19th Hole

Graeme McDowell thanks social media for getting his golf clubs back

Published

6 years ago

Jul 4, 2018

Graeme McDowell’s golf clubs were lost in transit from Paris to Manchester Sunday. Air France’s snafu left McDowell sans sticks as he was slated to tee it up in the Open Championship qualifier, Tuesday.

Ultimately, he withdrew, explaining he wouldn’t be able to cobble a set together from the tour trucks.

“My equipment is kind of old generation stuff,” he told the Belfast Telegraph. “My irons are three years old. My driver is a couple years old. I really don’t play with a lot of up-to-date equipment, so a lot of the stuff would have been very difficult to replace. The irons I use, Srixon won’t carry those on the truck anymore. The wedges I use, Cleveland, they won’t be on the truck anymore. The putter is 15 years old.

Now, McDowell must finish in the top 10 at this week’s Irish Open or next week’s Scottish Open to have a shot at making the Open field.

Fortunately, his weapons have been returned to him, and he credits the roles social media played in the return.

“I spent most of Monday on the phone to customer service at Air France which was frustrating to say the least,” he told the Belfast Telegraph.

“We established that the clubs were in Paris but not when they would get to me. It was basically ‘get in the queue, you’re one of many that have lost a bag and you’ll wait your turn.’

“On Monday night, I still didn’t know where my clubs were. It wasn’t until around 10.3am on Tuesday morning that I talked to somebody sensible at Air France who could tell me they would put the clubs on a flight for me.

“Thankfully the story had a happy ending. They landed at Dublin on Tuesday night at 10 o’clock and a courier company had them in the hotel by 3am this morning.

“It was really the power of social media in the end. If it wasn’t for Twitter and the fact that the story gained a huge amount of momentum to where Air France’s PR department had to call me and sort things out, the clubs would still be in Paris somewhere.”

Beyond just losing McDowell’s bag, can you believe he was told “get in the queue?” Dude didn’t just lose his luggage, he lost the ability to do his job…and from a PR standpoint, why step in it, Air France?

Here’s a bit of advice for any airlines losing a pro’s bag (again, this happens more than it should, and will continue to happen): Make a public apology (social media is great for this!) and a diligent search for the clubs! Good riddance!

Thanks for getting the job done guys. Appreciate the assist. https://t.co/MZwyIb6HWY

— Graeme McDowell (@Graeme_McDowell) July 4, 2018

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19th Hole

Man charged with stealing millions of dollars worth of memorabilia from Augusta National

Published

19 hours ago

Apr 18, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

According to a report from the Chicago Tribune, a man has been charged in Chicago with stealing millions of dollars’ worth of memorabilia from Augusta National.

The man, Robert Globensky, was charged with transporting the memorabilia across state lines.

The report states that between 2009 and 2022, Globensky allegedly transported “millions of dollars’ worth of Masters golf tournament merchandise and historical memorabilia” from Augusta National “and transported to Tampa, Florida, knowing the same had been stolen, converted and taken by fraud.”

The document was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Per the court records there is no mention that Globensky worked for the golf club.

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Talor Gooch: 54 holes is more exciting for the fans

Published

19 hours ago

Apr 18, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

Over the past few weeks, two of LIV Golf’s biggest stars, Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson, have both expressed that they believe LIV could go to 72 holes.

While speaking to BBC Sport, Rahm said he “wouldn’t mind” going to 72 holes.

“If there ever was a way where LIV could go to 72 holes I think it would help all of this argument a lot.”

“The closer I think we can get LIV Golf to some other things the better. I think it would be for some kind of unification to feed into a world tour or something like that.

“I don’t know if I’m alone in this, but I definitely wouldn’t mind going back to 72 holes.”

Phil Mickelson, while speaking after his final round at The Masters, also said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if LIV went to 72 holes.

“I don’t think it makes a difference either way. We’ve got mini-tours playing 54, Champions Tour playing 54. I wouldn’t be surprised if some or all of LIV events went to 72. I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. I enjoy the competition.”

Another one of LIV’s top players, Talor Gooch, expressed on Wednesday that he feels quite differently.

“It’s just funny to me, this arbitrary number of 72.”

“Why is it not 90? “Why is it not 108? We just decided to make that number the number, for what reason?”

“Everyone’s talked about world ranking points and all this stuff, but no one’s talked about what do the fans enjoy more?”

“People want something that’s going to be more exciting. And I personally think that the 54 holes is more exciting for the fans.”

After Gooch’s comments, I decided to get some fan feedback for myself, making a poll on X. With about 4,500 votes in at the time of writing this, roughly 84% of voters in the poll indicated they’d prefer 72 holes to just 16% saying they’d prefer 54.

Rahm prefers 72 holes
Gooch prefers 54 holes

Where do the fans stand?

— Matt Vincenzi (@MattVincenziPGA) April 17, 2024

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Brandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why

Published

2 days ago

Apr 17, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Earlier this week, rumors began to fly that Rory McIlroy could be making a shock switch to LIV Golf which caused quite the stir on social media.

However, on Tuesday, McIlroy emphatically shut down those rumors, telling Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis at the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town:

“I honestly don’t know how these things get started. I’ve never been offered a number from LIV and I’ve never contemplated going to LIV. Again I think I’ve made it clear over the past two years that I don’t think it’s something for me.

It’s unfortunate that we have to deal with it and this is the state that our game’s in. I’m obviously here today and I’m playing this PGA Tour event next week and I will play the PGA Tour for the rest of my career.”

Golf Channel analyst and longtime LIV critic, Brandel Chamblee, took to social media before McIlroy’s statement to point the finger at “Saudis/LIV,” who he believes started the rumor:

I have no doubt that this rumor was started by Saudis/LIV… to benefit Saudis/LIV after such a poor showing, as a group, at The Masters.

I’d be very surprised if this turns out to be true. https://t.co/SWNgjHtWSM

— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) April 16, 2024

When one user pushed back on Chamblee’s claim that LIV golfers had a poor showing at the Masters, Brandel went further into why he believes the opening major of the year was a failure for the breakaway tour.

You think they paid 3 billion for a few top tens and to be +82 as a group at major? A senior citizen beat some of their “stars” and almost all the game’s of LIV players have deteriorated since they sold their souls to the Saudis who only bought a moment in time… nothing else. https://t.co/xERkYsztIJ

— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) April 16, 2024