1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:05,120 Speaker 1: What makes the golf world interesting is there are a 2 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: lot of different opinions and there's a lot of different facets, 3 00:00:09,760 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: and it's an endless debate and it's fun to be 4 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: part of the debate. And I think the stories that 5 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:18,159 Speaker 1: we do, stories that Ryan does, and the list that 6 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: we want to create for the for the collective and 7 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: all this it's it's about creating conversation. And I think 8 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:25,480 Speaker 1: ultimately the Saudia story, the reason I want to do 9 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: it is because it informs the debate a little bit 10 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: more and it gives people something understand the framework of 11 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:34,960 Speaker 1: what we're talking about. And so I mean that's that's 12 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: that's sort of the unifying metaphor of the fire pit collective, 13 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:40,519 Speaker 1: right You're sitting around a fire pit and you're you're 14 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: telling stories and you're you're discussing the issues of the day. 15 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:47,599 Speaker 1: And I think that's how I think of a lot 16 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: of our journalism. That's what it's gonna be. It's gonna 17 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:52,480 Speaker 1: get some sometort of people will talk about and chew 18 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: on and to think about. And the more thought provoking 19 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 1: you better. So I think we're off to a pretty 20 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: good start. I look forward to seeing what Ryan adds 21 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 1: to that, and I know, I know that you and 22 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: I are both gonna start pumping out stuff at a 23 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: more regular clip. And so it's been a heck of 24 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: a week, that's for sure. Another law FI. Nobody here 25 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 1: is getting time. Welcome to the fire Pit with Matt Chineller. 26 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 1: As Alan Schipnik said, it's been a heck of a week. 27 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:36,120 Speaker 1: The fire Pit is lit. We've started hiring a team 28 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 1: of people who can help us execute a modern media 29 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 1: network independent of the deals and models that are based 30 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: on a bland factor. It caters to the concerns of 31 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: big business and paid for platforms. A true freedom of 32 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: the press. What a concept, which is why we can 33 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 1: produce and publish an article and history lesson on Saudi 34 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: Arabia which you can read on the homepage of the 35 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 1: fire Pit Collective dot com. On the subjective Souls searches, 36 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 1: honesty and why the game is more than scores, I 37 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:08,960 Speaker 1: always turned to John Ashworth, one of the co creators 38 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: of Links Soul, which I've been wearing on and off 39 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 1: the course for eight years, a like minded lifestyle brand 40 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 1: that we believe in. Beyond the close, it's more about 41 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 1: the culture and community. They cultivate it. Golf is such 42 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: a you know, such a positive, you know, come together 43 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: spirit with people, you know what I mean, It's so 44 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 1: positive and uh amazing. You know. That's that's the whole 45 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:38,679 Speaker 1: key is the fact that the atmosphere around golf, it's 46 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:42,239 Speaker 1: the truth. You know, just playing golf, you can't you know, 47 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,239 Speaker 1: you can't hide from anything. It's you get you're there, 48 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 1: You're just naked. Every everyone everyone's in charge of their 49 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,919 Speaker 1: own game. Everyone needs to respect the course and respect 50 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: each other. And this you know in the setting. So 51 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 1: I mean, I think it's it's very uh, I mean, 52 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 1: it's very important to humanity. I always go back to that. 53 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: It's it's like this thing you can always go back 54 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:11,800 Speaker 1: to um and I'm just glad. I mean, I feel 55 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 1: like there's the golf world and everything the other world. 56 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: They go parallel. And that's why even through COVID, I mean, 57 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: it's such a positive thing through COVID because people allows 58 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 1: people to get outside. You can easily keep your distance, 59 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:30,639 Speaker 1: and it's positive also positive. Go to links sol dot 60 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: com and use promo code fire Pit off your next purchase. 61 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: Again quite a week here at the fire Pit and 62 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: for more on the Saudi Arabia story. Today's podcast is 63 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 1: all Alan Schipnuk For people who come across this article 64 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 1: and reading it like holy shit, because you know it 65 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 1: gets mentioned multiple times. Wow, that was a history lesson. 