PNC field

Good Wednesday morning golf fans! Attention now turns to the Bermuda Championship.

1. Schedule of 2023 Champions, $

Todd Kelly, Golfweek …”the 2023 PGA Tour Champions Schedule, which includes the return of an outbound stop as well as the first event held in Coachella Valley since 1993.”

• “The headliner is a record amount of prize money. There will be $66,000,000 up for grabs in 2023 at 28 events. This includes 25 events during the regular season as well as three tournaments that make the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs. This is an increase of $4 million over the 2022 season.

• Miller Brady, president of PGA Tour Champions said that the future and stability for PGA Tour Champions was now more secure because of the support of title sponsors and tournaments. “We are delighted to have the largest purses in PGA Tour Champions’ history and to bring the game to the many amazing venues on this Tour.

• The 2023 schedule will feature tournaments in 20 US states and three other countries.

2. Captaincy shakeup

Mike Hall, Golf Monthly The field and teams for the final LIV Golf Team Champion finale at Trump National Doral, Florida has been announced. There have been two personnel changes: Valderrama winner Adrian Otaegeui replaced Hideto Tanihara at Torque GC, and Hennie DuPlessis returned to Stinger GC. Another change is a team captaincy.

• Since the second tournament, Lee Westwood has been Majesticks GC’s captain. He replaced Ian Poulter. Poulter will be returning to the role of leader for the season’s last tournament. Although it is not clear why Poulter and the Englishmen switched roles, Poulter’s Ryder Cup history might be a clue. (edited) ”

3. Autograph? Golf instruction

Lorenzo Reyes and USA Today The NFL determined that two gameday officials didn’t request an autograph from Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans on Sunday after a game against Carolina Panthers.

• “… Following Carolina’s victory at home in Week 7, when Buccaneers players were heading through the tunnel, Sheena Quick captured a moment where side judge Lamberth stopped Evans and line judge Sutter as he headed towards the locker room. Evans turned around and can be heard being called by one of the officials. Lamberth was seen to grab Sutter’s pen and something to draw on, before he gave it to Evans. Evans then seemed to be writing on it.

• “But Tom Pelissero, the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, said that Evans was only looking to improve his game of golf.”

• Sources say that WR Mike Evans and Jeff Lamberth were both at Texas A&M. Lamberth was obtaining Evans’ number so that he could pass it on to a pro golfer to give Evans lessons. Lamberth couldn’t find paper so he borrowed it form another official,” the tweet said.

4. Zalatoris hopes to play with Tiger

Will Zalatoris, our Jason Daniels 2021 PGA Tour rookie of the year, may be one the most exciting prospects in golfing, but he has the utmost respect and admiration for Tiger Woods.

• “Part of an interview with Graham Bensinger. The world number 7 and seven-time major top-10 finisher cannot stop eulogizing over his golfing idol. He even said it was a surprise that Tiger even knew who he was.”

• The 2022 FedEx St. Jude champion, who is currently ranked as the greatest player in the sport, says Tiger was the one who changed the game so dramatically that it is almost impossible to recognize it from just a few years back.

• Zalatoris says, “15 years back, not everybody had trainers, sport psychologists, most people had just one coach.” But today, players can almost find a place on an on-site coach. Such is the need to be super-fit.

• The 26-year old said that Tiger is built like a tight end. “He is..like..enormous. ….his upper body looks likehe is, just a huge human.”

• Zalatoris couldn’t hide his excitement when asked if he could imagine a day when he would play with the GOAT.

• “I would love the opportunity to play with Tiger at least once before he retires.” He smiles throughout, saying that just to have the opportunity would be an incredible experience.

5. Rory’s journeys to the top

Jeff Babineau, PGATour.com A decade after first reaching the top of golf as a 22-year-old Northern Irish man with bushy hair, Rory McIlroy will be the world’s No.1 on Monday. Rory McIlroy will be back at the top of the golf world Monday morning as world No. 1. He did this in style, winning his title at THE CJ CUP South Carolina.”

