Welcome to LIVbreathegolf the newsletter that never three putt’s, never lay’s up, and never misses the opportunity to roll around topless in a sand trap.

What we’re teeing up for you today:

• 4 Numbers To Keep Your Eyes On 👀

• Player Profile - Talor Gooch

• Making the golf ball worse

• LIV - a golf league or a nightclub?

4 Numbers To Keep Your Eyes On 👀

27.3 Putts - No, that is not all from my first hole yesterday. That is the average number of putts per round for Cameron Smith at Mayakoba.

Have you ever counted your putts on the course? If you don’t mind crying I recommend it next time. If you’re anywhere near Cam Smith… good for you.

5 Players - that stick out heading into Tucson.

1. Paul Casey (Crushers GC) - Paul Casey has been dancin with the devil in the desert for a while now. An ASU alumn and resident of Arizona, he is no stranger to this environment. Not to mention he is hot. He is coming off a 4th place finish in Mayakoba, and I think he’s been hitting the gym…

2. Cameron Smith (Ripper GC) - Dude is probably a little pissed. After not getting a chance to defend his title at the Players last week Cam will be looking for some vengeance and a way to show that he is the guy. Aussie Aussie Aussie.

3. Charles Howell III (Crushers GC) - Speaking of hot, can you get any hotter than an individual and team win? Howell III should be riding high into this weekend and ready to Crush(ers) the competition after sweeping the 1st event of the season. Maybe Tucson is the first time we will see back to back individual champs in LIV.

4. Peter Uihlein (4Aces GC) - Since coming to LIV Uihlein has been cool as a cucumber eating a clam. He has three runner up finishes in his last 4 regular season starts and he just looks good. When he keeps getting that close, something is bound to go his way.

5. Phil Mickelson (HyFlyers GC) - I guess I didn’t really have to remind you he will be playing did I? It just seems like every list needs Phil on it. Do I really think he is going to win this weekend? No. Will I be surprised if he does? No. Will I pick out his name and say called it if he does? You betcha.

4 Teams - That will be at the top of the leaderboard.

1. Crushers GC - Howell III coming off a win, Paul Casey destroying the desert, Bryson DeChambeau wanting to hit the ball as far as possible while he still can… I wouldn’t be surprised to see a repeat of Mayakoba.

2. 4Aces GC - The dominant team last year and they would have made a close run in Mayakoba if Dustin Johnson had played golf Sunday instead of thinking about the beach. Pat Perez was murdering pins and Peter Uihlein looks at the top of his game. Even Patrick Reed could bounce back. This team can be deadly any week.

3. RangeGoats GC - The RangeGoats could be grazing a little ahead of the pack this week. They got off to a bit of a rocky start, but Talor Gooch and Bubba Watson are always gnawing their way back in it. There’s a path.

4. Ripper GC - Honestly Cameron Smith can probably carry this team to the winners circle by himself if he goes off. Get Marc Leishman and Matt Jones playing well behind him and you’re going to be paying attention to Ripper on Sunday.

327.1 - The average distance (in yards) that Bryson DeChambeau drove his golf ball during LIV 2022. For comparison, the average drive length for a male recreational golfer is 215 yards. I said average, I know you hit it farther;)

Imagine where your second shot is if you’re driving it 327. That’s an easy chip up to the green on a lot of par 4’s on a normal course. That is just long.

Of course, to get to this point you have to make driving a golf ball your entire personality, so maybe I’ll stick with 215. Do you think Bryson talks about driving a golf ball the same way someone would talk about crossfit?

Player Profile - Talor Gooch

A lot of sports earn followings from loyalty to geographic locations, colleges, etc… This is your chance to learn about the LIV golfers and find who you connect with.

Talor Gooch has a funny last name. I don’t know if he got teased as a kid, but I do know he is pretty good at golf. He is one of the top ranked guys on LIV and he plays like it. Last season he earned points in 6 out of 7 regular season events. I am particularly fond of him as he became a RangeGoat for the 2023 season.

• Age - 31

• Birthplace - Midwest City, OK

• College - Oklahoma State University

• Plays From - USA

• Turned Pro - 2014

• Joined LIV - 2022

• LIV Team - RangeGoats GC

• OWGR - 49th

Making Golf Balls Worse?

Today the USGA and The R&A proposed a Model Local Rule (MLR) that “gives competition organizers the option to require use of golf balls that are tested under modified launch conditions to address the impacts of hitting distances in golf.”

Say what now?

The people that make the rules want pros golf balls to go less far.

How much distance do they want to take off?

14 - 15 yards!!! I swear sometimes we just make stuff up because we are bored or need something to talk about or something.

Personally, I want to see the ball go farther. It’s more exciting and still challenging because of the difficulty controlling that long of a shot. But at the end of the day, who gives a crap about 15 yards one way or the other???

That’s like telling Nascar they have to put governors on their cars to go 15 mph slower. Why?!?!

As far as I’m concerned if everyone has access to the same tools then let them go. We don’t need to waste time trying to make the ball go a tiny bit shorter.

Bryson DeChambeau agrees with me and did not hold back when he was asked about the changes: https://www.livgolf.com/news/distance-king-bryson-dechambeau-calls-golf-ball-rollback-proposal-atrocious

Breakfast Balls

(Click on the links for more info)

Watch Bryson DeChambeau game a hole by hitting it over some water you are not supposed to be able to hit over.

A Miami nightclub has blocked LIV Golf’s attempt to trademark “LIV”. Sounds like they just need to buy it and then they have a spot for the afterparty when they are there October 20-22.

Scottie Schefflers workout routine.

Meme of the Day

Don’t golf alone, Share LIVbreathegolf and get more people on the course

For sharing you get…something???

Is my undying gratitude enough? If people actually start reading this maybe you will get a sticker or a trip to the LIV Golf finals or something… who knows. For now, just know that I love you.

How’s My Swing?

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Thanks!

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