Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
FIRST THOUGHT

The Players Championship is obviously not a major, but the list of the tournament's multiple winners is major caliber. Six players — all major champions — have won the Players two or more times: Jack Nicklaus (1974, 1976, 1978), Tiger Woods (2001, 2013), Davis Love III (1992, 2003), Hal Sutton (1983, 2000), Steve Elkington (1991, 1997) and Fred Couples (1983, 1996).

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> Question of the week: Why should the Players Championship, which this week will feature 43 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking (as of Friday's field release), not be considered in the same discussion as the four majors — or should it?

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

READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> The advocacy machine behind the diversity mission
[Dave Gould | Golf Business | Read]

> Marana golf course under fire for removal of two saguaro cactuses without permits
[Ellie Willard | Arizona Republic | Read]

> Dell Technologies Match Play officially off 2024 PGA Tour schedule
[Tim Schmitt | Golfweek | Read]

> LIV Golf executive explains delay in reporting Mayakoba viewership, why early reports were ‘incomplete’
[Adam Woodard | Golfweek | Read]

Design Notes: Apes Hill Barbados reopens after Ron Kirby reno
Progress continues for Dormie Network’s GrayBull in Nebraska; Drew Rogers begins new renovation phase at Michigan’s venerable Plum Hollow
INDUSTRY NEWS
Supporters take on the challenge of playing and walking 100 holes of golf in one day, while raising funds for youth access to golf
Read More
Head of technology address questions about the team he is building, why clients have experienced some earlier than expected enhancements and the future in golf technology
Read More
Tucson, Arizona, club will host the PGA Tour Champions event in March 2024; club features three 9-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature-designed courses
Read More
Company handcrafted the player badge money clips for the PGA Tour event's pro-am and main event golfers
Read More
Jim Hammond named director of business development while Journalists Len Ziehm, Bill Sangster, Dave Daubert, David Theoret and Mike May have been added to the team of writers
Read More

United States Golf Association: Selects Chambers Bay, in University Place, Washington, to host the 2027 U.S. Junior Amateur and 2033 U.S. Amateur Championships. These will be the fifth and sixth USGA championships hosted by the public golf course, a Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed course that hosted the 2015 U.S. Open.

FootJoy: Drops two new limited edition FJ x Buscemi releases ahead of the Players Championship. The Limited Edition Premiere Series Field and Premiere Series Wilcox are created in partnership with West Coast street-fashion icon Jon Buscemi. FootJoy ambassadors Justin Thomas, Max Homa and Will Zalatoris will be wearing the shoes.

#QOTD
"The only thing blame does is to keep the focus off you when you are looking for ... reasons to explain your unhappiness or frustration."
— Casey Stengel
ICYMI
Ben Cowan-Dewar's pursuit of a destination empire with Cabot
In the Cabot co-founder and CEO's quest to develop golf resorts that exude an authentic sense of place, patience, persistence and perseverance serve as his pillars
TFC PODCAST NETWORK

DRIVER$
An early outlook at the 2023 golf market
Co-hosts Jon Last and David Klein look at how this season could defy macro market level trends
[Listen | More 'Driver$' episodes]

GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
Honda Classic's Ken Kennerly talks the future of the PGA Tour event
Tournament's executive director emeritus joins host Ann Liguori to talk about the PGA Tour stop's past, present and future
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' episodes]

THE MODGOLF PODCAST
Perseverance, pivoting and the ability to adapt
Ryan Engle, founder and CEO of Golf+, joins host Colin Weston to share how his love for writing code and playing golf led to the creation of his company's VR gaming platform
[Listen | More 'The ModGolf Podcast' episodes]

CALENDAR

MARCH
11-12: New Jersey Golf and Travel Show, Edison, N.J. | Info
18-19: Niagara Golf Show and Sale, Niagara Falls, Ontario | Info

> View complete calendar

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