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PXG and the Rise of Luxury Golf Equipment

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Karl Benz is widely credited as being the creator of the first practical motorcar. While Mercedes-Benz would spawn from Karl Benz original company, it was Rolls-Royce that made luxury synonymous with automobiles. Parsons Xtreme Golf is doing the same thing with golf equipment. This is a story about the niche market of luxury goods and how the principle of luxury has found its way into the mainstream golf equipment industry.

By the end of 1903, Sir Henry Royce had designed and built his own gas-powered automobile that boasted a 10-horsepower engine. Charles Rolls met Royce in 1904 and vowed to sell as many of Royce’s cars as the man could make. Thus, Rolls-Royce was born. In an early advertisement, the company called the six-cylinder Rolls-Royce, “Not one of the best, but the Best Car in the World.”

Today, if you’re searching for a Rolls-Royce on the company website, you won’t find a price on any of its vehicles, not even its pre-owned cars. Similarly, you can’t find a price for any golf clubs (save for the putters) on the website for Parsons Xtreme Golf. You can’t find a price because if you’re a serious buyer, the price is extraneous. The saying, “If you have to ask, you can’t afford it,” comes to mind.

If you have time, you should check out the Rolls-Royce website. The homepage has this elaborate short film where Kate Winslet narrates the story of Rolls-Royce. The short film opens with a view of the camera gliding through a cloudy sky with a fade-in title, House of Rolls-Royce Presents. “It may surprise you to know,” Winslet says, “There is, in this world, a place where beauty is made.”

On the other end of the spectrum, when you log on to Ford’s website, you see “A vehicle for every lifestyle.” Where Ford wants everyone to own one of its cars, Rolls-Royce wants to sell to people who settle for nothing less than the Best Car in the World.

***

For a long time, the golf industry has operated much like Ford. Most of the manufacturers have produced similarly priced clubs at a similar level of quality all aiming for a share of the same market. Boutique golf equipment manufacturers such as Scratch and Fourteen have built fantastic forged irons, but their price points still pitted them against the behemoths of the golf world. Miura and Epon stand out as companies that have successfully built a bridge between luxury goods and golf equipment with higher price points, but PXG took it to the next level.

Bob Parsons has driven his proverbial Rolls-Royce down Main Street with claims placed gracefully on the PXG About Page. He says PXG makes “the world’s sexiest, most forgiving golf clubs that launch higher, go farther, feel softer and have a sweet spot the size of Texas.” His colloquial description is my favorite.

“Simply put, PXG clubs are the Duck’s Nuts.”

Since PXG released its first line of clubs, its most popular being thin-faced, forged irons filled with a material called thermoplastic elastomer, the discussion has focused disproportionately on the price of the clubs and not the quality. The question most golfers have asked is, “Is there any way PXG clubs can be twice as good as anything else on the market?” It’s a fair question, but it’s irrelevant. Is a Rolex watch 10 times better than a Citizen? It doesn’t matter. Because if you’re looking at the price, then you can’t afford the Rolex, so your opinion of quality doesn’t really apply to the Rolex, does it?

Every article about PXG clubs I’ve read has some comment that resembles the following, “The price of these clubs makes no sense. This is Parson’s pet project and the company won’t be around in two or three years.”

Maybe it is just a pet project for Parsons, a billionaire with an estimated net worth of $2.5 billion, but the truth is, Parsons is a bit of genius. He’s not a genius because he has invented the greatest set of clubs in the history of golf, although some golfers do say that about his clubs. It’s because he identified a hole in the market, and he has filled it with a thermoplastic elastomer.

Related: What makes PXG irons and wedges so different?

Another common tirade I’ve seen is something similar to the following: “The prices are laughable…You can only do so much with a technology…and there is only so much of a premium you can charge here today…”

The prices are laughable… for someone who can’t afford them. The observation about money running out is different because it shows the commenter doesn’t necessarily understand what Parsons is doing. Parsons has said over and over again, “I’m not competing with TaylorMade and Callaway because my target customers are major earners.” And that’s why he’s seeing success. In an interview with Michael Collins on The “Golf” Podcast, Parsons said the company is on track to reach $100 million in sales and will be profitable for 2017.

***

Bob Parsons, whatever your opinion of him is, is using the emotion of luxury to drive his success. In an article published in Psychology Today, Dr. Peter Noel Murray (Ph.D. in Psychology) discusses the emotion of luxury:

“…consumers also are rational beings; aware that they can buy products at mass market retailers which have aesthetics and features similar to luxury brands but are a lot cheaper…Is the rational mind more likely to choose mass market while our emotional mind yearns for luxury? Is it that simple?”

Dr. Murray goes on to say, “we can be emotionally drawn to good design, and then rationally decide whether the exceptional qualities of luxury design are worth the additional price versus the ‘good enough’ qualities of a mass market alternative.”

Golf is a brutal combination of the cerebral and the physical, and because of this players make club choices primarily on subjective and inherently emotional qualities. It’s why players can walk into a store, hit several models on a launch monitor providing all sorts of data and chose a club that might not produce the best data because it feels better.

“Purchase behavior is a direct result of how a consumer perceives that a brand delivers the emotional end-benefits of buying and owning,” Dr. Murray says. “The emotional end benefit is basically, ‘Who am I?’ And how does a brand help define who I am?”

People have an emotional connection to luxury brands. As Dr. Murray points out in his article, this connection typically occurs within the realm of people who have the financial means to purchase luxury brands. Rolls-Royce only wants those people. So too, does PXG.

When people who love cars watch Top Gear and see Jeremy Clarkson roll out in a brand new Ferrari, they don’t look at it and say, “The price on that car is ridiculous.” They say, “That car is amazing,” and then enjoy the test Clarkson puts the Ferrari through, watching in awe of its power and elegance. I know, I’m one of those car lovers.

***

So, why do we look at PXG and say things like, “Those clubs are ridiculous. There’s no way they could be that much better?” The comparative quality is irrelevant. Basic economics says that the market equilibrium lies where supply meets demand. Parsons doesn’t need the equilibrium because he’s not trying to scale; he’s trying to build clubs that people are willing to wait in line to get. That’s how luxury works.

As Dr. Murray puts it, “The luxury brands they [the consumers] treasure have the rare and intangible quality of truth…Luxury brand truth is a visceral connection between consumer and brand.” He goes on to say, “Truth is expressed in narrative and other communication which breathes life into the brand, evoking perceptions of authenticity and timelessness.”

Related: PXG’s new 0811X Drivers, 0341X Fairways and 0317X Hybrids

What Parsons has done so well is ensure that his marketing matches his personal feeling about the product he’s created. Because without those two living in harmony, there would be no authenticity; without authenticity, there is no truth. The narrative Parsons tells with his marketing and his clubs is something those who can afford them relish. This narrative, coupled with successful use of the clubs by LPGA and PGA Tour players such as Lydia Ko and Zach Johnson, has given PXG the platform to take luxury golf equipment mainstream and that’s the gap PXG is bridging. Thanks to brilliant marketing and truly revolutionary designs, luxury golf equipment is no longer a fringe niche.

Welcome to the era of Rolls-Royce, Porsche and Ferrari in golf equipment.

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Adam Crawford is a writer of many topics but golf has always been at the forefront. An avid player and student of the game, Adam seeks to understand both the analytical side of the game as well as the human aspect - which he finds the most important. You can find his books at his website, chandlercrawford.com, or on Amazon.

107 Comments

107 Comments

  1. jerseychris

    May 6, 2017 at 10:35 am

    Lemme know when the pros start paying for the clubs rather than getting payed to play them. Then I’ll take a look.

  2. Guia

    Apr 21, 2017 at 12:03 am

    Is a Mercedes any better than a Chevy? Probably not, they both get you to where you are going.

