We’d rather be golfing. In case you forgot, a quick reminder that today is National Cocoa Day. Swap that Venti latte for a delicious hot cocoa this morning while you continue to ponder over the fact that there is a young baseball phenom who is going to defer being paid $68 million per year for the next 10 years of his life. That is a TON of hot cocoas left on the table..

The PGA Tour is Running out of Moves

The PGA Tour Policy Board announced Sunday evening its decision to continue discussions with Strategic Sports Group (SSG), a consortium of U.S. based professional sports team investors, on an equity stake in the new for-profit tour entity dubbed NewCo. In the same memo, the Tour also confirmed its intention to continue negotiations with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF).

How did we get here?

Commissioner Jay Monahan’s tumultuous tenure bottomed out on June 6 when he shocked the golf world, along with his roster of players, by joining PIF managing director Yasir Al-Rumayyan in announcing a framework agreement between the PGA Tour and the Saudi backed fund. The announcement set a December 31 deadline for both sides to work in good faith to formalize the agreement and was universally thought to have marked the beginning of the end of the PGA Tour/LIV Golf battle.

Although there has been much speculation, it is unclear exactly why the Tour continues to pursue additional investors into NewCo alongside of the PIF, who boast a staggering $700+ billion in assets. Last week, like a scorned lover, the PIF backed up the Brink’s truck to lure away reigning Masters champion Jon Rahm, a clear sign that they are dissatisfied with the progress made towards executing the framework agreement as the December 31 deadline nears.

What now?

The PIF has made it evident that they are more than capable and ready to continue to throw piles of money at the world’s top golfers in their effort to build the most prolific golf league on the planet. The PGA Tour has shown itself to be ill equipped to thwart the challenge. In order to preserve the future of the PGA Tour and popularity of the game, they are seemingly left with only one move to make — acquiesce to the PIF’s vision for a global league anchored by a team format. For better or worse, the PIF and their war chest of cash control the center in this game of chess with the PGA Tour.

Listen Up

🗣️ The Flushing It Golf pod welcomes Kevin Pietersen, English cricket commentator and former England international captain, to discuss the similarities between LIV Golf’s current disruption of the game to the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) disruption of cricket 15 years ago. Pietersen has a fascinating perspective and believes that the PIF will ultimately win this battle which will be the best outcome for golf fans around the world.

The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando will once again play host to 20 professionals and their loved ones in the annual PNC Championship. To the victorious duo goes The Willie Park Trophy, a red leather belt with sterling silver embellishments named in honor of the first winner of the British Open. The teams will play 18 holes of scramble format golf on both Saturday and Sunday to determine the winners.

Teams set to compete

• John Daly & John Daly II (son)

• Bernhard Langer & Jason Langer (son)

• David Duval & Brady Duval (son)

• Vijay Singh & Qass Singh (son)

• Stewart Cink & Reagan Cink (son)

• Justin Thomas & Mike Thomas (dad)

• Nelly Korda & Petr Korda (dad)

• Annika Sorenstam & Will McGee (son, pictured)

• Nick Faldo & Matthew Faldo (son)

• Matt Kuchar & Cameron Kuchar (son)

• Tom Lehman & Sean Lehman (son)

• Lee Trevino & Daniel Trevino (son)

• Justin Leonard & Luke Leonard (son)

• Mark O’Meara & Shaun O’Meara (son)

• Jim Furyk & Tanner Furyk (son)

• Padraig Harrington & Ciaran Harrington (son)

• Nick Price & Greg Price (son)

• Retief Goosen & Leo Goosen (son)

• Steve Stricker & Izzi Stricker (daughter)

• Tiger Woods & Charlie Woods (son)

Not to play favorites, but Team DMPL will be pulling hard for Team Sorenstam/McGee and Team Goosen!

🎯 How about our guy Will McGee sinking an ACE during his practice round yesterday!

💬 Friend of The Starter, Leo Goosen says..

“The PNC Championship is truly something special considering there is not another event like it. It is always an awesome time to get to play with family and compete. Creating special memories with family and friends while playing golf… I couldn’t ask for more.”

The DP World Tour concludes 2023 with a visit to Heritage La Reserva GC in Heritage Bel Ombre, Mauritius for the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open. Louis Oosthuizen looks to go back-to-back following his thrilling win at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Betting Favorite: Louis Oosthuizen (+600)

Pete Dye’s Valley and Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL will play host to 168 players competing in the final stage of PGA Tour Q-School. This week marks the first time since 2012 that Q-School will award PGA Tour cards. The top five and ties after 72 holes will earn 2024 PGA TOUR membership, with the next 40 and ties earning guaranteed starts on the Korn Ferry Tour. The next 20 and ties will earn guaranteed starts on PGA TOUR Americas. All players who tee it up at Final Stage receive conditional Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR Americas status at minimum.

Around the Game

🏌️ Three’s Company. Kalle Samooja, Kieran Vincent, and Jinichiro Kozuma all earn spots in LIV Golf for the 2024 season following the inaugural promotions event at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Vincent joins his brother Scott who has played LIV Golf since the inaugural season.

🏌️ Changing it up. Rising star Ludvig Aberg agrees to a club deal with Titleist. He also changes up who will be carrying those new Titleist as he ditches caddie Jack Clarke in favor of Joe Skovron. Skovron is the former longtime caddie of Rickie Fowler and has carried a bag at more than 50 major tournaments.

🏌️ Get em while you can. Costco continues to carve a niche in the world of golf equipment following the release of their Kirkland Signature irons. The irons, priced at a delightful $499, sold out in mere hours. All eyes now turn to the highly anticipated release of the Kirkland Signature adjustable driver that popped up on the USGA conforming list in early November.

