pga tour players dip tobacco

7 Golfers Who Chew Tobacco

While not many speak about it, there are quite a few golfers who chew tobacco (or dip tobacco) while on the course. However, it can be difficult to determine as many choose to do it discreetly, and others chew gum instead. 

Some of the golfers who chew tobacco include Jason Dufner, Brooks Koepka, and Dustin Johnson. Though they are often met with mixed reactions, these golfers prefer to chew while they golf. 

Let’s talk about these professional golfers who chew tobacco or have, at some point, chewed tobacco while out on the course. 

1. Jason Dufner

Jason Dufner turned pro in 2000 . He has established himself over the years with five career wins under his belt, including the 2013 PGA championship. The Auburn University alumni is still an active player, having won the Memorial Tournament in 2017. 

While many golfers have left us wondering whether the tobacco theories are true, Dufner actually confirmed it himself. He took to Twitter back in 2012 to announce that Copenhagen was his choice of tobacco. 

2. Brooks Koepka 

Brooks Koepka has eight PGA tour wins and seven international wins in his career, which began in 2012. These wins include two back-to-back US Open wins and two back-to-back PGA championships. 

Keopka was infamously seen chewing tobacco at the 2019 US Open , but it wasn’t his first time getting mixed reactions for this habit. In 2017, he was met with disapproval after being seen chewing at Royal Birkdale. 

3. Dustin Johnson

After turning pro in 2007, Dustin Johnson has 24 PGA wins, including the US Open in 2016 and the Masters in 2020. He has maintained regular wins over the years, and his recent Masters win cements his legacy as one of the best. 

Johnson was most notably seen chewing tobacco at the 2016 US Open, the one he went on to win. As usual, this was met with mixed reactions, but it worked out for him that year. 

4. Kevin Kisner

Kevin Kisner began his pro career in 2006 coming from the University of Georgia. Kisner has four PGA wins and 46 top-ten finishes over his career. In 2022, some called him “disgusting” after he was seen chewing tobacco at Augusta National. 

5. Lucas Glover

Glover has four PGA wins to show for, including a US Open win in 2009. Since Glover turned pro in 2001, he has become an established name in professional golf. For the first time in 2011, Glover was seen chewing tobacco while golfing. Though he has not spoken about it publicly, he has been seen chewing plenty of times since then as well. 

6. Daniel Berger

Daniel Berger turned pro in 2013 and has four wins so far. His golf career is going strong, but Berger also finds himself on the list of golfers who chew tobacco while out on the course. Unlike others on this list, he prefers to keep it more subtle. However, that didn’t stop golf fans from noticing the habit repeatedly while he was playing. 

7. Brian Gay

Brian Gay is another known golfer who chews tobacco. After attending the University of Florida, he turned pro in 1994, making him the leading veteran on this list. Compared to the others who share the habit, Gay has stated he tries to be more discreet when the cameras are rolling. However, seeing him chew on TV when the game gets especially tough would be no surprise.

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Chewing Tobacco on the PGA Tour

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• Mar 27, 2021

I was going to bring this up in the Jon Rahm thread but figured I'd make this a separate topic. It is no secret that many tour players use chewing tobacco while playing. While the players and broadcast try to hide it, its not uncommon for the cameras to pick up someone stuffing a big wad in their mouth or spitting it out. Do you not think this sets a bad example for kids? Do you even care if pro athletes are good role models? On another note, 4-5 years ago, I had a free subscription to some golf magazine and was shocked to find full page advertisements for chewing tobacco. Ironically there was a cancer treatment being advertised twenty pages later lol. I don't know if this is more common in other countries, but its literally the only time I've seen tobacco products being advertised in a magazine. My personal opinion is that while it would be nice for pro athletes to be good role models, we should not expect them to be. I do however believe seeing players using chewing tobacco on course sets an awful example for kids - worse than any other common on-course antics I can think of. I mean I'd much rather have my 15-year old kid flipping people off on the course than using chewing tobacco.  

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^Pretty much my point  

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Honest question. Do you have the same issue with professional athletes advertising alcohol or seeing an alcohol ad during the broadcast?  

Team THP 2019 Grandaddy Alumni

Is it really any worse than smokers both cigarettes and cigars being left all over the course? Ash on the greens, cigar butts discarded around the greens and cig butts.  

JB said: Honest question. Do you have the same issue with professional athletes advertising alcohol or seeing an alcohol ad during the broadcast? Click to expand...

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Work in progress.

I despise when people chew only when they spit where I’m walking or I have something laying near. Other than that I tend to leave people to there own doing as people should be able to make their own choice in the matter. The example it sets for kids should be used as a learning tool for kids from their parents if they so choose but trying to control everything is a never ending battle as to how your players should act in each persons eyes.  

Grandaddy X 2023 - Team Legacy

I have no issue with them doing it. I don't like nanny state-ism.  

Snowman said: I have no issue with them doing it. I don't like nanny state-ism. Click to expand...

just because they are good at golf doesn't mean they have to raise my kids.  

You Are Great

I don't mind it, considering it seems like every single big time star in hollywood has their hand in a tequila or vodka or gin brand, posting it everywhere.  

Canadan said: I don't mind it, considering it seems like every single big time star in hollywood has their hand in a tequila or vodka or gin brand, posting it everywhere. Click to expand...

RealPretendPsychic

Ask me about the callaway apex cb’s.

You do you. I don’t think the cameras need to focus in on it, but I don’t have a problem with players doing it.  

Dunce Cap For A Bit

I may have been watching loud ass music. If that isn’t portrayed in my picture, then clearly I wasn’t.  

^Honest question. Why would you feel differently if you had daughters instead of sons?  

Oh yeah. I’m also a bachelor and I have a Putt Out Mat on my floor. In the year of Covid, that shouldn’t even need explained.  

greenOak said: ^Honest question. Why would you feel differently if you had daughters instead of sons? Click to expand...

TwoGlovesGarcia

greenOak said: But Jon Rahm flipping someone off bothers you because it sets a bad example for youth golfers? Click to expand...

If golfers are athletes (which I definitely think they are) then shouldn't the same "pro athlete personal conduct rules" apply? I mean compared to football, basketball etc. the non-pc things golfer's do are barely news-worthy with other sports. Most people have a vice or two... I think these guys deserve a little slack. I'm looking forward to the days of having a pro with tattooed sleeves, a beer or two in competition and chatting it up with the crowd at every hole. No doubt players at all levels need to respect the rules, pace of play, course care but I think adding a little flavor to the game can no doubt grow the sport.  

Canadan said: I've watched a lot of golf this year and haven't noticed it once. Is it that regular? Also, I don't see the parallel considering I referenced other famous people using their platform for alcohol, not other famous people using their platform to tell people to f**k themselves (which I know some do, and I hate it equally). Click to expand...

I mean, most of the golfers on tour grew up in the time of Big League Chew bubble gum. Tons of people enjoy a dip. I've dipped since my Freshman year of high school athletics. Coaches never cared, it's just part of the culture in a lot of sports and golf isn't excluded. We should probably gove them a break on this one. Kids are always going to see the stuff whether we like it or not. If they see a golfer with a dip, parents just need to say "That's bad for you and addictive. If I catch you dipping, you'll be in a lot of trouble." Leave it at that and then punish the **** out of them if they decide to do it. I love a big lip of Grizzly on the course. Just don't spit on the greens or tee box where people have to put their hands down and it's all good.  

Snowman said: I've watched a lot of golf this year as well (basically every tournament). I've noticed a couple guys who obviously had a dip in, but it's not like everybody is doing it and it's all over the screen. I haven't once seen anybody spitting or packing their lip. It's nowhere near as visible as, say, back in Arnold and Jack's era when golfers openly smoked cigarettes all over the course. Click to expand...

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Golfers Who Chew Tobacco

I was reading some interesting articles about PGA golfers that have used chewing tobacco. You'd be surprised how many professional golfers chew/chewed tobacco. 

Back in the 2016 US OPEN you had Dustin Johnson in the dipping tobacco spotlight...

