Major(s) News & Notes, August 25th, 2022
The PGA's Frisco HQ opens as the courses continue to grow in. Plus, Quotables, the return of the Old Course advance tee time ballot, and some Reads.
Days to the 2023 Masters first tee shot: 225 days
Days to the 2023 PGA Championship 267 days
Days to the 2023 U.S. Open first tee shot: 297 days
Days to the 2023 Open Championship first tee shot: 330 days
After a spirited newsroom discussion I made the command decision to keep this tardy edition of weekly News & Notes shorter than most. At least 1000 spirited words on the Talor Gooch dilemma and major championship field architecture can wait while I information gather and we see how 2023 schedules, uh, evolve. Which is a nice way of saying, “when the PGA Tour figures out what they’re doing.” But good luck to the folks in Augusta, Frisco/Palm Beach Gardens and Liberty Corner sorting out the issues. I’ll be here with suggestions soon.
Today we have fresh images and stock quotes on all things Frisco. This, after that the PGA of America opened the St Silicon Andrews Valley of American golf earlier in the week. Then, a quick look at two nice quotes from the Tour Championship press conferences, followed by urgent news on how to play the Old Course next year. And I send you off with some Reads.
PGA Frisco Course Update: Opening Still Months Away
Matt Adams provides an update on the PGA of America’s new home in Frisco, Texas that’s expected to host 26 championships at its two courses which now have not particularly rhythmical names: Fields Ranch East designed by Gil Hanse, and Fields Ranch West designed by Beau Welling.
The East is set to host 2023’s Senior PGA and the 2027 PGA Championship. According to Adams, the course it is unlikely to get much play before the seniors arrive, allowing for a prolonged grow-in that should pay solid dividends down the road. The PGA of America’s Kerry Haigh is happy with what he sees:
“Any time we bring one of our Major Championships to a new venue, it is always exciting,” Haigh adds. “Very few people will have seen or played the golf course prior to our first KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, so that alone will make for a lot of discussion and interest.”
While not mentioned in the story, Welling’s Field Ranch West course is a candidate to some day host the PGA Tour’s Byron Nelson Classic.
PGA Moves Some Staff Into New Frisco HQ
On the day parts of Dallas got as up 11 inches of rain, the PGA of America opened its $33.5 million, 106,621-square-foot headquarters just north of where the really heavy stuff came down. From the Dallas Morning News’ Brad Townsend:
Not even a pandemic, the great winter storm of 2021, the makings of a recession or this summer’s drought has prevented PGA Frisco from becoming reality. Somehow Monday’s monsoon, which cleared in time for the PGA’s “Welcome Home Celebration,” seemed apropos.
“I know Texas does everything big,” joked PGA president Jim Richerson, “but 11 inches of rain in one day seems a bit much.”
Seth Waugh continued the Silicon Valley of golf theme during the opening ceremonies:
“PGA Frisco is much more than a new home for the PGA of America,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. “Aligning with world-class partners in a world-class location is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create the Silicon Valley of Golf from a commercial perspective. While on the participation front, we will bring multiple major championships, both men’s and women’s, to PGA Frisco. This, plus creating a destination with amazing courses, as well as innovative, state-of-the-art facilities, will attract, excite and engage new golfers and fans. Our aim is to challenge golfers of all skill levels to improve, enjoy, and ultimately, fall in love with the game for a lifetime.”
A drone tour and other confetti-laden scenes from the HQ opening:
Quotable
Xander Schauffele on 2022’s biggest moment in golf not involving himself: “Tiger. Probably Tiger coming down 18 at the Open I'd say so far probably has a lot of clicks and a lot of views in everyone's hearts I would say.”
Jordan Spieth on what tournaments he’d most like to win other than the majors. “Other than the majors? Riviera is maybe a top-3 course in the world for me. I'd love to win there just because I love that place so much, and it's one of the best tournaments of the year. That's the first one that comes to mind. I'd love to win The Players, but I kind of put that in the major category. I'd love to win a Ryder Cup over in Europe, but that's 12 guys, not just one. As I look to next year, those are three events outside the majors that I'll highlight that I'd love to win.”
Old Course Advanced Tee Times Return For 2023
The Old Course advanced tee time ballot is back.
The Links Trust announced a return for 2023 after a two-year hiatus.
An “unprecedented number of entries are expected” due to pent-up demand and increased excitement following the 2022 Open Championship. The ballot just opened up for a two-week period from August 24th to September 7th. Golfers can select up to three date windows for a 2023 time along with another round on one of the six other St Andrews Links. Applicants will receive the results of the ballot in October. The Links Trust says more than a thousand slots are available.
More information on the packages and the ballot process can be found here.
Failing that, Josh Sens offers these other methods for accessing the Old.
Reads
🏌️♀️ Brett Hershman on Callaway Golf Company becoming Topgolf Callaway Brands.
💧Howard Richman on the Southern California Golf & Water Summit I was pleased to be a part of.
⛳️ Jason Gay on the “Humble Joy of a Scruffy Golf Course.”
On that note, looking forward to a week when everyone to take a deep brea…oh, please forget it. Have a great weekend,
Geoff
Spieth doing all he can to help the Tour out in tough times calling the Players a major
(apologies Geoff if this comment posts twice)
Gil Hanse has done well with the course in Frisco.
I wish I could've made the trek east to Chino for that summit. Theegala is such a good representative of not just your alma mater, but SoCal as a whole, much like Morikawa -- wise beyond their years. I don't want to hear people criticize golf courses, which use reclaimed water, while we are building apartment buildings nonstop in DTLA, while people still water their driveways, while the Coastal Commission refuses to permit desalination plants, etc.