Tour News
Monday Tour Mash: Fowler’s finish, aggregate playoffs and Tiger’s evaporation
Rickie Fowler Earns Playoff Victory Over Kevin Kisner and Sergio Garcia
There was one winner on Sunday at Sawgrass: Golf. Three members of the field played well enough to win the tournament on Sunday, but only one of them walked away from the course with the title and its trappings. Think for a moment about this list of “What the heck happened” over the final holes in round four:
- Fowler played the final six holes in six-under par.
- Garcia birdied 16 and 17, the latter with a putt nearly as wide as the green.
- Kisner also birdied those holes and darned near won the thing in regulation.
When Johnny Miller is doing the seated Tarantella behind the 18th green, you know that these guys are beyond good and great; they’re other-worldly. On this day, in this town, Dick Fowler, Private Eye, solved the case.
Related: Rickie Fowler’s Winning WITB.
Aggregate Playoff A Winner At Players
There is no more dynamic finish (thank you, Alice Dye!) to any golf tournament, anywhere, than the closing triumvirate at TPC-Sawgrass. It was as if the clouds parted, the sun shone through and the Powers That Be(man) cried, “Egads, It’s Time For aggregate!” There are no breather holes over the final 1100 yards of this golf course, so no lead is ever safe. Let’s hope that two things transpire over the next decade: the format remains and we have oodles of playoffs.
George Coetzee Hammers Thor In Playoff
George Coetzee (pronounced coat-SEE-uh) might make a name for himself outside of his native South Africa. The 29-year old pro claimed his second European Tour victory of 2015 this weekend with a second-hole playoff win over Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen. The two professionals tied at thirteen-under par, with Coetzee making birdie at the last to catch the two-time tour winner. The playoff was contested over the same closing hole and Coetzee’s form held true. He birdied it twice in extra holes, a pace that Olesen was unable to match.
Smith and White Win Inaugural USGA Men’s Four-Ball Amateur
As easy as it is to misunderstand the concept of four-ball competition, it was THAT easy to recognize the winners. Teammates on the 2013 USA Walker Cup side, Nathan Smith of Pittsburgh and Todd White of Spartanburg threw everything they had at their final-round opponents (Sherrill Britt and Greg Earnhardt) and got home early after a decisive, 7 & 5 victory.
Contested at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, it was uncertain whether the college-age amateurs or the wily veterans would fare better in this better-ball event. Judging by the three mid-am and one college-am pairs to reach the semifinals, it was the latter. The Four-Ball Amateur replaces the USGA Women’s and Men’s Public Links Championships on the slate of national events this year. This week, at Pacific Dunes (Oregon), the women take center stage in their four-ball championship.
Tiger Woods Has Evaporated!
Or so you’d think, if you read the headlines of the major online golf news sources. He is anywhere from the illusory “entirely lost” to the identifiable “worst score ever” at The Players. Well, let me tell you this: if there is any course on the tour that punishes a player whose game is a bit off, it is TPC Sawgrass. And, let’s not forget the weekend breakup with significant-other Lindsey Vonn. Hopefully, Tiger will recover emotionally and spiritually in the coming weeks. Let’s reserve judgement on his game and his future until after the four 2015 majors have played out.
