Weekly | Rory’s Augusta Week Amid Reunification Talks: Time to Discuss TV Shares - Could the Saudis be Waiting to See Who Will Be the Next POTUS?
Navigating the Crossroads of Golf, Business, and Politics: An In-depth Guide to Grasping Our Current Position and Anticipating Developments Through the End of 2024.
We’re confident that your inbox has been flooded with more headlines about the big golf week than you’d like. So, we don’t want to be more of a burden than average.
Simply put, we’ll update tomorrow and send out our GBR Pro guide, exclusively for subscribers, covering everything you need to know to follow The Masters from a useful and business perspective.
So, if you read this newsletter to the end, you’ll be able to learn more about the following topics that we’ve tailored for readers like you:
Discussion on TV shares amid reunification talks.
LIV Impact on Trump’s business.
Nelly Korda’s Historic Run.
TGL’s New York Team Unveiling.
Marketplace Roundup: Features TaylorMade’s new retro mini-drive and “proto” 4-iron, and Shot Scope V5 Watch.
Atomic Golf’s Grand Opening in Vegas.
Trump Turnberry Partners with CADDIEMASTER.
And some additional topics.
So, lets go and may the best [Rory] win!!! Oops, sorry.
Rory's Augusta Week Amid Reunification Talks: Time to Discuss TV Shares
Negotiations between the PGA Tour, PIF, and DP World Tour are progressing slowly.
Bryson DeChambeau emphasizes the need for quick action [The Palm Beach Post]:
“...it needs to happen fast. It's not a two-year thing. Like it needs to happen quicker rather than later just for the good of the sport. Too many people are losing interest."
“The only answer is for us to somehow come together in some sort of terms where it makes sense and for us to be playing all again in somewhat of the same boat. It's great to have the majors where we come together, but we want to be competing -- at least I want to be competing -- every week with all of the best players in the world."
"I'm putting my trust in Yasir and where the game is headed more globally. But at some point, when it gets ironed out, I think it's going to be in a much better place where we bring the best players from the world, and it's going to open up more opportunities for manufacturing, course design, for players in different parts of the world to be inspired and enter the game. I think it's going to be in a much better place.”
Rory McIlroy has noted a significant decline in PGA Tour’s viewership [Golf Week]:
“I know this isn’t a be-all, end-all, but if you look at the TV ratings of the PGA Tour this year, they’re down 20 percent across the board. That’s a fifth. That’s big. I would say the numbers on LIV aren’t great either in terms of the people tuning in.”
So, What Worries Rory? A Snapshot of Current Data:
The Tour Championship, a prestigious PGA Tour event, saw a slump in viewership in 2023, with an average audience of just 4.6 million.
A video by popular YouTube golfer Rick Shiels, released at the same time as the Tour Championship, garnered over 6.7 million views.
The ongoing split between the PGA Tour, LIV, and DP World Tour has caused frustration among fans.
The increasing support from players for reunification may prompt action sooner rather than later. 🙏
LIV: A Boon for Trump’s Business
The latest installment of LIV is set to take place at Trump National Doral, Florida.
Trump has been a supporter of LIV since its inception in 2022, hosting tournaments at his Bedminster, Washington, and Doral courses.
“They want to use my properties because they’re the best properties,”
Trump’s relationship with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) is believed to be strong, with the former president having a private meeting with the Crown Prince earlier this year.
Trump’s son-in-law, Jarrod Kushner, has received significant backing from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, amounting to $2 billion, and is exploring global investment and real estate opportunities.
The financial details of Trump resorts hosting LIV events have not been disclosed, but the shift in focus from city center locations to resorts and golf projects suggests a major economic benefit for the Trump organization.
With LIV Miami coming to town, the prices at the Doral hotel, being fully under Trump ownership, and course have increased significantly. A basic room costs nearly $1,000 per night during tournament week, while a private chalet costs $89k for three nights.
LIV has clarified that there is no hidden arrangement that financially benefits the Trump organization.
Doug Mayer, a spokesman for LIV, stated:
“LIV Golf is an independent business and commercial entity that is solely focused on the game of golf, the business of golf and increasing competition in the global marketplace.”
Our unsolicited POV:
So, does anyone genuinely believe that MBS+YAR will make a significant move before knowing who will be next the U.S. President?
Who, at the end of the day, is the only one who can halt his global golf power grab through a Congressional majority?
MORE ABOUT TRUMP&LIV:
Trump Venues Bank on Golf, With Help From Saudi Arabia - The New York Times.
Nelly Korda’s Historic Run
World No. 1 Nelly Korda won her fourth consecutive title at the T-Mobile Match Play in Las Vegas.
She defeated Leona Maguire 4 and 3, marking her 12th career title.
She’s the first to win four straight events since Lorena Ochoa in 2008 and the first American since Nancy Lopez in 1978.
She earned $300,000 from the event.
TGL’s New York Team Unveiling
The latest TGL team, the New York Golf Club, was unveiled last Thursday.
