Connect with us

News

Tiger withdraws, re-injures surgically repaired back

Published

on

Tiger Woods withdrew from the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational after hitting his tee shot on hole No. 9. The driver swing, which sent the ball left of the fairway, left him grimacing and bending over in pain.

He was 3-over par for the round when he was escorted off the course from the tee in a cart.

According to a post-round interview in the parking lot, where Woods was seen gingerly changing his shoes using the trunk of his car for support, the injury occurred on the second shot of the par-5 second hole. He hit an iron shot from an awkward lie on the lip of a fairway bunker, and fell back into the bunker off balance.

“It happened on the second hole when I hit my second shot, I fell back into the bunker, I just jarred it, and it’s been spasming ever since,” Woods said, according to a statement released after he exited the course. “It’s just the whole lower back. I don’t know what happened.”

According to other reports, Woods said the injury is a different pain, in a different spot than the back injury for which he had surgery earlier this year, and does not know how the injury will affect his participation in the PGA Championship, or any tournaments going forward.

After making birdie on No. 1, Woods hit a slew of poor shots throughout the remainder of his shortened round.

Woods chunked his iron shot into the pond in front of the green on No. 3, leading to a bogey. He then hit another poor iron shot from the tee on No. 5, par 3, that barely reached the fairway, but Woods managed to save par on the hole. On No. 6, Woods hit his second shot into a concession stand, and on No. 7 he hit his greenside bunker shot thin, which sent the ball over the green on the par 3. That lead to scores of bogey, double bogey, respectively on those holes.

The next tournament on Woods’ schedule is the PGA Championship next week at Valhalla, the season’s final major championship.

Your Reaction?
  • 0
  • LEGIT0
  • WOW0
  • LOL0
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK1

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

88 Comments

88 Comments

  1. Pat M

    Aug 7, 2014 at 2:55 pm

    Graham DeLaet said his recovery was 18 months. Tiger rushed it or something else. Either his doctor should be charged with malpriactice or Tiger does not listen to anyone. Stupid.

    • tessie

      Aug 8, 2014 at 5:48 pm

      Golf is a sport for gentlemen not animals lacking self control. Tiger Woods should never have compared himself with Jack Nicklaus…

  2. Welcome1

    Aug 5, 2014 at 10:51 am

    Sad when the golfing community has to talk about Tiger Woods all the time.

  3. al

    Aug 4, 2014 at 8:07 pm

    We don’t even know what kind of back surgery Tiger had so speculation so when the pundits say that he came back too soon, they are really talking out of their arse.

  4. MK

    Aug 4, 2014 at 6:30 pm

    Haha another thread where 99.9% of the posts are Tiger bashing. They should rename this site to wehatetigerwoods.com

    Bunch of hacks.

  5. Brad B

    Aug 4, 2014 at 6:18 pm

    Just my opinion ….

    The headline is a bit misleading. While we know it’s a back injury, “re-injures surgically repaired back” suggests the injury is to that which was surgically repaired. Right now, we don’t know that’s the case – the story suggests some sort of muscle injury, not a disc issue.

    Hoping that’s the case.

    • Fred

      Aug 6, 2014 at 12:27 am

      I believe Tiger has stated that the problem is not with the surgically repaired area of his back.

  6. Sven Olsen

    Aug 4, 2014 at 3:16 pm

    I have always liked Tiger, but he has deteriorated these past years – and it is strange, that his old injury shows up, when he is playing badly.

    Sad to see this – really! Tiger used to be a grand sportsman, but now?

  7. Dan

    Aug 4, 2014 at 1:48 pm

    One thing I don’t quite understand is that if you are Tiger Woods, you just came off major back surgery, why would you risk further injury by playing such a shot. Chip it into the fairway and get off the edge of the bunker. What difference is one shot going to make when you are that far off the pace?

    I think that its all very curious, but I guess it serves its purpose. He gets to miss the PGA, which he definitely would not have contended at, perhaps miss the cut. It solves his inability to make the Fed Ex cup and also spares him being left off the Ryder Cup team.

    “He’s Hurt” End of discussion.

