroy said on Sunday.

Quick thoughts: An awesome start to the year for Rory with his runner-up finish last week and win this week in Dubai.

But for Rory (probably more than any other player right now) we judge his success based on major performances.
Perhaps, though, there’s something about his come-from-behind-victory this week that he'll be able to build on when it matters most.
Here's what Rory said on Sunday: "I've told this story numerous times now about the first green on Friday [at last year's Masters], and Brooks was on the eighth green, and I saw the big leaderboard, and I was already ten behind at that point. I was ten behind after two days this week and ended up winning the golf tournament ... I feel like I've taken that learning and put it into practice a little bit already. That's a huge thing for me."

4. More bright spots from the weekend were the epic backdrops at both tournaments.

I love watching golf with such dramatic scenery/terrain behind the players.

Dubai skyline (left) and the Santa Rosa Mountains near La Quinta (right)

5. Adam Schenk hit one of his drives into a spectator's cocktail cup on Thursday, and I'm still thinking about it.

What are the chances?

I know wild stuff is bound to happen with so many golf shots being hit among so many people. But it feels like these things happen more often than they should.

Most recently, I think of Rory's shot that ended up in a lady's lap.
And, of course, Phil Mickelson's second-to-last tee shot at the 2006 US Open that landed in a trash can.

What are some crazy gallery shots/incidents that you remember? Reply here.

6. Swing Envy: Here's a slow-motion look at Nick Dunlap's move.

Definite Dustin Johnson vibes, as Golf Digest's Luke Kerr-Dineen points out.

Also of note: Dunlap started wearing athletic tape on his left wrist after developing tendonitis a couple of years back.

Though the pain subsided, he still wears the tape because it "makes him feel more secure," the Golf Channel said last summer.

7. Today I learned: Jared Doerfler, who writes a very good golf newsletter, recently highlighted a virtual golf mini-tour-of-sorts that I had no idea existed.

It's called the NEXT Golf Tour.
Entry fees are $130 and the most recent purse, according to Doerfler, was $226,000.

This thread is worth a read…

Speaking of dramatic scenery, we’re in for another treat this week.

8. Looking ahead: This week, the PGA Tour heads to San Diego where Max Homa will try to defend his Farmers Insurance Open title at Torrey Pines.

Other headliners include Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas, and Min Woo Lee.

Tape game strong.

9. Quote for the road:

"I went from riding in the back of a Sprinter van at Alabama to driving an X5 around the whole week," Nick Dunlap told reporters Saturday night.

Something tells me Dunlap will have a few more luxury cars in his future.

That’s all for today! Have a wonderful week y’all, and I’ll see you back here soon. - Nick B.

⛳️ Wild finishes

Nick Bastone — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 10:55:00 +0000

Hey there! Amid all the football frenzy, there was still golf being played this weekend — with some pretty wild finishes.

Grayson Murray beat Keegan Bradley and Byeong Hun An in a playoff at the PGA Tour's Sony Open in Honolulu, while Tommy Fleetwood took down Rory McIlroy by one at the DP World Tour's Dubai Invitational.

Here are some quick thoughts on the last few days of golf:

Grayson Murray, now a two-time PGA Tour winner

1) A Google search for Grayson Murray will surface some unflattering moments — like his US Open outbursts and those times he played without a front tooth. And, ironically, it was an alcohol-induced hotel bar incident at the 2021 Sony Open that caused the PGA Tour to put Murray on probation.

How fitting that Murray — who says he's eight months sober — would win in Honolulu three years later.

"It's not easy," he said, after draining a 39-foot winning birdie putt. "I wanted to give up a lot of times. Give up on myself. Give up on the game of golf. Give up on life at times. You just persevere."

Heavy (but really good) stuff.

2) Keegan Bradley probably should have won on Sunday. All he needed was a birdie on the very birdie-able Par 5 18th to win. But a disappointing par led to a playoff, which led to another disappointing par at the 18th, which ultimately, wasn't enough.

"It's tough right now. This is one of the hardest losses I've ever had in my career, if not the hardest," Bradley, a 6-time PGA Tour winner, said after his round.

