Opinion & Analysis

The 15 best inventions in golf history

Published

9 years ago

Nov 4, 2014

I think we can all agree that the game of golf has changed immensely over time. From the days of mashie niblicks and featheries to adjustable drivers with graphite shafts, the game we now play bears little resemblance to the game of Scotland of yore. Most of the changes have been fairly recent and hugely innovative.

With new scientific discoveries made daily, not one among us would dare to predict where the game might be in 25 years, or even 10 years from now. So I thought it might be fun to think about some of the inventions that have most radically changed our game. Here’s my list of the 15 best innovations in golf history, and I invite your thoughts on the ones you think I missed.

I did not go into any depth with these, as they can all be explored elsewhere. The list is not in any particular order, but we will start in antiquity.

The Molded Golf Ball

From hard wooden balls, followed by Featheries, followed by the Haskell ball, then the Balata era and finally the solid core, multi-layer urethane, the modern golf ball hardly resembles its ancestors. The biggest impact here was clearly cost. While no one could argue that their aerodynamic performance was seriously enhanced with each passing era, the mass production of the molded golf ball made the game more affordable for everyone. A Featherie could cost as much as the modern day equivalent of $20 per ball… Of course, if we keep going we may be headed back there.

The Tee

Clumps of dirt and later sand were used to tee the ball for some 500 years before the first peg actually designed to stick in the ground was invented in the late 19th century. Imagine how dirty a golfer’s hands used to get by the back nine.

The Lawn Mower

Grazing sheep can nip grass down pretty tightly, but mowers can do it a LOT more quickly and over much greater areas. It is interesting that the game was played for hundreds of years before greens keepers and their staff started riding mowers. By the 1980s, the whole course was being mowed by riding mowers and we had better lies everywhere.

Steel Shafts

The first golf clubs were rather primitive looking things made mostly from hickory wood. Go into any collectors golf shop and you see them displayed conspicuously in the “unplayable classics” section. Golf clubmaking was an artful and tedious task in which some of the early golf professionals specialized, but because of this clubs were expensive and the game remained an elite affair.

The invention of mass produced steel-shafted clubs brought golf to more people because they could afford them, but steel had another effect — they played much differently than hickory shafts. It was said that one could hold the shaft of a hickory club in one hand and the head in the other hand and twist it almost halfway around. Compare that to the low torque graphite shafts of today, and the picture is quite clear: The same swing for both clubs is simply not going to work.

An interesting note: Bobby Jones retired from competitive golf when he was 28, allegedly to escape some of the pressures he faced and pursue his myriad other interests. It is also said that his golf swing never quite adjusted to the steel era, which was well under way by the mid 1930s (steel shafts were patented in 1910). Personally, I think he would have figured it out.

Irrigation

Mother nature in the form of precipitation watered golf courses for hundreds of years. The first fairway irrigation system was developed in Dallas, Texas, in 1925. The impact? Golf courses could be built where they previously could not. Irrigation and the roaring 20s saw a proliferation of golf courses like never before. Thus began the “greening of American golf,” an era from which we are only now beginning to recover. Courses in America and across the pond were so distinctly different, the first time Sam Snead saw the Old Course he asked what it was! Impact? American golf became an airborne affair, and yet another expense was added to our pastime.

The Stymie

Being blocked by an opponent’s ball, or being “stymied,” was outlawed in 1952. Match play, the oldest form of play, was never the same. I would love to see one tournament a year played with stymies still in effect.

The 14-Club Rule

It wasn’t really an “invention,” but it shaped a lot of future ones.

The year 1938 saw the end of unlimited clubs in the bag and I’m sure caddies all over the world rejoiced. Lawson Little, the great amateur player of the 1930s, once went to battle with 31 clubs in his bag. Shotmaking has evolved in the modern era, or at least it had until the ball became nearly impossible to curve.

Golf Carts

Although they were used as early as the 1930s, golf carts were everywhere by the 1950s. Their impact was immediate, bringing many more people to the game and allowing people who previously had trouble walking the course to play. In fact, the 1950s saw a huge wave of popularity in our game influenced largely by the emergence of fan-favorite Arnold Palmer and Dwight Eisenhower, a popular president who played a lot more golf than any of his predecessors and didn’t care who knew about it.

Television

Another 1950s legacy, the first televised golf event, was in 1954 at George May’s famous Tam O’Shanter Open. This was really the first time viewers could enjoy the game as spectators even if they didn’t play. A great surge, particularly of professional golf, followed and the game began to lose much of the pomposity many attached to it. The era of the blue collar golfer was just around the corner.

The Lob Wedge

Although not that new, the popularity of the lofted wedge has had a significant impact, particularly on professional golf. Where players once feared “short siding” themselves, they now are more apt to go for tucked hole locations because of the lob wedge. Even the amateurs who have suffered forever from the perennial condition of trying to flip more loft on the club have benefited greatly from the lob. It is underrated in its impact on modern golf.

Perimeter Weighting

If I had to pick one man who may be more responsible for changing the modern game more than any other, I would unequivocally choose Karsten Solheim. His concept of moving the weight from the center of the clubface to the perimeter of putters and then irons has made golf easier for all of us. I’m 66 years old and still play fairly well thanks to Karsten’s curiosity.

Investment Casting

A more efficient, economic way to make golf clubs, casting has pretty much sent forged clubs packing. Ninety percent of irons today are cast, and all the woods… or metals, I mean, are cast.

Metal Woods

This oxymoron has confounded some English teachers, but has been the single greatest blessing to the modern game of golf. It’s now almost inconceivable to think of driving a golf ball with a wooden club head. Think about how slow we were on this one: The idea arrived in the 1970s, meaning that the game was played for about 500 years before someone raised the question: Isn’t the wood absorbing a lot of the energy in the hit? Duh!

It’s a good thing, too. Let’s leave the trees alone! When I hit a solid drive in the persimmon/balata era, which was when I wore a younger man’s clothes, it might go 250. Now I’m on the mid-to-late back nine of my golfing life and I can still drive it 250. Let’s use another sport as an example. In college I could dunk a basketball, but now I can’t even touch the net.

Oversized Drivers

Some 25 years ago, Ely Callaway got to wondering if larger drivers might make the tee ball easier for golfers. He came out with the “Big Bertha” and the rest is history. My 460-cubic-centimeter driver looks perfectly normal to me now.

Graphite Shafts

Talk about taking over the game. Try finding a steel-shafted driver driver in any serious golfer’s bag now. Do you want to swing this thing or this other thing that is a third of the weight? Golfers are pretty smart, after all. Credit Frank Thomas for this concept.

—

Curiosity might kill cats, but in golf it has made the game easier for all of us. While it is true that there are downsides to some of the changes — the lively golf ball, hot drivers that require larger playing fields and the like — changes are inevitable, and if these changes help the average golfer enjoy this wonderful game just a little bit more I’m ok with that. I am an advocate of some degree of bifurcation and think it’s only a matter of time.

Again, I welcome your comments on other inventions I may have omitted.

As always, feel free to send a swing video to my Facebook page and I will do my best to give you my feedback.

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Dennis Clark

Dennis Clark is a PGA Master Professional. Clark has taught the game of golf for more than 30 years to golfers all across the country, and is recognized as one of the leading teachers in the country by all the major golf publications. He is also is a seven-time PGA award winner who has earned the following distinctions: -- Teacher of the Year, Philadelphia Section PGA -- Teacher of the Year, Golfers Journal -- Top Teacher in Pennsylvania, Golf Magazine -- Top Teacher in Mid Atlantic Region, Golf Digest -- Earned PGA Advanced Specialty certification in Teaching/Coaching Golf -- Achieved Master Professional Status (held by less than 2 percent of PGA members) -- PGA Merchandiser of the Year, Tri State Section PGA -- Golf Professional of the Year, Tri State Section PGA -- Presidents Plaque Award for Promotion and Growth of the Game of Golf -- Junior Golf Leader, Tri State section PGA -- Served on Tri State PGA Board of Directors. Clark is also former Director of Golf and Instruction at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. Dennis now teaches at Bobby Clampett's Impact Zone Golf Indoor Performance Center in Naples, FL. .

