“Off The Fringe” – Ed Travis
By ED TRAVIS
Golf’s Can of Worms
The current state of men’s professional golf can’t continue. It’s like trying to watch golf played in a can of worms and more and more the whole system seems to be writhing in pain. One of the many topics is whether the new LIV Golf series should qualify for World Ranking Points. Greg Norman CEO of LIV, as he has done in the past, does not contribute to a harmonious discussion making several sharp comments; most recently calling the current ranking system “laughable.” Of course, the poaching of Jon Rahm away from the PGA Tour with a supposed $500 million enticement didn’t exactly help the situation and the negotiations still haven’t produced a merger between the PGAT/DP World Tour and LIV. Stay tuned, this ain’t over yet.
Tiger in Masters Field
but Will He Play?
Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Mike Holahan/The Augusta Chronicle
With all the speculation about those players who will or will not be in the 2024 Masters field whether 15-time major champion Tiger Woods will play occupies the mind of many in the media and of course fans as well. He withdrew from his last start in mid-February, the Genesis Invitational where he is the tournament host, suffering from the flu. Before that his last start was the 2023 Masters. Wanna take any bets what he does? However, we can all sleep more soundly knowing that Joaquin Niemann of the LIV circuit got his Masters invitation after winning the Australian Open.
A Solution to the
PGAT/LIV Controversy
It’s simple and I don’t know why no one has thought of it before. It’s about the money and because LIV Golf and its funding source PIF have already spent well over $1 billion to get stars from the PGAT to switch why not just have LIV buy off the top 50 or so current PGAT players? It could be on a sliding scale with maybe $500 million going to number one Scottie Scheffler will lesser amounts to lower ranked players. Then everyone on the two tours would be on an equal footing and we could forget about all the anger, angst and more unpleasant emotions being voiced. LIV players could rejoin the PGAT maybe with an earnings penalty such as only receiving 50% of a tournament prize money or maybe not, it isn’t crucial. It does accomplish two things though. Flagging fan interest would instantly be revived, and we wouldn’t have to listen to Greg Norman any longer.
Pro Golf Saga
I don’t know which is more amazing, Anthony Kim being lured back into professional golf by Greg Norman/LIV or Thomas Detry taking six putts in the second round of the Cognizant Classic. Kim finishing at 16 over par for three rounds was an embarrassment which gave him dead last 53rd place. For the record Joaquin Niemann won LIV Golf Jeddah beating Kim by 33. Kim was also outdistanced by the 52nd finisher by 11 shots but went home with $50,000. Detry missed the Cognizant cut by 13.
Bob Jones Award to Tiger
Tiger Woods has been selected to receive the Bob Jones Award from the USGA. (Ben Jared/PGA TOUR)
Tiger Woods joined an elite group even more elite than the World Golf Hall of Fame. He joined among others President George H.W. Bush, Annika Sorenstam, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Mickey Wright, Francis Ouimet, Nancy Lopez, and Patty Berg being name by the USGA as the Bob Jones Award for 2024. Quoting the USGA announcement, “His dedication to fair play and longstanding commitment to excellence are among the traits embodied by the award’s namesake, Robert Tyre Jones Jr., one of golf’s greats, a fellow nine-time USGA champion and one of the most respected players in the game’s history.” “Bob Jones was a pillar of our game because of the integrity with which he played it, and I’m truly humbled to receive the award that bears his name and join the many who have received it before me who continue his legacy,” said Woods. “It’s especially fitting to receive this honor from the USGA, which has meant so much to my career and the entire game of golf.”
Ed Travis
Ed is a national award-winning golf journalist and has carried on a lifelong love affair with the game. His work covering the business of golf, equipment, golf personalities and travel is prominently featured in numerous print and electronic publications. He has competed in tournament golf both as an amateur and senior professional and though his competitive days are behind him, Ed still plays regularly and carries a handicap of 4. He lives on a water hazard in suburban Orlando. His email address is GolfScribe@outlook.com.