- LIKE55
- LEGIT15
- WOW2
- LOL5
- IDHT2
- FLOP3
- OB3
- SHANK27
Equipment
American Express, Abu Dhabi Golf Championship Tour Truck Report: BK to Srixon? MCA has a ton of new shafts, Rickie goes graphite
TaylorMade
Most of the big action for Team TaylorMade is taking place in Abu Dhabi with Rory and Tommy in the field. After extensive weeks of testing, this is what they have in the bag this week
Tommy Fleetwood WITB
Driver: TaylorMade SIM2 (10.5 degrees @8.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana DF 70 TX (tipped 1 inch, 44.75 inches)
3-wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Rocket 3 (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana DF 70 TX (42.5 inches)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana DF 80 TX (41.25 inches)
Irons: TaylorMade P7TF (4-PW)
Shafts: Project X Rifle 6.5
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot Pro 3
Grip: SuperStroke Mid Slim 2.0
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord (D, 3W, 5W, 7W, and wedges), Iomic Sticky @12:30 (irons)
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x ’21 Proto
Rory McIlroy WITB
Driver: TaylorMade SIM2 (10.5 degrees @8.5)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X (45.5 inches, 59.25 lie, D4)
3-wood: TaylorMade SIM2 (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX (43.25 inches, 58 lie, D4)
5-wood: TaylorMade SIM2 (19 degrees @ 18.25)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 90 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P7MB (4-PW)
Shaft: Project X Rifle 7.0 (6.5 in PW)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG2 (52-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-08LB)
Shaft: Project X Rifle 6.5
Putter: TaylorMade Spider X Copper (34.25 inches, 2.5 loft, 70 lie)
Ball: 2021 TaylorMade TP5x (#22)
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord (58R 1+1, logo down)
Matthew Wolff WITB
Driver: TaylorMade SIM2 Max (10.5 degrees @9)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD TP 7 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Titanium (15 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD XC 8 X
Irons: TaylorMade P7MC (3-PW)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: TaylorMade MG2 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-09LB)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Grips: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord (+3 double-sided tape)
Putter: TaylorMade Spider X Proto (33 inches, lie at 70, 3.5 loft, D4)
Grip: TaylorMade Red/Black
Ball: TaylorMade TP5 ’21 PIX
Other TM news
Doc Redman put the new Aldila Ascent Red 70 TX in his SIM2 (60 TX pictured below).
Sepp Straka put the new MCA Kaili White 60 TX in his SIM2.
Titleist
The Fujikura Ventus Red trend continues with Russell Henley moving from his KBS TD to Ventus Red 7 X in a TSi4.
Tyler Duncan was testing a custom K Grind lob wedge. He was inspired by Kevin Na’s win and looking at Aaron Dill’s pics on IG. Can you blame him?
Justin Thomas (Abu Dhabi) moved out of Ventus Red 6 TX (tipped 1 inch) in his TSi3 (9 degrees) into a Graphite Design Tour AD IZ 6 X. According to my source, JT was looking for a specific feel with the driver and also one that dialed in the launch windows on a little cutter he has been working on. We will keep you updated if it sticks or if any of the info changes.
Callaway
Akshay Bhatia put the new Apex Utility Prototype in play with a KBS Tour Hybrid Prototype 105 X shaft. Shay also put the new Epic Max LS driver (9 degrees @8.5) with a Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green “Hulk” 75G 6.5 TX.
Kevin Na tested Callaway’s Epic Max LS (9 degrees) with a Graphite Design Tour AD GP 6 X. No need to panic, that original Epic gamer ain’t goin’ anywhere till it keels over and dies.
Phil Mickelson was spotted testing a Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X shaft in a Mavrik Sub Zero. Not confirmed if it will indeed go in play.
Ping
Scott Stallings (non-staff) put a Ping G425 LST (10.5 degrees @11) driver in play with an MCA Kaili White 60 TX (tipped 1 inch @45.25).
Abraham Ancer (non-staff) also converted to the Ping G425 LST (9 degrees @7.75) with an MCA Tensei AV Raw Blue 65 TX (tipped 1 inch @45).
Cameron Champ lost his clubs en route to Palm Desert and the Ping Tour squad had to build a brand new set of sticks from scratch, top to bottom. Thankfully the gamers showed up and Cam was left with a fresh new backup set.
Srixon
Rumor has it that former world No. 1 Brooks Koepka has inked a deal with Cleveland/Srixon to play its Z-Star XV ball, ZX7 irons and Cleveland Zip Core Wedges. Koepka showed up to Palm Desert with a new set of irons with Tour Issue X100 shafts, a Srixon utility, and his trusty Nike Vapor Pro 3-iron and TaylorMade M5 driver with an MCA Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX shaft. We will continue to update to confirm or deny the rumors. Awesome news for Srixon and BK if true.