116 Comments

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kev

Feb 23, 2015 at 7:29 am

I have a golf idea /invention how do I get it off the groud . Anyone know

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Jeff

Nov 10, 2014 at 6:42 pm

If it wasn’t for a cart I’d never be able to take my 3 year old neice to the course when I play and get her around the course. I know you all can say what you want, “3 year Olds don’t belong on the golf course.” Well, she likes it, she loves golf now. She can hit the ball and she’s 3. I pay my greens fees, she stays mostly in the cart, I will drive up and tell anyone I see on the course to feel free to play through. The course gets the cart revenue. I keep playing, she’ll keep playing the rest of her life.

Carts aren’t evil, lazy golfers are. If you took carts away the same assholes would be decking out their pushcarts with padded seats, retaking yardage on their watch, taking a sip of their warmed beverage, and missing the green, and repeating it every shot. Carts aren’t the only thing making these guys slow.

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Taylor

Nov 7, 2014 at 3:50 pm

What a bunch of snobs!!! You guys blasting carts have absolutely ZERO understanding of what golf has evolved to.

I was a pro for many years. Wife still is a pro who also played professionally. I love the game passionately. But that is what it is. A game. Golf is not a not a sport. Its recreation. I rarely ride. I much prefer to walk. That’s just my personal preference. My wife and daughter ride and I walk along as we play. However, carts are an absolute accepted part of the game and more importantly the industry. Try running a charity tournament without one. Try pulling cart revenue out of the game and watch just about every course you play go out of business.

I agree that walking is a far superior way to experience a round of golf. But carts have expanded the reach of the game to levels it never could have dreamed of without them. Golf is more accessible because of them. It is more social because of them. From my years in the biz, I can say that most of the golf snobs are far more detrimental than the majority of the beer swilling (Hey, they’re buying 5 dollar beer and generating revenue, never see a walker doing that) golf illiterate cart riders I’ve encountered.

Rant over.

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Barney Adams

Nov 6, 2014 at 9:04 pm

Dennis. The graphite shaft was Jim Flood. As for the 60 deg wedge I could argue that all but a very few should consider using one. Would replace with soft spikes in a heartbeat.

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- Dennis Clark
  
  Nov 6, 2014 at 9:16 pm
  
  I want to hear why most shouldn’t use it pls
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Al385
    
    Nov 8, 2014 at 4:08 am
    
    The most used clubs in my bag: putter and 60º lob wedge
    
    Reply Report comment
  - barney adams
    
    Nov 8, 2014 at 11:37 am
    
    It’s too often a risk reward shot that requires a high degree of skill. The flop over the trap slightly under-hit ends up semi buried in the sand because of the spin. I’ll skip the skulls some of which have never been found.
    you can hit a great flop and end up 7′ from the hole still odds on to 2 putt and if you don’t hit it perfectly it’s a disaster.
    The key is practice, lots and lots. not something a lot of amateurs do and even if they wanted there aren’t many adequate facilities.
    A full swing 60,70 yd shot you can do the same with a SW and avoid the beauty that goes straight up.
    Some folks do fine, I’m talking about the majority.
    have you noticed how much better putting surfaces have become since softspikes
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Dennis Clark
      
      Nov 8, 2014 at 3:17 pm
      
      putting surfaces have improved certainly; putting stats have not kept pace but thats another story.
      
      Quite the opposite on the 60. mid-high handicapper can be more aggressive with attack angle and body rotation on short pitches with more loft on club. Shallow attack angles from backing up or chicken winging from early release can all benefit from MORE loft around the greens. It’s when they don’t have enough loft that they get in trouble. I have a 64 I use for teaching, But of course this is a teachers perspective. Theorettically i agree… they don’t know how to use it from so many years of flipping loft on the club. Its like a player using too stiff a shaft to too little loft and hanging back to
      get loft on the club. Give them a ladies shaft and 13 degrees of loft and you’ll see them start turning through the shot with mess less right side bend. Promoting bad swings with clubs that off set the mistake is not something I prefer as a teacher.
      
      Reply Report comment
    - Dennis Clark
      
      Nov 8, 2014 at 3:49 pm
      
      I mist my steel spikes when I walk on the cart path!! Loved the old sound: 🙂
      
      Reply Report comment
    - Jack Wullkotte
      
      Nov 29, 2014 at 12:36 pm
      
      Hi Barney,
      
      First of all, I still can’t believe Flip is gone. I thought he would live forever. As far as the different wedges they now make, I’m still all for the old fashioned way of opening the face of the sand iron to whatever degree of loft that you need. Throughout the 49 years that I was Jack’s personal clubmaker, he used a 52 degree pitching wedge and a 58 degree sand wedge. Some critics say he was never a good wedge player. Are they serious? Try winning 20 majors (includes 2 US Amateurs) without a few good wedge shots. True, if he would have had Gary Player’s short game, he would have consistently shot scores in the 50’s. 🙂
      See you at the show.
      
      Jack Wullkotte
      
      Reply Report comment
- Dennis Clark
  
  Nov 6, 2014 at 9:23 pm
  
  Power Pod Jim…
  
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  - barney adams
    
    Nov 8, 2014 at 11:41 am
    
    and graphite shafts as he started Aldila, ( I researched this one with a couple of my ancient contemporaries) and the backassward putter and a bunch of other things. I loved the power pod the face was about 7deg closed !
    I have a dual strap stand bag next to the wall in my office from 1870 ! Interesting how long it took for a modern version.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Dennis Clark
      
      Nov 12, 2014 at 6:31 pm
      
      Barney my friend, what’s up? See below.
      
      http://www.golfchannel.com/media/ul-innovation-series-graphite-shafts/
      
      Reply Report comment
- Jack Wullkotte
  
  Nov 29, 2014 at 1:31 pm
  
  Having worked with Toney Penna for 20 years at the MacGregor Golf Co. in Cincinnati, Ohio and then 6 years with him at the Penna Golf Co. in Jupiter , FL, here are some of the innovations he brought to the manufacturing area of golf. In 1950, he designed the MT model, which was essentially the precursor of the low profile iron that was supposedly started in the 1970’s. He also went to cycolac, aluminum, and graphite face inserts in the 1960’s. As far as I know, he was the first manufacturer to feature a whole set of investment cast irons. From what I can remember, Ping only made putters at that time and a small company named Tomahawk Golf Co. made putters and wedges. Toney also featured the Colo-Krome faces on the Tommy Armour irons in the late 1950’s and the black ceramic faces in several iron models in the early 1960’s. He was the first one to feature “bounce” on the soles of iron heads. He created antique finishes on wood heads in the late 1950’s and 60’s. He was one of the first manufacturers to begin producing complete sets of irons with Aldila graphite shafts. Unfortunately, it was a big mistake because he installed them in his short necked forgings, and all the shafts snapped at the top of the hosel. Not the fault of Aldila. Toney designed the jumbo LHHLTFF model in the 1960’s. LHHLTFF stood for “Left hip high and let the f—– fly.” I know there were other firsts that were initiated by Toney, but that should be sufficient to bring some comments that are either informative, corrective, or complimentary.
  