    • Fred

      Aug 4, 2014 at 2:48 pm

      Guess he just made Tom Watson’s decision on Tiger’s appearance at the Ryder Cup a lot easier. Unless he could have straightened out his drives by then, he [probably would have just embarrassed himself anyway, not to mention the US team. Would still like to see Phil play.

      • Sven Olsen

        Aug 4, 2014 at 3:17 pm

        Tom Watson made the right decision, no doubt about it, and I, too, would like to see Phil on the team

      • talljohn777

        Aug 4, 2014 at 4:35 pm

        Tiger has never driven the ball in the fairway during his entire career. So, what is your point about his needing to drive it straight now???

        • MHendon

          Aug 4, 2014 at 4:40 pm

          Tiger was the best driver in the game early in his career when he was under Butch’s tutelage playing that fade.

          • Pat M

            Aug 7, 2014 at 3:04 pm

            He should go back to Butch but I guess that is over. He is probably done.

        • Fred

          Aug 6, 2014 at 12:33 am

          My point is this: when he continually hits the ball into the rough and in and around sand traps, it puts undo pressure on his back to get the ball back into play. Believe he proved this point when he hurt himself with that awkward stance he used to hit the ball situated in the rough above the bunker Sunday. He stated that that was when his back started hurting him again.

      • MHendon

        Aug 4, 2014 at 4:36 pm

        Hell Phil’s just as crooked with the driver.

    • Brad B

      Aug 4, 2014 at 6:37 pm

      Your first paragraph makes all kinds of sense … the second does not, suggesting as it does that Tiger really isn’t that badly hurt, that he’s using a convenient “out” to avoid not making the playoffs, not getting selected for the Ryder Cup team, etc.

      You don’t win 14 majors running from a challenge.

      • Dan

        Aug 5, 2014 at 9:57 am

        Challenge? This man is waaaay past challenges. Its all about image control for Tiger IMO. He bullies and manipulates the press, and appears to be functioning on bravado. His quotes are clearly fantastic (“I’m getting more explosive”, “I expect to win this week”, “I’m getting stronger and faster” and of course “I just need more reps”etc etc).

        What does he have to gain by playing? He wont contend at the PGA. If he doesn’t win, he gets left off the Fed Ex Cup. If he doesn’t play the Fed Ex, Watson leaves him off, if he hasn’t already.

        Its obvious to all that he came back waaaay too early. Whether he really thought he could win a Major or its just the way this guy thinks, that he’s a special case and can buck the odds is debatable. Maybe he’s so twisted about get 19 majors, that he did something foolish.

        I think its all very convenient, but one thing is clear, he needs to sit the rest of the season out. He not doing himself any good and he would only hurt the US RC team.

        Oh, the drama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      • Fred

        Aug 6, 2014 at 12:36 am

        A lot of people thought he was faking it when he won the `08 U.S. Open while hobbling around on a bad knee. That stopped when he landed on the operating table less than a week later.

    • Philip

      Aug 4, 2014 at 11:24 pm

      I never understood the shot. He only hit it 90 yards. He could of punched it with an iron or even his 5W and not have to fall back into the bunker behind him. He was only 147 yards from the hole so all he needed to do was to get the ball in play and not land it in the bunker in front. He even could of stood partially in the bunker and punched it to the immediate left – would of left maybe 140 yards.

      He did hit the bunker pretty hard though when he landed in it.

  8. JEFF

    Aug 4, 2014 at 11:57 am

    BOO HOO..IM PLAYING BAD SO I QUITE…..WHAT A JOKE!TAKE THE $AND RUN LITTLE KITTY!

    • Chuck

      Aug 4, 2014 at 1:59 pm

      Tiger is a effing joke! Exactly what I said, playing like crap so I’ll just withdraw using an excuse about his back… Although he was grabbing his knee but who cares! He’s been done since 2009, after Elin beat him with a club!!! Hahaha

      • Christosterone

        Aug 4, 2014 at 2:05 pm

        He won 5 tournaments last year including the Players. Youre right, total joke.

      • Fred

        Aug 4, 2014 at 2:44 pm

        Didn’t Jason Day withdraw because he wasn’t playing well?

