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• E 0 ST 9 A 19 GARY GALYEAN’S BLISHED ®

GOLF LETTER ® t h e i n s i d e r e p o r t o n w o r l d g o l f

NUMBER 321 OUR 29th YEAR DECEMBER 2018

Dear Subscriber: studied it forensically and, yes, the P.G.A. Championship moving changed things. We have a very strong schedule hile the weight of the world’s 2019 professional early [in 2019] and then we have a number of really good competition will predictably and perfunctorily W events during the strength of the American majors. But remain in the United States, controversy and confusion when you look at those and three World Cham- will be owned by Great Britain and Europe due to tourna- pionships (W.G.C.), it is difficult for the top players to ment scheduling changes that have rendered the European come back for one week [for the British ]. So I’m Tour calendar, at some intervals, less not sure competing in that period is than appealing to the world’s best a wise way for [the European tour] players. INSIDE THIS ISSUE to spend our money and our efforts. Obviously, winning money and I am not sure we would get top collecting endorsements are the play- 2019 Scheduling Upset player participation.” ers’ professional goals. Just like the Rules & Architecture P.G.A. [2010], U.S. Open rest of most secular and political Helmets for Golfers [2014] and Players Champion pursuits these days, it’s all about the [2014] assessed dough. So the best players will follow the situation with this comment. the money wherever it may lead. “The new P.G.A. Tour schedule is going to have a huge The scheduling mismatch was caused by the reversal influence on the European Tour from February until of dates for the American and European P.G.A. Cham- June. The tournaments [in Europe] are very low on pionships. The [U.S.] P.G.A. Championship moved to world ranking points and prize money. So, if you have May 16-19 from its traditional August date; and therefore the chance to play on the P.G.A. Tour, why would you by necessity, the BMW P.G.A. Championship at Went- play in Europe? I can spend three or four months in the worth, the European Tour’s flagship tournament, moved States. Then I can play in the Series events [in from its customary May date to September 11-22. Europe] after the U.S. Open in the run up to . While this may seem simple enough, the primary opportunities worldwide for those seeking prize money and fame appear between the in April and the U.S. Open in June. Following the Masters, HOLIDAY GIFT RATES there is little reason for the top players to return to the Substantial savings on gifts from subscribers. European Tour for the Hassan Trophee in Morocco, the , back to for the and ONE Gift Subscription $75 (a $13 savings) then to Bethpage for the P.G.A. Championship. Between TWO Gift Subscriptions $145 (a $31 savings) March and June, professional tournaments of any signifi- THREE Gift Subscriptions $191 (a $73 savings) cance only take place in the U.S. [see table on next page]. Subscribers who sent gifts in years past have received a “We know the challenges with the global calendar,” separate notice detailing their last year’s gifts. European Tour C.E.O. Keith Pelley said recently. “We’ve See detailed enclosure.