Still, I expect a big 2024 from Bradley, who looked cool and confident all weekend — minus those final two holes.

Byeong Hun An

3) Speaking of big years, Byeong Hun An is already off to a fiery start with a 4th place finish at The Sentry last week and a T2 this week. But after missing a 4-foot birdie putt to extend the playoff on Sunday, the 32-year-old An — who's still searching for his first PGA Tour win — has to be a bit disappointed.

"Just a poor putt and poor read at the end," An said. "It's a shame it ended that way."

An told reporters Sunday that "gratitude" and realizing "golf doesn't really matter that much" has been his key mindset shift thus far in 2024.

I hope the former Cal Bear can get over the hump and hoist a trophy soon.

4) Is Smylie Kaufman the most likable person in golf right now?

It's a question that popped into my head as I watched the former tour pro turned on-course commentator call shots from a kayak this weekend in Hawaii. For me, I think he might be.

It's rare (maybe the first time ever?) that someone so young (32) with his resume (having won on the PGA Tour) would be calling golf tournaments instead of playing in them. But it's precisely Kaufman's youthful excitement combined with his unique experience that makes him so good at what he does.

In short, I'm a big fan. And, these recent interviews with Golf Magazine and The Golfer's Journal — which shed more light on Kaufman's career move — might make you one too.

A tough return thus far for Will Zalatoris

5) Is Will Zalatoris ever going to be world-class again?

Of course, it's WAY too early to start asking this question. Zalatoris had back surgery last spring and didn't play competitively again until Tiger's tournament late last year.

But at that event, Zalatoris finished dead last (20th out of 20). And this week (thanks to a six-over-par opening round Thursday), he missed the cut by seven shots.

Zalatoris has several months — heck, probably this entire year — before we can seriously start to wonder about the future state of his game. But, it's something to keep an eye on.

Fleetwood finished birdie-birdie to win on Sunday.

6) Tommy Fleetwood made a lengthy birdie putt at the last to capture his seventh European Tour victory on Sunday.

Notably, Fleetwood beat out Rory McIlroy who three-putted from two-feet on 14 and drove his ball into the water on 18.

Next order of business for Fleetwood is winning for the first time on the PGA Tour and/or capturing his first major championship.

7) Random fashion opinion: I'm a bit concerned by the news last week that Min Woo Lee signed an apparel deal with lululemon — the company's first such sponsorship on the men's golf side. (Lydia Ko inked a deal with the leisure wear brand back in 2019.)

Min Woo has some of the best swag in the game. But, is lululemon ... swaggy?

I'm very over my skis here. Forgive me. But I just have high hopes for Min Woo in 2024 and wouldn't want apparel decisions to get in his way.

8) Proud dad moment: My 2.5-year-old hit a wiffle ball with a plastic club this weekend that probably would have gone 20 yards if it didn't smack into our basement wall mid-flight.

He striped it. And the best part is that he knew it too. Right after he hit the shot, he looked right at me with a smile and laughed. It was one of the coolest moments I've had as a dad.

He also peed in one of his toy bins on Saturday and on Sunday, he pooped on the carpet next to my bed (we spent all weekend trying to potty train him).

Parenting is hard! And full of so many crazy highs-and-lows.

I think the highs are worth it though?

9) And finally … I can't stop thinking about this question ...

I think it’s Rory (since he’s major-less since 2014), but that seems a little harsh?

What do you think?

That's all for today! Thanks so much for reading y'all, and if you’re new to the Quick Nine, I’d love for you to subscribe here!

See you back here later this week. Until then, Nick B.

🥶 Winter golf

Nick Bastone — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 10:55:00 +0000

Hey there! And greetings from the bone-chilling Midwest.

Growing up in California, I never could comprehend that for three or four (or more!) months a year, some people "out there" didn't play golf because it was just too cold.

But here I am, living in Central Illinois. It's currently 31 degrees and on Sunday, it's supposed to be 8.

Life comes at you fast!

Still, I'm trying to stay positive, and I'm learning a lot from my father-in-law, who lives down the road and has been navigating this arctic weather for decades.

He's instructed me to turn off my outside water so that my pipes don't burst. And the other day, he brought me a snow shovel.