" After Sunday’s gobsmacking and gob-emptying performance in Indiana, the world No 2’s reputation as the game’s biggest hitter is in danger of being updated to ‘biggest spitter’ as well.” “It is a shame that so many viewers’ enjoyment of the latest Johnson masterclass was marred by a feeling of disgust, as the languid American repeatedly expectorated." - By Michael Shamburger from The Big Lead, Sept, 15, 2016

In 2019  Bruce Koepka was using it in the 2019 US OPEN when trying to catch up to Gary Woodland.  You can see pictures of him spitting it out on the course.

Why Do Some Golfers Chew Tobacco?

“Nicotine works by making the brain release adrenaline-like compounds(such as norepinephrine). These “excitatory” neurotransmitters get your body revved up. (You have probably heard the term “get your adrenaline pumping.”) Many people enjoy this feeling, but not the feeling that comes after it. After the nicotine is gone, and the brain stops releasing the positive neurotransmitters, smokeless tobacco users feel tired, depressed, and down.”

“In addition, dopamine injects into the brain to provide positive feelings. It obviously also contributes to a higher chance of oral cancer.” - By  Sam Dodge via Heavy.com, Published  Jun 16, 2019 at 8:13pm

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I can just keep naming them, but it's not just PGA golfers chewing tobacco. I golf a fair amount and I've seen plenty of guys dipping tobacco on the course.  I have no issue with that.  It would be hypocritical since I have a few beers most of the times I'm golfing.

However, we are lucky enough to have witnessed orders come in for Jake's Mint Chew CBD pouches from several PGA golfers who are looking to quit dipping tobacco.  No reason to risk getting oral cancer if you can still chew something healthy and calming like Jake's Mint Chew CBD pouches.

Yes, I love the cold beer...don't get me wrong.  Most golfers will admit they get a special excitement when they see the beer cart coming their way on the course.  It's kind of like when you're a kid and you see the ice cream truck and yell, “Ice Cream!”  Only now, you see the beer cart and smile and tell your crew, “Beer cart.”

"Guys from the Jake's Mint Chew staff enjoying a nice, calming, round of golf with their delicious Jake's Mint Chew CBD pouches!"

However, you can't always get a cold beer on the course when you want it.  Not only that, but I love the taste and calming effect I get  when I'm chewing Jake's CBD Straight Mint pouches while swinging my clubs.  The best part is when I'm chewing my Jake's Mint Chew pouches I know it's healthy.  Not to mention...but I'm about to...that the  Straight Mint pouches freshen your breath quite well.

So, next time you and your pals hit the links I hope you'll consider taking a tin of healthy, all-natural, Jake's Mint Chew CBD pouches with you.  You don't have to be a professional golfer to know chewing tobacco isn't going to help your overall game.

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Smokeless Tobacco Popular, But Hidden, Among Professional Golfers

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Many professional golfers use smokeless tobacco, but few want to admit it, according to The New York Times . Players say using chewing tobacco or snuff is a form of male bonding.

According to the National Cancer Institute , smokeless tobacco causes oral cancer, esophageal cancer and pancreatic cancer. It may also cause heart disease, gum disease, and oral lesions other than cancer. All tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco, contain nicotine, which is addictive.

Stanton Glantz, Director of its Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California at San Francisco, said the brain and nervous system of a person using smokeless tobacco are like a stereo system with the volume turned up too high. He explained the nicotine acts like pillows over the speakers. If a person stops using smokeless tobacco, it is like taking the pillows away—the volume becomes too loud. “It causes anxiety, and that helps explain why these guys are compulsive users,” he said.

Because golfers on the PGA tour are supposed to be role models, they try to be discreet about using smokeless tobacco, the newspaper notes. Golfer Brian Gay said, “If I know I’m on the television camera, I’ll be more conscious of doing it. And if I’m going along nicely, I might not use it.”

Bruce W. Adkins, Director of the Division of Tobacco Prevention of the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health, said it is difficult for golfers who use smokeless tobacco to control their nicotine intake. “One of the things that we know from lots of research is smokeless tobacco products are high in nicotine,” he said. “If you keep on average a pinch in your mouth for 30 minutes, you’re getting an equivalent amount of nicotine to smoking four or five cigarettes. That’s part of the addiction.”

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Dustin Johnson taken to task for constant spitting at BMW Championship

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Dustin Johnson has gotten spit-roasted in the wake of his victory in the BMW Championship on Sunday for his incessant spitting on the golf course.

James Corrigan of the Telegraph on Wednesday expressed his disgust with Johnson’s habit , a column that got picked up by a New Zealand website .

“After Sunday’s gobsmacking and gob-emptying performance in Indiana, the world No 2’s reputation as the game’s biggest hitter is in danger of being updated to ‘biggest spitter’ as well,” he wrote.

“It is a shame that so many viewers’ enjoyment of the latest Johnson masterclass was marred by a feeling of disgust, as the languid American repeatedly expectorated.”

ESPN soccer analyst Craig Burley apparently was watching the final round of the BMW Championship on Sunday and Tweeted this:

It is not a new issue on Twitter, either. The first mentions date to February, 2010.

Oddly, virtually all the disgust expressed emanates from overseas. Are American viewers inured to spitting via baseball players and their spitting habits, or is it that foreign broadcasters tend to talk about it more their U.S. counterparts?

Note these Tweets, among several that mention Sky Sports:

However, Sports Illustrated’s Michael Bamberger noted it in his story on Johnson from the U.S. Open at Oakmont: “Johnson, chewing Skoal Apple Long Cut all through his round and spitting tobacco juice on the fabled links…”

Johnson, too, is only the latest to be chastised for spitting. Among predecessors are Tiger Woods ( who was fined by the European Tour for spitting during the Dubai Desert Classic in 2011), Keegan Bradley and Sergio Garcia for spitting into the cup .

Still, hard to take issue with Corrigan's take, that "Johnson is not the first but he is...the worst."

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16 Things You Didn't Know About Max Homa

Get to know the popular American a little better with these 16 facts.

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One of the most popular players out on Tour, we get to know Max Homa a little better with these 16 facts.

1. Homa was born on November 19, 1990.

2. He got into the game because of his Dad. After his Dad finished work he would go and hit golf balls at Griffith Park golf range, and Max would join him.

3. He grew up playing Vista Valencia Golf Club and it was his first home club. It is a public course and Homa acknowledges that this is probably one of the main reasons he fell in love with the game of golf.

4. It was while he was playing in Valencia, California that he met his current caddie Joe Greiner , at the age of 6. In fact Greiner has the course record at the par-3 golf course at the club which he reminds Homa about all the time.

5. Homa also played for a while at Vista Valencia Country Club but his family couldn't stay there as they couldn't afford it.

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6. Homa attended the University of California-Berkeley and studied Consumer Behaviour. Whilst there he had huge success. He was a first-team All-American his senior year and Cal's first individual champion at the 2013 NCAA Championship playing for a Bears' team he tri-captained, a squad that won 11 of 14 tournaments.

7. His full name is John Maxwell Homa.

8. Homa has a significant social media following and often takes to Twitter to make jokes about people's golf swings.

9. In his very first PGA Tour event, the 2013 Frys.com Open, he finished T9.

10. He lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.

11. According to PGA Tour.com, he carries two coins with him as a good luck charm. One is from 1991, the birth year of his wife, Lacey , and one from 2018, the year he got Scotty, his yellow lab.

12. Homa uses a full bag of Titleist equipment, including a Scotty Cameron putter.

13. He is a big fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Dodgers. Legendary Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda made a promise to him in 2017 that he would call him when he won his first PGA Tour event, and did so following the 2019 Wells Fargo Championship.

14. Homa appeared in two episodes of No Laying Up's popular golf series 'Strapped' when it was hosted in Southern California.

15. Favorite course played is The National Golf Links of America, host of the 2013 Walker Cup. In that event he played three matches and won two of them.

16. Homa has a podcast called Get A Grip which he hosts alongside broadcaster Shane Bacon.

A golfer for most of his life, Sam is a Senior Staff Writer for Golf Monthly. 

Working with golf gear and equipment over the last six years, Sam has quickly built outstanding knowledge and expertise on golf products ranging from drivers, to balls, to shoes. 

He combines this knowledge with a passion for helping golfers get the best gear for them, and as such Sam manages a team of writers that look to deliver the most accurate and informative reviews and buying advice. This is so the reader can find exactly what they are looking for.

