Opinion & Analysis
How to build an intimidating bag of clubs
It’s said that scratch golfers are among the top 1 percent of golfers worldwide. They are the Sasquatches of the golf world — often heard about, but seldom seen or played with. Some people think you can recognize these golfers not just by their fluid swings, soft touch around the greens and rhythmic putting strokes. According to a lot of golfers, most good golfers can be recognized with a simple peak into the bag to see what clubs they are playing.
There’s something telling about a golfer’s bag and the clubs in it. Maybe it’s the wear spots on the irons and how old the wedges are. Is there a classic club in there? A Titleist 905R driver perhaps? Does he or she have an old Ping Anser style putter, or rusty Cleveland 588 wedge?
We all play this game because we want to be that golfer, the one who no one wants to play against, the golfer who makes every 5-foot putt he or she looks at and the one who can get up and down from anywhere. It’s time to be honest, though. There’s a solid chance that golfer is never going to be you. You work 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and have a wife and children. You aren’t the golf Sasquatch, you just use a Nike Sasquatch (not the tour model, the retail version with the Mitsubishi Rayon’s made-for yellow Diamana).
I’m not trying to hurt anyone’s feelings. Remember, the average handicap of male golfers is 16, which is a really long way from scratch.
Here’s the thing with golf though — when you’re on the course with three other people, even a fairly open course, only those three people (and possibly the three people in the group behind you) are the only ones who will ever see you hit a shot. So does it matter if you are a scratch? Maybe to some. But for most golfers, looking like a scratch golfer will be much easier and more fun that being one.
If I’ve learned one thing from golf, it’s that the golfers who look good on the course also have a tendency to play better. That’s why I’ve created a step-by-step guide on how to build an intimidating bag of clubs, one that will make you look like a scratch golfer. Getting better is up to you.
Click here for more discussion in the “Equipment” forum.
Step 1: Bagging the right bag
Let’s start with the bag. You have a staff or cart bag you say? Great. How big is your fireplace? Go throw it in there.
I’ve played with some great players who’ve had cart bags, but that’s not the point. We want to make this a slam-dunk. You know what a cart bag says about you? It says you like to ride in a cart (and you probably drink beer during rounds too). That means you are probably not a scratch golfer.
Go buy a Ping Hoofer carry bag and thank me later. You get bonus points if you carry it during the round. I’ve never seen a bad player lug a Ping Hoofer around for 18 holes and neither have you.
Step 2: Covering those clubs
Don’t stop there while you’ve got the fire going. Here’s another piece of golf equipment that never hits a shot, but can make a world of difference in how you’re perceived by the golfing community: head covers. No scratch player is going to lose to a guy with a set of head covers that look brand new say “Rocketballz.” You can use TaylorMade RocketBallz products, mind you, just make sure to get a sock head cover for them. Put your Rocketballz under a Rocket Tour and you are in business! (If you don’t get that reference, you are probably one of the golfers that should re-read this).
If you want to take your head cover street cred a step further, drive over your head covers a few times with your car. Head covers are like jeans – they look better broken in. As for iron head covers, throw them out because no good player has ever used them. Dings are like divots — if you’re a good player, you can’t escape them.
Step 3: Choosing the right driver
First off, trade in your square driver unless your name is Lucas Glover. Ditto for any driver with a significant offset.
Great players use drivers from all makes and years, so it’s really tough to go wrong. If you want to seal the deal, though, buy a Titleist 910 driver. Great amateur players use Titleist drivers, but you don’t necessarily want it to be too “new” because that has its own implications. The 910 models are in the sweetspot — a couple of years old, but holding strong on Tour.
The aforementioned 905R is another good choice, but it’s been around so long it’s made it into a lot of hacks bags through eBay or used bins. If you have a Titleist 907 and think that’s fine, it’s not. Drive into a bad part of town and leave your door open (I am doing you a favor. You’ll just have to trust me). The 907 drivers were only created because TaylorMade got a Manchurian candidate into Titleist for two years to sabotage them. That’s at least what I read on GolfWRX.
Step 4: Picking a 3-wood
A good 3 wood needs to be old enough that you’ve hit it a lot, like a 1000 times. It also needs to look like it’s made par 5s just line up and surrender to you.
A good 3 wood is your most trusted club, but also one of the hardest clubs to hit. Scour eBay and find a TaylorMade V-Steel, the holy grail of modern 3 woods. You get bonus points if it’s beat to within inches of its life. If it isn’t, just smack it with a rock a few times so it is. Done and done. Actually, while you’re at it, make sure to get the 5 wood too, because great players don’t use hybrids. I don’t know why, but Tiger and Rory don’t use them, so that’s good enough for me.
Step 5: Bagging the proper irons
Irons present the biggest opportunity for posing of any club in the bag. Miuras might mean you are a player, but they also might mean you have a lot of money and just want to play the clubs Tiger used while with Nike, I mean … never mind.
Titleist blades? You might be one of the many 15 handicaps who actually think blades are the best way to improve. I’m not going to judge, actually no wait that’s what we are doing here. In fact that’s the whole purpose of this article. So let’s judge: I don’t trust people with blades. Some golfers with blades are great players, but some guys are trying to appear like great players. I’m trying to give you a chance to not appear like you are appearing, are you still with me here?
Here is what you do: buy a set of Mizuno MP-60s. They are tasteful and elegant forged cavity backs. No one “poses” using cavity backs, and Mizuno somehow manages to be a players club while simultaneously avoiding the pitfalls of being a magnet for wannabes. Your irons better be dinged up too, because nothing says “I like to take drops when my ball is on a root” more then pristine clubs. So bang ‘em up a bit. Scratch players punch out. Guys that get beat by scratch players use their foot wedge and say things like “leaf rule” or “root rule.”
Step 6: Adding wedges
Scratch players pretty much all play the same wedges. I’ve never met one who didn’t have a Vokey or some form of rusty Cleveland in his bag. So when you’re choosing why risk it? Get yourself one of both. I’m thinking a 53-degree rusty old Cleveland 588 and the 60-degree Vokey of your choice.
Step 7: The putter
Probably half the great players you’ll ever meet use Scotty Cameron putters. I’d guess those players make up less than half Cameron’s business, however. Horrific golfers who happen to have great wives use the rest of Cameron’s putters. If you choose to go with a Scotty it had better be an old one because the absolute truth of golf is that guys with shiny putters make absolutely nothing.
If I were choosing (and I am), I’d go with an old Ping Anser style putter. You might be thinking, “Aren’t there like a million Ping Ansers out there? Aren’t most of them in the bags of total hacks?”
The answer is yes, but an old Anser putter in the bag of a guy using MP60s and a Titleist 910 driver — there’s not too many of those. That guy isn’t missing inside 10 feet and you know it. At least that’s why you think when you see his bag.
I shouldn’t have told you all this, because guys with intimidating bags don’t lose. But just by hanging out by the putting green with your new bag, 97 out of 100 of them will think you are the best player they’ve ever seen. Impressing the other three is on you though.
The range is that a way.
Click here for more discussion in the “Equipment” forum.
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19th Hole
Vincenzi’s 2024 RBC Heritage betting preview: Patrick Cantlay ready to get back inside winner’s circle
Just a two-hour drive from Augusta National, the PGA TOUR heads to Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Hilton Head Island is a golfer’s paradise and Harbour Town is one of the most beautiful and scenic courses on the PGA TOUR.
