Iss. #284 | Guessing LIV Superstars' Second Acts

“I’d like to announce that our first sponsor exemption goes to me." - Michelle Wie at the Mizunho Americas Open media day. She continues to be the queen and I'll admit, the quote is giving a little Michael Scott begging Dwight to come back to Dunder Mifflin when he said "It takes a big man to admit his mistake, and I am that big man." That said, she's doing it to prep for one of her final years of eligibility for the US Women's Open—and hey, why not?

If They LIV'd Another Life

GUESSING LIV PLAYERS' SECOND ACT

Plenty of buzz this week about LIV losing its Saudi funding as they pull out of most all their sports-related investments. Never a GREAT sign when the official accounts have to post the equivalent of "Open During Construction" banners stating the tournament in Mexico this week was still happening.

Naturally, my mind starting wondering what was next for the LIV superstars. If golf weren't an option, what would they be up to? So here's my best guess on every LIV golf superstar's second act.

JON RAHM - General contractor but he strikes me as a guy that would have a specialty like media rooms. And he'd have a big white van with wraparound graphics on it and a tagline like; It's not a media room, it's a media Rahm.

CAM SMITH - Too easy to go the fishing route so maybe expand it a bit and I imagine Cam starts an off-road excursion company that combines 4-wheelers, fly fishing, and bouldering around the Australian outback.

PHIL MICKELSON - Something about his eyes and the way he stares directly into camera that gives me injury lawyer. Picture billboards plastered around the greater San Diego area proclaiming; "Accident? Phil fits the bill. Hablamos Espanol." Notorious for his ruthless in-court antics, he punctuates ever legal win by miming a flop shot and tipping his invisible cap to the crowd.

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU - He's opening a fitness studio. No question. He may actually just do this anyways, but it'll obviously have a gimmick to it. Yes, he's outsmarted us all and realized that by working out inside a commercial-grade greenhouse your body absorbs the extra oxygen produced by over 10,000 San Marzano tomato plants–maximizing gains and recovery time.

BUBBA WATSON - After grinding for the next decade in the comedy clubs of New York City, Bubba's Louisiana bayou-inspired on-stage character catches the eye of an increasingly curmudgeonly Lorne Michaels who casts Bubba on SNL. Leading to several spinoff movie franchises and a beloved spin as the voice of a lovable yet misunderstood secret agent pig in Illumination's 2038 animated classic; Sty Games.

A Must Follow on IG

HAOTONG WALKING IN AN EXOTIC FOREST

Thanks to the Haotong Li post above, a post that Haotong Li himself reposted, I discovered the account @artbutmakeitsports. An account so simple in theory but absolutely genius in execution that it makes me jealous I didn't think of it first. The entire premise is posting side-by-side looks of famous sports photos with actual works of fine art.

The Haotong one features the painting—Woman Walking in an Exotic Forest, by Henri Rousseau, 1905. 

No notes.

Augusta Thrift Hauls

A DAY LATER AND MANY DOLLARS SHORTER

Skratch put out a Tiktok this week on the Uptown Marketplace thrift shop in Augusta, Georgia and WOW did it make a compelling case to stay for an extra day after the Masters.

Apparently, many of the local thrift shops and Goodwills will put out a slew of Masters merch the Monday after the tournament so you can find old apparel, decor, and memorabilia at elevated but still decent prices.

And the Uptown Marketplace seems to have a more permanent setup with glass cases of media badges, signed merch, commemorative items and a ton more. As if I wouldn't spend enough in the normal gift shop, I now need to plan another couple hundred bucks to drop on some vintage finds at the local haunts? Yeah, worth every penny.

Golf and Dating: What Could Go Wrong?

STEP ASIDE LOVE ON THE SPECTRUM

For those couple dozen of you who read this column and watch Love on the Spectrum, rest easy because we're finally getting the feel good dating show we've been craving... Score Love. A new dating reality series set to air on YouTube that's currently shooting in Dallas—combining golf competition with actual dating.

"Contestants are swinging, chipping, and putting their way to love one hole at a time, with challenges along the way with one final couple being crowned the Score Love champions and walking away with a cash prize."

Julia Rae, who starred on ABC’s The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart, and country music star Russell Dickerson will be the co-hosts—two people I had never heard of until the press release dropped on Deadline. But they did meet while golfing so they've got that going for them at least.

“Nothing intensifies first tee nerves quite like a first date, and golf’s pace allows space for sparks to fly. I built this show around that kind of raw magic; hand someone a driver and watch them fall in love or land in the rough,” said Rae in the Deadline piece.

Do with this information as you will.