        • Rich

          Aug 5, 2014 at 12:01 am

          No one knows. This website (nor any other) didn’t even bother reporting his withdrawal let alone why. A reoccuracne of his hand/thumb injury would be my guess. Yet we know all about boofhead.

  9. Kim

    Aug 4, 2014 at 10:50 am

    The next big Tiger news will be the firing of Sean Foley so Tiger has an excuse. The only major teacher he has not used is David Leadbetter, so watch for him in the Tiger camp. Tiger must adjust, smooth it out there 280-300 and win the big tournaments on iron play and experience, but he will not match Jack. If no majors in the next two years, he will retire.

    • Christosterone

      Aug 4, 2014 at 1:46 pm

      Sean Foley should be put in shackles for changing Tiger’s short game.
      This is tantamount to retouching the Mona Lisa.

      • Pat M

        Aug 7, 2014 at 3:06 pm

        LOL! Tiger is his own worst enemy. Fires Hank Haney and Stevie. Has his back operated on and comes back early. He **was** a good golfer but he lacks any common sense.

  10. KK

    Aug 4, 2014 at 10:08 am

    First time I think this is something Tiger may not overcome.

  11. Mark

    Aug 4, 2014 at 9:09 am

    The fascination with Tiger amazes & disappoints me. He has been an incredible golfer but I am totally over him. I am also over Fox Sports. In the 3rd round Scott shot the equal lowest score 65 & what did Tiger shoot?…72. How many times did I see Scott (who also happened to be at that time No.1) on the telecast? I saw him hit 1 approach shot & a few putts but nothing until the 16th hole, unless I missed something earlier somehow. How many times did they go to Tiger?…I don’t know as I lost count. What a load of XXXXing BS!! I don’t want to see Scott when he’s playing crap or anyone else for that matter so why do we have to look at Tiger? The director calling the camera shots is obviously a fxxxwit & wants to sleep with Tiger.

    • Captain Oblivious

      Aug 4, 2014 at 9:38 am

      I must agree. Fox Sports’ coverage was miserable. In fact, they never showed one single bit of the tournament in my area.

      But, that could have been because it was televised on CBS.

      • Robeli

        Aug 4, 2014 at 11:46 am

        Captain Oblivious, are you one of those that thinks everything revolves around USA? Or do you not realize that there is more than just CBS? In Australia and other parts of the world, Fox Sports is THE main sport channel. Just a little education to think a little ‘outside the box’.

        • ken

          Aug 4, 2014 at 1:10 pm

          Uhh. CBS has the domestic(USA) rights to this particular event.
          Now, if your Fox Sports affiliate picks up the coverage, fine.
          It’s STILL CBS’ deal.
          Quite frankly, you are posting to a US based website, to a US based audience. And your problem is?

          • Robeli

            Aug 4, 2014 at 4:07 pm

            As if a USA based website cannot be accessed from overseas and have non-USA members. HAHA!

      • Fred

        Aug 4, 2014 at 11:51 am

        Captain: my understanding was that if the tournament wasn’t being covered by the Golf Channel, it was on CBS. I wasn’t aware that FOX had anything to do with the Bridgestone tournament.

      • Mark

        Aug 5, 2014 at 6:35 am

        You are correct Captain. I should have just mentioned the coverage, not what network it was as on..however, you get the drift of my comment. What dry wit you have 🙂

    • Fred

      Aug 4, 2014 at 11:47 am

      Speaking as someone who’s worked in sports television, I can assure you that it’s all about viewership. Like it or not, more people care about what Tiger is doing than any other player on the tour. Period. The networks know this. The Masters suffered a 50% loss in viewers because Tiger wasn’t there. Sponsors don’t like that; it’s not good for business. Bottom line: regardless of how well he’s playing, the network will keep Tiger on the air, and viewers will keep watching. It will be interesting to see how many tune into the PGA if Tiger isn’t there.

      • ken

        Aug 4, 2014 at 1:17 pm

        Firday Ratings were a 1.6 in 2014 vs 2.5 in 2013..Yes Tiger moves the needle.
        I think after this incident, that will begin to wane.
        Tiger may very well not recovery from this.

