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FTF: A lawyer’s hot take on the Dustin Johnson ruling and Machine putters galore

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The GolfWRX forums exist so golfers have access to the latest equipment releases, hottest discussions, real equipment reviews, best instruction, new technologies and everything golf you can imagine.

So if you love golf, the GolfWRX forums are your sanctuary.

In the From the Forums weekly feature, we bring you the hottest, most buzz-worthy topics from our forums for your convenience. I’ll be your trusty tour guide to navigate the latest buzz.

Here’s a peek behind the curtain into golf’s sanctuary.

Is PXG “bad for golf”?

PXG_0811X_Feat

User Shipwreck raises an interesting question: In an environment of “grow the game” initiatives and a fixation on making the game more accessible, PXG has entered the marketplace with an ultra-high-end club offering.

Shipwreck writes: “Parsons even said it himself that he wants to be the Ferrari of golf. Now I am not saying there is anything bad about this, he is a successful capitalist and the beauty of capitalism is that you can charge what you want and the market will decide.”

So, is the “Ferrari of golf” good, bad, or neutral for the game? Good arguments in this thread for the different readings.

Check it out.

Machine Putters love

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219 pages and going strong! The pictures in this thread of some of Dave Billings’ incredible putter work are worth much more than any words dedicated to describing them. WRXers share their Machine M1s, M10s and more in this buffet of beautiful flatstick imagery. (titleistgolf_nirvana’s putter in the featured image)

See the putters.

Olympic golf discussion

rory-mcilroy-AP

Ahh. Golf in the Olympics. Are you sick of hearing about Zika and the other elements of this dumpster fire yet? Considering the competition is yet to begin and more player withdrawals are imminent (Jordan Spieth just said he’s on the fence), you need a refuge of sanity amid an increasingly nutty situation.

With this in mind, bookmark the official GolfWRX Olympic golf discussion thread.

Who wins first: Rahm or DeChambeau?

dechambeau

Great talk here following Jon Rahm’s impressive showing at the Quicken Loans National and Bryson DeChambeau’s series of strong performances on tour this season: Which of these two big-time rookies wins first?

Join the discussion.

A lawyer’s take on the USGA’s Dustin Johnson ruling

Dustin_Johnson_US_Open_Penalty

Applying the USGA’s “weight of evidence” standard, OTE200 presents three exhibits to find Dustin Johnson not guilty of any infraction at Oakmont. Even if you’re sick to death of the U.S. Open-marring rules fiasco, you have to read OTE’s take.

See the thread.

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8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. Christosterone

    Jul 2, 2016 at 9:29 am

    I can afford either and if I wanted a sports car I would buy a 2016 corvette hardtop….that is the most beautiful car on earth and 5X cheaper than a Ferrari…

    As it is, I prefer the mom-car Lexus line of SUVs with air conditioned seats!!!

    -Christosterone

    • 300 Yard Pro

      Jul 21, 2016 at 12:39 pm

      Corvettes are for old divorced dudes who think they are still 18.

  2. don d.

    Jul 2, 2016 at 1:39 am

    PXG’s too expensive for me. But so is a Ferrari. The latest and greatest. I was going through a deceased golfers garage recently and found a set Hogan Directors. circa? God they were fun to hit. E thru 2 iron. I have yet to buy a golf game and have tried for 40 yrs. Do you really want to get better? Learn how to play hickory.

  3. M Smizzy

    Jul 1, 2016 at 5:46 pm

    usga got it right leave it alone

  4. pL

    Jul 1, 2016 at 11:41 am

    If PXG wants to be the Ferrari of golf, why did they make the clubs so ugly and feel like crap? We already have Ferrari of golf clubs in limited edition high-end Japanese clubs. We don’t need PXG

  5. Pete Petersson

    Jul 1, 2016 at 11:19 am

    How much did Dave pay to get his Machine thread a plug? That thread has been dying for months and is only full of retracted messages of customers chasing an update on their putters as no one responds to any emails or answers the phones. Not surprising when it takes months past agreed project delivery to get anything.

    • Dave Billings

      Jul 3, 2016 at 7:28 pm

      Pete Petersson,

      Thanks for taking time to post about my company and our picture thread here. However, I really wish you were more accurate and fair in your criticism. I don’t think you’ve ever ordered from us, so I’m not sure why you feel the need to disparage our business.

