• “The temperature at this week’s USPGA is far cooler than it would be in Augusta and certainly it is much wetter on Long Island as well. But there can be no questioning that in terms of the hype, the mercury is rising to levels that could just prove unprecedented for the major that for so long was regarded as not only fourth on the calendar but also in importance.”

• “Of course, the PGA of America has Tiger Woods to thank for that. His remarkable comeback win at The Masters five weeks ago has ensured that golf is going into Bethpage on the crest of a new wave of Tigermania. The New York crowd could never be classed as “reserved” in the most beige of times, but with the red-shirted one back prowling on the major hunt, the buzz is sure to be more vocal than ever by Thursday’s first round.”

• “Tiger Woods, restaurant manager Erica Herman, who is Woods’ girlfriend, and The Woods restaurant in Jupiter, Florida, are being sued for the wrongful death of an employee, who after working a shift in December drank alcohol at the restaurant before being killed in a driving accident.”
• “Nicholas Immesberger, 24, had a blood-alcohol reading of .256, more than three times the legal limit in Florida, according to the suit filed in West Palm Beach, Florida. The lawsuit says Immesberger lost control of his car on Federal Highway in Martin County and suffered fatal injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene on Dec. 10, 2018.”

• “The acquisition creates a powerful programming engine by adding Golf Digest to GOLFTV’s offerings that already include exclusive carriage of the PGA TOUR, the European Tour and the Ladies European Tour, as well as the Masters Tournament, in select territories outside the U.S. and Discovery’s exclusive global content partnerships with Tiger Woods, winner of 82 PGA TOUR events and 15 major championships, and Francesco Molinari, winner of three PGA TOUR events and the reigning Open champion.”

• “Discovery also seems quite happy to be bringing Jerry Tarde, the long-running editor-in-chief of the monthly, on board. He’s keeping his EIC role and adding “global head of strategy and content, Discovery Golf” to his title, which means he’ll also manage GOLFTV and report in to Alex Kaplan, president and general manager of Discovery Golf. Ad sales at Golf Digest fell under the purview of Eric Gillen, chief business officer of Condé Nast’s Lifestyle Division, which also includes Bon Appétit, Epicurious, Architectural Digest, Self and Condé Nast Traveler. Discovery’s existing golf-media sales apparatus is expected to take over.”

• “Keith Kelley reported on Page Six (link not live) that Discovery paid $30 million for Golf Digest, Golf World and assorted elements after a “bidding war” with NBC/Comcast. Multiple sources tell me, however, that no bid was even made by Comcast.”

• “The $30 million figure noted by Kelley, if his reporting is accurate, marks a steep plunge from the $430 million Conde Nast paid for Golf Digest in 2001. But they were also buying a robust monthly then with millions in lucrative monthly ad sales and a staff full of must-read writers.”
• “…It seems hard to imagine any other scenario where the PGA Tour driving and selling the content by Golf Digest is a plus. Some fans may like that this keeps the operation viable, but I’m guessing most golfers wanting coverage of the game will be disappointed in where this leads.”

More of his take.

See the full press release, here.

• “When it was announced that the PGA Championship was moving from August to May, some pundits and fans balked at the idea of holding a major championship in the Northeast or upper Midwest because of days like Monday at Bethpage State Park.”

• “After about an inch of rain fell on the Black Course on Sunday, scattered showers and chilly temperatures persisted as a Nor’easter developed off the coast of southern New England, bringing showers and a chilly eastern wind that kept temperatures in the high 40s.”

• “There will be catcalls and jeers and a handful of “Boston sucks!” cries, but this ain’t Carolina traveling to Cameron Indoor Stadium. If anything, New Yorkers are some of the more knowledgeable fans out there. They view 2002 not as a badge of honor but scarlet letter.”

• “The two things, or should I say players, that could change that: Tiger and Phil Mickelson. As we saw at Augusta, there’s collateral damage to those going up against Big Cat, and Phil’s rapport with New York is consummate. Anyone trying to impede these Hall of Famers from the Wanamaker may be on the receiving end of the gallery’s wrath.”

• Powers: “He’s right about WMPO behavior being more prevalent than ever week in and week out, but you can double that type of behavior for a Met Area event. The strange desire to make it on Barstool’s Instagram page or Total Frat Move’s Twitter account brings out the absolute worst in folks, admittedly bros around my age that can’t handle their alcohol. Add in the Tiger factor and every move he makes near a camera will be an opportunity for some hardo to scream something dumb. God help whoever he’s playing with on Sunday if he’s even within shouting distance of the lead.”

• “Being well rested is more important than anything,” LaCava said. “And winning the Masters took a lot out of him. Playing another tournament, wherever it might have been, I don’t think it would have been a setback, but it would have taken a lot out of him. Probably wouldn’t have done him any good because he would have been too tired. When you’re tired there’s no need to play.

• “He’s happy, he’s in a good mood, he’s in good spirits. And I think he misses playing. How can’t you be in good spirits when you just came off a major win? He’s relaxed and fresh. I love it.”

• “The BMW International Open defending champion thought he was being asked to take part in a Media Day, but he was secretly being filmed from start to finish on a day where everything that could go wrong, would go wrong.”

• “Starting with an unbearably annoying courtesy car driver, followed by an impossible voiceover session led by a pushy director and ending with an unfortunate accident in a BMW showroom, Pepperell watched everything that happened from a secret location.”