66 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 1: I mean, how long how long has that reporting been 67 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: in the works. Give us some background and context on that. 68 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: It goes back years. You know, through golf, I became 69 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 1: friends with the pebl Beast guy named Jack Grant Colis, 70 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: and we just we played a lot and we talked 71 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: a lot, and he told me his story over time, 72 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 1: which is his pregnant college sweetheart Lauren was on United 73 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: and you know that was obviously people remember the it 74 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: was that plane was grounded about forty five minutes behind 75 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:27,599 Speaker 1: the other planes are hijacked to nine eleven, and so 76 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: the people aboard kind of knew what was happening because 77 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:32,039 Speaker 1: they were able to call home and get get information 78 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:35,839 Speaker 1: in real time. And there was the doomed uprising to 79 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 1: retake control of the plane and ultimately crashed in the 80 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 1: the field and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. And you know, Jack 81 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:45,600 Speaker 1: has been through hell and back, right. I mean, it's 82 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:49,160 Speaker 1: really the deepest, the darkest hole you can imagine, and 83 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 1: you know, he pulled himself out of it, and I 84 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,839 Speaker 1: met him an interesting time in his life. You know, 85 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 1: he was already fifteen years past nine eleven, but he 86 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:02,839 Speaker 1: was still struggling in ways. We just started talking and 87 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 1: at some point I said, you know, if you're interested, 88 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: this could be an incredible book. And he said, well, 89 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:11,040 Speaker 1: my my, you know, my PTS I therapists has told 90 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:12,280 Speaker 1: me I should write a book and get all this 91 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:15,480 Speaker 1: stuff out. And so I started recording the conversations and 92 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 1: it just turned into a project. And um, the book 93 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: is now slated to come out next January. But in 94 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: in educating myself about nine eleven and writing the chapters 95 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 1: about what happened onboard the plane and what were the 96 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 1: forces that led to that moment, you know, I read 97 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 1: the nine eleven Commission report and six pages, I read 98 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 1: it twice every page. I've probably consumed another dozen books 99 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 1: on sort of the geopolitical causes of of nine eleven. 100 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: And as you as you delve deeper into it, Saudi 101 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 1: Arabia just loomed so large and and everything. You know, 102 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: obviously fifteen and the nineteen hijackers came from Saudi Arabia. 103 00:05:57,640 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 1: You know, that's that's the birthplace of a solo bid law, 104 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: but it runs much deeper than that. And so I 105 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 1: wound up really writing a five thousand word chapter that's 106 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:08,480 Speaker 1: kind of the history of nine eleven that that was 107 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 1: for this book. And ultimately Jack felt like it was 108 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 1: almost maybe a little too hot, but it was also 109 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 1: took a little bit away from his story and the 110 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 1: story of Lauren and and you know, him refinding love. 111 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:22,479 Speaker 1: And in the end, you know, the book has a 112 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:25,479 Speaker 1: happy ending because Jack remarried finally and it's kind of 113 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: made peace with everything he's been through. And so we 114 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:29,600 Speaker 1: kind of decided that we're gonna leave that stuff out 115 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:32,160 Speaker 1: of out of the book. It was, and but it's 116 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,839 Speaker 1: just been burning a hole in my my, my, my desktop. 117 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:38,480 Speaker 1: You know. It's something that's been bubbling inside of me 118 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 1: for a long time because the more you read and 119 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 1: the more you educate yourself, the more outraged you become 120 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 1: about the whole thing. And um, never really knew how 121 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: or where this I was gonna be able to use 122 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:51,760 Speaker 1: this material, but I knew someday was going to come 123 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:54,840 Speaker 1: out and then bang, you know, all the stuff with 124 00:06:54,880 --> 00:07:02,040 Speaker 1: the PGL and the spl and the Saudi Arabio involvement 125 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 1: in the highest reaches of the game. It's like, Okay, 126 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,359 Speaker 1: this is the time to really remind people of what happened. 127 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 1: And a lot of folks have forgotten. I mean, now 128 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: we're coming up on the twenti anniversary a nine eleven, 129 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 1: A lot of folks never knew, you know, Somewhere in between, 130 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 1: it just felt like, if if professional golf is gonna 131 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 1: get in bed with Saudi Arabia, this is what you 132 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 1: really need to know. And there's there's kind of this 133 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 1: this low grade feeling like uncomfortable nous with the regime. 134 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 1: And obviously with the killing of Jamal Ka that that 135 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: brought things to a boil. But even so, I mean, 136 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 1: President Trump was happy to sweep that under the rug, 137 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 1: and there was no real impact um to the Kingdom, 138 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 1: any repercussions for for murdering of Washington Post journalists who 139 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: was a resident of the United States, And they skated 140 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 1: on that one pretty much. And you know, they've been 141 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: skating all along because they have so much power and 142 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: influence of money, and because the tentacles of the Saturabian 143 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: government goes so deep into the United States government. And 144 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 1: so I just felt like, let's just put all the 145 