Welcome back to SI Golf\u2019s Fact or Fiction, where we\u2019re sure it\u2019s O.K. to eat cheesesteaks at 9 a.m. during a Philly major week.<\/p>\n
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Once again, we\u2019re here to debate a series of statements for writers and editors to declare as \u201cFact\u201d or \u201cFiction\u201d along with a brief explanation. Responses may also (occasionally) be \u201cNeutral\u201d since there’s a lot of gray area in golf.<\/p>\n
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Do you agree or disagree? Let us know on the SI Golf X<\/a> account.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bob Harig: FICTION<\/strong>. Believe it or not, there used to be 40 club pros in the field. That was reduced to 25 in 1995 and then 20 in 2006. And that seems about the right number. This is the championship of the PGA of America, which represents those very pros. The tournament still has the strongest of the four majors. Best to leave it alone.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n John Pluym: FACT.<\/strong> The goal of every major golf tournament should be to field the best players, not to provide an opportunity for PGA professionals. So, yes, the focus should be on fewer club pros in the PGA Championship. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jeff Ritter: FACT.<\/strong> Block was a fun story a few years ago, but other than the very thin annual storyline of \u201cwill a PGA pro make the cut\u201d there isn\u2019t a lot of intrigue here, which means cutting that down to 10 or so spots wouldn\u2019t hurt the event whatsoever.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Max Schreiber:<\/strong> FACT. <\/strong>As Bob said, it\u2019s been dramatically cut down, but it\u2019s been 20 years since it went to 20. I understand club pros are the lifeblood\u00a0 of the PGA of America, but is any casual viewer tuning in to watch them? I\u2019d argue it\u2019s time to cut down to 15 or 10. There\u2019s several players inside the top 120 in the world not playing this week. Does that feel right?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n John Schwarb: FICTION<\/strong>. Twenty is probably high but if you ask me who I\u2019d replace them with, I can\u2019t think of any glaring omissions from the pro tours. It\u2019s also fun that 20 different clubs across the country have a rooting interest.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bob Harig: FICTION<\/strong>. There is no doubt the timing is curious, and it is a risk as Rose learned several years ago when he joined a start-up. But it is also hard to believe he didn\u2019t fully test what he is playing, knowing how bad it would look if he performs poorly. Let\u2019s give him a little time to see if this is just an aberration.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n John Pluym: FICTION.<\/strong> Rose is one of the best players in the world, and it does take time to adjust to new irons. Plus, he signed a multifaceted partnership with McLaren Golf. It\u2019s too early to bag the new irons. Let\u2019s see where things stand after the PGA. On the other hand, it took Tiger Woods only two starts to win with Nike irons after putting the prototype Nike forged blades in his bag. Stay tuned.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jeff Ritter: FACT.<\/strong> I really liked Rose as a serious contender this summer and I have no doubt that McLaren Golf gear is top-notch. But when has switching clubs mid-season actually helped a top player instantly achieve even better results? I will hang up and listen.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Max Schreiber:<\/strong> NEUTRAL. <\/strong>On the surface, I want to say fact. But I\u2019m not the one swinging the clubs, so I don\u2019t know how they feel and\/or if they\u2019re the reason he\u2019s posted those lackluster results. Let\u2019s see how the rest of the year plays out.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n John Schwarb: FACT<\/strong>. In handicapping for this week, crossing off a guy with newer clubs is a no-brainer. I\u2019m not writing off Rose for the entire season but, my goodness, what a time to switch equipment. Granted, fans and media probably are making a bigger deal out of it but we\u2019ve also seen this too many times with ghastly results. By the way, you think Bubba Watson has any Volvik balls lying around?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bob Harig: FICTION<\/strong>. The PGA Tour and DP World Tour should collaborate to improve their relationship by figuring out a way to strengthen a worldwide schedule. One of the reasons LIV emerged is due to the lack of PGA Tour outreach beyond North America. It would be an opportunity to add a few co-sanctioned events, perhaps in Asia or Australia or the Middle East.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n John Pluym: FICTION.<\/strong> The Tour should still continue to help the DPWT. Yes, it costs the Tour millions in purses. But the future of the DPWT shouldn’t be tied to LIV\u2019s existence. The DPWT can still provide a competitive environment for the best golfers in the world. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jeff Ritter: FICTION.<\/strong> The European Tour provided more opportunities for top players and expands golf\u2019s global reach. LIV has actually proven that golf-starved markets like South Africa and Australia will support big events (and big stars) playing in their nations. It would be best for both the PGA Tour and the DPWT to find a way to continue working together.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nThis week\u2019s PGA Championship field<\/a> includes 20 PGA professionals, who rarely make an impact in the tournament (Michael Block in 2023 being an exception). With the depth in the game today, it is time for fewer club pros in this major.<\/h2>\n
Since putting irons from equipment startup McLaren Golf in his bag, Justin Rose has finished T65 and T45, his worst finishes of the season outside of missed cuts. This midseason move was a mistake and he can\u2019t be considered a threat to contend this week at Aronimink.\u00a0<\/h2>\n
As Bob wrote in his weekly notes<\/a>, the PGA Tour\u2019s strategic alliance with the DP World Tour ends after 2027 and LIV Golf\u2019s existence is considered to be a factor in that partnership continuing. But if LIV Golf dies, the Tour should no longer help the DPWT.\u00a0<\/h2>\n
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