    The difference is what you can afford. Those that are well heeled usually want to drive something that doesn’t look like every other car on the road.

    Just because you have expensive clubs it does not make you a player. But having less expensive clubs doesn’t either. Play what you want.

  3. Joe

    Apr 18, 2017 at 9:57 pm

    I played with a friend the other day who bags PXG irons. He shot 107. I beat him by 29 strokes.

    I’m serious.

    Obviously I carry a lower handicap and play a lot more golf than he does. I’m not hating on expensive clubs (I play Miura irons). I’m just saying that you can’t buy a golf game.

    I’ve hit his clubs. They’re fine. They feel pretty soft. A bit large for my taste. Are they better than other clubs on the market? No. Not whatsoever.

  4. TeeBone

    Apr 18, 2017 at 4:35 pm

    Nothing new here. There’s a sucker born every minute. Single clubs have been selling for thousands of dollars in Japan for a long time. Why? Because people will pay it. Not because they’re worth it. Why do they pay it? Because if it costs so much, it must be better. Brilliant!

  5. Lowell

    Apr 17, 2017 at 1:16 pm

    I just think that you can only make the bow that much better with price when in fact the Indian needs some lessons.

  6. rich

    Apr 17, 2017 at 1:06 pm

    I will put my Apex Edge pro’s up against these any day. I bet they play no differently when I strike the ball in the middle of the face or high on the heel. If the PXG 7 iron goes 10 yards farther than my 7 Iron, I will pull out my 6 iron. I just don’t get it, no need to spend this much money on clubs. They don’t make you better, you should spend that extra money on lessons. I see the PXG’s in the classified section and laugh at the ball marks all over the toes of the clubs. Yeah, you hit those clubs well…lolll

  7. Caroline

    Apr 17, 2017 at 11:37 am

    Life is short play what you want and can afford period. Nothing is golf is more FUN then making the tee time…getting up and going to the course…after that the pressure builds and the fun leeks away. Having a bag full of sticks you are proud to call your own and playing the ball you adore just make the game so much more enjoyable…less then 5% of golfers are playing at any sort of top level golf where every little variable in equipment makes a difference between getting that second shot close enough to make eagle on the 600 yard par 5 or just a birdie putt. owning PXG equipment is just another example of having fun with the game, for me I am happy as heck when I pull that Ping 9 iron out on the short par 3.

  8. Mr Muira

    Apr 17, 2017 at 8:14 am

    Shank Shank Shanketty Shank Shank.

  9. PGA

    Apr 16, 2017 at 12:23 am

    Play Golf America! :-p

  10. Martin T

    Apr 15, 2017 at 4:06 pm

    I own PXG irons for more than a year. All I can say is that I look forward to PXG smaller iron heads as even 311T are too big and have a fat sole. I think this is what PXG will do soon, smaller heads as they have to know currenlty that for some better players their clubs may feel clunky. It is the same why so many best golfers decide to play real blades with small MOI and not heads that are visibly game improvement stuff.

  11. Mark Walgren

    Apr 15, 2017 at 2:24 pm

    People are idiots for spending that much on irons, lol… $3000 for a set of irons?! I get collecting fashionable watches, high-end watches and cars but these are golf clubs… they go into the dirt and poop… these are not fashion items nor are they collectable.

    • ooffa

      Apr 16, 2017 at 6:33 am

      I feel badly for you.

    • Tom

      Apr 16, 2017 at 2:43 pm

      Mark the same thing can be said about Cameron putters.

      • Jim

        Apr 16, 2017 at 10:45 pm

        ….especially when they don’t perform better on off center hits….

  12. Patrick norm

    Apr 15, 2017 at 1:53 pm

    I get where Bob Parsons is coming from. Americans don’t have a premium golf brand like a Miura or other high end Japanese manufacturers. Clearly he has the resources to withstand the start up costs and build up of his brand. Clearly the PXG clubs perform at least as well if not fractionally better than the top mainstream brands. And b cause the price is a premium he’s not aiming for the masses. Just the demographic that won’t flinch at $300.00 for an iron or $800.00 for a driver.
    Here in Canada the Callaway Epic Driver retails for $695.00 Canadian dollars at Golf Town or about $520.00 USD. That’s a lot of money regardless but Goof Town is selling many of these new drivers. I’ll wait a couple of years.
    If I had the money, I may treat myself to these PXG clubs but for now I’m mainstream. I’m not a PXG customer, I’m a Callaway, Taylor Made ” last year’s model at 60% of the original price guy”.
    Personally , I’ll spend my extra golf money of lessons. I know it’s the best way to improve.

  13. Billable Hours

    Apr 15, 2017 at 12:52 pm

    I’m getting fitted for PXG’s next week. If they perform, price doesn’t matter. The difference between them and Mizuno/TM etc is more or less one month’s club bill, and if $2k is that significant to you you probably shouldn’t be spending $1k on more traditional OEM golf clubs.

    That said – if they don’t perform, I won’t buy them.

    • Kevin

      Apr 15, 2017 at 11:54 pm

      Do yourself a favor and try out some of the other high end brands available here in the states. There is better equipment available.

      • Desmond

        Apr 16, 2017 at 11:13 pm

        Do yourself a favor and recognize that the best equipment is what fits an individual golfer. Better is what fits. If PXG fits the gofler, so be it.

    • Mr Muira

      Apr 17, 2017 at 8:17 am

      Sure, PXG is going to have your swing path fixed, the face fixed and you’ll be hitting it out of centre all day long…lol.

  14. Rod

    Apr 15, 2017 at 9:03 am

    The question, is PXG or will it ever be a profitable entity? The luxury car and or other luxury manufacturing co’s have struggled throughout time. Will PXG make it or will Mr. Parsons continue to carry it with his other entities, which I believe he could do for quite a while. Has not the golf hard goods business seen shake-ups where each time it emerges with fewer contestants battling for market share or will the game of golf ever be able to truly grow and sustain the growth and create and maintain demand for clubs. The problem is that golfers start playing,without proper instruction spend dollars upon hundreds of dollars on equipment rather than instruction, get frustrated due to lack of progress or improvement and quit. The manufacturers, now mostly all publicly held must produce profits at certain levels as mandated by wall street, have changed to a strategy of marketing prowess rather than true innovation to sell clubs to impatient participants who believe that everyone can become a tour level player without practice or physical restraints. It can be compared to spalding holding a power forward or centers basketball camp for high school seniors that are five feet tall. The manufacturers must stop the snake oil sales approach to selling product. Wake up consumers and smell reality and be content with enjoying the game at your skill level.

  15. Ian

    Apr 15, 2017 at 7:12 am

    How do you become a millionaire? Start by being a billionaire and then release a line a of duck nut clubs…

  16. Matt

    Apr 15, 2017 at 2:24 am

    Golf equipment is super affordable compared with a lot of sports and pastimes, so dunno what all this fuss is about – I’m fine with spending a few grand to get set-up with nice equipment (albeit it probably won’t be PXG as I can’t handle the look of all those screws but if it plays good for some then never say never).

  17. Dan

    Apr 15, 2017 at 12:54 am

    As my aunt used to say, ‘If you have it, flaunt it’ and if you have the money then by all means buy what you want. If that means PXG, Honma, Miura go for it. I’m on SS now and couldn’t have afforded them even when I working and I was making real good money then. I just had other priorities like paying the house payment, feeding the family, college tuition, etc. I have always bought the best clubs I could afford and got fitted. I do keep my fingers crossed that the weekly or bi-weekly player who is the backbone of golf doesn’t get priced out of quality golf equipment and playing golf because of rising green fees. Go Cobra Golf, high quality product at a fair price IMHO!

  18. Dat

    Apr 15, 2017 at 12:12 am

    PXG is garbage. This native content needs improvement.