Most importantly, though, he’s taught me that when there's a break in the weather — even when it's borderline bearable — you should do everything you can to go play golf.

The Orange Course near the University of Illinois (36 degrees)

Before I lived here, when I would visit around the holidays, I used to wonder why my father-in-law was always so anxious to play. Pacing around the house, he would spend most mornings refreshing his weather apps and calling the local courses to see if they'd be open that day.

But now, I'm starting to understand. In cold places, sometimes golf is the only way to snag some fresh air during the winter.

I've played a couple of times recently in temperatures just above freezing and some takeaways include:

1) Gloves (that fit over your golf glove) and hand warmers (in each pocket) are essential. Keeping your hands from going numb is objective number one.

2) A quick nine is almost always preferable to a full 18 (and not just because that's the name of this newsletter). It's also usually best to tee off around noon. If you go out any later, you may be okay at the start, but finishing when the sun goes down — in the freezing cold — is no fun.

3) The score never really matters (mostly because of the sheer number of layers you have to wear). Just getting out is a win.

I also really love that no matter the temp, there's almost always other people out there, battling away. Who are these crazies who, like me, need to do something totally insane to feel normal again? Winter golf brings out a certain type, and I think they are my people.

When the ice thaws and spring hits, I wonder how I'll feel. I expect to be more thankful than ever for the warmth. But I'm also starting to think that I'll miss these cold afternoons with my father-in-law — when we zipped around the course and were just happy to be outside.

Hittin' the links — News from around the world of golf

Waialae Country Club

🏝️ The PGA Tour's second event of the year (and its final stop in Hawaii) starts today at the Sony Open in Honolulu.

Big names teeing it up this week at Waialae Country Club include Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Åberg, Brian Harmon, Will Zalatoris, Sahith Theegala, and Gary Woodland, who's making his first start since undergoing brain surgery less than four months ago.

🐯 Tiger Woods announced this week that his 27-year-run with Nike has come to an end.

The news set off a barrage of posts remembering the best ads from the Tiger/Nike era.
I love this one:

🗺️ Rory McIlroy told Golf Digest that his "dream scenario" for the future of men's professional golf is a world tour, where national championships are more elevated than they are today.

"The Australian Open, for example, should almost be the fifth major," McIlroy said, adding that the PGA Tour needs to "think internationally and spread their wings a bit."
McIlroy is playing this week in the Dubai Invitational — the DP World Tour's first event of the year.

✌️ The R&A — one of golf's governing bodies, alongside the USGA — announced Wednesday that its CEO Martin Slumbers will step down by the end of this year.

Also announced this week, DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley is resigning to run the sports and entertainment group that owns the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors.
Did I miss anyone else?

And finally…

Speaking of winter golf, here’s an example of what not to do.

Stay safe out there, y'all!

That's all for today! Thanks so much for reading and have a wonderful weekend. I'll see you back here on Sunday. Until then, Nick B. ☃️

🏄‍♂️ Takeaways from Kapalua

Nick Bastone — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 07:54:37 +0000

Hey there! Hope you had a nice weekend and caught some of the golf at Kapalua.

The PGA Tour's season opener — The Sentry — usually brings stunning views, long drives, and low scores. And this year, it delivered again.

While Sunday's champ Chris Kirk wasn't necessarily a big name winner, there was decent drama down the stretch. And ultimately, it was nice to see some of the game's best out there, competing for the first time in months.

If you've been enjoying these newsletters, I'd love for you to take a minute and share the Quick Nine with a friend — maybe someone who you've been golfing with lately. It would mean a lot!

For now, onto some thoughts from our first tournament of 2024…

9 takeaways from Kapalua

Chris Kirk wins for the 6th time on the PGA Tour.

1. Chris Kirk's bogey-free 65 (-8) in the final group on Sunday was super solid, highlighted by “one of the best shots of his career” — a tournament-clinching 209 yard second shot on the Par 4 17th that he hit to 2.5 feet.

Kirk's battles with alcoholism and depression have been well-documented, and it's awesome to see his strong play continue after a win last year at the Honda Classic.
I'm especially intrigued that the Georgia Bulldog spent a good chunk of his off-season playing golf left-handed. His best score from the opposite side, 82.