Harbour Town Golf Links is a par-71 that measures 7,121 yards and features Bermuda grass greens. A Pete Dye design, the course is heavily tree lined and features small greens and many dog legs, protecting it from “bomb-and-gauge” type golfers.
The field is loaded this week with 69 golfers with no cut. Last year was quite possibly the best field in RBC Heritage history and the event this week is yet another designated event, meaning there is a $20 million prize pool.
Most of the big names on the PGA Tour will be in attendance this week with the exceptions of Hideki Matsuyama and Viktor Hovland. Additionally, Webb Simpson, Shane Lowry, Gary Woodland and Kevin Kisner have been granted sponsors exemptions.
Past Winners at Harbour Town
- 2023: Matt Fitzpatrick (-17)
- 2022: Jordan Spieth (-13)
- 2021: Stewart Cink (-19)
- 2020: Webb Simpson (-22)
- 2019: CT Pan (-12)
- 2018: Sotoshi Kodaira (-12)
- 2017: Wesley Bryan (-13)
- 2016: Branden Grace (-9)
- 2015: Jim Furyk (-18)
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 Harbour Town
Let’s take a look at key metrics for Harbour Town Golf Links to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their past 24 rounds.
Strokes Gained: Approach
Strokes Gained: Approach is exceedingly important this week. The greens at Harbour Town are about half the size of PGA TOUR average and feature the second-smallest greens on the tour. Typical of a Pete Dye design, golfers will pay the price for missed greens.
Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds
- Scottie Scheffler (+1.27)
- Tom Hoge (+1.27)
- Corey Conners (+1.16)
- Austin Eckroat (+0.95)
- Cameron Young (+0.93)
Good Drive %
The fairways at Harbour Town are tree lined and feature many dog legs. Bombers tend to struggle at the course because it forces layups and doesn’t allow long drivers to overpower it. Accuracy is far more important than power.
Good Drive % Over Past 24 Rounds
- Brice Garnett (88.8%)
- Shane Lowry (+87.2%)
- Akshay Bhatia (+86.0%)
- Si Woo Kim (+85.8%)
- Sepp Straka (+85.1%)
Strokes Gained: Total at Pete Dye Designs
Pete Dye specialists tend to play very well at Harbour Town. Si Woo Kim, Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk and Webb Simpson are all Pete Dye specialists who have had great success here. It is likely we see some more specialists near the top of the leaderboard this week.
SG: TOT Pete Dye per round over past 36 rounds:
- Xander Schauffele (+2.27)
- Scottie Scheffler (+2.24)
- Ludvig Aberg (+2.11)
- Brian Harman (+1.89)
- Sungjae Im (+1.58)
4. Strokes Gained: Short Game (Bermuda)
Strokes Gained: Short Game factors in both around the green and putting. With many green-side bunkers and tricky green complexes, both statistics will be important. Past winners — such as Jim Furyk, Wes Bryan and Webb Simpson — highlight how crucial the short game skill set is around Harbour Town.
SG: SG Over Past 24 Rounds
- Jordan Spieth (+1.11)
- Taylor Moore (+1.02)
- Wyndham Clark (+0.98)
- Mackenzie Hughes (+0.86)
- Andrew Putnam (+0.83)
5. Greens in Regulation %
The recipe for success at Harbour Town Golf Links is hitting fairways and greens. Missing either will prove to be consequential — golfers must be in total control of the ball to win.
Greens in Regulation % over past 24 rounds:
- Brice Garnett (+75.0%)
- Scottie Scheffler (+69.9%)
- Corey Conners (+69.0%)
- Shane Lowry (+68.3%)
- Patrick Rodgers (+67.6%)
6. Course History
Harbour Town is a course where players who have strong past results at the course always tend to pop up.
Course History over past 24 rounds:
- Patrick Cantlay (+2.34)
- Cam Davis (+2.05)
- J.T. Poston (+1.69)
- Justin Rose (+1.68)
- Tommy Fleetwood (+1.59)
The RBC Heritage Model Rankings
Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (24%), Good Drives (20%), SG: SG (14%), SG: Pete Dye (14%), GIR (14%), and Course History (14%)
- Shane Lowry
- Russell Henley
- Scottie Scheffler
- Xander Schauffele
- Corey Conners
- Wyndham Clark
- Christiaan Bezuidenhout
- Matt Fitzpatrick
- Cameron Young
- Ludvig Aberg
2024 RBC Heritage Picks
Patrick Cantlay +2000 (FanDuel)
With the exception of Scottie Scheffler, the PGA Tour has yet to have any of their star players show peak form during the 2024 season. Last week, Patrick Cantlay, who I believe is a top-5 players on the PGA Tour, took one step closer to regaining the form that’s helped him win eight events on Tour since 2017.
Cantlay limped into the Masters in poor form, but figured it out at Augusta National, finishing in a tie for 20th and ranking 17th for the week in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. The former FedEx Cup champion will now head to one of his favorite golf courses in Harbour Town, where he’s had immaculate results over the years. In his six trips to the course, he’s only finished worse than 7th one time. The other finishes include three third places (2017, 2019, 2023) and one runner-up finish (2022). In his past 36 rounds at Harbour Town, Cantlay ranks 1st in Strokes Gained: Total per round at the course by a wide margin (+2.36).
Cantlay is winless since the 2022 BMW Championship, which is far too long for a player of his caliber. With signs pointing to the 32-year-old returning to form, a “signature event” at Harbour Town is just what he needs to get back on the winning track.
Tommy Fleetwood +3000 (FanDuel)
I truly believe Tommy Fleetwood will figure out a way to win on American soil in 2024. It’s certainly been a bugaboo for him throughout his career, but he is simply too talented to go another season without winning a PGA Tour event.
At last week’s Masters Tournament, Fleetwood made a Sunday charge and ended up finishing T3 in the event, which was his best ever finish at The Masters. For the week, the Englishman ranked 8th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, 10th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking and 16th in Strokes Gained: Putting.
Harbour Town is a perfect layout for Fleetwood, and he’s had relative success at this Pete Dye design in the past. In his four trips to the course, he’s finished inside of the top 25 three times, with his best finish, T10, coming in 2022. The course is pretty short and can’t be overpowered, which gives an advantage to more accurate players such as Fleetwood. Tommy ranks 8th in the field in Good Drive % and should be able to plot his way along this golf course.
The win is coming for Tommy lad. I believe there’s a chance this treasure of a golf course may be the perfect one for him to finally break through on Tour.
Cameron Young +3300 (FanDuel)
Cameron Young had a solid Masters Tournament last week, which is exactly what I’m looking for in players who I anticipate playing well this week at the RBC Heritage. He finished in a tie for 9th, but never felt the pressure of contending in the event. For the week, Young ranked 6th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 6th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking.
Despite being one of the longest players off the tee on the PGA Tour, Young has actually played some really good golf on shorter tracks. He finished T3 at Harbour Town in 2023 and ranks 20th in the field in Good Drive% and 16th in Greens in Regulation in his past 24 rounds. He also has strong finishes at other shorter courses that can take driver out of a players hand such as Copperhead and PGA National.
Young is simply one of the best players on the PGA Tour in 2024, and I strongly believe has what it takes to win a PGA Tour event in the very near future.