  Jack Wullkotte
  
  Reply Report comment
- Jack Wullkotte
  
  Nov 29, 2014 at 3:22 pm
  
  Barney, Here’s a little incident that occurred at the Penna Golf Co. in 1973 when I was the plant supervisor. Jim Flood came to our plant with some of his Aldila shafts, intent on selling Toney the idea of using graphite shafts in all of our clubs. Toney instead, demeaned the graphite shaft as having more torque than hickory shafts, more flex than hickory shafts, and too light, along with the fact that he thought they would break too easily. Flood then took one of the shafts, put the tip end of the shaft on the lowest rung of a chair, and the butt end of the shaft on the floor, and stepped on the middle of the shaft. The shaft bent, but did not break. Toney was impressed. I tried to make Toney aware of the fact that the middle of the shaft touched the floor before it ever got to the breaking point, but he told me to mind my own business. Because of that demonstration, Toney ordered a ton of Aldila shafts. After the shafts were delivered, a contingent of executives from the ATO Co., our parent company, came to Jupiter for a visit. Toney gave them a tour of the plant and then we all went back to Toney’s office. That’s when he unveiled the Aldila graphite shaft. He used Flood’s method to demonstrate how strong and limber the shaft was. The only problem was, Toney put the tip of the shaft on a higher rung with the butt end on the floor. The shaft was at a much more severe angle than Flood had it. After Toney had set the shaft in position, he stepped back and sent his foot into the middle of the shaft. Naturally, the shaft snapped in two with one part going one way and the other going the other way. He literally screamed, “that dirty SOB, I’ll kill him.” Eventually, Toney tried to get Aldila to take the shafts back, but they wouldn’t do it, so, Toney began putting Aldila shafts in all the iron heads. Most all of the shafts broke, because of the short hosels. By then, I had quit Penna’s, so I don’t know what went on from there.
  True story.
  
  Jack Wullkotte
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Dennis Clark
    
    Dec 2, 2014 at 3:00 pm
    
    LOL Jack, that’s a great story!! To get back to the issue, I’m discussing with Barney, did Flood or Frank Thomas first come up with idea for graphite? On the putter, are you saying that Karsten was first responsible for the idea of perimeter weighting, but Penna built that concept into his irons before Karsten? Thx for reading my column.
    
    Reply Report comment
Tom Beavers

Nov 6, 2014 at 7:28 pm

Dual strap stand bags. The thing old guys put on the putter grip to pull the ball out of the hole. Lightweight waterproof golf shoes. And the headcover that keeps a beer cold !

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- Dennis Clark
  
  Nov 6, 2014 at 9:04 pm
  
  I wish they had the double strap bag when I carried!
  
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Dan

Nov 6, 2014 at 11:44 am

As stated golf carts are a neccesary evil only to those who can still walk a course. I carried my bag for over 25 years but, got sick and can’t handle walking 18 holes anymore or even 9. I wish I could because I loved to walk the fairways and had time to think about my next shot but, the fact is I would have had to give up the game I love without golf carts. Adding GPS to carts was maybe not an invention but, a way to speed a round up for those of us who don’t own personal GPS devices IMHO.

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- Straightdriver235
  
  Nov 6, 2014 at 12:49 pm
  
  These are labeled the “best inventions”–the golf cart is not among them. Time for you to give up the game, or play in that cart when no one else is around, dude. The caddy provided more jobs around the course and introduced lower class youth to the game. We are much worse for it, not to mention paths are built way too close to fairways and greens. I am sympathetic to Casey Martin, but for the masses, no. Tghe cart is a lazy excuse for claiming you are playing golf. Absent a medical waiver it is not golf when you ride a cart.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Jeremy
    
    Nov 6, 2014 at 2:18 pm
    
    “It’s not golf unless you pay a lower class child to do the heavy labor, dude.”
    -You
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Dennis Clark
    
    Nov 6, 2014 at 6:03 pm
    
    i think your medical exemption is exactly what carts should be for. i think some of the comments are more directed to the “abusers”. Actually at many courses they are MANDATORY now, a revenue source of course.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Dennis Clark
    
    Nov 6, 2014 at 6:05 pm
    
    i certainly agree on the caddy. its how i started and many more like me. Growing up on the “other side of the tracks” had it not been for caddying , no golf.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Dan
    
    Nov 7, 2014 at 1:17 pm
    
    I hope and pray you stay young and never get sick enough to need a cart. I’m not making an issue of this but, as I said, I walked for over 25 years (even before dual straps) and I miss it a lot but, I’m not giving up the game I love because I have to use a cart. Good Luck to you as you grow older.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Jem
    
    Nov 8, 2014 at 11:22 pm
    
    “Time for you to give up the game”? Seriously? Who do you think pays the bills at that course you play? Old guys in carts. Remember that before you take away their clubs and stick them in a nursing home. I love to walk, but it’s hard to find playing partners who share that desire, so sometimes I use a cart. I agree that, in my opinion at least, the game is better when walked, but it’s not up to me to judge how another guy wants to play. As long as they’re not running over me, more power to them in the cart.
    
    Reply Report comment
bok006

Nov 6, 2014 at 10:26 am

I still get stymied now and then.
Not by opponents ball but trees, bushes, rocks……..

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Simon Hubbard

Nov 6, 2014 at 6:23 am

Not an invention really but the USGA and the R&A. Some would argue that they don’t get things right all the time, but the intent is there to preserve the heritage of the game.

And again not an invention but the book written by Dr Alastair Cochran, the search for the perfect swing, still current and used after 40 years. This has helped our overall understanding of what happens when a ball is struck.

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- Dennis Clark
  
  Nov 6, 2014 at 7:29 am
  
  Spot on wih Search. Soooo far ahead of its time. I still use a lot of the information in there in my teaching and its over 45 years old! Good call.
  
  Reply Report comment
Shakers97

Nov 6, 2014 at 1:13 am

Golf gps watch, stand bag, mallet putter, trackman, video analysis……

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- Terry
  
  Nov 6, 2014 at 1:23 pm
  
  The Velcro glove!
  
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  - Dennis Clark
    
    Nov 6, 2014 at 9:01 pm
    
    Remember the old button down gloves? Hard to imagine now!
    
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leftright

Nov 5, 2014 at 8:17 pm

Personally I wish graphite shafts had never been invented. If I was omnipotent I would do away with them. They have caused more frustration, money and confusion than anything else in the game. You think I’m crazy just ask Barney Adams. The earliest ones would send the ball into the next county and now they create more confusion and bankruptcies than the Democratic party.

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marcel

Nov 5, 2014 at 6:49 pm

Robin Williams is missing there

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Phil

Nov 5, 2014 at 4:51 pm

What about the Cart/Beverage Babe? It’s gotta be up there….

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Nathan

Nov 5, 2014 at 2:43 pm

What about Soft Spikes or Golf Chain Retail Stores?

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SMH

Nov 5, 2014 at 1:34 pm

This article is complete garbage, the best inventions were the last 5 TMAG drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids

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- Andrew
  
  Nov 5, 2014 at 10:36 pm
  
  Dagnabbit…I can’t find mention of screws, slots and white paint anywhere…
  
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Bernhard

Nov 5, 2014 at 1:10 pm

You forgot anchoring with longer putters. This great invention has allowed us to lower handicaps by 10 or more, enabled us to make just about every putt within 30 feet, cured the yips, and made us taller and better looking. God knows where the game would have gone if the higher ups would have allowed it to continue….

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- Dennis Clark
  
  Nov 5, 2014 at 3:32 pm
  
  Made us younger, more virile and so on…:)
  
  Reply Report comment
- Dennis Clark
  
  Nov 5, 2014 at 3:34 pm
  
  well we know that experiment was short lived by USGA standards. What will Keegan do in a year and a half???
  
  Reply Report comment
Tom WIshon

Nov 5, 2014 at 1:03 pm

1, Titanium alloys – they not only taught the industry about COR to open the door to a little more distance with drivers, but its lower density with the same or higher strength than traditional stainless alloys allowed larger driver heads with much higher MOI for much better off center hit forgiveness.

2. Launch Monitors – they opened the door to having the information to lead to more in depth clubfitting research which in turn offers golfers a much greater chance to play to the best of their given abilities.

Reply Report comment
- Dennis Clark
  
  Nov 5, 2014 at 3:32 pm
  
  True. true. I suppose anything with its own atomic number should be on the list of greatest everything; like aerospace, medicine, nuclear waste…Still blows my mind that anything that light could be that strong! Raise the COR for amateurs!! 🙂
  
  Reply Report comment
brian

Nov 5, 2014 at 12:55 pm

How about the “Arnold Palmer”. The 19th hole has never been the same since that was invented haha

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Paul Wilson

Nov 5, 2014 at 12:09 pm

You forgot Iron Byron. Not only did it test golf clubs and balls but it is also responsible for gathering important swing data which is found in today’s launch monitors.

