The PGA Tours West Coast swing will begin at The American Express, La Quinta, California on Thursday.
These two weeks could be a microcosm for what lies ahead on the PGA Tour.
South Koreas Si Woo KimThe American Express 2021 winner, he was back in the winners circle at last weeks Sony Open in Hawaii. He recovered from a 3-shot deficit on the final three holes to win his fourth PGA Tour title, despite a leaderboard that did not include many familiar faces.
After most of them competed in the more lucrative Sentry Tournament of Champions, 2023, none of the top 10 players in Official World Golf Ranking stayed in Hawaii for the second week. The few stars who were there included Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, Gary WoodlandAnd Billy Horschel, missed the cut.
The American Express tournament, which Bob Hope created in the California desert is a huge success, has a full field. Five of the top ten players in the world, and 10 of top 20 will be playing in the Coachella Valley. Scottie SchefflerIt is there. So it is. Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Will ZalatorisAnd Cameron Young.
The American Express has seen its field grow significantly since the introduction of the $100 million Player Impact Program requirements. Players are now required to participate in 20 tournaments under the new PIP rules, which include 12 elevated events, The Players and four majors (if they qualify), as well as three additional tournaments. Many chose to play La Quinta.
Rahm stated that you want to beat the best during a Wednesday news conference. Its great that more players are trying out more events. Its because of some of the new events that are happening throughout the year. Its because we have all these big events we have to play, in order to earn the PIP reward.
That opens up all those, lets just say, lower events that you need to participate in. It opens peoples eyes and maybe they will discover events that they haven’t played before. I know I am one of them.
Heres what you should be watching this week in mens professional Golf:
Whats next on PGA Tour?
The American Express
When: Thursday-Sunday
Where: La Quinta Country Club, La Quinta, California
Defending champion Hudson Swafford
Purse:$8 million
Three storylines to follow:
Wheres Mickelson?:Six-time major champion Phil MickelsonThe American Express was its official host for the past three years. The American Express, like many Mickelsons long-time sponsors, cut all ties after Mickelsons death. Some controversial commentsAlan Shipnuck published information about the PGA Tour as well as the Saudi Arabian financiers for LIV Golf in February 2022.
Another major change was American Express Impact Through Golf. It will provide funding for local charities.
Swafford, who was a two-time winner, will not be returning to defend his title. Jay Monahan suspended Swafford from the PGA Tour for appearing in LIV Golf events that did not conflict with event releases. Former champions and current players of LIV Golf Patrick ReedAnd Pat PerezThere will also be no-shows.
Two World No. 1s?:Rahm and other players have criticised the Official World Golf Rankings new formula that awards more points to smaller but more elite fields than to smaller, but more elite, fields like the Tournament of Champions.
According to calculations by a popular OWGR guru via Twitter, there could be co-No. 1 in the new rankings for world on Monday — if no. Cantlay is ranked 5th in the American Express. 2-ranked Scheffler finishes solo eighth. There have never been co. 1s in the OWGR.
🚨BREAKING
As it stands now, Patrick Cantlay will win. @theamexgolfScottie Scheffler is solo 8th. They could share No.1 in the world rankings. Rory will drop to #3… #OWGR
(This will change if the field undergoes further changes)
— Nosferatu (@VC606) January 17, 2023
According to the OWGR guru, the current No. According to the OWGR Guru, the current No. Rory McIlroyIt would fall to third.
Scheffler, who spent a lot of last season at the top of the rankings, was asked Wednesday about sharing the top spot during a news conference.
Scheffler said, That would have been quite funny. I assume this has never happened before. It would be a bit strange to have two No. 1s. Have a putt-off to see who is the real No. 1.
Schauffeles return:Schauffele, who was forced out of the Tournament of Champions by an ailing back after the eighth hole of round 2, is scheduled to tee-off on Thursday. He acknowledged that his back still bothers him.
Schauffele said, Yeah. Its just a small sore. I did nothing and I did a lot on it, so it is a little sore. Ive taken in more swings in the last three days than I wanted. There is still much to do. I learned to be more patient when I returned.
Schauffele stated that he spent too much time on practice ranges over the past few days.
He said, More swings that I wanted. Im that guy whos always saying, Just one more, and it feels like 50. You see what I mean? Im that guy. I think that all of us here who are tour pros, are guilty of being those people.
PGA Tour Power Rankings
1. Jon Rahm
Rahms victory in the Tournament of Champions, his season-opening Tournament of Champions win, gave him at most one in seven seasons. This tied Justin ThomasFor the longest active streak of tour.
2. Rory McIlroy
The reigning world No. 1 golfer will be on display at the Dubai Desert Classic. The Dubai Desert Classic will host the worlds No. 1 golfer next week.
3. Scottie Scheffler
Hell be able to defend four titles in April at the WM Phoenix Open (the Arnold Palmer Invitational), the WGC–Dell Technologies Match Play (the Masters) and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
4. Patrick Cantlay
The California native has three consecutive top-10 finishes in the American Express. He leads players with at least five rounds at the event in scoring (67.17) as well as birdies per round (6.17).
