The Failed Coup At The USGA

HAPPIER TIMES: President Glen Nager (left) and executive director Mike Davis at USGA headquarters.

After losing a power struggle to bring broad organizational changes to the United States Golf Association, including what sources say was a bid to create a long-term chief-executive position, president Glen Nager will leave the organization for good when his second one-year term expires Feb. 8, Golf Digest has learned. "I have been involved with the USGA for eight years," Nager said, "and after I leave I won't be a part of it again."

Nager's plan, presented in September during the Walker Cup at the National Golf Links of America, not only failed, but its audacity unified a group not unfamiliar with political infighting and coalesced support for USGA executive director Mike Davis and incoming president Thomas J. O'Toole Jr., both of whom would have had diminished roles under the proposed restructuring.

According to sources, Nager, who described himself as a "lame duck" in an interview with Golf Digest, wanted O'Toole removed from the 15-person Executive Committee and passed over as president, and he wanted Davis to report to a chief executive. A high-ranking USGA official says Nager wanted to bypass O'Toole because he considered O'Toole too close to Davis, a longtime USGA ally, to work effectively under a chief executive. "Tom and Mike are almost the same person," the source said.

Other sources say it was Walter Driver—the chair of the USGA Nominating Committee who served a contentious term as president from 2006-'07—who said to Nager, "You are not going to do this." Added another source: "The current board just didn't want to hear anymore from [Nager] on this idea and shut him down completely. He had some very radical ideas, and he got nowhere." (One former member of the Executive Committee, when told of Driver's role in standing up to Nager, said: "Gee, I might have to change what I think of him.")

"I am maintaining my commitment to confidentiality—apparently others haven't," Nager told Golf Digest. "I hold myself to a higher standard. It is not appropriate for me to discuss this while I am still in office. The issue that needs to be discussed is what makes for a great organization as opposed to a mediocre organization. I am trying to be as dignified and gracious as I can. Not everyone loves me. But leadership is a lonely responsibility."

In an earlier email, Nager couched his take in the language of a lawyer, which he is for the Washington, D.C., firm Jones Day, arguing before the Supreme Court 13 times after clerking for Justice Sandra Day O'Connor at age 24. "Good organizations regularly discuss and assess their structure, strategies and leadership," Nager said. "I have tried to promote such discussions at the USGA. But to encourage candor in the discussions, I have also asked that our discussions be kept private among the participants. In this spirit, I prefer to avoid comment on this story, regardless of any inaccuracies in it."

As an ex-president, Nager, 55, stood to remain in an influential position in the USGA, if past protocol had been followed. In two years, he would have become vice chairman of the five-person Nominating Committee, and in four years he would have chaired that committee. But that was before Nager's idea to take the power away from the Executive Committee and give it to a long-term chief executive—perhaps himself.

"Some say they heard him say he wanted it, some say they heard him say it in jest, and some say they never heard him say it," says one source close to the situation, who is among those who never heard Nager say he wanted to be the chief executive. Another says flatly: "He wanted it," a sentiment with which several others agreed.

Says Nager: "I would be unqualified for that position. I have been a partner at Jones Day since 1990, and if you look back at my [USGA] inaugural speech you will see that I made a commitment to my mentor and this law firm to return after two years. If you put one and one together [the two one-year terms as USGA president], you will get your answer. Look, when people don't like the message, they attack the messenger. Frankly, I find that offensive."

"The USGA can't get to Tom O'Toole fast enough," says one longtime insider, describing the mood at the Far Hills, N.J., headquarters as O'Toole prepares to succeed Nager as president beginning with the organization's annual meeting in February. According to another source, Nager had lost the support of the USGA Nominating Committee, Executive Committee, staff and many past presidents, a startling slide so soon after a string of successes that included prevailing over the PGA Tour and PGA of America on banning the anchored putting stroke and negotiating a $1.1 billion TV deal with FOX. The FOX deal was announced Aug. 7, a month and a day before the Walker Cup ended.

