Do we think Greg Norman has seen Airplane?

WOWgr, Vol. 2022.8

No. 1 – Written communication (Up 18 spots from last week) – Sometimes there is nothing more satisfying than using good old-fashioned snail mail. In the past week, Greg Norman, CEO of Saudi-backed LIV Golf Investments, has sent two much-buzzed-about letters, one to players and agents and another directly to PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. Both addressed whether the PGA Tour can ban players who choose to join the Super Golf League. The context: during a Tuesday meeting between PGA Tour players and officials, Monahan reportedly reiterated that anyone who signs with the SGL would never be allowed back on the PGA Tour. Norman and likely his legal consultants believe that such a ban would be illegal. “Surely you jest,” Noman began, presumably while stroking a hairless cat. “And surely, your lawyers at the PGA Tour must be holding their breath.” He went on to say that he believes the PGA Tour is bullying players, and quotes an op-ed by a former Federal Trade Commission lawyer as support. For the legal niceties, we refer you to the work of Will Bardwell and Joel Beall. But for pure entertainment value, well, just read the thing.

No. 8– Hannah Green (Up 89) – Winner of the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Green made history this week by becoming the first woman to win a 72-hole mixed-gender tournament on a major golf tour. She dominated the TPS Murray River event in Australia, shooting a final-round 66 for a four-shot victory. Add that to her Vic Open title last week, and Green really made the most of the LPGA Tour’s February break.

No. 17 – Ingrid Lindblad (Up 26) – The up-and-coming Swede finished third at the 2021 Augusta National Women’s Amateur last spring and has been on a tear in her junior season at LSU. Lindblad won the Moon Golf Invitational this week for her second title of the year and has finished no worse than T-10 in five starts. She’ll participate in her third ANWA in April.

No. 21 – Coincidences (Up 212) – A couple of fun wrinkles in the ongoing Phil Mickelson saga that you might have missed: 1) Lefty released his “apology” just two minutes after a meeting between PGA Tour players and officials began on Tuesday; 2) Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard reported on Wednesday that Tiger Woods won the PGA Tour’s Player Impact Program (PIP) for 2021, not Mickelson. Phil tweeted in late December that he had won the PIP, even though the calculations had not been finalized.

No. 33 – Lou Bega (No change) – World No. 1 Jon Rahm announced that he and his wife Kelley are pregnant with their second child, due this summer. Not only will that give him a fresh infusion of #perspective heading into his U.S. Open title defense, but it also means that the Rahms will soon be just three children away from Rahmbo No. 5.

No. 447 – Italian winemakers (Down 32) – Zach Johnson is reportedly set to captain the 2023 U.S. Ryder Cup team in Italy. Johnson’s biggest achievement in Europe to date is his 2015 Open Championship victory. To celebrate the win, Johnson ate corn out of the Claret Jug. Barring a change in ZJ’s predilections, local winemakers hoping to supply the winning captain with libations are likely out of luck if the U.S. retains the cup.

Unranked – Phil Mickelson (No change) – We’ve talked plenty about Phil this week and there’s no need to drone on. But if you haven’t read his statement from earlier this week, take some time today and give it a skim.

The Latest from The Fried Egg

ICYMI: The LPGA Tour’s Big Opportunity – Meg Adkins thinks there are some lessons the LPGA Tour could learn from the PGA Tour’s handling of the Super Golf League.

The Fried Egg Podcast: A Primer on Sportswashing in Golf – Phil Mickelson’s loose lips dealt the Super Golf League’s ship a blow this week, but the Saudis are showing no signs of abandoning their sportswashing efforts in professional golf. To learn more about the concept of sportswashing, Garrett talks with Will Bardwell, the golf writer behind Lying Four, and Dr. Helen Lenskyj, an academic researcher. Listen on iTunes and Spotify.

The Shotgun Start – Andy and Brendan catch up on Phil Mickelson’s attempt at an apology, Greg Norman’s shot across the bow of the PGA Tour, and Zatch’s new gig as Ryder Cup captain. Listen on iTunes and Spotify.

Boards

Kurt Kitayama is out to a one-stroke lead at the Honda Classic, with Daniel Berger, Chris Kirk, and the Boy from Bratislava (looking sexy!) lurking a shot behind.

Quick Hooks

Last February, Tiger Woods drove his rental car into a ravine on the way to a photoshoot in Los Angeles. The accident could have cost him his life and nearly did cost him his leg. Now, one year later, Kevin Van Valkenburg discusses what explanation, if any, Woods owes the public. Read KVV’s full piece for ESPN.

Xander Schauffele released a statement confirming that he remains committed to the PGA Tour.

The Cologuard Classic sits down for a weekend of golf on the PGA Tour Champions. We’ll see what we get out of them!