Cobra
Rickie Fowler made some significant changes to his bag coming into Palm Desert. The Cobra staffer put the REV33 MB’s back in the bag this time with a fresh set of Mitsubishi Chemical MMT 125 TX graphite shafts. Fowler, who has tested quite a few different shafts over the years, going from KBS C-Taper S+ to Tour Issue X100, loved the integrity of the MMT’s.
In testing, they tried a set that was soft stepped as well as the current set that is straight in. The overall takeaway was integrity on mis-hits and hitting a very specific flight window all while keeping spin the same. Fowler also had the new Cobra RadSpeed Driver in the bag with a Mitsubishi Tensei Orange 60 TX shaft.
Jason Dufner put the new Aldila Tour Concept 60 TX in his Rad Speed Driver (70 TX pictured below).
Free Agents
Scottie Scheffler finally swapped out his TaylorMade P730’s for a brand new set of P7TW’s (5-PW). Like his older set, they come fully loaded with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts. Scottie did keep his Srixon Utility 3-iron and Z785 4-iron in the bag, however.
Newly minted free agent Ryan Moore showed up to the Desert with a bag only a true gear junkie could love. The six-company bag featured a TaylorMade SIM Driver, TSi2 3-wood, Srixon hybrids, Mizuno MP-18 irons, and Cleveland Zip Core wedges.
Paul Casey put the Titleist TSi3 driver in the bag with a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX shaft.
KBS seeded out a new Proto graphite shaft. The yet-to-be-named new edition to the TD line has a higher modulus material on the bottom third to increase stability and lower torque. The feedback with the original TD from players with fast speeds: it needed to be stiffer. This “newer version,” which will probably only come in the category 4 and 5, is very firm.
Patrick Reed went back to his Ping G400 LST driver—that’s all on that.
- LIKE232
- LEGIT23
- WOW9
- LOL4
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK6
GolfWRX is live at The 2020 American Express as the tour returns to the mainland United States following its Hawaii Swing.
Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed, Patrick Cantlay, and of course the tournament’s host, Phil Mickelson, will all tee it up in La Quinta, California, this week.
We have an abundance of special galleries as new gear floods the tour as players return to the continental U.S. for the first time in 2021, as well as general galleries for your perusal.
Special galleries
- Cameron putters – 2021 American Express
- PXG Gen 4 prototype drivers – new putters
- UST Maymiya LinQ shafts – American Express 2021
- Mitsubishi Kaili & MMT shafts – American Express 2021
- Titleist TSi 2 & TSi 3 hybrids – American Express 2021
- TaylorMade putter cover for Palm Springs/Palm Desert – American Express
- New Aldila Synergy, Ascent & prototype shafts – American Express 2021
- Callaway Apex Pro iron, Epic Driver and fairway, Apex iron & hybrid
- New Perfect Practice training aids – American Express 2021
- New KBS prototype shafts – American Express 2021
- Rickie – Cobra driver & MMT graphite shafts in his irons – American Express 2021
- Cameron putters (#2) – American Express 2021
- Cameron putters – #3 – American Express 2021
- Super Stroke grips – American Express 2021
- Odyssey putter covers – American Express 2021
- Paul Casey putting a Titleist driver in play – American express 2021
- Graphite Design AD HD shafts – American Express 2021
- Anirban Lahiri’s custom Odyssey/Toulon putter – American Express 2021
General galleries
- 2021 American Express – Tuesday #1
- 2021 American Express – Tuesday #2
- 2021 American Express – Tuesday #3
- 2021 American Express – Tuesday #4
- 2021 American Express – Wednesday #1
- 2021 American Express – Wednesday #2
- 2021 American Express – Wednesday #3
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
- LIKE14
- LEGIT1
- WOW4
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB1
- SHANK0
Earlier this week, it was the Brooklyn Nets making big news in the NBA with player acquisitions. Now in the golf world, it’s PXG, who is also adding to its roster with a number of new players on both the PGA Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour.