2. Sahith Theegala's 10-under final round needed to be 11-under, and he could have done it with an up-and-down at the Par 5 18th. Instead, he finished solo second — a nice way to kick off what could be a big year for Theegala.

Spieth and his new Under Armour rope hat.

3. Jordan Spieth was one straight tee-shot away from making things very interesting. But a bogey at the 16th on Sunday — after having to chip out from a buried, fairway bunker lie — made it all but impossible to keep pace.

Love him or not, Spieth having a good 2024 would be very entertaining to follow.
Also, after many questionable wardrobe choices this week, I'm all-in on Spieth continuing to rock the rope-hat beyond Kapalua. I think it's a good look.

Akshay on Sunday.

4. Akshay Bhatia lost his first tee shot of the day, leading to a double-bogey and a rough start for the 21-year-old who began his final round just one shot back.

Perhaps it wasn't meant to be for Bhatia, whose cousin (the person behind the camera for his growing YouTube channel) didn't make the trip to Maui this weekend.
Expect to see more of Bhatia on the internet and in contention this year.

5. Having to switch from NBC to the Golf Channel mid-round on Sunday was annoying. But, that commercial-free final hour (sponsored by Callaway) was so nice.

Sadly, it doesn't look like we'll get limited commercials again until The Masters.

Kevin Kisner in the booth.

6. Speaking of TV coverage, Kevin Kisner's debut in the NBC booth appeared to be a success.

To be honest, I mostly had my TV muted as I chased my two-year-old around the house. But, when the volume was up, I did appreciate hearing Kisner's insights, as someone who knows the players (and their games) first-hand.
Especially good was Kisner not holding back regarding Spieth's slow play over short putts and attempting to diagnose what's behind Scottie Scheffler's putting struggles.
Kisner's commentating, however, is still a side-gig, and he won't be back in the booth until the Waste Management next month.

Scottie Scheffler led after 36-holes in Kapalua, but lost almost four shots with his putter over the weekend.

7. Scottie Scheffler's putting still wasn't good.

Continuing his trend from last year, Scheffler gained more strokes than any other player in the field tee-to-green this week (+2.25), while finishing towards the bottom in putting, according to DataGolf. He finished T5 overall.
Scheffler will likely never do this, but on Sunday, I started to wonder if he'd bring out the broomstick at some point this year.

8. Viktor Hovland blading a bunker shot and making a triple-bogey on Saturday killed his chances of winning The Sentry.

The blunder came after a report earlier in the week that Hovland had recently parted ways with his short-game coach, Joe Mayo.
After a storybook end to 2023 (winning the Tour Championship and helping lead the Europeans to victory at the Ryder Cup), it'll be interesting to see how Hovland moves past a disappointing start (T22) to 2024.

9. Jon Rahm vacationing in Maui with his family last week and apparently running into some of his former colleagues was just a bizarre way to kick off the 2024 PGA Tour season.

Rahm won The Sentry last year, and his presence on the island was just another reminder of the bummer that is the division in men’s professional golf.
This tweet, though, was perfect.

That's all for today! Next week is the Sony Open in Honolulu, so I'll see you back here before then.

In the meantime, what did you think of this Sunday recap? Was it helpful? What should I change for next week? I’d love to hear your thoughts — just reply here!

Talk soon, Nick B. ✌️

👕 Baggy is back!

Nick Bastone — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 11:05:00 +0000

Aloha! The PGA Tour's season opener kicks off this afternoon in Maui. And somehow, thankfully, the buzz heading into the event isn't about the game's deep divide or the fact that defending champion Jon Rahm isn't around.

Instead, people are talking about fashion. That's thanks to Jason Day showing up to Kapalua not dressed in his traditional Nike fit, but donned in baggy polos and pants from the golf-inspired streetwear brand, Malbon.

"It was just crazy," Day said, recounting how fellow players and caddies didn't recognize him in his new wardrobe. Some even took him for a random that had snuck into the practice area.

"Everyone was looking at me giving me side eye," he said.

