Opinion & Analysis
My dream round (including my dream WITB)
Have you ever thought about your golf unicorn scenario? If the golf gods let me time travel, and all courses and equipment were available to me: Where would I play? With who? What’s in the bag? What am I wearing? Every last detail. Well, for me, this is what it would look like.
WHERE: Augusta National Golf Club from the tournament tees on a Sunday pin placement setup. 1997 length of 6,925 yards.
My old man, my uncle who taught me how to play, my second dad and my best friend. My boys are a bit too young, and this would be if it happened today, so I needed to say that out loud.
WEATHER: 78 degrees with a slight breeze, a little overcast.
TEE TIME: 11 a.m.
LUNCH AT THE TURN: The “Burger Dog” from the halfway house at Olympic Club.
If you know, you know. It’s ridiculous.
OUTFIT: G/FORE head to toe
My favorite stuff to wear so might as well go all swag on it at Augusta.
BAG: VESSEL BLACK SUNDAY 2.0
This is the perfect golf bag. Nothing better out there, in my opinion.
WITB
DRIVER: Callaway Great Big Bertha 8.2 “Tour Issue” w/ RCH 36 “Pro Series” Strong Flex shaft
My uncle Rob got one of these in 1997 and didn’t like it; he ended up giving it to me to try and I absolutely DESTROYED it. The longest drives I ever hit at my home track Rainier G&CC were with this driver. From the blue tees, 149 into #7, 121 into #11, pin high on #12 and flew it in the front right bunker on #18. Only a Rainier member would know, but these are pokes.
3-WOOD: Callaway S2H2 “2 dot” 13 Degrees with w/ RCH 36 “Pro Series” Strong Flex Shaft
Best 3-wood setup I ever had, period.
5-WOOD: TaylorMade Raylor 19 Degrees w/ Dynamic Gold “Tour Issue” X100
This was a fun one to think about. This club represents more than good shots for me. All the players I looked up to as a kid had either the 16 or 19 in this head and I saw some of the best-looking fairway wood shots ever with it. It will always have a special place in my heart.
IRONS: (3-6) Ping Eye2 Copper, (7-PW) Titleist 962B w/Dynamic Gold “Tour Issue” X100
The combo set of all combo sets. Best looking Ping cavity backs ever and arguably the greatest cast players clubs in the history of the earth. I had this set up when I played the best golf of my life, although it was 2-4 in the Pings and the rest 962B.
WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Aaron Dill custom 53 degree, TaylorMade Milled Grind 2 “TW” Grind 60′ degree w/Dynamic Gold “Tour Issue” S400
One wedge from a dear friend and the other from my favorite player of all time.
PUTTER: Tiger Woods Scotty Cameron GSS
C’mon. Exact Replica of Tiger’s Scotty “Elder Wand”
BALL: Titleist Original Pro V1
The ball that changed the game.
GLOVE: Titleist Players
Best glove ever made, hands down.
What happens from there I don’t care.
I’d love to know what you guys would do if you were presented with the same scenario. Let me know in the comments below.
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19th Hole
Vincenzi’s 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans betting preview
The PGA TOUR heads to New Orleans to play the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. In a welcome change from the usual stroke play, the Zurich Classic is a team event. On Thursday and Saturday, the teams play best ball, and on Friday and Sunday the teams play alternate shot.
TPC Louisiana is a par 72 that measures 7,425 yards. The course features some short par 4s and plenty of water and bunkers, which makes for a lot of exciting risk/reward scenarios for competitors. Pete Dye designed the course in 2004 specifically for the Zurich Classic, although the event didn’t make its debut until 2007 because of Hurricane Katrina.
Coming off of the Masters and a signature event in consecutive weeks, the field this week is a step down, and understandably so. Many of the world’s top players will be using this time to rest after a busy stretch.
However, there are some interesting teams this season with some stars making surprise appearances in the team event. Some notable teams include Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, Will Zalatoris and Sahith Theegala as well as a few Canadian teams, Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin and Taylor Pendrith and Corey Conners.
Past Winners at TPC Louisiana
- 2023: Riley/Hardy (-30)
- 2022: Cantlay/Schauffele (-29)
- 2021: Leishman/Smith (-20)
- 2019: Palmer/Rahm (-26)
- 2018: Horschel/Piercy (-22)
- 2017: Blixt/Smith (-27)
2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans Picks
Tom Hoge/Maverick McNealy +2500 (DraftKings)
Tom Hoge is coming off of a solid T18 finish at the RBC Heritage and finished T13 at last year’s Zurich Classic alongside Harris English.
