Rory Resigning From the Policy Board Tells You All You Need To Know About His Current Relationship with the Tour

There hasn’t been a bigger poster child for the Tour since LIV came on to the scene than Rory Mcllroy. Whether intentional or not, Rory put the Tour on his back for nearly 2 years, even going so far as to answer questions when his own commissioner wouldn’t. 

So, I’m sure it came as a shock to many, if not all, when earlier this week he announced his resignation from the Tour’s Policy Board. While it may have seemed to have come completely out of left field, that announcement tells you all you need to know about Rory’s current relationship with Jay Monahan and the Tour as a whole. 

Yes, Rory is in the process of launching a new golf league. Yes, Rory has a family at home that he wants to spend more time with. But Rory has also been laid out to dry more than once over these last two years, and I’m guessing that had something to do with it too. 

Now, on the heels of the Tour formalizing their deal with the Saudis, a group that Rory very publicly turned down in the early days of LIV, Rory has thrown his hands up and called it quits…and who can really blame him? 

Your feelings about the current state of the men’s game aside, at its core, the Tour is getting into bed with the same entity that they pleaded with their membership not to get involved with. 

Do as I say and not as I do. 

Frankly, I’m surprised we haven’t seen more of the Tour’s most loyal follow Rory out the proverbial door. Jay has lost the room and doesn’t seem to be getting it back, at least not anytime soon. 

Even in his memo to his players announcing that they will have equity in the new, for-profit, arm of the Tour, he referenced questions he addressed to someone in his office and not him directly. The guy can’t get out of his own way. 

Rory decided that his time wasn’t worth it anymore and could be better spent focusing on other things, and that tells you all you need to know about his current relationship with the Tour.

Golf Unfiltered Podcast 72: 2016 US Open Picks

In what can only be described as a last-minute podcast, this week's episode of the Golf Unfiltered Podcast features me rambling for 20 minutes about the 2016 US Open at Oakmont. I run down a few thoughts on the favorites for the tournament, why I think Jason Day won't make the cut, and why Dustin Johnson will win. Actually... I go into more reasons why he won't win... but I'm still picking him, dammit!

Be sure to rate us 5 stars on iTunes!

Nike Golf Unveils New Nike Lunar Control 4 Golf Shoes

Rory McIlroy's golf swing is a thing of violent beauty. With swing speeds reaching over 120 MPH, Rors must establish a solid foundation in his lower body to handle the force he exerts on his golf club. Nike Golf built the new Nike Lunar Control 4 golf shoes for this purpose, which Rory will be wearing at his upcoming tournament in Dubai.

Early sketches of the Nike Lunar Control 4 look like something out of a NASA rocket build:

What resulted from all that chicken-scratch was a golf shoe engineered to support the fastest golf swings in the world.

Like other Nike Golf designs, the Nike Lunar Control 4 leverages Nike innovations, developed across a variety of sport platforms, to meet McIlroy’s needs – and those of golf athletes at every level of the game. Dynamic Nike Flywire technology provides lateral support in the midfoot, while a new, robust external heel counter helps lock the foot in place through McIlroy’s swing.

The upper is reengineered of a lightweight microfiber that provides a soft, unrestricted feel. The tongue has been redesigned to wrap ergonomically around the ankle and provide a natural break when walking. The athletic design of the Nike Lunar Control 4 is highlighted by a Swoosh logo design on the vamp, an iconic aesthetic most familiar in the Nike Mercurial football boot.

The shoes also look pretty sweet... even if they feature a bit of "Popsicle-like" coloring.

“I have been looking forward to wearing this shoe for quite some time. It’s a design I’ve been involved with ever since my first year with Nike,” says McIlroy. “It gives me the confidence needed to maximize power in my swing with reliable control on the ground, especially off the tee.”

Available in three colorways for men (black/white, white/wolf grey, white/bright crimson) and for women (black/white, white/wolf grey, pure platinum/bright crimson), the Nike Lunar Control 4 will launch November 27 on nike.com and on December 1 at select retailers.