• “The view is just the same, even on your ninth climb. McIlroy began Sunday with a one shot lead over three players. He kept the pedal down through 16 holes and made seven birdies, with some great play at Congaree Golf Club, to keep ahead of a trio who stayed on his heels. McIlroy finished at 17-under 267 despite two closing bogeys. He edging Kurt Kitayama (67). K.H. Lee (68), was third. Hard-charging Tommy Fleetwood (65), and Jon Rahm, who briefly led on Sunday, were tied for fourth.”

• McIlroy won his 23rd PGA TOUR championship title. He also supplanted Masters champion Scottie Scheffler at the top of the rankings. This was the ninth time he had been No. 1. McIlroy was last at the Memorial Tournament presented in 2020 by Workday, and it was no casuality about being there again.”

• McIlroy felt like he was losing his game after missing the cut at Valero Texas Open last year, as he did last autumn following a disappointing performance at the Ryder Cup. McIlroy had promised to take more control of his game and stop falling down “rabbit holes”. It took the whole team to get all the pieces back together.

6. Pro golfers in retirement: Golf helps them

Madeline MacClurg, Golf Digest “You realize how important football is to your life,” Wood, 36. Eric Wood was my football player from the moment I arrived at college. My purpose, or mission, was to be the best center of the NFL when I was playing. When that is suddenly taken away, it’s going to lead eventually to a type of identity crisis.

• This type of loss can be devastating. Dr. Daniel Zimet, a licensed sport psychologist, explains how the pressures of play can discourage athletes from taking care themselves and reinforce the notion that their sport is their only life.

• Dr. Zimet’s research focused on elite athletes’ retirement experiences and long-term results. His findings include the fact that many athletes struggle with identity foreclosure after retirement.

• When an athlete’s identity is deeply rooted within their sport, it’s called identity foreclosure. Zimet says that they don’t consider themselves to be anything other than an elite performer athlete. This can lead them to feel lost and confused.

• Wood believes that his faith and his friends played an important role in helping him get through the transition. Zimet says that building strong support networks is the best way to avoid or overcome identity foreclosure. You can also experiment with other sports and find something that resonates for you.

7. PNC Championship field Announced — No Tiger, Charlie Yet

The Golf Channel Digital team …”John Daly, and his son John Daly II will attempt to defend their title at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando, Dec. 17-18. After missing the tournament last year due to injury, Bernhard Langer will be back with Jason Langer, his son.

• “Jordan Spieth, 60 years old, will make his PNC Championship debut alongside Shawn,”

• Annika Sorenstam will be playing alongside her 11 year-old son Will for the first-time. Justin Leonard will be playing with Luke, his 16-year old son. Nick Price will be teeing it up at this event for the eighth consecutive time.”

• “Lee Trevino” will be returning to the event. Since 1995, he has been a part of every PNC Championship.

8. It’s more difficult out there

Beth Ann Nichols, Golfweek’s editor, runs the numbers for LPGA Tour play Lydia Ko. She currently leads the Vare Trophy race at a 69.051 average scoring. With three events remaining, there are currently 14 players who have a sub 70 average. Take into account that Ko won the LPGA’s first major championship 10 years ago. There were zero players with an average of below 70. There were only two players in 2002.

• “The LPGA currently has 102 players who average below par, whereas 10 years ago, there were only 34.”

• “Player No. 100…The 100 top players on the CME points lists each year keep their cards until the next season.

• “…Remember that the scoring average for the 100th player was 73.7 in 2012. Elizabeth Szokol is the 100th player on the scoring list this year. Her average score is 71.9. This is almost a two-stroke difference.

9. McIlroy: My first act of betrayal

• The 33-year old spoke out against players with whom he had a strong relationship in an interview with the Guardian

• It’s strange. It’s the first time I feel betrayed in my entire life. It is a strange feeling for me. Ryder Cups are a great way to build relationships with people.

• They know that they will be unable to participate in that event again.