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- Dennis Clark
  
  Nov 5, 2014 at 3:35 pm
  
  I was at the testing facility one time when a club broke on that thing; talk about some freaked out observers!
  
  Reply Report comment
ProAmDuffer

Nov 5, 2014 at 11:30 am

I believe the author in many instances here is confused between a discovery and an invention.

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hayesh

Nov 5, 2014 at 11:19 am

Lightweight and WATERPROOF golf shoes have to be on the list. Remember when you’d play on a normal morning, and just the dew from the course would soak into your leather soles and they’d weigh a ton by the second hole? Your socks would even be damp by the third hole. Great shoes make walking so much more enjoyable.

As do lightweight carry bags, with legs.

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LRRY

Nov 5, 2014 at 11:18 am

yOU MENTION FRANK THOMAS IN YOUR STORY, HOW GREAT WOULD IT HAVE BEEN TO HAVE FRANK THOMAS AND BERNY ADAMS TOGEATHER TO TALK GOLF CLUBS AND BALLS…BOTH THESE MEN TELL IT LIKE IT IS..

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Crabgrass

Nov 5, 2014 at 10:03 am

Is the 14 club rule an “invention”?
I’d like to see the ‘stymie’ in action sometime, but, again, not sure it can be called an invention.
When did grooves appear on clubs? That seems like a biggie.

Reply Report comment
- Dennis Clark
  
  Nov 5, 2014 at 3:38 pm
  
  Not technically but but a huge impact nonetheless. I think most got my drift…
  Yeas grooves were like dimples on the ball; hard to imagine the game without them.
  
  Reply Report comment
other paul

Nov 5, 2014 at 9:05 am

You said it was getting harder to curve the golf ball. Not sure why, I can slice it 50 yards and hook it 30 no problem. Also small draws and fades aren’t to difficult.

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Daniel

Nov 5, 2014 at 7:11 am

You have the lob wedge but how would we all do if we didn’t have BOUNCE?

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- Dennis Clark
  
  Nov 5, 2014 at 7:32 am
  
  very true, bounce comes under Sarazen’s invention in 1932, the SAND wedge. Story has it that after he came up with the idea, he actually turned the club upside down in his bag so competitors wouldn’t copy it:)
  
  Reply Report comment
- Jack Wullkotte
  
  Nov 29, 2014 at 2:32 pm
  
  I mentioned bounce as one of Toney Penna’s innovations from the late 1950’s. Gene Sarazan might have put it on his sand iron, but Toney did it on the whole set irons.
  
  Reply Report comment
John

Nov 5, 2014 at 2:13 am

I play a lot of hickory golf, and while the clubs certainly have more torque than a modern club, saying you could twist the head “halfway around” is a huge exaggeration. Someone would have to have enormous “Bo Jackson in his prime” strength to do that.

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- Dennis Clark
  
  Nov 5, 2014 at 6:56 am
  
  It sounded far fetched to me too; I went back looking for where I read it and can’t find it…It HAS to be exaggerated I agree but it made the point, there was a LOT of twist in those shaft. Where do you play hickory golf? And why?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - John
    
    Nov 6, 2014 at 1:01 am
    
    I’m a member of the Society of Hickory golfers, an organization founded in 2000 by a small group of hickory players including famed club designer Tad Moore. In the insuring 14 years this organization has grown by leaps and bounds. There are now several thousand hickory players in the US and abroad. There is a hickory tourmanment somewhere just about every week save Dec. and Jan. There are, in the US, five “major championships”, the US Hickory Open and four others. The USHO was won this year by Jeremy Moe, a club pro from Arkansas who shot 69/68 at the Asheville (NC) CC, the World Hickory Open was played in Scotland this year with Sandy Lyle (yes, that Sandy Lyle) winning with 74/69. Those are great scores with hickory. So that’s a bit of what, and now the why. It’s more fun. It’s creative, most guys carry 9 to 10 clubs so you’re inventing shots as you go along. A 6100 yard course is not obsolete. No glove, no Trackman. No rangefinders. Simple, straightforward golf. Harry Vardon won major championships with 8 to 9 clubs and his gift to get the best out of them. Those 15 inventions? Ours pretty much stops after the tee. Modern golf is in decline for a number of reasons, many of them discussed in detail by Barney and others on this site. Our version of golf is growing, fast.
    
    Reply Report comment
Dennis Clark

Nov 4, 2014 at 7:39 pm

One of the inventions I did not list but certainly has had a great impact on the game is modern, earth moving equipment. For example, tractors, backhoes, etc. Remember golf course used to be built with mules and drag pans…a developer can now have almost any piece of ground developed into a golf course. Couldn’t do that years ago

Reply Report comment
Iman

Nov 4, 2014 at 6:22 pm

I’d add launch monitor/flightscope to the list. Not only it measures distance/spin/etc, it “changes” the way we hit the ball.

Reply Report comment
- Dennis Clark
  
  Nov 5, 2014 at 6:57 am
  
  what do you feel you’ve done differently in the hit since LMs?
  
  Reply Report comment
Dennis Clark

Nov 4, 2014 at 5:38 pm

Golf carts come under the “necessary evil” tag i suppose…the WRX readers are among the most upper echelon of true golfers who love the pure aspect of the game. But I fear to think how the might shrink if we removed the cart. Would anyone play in Colorado or on really hot days or over the age of 70 or…:)

Reply Report comment
- bradford
  
  Nov 5, 2014 at 8:23 am
  
  Unfortunately, they’re a mode of profit now rather than accessibility. Most don’t “need” them, nor do they speed up play, but you’ll be forced on a Saturday morning to pay for it whether you take one or not. Granted it’s changed the game, but I would say for the worse. The exception for me is for those who could not play without it, but not for those who simply would not.
  
  I WOULD add the 2-strapped carry bag to the list.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - dot dot
    
    Nov 5, 2014 at 10:20 am
    
    Carts are great. Best thing that ever happened to golf. Who carries a bag any more? Barbarians!
    
    Reply Report comment
    - PAUL GRAY
      
      Nov 5, 2014 at 12:45 pm
      
      Proper golfers that appreciate proper golf course architect, that’s who.
      
      Reply Report comment
    - bradford
      
      Nov 6, 2014 at 10:39 am
      
      The sarcastic tone means we may actually agree on something for once?
      
      Reply Report comment
    - Busterpar
      
      Nov 7, 2014 at 1:41 pm
      
      That’s what pushcarts are for! Outlaw carts – they lead to too long courses, housing developments with no personality courses attached, 200 yards between tees, and rude inconsiderate people that don’t/won’t play ready golf because they can just ride to their ball. Then take 43 practice swings, reline the shot, 37 more practice swings……you know the ones.
      
      Reply Report comment
Pingback: Sun Mountain Adds to List of Best Golf Inventions
Dennis Clark

Nov 4, 2014 at 5:09 pm

Range finders are a great addition to the list; where they’d fall on the impact scale i don’t know, Certainly down from the tee and modern ball but maybe ahead of some other things. How much have they made the game easier? Im not sure really. If you know the target is precisely 167 yards, you have to be able to hit the ball that far. And hitting the ball that far comes back to steel clubs, graphite shaft, the modern ball, and on and on down the list. so its an INDIRECT influence i suppose. Thoughts?

Reply Report comment
Jeremy

Nov 4, 2014 at 4:42 pm

Perhaps it falls under the category of Television, but I’d include YouTube/the internet. I worked my way down to about a 7 handicap without ever having a teacher or coach, just copying what I see the best in the world doing on TV and the internet. Throw in the super-slow-motion camera while you’re at it. Frankly, I can’t imagine how people ever played golf before having access to the wealth of instruction that’s now available.