The newest members of the PXG roster, which they like to call “troops” are
- Jim Herman
- Sung Kang
- Danny Lee
- Luke List
- Henrik Norlander
- Adam Schenk
- Kyle Stanley
- Hudson Swafford
Speaking to the switch, Sung Kang said
“PXG makes some of the best performing equipment in golf. I know, with the support of Bob Parsons, his team, and PXG clubs, that I am going to be able to take my game to the next level!”
The professionals from the Korn Ferry Tour joining current PXG staffers Scott Langley and Grant Hirschman include
- Kevin Dougherty
- Nicolas Echavarria
- KK Limbhaust
- Justin Lower
- Seth Reeves
- Charlie Saxon
“Between grit and their love of the game, every one of these new players brings something special to the course. We are proud to welcome them all to the PXG Troops and honored that they have chosen to put PXG in play.” -PXG founder and CEO Bob Parsons.
These players join a long list of PXG staff players, which also includes LPGA Tour players Lydia Ko, Katherine Kirk, Austin Ernst, Christia Kim, Brittany Lang, Haley Moore, Celine Boutie, Ryann O’Toole, Gerina Piller, Jennifer Song, Linnea Ström, and Mina Harigae.
- LIKE32
- LEGIT7
- WOW3
- LOL2
- IDHT0
- FLOP2
- OB3
- SHANK30
Bryson DeChambeau watches on in awe at 302-yard 8-iron strike
How to select the proper tees to play from (What tees you should play from)
The average driving distance for male GolfWRX members by age
The trailer for HBO’s new Tiger Woods documentary will give you goosebumps
Justin Thomas apologizes for ‘inexcusable’ homophobic slur at Sentry
Patrick Reed or Paige Spiranac: Who would you rather have on a GolfWRX podcast?
Are new clubs really better?
Golf 101: If you could only pick one wedge loft to use, what would it be?
Charlie Woods WITB
Sentry TOC Tour Truck Report: New sticks, new companies, and Patrick Reed buys his own threads
Max Homa WITB 2021 (January)
Driver: Titleist TSI3 (9 degrees) Shaft: Aldila Rogue Black 130 MSI 60 TX 3-wood: Titleist TS3 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit...
Jason Day WITB 2021 (January)
Here’s Jason Day’s what’s in the bag, accurate as of January 2021. Driver: Ping G425 LST (9 degrees @8.5) Shaft:...
Brooks Koepka WITB 2021 (January)
Driver: TaylorMade M5 (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade M2 Tour HL (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana...
Phil Mickelson WITB 2021 (January)
Driver: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X (@47.5 inches) 2-wood: TaylorMade “Original One” Mini Driver...
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoJustin Thomas apologizes for ‘inexcusable’ homophobic slur at Sentry
-
News3 weeks agoSentry TOC Tour Truck Report: New sticks, new companies, and Patrick Reed buys his own threads
-
Whats in the Bag3 weeks agoJon Rahm WITB 2021 (Callaway)
-
Opinion & Analysis1 week agoThe death of the 3-iron and what it means for your bag setup
-
Equipment3 weeks agoWRX Insider: An exclusive and very rare look inside the bag of Hideki Matsuyama
-
19th Hole3 weeks agoEx-Golf Channel Lisa Cornwell drops bombshell details of alleged mistreatment from previous employers
-
19th Hole3 weeks agoBryson DeChambeau putts towards umbrella at Sentry; reaches 211mph ball speed
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago‘2021 is going to be special’ – Anthony Kim sighting gets golf fans fired up
don davis
May 13, 2015 at 3:34 am
I miss the tiger buzz when he is moving up the leaderboard. Unfortunately he cannot keep it in play off the tee. Why is he not playing this week at the wells fargo? I wonder if he really has the will to put in the effort to regain his old form. He is really showing his age . Time to turn the page and start looking at some of the other players. Tiger and Phil are riding off in the sunset despite what all the media hype is trying to tell us.
