My pledge is to do the same. I’m proud to work for a company, Discovery, that faded to black for eight minutes and 46 seconds—the same amount of time a former police officer kneeled on George Floyd’s neck—across all 19 of its U.S. brands on Tuesday night. But I’m also well aware that we need to keep the conversation going if we are ever to promote real change. Whether its peaceful protests, donating money or having serious conversations, let’s all try to do better. And with that, let’s try to talk about some golf.

WE’RE BUYING

Mic’d up players: The European Tour announced its restart will begin with a six-tournament UK Swing beginning July 22. Also beginning then will be a new policy in which players in featured TV groups will be mic’d up. “It really comes down to how open you are, how creative you are and how your players want to embrace change,” Euro tour chief executive Keith Pelley told BBC Sport. “This is the time for us to do some things completely differently.” Couldn’t agree more. Well done. Just please make sure to put a mic on Eddie Pepperell at all times.

Annika Sorenstam: Arguably the GOAT of the women’s game, Sorenstam stepped up by pledging $50,000 to struggling Symetra Tour players. Well done. The 10-time major champ was also named as a U.S. Women’s Open ambassador for the 75th anniversary of the tournament, which was to be played this week, but will take place in December instead. Oh yeah, she also was this week’s guest on the Golf Digest Podcast, where I enjoyed talking to her about her career and pickleball. Please have a listen:

PGA Tour University: The tour unveiled a new program that will reward the top college golfers (in their fourth or fifth years) by guaranteeing the top five ranked players status on the Korn Ferry Tour for the remainder of the season once the college season ends. This will give young golfers a better chance of playing their way onto the PGA Tour or Korn Ferry Tour for the following season. It also incentivizes staying in school, which will make parents everywhere happy. And speaking of college golf. . .

The Wake Forest team bus: Yes, I’m a Wake alum, but even the most objective observer would say this bad boy is sweet:

New week, new month, NEW VAN ?#GoDeacs pic.twitter.com/wHwc03q7JU

— Wake Forest Men's Golf (@WakeMGolf) June 1, 2020

Imagine going on a golf trip in that thing? Hmm. . . My golf trip is in Pinehurst this August and the college golf season will be on a break. . . Guys, did I mention I went to Wake?

WE’RE SELLING

Vijay Singh’s WD: It turns out, the three-time major champ and fourth all-time money earner in PGA Tour history won’t play in a Korn Ferry Tour event after all. Good. But we’re not giving Singh much credit for having a change of heart, because it appears he would not have gotten a spot in the field by the time the tournament started. In any event, the 57-year-old will not be taking someone else’s spot on the PGA Tour’s developmental circuit.

Cancelled John Deere Classic: The PGA Tour restart will sadly not include this major of the Midwest, informally known as the Steve Stricker, Zach Johnson and friends Invitational. It’s too bad it won’t be played this year, but it’s also understandable. In the meantime, the tour is looking to replace the event by holding back-to-back tournaments at Muirfield Village with the Memorial scheduled for the week after. We’re guessing golfers won’t be too upset about spending two week’s at Jack’s place considering that golf course—and those glorious-looking milkshakes.

Rory’s Peloton prowess: McIlroy’s cycling reputation took a bit of a hit when he finished fourth out of eight in ESPN’s first Peloton Pro-Athlete All-Star Race. And while getting dusted by an Olympic medal-winning swimmer (Matt Grevers) is nothing to be ashamed of, McIlroy got beat by former NFL player and former Monday Night Football analyst Booger McFarland. “Since I can’t beat Rory McIlroy on the golf course,” Booger said before the race, “my one goal for today is to prove that golfers aren’t athletes.” While we wouldn’t go that far, it wasn’t a great showing by our guys.

Bubba Watson was sixth and Justin Thomas finished in last place. JT! Pick up the pace! You’re a young man! Props to Morgan Pressel, though, for finishing second on the women’s side. See? Golfers are athletes!