Sam now spends most of his time testing and looking after golf gear content for the website, whilst he is also responsible for all content related to golf apparel. 

He also oversees all Tour player content as well so if you need to know what clubs Tiger or Rory has in play, Sam is the person to ask. 

Unfortunately, Sam is not a member of any club at the moment but regularly gets out on the golf course to keep up the facade of having a handicap of five. 

Sam's What's In The Bag: 

Driver: Titleist TS3 (9 degrees) 

Fairway Wood: Callaway Paradym (15 degrees), Nike Covert Tour 2.0 (19 degrees) 

Irons (4-PW): Titleist AP2 

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 54˚, 58˚ 

Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5  

Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond

Shoes: G/FORE Gallivanter / Nike Air Zoom Infinity NEXT% / Cuater The Ringer

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10 things to know about Harold Varner III, 2019 PGA Championship contender

Harold Varner III is playing in the final group on Sunday at the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black. While diehard golf fans have had Varner on their radar for years, those of you tuning in to see The Great Brooks Koepka Steamroller may wonder who it is playing alongside him. Fear not, comrades: We’re here to help, and Varner is plenty fun to learn more about! Here are 10 things to know about one of the PGA Tour’s most well-liked players.

1. He was born in Akron, Ohio…

That’s the same town as LeBron James, who is several years Varner’s senior. It’s partly why Varner has such a tough time picking sides in the greatest basketball player debate.

“Gosh. Jordan’s the GOAT, man. It’s just, I was born in Akron, so I’m indifferent,” he told GOLF.com . “Both of them are great for basketball in their eras.”

2. …but he grew up near Charlotte, N.C.

Varner proudly reps Gastonia, N.C., where he grew up playing the local municipal course for $100 per summer , which he has lauded as a way to make public golf work for kids. Varner attended Forestview High School, leading his squad to a second-place finish in the state.

3. He attended East Carolina University.

Varner graduated from ECU in 2012. In his time as a Pirate, he became the first player in school history to be named Conference USA Player of the Year. Varner won twice and racked up 10 top-fives during his college career.

4. Varner made the PGA Tour by $943.

That’s right — Varner earned his Tour card by less than one thousand dollars. He earned Top 25 honors on the Web.com Tour with a strong 2015 season and gained PGA Tour status for the 2015-16 season. He’s kept that status ever since.

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5. His biggest win came in Australia.

Thus far, Varner has collected just one win as a pro, which came at the Australian PGA Championship in December 2016. He won by two shots. Varner seems to like the conditions Down Under — he finished solo second at the same event the year before his win.

6. His best world ranking is 108th.

Varner jumped up golf’s world rankings after his win in Australia, ascending to No. 108 in the world. That is as high as he’s risen. He finished 2018 ranked 157 in the world and currently sits at No. 174 — but that’s likely to change for the better with a strong closing round on Sunday at the PGA Championship.

7. Varner is one of just three African-American players on Tour.

Varner, Tiger Woods and Cameron Champ are the three current African-American PGA Tour players. On Tour, Varner has gotten to know Woods fairly well; he’s long admired him from afar.

“The reason I play golf is because of my dad,” Varner said on Saturday at Bethpage. “The reason I watch golf is because of Tiger.”

View this post on Instagram Not my week. Just have to smile. Thanks to everyone involved in making @theplayerschamp an amazing event. See you in Tampa ? #WeHere A post shared by Harold Varner III (@hv3_golf) on Mar 16, 2019 at 2:42pm PDT

8. He has a head-to-toe sponsorship with Jordan Brand.

In 2014, Keegan Bradley became the first golfer to sign with Jordan Brand. In January 2018, Varner became the second; he met with Jordan himself and the two agreed that it would be mutually beneficial for Varner to be the frontman for the brand’s dive into golf. “It was a great opportunity for me to wear Jordan,” Varner said of the deal. “If you pass that up, that wouldn’t be smart.”

9. He’s only made two cuts at majors.

One came via a T66 in the 2016 British Open, while the other came at this week’s 2019 PGA Championship. Varner has a relatively light major history: He’s missed the cut at the three other majors he’s played (two U.S. Opens and a PGA Championship). He has never qualified for the Masters.

10. Varner says he still struggles to focus on the golf course.

Varner was asked on Saturday if focus remains a problem for him. “Always. Always will be,” he said. But he acknowledged that he’s working on blocking out distractions during shots. “I just got to focus for like 30 seconds and I’m doing that really well right now. Yeah, it always will be. I didn’t do a good job in school doing it. Still don’t. But that’s my challenge, that’s what I accept and I’m okay with that.”

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PGA Tour’s ‘silly’ structure slapped by Lucas Glover, who drops LIV Golf truth bomb

Lucas Glover let his thoughts roll on the new PGA Tour changes after his round on Friday at the Wyndham Championship.

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Share All sharing options for: PGA Tour’s ‘silly’ structure slapped by Lucas Glover, who drops LIV Golf truth bomb

Lucas Glover is a veteran PGA Tour player who has seen a lot of changes throughout the years.

This year has featured many changes in the golf world. Now, the PGA Tour is trying to implement more 70-80 man fields in 2024. The tour also decreased the FedEx Cup Playoff spots from 125 to 70, and Glover is not thrilled.

“It’s very contrived to me... I think if you finish in the Top-125, I don’t know why you don’t get to play next week,” Glover said. “I think it’s silly that it’s only 70. I think it’s silly that we’re playing 70 in these elevated events. I think it’s silly.”

He shot a 64 on Friday at the Wyndham Championship . That score shot him up the leaderboard and into contention. Like a lot of the players in the field, Glover is trying to make it into the playoffs but is currently outside that Top 70 bubble.

That was where the former U.S. Open champion ended his press conference. However, the 43-year-old didn’t stop at that. He later spoke exclusively to GolfWeek.

“We’re touting ourselves as the best Tour in the world, so why wouldn’t you reward the best 125 guys and let them play in your biggest events,” Glover said. “Same with the elevated events. You finish 125th on the best Tour in the world, and you’re in one elevated event, the Players... It doesn’t make any sense to me.”

There have been rumors about changes to elevated events next season, including no-cuts and smaller fields. The PGA Tour is set to unveil the 2024 schedule on Aug. 8.

Earlier this week, Tiger Woods became the sixth PGA Tour’s policy board member. In theory, that gives players at worst an equal say over the framework deal with the Saudi PIF and LIV Golf. Glover wasn’t convinced.

“It’s a waste of breath, a waste of time,” he said. “I’ve been out here long enough to know that it doesn’t matter. The PAC’s [Player Advisory Council] useless. They’re going to do what they’re going to do. Maybe now we can get some smarter people in the room and talk some sense into them.”

Glover then delved into the blockbuster deal with the PIF itself, and did not hold back.

“We couldn’t continue to go down the road we were going,” Glover said. “Anyone with a brain knows [the Tour] didn’t have the money. [LIV] was going to drag this lawsuit out as long as they could. The Tour can’t prop up $20 million purses forever — pretty sure the sponsors don’t want to do it either.”

“They’re not getting the return. That’s evident. We know that too. We’ve got some valuations of under $5 million, and you’re asking the sponsor for $20 million. That doesn’t work. So, of course, we were going to have to do something. It was just a matter of where the money was coming from.”

As more information has come to light through Congressional hearings , Glover’s assertions about the financial problems facing the PGA Tour appear to be real. The writing on the wall screams LIV Golf is not going anywhere, nor is the division within the sport.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. You can follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and on Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports for more golf coverage. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough too.

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Intriguing Pro Golfers Who Smoke: PGA, LPGA, & Years Past

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In professional golf, with its physical demands , it’s surprising to find a number of both male and female golfers who smoke. Despite the common association of a healthy lifestyle for athletes, it remains a fairly ordinary practice today (whether on or off the course).

As a non-smoker, I hadn’t considered smoking within the golf community until a recent personal experience. I was playing a game with an old friend when he casually lit a cigarette after his tee shot on the third hole, a Par 5. Even though smoking wasn’t banned on the course, this prompted me to think more about its presence in golf.

DISCLAIMER: This article objectively examines smoking habits among some of the most-loved professional golfers on the PGA Tour. We are not advocating for smoking tobacco since it can have severe and detrimental impacts on your health.