The 36-year-old major winner is the first PGA Tour player under contract for Malbon, which says its mission is to "inspire today’s youth to participate in the greatest game on Earth" and counted Justin Bieber as an early fan when it launched in 2017. The company sells its pullovers, hats, and $248 clogs online and at its brick-and-mortar stores in LA, NYC, Miami, and Carmel By The Sea.

“I'm more interested in having a more relaxed, loose-fitting type of clothing, especially out here because, obviously, the clothes that you see now these days, everything's very athletic looking,” Day said. “And there's nothing wrong with that. I'm just looking for a bit of a change and this is it."

Malbon co-founder, Stephen Malbon, said this week in an interview with Sports Illustrated: “[Jason] is texting me from Hawaii right now and just saying, ‘Dude, everyone looks the exact same.’”

Of note: The LPGA's Charley Hull and Jeongeun Lee6, as well as the ever-stylish Jesper Parnevik will also start rocking Malbon this year.

Those pants and shoes, though.

My take: I think it's great that "golf streetwear" is making its way onto the professional scene.

A much more fashionable friend introduced me to Malbon about a year ago, and I definitely drew inspiration from them when coming up with the Quick Nine's aesthetic.

I don't own any Malbon gear personally, but the LA-based company seems to have struck a chord with a cooler (and perhaps younger) demographic than myself. They also seem to be at the forefront of a growing category that includes other golf-lifestyle brands like Macklemore's Bogey Boys, Manors, and Bad Birdie.

Hittin' the links

The intrigue surrounding Patrick Cantlay’s head continues.

🧢 Patrick Cantlay — who lost his Goldman Sachs sponsorship shortly after last year's Ryder Cup — has a new hat deal with the First Responders Children's Foundation.

As part of the sponsorship, Cantlay will launch a scholarship program in his name for children of first responders who "demonstrate business acumen and aspire to become entrepreneurs," per AP.

🏆 Scottie Scheffler took home the PGA Tour's Player of the Year award for the second consecutive season after winning twice and putting together an 18-tournament stretch in which T12 was his worst finish, CBS' Patrick McDonald noted.

Viktor Hovland, meanwhile, won three times during the 2022-23 season and Jon Rahm, four times.

👩‍👦Journeyman Eric Cole earned PGA Tour Rookie of the Year honors joining his mom, Laura Baugh, who won the same award on the LPGA exactly 50 years ago.

👀 Rory McIlroy said in an hour long interview this week that he was "maybe a little judgmental of the guys who went to LIV Golf at the start."

“I wouldn’t say I’ve lost the fight against LIV, but I’ve just accepted the fact that this is part of our sport now," he said.

And finally...

As good as it gets. Tiger makes eagle on the 600+ yard Par 5 18th in 2000.

Speaking of baggy shirts, every year when Kapalua comes around, I can't help but think of the epic duel between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els in 2000 (when The Sentry was The Mercedes Championship and only included players who won a tournament the year prior).

I was 12-years-old at the time and had no idea how special it was to watch two guys exchange eagles on the Plantation Course's iconic 18th hole to force a playoff. I also took Tiger's dramatic fist pumps for granted and remember thinking it was sorta normal for a player to drain a 40-footer for the win. Maybe normal for Tiger.

He would go on to have arguably the greatest golf season ever in 2000, winning the first three legs of his eventual Tiger Slam and nine tournaments overall. And I, like so many other kids of that era, would become hooked on the game for years to come.

That’s all for today! Enjoy the golf this weekend and talk soon. - Nick B. 🏄‍♂️

9 questions for 2024

Nick Bastone — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 11:05:00 +0000

Hey there! Hope you had an awesome holiday and happy new year! It's been a nice couple of weeks away, traveling with the family. But it's good to be back.

The new year means that some meaningful golf is just around the corner. Still, the men's professional game has never had so many unknowns heading into a season (at least in my lifetime). Hopefully, throughout the course of this year, we'll get some answers.

For now, here are my top nine questions heading into 2024:

On the pro side...

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and head of the PIF, Yasir Al-Rumayyan

1. Will the PGA Tour strike a deal with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund?

The PGA Tour and LIV Golf's financiers had a Dec. 31 deadline to reach an agreement, which has obviously come and gone. Now, reports suggest an April timeframe — before the Masters.

