News
Why the R&A tested 30 players’ drivers at The Open
Yesterday in the Morning 9, we discussed Tim Rosaforte’s report that the R&A randomly tested 30 players drivers for COR conformance at the British Open.
It seems, however, that while the drivers were randomly chosen, players knew the testing was coming. According to Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard, both players and OEMs were notified three weeks ago that the R&A intended to check drivers.
Traditionally, the R&A and USGA test COR on clubs from manufacturers, not players’ gamers.
“We take our governance role very seriously, not just on the Rules of Golf and amateur status, but also equipment standards, and we felt it was an appropriate next step to more actively seek to test players’ drivers straight out of the bag,” Martin Slumbers, the R&A’s chief executive, told Golf Channel.
Paul Casey, Brooks Koepka, Jason Day, and Henrik Stenson were among those tested (should’ve tested Stenson’s 3-wood!). No violations were reported at the practice range test center.
Interestingly/conspiracy alert: Rory McIlroy floated the idea that TaylorMade (his equipment sponsor, was “singled out a bit more than anyone else.”
“A manufacturer is always going to try and find ways to get around what the regulations are. It’s a bit of an arms race,” McIlroy said.
That said, randomness or the size of TaylorMade’s market share could account for number of M3 and M4s tested, rather than being “singled out” as McIlroy suggested.
While this is the first such testing at The Open, the R&A apparently tested drivers at a Japan Golf Tour event earlier this year.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship
GolfWRX is on site this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the PGA Championship.
While we see fewer equipment changes and new gear seeding at major championships, we get a look at custom gear and looks into the bags of players we rarely see, which is just as exciting. In the case of the PGA Championship, this means a look at the gear some of the PGA Professionals who qualified for the tournament will be gaming, and LIV players, such as Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed.
Check out links to all our albums from Valhalla below and check back throughout the week as we continue to update.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Michael Block – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Patrick Reed – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cam Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Josh Speight – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Takumi Kanaya – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kyle Mendoza – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Adrian Meronk – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jordan Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jeremy Wells – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jared Jones – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Somers – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Larkin Gross – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tracy Phillips – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jon Rahm – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Keita Nakajima – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kazuma Kobori – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- David Puig – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Ryan Van Velzen – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brad Marek – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rich Beem WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Phil Mickelson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Matt Dobyns – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Lucas Herbert – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jason Dufner – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Daly – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Taylor Gooch – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dean Burmester – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dustin Johnson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
Pullout Albums
- Ping putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Bettinardi covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cameron putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Max Homa – Titleist 2 wood – 2024 PGA Championship
- Scotty Cameron experimental putter shaft by UST – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – new Ping putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka’s new Cameron putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s Cobra bag and Aerojet driver – 2024 PGA Championship
- Super Stroke grip – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tiger Woods – 2024 PGA Championship
- Michael Block’s new TaylorMade “Proto” 7-iron, from address – 2024 PGA Championship
- Odyssey putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
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News
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max
Jul 19, 2018 at 1:13 pm
On a week where hardly anybody is actually hitting driver….
iye
Jul 18, 2018 at 10:09 pm
FBI/CIA/NSA…. planning elimination of POTUS…. believe it!
Geohogan
Jul 19, 2018 at 8:41 am
FBI/CIA/NSA…. planning elimination of POTUS…. believe it!
lye,
Wouldnt, not believe but of course its true but then there are a lot of truths out there, so no, I believe, yes.
Caroline
Jul 18, 2018 at 8:09 pm
So funny, guys get over it, Pro golfers are just better then you or I…there is no secret clubs or balls on tour…maybe better balance and set up of clubs, but just as the players as good as they can be……You want to play the best set up top line clubs….work hard and get yourself on tour…
Geohogan
Jul 18, 2018 at 4:32 pm
What kind of random test lets golfers and mfg know in advance that tests will be performed at a specific event?
Once again the USGA is exposed for what it is .. or isnt.
Joshua
Jul 18, 2018 at 5:20 pm
Wasn’t the usga bub…
2putttom
Jul 18, 2018 at 12:03 pm
would of been nice to see the name s of all the players involved.
MCoz
Jul 18, 2018 at 10:52 am
All of the club heads that go the tour department from TMinnesota are each individually tested and marked as a regular course of action. They will have a small grayish Mark in the center.
larrybud
Jul 18, 2018 at 10:11 am
Do we know the results?
Thomas A
Jul 18, 2018 at 10:26 am
“No violations were reported at the practice range” per the article above with words in it.
tom
Jul 18, 2018 at 3:06 pm
hahaha
James T
Jul 18, 2018 at 8:35 pm
What words? I just read the photographs.
Geohogan
Jul 18, 2018 at 10:58 pm
the players and manufacturers were given advance notice of the “random” tests and your asking if anyone failed the test? You have to be kidding!