  19. alan

    Apr 14, 2017 at 11:05 pm

    spilt your lungs in blood and thunder when you see the white whale. break your backs and crack your oars man if you wish to prevail. this ivory leg is what propels me harpoons thrust in the sky.

  20. Fredo

    Apr 14, 2017 at 10:59 pm

    HATE! Or what, ain’t no big deal. The numbers for my swing pointed towards PXG, and I honestly thought they were hideous looking. But looks aside, irons this forgiving were NOT staying out of this hacks bag. Result: dropped from a 12 handicap to a 9. End of story

  21. Dave R

    Apr 14, 2017 at 10:05 pm

    They are more than likely a very good product but cost is rather high. But then if you feel comfortable and it gives you confidence and your a young up and comer go for it. And all the best in your endivors.

  22. Kip

    Apr 14, 2017 at 9:39 pm

    I saw a Korean lady at the range today with these clubs and a cheap beat up golf back. Talk about sending a mix message. I understand the premise. If you was to broadcast to the world that you have money to burn these are the clubs for you. They are good clubs, but there are a lot of great clubs out there. You cannot compare these clubs to a Ferrari as it is a car that is at top of the food chain in terms of luxury and performance. There are not many cars on the market that out perform Ferrari therefore the price is justified. As for these clubs, it’s a status symbol and nothing more. It’s known that PXG spend millions to get players to use their club. If I was offered a million or 2 million to use a golf club I would sacrifice and play poorly for a while to get that check and that is what you are seeing on the LPGA and PGA. I don’t blame them as I would do the same thing. The sad thing is that you will have people who really don’t have the money go into debt to get these clubs just to make it look like they are wealthy. The sport of golf is an after thought. I wish PXG the best. I checked them out for my daughter and she didn’t like them. We are now looking at the Mizuno JPX 900’s which are beautiful to look at and a joy to hit. Also checking out Fourteen. My daughter is getting amazing results with their wedges. If PXG ever gets to the point where is performs like a Ferrari and leave practically everyone in the dust I will take another look at them.

    • Jim

      Apr 14, 2017 at 10:03 pm

      Without a doubt…go with the Fourteens…their proprietary graphite shafts are simply excellent. The tolerances blow Mizuno away…..Honma, Miura, Epon & Fourteen use only the finest Japanese steel selected in smaller batches

  23. Miuralovechild

    Apr 14, 2017 at 8:22 pm

    Got fitted recently and the PXG driver performed the best for me. Very rock solid and forgiving. Hell yeah it was worth the money. I’m hitting over 80% of my fairways. I went into the fitting completely open minded. Hit the Epic a little further but less accurate. Went with Oban Kiyoshi black SST pured. Wish I would have gotten fitted a long time ago. The irons felt nice but not any better than my Miura’s. Can’t wait to see my numbers with the lower spinning 0811x. I’ll do whatever it takes to play better and have more confidence. I grateful my club fitter has EVERYTHING to try.

    • Jim

      Apr 14, 2017 at 10:57 pm

      That’s the key…”Everything to try” – including shafts. Even better – indoor outdoor full length range…we use ‘better’ yellow balls for the fittings (B6’s) so they’re plucked out at the ball washer from the range balls and only used for fittings. Having ‘everything’ to try is a substantial investment by your professional fitter, and testing on Trackman against ‘all comers’ over a 60 or 90 minute session proved that club & shaft combo DID work best for you. Period. Great choice going with the Oban too…they’re awesome & when SST Pured, even more consistent.

      I’M a total Miuta guy, but got an awesome full staff Callaway deal and the Apex Irons with 110gr RECOIL shafts are killer.

      While I always say I personally don’t care for the TOO soft feel of the PXG irons, they crush everything else on OFF center hits, even my beloved Miura’s and now Apex irons….

      Let’s remember the cat who ‘created’ them was a chopper, and if I have a sweet spot the size of Rhode Island, and miss it, I’ll take my licks – so to speak and go hit it again….I always figured a 90 yrs worm burner from a swing that deserved it was better than a GI iron getting it airborne and sending it 45 yrds longer into the woods or the rough

  24. JOEL GOODMAN

    Apr 14, 2017 at 7:44 pm

    SLUGS THAT WORK THERE DO NOT PLAY GOLF.

  25. ooffa

    Apr 14, 2017 at 6:03 pm

    They are the best clubs I have ever owned. Most definitely worth the money. If you can swing it you owe it to yourself to get a set of these.

  26. Matt

    Apr 14, 2017 at 5:11 pm

    Dunno why golfers are such tight arses sometimes. Golf equipment isn’t expensive compared to a lot of sports. Cycling for example; bikers who don’t even race the lowest category (or race at all) are rolling around everywhere on USD $5,000 – $15,000+ pro bikes. I don’t have a set of PXG clubs, but appreciate great gear and companies who make it (nb. just got fit and bought a GBB Epic which feels like an instant classic, but the rest of my gear is tried and tested new+older stuff) as well as appreciate the look and feel of old hand made persimmon’s and forged blades. Ultimately, there’s always gonna be an affordable end of the market for equipment so if you’re on a budget there are tons of options – don’t see the point in running down a favourite pastime such as golf…

  27. Barry

    Apr 14, 2017 at 4:59 pm

    Rolls Royce, Bugatti, Laborghini, LV etc. is for russian & chinese wannabes, maybe some degenerated upper class from the middle east. Come on, real guys don’t need that embarrassing stuff for their egos. Same with PXG!

    • Tal

      Apr 14, 2017 at 8:32 pm

      Your comment only holds water if you yourself can afford a Ferrari, Lamborghini, etc. but choose not to buy one. Otherwise it sounds like you’re just trying to make yourself feel better.

  28. Taffy

    Apr 14, 2017 at 3:57 pm

    Status status status. You have all missed the point. PXG is selling exclusivity. Quality performance or anything else are not as important as showing you are wealthy enough to buy them. It makes a statement about you. Clever clever Mr Parsons!

  29. Flyer7

    Apr 14, 2017 at 3:06 pm

    Mizuno all day every day!

    • Tom

      Apr 14, 2017 at 4:51 pm

      • Brian

        Apr 14, 2017 at 9:21 pm

        Comparing a blade to a cavity and a hollow iron design?

        • Tom

          Apr 14, 2017 at 10:57 pm

          Brian it was a side by side due to the results of a golf wrx poll. Inquiring minds wanted to know.

      • Jim

        Apr 14, 2017 at 10:35 pm

        Without a doubt…go with the Fourteens…their proprietary graphite shafts are simply excellent. The tolerances blow Mizuno away…..Honma, Miura, Epon & Fourteen use only the finest Japanese steel selected in smaller batches

  30. Hohohon

    Apr 14, 2017 at 2:22 pm

    • Patrick norm

      Apr 15, 2017 at 1:06 pm

      I don’t what language this is but I thought this company made sound equipment? And how do these clubs measure up to Titleist Callaway Ping Taylor Made, etc. ?

  31. Robert Morgenthal

    Apr 14, 2017 at 2:13 pm

    Rolls Royce and Ferrari don’t have media ads with their founders as their spoke person. Tacky ads do not convey Luxury, Exclusivity or Limited availability. Even Lincoln uses Matthew McConaughey.
    Food for thought…

    • Adam Crawford

      Apr 14, 2017 at 2:16 pm

      That’s because Rolls-Royce was founded in 1904…The founders were in the original ads.

  32. BD57

    Apr 14, 2017 at 1:55 pm

    The comments by people slamming PXG are funny ….

    PXG doesn’t care what anyone who isn’t interested in buying their stuff things about their stuff.

    All they care about is whether ENOUGH people are interested in buying their stuff.

