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‘Across the line’ – Players sound off on difficult setup at Bay Hill

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As always, Twitter is full of reactions from golf fans reflecting on the most recent tournament and looking forward to the next, in this case, The Players – the fifth Major – but there was plenty of reaction from the players themselves as to the finish of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

There was lots of fun late on Sunday, with Gary Woodland seeing an outstanding eagle at the par-5 16th hole cancelled out by a double bogey at the following par-3. Having seen his late lead disappear, Woodland gasped, “I’m glad I’m off that golf course, I’m glad I’m done.”

While that was going on, Scottie Scheffler was muscling his way to a level-par 72 and a one-shot victory over three players, including in-form Viktor Hovland, Billy Horschel and 2020 Bay Hill victor Tyrrell Hatton.

Whilst the vast majority felt the weekend’s work was much of a grind, many of the world’s best gave a less-than-positive review.

Adam Scott commented that he had “nothing good to say”, whilst Hatton seemed to sum it up in a far more diplomatic manner.

“We know the weekends are pretty brutal here,” said Hatton, who shot one of only four rounds under par on Payday and won his 2020 title in brutal conditions.

“I think the greens get so quick sometimes, pin positions just seem brutal. And it’s just, like I said, you have to play defensively and try your best to get the ball as close as you can.”

World number five, Rory McIlroy, went a touch further than his fellow pros, calling the golf course “across the line.”

“I feel punch drunk,” said McIlroy, who led after round one but then carded 72-76-76. “The weekend, it’s like crazy golf. You just don’t get rewarded for good shots. I’m hitting good shots. I’m swinging the club well. I’m chipping well. I’m putting well. But it can knock your confidence whenever the conditions are like this.”

“I don’t mind golf courses being penal when you miss, but it’s not rewarding good shots. I think that’s where it starts to get across the line. I think as well the frustration is, it’s a carbon copy of what’s happened the last three years here.”

“I think it’s just a golf-course setup issue and maybe just trying to make it a little less penal when you miss, I guess. Or not even less penal when you miss. I don’t mind golf courses being penal when you miss, but it’s not rewarding good shots. I think that’s where it starts to get across the line.”

Having been praised by Scott after the first round, this was a completely different McIlroy to the one that enthused about his iron play on Thursday.

The four-time Major winner issued something of a warning for future years and the positioning of the API in the calendar.

“They need to do something about it. There’s a lot of guys that sort of stay away this week to get ready for next week.”

Having experienced final round 76 for the third year in a row, the Irishman concluded, “I just need a day off tomorrow to forget about what’s happened this week, and then just sort of focus on next week.”

This week, it’s The Players, an event Scott won in 2004 and McIlroy in 2019.

 

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19th Hole

TaylorMade signs 15-year-old AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year to an NIL contract

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This week, TaylorMade Golf announced that they’ve signed AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year, Miles Russell, to an NIL contract.

In a statement, TaylorMade called Russell “nothing short of remarkable”.

“Miles’ record setting success at his young age is nothing short of remarkable and we are excited he chose us to support him in his growth as a golfer to continue to accomplish his career goals. Identifying and developing the top junior talent in the world has always been a priority for us at TaylorMade. Miles and his family epitomize the type of athlete and human being we are looking to add to Team TaylorMade.”

Russell has broken plenty of records in recent months. This season, he was named American Junior Golf Association’s Rolex Boys Player of the Year, making him the youngest male player to receive the award. The record was previously held by Tiger Woods who was about 10 months older than Russell at the time he received the award.

At age 14, J he became the youngest player ever to win the Junior PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass at age 14.

The 15-year-old also played in his first Korn Ferry Tour event on Thursday, the LECOM Suncoast Classic, and shot a first-round 68.

In the aftermath of the agreement, Russell released a statement.

“I have had a great relationship with the team at TaylorMade for years now and couldn’t be more excited to continue to work with them in the future. TaylorMade has a history of developing the top junior talent in the world to help reach their goals of becoming PGA TOUR and major championship winners. I am looking forward to working with the team to reach those and other goals I have laid out for my career.”

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Group of PGA Tour caddies sign endorsement deal with underwear company

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In an interesting turn of events, a group of PGA Tour caddies have signed an endorsement deal with an underwear company.

Geno Bonnalie (Joel Dahmen), Aaron Flener (J.T. Poston), John Limanti (Akshay Bhatia) and Joel Stock (Will Zalatoris) and John Ellis (Wyndham Clark) have signed a deal with the underwear brand, SAXX.

Here are some details about the endorsement deal:

  • The deal eclipses six figures in total value, extending what last year marked the first significant apparel agreement with a group of pro caddies. Of note, Geno and John Ellis appeared in the Netflix docuseries, Full Swing.
  • The caddies will wear SAXX underwear, shorts and polos on and off the course.
  • SAXX will donate $100 to the Testicular Cancer Foundation for every birdie made by the caddies’ players for the rest of the season.
  • SAXX will bring the Ball Masters to the masses at the Travelers Championship, hosting a fan activation with underwear giveaways, photo opportunities, appearances from the Ball Masters and more.
  • Fans can become an honorary Ball Master, which includes a year’s worth of underwear, among other things. Go to SAXX.com/ball-master-application from now until June 15 to enter.

The partnership is great for the caddies and also represents a great cause.

Check out the video they shared on YouTube:

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Man charged with stealing millions of dollars worth of memorabilia from Augusta National

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Augusta National

According to a report from the Chicago Tribune, a man has been charged in Chicago with stealing millions of dollars’ worth of memorabilia from Augusta National.

The man, Robert Globensky, was charged with transporting the memorabilia across state lines.

The report states that between 2009 and 2022, Globensky allegedly transported “millions of dollars’ worth of Masters golf tournament merchandise and historical memorabilia” from Augusta National “and transported to Tampa, Florida, knowing the same had been stolen, converted and taken by fraud.”

The document was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Per the court records there is no mention that Globensky worked for the golf club.

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