We’d rather be golfing. Word quickly spread that Monday night’s CFP National Championship game would help every college football fan take one giant step forward in filling the void that has been present in our hearts since 2013. I waited so patiently. Told my Apple Watch to shove it when it tried to remind me that I was 30 minutes past my healthy sleeping hour. As the game entered the fourth quarter, and hope began fading away, I just kept repeating to myself “clear eyes, full heart, can’t lose.” I put every good vibration that I could out into the universe but alas it didn’t matter. I closed my eyes that night still unsure of when EA Sports NCAA Football 2024 will make its return to our gaming consoles. I have no idea who spread that horrible rumor that made fools out of so many of us. My only hope is that it wasn’t the executives at ESPN in a ploy to lock our attention throughout the game. If so, that might be my last straw with the worldwide leader.. - MM

It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye…

Tiger and Nike. The partnership that captivated the game and helped introduce a generation of young athletes to golf is officially over. Tiger and Nike both took to social media on Monday to announce the end of their 27 year relationship, one of the most iconic athlete/brand collaborations in the history of professional sports.

The split has been rumored for several weeks but still comes as a shock to the system for most. Almost unimaginable to watch Tiger compete with anything other than the Swoosh on his chest. It would be like watching Jeter turn-two with a “B” on his cap or Brady hoisting a Lombardi Trophy outside of New England (oh wait…that actually happened… and IT WAS AWESOME!) But the reality is that the next time we do see Eldrick compete, which will most likely be at The Genesis Invitational in mid-February, he will be dawning an entirely different look as what we have all come accustomed to seeing.

Nike’s split from Tiger comes on the heels of them parting ways with Jason Day, and less notably, LIV Golf’s Matt Wolfe. Naturally, questions are arising on Nike’s intention to stay in golf apparel after leaving the ball and equipment space in 2016.

In 2017, Rory McIlroy signed a 10-year extension reportedly worth $100 million to continue dawning Nike apparel. Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, and Nelly Korda are among several other prominent golfers who still have multiple years left on apparel agreements with Nike, making it hard to fathom that they would shutter their golf operation overnight. But is golf in their future? It is telling that Nike opted to not extend a lifetime contract to Woods as they had to basketball stars LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

What’s Tiger’s next move? Well we got a pretty good hint yesterday afternoon when this very particular job posting from TopGolf (whose parent company is TaylorMade) went viral..

So now that we have an idea of what Eldrick has planned what is the next move for Nike? Do they slowly start exiting completely out of golf?

Time will tell. In the meantime, I’ll be hanging my lone remaining TW Nike polo from the ceiling of my home office in homage to the 🐐.

This AI Startup Investment is Winning

RAD AI has developed technology that transforms the $633B MarTech industry. Its award-winning AI tells brands who their customer is and how to best create content for them. 

Investors are taking notice, here’s why: 

1) $27M raised from 6,000+ investors, including VCs, execs at Google and Amazon. Backed by Adobe Fund for Design.

2) Dubbed “essential AI” for brands looking to attract new audiences and boost ROI. 

3) 3X revenue growth, clients include Hasbro, Sweetgreen, MGM and more.

83% Subscribed, Invest Before Feb. 16th, Closing Soon.

Disclosure: This is a paid advertisement for RAD AI’s Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.radintel.ai 

Time to Shake n’ Bake

If you enjoy birdies, you really enjoyed watching The Sentry. The Plantation Course was shredded as 28 players finished -20 or better to close out the week. Xander got me right to the doorstep but was a single shot away and ran out of holes to cross the threshold and get me my first feeling of being in the winner’s circle. I’ve smelled victory, maybe The Sony will get me my first taste…

Waialae Country Club and the last stop in Hawaii before heading back to the mainland. The Sony Open in Hawaii is our first full field event with a small downside as it does lose a little flash from last week’s top names, but reigning champion Si Woo Kim and last week’s champion Chris Kirk are in attendance and looking to make waves and we know those aren’t uncommon in Hawaii.  500+ yards shorter and a par 70, Waialae Country Club has countless differences from The Plantation Course. Driving accuracy will be key this week and we will be seeing a lot less undulation as Waialae is one of the flattest courses on Tour. 

I once heard a great man say, “the most dangerous man in the room is the one with nothing to lose”. You won’t have to search far as you are looking at that very man and my picks this week are boom or bust! Y’all my remember my 2023 nemesis…Brian Harman. The devil on my shoulder is speaking to me and he is saying Brian Harman with a top 10 finish at +230.  If you would have told me that two weeks into 2024, I would be running back to Brian Harman, I would have told you you’re nuts. Control, accuracy, and putting will get Harman to the promised land. Drum roll please…with a top 20 finish at +240…ladies and gentlemen, Will Zalatoris. One of the best golfers in this field and yes, I know what happened at The Hero World Challenge. He will return to his once dominant self at some point so why not jump on board now…”If you’re not first, you’re last”! - BY

Draft Kings DFS 3-Putt Pot

Each week I will give my three strongest value buys for DFS play. I am only getting you started, finishing your line up will be up to you!

• M. Fitzpatrick: $10,200

• R. Henley: $9,600

• B. Horschel: $7,400

As always, please remember to gamble responsibly

Golf Across the Pond

Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club plays host to the inaugural Dubai Invitational and the start of the DP World Tour’s 2024 slate of tournaments. The 72-hole, no cut tournament also marks the opening of the International Swing portion of the season with $200,000 awarded to the golfer who finishes first overall following the seven events played across Asia and Africa. Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood (pictured) headline a strong field that also features Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald. Up for grabs are 3,000 Race To Dubai points and a $2.5 million purse with winner taking home $425,000.

Betting Favorite: Rory McIlroy (+260)

Kevin Kisner, who earned great reviews for his broadcast debut at The Sentry last week, steps out of the booth to join the field at the Sony Open in Hawaii. A lot of new faces competing at Waialae Country Club but it’s a familiar face that everyone is excited to see back in action. 2019 U.S. Open Champion Gary Woodland makes his return to competition following surgery in September to extract a brain lesion.

Betting Favorite: Ludvig Aberg (+1500)

Around the Game

🏌️ You think you’ve played a lot of golf this year? Well compared to Patrick Koenig you’ve barely picked up a club. Koenig (pictured) just wrapped a mind boggling year which saw him play 580 18-hole courses over the span of 365 days, a new world record. 

🏌️ Brian Harmon has taken full advantage of his time with the Claret Jug that he earned by being crowned the Champion Golfer of the Year following his Open Championship victory last July.

🏌️ Billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison has transformed his once private estate near Palm Springs into a new wellness retreat dubbed Sensei Porcupine Creek. On the grounds sits the most expense course in California with green fees costing a cool $950.

Reddit or Not…

Late last week, we asked the question “Who wins their first major title this year and where does it happen?” to the r/golf community on Reddit. We received 333 user responses.

Here are some of our favorites:

Name that Golfer

Three clues. Can you name this player?

• 9x winner on the PGA Tour.

• 2x ACC Player of the Year.

• His great uncle is Dick Groat, a two-time World Series-winning shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the 1960 National League MVP.

Issue no. 12 Answers

Golf Scramble: 1. Adidas 2. Bonobos 3. Linksoul 4. Greyson 5. Municipal

Name that Golfer: Wyndham Clark