Spieth closes with 68, says Rory is ‘guy to beat’ at PGA

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Marking the culmination of a long-term strategic planning process designed to best serve fans through traditional broadcast, Over-the-Top streaming (OTT) and emerging technologies, the PGA TOUR today announced its new nine-year domestic media rights portfolio for 2022-2030. “Following a comprehensive process of studying the market, talking to all interested parties and analyzing our various options, we’re excited to announce that we have entered into new agreements with our existing partners ViacomCBS and Comcast/NBC Sports Group, while establishing a new long-term relationship with Disney and ESPN+,� said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “We were extremely pleased with the interest we received from the market – both with incumbents and other media companies – and are excited that our current partners shared our vision for the future, and we are equally excited to be back in business with Disney and ESPN+.  These new deals will be a major win for our fans, bringing an elevated commitment from all three partners to help us expand and innovate our content and its delivery.� Financial details will not be disclosed, but Monahan continued, “The nine-year deals will put us in a position to significantly increase player earnings, deliver more value to our tournaments and sponsors, and ultimately allow us to continue to grow our charitable footprint. Additionally, we are now able to reinvest in our sport in a way never before possible, including production, personnel and technology, and are well positioned to best serve and grow our fanbase in the years to come.� Broadcast & Cable Television CBS and NBC will maintain weekend coverage of most FedExCup tournaments, with CBS averaging 19 events and NBC eight events each season through the life of the agreements. Under the new schedule, one network will televise all three FedExCup Playoffs events each year, starting with NBC in 2022 and generally alternating with CBS, creating powerful, three-week coverage of the conclusion of the race for the FedExCup. NBC Sports Group also will continue as the TOUR’s cable partner, with GOLF Channel providing all early-round coverage and early weekend coverage of every FedExCup event each season, along with PGA TOUR Champions and the Korn Ferry Tour. Further strengthening the ties, the TOUR and NBC Sports will expand their collaborative content and programming relationship. Another central component of the new agreements will see the PGA TOUR assume responsibility of the onsite production area and technical infrastructure each week, enabling the TOUR to more efficiently aggregate, distribute and develop content for its various platforms worldwide. CBS and NBC will still use their own production and announce teams, led by their producers, directors and production personnel. Additionally, the TOUR and its media partners will collaborate on creating more sponsorship and marketing opportunities, inside and outside PGA TOUR golf coverage, including access to the vast resources of ViacomCBS, Comcast/NBC Sports Group and Disney and ESPN+. “We’re excited to extend NBC Sports’ historic partnership with the PGA TOUR as its foundational media partner.  We will continue to utilize our extensive platforms to showcase golf with unparalleled live tournament coverage, comprehensive news and high-quality content. Golf is a part of NBCUniversal’s DNA across our broadcast, cable, streaming and digital properties – nowhere more so than GOLF Channel,� said Pete Bevacqua, President, NBC Sports Group. “With more live golf coverage than all other U.S. media companies combined, our relationship with the PGA TOUR also includes THE PLAYERS and Presidents Cup, as well as elevating the PGA TOUR Champions, Korn Ferry TOUR and LPGA Tour via our world-class coverage.� “Extending our successful long-standing relationship with the PGA TOUR was a top priority, and we are thrilled to add nine more years to this terrific partnership,� said Sean McManus, Chairman, CBS Sports. “As the PGA TOUR’s primary broadcast network, we are excited to showcase over two-thirds of all broadcast network coverage of the PGA TOUR, expand our schedule with all three FedExCup Playoffs events in alternate years, and to increase our use of PGA TOUR content across all CBS Sports platforms, with even more expansive content exclusivity.  For over 60 years the PGA TOUR, its tournaments and sponsors have been outstanding partners. We look forward to many more years of growth and success together.� PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ For the first time, the TOUR’s digital rights were negotiated concurrently with its linear offering and will have a new, exciting, direct-to-consumer home: ESPN+.  As a result of the new agreement, PGA TOUR LIVE – the TOUR’s subscription video service that was launched in 2015 – will live exclusively on ESPN+ beginning in 2022 and will be dramatically expanded to include multiple live content channels nearly every week of the FedExCup season. Jimmy Pitaro, President, ESPN and co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks said, “We are looking forward to working with the PGA TOUR to bring current and future golf fans the next generation of TOUR coverage. ESPN+ will offer golf fans unprecedented access and storytelling at an incredible value on the industry’s leading sports streaming platform.� Rick Anderson, Chief Media Officer, PGA TOUR added, “The relationship with Disney and ESPN+ gives the TOUR the opportunity to expand and diversify audiences, and the TOUR and ESPN will work together to bring new and unique content to our fans.