    That they’ve signed a representative tour staff says their stuff is “good enough” for these tour players to risk their livelihoods on it.

    I don’t play PXG. Thus far, haven’t wanted to spend that kind of money . . . . but if I went for a “blind fitting” (one where any head and any shaft would be tried in any combination) and the PXG stuff performed best, I’d sure think about it.

  33. Tom54

    Apr 14, 2017 at 1:23 pm

    If ever PXG starts making a dent in the golf market all the other major manufacturers have to do is come out with a spinoff luxury line of clubs and charge 2-3 times the price. Kinda like Toyotas Lexus brand, Hondas Acura brand etc. As far as I’m concerned these well know club makers are the top of the line anyway. PXG could be the next Delorean of the club market.

    • Jim

      Apr 14, 2017 at 2:04 pm

      They already are….’cept they were chasing Callaway when ‘the plans were laid’ – hence the jumps of between 2-450 per set with ‘Tour Select /limited/ etc.

      For years we’ve known the big 4 OEM (not inc ping) “best” @999 were actually pretty poorly manufactured mediocre heads Mr. Miura would’ve tossed back in the smelter….They can’t increase their ‘special’ hand picked for tour staff & family lots to maybe sell a thousand or two @ 300 club if the other guys do too

    • KCCO

      Apr 14, 2017 at 3:33 pm

      They have….if they are gonna show profits in 2017 they put a dent. Article could not have explained any better. A z06 will ride right along side of a Porsche GT3 on a track. At half it’s price. Someone prefers the Porsche, so be it. Their money, let them spend it. They obviously perform, Ryan Moore demonstrated at the masters, who cares how some spend their money. In regards to golf, their are guys with 6 figure numbers in putters. (On this site) Is that any diffferent? Or buying a TMAG tour head for $800 vs. retail $450 W/shaft? I could careless if someone wouldn’t care to pay the price for my golfbag. I could careless to pay the price for the limited edition Ruger. Perform any better than my Sig? Probably not but that’s his thing, this is mine. Enjoy the finer things in your passion as your only here so long to enjoy. Careless what others opinion are about your spending. It’s for your pleasure, not theirs.

      • Geoff

        Apr 14, 2017 at 4:15 pm

        Re: your claim that they have made a dent, all the article “explained” was that Parsons told someone they were going to be profitable this year. That doesn’t mean it will happen.

        Evidence that they perform is Ryan Moore at the Masters? That’s the best you can come up with? I guess I can say PXG sux. Just look at Zach Johnson and James Hahn at the Masters.

  34. Jamie

    Apr 14, 2017 at 1:08 pm

    pretty sure i could get a master fitting into mizuno, tm, titleist etc w/ custom shafts and still be paying way less than PXG. so why go pxg?

    now the analogy to other luxury products… i can’t get my toyota camry to behave or feel anywhere remotely close to a Bentley.

  35. Shallowface

    Apr 14, 2017 at 12:55 pm

    I can afford them, but the reason I can is that I’ve made a lifelong habit of avoiding frivolous purchases.

  36. GMatt

    Apr 14, 2017 at 12:47 pm

    So according to the author (and Bob Parsons) Iif I buy PXG irons and hit my 7 iron 340 yards, and win every tournament I enter because they are the best….LOL
    I’ll bet Parsons also has some land in Florida to sell that MIGHT have a slight drainage problem

    It’s a luxury product (actually more of a status product “I’m rich and can afford them”) I’m sure they are good clubs but they don’t seem to be outperforming anything else out there now and their tour pros certainly aren’t dominating, if you can afford them kudos to you but don’t brag to me that they are they best performing….Save your breath

  37. Geoff

    Apr 14, 2017 at 12:35 pm

    GolfWRX must’ve emailed emailed their contributors and asked who would be willing to ball wash Parson’s duck nuts. This guy was the first to respond.

    • sleeper

      Apr 14, 2017 at 1:27 pm

      So the whole point of this article is higher price = greater luxury, which somehow = business success? PXG may cost more, but until they prove themselves to be superior at anything (performance, looks, durability, whatever) the brand won’t be known for anything other than its price. And as soon as the status-seeking or try-everything consumer segments are tapped out, we’ll know whether PXG has a future. I kinda doubt it.

  38. BigSeanM

    Apr 14, 2017 at 12:26 pm

    PXG clubs are the best, know why mean. I am going to get a set when my settlement comes in.

  39. Ryan

    Apr 14, 2017 at 12:24 pm

    So, I’d love for the author to qualify this statement: “This narrative, coupled with successful use of the clubs by LPGA and PGA Tour players such as Lydia Ko and Zach Johnson, has given PXG the platform to take luxury golf equipment mainstream and that’s the gap PXG is bridging.” To what success are you referring, please?

    • KCCO

      Apr 14, 2017 at 3:52 pm

      Did Schwartzel play well in masters? I think he did fine. Moore? Clubs didn’t hurt him either. Can’t knock their staff. Once they profit, more players will get contracts. Just because Parson’s has money doesn’t mean he is gonna just start throwing huge contracts at whomever? He’s doing things smarter than anyone would have thought. After 2017 he will let “PXG” pay for more staffers, you will then see how smart and how long this company is here to stay. If someone one the masters playing PXG anything, he would be profiting yesterday.

  40. Mike

    Apr 14, 2017 at 12:20 pm

    I can’t say if the PXG products are any better or worse than other equipment manufacture’s. I do see tour pros who are under contract with other manufactures for bag and however many clubs putting PXG equipment in the bag. This tells me that the PXG equipment is at minimum equal, but if it was equal why not just stay with the current brand, so there must be some benefit that the PXG equipment offers over the current brand. I read a reference to Lydia and her recent struggles. I am no expert, but with her swing changes and coaching changes, I am not surprised to see some decline. I think we have all seen players make a change, have a performance drop in competition and then once the changes are ingrained and trusted in competition perform at a higher level than prior to the changes. I believe it has little to do with the PXG equipment she changed to. The PXG brand has been interesting to follow, from the design and looks of their equipment to the Tour players they are signing, it’s definitely been a quick rise. I look forward to the next chapter

    • Rod

      Apr 16, 2017 at 7:22 am

      Would Lydia play PXG if she had not been paid to do so? I think not. They are clearly good clubs but so are Mizuno, Titleist, Ping, TM and the others. If they are so special, I wonder why Cristie Kerr is no longer using them? She won today using Ping I believe.

  41. Mower

    Apr 14, 2017 at 12:13 pm

    In my opinion, PXG has missed-the-mark… aesthetically. The overuse of screw heads makes their clubs look over-machined or something the military would come up with. Their logo branding is another aesthetic abomination. The chunky, Iron Maden-like design does not exude a professional grade product. If anything, it makes them look like they should be selling in Walmart stores.

    What brands do exude professionalism? Answer: MIURA & FourteeN.

    How to avoid making your product look like a Tonka toy? Answer: Hire a graphic designer and not a family member who’s feelings you don’t want to hurt because they have delicate sensibilities.

  42. David

    Apr 14, 2017 at 12:12 pm

    I don’t like this article. For many reasons. everyone stated them well already and I agree. expensive things are about performance or looking cool. These things don’t perform and yes they are hideous.

  43. bob keane

    Apr 14, 2017 at 12:07 pm

    Funny how all of their staff players are doing worse than before they switched to PXG.

  44. Shortside

    Apr 14, 2017 at 12:06 pm

    Different strokes. Personally not a fan of all the screws. To my eye they look like unfinished prototypes.
    Now the Titleist C16’s? Gimme some a dat all day.

  45. Mark

    Apr 14, 2017 at 11:59 am

    Bling is not quality. Some designer brands make mediocre clothing…RL and Hilfiger shirts wash out of colour and shape faster than chain stores. Same with sports gear. Nike bling or Saucony and Brooks technology? Some of the wealthiest guys in our club use 10 year old sets of clubs and laugh at the guy with a maxed out credit card and a new set of clubs.

