Rory McIlroy has won two of his three FedEx Cup championships (2019 and 2022) since the Starting Strokes format was introduced at the Tour Championship in 2019. This week he enters at No. 3 in the FedEx Cup standings, his highest starting position under this format. In winning the 2022 Tour Championship, McIlroy recorded his sixth career Playoffs victory, tying Dustin Johnson for the most of any player. And he comes in hot, having finished in the top 10 in each of the last four FedExCup Playoffs events — 2022 BMW Championship, 2022 TOUR Championship, 2023 FedEx St. Jude Championship, 2023 BMW Championship — the longest active streak.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Given the potential for fan disruption, similar to what occurred with Max Homa at the BMW Championship, should live betting be allowed during PGA Tour events? 

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 responses to last week's question.

Nippon Shaft: Chan Kim won the Korn Ferry Tour’s Magnit Championship playing the brand's N.S.Pro Modus³ 125 TX flex shafts in his irons.

Pro’s Choice Golf Shafts: Viktor Hovland played a Graphite Design Tour AD DI 85-X Stiff flex hybrid shaft in his Titleist U505 #3 Utility Iron to win the BMW Championship. Hovland shot a course-record 61 in the final round to win by two strokes.

USGA: Selects the Country Club of Buffalo to host the 2027 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and the 2032 U.S. Senior Amateur Championships. The Buffalo, New York, club has previously hosted four USGA championships, including the 1912 U.S. Open. 

Bridgestone Golf: Introduces the e9 Long Drive golf ball, which is available in gloss colors, including pink, yellow, and orange. Designed to produce extreme ball speeds, the e9 Long Drive was created with input from World Long Drive (WLD) contestants and is the official ball of WLD. The balls retail for $29.99 per dozen.

SkyGolf: Offering a Labor Day promotion of $50 off its award-winning rangefinders, including the SX400 and SX550 handheld models and the LX5 and LX5 with ceramic bezel smart watches. The LX2 smart watch is $20 off the reduced price of $149.95. The promotion runs Aug. 28-Sept. 11.

Finn Scooters: Partners with EAGL to simplify the rental process of Finn cycles. EAGL technology will make the cycles keyless, offer a seamless in-app payment solution and allow for live booking and fleet monitoring. The software will be equipped on all new Finn Cycles, while existing cycles in rental fleets at over 160 golf courses across the country are transitioning to the new app.

Shot Scope: Introduces the improved Pro LX+ laser rangefinder, which features the dynamic combination of GPS-powered distances and Artificial Intelligence for personalized performance tracking. The Pro LX+'s new features include a smaller and more compact design with enhanced stabilization, faster target-lock, a built-in extra strong cart magnet to quickly attach to cart, and an anti-slip comfort stability grip. 

Todd Eckenrode – Origins Golf Design: Reports that its renovation of Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club in Menlo Park, California, will be completed by later this fall, with an opening in spring 2024. The $20 million renovation includes reforestation and tree management; renovated tees, cart paths, greens, and bunkers; and improved turf and drainage.

FootJoy: Showcases the HydroSeries line of rain jackets by the DryJoys Selecta and HydroLite Xa. The DryJoys Selecta is the brand's lightest, most waterproof and breathable rain jacket. The Tour-proven rain jacket uses a specially engineered 2.5-layer fabric that reduces weight while providing full mobility and maximum waterproof protection. The HydroLite Xa is designed for warmer playing conditions with specifically placed knit panels in the arms and back for increased movement and flexibility in the golf swing.

Southern California Section of the PGA of America: Announces it will host the seventh California Teaching & Coaching Summit at Virginia Country Club, Oct. 15-16 in Long Beach, California. TravisMathew will serve as the presenting partner of the event that will feature Michael Block, who earned low PGA Professional honors at the PGA Championship, as the keynote speaker. Other speakers will include Todd Anderson, Boyd Summerhays, Jim McLean, Derek Uyeda, Craig Welty, Leo Rooney, Randy Chang and Jamie Mulligan. 

LPGA, Fenway Sports Management: Announce a unique sales alliance that will allow the LPGA to expand its reach in identifying and engaging with new partners, paving the way for increased revenue generation and enhanced exposure on a global scale. Strengthening and enhancing the LPGA’s Sales and Partnerships team, FSM’s Partnerships team will now assist in developing and selling LPGA partnership assets worldwide alongside FSM’s wide portfolio of sports properties, which include the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool Football Club, Pittsburgh Penguins, NASCAR’s RFK Racing, and TGL Boston.

> PGA Tour’s Jay Monahan is confident on deal over Saudi-funded LIV Golf, uncertain about Maui tournament
[Doug Ferguson | Associated Press | Read]

> PGA Tour eyes ‘single rule’ for the golf ball. Here’s what that could mean
[Jonathan Wall | Golf.com | Read]

> With gambling on golf growing, Jon Rahm says PGA Tour needs to 'look into' how to control heckling fans
[Evin Priest | Golf Digest | Read]

PGA Tour: Tour Championship
Site: East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Georgia.
Television [ET]: Thursday-Friday, 1-6 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-7 p.m. (CBS); Sunday, noon to 1:30 p.m. (Golf Channel), 1:30-6 p.m. (CBS).
GCSAA Fact Sheet

LPGA Tour: CPKC Women's Canadian Open
Site: Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Television [ET]: Thursday-Friday, 6:30-9:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 7-10 p.m. (Golf Channel).
GCSAA Fact Sheet

European Tour: D+D Real Czech Masters
Site: Albatross Golf Resort, Prague, Czech Republic.
Television [ET]: Thursday-Friday, 7 a.m. to noon (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 6:30-11 a.m. (Golf Channel).

PGA Tour Champions: The Ally Channlenge
Site: Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club, Grand Blanc, Michigan.
Television [ET]: Friday, 9:30-11:30 p.m. (Golf Channel-tape delay); Saturday, 3-5 p.m. (Golf Channel); Sunday, 1:30-4 p.m. (Golf Channel).
GCSAA Fact Sheet

Korn Ferry Tour: Albertsons Boise Open
Site: Hillcrest Country Club, Boise, Idaho.
Television [ET]: Thursday, 9:30-11:30 p.m. (Golf Channel-tape delay); Friday, 11:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. (Golf Channel-tape delay); Saturday, 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. (Golf Channel-tape delay); Sunday, 4-6 p.m. (Golf Channel).
GCSAA Fact Sheet

DRIVER$: INSIDE THE GOLF INDUSTRY
Adaptive golf: Welcoming golfers with disabilities
Co-hosts Jon Last and David Klein look at the National Alliance for Accessible Golf with executive director Dave Barton
[Listen | More 'Driver$: Inside the Golf Industry' episodes]

THE MODGOLF PODCAST
ClubFace-Golf creates an engaging space for like-minded golfers
CEO Paul McEldon joins host Colin Weston to share how his team envisions the 'Facebook for golfers'
[Listen | More 'The ModGolf Podcast' episodes]

GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
The rising star that is golf in Ireland
Alison Metcalfe, vice president, Tourism Ireland, joins host Ann Liguori to share the best ways to plan and book an Irish golf trip, and why it's such a hot spot
[Listen | More 'Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori' episodes]

> Director, Operations and Solutions
LPGA
Daytona Beach, Florida | Info

> PGA Professional Golf Management Program Director
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, South Carolina | Info

> Outside Operations
Via Mizner Golf and City Club
Boca Raton, Florida | Info

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SEPTEMBER
20-22: Golf Inc. Strategies Summit, La Quinta, Calif. | Info

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