INZAI, JAPAN - OCTOBER 22: Collin Morikawa of the United States poses with PGA TOUR International Senior Vice President Christian Hardy after winning the tournament on the 18th green during the final round of ZOZO Championship at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club on October 22, 2023 in Inzai, Chiba, Japan. (Photo by Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images)
Scott Michaux on the current state of the PGA Tour
If you’ve lived here for any length of time, then you’re probably familiar with the writings of Scott Michaux. For many years, Scott was a sports columnist for the Augusta Chronicle. Through those years Scott wrote about it all. College Football, UGA, Clemson, USC. He also wrote about the Falcons, Braves, the Olympics and more. On many occasions, Scott also wrote about the Masters and golf in general.
Since leaving the paper, Scott is now writing exclusively about golf and doing it for the subscription based digital magazine, Global Golf Post.
Now that Scott is concentrating strictly on golf, his insight and perspective is valuable and widely sought after.
Scott joined me on the golf show over the weekend to share his thoughts about the current state of affairs on the PGA Tour. Currently, the tour has a lot of moving parts, in a lot of corners of the world. The landscape of the professional game is changing quickly and dramatically. I thought Scott would be the perfect person to talk to when it comes to sizing up just where the PGA Tour is at this moment, with the understanding that the situation is fluid and libel to change at any moment.
Here’s the extended conversation I had with Scott Michaux from Global Golf Post.
If you would like to read and hear more from the show, click here.
No Booze, No Problem: Alternatives for Dry January
We have kicked off the new year, and many people are using it as an opportunity to ditch booze for the entire first month of 2024. The “Dry January” trend encourages people to abstain from alcohol for 31 days straight.
Originating as a campaign devised and spearheaded by Alcohol Change UK over a decade ago, Dry January serves the purpose of addressing the adverse effects of alcohol, as outlined on their website. In response to this movement, numerous restaurants and bars are adapting their menus to include mocktails and nonalcoholic versions of popular drinks, including nonalcoholic beers and wines. Although not a new concept, its popularity is on the rise.
Many sober-curious people in the United States take on this annual challenge. According to previous surveys by Morning Consult Pro, participation in Dry January ranges from 15% to 35% among U.S. drinkers overall.
Statista projects that the revenue in the non-alcoholic drinks market in the United States will reach US$526.1 billion in 2024, with an estimated annual growth rate of 3.22% (CAGR 2024-2027). This surge is attributed to an escalating demand for healthy and natural non-alcoholic beverages in the country.
Harvard Health Publishing has reported that even a one-month abstinence from alcohol can hold noticeable health benefits. A study in BMJ Open found that regular drinkers who refrained from alcohol for 30 days experienced improved sleep, increased energy, weight loss, lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol levels, and diminished cancer-related proteins in their blood.
So, if you’re thinking about dialing back on the booze or just starting the year with a clean slate, why not jump on the Dry January train and give up beer, wine, or spirits for a month? And if you’re curious about some cool nonalcoholic options to enjoy during Dry January, check out some of our top picks.
NA Lager Beer
When it comes to nonalcoholic beer that captures the essence of a lager, Heineken 0.0 stands out as a reliable pick. It’s only 69 calories per serving and has fruity, malty flavors. Someone even took to Reddit to share their love for the NA beer with many people agreeing that Heineken 0.0 tastes better than the “real” Heineken.
Samuel Adams’s Just the Haze kicks off with a citrusy aroma, featuring the scents of grapefruit, tangerine, and lime alongside tropical fruit flavors like pineapple, guava, and passion fruit. Visually, it has a hazy pale amber look with a golden-orange glow. It’s worth mentioning that according to the Samuel Adams website, the “non-alc Hazy IPA” has less than 0.5% alcohol and is only 98 calories.
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NA Wine
The Gruvi NA Dry Red Blend has cranberry and cherry aromas with hints of cardamom and nutmeg. With a gluten-free and vegan-friendly tag, it packs less than 0.5% ABV and only 45 calories per serving. According to their website, it was an award winner at the International Wine and Spirits Competition 23. If red wine isn’t really your thing, they also have a line of white wines.
There are plenty of nonalcoholic liquor replacements and not all of them are created equal or carry the flavor of actual alcohol. Ritual Zero Proof is an easy choice. They have alternatives to tequila, whiskey, rum, gin, among others. Their tequila substitute brings a tropical and earthy flavor. Meanwhile, their rum substitute captures the warm vanilla and toasted spice essence of a dark rum. They also carry gin and whiskey alternatives.
Three Spirits Elixirs are designed by plant scientists and bartenders to “make moods and enhance connections throughout the day and into the night.” They pack their drinks full of active plants, adaptogens, and herbs. Their NA drinks cocktails are 100% vegan and cruelty-free.