  46. BarryLA

    Apr 14, 2017 at 11:48 am

    Rolls Royce, Bugatti, Laborghini, LV etc. is for russian & chinese wannabes, maybe some degenerated upper class from the middle east. Come on, real guys don’t need that embarrassing stuff for their egos. Same with PXG!

  47. Tyler

    Apr 14, 2017 at 11:48 am

    I was recently fit for new irons. I test PXG irons and found them to be no better than the Srixon 765’s I eventually went with.

    Don’t get me wrong, the Parson’s were awesome. If they would have gone farther or felt better I would have got them. I have a credit card. But they didn’t. The Srixon’s outperformed and suited me better. More expensive doesn’t always mean better. I think we all know that already though.

  48. WarrenPeace

    Apr 14, 2017 at 11:39 am

    I notice Zach Johnson isn’t doing so well since moving from Titleist? If the clubs create confidence….great..but on a technical level, the swing produces good and bad shots, not the tool. Its an emotional buy for sure and if you have the dough- get some. Your game will still suck until you fix the mechanics.

  49. Chubbs

    Apr 14, 2017 at 11:19 am

    One key point the author forgot to include about luxury brands: they are exclusive. Exclusivity breeds a feeling of desire by those that can’t afford the product. And those that buy PXG probably gain a sense of superiority from this exclusivity.

    • Adam Crawford

      Apr 14, 2017 at 11:32 am

      That’s a great point! You’re right, I didn’t spell that out but it’s a critical part of the Psychology with luxury.

      • new stuff!!

        Apr 14, 2017 at 12:26 pm

        exclusivity also breeds feelings of contempt – haters are always gonna hate – especially stuff they can’t afford, they need to convince themselves that it’s not worth it to make them feel better that they can’t afford it. just lots of noise. for us who understand the PXG business model just ignore the noise, to fight is futile.

        • Lester Diamond

          Apr 15, 2017 at 6:05 am

          Well golly gee, aren’t you f*&%$in’ precious.

    • Robert

      Apr 14, 2017 at 12:08 pm

      The problem with this theory is there is absolutely nothing to gain from PXGs. Titleist MBs feel better and I don’t even like Titleist. Is the ballspeed just as good? Yeah, for me, it was similar ballspeed (TM). When I buy a Ferrari, I know it’s superior to a Toyota Corolla in many many ways. IMHO, I personally don’t feel like you get that when you buy PXG clubs.

      • farmer

        Apr 14, 2017 at 6:22 pm

        Actually, a Corolla is better for going to the grocery store. The Ferrari would win coolest-milk-run-ride-ever contest, hands down.

    • Geoff

      Apr 14, 2017 at 3:52 pm

      Exclusivity only breeds a feeling of desire when the brand in question has an established reputation, especially by those who cannot afford it, that the high price is justified. “I can’t afford it, but if I could, I would definitely buy it.” PXG is miles away from acquiring that kind of reputation.

      • Adam Crawford

        Apr 14, 2017 at 9:04 pm

        Not going to argue with that, however, what I find interesting about PXG, and what prompted his article, is that the company is creating a scenario in golf where this can happen. They do have a ways to go, but they’ve made it further than many other companies because they understand their market.

  50. Myron miller

    Apr 14, 2017 at 11:18 am

    My issue with them is some of the advertising is that they are the “best clubs money can buy”. That implies that they are better than any other clubs technically. And technically does count in this or else its a clear FTC case of false advertising.

    With Epon and Miura, they are clearly and proven better technically than standard mass-market clubs. Are they worth the significant price difference they have or just somewhat better. that’s a debate that can’t be won or decided. Yes, they are definitely better but worth the extra money more, who knows.

    Whereas PXG advertises on its site: “PXG WAS DEVELOPED WITH ONE GOAL IN MIND: TO CREATE THE BEST-PERFORMING GOLF EQUIPMENT ON THE PLANET, WITHOUT REGARD TO COST”. So clearly the difference in performance versus the cost is a factor in people’s mind. Are they definitely better technically. That’s as indicated by the comments above a real question.

  51. S Hitter

    Apr 14, 2017 at 11:15 am

    Another terrible self-aggrandizing advert-iclie.
    And PXG is not the first, the Japanese have been doing for decades. At least in Japan they have gold-plated, gold-painted, beautiful looking, nice-feeling, nice-to-hold, great-performaning, worth-the-money golf equipment that will make you feel good and make you look good, like a Rolls or a Ferrari. And the Japanese ones cost about 10 times as much as PXG.
    Here’s an example. http://g3.globeride.co.jp
    And, at least the Japanese are up front and honest about the specs of their products.

  52. Richard

    Apr 14, 2017 at 11:15 am

    Spot on. Not sure why all the haters… if it works for you and can afford them, go for it. Love them.

  53. Brian

    Apr 14, 2017 at 10:56 am

    Ferrari and Rolex watches are beautiful works of art in combination of being of fantastic quality and performance. PXG clubs are, in my opinion, ugly clubs that perform no better than any other iron out there.

    If a Ferrari was no better in quality and artistic value than a Toyota Camry, then yes, we would talk about the ridiculous price of the Ferrari.

    • Mower

      Apr 14, 2017 at 11:51 am

      Aesthetically they’re missing-the-mark with the generous use of screws heads. It makes them look over machined, like military grade and does not exude a ‘professional quality’. On top of that, their logo branding is horribly designed. Big, blocky Iron Maden-looking chunkyness does not help their goal.

      Who does exude a professional quality? Answer: MIURA, FourteeN.

    • Jeff

      Apr 14, 2017 at 12:59 pm

      Eh, I was gifted a $10k Rolex and my Casio keeps better time and date by far. I still wear my Rolex more. The brain is odd.

      • Adam Crawford

        Apr 14, 2017 at 1:07 pm

        Right, and that’s the whole point. It’s not a quality discussion, it’s an emotional/status discussion. Some people are able to separate emotion from consumer decisions, but most aren’t, myself included.

  54. Kevin

    Apr 14, 2017 at 10:49 am

    Only problem with your comparison is a Rolls-Royce is actually a higher quality product than a Ford. Where PXG is of the same quality as all the OEM equipment.

    Nothing revolutionary about what PXG has done. Take some outdated technology, thermoplastic whatever, and call it a brand new idea. Throw a ton of money into advertising with false claims about the quality and watch it sell. You are not paying for quality like you do with other high-end brands, you are paying Zach Johnson to keep missing cuts and paying for ads on TV.

    • Adam Crawford

      Apr 14, 2017 at 11:17 am

      You can’t claim that their quality is the same as other OEMs because that’s subjective, just like I didn’t claim it was better than other OEMs. Those are claims that can’t be objectively made so they are irrelevant to the discussion. The idea of luxury is all about how the person feels owning whatever luxury item. It has nothing to do with objectivity in quality.

      • Steve Rawlinson

        Apr 14, 2017 at 11:29 am

        Whereas you *can* claim that the quality of a Rolls Royce is higher than that of a Ford.