DraftKings fantasy golf picks: 2015 PGA Championship

The final major of the year tees off this week as the best golfers in the world (and Tiger Woods) converge onto Whistling Straits in Wisconsin for the 2015 PGA Championship. There are many DraftKings fantasy golf pick values in play this week, so let's get right into it. Remember to click the banner below and use promo code UNFILTERED to play for free!

Rory McIlroy may be in the field this week, but Jordan Spieth is easily the favorite heading in, having won The Masters and US Open earlier this season. He's the highest-priced pick this week ($12,500) and deservedly so. Luckily, there are multiple high-value "scrubs" at DraftKings this week, so go ahead and add Spieth to your roster free of worry.

Louis Oosthuizen has fallen back to earth a bit since his strong showing at the British Open, but his moderately-high DraftKings salary ($9,100) is still worth your consideration for the PGA. King Louis seems to only show up at majors, and his mastery of the links-style Chambers Bay and St. Andrews should be more than enough to convince you he'll do the same at Whistling Straits this week.

James Morrison is a name more common on the European Tour, which may play into his insane value of $7,200 this week. Morrison has only played one PGA Tour event this year but managed 15 birdies and 49 pars, leading to a strong 70.3 fantasy point average in that start. He's got one win on the Euro Tour this year -- The Spanish Open in May -- and has three straight top-25 finishes in his last three starts.

Danny Lee is another value pick at $7,100 despite his strong showing at last week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational (T-6). He has a streak of five top-25 finishes in his last six events, including his first career PGA Tour win at The Greenbrier in a playoff. He did miss the cut at last month's British Open, however, which begs the question on how he'll hold up in the spotlight of a major.

How in the world is Patrick Reed priced at just $7,600 this week? The polarizing PGA youngster has made 20 of 22 cuts this year including a win in Hawaii back in January. He's averaged over 75 fantasy points per tournament start. He's got four top-10's this year. You'll be stupid not to put him on your DraftKings roster for the year's last major.

Finally, Brendan Steele might be the 'steal' of the week. At only $6,500 in DraftKings dollars, you're getting top-value for Steele's four top-10's, 16 eagles, 286 birdies and 17-of-20 made cuts this year. No, he probably won't win the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday, but Steele is a lock to make the weekend.

DraftKings Fantasy Golf Pick Roster

1. Jordan Spieth
2. Louis Oosthuizen
3. Patrick Reed
4. James Morrison
5. Danny Lee
6. Brendan Steele

GU Podcast 24: Public Relations Expert Chad Schmidt

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes during a superstar athlete's PR emergency? This week on the Golf Unfiltered Podcast we welcome public relations expert Chad Schmidt to learn more about the in's and out's of surviving a PR crisis. The discussion starts off with Chad walking us through the steps taken in the midst of a PR emergency. How soon should an athlete's camp offer a response? Is it possible to be too quick with a response? Who are the members of your typical "PR Crisis Team," and how do they work together to make sure the right response gets to the public?

Chad and I then discuss how some of the most well-known PR emergencies in professional golf were handled, including Tiger Woods' sex scandal in 2009 and Rory McIlroy's recent injury snafu that kept him out of the British Open.

Finally, Chad offers his take on how PR professionals coach superstar athletes to use social media... and how not to use it.

This episode gives you an in-depth peek into the lives of our favorite athletes when stuff gets real. Don't miss out!

Follow Chad on Twitter at @fantasygolfguy.

Golf Unfiltered Podcast 21: Rory's Injury, Danny Lee and Tiger Woods

Riding solo on today's podcast as I recap some of the more newsworthy items from the past week. This episode starts off discussing Rory McIlroy's ridiculous ankle injury and the even more ridiculous hot takes from the media that soon followed. What are Rory's chances to play in the British Open? Do we really expect these superstar athletes to live in a bubble? If so, I'd bet that bubble comes with Netflix.

The topic shifts to Danny Lee's first win on the PGA Tour, what it means for his career and what we can expect from the youngster moving forward.

