🏌🏻 Red Flags

Good morning. We can’t wait for the 2024 tour to begin and watch our favorite golfers in action. And so, we unpack the first major golf events to watch out in 2024.

More on the LIV-PGA saga, another player comments and an interesting feature on who drove the longest and shortest in 2022-23 season, in today’s edition of Golf Reporter.

So, pour yourself a cup of coffee, and let's get ready to explore everything golf!

🏌🏻 Deal of the day: 28% off on Callaway Golf Ball Retriever for Water, Telescopic with Dual-Zip Headcover. Check out the deal here.

⛳ This day in history: Walter Hagen (born December 21, 1892, Rochester, New York) was an American professional golfer and one of the most colorful sports personalities of his time, who is credited with doing more than any other golfer to raise the social standing of his profession. He played more than 2,500 exhibition matches throughout the world, and always insisted that he be received as a gentleman, a concession rarely accorded to earlier professional golfers.

ALBATROS
Unpacking 2024’s Major Golf Tours' Return Schedule

The 2023 professional season has officially come to an end and it’s time to take a quick look ahead to 2024. The initial event of 2024 signifies the PGA Tour's shift back to a calendar-based schedule.

Shortly after, events are slated to occur on the DP World Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour Champions, and LPGA. The 2024 LIV Golf schedule commences in February.

Here’s a closer look at the first events of 2024 on the major golf circuits.

PGA Tour

📅 When: Jan. 4-7
🏌🏻 What: The Sentry
📍 Where: Plantation Course at Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii

DP World Tour

📅 When: Jan. 11 – 14
🏌🏻 What: Dubai Invitational
📍 Where: Dubai Creek Resort, Dubai, UAE

Korn Ferry Tour

📅 When: Jan. 14-17
🏌🏻 What: The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay
📍 Where: Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Club, Bahamas

PGA Tour Champions

📅 When: Jan. 18-20
🏌🏻 What: Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai
📍 Where: Hualalai Golf Club, Ka’upulehu-Kona, Hawaii

LPGA

📅 When: Jan. 18-21
🏌🏻 What: Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions
📍 Where: Lake Nona Golf and Country Club, Orlando

LIV Golf

📅 When: Feb. 2-4
🏌🏻 What: LIV Golf Mayakoba
📍 Where: El Camaleon Golf Course, Playa del Carmen, Mexico

TWEET
Worth Mentioning

EAGLE
Ludvig Aberg Spots 'Red Flags' in LIV, Applauds PGA Tour

Ludvig Aberg, part of Europe's victorious Ryder Cup team and a recent winner of his first PGA Tour title in November, has declined an offer from LIV Golf, mirroring the decision made earlier by his Ryder Cup teammate Viktor Hovland. Aberg, 24, received the latest LIV offer after finishing his rookie season with a victory in the RSM Classic, where he shot 61-61 on the weekend.

“There were a number of red flags, which is not good. We realized that I could potentially burn a lot of bridges, and I wasn't interested in that. When I look back, I am very confident in my decision. I will never chase money; what I do is compete. I did the right thing. I want to play against the best, because I am a competitive person and like to compete against the best players. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like that at the moment, it’s a bit more fragmented.”

In contrast, Aberg praised the PGA tour. “When I look at the PGA Tour and the competitions there, there is so much history around all the competitions. And that’s what I like, that’s what I go for."

The rising Swedish star was the first player to earn his PGA Tour card via PGA Tour University and ran with his opportunity. Aberg missed just one cut in 11 starts, finished inside the top 25 eight times including a runner-up at the Sanderson Farms Championship and his first win at the season-ending RSM Classic. Aberg earned his first professional victory at the DP World Tour’s Omega European Masters earlier in September.

LOCKER ROOM
What else is making news

Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers Golf Club, one of the LIV Golf teams, has a new look to its logo after a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by an Argentine company nearly got ugly.

Jason Day, a 13-time PGA Tour champion who returned to the winner’s circle for the first time in five seasons this year, and U.S. Ryder Cup member Sam Burns are among the latest commitments to The American Express PGA Tour event in La Quinta in January.

The Kaulig Companies Championship, PGA TOUR Champions and Northern Ohio Golf Charities Foundation will recognize Pro Football Hall of Fame member Peyton Manning as the 2024 recipient of the Ambassador of Golf Award.

Seven world-class destinations have been confirmed by The International Series as part of its 10-tournament schedule for the 2024 season. Boasting an increased prize pool of US $23 million, the pathway series to the LIV Golf League, sanctioned by the Asian Tour, will once again commence the year in Oman before making further return journeys to Hong Kong, Indonesia, Morocco, and Qatar.

Russia's Nataliya Guseva won the 2024 Lalla Aicha Q-School by four shots. She earned her LPGA card at Q-series earlier this month.

BIRDIE
2022-23 PGA Tour Extremes: Who Drove Longest And Shortest

Rory McIlroy was the PGA Tour’s longest driver in 2022-23 after leading the circuit in average driving distance. It was the first time McIlroy had led the Tour in that category since 2018, when he averaged 319.7 yards per drive. Cameron Champ and Bryson DeChambeau had each led the Tour for two seasons since.

Here are the five longest and shortest drivers on the PGA Tour during the 2022-23 season.

AVERAGE DRIVING DISTANCE LEADERS:

1. Rory McIlroy, 326.3 yards
2. Peter Kuest, 321.7 yards
3. Brandon Matthews, 321.3 yards
4. Cameron Champ, 317.9 yards
5. Nicolai Højgaard, 317.7 yards

SHORTEST AVERAGE DISTANCE DRIVERS:

1. Brian Stuard, 271.5 yards
2. David Lingmerth, 278.5 yards
3. William McGirt, 280 yards
4. Zac Blair, 281.6 yards
5. Brendon Todd, 282 yards

DRIVING RANGE
Hip Rotation Drill With Rory McIlroy

A GolfPass member asks Rory about some drills he may have to increase his hip rotation. Rory and Martin discuss a swing key that Rory has to help keep his upper and lower body in sequence his during his swing. Rory also shares his advice on stretches before a round to help you activate your muscles.