� ESPN+, the leading sports streaming service from Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment and ESPN, has grown quickly to reach 7.6 million subscribers (as of February 3, 2020) and the new relationship will provide a significant growth opportunity for PGA TOUR content via ESPN+’s digital reach, innovative platform and young and diverse audience.  PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ will bring fans more access to the 30,000-plus golf shots hit each week on the PGA TOUR by delivering more than 4,000 hours of live streaming coverage annually.  PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ will include live coverage from 36 tournaments – from the TOUR’s Hawaii events in January all the way through the year – with at least 28 events having four full days of coverage, with four simultaneous live feeds each day. PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ will also feature on-demand replays of PGA TOUR events, original golf programs, edited speed round recaps and more. All of this will be available to ESPN+ subscribers as part of the base subscription, alongside more than 12,000 other live sporting events, an unmatched lineup of studio programs, original series and documentaries, along with a library of other, on-demand programming.  ESPN+ is available through the ESPN App, (on mobile and connected devices), ESPN.com or ESPNplus.com.  It is also available as part of a bundle offer that gives subscribers access to Disney+, Hulu (ad-supported), and ESPN+ at a discounted price. LPGA As part of its Strategic Alliance with the LPGA, the PGA TOUR also successfully negotiated rights agreements that will see the LPGA Tour continue as anchor programming on GOLF Channel, along with expanded exposure for LPGA Tour events on NBC and CBS each year, beyond the U.S. Women’s Open, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and AIG Women’s British Open, which are already on network. Specifically, the TOUR secured the long-term extension of the LPGA/GOLF Channel partnership (2022-2030) with ancillary programming, including a season preview, season review and Road to the CME Group Tour Championship.  In addition, GOLF Channel will provide dedicated programming for the Symetra Tour each year, as well as enhanced marketing and promotional assets and expanded benefits for LPGA sponsors. As part of the agreement, the LPGA maintains control of all of its media rights outside the United States and receives expanded digital content rights. “This agreement is an important milestone in the strategic partnership between the LPGA and the PGA TOUR and a great example of the collaboration happening among golf’s biggest stakeholders,� said LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan. “Thanks to the enhanced agreement with GOLF Channel and increased network coverage on NBC and CBS, more viewers in the U.S. and around the globe will experience the quality and diversity of the LPGA Tour. This gives us a domestic broadcast partner to help deliver another decade of unprecedented growth and provides a foundation that will springboard the women’s game into the future.� “The LPGA is a very important industry partner, and we are proud that our strategic alliance has enabled these results,� said Monahan.  “I’m so impressed with Mike Whan’s leadership and the world-class talent of the LPGA’s athletes, and it’s exciting to know that when fans want to watch professional golf at the highest level, they are going to see both Tours on the same platforms – with the same partners – for the foreseeable future.� Evolution Media Capital, a division of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), served as the media advisor to PGA TOUR.

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Rob would tell you that it’s not supposed to be this easy, but with yet another top 25, how else would you describe it? Having connected for, count ‘em, four ties in 2-balls in the last two rounds of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Rob finished 23rd of 4,332. That piles onto a third at The Honda Classic, a 10th at THE PLAYERS Championship and a 19th at the RBC Heritage. Suffice it to say that he’s feeling confident about retaining his card. Yuks aside, the strategy to go all-in on 2-balls is why he’s been so lucky. Yes, he was on board with Sepp Straka at +10000 during R2 of the Honda, and Tommy Fleetwood yielded 2,000 coins as the R1 leader at THE PLAYERS but leveraging the 2-balls has been the primary shortcut to the top. Remember, even landing one is worth six or seven single picks at +100. For more proof, consider that Zurich champions Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele paid out at just +850 for their wire-to-wire win. Four of the top-five finishers in PGA TOUR Pick ‘Em Live were on board at that rate, but Jherr24 placed second with the tandem at just (-9999). That entry’s faith in the two-man team of Justin Lower and Dylan Wu (T10) for a Top 10 at +425 and a Top 20 at +270 was rewarded, but it also landed four ties on top of a pair of single picks in 2-balls. It bears repeating the advice that with no leagues, the weekly points reset and with prize money reserved for only the top five, swing for the fence on every opportunity. You just might connect. Register for PGA TOUR Pick ‘Em Live here and monitor Rob’s and Glass’ progress as Influencers. For a broader explanation of the format and FAQs, click here. TOURNAMENT TO WIN Rob … Mark Hubbard (+6000) You don’t need me to tell you that it’s Jon Rahm and then everyone else at the Mexico Open at Vidanta. Oh, wait, I just did. Well, if you’re taking the field, then go long or be gone, especially in a format that allows changes. That Hubbard is “only” a 60-to-1 shot gives you an indication of how flat the pricing is in the belly of this beast. However, it’s also respectful given his recent