Ronald Montesano
May 13, 2015 at 9:10 am
These are very astute points, don davis. Phil has more on his mind (I suspect it is family concerns) than Tiger, but Tiger has less in his life (again, family) than Phil.
Glorious
May 13, 2015 at 9:37 am
Yeah, but with all the physical ailments that Phil has, you don’t see him cringing and bending over and blaming it on a fake hurt like Eldrick does, do you? No. Phil just takes his pill and gets on with it. When he plays poorly, he says it as much. When he feels the course is tough, he says it much. Unlike Eldrick, who doesn’t know humility from his next glory hole.
Pat M
Jun 1, 2015 at 8:02 am
Phil does not do the silly and childish acting that Tiger engages in.
Yaknowit
May 12, 2015 at 6:52 pm
Man, was that the most over-rated tournament ever, or what, huh?
The Players is so totally overrated. Yea.
Ronald Montesano
May 13, 2015 at 9:11 am
I love the sarcasm, Yaknowit. It’s dripping!
cody
May 12, 2015 at 3:33 pm
the aggregate is the way to go. Way better than a single hole sudden death were one bad shot and its over. I do see the merits of both but prefer the aggregate.
Tiger is toast. Thanks.
Ronald Montesano
May 13, 2015 at 9:11 am
I think that if every week were aggregate, it would bore us. I hope Tiger is still bread.
1 up
May 12, 2015 at 9:31 am
Way to be (not) consistent on the Tour and to keep the non-golfing sports fans totally confused as to what the big deal is with a tourney like The Players to have a silly play-off finish in an aggregate way. It really is asinine that the Tour treats its own game this way, to drum with useless and meaningless play-off formats that ends up being sudden death, anyways!
As a regular golfer, I HATE the aggregate. In fact, I hate the fact that there are any differences in stroke-play format play-offs at all. It should be kept consistent, where certain holes at all the courses are played, and not jumbled up from course to course. Monotonous? Sure – but the game is about consistency and doing the same thing correctly and better than anybody else by scoring the lowest score possible in stroke play. Otherwise, we already have stable fords and match-play, so we don’t need the Tour to go around confusing the world with its varied play-off formats and choice of different holes at different courses!
What doesn’t the Tour get? The players themselves don’t honestly care whether it appears to be exciting on TV, or not! They make so much money now, win or lose. The TV coverage is there solely for the money. But the game would still be played without the TV coverage, as it used to be, and the game would be just fine, actually. The Tour needs to buck up and become transparent, and accept that it doesn’t have to be exciting, it needs to be respectful and show what that sort of behavior means, and not this ogling of the young players for the sake of entertainment.
The Players is a circus, and not really very exciting. It really isn’t. Nor does it need to be.
Ronald Montesano
May 12, 2015 at 9:45 am
I disagree with everything you wrote. Please continue to comment, though. This site needs your perspective.
RM
Captain Oblivious
May 12, 2015 at 10:32 am
And I must disagree with you. He needs to crawl back under his rock. The Tour doesn’t need to be exciting? Really?!!
The “ogling of the young players for the sake of entertainment.” Uh, hello. They were showing the young players because they were the ones in the PLAYOFF. (Which, by-the-way, was awesome, IMO.)
This clown doesn’t realize that TV exists mainly for the purpose of entertainment. This site needs informed and well-reasoned perspectives, not this drivel.
Ronald Montesano
May 13, 2015 at 9:12 am
Solid commentary, Captain Oblivious. I concur.
dapadre
May 12, 2015 at 5:34 am
Shane Foley said it best, Tiger spoiled us. He was so out of this world that when he plays better than a PGA pro we say he is done. The young phenom, Spieth muts be going down hill, he didnt make the cut and he is nr 2 in the world ( Im being sarcastic btw).
This is the same guy that has played few tournaments, changed coaches, has a break up, had surgery, re injured came back didnt play much decides to play the Masters when everyone said he would make a fool of himself and makes the cut and played well actually. When Chamblee gives him credit, then he must have played well.