"Glen's ideas were heard at the Executive Committee and Nominating Committee levels," says a senior USGA official speaking on the condition of anonymity. "While his proposal didn't gain any real traction this time, there seemed to be an appreciation by some that good governance requires a continuous review of the status quo."



USGA expected to announce changes to rules violations reported on TV

The USGA and the R&A are expected to announce Tuesday new stipulations on how video is used in the reporting of potential rules violations. This announcement is part of their biennial review of the Decisions on the Rules of Golf and will take effect Jan. 1, 2014.

Other changes to the decisions book are expected, but addressing how video evidence is used seems timely considering that Tiger Woods was embroiled in several rules controversies this past year that were caught on video and reported.

 

The most famous came with his improper ball drop during the second round of the Masters in April (above) while his most recent was in September when he was given a two-stroke penalty at the BMW Championship for accidentally moving his ball while trying to remove loose impediments.

 

 

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem recently discussed the "difficult and awkward" nature of fans alerting officials of rules breaches and said the tour would be studying the matter. A change by the USGA and R&A in the Decisions would keep the tour from needing to consider a policy that might run counter to the Rules of Golf.

Should more women take up golf for purely business reasons?

It's no secret that golf has long been used as a business tool. But should that by itself be enough to draw more women into the game?

In a recent survey conducted by the Southern California Golf Association and highlighted by the San Diego Union-Tribune, playing golf because it helped advance their professional life was listed as one of the top 10 reasons why the SCGA's 150,000 members play golf. 

That's not exactly shocking, but what is slightly more surprising is how some organizations are interpreting the data. 

Related: Women golfers invade Pinehurst Resort

The Executive Women's Golf Association is just one of the groups that has grown in popularity in recent years. Another is the San Diego's High-heel Golfer, whose founder, Jennifer Harris, said at a local conference that for businesswomen playing golf should become "as high on their list of priorities as networking." 

"If business is who you know and how you know them, golf is an amazing way to be able to build those relationships and get to know people on a deeper level," Harris said. 

Michelle Bergquist, CEO of Connected Women of Influence who also spoke to the Union-Tribune, echoed that thought:

"Women are left out of relationships that lead to client engagement opportunities and career opportunities because they're left off the golf courses," Bergquist said. "In some ways they were never socialized to think that golf is a way to build relationships."

Is playing golf as important as networking? Let us hear you thoughts.

Stenson wins World Tour Championship in Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Henrik Stenson won the season-ending World Tour Championship Sunday after shooting a final-round 8-under 64 for a 263. 

With the victory, the Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup and European Tour's Race to Dubai in the same season. 

"It is still taking a little time to sink in what I've achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. 

The final day saw him put up six birdies before ending with an eagle at the 18th hole. 

Stenson added: "I have managed to do something very, very special here this week by winning both in America and the Race to Dubai." 

It was Stenson's first European Tour success of the year after winning two of the closing four FedEx Cup Play Off Series events. 

He collected a first prize of $1.333 million to take his earnings in 2013 in Europe alone to $5.538 million. 

"To achieve the double, double if you like in winning the DP World Tour Championship and the Race to Dubai on top of winning the PGA Tour Championship to capture the FedEx Cup takes some beating, I guess," Stenson said. 

"I am just very, very pleased with the way I played. I knew it was going to be a tough week as I knew the guys like Justin (Rose) and Ian (Poulter) would come charging at me and try to catch me." 

England's Ian Poulter birdied his closing two holes, shooting a 66 as he finished second on 19-under par to end the season in second place in the Race to Dubai. 

"I have to take my hat off to Henrik as he is unbelievable," said Poulter. 

"I tried to run him down as hard as I could but even with a sore wrist he has pressed on and I just could not get close enough. Henrik has not made a mistake all week and all I could do was make sure of second place and some valuable Ryder Cup points. 

"I have thrown a lot of him and given him so much stick but he is the best player on the planet right now." 