      IN any event, I’d like to set the record straight for all our other customers, collectors and our staff.

      First, I didn’t pay a single penny for the article, didn’t ask for it or have anything to do with it. We’ve been very fortunate that so many people have enjoyed our main picture thread here, including writers here and other sites and magazines, etc. Personally I think Golfwrx writers are some of the very best in the business, and their journalistic professionalism is beyond reproach. I think you owe Ben an apology for that insinuation at the very least.

      Regarding recent posts in the picture thread: Have some customers posted asking about updates on their orders? Yes. The last one had an update waiting in his email inbox from the day before. He realized his error and deleted his post. So you know, I’ve never redacted any post in our picture thread, and never asked any mods to either. I think it stands as a great record of our work, and I’m very happy to let it stand on it’s own merits.

      I’m also proud of how hard we work to make sure each and every customer is totally happy with their purchases. Often the custom work we do takes additional time, especially when their are change-orders in the middle of the process. The last order referenced about changed his neck three times. Those changes take time, especially when we have to mill something from scratch mid-stream, and with all the detailed back and forth, updates, etc,.

      You say no one responds to emails or answers the phones. I have thousands of customers who know that’s absolutely not true. Chris has also recently rejoined us after taking time off for a move and to spend time with his family and newborn son. So our capacity for customer service has improved again dramatically, as Chris is one of the best in the business, and we’re thrilled to have him back.

      We’re currently going through a reorganization so we can best move the business forward and handle the demand we’ve been so fortunate to receive, even through a very challenging golf marketplace.

      As part of our new operating plans, we elected to slow down the development of new models and also the photos and posts of orders going out to customers. We’ve elected to do this out of respect for the customers waiting so patiently, and also as it just created more demand, more backlog and longer delivery times.

      However, we are working very hard and now very close to catching up to our estimated production times, and we will be catching up on posts in the picture thread when we do. I think customers and fans will appreciate the work we’ve done the past six months in particular, and see some really cool work.

      So thanks to the 99% of our customers and fans here that have been so supportive and helpful. To the naysayers and critics, I hope you can find something that makes you happy and spend your time and efforts focused on whatever that is.

      Sincerely,

      -Dave Billings

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News

Morning 9: 58 on the Korn Ferry Tour | Rory on possible return to policy board

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Friday morning, golf fans, may a bountiful weekend of golf be in store for you!

1. 58 on the Korn Ferry Tour

KFT staff report…”Frankie Capan III went crazy low Thursday on the Korn Ferry Tour. Nearly in record fashion.”

  • “Capan carded 13-under 58 in the opening round of the Veritex Bank Championship, matching the second lowest score in Korn Ferry Tour history. He fell one shy of Cristobal Del Solar’s record 57, set at the Astara Golf Championship presented by Mastercard earlier this year, but it was a heck of a show nonetheless.”
  • “The Minnesota native played an eight-hole stretch in 9-under Thursday, following an eagle at the par-5 ninth with seven straight birdies to begin the back nine at par-71 Texas Rangers Golf Club. He “cooled off” with a two-putt par at the long par-4 17th hole. He arrived at the par-5 18th hole at 13 under for the round, but he found a fairway bunker off the tee, laid up to 134 yards and missed his third shot left of the green. He chipped to 7 feet and drained the par putt to match the Korn Ferry Tour’s second-lowest score of 58, carded by Stephan Jaeger in the opening round of the 2016 Ellie Mae Classic at TPC Stonebrae.”
Full piece.

2. Team McIlowery starts strong

Paul Hodowanic for PGATour.com…”Late Thursday afternoon in New Orleans, Rory McIlroy rested his head on Shane Lowry’s shoulder.”

  • “It wasn’t the typical post-round moment, but this isn’t the typical event. McIlroy and Lowry teamed up for this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the PGA TOUR’s lone team event, and the all-Irish duo put on a show. Sporting matching pink-on-navy getups, McIlroy/Lowry opened in a best-ball 11-under 61 in Thursday’s Four-ball format at TPC Louisiana.”
  • “This partnership might have stemmed from a boozy brunch last fall, but their opening-round performance at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans gave the field a sobering reminder: They’ll be tough to top.”
Full piece.