Finally, any podcast wouldn't be complete without a few minutes discussing Tiger Woods. How did his swing look this week at The Greenbrier? Why in the world won't Tiger heed the advice on my Twitter feed and slow his swing tempo down? What are his chances at the wide-open St. Andrews course in a couple weeks?

Be sure to subscribe to the Golf Unfiltered Podcast on iTunes (link below). Why not give us a 5-star review, while you're at it?

Golf Unfiltered Podcast 16: The Old Lady

  Things are getting downright silly at GU headquarters as we welcome our THIRD podcast guest this US Open week: Mrs. Golf Unfiltered herself, Kristen.

That's right folks; my wife stops by the podcast studio to give us the best US Open Preview anywhere on the internet. We tackle hard hitting questions like:

• Who are some of Kristen's favorite golfers?
• Where will those players finish this week?
• What characteristics should a girl look for when deciding if a PGA Tour player is "attractive?"

We also squeeze in a few Twitter questions to wrap a nice bow on our most entertaining podcast episode yet. This is definitely an episode that cannot be missed!

Follow Kristen on Twitter @anast24.

Golf Unfiltered Podcast 10: Rory McIlroy, David Leadbetter and My Swing Evolution!

We've reached double-digits at The Golf Unfiltered Podcast! What better way to spend our tenth episode by listening to me cook dinner while I talk about Rory McIlroy's amazing win at the 2015 Wells Fargo Championship? There is no better way, I tells ya! We also cover two very opposite -- yet effective -- golf swing instructional series in our second segment. First, I offer my take on David Leadbetter's new book, The A Swing, and how it may (or may not) help my golf game. I then switch gears to talk about Christo Garcia's incredible YouTube Channel, My Swing Evolution, and his new instructional video on the classic Ben Hogan golf swing.

We also manage to squeeze in a couple Twitter questions from our listeners. Listen to the show via the player below!

Golf Unfiltered Podcast 4: Jordan Spieth wins the Masters

This week on the Golf Unfiltered Podcast Adam gives his take on Jordan Spieth's incredible performance at the 2015 Masters. He also discusses what it was like watching Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy -- and how only one of the two actually came to play on Sunday. Be sure to follow Adam on Twitter at @AdamJFonseca.

Send him an email at chicagoduffer@gmail.com.

Like our Facebook fan page at Facebook.com/GolfUnfiltered.

Listen to the podcast here:

2015 Masters Fantasy Golf Picks

The Masters has finally returned and Augusta National Golf Club will play host to the greatest golfers in the world for the 81st time. Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth are among the favorites to win, but let's take a closer look at our fantasy golf picks for the season's first major.  

Right away you will notice a glaring omission from my Masters fantasy golf picks above: Rory McIlroy. While the Ulsterman is the Vegas favorite heading into the week (6/1 at the time of this writing), Rory has had an extremely inconsistent season to this point.

In his three tournaments on the PGA Tour schedule this year, Rory has missed a cut and finished in the top-10 (2015 WGC Cadillac) once. On the other hand, his European Tour resume since October has been absolutely scalding: two wins (2014 PGA Championship, 2015 Omega Dubai Desert Classic) and three runner-up finishes (2014 Dunhill Links, 2015 Dubai DP World Tour Championship, 2015 HSBC Abu Dhabi). The World No. 1 will have the eyes of the world on his every move this week -- when they aren't affixed to Tiger Woods, of course -- but Rory will have to play the tournament of his life to pull this off. I don't think this is the year.

For names like Henrik Stenson, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed and Rickie Fowler, however, 2015 might be the year one of these deserving players finally break through with their first major. The first three names will be in contention as soon as they step on the course while Fowler's major performances in 2014 (four top-5's!) have more than earned him ample consideration.

Bubba Watson and Ryan Moore are slight longshots this week -- yes, even though Bubba is the defending champ -- but both have shown flashes of brilliance already this season. Both players will serve as fitting bench players on your fantasy golf picks roster in the event you'll require their services later in the week.

That leaves us with Jason Day and Paul Casey; two men on opposite ends of their playing abilities but in prime position to win their first major championship. Day has played extremely well over the last few years at Augusta while Casey seems to weasel his way onto the leaderboard at brief intervals in years past. I'm picking Day as the eventual champion for the week, but don't be surprised if Casey shocks the world out of nowhere.