Corey Conners +5500 (FanDuel)
Corey Conners has had a disappointing year thus far on the PGA Tour, but absolutely loves Harbour Town.
At last week’s Masters Tournament, the Canadian finished T30 but ranked 20th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach. In his past 24 rounds, Conners ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, 3rd in Greens in Regulation % and 24th in Good Drive %.
In Conners’ last four trips to Harbour Town, his worst finish was T31, last season. He finished T4 in 2021, T12 in 2022 and ranks 8th in Strokes Gained: Total at the course over his past 36 rounds.
Conners hasn’t been contending, but his recent finishes have been encouraging as he has finished in the top-25 in each of his past three starts prior to The Masters, including an impressive T13 at The PLAYERS. His recent improvement in ball striking as well as his suitability for Harbour Town makes Conners a high upside bet this week.
Shane Lowry (+7500) (FanDuel)
When these odds were posted after Lowry was announced in the field, I have to admit I was pretty stunned. Despite not offering much win equity on the PGA Tour over the last handful of years, Shane Lowry is still a top caliber player who has the ability to rise to the top of a signature event.
Lowry struggled to score at The Masters last week, but he actually hit the ball really well. The Irishman ranked 1st for Strokes Gained: Approach on the week and 7th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. As usual, it was the putter that let him down, as he ranked 60th in the field in Strokes Gained: Putting.
Harbour Town is most definitely one of Lowry’s favorite courses on the PGA Tour. In his six starts there, he’s finished in the top 10 three times, including third twice. Lowry is sensational at Pete Dye designs and ranks 7th in Strokes Gained: Total in his past 36 rounds on Dye tracks.
Lowry is perfect for Harbour Town. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 5th in Strokes Gained: Approach, 2nd in Good Drive% and 5th in Green in Regulation %. If he figures it out on the greens, Shane could have his first win in America since 2015.
Lucas Glover +12000 (FanDuel)
This is one of my weekly “bet the number” plays as I strongly believe the odds are just too long for a player of Glover’s caliber. The odds have been too long on Glover for a few weeks now, but this is the first event that I can get behind the veteran being able to actually contend at.
Glover is quietly playing good golf and returning to the form he had after the understandable regression after his two massive victories at the end of 2023. He finished T20 at The Masters, which was his best ever finish at Augusta National. For the week, Lucas ranked 18th for Strokes Gained: Approach and 20th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking.
Over his past 24 rounds, Glover ranks 9th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 13th in Good Drive %. Harbour Town is a short course that the 44-year-old will be able to keep up with the top players on Tour off the tee. He’s played the course more than 20 times, with mixed results. His best finishes at Harbour Town include a T7 in 2008, but recently has a finish of T21 in 2020.
Glover has proven he can contend with the stars of the Tour on any given week, and this number is flat out disrespectful.
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The 2024 Masters offered up plenty of excitement throughout the week with Scottie Scheffler delivering when it mattered to live up to his pre-tournament favorite tag. With the year’s opening major now in the books, here are my six biggest takeaways from the 2024 Masters.
Scheffler In a League of His Own
In the most impressive way possible, Scottie Scheffler won the Masters without having his absolute best stuff. For the week, Scottie ranked 19th in Strokes Gained: Approach, which is a category the number player in the world typically dusts the rest of the field in. After a strong approach day on Thursday, the 27-year-old lost strokes to the field on approach on Friday and Saturday, before gaining on Sunday. The iron performance was more than solid, but it was an all-around game that helped Scheffler get it done around Augusta National.
For a year or more, the narrative around Scheffler has been, “With his ball striking, if he can just putt to field average, he’ll be unbeatable.” At Augusta, his ball striking came back down to earth, but his touch around the greens and ability to manage the golf course demonstrated why he is the best player on the planet right now. For the week, Scheffler ranked 1st in the field in Strokes Gained: Around the Green and 24th in Strokes Gained: Putting.
For the time being, there is a major gap between Scottie Scheffler and the second-best player in the world, whoever that may be.
The Future is Now
Ludvig Aberg went into his first back-nine at the Masters with a legitimate shot to win the tournament. When he teed it up on the treacherous 11th hole, he was one behind Scottie Scheffler, who had just stuck one to a few feet on the 9th. By the time he approached his tee shot, which was perfectly striped down the left side of the fairway, he was two behind. Unfortunately, the 24-year-old got too aggressive with his approach at the 11th and found the water, making double bogey. Ludvig rebounded nicely and finished the event in solo second place.
With the Masters now in the rearview, it’s never been more evident that Ludvig Aberg is no longer an “up-and-comer” — he has arrived. The Swede has been an integral part of a winning European Ryder Cup team and has now contended at Augusta National. With a calm demeanor, a picture-perfect swing, and a build and stature that appears as if it was built in a lab, Ludvig Aberg is already amongst the world’s best. I’d be extremely surprised if he wasn’t in the mix at next month’s PGA Championship at Valhalla.
Nostalgia Wins
I try to avoid as many cliches as possible, but there’s something about the Masters that brings out the sentimentality in me. Tiger Woods strategically making his way around Augusta National without all of the physical tools that made him arguably the most dominant athlete in the history of sports will always be riveting, regardless of what score he shoots. Woods made it interesting until a tough stretch of holes on Saturday, but he ultimately wore down, shooting 16 over for the week in difficult conditions. It’s remarkable that the 15-time major champion was able to put together a few solid rounds of golf despite barely playing any competitive golf in 2024. As long as Woods tees it up at Augusta, we will all continue to be mesmerized by it.
Verne Lundquist’s 40th and final Masters Tournament was also a must-watch aspect of the event. The iconic voice of Lundquist and his calls throughout the years still give me chills each time I hear them. Verne is an icon of the game and will be missed in future renditions of the Masters.
The Masters also brings another element that is unique to the tournament. Former champions turn back the clock to battle with the golf course again which creates some amazing stories. There are a few that stick out this year and were an absolute pleasure to witness. 61-year-old Vijay Singh made the cut for the first time since 2018 and shot a pretty incredible even-par, 72 on Sunday. 58-year-old José María Olazábal made the cut as well, reminding us why fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm sought his valuable advice prior to his Masters victory in 2022.
Regardless of who wins, the Masters always delivers.
Bryson Moves the Needle
Plenty will disagree with me on this point, but outside of Tiger Woods, and potentially Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, no one moves the needle in golf as much as Bryson DeChambeau. The uniqueness in which Bryson approaches the game has always been fascinating, and if he gets near the top of the leaderboard at any major championship, whether it’s to root for him or against him, people are interested.
It began on Monday with a pretty bizarre story of DeChambeau using 3D-printed irons that got just got cleared for use by the USGA when the week began. It once again felt like a storyline that would only be possible with a character as eccentric as Bryson. He then raced off to a first-round lead in tough conditions, reminding the world of what made him such a great golfer to begin with. He made some mistakes on the weekend, but still finished a career best T6 at The Masters.
Bryson is more than just quirky; he is a former U.S. Amateur Champion and U.S. Open who I believe will contend for more majors in the future. I will continue to root for DeChambeau, but I’m perfectly content with the fact that plenty will root against him, and I encourage those people to do so. That’s what makes it fun.
LIV Walks Away Empty-Handed
Last year, there were a multitude of questions about LIV players coming into the year’s first major. They had played very limited tournament golf, and critics of LIV questioned whether the 54-hole events were enough to sharpen the players enough to compete against the best in the world on the biggest stage.
