News from the tours

By Neville Idour

Tour to limit use of greens’ books

A communication to PGA Tour players recently indicated only ``committee approved'' yardage books may be available to players and caddies in the near future. These new books would only include general information on the various aspects of the greens such as slopes.

Players will still be able to add their own handwritten notes. The aim of the change is to wind back time and produce an environment where players and caddies will have to use their natural skills when reading greens. Prior practice and experience with reading lines and pace will become much more important.

Expect the new rule to be in place by January 1 which would see any yardage or green reading books produced before that date prohibited along with any other aid or device for greens. It is hoped an added benefit will be to speed up play. Wouldn’t that be good?

No vaccination, no play

Charlie Beljan of the United States file (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images). (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The PGA Tour's Bermuda Championship last month gave an inkling of the future for the tour. The 126-player field was short of the usual 132. One of the reasons was the vaccination requirement to enter Bermuda. Charlie Beljan tweeted he was forced to withdraw because “I haven’t had the jab” followed by a jibe at the tour. The message was later deleted.

Players and caddies were informed that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) required all foreign players and caddies to be fully vaccinated to enter the USA from November 8. As of early November, 83 percent of all the tour's members and staff were vaccinated.

Billionaire Tiger Woods hits a ball

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA - FEBRUARY 21: Tiger Woods looks on during the trophy ceremony after the final round of The Genesis Invitational golf tournament at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA on February 21, 2021. The tournament was played without fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

A recent video posted by Tiger Woods produced something of a fawning frenzy from some golf commentators including those of television’s Golf Central.

However, strangely it only shows one shot repeated. Some said he was hitting balls on the range. The divot in the video might indicate that, but I would have thought Tiger would have wanted a longer sequence showing him hitting several shots to give a better indication of progress. We await with baited breath for more facts from the man himself.

Woods is second to Michael Jordan as the all time second highest earning athlete with an inflation adjusted $US2.1 billion. Jordan has amassed $2.6 billion. Arnold Palmer with $1.6 billion is third and Jack Nicklaus $1.38 billion is fourth. Mickelson ($1.08 billion) is 11th.

Who said golfers don’t need the $60 million prize pool at the FED EX cup finale?

Sticker disqualifies Sabbatini

The disqualification of Rory Sabbatini at the RSM Classic was bizzare. He violated rule 4.1 which prohibits non conforming external attachments on a clubface. Sabbatini used a fairway wood on the first hole then realised he had not removed a reflective sticker on the clubface.

These stickers are very small and used to track clubhead speed when practicing. Many players prefer to use a marker pen which is allowed. Sabbatini’s reaction reinforced his fine attitude and character and the greatness of golf where golfers referee themselves.

Following his very handy 68 he sought a ruling which confirmed his disqualification for using a non conforming club. I wonder if he went out and bought a marker pen or two after that faux pas.

First child for Jordan Spieth

If 28-year-old Jordan Spieth has been a little quiet on the PGA Tour in recent times it is not surprising.

He and wife Annie were overjoyed with the birth of their first child Sammy recently. They did not seek to know the gender until the baby was born and did not publicise the pregnancy until late in the term.

Married in 2018, this was a significant milestone in a year that happily saw Spieth regain his mojo with his first win in four years and a return to the top 10 rankings.

LPGA Tour’s major step forward

The LPGA Tour continues to grow in every way.

This year saw 29 events played culminating in the CME Globe finale for purses totalling $US67.5 million. Next year’s schedule has 34 events which will offer a record $US85.7 million in prizemoney.

Several tournaments have bumped up purses. Chevron is now $5 million, The Women's Open is $US6.8m, CME Group Championship is up $2m to $7m. The US Open, which offered $5.5m in 2021, has yet to reveal its purse for 2022

The tour will expand its tentacles into nine countries outside the United States. Four of them — Canada, China, Japan and Taiwan — missed out in 2021 because of covid. One milestone will be the historic Women’s Open in early August, as it is being held at Muirfield which did not admit female members until 2019.

Vare trophy another coup for Ko

Nelly Korda, Jin Young Ko and Inbee Park may be ruing missing out to Lydia Ko for the Vare Trophy.

The three top players in the world rankings were also the top three in the average score per round during the season.

With all three failing by a round or few to attain the 70 minimum rounds to qualify, Lydia Ko was more than happy to receive the accolade after a stellar year including two wins and where she made huge strides back to her best to end the season fifth in the world rankings.