ON TAP

CBS will air the final round of the 2012 Memorial on Sunday. Unfortunately, I missed the end because I was boarding a flight back from a wedding in New Orleans after drinking a few too many hurricanes, but that was a good one. Two words: Flop shot. Sorry, four words: Tiger Woods flop shot.

My word.

Random tournament fact: This will be the last weekend (hopefully) without live golf for a while. Thank goodness.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—I would survive drinking that many hurricanes now: 1 MILLION-to-1 odds
—Michael Jordan/Steph Curry will be play in the next The Match: 2-to-3 odds
—Larry David would be a more entertaining choice: LOCK

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Two golfers broke 70 on Streamsong Black—and lost by a combined 19 shots to European Tour pro Sam Horsefield, who shot 59 on the par 73:

A 59 to brighten your Sundays, courtesy of @hr59sam ? pic.twitter.com/jfanDCkUrw

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 31, 2020

These guys are good. Hey, if the European Tour is looking for a new motto while it revamps, that one is available.

THIS WEEK IN TOUR PRO PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION SOLIDARITY

Perhaps more than any other time ever, pro golfers spoke out about social injustice amid national protests following the tragic killing of George Floyd. Players like Tiger Woods and Harold Varner III released statements:

pic.twitter.com/Wn7EoTInzU

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) June 2, 2020

There is a lot of of beauty and love in this world. I pray for equality & social justice as we all so desperately deserve that in this day and age. I pray for humanity even more because regardless of color, WE need each other to make that change. Stay safe. Love you guys ??? pic.twitter.com/LrFEff94IF

— Harold Varner III (@HV3_Golf) June 1, 2020

And others like Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, and Justin Thomas joined the social media #BlackoutTuesday campaign:

As awful as these recent events have been, it’s nice to see the game’s stars taking a stance and spreading awareness. Let’s hope they keep it up.

THIS WEEK IN CELEBRITY GOLFERS

Congrats to Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt on making his first-ever hole-in-one. I guess. Kidding. Sort of.

Finally happened today…my first ACE!!!!

Shady Canyon Golf Club
17th 145 yd PW pic.twitter.com/K6cSxyJIyb

— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) May 27, 2020

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I don’t know the avenue to fix this. But I do know that calling someone an idiot, saying they’re stupid, making fun of them for their belief or their vision or how they feel, that’s mean. That’s it. It’s so simple. That’s just mean. So don’t be mean. Think, maybe take a step back. Process, empathize, do something to at least see their—and if you don’t agree, don’t agree, go away. I literally think I leaned 75 percent of all this in pre-school. Treat people the way you want to be treated. If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it.” —Max Homa. Well said.

I’m a 29 year old white dude who has played golf his entire life and knows nearly nothing about what it feels like to be oppressed, discriminated against, or unsafe. So I spoke on what I do know and that’s being a nice and respectful person. pic.twitter.com/CEHKscIlEQ

— max homa (@maxhoma23) June 1, 2020

THIS AND THAT

Sahith Theegala, who won the Fred Haskins Award as the nation’s top collegiate golfer last month, fired a 62 in his first round as a pro—on the Outlaw Tour. Not exactly how other past POYs like Tiger and Phil started their pro careers, but 2020 is not exactly your normal year, either. . . . Speaking of 62s, Tiger Woods moved up from No. 11 to No. 8 in Forbes’ annual highest-paid athletes list with earnings of $62.3 million. Of course, when you’ve been ranked No. 1 a dozen(!) times, this isn’t all that exciting. . . . And finally, it’s been a tough couple months, but I recently got a nice pick-me-up when my favourite artist gave a shout-out to my daughter, who I have already trained well when it comes to music.

Awwwww !! https://t.co/lqHhDSpeen

— benjamin folds (@BenFolds) May 24, 2020

Thanks, Ben. You’re the GOAT.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Why isn’t Ben Folds more famous?
What would Tiger’s career earnings be on the Outlaw Tour?
What would Tiger say about my golf swing?