Victor Dubuisson of France shot a 71 to claim third place on 17 under, to end the season sixth. 

Out-going European No. 1 Rory McIlroy continues to show signs of getting back to his best with a closing round 67 to share fifth place at 15-under par.

Stenson's key to success (or not): 'Double portions of carrots'

Conventional wisdom finds that success is achieved by digging it out of the dirt, though apparently now it depends on what it is that is dug from the dirt. Carrots, for instance. 

"Eating double portions of carrots in June," Henrik Stenson said, explaining his remarkable resurgence that includes another victory and pot of gold. Stenson won the DP World Tour Championship on Sunday and the European Tour's Race to Dubai, a payday of $2.33 million. Two months ago, he won the PGA Tour's Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup, an $11.44 million payday. 

Stenson was kidding about the carrots, frivolity the prerogative of a man playing so well it's a joke. 

"Massive congrats to @henrikstenson best player on the planet. I tried but the man is playing some serious golf right now," Ian Poulter wrote on Twitter. Poulter, who finished second to Stenson, has played his own serious golf, to no avail beyond his bottom line. As his caddie Terry Mundy noted on Twitter, "62 under par for four weeks and not a trophy in sight!"

Poulter lost ground on Sunday, even with a closing round of 66. Stenson posted his second 64 of the tournament and third in two weeks to win by six.

Golf Digest colleague Stina Sternberg, via Twitter, best defined the magnitude of Stenson's turnabout: "Reminder of what makes Stenson's feat so amazing: 2 yrs ago couldn't win his club championship." 

Indeed, Stenson had not qualified to play in the PGA Championship in 2011, so he opted for his club championship at Sweden's Barseback Golf Club instead. And lost. He finished second to Henrik Hilford Brander. 

Today, he is third in the World Ranking, behind only Tiger Woods and Adam Scott, the latter stubbornly clinging to that spot by winning the Australian PGA and Australian Masters back to back. 

If not carrots, what then has fueled Stenson's resurgence? He cites his work with sports psychologist Torsten Hanson. "When you're a bit out, it's so easy chasing your own tail," Stenson said. "You want something to work for this week. But if we need to work on the swing, for instance, let's give it two, three months work on it, and sooner or later, you get the rewards. That was a big, big part of things, to give myself more time, patience to work on things. Eventually it gets together. 

"This started long, long before this summer. Even if I didn't play good for like two seasons or even more, you don't forget how to play good golf. It's more about putting things together and then all of a sudden you have more experience than you had before. You learn a lot, even when you're not playing good and you can benefit from that at a later stage."

Adam Scott hangs on to win Australian Masters

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Adam Scott successfully defended his Australian Masters title for his second victory in two weeks, scrambling Sunday for an even-par 71 and a two-shot victory over Matt Kuchar at wind-swept Royal Melbourne. 

Scott won the Australian PGA last week in his first event in Australia since winning the U.S. Masters in April. 

American Matt Kuchar, ahead by two strokes with four to play and even with Scott with one to go, double-bogeyed the 18th after taking two shots to get out of a bunker. Kuchar had a 68 to finish second. 

Vijay Singh, one of four players tied for second at the start of play, finished third after a 71, four behind playing partner Scott. The 50-year-old Fijian was attempting to win for the first time since 2008. 

Scott, who finished at 14-under 270, began the day with a comfortable lead, lost it on the back nine, then wrestled it back. 

He will now try to win the so-called Australian Triple Crown at the Australian Open at Royal Sydney in two weeks. Before that, he will partner Jason Day for Australia at the World Cup next week, again at Royal Melbourne. 

Kuchar took the lead when Scott made a double bogey on the 14th as he dealt with a plugged lie in a bunker, while Kuchar in the preceding group made a birdie at the 15th. 

The situation was reversed a hole later when Scott also birdied the 15th and the American bogeyed the 16th. 

