Weekend Wrap: While You Were Giving Thanks
Is Rahm contemplating a departure for LIV or will the promise of more portable toilets convince him to turn down hundreds of millions? Plus, a roundup of multiple news items and R.I.P The Little Pro.
The Quad staff survived Friday’s primo news dump day unscathed while allowing for an enjoyable weekend monitoring the following zaniness:
Rahmbye? The possibility of Jon Rahm leaving the PGA Tour for LIV Golf was reported to be “in negotiations” by shaky sources and even shakier voices claiming $600 million is the number. The reports were said to be a done deal as blabbed about by Phil Mickelson in a report from his biographer and buddy Alan Shipnuck. Mickelson took to social media to refute the suggestion, suggest in an unprecedented first that he knows nothing, and then said not-nice things about Alan. Meanwhile, Rahm’s reps scoffed at the notion during his recent Dubai appearance and yet the Masters champion has yet to get on social media to calm Global Home nerves. You know, the way he did after bailing from the TGL before the ceiling caved in. Rahm could just be leveraging a few millions more out of the Tour’s private equity bonus pool expected for top non-LIV defectors. Or, he’s talking with the Saudis and is merely negotiating final details on a Fireflies ownership takeover from Sergio. Or he just doesn’t care about refuting the possibility of a jump to LIV, which, no disrespect to Cam Smith, would be a monumental twist in the LIV v. PGA Tour saga.
Could his porta-potty demand save the day? SBJ’s Josh Carpenter scored another fantastic exclusive last week in revealing a multitude of first-world demands to be placed on “signature” PGA Tour events, including requiring grass fed beef, wild caught salmon and pasture eggs for the precious ones to dine on because they are athletes. And there is supposed to now be better parking for caddies, their shrinks and other team members. Plus special on-course tents with flushable toilets for WAG’s to avoid the plebeians for a mid-round refreshment. But the real breakthrough may be the designated toilets throughout the course guaranteed at signature stops and after Rahm complained, prompting the Daily Mirror to go all Onion on us:
They gave in! Love the tabloids. 😂
Speaking of Cam Smith, he missed the Australian PGA cut by nine, was said to be near tears, and despite finishing high on the LIV points/money/something list, doesn’t seem like quite the same player he was just 15 months ago.
Min Woo Lee captured the event, donned a chef’s hat to celebrate, and declared that he’s gunning for World No. 1 status.
India’s Aditi Ashok took home the LET’s final trophy of 2023 amid rumors that the tour’s postponed merger with the LPGA Tour has been interrupted by a call from Saudi Arabia.
Rollback? Grown men and manufacturer lapdogs devoted their Thanksgiving week to issuing end-times declarations after a Golf Digest report quoted R&A Chief Martin Slumbers implying a rollback-for-all is a possibility. No hard details were shared but it was still enough to send these macho men to howl at the moon. At least we know an announcement is coming in December.
This was the second report quoting Slumbers suggesting the “Model Local Rule” bifurcation concept may be jettisoned after excessive whining by the PGA Tour and PGA of America. The first dropped November 10th from Golf Monthly. But the Digest report was the first to get widespread notice and, my oh my has it been fun reading predictions of mass quitting, hoarding of (current golf) balls, and other petulant social media displays of ignorance oblivious to the fact that (A) the Rules of Golf are 100% optional to abide by for golfers and manufacturers, (B) companies could continue to sell non-conforming equipment for those who prefer to buy their skill, and (C) very few of these softies have the clubhead speed to notice a distance decrease as presented in the Model Local Rule proposal. But let’s just see the details first, shall we?
The Open Qualifying is underway. Dean Burmester, Darren Fichardt and Dan Bradbury (above) qualified for The 152nd Open at Royal Troon through the DP World Tour’s season-opening Joburg Open. Burmester captured the event by three and will make his third Open appearance. The next event in the Open Qualifying Series is this week’s ISPS HANDA Australian Open at Sydney’s The Lakes & The Australian.
The Australian Open marks the last chance for players on the magical Top 50 OWGR cusp to make a move. For those curious who is in the mix for this coveted year-end mark and 2024 major status locked in, Noferatu offered this look on Twitter:
Bernd Wiesberger is paying off a £1.5million fine and re-joining the DP World Tour after an unsuccessful time with LIV. The DP World Tour is welcoming him back in the first-ever high-profile return to traditional tour after a time with Saudi Arabia’s LIV.
R.I.P. Little Pro. Eddie Merrins, the longtime professional at Bel-Air, former national-championship winning coach at UCLA and founder of the Friends of Golf (the one that gives back to college golf), has moved his trademark jacket, tie and Hogan cap to Heaven National. They don’t like make ‘em like the Little Pro. The game lost a true gentleman. I’ll have more in this week’s News and Notes. But here is an AP remembrance.