3. LPGA Tour: Grace Kim in front

AP report…”Grace Kim shot a 7-under 64 at Wilshire Country Club to take the first-round lead Thursday in the LPGA Tour’s JM Eagle LA Championship.”

  • “Playing in the morning session, the 23-year-old Australian capped her bogey-free round with a chip-in birdie on the par-3 18th.”
  • “Well, I chunked my tee shot on the last hole 20 meters short and then I chipped it in it,” Kim said. “I think that’s pretty cool, in front of everyone
Full piece.

4. McIlroy on rejoining policy board

Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner…”Rory McIlroy said Wednesday that he is willing to rejoin the PGA Tour policy board if the other player directors want him.”

  • “As first reported by the Guardian, Webb Simpson has submitted a letter stating that he’d like to resign from the board, but only if his vacant seat is filled by McIlroy, who stepped down last fall because of the toll it had taken on him professionally and personally.”
  • “Five months later, what has changed?”
  • “I think I can be helpful,” McIlroy said Wednesday ahead of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where he is partnering with Shane Lowry. “I don’t think there’s been much progress made in the last eight months, and I was hopeful that there would be. I think I could be helpful to the process. But only if people want me involved, I guess.”
Full piece.

5. Charlie Woods shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier

Golfweek’s Cameron Jourdan…”Charlie Woods is going to have to wait to play in the U.S. Open.”

“The 15-year-old son of Tiger Woods played Thursday in local qualifying for the United States Golf Association’s national championship, set for June 13-16 at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. Charlie played at The Legacy Golf & Tennis Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and he shot 9-over 81.”

“Charlie’s round featured a bogey on his opening hole, the par-4 first. He then doubled the par-5 second. A pair of pars followed before his lone birdie on the front, but another double the next hole, the par-4 sixth, had him turn in 4-over 40.”

Full piece.

6. Photos from the Zurich Classic

GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.

Check out all our photos at the link below!

Full piece.
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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans

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GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.

As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.

Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying about our photos from the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in the forums.

 

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Morning 9: Tiger’s TGL teammates | Woosnam’s criticism of Cantlay | Rory’s return to tour policy board

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Tuesday morning, golf fans, as the PGA Tour heads to New Orleans for the Zurich Classic.

1. 15-year-old finishes top 20 on KFT

Jay Coffin for Golf Digest…”During a week when most eyes were on Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda, the 15-year-old lefty finished off an incredible week with a five-under 66 in the final round of the Korn Ferry Tour’s LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood Ranch in Florida.”

  • “After opening with 68-66-70, Russell finished at 14-under-par total to tie for 20th place. The finish in which he jumped 28 positions on the leaderboard on the final day, gives him an exemption into next week’s Veritex Bank Championship at Rangers Park in Arlington, Texas. He’s the youngest player to finish inside the top 20 on the PGA of Korn Ferry tours, according to records that go back to 1983.”
Full piece.

2. Understandably, Nelly WDs

Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner…”Nelly Korda’s bid for a record-setting sixth consecutive win will have to wait a few weeks.”

  • “A day after capturing the Chevron Championship during a marathon final round in Houston, Korda announced on social media that she was withdrawing from this week’s JM Eagle LA Championship.”
  • “It was not an easy decision,” she wrote. “After the unbelievable week at the Chevron and grinding through the mental and physical challenges of four events in the past five weeks, I am definitely feeling exhausted. With so much still to come throughout 2024, I feel I need to listen to my body and get some rest, so I can be ready for the remainder of the season.”
Full piece.

3. Scheffler’s impressive No. 1 feat

Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…”After Scheffler’s victory Monday morning at the RBC Heritage, Scheffler upped his points average to 15.016 and increased his advantage in the Official World Golf Ranking over No. 2 Rory McIlroy to more than double McIlroy’s 7.365 average, meaning Scheffler is ranked further ahead of No. 2 than No. 2 is ahead of the last-ranked player.”

  • “The last time a No. 1 player had a greater points average was Woods, who was at 15.4564 on Dec. 6, 2009. But Woods was less than seven average points ahead of No. 2 Phil Mickelson at the time. Earlier that year, Woods was 7.735 ahead of Mickelson, which is the last time the gap between Nos. 1 and 2 was greater than Scheffler’s current 7.651 advantage.”
Full piece.