The results were fascinating, with LIV players all over the leaderboard. Brooks Koepka held the 36- and 54-hole lead, with Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed finishing T2 and T4, giving LIV three golfers in the top-4 of the leaderboard.
This season, with even more time removed and with some more massive additions to the roster, the intrigue surrounding LIV players at Augusta was once again palpable. While some players, including Bryson DeChambeau, exceeded expectations, I can’t help but walk away from the Masters feeling underwhelmed by the performance of the LIV players.
Brooks Koepka finished runner-up last season and is a certified major championship killer. The 5-time major champ was never involved and simply didn’t have it at Augusta. Dustin Johnson put together a putrid performance, shooting 13 over for his two rounds, making it fair to wonder if his days of contending at major championships are over as he rapidly approaches his 40th birthday.
Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann were both players who were amongst the favorites this week, but Rahm was faced with the daunting duties of defending champion and Niemann proved he was still not quite ready to master the quirks of Augusta National, bleeding strokes both around and on the greens.
To be fair, when all was said and done, LIV had four players in the top twelve at The Masters. Tyrrell Hatton stormed the leaderboard early on Sunday, finishing T9 and earning himself an invite back to Augusta next season. Cam Smith and Patrick Reed put together gritty performances, which isn’t too surprising considering the fact that they both absolutely love Augusta National, but neither ever felt a real threat to win. There’s no doubt the players on LIV are good, and that’s why some encouraging leaderboard positions aren’t enough. They needed to contend.
With no players part of the storyline on Sunday, I view the first major of the year as a disappointment for LIV. The players will head into next month’s PGA Championship at Valhalla with a lot to prove.
Rory’s Struggles Continues
Rory struggling at Augusta National is no surprise at this point. The four-time major champion has now had 10 attempts to complete the career grand slam and has never had a chance to win. His T2 in 2022 was deceiving, the Northern Irishman stormed the leaderboard on Sunday, but was never in contention, and never got within three shots of the winner, Scottie Scheffler.
I didn’t expect Rory to win, but I have to admit that this year felt a bit different. McIlroy played the week prior to the Masters, which he typically doesn’t do, and finished third at the Valero Texas Open. He gained 7.56 strokes on approach and 2.0 strokes off the tee, which told me that his visit with world-renowned swing coach, Butch Harmon, after the Players Championship paid dividends.
McIlroy also approached the media quite differently. He cut his pre-tournament press conference short after only 10 minutes and seemed to be laser-focused on just playing golf.
Despite the different approach to the Masters, the results were the same. McIlroy struggled over the course of the week, finishing T22 (+4) and never sniffed a decent weekend position on the leaderboard. It’s back to the drawing board for McIlroy, and I have doubts that he will ever figure it out at Augusta.
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We’ve finally reached The Masters and excitement is at an all-time high. The world of golf has been fractured for the better part of two years, but for a week at Augusta National, all of the outside noise will disappear. All of the best players in the world will be together seeking to make history.
In addition to betting on The Masters champion. This is one of the few weeks of the year where there are so many more markets to explore, with value to be had in plenty of different categories.
Throughout this article, I’ll discuss all of my favorite props and players for the 2024 Masters.
Placement Bets:
Tony Finau Top 5 +750 (DraftKings):
I badly wanted to include Tony Finau in my outright betting selections, but I simply ran out of room on my card. Additionally, it’s slightly difficult to see him hitting the putts necessary to win the Masters on back nine on Sunday. However, I do strongly believe he will play great golf this week at Augusta National.
In his past 24 rounds, Finau ranks 4th in Strokes Gained: Approach is always amongst the best drivers of the golf ball in the game. Back in 2019, Finau had a great chance to win The Masters. I expect him to be hanging around over the weekend once again in 2024.
Gary Woodland Top 20 +550 (DraftKings), Gary Woodland to make the cut -110 (DraftKings):
Last season, Gary Woodland had his best ever finish at The Masters in his eleven tries. The 39-year-old finished T14 and played incredibly steady across all four rounds.
In Woodland’s most recent start at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, he struck the ball incredibly well. He led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach (+8.8) and Strokes Gained: Ball Striking (+10.0).
Gary has been working with Butch Harmon and absolutely flushing the ball both in tournaments and during practice.
Woodland appears to be healthy once again and in a great place physically and mentally. If he can build off his impressive performance at Augusta last year, he can place inside the top ten in 2024.
Additionally, the make the cut number on Woodland seems generous considering the number of players who miss the cut will be relatively small this week. Woodland is striking it well enough to make the cut even if he’s hindered by a balky putter once again.
Thorbjorn Olesen Top 20 +400 (FanDuel):
The Thunder Bear, Thorbjorn Olesen, made his Masters debut in 2013 and finished an incredibly impressive T6 for the week. In the two additional starts he’s made at Augusta National since then, the Dane has continued to be incredibly solid, finishing T44 and T21.
This week, Olesen heads into the week playing some good golf. He gained 3.8 strokes on approach and 5.52 strokes around the green at last week’s Valero Texas Open on his way to a strong T14 finish. Back in January, he won the Ras Al Khaimah Championship on the DP World Tour.
Olesen has the skill set to be successful at Augusta and seems primed for a good performance this week.
Top Nationalities:
Sergio Garcia Top Spanish Player +280 (DraftKings):
I believe Sergio Garcia can get into contention this week with the way he’s striking the ball in addition to his good vibes with a refurbished version of the Scotty Cameron that he used at the 1999 PGA Championship at Medinah.
I am slightly concerned about the emotional letdown he may face after losing in a playoff at LIV Miami, but I believe a veteran and former Masters champion should be able to regroup and focus on an event far more meaningful.
This is essentially a tournament head-to-head with Jon Rahm at +280. While Rahm deserves to be respected this week, the history of the lack of success of defending champions at The Masters is difficult to ignore.
Joaquin Niemann Top South American Player -230 (FanDuel):
While I hate paying this much juice, I don’t see a world in which Joaquin Niemann isn’t the top South American this week at The Masters. Joaco comes in playing better golf than anyone in the world not named Scottie Scheffler and has a serious chance to win the green jacket.
He only needs to beat two players: Emiliano Grillo and Camilo Villegas.
Tournament Head-to-Heads:
Justin Thomas -110 over Collin Morikawa
JT isn’t having his best season but is playing a lot better than he is getting credit for at the moment. In the past three months, there are only six players on the PGA Tour who have averaged 1.7 Strokes Gained: Tee to Green or better. Justin Thomas (+1.7) is one of the six and is currently tied with Rory McIlroy (+1.7).
Morikawa, on the other hand, has been extremely poor with his irons, which is incredibly uncharacteristic for him. I can’t help but feel like something is completely off with the two-time major champion.
Tony Finau -110 over Wyndham Clark
I explained in the placement section why I’m so high on Tony Finau this week. With how well he’s striking the ball, it seems as if his floor is extremely high. I’m not sure if he can make the putts to win a green jacket but I believe he will be in the mix similarly to 2019 when Tiger Woods emerged from a crowded pack of contenders.
Clark is a debutant, and while some debutants have had success at The Masters, it certainly poses a challenge. I also don’t believe Augusta National suits Clark as well as some of the other major championship venues.
