This the quintessential story of how sports reflects the state of the world. Thousands of fans have waited for Game 3 their whole lives and now they’re priced out of entering the game and can’t even celebrate outside because one billionaire gets to attend the game for free.
If you think this chud wouldn't instantly be the #1 player on the LPGA Tour, you are not gonna make it.
Most of the so-called "country club plus" guys were at one point finishing second or third in junior tournaments to a guy who wound up winning on tour. Many of them know what real professional men's golf at some level looks like, and they weren't that far off of it.
The line is so fine between stick and touring pro, and the pool of talent in the men's game is unbelievably deep.
The #1-5 ranked NAIA men are going to wind up playing on a tour.
The #1 ranked NAIA woman is shooting 75 and is going to need another career, a husband, or daddy.
The talent pool in the women's game will never be remotely as deep. This means there are not as many women attempting serious golf, which means that women as a whole are not as good as they theoretically could be if they participated at the same rate as men, just based on numbers and the associated competition, which we know drives ability.
This comes on top of the fact that women are women, and as such, not men, which shouldn't require further explanation.
I have no issue with women playing professional golf or golf in general, obviously. Plenty of them are extremely talented and lovely to be around.
Obviously.
Many "country club plus" guys hold vanity handicaps that have never been tournament seasoned and would neither travel or hang with a female pro, but plenty of them are former junior or college players who can still hit it far, hit it out of the rough, have great short games and serious competitive instincts. Getting it going on an LPGA Tour setup is not out of the realm of possibility whatsoever.
Of course, LPGA Tour members have no incentive to test this out.
Michelle Wie wore out the concept, albeit against touring pros, and she was a physical specimen far beyond what Nelly Korda is competing against men who weren't anywhere near what they are as a group today.
Annika dominated the women's game in a way not seen since and gracefully tested herself at her peak on what she knew would be a friendly setup in an era where the average PGA Tour driving distance was 286 yards vs. 303 yards as it is today.
What kind of sponsor or network wants to see a washed up nobody male compete against women they've invested in? Even if a potential televised match was close, it totally de-legitimizes professional women's golf.
Not to mention that this reality being tested would not fit into any strategy of elevating the women's game in order to market golf to women.
The debate is not as simple as, "Country Club Plus is always greater than or equal to LPGA Pro".
The barking of certain male (presumably) burner accounts on Twitter claiming to be plus handicaps who bomb it 330 and hit 80% of the fairways also muddies the conversation. Most are probably full of shit and make the claim I am making here sound less credible.
Logically speaking, I simply believe that a certain type of scratch/plus male is very capable of clipping a large number of female professionals at least some of the time. And while I admittedly have tendencies towards belligerence and bombast, I simply believe this to be true and have no problem saying it.
LPGA professionals are really, really good.
For ladies.
Was tactfully honest that Chet has to better without tearing him down, took ownership that he himself needs to be better too, and built Chet up and let the whole world know he trusts Chet to learn from this and put in the work to come out better bc of this. Leadership.
Defensive tactics are changing every 90 seconds. Caruso being left open intentionally and having game of his life. Star power everywhere. Everyone can guard like crazy. Harper’s finishes. Youngest starting lineup in conf finals history. Reigning MVP vs. the usurper. This is such a treat.
SGA back-to-back MVP notes, per ESPN Research:
- No. 1 seed, NBA-high 64 wins, despite third-most team games missed due to injuries
- First player to win consecutive MVPs since Nikola Jokic in 2020-21 and 2021-22 and the first guard to win consecutive MVPs since Stephen Curry in 2014-15 and 2015-16
- First guard to average 30 points and 55% shooting in a season in NBA history
- Joined Michael Jordan as the only players to average 30 points, 5 assists and 50% shooting in 4 consecutive seasons in league history
- Did not score below 20 points in any game all season. He is the third player to score 20+ points in every game in a season, joining Wilt Chamberlain (1961-62, 1963-64) and Elgin Baylor (1961-62)
- +788 on the season, more than 100 points better than the next closest player in Victor Wembanyama (+682)
Higgo: "It's unfortunate that golf has these kind of situations where ... things we get penalized for ... things. It is a rule, and I obviously broke the rule. But it's unfortunate." Said he doesn't agree with the penalty and that "1 second is tough to define."
Normal sport.
Cameron Young says he started playing the golf ball that will be compliant with new standards back at the Wyndham Championship last year, his first win.
He says he originally tested the ball two years ago and made the decision to play it because it's the ball he thought he could get the most out of.
"I don't think any of us are out really here playing the ball that goes the farthest. I think you'd struggle to find a single person that's doing that. We're all sacrificing a certain amount of things that we feel are worth it, control with irons, control with wedges. For me, that's the biggest thing is being able to control spin, and this is the ball that does the best for me."
No graphic for 1-time NBA Champion with Spurs @adaniels33 (could have seamlessly replaced the Hall of Fame part with something similar like co-host of the world-famous Give & Go on SiriusXM)
How dare u @NBAonNBC
I can tell you definitively that people from Bryson’s camp have reached out to the highest levels of the PGA TOUR several times about exploring a path to return… and the same goes for Jon Rahm
Just in: Golf Digest has learned several agents for LIV players have reached out to the PGA Tour about a return. The terms won't be as friendly as Koepka's https://t.co/o9g0pnwoaN