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 1: cards on the table, and this is who they are. 146 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 1: And it's important for people to know that if Phil 147 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 1: Mickelson or whoever wants to cut a deal to Saudis 148 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: to play golf over there, you know, that's that's their 149 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: personal choice. But I think the golf fans need to 150 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: know exactly what we're talking about here and and who 151 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 1: we're dealing with and what it means to to create 152 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 1: this long term alliance, because you know, the only reason 153 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 1: that Saudi Arabia is doing this is because there it's 154 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: their continued effort kind of whitewash the reputation and rehabilitate 155 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 1: their they're standing in the world stage, and you know, 156 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 1: there's no history of golf over there. It's it's not 157 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:41,680 Speaker 1: a nation that that this the sport is important to 158 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:44,839 Speaker 1: obviously don't really have the climate the terrain for it. 159 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 1: Why are they going to pour you know, a billion 160 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 1: dollars into building golf courses and creating this league and 161 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 1: hosting tournaments. It's just pr and so if the players 162 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:56,719 Speaker 1: want to be kind of willing accomplices and that, I 163 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: think it's important for golf fans to know exactly what's 164 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 1: going on. It all comes down to what's your number 165 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: to ignore the truth. I mean, the price has a 166 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:07,839 Speaker 1: lot of zeros and a lot of commas when you 167 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:12,080 Speaker 1: when you get to these golfers. And but to be fair, 168 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 1: this is this is an issue that that many industries 169 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 1: are confronting. And whether it's Exon or it's these other 170 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:21,679 Speaker 1: multi national corporations that are doing business over there, it's 171 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:24,959 Speaker 1: Goldman Sacks. I mean, you name it. I mean, many 172 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 1: sectors of the United States economy have they've had they've 173 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: named a price, and Saudi Arabia has matched it, and 174 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 1: that's why we do so much business. And you know, 175 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:35,839 Speaker 1: this all goes of course, it goes back to oil. 176 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 1: They're sitting on the largest oil reserves in the world, 177 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 1: they have been for half a century, and that's fuel 178 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: the American way. I mean, we're all complicit in some 179 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 1: way by you know, driving an suv or um, you know, 180 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:50,679 Speaker 1: flying around the world like you know, the whole economy 181 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: runs on Saudi Arabian oils. So everyone is part of 182 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 1: this in some way, large or small. But it just 183 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 1: becomes more obvious and explicit when they're they're trying to 184 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 1: to I uh, Dustin Johnson and they're trying to buy 185 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 1: a tiger Wood. They're trying to buy Phil Nicholson. It 186 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 1: it really, it really strips away all the nuance and 187 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:12,960 Speaker 1: all the issues and it just becomes pure, purely transactional 188 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:16,080 Speaker 1: and what what is the price for these guys and 189 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:18,679 Speaker 1: what is the meaning of their golf? They're trying to 190 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:22,079 Speaker 1: chase history or they trying to do something impactful, or 191 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 1: they just businessmen trying to make money, like like the 192 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 1: guys the Golden Sacks and you know all these oil companies. 193 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 1: And so I mean, listen that this is something that 194 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:35,959 Speaker 1: as our company is gonna have to confront, right like, 195 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 1: at some point Saudi Arabia or someone else may come 196 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:39,959 Speaker 1: to us and say, hey, we want you to come 197 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 1: do a big travel story and we're gonna we're gonna 198 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: pay you X amount of money. And as a young, 199 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 1: upstart company, you know, you might be tempted. But I 200 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:51,160 Speaker 1: think I can speak for for for you and Alex 201 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: when we would just say no, like you just we 202 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:57,800 Speaker 1: just already said no, already got approached. I already said no. 203 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:00,120 Speaker 1: I mean you know, and I was it was a 204 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:03,439 Speaker 1: no on on on the Premier Golf League as as 205 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: it related to Saudi backing. I've talked to people who 206 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 1: are involved and I said, all along, if this is 207 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 1: Saudi backed money you're gonna have, you're gonna have a problem. 208 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:17,200 Speaker 1: Needless to say, the fire Pit Collective will not be 209 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 1: doing travel features on golf in Saudi Arabia. This is 210 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:23,679 Speaker 1: a longstanding issue in the world of golf. I mean, 211 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:28,520 Speaker 1: the European Tour would not exist without oppressive regimes, right, 212 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:31,200 Speaker 1: all the all the events they play in the Middle East, 213 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 1: they play in China, if those are the biggest persons, 214 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:37,560 Speaker 1: you stripped that away. And the European Tours basically the 215 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 1: corn Ferry Tour from a prize money standpoint. And so 216 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:44,680 Speaker 1: we all love the European Tour social media, we like 217 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: watching them play. The Ryder Cup is the highlight of 218 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:51,680 Speaker 1: the golf calendar. But all those things are are built 219 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 1: on on money that comes from really questionable sources. But 220 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 1: Saudi Arabia is just different. They're in a different league. 