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Wednesday 4 January 2023

New year on the PGA Tour more mysterious than ever

By DOUG FERGUSON Ridley cited Augusta Na-
AP Golf Writer tional co-founder Bobby
KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — Jones as saying a decision
One moment the splash to go for the green in two
of a humpback whale’s at the 13th should be a mo-
tail pierced the Pacific mentous one. “And I would
blue below the Plantation have to say that our obser-
Course at Kapalua. Before vations of these great play-
long, as players began lin- ers hitting middle and even
ing up for practice rounds, short irons into that hole
a brief shower sent every- is not a momentous deci-
one seeking cover. sion,” Ridley said in April.
It was a fitting start to a Tony Finau was there in No-
new year on the PGA Tour, vember when it was soft
where circumstances can and damp and hit 3-iron
change with little notice. As and 4-iron in the rounds he
for what to expect in 2023 played. He expects players
the short answer is anything hitting about 5-iron in April.
check in with Scottie Schef- To be determined is wheth-
fler and what he would er the decision is “momen-
have wanted going into tous.”
last year. THE SLAM
“One win would have been The question has been the
nice,” Scheffler said with a same for the last five years:
laugh. “When you’ve got Adam Scott of Australia stands on the 1st tee box with his caddie Fanny Sunesson during the final Who gets to the career
zero, all you’re looking for round of the British Open Golf Championship in Carnoustie, Scotland, Sunday July 22, 2018. Grand Slam first? Rory McIl-
is one.”He wound up with Associated Press roy is the obvious choice at
four, including a Masters pect the rumors to crank crossing over the Swilcan possibility is leaning more the Masters, coming off a
green jacket, a PGA Tour up as soon as the PGA Tour Bridge at St. Andrews in July on the money list than the stellar season that saw him
record $14 million in tour- gets started this week at was the last time Woods world ranking, as it last did return to No. 1 in the world.
nament earnings and a Kapalua, though there has walked in a tournament. in 1998. Jordan Spieth gets his sev-
bronze status of Jack Nick- been no substance in any The earliest Woods might The U.S. Open will decide enth crack at the final leg
laus awarded for being speculation involving the play is at Riviera in February any changes at its annual in the PGA Championship.
player of the year. top players. for the Genesis Invitational. meeting in February. The The difference is Augusta
In these times, trying to Cameron Smith and Joa- The Masters is certainly a PGA Championship has National and the scar tis-
decipher which player will quin Niemann waited un- target (Woods has never used the PGA Tour money sue it leaves from being the
emerge is secondary to so til the FedEx Cup playoffs missed the cut as a pro). list and invitations, which only major played on the
many other issues off the were over to join LIV Golf The PGA Championship is typically are for the top 100 same course. This will be
course. Here are six topics last summer. LIV’s first tour- at Oak Hill in May, which in the world, but not stated McIlroy’s 15th appearance
to contemplate for 2023: nament is Feb. 24-26, a could be chilly. Woods tied that way in the entry form. at the Masters. Sergio Gar-
LIV GOLF week after the West Coast for 39th in 2003 and tied When or if LIV gets world cia (19) and Mark O’Meara
The question of “who’s Swing ends at Riviera with for 40th in 2013 his previous ranking points, most of the (15) are the only two play-
next?” has given way to a $20 million purse in the two PGAs at Oak Hill. players will have slid out ers to have played the
“what’s next?” for the Genesis Invitational. Woods remains active in of the top 50. Moving up Masters that often before
Saudi-funded rival league. However many millions of helping to reshape the in the ranking with 48-man finally winning. Neither was
LIV Golf has gone largely dollars LIV paid to sign top PGA Tour. But fans want to fields won’t be easy. going for the final leg of the
quiet in the last month ex- players last year, it’s hard to see him play. AZALEA Grand Slam.
cept disclosing that its chief imagine the rates coming THE MAJORS That’s the name of the 13th The other, of course, is Phil
operating officer had re- down to get a big name. The Masters waited until hole at Augusta Nation- Mickelson. He will be 53
signed. A 2023 schedule LIV can’t afford to lose mo- 11 days before the end of al, a par 5 that has been when he tries to win the U.S.
was expected in Novem- mentum. the year to say its criteria reached in two with a driv- Open.
ber, but at the close of the TIGER WOODS will stay the same for April, er and a sand wedge by RYDER CUP
year, only seven sites had It’s not so much where Tiger even as Chairman Fred Rid- some of the longest hitters. The first question is who
been announced for the Woods plays as how much ley expressed disappoint- And everyone seems to hit plays?
14-tournament schedule. he plays. ment in the disruption LIV it long these days. The Americans had three
Far more pressing is wheth- Plantar fasciitis that kept Golf has caused. The Masters finally decid- players on the winning
er LIV Golf can find a televi- him from playing in the Ba- Most telling was a remind- ed to lengthen one of the team from Whistling Straits
sion partner for the United hamas and hobbled him er that any modifications most dynamic holes on the who have joined LIV Golf
States and the United King- at the PNC Championship or changes to the invita- course, extending the tee and are ineligible to earn
dom, even if it has to pay raised more doubts about tion criteria would be an- to make the hole play 35 points. Given the depth,
for it. As for who’s next, ex- his future. His emotional nounced in April. One yards longer. they are easily replaced.q