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Alex
Mar 30, 2019 at 9:34 pm
New school scratch guys go Taylormade driver, Taylormade 3 wood, driving iron of any variety, Mizuno Jpx 900 tour, Titleist CBs, Ping S55, Callaway Apex pro, or srixons. Any poser that plays blades is a poser because the reality is the only one good enough to actually play blades is a tour player not a scratch club player. Any scratch club player is still gonna want a little forgiveness and know they aren’t gonna hit it like Greg Norman or Tiger Woods day in day out. Wedges are a toss up lots of vokeys, clevelands, and mack daddys. Never CB wedges above pitching wedge unless they play a bag full of ping or cobra and then well that takes them out of being scratch because no scratch player plays an exclusive brand through the bag except maybe Titleist…and I don’t know why because every titleist driver until the new TS2 and TS3 has sucked all the way back to the 910. Look at every free agent on tour, they don’t play one brand throughout and there is a reason for that. Putters are a mix of older Scotty’s, a banged up Odyssey, a ping anser or something that looks like trash because putter technology doesn’t matter its all about comfort. Also don’t automatically write a 2 ball off because some guys would divorce their wives before they gave up their 2004 2 ball that is a lag putting machine and automatic within 6 feet. Again scratch players aren’t automatic from 10 because if they were they’d be playing golf for money. Balls are usually heavily Pro V1 or x, chrome soft, Bridgestone, or Srixon. A few young guns will also play the TP5 and x from Taylormade, but much more rare and always under the age of 26. Clothing is also much more of a mix as very few scratch players roll up in head to toe Nike. Much more of a mixed bag of FJ, Nike, Adidas, Travis Mathew, Dunning,Puma, Greg Norman, or something basic. Anyone thats in J Lindberg or Polo is either a rich douchebag with a full set of shiny clubs and a habit of hitting on cart girls, or likes giving himself 4 mulligans a round and only posting his “good” scores… which any good players knows is stupid and will kill you in a money game. Polo golf probably means he’s a frat boy that doesn’t have enough focus or work ethic to be better than a 2. Being a scratch golfer is about grinding and just being more consistent than the people they play with. A 6 can most definitely beat a scratch…but the law of averages says a scratch will win way more rounds out of 20 because they never go above 80 and turn bad days into 77 instead of 83. Lastly a scratch golfer will not brag about being scratch because they know that while they might be a great club golfer they’d get the absolute brakes beat off them 9/10 times by the worst player on the Web.Com tour. Kind of a know your place on the food chain thing. Shoes are whatever because nobody cares and bags are Titleist, Ping, Callaway, Cobra, Srixon, or a no name brand that looks worn out…because again your bag has no impact on your game.
ben
Jan 8, 2016 at 2:10 pm
this is horrible. great job outfitting a whole bunch of people with mp60s who can’t hit them. excellent way to slow the game down. plenty of scratch golfers have used x14/x12 and eye2’s through the years. i get the point here, but what you did is detrimental to golf. maybe i’m taking it too seriously, i don’t know, but when you outfit some1 like a scratch who’s more like a 16, they start playing slowly like the typical scratch, and you just help ruin golf for us masses.
Leigh
Nov 5, 2015 at 10:31 am
Awesome article, doesn’t matter who says what, yet you have an opinion and you are clearly passionate about it, the club’s you have chosen would be very hard to beat by any golfer and if I started with those clubs I would still have them.. 905R is the better choice in my opinion tho. Just because it is non adjustable.
Thanks loved it, I always come back to this bag.
Frank Tank
Apr 26, 2015 at 3:18 pm
This article applies to old guys. Look at the young hotshot am players and they use mostly latest clubs.
Haaank
Mar 3, 2015 at 11:17 am
I don’t think I’ve ever beaten a guy with an old Adams Idea Pro A2 hybrid (beat to hell, of course).
Also, if I get to the practice green and see my opponent hitting only 3-4 footers, I know I’m in trouble.
Golfraven
Jan 7, 2015 at 2:37 pm
Just love to read this over and over again every year round. Classic!
Caine
Dec 21, 2014 at 3:56 am
Funny article. I am a +2 and get new clubs every 6 months.
Double Mocha Man
Dec 11, 2014 at 12:04 pm
As a very young (and naive) man I moved to Miami to work on my golf game. Dressed pro style, had McGregor’s, Titleist balls. Met another young guy on the first tee at the Miami Springs Golf Course… barefoot, cut-off jeans, beat up bag of clubs. He suggested a little bet. I saw easy money.
I shot a respectable 76. He shot a 67.
Lesson learned.
Oldplayer
Dec 3, 2014 at 4:37 pm
I hope you can recognize that this article is almost identical to a famous thread here on WRX. I think it was started my Mtl Jeff. He should be given compensation for this plagiarism.
Ponjo
Nov 30, 2014 at 2:57 pm
Alpha 10.5 Driver,
Tom Wishon Fairwar 3 Wood/Hybrid
Allpha Hybrid
Alpha Irins 4 – PW
Miura Wedges 51, 55 and 59.
Putter personally made by club builder no make as such
Bag Miura Tour Bag
Balls PRO V1
Yao
Oct 17, 2014 at 4:27 am
I really hope this is a troll post. I would rather pair up with someone that suck at golf and knows it than a guy that pretend he can shoot single but he can’t even drive the ball off the tee.
dan
Mar 10, 2018 at 11:40 am
Agreed. This article is the most pretentious thing I have read in a while. No wonder why golf is struggling to gain new players. Calling players, more likely new ones, “wannabes” and “hacks” really attracts people to the game. Nice job Jeff.
Beacher50
Oct 4, 2014 at 3:31 am
You forgot a couple; be the guy that every guy on the Ground Crew, the Starters, Marshalls seem to know and wave at, and smile. This says you’re on the course a lot, you could still suck, but you’re spending a lot time doing it, most likely your pretty good. Also only one kind of ball in your bag, not tons of hawked balls from the course. And having a spit set is also and indicator that you have something going in your iron game. And it never hurts to have some kind of weird rescue club in your bag. Have have my Dad’s bag and clubs, and interesting set to say the least, he was a great golfer in his prime, slowed down a bit in retirement, he always told be, beware of the guy with an odd 7 wood or long iron, and a putter that looks like he as been using his entire career.
ScooterMcTavish
Oct 1, 2014 at 12:43 pm
Close but no cigar.
An anser style putter is good, but the 8802 (mentioned above) or a Bullseye says “game”.
As does a 2-iron, wedges that are older than the golfer (anything that says “Dual Wedge” or “11i” is a warning), a driver that is at least 6 years old, an old bag, and blades or Eye2s for irons.
Seriously, a guy with a 2i, Eye2s, G5 driver and a bullseye is “the man”.
bradford
Aug 19, 2014 at 9:26 am
It’s really not that elusive…Realize that the scratch guys are the ones coming up the 9th when you pull up for your “early” 9AM tee time. They play early to avoid playing in the droves of “normals”, and they play together.
bradford
Aug 19, 2014 at 9:29 am
Also…16 may be the “average” hcp in some group you’ve selected, but even that is about 10-12 shot lower than the actual average score for amateur golfers. Average is around 100, which would put the average hcp closer to 26. The average golfer does not shoot 86-88.
