Tour News
The European Tour’s bold bid to attract young golfers
The European Tour is discussing a six-hole format with time limits for shots, music, and alternatives clothing to traditional golf apparel for young golfers, per Chris Cutmore of Mail Online.
European Tour chief Keith Pelley was inspired by Twenty20, which has created a variety of cricket that’s more catered to millennial mindset. While details are limited at this point, the European Tour is discussing the prospect of an international match play competition, which they will “experiment” with in 2017 and potentially introduce in 2018.
“You could see England playing Scotland in a six-hole matchplay,” Pelley told BBC Radio’s Adam Parsons.
Listen to Pelley’s full interview with BBC Radio here.
The National Golf Foundation found earlier this year that participation among golfers who played at least once during the calendar year hovered around 25 million again at 24.1 million golfers. In 2014 that number was 24.7 million. Of course, these figures mark a steep decline from the Tiger Woods-era peak in 2005 of 30 million, but the figures are consistent with the pre-Tiger Woods participation figure: 24.7 million in 1995. (All with a margin of error of plus-or-minus 875,000 golfers).
Encouragingly, the NGF found beginners numbered 2.2 million in 2015, which is close to the all-time high of 2.4 million in 2000. New efforts and creative thinking could bolster future growth and offer alternatives to traditional match and medal-play formats.
What do you think? Is thinking like Pelley’s what the game needs?
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
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
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Valero Texas Open
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Valero Texas Open.
The event has been around since 1922, making it one of the oldest on the PGA Tour calendar. Over the years, it’s been held at a variety of courses across the Lone Star State, but it’s found its home at TPC San Antonio in recent years. Some of the biggest names in golf have taken home the title here, including Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino, and Ben Crenshaw.
GolfWRX has its usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs and special pull-out albums. As always, we’ll continue to update the links below as more photos come in from TPC San Antonio.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Ben Taylor – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Paul Barjon – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Joe Sullivan – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Wilson Furr – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Willman – SoTex PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Jimmy Stanger – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Rickie Fowler – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Harrison Endycott – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Vince Whaley – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Kevin Chappell – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Christian Bezuidenhout – WITB (mini) – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Scott Gutschewski – WITB – 2024 Valero Texas Open
Pullout Albums
- Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Ben Taylor with new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Swag cover – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Greyson Sigg’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Davis Riley’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Josh Teater’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hzrdus T1100 is back – – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Mark Hubbard testing ported Titleist irons – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Tyson Alexander testing new Titleist TRS 2 wood – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Hideki Matsuyama’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Valero Texas Open
- Cobra putters – 2024 Valero Texas Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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JThunder
Jul 27, 2016 at 4:25 am
Bold bid? Sounds like typical corporate mindset. Want to do something bold? Shift some of the multimillions of dollars that go to corporate sponsors and a few elite players and get that money into jobs and careers. Want to know why Millennials aren’t playing golf? They don’t have time and they don’t have money. Most are working two jobs just to make ends meet, and even then, barely.
The secondary issue is that the tech companies push the whole population – from grade school kids to senior citizens – to spend all their time online; Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, sports, news, almost everything possible. This is tearing great holes in the economy – except for the tech companies, ISPs, and hosts – but few “content providers” make any money at all, and much of the marketing is skipped or ignored.
Matt Mitchell
Jul 25, 2016 at 7:40 pm
Does anyone even care about golf in Europe
Seems like to me, they are busy bowing down to Russia
Leon
Jul 25, 2016 at 3:48 pm
Not a big fan of this proposal. I understood he is trying to bring more people, especially young people, to the game. But this is no necessary to make the golf game to a hippie style, just like playing soccer on a golf course, make the hole larger, more music on course, and other BS.
Golf is not a game for everyone, whether young guys like to spend 4 hours on course, or the same amount of time on social media or Pokeman GO, that is their choice. The only thing need to change is the slow play, longer product release cycle, and the media coverage.
CD
Jul 25, 2016 at 6:35 am
It’s not just ‘millenials’ some abstract term that has blurred lines, people in the UK from all ages watch T20. It’s even reinvigorated Test cricket.
ffs
Jul 25, 2016 at 3:40 am
No need for that silliness. What people need to see on TV are the big Amateur Tournaments from around the world in which the young kids and college kids participate, so that the next generations can relate. That’ll be enough to open some eyes and fuel more interest, but the coverage on TV has to be steady and informative, and constantly being talked about in all sports news outlets. And it has to be global, so that the competition gets fierce and strong.
RAT
Jul 24, 2016 at 9:31 pm
I think the coverage is too much of the same old same old guys. I believe there is just as much interest in not as well known players .I change the channel where it’s the same bunch of guys that I’m not interested in that much, one can only handle so much Phil, Rory and etc. I like to hear more about the character type guy like “BEEF” ,that’s what I like about the European tour they show a lot of different players and the stories . PGA is too “stiff neck”.
Billy
Jul 25, 2016 at 4:03 am
I fully agree!
Dirt
Jul 25, 2016 at 9:11 am
You are totally right.
Bladehunter
Jul 24, 2016 at 8:20 pm
And the last nail is being driven into the games coffin .
Adam Cook
Jul 25, 2016 at 8:59 am
Cool, let’s all just watch 72 hole strokeplay events all year….
Good on Keith Pelley for challenging the norm. A short-form, matchplay, T20 style competition would be brilliant
SirBigSpur
Jul 25, 2016 at 12:13 pm
Agreed. And the thing is, stroke play isn’t going anywhere. If you want to watch only that, you’ll be able to do so till your heart’s content. This gives us more format options and that’s a good thing. I mean, how awesome was the college national championship match b/w Oregon and Texas??! I had no idea I liked college golf until watching that and now it’ll be appointment viewing for me going forward.
Chopper
Jul 25, 2016 at 1:50 pm
Yes, Oregon/Texas was great, but it wasn’t even the best college championship that week. The UW/Stanford match was off the hook.