5. Tony Finau
Finau has had three victories and six top-10s during his eight previous starts. Thats a heater. He has a total of 74 birdies at The American Express over the past three seasons, the most by any player.
6. Will Zalatoris
Zalatoris, who was absent for more than four months due to a back injury, returned to the sport and tied for 11th at Kapalua.
7. Justin Thomas
In his first start at Kapalua in 2023, the reigning PGA Championship winner was tied for 25th. He had previously won twice.
8. Max Homa
How many times will Homa be questioned about her 9-under 61 score to set the Los Angeles Country Club North Course record for Cal seniors in 2013 between now & Junes U.S. Open?
9. Cameron Young
The 2022 PGA Tour rookie of the year has the potential to go very low this week. Maybe low enough to capture his first PGA Tour win. He tied for 13th at Kapalua.
10. Tom Kim
Kim made his fifth PGA Tour appearance at The American Express one year ago on a sponsor exemption. He was ranked at 154th in the World. He is now 14th. He tied for fifth at Tournament of Champions but missed the cut at Sony Open.
LIV Golfs TV Deal in the Making
Next, after another hours worth of Jack Hannas Into the Wild live coverage of the second round LIV Golf Invitational Mayakoba Mexico.
After months of speculation it appears that LIV Golf has finally found a domestic television partner. Although its not the cable network that you expected to broadcast the second season of the Saudi-backed circuit, it is one that has been rumored to have been in play for several weeks. According to several reports, LIV Golf may be close to signing a media deal with The CW Network. The network is best known for reairing episodes of Bobs Burgers, Family Guy and Divorce Court, rather than broadcasting live sporting events.
The CW does not currently have any other sports properties. It will reportedly share advertising revenues with LIV Golf, although it will not receive TV right fees. The PGA Tour entered into a nine year media rights agreement with CBS Sports and NBC Sports in March 2020. It will pay the tour more $6 billion over its life.
LIV Golf will continue paying for production costs as it did during the inaugural season, when tournaments could be viewed on YouTube, DAZN or the circuits website.
An agent representing LIV golfers told ESPN Wednesday that I believe it is a very positive move in the right direction. I believe it was critical to the future success of LIV Golf that they find a broadcast partner. To continue to be successful, eyeballs were crucial. This will undoubtedly lead to eyeballs.
The second LIV Golf Season will take place at El Camaleon Golf Course in Mayakoba. It will be held from February 24 to 26. The league is led by two-time Open winner. Greg NormanOnly seven of the 14 tournaments it has planned for 2023 have been announced by. Events will also take place in Arizona, Australia and Singapore as well as Oklahoma, Spain, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Spain, and Spain.
LIV Golf is expected to announce its 2023 schedule in the next few days.
Nexstar Media Group is the majority owner of The CW. It is available in 123.5 million homes in the United States. LIV Golf has vowed that the sport will grow and reach a younger audience. However, Nexstar reports that The CWs average viewer age is 58.
The agent stated that the main thing was that they are now on network TV. I dont think people really care if the Warriors and Lakers are on TV. They care that they can tune into and watch. Theyre now on a channel available on every channel, no matter how old they are.
The Sports Business Journal first reportedThe potential deal between LIV Golf & The CW. LIV Golf was reportedly in discussions with Fox Sports about broadcasting its tournaments either on FS1 and FS2, with LIV Golf paying airtime.
Top social media sites of the week
Storytime with Fred CouplesIt is always a lot of fun.
Joe LaCava drove @fredcouplesgolfTo every event for 22 Years. 😳
All because Fred misjudged in the desert. pic.twitter.com/lwt1PXdld6
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) January 17, 2023
We thought so. Jim FurykThe swing ofs was confusing.
In this bag, I would choose A or C. But, I have a theory: If you were born in the north and grew up there, the driver goes with the putter. It goes with the wedges in the south. This is what I remember as a kid ….. https://t.co/QQmvdQI2DP
— Jim Furyk (@jimfuryk) January 17, 2023
You will also receive a couple of lovely invitations with your trophies. Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira from Argentina won the Latin America Amateur Championship. He earned trips to The Masters, U.S Open, and The Open.
Gordita al agua?
Si Woo Kims Spanish lesson on the teebox @Nicolas_Ech 😂 pic.twitter.com/FaJ6rnsMuS
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 18, 2023
Truth.
This is a deep bunker.
Golf video game coming
EA Sports is set to release its first console golf game since 2015 this spring. The company plans to reveal a deep dive gameplay trailer of EA Sports PGA TOUR next Thursday.
First look at EA Sports PGA TOUR Gameplay👀⛳️
We will dive deep into gameplay this Thursday at 11:01 ET🗓️
Watch live➡️ https://t.co/WShHGDEZq4 pic.twitter.com/d1BFNmKCxP
— EA SPORTS PGA TOUR (@EASPORTSPGATOUR) January 17, 2023
EA Sports has previously announced that players will be able to compete in all four majors, FedEx Cup Playoffs, and The Players as well as additional tournaments within the LPGA, U.S. Amateur and Korn Ferry Tour.