PGA Tour: QBE Shootout and the value of the wrap around season

This weekend golf fans turn their attention to Naples, FL for the QBE Shootout, another unofficial event on the PGA Tour’s wrap around schedule.

The PGA Tour is a grind. Tour pros adhere to strict, repetitive routines to stay on top of their games. As fans, we have to exercise the same disciplined mechanics to stay on top of their games, tuning in week after week to consume as much golf as possible.

With 46 official events on the schedule, there’s no rest for the weary, or those watching at home.

Almost all of those 46 events follow the same format, a 72-hole stroke play tournament featuring a competitive field of approximately 150 golfers. With so much golf on the docket, do we really need events like the QBE Shootout?

Yes. Absolutely we do.

No, unofficial tournaments don’t count towards the FedEx Cup. And no, they don’t attract all of the marquee stars. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t fun to watch. Let’s take a look at the positive aspects of this weekend’s QBE Shootout, taking place at Tiburón Golf Club.

First and foremost, it’s great to watch Tony Finau team up with Lexi Thompson, one of the biggest stars of the LPGA. As someone who doesn’t watch much women’s golf, it’s interesting to see how her approach differs from, and sometimes parallels, her male counterparts.

Second, and nearly as important, Tiburón evokes fond memories of unlocking super teams in Madden 64.

Alternate formats sometimes feel gimmicky. For example, imagine if two over-the-hill superstars played a one-on-one match for absurd cash prizes. But when they’re done right, team events, scrambles and alternate shot rounds can emphasize different tactical elements of the game. The QBE shines a light on the team dynamic, giving fans insight on how professionals handle course management. Imagine if the PGA Tour combined the pageantry of The Match with the legitimacy of the QBE Shootout and let fans listen in to the feature teams at Tiburón. We may actually learn something.

The QBE Shootout features only 24 players in 12 teams of two, yet manages to highlight the diversity of golfers across different ages and skill sets. Defending champions Steve Stricker and Sean O’Hair are a combined 87-years-old going up against bombers like Bubba Watson and Cameron Champ. Former world No. 1 Luke Donald laced up his spikes for the QBE, looking to find his game and move up from his current standing at 548th. Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau leads the field as the No. 5 player in the world. The QBE has a bit of everything: experience, youth, power, finesse, established stars and those looking to break out.

The Hero World Challenge combines elements of the QBE and The Match, taking the biggest names in the game and limiting the field to 18 players. It’s another novelty event, and one that could embrace its unofficial status and enhance the viewer experience with some of the showmanship of The Match. Put microphones on that field as they compete for serious prize money and you’ve got a must-see tournament.

At times it’s difficult to appreciate the less competitive nature of these events. Without the biggest stars they feel second rate. But that’s fine because they are second rate. Halfway through the summer we’ll be yearning for something different, and there’s certainly no harm in enjoying a day on the golf course in December.