      • tourgrinder

        Apr 14, 2017 at 11:39 am

        The problem is, you DID claim that, by implication. I quote, “Most of the manufacturers have produced similarly priced clubs at a similar level of quality all aiming for a share of the same market.” Thus, the clear implication that all other OEMs are all basicaslly in the same boat as per quality-for-price and just not quite up to the quality level of PXG. As a 40+ year verteran in marketing, communications, advertising and promotion, including some years with quality manufacturers such as Ram and Wilson, your points are all well-taken, but actually bordering more closely to the writings of a PKG press release, or some hired PR and publicity gun for Bob Parsons. Nothing wrong with that, really. It is the business you’ve chosen, as some “Godfather” character once said. I’ve written comments before on this website about several PXG-related articles. Since my earlier comments, I’ve actually had an opportunity to hit demos of PXG irons. They feel very solid and even slightly “soft,” although that may be the wrong word. However, in truth, I would say I also have several sets in my closet — Ram Tour Grind irons from the 80s and Ram Pro-Set irons from the early 90s. They all feel just as solid and just as ‘soft.’ Several of these sets are like new and hardly used. I cordially invite Mr. Crawford, or Mr. K from Golfwrx, to buy any of these sets I have in my closet for $3,000 a set.

    • John

      Apr 15, 2017 at 7:20 pm

      I have a set of 0311t irons, my taylormade mc irons which were fitted had lofts and lies all over the place (6 & 7 irons nearly the same loft but EIGHT degrees different lie angle)…. Pxg’s were perfect out of the wrapper (had them checked on arrival). The quality IS better – hard pill to swallow for the cheap skate but it’s the truth. If you want an angle you can argue? They don’t make you shoot lower scores – it’s the Indian not the arrow, you can’t buy a golf game.

      • Kevin

        Apr 16, 2017 at 12:07 am

        LOL. Having proper loft and lie out of the box is not what I would call quality. Sounds like you drank the full bowl of kool-aid.

        • John

          Apr 17, 2017 at 6:20 am

          I would say quality of manufacture and build ARE indicators of quality by definition.

        • ROY

          Apr 17, 2017 at 10:02 am

          SO what would you call having a 6/7 iron “nearly the same loft” with lie angels 8 degrees apart?? Just a bad break from a top quality manufacturer??

  55. Jay

    Apr 14, 2017 at 10:45 am

    I own a luxury car because of the performance and it looks nice. I’ve tried PXG woods and I can honestly say the performance wasn’t as good as the big name brands, and I didn’t really like the way it looked. Oh well. Besides that doesn’t PXG use the same shafts as everyone else? Shaft = engine. That’s where the car analogy goes astray.

  56. Ryan

    Apr 14, 2017 at 10:41 am

    I will say, the one guy at our course who has PXGs also has a staff bag and drives an E63 AMG Black Series. Not only high earners, but people who want you to be WELL AWARE that they are high earners.

  57. Rich

    Apr 14, 2017 at 10:38 am

    Over rated and way over priced. What happened to “The sexiest clubs” claim?

  58. TigerArmy

    Apr 14, 2017 at 10:26 am

    Porsche over Ferrari every day!
    Mizuno over PXG every day!
    iPhoneve Samsung every day!

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open betting preview

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As the Florida swing comes to an end, the PGA Tour makes its way to Houston to play the Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course.

This will be the fourth year that Memorial Park Golf Course will serve as the tournament host. The event did not take place in 2023, but the course hosted the event in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Memorial Park is a par-70 layout measuring 7,432 yards and features Bermudagrass greens. Historically, the main defense for the course has been thick rough along the fairways and tightly mown runoff areas around the greens. Memorial Park has a unique setup that features three Par 5’s and five Par 3’s.

The field will consist of 132 players, with the top 65 and ties making the cut. There are some big names making the trip to Houston, including Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Tony Finau, Will Zalatoris and Sahith Theegala.

Past Winners at Memorial Park

  • 2022: Tony Finau (-16)
  • 2021: Jason Kokrak (-10)
  • 2020: Carlos Ortiz (-13)

In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value). 

Key Stats For Memorial Park

Let’s take a look at several metrics for Memorial Park to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their last 24 rounds:

Strokes Gained: Approach

Memorial Park is a pretty tough golf course. Golfers are penalized for missing greens and face some difficult up and downs to save par. Approach will be key.

Total Strokes Gained: Approach per round in past 24 rounds:

  1. Tom Hoge (+1.30)
  2. Scottie Scheffler (+1.26)
  3. Keith Mitchell (+0.97) 
  4. Tony Finau (+0.92)
  5. Jake Knapp (+0.84)

Strokes Gained: Off the Tee

Memorial Park is a long golf course with rough that can be penal. Therefore, a combination of distance and accuracy is the best metric.

Total Strokes Gained: Off the Tee per round in past 24 rounds:

  1. Scottie Scheffler (+0.94)
  2. Kevin Dougherty (+0.93)
  3. Cameron Champ (+0.86)
  4. Rafael Campos (+0.84)
  5. Si Woo Kim (+0.70)

Strokes Gained Putting: Bermudagrass + Fast

The Bermudagrass greens played fairly fast the past few years in Houston. Jason Kokrak gained 8.7 strokes putting on his way to victory in 2021 and Tony Finau gained in 7.8 in 2022.

Total Strokes Gained Putting (Bermudagrass) per round past 24 rounds (min. 8 rounds):

  1. Adam Svensson (+1.27)
  2. Harry Hall (+1.01)
  3. Martin Trainer (+0.94)
  4. Taylor Montgomery (+0.88)
  5. S.H. Kim (+0.86)

Strokes Gained: Around the Green

With firm and undulating putting surfaces, holding the green on approach shots may prove to be a challenge. Memorial Park has many tightly mowed runoff areas, so golfers will have challenging up-and-down’s around the greens. Carlos Ortiz gained 5.7 strokes around the green on the way to victory in 2020.

Total Strokes Gained: Around the Green per round in past 24 rounds:

  1. Mackenzie Hughes (+0.76)
  2. S.H. Kim (+0.68)
  3. Scottie Scheffler (+0.64)
  4. Jorge Campillo (+0.62)
  5. Jason Day (+0.60)

Strokes Gained: Long and Difficult

Memorial Park is a long and difficult golf course. This statistic will incorporate players who’ve had success on these types of tracks in the past. 

Total Strokes Gained: Long and Difficult in past 24 rounds:

  1. Scottie Scheffler (+2.45)
  2. Ben Griffin (+1.75)
  3. Will Zalatoris (+1.73)
  4. Ben Taylor (+1.53)
  5. Tony Finau (+1.42)

Course History

Here are the players who have performed the most consistently at Memorial Park. 

Strokes Gained Total at Memorial Park past 12 rounds:

  1. Tyson Alexander (+3.65)
  2. Ben Taylor (+3.40)
  3. Tony Finau (+2.37)
  4. Joel Dahmen (+2.25)
  5. Patton Kizzire (+2.16)

Statistical Model

Below, I’ve reported overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed.

These rankings are comprised of SG: App (24%) SG: OTT (24%); SG: Putting Bermudagrass/Fast (13%); SG: Long and Difficult (13%); SG: ARG (13%) and Course History (13%)

  1. Scottie Scheffler
  2. Wyndham Clark
  3. Tony Finau
  4. Joel Dahmen
  5. Stephan Jaeger 
  6. Aaron Rai
  7. Sahith Theegala
  8. Keith Mitchell 
  9. Jhonnatan Vegas
  10. Jason Day
  11. Kurt Kitayama
  12. Alex Noren
  13. Will Zalatoris
  14. Si Woo Kim
  15. Adam Long

2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open Picks

Will Zalatoris +2000 (Caesars)

Scottie Scheffler will undoubtedly be difficult to beat this week, so I’m starting my card with someone who I believe has the talent to beat him if he doesn’t have his best stuff.

Will Zalatoris missed the cut at the PLAYERS, but still managed to gain strokes on approach while doing so. In an unpredictable event with extreme variance, I don’t believe it would be wise to discount Zalatoris based on that performance. Prior to The PLAYERS, the 27-year-old finished T13, T2 and T4 in his previous three starts.

Zalatoris plays his best golf on long and difficult golf courses. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 3rd in the category, but the eye test also tells a similar story. He’s contended at major championships and elevated events in the best of fields with tough scoring conditions.  The Texas resident should be a perfect fit at Memorial Park Golf Club.