Is Smoking Allowed on the PGA Tour?

Smoking tobacco on a golf course can be a ticklish subject. Golf courses showcase nature’s splendor, offering a clean, pristine backdrop for this beloved sport.

Many people argue that it is criminal to mar the beauty of a place such as a golf course with smoking. There are also other residual effects like the disposal of cigarette butts and chemicals in the tobacco.

Then there are others who represent that a vast, open space like a golf course presents the lowest opportunity for causing discomfort to others. Quite unlike an urban setting where one is constantly surrounded by other people. There is no better place to permit smokers to light up with the least discomfort to others. Smokers also claim that it helps them to calm down and focus, hence is a necessary part of their game.

What does the PGA rule book say about smoking? 

The PGA does not appear to have any specific rules permitting or prohibiting smoking. They prefer to leave it to the rules of the courses where events are held.

Smoking rules on golf courses fall into one of the following categories:

• Those that completely ban smoking and use of tobacco products on the golf course.
• Those that provide designated areas for lighting up, including during a practice round.
• Those that do not expressly ban smoking or have a policy on smoking. It is expected that the rules prevalent in the jurisdiction where the club is situated will apply. This would mean ensuring that no discomfort is caused to others and no advantage is sought during a game.

Other rules of golf could include smoke and cigarettes as artificial objects on the golf course. Hence, judging the direction and intensity and direction of the wind based on the smoke blown by a smoker could be construed as cheating. Just like the use of a handkerchief as a surrogate wind sock is not permitted.

Professional Golfers Who Smoke

It’s no secret that some PGA golfers smoke, not just during practice rounds or at the driving range, but also during PGA tournaments. Some players are known to seize every chance they get to light up, almost as if they need to. Meanwhile, for others, it’s more of a sporadic indulgence.

Miguel Angel Jimenez

Miguel Angel Jimenez could well be the poster boy for the good life on the golf tour. He is close to 60 and has progressed from an early life of struggle to one built on the success of his game. Likewise, he has moved from smoking cigarettes to cigars. He has won 21 times on the European tour and has the most starts.

Responding to a question about the secret of his longevity, Jimenez stated , “There is no secret. Good food, good wine, good cigars, and some exercise!”

Darren Clarke

Darren Clarke , OBE, is a professional golfer from Northern Ireland, now active on the PGA Tour Champions.

He acquired a reputation for smoking cigars and cigarettes during rounds almost rivaling that of John Daly, a contemporary. He has 22 wins to his credit, including one major.

The comparison does not end there. Overweight, slouching, puffing on a cigarette during rounds, Clarke cuts an Average Joe figure on the course. And the crowds love that.

Clarke has experienced the ups and downs of life. His first wife Heather died in 2006 after a four year battle with breast cancer. He married former model Alison in 2012. Without going extreme, and altogether eliminating the things he loves, the golfer from Dungannon has made efforts to moderate his habit in the last few years. It is a relatively new Darren Clarke one sees these days on the golf course.

Four-time PGA tournament winner, Tim Herron now plays on the PGA Tour Champions. He started smoking before he started college at the University of New Mexico, where he played on the golf team. 

He got a scare once when he realized that his coach John Fields had caught on to his bad habit. Sure enough, he was called to the office the following day. To his surprise, however, the coach told him that he was an adult and could do what he pleased. That, he says, led to an increase in his smoking.

Another problem erupted when the NCAA banned smoking tobacco at events. It was during the time he was in college. But young Herron was not to be denied. He developed a method of walking out of bounds while smoking and then coming back into play, occasionally to the ire of opposing players.

A claw putting grip photo of the 52-year-old American with a cigarette in hand has acquired cult status, showcasing his habit as well as his skill.

‘Common man’ Herron is liked by fans and fellow golfers. His quotes only seem to make him more likable: “I’m still searching for my dream workout. Maybe yoga or meditation. So far, everything I try still makes me sweat.”

John Daly, a winner of two majors, is often referred to as the free spirit of golf, preferring to live life on his own terms, instead of following the regimented lifestyle of top athletes. And, even with a recent knee replacement , he is going strong after almost 35 years on the tour. In his prime, he was the most consistent long driver in the game. 

The 56-year-old brought an everyman charm to the sometimes-stuffy country club atmosphere of golf, often making a statement with his colorful clothing as much as his golf.

Smoking has been a big part of his persona, ever since he caught the habit, at the age of 19. He is known to do smoking tricks such as inhaling through his nose and exhaling through his mouth, on demand.

Add to it his consumption of Diet Cokes and Peanut M&Ms during a round and frequenting low-brow establishments such as McDonald’s and Hooters’, and you have an icon on your hands. 

“I don’t drink water,”   Daly states .  “I hate water.”

Thomas Bjorn

The 52-year-old Dane has occasionally been pictured with a cigarette dangling from his lips. However, Thomas Bjorn perhaps falls in the ‘casual’ smoker category more than the obsessed or addicted one. 

With 15 European tour wins, he is the most successful Danish golf player ever. He is also well known and well regarded for surfacing his battles with depression during his pro career, on more than one occasion. Mind Game, a book he has written along with Michael Calvin, is a sensitive portrayal of the psychological battles he fought as a golfer. It drew attention to an aspect of golf that is rarely openly voiced, but felt by many. 

Interestingly, Bjorn calls golf the loneliest sport in the world.

Rocco Mediate

Rocco Mediate  is an American pro golfer who is perhaps best remembered for his historic duel with Tiger Woods at the US Open in 2008 where he eventually lost in a Monday playoff. The 60-year-old has six victories against his name on the PGA Tour.

He loves the occasional cigar, with Fuente Fuente OpusX, Padrón 1964 Anniversary, and Montecristo No. 4 being his preferred choices. His liking for cigars is well known. He is often followed by cigar-smoking groups during a tournament rooting for him. Like they did when he outdueled Colin Montgomerie for a win in the Senior PGA Championship at the Harbor Shores Golf Club in Michigan. Mediate himself was gnawing at a cigar for much of that round.

Mediate has also admitted to being a recovering alcoholic, who gave up drinking in October 2017. He would vodka out of a clear plastic bottle while playing golf, making it appear to be water.

Mediate also makes it a point to mention his bonding with other golfers who smoke, such as Miguel Angel Jimenez and Darren Clarke.

Angel Cabrera

Angel Cabrera was the first Argentine to win a major. He won the 2007 US Open, where he withstood a challenge from Jim Furyk and Tiger Woods, followed by the 2009 Masters. During his heyday, Cabrera cut a distinctive figure on the course, with his duck-like gait and, well, the habit of smoking on almost every hole. He once famously joked, “Some players have psychologists, sportologists. I smoke.”

Cabrera is currently serving time in prison. He was convicted on two separate charges of assault against two different former girlfriends. He believes the time in prison may have helped him overcome his drinking and smoking habits.

Marcel Siem

43-year-old Marcel Siem could be one of the younger regular smokers on tour. He is more likely to be seen smoking on the days leading up to the tournament than when he is competing. Siem has 5 European tour victories in a total of 7 career titles.

Dustin Johnson

In 2021, a cover of Cigar Aficionado was graced by Dustin Johnson. He may have a liking for it but Johnson is not a known regular smoker, perhaps conscious of the demands of being a top athlete. Disarmingly, he says the habit could grow on him as he ages.

The winner of two majors, the 2016 US Open and the 2020 Masters, Johnson finished in a tie for second at two others. He also has six wins in the World Gold Championship, with only Woods having won more.

It does seem that the incidence of active players smoking is falling. At least that of players seen smoking. Dustin Johnson is the only under 40 active player on the list. It could be greater health awareness. It could be knowing that they are role models and likely to be copied by millions of younger fans. It could also be their attractiveness to sponsors, with a wholesome, clean image being a preference for most.

Top PGA Tour Golfers Who Used to Smoke

No wonder then that there are many more examples of yesteryear players smoking. Along similar lines, on the senior tour , with a more relaxed tempo and lower stakes, one is likely to see more players lighting up.

Ben Hogan is widely recognized as one of the best golfers of all time. He has 9 major wins, and 71 professional victories, besides many awards and accolades,

He was also a regular, unapologetic smoker, like many others during his time. His cigarette of choice was the Chesterfield unfiltered.

Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer

Between Hogan, Palmer, and Nicklaus, you have a large proportion of golfing royalty of all time.

Though Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer did not get along, they did have two things in common; golfing skills and smoking. It is said about Palmer that he could smoke three cigarettes on a par three.

Jack Nicklaus was a regular smoker as well. He is believed to have cooled off to the idea of smoking on the golf course when he saw a highlights video of himself putting while smoking. He also bought into the idea of smoking not presenting the right image of an athlete. He stopped smoking, at least on the course.

Charlie Sifford

Though not quite in the same league as a player like Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer, Charlie Sifford had other firsts to his credit. When he joined the PGA tour in 1961, he was the first Black player to achieve the distinction. A cigar and Sifford were rarely separated, whether in practice rounds or golf tournaments. He was most comfortable with a cigar dangling from his lips.

Sifford won two tour titles followed by a Senior Tour Open Championship. It was his belief that his cigar prevented him from swaying off the ball. The golf ball had to be at the end of the burning cigar.

Do LPGA Golfers Smoke?

Of course, there are smokers on the LPGA Tour, though lower than on the Men’s Tour. Here are a few LPGA players who smoke cigarettes (or once did).

JoAnne Carner

JoAnne Carner, now in her eighties, won 43 titles on the LPGA Tour. She was the second player to cross the million-dollar earning mark in the history of LPGA. She is one of the best ladies’ players ever, equally popular off and on the course because of her approachable personality. She was an avid life-long smoker, managing to kick the habit only a few years back.

Just for perspective, Carner was born in 1939. Jack Nicklaus in 1940.

Danielle Kang

Daniella Kang is also among the LPGA golfers who smoke cigarettes. The 6 time LPGA Tour winner keeps a packet of Dunhill cigarettes in her golf bag and lights one before every golf tournament . For her, it seems to be a way of calming herself as well as honoring the memory of her father. He caddied for her when she won back-to-back United States Women’s Amateur Championships in 2010 and 2011.

Kang is also known to light up a few cigarettes when she visits her father’s grave and leaves him one, too (since it was his favorite brand).

Akiko Fukushima

Right between the two is former Japanese pro golfer Akiko Fukushima. She won 24 times on the LPGA of Japan Tour and twice on the LPGA Tour. She was once pictured smoking on the course during a round with Michelle Wie.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is smoking allowed on pga tour.

Smoking on the PGA Tour remains an individual’s choice. The PGA does not have any specific rules either permitting or prohibiting smoking. They prefer to leave it to the rules of the courses where events are held. Of course, it is to be assumed that in doing so, the smoker is not causing any discomfort to others.

Can PGA players smoke cigarettes?

The simple answer is yes. Cigars remain equally popular among pro golfers who smoke such as Miguel Angel Jimenez and Rocco Mediate.

Which PGA Tour players smoke on the tour’s golf courses?

Among players known for smoking on the course include John Daly, Tim Herron, Darren Clarke, Thomas Bjorn, Rocco Mediate, and Marcel Siem.

Can PGA players drink beer while playing?

Unlike smoking, which some smokers believe calms them down, no such claims exist for alcoholic beverages. Drinking alcohol while playing golf on the PGA Tour is uncommon.

Final Thoughts on Golfers Who Smoke

Smoking in golf probably mirrors the journey of smoking in life; with fewer people smoking in public compared to the past. As an amateur golfer , I have noticed that the probability of having a smoker in a random four ball is lower today than it was some thirty years back when I started. Today one could play several rounds over a few months before encountering one.

Even if PGA golfers are smoking, they are increasingly doing it away from the media glare, unlike in the past. The PGA Tour, in its effort to project a clean, wholesome image for the sport, also does its bit to avoid association with instances of players smoking.

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Ankur is a seasoned golfer. He picked up the game over 30 years back. Initially irregular because of moving from one place to another in his MNC bank jobs, he has now been golfing regularly over the last 15 years once he dropped anchor in Gurgaon, the booming satellite of Delhi, where he has access to the best courses in the country. He is able to maintain a handicap of 18. He is a published author and a business consultant.

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PGA Tour and Tobacco

By Arizonalefty59 April 1, 2012 in Tour Talk

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Titleist TSi3 10* w/ Tour AD GP-6 Titleist U510 16* w/ HZRDUS Smoke  Titleist 818H2 21* w/ Alidila Rogue  Titleist 712 AP2 w/ X100 Titleist Vokey SM6 50/56/60 Scotty Cameron 009 1.5 Neck

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SadTrombone

[quote name='Arizonalefty59' timestamp='1333262553' post='4623047'] I was down at the matchplay in AZ and I could have sworn i saw Tiger chewing? Anyone else know someone that would be the last person you would expect to do that kind of stuff? [/quote]Que the spitting police in 3...2...1...

Why is it so surprising that TW chews?

[quote name='minitour' timestamp='1333267545' post='4623127'] [quote name='Arizonalefty59' timestamp='1333262553' post='4623047'] I was down at the matchplay in AZ and I could have sworn i saw Tiger chewing? Anyone else know someone that would be the last person you would expect to do that kind of stuff? [/quote]Que the spitting police in 3...2...1... [/quote] Yea im the one that called in and complained about Keegs

I've never seen him do it (been to 4 or 5 events he was in). He's often eating on course, so you might have seen him in between bites or somethin.

scotchblade

[quote name='kitsoasis' timestamp='1333267845' post='4623129'] Why is it so surprising that TW chews? [/quote] I was under the impression he is very careful about his health, fitness, overall wellness. On the other hand, he risked his marriage and getting STD's by banging skanky strangers, so why not invite cancer.

[quote name='Arizonalefty59' timestamp='1333262553' post='4623047'] I was down at the matchplay in AZ and I could have sworn i saw Tiger chewing? Anyone else know someone that would be the last person you would expect to do that kind of stuff? [/quote] [size="3"]I've taken a couple thousand (maybe closer to ten thousand) photos of Tiger and been around him at 8 - 10 tournaments a year, never once seen him dip or spit excessively to suggest that he chews tobacco. I have seen him chewing, [b][i][u]food[/u][/i][/b]![/size] [size="3"] [/size] [size="3"] [/size] [size="3"]Greg[/size]

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Tiger still surprises us?

MaybeImLeftHanded

That's not tobacco, its the bones of his victims. He's gone to a dark place.

DOn't know about TW. There are guys who still smoke and some who chew-dip. Their life-their health. Some don't eat well either. Some drink. Quick what's the number for the Corectness Police.

In fairness to the OP it's not a witch hunt threat, more of a "I didn't know that guy chewed" discussion...

would love to see tiger puff on a cig or even a blunt.

Callaway Rogue ST LS ***  Fujikura Rombax Type X Callaway Rogue ST LS 3wd w/Diamana D+ Whiteboard 70TX Callaway Rogue ST LS 5wd w/Diamana D+ Whiteboard 80X Callaway TCB 4-GW w/Project X 6.0 Callaway Jaws RAW 56/60 EvnRoll 5.2 Short Slant

A couple times it looked to me like Boo Weekley had a dip in this weekend at the Shell.

I think there are more than a few that throw a chew in.

[quote name='swbyps' timestamp='1333372597' post='4629363'] A couple times it looked to me like Boo Weekley had a dip in this weekend at the Shell. [/quote] Observant are we? Hahaha Good one, btw

Tiger does not chew. Even with the smallest dip in your mouth it is obvious, and he is on TV sooo often during a tourney. I (an ex "chewer") would have picked up on it instantly.

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ClarkGrswld4

tiger needs to start dipping....all the cool kids are doing it

[quote name='kitsoasis' timestamp='1333365244' post='4628933'] In fairness to the OP it's not a witch hunt threat, more of a "I didn't know that guy chewed" discussion... [/quote] Yes! Thank you! I didnt mean to cause an uproar about tiger this post was intended to find out if anyone knew of any tour players you would least expect to dip.