This season, Hoge is having one of his best years on Tour in terms of Strokes Gained: Approach. In his last 24 rounds, the only player to top him on the category is Scottie Scheffler. Hoge has been solid on Pete Dye designs, ranking 28th in the field over his past 36 rounds.
McNealy is also having a solid season. He’s finished T6 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and T9 at the PLAYERS Championship. He recently started working with world renowned swing coach, Butch Harmon, and its seemingly paid dividends in 2024.
Keith Mitchell/Joel Dahmen +4000 (DraftKings)
Keith Mitchell is having a fantastic season, finishing in the top-20 of five of his past seven starts on Tour. Most recently, Mitchell finished T14 at the Valero Texas Open and gained a whopping 6.0 strokes off the tee. He finished 6th at last year’s Zurich Classic.
Joel Dahmen is having a resurgent year and has been dialed in with his irons. He also has a T11 finish at the PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass which is another Pete Dye track. With Mitchell’s length and Dahmen’s ability to put it close with his short irons, the Mitchell/Dahmen combination will be dangerous this week.
Taylor Moore/Matt NeSmith +6500 (DraftKings)
Taylor Moore has quickly developed into one of the more consistent players on Tour. He’s finished in the top-20 in three of his past four starts, including a very impressive showing at The Masters, finishing T20. He’s also finished T4 at this event in consecutive seasons alongside Matt NeSmith.
NeSmith isn’t having a great 2024, but has seemed to elevate his game in this format. He finished T26 at Pete Dye’s TPC Sawgrass, which gives the 30-year-old something to build off of. NeSmith is also a great putter on Bermudagrass, which could help elevate Moore’s ball striking prowess.
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19th Hole
Vincenzi’s 2024 LIV Adelaide betting preview: Cam Smith ready for big week down under
After having four of the top twelve players on the leaderboard at The Masters, LIV Golf is set for their fifth event of the season: LIV Adelaide.
For both LIV fans and golf fans in Australia, LIV Adelaide is one of the most anticipated events of the year. With 35,000 people expected to attend each day of the tournament, the Grange Golf Club will be crawling with fans who are passionate about the sport of golf. The 12th hole, better known as “the watering hole”, is sure to have the rowdiest of the fans cheering after a long day of drinking some Leishman Lager.
The Grange Golf Club is a par-72 that measures 6,946 yards. The course features minimal resistance, as golfers went extremely low last season. In 2023, Talor Gooch shot consecutive rounds of 62 on Thursday and Friday, giving himself a gigantic cushion heading into championship Sunday. Things got tight for a while, but in the end, the Oklahoma State product was able to hold off The Crushers’ Anirban Lahiri for a three-shot victory.
The Four Aces won the team competition with the Range Goats finishing second.
*All Images Courtesy of LIV Golf*
Past Winners at LIV Adelaide
- 2023: Talor Gooch (-19)
Stat Leaders Through LIV Miami
Green in Regulation
- Richard Bland
- Jon Rahm
- Paul Casey
Fairways Hit
- Abraham Ancer
- Graeme McDowell
- Henrik Stenson
Driving Distance
- Bryson DeChambeau
- Joaquin Niemann
- Dean Burmester
Putting
- Cameron Smith
- Louis Oosthuizen
- Matt Jones
2024 LIV Adelaide Picks
Cameron Smith +1400 (DraftKings)
When I pulled up the odds for LIV Adelaide, I was more than a little surprised to see multiple golfers listed ahead of Cameron Smith on the betting board. A few starts ago, Cam finished runner-up at LIV Hong Kong, which is a golf course that absolutely suits his eye. Augusta National in another course that Smith could roll out of bed and finish in the top-ten at, and he did so two weeks ago at The Masters, finishing T6.
At Augusta, he gained strokes on the field on approach, off the tee (slightly), and of course, around the green and putting. Smith able to get in the mix at a major championship despite coming into the week feeling under the weather tells me that his game is once again rounding into form.
The Grange Golf Club is another course that undoubtedly suits the Australian. Smith is obviously incredibly comfortable playing in front of the Aussie faithful and has won three Australian PGA Championship’s. The course is very short and will allow Smith to play conservative off the tee, mitigating his most glaring weakness. With birdies available all over the golf course, there’s a chance the event turns into a putting contest, and there’s no one on the planet I’d rather have in one of those than Cam Smith.
