The Starter no.14

We’d rather be golfing. Certain events happen in life that tend to let you know you are getting old. In the matter of a week, two NFL coaches I grew up with both ended era’s with their organizations. The 24-year tenure of Bill Belichick as head coach of the New England Patriots has come to an end.  Belichick is the only coach in the NFL to have 6 Super Bowl rings with the same organization. His demeanor is unlike most and he was able to set a fashion trend by cutting the sleeves off a hoodie and making it cool. New England won't be the same without you Bill. And last but not least, a coach I see a lot of myself in and have modeled many coaching characteristics of my own to mirror his. After 14 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, Pete Carroll will be stepping down as head coach but will remain in Seattle as an advisor...smart move on their part. With only one Super Bowl Ring in Seattle, Pete Carroll is most noted as a players coach and being the barometer for energy and enthusiasm on the sidelines. An avid surfer and adventurer, Coach Carroll tirelessly looks to find the positive in life and simply enough, enjoy the ride!  Never change Coach, we love ya! That's about as sappy as I get folks, tie a bow on it and on to the NFL Playoffs we go! - BY

So long, Saban

After 28 seasons and 7 national championships, Nick Saban is hanging up his headset. The legendary coach announced his retirement on Wednesday and closed arguably the greatest chapter in the storied football history at the University of Alabama.

With all this new found free time on his hands what is Saban going to do now? Given his well known love of golf, it’s probably a safe bet that he is going to be putting in some extra work to lower the 10.6 handicap he currently carries.

There is plenty of footage online of Coach Saban playing a little golf with familiar pros. Prior to the PLAYERS Championship in 2022, he joined former Alabama golf star Justin Thomas for a fun round at TPC Sawgrass. 

In October of 2021, Coach Saban joined Golf Digest’s Hally Leadbetter for a friendly 3-hole match at the Coral Creek Club in Boca Grande where he was interviewed by Leadbetter throughout. During the match, he admits to Hally that he didn’t start playing golf until the age of 25 and provides an assortment of interesting comparisons between playing football and playing golf. When asked by Hally which golfer he thinks might be the best football player, he chooses Bryson DeChambeau because of his body type that resembles a linebacker or tight end.

Most recently, Coach Saban surprised another Alabama alum, LPGA star Cheyenne Knight by participating in the video introduction of the 2023 Solheim Cup rosters and announcing her selection to Team USA.

In hindsight, Saban purchasing a $17.5 million home last year amongst Rickie Fowler, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and many other pros on Jupiter Island was probably a good sign that the end of his coaching career was near.

Who can blame an old ball coach for wanting to trade wrangling 18-22 year olds daily in exchange for playing 18 holes every morning?

A tip of the hat to you, Coach Saban.

Stars on Top

Tommy Fleetwood (-15) leads by one over Rory McIlroy (-14) heading into the final round of the DP World Tour’s inaugural Dubai Invitational. Ryder Cup star Thorbjorn Olesen (-12) sits in solo third and within striking distance of the leader.

Editors Note: Your editor needs sleep so please forgive us for not reporting the conclusion of the tournament that is set to wrap after midnight eastern. Check this link for the final scores.

Keegan Bradley (-14) and Grayson Murray sit tied at the top heading into the final round of the Sony Open in Hawaii. Chris Kirk (-11) is T4 and looking to become just the seventh golfer to win the Hawaii Double to start the season, joining Justin Thomas, Cameron Smith, Zach Johnson, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els, and Jim Furyk.

Around the Game

🏌️ European Tour CEO Keith Pelley exits to become the new president and chief executive of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), Raptors (NBA), and Argonauts (CFL). Pelley had been the top executive of the European Tour since 2015 and led the rebrand to the DP World Tour in November, 2021. Deputy CEO Guy Kinnings will be Pelley’s successor in the lead role of the European Tour.

🏌️ Pelley later confirmed that his intention to stay in his role with the DP World Tour until April is driven by his desire to see the negotiations with the PGA Tour and PIF through to it’s conclusion. This display of confidence coincides with reports that PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan have made significant progress in their negotiations.

🏌️ In another surprising leadership transition, R&A CEO Martin Slumbers announces his intention to step down from his role by the of 2024. Slumbers nine year tenure is highlighted by initiatives to make the game more accessible and inclusive, including new international amateur championships for women and golfers with disabilities.

🏌️ Four-time PGA Tour winner Daniel Berger commits to the field at next week’s The American Express, marking his return to competition following 18 months away from the sport.

🚽 You gotta go when you gotta go. The NBC broadcast catch Joseph Bramlett taking some relief in the background as Keegan Bradley lines up a putt during the first round of the Sony Open in Hawaii.

🐅 Tiger + Fore Play. Tiger shows off in his first video with the guys from Barstool Sports Fore Play podcast.

👶 Baby, baby, baby faaaaade. Pop superstar Justin Bieber shows off some baggy, Malbon looking threads while he flies one on the green.

🤣 Good shot, pro! Kevin Kisner joins Smylie Kaufman’s The Smylie Show and shares a quick, funny story about Phil Mickelson.

👨‍🍳 LuluLee. Min Woo Lee becomes the first Lululemon sponsored athlete on the PGA Tour.

💵 More Lefty. Phil joins The Pat McAfee Show to chat through the business model and financial viability of LIV Golf as he sees it. He also shares some interesting tidbits on the vision to create youth academies tied into each of the LIV Golf franchises.

🎙️ More Kiz. Kevin Kisner walks and talks during his second round at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Shares some laughs over the karma of missing a 4 foot putt a week after going viral for his broadcast critique of Jordan Speith missing one of the same length.

Name that Golfer

Three clues. Can you name this player?

• 21 career Top 10’s on the LPGA Tour.

• Won the inaugural ANNIKA Award, given to the nation’s top collegiate female golfer after the 2013-14 season at UCLA.

• Played in five LPGA events as an amateur with a career-best showing of T26 at the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open.

Issue no. 13 Answers

Name that Golfer: Brooks Koepka