The First Call 07-29-2022

FIRST THOUGHT

Looking for a new rooting interest on the PGA Tour for this week's Rocket Mortgage Classic? Consider 39-year-old Chris Naegel, in the field via Monday qualifying -- again. The Missourian has qualified for Tour events in four of the last five weeks via "four-spotting," advancing from the notoriously difficult Monday shootouts where only the top four finishers in a field full of excellent players get a tee time in that week's Tour stop. Naegel's best finish over this stretch is a T16 at the John Deere Classic, and in his first round Thursday at Detroit Golf Club he opened with a 4-under 68.

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> Question of the Week: The majors are a wrap for 2022, but there remains five months of golf to be played. What do you believe will be the biggest storylines for the remainder of this year?
Send replies on this question or other topics to shall@morningread.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.

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READ, WATCH, LISTEN

> Hear me out: Playing Captain Rory McIlroy
[Michael Bamberger | Fire Pit Collective | Read]

> LIV Golf's David Hill on the 'horrendous truth' of golf TV and recruiting new talent
[James Colgan | Golf.com | Read]

> Ryder Cup eligibility remains unclear with European LIV Golf players
[Bob Harig | SI.com/Morning Read | Read]

THE INDUSTRY

OnCore Golf’s Louis Kelly wins 102nd New Jersey Open

Playing the Vero X2, Kelly tied the course record in the second round en route to becoming the first Black to win the title

PXG, comedian Rob Riggle debut new web series

PXG introduces Riggle as the company’s newest ambassador who will star in 'Playing Around with Rob Riggle'

Golf Datatech: Weather dictates June apparel 'winners'

Tops and outerwear were the two highest-performing categories

ICYMI

USGA conquers golf’s last frontier

Alaska prepares to host its first national championship, the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur

#QOTD

"Confidence comes not from always being right, but from not fearing to be wrong."

— Peter T. McIntyre

ROUNDS AND WEATHER

> With warmer weather and increased precipitation across the country, the demand for golf is starting to slow down as rounds played finished this week flat to last year.

> Despite warmer weather recently, a major benefit for golf has been no observed major hurricanes so far this year.

> Florida and the Mountain Pacific finished as the top performing regions vs. 2021, as a result of decreased precipitation (-67% vs. 2021) in the Mountain Pacific and nicer weather in Florida.

> Positive performance expected from Florida and North regions over the next 5 days, with both areas on pace to finish up by over 5% vs. 2021.

TUNING IN

PGA Tour: Rocket Mortgage Classic
Site: Detroit Golf Club | GCSAA Fact Sheet
Television: Today, 3-6 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. (CBS).

LIV Golf: LIV Golf Invitational Bedminster
Site: Trump National Golf Club Bedminster.
Television: Today-Sunday, 1 p.m. (Livgolf.com).

LPGA Tour | Ladies European Tour: Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open
Site: Dundonald Links.
Television: Today, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Golf Channel).

DP World Tour: Hero Open
Site: Fairmont St. Andrews.
Television: Saturday-Sunday, 3-6 p.m. (Golf Channel-tape delay).

CALENDAR

AUGUST
1-2: LPGA Leadership Academy, Newcastle, Wash. | Info

OCTOBER
11-13: Golf Inc. Strategies Summit, Kiawah Island, S.C. | Info

NOVEMBER
6-9: International Association of Golf Administrators, Point Clear, Ala. | Info

JANUARY
23-25: Golf Business Conference, Orlando, Fla.
24-27: PGA Show, Orlando, Fla. | Info

FEBRUARY
6-9: GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, Orlando, Fla. | Info

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

THE LAST CALL

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