CowtownTexas

[quote name='ronstars' timestamp='1333402808' post='4632917'] Tiger does not chew. Even with the smallest dip in your mouth it is obvious, and he is on TV sooo often during a tourney. I (an ex "chewer") would have picked up on it instantly. [/quote] I disagree. I could talk face-to-face with you with a dip in my mouth and you wouldn't know it was there unless you smelled it. That said, I don't think Tiger dips/chews, but many players do. Many also smoke, but mainly when walking from green-to-tee.

[quote name='CowtownTexas' timestamp='1333467547' post='4638881'] [quote name='ronstars' timestamp='1333402808' post='4632917'] Tiger does not chew. Even with the smallest dip in your mouth it is obvious, and he is on TV sooo often during a tourney. I (an ex "chewer") would have picked up on it instantly. [/quote] I disagree. I could talk face-to-face with you with a dip in my mouth and you wouldn't know it was there unless you smelled it. That said, I don't think Tiger dips/chews, but many players do. Many also smoke, but mainly when walking from green-to-tee. [/quote] Not sure who you are trying to kid, i would assume yourself. The smallest dip any "chewer" woud ever take would be at least the size of 1 piece of bubble yum chewing gum. Go buy some and stick it between your lip and teeth and tell me you cant tell its beyond obvious...seriously buddy

[quote name='CowtownTexas' timestamp='1333467547' post='4638881'] [quote name='ronstars' timestamp='1333402808' post='4632917'] Tiger does not chew. Even with the smallest dip in your mouth it is obvious, and he is on TV sooo often during a tourney. I (an ex "chewer") would have picked up on it instantly. [/quote] I disagree. I could talk face-to-face with you with a dip in my mouth and you wouldn't know it was there unless you smelled it. That said, I don't think Tiger dips/chews, but many players do. Many also smoke, but mainly when walking from green-to-tee. [/quote] totally agree... i can hide a dip pretty darn good

I actually thought players weren't allowed to dip/chew/smoke during the tournaments. I'm shocked that a camera has never once accidently shown someone in these acts. Those guys must be good.

[quote name='JoshRH' timestamp='1333494463' post='4642919'] I actually thought players weren't allowed to dip/chew/smoke during the tournaments. I'm shocked that a camera has never once accidently shown someone in these acts. Those guys must be good. [/quote] You must not have watched the Waste Management Open this year.

Dufner had a "full lipper" in on #1 at ANGC yesterday. It was awesome!

[quote name='muxi87' timestamp='1333498830' post='4643517'] Dufner had a "full lipper" in on #1 at ANGC yesterday. It was awesome! [/quote] Hell yea! J Duf is my boy!

[quote name='Arizonalefty59' timestamp='1333498949' post='4643535'] [quote name='muxi87' timestamp='1333498830' post='4643517'] Dufner had a "full lipper" in on #1 at ANGC yesterday. It was awesome! [/quote] Hell yea! J Duf is my boy! [/quote] I gave him a nice "War Eagle"...as I do everytime I see him. He always acknowledges it with a nod and slight wave. I know he's still a huge AU fan...so it's got to fire him up a bit when he hears it when out on the course.

You must not have watched the Waste Management Open this year.

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Masters 2024 predictions, odds, picks, props: Golf insider picking Sam Burns at Augusta National

Golf insider patrick mcdonald has revealed his 2024 masters picks, pga best bets and props for augusta national.

Patrick Cantlay has been creeping towards contention at the Masters for several years, sitting just five shots off the lead entering the final round last year. He will try to break through with his first major championship at Augusta National when the 2024 Masters begins on Thursday, April 11. Cantlay is playing his first Masters with caddy Joe LaCava, who helped Tiger Woods win the Masters in 2019. The 2024 Masters odds have Cantlay at 21-1, sitting well back of co-favorites Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, who are 17-2.

Defending champion Jon Rahm is also among the top 2024 Masters contenders at 11-1, while Viktor Hovland is 15-1 and Jordan Spieth is 19-1. Which golfers should you include in your 2024 Masters predictions? Before locking in any 2024 Masters picks or golf predictions, you need to see what proven golf betting expert Patrick McDonald has to say , considering his recent track record.

McDonald joined CBS Sports as a golf writer in 2022 after stops at NBC Sports and RyderCup.com. Covering the sport from a broader perspective, McDonald still likes to dip his toes into the betting pools on a weekly basis between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and more. Featured weekly on the Early Wedge, he has given out numerous winners already in 2024, including Jake Knapp (50-1) at the Mexico Open. 

Now, McDonald has focused his attention on the 2024 Masters field and has locked in his best bets, top sleepers and favorites to avoid. You can see only see them at SportsLine .

Top 2024 Masters expert picks

One stunning prediction from McDonald: He is high on Sam Burns, even though he is a 55-1 longshot. The 27-year-old has been an elite golfer since his youth, winning the AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year in 2014 before winning four tournaments in 15 collegiate starts at LSU. Burns made his PGA Tour debut in 2017 and has been a factor in numerous tournaments since then.

He is a five-time winner on the PGA Tour, his most recent victory coming at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play last year. Burns has yet to contend for a major championship, but he finished in the top 30 at the Masters last year. He has already posted four top-10 finishes this season, including a third-place finish at the Phoenix Open in February, so he could be primed for a strong showing at Augusta National.  See who else to back here .

How to make 2024 Masters picks, bets

McDonald is also jumping on an underdog who's had plenty of success at Augusta National but is still listed at nearly 100-1 to win it all.  You can only see his 2024 Masters picks at SportsLine .

So, which players should you target or avoid for the 2024 Masters, and which proven golfer in the Masters 2024 field could bring a monster payday of almost 100-1? Check out the odds below then visit SportsLine to see Patrick McDonald's top picks for the Masters 2024, all from the expert who has been red-hot on his PGA Tour picks this season  and find out.

2024 Masters odds, field 

See full 2024 Masters picks at SportsLine

Rory McIlroy +850 Scottie Scheffler +850 Jon Rahm +1100 Viktor Hovland +1500 Jordan Spieth +1900 Brooks Koepka +2100 Patrick Cantlay +2100 Cameron Smith +2400 Will Zalatoris +2400 Ludvig Aberg +2400 Justin Thomas +2800 Xander Schauffele +2800 Collin Morikawa +3100 Joaquin Niemann +3100 Hideki Matsuyama +3400 Bryson DeChambeau +3600 Dustin Johnson +3600 Cameron Young +4400 Jason Day +4400 Tony Finau +4400 Max Homa +4400 Tommy Fleetwood +4800 Min Woo Lee +5000 Sam Burns +5500 Matt Fitzpatrick +5500 Sahith Theegala +5500 Wyndham Clark +5500 Shane Lowry +6000 Sung-Jae Im +6500 Tom Kim +7500 Tyrrell Hatton +7500 Patrick Reed +8500 Rickie Fowler +8500 Justin Rose +9000 Corey Conners +9000 Adam Scott +9000 Brian Harman +12000 Tiger Woods +12000 Russell Henley +12000 Jake Knapp +12000 Nicolai Hojgaard +13000 Keegan Bradley +16000 Phil Mickelson +16000 Si Woo Kim +16000 J.T. Poston +16000 Sergio Garcia +16000 Ryan Fox +16000 Thorbjorn Olesen +16000 Eric Cole +16000 Matthieu Pavon +16000 Erik van Rooyen +16000 Gary Woodland +19000 Chris Kirk +19000 Nick Dunlap +19000 Cameron Davis +19000 Adrian Meronk +19000 Sepp Straka +19000 Nick Taylor +19000 Emiliano Grillo +19000 Luke List +21000 Adam Hadwin +21000 Harris English +24000 Charl Schwartzel +28000 Bubba Watson +28000 Kurt Kitayama +28000 Danny Willett +28000 Ryo Hisatsune +28000 Denny McCarthy +28000 Lee Hodges +35000 Taylor Moore +43000 Adam Schenk +43000 Lucas Glover +43000 Grayson Murray +55000 Christo Lamprecht +55000 Santiago De La Fuente +65000 Neal Shipley +65000 Stewart Hagestad +85000 Jasper Stubbs +85000 Zach Johnson +100000

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Rory McIlroy, citing ratings dip, says deal should 'speed up'

P ONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- With TV ratings falling so far this season, four-time major champion Rory McIlroy said Wednesday that he wants the "train to speed up" regarding the PGA Tour finalizing a deal with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund to reunify men's professional golf.

