2021 – Week Eight

Effective this year, the PGA implemented what they are calling the “Players Impact Program”.
The PGA Tour is awarding a $40 million bonus pool to the top 10 players who move the needle in golf,
regardless of how they perform inside the ropes. The payout is determined by an accumulative score measuring popularity through such metrics as Q Rating, Google searches, Nielsen Brand Rating on how a player’s exposure helps sponsors and Meltwater Mentions (frequency of player coverage through various media platforms). It also uses the MVP Index, which measures the value of engagement on social and digital channels.

The Payouts will be as follows:
1st $8 Million
2nd $6 Million
3rd $3.5 Million
4th $3.5 Million
5th $3.5 Million
6th $3.5 Million
7th $3 Million
8th $3 Million
9th $3 Million
10th $3 Million 

The first reason I bring this up is because I can’t get enough of the Brooks Koepka vs Bryson
DeChambeau feud. Steve Stricker, the captain of the US Ryder Cup Team came out this week and stated
that Koepka and DeChambeau needed to sort out their issues “like big boys” before the Ryder Cup as
both players are expected to make the 12-man squad. BUT… You could argue this feud has had a positive impact on the game of golf. Ratings are up and both players popularity is skyrocketing as they play out this feud on social media. Now the PGA has not released the list of players or how they are ranked for this impact program… but you have to imagine that both players stand to make a lot of money through the PGA Player Impact Program if the feud continues. 

The second reason I bring this up… this is just too damn cool of an idea for the GCCGL to not copy.
Are you paying attention George? You want to grow the GCCGL? We need to grow the GCCGL and this
is the way to do it! Our Payouts would probably look a lot more like this: 

1st $8 Dollars
2nd $6 Dollars
3rd $3 Dollars and 50 cents
4th $3 Dollars and 50 cents
5th $3 Dollars and 50 cents
6th $3 Dollars and 50 cents
7th $3 Dollars
8th $3 Dollars
9 th $3 Dollars
10 th $3 Dollars

Ok… So, it’s not about the $$$$ for us, but this would be fun. Can you imagine Crowe trying to get “likes” on twitter because he drove the 8th green on Thursday? Or what about Kreyling posting pics on Facebook in his golf attire and getting comments from his mom like “so proud” or “looking good son”.
I could see Morrell and Ethridge posting Tik Tok’s as they take down one opponent after the other.
In a matter of weeks all social media would be buzzing. Who would be in your top 10? I love this idea and IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. #gcccl #bestdamngolfleaguearound

T.W.I.G. Notes
The Stableford Scramble is in the books and not a lot changed in the standings. Jerry’s kids remain in 1st , but did manage to grow their lead from 1 point to 8.5 Dustined to Fail flipped flopped spots with the Rollin 60’s and now sit comfortably in 2nd place. 

The full Team Standings are as follows:
Jerry’s Kids 177
Dustined to Fail 168.5
Rollin’ 60’s 164
Aces Ventura 154
Good if it Joes 152.5
Designated Drivers 142

The team schedule for this week is:
Designated Drivers (6 th place ) vs Dustined to Fail (2 nd place )
Aces Ventura (4 th place ) vs Rollin’ 60’s (3 rd place )
Jerry’s Kids (1 st place ) vs Good if it Joes (5 th place )

Morrell continues his stellar play and is now at the Top of the League MVP race. Mike is currently 2nd in points – only .5 out of the lead and is tied for 2nd in wins with 4. But what has moved “Meat” into the lead of the MVP race was his performance Thursday Night. He was stellar. Playing in the group in front of Morrel’s, I was able to witness how good he was playing. If Mike keeps up his current level of play… we’re all playing for 2nd.

There are still 3 players who have yet to win a match this year. Andy Crowe, Brian Roddy and yes, the Big Donkey. Anyone want to wager who gets that first “W” first and when?

Final Thoughts
Very little to report regarding the feud. Leininger still has not given his side of the story. Leininger and Rayburn were seen speaking briefly after their rounds on Thursday. They did not break bread together at Barleycorn’s, instead choosing to sit at different tables. *That update was so boring I nearly fell asleep giving it. Both Syndrome and Benny the Jet need to step it up a bit. 

It seems as if a few of you read the blog last week, as there was plenty of cold brew to go around this
week. Keep up the good work (especially if you want those popularity points). America’s Golf Festival returns this year after being postponed in 2020 due to covid-19. The 2 Day (4) Man Best Ball Tourney will be held on August 6th  and 7th at the amazing Paiute Golf Resort in fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada. John Rayburn, Danny Roller, Nick Duer and yours truly will be there again trying to bring home the gold.
Nick Duer and I are scheduled to go head to head in the GCCGL that Thursday (the 5th ) but will be
playing “the Wolf” as a tune-up for the tourney. With the commissioner’s permission, and instead of
getting subs) Nick and I would like to play our match on the back 9 of the Wolf instead of the front of the
Pioneer. Finally, with all the talk of slow play this year, I will leave you with a short story I just read about…

In the 1st round of the 1988 U.S. Women’s Open, play was moving so slowly that Lori Garbacz decided to
make a statement. While playing the 14th hole and waiting to hit her approach shot, she noticed a
nearby pay phone. She sent her caddy to the phone and had him order a pizza to be delivered to the
17th Tee. Sure enough, we she arrived on the 17th hole her pizza was waiting. She had plenty of time to
eat it too, as the (2) groups in front of her, were both still waiting to tee off.

As always, Golf is Hard. If it were easy, it would be called “your mom”.

Big Donkey