Ryder Cup anger, LPGA Player of the Year, LIV leadership

A week after 2025 Ryder Cup captains Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald visited New York City for their “Year Out” media tour, the Ryder Cup is back in the news this week, this time inviting fans to attend. . Tickets for the event, which will be held on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park, will run about $250 for practice rounds; $420 for celebrity performances and opening ceremony; and a total of $750 for each of the three competition days – sums that have caused outrage on social media. Explaining our Sean Zak, Ryder Cup tournament director, Bryan Karns, said, “The average price I think is just an indication of (a) this market, (b) where we position ourselves, where we feel like we are. [in the greater sports landscape]then there is a need.” What is your opinion on expensive prices?

Alan Bastable, senior editor (@alan_bastable): Two things can be true at the same time: the PGA of America only charges what the fans (or enough fans, anyway) will be willing to pay, so can you really blame them for putting money in? But the organization is also deliberately alienating a large number of golf fans by pricing them out. What makes it even more difficult is that (a) the players are paid to play so surely some of those savings have to be passed on to the fans, and (b) this type of event doesn’t belong at a swank resort — it’s at the most famous muni in the country., where the values ​​are for the day of the week state residents are only $70, and it has become the site of the so-called “People’s (US) Opens.” The exorbitant entry fee for the 2025 Ryder Cup feels out of step with Bethpage’s DNA. Call it the Corporate Cup.

Jessica Marksbury, editor-in-chief (@jess_marksbury): Good, Alan. Some tiered pricing would be appreciated. It seems that there was an opportunity to offer a percentage of lottery tickets at an affordable price, and let the rest go up to buyers with disposable income. It’s strange, because as you said, this comes from an organization where the goal is to develop and grow the game. But those programs cost money, and they have to come from somewhere!

Dylan Dethier, senior author (@dylan_dethier): Jess, maybe you should take a side gig as a consultant for the PGA of America? This sounds like the right answer — at least give people some sort of chance to get in the gates for a few hundred bucks before you raise the rest of the money.

I wish I had a hot take to share on this subject. On the other hand I think it stinks that there is no way to get a $750 ticket. On the other hand I think I would rather the PGA of America get that money than the secondary dealers get the market? It’s great that the Ryder Cup has become a hot ticket. But again – manage your expectations when you end up going. It’s a great way to spend the day, the weather and the team sport performance is the best. But it’s also hard to see every shot; you have to be comfortable with the idea that you will miss it a lot, or watch it on the screen. So yes, Alan, a number of things can be true at the same time…

Do you suspect that higher ticket prices will affect the overall vibe of the event?

Bastable: I hope not! Since the Bethpage Ryder Cup has been on the calendar for a long time, I think we’ve all been looking forward to the New rowdy, wisecracking. Yawkers coming down to the venue and charging what has become a highly charged event. I expect this place to rock no matter who fills the seats, even if some spectators come not from plastic cups but from crystal flutes.

Marksbury: I agree. As long as those seats are full – and they will be! – the atmosphere will be amazing. Now, the US must win…

Dethier: I have a feeling that the rowdy boys will get in no matter what they say. This is not LACC, where members first buy tickets. I suspect these will still be bought by the good people of Long Island, who will just win less at the exit than they would like.

With her straight win at the BMW Ladies Championship in Korea, Australia’s Hannah Green joined world No. 1 Nelly Korda and No. 3 Lydia Ko as the only players to win three or more times in 2024. (Korda has six victories , including a major, and Ko has three titles, including a major, and a gold medal for his win at the Paris Games.) With only five tournaments left in the ’24 schedule, does Korda already have player of the year honors. ?

Bastable: However, neither Korda nor Ko are playing next week in Malaysia so Ko has only four intervals to try to close the gap – and a yawning gap at that: 100 points! (Read: invincible.) But if you want the 19th hole argument, if Ko can win a few times before the year is out, you can make a case for having a better year. That number will depend on how much stock he put in his Olympic title, which is not an official LPGA event and thus did not earn Ko Rolex points. Either way, it was a banner for all three of these players. When the stars do great things, it makes the golf course that much more interesting.

Marksbury: I’m going to play the other side of this argument! Nelly’s achievements this season were wonderfulstop. BUT, for the sake of argument, let’s say that Ko’s gold medal is the equivalent of a major tournament. If he wins another tournament this season – like the season-ending CME Group Championship, where he has a very good record – that’s a resume comparable to Nelly’s in my opinion.

Dethier: Korda’s year has been amazing. But it also happened strange. Take out the odd dog bite and his recent injury — which we don’t know much about yet — and this is a season that could have ended with double-digit wins. How it’s staying on the fence: This is the year Korda established herself as the best player in the women’s game and had a great start to the year. He should be Player of the Year. But I’ll take Ko’s story as a fairy tale, because Olympic gold and the Open in St. Andrews really felt too good to be true.

Padraig Harrington, who these days plays most of his golf on the PGA Tour Champions, stated this week that the major circuit may be the most important sector of the golf tour when it comes to maintaining condition. “I’ve been on the journey for a few years, and I’m still starting to see, this must be a tough, tough journey to keep your card in the world,” he said. “Thirty-six boys keep their card. And even if you win, you only get a one-year exemption.” Your thoughts, please!

Bastable: If Paddy is right, Bernhard Langer’s 17 years are coming to an impressive end. There’s no doubt that the Champions Tour is more competitive than most fans realize, in part because the guys love playing out there so much they don’t want to lose the privilege. Guess I never thought of a particular challenge to keep the Champion card, but 36 places is really tight. Harder than keeping a PGA Tour card? Bubble boys now sweating it out at fall parties may want to beg to differ.

Marksbury: I think Padraig is spot on! For players with no previous PGA Tour status to fall back on, the Champ Tour a lot competition. Of course, there is no cut in most events, but you have to play to stick. And unless you can shoot 64 at will, it’s almost impossible to skip Monday’s qualifiers, either.

Dethier: In a way, Paddy is right. (In Paddy’s way always right.) After all, there is no shortage of talented 50-somethings to play golf and 36 cards very, very few. But the PGA Tour’s best players — and those on the fringes of status — are just that, so good that it’s hard to imagine anything could be more dangerous than that.

According to a Journal of Sports Business report, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which backs LIV Golf, is searching for a new LIV CEO to replace Greg Norman. (Norman will remain on LIV’s senior leadership team, the report said.) Put on your recruiting cap and nominate a suitable Norman successor.

Bastable: Great deal! Business and marketing skills required, a passion for travel and a track record of excellence. Is Elon available? Hmm…who else…Jay Monahan? Too soon?

Marksbury: I saw a major PGA Tour agent like Mark Steinberg as a good candidate. But given Tiger’s feelings about LIV, I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon.

Dethier: How is Phil Mickelson? I’m not sure he’s ready to kiss his Hy-Flyer playing days goodbye, but he’s been integral to LIV’s vision all along. If the goal is to postpone the split in negotiations, however, Lefty may not be the man… another low-key executive about whom we know little may be a wise investment.