The post PGA Tour pros speak out, Rory McIlroy’s cycling rep stalls, and Tiger takes on the role of swing coach appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Maurice Allen
Editor’s Note: Following the national and global protests in wake of the killing of George Floyd, Long Drive champion Maurice Allen reached out to Golf Digest asking for a platform to speak. Here are Allen’s words on his experience as an African-American man in golf. —Joel Beall

I am a golfer, just like you. But I’ve been the person on the side of the road, pulled over with a gun to my head for something I didn’t do. I’m guessing that is what makes us different.

But you don’t want to hear about that, right? We’re here to talk about golf. So let me tell you what it’s like being black in a white sport.

In my part of the game, the long-drive arena, we’re supposed to be flashy, to be entertainers. Except white long drivers are praised for being colourful and flamboyant, while I’m called a showboat. Well, “showboat” is putting it nicely. Just yesterday I received hate mail, accusing me of race-mingling, calling me “Django,” that I’m as worthless as our previous president, “Obama Bin Laden.” That’s just from, ahem, “fans.”

Often I’m the only black man in a competition. That puts me in spots and places I don’t want to be. I’ve had competitors and their families straight-up rain n-words and racial slurs on me without remorse. Last year a rival’s father went on social media saying I had been arrested, that I was a criminal. I have never spent a night in jail, so I fired back, “Show me the mugshot and I’ll quit on the spot.” And guess what? My sponsors are mad at me for trying to defend my honour. Did my rival receive any backlash for the racist conduct of his father? You already know the answer.

I wear my blackness with pride, the same way an Alabama or LSU fan cheers on their team. That rubs people the wrong way. Like, I’m a nice story to tell— “Hey, an African-American in our sport, look how good we are doing!”—unless I’m the one telling it. Case in point: A few years back, I was in a televised event, and they had interviews with each contestant. When I was asked what drove me, I repeated what I repeat to myself every day: “I am the prayers of slaves who worked in the field, to know that people have been beaten, raped and killed for me to have this opportunity that they knew they’d never get for themselves.” I’m the only one whose intro didn’t make its way on air. I get it. Too many confuse being pro-black as anti-white.

Lisa Lake

I understand some want to help the racial inequality that permeates golf. Or, at least they tell me they do. Let me tell you how it works. I get invited to do a talk at a conference or participate in some type of roundtable about diversity in the sport. After I’m done, people get emotional, come up to me and say thank you, and promise me they’re going to help. They talk a great talk. And then, a week later, my phone calls are going unanswered. Or there’s red tape. Or, “You know, we want to help, but now’s not a great time.” Then the same people ask me back the next year to the same conference or show. I’ve realized they don’t care about a cause; they want to check a box. But I still go, hoping my words will reach someone new in the audience.

That’s what breaks my heart about golf. It’s supposed to be a game of integrity. I’ve found it to be anything but. I’m not talking about it being elitist. I’m talking about its entitlement. To me, that word means something different. Because when you’re entitled, you have a responsibility to use that privilege in a meaningful way. Instead, golf acts as a club. It’s often hard to get in, or it makes excuses for the errors of those in the club. We have given so many excuses for foolishness that you delay change. You’re not dealing with the actual situation. If we have a problem, we have to address it.

I live in the South. I can’t tell you how many times I pull into course parking lots to see cars littered with confederate flags. And every time, I’ll ask, “Hey, what is this?” And the defences never fail. “Oh come on, it’s not what you think it means,” or “Don’t worry, he’s really a good guy.” There’s no accountability or the slightest amount of empathy of how it makes me feel.

That accountability goes to the leaders in golf as well. I was owed a performance bonus from my 2018 season from a sponsor. A few weeks ago, I demanded it get paid. The response I received was, “Are you in an OK financial position? If not, we can move some things around for you.” They then acted like things were tight at the company, telling me, “You’re not the victim here.” Save for the fact I know three of my competitors all received their bonuses from just last year. Anytime I have to defend myself to get what’s mine, I’m seen, as a black man, of being difficult or hard to work with. As a black man, you’ve been taught to conform since the day you leave the womb. If you break that unspoken law, there are consequences.