Louis Oosthuizen +2200 (DraftKings)
Louis Oosthuizen has simply been one of the best players on LIV in the 2024 seas0n. The South African has finished in the top-10 on the LIV leaderboard in three of his five starts, with his best coming in Jeddah, where he finished T2. Perhaps more impressively, Oosthuizen finished T7 at LIV Miami, which took place at Doral’s “Blue Monster”, an absolutely massive golf course. Given that Louis is on the shorter side in terms of distance off the tee, his ability to play well in Miami shows how dialed he is with the irons this season.
In addition to the LIV finishes, Oosthuizen won back-to-back starts on the DP World Tour in December at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the Mauritus Open. He also finished runner-up at the end of February in the International Series Oman. The 41-year-old has been one of the most consistent performers of 2024, regardless of tour.
For the season, Louis ranks 4th on LIV in birdies made, T9 in fairways hit and first in putting. He ranks 32nd in driving distance, but that won’t be an issue at this short course. Last season, he finished T11 at the event, but was in decent position going into the final round but fell back after shooting 70 while the rest of the field went low. This season, Oosthuizen comes into the event in peak form, and the course should be a perfect fit for his smooth swing and hot putter this week.
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Opinion & Analysis
The Wedge Guy: What really makes a wedge work? Part 1
Of all the clubs in our bags, wedges are almost always the simplest in construction and, therefore, the easiest to analyze what might make one work differently from another if you know what to look for.
Wedges are a lot less mysterious than drivers, of course, as the major brands are working with a lot of “pixie dust” inside these modern marvels. That’s carrying over more to irons now, with so many new models featuring internal multi-material technologies, and almost all of them having a “badge” or insert in the back to allow more complex graphics while hiding the actual distribution of mass.
But when it comes to wedges, most on the market today are still single pieces of molded steel, either cast or forged into that shape. So, if you look closely at where the mass is distributed, it’s pretty clear how that wedge is going to perform.
To start, because of their wider soles, the majority of the mass of almost any wedge is along the bottom third of the clubhead. So, the best wedge shots are always those hit between the 2nd and 5th grooves so that more mass is directly behind that impact. Elite tour professionals practice incessantly to learn to do that consistently, wearing out a spot about the size of a penny right there. If impact moves higher than that, the face is dramatically thinner, so smash factor is compromised significantly, which reduces the overall distance the ball will fly.
Every one of us, tour players included, knows that maddening shot that we feel a bit high on the face and it doesn’t go anywhere, it’s not your fault.
If your wedges show a wear pattern the size of a silver dollar, and centered above the 3rd or 4th groove, you are not getting anywhere near the same performance from shot to shot. Robot testing proves impact even two to three grooves higher in the face can cause distance loss of up to 35 to 55 feet with modern ‘tour design’ wedges.
In addition, as impact moves above the center of mass, the golf club principle of gear effect causes the ball to fly higher with less spin. Think of modern drivers for a minute. The “holy grail” of driving is high launch and low spin, and the driver engineers are pulling out all stops to get the mass as low in the clubhead as possible to optimize this combination.
Where is all the mass in your wedges? Low. So, disregarding the higher lofts, wedges “want” to launch the ball high with low spin – exactly the opposite of what good wedge play requires penetrating ball flight with high spin.
While almost all major brand wedges have begun putting a tiny bit more thickness in the top portion of the clubhead, conventional and modern ‘tour design’ wedges perform pretty much like they always have. Elite players learn to hit those crisp, spinny penetrating wedge shots by spending lots of practice time learning to consistently make contact low in the face.
So, what about grooves and face texture?
Grooves on any club can only do so much, and no one has any material advantage here. The USGA tightly defines what we manufacturers can do with grooves and face texture, and modern manufacturing techniques allow all of us to push those limits ever closer. And we all do. End of story.
Then there’s the topic of bounce and grinds, the most complex and confusing part of the wedge formula. Many top brands offer a complex array of sole configurations, all of them admittedly specialized to a particular kind of lie or turf conditions, and/or a particular divot pattern.
But if you don’t play the same turf all the time, and make the same size divot on every swing, how would you ever figure this out?
The only way is to take any wedge you are considering and play it a few rounds, hitting all the shots you face and observing the results. There’s simply no other way.
So, hopefully this will inspire a lively conversation in our comments section, and I’ll chime in to answer any questions you might have.
And next week, I’ll dive into the rest of the wedge formula. Yes, shafts, grips and specifications are essential, too.
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19th Hole2 weeks ago
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
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19th Hole2 weeks ago
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19th Hole18 hours ago
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19th Hole3 weeks ago
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
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19th Hole1 week ago
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19th Hole7 days ago
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19th Hole1 week ago
Neal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
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19th Hole6 days ago
Brandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why
Geoffrey Holland
Mar 20, 2020 at 10:29 am
Capilano Golf and Country Club in West Vancouver BC, first tee time of the day 7:30 a.m. in April. the first golf course I ever played, also the first birdie I ever made on number 14. Thanks James B for bringing me along to play with you so many times.