What comes of these negotiations will shape the future of the men's pro game for decades. The PIF is expected to inject billions of dollars into the Tour. But more importantly, the deal will likely change the PGA Tour's structure/schedule drastically.

Does that mean we'll see more team golf? Tournaments around the world? A total merger with LIV?

So much is up-in-the-air.

Masters champs Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm

2. Who will win more majors — PGA Tour players or LIV golfers?

It’s wild that this is even a question. But here we are.

When looking at some of the best players from both circuits, it’s close.

LIV: Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Cam Smith, Dustin Johnson.

PGA Tour: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Vikor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele.

Ultimately, I'd still wager that more PGA Tour players will take home majors in 2024 because of its overall depth.

The hype is real. Watch out for Min Woo Lee in 2024.

3. Who will breakthrough and become a household name in 2024?

The PGA Tour had a good article on nine guys that could make a big leap this season, including Ludvig Åberg, Cam Young, and Sahith Thegala. But I think it's going to be Australia's Min Woo Lee who will catch the most attention in 2024.

Min Woo's been cooking as of late — winning on the Asian and DP World tours to close out 2023. And, this year, he's fully exempt on the PGA Tour for the first time in his career.

Expect long drives, stingers, and a self-led thunderclaps from Min Woo in 2024. Heck, maybe even throw in a major.

The TGL stadium after its damages.

4. Will the TGL even happen?

Remember when Tiger and Rory's virtual golf league was supposed to launch in early January, but then the stadium deflated and the whole thing was delayed for at least another year?

The TGL has plenty of well-known investors, which offers some confidence that an inaugural season will happen in "early 2025," as promised. Still, with so much happening in the potential PGA Tour/LIV merger, it's hard to imagine how simulator golf fits in.

I sorta think the endeavor unravels and never actually happens.

On the personal side...

The unforgettable Fox interview announcing Rahm’s move to LIV.

5. Will I watch more LIV Golf?

Probably, yes. Jon Rahm and Cam Smith, admittedly, are two of my favorite golfers to watch and now both play on the rebel tour.

Am I happy about this? No.

Golf is so much more fun when the best players in the world are competing against each other, and — as people have said ad nauseum over these last few weeks — this should happen more than four times a year.

This video has been live for one week and already has over 750,000 views.

6. Will I watch more YouTube golf?

Mayyybe.

I hardly watch any YouTube golf today because ... I dunno. Maybe at 35, I'm too old to really get it. (FWIW, I don't watch much of anything on YouTube outside of Lion King music videos for my kid.)

Maybe if I followed popular channels like Good Good, Fore Play, or Bryan Bros closer, I'd care more about the people playing and the storylines. 🤷‍♂️

I do think the rise of YouTube golf (some channels have 1 million+ subscribers) comes at such an interesting time — when the men's professional game is in disarray.

Imagine if you were young and new to the game — would you rather flip between CBS and the CW to watch golf or just stream shows on YouTube whenever you want? Probably the latter.

Golden Gate Park par 3 course in San Francisco, CA.

7. What's my bucket list course for 2024?

With two kids under two-and-a-half, my expectations aren't high.

But I'd love to get back to San Francisco this year to play the newly renovated Golden Gate Park par 3 course. It looks so epic.

Having recently moved from the Bay Area to the Midwest, I also have my eyes on the Sand Valley courses in central Wisconsin. One can dream.

On the business side...

8. What's on tap for the Quick Nine?

Like the future of professional golf, honestly, it's a little TBD.

My initial idea for the Quick Nine was to create an easy way to follow PGA Tour events on a week-to-week basis. But with the pro game divided, covering just one tour doesn't really make sense anymore. There's also so much more to write about with golf, like the courses we play, the equipment we use, and our never-ending quest to improve.

If there's one guiding principle I have for the Quick Nine in 2024 it's to tell more original stories rather than simply recapping the news.

9. Will the newsletter reach 10,000 subscribers?

I have a long way to go, but that's the goal.