Mark Reckling
Sep 30, 2014 at 6:07 pm
Your correct. I’m a 3.1 and always play the 1st tee slot ever day. Also work 50 hours a week. Perk of working afternoon shift lol
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Tom
Jul 24, 2014 at 11:40 am
I actually felt like I was giving something up over the last 2 years with an almost complete equipment overhaul. Granted, having a real job and a wife has taken it’s toll on my game, but here is the old followed by the new. I was a much cooler golfer in the past!
2006-2012 – Driver Ping G5 7.5 with a 1/4″ short shaft (Repainted after wife messed with my bag on the cart and it fell off when we pulled away chipping the hell out of it).
1998-2011 – Callaway Big Bertha 3 wood memphis steel shaft (Before the Warbird- had a Flat Bottom)I actually flattened the face it was hit so many times. Had to replace.
2011-Current – Titlest PT 906F2 bore through shaft ($15 and repainted in garage to get rid of 1000 sky marks from previous owner).
2000-2012 – Hogan Apex Plus Forged minimal cavity back irons w/ turned over tour velvet grips. Still love these sticks and will go back to them.
2003-2012 – ONE Wedge – Hogan Riviera 56
1997-2003 – Knock Off Panzer sand wedge with some scars in the leading edge that looked like they might have happened by hitting the curb of a sidewalk. Resembles the Eye2 wedges.
2000-2012 – Odyssey #2 with the 1st gen white hot face with the course logo that i worked at in High School printed on the toe. Also beat to snot with no cover.
1997-2011 – Jones stand bag intermittently swapped out for the Highschool bag, then a junior college ping Hoofer. Stitching finally gave out on the strap loops, but the leg system was still perfect.
2011-2012 – Replaced Jones reluctantly with a Callaway hyperlite black stand bag with the Jack Daniels Logos all over it because I won it in a captains choice tourney.
1996-Current – Red Macaw Parrot Daphnies Headcover on 3 wood. 4 years of HS golf with 1 team state championship, 1 year of Junior Co. golf, and a host of captains choice wins.
I’ve since replaced the driver with an XHot Pro, the Irons with much needed forgiving Ping i15’s and after loosing my 3 iron (Who does that?), added a cobra hybrid. However the driver is now covered by a hand made black and yellow plaid one that i made myself, and the hybrid has another hand made tweed cover. It still looks like I know something, but man did the forged hogans look good too.
Steve
Jul 15, 2014 at 9:42 pm
Great Article…It sounds like he was writing the article about me and he was at the range looking at my bag!
Taylormade SLDR 9.5 Driver
Taylormade R11s 3-Wood
Taylormade RBZ Stage 2 Tour 5-wood
Mizuno MP-68’s 3-PW
Mizuno MP-10 52*
Vokey Oilcan Rusted 56* & 60* wedges
Bettinardi/Mizuno BC-4 Black and yellow Putter.
Oh and by the way I throw on the Bright Orange Puma golf shoes every once in a while. LOL
Doctor Phil
Jul 11, 2014 at 7:22 am
This article is just fantastic. Boys and girls, don’t forget the Dyna-Powered sand wedge. Just showing my age a bit. Congrats to all who encapsulated the spirit of the article.
Mike
Jun 27, 2014 at 4:12 am
haha.. i have both 3 and 5 wood V-Steel..
Ken
Jun 25, 2014 at 1:54 am
If Mr. Wonderful throws down a Dunlop X-Out on a water hole … Well … He’s just a poser.
Mithrys
Dec 17, 2013 at 12:13 am
Bumping the thread because I am curious. No one mentioned the pitching wedge. I just swapped my r7 pw for a cleveland 588. Who all still plays the stock set pw? I feel the rest of my wedges (All 588s) feel better so I swapped the pw to get a more consistent short game.
richie65
Jun 20, 2014 at 12:17 am
My 3-wood is even older……..KZG CH-1 with a stiff Dynalite. Every year for the last 9 I’ve tried to replace it, but nothing has stuck. Only an old Steelhead + 4-wood came close.
Ping L8 bag. Old.
Nike wedges…..very straight leading edge.
2-Ball. old original grip
Don’t really play more than 8-10 times a year. (3 young kids)
Holding on to an 8 hncp. I wish I could still score!
Terry Michaelson
Jun 22, 2014 at 11:14 pm
The KZG CH-1 3 wood is an awesome club. I have the Harrson low launch shaft in bight yellow. Can’t miss it Can’t replace it. KZG forged cavity backs are pretty sweet too.
russ
Dec 8, 2013 at 3:11 pm
Not a bad article, I conform to most of it. I was a scratch golfer 6 years ago but gave up due to a child coming into my life. I sold everything but last week I started back up.
Basically I have gone secondhand on the irons mizuno mp 37, I love blades and no cavity back touches them. I’d rather hit a shit blade shot than awesome cavity.
I’ve gone for TM r1 driver new club,
Titleist 913H hybrid #3 (never used them in the past hated the things but gave one a go yesterday and Christ they are awesome)do miss my TM burner 3 wood from the early 90’s though.
I still use 3 iron and don’t bother with a 3 wood.
I have secondhand ghost putter, but if I could put I would be plus 4 golfer not just scratch.
Cleveland secondhand wedge 54 degree
I use a carry bag (Cleveland)new. I played my first 18 holes on a new course yesterday and the first comment I got was about my bag and clubs within it. At the moment it’s all show though as I shot a 78 not bad for first hit but pretty shit really.
realist kenan
Sep 12, 2013 at 9:53 am
i love putting a new club in the bag and experimenting with equipment.
New technology and tinkering with your bag is a part of golf that makes it fun
Carlos
Aug 21, 2013 at 12:03 pm
This article is greatness. Thanks for sharing.
tyler
Jul 29, 2013 at 1:16 pm
This is dumb. I am pretty good player and i love putting a new club in the bag and experimenting with equipment.
New technology and tinkering with your bag is a part of golf that makes it fun.
Rixirox
Jul 11, 2013 at 6:22 am
Ho Hum. I love golf. I have a nice brand new Titleist bag and sock covers. My clubs have each earned their slot in my bag. I play for money. I don’t try to look like an intimidator. I look like “easy money” In Drag racing we call them “sleepers”. I am not laughing at your article but I am laughing all the way to the bank. New Titleist cart bag and all.
Jeffrey C Daschel
Jun 22, 2013 at 11:54 pm
Another Step- Tan your legs, only the calves need be paid any attention to. Do not, ever, allow sun-tan to form on ankles, there should be a white line, from ankle socks that go just fully past the ankles, as everyone knows no scratch golfer has ever worn no show shocks. Those are for the kids.
bradford
Jun 20, 2014 at 7:38 am
Not sure I agree here…in fact, almost all of us (not that I’m scratch) that walk wear the best socks we can get, and most of those are no-shows.
What I will agree with is that the tan line is a dead giveaway, but it’s the hands. If there’s a clearly white hand (usually left), that’s a pretty good sign that anytime the guys outside, he’s on the golf course.
Jeffrey C Daschel
Jun 22, 2013 at 11:40 pm
Great read, but the first paragraph, its peek, not peak. Hopefully that will allow more people like me with OCD to enjoy the article
manlong
Jun 3, 2013 at 1:37 am
Enjoyed your article so much. It gives pleasure to “act” like a scratch. However, the best thing to copy or “act” is how the scratch player react to their own game. Most of this scratch players I played with have great calmness during their game apart from having the equipment’s you mentioned.