2015 Honda Classic fantasy golf picks

The PGA TOUR -- and Rory McIlroy -- return to Palm Beach Gardens for the 2015 Honda Classic. Home to The Bear Trap, this course always delivers an exciting tournament, making this week's fantasy golf picks that much more important. Let's take a look at our roster for the week.  

Rory McIlroy makes his 2015 PGA TOUR season debut, and it couldn't come at a better time for fair-weather golf fans. Despite an exciting finish at last week's Northern Trust Open -- where James Hahn captured his first TOUR win -- we can't help but notice a "lull" in golf fan attitudes as of late. Tiger's missing, Phil's hurt, and other big-time names just aren't winning golf tournaments yet. We need Rory.

Dustin Johnson, on the other hand, has been playing well despite having been "off" for six months. He finished runner-up last week -- losing to Hahn in a playoff -- and usually plays well at Palm Beach Gardens. He's 2-for-3 in terms of top-10 tournament finishes so far, and don't be surprised if he continues that trend at the Honda.

Sergio Garcia was also a pleasant surprise last week, despite falling victim to his own mental snafu tendencies on Sunday. It's tough to start him over Rory in the A-Bracket, though, but he'll make a solid bench player if something unexpected happens to the Ulsterman.

Patrick Reed and Nick Watney are safe picks this week as both guys have played very well in 2015. Reed has been off for the last two weeks but already has a win in Hawaii while Watney continues his strong play.

Rory McIlroy Pumpkin Carving is Terrifying

Pumpkinfest is a Northern Irish annual tradition that includes the popular pumpkin carving contest, which features some of the country's finest master carvers. Northern Ireland is also the home of golf star Rory McIlroy, so it's only natural someone combined the two. As reported by The Golf News Net, master pumpkin carver Joey Burns paid homage to McIlroy by carving his likeness into a pumpkin. The results were horrific:

Don't blame me for your night terrors tonight, folks. Blame Joey Burns.

The idea was certainly original, to say the least. I'll admit that I'm impressed how the artist combined the bill of a baseball cap to the gourd, which is officially the first time the word "gourd" has appeared on this blog.

Open Championship 2014: Fantasy Golf Picks

I can't go with The Big Cat. I can't do it. I'm sorry. Yes; it is very tempting to use Tiger Woods as a fantasy golf pick for this week's 2014 Open Championship. Back surgery or no, it's still Tiger freakin' Woods. He won the last Open at Hoylake in 2006. He's the greatest player of this generation.

He's also not going to win this week. Sorry, I'm a realist.

That being said, my fantasy golf picks for the week are all pretty conservative. Adam Scott and Justin Rose are the best players on the planet, and that's not totally taking into account their respective World Golf Rankings (1 & 3). Henrik Stenson (no. 2) also belongs in that conversation. These three men alone have taken over the sport and don't seem to be slowing down any time soon.

Rory McIlroy is doing typical weird Rory things, but he's still a decent pick this week. If we can find a way to have him skip the second round, he'll be in good shape. Hopefully.

Jimmy Walker is my only American choice for the week. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing for the stars and stripes. Regardless, I feel he's at the pinnacle of his ability and as such should be shown respect. Walker could steal the Claret Jug right from under everyone's noses.

Martin Kaymer is riding the German Hot Streak and should be in contention near week's end. Could he win both Opens this year? He's already got the US national title, and if the World Cup taught us anything, it's that it's really good to be a German athlete these days.

That leaves us with Freddie Jacobson and Sergio Garcia. There are probably stronger plays than both of these gents, but something tells me Freddie is going to win a major at some point in his career, and I refuse to believe Sergio can't do the same.

Is Golf Equipment Ruining The Game?

In case you haven't heard by now, Rory McIlroy drove the 436-yard, par-4 13th hole today at Royal Aberdeen during the Scottish Open. Drove. The. Green. Here's the video:

That sound you heard in the background toward the end of the video? That was me puking all over my keyboard, because that was disgusting.