You can help me today by sharing the Quick Nine with a friend or two who loves the game as much as you do. 🙏

That's all for today! Thanks so much for reading y'all and as a reminder, the first tournament of the PGA Tour season (The Sentry) starts on Thursday. Hawaii golf means prime time golf for those of us on the mainland.

Enjoy! And talk soon. - Nick B.

🛒 Costco irons

Nick Bastone — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 11:55:00 +0000

Hey there! I wanted to offer some relief from all the LIV news and write about a topic near-and-dear to my heart — Costco golf clubs. I don’t actually own any Kirkland Signature clubs (and I’m not sure that I ever will). But for some reason, I’m fascinated.

I do touch on PGA Tour/LIV updates below, as well as what to watch for your weekend ahead.

For now though, onto Costco…

All I want for Christmas are… Kirkland Signature irons?

Costco’s Player Distance Irons

Costco released its anticipated pitching-wedge through 4-iron-set last weekend, and within around five hours, they were completely sold out.

The wholesale giant’s initial drop likely totaled some 4,000 sets at $499 a pop.
The limited release (coupled with Costco’s diehard fan base) created quite the buzz online.
As Golf Magazine noted, the high demand was especially impressive since the clubs had “no paid advertising or player endorsements.”

The new irons, of course, aren’t Costco’s first foray into golf.

Kirkland Signature balls made a major splash when Costco first released them in 2016. At $29.99 for two dozen (!!), they were far cheaper than the comparable Titleist Pro-V1s.
Costco still sells golf balls today. But after some legal tussles with Titleist, the Kirkland Signature balls aren’t quite what they used to be.
Costco also sells a three-piece wedge set (52, 56, and 60-degree, $170) and a putter ($150).

Nick’s take: My wife’s the bigger Costco fan in our family (she actually enjoys walking down every aisle). But I admit, the new irons look slick.

They’re very reminiscent of the TaylorMade P790’s that I bought last year, but at a fraction of the price. (Interestingly, Golf Magazine said the Kirkland iron’s have similar inner-tech to the P790s, as well as PXG’s 0311 series.)
If I hadn’t just upgraded my irons AND I could get my hands on a set, I might be tempted to give ‘em a go.
Still, I wonder how I’d actually feel standing on the first tee with Kirkland Signature’s in my bag.

What’s next: TBD when Costco will restock its shelves/online inventory with the new irons, but hopefully, there will be more in time for the holidays.

The wide-carted warehouse is also expected to soon release a $199 Kirkland Signature driver — which, for whatever reason, I already want to buy.
Costco strikes again.

Some PGA Tour/LIV news since we spoke last:

Wells Fargo said it’ll drop its name from the Wells Fargo Championship come 2025 — when Signature Event sponsors will be asked to fork over more dough.

The news was yet another blow to the PGA Tour and a worrisome sign that corporate sponsors may not be able to keep up with the increased purse sizes.

The PGA Tour officially suspended Jon Rahm for joining LIV this week, while Tony Finau (recently rumored to be joining the rival circuit), said on Instagram that he’s staying.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan made $18.6 million in 2022, according to tax filings obtained by Sportico.

That was up from $13.9 million in 2021.

Meanwhile, the PGA Tour says that alongside talks with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, it’s also advancing conversations with Strategic Sports Group (SSG) — whose members include the owners of the Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Penguins, and more.

What to watch

Q-School’s final stage is this weekend with 165 players vying to finish inside the top 5 (and ties) to secure their PGA Tour cards for next season.

Notable names to follow include Harry Higgs, Kevin Chappell, Sam Bennett, and YouTube star, Wesley Bryan.

Tiger and Charlie look for their first PNC win.

The parent-child PNC Championship is this Saturday and Sunday featuring Tiger and Charlie Woods.

And finally…

This was wonderful, and I can only hope to see something similar outside my plane window this weekend.

That’s all for today! Thanks so much for reading y’all. And as a heads up, my family and I are heading back to California for the holidays (traveling with two kids under 2.5, please send thoughts/prayers). So, newsletter sends may be a little sporadic over the next couple of weeks.

The PGA/LIV deal is supposed to be settled by the end of the year. And if it does, you’ll hear from me. Until then, have an awesome/safe holiday and hope you can get some golf in!

- Nick B. 🎄