Published Monthly • Subscription Rate US $88 Per Year www.thegolfetter.com • 18 XII 1p “That will mean much less crossing the Atlantic. Masters. “Right now, [my European participation] is It just makes sense to stay in America until the end of all sort of up in the air, but if it were to be that I don’t the U.S. Open when there is (sic) only three or four fulfill my membership next year [four European tour ap- weeks between the biggest pearances], it’s not a Ryder events from the Players 2019 North American & European Tour Cup year, so it’s not the [Championship] all the end of the world. I am al- way through the majors. Men’s Foremost Tour Stops ways going to want to play It would make no sense to the , so if [losing go back to Europe, which Jan 16-19 Abu Dhabi Championship my European Tour mem- is a shame for the events Jan 24-27 Desert bership] does happen [in there.” 2019] so be it, and I will Jan 31-Feb 3 Saudi International try and make the Ryder During the weeks to Feb 7-10 Pebble Beach Pro-Am Cup team the year after.” which Mr. Kaymer refers, the following notable tour- Feb 21-24 WGC Mexico Championship Mr. McIlroy’s decision naments will be played in Feb 28 Mar 3 Open is further complicated by North America: a rule passed by the Euro- Mar 7-10 Bay Hill pean Tour last year. In an • W.G.C.-Mexico Mar 7-10 Masters effort to keep their better Championship Mar 14-17 Te Players Championship players playing on the Eu- • The Players ropean Tour, they stipu- Championship Mar 27-30 WGC Dell lated that any player fail- • W.G.C.-Dell Apr 11-14 Masters Tournament ing to play the minimum Championship Apr 18-21 Harbor Town number of tournaments or • Masters Tournament declining European Tour Apr 25-28 Trophee Hassan II [Morocco] membership in any year • P.G.A. Championship May 2-5 China Open can never be a Ryder Cup • captain or vice captain. May 9-12 British Masters • U.S. Open Obviously the rule can be May 16-19 P.G.A. Championship reversed as easily as it was Mr. Pelley said that the May 30-Jun 2 Te Memorial implemented. Mr. McIl- European Tour considered roy’s turn at the captaincy moving one of their eight Jun 6-9 Canadian Open is roughly 20 years in the Rolex series events [$7 mil- Jun 13-16 U.S. Open future. lion purse] into that time July 4-7 frame but after receiving A further example of players’ reaction decided July 11-14 money running the show is that eight of the fourteen against the move. “So, we Jul 18-21 Open Championship have to look at the four ar- 2019 notable European eas of our schedule that are Aug 22-25 Tour championships [see strong,” Mr. Pelley said. Sept 19-22 P.G.A. [Europe] Championship the table to the left] have non-European names and “That is (sic) the beginning Sept 26-29 Dunhill of the year, the period pri- locations: Abu Dhabi, or to the Open Champion- Nov 21-24 World Tour Championship Dubai x 2, Saudi, Oman, ship, immediately after the [Road to Dubai] Qatar, Morocco and FedEx Cup and at the end China. of our season.” Equally rummy, the is now the Mr. Kaymer’s take was simple, “There will be Ameri- Emirates Australian Open and this year was played at the can players who will think, ‘Why should we come over same time as the World Tour Championship in Dubai. [to Europe] when we play for $7 million every week , who won the U.S. Open in 2006 and the anyway?’” Australian Open in 2010, made this comment about his home championship. “I hate to say this, but the Aus- No player makes the dilemma more obvious than tralian Open feels like a second-rate tournament now,” Rory McIlroy, whose primary 2019 goal is winning the he said. “I’m sure it is run in the same way it was 30

THE GOLF LETTER® • 18 XII 2p years ago, but tournaments elsewhere have progressed so sanctioned increase in golf’s ball and implement perfor- much, and the differences show.” It must be said that his mances that have allowed the demeaning of the many interests and aesthetics as a are prob- great courses. ably different from yours. While Te R&A and the U.S.G.A. hold their cards, Further aside but not too far, it has been reported ponderings and opinions close to their vests, there is that has declined to play in January’s Saudi some opinion, among those who may have an inkling, International despite a $3 million appearance fee. that there is agreement that at least the ball should be dialed back. Tere is a diference, however, in how that Further still aside but in the same pecuniary and ethi- decision should be implemented. cal arena is the reimbursement to U.S.G.A. Executive Committee (XCom) members of their expenses as related Te R&A, it is suspected, is in favor of reducing to their work on behalf of the U.S.G.A. For more than how far the ball travels for all golfers without equivoca- a century, XCom members tion. Te U.S.G.A., wary of paid their own expenses as their authority should it be a way of acknowledging the challenged in court, favors amateur foundation of the restricting the ball under a association. Everything - air local rule that can or cannot travel, room, board, and a be invoked depending on lengthy amount of time at circumstances. Your club can championship sites - was ab- decide because the U.S.G.A. sorbed by XCom members. may not want to. It was an honor to serve. Te resolution of this Te reimbursement scale question is the game’s great- began to tip about 15 years est secret and this report is ago when private jet travel based solely upon supposi- was ofered and paid by the tion. U.S.G.A. for XCom mem- ••• bers. Now all expenses are paid by the U.S.G.A. Tis ap- pears to be an efort to attract talented business people to Tose who have attended Rules workshops in order the XCom - with or without a foundation in the game. to prepare for the January implementation of the modern Prospective nominees to the XCom are now told they report that the teaching is efective, the can expect to spend only about 20 days a year in dispens- changes relatively easy to absorb, and the after-seminar ing their responsibilities if elected to the XCom. test easier. Additionally, the minimum threshold test score, necessary for those ofciating at the highest level, What has happened and continues to happen to golf, has been lowered. many of its great clubs, championships and those who administer it worldwide was metaphorically illustrated by Most of those attending believe the new approach will the $9 million in Plexiglas boxes placed on the red carpet make the Rules easier to understand for those who care, at the closing of the cheesy Woods-Michelson match last but will not attract new interest. Most precarious will month. be new Rule 10.2.4 that no longer allows your to stand behind you when you are taking your stance. “If The certainty that a large measure of the spirit and you take a stance in breach of this rule you cannot avoid core of the game has been impignorated in order to build by backing away”. Tere is, however, an excep- up these professional opportunities, both playing and tion on the putting green if you back away from your non-playing, is shameful and sad. Enow. putting stance and do not retake your stance until your Rules caddie has moved away. Distance is the name of the elephant in the room ••• at Te R&A and U.S.G.A. Rules Committee meet- Brutal and Cruel were the words misused in headlines ings. Our opinion, as reported in the February 2018 describing a Rules infraction by a player in the second GOLF LETTER, is that the 150th Open Championship, stage of the European Tour . Playing his which will be played over the Old Course in July 2021, last hole of the day, Gian-Marco Petrozzi walked of the provides the pivotal opportunity to reverse decades of yardage for his approach. To do that he walked through