      • MHendon

        Aug 4, 2014 at 4:45 pm

        Sad but true. Just goes to show most viewers are Tiger fans not fans of the game.

        • Rich

          Aug 4, 2014 at 11:56 pm

          I think people are tuning in to see the train wreck as much as anything else now.

        • Mark

          Aug 5, 2014 at 6:39 am

          +1 MHendon

  12. jim

    Aug 4, 2014 at 7:55 am

    If his back was in spasm, or he had some sciatica as well there is no way he can swing a golf club. Unless you’ve had back problems there is no way to explain the unbelievable pain that it causes and how much swinging a golf club hurts even more. And it doesn’t take much to create the problem either, sometimes just hitting a jarring shot can do it and you’re done. However if he had the surgery then he most likely should be fine in 3-4 days, unless it’s something worse then longer. And the working out is actually very good for the back as a strong core helps to support the back difficulties. It isn’t hurting Rory to get in much better shape is it? Hopefully Tiger can come back and be respectable on the course, but getting to 18 majors is not looking too good any more.

  13. Rich

    Aug 4, 2014 at 4:33 am

    So still no story about Rory’s win. I bet if this bloke won there would have been a story about it in 2 seconds. I guess it’s official. This website has now been transformed into TigerWRX.

  14. carl marcus

    Aug 3, 2014 at 11:28 pm

    Of course he is faking, finally Faldo calls him on it.
    Here is the proof: When he is “injured” and playing poorly he quits. When he is “injured” and playing well he continues.
    I am to the point where I don’t even believe he had the surgery. Who the heck comes back from BACK SURGERY in THREE MONTHS!? No one!
    I understand how much money he brings into the game, but enough is enough.
    By the way, I don’t understand why he cares so much that he can’t perform anymore? He has NOTHING to prove! He has 14 MAJORS!
    If I were Woods, I’d try to patch things up with Butch Harmon – I think he could back on track of he did.

  15. Jack

    Aug 3, 2014 at 11:27 pm

    He has so many excuses, I’m not a cowboys fan but I watched Emmitt Smith play with a dislocated shoulder, getting tackled by NFL linemen, Rory is the new Man!

    • Fred

      Aug 4, 2014 at 12:03 pm

      Yes, and if you ask most physicians how smart it was for Smith to play with a dislocated shoulder, they would say the team docs were stupid for letting him do it – that is, if it was really dislocated. The Giants went after his shoulder on every play he ran. Did the Cowboys really need a win so bad that they would let the best running back in the game at that time play with a dislocated shoulder? To this day, there are sports medicine docs who don’t believe it was dislocated – the pain would have been too distracting.

  16. nikkyd

    Aug 3, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    Hey man. An aching back is a big deal. Not a fan of tigers character, but had i been there, i woulda helped the guy to his car. A bad back is nothing to joke around with

  17. Roger

    Aug 3, 2014 at 10:06 pm

    He is finally finished, done! What a whimp can’t tuff it out….quitter:(

    • Double Mocha Man

      Aug 3, 2014 at 10:42 pm

      I’m not a Tiger fan at all. I was once. But a bad back is the real thing… and it is so crucial to the golf swing. He may, in fact, be done. But he’s not whimping out. He wants to be there. He wants to win.

  18. kyle

    Aug 3, 2014 at 9:49 pm

    Funny how he can fight through a “broke” leg to win a major but when he is sucking it up he can’t finish a round and withdraws. Please Rory keep winning so there’s more to talk about than the princess.

    • Jeff Trigger

      Aug 4, 2014 at 10:19 am

      As someone who was in a car accident that required knee surgery and a back brace, I can tell you for a fact, that the back hurt a lot worse than the knee, and my knee had to be put back together. The knee hurt for a month. I still have back pains, and when it flares up, forget golf, I can’t even stand over it.

  19. Rcalfo

    Aug 3, 2014 at 9:27 pm

    Why does he continue to believe a large muscular frame is great for golf. Where is the spider monkey guy? He’s terrible swinging the club. Woodland is not great. Stopping continuing this Navy seal delusion and realize you are a golfer. No one believes you could ever be a soldier, you have been pampered your whole life. It’s funny about the steroid, hgh talk. He looks just like bonds, McGuire, and arod, small skinny hard gainers that now look like massive beasts. That’s not just weight lifting when your body doesn’t naturally gravitate towards large muscular build

    • Fred

      Aug 4, 2014 at 12:06 pm

      Have you ever seen Tiger in person? He doesn’t come across as being that big.