Just last week, on Memorial Day, I made a post saying I was going to memorize and memorialize all that have lost their lives who weren’t wearing military fatigues, fighting this never-ending battle for racial justice in America. If you look at the comments on the feed, it’s the usual “You’re disrespecting the flag” or accusing me playing the race card. That crap, well, I expect. What I didn’t expect was one of the ruling bodies of golf to call me THREE TIMES asking me to take the post down. I am scheduled to do an event with them, and they found the post polarizing. This is an organization that’s, allegedly, trying to grow the game. It is systematic, man.

A lot of times “Who” is the biggest problem we face in America. We can’t be on the leading front. If Colin Kaepernick had been J.J. Watt or Ben Roethlisberger, people would have listened. But Colin isn’t white. I’ve experienced it. I have a foundation that helps grade school children build saving accounts, called “Saving Christmas.” Another endeavour is trying to raise $40,000 to fund the professional aspirations of two golfers who come from HBCUs that don’t have the sponsors or country club patronage that most white players have. Earlier this year at a meeting with a major golf company, pleading for financial help, I was asked, “So, what is in it for you?” Well, I’m not a middle-schooler and I sure as hell ain’t 20 anymore. I’m just trying to help, but even that I have to do with my hands tied around my back.

Do I think what we’re seeing is going to change things? No. The only difference now is people are pent-up from the coronavirus pandemic, and looking to unleash that frustration. I hope I’m wrong, but I fear in two weeks everyone will be back to Tik-Toking while another black man is murdered for no good reason. I mean, we said the exact same things when Trayvon Martin was killed. That was eight years ago. Think about all the lives lost since that could have been stopped if we really were committed to making things right.

The past week has made me take stock of things. I’ve had an amazing run. But amazing isn’t up and down, it’s not linear. I have to take that. But I fight for growth and professionalism. My brother has always talked about immortality. He’s not referring to cryopreservation or living like a vampire. It’s about, when we leave this world, will people still remember what we’ve done. And I will continue down the line. I won’t, and my people won’t, be forgotten.

But I, we, need your help. If you’re reading this, it means we’re connected by golf. You may be wondering what you can do. We are vastly underrepresented. There are more of us than Tiger Woods and Harold Varner III. The participation rate of blacks in golf hasn’t changed since Tiger has come on the scene. That might not be your fault, but whatever you’re doing isn’t helping, either.

Golf is supposed to be an accountable sport. You hit a bad shot, that’s on you. You break a rule, you call it on yourself. Stop making excuses or guessing someone’s intention. Start using that same accountability you apply to golf to racism, sexism and injustice. Ask your club what they are doing to recruit minorities. Call out your buddy making racial jokes on the course. Educate yourself on black foundations that aren’t just The First Tee. And, maybe, we might get to the other side.

Maurice Allen became the first African-American to win the World Long Drive championship in 2018 and holds the Guinness World Record for highest golf ball speed.

The post Being black in a white sport appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

If highest/longest/fastest/mostest is a consideration in a given sport, there will always be a mythical ceiling—a point at which the limits of the human body and the laws of gravity collide. The interesting part is finding out where, exactly, that barrier lies.

Just ask Maurice Allen. To put it simply, Allen can absolutely, positively smoke it. He won the 2018 Volvik Long Drive Championship with a 393-yard bomb. He can crush it 300 yards with a putter. He loves Ric Flair more than Ric Flair loves Ric Flair. So if there was anyone who was going to see if long driving’s resident impossible feat—carrying the windswept, mist-choked 342-yard span of Niagara Falls—was actually impossible, it was him. Not one to let a good showboat opportunity go to waste, Allen thus set out to deliver the answer the golf world has been looking for since John Daly first came up short in 2005. The verdict?

