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. |
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.
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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.”
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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. |
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Tom
Jan 16, 2019 at 12:36 pm
I took an Epic Flush after my second cup of Joe this morning.
Anon
Dec 23, 2018 at 11:13 am
Aaron Rodgers loves this.
Dan
Dec 21, 2018 at 2:07 am
I’ll say this if you think the Wilson driver looks better than the new Callaway, you can’t shine a turd
smz
Dec 18, 2018 at 12:37 pm
The only technological change is the name… “Epic Flash”… chosen to attract the childish nature of immature golfing boyz…. sooo pathetic
ogo
Dec 21, 2018 at 1:51 am
Shoulda called it “Epic Flush”…. like hitting the ball “flush”… 😮
SEAN
Dec 8, 2018 at 11:04 pm
Interesting story with Epic Flash. Have not had chance to try but looking forward to. I do play Callaway woods and irons and my Rogue was not longer than original Epic but was far more forgiving for me. Rogue fairway wood, best thing since sliced bread. For those commenting on the “looks” of a driver(from one generation to another)…..that has little to do with a clubs performance. The technology in the heads from Callaway, TM, Ping and others is almost all within the head itself. There are certain head shapes that are almost universally considered good looking, but other than the aerodynamics they have little to do with clubs performance. Speaking of looks, the green/yellow combination on new Epic…….not my favorite. I suppose one can get a custom paint job but now the price is getting out of control for those of that live in reality with normal jobs and kids and other stuff competing for our discretionary dollars.
Dan
Dec 6, 2018 at 12:47 pm
Heads up everyone, every driver these days is pretty much maxed out to the usga tolerances, so most of these small changes are just that ,small. The proper driver is based on a good fit and a head that’s not outdated. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but if you think all new clubs are just marketing and don’t offer performance improvement you aren’t good enough to see the subtleties. My 2017 Epic blows away anything ever made, mainly because my fit and swing are solid.
Des
Dec 6, 2018 at 9:26 pm
So it’s not the club, it’s because your swing just happens to work with the club.
So what’s your point? Lol
DJ
Dec 7, 2018 at 12:57 am
My Hammer driver blows everything away. Shout out to Jack Hamm! youtube the infomercial to get the low down. It’s the Hammer!
Kevin J Robertson
Dec 6, 2018 at 10:07 am
Look at these pics!
https://community.callawaygolf.com/t5/Clubs/Epic-Flash-color-pics/td-p/93449
HDTVMAN
Dec 6, 2018 at 9:17 am
Good idea to put the sliding weight on the Sub Zero. I still don’t like Jailbreak, as customers seem to push the ball right or left if not hit center face. I’ll stay with the Ping G400 MAX.
Tom
Dec 6, 2018 at 12:48 am
I hit one of the prototypes, it carried 75 yards farther than the previous offering and rolled out another 125 yards farther, net Gain of 200 yards.
My Uncle Rico hit it over them there mountains….
Andy
Dec 5, 2018 at 6:28 pm
yep…. hell hath frozen over…Wilson’s newest driver looks waaaay better than Callaway’s newest driver.
shawn
Dec 23, 2018 at 4:58 pm
… and your opinion is soooo significant to us….. thank you 😛
Jordan
Dec 5, 2018 at 4:14 pm
Mizuno: “We’ve heard customer feedback and decided to ditch the bold colorways in favor of all black”.
Callaway: “Hold my beer”
shawn
Dec 23, 2018 at 4:59 pm
My toys are more colorful than your toys… nyah nyah myah