Alex Noren +4500 (FanDuel)

Alex Noren has been quietly playing some of his best golf of the last half decade this season. The 41-year-old is coming off back-to-back top-20 finishes in Florida including a T9 at The PLAYERS in his most recent start.

In his past 24 rounds, Noren ranks 21st in the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, 30th in Strokes Gained: Around the Green, 25th in Strokes Gained: Total on long and difficult courses and 21st in Strokes Gained: Putting on fast Bermudagrass greens.

In addition to his strong recent play, the Swede also has played well at Memorial Park. In 2022, Noren finished T4 at the event, gaining 2.2 strokes off the tee and 7.0 strokes on approach for the week. In his two starts at the course, he’s gained an average of .6 strokes per round on the field, indicating he is comfortable on these greens.

Noren has been due for a win for what feels like an eternity, but Memorial Park may be the course that suits him well enough for him to finally get his elusive first PGA Tour victory.

Mackenzie Hughes +8000 (FanDuel)

Mackenzie Hughes found himself deep into contention at last week’s Valspar Championship before faltering late and finishing in a tie for 3rd place. While he would have loved to win the event, it’s hard to see the performance as anything other than an overwhelming positive sign for the Canadian.

Hughes has played great golf at Memorial Park in the past. He finished T7 in 2020, T29 in 2021 and T16 in 2022. The course fit seems to be quite strong for Hughes. He’s added distance off the tee in the past year or and ranks 8th in the field for apex height, which will be a key factor when hitting into Memorial Park’s elevated greens with steep run-off areas.

In his past 24 rounds, Hughes is the best player in the field in Strokes Gained: Around the Greens. The ability to scramble at this course will be extremely important. I believe Hughes can build off of his strong finish last week and contend once again to cement himself as a President’s Cup consideration.

Akshay Bhatia +8000 (FanDuel)

Akshay Bhatia played well last week at the Valspar and seemed to be in total control of his golf ball. He finished in a tie for 17th and shot an impressive -3 on a difficult Sunday. After struggling Thursday, Akshay shot 68-70-68 in his next three rounds.

Thus far, Bhatia has played better at easier courses, but his success at Copperhead may be due to his game maturing. The 22-year-old has enormous potential and the raw talent to be one of the best players in the world when he figures it all out.

Bhatia is a high upside play with superstar qualities and may just take the leap forward to the next stage of his career in the coming months.

Cameron Champ +12000 (FanDuel)

Cameron Champ is a player I often target in the outright betting market due to his “boom-or-bust” nature. It’s hard to think of a player in recent history with three PGA Tour wins who’s been as inconsistent as Champ has over the course of his career.

Despite the erratic play, Cam Champ simply knows how to win. He’s won in 2018, 2019 and 2021, so I feel he’s due for a win at some point this season. The former Texas A&M product should be comfortable in Texas and last week he showed us that his game is in a pretty decent spot.

Over his past 24 rounds, Champ ranks 3rd in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 30th in Strokes Gained: Total on long and difficult courses. Given his ability to spike at any given time, Memorial Park is a good golf course to target Champ on at triple digit odds.

Robert MacIntyre +12000 (FanDuel)

The challenge this week is finding players who can possibly beat Scottie Scheffler while also not dumping an enormous amount of money into an event that has a player at the top that looks extremely dangerous. Enter McIntyre, who’s another boom-or-bust type player who has the ceiling to compete with anyone when his game is clicking on all cylinders.

In his past 24 rounds, MacIntyre ranks 16th in the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, 17th in Strokes Gained: Around the Green and 10th in Strokes Gained: Total on long and difficult courses.

MacIntyre’s PGA Tour season has gotten off to a slow start, but he finished T6 in Mexico, which is a course where players will hit driver on the majority of their tee shots, which is what we will see at Memorial Park. Texas can also get quite windy, which should suit MacIntyre. Last July, the Scot went toe to toe with Rory McIlroy at the Scottish Open before a narrow defeat. It would take a similar heroic effort to compete with Scheffler this year in Houston.

Ryan Moore +15000 (FanDuel)

Ryan Moore’s iron play has been absolutely unconscious over his past few starts. At The PLAYERS Championship in a loaded field, he gained 6.1 strokes on approach and last week at Copperhead, he gained 9.0 strokes on approach.

It’s been a rough handful of years on Tour for the 41-year-old, but he is still a five-time winner on the PGA Tour who’s young enough for a career resurgence. Moore has chronic deterioration in a costovertebral joint that connects the rib to the spine, but has been getting more consistent of late, which is hopefully a sign that he is getting healthy.

Veterans have been contending in 2024 and I believe taking a flier on a proven Tour play who’s shown signs of life is a wise move at Memorial Park.

 

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Opinion & Analysis

Ryan: Why the race to get better at golf might be doing more harm than good

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B.F. Skinner was one of the most important psychologists of the 20th century, developing the foundation of the development of reinforcement, and in doing so, creating the concept of behaviorism. In simple terms, this means that we are conditioned by our habits. In practical terms, it explains the divide between the few and far between elite instructors and college coaches.

To understand the application, let’s quickly review one of B.F. Skinner’s most important experiments; superstitions in the formation of behavior by pigeons. In this experiment, food was dispensed to pigeons at random intervals. Soon, according to Skinner, the pigeons began to associate whatever action they were doing at the time of the food being dispensed. According to Skinner, this conditioned that response and soon, they simply haphazardly repeated the action, failing to distinguish between cause and correlation (and in the meantime, looking really funny!).

Now, this is simply the best way to describe the actions of most every women’s college golf coach and too many instructors in America. They see something work, get positive feedback and then become conditioned to give the feedback, more and more, regardless of if it works (this is also why tips from your buddies never work!).

Go to a college event, particularly a women’s one, and you will see coaches running all over the place. Like the pigeons in the experiment, they have been conditioned into a codependent relationship with their players in which they believe their words and actions, can transform a round of golf. It is simply hilarious while being equally perturbing

In junior golf, it’s everywhere. Junior golf academies make a living selling parents that a hysterical coach and over-coaching are essential ingredients in your child’s success.

Let’s be clear, no one of any intellect has any real interest in golf — because it’s not that interesting. The people left, including most coaches and instructors, carve out a small fiefdom, usually on the corner of the range, where they use the illusion of competency to pray on people. In simple terms, they baffle people with the bullshit of pseudo-science that they can make you better, after just one more lesson.

The reality is that life is an impromptu game. The world of golf, business, and school have a message that the goal is being right. This, of course, is bad advice, being right in your own mind is easy, trying to push your ideas on others is hard. As a result, it is not surprising that the divorce rate among golf professionals and their instructors is 100 percent. The transfer rate among college players continues to soar, and too many courses have a guy peddling nefarious science to good people. In fact, we do at my course!

The question is, what impact does all this have on college-age and younger kids? At this point, we honestly don’t know. However, I am going to go out on a limb and say it isn’t good.

Soren Kierkegaard once quipped “I saw it for what it is, and I laughed.” The actions of most coaches and instructors in America are laughable. The problem is that I am not laughing because they are doing damage to kids, as well as driving good people away from this game.

The fact is that golfers don’t need more tips, secrets, or lessons. They need to be presented with a better understanding of the key elements of golf. With this understanding, they can then start to frame which information makes sense and what doesn’t. This will emancipate them and allow them to take charge of their own development.

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 Valspar Championship betting preview: Elite ballstrikers to thrive at Copperhead

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The PGA TOUR will stay in Florida this week for the 2024 Valspar Championship.