221 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 1: I mean, and it's all laid out in the article. 222 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:07,200 Speaker 1: I mean, yes, it's trying to have a human rights problem, 223 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:12,839 Speaker 1: no question, But I mean Saudi Arabia, they not only 224 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:15,680 Speaker 1: were supplied the hijackers on eleven, but they funded the 225 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 1: whole operation. They've been funding. It's all been lawed for 226 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:19,480 Speaker 1: a decade, and it's all laid out in this story, 227 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: and so it becomes a slippery slope for sure. And 228 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 1: let's be honestly, the United States has has has done 229 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 1: some very questionable things in the foreign policy arena through 230 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 1: the years. I mean, our hands are not clean either, 231 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:36,600 Speaker 1: but you can you can point at almost every country 232 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:40,800 Speaker 1: and there's there's things that are problematic. But Saudi Arabia 233 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:45,439 Speaker 1: is on a totally different level, and there the problem 234 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 1: is there. It's it's it's so insidious, but it's working. 235 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 1: Like when when the first Saudi Tournament debuted in two 236 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:55,839 Speaker 1: thousand nineteen as part of the European Tour schedule, there 237 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: was a lot of hand ringing and there was a 238 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 1: lot of questions and a lot of soul searching, and 239 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: that's all kind of faded away. Now you know, Dustin's 240 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 1: wanted two out of three years, they're they're still getting 241 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 1: blue chip players, are going every year. They're all saying 242 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 1: the right things, and when when that termament rolls around 243 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:17,439 Speaker 1: the calendar, there's very little conversation. More it's just become accepted. 244 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:20,680 Speaker 1: And that's what they do. I mean, they just buy 245 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:25,000 Speaker 1: people and they buy organizations. And so that's why I 246 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:27,160 Speaker 1: wanted to write this story just as a reminder and 247 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 1: as as a chance, you know, those entire generations of 248 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 1: golf fans now that we're you know, too young to 249 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 1: even really remember nine eleven. You know, if you're twenty 250 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:37,959 Speaker 1: five years old, you probably even remember the day it happened, 251 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: and you know, maybe you learned a little bit about 252 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:44,840 Speaker 1: it in school, but there there's there's so much too absorb, 253 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 1: and so I wanted to try and just remind people 254 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 1: who it is we're dealing with here, and at the 255 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 1: same time also sort of clarifying or clearing up the 256 00:13:55,480 --> 00:14:00,199 Speaker 1: smoke screen that is this sort of PGL s g 257 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:04,960 Speaker 1: L p G A tour. Understanding the lines in the 258 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:10,440 Speaker 1: sand now and realizing that the s GL is one thing, 259 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 1: the PGL is another thing. They're no longer intertwined and 260 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:18,480 Speaker 1: they're moving forward independently, and that the PGA tour now 261 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 1: has kind of there. It's still the same battle they're fighting, 262 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 1: it's PJA Tour versus, but it's two very different things 263 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 1: at this point. So it's kind of become a splintered competition. Yeah, 264 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 1: it was educational for me because I was confused. You know, 265 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 1: when the when the PGL first popped on the scene, 266 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 1: they were negotiating with theoretical Saudi money. I mean they've 267 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 1: been they were there in talks with Golf Saudi and 268 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 1: they were hoping to bring you know, Saudi Arabia on 269 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 1: as a partner. But they were hanging. I mean they were, 270 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 1: they were they were playing together. They're playing golf together. 271 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 1: This was happening. There was happening. But you know, our 272 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: our sources at the PGL are very careful to say 273 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 1: they never signed a contract, they never any no Saudis 274 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:05,600 Speaker 1: ever became shareholders. So they were they were negotiating, they 275 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 1: want to do it, but they could never consummate the deal. 276 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 1: And so the PGL has now has nothing to do 277 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 1: with Saudi Arabia. It's investors are mostly American and European 278 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:18,600 Speaker 1: um but Golf Saudi they just basically sold the idea, 279 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:20,240 Speaker 1: said okay, I like, yeah, this is a good idea. 280 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 1: We don't even need the pg L guys, let's just 281 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:24,000 Speaker 1: do it ourselves. And in some ways it's better for 282 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 1: them because the PGL as conceived is a worldwide tour 283 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:32,240 Speaker 1: that visit a lot of cool places with rich golf traditions. 284 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 1: But what Saudi Arabia wants to rehabilitate their own reputation. 