1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Tuesday “TORREY PINES–BIRDIES & BOGEYS”
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“TORREY PINES-BIRDIES-BOGEYS”
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You loved the historic-picturesque golf course.
You loved the tournament that brought big names to San Diego.
You loved the North-South Course layout.
You loved what the Century Club leadership has meant
That was then at Torrey Pines. This is now.
And all things have changed
Now the Farmers Insurance Open may be on its last legs, with reports it’s sponsorship will likely end within a year.
This a year after the PGA decided not to make the Torrey Pines tourney a 20M-elite tournament despite the venue, the golf, and its heritage.
They tee off on Wednesday and there is a real dose of reality our golfing community must face. It’s like a bad tee shot into the Pacific Ocean.
The Farmers Open is no longer elite, it is viewed as a second tier tourney.
It is drawing just 12-of the top 30-money winners from last year.
A marginal field has replaced what used to be awesome threesomes, teeing off looking onto the ocean.
Tiger Woods’ physical woes have made him a marginal player.
Rory McIlroy has started his season in Dubai instead of stateside.
Jon Rahm has bolted to take a 450M payday from the LIV.
Phil Mickelson defected, and has disappeared in a haze of age and poor play.
Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson deChambeau among others are on the Saudi tour too, some 32-in all who have left.
Yes we have Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay, Jason Day, Colin Morikawa set to play on Wednesday. They will be here surrounded by other budding young golfers. But there are no superstars nor Hall of Famers to follow now.
But the luster of Grand Slam winners of past walking those fairways and standing over long putts on the Green seems gone forever.
It’s another setback for our community.
Losing our NFL franchise is hard enough to bitterly swallow.
Losing our benevolent Padres owner has left a hole in our heart.
Losing community interest in Aztecs football has been sad
And now this.
Losing the special nationwide status that Torrey Pines used to bring, seems gone.
Somehow-someway, the Century Club has to reignite interest in the PGA and make this a special stop on the tour.
Tough to do financially with so many big names gone, thru injury-greed.
Hate to be the bearer of bad news. A bogey-type of week ahead at Torrey Pines.
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