The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort is a par 71 measuring 7,340 yards and features Bermudagrass greens overseeded with POA. Infamous for its difficulty, the track will be a tough test for golfers as trouble lurks all over the place. Holes 16, 17 and 18 — also known as the “Snake Pit” — make up one of the toughest three-hole stretches in golf and should lead to a captivating finish on Sunday.

The field is comprised of 156 golfers teeing it up. The field this week is solid and is a major improvement over last year’s field that felt the impact of players skipping due to a handful of “signature events” in a short span of time. 

Past Winners at Valspar Championship

  • 2023: Taylor Moore (-10)
  • 2022: Sam Burns (-17)
  • 2021: Sam Burns (-17)
  • 2019: Paul Casey (-8)
  • 2018: Paul Casey (-10)
  • 2017: Adam Hadwin (-14)
  • 2016: Charl Schwartzel (-7)
  • 2015: Jordan Spieth (-10)

In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value). 

Key Stats For Copperhead

1. Strokes Gained: Approach

Strokes Gained: Approach grades out as the most important statistic once again this week. Copperhead really can’t be overpowered and is a second-shot golf course.

Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds (per round)

  1. Tony Finau (+.90)
  2. Nick Taylor (+.81)
  3. Justin Thomas (+.77)
  4. Greyson Sigg (+.69)
  5. Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+.67)

2. Good Drive %

The long hitters can be a bit limited here due to the tree-lined fairways and penal rough. Playing from the fairways will be important, but laying back too far will cause some difficult approaches with firm greens that may not hold shots from long irons.

Golfers who have a good balance of distance and accuracy have the best chance this week.

Good Drive % Over Past 24 Rounds

  1. Brice Garnett (+91.3%) 
  2. Zach Johnson (+91.1%)
  3. Sam Ryder (+90.5%)
  4. Ryan Moore (+90.4%)
  5. Aaron Rai (+89.7%)

3. Strokes Gained: Ball Striking

Adding ball-striking puts even more of a premium on tee-to-green prowess in the statistical model this week. Golfers who rank highly in ball-striking are in total control of the golf ball which is exceedingly important at Copperhead.

SG: Ball Striking Over Past 24 Rounds:

  1. Xander Schauffele (+1.32)
  2. Keith Mitchell (+1.29)
  3. Tony Finau (+1.24)
  4. Cameron Young (+1.17) 
  5. Doug Ghim (+.95)

4. Bogey Avoidance

With the conditions likely to be difficult, avoiding bogeys will be crucial this week. In a challenging event like the Valspar, oftentimes the golfer who is best at avoiding mistakes ends up on top.

Gritty golfers who can grind out difficult pars have a much better chance in an event like this than a low-scoring birdie-fest.

Bogey Avoidance Over Past 24 Rounds

  1. Brice Garnett (+9.0)
  2. Xander Schauffele (+9.3)
  3. Austin Cook (+9.7) 
  4. Chesson Hadley (+10.0)
  5. Greyson Sigg (+10.2)

5. Strokes Gained: Total in Difficult Conditions

Conditions will be tough this week at Copperhead. I am looking for golfers who can rise to the occasion if the course plays as difficult as it has in the past.

Strokes Gained: Total in Difficult Conditions Over Past 24 rounds

  1. Xander Schauffele (+1,71) 
  2. Min Woo Lee (+1.39)
  3. Cameron Young (+1.27)
  4. Jordan Spieth (+1.08)
  5. Justin Suh (+.94)

6. Course History

That statistic will tell us which players have played well at Copperhead in the past.

Course History Over Past 24 rounds

  1. Patrick Cantlay (+3.75) 
  2. Sam Burns (+2.49)
  3. Davis Riley (+2.33)
  4. Matt NeSmith (+2.22)
  5. Jordan Spieth (+2.04)

The Valspar Championship Model Rankings

Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (27%), Good Drive % (15%), SG: BS (20%), Bogeys Avoided (13%), Course History (13%) Strokes Gained: Total in Difficult Conditions (12%).

  1. Xander Schauffele
  2. Doug Ghim
  3. Victor Perez
  4. Greyson Sigg
  5. Ryan Moore
  6. Tony Finau
  7. Justin Thomas
  8. Sam Ryder
  9. Sam Burns
  10. Lucas Glover

2024 Valspar Championship Picks

Justin Thomas +1400 (DraftKings)

Justin Thomas will be disappointed with his finish at last week’s PLAYERS Championship, as the past champion missed the cut despite being in some decent form heading into the event. Despite the missed cut, JT hit the ball really well. In his two rounds, the two-time major champion led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach per round.

Thomas has been up and down this season. He’s missed the cut in two “signature events” but also has finishes of T12 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T12 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, T6 at the Pebble Beach AT&T Pro-Am and T3 at the American Express. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach and 6th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking in the field.

Thomas loves Copperhead. In his last three tries at the course, he’s finished T13, T3 and T10. Thomas would have loved to get a win at a big event early in the season, but avoidable mistakes and a balky putter have cost him dearly. I believe a trip to a course he loves in a field he should be able to capitalize on is the right recipe for JT to right the ship.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout +6000 (FanDuel)

Christiaan Bezuidenhout is playing spectacular golf in the 2024 season. He finished 2nd at the American Express, T20 at Pebble Beach and T24 at the Genesis Invitational before finishing T13 at last week’s PLAYERS Championship.

In his past 24 rounds, the South African ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach and 26th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. Bezuidenhout managed to work his way around TPC Sawgrass last week with minimal damage. He only made five bogeys in the entire week, which is a great sign heading into a difficult Copperhead this week.

Bezuidenhout is winless in his PGA Tour career, but certainly has the talent to win on Tour. His recent iron play tells me that this week could be a breakthrough for the 35-year-old who has eyes on the President’s Cup.

Doug Ghim +8000 (FanDuel)

Doug Ghim has finished in the top-16 of his past five starts. Most recently, Ghim finished T16 at The PLAYERS Championship in a loaded field.

In his past 24 rounds, Ghim ranks 8th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 5th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. In terms of his fit for Copperhead, the 27-year-old ranks 12th in Bogey Avoidance and 7th in Strokes Gained: Total in Difficult Conditions, making him a great fit for the course.

Ghim has yet to win on Tour, but at one point he was the top ranked Amateur golfer in the world and played in the 2017 Arnold Palmer Cup and 2017 Walker Cup. He then won the Ben Hogan award for the best male college golfer in 2018. He certainly has the talent, and there are signals aplenty that his talent in ready to take him to the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour.

Sepp Straka +8000 (BetRivers)

Sepp Straka is a player who’s shown he has the type of game that can translate to a difficult Florida golf course. The former Presidents Cup participant won the 2022 Honda Classic in tough conditions and should thrive with a similar test at Copperhead.

It’s been a slow 2024 for Straka, but his performance last week at the PLAYERS Championship surely provides some optimism. He gained 5.4 strokes on approach as well as 1.88 strokes off the tee. The tee-to-green game Straka showed on a course with plenty of danger demonstrates that he can stay in control of his golf ball this week.

It’s possible that the strong performance last week was an outlier, but I’m willing to bet on a proven winner in a weaker field at a great number.

Victor Perez +12000 (FanDuel)

Victor Perez is no stranger to success in professional golf. The Frenchman has three DP World Tour wins including a Rolex Series event. He won the 2019 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, as well as the 2023 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which are some big events.

Perez earned his PGA Tour card this season and enters the week playing some fantastic golf. He finished in a tie for 16th in Florida at the Cognizant Classic and then tied for third in his most recent start at the Puerto Rico Open.

In his past 24 rounds in the field, Perez ranks 11th in Strokes Gained: Approach, 1oth in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking, 6th in Good Drive % and 15th in Bogey Avoidance.

Perez comes in as a perfect fit for Copperhead and offers serious value at triple-digit odds.

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