The President's Cup Should Be a Men's/Women's Mixed Team Event

[nevets88]

This idea is posed from NoLayinUp DJPie's Twitter account. I also tagged on some responses and relevant links. There was some discussion in the other thread about women's prize money and the logistics of holding an event with both men and women's fields like in tennis, maybe this is an in between solution?

Sum of mixed golf worth more than separate parts

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In a first-person account, Geoff Ogilvy explains why the golf world needs men and women playing more tournaments together.

 

[mchepp]

I think the President Cup by itself isn't that exciting. Its peak was the year Tiger and Ernie had the playoff. The Ryder Cup is a stronger event (more competitive) and has the additional history.

I like the idea of spicing it up. Many of the Asian woman are very good which could strengthen the international team quite a bit.

[Big C]

I haven't read the article but I think it's a great idea.

[boogielicious]

I like the idea, but it should be a separate event. 

[iacas]

What do the men have to gain by doing this?

And do the American women want to play an event every year, like the men do, or is playing the Solheim Cup enough?

We had a great Presidents Cup in 2019. It's fine.

[Big C]

17 hours ago, iacas said:

What do the men have to gain by doing this?

Some might enjoy competing with and against their counterparts on the LPGA tour. 

In terms of financials, I don't know that there would be any disadvantages. Unless I'm mistaken, players are not paid for their participation in the President's Cup. 

And since I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that the event is operated by the PGA Tour, the cross promotional benefits could actually be quite advantageous to the tour as a whole. 

I agree with you that the 2019 President's Cup was quite enjoyable. But I think I would be just as interested - if not moreso - if the American men & women teamed up together against their international counterparts.

[iacas]

1 hour ago, Big C said:

Some might enjoy competing with and against their counterparts on the LPGA tour. 

In terms of financials, I don't know that there would be any disadvantages. Unless I'm mistaken, players are not paid for their participation in the President's Cup. 

And since I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that the event is operated by the PGA Tour, the cross promotional benefits could actually be quite advantageous to the tour as a whole. 

I agree with you that the 2019 President's Cup was quite enjoyable. But I think I would be just as interested - if not moreso - if the American men & women teamed up together against their international counterparts.

Meh.

Plus you're fundamentally changing the competition. The American men might never win, because half (right?) of the points might almost automatically be won by the "Rest of the World" team.

On the Rolex World Rankings, ROW team members occupy spots 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23…

So again, what incentive do the men have to play with the women… and get their butts handed to them?

[jmanbooyaa]

As someone who loves The Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup and President Cup I do not think I would like it if they removed the current set up for this. 
 

[bweiss711]

I like the idea of a joint men's and women's event.  But why does a current event need to change?  A new event created with the sole purpose of joint men and women's competition makes more sense.  It can start of small... like "The Match" events that Phil and Tiger have made successful and go from there.

[iacas]

8 minutes ago, bweiss711 said:

I like the idea of a joint men's and women's event.  But why does a current event need to change?  A new event created with the sole purpose of joint men and women's competition makes more sense.  It can start of small... like "The Match" events that Phil and Tiger have made successful and go from there.

So you'd have the American men playing three events every two years?

[jmanbooyaa]

That would dilute what makes the other events special. 

[Big C]

43 minutes ago, iacas said:

So again, what incentive do the men have to play with the women… and get their butts handed to them?

Maybe none, but I'm not sure that is the relevant question. The PGA Tour organizes the President's Cup, so their incentives are what really matter. And I think you can make a good case that a mixed event would benefit the tour as a whole. The players' incentives really only come into consideration if you think that the top ranking men might boycott or sit out a co-ed event for some reason.

 

[iacas]

Just now, Big C said:

Maybe none, but I'm not sure that is the relevant question. The PGA Tour organizes the President's Cup

The PGA Tour is "the men." They're one and the same.

The PGA Tour is a member-run organization. So again, what incentives do the PGA Tour/the men (who would be playing in this) have here?

1 minute ago, Big C said:

And I think you can make a good case that a mixed event would benefit the tour as a whole.

Then make one.

And please tell me how you're going to overcome the ROW team. The U.S. barely got out of Australia with the W. They're not going to win many events if you're spotting the "ROW" team 2/3 or more of the women's points.

[bweiss711]

2 minutes ago, iacas said:

So you'd have the American men playing three events every two years?

I mean, maybe I'm underestimating the additional logistics of an event like this, but they play 20-30 tour events every year.  Its just another tournament on the calendar.  If some men want to opt out, then so be it. 

And again, I'm suggesting starting small anyways.  See where it goes, organically.   Maybe it starts with 4 men and women from each of Asia, Europe, and North America.  If its not necessarily the very top 4 North American men at first, its not the end of the world.

7 minutes ago, iacas said:

And please tell me how you're going to overcome the ROW team. The U.S. barely got out of Australia with the W. They're not going to win many events if you're spotting the "ROW" team 2/3 or more of the women's points.

 The benefit of a tournament specifically designed around mixed gender competition is that it wouldn't have to be women vs women and men vs men.  Have women compete from their tees against the men from their tees.  Have team alternate shot, or scramble competitions.  Have fun with the freedom of something brand new.

[iacas]

4 minutes ago, bweiss711 said:

I mean, maybe I'm underestimating the additional logistics of an event like this, but they play 20-30 tour events every year.  Its just another tournament on the calendar. If some men want to opt out, then so be it.

I think you'd find almost none of the top guys would play.

[bweiss711]

2 minutes ago, iacas said:

I think you'd find almost none of the top guys would play.

To be fair, that seems like just as much conjecture as assuming that maybe a couple of them would play.  But the bottom line is if the sponsorship/prize $$$ is there, they'll play.

[jmanbooyaa]

Do they get paid to play in those events?

[mchepp]

25 minutes ago, iacas said:

The PGA Tour is a member-run organization. So again, what incentives do the PGA Tour/the men (who would be playing in this) have here?

Probably has to be cash. Also official World Golf Ranking points would be a nice addition.

33 minutes ago, iacas said:

And please tell me how you're going to overcome the ROW team. The U.S. barely got out of Australia with the W. They're not going to win many events if you're spotting the "ROW" team 2/3 or more of the women's points.

To be fair this is cyclical. Next year might be very different, and so on.