285 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 1: They would much rather have the tournaments in the Middle 286 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: East and in Saudi Arabia. It just helps them tell 287 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 1: their story. It forces the world to come to them 288 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: and see a very um, you know, well packaged presentation 289 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:50,440 Speaker 1: of what the country can be. And so yeah, now 290 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 1: the PGL and and the Super Golf League, which is 291 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:57,520 Speaker 1: the Saudiast they're they're competitors, and they're competing for the 292 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 1: same small number of superstars in golf. And it probably 293 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 1: the fact that they're going to split the vote essentially 294 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:08,760 Speaker 1: probably is good for the p g A Tour and 295 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 1: the European Tour, because neither the spl or the the 296 00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 1: PGL can can really work unless they get all the 297 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 1: top players. You know, if you have a couple here 298 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 1: and a couple there, it's just too diluted, I mean less, 299 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 1: there's only really ten guys we care about in the 300 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 1: world of golf, right who actually moved the needle. It 301 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 1: might be five, it might be four, And so you 302 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:33,360 Speaker 1: need them as a group. That's what makes the major 303 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 1: is interesting, That's what makes a w g c's compelling. 304 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 1: Um But I mean, I'm I'm a fan of Phil Michoelson, 305 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: but he you know, his his star has dulled considerably. 306 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 1: No one's going to tune into a whole new league 307 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 1: if he's the marquee player. You know, you need you 308 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 1: need obviously, you need Brooks, you need Dustin, you need 309 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 1: Tiger if you can ever walk again, you need j 310 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 1: t you need speed. I mean, those are the guys 311 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 1: that people care about. And uh so, I think Jay 312 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 1: Monahan is probably happy that that now that even though 313 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:06,920 Speaker 1: he's he's fighting a war on two fronts, I think 314 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:11,639 Speaker 1: it actually helps him because the these new upstart tours 315 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:14,840 Speaker 1: are going to cancel each other out. I think if 316 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:17,960 Speaker 1: the money gets so big, maybe maybe that maybe we'll 317 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:21,440 Speaker 1: be surprised. And it's it's an interesting point. Really. I 318 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:24,440 Speaker 1: don't think Dustin Johnson really cares where the money comes from, right. 319 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:27,679 Speaker 1: He wants to win trophies, he wants to make money, 320 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 1: and he cares about the majors. If either the PGL 321 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 1: or SPL could could create a platform where he could 322 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: still get world ranking points, and that seems likely that 323 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:39,879 Speaker 1: ranking points would be would be granted to these tournaments 324 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:43,640 Speaker 1: and he could play the four majors, uh the other 325 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:47,439 Speaker 1: fourteen fifteen weeks a year. If he's guaranteed fifties sixty 326 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 1: seventy million dollars, I think he's okay skeeping the l 327 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:53,360 Speaker 1: A Open, these other places. Um, you know, he's kind 328 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 1: of He's always said he's going he plays money, plays 329 00:17:57,119 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 1: golf for money. That's what a professional golfer is by definition, 330 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:02,920 Speaker 1: and so um, you know, Roy Mcarroy is different. I 331 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 1: think he wants to be able to play in the 332 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:07,159 Speaker 1: Irish Open and playing some of these traditional spots. It 333 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:09,399 Speaker 1: would probably be taken away from you. You know that 334 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 1: j Monahan and Keith Pellery and play hardball. And if 335 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:15,399 Speaker 1: if any of the players defect from the PGA and 336 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 1: the Erapian Tour, I think they're gonna be basically barred 337 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:19,919 Speaker 1: from those events. So you have to think carefully. You know, 338 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:22,920 Speaker 1: what what are you getting yourself into? Because you lose 339 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:26,679 Speaker 1: your national opens if you're a foreign player, Uh, you 340 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:28,879 Speaker 1: lose a lot of traditional tour stops. You know, if 341 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 1: you have if you love Colonial and you love Pebble 342 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 1: Beach and you love Riviera, and those have kind of 343 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:37,280 Speaker 1: defined your season in your existence, and you're a past 344 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:39,399 Speaker 1: champion and you're not welcome at those places, and that 345 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:42,359 Speaker 1: that's asking a lot. So that's why, ultimately, I think 346 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:44,879 Speaker 1: both of these these new these new tours are are 347 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: gonna gonna fizzle out because the tour has enough money 348 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:50,600 Speaker 1: and they have they have the other things that matter, 349 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 1: which is the prestige and the history and the comfort 350 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 1: and the familiarity. How does the commissioner have this kind 351 00:18:56,760 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 1: of leverage win? In fact, he works for the players. 