ode
It used to be a non story but it's quite apparent that it now is. By virtue of the tour not enforcing the rules, they've essentially put the onus on the players to police themselves. And that's what's happening now with more and more players feeling much more inclined to complain about the chronic abusers in the interviews and now the social media shaming.
But this is where the slippery slope starts too. There are several players who've had it with him, to the point where a not-so-friendly confrontation is a very real possibility. Most don't want to be the prick, but someone is gonna get in this kid's face and it ain't gonna be pretty. And Brooks strikes me as a guy who just really doesn't give a rat's ass about the potential consequences of that happening.
When I managed the outings at the course where I worked, I'd always ask the outing coordinator who their slowest players were. If they didn't know, I'd ask who their best players typically were, and typically those better players knew exactly who it was. I used that information so I could make sure they (the slowest players) were in the final group, so they wouldn't have the opportunity to hold the entire outing hostage to their slow play. My philosophy was that I'd rather have only one group out of position versus all of them, which obviously impacts everybody.
But the tour doesn't have that option. They can't "hide" Bryson and Holmes so that they don't negatively impact everyone else playing alongside or behind them. And their slow play is definitely impacting a lot of players. The players know that they have to force the issue now, or else nothing is going to change.
Brooks is a big draw for the tour now. As is McIlroy. Two guys who have been quite outspoken about the issue for a long time, but now ratcheting up their obvious frustrations in front of the tv cameras. Both have made their millions and are set for life. Both have been members of the European Tour. And I could definitely see both of them telling the American Tour to go pound sand and make a statement by going back to Europe to play their minimum requirement of events there to maintain membership, playing less golf in the states.
Monahan should want his best players, the biggest draws, playing in as many events as possible. He should want more viewers watching his product on weekend television. He's already fighting an enormous battle on that front as it is with football season just around the corner.
When your best players are becoming more and more vocal about their frustrations that you have the power to change, and yet you continue to sit on your hands? Don't be surprised when they stop showing up.