      • MHendon

        Aug 4, 2014 at 4:51 pm

        That’s the thing with television, it’s hard to really judge how big someone is. I to thought Tiger looks kind of small in person, but then I am 6 foot 235. No but really what makes him appear big on TV is how small his waist is. I’d say it’s no bigger than 30 inches about the same as mine was at 12.

  20. sean

    Aug 3, 2014 at 8:43 pm

    Well Well Well yes i am not a Tiger fan but cmon you just can’t ignore the fact the back gets attention after errant shots do you think for one minute if after the sand shot he goes birdie birdie birdie he would withdraw NO way. he’s got a poor attitude always has and why he should never be deserving of breaking a true winners legacy.Tiger grow up your a selfish ego maniac and you learned it from your father just ask around he was a chump as well most of the time.

    • Curt

      Aug 4, 2014 at 11:23 am

      Talking about someone’s dead father is really off limits, a__hole!

      • MHendon

        Aug 4, 2014 at 4:52 pm

        I agree his father came across as a class act to me.

  21. Rich

    Aug 3, 2014 at 8:36 pm

    What? No story about Jason Day’s WD? I can’t believe it!

  22. Joseph

    Aug 3, 2014 at 6:36 pm

    Tiger has to take a good hard look at what he wants his legacy to be. His body can no longer withstand the violent nature of his swing mechanics. He talks of needing to be more explosive ? He needs to understand he’s 38 and no longer a 25 year old. McElroy is going to bomb it by him regardless of what he does getting some strength back. A new game plan is in order. Keep the ball in play, 280 off the tee with a great iron game and solid putting is his only chance of playing another 5 years and winning some more tourney’s.

    • Brian

      Aug 3, 2014 at 8:09 pm

      agree with everything you say – I just don’t think it’s in his DNA –

    • Jack

      Aug 3, 2014 at 11:16 pm

      Yeah, just take a half swing every time. Good luck with that. Athletes are not like us. Their swings are much more powerful, and thus more stressful on the body. Not to mention they’ve done it many more times than any normal human would. This is not looking good for him. I think he should have taken longer. Most people were surprised at how quickly he came back.

      • Fred

        Aug 4, 2014 at 12:15 pm

        Excellent point, Jack. And let’s face it: Tiger’s back problems would probably not be such a big issue if he could just figure out a way to drive the ball down the fairway instead of in the rough and on the edge of bunkers, where the swings tend to be more stressful on his back. I’ve often wondered if he and Butch Harman are simply not talking anymore. It seems to be such a logical move for Tiger to go back to the source. Butch was always his version of Yoda. It’s obvious at this point that Sean Foley is doing him no good.

  23. golfing

    Aug 3, 2014 at 6:25 pm

    It´s not working, open your eyes, butch will help you.
    25 years of pro golf it´s not a joke…take it easy boy, you have
    bean raised well to do it.

  24. Jim

    Aug 3, 2014 at 5:44 pm

    Hes going to retire from golf i can see it coming sooner than later

  25. cody

    Aug 3, 2014 at 5:24 pm

    Years of steroid use coming back to haunt him. Sad story.

    • Kyle

      Aug 3, 2014 at 5:35 pm

      You’re an idiot

      • Brian

        Aug 3, 2014 at 6:29 pm

        Looks like you may be the ‘idiot’…..

        http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/tiger-woods-spent-200k-hgh-guru-doc-new-book-article-1.1860280

        ..walks like a duck, talks like a duck – too much coincidence here & this is an article from Jul 2014. We are yet to see the end of this story – golf is on the verge of it’s Lance Armstrong and I am sure they are biting their nails over this.

        • MHendon

          Aug 3, 2014 at 6:40 pm

          Hmmm interesting article Brian.

