Giving Golf's Silly Season Some Love

Giving Golf’s Silly Season Some Love

While my interest in men’s professional golf continues to wane amidst the seemingly never-ending LIV Golf / PGA Tour standoff, I am becoming a bigger fan of golf’s off-season, where, in fact, stories are written seemingly every week and career trajectories can be catapulted.  I am aware of these stories due to one Ryan French, who’s Twitter account, @acaseofthegolf1 (AKA Monday Q Info) is a treasure trove of insight into the jubilation and heartbreak of earning a living playing golf, especially for those on the razors edge.  Check him out, this is not meant to be an advertisement for Ryan and the important journalism work he does, humanizing the game from the perspectives of those who are not vying for major championships.

But to me, the men’s professional game has become diluted and uninteresting.  The fragmentation of excellent players from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf make for less interesting Sunday afternoons.  Of course, I am filling the void with LPGA play, which for me, aligns greater with my own game (you may be surprised that I don’t hit it 340 like Rory).  Seeing professionals play a course the length I do, hitting it as far as I do, and watching their creativity and skill around the green is seriously more inspiring than the men’s game to me today.

Don’t get me wrong, I have not abandoned the men’s professional game.  My favourite times of year to watch:  January and the Hawaii swing, which is special given it’s prime time watching and with the advent of HD television it makes the dulcet tones of Mark Rolfing more enjoyable.  July is my other favourite.  The UK swing with the Irish, Scottish and Open Championships are also a genuine treat.  Breakfast TV – as early as I can get myself up, where coffee and links golf fuse beautifully for me.

This situation with the men’s game is a moment in time and at some point I expect adults to enter the room and figure this out.  For now, I am confident there’s enough to keep me engaged and entertained.  And with people like Ryan French to help punch up the stories of human interest in the game of golf, I will embrace this, my third favourite time of year to watch golf on TV.