Scott had led by four strokes at the start of the round and by five shots late on the front nine. His faltering on the back nine revived memories of the 2012 British Open when he bogeyed the final four holes to lose by a shot, but this time he was able to recover and finish on top. 

"I usually like looking at the leaderboard, but it wasn't enjoyable today," Scott said of the numerous lead changes. "I made a lot of errors, but I managed to hang on despite being a little shaky out there." 

His day got off to an ominous start. His birdie putt from three feet lipped out while Singh had a tap-in birdie to reduce the lead to three, but a Singh bogey on the second restored the four-shot gap. 

While Scott and Singh dueled in the final group, Kuchar, who will team with Kevin Streelman for the United States at the World Cup, moved up the leaderboard. 

The American bogeyed the first hole, but birdies on five of the next eight left him as Scott's closest pursuer. He birdied the 11th and then the 15th to take the lead for the first time in the tournament before his late collapse. 

"It's never fun, the 72nd hole, but it can happen any time," Kuchar said. "I tried on the last hole to stay aggressive and hit a good quality shot and I thought I had. 

"The thing about Royal Melbourne is you can really pay the price for just being off if you play aggressively. It's certainly a rough way to end it but that's kind of the nature of the game." 

Jarrod Lyle, playing in his first tournament in 20 months since his recovery from his second bout of leukemia, finished with an 8-over 79, including bogeys on his final three holes. He didn't expect to make the cut. 

At the 18th, the large gallery applauded, even playing partner Michael Long, as Lyle walked gingerly around the green. 

"I played five days in a row, including the pro-am, and the last nine holes I started to feel it," Lyle said. "I got around, and it's not the end I wanted. But it's better than I thought it would be: three good rounds and one shocker, that's golf."

Lexi Thompson wins Lorena Ochoa Invitational

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) Lexi Thompson won the Lorena Ochoa Invitational on Sunday for her second victory in her last four starts, birdieing the final hole to beat Stacy Lewis by a stroke. 

The 18-year-old Thompson made a 5-foot putt on the par-5 18th, then won when Lewis missed her 5-foot try. 

"To have Lorena Ochoa give me the trophy on the 18th green, it's so memorable and honorable," Thompson said. "She's been such a huge role model to me. Just to play in her event, it's an honor and to be here and to see her. It is a great honor to win this event and have her give me the trophy. It means a lot to me." 

Ochoa won 27 LPGA Tour titles before retiring in 2010. 

Thompson closed with a 3-under 69 to finish at 16-under 272 at Guadalajara Country Club. She won the 2011 LPGA Navistar Classic at 16, and took the LPGA Malaysia last month for her second tour title. 

Thompson two-putted for the victory. 

"First off, I had like a 50- to 60-footer for the first one, which was interesting getting up there within a few feet," Thompson said. "You know on the second putt, that's what it all came down to thinking I can make it and went up to it confidently. Just knock it in." 

The third-ranked Lewis, a three-time winner this year, had a 68. 

"I knew I had to make it," Lewis said about her birdie try on the final hole. "I had a good line on it, just with these greens, those downhill putts are the hardest ones to make. I hit a good putt. I hit it where I wanted to. It just didn't go in." 

So Yeon Ryu was third at 13 under after a 69. 

Top-ranked Inbee Park finished fourth at 11 under to wrap up the points-based player of the year award with one event left. She is the first South Korean player to win the award. 

"I said all year, there should have been at least two or three girls that already won the award, but nobody really did it," said Park, who shot 69. "It's just really hard to believe and I'm just very lucky I won." 

Lewis birdied Nos. 12-14 to take a one-stroke lead, but dropped into a tie with Thompson with a bogey on the par-3 17th. 

"Stacy is an amazing player," Thompson said. "I knew she could make a run at me any time during that round. When she made the two-shot swing on me, I think on No. 12, it brought it back to all squared. I knew I had to make birdies on top of her because she gets on a roll and she doesn't stop. She's an amazing player and played great today."