GO
May 18, 2013 at 11:13 pm
You can fake it to about the 2nd shot, maybe 2nd tee . . . I’ve made mistakes on the first tee looking at bag, made mistakes looking at grip, but it doesn’t take long watching a player, . . . and it doesn’t take long to figure out a golfer that wants to look good compared to a player that wants to play good . . . and that’s when you hope the wager is auto 1downs.
Kind of sad actually that someone wants to buy status . . . it’s a parasite on our current culture, I see it with the cars my neighbors drive, and the jeans kids buy new that are already worn out (my kids too) . . . what ever happened to wearing out your own jeans, driving something that is practical, and being proud of the player you are becoming instead of the player you want to be perceived as. I’d much rather play with a 15hcp player who is learning/working it than a 15 that carries ‘the sticks’… not many winners i know that are faking it.
But I did enjoy the article, well written and aside from the Titleist affiliation accurate with my experience…. Jeff must be hanging with a bunch of All American AJGA Club Champions.
This coming from a guy who has played a bunch of golf,
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mike
Jan 15, 2013 at 1:18 am
” im trying to give you a chance to not appear like you are appearing ”
this line got me. funny stuff
mike
Jan 15, 2013 at 1:15 am
hey Jeff, this article had me in stitches. i really enjoyed this . really funny yet some weird truths in there.
keep’em coming.
TXgolfer
Dec 7, 2012 at 1:14 pm
great article, oh and shoes MUST have spikes and preferably footjoy icons. grips need to look good cuz every scratch golfer knows good grips are a must, and if not gp multi compounds then logo down. scratch golfers also dont buy a large bucket of balls and only bring their driver. if you are wondering why then youve got a lot to learn my friend
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Paul
Nov 30, 2012 at 9:00 pm
This article does not wash with me. I play a nice cart bag, with shiny Tour Edge exotic CNC forged irons, R11’s all the way around. I play to a 2 and have never thought about what I carry making any statement. I hope others view me as a poser, fine with me. They better come with game, and old clubs. And my putter is shiny too!! lol
Dannyboy
Nov 14, 2012 at 9:20 am
Also, take the decals off your iron shafts, knock in and replace your divots rather than filling them with sand and only use a tee for your driver (which you should also knock to correct height using the club)… Hoofers, 588’s and 975D’s all the way! Used to see a few sets of DCI’s around too…
Vansmack73
Nov 14, 2012 at 1:59 am
Add bonus points to guys who have real deal shafts. Not the ones the that say deigned for titleist
Also beware of the guy with a Wilson 8802
Doctor Phil
Jul 11, 2014 at 7:03 am
The 8802 is a dead set give away, much better than a Johny come lately Scotty!
LOL
Nov 13, 2012 at 1:24 am
Im laughing at all of the people that seem to be taking this article seriously based off the comments their leaving…
Paul
Nov 30, 2012 at 8:57 pm
Agreed. They think they are scratch because their bag looks like junk? Play what you have and play them well. I do. Shiny new Tour Edge CNC forged.
GolfTecHogan
Nov 12, 2012 at 6:35 pm
How about this:
Callaway Ft-9ta w Matrix tp7hd X flex
Tour Edge Exotics cb4 tour 3 wood w Graphite Designs Tour BB
Miura Limited Black Blades 3-pw KBS c-taper S+
Miura 54 C grind and Miura 59 y grind
dynamic Gold Spinner + Shafts
and yes i do carry a staff bag.
Paul
Nov 30, 2012 at 8:56 pm
Amen, I have played with awesome players with shiny new clubs and staff bags. This article is bull, plain old bull. I carry a staff bag and play to a 2 and will take scratch players most the time.
Mick
Jun 27, 2014 at 2:01 am
then why arent you playing off scratch??
bradford
Aug 19, 2014 at 9:18 am
If you’re beating a 0 “most of the time”, either you’re not a 2, or they’re not 0’s.
Joe
Apr 4, 2015 at 11:14 am
I play off a 3 and play with some scratch guys i beat them once in a while but i have to be on my game and get a little help from them.
Doctor Phil
Jul 11, 2014 at 7:06 am
CB1 3 wood. Then you would be talking. Throw in the 5 as well. That’s what I’ve got 🙂
GOLFLB33
Nov 11, 2012 at 3:09 pm
Great post. obv there are variations but you hit the nail on the head here.
So true about the ping hoofers. When i was growing up that was the 1st indication of a player.
Then scottys camerons, clevelands or vokey wedges and a 975d sweet
WOW
Nov 11, 2012 at 4:06 am
My WITB currently: 905R w/ Diamana BB, Callaway Warbird 5 wood, Mizuno MP-60 irons, 588 gunmetal wedges, Bullseye putter. I have yet to find that elusive, hard to find 3 wood….but i will try the v steel. These clubs were all in my bag before i read this interesting and entertaining article cause it speaks the truth.
renoir99
Nov 12, 2012 at 11:27 am
The V-Steel is a good one…others you may want to look at if you haven’t…Titleist 906F2 or the Tour Exotics CB4 Tour which is a rocketship
Desmond
Nov 11, 2012 at 2:37 am
Seriously? A scratch golfer plays new-grooved clubs and a Sun Mountain bag. Hoofers? Maybe if you’re still using one from the ’90s. But c’mon, no longer.
sleeper
Jun 29, 2013 at 5:42 pm
for the record, mp-60s have conforming grooves.
Doctor Phil
Jul 11, 2014 at 7:09 am
Agree on Sun Mountain.
bradford
Aug 19, 2014 at 9:21 am
yup, nobody carries a hoofer
Renoir99
Nov 10, 2012 at 10:16 pm
Great article…one thing I’m surprised I haven’t heard yet…alignment rods!!! Put those in your bag, and everyone thinks your a ‘grinder’. Not only do you practice, but you lay these down and line it all up…for about 7 shots…then you get right back to the old ‘hit and rake’
jbob
Nov 10, 2012 at 9:31 am
currently have rusty vokeys and 910 driver also have 608.mb irons and get alot of questions about if i will sell irons. also 3hcap enjoy
Orangebang
Nov 10, 2012 at 3:12 am
Great article. I laughed myself silly convinced you couldn’t keep a straight face while writing this as well.
MarcB1
Nov 10, 2012 at 12:13 am
I took 15 years off of golf (wife issues) and came back to it this year (no more issues). I decided to up-grade some of my equipment so I visited the local driving range pro shop. I would look at the shiny new stuff gleaming on the racks but my main focus was the used rack at the back of the shop. Sometimes a clubs would appear and I would try them on the range. I did this almost every other day until something striked my fancy. Eventually, I rebuilt my bag with some near new and some a few years old. I also made new friends in the people that practticed, worked and owned the range. I now regularly practice , hangout and play with all of them. 15 years ago I was a 3 cap….there is so much more to this game that I will ever know or perhaps understand, but really, the people I have met? Priceless! Great article, thanks.