352 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 1: You know, It's interesting, It's like who does does Roger 353 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:06,480 Speaker 1: Goodell work for the players of the owners? But we 354 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:10,680 Speaker 1: know he works for the owners. Jay Monahan, he sort 355 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 1: of works for the players, but really he I think 356 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 1: he works for the sponsors, like those those are his 357 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 1: masters in a lot of ways. Like his job is 358 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 1: to bring money to the PGA Tour and to distribute 359 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 1: it to the players. I guess we're gonna find out, right, 360 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 1: I guess that's going to be even also made more clear. Yeah, yeah, 361 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:32,240 Speaker 1: for sure. His I mean, ultimately, Monahan's allegiance is to 362 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:37,359 Speaker 1: the financial security of this tour, and I think the 363 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 1: players are interchangeable to some degree, Like he's got to 364 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:44,920 Speaker 1: keep the checks coming in, and so I think I 365 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 1: think Monahan cares a little bit more about American Express 366 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:51,359 Speaker 1: and Genesis and those people then he does some of 367 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:53,200 Speaker 1: the some of the players on his tour, and rightfully 368 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 1: so the player, I guess depends on the player does 369 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:59,920 Speaker 1: on the player. But you know, ultimately, if if Justin 370 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:03,879 Speaker 1: Thomas defects, the tour is still gonna have a tournament 371 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 1: every week with a big check and a good sponsor 372 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 1: like he he can he can lose a few guys 373 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:11,119 Speaker 1: and we can't lose them all. But um, you know, 374 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: I don't I don't think that any one player can 375 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 1: push around Monahan. He would get in trouble if Tiger, 376 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:23,560 Speaker 1: Phil Brooks, Dustin and George Spee, you know, to use 377 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 1: like the survivor analogy that they created this this little 378 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:31,080 Speaker 1: um pod and and they banded together and tried and 379 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:34,480 Speaker 1: tried to assert their influence. I mean, then then Monahan's 380 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 1: gonna have to listen that he can fend off one 381 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:41,080 Speaker 1: guy at a time. But um, well, you know, the 382 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 1: tour fended off Greg Norman with the World Golf Tour 383 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:49,720 Speaker 1: became World Golf Championships basically fended it off, took the idea, 384 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:53,520 Speaker 1: made it reality and said, you know, and and fended 385 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:58,480 Speaker 1: off Greg Norman's you know, you know sort of pitch, right, 386 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 1: I mean, would would that be a fair generalization? Yeah, no, 387 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:05,840 Speaker 1: they definitely. They kind of did what the Saudis did 388 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 1: the PGL. They took the idea and they made it 389 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 1: their own. And you know, Monahan has resources, right obviously, 390 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 1: the Player Impact Program forty million dollar, you know, kind 391 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:19,359 Speaker 1: of they just came up with some some fakeries they 392 00:21:19,359 --> 00:21:21,160 Speaker 1: can they can reward the top players of more money. 393 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 1: You know, whatever these mysterious algorithms are and all that stuff, like, okay, whatever, 394 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:27,800 Speaker 1: j Like, he's just it's just basically gonna give the 395 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:30,520 Speaker 1: money out to his favorite people, right and keep them happy. 396 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 1: Like we all know that the fixes in on that. 397 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:34,359 Speaker 1: What else is he cooking up? We don't know, but 398 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:37,720 Speaker 1: he has other things at his disposal. On that note, 399 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 1: I asked Alan that if the tour continues to pivot 400 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 1: and evolved and there are more events like the Zurich Classic, 401 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:47,520 Speaker 1: team events with a variety of formats weaved into the 402 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:51,000 Speaker 1: PGA Tour season in the end, don't we all win 403 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 1: with a better product, something more interesting for us and them. 404 00:21:56,040 --> 00:21:58,080 Speaker 1: I mean, really, the players are gonna win because the 405 00:21:58,119 --> 00:22:00,880 Speaker 1: top guys are gonna get paid no matter what Monn's 406 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:02,960 Speaker 1: gonna find. You know, there's gonna be more windhom rewards 407 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 1: points and and all these little things that the fans 408 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 1: don't care about what the players do because it's actual 409 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:11,840 Speaker 1: money that comes their way. Like I would expect, they'll 410 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:15,720 Speaker 1: be more revenue streams, and you know, we're already seeing 411 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:18,400 Speaker 1: it's interesting the play. There's been this shift right where 412 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:22,880 Speaker 1: players are taking control of their media. Obviously Tiger with 413 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:28,600 Speaker 1: with Golf TV, Rory with Golf pass. Uh. The biggest 414 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:33,439 Speaker 1: checks available to Monahan are through the networks and and 415 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:36,120 Speaker 1: all all all the rights deals. And so maybe he's 416 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:39,320 Speaker 1: he'll he'll find a way to say okay to Brooks 417 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 1: or to Jordan's speak, Okay, we we we've arranged, and 418 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:46,120 Speaker 1: you're gonna have your own podcast and your own blog. 419 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:48,399 Speaker 1: It's going to be part of this new TV deal. 420 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:50,879 Speaker 1: A're gonna pay twenti million dollars for it. And it's like, okay, 421 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 1: that's just another way to fend off the Saudias. You know, 422 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:56,480 Speaker 1: there's there's ways that they can, they can funnel money 423 00:22:56,480 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 1: to the players