Agreed he is not at the top of his game, but his C game seems to be doing ok. I wonder what will be said if he is able to get to his B+ game not even A. Those that hail Rory (Im a fan btw, great player/person), compare the cuts made percentage with Tiger.
Ronald Montesano
May 12, 2015 at 9:48 am
I concur. For years, we had the almost-next Nicklaus in Trevino and Watson and Seve and Norman, but not quite, Then he arrived, warts and all. Just as we cannot compare Tiger with Jack (see Jack’s 2nd and 3rd-place record in major championships v. Tiger’s), we cannot compare Rory’s cuts-made % to Tiger’s.
Tony
May 11, 2015 at 4:56 pm
Nike can’t make a driver for Tiger for him to keep it in play? 4 of 14 fairways hit at the players? Phil?, too busy to work on his game, corporate stuff, design…
Ronald Montesano
May 13, 2015 at 9:13 am
It’s so hard to say with Tiger. Which swing is in his head or his hands or his heart during any given week? Is he 100% healthy?
Pat M
May 11, 2015 at 2:42 pm
Tiger is done. He is a journeyman player now fighting to make the cut. He is being whipped by little guys like Rory and Rickie. Tiger was no where at The Masters. Phil almost caught Spieth and Phil has a serious form of arthritis.
ChristianR
May 11, 2015 at 5:07 pm
Did you change channel when Phil and Spieth were already at home on friday evening? ’cause Tiger played also the wekeend.
Where’s the fun to be an hater I really don’t understand, there are another things in life man, check behind you keyboard.
cb
May 11, 2015 at 8:32 pm
+1 ChristianR. its crazy people call tiger a “journeyman.” No true journeyman would be able to take as much time off as tiger did, without swinging a club, and then come back and play the way he is playing. He is a living legend, just like arnold and jack. and if a legend is teeing it up that week then you should talk about them. you owe it to them to talk about them.
Ronald Montesano
May 13, 2015 at 9:14 am
+2 Haters will hate hate hate…that should be a song.
Pat M
Jun 1, 2015 at 8:01 am
Tiger is over. Stick a fork in him. He cannot keep up with the younger players and he looks really old now.
ross
May 11, 2015 at 2:11 pm
Don’t you guys ever get tired of talking about tiger? He’s washed up, no more majors for him!
Ronald Montesano
May 12, 2015 at 5:20 am
No, but it has to be the correct time and topic. Notice that I referenced the hyperbole surrounding Tiger, not his placement at the tournament. He can’t ever be the young superstar again, but he can evolve into something different. It all seems to depend on his physical stamina.
Ronald Montesano
May 11, 2015 at 1:17 pm
Thank you, Mike and Joachim.
Did you see the latest about Rickie being part of “Golf’s New Power Couple”? Please take away my keyboard when I’m that needy for a headline.
adam
May 11, 2015 at 1:39 pm
You can make up a combined name for them too, how about Rorkie?
Rickie and Jordan are good but I don’t know if they’re quite on Rory’s level yet to make any combination of the three the “power couple,” but definitely heading that way. (based on wins, at least)
Ronald Montesano
May 11, 2015 at 3:04 pm
Right?!?! Combined names are so awesome in the media.
Mike
May 11, 2015 at 12:54 pm
The Tiger stuff is insane. Although champions like Woods should not be measured by making cuts, that had to have been a realistic goal for him coming into The Players. He will win big again it’s just a matter of when… In the mean time, it’s nice to have Rory, Rickie and Jordan around.
Pat M
Jun 1, 2015 at 8:04 am
Looks like Tiger is already writing off 2015. Maybe 2016. He is a journeyman golfer now. There are a lot of guys on the web.com tour who are better golfers than Tiger now.
Joakim
May 11, 2015 at 11:36 am
Nice job fowler well deserve now you the must underestimate player on tour. And i must agree about tiger. He made the cut. Speith mickelson kuther didnt!.
sry for my english
/J