Reply Report comment
- Dennis Clark
  
  Nov 4, 2014 at 4:56 pm
  
  Agreed, the internet has helped a lot of golfers! Great invention by no less than the US government through the defense department largely!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - CD
    
    Nov 4, 2014 at 5:41 pm
    
    Internet was invented by Tim Beners-Lee (British)
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Dennis Clark
      
      Nov 4, 2014 at 6:12 pm
      
      The world wide web was first conceived by Berners lee. Military research was done years before that…A good book on the subject: “Digital Disconnect”
      
      Reply Report comment
    - ams165
      
      Nov 5, 2014 at 12:34 am
      
      ahhhh no…
      
      it was Al Gore…….insert sarcasm laugh..
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Dennis Clark
        
        Nov 5, 2014 at 6:59 am
        
        actually bad rap on Gore, but it WAS funny. He DID push for a lot of funding during his time in office though. Again for the military research.
        
        Reply Report comment
      - 1GolfJones
        
        Nov 6, 2014 at 4:53 am
        
        Albert Arnold Gore was born on March 31,1948 exactly 9 months to the day after the Roswell, New Mexico incident. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
        
        Reply Report comment
- Gustavo
  
  Nov 7, 2014 at 2:54 pm
  
  you know how people played golf before YouTube…they went out to the course and practiced and played. They also could sit and watch a live PGA teaching pro in person, that is just as good, if not better then sitting at a computer and getting “YouTube Lessons”.
  
  Reply Report comment
TRocket

Nov 4, 2014 at 4:20 pm

George Franklin Grant
George Franklin Grant. in Chester, New Hampshire George Franklin Grant (September 15, 1846 – August 21, 1910) was the first African American professor at Harvard. He was also a Boston dentist, and an inventor of a wooden golf tee.

Reply Report comment
- Dennis Clark
  
  Nov 4, 2014 at 4:54 pm
  
  Great stuff; I heard a dentist from Maplewood NJ somewhere in my travels, but I can’t recall I ever read that so your discovery may very well be accurate
  
  Reply Report comment
Archie Bunker

Nov 4, 2014 at 4:07 pm

What? Where’s THE HAMMER on this list? BAM!

Reply Report comment
- Not Brandel
  
  Nov 4, 2014 at 4:22 pm
  
  “I JUST HIT IT OVER A MOUNTAIN!!!”
  
  Reply Report comment
- Jeff
  
  Nov 10, 2014 at 6:22 pm
  
  The Hammer X! BOOM
  
  Reply Report comment
D

Nov 4, 2014 at 3:49 pm

I would nominate the “beverage girl” to the best innovation list and remove the lob wedge.

Reply Report comment
adolfo

Nov 4, 2014 at 3:24 pm

Take the carts out and put in the Rangefinder. A Cart is not going to help you hit the ball closer to the pin

Reply Report comment
- birly-shirly
  
  Nov 4, 2014 at 4:17 pm
  
  Depends on your criteria for inclusion. I think way more people play golf because they can ride around in a cart than care about the precise yardage. Not saying that’s necessarily a good or healthy thing, just an observation.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Dennis Clark
    
    Nov 4, 2014 at 4:58 pm
    
    I agree Birly, the IMPACT of carts was probably greater, good or bad?
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Rich
      
      Nov 5, 2014 at 9:45 am
      
      I wouldn’t include the Rangefinder, as the only difference I see it making when I play is slowing everyone down. How many people on here constantly find themselves waiting for playing partners to laser a yardage only to watch them miss the green altogether? The majority of us mere mortals need to focus on just hitting greens in the first place and as our skill level improves then tool like this become more useful…
      
      Reply Report comment
      - bradford
        
        Nov 6, 2014 at 10:46 am
        
        Fully agree, I’m a 6.3 index right now, and I can get by 100% on the 100, 150, and 200 yard markers. It does not help a 20hcp to know the difference between 160 and 170, because he’s not consistent enough to know which club that would be anyway. The ONLY time I wish I had more info is for trouble off the teebox.
        
        Reply Report comment
Tom Henman

Nov 4, 2014 at 3:23 pm

How about the sand wedge? Seems to be to be a bigger thing than the lob wedge.

Reply Report comment
- Dennis Clark
  
  Nov 4, 2014 at 4:52 pm
  
  True, the sand wedge could easily have been on the top list, I agree! 1932 Gene Sarazen! Certainly made the game easier for every golfer; though it amazes me how many people cannot use it correctly
  
  Reply Report comment
  - CD
    
    Nov 4, 2014 at 5:43 pm
    
    Sand wedge used correctly = biggest difference or steel shafts. Hmm!
    
    Reply Report comment
Mandark

Nov 4, 2014 at 3:21 pm

No turbulators.

Reply Report comment
- CM
  
  Nov 4, 2014 at 8:32 pm
  
  +1
  
  Reply Report comment
- bradford
  
  Nov 6, 2014 at 10:47 am
  
  or face slots?
  
  Reply Report comment
steven j

Nov 4, 2014 at 3:18 pm

How about some of the items that make it easier to walk the course such as the lightweight golf bag, golf stand bag, dual shoulder straps and the golf push cart?

in mentioning irrigation and riding mowers, along with that group could come the drainage systems on greens and beyond.

Reply Report comment
Jafar

Nov 4, 2014 at 2:47 pm

I think GPS rangefinders take some of the fun out of the game.

Reply Report comment
- Dave S
  
  Nov 4, 2014 at 2:54 pm
  
  Have to respectfully disagree. Nothing worse than hitting exactly the shot you mean to hit, only to see it fall short or go long and off the green. Professionals have caddies that give then exact yardage, wind direction and suggestions on what to hit and hot to hit it. Us weekend warriors have none of that, and have a far smaller margin of error on our shots. Knowing the distance to the green as made golf more fun (for me at least) and has sped up play… no more searching for the sprinkler head and then pacing off yardage.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - TR1PTIK
    
    Nov 4, 2014 at 3:21 pm
    
    Agreed. I’m horrible at judging distances and wouldn’t stand a chance if not for GPS.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - CD
      
      Nov 5, 2014 at 2:37 am
      
      I think that it is a key thing to learn and which improves you as a player – acquiring ‘feel’ and judging by eye. There is knowing a distance and then adjusting to it anyway. I think it can be learned and taught and is another under-rated thing that separates good players, especially in the short game. Including and perhaps especially where there is a trompe l’oeil from the course architect.
      
      Reply Report comment
Dave S

Nov 4, 2014 at 2:34 pm

How about modern golf apparel? I realize this is less of an “invention” and more of an evolution over time, but enough cannot be said about how much better it is to play wearing moisture-wicking shorts and polo (while walking the course in any one of the number of incredibly comfortable golf shoes on the market) vs. wearing plus-fours and a shirt/tie/jacket combo.

Also on my list would be laser rangefinders/personal GPS devices. The biggest game-changer golf purchase I’ve made in the last 10 years was buying a gps watch. Nothing else (including various drivers, putters, irons and wedges) comes close.

Reply Report comment
Bob Gom

Nov 4, 2014 at 2:31 pm

Have to agree….rangefinder should not been left out.

Reply Report comment
Danny

Nov 4, 2014 at 2:29 pm

I’m assuming you have the bubble burner shaft at number 16

Reply Report comment
Jadon

Nov 4, 2014 at 2:25 pm

The range finder/GPS technology has been a game changer for me personally. That’s pretty weird to think about. Download an app on your phone to tell you how far away you are from the green.

Reply Report comment
Big_5_Hole

Nov 4, 2014 at 2:23 pm

No mention of the pencil with an eraser on the end?

Reply Report comment
JJC

Nov 4, 2014 at 2:21 pm

golf carts? really? if it were up to me they would be banned without a medical certificate. the game was meant to be walked and with the obesity epidemic in this country, a lot of people would be well served to hoof it around the course.