Hell yeah it is.

OK, so maybe a touch melodramatic, but you get the general picture: Maurice Allen is a very, VERY strong man. After a couple of weeks of prep and a couple of weather-related false starts, Allen managed to smash one over the Maid of the Mist, through the fog, and across the U.S./Canada border on just his fourth attempt. Making matters even more impressive is the fact that …

A. Allen didn’t just tickle one 343 and get the hell out of there. He cleared the gap by a healthy 15 yards on the fly.

B. Allen didn’t even think he caught the shot well, turning away and saying, “Nope, wind pushed it down,” before being informed that he had just made Mother Nature his mistress.

We only hope Allen and co. declared that record-setting ball before sending it on it into international orbit. Otherwise it’s going to spend the next eight to 10 months in Customs quarantine, as opposed to on Allen’s increasingly crowded mantel where it belongs.

The post Long-drive champ Maurice Allen just crushed one across Niagara Falls appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 31-year-old American edged Thursday qualifier and LDWS Portugal champion Ryan Reisbeck 335 yards to 329.5 yards in the inaugural Dubai final last March and also produced the longest drive of 341 in brisk headwinds.

The ‘Blonde Bomber’ will be hoping for something in access of 400 yards on Friday if the weather plays ball on the JGE driving range where the organisers have promised “bitter rivalries, big personalities, sudden-death knock outs…with pyrotechnics, DJs, walk-on music, a licensed setting, DJs, food trucks and free entry”.

Reisbeck is also back alongside a who’s who of the long drive world. The entry list includes reigning LDWS UK champion Emil Rosberg (Sweden), two-time world champion Joe Miller (U.K.), Ilija Djurdjevic (Serbia); American’s Ryan Steenberg, Kevin Shook, Will Hogue and Maurice Allen, and Tommy Hug, James Tait and Scott Bevan (all U.K.).

The stars, along with three UAE wildcard qualifiers, will compete for a purse of the AED 94,500 (£19,000).

If you fancy testing your swing against the world’s heaviest hitters, register here or simply show up on Friday. It’ll cost you AED 996 (£200) but includes VIP tickets and access to the players’ lounge during the event, along with a lifetime of kudos from your pals if you qualify.

Enter the UAE Wildcard Qualifiers

The LDWS main event takes place from 7pm. Entry is free with VIP packages available for purchase. Fans are also welcome to attend the open qualifiers from 10am (also Feb. 9) and player seeding at 3pm.

Having launched in Dubai last March before momentum generating stops in the U.K. and Portugal last year, the 2018 LDWS has upped the ante with 10 events earmarked: Dubai (Feb.9), Mexico (March 15-19), South Africa (April 11-13),  United States (May TBC), United Kingdom (June TBC), Sweden (July TBC), Russia (Aug. TBC), Portugal (Sept. TBC), China (Oct. TBC), Turkey (Nov. TBC).

For more details visit: longdriveworldseries.com

The post ‘Blonde Bomber’ Burke back to defend Dubai LDWS title appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 32-year-old won his second World Long Drive Championships title in Thackerville, Oklahoma in October but his preparation for the bow of the rival series in Dubai has been limited to an indoor simulator and as many outdoor range sessions as the English winter would allow.

“After a winter break it’s been good to be back out hitting although the weather has been restrictive at home. Obviously the form was good at the end of 2016 so we’ll see tomorrow [Friday] evening,” Miller told Golf Digest Middle East.

Miller will peg it up alongside a whose who of the long driving world on the JGE driving range.

Two-time former world champion Tim Burke looms as the major danger although a windy week in Dubai shapes as an equaliser. Also competing are Englishman Lucas Dornan, American and reigning two-time European champion Maurice Allen, Britain’s Brad Pearmain (2016 Italian champion), Serbia’s Ilija Djurdjevic (2016 Portugal champion) Sweden’s Emil Rosberg (2016 Scandinavian champion) and current world No.2 Ryan Steenberg whom Miller toppled in the Oklahoma final last October.