My fivesome would include my late grandfather Gilbert Robinson, who introduced me to the game but I never got to play with him because he died when I was 9. He actually taught me how to play right-handed but I ended up left handed. We did play once at a pitch and putt where I even made a par.
I’ll fill out the group with some great Canadian golfers, George Knudson, Mike Weir, and either Brooke Henderson or Sandra Post. It all depends on their schedules. Those four are some of the greatest Canadian pros of all time.
Wardrobe? Who cares.
WITB:
Golfsmith Harvey Penick titanium driver with Aldila HM50 x-stiff. I worked for Golfsmith Canada back in the day and this driver head was my favourite.
TaylorMade Original One 12 degree driver TT Dyn Gold S300. This will act as my 3-wood. I’ve never had much time for fairway woods but this is a solid one.
Ping Eye 2 1 iron becu with TT Dyn Gold S300. I have hit some beautiful shots with this golf club. The most memorable was on number 17 at Marine Drive Golf club in Vancouver, setting up a 20-foot birdie putt.
Campbell Arnold Palmer irons 3-pw with original Palmer stiff shafts. At one point I was without an iron set, and a friend at the golf course I worked at rescued these from someone who was cleaning out their storage locker. Just a lovely set of old school irons old, forged with the pinned shaft. Thanks James W.
Ram Tom Watson 55 and 60 degree wedges with TT Dyn Gold S300. If I’ve had a set of clubs since 1983 its had one of these wedges in it. Best wedges ever.
Arnold Palmer original putter. Napa style, whatever you want to call it, best putter head ever. 38 inches.
All clubs two inches overlength, all irons 2 degrees upright.
For the ball, I’ll go with the old Spalding Tour Edition Zinthane balata. That baby could spin.
Nick Panepinto
Mar 19, 2020 at 1:18 pm
Course: Kiawah Island; Ocean Course (Walking)
Foursome: ’00 Tiger, ’92 Jeremy Roenick, ’15 Jordan Speith
WITB:
– Driver: r7 Superquad TP
– Irons: Taylormade Smoke RAC TP 3-9
– Wedges: Titelist Vokeys SM7 (48, 52,58)
– Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 6
– Ball: Taylormade TP5
– Bag: PING Moonlite (Augusta Colorway)
Outfit:
– Shirt: White Polo with Harbor Town Logo
– Shorts: Khaki Vineyard Vines Performance Shorts
– Hat: Green Masters Hat
– Shoes: Jordan XI’s
Glove: Titleist Player’s Glove
Tee Time: 6:30 AM
19th Hole: John Daly; Classic Club Sandwich
Thank you for this post, it has been a nice escape putting this together from the madness that has been going on.
I wish all of you health and the best!
ZoomIt
Mar 18, 2020 at 11:42 pm
Myopia Hunt
2:00 pm start
78*
Arnold Palmer out of the coolers at the turn. If you know, you know
Titleist 975 D 9.5*
Titleist PT-15*
Titleist 904 19
Dynamic Gold
Titleist 690 mb 3-P
Dynamic gold
Raw Vokeys
256.14
260.08
Scotty Cameron newport
Nike Tour Accuracy
Kimo
Mar 18, 2020 at 9:13 pm
Cuz, I’d play Ala Wai golf course in Waikiki.
Clubs no mattah.
Jus need new Pinnacle golf balls. Clean eh?
I’d go play wit mah friends an cousin.
No can beat dat, eh?
Nihonsei
Mar 18, 2020 at 8:01 pm
TM Super Steel 9.5 w/ Bubble shaft
Cleveland Quad Pro 15*
Ping i3 “Blades” w/ TT Tri-Gold (AMT) 3-PW
Wilson Harmonized 80*
Ping Anser, Blue Ti hosel Hand painted dot on top
Maxfli Revolution or Topflite STrata
Playing any course in Austin or Basstrop along the Colorado River or the Base Course in San Antone AFB
With my Pops(RIP), Any coach that shut me out of playing for my Middle or Jr. High squad in order to keep me out of the game I Loved as a kid and couldn’t quite afford, and for a pro both Harvey Penick and Lee Trevino or The Black Knight as I was more active writing the U.N. as an Anti-Apartheid youth than hitting balls as I never outgrew the pen but the sticks never kept up…my pops was lefty and cut downs were not feasable once he taught me as a righty. I’d rock BC Ethic club clothes and go barefoot for a round! Thanks for asking, this was fun to consider!!!