While golf shots like Rory's -- and Bubba Watson's massive drive on Augusta National's 13th hole on Masters Sunday -- are flashy and awesome, they also prove exactly what is wrong with modern-day golf equipment. Professional players are destroying the best golf courses in the globe, and it is becoming a huge problem.

Before you stop reading this article and dismiss my opinion as being that of an "old fuddy-duddy" (even though I'm in my early 30's), consider what could happen to another major sport if technology was introduced in a similar fashion as golf.

Suppose a new football is invented and introduced into the National Football League. The technology in this ball -- while still made of leather and laces -- allows it to travel further through the air when thrown. This technology also increases the "tackiness" of the outside leather, making it easier to catch and carry. The ball's measurements and ratios still adhere to the NFL's Rule Book. It is just a "better" ball all around.

Now suppose what someone like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, or Drew Brees get their hands on this football. Suddenly, their average game stats balloon from 250+ yards per game to 350+ yards. Wide receivers like Andre Johnson or running backs like Arian Foster begin averaging 300 yards receiving or rushing, respectively. Records are not only broken, they are demolished. The efforts of past NFL legends are left in the dust, routinely lapped by the yardages and scoring achievements in the modern "Super Ball" era.

In a response to traditionalists and in an effort to protect the integrity of the game, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell decides to increase the length of the football field to 125 yards, then 150, and finally 200. The playing surface has doubled in length, all because of one little technological change in an otherwise innocent-looking football.

Demand for the new ball skyrockets. Sporting goods stores begin selling the new Super Ball to football fans. Pee-Wee football leagues introduce the Super Ball into their game. High Schools follow suit. The NCAA welcomes the ball with open arms.

Before too long, ESPN reports the first ever high school student Quarterback to sign with an NFL team. When compared to the yardages of professionals, the difference is almost negligible. Hell, if the kid can do it, why not let him play?

Over time, the game we once knew is no longer the same as what it has become.

All of that sounds ridiculous, right?

Fantasy Golf 2014: The Masters

It's the most wonderful time of the year! The season's first major tees off this week at The Masters from legendary Augusta National Golf Club, so get your fantasy golf rosters ready because this week is going to be special. Yes, we all know that Tiger Woods is out of the tournament. Boo-hoo, whatever will fantasy golfers do? You're going to pick Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy on your roster, that's what. Both men are easily the favorites heading into the week, and don't be surprised in the least if Scott successfully defends his title come Sunday.

Jason Day is another must-have on my fantasy golf picks this week. He absolutely loves playing at Augusta National and has done so incredibly well over the last few years. The same can be said for Phil Mickelson, bad back and all. Look for Lefty to be in the mix by Saturday, as evidenced by a solid showing in Houston last week.

Could this be the year that Sergio Garcia finally breaks through at a major? He's ranked sixth in the world -- his highest ranking in decades -- and seems to be firing on all cylinders headed into this week. Oh, and let's not forget Jimmy Walker, who has three tournament victories already this golf season.

Fantasy Golf Picks 2014: WGC - Cadillac Championship

Will he or won't he? That's the biggest question on every fantasy golf player's mind heading into this week's 2014 World Golf Championships - Cadillac Championship. Tiger Woods has a bad back. Again. As of Wednesday morning, there was no official word on whether or not Tiger will defend his title this week at Doral. That's not good for people like you and me who need to throw together a fantasy golf picks roster.

Here's a word of advice: don't play Tiger this week. That probably means he'll end up winning by like 20 shots, but play the odds and go with someone else in the A Group. I went with Phil Mickelson and Luke Donald, even though the former has had back issues already this season. The only difference between Phil and Tiger is that Lefty has had time to heal.

I'm going with an unofficial rule this year: if Miguel Angel Jimenez is available, I'm putting him on my roster. Every damn time. Not only is he the Most Interesting Golfer in the World, but he's still playing extremely well as of late.