          • Brian

            Aug 3, 2014 at 8:07 pm

            Thanks – I followed LA for 8 years leading up to the fall & while maybe not as extensive or corrupt, there are a lot of eerily similar parallels.

      • carl marcus

        Aug 3, 2014 at 11:41 pm

        No you are Kyle! First for getting personal with Cody for telling the truth, and 2nd for being completely ignorant of the facts. Tiger Woods paid Canadian human growth hormone guru Anthony Galea and an associate almost $200,000 for 63 visits to the golfer’s home between September of 2008 and October of 2009; the PGA does not release these findings, ESPECIALLY when it’s their golden goose, or golden Tiger. Now that the tour tests more often, Woods cannot recover and it HAS taken it’s toll on his body.
        In fact, how do we know that the “back surgery” wasn’t really a 3 month suspension? We can’t believe anything when it comes to the PGA tour anymore. They are so covert, just look at Dustin Johnson’s statement, it sounded like HE made the decision to take time off, when in fact it was a suspension. The PGA tour needs to be cleaned up!

  26. Dreg Golf

    Aug 3, 2014 at 3:03 pm

    He’ll be back next year, I hope. I look forward to watching him get whupped by the likes of Sergio, McIllroy and Scott! Maybe he can learn some humility in those defeats?.
    Nah, who am I thinking of …Baldrick is the biggest primadonna on tour!

    • Christosterone

      Aug 3, 2014 at 3:27 pm

      Sergio is my favorite player…but to discuss him getting “whupped” by Tiger is ludicrous.
      Sergio has spent his career getting “whupped” by Tiger. As had Scott who cant putt conventially to save his life.
      Expect a meteoric fall for Adam come 2016(a significant part of his prime i might add)..

      • Dreg Golf

        Aug 3, 2014 at 5:57 pm

        Hmmmmm, seems to me I’m watching Sergio playing in the final round and Woods has WD’ed…..what was Woods…like literally 20 strokes behind when he left the grounds? If that’s not a whupping, dunno what is son?

        • Christosterone

          Aug 3, 2014 at 6:09 pm

          Oh i understand now. You are referring to a single tournament.
          In that case, you are correct.
          It seemed as if you were so obtuse as to even have Scotts or Garcias career even in the same area code as tigers.
          Because both of those players careers barely match up to one or 2 Woods prolific single years…well, maybe not Sergio as he is much more accomplished than scott whose career is good but compared to woods it is not even worth noting.

      • Fg

        Aug 3, 2014 at 6:26 pm

        His scoring average with the conventional putter wasn’t 90….he could putt. Same as now Nobody is gonna average 62

      • carl marcus

        Aug 3, 2014 at 11:44 pm

        You may be right, but I am sure Fred Couples will be done, he couldn’t make a single put before the long putter.
        I wonder how Bradley and Simpson will do? It is going to be interesting – I can’t wait to watch it. Personally the ban on anchored putters couldn’t come soon enough.

        • Fred

          Aug 4, 2014 at 12:27 pm

          Carl: you make an interesting point. It amazes me that the USGA has deemed belly putters to be illegal, but is willing too let players keep using them for a few more years. Yet, in the same respect, if a player accidentally moves his ball an 18th of an inch, he gets penalized. If it’s illegal, it’s illegal.

    • Christosterone

      Aug 3, 2014 at 6:13 pm

      And one more thing if you dont understand.
      In 2013(which is last year if you are not aware)
      Woods won:
      PGA Player of the Year
      PGA Tour Player of the Year
      Vardon Trophy winner
      Leading Money Winner(while playing less tourneys than anyone in the top 50 other than Stricker)

    • Fred

      Aug 4, 2014 at 12:18 pm

      It’s like Kyle said. And since you’re so adamant about it – prove it!

  27. marty

    Aug 3, 2014 at 2:53 pm

    He should sit out the rest of this year and next year. Then join the senior tour.

    • Fred

      Aug 4, 2014 at 12:19 pm

      Marty: don’t think you can join the Senior tour until you’re fifty.

  28. Double C

    Aug 3, 2014 at 2:45 pm

    Time to call Dr. Galea

  29. Johnny thunders

    Aug 3, 2014 at 2:38 pm

    Stick a fork in him. He’s done.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Equipment

Rickie Fowler’s new putter: Standard-length Odyssey Jailbird 380 in custom orange

Published

on

Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article. 