by creating new programs, new platforms. Um. 424 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:02,639 Speaker 1: I'm sure there's a lot of discussion going on right 425 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:05,680 Speaker 1: now in pont of Vitra Beats, and it'll it'll leak 426 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 1: out over time. But if if this only comes down 427 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 1: to money, the tour can still pay the top guys 428 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:14,680 Speaker 1: in different ways, and you know, who knows, maybe they'll 429 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:16,720 Speaker 1: they'll they'll find a way to loosen the restrictions on 430 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:20,120 Speaker 1: a peerage fees. Uh. That's that's always been a bed 431 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 1: rock foundation of the PGA Tour that they don't pay 432 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:25,480 Speaker 1: appearance fees. But you know that could change. I mean 433 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:27,879 Speaker 1: everything's up for grabs right now because the players have 434 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:31,520 Speaker 1: been empowered. In other words, the PGA Tour is forced 435 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:35,639 Speaker 1: to be more certainly pay more. I think that it's 436 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:38,280 Speaker 1: a it's a healthy exercise in some ways. That that 437 00:23:38,359 --> 00:23:41,680 Speaker 1: you know, the Petri has had a monopoly right on 438 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:44,880 Speaker 1: on the product, and the product has probably suffered. It's 439 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 1: just endless number of stroke play events, very little innovation 440 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:54,320 Speaker 1: from the TV side, no offseason, very mediocre social media 441 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:58,399 Speaker 1: platform So competition is good. They're they're going to have 442 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:01,040 Speaker 1: to dig deep and and they're gonna have to change 443 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 1: things keep players happy, and hopefully that the trickle down 444 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:07,200 Speaker 1: is that it makes more compelling product and the fans 445 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 1: are happy. You know, we'll see I think the tour 446 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:13,160 Speaker 1: is going to survive this. I think they will emerge stronger. 447 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:16,000 Speaker 1: I think they'll have created more loyalty from the players 448 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 1: and more buying. The players are gonna make more money. 449 00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 1: Hopefully the product improves and maybe this is the best 450 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:23,199 Speaker 1: thing that could have happened for the golf fan. And 451 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:26,440 Speaker 1: we'll see a lot of substant changes. But it could 452 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:29,480 Speaker 1: be messy here. I mean there's there's definitely competing interests, 453 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:31,840 Speaker 1: and as we point out in the story, you know, 454 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 1: Saudi Arabia has a way of getting its way. I mean, 455 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 1: Jack Niklis is eighty one years old and he's gonna 456 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:38,800 Speaker 1: slip off to Saudi Arabia to build a golf course. 457 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:42,080 Speaker 1: Like you know, does that does that really change his 458 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 1: his legacy as a golf course designer. No. I mean, 459 00:24:46,359 --> 00:24:49,359 Speaker 1: obviously everyone has their price, and you will see what 460 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:52,040 Speaker 1: the top ten players in the world with their prices. 461 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:56,560 Speaker 1: But what Roy said is encouraging. I think J's pushing 462 00:24:56,560 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 1: back and that that creates a that creates cover for 463 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:02,120 Speaker 1: other guy us who can just kind of work behind 464 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:03,840 Speaker 1: the scenes to get what they want from Monahan, but 465 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:09,679 Speaker 1: ultimately say no. Before we shift gears and get a 466 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:12,360 Speaker 1: little more on the hiring of Bryan French, I want 467 00:25:12,359 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 1: to remind you about Part points, a new way to 468 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 1: score on the course. Brandon Ebert, one of the co creators, explains, 469 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:21,960 Speaker 1: the concept of the game is every hole is its 470 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:25,040 Speaker 1: own game, and your job is to make sure you 471 00:25:25,119 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 1: score par on every hole. So it says, pick a 472 00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:29,719 Speaker 1: spot on every hole where you think is you can 473 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:32,919 Speaker 1: score par from and play from that distance. So as 474 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:34,920 Speaker 1: they scratch golfer might play it from the back teas 475 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,119 Speaker 1: as an average golfer, I might play it from one fifty. 476 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:38,840 Speaker 1: It doesn't matter. You can choose anywhere you want on 477 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:41,280 Speaker 1: the on the whole, from the you know, the teaing 478 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:43,159 Speaker 1: area to the green and if you want to put 479 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 1: your ball on the on the green and put in 480 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:47,200 Speaker 1: and that's all you want to do, that's okay. If 481 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 1: you choose to play from one fifty and you are 482 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:52,199 Speaker 1: the whole and every part is the same as the 483 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:54,240 Speaker 1: course designer designed it. So if it's a Part five, 484 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:56,440 Speaker 1: it stays as a part five, you get five chances. 