Reply Report comment
- Derek
  
  Nov 4, 2014 at 3:08 pm
  
  ^^^ truer words have not been spoken. Leave the carts for the medically unable.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - TR1PTIK
    
    Nov 4, 2014 at 3:25 pm
    
    Absolutely agree. And, I hate trying to deal with slow play from a group with carts when I’m walking. I feel like they never want to let me play through because they don’t want to wait long enough for me to walk by them even though I have to wait on nearly every shot. Carts should only be an option for the elderly and disabled.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Jeremy
      
      Nov 4, 2014 at 4:36 pm
      
      And the hungover, of course.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Justin
        
        Nov 4, 2014 at 5:23 pm
        
        One could argue that the igloo ice chest coupled with the golf cart had a tremendous impact on the popularity of the game. At least where I live, way more people happen to play golf while they are drinking beer instead of drink beer when they are playing golf. Remove the cold beverage and a vehicle to tote it around with and we would lose 70% of our golfing public!
        
        Sad truth. Maybe we need a little bit of that pomposity back?
        
        Reply Report comment
  - Fatty
    
    Nov 5, 2014 at 1:16 am
    
    Derek,
    
    As they do, at the Old Course – you have to have a handicap certificate to rent a buggy.
    That’s why you don’t see too many fat, lazy American golfers playing that course on their golf vacation
    
    Reply Report comment
- Oldplayer
  
  Nov 6, 2014 at 5:47 am
  
  Agree. Carts are a blight on the game and should not be allowed for able bodied golfers.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Busterpar
    
    Nov 7, 2014 at 1:47 pm
    
    So bloody true!!!!! And this from someone with a new knee. Walk, walk, walk!
    
    Reply Report comment

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 RBC Heritage betting preview: Patrick Cantlay ready to get back inside winner’s circle

Published

1 day ago

Apr 15, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

Just a two-hour drive from Augusta National, the PGA TOUR heads to Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Hilton Head Island is a golfer’s paradise and Harbour Town is one of the most beautiful and scenic courses on the PGA TOUR.

Harbour Town Golf Links is a par-71 that measures 7,121 yards and features Bermuda grass greens. A Pete Dye design, the course is heavily tree lined and features small greens and many dog legs, protecting it from “bomb-and-gauge” type golfers.

The field is loaded this week with 69 golfers with no cut. Last year was quite possibly the best field in RBC Heritage history and the event this week is yet another designated event, meaning there is a $20 million prize pool.

Most of the big names on the PGA Tour will be in attendance this week with the exceptions of Hideki Matsuyama and Viktor Hovland. Additionally, Webb Simpson, Shane Lowry, Gary Woodland and Kevin Kisner have been granted sponsors exemptions.

Past Winners at Harbour Town

2023: Matt Fitzpatrick (-17)
2022: Jordan Spieth (-13)
2021: Stewart Cink (-19)
2020: Webb Simpson (-22)
2019: CT Pan (-12)
2018: Sotoshi Kodaira (-12)
2017: Wesley Bryan (-13)
2016: Branden Grace (-9)
2015: Jim Furyk (-18)

In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value).

Key Stats For Harbour Town

Let’s take a look at key metrics for Harbour Town Golf Links to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their past 24 rounds.

Strokes Gained: Approach

Strokes Gained: Approach is exceedingly important this week. The greens at Harbour Town are about half the size of PGA TOUR average and feature the second-smallest greens on the tour. Typical of a Pete Dye design, golfers will pay the price for missed greens.

Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds

Scottie Scheffler (+1.27)
Tom Hoge (+1.27)
Corey Conners (+1.16)
Austin Eckroat (+0.95)
Cameron Young (+0.93)

Good Drive %

The fairways at Harbour Town are tree lined and feature many dog legs. Bombers tend to struggle at the course because it forces layups and doesn’t allow long drivers to overpower it. Accuracy is far more important than power.

Good Drive % Over Past 24 Rounds

Brice Garnett (88.8%)
Shane Lowry (+87.2%)
Akshay Bhatia (+86.0%)
Si Woo Kim (+85.8%)
Sepp Straka (+85.1%)

Strokes Gained: Total at Pete Dye Designs

Pete Dye specialists tend to play very well at Harbour Town. Si Woo Kim, Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk and Webb Simpson are all Pete Dye specialists who have had great success here. It is likely we see some more specialists near the top of the leaderboard this week.

SG: TOT Pete Dye per round over past 36 rounds:

Xander Schauffele (+2.27)
Scottie Scheffler (+2.24)
Ludvig Aberg (+2.11)
Brian Harman (+1.89)
Sungjae Im (+1.58)

4. Strokes Gained: Short Game (Bermuda)

Strokes Gained: Short Game factors in both around the green and putting. With many green-side bunkers and tricky green complexes, both statistics will be important. Past winners — such as Jim Furyk, Wes Bryan and Webb Simpson — highlight how crucial the short game skill set is around Harbour Town.

SG: SG Over Past 24 Rounds

Jordan Spieth (+1.11)
Taylor Moore (+1.02)
Wyndham Clark (+0.98)
Mackenzie Hughes (+0.86)
Andrew Putnam (+0.83)

5. Greens in Regulation %

The recipe for success at Harbour Town Golf Links is hitting fairways and greens. Missing either will prove to be consequential — golfers must be in total control of the ball to win.

Greens in Regulation % over past 24 rounds:

Brice Garnett (+75.0%)
Scottie Scheffler (+69.9%)
Corey Conners (+69.0%)
Shane Lowry (+68.3%)
Patrick Rodgers (+67.6%)

6. Course History

Harbour Town is a course where players who have strong past results at the course always tend to pop up.

Course History over past 24 rounds:

Patrick Cantlay (+2.34)
Cam Davis (+2.05)
J.T. Poston (+1.69)
Justin Rose (+1.68)
Tommy Fleetwood (+1.59)

The RBC Heritage Model Rankings

Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (24%), Good Drives (20%), SG: SG (14%), SG: Pete Dye (14%), GIR (14%), and Course History (14%)

Shane Lowry
Russell Henley
Scottie Scheffler
Xander Schauffele
Corey Conners
Wyndham Clark
Christiaan Bezuidenhout
Matt Fitzpatrick
Cameron Young
Ludvig Aberg

2024 RBC Heritage Picks

Patrick Cantlay +2000 (FanDuel)

With the exception of Scottie Scheffler, the PGA Tour has yet to have any of their star players show peak form during the 2024 season. Last week, Patrick Cantlay, who I believe is a top-5 players on the PGA Tour, took one step closer to regaining the form that’s helped him win eight events on Tour since 2017.

Cantlay limped into the Masters in poor form, but figured it out at Augusta National, finishing in a tie for 20th and ranking 17th for the week in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. The former FedEx Cup champion will now head to one of his favorite golf courses in Harbour Town, where he’s had immaculate results over the years. In his six trips to the course, he’s only finished worse than 7th one time. The other finishes include three third places (2017, 2019, 2023) and one runner-up finish (2022). In his past 36 rounds at Harbour Town, Cantlay ranks 1st in Strokes Gained: Total per round at the course by a wide margin (+2.36).

Cantlay is winless since the 2022 BMW Championship, which is far too long for a player of his caliber. With signs pointing to the 32-year-old returning to form, a “signature event” at Harbour Town is just what he needs to get back on the winning track.

Tommy Fleetwood +3000 (FanDuel)

I truly believe Tommy Fleetwood will figure out a way to win on American soil in 2024. It’s certainly been a bugaboo for him throughout his career, but he is simply too talented to go another season without winning a PGA Tour event.

At last week’s Masters Tournament, Fleetwood made a Sunday charge and ended up finishing T3 in the event, which was his best ever finish at The Masters. For the week, the Englishman ranked 8th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, 10th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking and 16th in Strokes Gained: Putting.

Harbour Town is a perfect layout for Fleetwood, and he’s had relative success at this Pete Dye design in the past. In his four trips to the course, he’s finished inside of the top 25 three times, with his best finish, T10, coming in 2022. The course is pretty short and can’t be overpowered, which gives an advantage to more accurate players such as Fleetwood. Tommy ranks 8th in the field in Good Drive % and should be able to plot his way along this golf course.

