Rory McIlroy Resigns From PGA Board

Good morning. Today marks the first day of three championships, part of the last fall championships before the end of the season: RSM Classic in Georgia, DP World Tour (European) in Dubai and CME Group Tour (LPGA) in Florida.

In other top news, Rory McIlroy resigns from the PGA board, many notable players missing from the CME Group Tour, Ferrari Formula One driver Carlos Sainz wins and then smashes the Netflix Cup, and more…

ALBATROS
Rory McIlroy Resigns From PGA Board

Rory McIlroy has resigned from his role as a player director on the PGA Tour policy board. McIlroy hinted at the challenges around his player director role, saying it was “not what I signed for whenever I went on the board.”

The decision by the world number No. 2 golfer comes amidst ongoing discussions to finalize the proposed agreement involving the PGA Tour, Saudi’s Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the DP World Tour (formerly known as the European Tour) which sent reverberations around the golf world when it was announced on June 6.

“Absolutely no chance” - Jon Rahm explains he won't be replacing rory mcilroy on the pga tour board.

"Oh, you won't see me there. Absolutely no chance. I've been asked a couple times if I have any interest, and I'm not going to spend, I don't know how many meetings they have, but they are six, seven, hour plus long. I'm not here for that," the World No.3 explained ahead of this week's DP World Tour Championship.

EAGLE
Notable Players Missing From CME Group Tour

While nine players are making their debut at this week’s CME Group Tour Championship, there’s still plenty of talk about who didn’t make the field.

The top 60 players and ties after The Annika driven by Gainbridge event qualified for the Tour Championship, which features a $7 million purse and $2 million payout to the winner.

Here’s a list of notable names whose seasons have ended early:

• Emily Kristine Pedersen: Despite holding the 54-hole lead at The Annika last week, Pedersen couldn’t hang on to qualify for the season-ender.

• In Gee Chun: After finishing ninth on the CME points last season and winning her third major title, Chun posted only one top 10 in all of 2023.

• Maria Fassi: It looked like Fassi might make a late charge after a T-8 in Japan, but the mountain proved too much.

• Lexi Thompson: Thompson misses the CME for the first time after a shocking first half of 2023.

• Moriya Jutanugarn: The normally consistent Thai player posted only one top-10 finish all season.

Read about the rest of the list here.

BIRDIE
Carlos Sainz Wins And Smashes Netflix Cup

Ferrari Formula One driver Carlos Sainz got his hands on the inaugural “Netflix Cup”, only to stare in horror as it tumbled out of them.

The Spaniard had partnered with two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas to triumph in the streaming service’s first ever live sporting event at Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas on Tuesday, besting three other PGA Tour and F1 driver duos in a golf tournament.

Sainz and Thomas bested Alpine driver Pierre Gasly and Tony Finau – a late replacement for the injured Collin Morikawa – in a closest-to-the-pin battle on the final hole to clinch their spot on the winner’s podium in black-and-white, checkered flag-themed suits, when disaster soon struck.

Clutching a bottle of champagne in his other hand, Sainz was chatting with the American when the cup tumbled out of his grip. The driver stood dumbfounded with his hands on his head as a giggling Finau picked up the shattered segments of the trophy at his feet.

LOCKER ROOM
What else is making news

• Sahith Theegala becomes second member of TGL's Los Angeles Golf Club.

• The LPGA announced that CME Group was extending its title sponsorship of the Tour Championship through 2025. In addition to the extension, the total purse for will increase from $7 million this year to $11 million for both ’24 and ’25. It matches the largest purse in women’s golf (U.S. Women’s Open). The winner’s check will double from $2 million this year to $4 million, the single largest payday in women’s sports. The runner-up will receive $1 million and everyone in the 60-player field will earn at least $55,000.

• PGA Tour pros and spouses battle in 11th annual RSM Wiffle Ball Classic where the winner was charity.

• With the top 50 in the FedExCup already locked in for every signature event in 2024, Nos. 51-60, aka the Next 10, after the fall will get into the first two signature events following The Sentry, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (Feb. 1-4) and Genesis Invitational (Feb. 15-18). Players inside the top 125 will retain their full cards while Nos. 126-150 will get conditional status for 2024.

• World No 1 Lilia Vu triumphantly returns to CME with Rolex Player of the Year in grasp.

• Robert MacIntyre will accept a PGA Tour card if he secures dual membership rights in Dubai this week - but insists it will not change him as a person. The 27-year-old sits seventh in the race for one of 10 cards to play on the US-based circuit next season. He can make sure of his place with a solid finish in this week's season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

• In a stellar performance at the Bulka-Medley Multi Tee Single tournament held at Nudgee Golf Club-Bulka Course in Queensland, Australia, 21-year-old Tyler Duncan carded an amazing 13-under 57 in the opening round on the par-70 course.

• With PGA TOUR cards at stake for the first time in more than a decade, fans will have the opportunity to attend the Final Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry for all four tournament rounds at the Dye’s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass, which will be contested Dec. 14-17. To secure tickets, fans can visit https://www.pgatourqschool.com/tickets

DRIVING RANGE
The Easiest Pitching Technique

If you struggle with chip shots and pitch shots around the green it's because you have a chipping and pitching technique that is either too complicated or your trying to use the same technique for all shots.

In this video, Danny Maude explained to the student the difference between chipping and pitching and shows you exactly what technique to use and when.

PAR FOR THE COURSE
This Day In History

On November 16, 2010, the Hong Kong Open of the European Tour Began in Hong Kong for the Penultimate Event of the 2010 Season; and in 1996, Phil Mickelson (26) weds Amy McBride.