Monday Morning Caddy - February 13, 2017

February 13, 2017 Sara Rubin Comments

Jordan Spieth had a big week both on the course and made some headlines off the course as well and the European Tour is getting funky with some new formats.  Read all about it below.

Spieth Victorious

Jordan Spieth cruised to what looked like a pretty straightforward and easy victory at the Pebble Beach Pro Am on Sunday.  He started Sunday with a six-stroke lead and no one got closer than three strokes.  The win was Spieth’s 9^th on the Pro Tour and he is now the 2^nd youngest player to reach nine wins (behind Tiger Woods by a mere month).  Spieth’s win also gives him a lot of good mojo as the Masters approaches.

In Other Jordan Spieth News...

Jordan squared off with a couple of professional autograph seekers at the beginning of the Pebble Beach Pro Am.  Spieth, who is one of the more affable pros on tour, can regularly be seen signing hats, shirts and pictures for admiring kids has had a history of calling out adults who push kids aside to try and get valuable signatures.  He had just left the 18^th green on Wednesday and was signing autographs for a few kids when he heard some complaints from a handful of adults.

"So I turned around and one of them dropped an F-bomb in front of three kids, so I felt the need to turn around and tell them that that wasn't right," Spieth said at his press conference Wednesday. "And a couple of them were saying, ‘You're not Tiger Woods, don't act like you're Tiger.' I mean, it's just like, Whatever, guys. You're still trying to benefit off me and I'm not even Tiger Woods. So, you know, what's that say about you?"

Personally, I can’t blame Spieth for getting annoyed at these guys.  These professional autograph seekers are looking to make an easy profit off of well-meaning pros and it probably doesn’t sit well with a lot of players.  I’ve also had the priviledge of being able to watch Jordan Spieth play a few practice rounds and he is friendly, open, and interacts readily with all his young fans when he has the time.  At the Bridgestone Open last year, I saw a young kid decked in Under Armour ask for an autograph during Jordan’s practice round.  Jordan signed the kid’s hat and then let the kid walk with him for two holes and even let the kid putt a few.  No press around and no reason behind it other than Jordan wanting to create a great experience for a young fan.

Spieth has the right of it here.  These “professional” autograph seekers need to find real jobs.

European Tour To Launch 6-Hole Tournament

The PGA Tour should pay attention and take some notes from it’s European cousin.  The European Tour is making it known that they want to create a more fun, innovative touring experience and having already introduced night events, they have unveiled a plan to launch a 6-hole tournament.  The event, which will be held on May 6^th at the Centurion Club outside of London, will feature two-man teams from 16 countries.  Top prize will be a cool $1.06 million.

The playing format will be “Greensomes”, where both players will tee off on each hole and alternate shots after choosing the best drive.  The teams will be grouped into four foursomes on Day 1 and two from each group will proceed to the knockout stages.  Day 2 will feature the quarterfinals, semis and the final.

"We have said for some time that golf needs to modernize and introducing innovative new formats is a major part of achieving that aim, which is why I am delighted to announce the launch of GolfSixes today," Pelley said.  "We want to broaden the appeal of our sport to the millennial demographic and I

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