🏌🏻 2024's Top Golf Events

Good morning and a Happy New Year!

This week marks the return of the PGA Tour and we can't wait for the season to tee-off. Until the new season officially gets going, let’s take a look at the biggest golfing events in 2024, explore reasons behind Jason Day's $100M exit and talk about the changes in the World Handicap System that will impact your play.

This and much more, in our first edition of 2024.

So, grab your favorite morning drink and let’s get going.

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⛳ This day in history: This week marks the return of the PGA Tour with the usual first event of January, the Sentry Tournament of Champions, in Hawaii. But there was a time when the Los Angeles Open led things off. On this date in 1959, for instance, the first round of the L.A. Open was played. It was the fourth time Arnold Palmer had played L.A., and he would win there in 1963. In '59, he shot 72 and would tie for ninth. Two-time U.S. Amateur champion Marvin (Bud) Ward (in 1939 and 1941) died on this date in 1968 at age 54 after a cancer illness.

ALBATROS
2024's Top Golf Events: A Year Packed with Action

The 2024 Golf season gets underway this week. This is an Olympic year and the Games are in Paris. The women have a great summer stretch that includes a week at the Old Course. And there are more than a few other significant anniversaries. Here are the major events that we’re looking forward to in 2024.

LIV Golf Mayakoba (Feb. 2-4): The first competition of the league's third year is set to take place at Mexico's El Camaleon Golf Course. Questions arise about who will comprise Jon Rahm's team and whether more PGA Tour players will align with him.

THE PLAYERS Championship (March 14-17): The PGA Tour cherishes milestones, and this edition signifies the 50th anniversary of its most prestigious event. Even though the top LIV players won't participate, it remains the most significant event of the year thus far.

Masters (April 11-14): This year marks the 20th anniversary of Phil Mickelson’s first Masters victory and 60 years since Arnold Palmer won his third Masters - the last major Championship of his legendary career.

PGA Championship (May 16-19): This edition will take place at the Val Halla Golf Course - the same venue where Rory Mcllroy won his second PGA Championship.

US Open (June 13-16): This year marks the 25th anniversary of Payne Stewart’s win, just four months before he would tragically die in a plane crash.

The Open Championship (July 18-21):This year marks the 152nd edition of the tournament. It will take place at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland.

Paris Olympics (Aug. 1-10): The spectacular Le Golf National will host both the men's and women's tournaments in Paris. In the men's event, Justin Rose won gold in 2016 in Rio and Xander Schauffele followed it up in the COVID-delayed Tokyo games in 2021.

When it comes to the women, Inbee Park (2016) and Nelly Korda (2021) are the last two gold medalists on the women’s side, and Korda should be among the favorites again this time.

This begins a wonderful stretch for the women, who have the Olympics, the AIG Women’s Open at the Old Course and Solheim Cup all within five weeks.

TWEET
Worth Mentioning

EAGLE
Jason Day Drops $100M Deal: Beginning of Nike's Sponsorship Crisis?

Recent months have seen escalating tensions between Nike and their top player, Tiger Woods. Adding to the strain, Jason Day, a prominent ambassador for the brand, has chosen to end his seven-year partnership.

Day has now found a new home at Malbon Golf. Unlike other big brands like TaylorMade, and Greyson Clothier who have dominated the golfing arena for quite some time, Malbon Golf is a relatively new brand in the golfing circle.

The deal with the 13-time PGA Tour winner is definitely a prominent step for the brand, which is trying to get its footing in the golf world.

Day had signed a $100 million contract with Nike back in 2016. Reportedly, with his departure from Nike, the 36-year-old Aussie will be leaving behind a hefty $10 million+ per year pay that Nike offered.

With Jason Day leaving the brand and the veil of ambiguity around the Woods – Nike saga, the brand has a lot on their plate to figure out. But still, fan favorites like Rory McIlroy and Nelly Korda are expected to continue their healthy partnership with the brand. Thus offering some form of solace for Nike.

LOCKER ROOM
What else is making news

New Wedges: Titleist is bringing new gear, the Vokey Design SM10 wedges, to the PGA Tour this week in Hawaii at The Sentry. The SM10 wedges are likely to be released during the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando beginning on January 23.

Patrick Cantlay: Patrick Cantlay has joined First Responders Children’s Foundation as official ambassador. The partnership aims to raise awareness and funds to support first responder families across the country.

Cameron Smith: LIV Golf's Cameron Smith tied the knot with girlfriend Shanel Naoum in Brisbane on December 31. Smith wore a black tuxedo and sported his trademark mullet, while the bride, Shanel Naoum, was dressed beautifully in a froufrou gown. Naoum hails from Florida and is reportedly a practicing chiropractor.

DP World Tour: European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald is set to feature at the 2024 Hero Dubai Desert Classic - DP World Tour’s first event of the year. The Dubai Desert Classic is set to tee off on Thursday, January 18 at the iconic Emirates Golf Club. The event will see some of the biggest names in the golf world compete for the $9,000,000 prize purse.

Harold Varner III: LIV Golf pro Harold Varner III was arrested in North Carolina on December 29 for allegedly driving while impaired. His bond was set at $500. He was later released and is due to appear before court January 19.

BIRDIE
3 Major Changes To the World Handicap System For 2024

The USGA and R&A have rolled out significant updates in the World Handicap System from Jan. 1, 2024. The changes are based on data gathered from 100 million scores posted yearly under the WHS, with the number of people who have a handicap index having grown from 2.59 million in 2020 to nearly 3.5 million in 2023. Let us take a look.

A new way to handle nine-hole rounds: The WHS plans to employ a formula for calculating "expected scores," converting nine-hole scores into equivalents for 18-hole differentials. This eliminates the necessity for golfers to post only a nine-hole score and then wait for another nine-hole score to pair with it to generate an 18-hole total.

Scores will count for handicap purposes at more courses: The USGA and R&A have decided to lower the minimum yardage required for a course to be part of the Course Rating system. Previously, 18-hole courses needed to be at least 3,000 yards, and nine-hole courses had to be 1,500 yards. Now, they've reduced these requirements to 1,500 and 750 yards, respectively. This change is anticipated to enable roughly 700 additional par-3 courses in the U.S. to join the WHS system.

Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC): The PCC will see more frequent application due to a relaxed statistical threshold that triggers adjustments. In 2020, the model permitted adjustments at a 5 to 10 percent rate, whereas now it will intervene at a higher 10 to 15 percent rate.

DRIVING RANGE
The Ultimate Guide to Ball Position

Ball position in golf is a very important fundamental to your golf game, yet many casual golfers don't think too much about it, or are unsure of where to position the golf ball for each type of golf club.