Taking the challenge from last week's SGS podcast, this is draft 1 of the tracker to show Which Sig Event Group plays best: The (Top 4 of the) AON Swing 5 or the Sponsor Exemptions.

https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/john.cusick/viz/PGA_Signature_Events/EventPeformance#1

As time permits, I'll enhance. I have ideas, but they will have to wait until the weekend. I'll also take suggestions for enhancements.

Notes: This is not built for a phone display.

Datasource: https://www.pgatour.com/

WM Sunday was the first round this year where I really paid attention to the broadcast and I have to say that the CBS team in this configuration is honestly great. Knowledgeable, humorous, and worth listening to. Dottie & Colt do a fantastic job. Going to try and enjoy the next two weekends until the switch to NBC and the ramshackle production they call a golf broadcast. Not to say anyone on the NBC team doesn't try or care, but they are hamstrung by 'the legendary Tom Roy.'

It's been a busy few days for the LPGA. After Sunday's final round cancellation and the ensuing uproar, Craig Kessler sent a note to players yesterday apologizing for the mess. He also went on a mini apology tour offering more insight into the what led to the decision to shorten the event. We knew the honeymoon period for Kessler would end at some point, but boy did it come to a screeching halt.

Matthew and I will certainly be discussing the note to players and Craig's additional comments on the next episode of The Mixed Bag. I have some questions for the FEGC community here in the meantime...

It's hard to outdo Mollie in terms of miscommunication and unseriousness. Do you think Sunday was equal to the Solheim Cup debacle?

If you're a casual LPGA fan, did Sunday make you less likely to tune in and/or get invested in the league?

Do you put part of the blame for the situation on the players who were vocal about not wanting to play in the conditions?

LIV got OWGR points for the top 10 finishers in tournaments with a SoF that resembles a DP World or KFT event.

If Brian Rolapp is a true psychopath, he will offer a PGA Tour card to the top individual LIV player. He's in the business of making it up as he goes, let's see how far he's willing to go.

Huge upset tonight with Jupe taking down the atl. Still a ton of complaints about the sim being fade bias and wedges going longer than reality. Also next week is Luke Clayton and Neal Shipley for the bay and Tony for LAGC. Seems like the bay cleaned house after the frogs smacked them last week. The inability for them to put out official rosters is hilarious. TGL has to be the most unserious thing in golf right now even with liv existing. Highlight of the night was JT icing kis at the very end and Derrick Stanford telling kis to just go ahead and putt because they’re trying to get off the air.

1. Frogs 2. Drive 3. NYGC 4. LAGC 5. Jupe 6. Bay

I doubt that anyone actually knows the details since Strategic Sports Group (the other "SGS") isn't required to disclose details of their investment or their operations.

Let's say a player is given equity in 2025, with an 8yr vesting period. Assume it's $5,000,000 ($5M) of equity, and the PGA Tour says that it's current market value is $5,000,000,000 ($5B).

In a normal business, the options for the equity owner would be:

1. After 8yrs, the equity would be vested and they could sell it assuming the market value of the company is up and there is a market available to sell the equity.
2. After 8yrs (or at any time), the company may offer to buy back the equity from the person, with some assumptions of the increased value of the company.
3. At some point, the original company (A) gets aquired by another company (B), and they are compensated for the vested equity, and potentially given new equity in Company B for the value of the unvested equity.

I'm curious what some of you golf-insiders might have heard about how this equity is being pitched to the players?

• Since this is a Private Equity investment by SGS, is there an expectation that PGA Tour Enterprises is eventually sold to another entity, hence an equity event occurs?
• Does SGS eventually plan to buyout all of the PGA Tour?
• I doubt the plan is to create an IPO for the PGA Tour, as sports leagues are typically not public (ever?), and they aren't a 12 month entity so reporting quarterly earnings would be odd (albeit not impossible)
• Is there some sort of equity-to-pension equation being pitched to them?Does that become like an accelerated pension redemption schedule?

Just curious if anyone has heard anything about his it's actually supposed to work.

Pending confirmation from everyone's favorite Twitter account, we are back! Is this a shot across the bow to announce the day before Brooksie's return? I miss villains with excellent short games, and I, for one, welcome them all back with open arms.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7004122/2026/01/28/golf-liv-pga-patrick-reed-contract-suspension/

I've never been to a PGA tournament. Luckily, my sons (both DIII college golfers) were able to attend the Amex on Saturday. Like me, they had never been to a PGA tournament and I was eager to get their perspective.

Here are 5 of their biggest takeaways:

1. "They don't miss!" Aside from the Nico minute from hell at Alcatraz, they were in awe of tour dispersion.
2. PGA West is not easy (for amateurs). With water everywhere and mounding muddling stances, shots have to be played to specific spots. Target golf on full display, and it brought the amateurs to their knees.
3. "He's right there!" My sons grew up seeing orange and jumped at the chance to watch their favorite player. They were shocked how close they could get to the action. Caddie conversations and pre-shot routines were on full display. They immersed themselves in the Rickie experience.
4. The margins. Rickie made 17 pars and one birdie on Saturday. Par doesn’t get you very far at the Amex. Rickie didn’t give himself enough opportunities and didn’t capitalize on those he had.
5. Aura. When the #1 golfer in the world is in the field you can feel it. I am sure it paled in comparison, but the apt comp is always going to be Tiger. The buzz around Scottie’s group was palpable. After Rickie finished they dropped back to see for themselves and it was everything they hoped it would be.

The AmEx does not get a lot of praise. “Dome Golf” “Fraudelent Field” “Birdie Fest” but for two boys from Alaska, it was an experience they will cherish for the rest of their lives

Just checking in on my boy Nick Dunlap after Andy and Brendan mentioned some big misses off the tee at Sony last week. These are all from the front nine today on the Stadium Course.......

Last years NCAA singles champion. Foregoing his last year of college and Masters exemption to join LIV. I’m an Ole Miss fan through and through, and always had mixed feelings about him. Think he will fit right in with LIV.

Fellow eggheads! A discussion on SGS this morning after replaying Caleb Williams's miraculous game-tying touchdown centered around some of the best, most memorable plays that eroded a little bit due to a loss. For me, I cited Rajai Davis's equally miraculous game-tying home run off Aroldis Chapman in Game 7 of the World Series in 2016 that would end in an extra innings loss. A memory for a lifetime even if only a moment of bliss.

Where and when has this phenomenon taken place in golf? There had to be some stakes -- i.e. player in contention -- and the shot is somewhat lost to history because the player did not go on to win the trophy. We want to talk more about this on the next SGS and would love to cite some fellow FEGC members.

After spending hours searching for the hidden One-and-Done link, I’ve got my first pick of the year in. Who do you like? Who do you hate? And, most importantly, what tournament are we saving Jordan Spieth for?

cam smith getting invited back along with rahm brooks and Bryson. What do people think?

While not TV golf, the stories by these legends are well worth the view.

https://youtu.be/8vZGCrySVAM?si=rXXziFnHM6eUPXU3

Faldo, Woosy, Sandy, Langer hosted by Iona. Highly recommended!

First, Vijay already used his two career money exemptions in 2022 and 2023. He should not have this one available.

Second, Andy was asking if somebody has compiled a list of who has career money exemptions they can still use. Ask and ye shall receive.

Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar, David Toms, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III.

Finally, fields are flexing up to include all fully exempt people this year, so it is true he may not be taking a spot if and only if the field is flexing up. (Except Phoenix)