Interesting choice this week in the world of golf.
The Desert Classic out in LaQuinta on the PGA Tour versus the HSBC Championship in Abu Dhabi.
One is in trouble, one is not.
The Desert Classic is the descendant of one of the Tour’s most popular events back in the day — The Bob Hope Desert Classic. Used to draw ALL the big names, both from the golf standpoint and from the celebrity world.
Over in the Middle East in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates, they have one of those nice, fat Rolex events on the European Tour.
Typically the European Tour is no match for the PGA Tour when it comes to money, prestige and star players.
Not this week.
Sadly, the Desert Classic is in trouble. It’s called no sponsor.
The Emirates have HSBC in their lap, but if they didn’t, it wouldn’t matter. The country is so rich they’d probably say “we don’t need no stinkin’ sponsor!” Abu Dhabi, for the record, claims to be the “world’s richest city.”
Typically the European Tour is no match when it comes to purse sizes.
Not this week.
The HSBC has a fat $7 million purse, one of eight Rolex series events that puts the Euros ahead of the PGA Tour on those given weeks.
The Desert Classic has a $5.9 million purse.
Abu Dhabi and the Eros have another advantage — those dirty little appearance fees — totally acceptable, totally legal over there.
No such thing on the PGA Tour although some sponsors land big players simply by doing endorsement deals with said big players — an appearance fee disguised as an endorsement deal.
As for star power — the Desert Classic has the world’s No. 1, Justin Rose, making his season debut. No. 7 Jon Rahm is the defending champion and Phil Mickelson is making his 2019 start.
The HSBC counters with No. 2 Brooks Koepka, No. 3 Dustin Johnson, No. 14 Tommy Fleetwood and No. 28 Henrik Stenson. For the record, there’s a compelling story at the HSBC as Fleetwood has gone back-to-back with victories in 2017 and 2018 and he has a chance for the rare Trifecta — back-t0-back-to-back.
HSBC has another huge advantage. The Desert Classic’s final round goes up against the NFL’s final four. The HSBC doesn’t.
So basically, for the week, the PGA Tour is being overshadowed and out-spent by the European Tour.
It’s a double dip for Koepka and D.J. They get a fat appearance fee PLUS whatever they managed to win out of that $7 million purse. The math works out pretty well for them.
The Desert Classic also has another major disadvantage. It’s a Pro-Am. One tour player with a team of amateurs. That means you have to endure the hacks to watch your favorite pro. Also means very, very long rounds and slow play is the plague of the PGA Tour. Instead of their slogan — Live Life Under Par — it should be Live Life In Slow Motion.
Another problem with the Desert Classic is that most viewers are looking past it to next week’s Farmers Insurance at Torrey Pines.
Torrey Pines as the venue means that You Know Who will be making his 2019 season debut.
Yeah, one more week until Eldrick, aka Tiger Woods.
So sadly, the Desert Classic has troubles.
Abu Dhabi doesn’t.
Sad but true.
Editor’s Note: They were off and running in Abu Dhabi with a Wednesday start and Shane Lowry took advantage of a windless day with perfect scoring conditions and tied Henrik Stenson’s course record with a 10-under par 62. Brooks Koepka shot 67 despite a three-putt par on his first hole. He’s tied for 10th. Dustin Johnson overcame an erratic first nine holes and shot three-under and tied defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, who opened with 69.
3 Comments
baxter cepeda
This was a good compare contrast of this week in golf.
Incredible Phil is not able to bring a sponsor to this event.
Why not call it the Hope Desert Classic?
Not for the famous man but for hope that things change before it just ends for this event.
But how?
Well, what is the competition doing this week?
As tom notes mainly Appearance fees, higher purse and the underrated factor of no Ams, an issue which even Pebble Beach itself struggles with. Imo.
Golf simply does not have great stars like Hope and Eastwood playing these events. If I see another don Cheedle swing breakdown im going to have a breakdown.
ProAms are way better suited for Mondays and Wednesdays, which I enjoy caddying for at the Sony annually.
Monahan needs to get with the program because golf has some hot shot commissioners around the world staring at a bullseye right on the pga tour commissioners back.
Tom Edrington
Baxter, GREAT observations, you are spot-on. I see the cameras went out of their way to keep the Amateurs off television on Thursday. They do love those celebrities though. You’re right, we’ve seen too much of Bill Murray’s act, for sure.
baxter cepeda
I kinda disagree about Bill. I get he can be a bit much but he is all the atnt has in the ‘celebrity’ side since eastwood and his boys were hanging off cliffs.