Golfing News & Blog Articles

Richy Werenski broke a tie with Michael Thompson with his ninth and last birdie on a warm, windy afternoon at the 3M Open, which he leads after the opening round thanks to a 63.

Nick Watney, who tested positive for the coronavirus on June 19, shot 66 to share the first-round lead at TPC-Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota.It is the first time he shot in the 60s since March.

Tony Finau has split with longtime caddie Greg Bodine. "On a personal level I love the guy and on a business level, I felt it was time for a change in my situation and something just different," he said.

Italy's Renato Paratore produced a fine round of five-under-par 66 to lead at the halfway stage of the British Masters at Close House on Thursday as host Lee Westwood battled to make the cut.

Dustin Johnson withdrew following an opening-round 78 at the 3M Open on Thursday, citing a back injury.

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The PGA Tour will begin to expand access to tournament events, beginning with next week's WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

There aren’t many guaranties in life, are there? Risk is constantly lurking and buyer’s remorse – even if it’s only fleeting – always checks in to see how you’re doing.

That set of universal truths is why we think this week’s announcement by the Edison Wedge company is sorta-kinda newsworthy. The Edison Wedge guaranty is as risk-free of a demo program as you’ll find in golf.  

In essence, Edison’s Terry Koehler is channeling his inner Don Corleone and is making you an offer you can’t refuse.  

Play Until You Know 

Edison is Koehler’s newest venture. Over the past 30 years, with stints at Reid Lockhart and his own companies at Eidelon, Score and Ben Hogan, Koehler has become known as the “Wedge Guy.” Edison launched its forged wedges earlier this year and to get the enterprise moving, Koehler is keeping the Edison Wedge guaranty simple: Order a set of Edison wedges custom-built to your specs and try them at your home club for as long as it takes.* If you like ‘em, keep ‘em. If you don’t, send them back for a full refund.  

What’s the catch?

New mom Michelle Wie West has been appointed to be one of Pat Hurst's assistant captains for Team USA at the Solheim Cup next year in Ohio.

You don’t need to be a golf savant to understand that hitting the ball farther leads to lower scores. It’s a simple reality at every level of the game.

And if you want to increase distance, you have to find a way to swing the club faster.

SuperSpeed Golf believes its OverSpeed training system has benefits for any level of golfer because it isn’t geared toward any specific demographic. The basic premise is that every player can access more speed than he/she is currently because of how our brain receives and communicates certain information.

The more scientific explanation deals with overspeed training and how this works to change the way your brain and muscles receive information. Specifically, the SuperSpeed system generates a neurological reset and trains your brain and muscles into believing you can swing the club faster. It makes the body move faster than normal during training to permanently increase the neuromuscular reaction speed of the body.

In plain English: swinging a training stick faster than normal causes your brain to remember this faster speed, and even start expecting it.

That’s the question Bob Harig asks at ESPN.com with the Tradition Unlike Any Other slated for a COVID-19 detour November 12-15th and an increasingly likelihood that spectators will be a tall task. Particularly to a club made up of CEO’s in industries or sports where they could be exposed to criticism for endorsing the Masters played one way, while conducting their businesses differently.

Harig concludes with this:

A Masters without spectators would be a huge disappointment. Ultimately, if it comes to that, it would seem Augusta National still wants a 2020 Masters. There are still enormous worldwide television rights fees to collect. A November Masters without spectators would still be compelling to a worldwide television audience. And if the PGA Championship can be played without fans, so can the Masters. Then you hope for the best in April.

But don't try to argue that it doesn't matter. The atmosphere at Augusta National helps make the tournament. Just imagine Tiger Woods winning last year ... in virtual silence.

Trump Turnberry

Peter Baker reports on the Presidential COVID-19 briefing that also included a question about yesterday’s New York Times story regarding Trump Turnberry, The Open and Ambassador Woody Johnson.

“No, I never spoke to Woody Johnson about that, about Turnberry,” Mr. Trump said. “Turnberry’s a highly respected course, as you know, one of the best in the world. I read a story about it today, and I never spoke to Woody Johnson about doing that, no.”