🏌️ Moving on Up. Mackenzie Hughes and Carl Yuan are the greatest beneficiaries of the PGA Tour officially suspending Jon Rahm following his move to LIV. Hughes moves up one spot to #50 and is eligible for all seven of the $20 million signature events. Yuan gets to bypass the Final Stage of Q-School as his new spot at #125 earns him a full PGA Tour card for 2024. Other players who may send Rahm a Christmas card include Alex Smalley who is guaranteed to play in two $20 million events after moving up to spot #60 and Paul Haley who now has conditional status at spot #150.

🏌️ Kept in the Dark. Attorney Jacob Buchdahl of Susman Godfrey LLC of New York sent a letter on behalf of 21 players to the PGA Tour’s policy board seeking transparency in the ongoing negotiations with potential outside investors, including the PIF. In the letter, Buchdahl demands "full disclosure of the details and analyses of any proposals by prospective capital partners, which should be shared promptly with all Tour players." Shortly after the story broke public, Wesley Bryan, a journeyman tour player and popular social media personality, took to “X” to publicly rescind his support of the letter.

Tis the Season for BY’s Top FORE!

I was thoroughly entertained by the Grant Thornton Invitational. The mixed teams and changing formats posed varying challenges which led to several lead changes and showcased how certain formats favored specific teams. If only one of those formats would’ve favored either of my picks 🤷‍♂️. On the brighter side, it looks to be an event that will stick around for years to come and continue to grow the partnership between the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour. 

The PGA Tour is taking a well-deserved break for the holiday season before returning to action at The Sentry Tournament in Kapalua in January. This break couldn’t come soon enough for me as I am in need of a reset in hopes that my picks take a 180 degree turn and dial in for the 2024 season! 

The next few weeks will focus on a couple things I hold dearest to my heart, cinema and pop-culture. After all, there is no better time of year to pair your favorite bowl of buttery popcorn with a deep dive into the cinema archive. Without further ado..

BY’s Top FORE All-Time Favorite Golf Movies

Yes, I am aware that this is a touchy subject for some. A few of my friends can be quite territorial when it comes to the best golf movies of all time. In the end, it all comes down to what tugs on your heart strings and believe me, each of these movies deliver in their own way.

4).  The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005)

Who doesn’t like a nice dose of Shia LeBeouf? Based on the true story that shook the golf world to its core, The Greatest Game Ever Played keeps you on the edge of your seat as it transports you back to what the game was like in the early 1900’s. If you aren’t inspired to pick up a club after this one, dial it up again!

Favorite Character: Eddie Lowery

3). Happy Gilmore (1996)

The film is full of nonsense but my goodness how wonderful it is! You won’t step foot on a driving range today without seeing at least one Happy Gilmore swing. This is one of those movies that never gets old and to this day each time I see a large fake clown, I can’t help but say to myself, “I hate that clown.”

Favorite Character: Shooter McGavin

2).  Tin Cup (1996)

Who doesn’t love a true underdog story?  A washed up, driving range pro finds the love of the game again and makes a run for the US Open. Does it get any better than that? The perfect mix of comedy, drama, a sprinkle of a love story, and the best 12 in the history of golf, sign me up!

Favorite Character: Romeo Posar

1).  Caddyshack (1980)

The “Animal House” of golf movies. A storyline that transports you beyond the game of golf and plants you in the shoes of a few dynamic characters at the prestigious Bushwood Country Club. This movie produces one liners with the best of them and adds a tasteful raunchiness that is unforgettable. “A flute with no holes, isn’t a flute. A donut with no hole, is a Danish.”

Favorite Character: Ty Webb

Worth the Follow: Jared Doerfler/Perfect Putt

Yes, that is a picture of Arnold Palmer. But in April 2022, this header photo, along with a deep dive into how Arnie built his $1.5 billion empire, helped Jared Doerfler break on to the “golf twitter” scene. His weekly newsletter, Perfect Putt, is a must read for avid golfers and casual fans alike who are interested in the business side of the game. We appreciate his passion and desire to shed light on some of the most fascinating aspects of the sport. Subscribe to the Perfect Putt newsletter and give Jared Doerfler a follow!

ICYMI

📺️ Live Broadcast. As if you needed any more pressure, a local 9-hole course pipes live feed of their Par 3 greens into the clubhouse.

🔥 Stay Hot. J.R. Smith celebrates his first hole-in-one. We wonder what drink he bought the bar to celebrate?

🗒️ State of the Game. Mackenzie Hughes shares his thoughts on the current state of men’s professional golf.

🏌️‍♂️ Staying Put. In a victory for the PGA Tour, Tony Finau dispels rumors of his departure to LIV.

🎩 Capiche. NY Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito’s agent took over social media following his appearance on Monday Night Football. The G-Men better be prepared to offer their new QB a “deal that he cannot refuse.”

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U.S. Open Trivia

We’ll give you the tournament winner and host city, and you name the course where it was played.

• Webb Simpson - San Francisco, CA

• Retief Goosen - Southampton, NY

• Lee Janzen - Springfield, NJ

• David Graham - Ardmore, PA

• Gary Player - St. Louis, MO

Name that Golfer

Three clues. Can you name this player?

• 5x winner on the PGA Tour.

• Released a country music album in 2010.

• Only two-time major winner never selected to play in a Ryder Cup.

Issue no. 5 Answers

Golf Scramble: 1. Srixon 2. Volvik 3. Slazenger 4. Pinnacle 5. Bridgestone

Name that Golfer: Nelly Korda