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Tiger changes driver-weight settings, shoots even-par 70 at Honda Classic

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After missing the cut by four strokes at the 2018 Genesis Open last week, Tiger Woods is back at it again this week at the Honda Classic; it’s the first time he’s played in back-to-back PGA Tour events since 2015.

Opting for something other than driver off the tee much of the day, Woods made one double bogey, one bogey, and three birdies en route to an even-par 70.

It’s no secret that Woods has been struggling off the tee of late, especially with the driver. He’s hitting just 35 percent of fairways on the year, and he has already made one driver shaft change (going from a Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70TX to a Matrix Ozik TP6HDe ahead of the Genesis Open). According to photos on Thursday, it appears Woods has also changed the weight settings in his TaylorMade M3 for a bit more forgiveness and fade-bias (as pictured above). At the Genesis Open and the Farmers Insurance Open, Woods had the M3 driver weights in the forward position, which moves CG (center of gravity) forward and tends to lower spin.

On Thursday, however, Woods hit a slew of long irons and fairway woods off the tee instead of drivers at the 7,100-yard par-70 PGA National… an approach that seemed to work. Well, he hit just 50 percent of the fairways on the day, but that means he’s trending upward.

One of the shots Woods hit with the driver was so far right it was literally laughable… but he managed to make par anyway.

Actually, his double-bogey 7 on the par-5 third hole (his 12th of the day) came after hitting the fairway; he was fumbling on and around the green after hitting his third into a greenside bunker. That blunder aside, three birdies and an even-par round at the always-difficult PGA National leaves Woods currently in T19, obviously well inside the cutline.

Do you think Woods will make the cut? Do you think he can contend to win the tournament?

See the clubs Tiger Woods has in his bag this week at the 2018 Honda Classic.

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32 Comments

32 Comments

  1. J Jackson

    Mar 2, 2018 at 5:14 am

    The total attraction to woods is unbelievable. The way that television coverage centers on this one individual is abhorrent.

  2. Timmy Dearden DDS

    Feb 24, 2018 at 7:50 am

    Glad to see that Mud Shark Coal Burning anti American race traitor aka Lindsay Vonn crash and burn at the Olympics.

  3. cdj

    Feb 24, 2018 at 6:40 am

    180+ ball speed not laughable at all though…

    • JR

      Feb 25, 2018 at 12:48 am

      … but the spin axis is carrying the ball into bananaland. He should learn to hit square and straight otherwise his high speed swing will exaggerate any small mistake.
      He should first learn to swing at a slower speed and control the ball before he launches bombs into the spectator gallery on his right side…. which is a danger zone if beaned by one of his errant efforts.

  4. Chuckster

    Feb 24, 2018 at 12:07 am

    OMG! OMG! OMG! ELDRICK SHOOTS 70! HE’S BAAAAAACK! HE’S CAPTURED THE MAGIC FROM 1996-2000, THIS IS IT, THIS IS

    IT, THE SECOND COMING! HE’S GONNA WIN THE 5 MAJORS NOW, OMG! WHAT DO WE DO NOW? HYSTERIA ABOUNDS!! THE

    WORLD IS FLAT!! HAHAHAHA!! HOW DESPERATE ARE WE FOR THIS EXHAUSTING COVERAGE OF A PEDESTRIAN, HAS BEEN

    GOLF’A?

    Uhhh geez, gimme a break with all the forced hoopla already! You’da thought his group was the only one on the nmad course!!

    Edith…..where’s my beer?

  5. Robert Nadjiwan

    Feb 23, 2018 at 12:52 pm

    I like the fact that Tiger is willing to work with a few equipment tweaks to try and strengthen his game. The driver is not an easy club to hit because one has to hit it with authority to get the performance that it has to offer. As always Tiger brings something to the game that I admire and trust that he will be rewarded with favorable results. Success comes in small spurts and it’s all about time, patience and the willingness to overcome challenges.

