The First Call 01-04-2023

FIRST THOUGHT

Tom Kim is the youngest player in this week's Sentry Tournament of Champions by more than four years. But the young pup is already keeping some pretty good historical company. The second of his two 2022 PGA Tour wins placed Kim (20 years, 3 months, 18 days) behind only three-time major champion Ralph Guldahl (20 years, 2 months, 19 days) as the youngest to win twice on the PGA Tour since 1900. With a win this week, Kim (20 years, 6 months, 18 days on Sunday) would become the second-youngest to win three times on the PGA Tour since 1900, moving ahead of seven-time major champion Gene Sarazen (20 years, 5 months, 22 days) and two-time Masters champion Horton Smith (20 years, 8 months, 18 days).

> Question of the week: What do you hope will be the biggest or best storyline in 2023?

Send replies on this question or other topics to shall@buffalogroupe.com. For your response to be published, you must include first and last name, along with city and state of residence. Read last week's responses.

READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> Tom Kim starts the new year with a new sponsor and a swoosh
[Doug Ferguson | Associated Press | Read]

> New year on the PGA Tour more mysterious than ever
[Doug Ferguson | Associated Press | Read]

> New NBC contract in hand, Mark Rolfing is eager for his next chapter
[Dylan Dethier | Golf.com | Read]

> AIG Women's Open winner Sophia Popov announces she's pregnant
[Beth Ann Nichols | Golfweek | Read]

Brad Faxon, Smylie Kaufman join NBC golf announcing team in 2023

Announcement ends weeks of speculation as to who would replace longtime commentators Gary Koch and Roger Maltbie

THE INDUSTRY

Use of applied nutrients on golf courses in U.S. continues to decrease

GCSAA’s Golf Course Environmental Profile survey shows U.S. golf courses decreased use of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium in 2021, and a decrease in fertilized acres

PXG announces its 2023 Aloha Capsule Collection

Tropical-inspired apparel and golf accessories lineup featuring rich colors and distinctive hibiscus floral prints

Fred Yelverton to receive 2023 GCSAA Outstanding Contribution Award

North Carolina State University professor and Extension specialist will be honored during the Sunrise Celebration at the 2023 GCSAA Conference and Show on Feb. 8 in Orlando, Florida

Reported: By Payntr Golf, key sales milestones in 2022, including year over year unit sales up 590% and year over year revenue up 415%. Payntr also introduced two new shoes — the Payntr X 002 LE and Payntr X 003 F.

Announced: By NBC Sports, the addition of Brad Faxon and Smylie Kaufman to its 2023 golf commentary team. Faxon will serve as a hole announcer, while Kaufman joins John Wood, Notah Begay III and Arron Oberholser as on-course reporters. Also, Curt Byrum, a 22-year veteran with NBC Sports, will serve as hole announcer starting in 2023. The main tower combo of Dan Hicks (play-by-play) and Paul Azinger (lead analyst) returns for a fifth consecutive year.

> More Industry News

#QOTD

"Do not speak of your happiness to one less fortunate than yourself."

— Plutarch

ICYMI

PGA Tour, Warner Bros. Discovery restructure 12-year rights deal

Agreement gives international media rights back to Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and areas in Europe and Latin America not currently covered by Discovery+ or Eurosport

Audubon International initiative allowing nature, courses to coexist

Payne_s Valley Golf Course Holes 4 and 5.jpg

Organization's Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf courses heads into 2023 with significant momentum

Thousand Greens introduces golfers everywhere to courses anywhere

Manish Goel sought to play golf's exclusive private courses and found out he was not alone. So, the retired tech executive created an app that connects club members with their bucket-list courses

NBC Sports casts wide net over 2023 PGA Tour schedule

More than 450 hours of Tour coverage will be aired across NBC, Golf Channel and Peacock platforms, starting with the Sentry Tournament of Champions, Jan. 5-9

TUNING IN

PGA Tour: Sentry Tournament of Champions
Site: Plantation Course at Kapalua, Kapalua, Hawaii.
Television (EST): Thursday-Friday, 6-10 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 4-6 p.m. (NBC Sports), 6-8 p.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

TFC PODCAST NETWORK

THE 19TH HOLE
Nick Jonas, Renee Parsons talk PXG collaboration
Music entertainer and PXG Apparel president join host Michael Williams to talk about how they fused their respective passion for golf and fashion into a partnership
[Listen | More 'The 19th Hole' episodes]

BEHIND THE GOLF BRAND
How Sunday Golf found its niche, paves a new trail
Host Paul Liberatore interviews CEO Ronan Galvin, who discusses how finding a niche allowed Sunday Golf to revolutionize the golf bag industry in just a few short years
[Listen | More 'Behind The Golf Brand' episodes]

THE MODGOLF PODCAST
How Sqairz does the common in an uncommon way
Founder Bob Winskowicz shares with host Colin Weston how having Arnold Palmer in his mentorship corner was one of many positive experiences that shaped his entrepreneurial mindset
[Listen | More 'The ModGolf Podcast' episodes]

CALENDAR

JANUARY
23-25: Golf Business Conference, Orlando, Fla. | Info
24-27: PGA Show, Orlando, Fla. | Info
28-29: Columbus Golf and Travel Show, Columbus, Ohio | Info

> View complete calendar

To submit events for the calendar, please include the event name, date, location and informational link to info@firstcallgolf.com.