Rory McIlroy and Jason Day are no-brainers as both men have been in the final pairing in each of their respective tournaments. I feel like that's a really poor sentence I just wrote. Meh, who cares? You know what I mean. PLAY THEM THIS WEEK.

Fantasy Golf Picks: 2014 Honda Classic

All the big boys are back this week on the PGA Tour for the 2014 Honda Classic at PGA National. Tiger Woods makes his return to action after a piss-poor showing at this year's Farmers Insurance Open. The Honda Classic also marks the beginning of his unofficial Masters prep, which is likely the case for many of his fellow competitors this week.

As you can see by my fantasy golf picks above, I'm not going out on any limbs this week. Only the biggest names are on my roster (well, with the exception of Chris Kirk and Matsuyama) because I need a win on my year stat totals. To date, I've only recorded three Top 10 finishes, one Top 3 and a big ol' goose egg in the "wins" column.

Expect big things out of young Rory McIlroy this week. He's won here before, he played really damn well in Abu Dhabi a few weeks ago and won't have any cacti to hit golf balls into at PGA National. Besides, this is supposed to be the year he gets things back on track.

Rory McIlroy asked Caroline’s Parents for Permission before Proposal

Rory McIlroy proposed to his girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki on New Year’s Eve, but not before asking her parents for permission first. According to Matt Cronin of Tennis.com, Wozniacki told reporters that her new fiancé stuck to tradition before popping the question.

“My parents knew. He had asked my parents for permission, like traditional, which was great,” she said in Sydney. “I was very happy. They were very happy for me, and his parents as well and everyone around us.”

Isn’t that great? Everybody was happy. Let’s have a group hug.

Eluding to the notion that a change of this magnitude in their personal lives may negatively impact their respective performance in their sport, Wozniacki suggested quite the opposite.

“So it's a special moment, a special time in our lives. You know, it's amazing to have everything set in the personal life and we can really focus on our games and the year ahead of us in the sport, which we're both looking very much forward to.”

Rory Thinks Brandel Chamblee "Is Completely Wrong"

Rory McIlroy voiced his displeasure regarding golf analyst Brandel Chamblee's cheating accusation about fellow Nike player Tiger Woods, saying the analyst was "completely wrong". As reported by the Global Post, McIlroy told reporters that he believes Chamblee "should be dealt with" following the analysts' insinuation that Woods cheated on the golf course numerous times throughout 2013. Chamblee gave Woods an 'F' grade during his year-end report card special during a recent Golf Channel telecast, stating that Woods was a bit "cavalier with the rules", but we all know what he meant.

"Yeah, I think Brandel was completely wrong. I don't think he has the authority to say anything like that about Tiger Woods," McIlroy told the Global Post.

"People wouldn't know who Brandel Chamblee was if it wasn't for Tiger Woods, so I am completely against what he said and I think he should be dealt with in the right way."

I knew I liked this kid for a reason.

The Golf Channel has remained mum on the topic since the telecast, preferring instead to allow Chamblee to issue a sorry excuse for an apology to Woods via Twitter. In his "apology", Chamblee stated he never wanted to garner this much attention from the remarks, which, of course, is bullshit.

While we at ChicagoDuffer.com would never ask for the termination of another golf writer for simply speaking his opinion, it remains suspiciously interesting that the Golf Channel has yet to make a public statement of any kind. Personally, I believe the issue with Chamblee will be dealt with behind closed doors and that we will see him make a similar half-assed apology on-air during the next tournament telecast. In the meantime, however, none of us will be holding our breath.

Fantasy Golf Picks: 2013 BMW Championship

The PGA Tour returns to my back yard this week for the 2013 BMW Championship from Conway Farms in Lake Forest, Ill. Consider me slightly excited. Rory McIlroy is the defending champion at this event, which marks the third stage of the FedExCup Playoffs. Henrik Stenson is the current points leader slightly ahead of Tiger Woods, who has grown rather comfortable winning in the Chicago area throughout his career.

Other golfers to consider this week include Steve Stricker -- who also prefers Midwest courses -- Phil Mickelson and Chicago-resident Luke Donald.

Here are my fantasy golf picks for this week's BMW Championship.