    • george

      Feb 23, 2018 at 1:30 pm

      Gary Player says that Tiger told him that he became confused after 2000, since taking instruction from the ‘experts’

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZkxmr2wMyU

      Tiger more than any other pro has unlimited clubs and shafts to test and the time to check out all the adjustments.

      He is still confused about the golf swing. Too bad, but for his well being and health he should retire before he does permanent injury.

      • JR

        Feb 25, 2018 at 12:42 am

        Gary Player is a blowhard. He isn’t giving a golf clinic. He is giving a lecture on how everyone needs to be just like himself.
        “It takes hard work”. How many times has he said that? Does he think working in a factory is easy work?
        He spends his whole life playing a game, getting rich doing it and then claims to know something about life. What a clod.?

  6. HDTVMAN

    Feb 23, 2018 at 11:35 am

    Hit that driver at the PGA show. The M3 was OK, but preferred the Ping G400.

  7. Mike Pollard

    Feb 23, 2018 at 11:31 am

    Oh Wait……Tiger changes his shoes!!!! and his golf towel……..oh, my what will he shoot today?? Frankly, I’m kinda sick of it……ijs 🙂

    • Mark McKenzie

      Feb 23, 2018 at 12:40 pm

      Tiger who…
      He’s not worth the ink. Mac

  8. Jim Bob

    Feb 23, 2018 at 10:20 am

    Who Cares! He’s guaranteed to hit every fairway with the new “Twist Face” Technology

  9. Billy Turner DDS

    Feb 22, 2018 at 11:48 pm

    She’s a disgusting mud shark that will never marry and have off spring. It’s her fault, burn the coal, pay the toll.

    • Ogo

      Feb 23, 2018 at 2:51 am

      Blond Swedish women are inveterate coalburners… e.g. Elin

  10. dat

    Feb 22, 2018 at 9:37 pm

    It is the indian, not the arrow. Adjusting a club might get you back .001 strokes per round. Fixing your swing faults will do tenfold or more better for your scores. Tiger took his medicine and generally used woods and irons. Playing it safe and making the cut is critical now for him. If he makes the weekend, by all means let the driver loose and see what happens.

    • Simms

      Feb 22, 2018 at 10:22 pm

      Love your comment it is the Indian not the Arrow..shows every amateur golfer out there that a $500 plus driver cannot even make one the greatest golfers of all time hit a fairway…and you think it is going to work for you………….

      • Ogo

        Feb 23, 2018 at 2:11 am

        But it’s so much fun tinkering with the weights to dial out your OTT banana slice…. and besides it makes yer golffing buddies green with envy as you pull out yer big black weapon to whack the lil’ whitey ball ….. 😉

      • ~j~

        Feb 23, 2018 at 11:58 am

        True, but some absolutely perform better to dome than others. Spent a hard year with the 915 driver, going through multiple chefs and settings, and never found a good consistent flight with it . Finally traded it in for 2017 M2, and right off the shelf begin hammering fairways. Same Indian swingnit!

        Tiger needs to ditch the M3, settings and Shafts won’t help much now that it’s in his head

  11. TV

    Feb 22, 2018 at 9:30 pm

    This is why the Tour needs more OBs. Why they let these guys get away these slash swings without penalty is beyond dumb. Make them think about the trouble and force them to hit a 3w or hybrid or iron.

  12. george

    Feb 22, 2018 at 8:35 pm

    give us a break, its not the arrow.

    That swing sucks and it is continuing to damage his body, just as he has done since changing post 2000.

    IMO he will continue to miss cuts until his body gives out, again.

  13. gvogelsang

    Feb 22, 2018 at 7:19 pm

    The title of this article is surely incomplete, and perhaps totally wrong.

    Tiger shot even par by hitting irons and 3-wood off the tee. The couple of times that he driver were a disaster.

    Only on WRX. I would say fake news, but I hate the usage.

  14. Your Mom

    Feb 22, 2018 at 7:01 pm

    Tiger isn’t hitting stuff off the toe and heel that bad! He’s a ball striker. He hits everything dead center of club face. All this twist face talk is pretty stupid

  15. Ogo

    Feb 22, 2018 at 6:21 pm

    Tiger’s drive off the tee suffers from Peyronie’s disease… it jerks off to the left.