485 00:25:56,440 --> 00:25:58,440 Speaker 1: There are five shots on that hole, so if you 486 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:01,160 Speaker 1: par from one apart five five, you get a hundred 487 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:04,399 Speaker 1: and fifty points. If you choose to play from one 488 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:06,919 Speaker 1: fifty and score of four on a par five, that 489 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:10,040 Speaker 1: doubles to three hundred points. And so there's that math 490 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:13,000 Speaker 1: to say, what's the risk reward of moving forward versus 491 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:16,680 Speaker 1: playing back? A birdie from three hundred yards is worth 492 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:19,719 Speaker 1: more than a par from four hundred yards. A birdie 493 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:23,360 Speaker 1: excited apart from four hundred perform points, So it's kind 494 00:26:23,359 --> 00:26:25,119 Speaker 1: of that risk rewards how far do I go up? 495 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:27,719 Speaker 1: But the best thing we point out is the bogies 496 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:29,720 Speaker 1: are worth nothing. You get you don't get rewarded for 497 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:34,360 Speaker 1: bad golf. Part Points is great for kids, families and 498 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:37,640 Speaker 1: Buddy's trips. Looking to bring a top golf scoring experience 499 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:40,960 Speaker 1: to the golf course. Download the Part Points app now 500 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:44,000 Speaker 1: and go make part all right. Back to the week 501 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 1: it has been at the pit. Thankfully, Ryan French of 502 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 1: the Twitter handled Monday q Info said yes to becoming 503 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:54,800 Speaker 1: employee number one at the fire Pit Collective. More on 504 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:57,919 Speaker 1: Ryan and his story in the podcast prior to this 505 00:26:57,960 --> 00:27:00,920 Speaker 1: one and his story in his own words is also 506 00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:04,760 Speaker 1: on our website. Now more on why Ryan matters to 507 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:07,680 Speaker 1: us and golf and how we were able to hire 508 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 1: him away from the PGA tour more from allan shipment. 509 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:14,520 Speaker 1: What Ryan has done. He's built a real community and 510 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 1: it's so authentic and it's so real. And they could 511 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:23,160 Speaker 1: have given him, you know, a fraction of forty million dollars, 512 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:26,119 Speaker 1: sent him out on the road to cover these great 513 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:29,119 Speaker 1: stories that really engage as fans and inspire people and 514 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:32,479 Speaker 1: make you feel close to the game. Um, but they 515 00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:34,800 Speaker 1: wouldn't even they wouldn't even pay them a living wage. 516 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:38,159 Speaker 1: And we were able through you know, through some pluck 517 00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:40,840 Speaker 1: and good timing and a little foresight to bring on 518 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:43,720 Speaker 1: this mega talent, this guy who's going to be a 519 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:48,000 Speaker 1: rocket ship and um, you know, basically because the tour 520 00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:51,879 Speaker 1: neglected him and didn't even realize what they had. And meanwhile, 521 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:53,800 Speaker 1: they're gonna spend all this money for all this canned 522 00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:56,000 Speaker 1: content that that the real golf fans are just gonna 523 00:27:56,080 --> 00:27:58,399 Speaker 1: roll their eyes at. And it just tells you so 524 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:03,040 Speaker 1: much about the value system there and uh, and the 525 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:06,560 Speaker 1: lack of sophistication in what the fans want because the 526 00:28:06,560 --> 00:28:10,320 Speaker 1: community that Ryan has built. They cannot get enough of 527 00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:14,119 Speaker 1: his storytelling. And and he's only scratched the surface. I 528 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:16,960 Speaker 1: mean he's been it's been, he's he's been bartending like 529 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:19,400 Speaker 1: this has been a hobby for him. Yeah, he had 530 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:22,760 Speaker 1: no real support, he had no budget, and we're gonna 531 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:25,000 Speaker 1: give him those things and just turn them loose and 532 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:28,720 Speaker 1: it's gonna be incredible what what he produces, and the 533 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:33,119 Speaker 1: fans are gonna absolutely lose their minds. Um. Meanwhile, the 534 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:35,040 Speaker 1: tours paying forty million dollars for a bunch of Lane 535 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:37,639 Speaker 1: tweets from you know, players whose agents are at the 536 00:28:37,680 --> 00:28:40,240 Speaker 1: ones on the phones anyway, Like it's just it's an 537 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:42,840 Speaker 1: upside down world. But it benefits the fire Pit collective 538 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:46,520 Speaker 1: and it benefits the fans because, frankly, even if if 539 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:49,280 Speaker 1: the tour had given Ryan the resources, he was never 540 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:51,440 Speaker 1: gonna have the freedom to go all the way with 541 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:54,320 Speaker 1: some of the stories because there's there's a greediness to 542 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:59,040 Speaker 1: that life, and there's heartbreak and there's disappointment, and there's 543 00:28:59,120 --> 00:29:01,840 Speaker 1: there's there's there's guys at the end of the rope 544 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:04,960 Speaker 1: who are snapping out there, and you know, there's there's 545 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:07,600 Speaker 1: a dark side to the Monday Qualifiers. I mean, there 546 00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:10,280 Speaker 1: really is, and that's not his personality. He likes to 547 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:13,680 Speaker 1: celebrate things, but there's also a realness and an honesty 548 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:16,440 Speaker 1: in his reporting that I think was ultimately gonna be 549 00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:19,000 Speaker 1: problematic for the PGA Tour, which only wants to present 550 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:22,360 Speaker 1: as we know, you know one, these guys are perfect 551 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:25,960 Speaker 1: gentleman and one side of the story. So knowledge We're 552 00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:28,440 Speaker 1: gonna give Ryan the resources he did, but we're gonna 553 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:31,400 Speaker 1: give them the freedom and and the support. It's just 554 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:33,400 Speaker 1: gonna be a fun ride that that not only do 555 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:35,280 Speaker 1: we get to be part of, but everyone who loves 556 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:39,800 Speaker 1: golf does, and I mean it's it's just it's fantastic 557 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:42,040 Speaker 1: for the golf media, it's great for the golf fan, 558 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:44,840 Speaker 1: and it's obviously really missing for the collective