Rory McIlroy did an interview before the start of last week’s Genesis Invitational in which he said the PGA Tour should be like the NBA and build around its stars. He went on to say that the NBA doesn’t build around the 12th guy on the team, but because the stars do well, the 12th guy does better than he used to. So, McIlroy rationalizes that the more tens of millions of dollars that he earns, he creates a trickle down to the journeymen. I guess he sees himself as a champion of the little guy.
Before he starts modeling the PGA Tour after the NBA, he should consider that the NBA and China have a significant relationship. But at the same time, he’s criticizing LIV Golf for its relationship with Saudi Arabia. Hey, Rory, they both have similar issues.
NBA stars are employees of a for-profit team. Their overall business model is much different than the not-for-profit PGA Tour’s. You can’t cherry-pick one part of the NBA to try to make your point.
Rory McIlroy is already one of the wealthiest players on tour. You’d think at this stage of his career that he’d be more interested in his legacy and trying to figure out how to win the Masters and not trying to figure out how to squeeze more wealth. But I guess when you peel the onion, there’s always that layer of greed.
Charlie Jurgonis
Fairfax, Virginia
I had to chuckle about GGP's top story headline “No. 1 ... Again.” (Global Golf Post, February 13).
Isn't the PGA Tour and mainstream golf media now at a tipping point when referencing the Official World Golf Ranking? The OWGR is not a credible source when Dustin Johnson is listed at No. 50. Or maybe the question will truly be answered April 9 after completion of the Masters, where I suspect Johnson might win again. Be certain that the oddsmakers will include Johnson in the top five picks.
This year's Masters could be the most widely watched event in the history of golf, and a Johnson win would raise further controversy on the OWGR.
Tom Gorman
Dedham, Massachusetts
(Gorman is the publisher of NewEngland.golf)
The reason for advertising and sponsorships, besides making money, is to show golf – with emphasis on the “to show” part.
Over the past several years, the TV networks have gone overboard with the concept of “Playing Through,” trying to make us believe that the networks are doing the viewers a favor. Not so. Once the networks do their screen split, we are supposed to be able to tell who is hitting and where the ball ends up after a shot. Seldom is that possible.
When the network returns from commercial break, we get to hear “Blimey, wasn’t that a great chip by Jordan!” How would we know? We did not know Jordan was hitting and could not see the dot of a golf ball on the TV screen after he hit.
Please start a groundswell that we no longer want “Playing Through” on the broadcasts. Show the commercials in their 100-percent glory. Should something worth viewing occur during the commercial, there will be plenty of time for the announcers to pretend that they are clairvoyant and predict where Jordan is about to hit the ball when we are shown the shot after the commercial break. In other words, show golf, or show commercials, just not both at the same time.
And, never, ever say, “Blimey, wasn’t that a great chip by Jordan!” without showing the “great chip.”
Jeff Kinsel
Fort Worth, Texas
I read Sean Fairholm’s column on the Walker Cup with interest (“Is the Walker Cup in trouble?” December 5 GGP).
I was the general co-chair of the 1997 Walker Cup and the 2018 Curtis Cup at my club, Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, New York. Many of us at QR read Fairholm’s article and opined on the situation. Lots of us still travel to the Walker Cup and Curtis Cup venues. There is a lot more to these matches than the players. Traveling to spectacular venues, golfers from all parts of the U.S. and Great Britain and Ireland, reconnecting friendships and making new friends, cheering for your country, following a tradition of golf. Yes, it is about the players, but these matches are bigger than the individual.
Have any of these young amateur golfers listened to the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup teams talk about the amazing camaraderie these players share in a team event? Part of me feels if these kids are just pros-in-waiting looking for big bucks, let them move on to that. Our golfers are pretty deep. Character is one of the elements used in choosing a Walker Cup or Curtis Cup player. If money is the most important issue for a player, let him or her go for it. Maybe it’s not the person we want to represent our country.
Professional golf is rather messy right now. LIV is new, and who knows whether it will survive. Many golfers are looking at money above all else. Golf has the most longevity of any sport, and players can earn good money into their senior years. As these kids age and look back on their lives, maybe the memory and legacy of a Walker Cup or Curtis Cup would be more important than the new Porsche at age 20. In my opinion, it would be their loss.
Beth Post
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
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