  16. Dave Hast

    Feb 22, 2018 at 6:09 pm

    Here is my thought…. Twist face allows for of center hits too be playable… That being said you grooveing a swing because you are getting away with it…….. It’s only going to get worse. The club can only do so much. Put the M2 back in play and get on with it!! I’m sure they can find a way to make the M2 look like an M3. Just my two cents

    • George

      Feb 23, 2018 at 7:08 am

      Twist face is a joke. Quickly running out of ideas is what they should call it.

      • Ross

        Feb 23, 2018 at 7:43 am

        Twist face is relate to off centre hit when the path is true, If you throw it in to out it’s going right!

  17. The dude

    Feb 22, 2018 at 5:40 pm

    Can’t work the Twist Face…..it’s a double edge sword

  18. James

    Feb 22, 2018 at 5:13 pm

    Copy Stenson and use a strong 3 wood ? Set up a poll, should Tiger copy Stensons strong 3 wood approach to driving?

  19. Kyle

    Feb 22, 2018 at 4:51 pm

    Don’t confuse correlation with causation. It wasn’t the driver that allowed him to shoot E. check out shot link on hole 12.

  20. Martien Schwencke

    Feb 22, 2018 at 4:25 pm

    The best for Tiger is an Titleist 905 with a TT metal shaft (On ebay 30 dollar)

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News

Morning 9: 58 on the Korn Ferry Tour | Rory on possible return to policy board

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Friday morning, golf fans, may a bountiful weekend of golf be in store for you!

1. 58 on the Korn Ferry Tour

KFT staff report…”Frankie Capan III went crazy low Thursday on the Korn Ferry Tour. Nearly in record fashion.”

  • “Capan carded 13-under 58 in the opening round of the Veritex Bank Championship, matching the second lowest score in Korn Ferry Tour history. He fell one shy of Cristobal Del Solar’s record 57, set at the Astara Golf Championship presented by Mastercard earlier this year, but it was a heck of a show nonetheless.”
  • “The Minnesota native played an eight-hole stretch in 9-under Thursday, following an eagle at the par-5 ninth with seven straight birdies to begin the back nine at par-71 Texas Rangers Golf Club. He “cooled off” with a two-putt par at the long par-4 17th hole. He arrived at the par-5 18th hole at 13 under for the round, but he found a fairway bunker off the tee, laid up to 134 yards and missed his third shot left of the green. He chipped to 7 feet and drained the par putt to match the Korn Ferry Tour’s second-lowest score of 58, carded by Stephan Jaeger in the opening round of the 2016 Ellie Mae Classic at TPC Stonebrae.”
Full piece.

2. Team McIlowery starts strong

Paul Hodowanic for PGATour.com…”Late Thursday afternoon in New Orleans, Rory McIlroy rested his head on Shane Lowry’s shoulder.”

  • “It wasn’t the typical post-round moment, but this isn’t the typical event. McIlroy and Lowry teamed up for this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the PGA TOUR’s lone team event, and the all-Irish duo put on a show. Sporting matching pink-on-navy getups, McIlroy/Lowry opened in a best-ball 11-under 61 in Thursday’s Four-ball format at TPC Louisiana.”
  • “This partnership might have stemmed from a boozy brunch last fall, but their opening-round performance at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans gave the field a sobering reminder: They’ll be tough to top.”
Full piece.

3. LPGA Tour: Grace Kim in front

AP report…”Grace Kim shot a 7-under 64 at Wilshire Country Club to take the first-round lead Thursday in the LPGA Tour’s JM Eagle LA Championship.”

  • “Playing in the morning session, the 23-year-old Australian capped her bogey-free round with a chip-in birdie on the par-3 18th.”
  • “Well, I chunked my tee shot on the last hole 20 meters short and then I chipped it in it,” Kim said. “I think that’s pretty cool, in front of everyone
Full piece.

4. McIlroy on rejoining policy board

Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner…”Rory McIlroy said Wednesday that he is willing to rejoin the PGA Tour policy board if the other player directors want him.”

