Tour News
Leave your complaints in the red wicker basket
The U.S. Open is upon us — a tournament more readily described as a battle than a golf tournament.
The greens are rock hard and lightening fast. The rough chews up golf balls with blades of grass measured in feet, not inches. But what truly separates the tournament from others is the mental anguish that players who hope to hoist the trophy must endure.
U.S. Open venues are one of the few times professionals look like amateurs sweating over 8-footers for par all day and struggling to break 80, and Merion should be no different. If Mother Nature cooperates, the players won’t be complaining about course conditions (see: Shinnecock Hills in ‘04), or course length (see: Bubba Watson at The Olympic Club). Rather, the focus of this year’s grievances could be with what lies atop the 7-foot pole that protrudes from each putting surface.
The USGA has confirmed that the flagsticks, or as Merion calls them “standards,” will stay true to the Merion Golf Club tradition, using red wicker baskets instead of flags.
The origin of the long-standing tradition is a mystery, with the only known detail being that William Flynn, the golf course superintendent, received patent approval for his wicker basket design in 1915, according to the Merion Golf Club website.
In golf, the flagstick indicates hole location, providing players with a specific spot to aim on the green. The flag is sometimes color coded to show whether the pin is on the front, middle or back portion of the green. Precise players read the direction the flag is blowing, and use that information to determine how the golf ball will react as it approaches the green.
Modern day professionals are as precise as they come, especially those looking to win the U.S. Open, so without the assistance of a flag to indicate wind speed or direction, the players will lose a hint of precision. Some will be more vocal or animated in their disapproval, but all players must deal with the nuisance.
During this year’s U.S. Open, expect additional blades of grass thrown skyward, and multiple looks to the treetops by players struggling to determine wind influence. Also, expect the announcers and commentators to have some corny quips about how it’s a “basket stick” rather than a flagstick. Some of you will laugh, but I’ll have seen it coming.
Ben Hogan’s U.S. Open victory in 1950 at Merion Golf Club came without enduring the burden of wicker baskets, as this was the last time the tradition was ignored. Since then, all of the USGA championships held at Merion have kept with tradition.
The winner this week, as with all winners of USGA titles at Merion, will receive a customary red wicker basket in addition to the trophy and the almost $1.5 million paycheck. Most of the players will hate those baskets by the end of the week, but all of them will be fighting to take one home.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship
GolfWRX is on site this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the PGA Championship.
While we see fewer equipment changes and new gear seeding at major championships, we get a look at custom gear and looks into the bags of players we rarely see, which is just as exciting. In the case of the PGA Championship, this means a look at the gear some of the PGA Professionals who qualified for the tournament will be gaming, and LIV players, such as Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed.
Check out links to all our albums from Valhalla below and check back throughout the week as we continue to update.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Michael Block – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Patrick Reed – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cam Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Josh Speight – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Takumi Kanaya – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kyle Mendoza – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Adrian Meronk – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jordan Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jeremy Wells – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jared Jones – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Somers – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Larkin Gross – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tracy Phillips – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jon Rahm – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Keita Nakajima – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kazuma Kobori – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- David Puig – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Ryan Van Velzen – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brad Marek – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rich Beem WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Phil Mickelson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Matt Dobyns – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Lucas Herbert – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jason Dufner – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Daly – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Taylor Gooch – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dean Burmester – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dustin Johnson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
Pullout Albums
- Ping putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Bettinardi covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cameron putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Max Homa – Titleist 2 wood – 2024 PGA Championship
- Scotty Cameron experimental putter shaft by UST – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – new Ping putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka’s new Cameron putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s Cobra bag and Aerojet driver – 2024 PGA Championship
- Super Stroke grip – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tiger Woods – 2024 PGA Championship
- Michael Block’s new TaylorMade “Proto” 7-iron, from address – 2024 PGA Championship
- Odyssey putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
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News
Photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
GolfWRX is live this week at the Wells Fargo Championship as a field of the world’s best golfers descend upon Charlotte, North Carolina, hoping to tame the beast that is Quail Hollow Club in this Signature Event — only Scottie Scheffler, who is home awaiting the birth of his first child, is absent.
From the grounds at Quail Hollow, we have our usual assortment of general galleries and WITBs — including a look at left-hander Akshay Bhatia’s setup. Among the pullout albums, we have a look inside Cobra’s impressive new tour truck for you to check out. Also featured is a special look at Quail Hollow king, Rory McIlroy.
Be sure to check back throughout the week as we add more galleries.
General Albums
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Monday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matthieu Pavon – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Keegan Bradley – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Webb Simpson – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Emiliano Grillo – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Taylor Pendrith – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Kevin Tway – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
Pullout Albums
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rory McIlroy – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Eric Cole’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matt Kuchar’s custom Bettinardi – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Justin Thomas – driver change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler – putter change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s new custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Tommy Fleetwood testing a TaylorMade Spider Tour X (with custom neck) – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Cobra Darkspeed Volition driver – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying about our Wells Fargo Championship photos in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Ben
Jun 13, 2013 at 1:58 pm
Everyone saw what happen at the masters to Tiger on 15 when he hit the flag, bad break. Now , with the wicker, I think it’s a nuisance, The pros and the viewers get some kind of feedback from the wind around the greens, all year they have flags on the poles, I have played golf for 42 yrs and have never ever heard or seen wicker on a pole. I hope the tournament is not impacted by the fatter top of the pole. It would be a shame
Robert
Jun 10, 2013 at 11:20 am
I must add to my previous comment; that my grandaughter Ryan will be joining her brother Christian, sons Ken and Keith and me at the US Open at historic Merion GC. MY third open at Merion, but extra special with all the family of golfers. Great week at Merion.
Nic
Jun 10, 2013 at 9:32 am
I like it. Makes it a bit different and I do not think it will impact the results.
Robert
Jun 9, 2013 at 8:27 pm
This will be my third US Open at Merion; but my first with my sons Ken,Keith and grandson Christian. What a special time.
chris
Jun 9, 2013 at 6:06 pm
no complaints here! love it.
lbj273
Jun 8, 2013 at 5:14 pm
The best part is the local rule that if your ball comes to rest in the basket you place your ball on the lip of the cup with no penalty
URNS
Jun 8, 2013 at 2:41 pm
Would you consider this to be bifurcation? heehaw
Talbot Reiber
Jun 8, 2013 at 12:28 pm
I will be there, with my father, to see the wicker baskets in all of their glory. A Father’s Day present for the both of us….maybe self purchased, perhaps the tickets were gifts – we shall never tell. Lookout Ardmore, here we come.