flourish of top-15 finishes across the top-two tiers of PGA TOUR-sanctioned competition. It’s also why he’s featured in my Power Rankings. Glass … Nate Lashley (+9000) Good vibes began on paspalum with his first Korn Ferry Tour victory at Corales in 2017. The vibin’ continued with his first top 10 on TOUR on paspalum in Puerto Rico the following season. This year, his two best paydays are T7 at Puerto Rico and T15 at Corales. Passing on the paspalum player? Preposterous! TOP 10 Rob … Callum Tarren (+1200) Because of the construct of the field and the blank slate of experience on this unfamiliar course, the PointsBet board will be a dizzying array of green and red arrows and boxes more this week than most. What a time to take a flier. The 31-year-old rookie hadn’t made any noise until February. Since, he’s connected for a T5 on the paspalum in Puerto Rico and a pair of top 20s on the KFT. The Brit is long off the tee and fairly precise with his irons, both handy tools on a long track with four par 5s and the mystery of the greens. You’ll find more on him and others in Draws and Fades. Glass … Brian Stuard (+850) Of his last eight on TOUR, five have painted the top 22, including a T7 at a big ball park at Corales. His record at Mayakoba – Greg Norman’s other course in Mexico used for TOUR events – is excellent as well, as he’s No. 10 on the all-time money list. TOP 20 Glass … Andrew Novak (+500) I’ve had to turn my FREE WHEELIN’ WAYS down on this selection because I haven’t been very good at catching the window to make adjustments during tournaments. Gone are the days of +1000 or better bottles full of lightning. Here are the days of measured, LOCKED-IN selections. Novak has three top-25 finishes on the season and they are ALL ON PASPALUM. If he doesn’t get off to a hot start, I’ll have to stand guard for the window to open! Rob … Brian Stuard (+400) As Glass and I compare notes during tournaments, we’ve arrived at his realization above. If the Top 20 unlocked last week, I also missed it, but it’s not the first time. The Top 10 has unlocked, but it’s usually only for a short period of time and very early on the East Coast of the U.S. or very, very late in the west where I live. Anyone have a time share on Oahu to donate to our cause? I’m also concurring with his move toward Stuard, just not as aggressively. Callum Tarren (my Top 10) is at +500 for a Top 20, but again, I may not get the chance to adjust, and that has influenced this decision. I’ll add that Stuard’s success of late also has occurred on paspalum, and that he’s been in a groove since February, so it’s more than just about his fit in these climes and on this grass. ROUND 1 LEADER Glass … Jon Rahm (+1600) Since he’s no longer No. 1 in the world, I’m expecting him to come out of the gate on fire. He starts on the back side as the fourth 3-ball off. The back nine has three par 5s, which should have him licking his chops. Crosswinds can develop later in the day, so I’ll saddle up on fresh greens and likely calmer sea breezes during the morning hours. Rob … Aaron Rai (+5000) See: Glass. Rai goes out in the first threesome off No. 10, so his perspective and conditions will be just a little bit cleaner than Rahm’s on the scorable back side. The Englishman delivered on cue with fellow rookie David Lipsky last week (T4), so he should hit paspalum percolating. Of course, and this never can be overstated, the biggest advantage to getting on a guy at the gun is the power to adjust sooner than anyone else. MAKE THE CUT Rob … Chase Seiffert (-160) The longest odds on the board yield just 16 coins. As has been my narrative throughout this game, I’ll take ’em. Seiffert is one of my Sleepers, so I already have the confidence that he’ll do more than just fulfill this prop. He’s cashed in four straight upon arrival, two of which for a top 25. The kicker is that he’s sticking with only PGA TOUR commitments thus far despite conditional status, so it’s not in his cards to go all-in and leave Banderas Bay without a little booty. Glass … Tyler Duncan (-175) Backed up his T12 at Harbour Town with T14 (and a Top 20 cash for me) last week at Zurich. Quietly rolling along with T35 or better in five of his last six as he continues to paint fairways and greens. 3-BALL Glass … Brendon Todd (+210) over Patrick Reed and Sebastián Muñoz We haven’t seen Reed since the Masters and Munoz since Match Play so I’ll ride the guy who won’t need to worry about shaking off any rust. Todd is 48-under in his last three visits in the last three seasons at Mayakoba. That makes him a horse for a Greg Norman course. Rob … C.T. Pan (+125) over Chez Reavie & Kevin Tway If you haven’t caught on, Glass and I submit our R1 3-balls blind. Due to the tight window in scheduling this conversation – we actually make our selections live with each other on Tuesday nights; it’s a hoot – we guess for which ones PointsBet will have a market on Wednesday. We’ve been decent at it, missing on only a couple of occasions, but for those that stick, it may seem odd that neither of us is taking a risk on what essentially is an inconsequential kickback. So it goes. As I reviewed the tee times for the Mexico Open at Vidanta, it’s evident how many favorites will populate the board, so I figured I’d lean into one likely to land in the middle third of odds for whichever golfer is the favorite. I’m going to assume it’s Pan. I’ve guessed wrong multiple times, so that’s always intriguing given my experience and how I process the action. Whatever the case, Reavie is slumping and Tway has been playing through a wrist injury. NOTE: While Glass and Rob typically stick with their selections as detailed in Pick ‘Em Preview, they are allowed the right to make changes at any time.

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