News
Kelly Kraft takes aim at John Peterson on social media
Returning home from the CJ Cup, Chesson Hadley took to social media for some light venting after a plane at his gate caused him to miss a connecting flight from Denver to Raleigh. The mild-mannered Hadley probably didn’t expect much to come from the post, but after former PGA Tour professional, John Peterson, chimed in on the subject, and things got interesting.
Peterson, who officially retired from the professional golf in September after failing to keep conditional status on Tour having missed the cut at the Web.com Tour Championship, replied to Hadley’s post in typical forthright fashion.
Hey man, the money ain’t always worth it. I saw my family today, and yesterday, and the day before that, and that, and that, and that, and that. #fam
— John Peterson (@JohnPetersonFW) October 23, 2018
Hadley responded to Peterson’s post, telling the 29-year-old that although he agreed that his last tournament wasn’t worth it, “the one before that was”, referring to his T2 finish at the CIMB Classic which netted him over half a million dollars in prize money.
The curt reply from Hadley appeared to end the affair, until Kelly Kraft came to the table, indignant at Peterson’s remark.
Don’t knock us on the @PGATOUR for living our dream of playing golf at the highest level. Especially when you know damn well you would be too if you didn’t lose your status. We still see our families, You can take as many off weeks as you want if you work hard and are good enough
— Kelly Kraft (@kkraft11) October 23, 2018
Kraft, who is currently ranked 157th in the world, clearly felt Peterson’s opinion represented resentment at his failure to secure his playing rights for the 2019 season. Despite his assertions that he’s all good with Peterson but feels that “he’s out of bounds with this one,” the dispute is not the first on social media between the two.
Earlier this year, Kraft called Peterson “so bitter it’s unreal,” and after the latter posted news of his application for reinstatement for amateur status, Kraft asked Peterson: “So you still want to travel around and play golf, but now you just don’t want to make any money doing it?”
After Kraft’s recent scolding of Peterson, the former PGA Tour professional simply stated “Here we go” in response. With these two involved, it’s safe to say that this particular difference in opinion isn’t over yet.
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Morning 9: Wyndham Clark on back injury | DiMarco’s bold Champions Tour take | Houston Open photos
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News
Four books for a springtime review
One thing that never changes over time: snowy evenings give purpose to reading (is it the other way around?) It has been a snowy 2024 in western New York, and I’ve had ample time to tuck into an easy chair with a blanket, coffee, and a book. You’re in luck, because despite the title of this piece, I’ll share five books and their worth with you.
There is great breadth of subject matter from one to five. Golf is as complicated as life, which means that the cover of the book isn’t worth judging. The contents begin the tale, but there is so much more to each topic presented within. If you’re like me, your library grows each year. Despite the value of the virtual, the paper-printed word connects us to the past of golf and humanity. Here’s hoping that you’ll add one or more of these titles to your collection.
Hughes Norton interviewed with Mark McCormack for 20 minutes (30 if you count the missed exit at Logan International) while driving the founder of IMG from Harvard to the airport. The lesson of taking advantage of each moment, of every dollar, because you might not get another opportunity, is the most valuable one that life offers. I say to you, be certain to read this book, because another opportunity to bend the ear of Hughes Norton may not come our way.
Hughes Norton was with Tiger Woods for waaayyy fewer years than you might guess, but they were the critical ones. Be warned: not all of the revelations in this tome are for the faint of heart. Some, in fact, will break your heart. Golf was a sleepy hamlet in the 1990s, until the 16-lane interstate called Eldrick “Tiger” Woods came into town. Everything changed, which meant that everything would change again and again, into eternity. Once the ball starts rolling, it’s impossible to stop.
My favorite aspect of this book is its candor. Hughes Norton is well into his time on Planet Earth. He has no reason to hold back, and he doesn’t. My least favorite aspect is that George Peper got the call to co-author the book (and I didn’t.) Seriously, there is no LFA for me, so this is the best that I could do.
Decision: Buy It!
The Golf Courses of Seth Raynor
Michael Wolf, James Sitar, and Jon Cavalier, in abject partnership, collaborated to produce a handsome volume on the work of gone-too-soon, engineer-turned-golf course architect. Seth Raynor was pulled into the game by Charles Blair MacDonald, the crusty godfather of American golf. Raynor played little golf across the 51 years of his life. His reason? He did not wish to corrupt his designs with the demands and failings of his own game.
Jon Cavalier began his photography career as a contributor to the Golf Club Atlas discussion group. I met him there in a virtual way (we still have yet to shake hands) and have exchanged numerous emails over the years. Despite the demands of his day job, Cavalier has blossomed into the most traveled and prolific course photographer alive today. His photography, both hand-held and drone, makes the pages pop. Michael Wolf invited me and two friends to play his home course, despite having never met any of us in person. His words, melded to those of James Sitar, are the glue that connect Cavalier’s photos.
My favorite aspect of the books is the access it gives to the private-club world of Raynor. Fewer than five of his courses are resort or public access, and knowing people on the inside is not available to all. My suggestion? Write a letter/email and see if a club will let you play. Can’t hurt to try! My one complaint about the book is its horizontal nature. Golf is wide, but I like a little vertical in my photos. It’s not much of a complaint, given the glorious contents within the covers.
Decision: Buy It!!
Big Green Book from The Golfer’s Journal
Beginning with its (over)size, and continuing through the entire contents, there is no descriptor that defines the genre of the Big Green Book. It is photography, essay, layout, poetry, graphics, and stream of consciousness. It harnesses the creative power of a lengthy masthead of today’s finest golf contributors. Quotes from Harvey Penick, verse from Billy Collins, and prose from John Updike partner with images pure and altered, to immerse you in the diverse golf spaces that define this planet.
