The First Call 04-14-2023

FIRST THOUGHT

While three players have successfully defended a title already this 2022-23 season, reigning RBC Heritage champion Jordan Spieth is something of a long-shot. Spieth, making his seventh start at Harbour Town Golf Links, has made 11 PGA Tour starts as the defending champion and never successfully defended any of them. He has three top-five finishes in those 11 starts, including runner-up finishes at the Masters and Charles Schwab Challenge.

IN THIS ISSUE

> TFC readers weigh in with 2023 Masters thoughts | Read
> 'Golf Innerview with Ann Ligouri': Sean Foley on Tiger Woods, Brooks Koepka, Netflix’s ‘Full Swing’ | Listen

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What are your thoughts on the 2023 Masters?

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: Writing the 2023 Masters postscript

The First Call readers offer their final thoughts on the year's first major — the winner, the PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf drama and other assorted observations

TFC PODCAST NETWORK

GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
Sean Foley on Tiger Woods, Brooks Koepka, Netflix’s ‘Full Swing’
Noted instructor joins 'Golf Innerview' host Ann Liguori to reflect on Masters storylines, along with his appearance in the streaming docuseries
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' episodes]

THE MODGOLF PODCAST
Why time is our most precious commodity
Brian Esposito, founder and CEO of Esposito Intellectual Enterprises, joins 'The ModGolf Podcast' host Colin Weston to share how he helps web3 sport and entertainment tech companies succeed
[Listen | More 'The ModGolf Podcast' episodes]

DRIVER$
How fans can play the tour
Commonwealth Golf CEO Brian Doxtator joins 'Driver$' co-hosts Jon Last and David Klein to discuss the company's innovative concept that allows anyone to own a financial stake in aspiring tour pro careers
[Listen | More 'Driver$' episodes]

INDUSTRY NEWS

PGA Buying & Education Summit: More than 100 brands committed

Apparel, accessory and lifestyle brands will fill the sold-out exhibit ballrooms, July 31 – Aug. 2, at PGA Frisco, and offer opportunities for sourcing, learning and networking

Edel Golf: Named title sponsor of TheGrint Tour's Denver chapter

12-event amateur tour in Denver and surrounding areas will run through September 2023 and gives amateur golfers the opportunity to compete in professionally run events

PXG: New 0317 CB Players Irons deliver control, forgiveness

Triple forged from 8620 soft carbon steel, the milled cavity back irons feature a high-performance body design that is easy to manipulate for shot shaping and trajectory control

Cragun's Resort: Private collection of luxury homes under construction

Resort on Gull Lake in Brainerd, Minnesota, will have custom homes located directly on new Lehman 18 golf course; homes currently under construction will be 2800-plus square feet

Rain or Shine, Full Swing Golf: Partner on simulator giveaway

Giveaway will reward one winner a golf simulator room makeover; participants enter online by submitting why they love golf and showing the space they want to makeover

Intersport: Announces field for John Shippen Cognizant Cup

Upper Montclair Country Club to host 18-hole stroke play competition on May 8; winner earns an exemption into the LPGA Cognizant Founders Cup, May 11-14

USGA: Accepts a record 10,187 entries, including 15 champions, for the 123rd U.S. Open at the Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course in California. The number of entries eclipses the total of 10,127 accepted for the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 2. It is the 11th consecutive time and the 14th time overall that entries have surpassed the 9,000 mark, and just the second time entries have exceeded 10,000.

LPGA: Confirms Castlerock Golf Club as a co-host for the ISPS Handa World Invitational, Aug. 17-20, in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The DP World Tour tournament and co-sanctioned LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour tournament will be played concurrently at Castlerock and Galgorm Castle.

READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> In Scotland, coastal living beckons at a golfing hot spot
[Rachel Chaundler | New York Times | Read ($)]

> Judge rules against LIV Golf motion to split complaint against PGA Tour into two cases
[Alex Miceli | Sports Illustrated | Read]

> Why more female executives don’t play golf — and why that’s a problem
[Lisa Ward | Wall Street Journal | Read ($)]

> Why Rory McIlroy’s WD from the RBC Heritage cost him millions
[James Colgan | Golf.com | Read]

#QOTD

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

― Henry Stanley Haskins

ROUNDS AND WEATHER

> Rounds played finished up 17% vs. 2022, driven by drier, warmer weather across the Northeast, Central Valley and Great Plains regions.

The Northeast region finished up 49% in total rounds vs. last year as there was little to no rain this year. The Central Valley region experienced warmer temperatures that resulted in Cleveland and Columbus opening this week — or one week earlier than 2022.

> Pacing over the next seven days is projected to be up 15% vs. last year as drier, warmer weather is projected across the nation.

Weekday golfers as a percent of total golfers finished at 63%, as much of the Southeast and Central regions experienced heavy rain over the weekend.

The Central Valley region is pacing the furthest ahead of last year at 36% in total rounds as temperatures are projected to be considerably warmer than last year. All regions are currently pacing to finish ahead of 2022 total rounds, except for Florida, which is currently pacing behind 2022 at -3%, due to forecasted heavy rain.

> Weekday golfers as a percent of total golfers finished at 63% as much of the Southeast and Central regions experienced heavy rain over the weekend.

TUNING IN

PGA Tour: RBC Heritage
Site: Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
Television [ET]: Today, 2-6 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. (CBS).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

LPGA Tour: Lotte Championship
Site: Hoakalei Golf Club, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Television [ET]: Today-Saturday, 7-11 p.m. (Golf Channel).
Leaderboard | GCSAA Fact Sheet

MAKE GOLF YOUR CAREER

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Rick Smith Golf Academy
Rancho Palos Verdes, California | More

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Make Golf Your Career is a golf industry DE&I initiative launched by Make Golf Your Thing that allows job seekers to search, find and apply for opportunities throughout the industry in one place.

CALENDAR

JULY
25-27: GCBAA Summer Meeting, Lake Geneva, Wisc. | Info

> View complete calendar

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