What happens in Vegas gets awkwardly broadcast on live TV

However bad your job feels right now, at least you don’t work in the Jacksonville Jaguars Public Relations office. If you do… oof.

One last leap

In the words of David Bowie, the first major championship on the LPGA schedule is about to turn and face the strange. The LPGA Tour announced on Tuesday that Chevron U.S.A. Inc. has signed a six-year contract to be the title sponsor of what is currently known as the ANA Inspiration. Starting in 2023, the tournament will be called the Chevron Championship, will take place later than its traditional late March / early April date, and will move from the California desert to Houston. The 2022 purse will be increased to $5 million, up 60% from 2021. Press Release

This is big, if bittersweet, news for women’s golf. The ANA Inspiration—or, as it was known before the 21st century, the Dinah Shore—has been a staple of the LPGA Tour and the Coachella Valley for nearly 50 years. Until recently, the event coincided with a weekend that meant a great deal to the LGBTQ community, and it has seen many memorable finishes since becoming a major in 1983. Also, who could forget the big blue wall debacle of 2020?

You can’t buy history, and the Dinah Shore at Mission Hills has a lot of it. Recently, though, the event has struggled to attract interest, especially since the Augusta National Women’s Amateur now occupies the same spot on the calendar. So maybe the changes will help. Houston is a massive city, which could translate into strong crowds. The new date will avoid conflicts with the ANWA, and the boosted purse will bring the event more in line with other women’s majors.

Walking away from history is rarely a good idea, but let’s see how the Chevron Championship works out.

Battle royale (with cheese)

When Bryson DeChambeau so slyly (not slyly at all) mentioned at the Ryder Cup that he and Brooks Koepka had something fun in the works, everyone assumed he was talking about a fifth edition of The Match. On Tuesday, the expected occurred. The Match V, a 12-hole exhibition featuring Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka, will take place November 26 at Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas.

Unlike the last three editions, this match will not include amateur partners, so the telecast will have to focus on Bryson and Brooks, neither of whom exactly has the gift of gab. Ernie Johnson and Charles Barkley will be on the call and may take some pressure off the players, but you can bet on plenty of awkward moments.

That said, reducing the match to 12 holes was a good call. If it stinks, at least it will be short.

Quick Hooks

Speaking of Las Vegas, the PGA Tour is there this week. The Shriners Children’s Open kicks off on Thursday at TPC Summerlin. Brooks is in attendance; Bryson is not. Tee Times

World No. 1 Jon Rahm passed on the trip to the desert, opting for a visit to his home country. The U.S. Open champion headlines the Acciona Open de España in Madrid on the European Tour. Tee Times

Nelly Korda, Jin Young Ko, and Inbee Park are in attendance at the LPGA Tour’s Cognizant Founders Cup, an annual event that pays tribute to the founders of the tour. Tee Times

Stanford University made some noise on Tuesday as the men’s golf team came from behind to win the Colonial Collegiate and the women’s squad took the Windy City Collegiate. Rose Zhang claimed the individual title for the Cardinal and is now two-for-two in her collegiate career.

The Latest from The Fried Egg

Paulie’s Picks: Shriners Hospital for Children Open – When betting on golf in Las Vegas, it’s all about picking guys who will steer clear of the strip and stay the course (literally). Paulie has you covered for DraftKings ahead of this week’s PGA Tour event.

The Shotgun Start – Is the Town Crier required to make an Urban proclamation? Listen on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify.

Pro Shop

In just over a month, as the tryptophan sets in and winter envelops the country, we’re all going to begrudgingly watch Bryson and Brooks play golf in Las Vegas. Make sure you keep warm with a Fried Egg beanie! Get yours today!