Blake
Nov 9, 2012 at 8:34 pm
My WITB…
Driver: Ping G5 9* w/ a Grafalloy Epic X
3 Wood: Mizuno MP Titanium w/ a MR Fubuki S
2 &3 irons: Titleist 704 CB’s with dy gold s300’s
4-PW: taylormade rac forged with dy gold s300’s
54*: Cleveland CG10 w/ wear spots on face and sole
58*: Titleist Vokey 200 Series (Raw)
Putter: Scotty Pro Platinum Delmar 3 (Rusty)
Bogeytrain
Nov 9, 2012 at 6:10 pm
Throw on an Amino Vital towel to that bag and one gets 10+ points for style.
gallas2
Nov 14, 2014 at 3:09 pm
Ran into a guy that worked the back shop @ Cdn Open at our course and he had a stack of 15 Amino Vital towels and was kind enough to give me one….thx EP
sean_miller
Nov 9, 2012 at 5:58 pm
I aspire to appear to be better than I am, so I’ll trade in the Sun Mountain for a hoofer, the MP-11s for my old TA3s, and my Scratch wedges for my old Mizunos (can’t use the 588s since they match). I’ll keep the MP600 and Launcher 3-wood, but I’m gonna miss my 2-hybrid (even though it has a DGS300 in it). My Cleveland Classic putter doesn’t have enough dings so I’ll put the Anser 2 back in, but I hate the pingman grip. Which aftermarket grip can I use?
John Wunder
Nov 9, 2012 at 1:42 pm
This was such a fun read. What a great way to start a Friday. Thanks Jeff. If I would add to the equipment I would take it one further and mention an old JONES bag with no stand that is just dropped on the ground from shot to shot.
Doctor Phil
Jul 11, 2014 at 7:13 am
Agree on Jones, as well.
George
Nov 9, 2012 at 12:55 pm
great article and entertaining read! personally i’ve always had fun ‘predicting’ the playing level of those based on what gear I see (and seeing how close I am during our round). often i’m right but not always.
i second the notion of low caps carrying a large towel not connected to the bag, as I’ve seen this quite a bit. a well-used carry bag (very often titleist or ping), rusty wedges, and an old 2 iron are signs i can attest to also.
Brian
Nov 9, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Great article Jeff. So now that I have all that info, what the heck should I be wearing? Finding the clubs to make my appearance go from a 14.9 to scratch is easy enough, but when it comes to how to match up a shirt and pair of pants I’m lost. My purple-lined Footjoys mess up the whole ensemble!
Blanco
Nov 12, 2012 at 2:35 am
just wear some old new balance running shoes, x-pants, and a big-dog shirt. If you have a pony tail, ONLY use the rubber band to keep it together. scratch in no time.
Aaron Alter
Nov 9, 2012 at 12:10 pm
Great piece. I make sure to never have a club in my bag that i can’t hint (cough blades cough )
Blanco
Nov 12, 2012 at 2:28 am
wow, that was awesome. your typo ended up working out being as your.. cough cough, hint, cough cough, was in fact a hint! Unless of course you meant to do it, in which case, pretty genius.
Steve Ronaldson
Nov 9, 2012 at 11:54 am
Yep the club hoes are easy money. The lack of confidence in their games always comes back to their clubs. Always trying to buy a game
Somaplr
Nov 9, 2012 at 11:36 am
I love playing guys that try to look like scratch golfers. Or club hoes…even better, easy money. I’ve found out the guys I’m most scared of are guys with tanner legs than my wife and look like Tin Cup.
Steve Ronaldson
Nov 9, 2012 at 10:58 am
Having a big towel that is not connected to your bag. Is also a sign of a good golfer.
Zooch
Nov 9, 2012 at 1:53 pm
it sure is. Especially if you stole it from a hotel pool and it has one of those blue lines down the middle:)
GOLFLB33
Nov 11, 2012 at 3:28 pm
lol at the towel comment played in a tournament last year. we were called in after a few holes. getting equipment dry all players were in using the courses towels including a player that plays european tour (no names)
The next day on the course i noticed from another fairway that he was using one of the towels on the course.
Lol
Tyler Dunham
Nov 9, 2012 at 10:51 am
Great article, I’m really coming to the realization that switching to new equipment every three months is affecting my game in a horrible way. Sticking with the equipment I have and starting to play better.
Steve Ronaldson
Nov 9, 2012 at 10:44 am
Your article is false, I played college golf within the last two years and and majority of the players use at least two hybrids. They are used off the tee and to hit par fives. 5 woods were not common. You also didn’t metion shafts good players know that the shaft is more important than the head of a driver. Really only good players get fitted for the right shafts. The blades thing is true I play 690 MBs but only because I have played the same clubs for 10 years and I like the weight and ball flight if I was not afraid of change I would have gone to a forged cavity back.
Blanco
Nov 12, 2012 at 2:24 am
Please add:
Step 8: Scratch golfers possess self-confidence and understand concepts like written humor and social media’s role in group think– that’s why they’re so damn good! They don’t try and downplay their not-aforementioned “ol’ trusty one” with the x-flex “scratch shaft” in an attempt to alert readers that to THIS article, they do not apply.
Jeffrey C Daschel
Jun 22, 2013 at 11:51 pm
well done.
scothomas24
Nov 9, 2012 at 9:39 am
wow – my new bible. well stated. i recently spent a few bucks and upgraded to the 913d2 and mp64s, might have to take a few rocks to them now.
What about the hybrid? i vote for either a driving iron, or adams………………
Cameron O'Leary
Mar 17, 2013 at 6:30 pm
Hybrids are for Hacks, 3 wood 5 wood combo is what scratches use!
shawn
May 28, 2013 at 4:50 pm
3-wood 2-iron more is like it
Larryoffthedeck
Jun 29, 2013 at 9:00 am
The right hybrid replaces the 5 wood and let’s you carry an extra wedge, 2-iron or whatever other ‘scratch’ club you prefer. Old school scratch play X100.
J.T. Parker
Jul 21, 2014 at 3:50 pm
I love to play the guys who believe hybrids are for Hacks! I have a 23 degree hybrid that I can hit a variety of distances and from any lie. While most are under clubbing or trying to hit a five wood out of rough, the hybrid comes out like a perfect lie.
JRM
Nov 9, 2012 at 7:55 am
Pair me up everyday with a dude who wants to “look like” a scratch. The excuses start early… “that was a tough lie”, “these greens are slower than normal”, “bunkers are in bad shape”. Easy money.
Prim'
Nov 9, 2012 at 4:58 am
WTF ?
I just need to change my Staff Bag … 🙂
I’m an” old school golfer” with my full TPZ Set (from 3 to SW), my TM Rescue MD (first generation), an F50 by Mizuno and a bullseye blade.
And I like drinking beers too (but not during a round)
enjoy !
ZenGolfer
Nov 9, 2012 at 4:17 am
i love ths article!!!!!!! reminds me of myself
see below for my WITB………..
9.5 Srixon W506 with Aldila NVS 65 Stiff
3w Callaway Big Bertha with Aldila NVS 65 Stiff
2iron Tommy Armour 855 Silverscot 18 deg with stock Stiff shaft
3-PW Srixon i302 with Nippon 1050gh Stiff
Ram FX Pro Set PW bent to 52 degrees with TT Dynamic Gold X100 Stiff
60deg Titleist Vokey Design Custom Ground by myself with TT Dynamic Gold Regular
36inch Ray Cook M1-3X (designed by Scotty Cameron)
Cleveland Tour Stand Bag
i cuurrently play of a 4 handicap……. enjoy!
jgpl
Nov 9, 2012 at 3:55 am
Excellent – just forgot to add in a blade/forged 2 iron to cap it off!