Ryan Rieckhoff
Mar 18, 2020 at 7:44 pm
Golf Course – Sahalee Country Club
Tee Time 1:00 PM
Club Set Up
Driver TaylorMade Burner 91 model with Flex Twist Shaft
Titleist 13 PT FW with stock stiff shaft
Ping Eye 2 + 1 iron Black Dot with Precision Rifle 7.0
2 Iron Thru SW Ping Zing 2 Red Dot with Precision Rifle 7.0
Maxfli Tad Moore Putter
Maxfli HT Balata 100 1994 version
Gdb99
Mar 18, 2020 at 7:12 pm
I would play Augusta.
Probably wear my favorite Timberlin shirt, Blue with White stripes. Shorts. My new FootJoy shoes I have coming.
I would use my Great Big Bertha, but it had too many sky marks on it!
My current Cobra LTD will work
Ping G400 5 wood in big – configuration
Cobra DWS 23* hybrid
Played many rounds with a set of Ben Hogan GCD irons
Cleveland 588 RTG gap, sand, and lob wedge
Original Odyssey White #2 putter
I would love to play with my brother Jon, my Uncle Leonard, and my father. I never knew my dad played golf until until after he passed, my uncle told me the stories just before he also passed.
Thanks for the story. ?????????????
BillyG
Mar 17, 2020 at 10:56 pm
I played that driver, Eye2 coppers 1-LW, a TM tour spoon, and a old Ping Anser. Those were great days. What happened and why did I sell it all? Stupid.
Greg pepper
Mar 17, 2020 at 10:30 pm
Still have the Taylor Made Raylor 19 degree in the bag as my 3 hybrid. Had it originally wth tour golf hm-40 shaft but now play with hybrid Fuji shaft. Hybrid before there were hybrids.
Alex
Mar 17, 2020 at 7:59 pm
Wolf Creek ( mens only club in Olathe, KS)
3 best golf buddies and myself-with Woodland,Watson, Streb, Tom Pernice as caddies
Mid September
73 degrees
5mph wind
Suns out with a few clouds
Cigars, Skoal, Ultras,
Clothes- Travis Mathew or Peter Millar shirt and pants
Koepka Nikes or Footjoy 1857 shoes. Depends if its Peter Millar or TM clothes
Nike Dri Fit or Travis Mathew Hat
Stitch Bag with Stitch headcovers
Driver- 9 degree Ping Rapture V2 with Proforce V2 65x
3wood- 13.5 degree Cobra S91 pro Diamana Tensei Oragne CK Pro 70 x stiff
Hybrid- 18 degree Mizuno CLK Diamana White 90hy x stiff
Irons 3-9 Ping S58 X100 bent a degree weak in the short irons
Vokey SM7 48-10, 54-14- 60-08 all bent one degree strong with S400
MCC New Decade Black and Orange Grips Standard
Scotty Cameron Phantom X5 35 inches midsize red Scotty Grip
Pro V1
Flip Tickles
Mar 17, 2020 at 6:17 pm
ANGC with Sunday Pins, preferably not all the way back with my equipment choice.
W/ 2 of closest friends and Pat Perez
Any comfortable leather sunday stand bag
Swag – G/fore is a great choice, but I’ll rock William Murray on this occasion
Driver – Titleist Howitzer X100 at 43 inches
Irons – Titleist Tour Model 1-PW S400
Wedges – Titleist DLIII and ELK S400
Putter – Wilson 8802
No Glove, golf pride tour wrap cord grips
Ball – Titleist Tour Balata 100
Lunch- deep fried cheese curds
Drink – Bulldogs and Beer
Dinner – Steak and Lobster
Smokes – Marb Golds zippo lighter
NO PICTURES ALLOWED
Flip Tickles
Mar 18, 2020 at 10:16 am
I’d also consider my old Wilson Killer Whale Driver with graphite firestick stiff and top Flite Z Balatas 90 compression
Geoffrey Holland
Mar 20, 2020 at 10:31 am
I had one of those and I love hated it. I called it Willy. Eventually I threw it in a river while yelling “you’re finally free Willy”.
Billy
Mar 17, 2020 at 4:42 pm
975D with Fujikura speeder 757
Sonartec SS-02 13 degree with Fujikura Vista Tour Series 70
V-steel 5 wood with TT Dynamic Gold
DCI 690 irons with TT Dynamic Gold
Cleveland Tour Action 588 wedges
Bettinardi BB8 honeycomb RJB putter
Elder Wand
Mar 17, 2020 at 2:42 pm
Then going sub 60.