One of my favorite aspects is the spaces between the words and photos. Have your friends and others write a few notes to you in those blank areas, to personalize your volume even more. One aspect that needs improvement: the lack of female voices. I suspect that will be remedied in future volumes.
Decision: Buy It!!!
Troublemaker and The Unplayable Lie
Books that allege discrimination and mistreatment check two boxes: potentially-salacious reads and debate over whose perspective is accurate. In the end, the presentation of salacious revelation rarely meets the expectation, and the debate over fault is seldom resolved. Lisa Cornwell spent years as a competitive junior and college golfer, before joining The Golf Channel as a reporter and program host.
Despite the dream assignments, there were clouds that covered the sun. Cornwell documents episodes of favoritism and descrimination against her, prior to her departure from The Golf Channel in 2021. Her work echoes the production of the late Marcia Chambers, who wrote for Golf Digest in the 1980s and 1990s. Chambers took issue with many of the potential and real legal issues surrounding golf and its policies of access/no access. Her research culminated in The Unplayable Lie, the first work of its kind to address issues confronted by all genders and ethnicities, and immediately predated the professional debut of Tiger Woods in 1997.
My favorite aspects of the two works, are the courage and conviction that it took to write them, and believe in them. My least favorite aspects are the consistent bias that many groups continue to face. Without awareness, there is no action. Without action, there is no change.
Decision: Buy Them!!!!
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.
As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.
General Albums
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Thorbjorn Olesen – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ben Silverman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jesse Droemer – SoTX PGA Section POY – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- David Lipsky – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Martin Trainer – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Zac Blair – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jacob Bridgeman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Trace Crowe – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Daniel Berger – WITB(very mini) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Chesson Hadley – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Callum McNeill – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Rhein Gibson – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Patrick Fishburn – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Raul Pereda – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Gary Woodland WITB (New driver, iron shafts) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Padraig Harrington WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Pullout Albums
- Tom Hoge’s custom Cameron – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Piretti putters – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ping putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Kevin Dougherty’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Bettinardi putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Erik Barnes testing an all-black Axis1 putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Tony Finau’s new driver shaft – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Geoffrey Holland
Oct 24, 2018 at 7:08 pm
I’m confused. Based on the hair the face and shirt I’m thinking Kelly Kraft plays on the LPGA?
hrfdez
Oct 24, 2018 at 7:43 pm
Awesome!
Smith
Oct 24, 2018 at 9:24 pm
Wow, calling out someone as a woman because of a pink shirt? You’re a couple decades behind the times, my man.
Geoffrey Holland
Oct 25, 2018 at 2:04 am
As I clearly had stated, based on the hair the face and the shirt.
And speaking of being behind the times I’m not your man. Nobody actually says “my man” anymore and they haven’t for at least three decades.
art Williams
Oct 24, 2018 at 7:07 pm
C’mon. The only fighting between members of professional sports should be on the ice or in the ring or cage. It’s not becoming for PGA Tour members to be exchanging such messages on social media. As an aside, I read some months ago that Phil is the leader in the clubhouse on tipping so that question is not up for debate!
JJVas
Oct 24, 2018 at 3:17 pm
Ugh… come on. Maybe the next article can be about which golfer tips the best in restaurants.
Mike Honcho
Oct 24, 2018 at 7:17 am
Hey Gianni,Inside Edition called. They’re looking for a weekly golf gossip segment host.
Evan
Oct 24, 2018 at 4:40 pm
You read it and commented on it.
Brandon
Oct 23, 2018 at 7:56 pm
This website really needs to get rid of all its millennial “journalists”.
DJ
Oct 24, 2018 at 4:42 pm
“Millennial”. What a dig!
Mike Honcho
Oct 25, 2018 at 7:12 am
Ergo what Evan??? I have stop and explain the whole concept of read and comment to try and dissuade future stories like this on the site? We want golf news not golf drama/gossip. I’m surprised you took time out from watching Bravo to comment on my comment.
Derek S
Oct 26, 2018 at 7:57 pm
Clearly you’re not getting enough Bravo. You’re totally in rage. You read it and even commented on it. Were you expecting an article about a new Taylormade driver that would allow you to fo from 190 yards to 250? Here’s a tip, DVR some shows on E channel as well.
Jamie
Oct 23, 2018 at 4:28 pm
Faux journalism. This is a worm looking for blood. Too many of those around. Don’t. Just don’t.
Wasn't Raised in a Country Club
Oct 23, 2018 at 4:21 pm
Why is pro golfers timing their trip home even a thing? I think his first post was somewhat a joke, but the fact that I’ve seen multiple pros do this leads me to believe they probably complain about it a good bit. Ask a veteran how long it takes to get home from deployment. Just a complete disconnect with the actual world.
carl
Oct 23, 2018 at 3:49 pm
Gianni can you find some real news to write about?
TLW
Oct 25, 2018 at 1:31 pm
No, he cannot. I cringe everything I see his or click bait Ben’s picture.
A. Commoner
Oct 23, 2018 at 2:16 pm
Who in the devil are these guys (golfers)? Also after several attempts, the writer should find something else to do.
Lee
Oct 23, 2018 at 1:14 pm
Worst article ever written. This is not journalism, it is reading some dumb tweets and then re-posting them as an even more worthless story
Evan
Oct 24, 2018 at 4:44 pm
You read it and commented on it. You sure it’s the worst?
Lee
Oct 24, 2018 at 6:22 pm
GolfWRX was an independent equipment blog with good content. Now owned by a media company, and they post stories about unknown players tweeting each other. I am just angry that this website now sucks and content standards are a total joke!
Aaron
Oct 23, 2018 at 12:29 pm
Peterson’s out of line on this one. I don’t blame The Snapper or Krafty for putting him back in his place.