Johnson took to Twitter to fend off allegations from another story, but it’s not clear if he was referring to Trump Turnberry here:

I have followed the ethical rules and requirements of my office at all times. These false claims of insensitive remarks about race and gender are totally inconsistent with my longstanding record and values.

There are too many layers to go into with this PGATour.com (unlabeled) sponsored content, or give-back, or whatever it is. I’ll start by having your top writer take out the trash as just one thing that comes to mind.

But there is actual comedy in a story looking at how pros paid to play the Callaway Mavrik driver (I know, what a scoop!). Given that exactly one year ago Xander Schauffele and Callaway were in the hot seat over an illegal driver, and that we’re seeing some freakish driving distances of late, you’d think this might be a good time to lay low.

SponCon here we come:

Henrik Stenson, the 2013 FedExCup champ and six-time winner on the PGA TOUR, noted in the July-August 2020 issue of Golf magazine that “the ball speeds off of MAVRIK are really high, and I noticed that almost immediately when I first tried it. If I hit it dead center or if I miss the sweet spot, I still know that I’m going to get the speed and distance I’m looking for.”

Having that confidence that a non-center strike can still be an effective shot is a huge advantage for any players, particularly those at the top level. And particularly on fairway woods, which can often be a pesky club to figure out – and a club that many weekend amateurs try to avoid as much as possible.

76er Matisse Thybulle has been posting warts-and-all videos from the NBA bubble in Orlando. Thanks to reader BB for highlighting volume 4 that shows how NBA quarantine golf looks. In a nutshell: you’ll feel very good about your game seeing what’s taking place down there—albeit with clubs not made for some of the best and tallest athletes in the world.

I’ve embedded a version that starts at the golf portion, but if you are one of those plot zealots who just has to see their reality shows from the start, you can go here.

The PGA Tour said Grayson Murray was the only player to test positive for the coronavirus ahead of the 3M Championship.

Now, call me crazy, but the PGA Tour is back. It’s working.

Even with fields too absurdly big that in weeks like this one at the 3M, where you half expect to see a Mexican Mini Tour great like Club Pro Guy turning up, the PGA Tour is functioning. (For those counting at home, it’s a 197 from a record 803 strength-of-field drop this week).

Yes, there have been the inevitable hiccups, new rules on the fly, tweaks to COVID-19 guidelines and other madness that comes with a pandemic. But CBS and Golf Channel ratings keep getting better by the week at a time of year they always go down, and in spite of having no fan energy.

Increasingly, without locker rooms or droplet spewing contact to probably doom the return, along with Sanford providing on-site testing separate of local labs prioritizing sports leagues in other markets, PGA Tour golf is looking like one sport that can keep going pretty safely despite the ongoing pandemic.

So let’s see if we can screw that up!

The PGA of America still is deciding how it will handle instances of a player in the field testing positive for COVID-19 despite being 10 days removed from the onset of symptoms.

David Law of Scotland shot a 7-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over Oliver Fisher, Garrick Porteous and Renato Paratore in the opening round of the British Masters at Close House Golf Course near Newcastle on Wednesday.

The PGA Tour Series-China season has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Beth Ann Nichols with news that the Women’s British Open is now the AIG Women’s Open, aligning the “branding” with the R&A’s Open Championship.

The event is set for August 20-23rd at Royal Troon and will be sponsored by AIG through 2025.

“AIG proudly stands as allies with these accomplished players, and with women in business and society,” said Peter Zaffino, President & Global Chief Operating Officer, AIG in a statement. “In the face of challenging global circumstances, we are pleased that our increased support of the AIG Women’s Open will enable these dedicated professionals to compete and break down barriers that will provide a lasting example for future generations.”

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said the new name reflects the championship’s growing stature and broadening international appeal.

The use of “British” in the title was inconsistent with the R&A’s other major professional championship and the push since 2014 to call the Open Championship, The Open.