…The Jailbird craze hasn’t really slowed down in 2024, either. According to Odyssey rep Joe Toulon, there are about 18-20 Jailbird putter users on the PGA TOUR.

Most recently, Akshay Bhatia won the 2024 Valero Texas Open using a broomstick-style Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter and Webb Simpson is switching into a replica of that putter at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.

Now, Fowler, who essentially started the whole Jailbird craze, is making a significant change to his putter setup.

Fowler, who has had a couple weeks off since the 2024 RBC Heritage, started experimenting with a new, custom-orange Jailbird 380 head that’s equipped with a standard 35-inch putter build, rather than his previous 38-inch counter-balanced setup.

According to Fowler, while he still likes the look and forgiveness of his Jailbird putter head, he’s looking to re-incorporate more feel into his hands during the putting stroke.

He told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Championship that the 38-inch counterbalanced setup “served its purpose” by helping him to neutralize his hands during the stroke, but now it’s time to try the standard-length putter with a standard-size SuperStroke Pistol Tour grip to help with his feel and speed control.

Although Fowler was also spotted testing standard-length mallets from L.A.B. Golf and Axis1 on Tuesday, he confirmed that the custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 is the putter he’ll use this week at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.

Head over to PGATour.com for the full article. 

Your Reaction?
  • 8
  • LEGIT1
  • WOW0
  • LOL1
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP1
  • OB0
  • SHANK3

Continue Reading

Equipment

Details on Justin Thomas’ driver switch at the Wells Fargo Championship

Published

on

Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article. 

So, with a couple of weeks off following his latest start at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Thomas sought to re-address his driver setup with the remote help of Titleist Tour fitting expert J.J. Van Wezenbeeck. About two weeks ago, Thomas and Van Wezenbeeck reviewed his recent driver stats, and discussed via phone call some possible driver and shaft combinations for him to try.

After receiving Van Wezenbeeck’s personalized shipment of product options while at home, Thomas found significant performance improvements with Titleist’s TSR2 head, equipped with Thomas’ familiar Mitsubishi Diamana ZF 60 TX shaft.

Compared to Thomas’ longtime TSR3 model, the TSR2 has a larger footprint and offers slightly higher spin and launch characteristics.

According to Van Wezenbeeck, Thomas has picked up about 2-3 mph of ball speed, to go along with 1.5 degrees higher launch and more predictable mishits.

“I’d say I’d been driving it fine, not driving it great, so I just wanted to, honestly, just test or try some stuff,” Thomas said on Tuesday in an interview with GolfWRX.com at Quail Hollow Club. “I had used that style of head a couple years ago (Thomas used a TSi2 driver around 2021); I know it’s supposed to have a little more spin. Obviously, yeah, I’d love to hit it further, but if I can get a little more spin and have my mishits be a little more consistent, I felt like obviously that’d be better for my driving…

“This (TSR2) has been great. I’ve really, really driven it well the week I’ve used it. Just hitting it more solid, I don’t know if it’s the look of it or what it is, but just a little bit more consistent with the spin numbers. Less knuckle-ball curves. It has been fast. Maybe just a little faster than what I was using. Maybe it could be something with the bigger head, maybe mentally it looks more forgiving.”

Head over to PGATour.com for the full article. 

 

Your Reaction?
  • 8
  • LEGIT1
  • WOW1
  • LOL1
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK5

Continue Reading

News

5 fall golf trip destinations you should book right now

Published

on

The 2024 golf season is in full swing with the warm weather settling in and those long summer days right around the corner, but what if we told you that you should be thinking about golf this fall? While it may seem to be a ways away, now is the perfect time to start putting together your end-of-season fall golf trip

Courses are in great shape, the weather is more enjoyable as temps cool off, and your golf game is in peak condition after playing all summer! The best part about fall golf trips is that there are some great deals to be found at golf destinations across the country! Additionally, you can get away to the Caribbean on an all-inclusive trip or travel across the pond for some links golf in the UK or Ireland before the end of their golf season in October. 