The win is coming for Tommy lad. I believe there’s a chance this treasure of a golf course may be the perfect one for him to finally break through on Tour.

Cameron Young +3300 (FanDuel)

Cameron Young had a solid Masters Tournament last week, which is exactly what I’m looking for in players who I anticipate playing well this week at the RBC Heritage. He finished in a tie for 9th, but never felt the pressure of contending in the event. For the week, Young ranked 6th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 6th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking.

Despite being one of the longest players off the tee on the PGA Tour, Young has actually played some really good golf on shorter tracks. He finished T3 at Harbour Town in 2023 and ranks 20th in the field in Good Drive% and 16th in Greens in Regulation in his past 24 rounds. He also has strong finishes at other shorter courses that can take driver out of a players hand such as Copperhead and PGA National.

Young is simply one of the best players on the PGA Tour in 2024, and I strongly believe has what it takes to win a PGA Tour event in the very near future.

Corey Conners +5500 (FanDuel)

Corey Conners has had a disappointing year thus far on the PGA Tour, but absolutely loves Harbour Town.

At last week’s Masters Tournament, the Canadian finished T30 but ranked 20th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach. In his past 24 rounds, Conners ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, 3rd in Greens in Regulation % and 24th in Good Drive %.

In Conners’ last four trips to Harbour Town, his worst finish was T31, last season. He finished T4 in 2021, T12 in 2022 and ranks 8th in Strokes Gained: Total at the course over his past 36 rounds.

Conners hasn’t been contending, but his recent finishes have been encouraging as he has finished in the top-25 in each of his past three starts prior to The Masters, including an impressive T13 at The PLAYERS. His recent improvement in ball striking as well as his suitability for Harbour Town makes Conners a high upside bet this week.

Shane Lowry (+7500) (FanDuel)

When these odds were posted after Lowry was announced in the field, I have to admit I was pretty stunned. Despite not offering much win equity on the PGA Tour over the last handful of years, Shane Lowry is still a top caliber player who has the ability to rise to the top of a signature event.

Lowry struggled to score at The Masters last week, but he actually hit the ball really well. The Irishman ranked 1st for Strokes Gained: Approach on the week and 7th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. As usual, it was the putter that let him down, as he ranked 60th in the field in Strokes Gained: Putting.

Harbour Town is most definitely one of Lowry’s favorite courses on the PGA Tour. In his six starts there, he’s finished in the top 10 three times, including third twice. Lowry is sensational at Pete Dye designs and ranks 7th in Strokes Gained: Total in his past 36 rounds on Dye tracks.

Lowry is perfect for Harbour Town. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 5th in Strokes Gained: Approach, 2nd in Good Drive% and 5th in Green in Regulation %. If he figures it out on the greens, Shane could have his first win in America since 2015.

Lucas Glover +12000 (FanDuel)

This is one of my weekly “bet the number” plays as I strongly believe the odds are just too long for a player of Glover’s caliber. The odds have been too long on Glover for a few weeks now, but this is the first event that I can get behind the veteran being able to actually contend at.

Glover is quietly playing good golf and returning to the form he had after the understandable regression after his two massive victories at the end of 2023. He finished T20 at The Masters, which was his best ever finish at Augusta National. For the week, Lucas ranked 18th for Strokes Gained: Approach and 20th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking.

Over his past 24 rounds, Glover ranks 9th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 13th in Good Drive %. Harbour Town is a short course that the 44-year-old will be able to keep up with the top players on Tour off the tee. He’s played the course more than 20 times, with mixed results. His best finishes at Harbour Town include a T7 in 2008, but recently has a finish of T21 in 2020.

Glover has proven he can contend with the stars of the Tour on any given week, and this number is flat out disrespectful.

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19th Hole

Vincenzi: The 6 biggest takeaways from the 2024 Masters

Published

1 day ago

Apr 15, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

The 2024 Masters offered up plenty of excitement throughout the week with Scottie Scheffler delivering when it mattered to live up to his pre-tournament favorite tag. With the year’s opening major now in the books, here are my six biggest takeaways from the 2024 Masters.

Scheffler In a League of His Own

In the most impressive way possible, Scottie Scheffler won the Masters without having his absolute best stuff. For the week, Scottie ranked 19th in Strokes Gained: Approach, which is a category the number player in the world typically dusts the rest of the field in. After a strong approach day on Thursday, the 27-year-old lost strokes to the field on approach on Friday and Saturday, before gaining on Sunday. The iron performance was more than solid, but it was an all-around game that helped Scheffler get it done around Augusta National.

For a year or more, the narrative around Scheffler has been, “With his ball striking, if he can just putt to field average, he’ll be unbeatable.” At Augusta, his ball striking came back down to earth, but his touch around the greens and ability to manage the golf course demonstrated why he is the best player on the planet right now. For the week, Scheffler ranked 1st in the field in Strokes Gained: Around the Green and 24th in Strokes Gained: Putting.

For the time being, there is a major gap between Scottie Scheffler and the second-best player in the world, whoever that may be.

The Future is Now

Ludvig Aberg went into his first back-nine at the Masters with a legitimate shot to win the tournament. When he teed it up on the treacherous 11th hole, he was one behind Scottie Scheffler, who had just stuck one to a few feet on the 9th. By the time he approached his tee shot, which was perfectly striped down the left side of the fairway, he was two behind. Unfortunately, the 24-year-old got too aggressive with his approach at the 11th and found the water, making double bogey. Ludvig rebounded nicely and finished the event in solo second place.

With the Masters now in the rearview, it’s never been more evident that Ludvig Aberg is no longer an “up-and-comer” — he has arrived. The Swede has been an integral part of a winning European Ryder Cup team and has now contended at Augusta National. With a calm demeanor, a picture-perfect swing, and a build and stature that appears as if it was built in a lab, Ludvig Aberg is already amongst the world’s best. I’d be extremely surprised if he wasn’t in the mix at next month’s PGA Championship at Valhalla.

Nostalgia Wins

I try to avoid as many cliches as possible, but there’s something about the Masters that brings out the sentimentality in me. Tiger Woods strategically making his way around Augusta National without all of the physical tools that made him arguably the most dominant athlete in the history of sports will always be riveting, regardless of what score he shoots. Woods made it interesting until a tough stretch of holes on Saturday, but he ultimately wore down, shooting 16 over for the week in difficult conditions. It’s remarkable that the 15-time major champion was able to put together a few solid rounds of golf despite barely playing any competitive golf in 2024. As long as Woods tees it up at Augusta, we will all continue to be mesmerized by it.

Verne Lundquist’s 40th and final Masters Tournament was also a must-watch aspect of the event. The iconic voice of Lundquist and his calls throughout the years still give me chills each time I hear them. Verne is an icon of the game and will be missed in future renditions of the Masters.

The Masters also brings another element that is unique to the tournament. Former champions turn back the clock to battle with the golf course again which creates some amazing stories. There are a few that stick out this year and were an absolute pleasure to witness. 61-year-old Vijay Singh made the cut for the first time since 2018 and shot a pretty incredible even-par, 72 on Sunday. 58-year-old José María Olazábal made the cut as well, reminding us why fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm sought his valuable advice prior to his Masters victory in 2022.

Regardless of who wins, the Masters always delivers.

Bryson Moves the Needle

Plenty will disagree with me on this point, but outside of Tiger Woods, and potentially Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, no one moves the needle in golf as much as Bryson DeChambeau. The uniqueness in which Bryson approaches the game has always been fascinating, and if he gets near the top of the leaderboard at any major championship, whether it’s to root for him or against him, people are interested.

It began on Monday with a pretty bizarre story of DeChambeau using 3D-printed irons that got just got cleared for use by the USGA when the week began. It once again felt like a storyline that would only be possible with a character as eccentric as Bryson. He then raced off to a first-round lead in tough conditions, reminding the world of what made him such a great golfer to begin with. He made some mistakes on the weekend, but still finished a career best T6 at The Masters.