  • “As first reported by the Guardian, Webb Simpson has submitted a letter stating that he’d like to resign from the board, but only if his vacant seat is filled by McIlroy, who stepped down last fall because of the toll it had taken on him professionally and personally.”
  • “Five months later, what has changed?”
  • “I think I can be helpful,” McIlroy said Wednesday ahead of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where he is partnering with Shane Lowry. “I don’t think there’s been much progress made in the last eight months, and I was hopeful that there would be. I think I could be helpful to the process. But only if people want me involved, I guess.”
Full piece.

5. Charlie Woods shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier

Golfweek’s Cameron Jourdan…”Charlie Woods is going to have to wait to play in the U.S. Open.”

“The 15-year-old son of Tiger Woods played Thursday in local qualifying for the United States Golf Association’s national championship, set for June 13-16 at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. Charlie played at The Legacy Golf & Tennis Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and he shot 9-over 81.”

“Charlie’s round featured a bogey on his opening hole, the par-4 first. He then doubled the par-5 second. A pair of pars followed before his lone birdie on the front, but another double the next hole, the par-4 sixth, had him turn in 4-over 40.”

Full piece.

6. Photos from the Zurich Classic

GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.

Check out all our photos at the link below!

Full piece.
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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans

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GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.

As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.

Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying about our photos from the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in the forums.

 

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Morning 9: Tiger’s TGL teammates | Woosnam’s criticism of Cantlay | Rory’s return to tour policy board

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Tuesday morning, golf fans, as the PGA Tour heads to New Orleans for the Zurich Classic.

1. 15-year-old finishes top 20 on KFT

Jay Coffin for Golf Digest…”During a week when most eyes were on Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda, the 15-year-old lefty finished off an incredible week with a five-under 66 in the final round of the Korn Ferry Tour’s LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood Ranch in Florida.”

  • “After opening with 68-66-70, Russell finished at 14-under-par total to tie for 20th place. The finish in which he jumped 28 positions on the leaderboard on the final day, gives him an exemption into next week’s Veritex Bank Championship at Rangers Park in Arlington, Texas. He’s the youngest player to finish inside the top 20 on the PGA of Korn Ferry tours, according to records that go back to 1983.”
Full piece.

2. Understandably, Nelly WDs

Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner…”Nelly Korda’s bid for a record-setting sixth consecutive win will have to wait a few weeks.”

  • “A day after capturing the Chevron Championship during a marathon final round in Houston, Korda announced on social media that she was withdrawing from this week’s JM Eagle LA Championship.”
  • “It was not an easy decision,” she wrote. “After the unbelievable week at the Chevron and grinding through the mental and physical challenges of four events in the past five weeks, I am definitely feeling exhausted. With so much still to come throughout 2024, I feel I need to listen to my body and get some rest, so I can be ready for the remainder of the season.”
Full piece.

3. Scheffler’s impressive No. 1 feat

Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…”After Scheffler’s victory Monday morning at the RBC Heritage, Scheffler upped his points average to 15.016 and increased his advantage in the Official World Golf Ranking over No. 2 Rory McIlroy to more than double McIlroy’s 7.365 average, meaning Scheffler is ranked further ahead of No. 2 than No. 2 is ahead of the last-ranked player.”

  • “The last time a No. 1 player had a greater points average was Woods, who was at 15.4564 on Dec. 6, 2009. But Woods was less than seven average points ahead of No. 2 Phil Mickelson at the time. Earlier that year, Woods was 7.735 ahead of Mickelson, which is the last time the gap between Nos. 1 and 2 was greater than Scheffler’s current 7.651 advantage.”
Full piece.