Local interest will focus on Dubai amateur Ricky Domínguez who earned a start in the £50,000 event with a 351.7 yard hit in an eGolf Megastore qualifier.

SEE ALSO
Dubai amateur Dominguez qualifies for Long Drive World Series with 351.7 yard simulator smash

Miller, whose best competition nudge is 474 yards, admits there is pressure being the reigning world champion but insists he’s up for the early season challenge where he expects Burke to be a particular threat.

“It’s hard work to get to the top so I’d like to stay here. Of course everyone wants to win and it will be tight, especially as we’re into the wind and uphill,” said Miller who clinched the world title with a 423 swat in the final against Steenberg after an earlier 439 yard effort in the semifinals.

“Everyone has a chance due to the heavy wind although Tim Burke probably stands out just a touch.”

SEE ALSO
World champ Joe Miller challenges long drive rival Lucas Dornan to a short game challenge, hilarity ensues

Tonight’s event at JGE begins at 5pm and includes the usual long drive razzmatazz including live a DJ, food trucks and pyrotechnics. Entry is free.

The post World champ Joe Miller hails new Long Drive World Series, itching for Dubai duel appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Dornan is in Dubai promoting the new Long Drive World Series which will take its global bow at Jumeirah Golf Estates on March 17.

The 31-year-old Londoner and two-time reigning world champion Joe Miller headline a who’s who of the long driving world confirmed for the inaugural £50,000 (US$62,000) event which will be streamed live around the globe and proceeds tournaments earmarked for London, Asia and the U.S.

The JGE tournament will also feature two wildcard picks, one of which is open to a UAE amateur via a qualifying tournament launched by Dornan Monday at eGolf Megastore’s Al Wasl shop.

Dornan gave the store’s X-Golf simulator, and the ear drums of shoppers on hand for the made to media promo, a fright to launch the Long Drive World Series.

With his 415 yard marker laid down, weekend warriors are now invited in store for the next three weeks to try and qualify for the main event on the European Tour Performance Institute driving range at JGE which will have all the usual long drive razzmatazz including pyrotechnics and onsite DJ.

Lucas Dornan had the X Golf simulator at eGolf Megastore spitting out some spectacular numbers on Monday including this bomb

Like normal long drive competitions, amateurs will be given three minutes on the simulator (eight balls max) to be crowned the UAE’s longest amateur and must keep their ball inside a grid that is 100 yards wide. The grid for JGE will be an even narrower 60 yards and 550 yards long – with the aim of winning the event and breaking the current world record of 515 yards.

The weekend warrior winner mightn’t be able to compete with the long ball pros at JGE – Miller’s winning drive at last year’s world championships was 423 yards (he hit a 439 yarder in the semifinals), while Dornan’s competition best was four yards longer – but they will surely savour the experience.

Two-time former world champion Tim Burke, fellow American and reigning two-time European champion Maurice Allen, Britain’s (2016 Italian champion), Serbia’s Ilija Djurdjevic (2016 Portugal champion) Sweden’s Emil Rosberg (2016 Scandinavian champion) and current world No.2 Ryan Steenberg are also lined up.

“This event promises to inject some real glamour into the sport that I love and I am very proud to be lining up alongside these players…they really are the cream of the crop,” Dornan said.

“We will we push each other to our limits and in the right conditions, I expect to see drives well in excess of 400 yards across the board.”

The JGE event includes an open qualifier on March 16 to secure the other wildcard spot. The final the following day will run into the evening.

Said Miller: “I am really excited to be competing in Dubai in the first Long Drive World Series… an amazing location with an elite field of proven winners from around the world. It’s going to be an exciting event and hopefully I can reign in the desert.”

Photo by Kristina Nabieva

The post Dubai’s Jumeirah Golf Estates <br> to host £50,000 Long Drive <br> World Series opener appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.