Welcome to another installment of SI Golf 性视界传媒淔act or Fiction,性视界传媒 where our next staff meeting will be in the Bahamas.
Each week we post a series of topical statements for writers and editors to declare as 性视界传媒淔act性视界传媒 or 性视界传媒淔iction性视界传媒 along with a brief explanation. Responses may also (occasionally) be 性视界传媒淣eutral性视界传媒 since there's a lot of gray area in golf.
Do you agree or disagree? Let us know on the account.
Jay Monahan confirmed that , calling it 性视界传媒渃onstructive性视界传媒 but offering no more details. The PGA Tour commissioner also reiterated the need to not negotiate in public, but his membership is entitled to know more.
FACT. Keeping things secret didn性视界传媒檛 help Monahan much before and being able to share as much as possible seems the prudent path forward. A disclaimer: folks talk, and that was the reason why Monahan kept things so guarded prior to the 性视界传媒渇ramework agreement性视界传媒 being announced. This is not an easy path to navigate. 性视界传媒擝ob Harig
Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union
FICTION. Keeping your membership informed and part of the process is two different things. The players elected a PAC and a board, they have to trust them to do the right thing.性视界传媒擜lex Miceli
FACT. Throw 性视界传媒榚m a bone! No need to imperil the talks, and anything he share with the players with inevitably (and rapidly) leak to the press, but players want to feel like part of a process here. There性视界传媒檚 gotta be a few crumbs to offer them.性视界传媒擩eff Ritter
FACT. If this was my livelihood, I'd want to know how these winds are blowing. Especially if I was a player down in the pecking order in this signature event era. And, selfishly, of course someone would talk and that's good in my actual livelihood.性视界传媒擩ohn Schwarb听听
One sportsbook has Scottie Scheffler at even money to win a major this year. This is the gambling equivalent of a gimme.
FICTION. There性视界传媒檚 a reason the bookies drive nice cars and live in mansions. What seems like a sure thing rarely is. Yes, Scheffler looks incredibly formidable and if he continues to putt just decently, he性视界传媒檚 going to be right there in the majors. I thought the same thing last year. It doesn性视界传媒檛 always work out that way.性视界传媒擝.贬.
FICTION. Of course after dismantling two elite fields at Arnold Palmer and the Players, Scheffler would clearly be anointed as the new Tiger Woods, which would clearly mean the Texas grad would win a major. But add in the LIV players性视界传媒攖hat by the way will be defending two of the four majors this year性视界传媒攁nd I like the under.性视界传媒擜.惭.
FACT. I assume the gimme is to take 性视界传媒渇ield性视界传媒 over Scheffler correct?性视界传媒擩.搁.
FICTION. Not saying I don't think a Scheffler major is a done deal in 2024, I just dislike that betting strategy. At DraftKings, his major odds right now are +450/Masters, +650/PGA, +650/U.S. Open, +800/British Open, and I'd rather chase those payouts.性视界传媒擩.厂.听听
Rory McIlroy hit watery tee shots on two holes in Round 1 at the Players, leading to about where the balls crossed hazard lines. This tournament has had similar high-profile situations before and there has to be a better way to figure them out.
FICTION. Unless you have overhead cameras on every single hole with lateral penalty areas性视界传媒攚hich seems a big ask性视界传媒攖hese sorts of issues will occur. TPC Sawgrass happens to have several holes with this problem, which is the most difficult ruling and drop situation there is to get right. Ultimately, the best thing is for those in the group to do their best to sort it out.性视界传媒擝.贬.
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
FACT. The distances make it impossible to see where a drive of over 300 yards crosses a hazard line. How could McIlroy or playing competitors Jordan Spieth and Viktor Hovland made a clear determination? Easy answer: they can性视界传媒檛, which means the rules of golf need a look, again.性视界传媒擜.惭.
FACT. Ultimately players have to make these calls themselves, but in the meantime let性视界传媒檚 get some better camera angles on some of those watery corners.性视界传媒擩.搁.
FACT. With so much data instantly available with ball flights and course mapping, it性视界传媒檚 crazy to see players sometimes have 100-yard differences of opinion in these spots. The Tour can take the lead at its flagship event to figure out a better way.性视界传媒擩.厂.听
McIlroy said he would play more leading up to the Masters and just finished three straight weeks: T21 at the Cognizant Classic, T21 at Bay Hill and T19 at the Players. Those are positive results as Augusta beckons.
FICTION. McIlroy himself is not satisfied with those results. After two strong performances early in the year in the Middle East性视界传媒攊ncluding a victory in Dubai性视界传媒攈e性视界传媒檚 not shown much in five U.S. PGA Tour starts. McIlroy has been fighting a miss with his irons and, having seemingly figured that out during the first round at the Players, inexplicably had issues with the driver that led to several water balls. He性视界传媒檚 got time to get that cleaned up and plans to play the week prior to the Masters at the Valero Texas Open. Perhaps having something to focus on will serve him well this time.性视界传媒擝.贬.
FACT. That性视界传媒檚 12 rounds to work off the rust on three difficult golf courses with more water than the Great Lakes. What性视界传媒檚 most important is if McIlroy feels comfortable with his game and is checking off the boxes of what he needs to do before the Masters. If this plan works or not will be played out over four days in Augusta.性视界传媒擜.惭.
FACT. He性视界传媒檚 in good form but hasn性视界传媒檛 peaked. Looks like full speed ahead from here.性视界传媒擩.搁.
NEUTRAL. in January, I went neutral there and am sticking with it. Unless you性视界传媒檙e named Scottie Scheffler, there are things to clean up and McIlroy has some of those, but there are no reasons for alarm as we close in on April.性视界传媒擩.厂.听