"These bigger signature events that we tried to create, they worked last year," McIlroy said at TPC Sawgrass, the site of this week's 50th Players Championship. "The ratings were up, and it was great. But you look at the ratings this year for those events in the United States and everything's down."

According to published reports, TV ratings for the final round of last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Florida, where world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler ran away with a 5-stroke victory, were down 30% compared to the final round in 2023. TV ratings for final-round coverage of the Genesis Invitational on Feb. 18 -- when 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama returned to the winner's circle -- were down about 5%.

The PGA Tour created the eight signature events, with purses of at least $20 million and smaller fields to bring together its best golfers more often. The remaining four signature events are the RBC Heritage, Wells Fargo Championship, Memorial Tournament and Travelers Championship.

"For whatever reason, [the signature events] are not quite capturing the imagination this year compared to last year," McIlroy said.

The Sports Business Journal reported that amateur Nick Dunlap's improbable victory at the American Express in January was the lone PGA Tour event this season that had increased viewership compared to 2023.

"It's sort of been the same across the board with some of these bigger events," McIlroy said. "I think fans are getting fatigued of it, and I think the more and more we go down this route, the more people are just going to tune in four times a year [for the major championships], which is no good for anyone -- no good for golf. That just can't happen, so we need to figure it out."

On Tuesday, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan told reporters that he and partners from Strategic Sports Group met with PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan in Saudi Arabia in January and that talks with the PIF had "accelerated." The PIF is financing the rival LIV Golf League, which has poached several top players from the PGA Tour, including reigning major championship winners Jon Rahm (Masters) and Brooks Koepka (PGA Championship). 

McIlroy believes damage to the sport's reputation will continue as long as the best players in the world continue competing on different circuits.

"You fight for so long and then you just get fatigued and tired of it," McIlroy said. "I think we're all sort of sick of the fighting at this point. That's why I've been so adamant that we need to figure out a way to unify the game, get everyone back together and all move forward. That's easier said than done, but I think that would be the best for all of us."

PGA Tour player directors to meet with PIF's Yasir Al-Rumayyan

• Associated Press

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Players on the PGA Tour board negotiating with Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund have a meeting planned Monday with the Saudi leader backing rival LIV Golf, something Rory McIlroy said Sunday should have happened long ago.

He also said Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Public Investment Fund, wants to be "productive" in golf, while Greg Norman and others involved in LIV are disruptive.

McIlroy won't be part of the meeting, and details remained vague on where it would be held and whether it would be anything more than an ice breaker with Al-Rumayyan.

"I doubt we will get into anything substantive in the first meeting," said Patrick Cantlay , one of six player directors on PGA Tour Enterprises, the new commercial venture that already has a minority investor in Strategic Sports Group, a consortium of U.S. sports owners.

McIlroy gave up his seat on the board in November and was replaced by Jordan Spieth . The other four player directors are Tiger Woods , Adam Scott , Peter Malnati and Webb Simpson .

McIlroy met with Al-Rumayyan last year at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. In fact, he said on a British soccer podcast at the start of the year that he had a part in the PGA Tour meeting with PIF in the first place, which led to the stunning June 6 announcement of a proposed partnership.

Cantlay confirmed there were "plans to have a meeting" on Monday at an undisclosed location.

"I think it should have happened months ago, so I am glad that it's happening," McIlroy said. "Hopefully that progresses conversations and gets us closer to a solution."

The solution ultimately would be patching together golf, with players like Masters champion Jon Rahm , Dustin Johnson , PGA champion Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau among those now with LIV and suspended from PGA Tour-sanctioned events except the four majors.

The PGA Tour's deal with PIF was supposed to be completed by the end of last year. But with government inquiries, and interest from private equity groups, the deal wasn't done. The tour aligned with SSG, and Rahm defected to LIV. SSG has pledged up to $3 billion, including $1.5 billion for a player equity program.

McIlroy drew a distinction between Al-Rumayyan and LIV Golf, particularly Norman, the CEO and commissioner of the rival league. McIlroy had said at the end of 2022 that Norman needed to "exit stage left" for there to be any meaningful conversations.

"I have spent time with Yasir and the people that have represented him in LIV I think have done him a disservice, so Norman and those guys," McIlroy said Sunday at The Players Championship.

"I actually think there's a really big disconnect between PIF and LIV," he said. "I think you got PIF over here and LIV are sort of over here doing their own thing. So the closer that we can get to Yasir, PIF and hopefully finalize that investment, I think that will be a really good thing."

Malnati said there was "massive resistance" to Saudi involvement because of the surprise June 6 announcement -- PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, with board members Ed Herlihy and Jimmy Dunne were the only ones involved.

"As I've learned more, I think I understand better and I'm very open minded to learning what involvement they want, what they want out of this and how they think they can help," Malnati said. "On the surface, I think there are players who have resistance to that relationship, for sure. So that's why I do think it's important that maybe our next step is to meet at some point."

Among the potential obstacles are how to blend players when there is animosity over those who left for massive signing bonuses to join LIV, along with LIV's desire for team golf.

Cantlay said without PIF investing in PGA Tour Enterprises, he could see golf going down a similar path of two rival leagues whose top players meet only four times a year.

"I don't think this is an overnight solution," McIlroy said. "But if we can get the investment in, then at least we can start working towards a compromise where we're not going to make everyone happy, but at least make everyone understand why we're doing what we're doing."

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LeBron James and Drake Make a Big Bet on the PGA Tour

The basketball star and rapper are investing in the professional golf competition, marking their latest push into sports.

By Andrew Ross Sorkin ,  Ravi Mattu ,  Bernhard Warner ,  Sarah Kessler ,  Michael J. de la Merced ,  Lauren Hirsch and Ephrat Livni

Golf’s new power players

Just over a month ago, a group of financiers and sports team owners, led by Fenway Sports Group, said it would invest up to $3 billion in the PGA Tour, a watershed deal that gave players equity in the league as it fends off competition from the Saudi-backed LIV Golf.

What wasn’t reported then was that several powerful people in sports, music and entertainment had also invested personally. Two names are likely to draw attention: LeBron James, the superstar basketball player, and Drake, the rapper.

The investors are bringing more than money. F.S.G. and fellow backers, including the billionaires Steve Cohen, Arthur Blank and Marc Lasry, believe they can help reinvigorate the sport, particularly as the value of media rights soars. James and Drake are committing additional capital as “strategic investors,” and are expected to use their marketing power to help the tour broaden its audience. James and the PGA Tour commissioner, Jay Monahan, were at the home of Tom Werner, F.S.G.’s chairman, recently discussing just that, DealBook hears.

Fans may see the stars around the greens, perhaps in the same way Drake is a frequent courtside presence at Toronto Raptors games. “Golf can be so much more than a sport. I remember some of my best childhood memories was being on the golf course with my uncle,” Drake said in a statement to DealBook. “It’s one thing to invest in a team, but to help reimagine one of the biggest leagues in the world is an incredible opportunity and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

James and Drake aren’t new to sports investing. In 2021, James took a stake in F.S.G. — he’s actually named in the small print as an F.S.G. investor in a news release announcing the $3 billion deal — which owns the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool F.C. James’s investment is separate from F.S.G.’s involvement.

In 2022, James and Drake also invested in A.C. Milan , the Italian soccer club, alongside RedBird Capital Partners and the owners of the New York Yankees.

Here are other previously unidentified PGA Tour investors: The actor Chris Pratt; James’s business partner, Maverick Carter, and the player’s agent, Rich Paul; Jeremy Zimmer, the C.E.O. of United Talent Agency; and Steve Stoute, the founder of UnitedMasters and a longtime record and marketing executive.

The man behind the investments is Paul Wachter. The Los Angeles-based financial adviser-turned-investor runs Main Street Advisors, and has been involved in many celebrity and athlete-driven businesses including Beats by Dre and NTWRK’s purchase last month of Complex.

HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING

Apple is fined €1.8 billion ($2 billion) over music streaming. The E.U.’s competition regulator accused the tech giant of violating antitrust rules by preventing developers from informing consumers about alternative music services like Spotify. The decision is the first time the iPhone maker has been punished for breaching E.U. law, and comes after Spotify filed a complaint against Apple in 2019.