THE GOLF LETTER® • 18 XII 3p a bunker and then raked the bunker before playing his ••• ball over the bunker and onto the green. He did not Merion’s $20 million course rebuild has many wor- know that by raking the bunker, before he played, he was ried that the historically important and beguiling course improving his line of play [Rule 13-2]. He was penalized will be grimthorped in the process. Gil Hanse is oversee- two strokes resulting in his losing his place in the fnal ing the work at Merion and has pitched the members of stage of qualifying. Baltusrol for a similar rebuild just as he did at Oakland “I wasn’t aware that I was making this mistake,” Mr. Hills. What is the point? Who is making these decisions? Petrozzi posted online. It is continually bafing that What is their background in the game? What is the fate those who wish to compete for millions of dollars or Eu- of the notable architecture that was created and/or per- ros in prize money do not know the Rules. Is there any fected at these masterpieces? other profession where this is so prevalent? Helmets for Golfers From the memories of those who know these things, it is thought that the only world ranked professional A British health and safety risk assessment agency golfer to have ever attended a Rules workshop is Annika named Protecting.co.uk is proposing that those playing Sorenstam. golf be required to wear crash helmets. Architecture “If you look at a selection of other sports played in the U.K., both contact and non-contact, there are mea- Dumbarnie , 15 miles south of St. Andrews sures in place to reduce injury,” a spokesman for the with 14 holes allowing views of the Firth of Forth, is agency told Golf Punk magazine. “For example, many scheduled to open a year from this coming spring, as amateur and lower-league rugby clubs insist on protec- reported by the journal Architecture. It tive helmets; martial arts classes provide pads for their is anticipated to be the next notable Scotch course. Te students - and this is not just to prevent injury. It’s be- architect is with Paul Kimber as project man- cause fnancially it makes sense for clubs (and their insur- ager. Te Dumbarnie site is not undisturbed linksland, ers) to prove they’ve reduced harm wherever possible.” but it does immediately adjoin such. Te new course is Te report maintains that between 16 and 41 per referred to as a “constructed links”, much like Castle Stu- cent of amateur golfers are injured by golf balls each art or Kingsbarns. year, and some of the injuries have caused golfers to miss Te particular attractiveness of the Dumbarnie site work. Golf, the magazine reports, had an injury rate of is that it is generally higher than the coastal linksland it 1.8 per 1,000, which is greater than rugby’s injury rate of borders, thus allowing for stunning views. “Te coastal 1.5 per 1,000. level is the larger part of the site, but the dunes there are fairly low, which allows us to see over them,” Mr. Clark Ryder Cup 2022 Opening Ceremonies told the journal. “Up the escarpment and when you are As preparations are made for the Ryder Cup to de- high above the coastal plain, we have three or four holes scend upon the Eternal City in 2022, it is being strongly where the view is getting on for 180 degrees, which is rumored that the Colosseum will be the site for the quite spectacular.” opening ceremonies!

Yours vy truly,

For E.J-M.F.M.: “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.” Oscar Wilde Gary A. Galyean

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