Thursday Mar 09, 2023
FIRST THOUGHT

Kurt Kitayama and Nico Echavarria are entering the Players Championship with positive mojo after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Puerto Rico Open, respectively, last week. Only three players have won the Players after winning the previous week — Raymond Floyd (1981), Tom Kite (1989) and Tiger Woods (2001).

IN THIS ISSUE

> Should the Players Championship be ranked as a major? | Read
> Proud 90 apparel makes bold statement | Read
> Home Front: A Ponte Vedra beauty | Read
> The latest industry news | Read

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

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), be considered in the same discussion as the four majors — if no, why not?

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.

TFC Inbox: Should the Players Championship be a major?
The First Call readers vary on the topic. Some believe strength of field makes it major worthy, while others cite the championship's lack of tradition and absence of LIV players as dissenting reasons
INDUSTRY NEWS
Padraig Harrington, Sandra Palmer along with the late Johnny Farrell, Beverly Hanson, Tom Weiskopf and the 13 LPGA Founders will be inducted in June 2024
Read More
Lake Ozark, Missouri, resort's four new packages combine golf with lakeside accommodations
Read More
Winners were announced during its annual corporate conference, which also included learning and development sessions, and guest speakers
Read More
Spikeless, waterproof men's golf shoe to launch in North America this spring alongside new color options for the Gel-Course Glide and new shoe offering in the Gel-Preshot
Read More
Determined by more than 315,000 reviews, Golfers’ Choice highlights courses that golfers enjoy most, including Top 50 U.S. Golf Courses, Top Layouts and Top Value Courses
Read More
READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> LIV Golf to create its own stadium hole, inspired by No. 16 at the WM Phoenix Open, at its Australia stop
[Riley Hamel | Golfweek | Read]

> The battle for golf supremacy is over, and LIV has lost
[Michael Rosenberg | Sports Illustrated | Read]

> Tiger Woods' ex-girlfriend fighting NDA, cites sexual assault law
[Tom D'Angelo / Eric J. Wallace | Palm Beach Post | Read]

> A tense PGA Tour players meeting outlined pro golf’s future. Now what?
[Dylan Dethier | Golf.com | Read]

> Netflix renews golf docuseries ‘Full Swing’ for second season
[Shane Ryan | Golf Digest | Read]

#QOTD
"Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out."
— John Wooden
ICYMI
Proud 90 puts the fun in funky fashion collection
Apparel brand founder Rick Versace Jr. took a look at Rickie Fowler — his fashion, not his game — and created a line of polos with a playful vibe for the rest of us
HOME FRONT
Ponte Vedra Inn & Club | Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Listing: 340 Ponte Vedra Boulevard.
Stats: 7 bedrooms | 10 bathrooms | 4 car garage | 8,190 square feet. 
Price: $7,950,000.
TUNING IN

PGA Tour: Players Championship
Site: TPC Sawgrass (Players Stadium), Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
Television [ET]: Today-Friday, noon to 6 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-6 p.m. (NBC).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

DP World Tour: Kenya Open
Site: Muthaiga Golf Club, Nairobi, Kenya.
Television [ET]: Today-Friday, 4-6 a.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 4:30-9 a.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard

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.