PGA Tour exhibition match wasn’t much, but it beats German soccer
Sunday’s match-play event certainly was a microcosm of golf today ("NBC, Seminole shine as PGA Tour stars boost coronavirus aid," May 18).
Four players blasting drives so far that they could hit wedges into even the longest par 4s at Seminole Golf Club. Four hours and 20 minutes to play 18 holes, without nary a foursome ahead of them. Relatively insipid play by the participants – Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff – with no real focus on their game. An uninspired broadcast, with a questionable choice of guest participants. The forgetfulness of abiding by social distancing. The pulling of the flagstick.
Sigh.
Yet, I suppose most golf fans watched all 18 holes. I know I did. So starved for competition, I watched German soccer all weekend, as well.
For all of the negatives, it was great to have golf played again. Maybe next time, the players should put up a couple thousand dollars of their own money, to get their juices flowing and let the audience in on some of the inside needling.
Something tells me that as much of a gimmick as the Tiger Woods-Phil Mickelson-Tom Brady-Peyton Manning match will be this weekend, it will be much more entertaining.
Terry Fraser
Brooksville, Fla.
Hold the potatoes, please
To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, you can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot please all the people all the time.
This seems to fit the reaction from the letters from readers to Morning Read with their opinions on the skins-game telecast ("From the Morning Read inbox," May 19; May 20).
So, what if the players seemed a bit rusty? The production crew was minimal but did a yeoman's job anyway. The announcers, save a few, were remote, but called a pretty good game ("NBC, Seminole shine as PGA Tour stars boost coronavirus aid," May 18).
In this difficult time, a live sporting event should be enjoyed. Be critical when all involved bring their ‘A’ games. And remember that this was a fund-raising effort for coronavirus relief.
However, I look forward to the next few spectator-less telecasts without the shouts of “mashed potatoes” and “in the hole.”
Dave Richner
St. Johns, Fla.
An oh-so-close ending
I loved watching the guys play on that beautiful Seminole Golf Club course (“NBC, Seminole shine as PGA Tour stars boost coronavirus aid,” May 18).
It looked to me as if Matthew Wolff's shot on the playoff hole was closest to the flagstick, but they didn't go up and measure. It would have been more satisfying to see a measurement as to who was closest, Wolff or Rory McIlroy. It made the ending disappointing.
Rene Leoni
Boca Raton, Fla.
Why do pros need rangefinders?
I keep wondering why a pro golfer needs a rangefinder to determine distance to green (“NBC, Seminole shine as PGA Tour stars boost coronavirus aid,” May 18).
I guess it's because the caddie has been telling him forever. As an 8-handicapper, I usually can judge the remaining distance to the green within 10 yards without my rangefinder. Plus, courses usually have yardage markers at 150, with some starting at 200 and working down to 100.
Bobby Goforth
Bristol, Tenn.
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