4. Zurich field notes

PGATour.com’s Adam Stanley…”Rory McIlroy will make his tournament debut alongside good pal, Ryder Cup teammate, and Irishman Shane Lowry – a duo that was firmed up during a celebratory lunch after the Ryder Cup last fall… Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele will try to reprise their 2022 win here. Cantlay and Schauffele have both the Foursomes and Four-ball scoring records at this event… Davis Riley and Nick Hardy will defend their 2023 title. No team has gone back-to-back… Three sets of brothers (and two sets of twins!) will play together with twins Rasmus and Nicolai Højgaard and Parker and Pierceson Coody in the field along with Alex and Matt Fitzpatrick. Alex Fitzpatrick and Rasmus Højgaard are sponsor invites…”

  • “Billy Horschel, who won last week at the Corales Puntacana Championship, will be without his previous partner Sam Burns, as Burns and his wife are expecting their first child any day. Horschel will instead be paired with fellow University of Florida alum Tyson Alexander. Horschel has won the Zurich Classic when it was both an individual and team event… Other notable pairings include Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, Sahith Theegala and Will Zalatoris, and Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin. The Canadian duo finished runner-up a year ago and would like nothing more than to show Presidents Cup International Team captain Mike Weir how well they play together… Steve Stricker will play his second TOUR event this season (after earning his way into THE PLAYERS Championship), teaming up with Matt Kuchar.”
Full piece.

5. Tiger’s teammates

Field Level Media report…”Tiger Woods announced Monday that Max Homa, Tom Kim and Kevin Kisner have joined his Jupiter Links GC TGL team.”

  • “The virtual golf league headed by Woods and Rory McIlroy will begin its inaugural season next January. Woods also unveiled the team’s logo.”
  • “I have already shared my excitement and optimism for TGL as a league and product,” said Woods. “Now that we have finalized our roster with a team of world-class golfers, I am even more confident that this group will proudly represent the Jupiter (Fla.) area and connect with our fans for years to come.”
Full piece.

6. Woosnam questions Cantlay’s decision

Our Matt Vincenzi…”After the horn sounded to suspend play due to darkness, Cantlay, who’s ball was in the fairway on the 18th hole, had a decision to make. With over 200 yards into the green and extreme winds working against the shot, conventional wisdom would be to wait until Monday morning to hit the shot.”

  • “On the other hand, if he could finish the hole, he may just want to get the event over with so he could get out of Hilton Head.”
  • “Curiously, Cantlay chose neither of those options. After hitting 3-wood into the green, and still coming up short, the former FedEx Cup champion chose to mark his ball and chip and putt on Monday morning.”
  • “Ian Woosnam, who was watching from home, took to X to give his thoughts on Cantlay’s decision making.”
  • “Cantlay would end up getting up and down for par when play resumed at 8:00 am Monday morning.”
Full piece.

7. JT on Scheffler’s “weird” equipment choice

Our Matt Vincenzi…”After Justin Thomas’ third round of the RBC Heritage, the two-time major champion went in the broadcast booth alongside the CBS crew.”

  • “While Thomas was watching Scottie Scheffler play on the back nine of his third round, he wondered aloud why Scottie uses high-numbered golf balls.”
  • “Does anybody else think it’s weird that Scottie uses high numbers? I don’t know if I’ve ever seen an elite player use high-numbered golf balls.”
  • “Amanda Balionis who was on the grounds chimed in, reporting that analyst Dottie Pepper had wondered the same thing earlier that day.”
  • “I’ve been going about this wrong my whole life,” Thomas jokingly said.
Full piece.

8. Rory to rejoin PGA Tour policy board

Mark Schlabach for ESPN…”Four-time major championship winner Rory McIlroy is poised to return to the PGA Tour’s policy board, pending a vote by the board, which could come as early as this week, sources confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.”

  • “One of the PGA Tour’s most vocal supporters during its three-year battle with LIV Golf, McIlroy abruptly resigned as a player director on the tour’s influential policy board in November.”
  • “He is expected to replace policy board player director Webb Simpson, who intends to step away before his two-year term expires in 2025.”
Full piece.

9. Weir names Presidents Cup assistants

PGA Tour report…”International Team Captain Mike Weir announced Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman, Geoff Ogilvy and Camilo Villegas as captain’s assistants for the 2024 Presidents Cup, which will be played at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Canada, Sept. 24-29.

Full piece.
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