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Steph Curry to play in Web.com tournament in August

Posted on 6/29/17 at 8:38 am
Posted by ForeverGator
Elite 8 - 2020 Worst SECRant Poster
Member since Nov 2012
13007 posts
Posted on 6/29/17 at 8:38 am
Steph Curry will be playing in the Ellie Mae Classic on August 3-6 as part of the web.com tour. He'll be playing on sponsorship exemption.

LINK

How you baws feel about this? Is it dumb? Is he taking a spot away from a true player? Or is it brilliant and will create a lot of buzz for an event that would hardly get noticed?

I tend to think that it's just a one off thing and he's not really taking a spot from a true player on sponsorship exemption. That's for the sponsor to give out as they please. If he was given a tour card because of his celebrity status and took that away from another player, that's one thing. I think this is actually a cool marketing thing for a tournament that most wouldn't even know is going on.

Thoughts?
Posted by ell_13
Member since Apr 2013
85034 posts
Posted on 6/29/17 at 8:49 am to
I saw a couple players overreact to this. I get the initial reaction but when you look at it from the sponsor/tour point of view, it makes sense. It's overall better for the game if it brings in interest from a demographic that doesn't typically pay attention to golf.
Posted by NC17
Member since Feb 2010
2772 posts
Posted on 6/29/17 at 8:53 am to
Jerry Rice tried this. Hope his caddie remembers his rangefinder.
Posted by nugget
Mostly Peaceful Poster
Member since Dec 2009
13815 posts
Posted on 6/29/17 at 8:56 am to
It's a sponsors exemption to a Web event. He's taking it away from some mini tour guy that still has a chance to Monday. This is absolutely great for the event and even more importantly, the sport.

With that said, Steph won't break 83 either day but it will be cool to see.
Posted by mommas boy
Member since Sep 2012
2234 posts
Posted on 6/29/17 at 9:08 am to
I watched his Feherty episode on the golf channel and I think he said he's a 2 handicap. I think it's interesting and hope he does well.
Posted by Navajo61490
Baton rouge
Member since Dec 2011
6717 posts
Posted on 6/29/17 at 9:26 am to
I don't believe the handicap on what a lot of these celebrities claim to be. I like Steph but I'm thinking he's shooting 88's both days due to tournament conditions
This post was edited on 6/29/17 at 9:27 am
Posted by hehateme2285
Katy, TX
Member since Dec 2007
5122 posts
Posted on 6/29/17 at 9:29 am to
I get bringing attention from the tournament, but he shouldn't be given a spot in the field. Give him a spot in the pro-am, or have him play in something on Saturday after the round. Having someone who has zero chance to make the cut take away a spot that could go to a guy making a living out there trying to get his card is dumb.
Posted by ell_13
Member since Apr 2013
85034 posts
Posted on 6/29/17 at 9:32 am to
A pro-am won't make headlines like this, which is the point.
Posted by Mingo Was His NameO
Brooklyn
Member since Mar 2016
25455 posts
Posted on 6/29/17 at 9:37 am to
quote:

I don't believe the handicap on what a lot of these celebrities claim to be. I like Steph but I'm thinking he's shooting 88's both days due to tournament conditions


He's actually pretty good and I'm sure he'll ramp up the practice since he's playing in this event. With that said he isn't going to make the cut or anything, but he could shoot a 79 or so one day.
Posted by TiptonInSC
Aiken, SC
Member since Dec 2012
18917 posts
Posted on 6/29/17 at 10:14 am to
I hate this. That sponsors exemption has taken a spot away from someone who who has status with the tour and is trying to make the PGA Tour.

If Curry wants to play he can Monday in like everyone else, if he shoots the number needed.
Posted by GolfIsGood
Member since Jun 2017
270 posts
Posted on 6/29/17 at 1:16 pm to
I don't mind it at all. It's a sponsors exemption. The sponsor controls the exemption not the players. True this is one less opportunity for a player fighting for status, but it's not taking a spot of a player already qualified for the event. Also, if this strategy proves successful and can be repliacated on a wider scale (thinking Romo, Smoltz or others) then this will increase popularity, attendance and advertising which will benefit all players (and Sponsors).

Also, I am not an NBA fan but I will check Curry's score and watch highlights of his round just out of curiousity to see what a 2 handicap can do on a tournament course set up. So, at a minimum, they are increasing interest in the tournament by one.
This post was edited on 6/29/17 at 1:20 pm
Posted by hehateme2285
Katy, TX
Member since Dec 2007
5122 posts
Posted on 6/29/17 at 1:31 pm to
quote:

Romo, Smoltz or others


Romo is the only one that has shown he can play in tournament conditions. Smoltz shot 84-87 in his attempt. Jerry Rice was horrific, finishing last, 2nd to last, and a WD.
Posted by GolfIsGood
Member since Jun 2017
270 posts
Posted on 6/29/17 at 1:35 pm to
Yes. Smoltz/Rice performances were not good but I read about both rounds and followed both storylines due to my interest in how these non-professional golfers would hold up.
This post was edited on 6/29/17 at 1:44 pm
Posted by Mingo Was His NameO
Brooklyn
Member since Mar 2016
25455 posts
Posted on 6/29/17 at 1:54 pm to
quote:

Romo is the only one that has shown he can play in tournament conditions.


There's a few guys that can really play. Mark Mulder and Josh Scobee both could play in a Web event. They couldn't win I don't think, but they could make the cut easily.
Posted by eye dentist43
Member since Jan 2016
170 posts
Posted on 6/29/17 at 2:12 pm to
My feeling is if it's a sponsor exemption, they can give it to an 80 y o lady if they want to. The players that are bitching about this are short-sighted. Anything that increases attention and viewership will, in the long run, increase the purse; hence, more prize money for the players. I don't think a 2 handicap will come within ten strokes of the cut, but I'll be paying attention to a tournament I might have ignored before.
Posted by Masterag
'Round Dallas
Member since Sep 2014
18805 posts
Posted on 6/29/17 at 2:19 pm to
quote:

I watched his Feherty episode on the golf channel and I think he said he's a 2 handicap. I think it's interesting and hope he does well.



he must have one hell of a short game. cause his swing looked more in the 10 range.
Posted by Mingo Was His NameO
Brooklyn
Member since Mar 2016
25455 posts
Posted on 6/29/17 at 2:28 pm to
quote:

he must have one hell of a short game. cause his swing looked more in the 10 range


Jim Furyk has 18 PGA Tour wins and a 58 and 59 in a tournament.
Posted by threeputt
God's Country
Member since Sep 2008
24791 posts
Posted on 6/29/17 at 2:28 pm to
quote:

They couldn't win I don't think, but they could make the cut easily.



Posted by threeputt
God's Country
Member since Sep 2008
24791 posts
Posted on 6/29/17 at 2:31 pm to
quote:


he must have one hell of a short game. cause his swing looked more in the 10 range.



I watched him a couple of holes at tpc during all star weekend and I dont know his handicap but I can promise you he won't break 90 in a tour event.
Posted by nugget
Mostly Peaceful Poster
Member since Dec 2009
13815 posts
Posted on 6/29/17 at 2:36 pm to
quote:

There's a few guys that can really play. Mark Mulder and Josh Scobee both could play in a Web event. They couldn't win I don't think, but they could make the cut easily.


There are guys that are all Americans in college that have playing professionally for 15 years that can make 50% of cuts in Web events
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