Bryson is more than just quirky; he is a former U.S. Amateur Champion and U.S. Open who I believe will contend for more majors in the future. I will continue to root for DeChambeau, but I’m perfectly content with the fact that plenty will root against him, and I encourage those people to do so. That’s what makes it fun.

LIV Walks Away Empty-Handed

Last year, there were a multitude of questions about LIV players coming into the year’s first major. They had played very limited tournament golf, and critics of LIV questioned whether the 54-hole events were enough to sharpen the players enough to compete against the best in the world on the biggest stage.

The results were fascinating, with LIV players all over the leaderboard. Brooks Koepka held the 36- and 54-hole lead, with Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed finishing T2 and T4, giving LIV three golfers in the top-4 of the leaderboard.

This season, with even more time removed and with some more massive additions to the roster, the intrigue surrounding LIV players at Augusta was once again palpable. While some players, including Bryson DeChambeau, exceeded expectations, I can’t help but walk away from the Masters feeling underwhelmed by the performance of the LIV players.

Brooks Koepka finished runner-up last season and is a certified major championship killer. The 5-time major champ was never involved and simply didn’t have it at Augusta. Dustin Johnson put together a putrid performance, shooting 13 over for his two rounds, making it fair to wonder if his days of contending at major championships are over as he rapidly approaches his 40th birthday.

Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann were both players who were amongst the favorites this week, but Rahm was faced with the daunting duties of defending champion and Niemann proved he was still not quite ready to master the quirks of Augusta National, bleeding strokes both around and on the greens.

To be fair, when all was said and done, LIV had four players in the top twelve at The Masters. Tyrrell Hatton stormed the leaderboard early on Sunday, finishing T9 and earning himself an invite back to Augusta next season. Cam Smith and Patrick Reed put together gritty performances, which isn’t too surprising considering the fact that they both absolutely love Augusta National, but neither ever felt a real threat to win. There’s no doubt the players on LIV are good, and that’s why some encouraging leaderboard positions aren’t enough. They needed to contend.

With no players part of the storyline on Sunday, I view the first major of the year as a disappointment for LIV. The players will head into next month’s PGA Championship at Valhalla with a lot to prove.

Rory’s Struggles Continues

Rory struggling at Augusta National is no surprise at this point. The four-time major champion has now had 10 attempts to complete the career grand slam and has never had a chance to win. His T2 in 2022 was deceiving, the Northern Irishman stormed the leaderboard on Sunday, but was never in contention, and never got within three shots of the winner, Scottie Scheffler.

I didn’t expect Rory to win, but I have to admit that this year felt a bit different. McIlroy played the week prior to the Masters, which he typically doesn’t do, and finished third at the Valero Texas Open. He gained 7.56 strokes on approach and 2.0 strokes off the tee, which told me that his visit with world-renowned swing coach, Butch Harmon, after the Players Championship paid dividends.

McIlroy also approached the media quite differently. He cut his pre-tournament press conference short after only 10 minutes and seemed to be laser-focused on just playing golf.

Despite the different approach to the Masters, the results were the same. McIlroy struggled over the course of the week, finishing T22 (+4) and never sniffed a decent weekend position on the leaderboard. It’s back to the drawing board for McIlroy, and I have doubts that he will ever figure it out at Augusta.

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19th Hole

Vincenzi: The 8 best prop bets for the 2024 Masters

Published

1 week ago

Apr 9, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

We’ve finally reached The Masters and excitement is at an all-time high. The world of golf has been fractured for the better part of two years, but for a week at Augusta National, all of the outside noise will disappear. All of the best players in the world will be together seeking to make history.

RELATED: Vincenzi’s 2024 Masters betting preview: Niemann to play star role at Augusta National

In addition to betting on The Masters champion. This is one of the few weeks of the year where there are so many more markets to explore, with value to be had in plenty of different categories.

Throughout this article, I’ll discuss all of my favorite props and players for the 2024 Masters.

Placement Bets:

Tony Finau Top 5 +750 (DraftKings):

I badly wanted to include Tony Finau in my outright betting selections, but I simply ran out of room on my card. Additionally, it’s slightly difficult to see him hitting the putts necessary to win the Masters on back nine on Sunday. However, I do strongly believe he will play great golf this week at Augusta National.

In his past 24 rounds, Finau ranks 4th in Strokes Gained: Approach is always amongst the best drivers of the golf ball in the game. Back in 2019, Finau had a great chance to win The Masters. I expect him to be hanging around over the weekend once again in 2024.

Gary Woodland Top 20 +550 (DraftKings), Gary Woodland to make the cut -110 (DraftKings):

Last season, Gary Woodland had his best ever finish at The Masters in his eleven tries. The 39-year-old finished T14 and played incredibly steady across all four rounds.

In Woodland’s most recent start at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, he struck the ball incredibly well. He led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach (+8.8) and Strokes Gained: Ball Striking (+10.0).

Gary has been working with Butch Harmon and absolutely flushing the ball both in tournaments and during practice.

Woodland appears to be healthy once again and in a great place physically and mentally. If he can build off his impressive performance at Augusta last year, he can place inside the top ten in 2024.

Additionally, the make the cut number on Woodland seems generous considering the number of players who miss the cut will be relatively small this week. Woodland is striking it well enough to make the cut even if he’s hindered by a balky putter once again.

Thorbjorn Olesen Top 20 +400 (FanDuel):

The Thunder Bear, Thorbjorn Olesen, made his Masters debut in 2013 and finished an incredibly impressive T6 for the week. In the two additional starts he’s made at Augusta National since then, the Dane has continued to be incredibly solid, finishing T44 and T21.

This week, Olesen heads into the week playing some good golf. He gained 3.8 strokes on approach and 5.52 strokes around the green at last week’s Valero Texas Open on his way to a strong T14 finish. Back in January, he won the Ras Al Khaimah Championship on the DP World Tour.

Olesen has the skill set to be successful at Augusta and seems primed for a good performance this week.

Top Nationalities:

Sergio Garcia Top Spanish Player +280 (DraftKings):

I believe Sergio Garcia can get into contention this week with the way he’s striking the ball in addition to his good vibes with a refurbished version of the Scotty Cameron that he used at the 1999 PGA Championship at Medinah.

I am slightly concerned about the emotional letdown he may face after losing in a playoff at LIV Miami, but I believe a veteran and former Masters champion should be able to regroup and focus on an event far more meaningful.

This is essentially a tournament head-to-head with Jon Rahm at +280. While Rahm deserves to be respected this week, the history of the lack of success of defending champions at The Masters is difficult to ignore.

Joaquin Niemann Top South American Player -230 (FanDuel):

While I hate paying this much juice, I don’t see a world in which Joaquin Niemann isn’t the top South American this week at The Masters. Joaco comes in playing better golf than anyone in the world not named Scottie Scheffler and has a serious chance to win the green jacket.

He only needs to beat two players: Emiliano Grillo and Camilo Villegas.

Tournament Head-to-Heads:

Justin Thomas -110 over Collin Morikawa

JT isn’t having his best season but is playing a lot better than he is getting credit for at the moment. In the past three months, there are only six players on the PGA Tour who have averaged 1.7 Strokes Gained: Tee to Green or better. Justin Thomas (+1.7) is one of the six and is currently tied with Rory McIlroy (+1.7).

Morikawa, on the other hand, has been extremely poor with his irons, which is incredibly uncharacteristic for him. I can’t help but feel like something is completely off with the two-time major champion.

Tony Finau -110 over Wyndham Clark

I explained in the placement section why I’m so high on Tony Finau this week. With how well he’s striking the ball, it seems as if his floor is extremely high. I’m not sure if he can make the putts to win a green jacket but I believe he will be in the mix similarly to 2019 when Tiger Woods emerged from a crowded pack of contenders.

Clark is a debutant, and while some debutants have had success at The Masters, it certainly poses a challenge. I also don’t believe Augusta National suits Clark as well as some of the other major championship venues.

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