If you are happy to stay stateside this fall, here are the best golf destinations you should book for your fall trip.

Myrtle Beach, SC 

Commonly known as the “Golf Capital of the World”, this coastal destination is home to over 200 golf courses making it the ideal location for a golf trip! If you’re looking for golf and accommodation onsite, choose from a wide range of resorts including favorites like Barefoot and Legends. Alternatively, you could rent a house or stay by the beach and play top tracks like Caledonia, Grande Dunes, Pine Lakes, True Blue, TPC Myrtle Beach and many more! With a plethora of options, you will be able to customize your trip to stay within budget! Fall in South Carolina is a golfer’s paradise with minimal rain, sunny skies, and temperatures in the low 80s (dipping into the 70s in later fall with lower humidity), the perfect combination for a golf trip.

Scottsdale, AZ 

If you’ve never played golf in the desert, fall is the best time to do so and there is no better selection of desert layouts than Scottsdale. With a wide variety of golf resorts, courses, and attractions, it is easy to see why many professional golfers call this place home. Enjoy a golf and city trip with a stay close to the nightlife in Old Town and a tour of the local courses like Raven, McCormick Ranch, and Ocotillo. Head north of the city with a resort stay at The Westin Kierland or Hyatt Regency and play some Championship courses like TPC Scottsdale, Troon North, or Grayhawk. Or head out to the fabulous We-Ko-Pa Resort  and Golf Club and indulge in the ultimate desert golf experience. The weather in Scottsdale will be very warm (mid to high 80s), with cloudless skies and green grass contrasting the desert landscape.

Orlando, FL 

The golf mecca in the state of Florida, Orlando is a great golf destination any time of the year, but fall is really where it flourishes. Course conditions are impeccable, the weather is warm with fading humidity, and there are a multitude of off-course activities for the whole family. Stay & play at some of the best golf resorts like Reunion and Omni Championsgate or tick off a bucket list course when you visit Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill. A few other reasons this destination is so popular is the wide variety of rental houses throughout the area, perfect for a large group and the quality courses to choose from including Waldorf Astoria, Celebration, Shingle Creek, and the three Disney courses! With easy accessibility through the MCO Airport, Orlando is a no-brainer for a fall golf trip.

Las Vegas, NV 

PAIUTE GOLF RESORT – LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

A destination often overlooked when it comes to golf, Las Vegas in the fall is a wonderful treat! A stay on the iconic Las Vegas Strip gives you a wide range of 3 to 5-star hotel options within walking distance to the city’s biggest entertainment venues, casinos, restaurants, and more! For golf options, you will need to travel outside of the city (roughly 20 mins) to play some incredible desert layouts like Rio Secco, Revere, Cascata, and the trio of courses at Paiute Golf Resort. If you fancy a longer day trip, you can always take the hour-long drive up to Mesquite and play Wolf Creek and Conestoga for a pure desert golf experience. 

Alabama – Robert Trent Jones Trail 

If you’re a golf nerd (like me) and you’re looking for something a little different for your trip, look no further than the incredible RTJ Trail in Alabama. The Trail spans 11 different locations across the state with over 400 holes of golf all designed by legendary course designer Robert Trent Jones, Sr. The more popular courses on the trail are in Birmingham, Montgomery, and Auburn, making it perfect for an extended trip. Some of the best courses on the trail include Ross Bridge, Grand National (2 courses) and Capitol Hill (3 courses).Weather-wise, fall is the best time to hit the trail with average temps hovering around 80s (dipping into the 70s as fall goes on) with a limited amount of rainfall. The summer months are usually where the pricing is the highest so you can find the best deals in the fall with courses still in good condition. 

There has already been a huge uptick in fall golf trip bookings, so make sure to start planning now to get the travel dates and tee times you want for your group! 

Editor’s note: This article is presented in partnership with Golfbreaks. When you make a purchase through links in this article, GolfWRX may earn an affiliate commission. 

RELATED: 7 PGA TOUR courses you need to play

  

Your Reaction?
  • 3
  • LEGIT1
  • WOW0
  • LOL1
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK0

Continue Reading

WITB

Facebook

Trending