The First Call 02-03-2023

FIRST THOUGHT

If AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am first-round leader Hank Lebioda does not sound like a familiar name on the PGA Tour, it's not for a lack of trying. The 29-year-old ranks No. 490 on the Official World Golf Ranking and has made 101 PGA Tour starts prior to this week in Pebble Beach, California. It marks the first time Lebioda has held a lead in any round of a Tour start and he's missed his last seven cuts dating back to last year's 3M Open when he tied for 16th. Only five times in 101 starts has he recorded a top-10 finish, the last being the 2021 John Deere Classic. If there is optimism for a Lebioda breakthrough, there is this: Since 2000, the first-round leader or co-leader has gone on to win the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am seven times.

> Question of the week: A number of players who have yet to win a major championship are showing signs of taking the next step — Max Homa has two wins already this PGA Tour season, Tony Finau has three wins since July, Tom Kim has two wins since August. Will a player win his first major in 2023? If so, who do you believe that player will be?

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

> Donald Trump's Scottish golf courses recorded more losses in 2021
[Reuters | Read]

> What would be better at Pebble Beach: a pro-am or a 'designated event'?
[Alex Miceli | Sports Illustrated | Read]

> Should the Ladies European Tour merge with the LPGA? A vote on the matter has been delayed, but with Saudi money involved it's complicated
[Beth Ann Nichols | Golfweek | Read]

Report: WGC-Dell Match Play, Austin to say goodbye

PGA Tour and Austin Country Club at odds on extension negotiations of event that has been played in the Texas capital since 2016

TFC PODCAST NETWORK

GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
How to take care of your vision for golf
Sports optometrist Dr. Graham Erickson joins host Ann Liguori with suggestions on how to protect your eyes and improve your vision
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' episodes]

GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
Realizing the Azores' understated beauty
Pilar Melo Antunes, Azores Golf sales and marketing director, joins host Ann Liguori to tell the story of the nine-strand Portuguese archipelago — and why it's ideal for golf
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' episodes]

THE 19TH HOLE WITH MICHAEL WILLIAMS
65,000 and counting: Club Champion has a club for everyone
Casandra Bausch, Club Champion's director of marketing, joins host Michael Williams to discuss the company's explosive growth and the array of available club combinations it offers
[Listen | More 'The 19th Hole with Michael Williams' episodes]

THE INDUSTRY

NBC Sports Next, Sports Technology Awards: Bring event to New York City

Technology and innovation division of NBC Sports will be the presenting sponsor of the Awards’ first ever U.S. event on May 18

Pinetop Country Club: Harold Mitchell named superintendent

Mitchell will oversee the agronomy operations of the Pinetop, Arizona, club’s 18-hole championship golf course, practice facilities and clubhouse landscape maintenance

Reynolds Lake Oconee: Honored among Golfweek's Best for 2023

Greensboro, Georgia, club is recognized on Golfweek's Top 200 Residential Golf Courses in the U.S. and Top 200 Resort Courses in the U.S. lists

ShopRite LPGA Classic: Tickets on sale now

Tournament set for June 5-11 on the Bay Course at Seaview in Galloway, New Jersey; field of 144 golfers will compete for a share of a $1.75 million purse

#QOTD

"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop."

— Confucius

ROUNDS AND WEATHER

> Rounds played finished this past week up 12% vs. 2022 due to the continued warmer temperatures that continue on the East Coast (+10 degrees vs. last year).

The Northeast, Mid Atlantic and Florida regions finished up 59% in total rounds this week due to the weather improvements. The California and Great Plains regions each experienced significant declines in rounds due to heavy precipitation and colder temperatures. Texas (Great Plains region), in particular, is suffering from near freezing temperatures with more than 340,000 people currently without power due to ice storms.

> Pacing over the next seven days is up 4% vs. last year as higher temperatures are projected for Florida (+6 degrees vs. 2022).

> Weekday golfers as a percentage of total golf business finished at under 60% for the first time in six weeks.

TUNING IN

PGA Tour: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Site: Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course; Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Shore Course)
Television [ET]: Today, 3-6 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-7 p.m. (CBS); Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6:30 p.m. (CBS).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

DP World Tour: Ras Al Khaimah Championship
Site: Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
Television [ET]: Today, 3:30-8:30 a.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 3:30-8 a.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard

CALENDAR

FEBRUARY
3-5: Philadelphia Golf and Travel Show, Philadelphia, Pa. | Info
6-9: GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, Orlando, Fla. | Info
6-9: Golf Industry Show, Orlando, Fla. | Info

> View complete calendar

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