Oil prices tick up slightly after OPEC members’ latest move. Brent crude, the international benchmark, yo-yoed only a little this morning after Saudi Arabia and other top producers said they would continue to limit their output through June. The announcement was meant to prop up slumping oil prices hit by tepid global demand.

New polls deliver more bad news for President Biden on the economy. The latest survey by The Times and Siena College, which shows him trailing Donald Trump by five percentage points, shows that a majority of Americans think the economy is in poor condition . In a poll by The Wall Street Journal, nearly a third of respondents felt that economic conditions had improved during the past two years — but a large majority believed inflation was still too high.

An investor group raises its takeover bid for Macy’s. Arkhouse Management and Brigade Capital Management increased their offer to $24 a share , up 14 percent and valuing the retailer at $6.6 billion. It’s unclear whether that’s enough to bring Macy’s to the negotiating table; the department store chain recently introduced its own turnaround strategy .

ICYMI: The billionaire debate about A.I.

Elon Musk tore open a rift in the technology world last week when he sued OpenAI and its C.E.O., Sam Altman.

That fight is about more than breach-of-contract allegations . It’s about the future of the technology — and other Silicon Valley insiders have aired their philosophical disagreements.

A reminder of Musk’s argument: OpenAI, which he helped fund for several years, was created as a nonprofit that would release its innovations to the public. He now accuses the organization of violating that principle when it built a for-profit arm. The final straw was Microsoft’s multibillion-dollar investment in that division that gave it an exclusive license to innovations like GPT-4.

Not everyone agrees with Musk. OpenAI executives disputed his claims, telling employees that they “do not reflect the reality of our work or mission.” And the venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, an investor in OpenAI, criticized Musk :

You jumped in early but didn’t stay committed. And real progress needed real funding. Many non-profits own for profit efforts.

Musk pushed back . But so, too, did Marc Andreessen, another OpenAI investor who supported Musk and responded that Khosla “is lobbying to ban open source .” That led to an interesting debate between Andreessen and Khosla about the dangers of rapidly advancing A.I. and whether it should be nationalized

Speaking of A.I. and the public good: Forty-five companies and tech executives have signed an open letter pledging to ensure that their work benefits humanity, DealBook is first to report. (The letter was planned before Musk’s lawsuit.)

From the letter, which was organized by the veteran investor Ron Conway:

While AI is unique in directly augmenting human thought, we expect its impact to be more akin to the printing press, the combustion engine, electricity, and the Internet. The balance of its good and bad impacts on humans will be shaped through the actions and thoughtfulness we as humans exercise. It is our collective responsibility to make choices that maximize AI’s benefits and mitigate the risks, for today and for future generations.

Others who signed include OpenAI, Meta, Google and Microsoft; the A.I. start-up Mistral; and the investors Coatue, Tim Draper and Khosla.

Music enters the “post-streaming” era

The fight between Universal Music Group and TikTok looks like a rerun of the streaming wars of the file-sharing era, pitting the music majors against a formidable digital force.

But some in the industry believe a move by the world’s biggest music company to pull its artists’ work off the platform could have even more profound consequences. And the specter of artificial intelligence looms over it all.

Here’s what the fight is about: Universal says TikTok should pay more to license its songs because the platform has become so big that it’s effectively underpaying, relative to its peers. The music company also wants TikTok to do more to protect its artists, like Taylor Swift and Drake, from the A.I. threat.

TikTok says Universal is jeopardizing its artists’ future by taking them off a giant platform for marketing and music discovery, especially for emerging singers .

Talks have hit a wall. Shou Chew, TikTok’s C.E.O., and other executives’ efforts to restart negotiations reportedly failed. The Universal boss, Lucian Grainge, doubled down on his warnings during an earnings call last week, saying there should be no “free rides” for TikTok.

What happens matters to the entire industry. TikTok is the top platform where young consumers, especially teenagers, find new music, according to MIDiA Research. TikTok is also transforming the music business, building what MIDiA calls the “post-streaming era,” defined by the rise of A.I. and the “consumer-creator.”

A.I. is a potential existential threat for the music labels. Universal says TikTok is being “flooded” with A.I.-generated music. As the platform embraces user-generated content, that issue has become a sticking point in talks.

TikTok wants royalties to be shared with fans, and Universal rejects that idea outright, according to The Financial Times. “A.I. will also allow social users — and even the platforms themselves — to simply spin up their own A.I.-generated music for posts, rather than using music created by human artists,” Tatiana Cirisano, an analyst at MIDiA, told DealBook. “I do understand why these developments are stoking labels’ fears.”

The pre -wedding party of the year

Tech billionaires including Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates. Wall Street heavyweights like Larry Fink. Rihanna and Bollywood stars galore.

Those were among the V.I.P.s — a list that also included prime ministers, royalty and figures like Jared and Ivanka Kushner — who flew to Gujarat, India. They were there for this past weekend’s pre-wedding bash to toast Rhadika Merchant and Anant Ambani, the son of Mukesh Ambani, the head of Reliance Industries and Asia’s richest man.

Rihanna performed a lengthy set. (She reportedly was paid millions .) But the three-day extravaganza was a mere taste of things to come: The actual wedding is set for July.

The week ahead

It’s a busy week with payrolls, primaries, the State of the Union address and crucial policymaking meetings in China. Here’s what to watch.

Tuesday: It’s Super Tuesday. Voters head to the polls in 15 states, including California, Texas and North Carolina. The big question: Could this be Nikki Haley’s last stand?

Elsewhere, China’s “Two Sessions” conference begins in Beijing. Investors will be watching for an official 2024 G.D.P. target and any signs of policy moves to kick-start the economy.

Wednesday: Jay Powell, the Fed chair, is scheduled to begin two days of testimony on Capitol Hill. He’s expected to stress that there’s no urgent need to cut interest rates .

Thursday: President Biden is set to deliver his State of the Union address. In addition to talking up his economic accomplishments, he is expected to call for lower health care costs and higher taxes on corporations and the rich.

Friday: It’s jobs day. Economists have forecast that employers added 190,000 jobs last month, a big fall from last month. A reminder: The January report was a stunner, with the payroll figure coming in well above Wall Street’s estimates.

THE SPEED READ

“Step Aside, E.S.G. BlackRock Is Doing ‘Transition Investing’ Now .” (WSJ)

ABP, a giant Dutch pension fund, said it planned to direct at least $32.5 billion for impact investing by 2030 and cut its holdings in polluters. (Reuters)

A federal judge in Alabama blocked a Treasury Department effort to collect more information from small businesses to help fight money laundering . (NYT)

Bayer is said to be lobbying state governments to limit its legal liability for its Roundup weedkiller, the subject of a wave of lawsuits. (FT)

Best of the rest

“ Wall Street’s D.E.I. Retreat Has Officially Begun” (Bloomberg)

Inside the United Automobile Workers push to unionize auto plants across America . (NYT)

We’d like your feedback! Please email thoughts and suggestions to [email protected] .

Andrew Ross Sorkin is a columnist and the founder and editor at large of DealBook. He is a co-anchor of CNBC’s "Squawk Box" and the author of “Too Big to Fail.” He is also a co-creator of the Showtime drama series "Billions." More about Andrew Ross Sorkin

Ravi Mattu is the managing editor of DealBook, based in London. He joined The New York Times in 2022 from the Financial Times, where he held a number of senior roles in Hong Kong and London. More about Ravi Mattu

Bernhard Warner is a senior editor for DealBook, a newsletter from The Times, covering business trends, the economy and the markets. More about Bernhard Warner

Sarah Kessler is an editor for the DealBook newsletter and writes features on business and how workplaces are changing. More about Sarah Kessler

Michael de la Merced joined The Times as a reporter in 2006, covering Wall Street and finance. Among his main coverage areas are mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcies and the private equity industry. More about Michael J. de la Merced

Lauren Hirsch joined The Times from CNBC in 2020, covering deals and the biggest stories on Wall Street. More about Lauren Hirsch

Ephrat Livni reports from Washington on the intersection of business and policy for DealBook. Previously, she was a senior reporter at Quartz, covering law and politics, and has practiced law in the public and private sectors.   More about Ephrat Livni