4. Zurich field notes

PGATour.com’s Adam Stanley…”Rory McIlroy will make his tournament debut alongside good pal, Ryder Cup teammate, and Irishman Shane Lowry – a duo that was firmed up during a celebratory lunch after the Ryder Cup last fall… Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele will try to reprise their 2022 win here. Cantlay and Schauffele have both the Foursomes and Four-ball scoring records at this event… Davis Riley and Nick Hardy will defend their 2023 title. No team has gone back-to-back… Three sets of brothers (and two sets of twins!) will play together with twins Rasmus and Nicolai Højgaard and Parker and Pierceson Coody in the field along with Alex and Matt Fitzpatrick. Alex Fitzpatrick and Rasmus Højgaard are sponsor invites…”

  • “Billy Horschel, who won last week at the Corales Puntacana Championship, will be without his previous partner Sam Burns, as Burns and his wife are expecting their first child any day. Horschel will instead be paired with fellow University of Florida alum Tyson Alexander. Horschel has won the Zurich Classic when it was both an individual and team event… Other notable pairings include Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, Sahith Theegala and Will Zalatoris, and Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin. The Canadian duo finished runner-up a year ago and would like nothing more than to show Presidents Cup International Team captain Mike Weir how well they play together… Steve Stricker will play his second TOUR event this season (after earning his way into THE PLAYERS Championship), teaming up with Matt Kuchar.”
Full piece.

5. Tiger’s teammates

Field Level Media report…”Tiger Woods announced Monday that Max Homa, Tom Kim and Kevin Kisner have joined his Jupiter Links GC TGL team.”

  • “The virtual golf league headed by Woods and Rory McIlroy will begin its inaugural season next January. Woods also unveiled the team’s logo.”
  • “I have already shared my excitement and optimism for TGL as a league and product,” said Woods. “Now that we have finalized our roster with a team of world-class golfers, I am even more confident that this group will proudly represent the Jupiter (Fla.) area and connect with our fans for years to come.”
Full piece.

6. Woosnam questions Cantlay’s decision

Our Matt Vincenzi…”After the horn sounded to suspend play due to darkness, Cantlay, who’s ball was in the fairway on the 18th hole, had a decision to make. With over 200 yards into the green and extreme winds working against the shot, conventional wisdom would be to wait until Monday morning to hit the shot.”

  • “On the other hand, if he could finish the hole, he may just want to get the event over with so he could get out of Hilton Head.”
  • “Curiously, Cantlay chose neither of those options. After hitting 3-wood into the green, and still coming up short, the former FedEx Cup champion chose to mark his ball and chip and putt on Monday morning.”
  • “Ian Woosnam, who was watching from home, took to X to give his thoughts on Cantlay’s decision making.”
  • “Cantlay would end up getting up and down for par when play resumed at 8:00 am Monday morning.”
Full piece.

7. JT on Scheffler’s “weird” equipment choice

Our Matt Vincenzi…”After Justin Thomas’ third round of the RBC Heritage, the two-time major champion went in the broadcast booth alongside the CBS crew.”

  • “While Thomas was watching Scottie Scheffler play on the back nine of his third round, he wondered aloud why Scottie uses high-numbered golf balls.”
  • “Does anybody else think it’s weird that Scottie uses high numbers? I don’t know if I’ve ever seen an elite player use high-numbered golf balls.”
  • “Amanda Balionis who was on the grounds chimed in, reporting that analyst Dottie Pepper had wondered the same thing earlier that day.”
  • “I’ve been going about this wrong my whole life,” Thomas jokingly said.
Full piece.

8. Rory to rejoin PGA Tour policy board

Mark Schlabach for ESPN…”Four-time major championship winner Rory McIlroy is poised to return to the PGA Tour’s policy board, pending a vote by the board, which could come as early as this week, sources confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.”

  • “One of the PGA Tour’s most vocal supporters during its three-year battle with LIV Golf, McIlroy abruptly resigned as a player director on the tour’s influential policy board in November.”
  • “He is expected to replace policy board player director Webb Simpson, who intends to step away before his two-year term expires in 2025.”
Full piece.

9. Weir names Presidents Cup assistants

PGA Tour report…”International Team Captain Mike Weir announced Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman, Geoff Ogilvy and Camilo Villegas as captain’s assistants for the 2024 Presidents Cup, which will be played at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Canada, Sept. 24-29.

Full piece.
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