The team includes Rickie Fowler, Cameron Young, Xander Schauffele, and Matt Fitzpatrick.
NYGC is owned by Cohen Private Ventures, founded by Mets owner Steve Cohen.
The club also unveiled its official logo, which features New York state’s Eastern Bluebird and includes a nod to N.Y.'s subway circles.
Marketplace Roundup
TaylorMade’s New Retro Mini BRNR Breaks Cover
TaylorMade's new "BRNR Mini Driver Copper" is a retro mini-driver, reminiscent of the original Burner Bubble series from the mid-90s.
EXPLAINER: By the way, Mini drivers are specialist clubs that bridge the gap between a 3 wood and a driver. They've been around for a while and are not considered a fad. The term "mini driver" is perhaps more appealing than "2 wood".
The 2024 model features the same copper tones on the sole and leading edge of the crown as the original models.
The UST Mamiya ProForce 65 shaft sports the same color combination as the iconic bubble shaft.
The new k-sole design aids turf interaction, similar to the original Bubble Burner woods.
Interchangeable 13g and 1.5g weights alter the center of gravity, and TaylorMade’s loft sleeve offers up to four degrees of loft variation.
The head is 304cc and available in either 11.5 or 13 degrees, making it more likely to be used off the tee instead of the fairway.
Priced at $449 (€415, £356), the BRNR Mini Driver Copper fits into a niche but has been popular, often selling out.
Shot Scope V5 Watch
The new "Shot Scope V5" watch is a GPS golf watch with full functionality, including full hole mapping and automatic shot tracking.
Full hole mapping provides a visual layout of the entire hole, including distances to the front, middle, and back of the green.
Automatic shot tracking helps golfers club accurately to avoid trouble.
The P-Avg feature, first seen on the X5, provides an accurate indication of how far a well-struck shot goes with each club in the bag, excluding the putter.
The V5 can be used with a dedicated app, available on both IOS and Android platforms, giving access to Shot Scope’s database of 36,000 courses.
The app allows golfers to analyze their data to identify weaknesses and plot strategies for new courses.
The V5 is priced at $249 (€229,£200), $50 cheaper than the X5 model, which offers a touch screen versus button-operated functionality on the V5.
Did we also mention that both watches can also tell you the time? 😜
More Industry News
Atomic Golf’s Grand Opening in Vegas!
Flite Golf & Entertainment’s new driving range, Atomic Golf, has opened in Las Vegas, right next to the STRAT Hotel. Spanning a massive 99,000 square feet, this four-level, 100-bay driving range is a golfer’s paradise. It also features eight putting bays, catering to all skill levels.
What sets Atomic Golf apart is its state-of-the-art technology. The range features shot tracing technology, providing accurate distance and target proximity data. This allows players to track their performance and improve their game.
But that’s not all. Players can simulate games on famous courses like Pebble Beach and St Andrews Old Course under authentic weather conditions. They can also compete in various game formats, adding a fun and competitive element to their practice sessions.
Touchscreens in each bay offer a variety of fun games like golf blackjack, longest drive, and golf darts. This makes Atomic Golf not just a place for serious practice, but also a fun outing for friends and family.
Catering options are available for all, with a special menu for luxury bay bookings. This means you can enjoy a great meal while practicing your swing.
Atomic Golf is part of a growing global portfolio, including locations in London and Riyadh.
The CEO of Atomic Golf, John Vollbrecht, is confident about the guest experience at Atomic Golf, stating:
“Our technology is second-to-none, and the overall guest experience will provide a much-needed upgrade to yesterday’s golf entertainment.”
PGA UK Boosts Support for The Big Golf Race.
The Big Golf Race, a major fundraiser for Prostate Cancer UK, has received increased support from PGA UK. The event has raised £3.4 million since 2020 and aims to raise £1.6 million in 2024.
Trump Turnberry Partners with CADDIEMASTER
Trump Turnberry has partnered with CADDIEMASTER to enhance the golfing experience at its world-renowned resort. The partnership will provide members and guests with knowledgeable caddies to assist during their rounds.
Recommended Reads of the Week
Doug Ferguson’s series on The Masters for Associated Press:
“A capsule look at Masters from 5 to 75 years ago”: A retrospective of the Masters.
“8th hole at Augusta National has an uphill climb and a blind shot”: Analysis of Augusta National’s 8th hole.
“A trivia quiz on all things Masters and Augusta”: Test your Masters and Augusta knowledge.
“A hole-by-hole look at Augusta National”: A detailed guide to Augusta National.
“Life on the Green: Lessons and Wisdom From Legends of Golf”. A book by Ann Liguori: Inspirational life lessons from the golf links.
“Zach Johnson on using GolfForever’s SwingTrainer and AI-powered app as part of his training routine” by Joe Lemire at SBJ: Zach Johnson shares his training routine.
Immerse yourself in these reads and savor a delightful week of Augusta magic!
Happy reading!