19th Hole

86-year-old Gary Player shows off remarkable club head and ball speed numbers

Published

2 years ago

Apr 5, 2022

Golf legend Gary Player is never one to shy away from publicity and throughout the years, has often showed how much he can bench-press, how many sit-ups he can perform, and how he can still swing the golf club like no other 70, 75, 80-year-old.

Related: ‘Absolutely disgusting’ – LPGA pro blasts Augusta National for its role in major venue change

As we approach the first tee-time of the 2022 Masters, the three-time champion is readying himself to hit the ceremonial tee shot alongside fellow long-time honorary Jack Nicklaus and, for the first time, Tom Watson. The three share 11 green jackets, often duelling down the hallowed fairways of Augusta National.

Related: ‘Half the player he used to be’ – Brandel Chamblee puzzled by Spieth’s new swing move

On Sunday evening, the 86-year-old South African posted a video on his Twitter feed highlighting the numbers and, rightly, showing off the data.

‘The Black Knight’, so-called because of his penchant for wearing all black on the course, showed he can still drive the ball like a dream, and revealed that he still keeps aims and personal targets:

“Getting ready for Thursday morning at @TheMasters I’ve been working hard to score below my age but I’ve been working even harder to keep my swing speed above my age. Pushing for 90mph. Here is the data for this shot …….”

Getting ready for Thursday morning at @TheMasters. I’ve been working hard to score below my age but I’ve been working even harder to keep my swing speed above my age. Pushing for 90mph. Here is the data for this shot. ?? pic.twitter.com/RrnTDdHEJU

— GARY PLAYER (@garyplayer) April 3, 2022

The screenshot then shows a highest club speed of 87.8 mph (86.3 mph average) and ball speed of almost 130mph (127.5 mph average).

@garyplayer

Whilst some way adrift of the Bryson’s of the world, there will not be many players of 80-plus years of age getting anywhere near that figure, let alone the accuracy.

Amongst the many replies was the one that summed it up best:

“I hope I can hit the ball that well when I’m 64.”

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19th Hole

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

Published

21 hours ago

Apr 18, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

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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19th Hole

Talor Gooch: 54 holes is more exciting for the fans

Published

21 hours ago

Apr 18, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

Over the past few weeks, two of LIV Golf’s biggest stars, Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson, have both expressed that they believe LIV could go to 72 holes.

While speaking to BBC Sport, Rahm said he “wouldn’t mind” going to 72 holes.

“If there ever was a way where LIV could go to 72 holes I think it would help all of this argument a lot.”

“The closer I think we can get LIV Golf to some other things the better. I think it would be for some kind of unification to feed into a world tour or something like that.

“I don’t know if I’m alone in this, but I definitely wouldn’t mind going back to 72 holes.”

Phil Mickelson, while speaking after his final round at The Masters, also said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if LIV went to 72 holes.

“I don’t think it makes a difference either way. We’ve got mini-tours playing 54, Champions Tour playing 54. I wouldn’t be surprised if some or all of LIV events went to 72. I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. I enjoy the competition.”

Another one of LIV’s top players, Talor Gooch, expressed on Wednesday that he feels quite differently.

“It’s just funny to me, this arbitrary number of 72.”

“Why is it not 90? “Why is it not 108? We just decided to make that number the number, for what reason?”

“Everyone’s talked about world ranking points and all this stuff, but no one’s talked about what do the fans enjoy more?”

“People want something that’s going to be more exciting. And I personally think that the 54 holes is more exciting for the fans.”

After Gooch’s comments, I decided to get some fan feedback for myself, making a poll on X. With about 4,500 votes in at the time of writing this, roughly 84% of voters in the poll indicated they’d prefer 72 holes to just 16% saying they’d prefer 54.

Rahm prefers 72 holes
Gooch prefers 54 holes

Where do the fans stand?

— Matt Vincenzi (@MattVincenziPGA) April 17, 2024

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19th Hole

Brandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why

Published

2 days ago

Apr 17, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Earlier this week, rumors began to fly that Rory McIlroy could be making a shock switch to LIV Golf which caused quite the stir on social media.

However, on Tuesday, McIlroy emphatically shut down those rumors, telling Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis at the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town:

“I honestly don’t know how these things get started. I’ve never been offered a number from LIV and I’ve never contemplated going to LIV. Again I think I’ve made it clear over the past two years that I don’t think it’s something for me.

It’s unfortunate that we have to deal with it and this is the state that our game’s in. I’m obviously here today and I’m playing this PGA Tour event next week and I will play the PGA Tour for the rest of my career.”

Golf Channel analyst and longtime LIV critic, Brandel Chamblee, took to social media before McIlroy’s statement to point the finger at “Saudis/LIV,” who he believes started the rumor:

I have no doubt that this rumor was started by Saudis/LIV… to benefit Saudis/LIV after such a poor showing, as a group, at The Masters.

I’d be very surprised if this turns out to be true. https://t.co/SWNgjHtWSM

— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) April 16, 2024

When one user pushed back on Chamblee’s claim that LIV golfers had a poor showing at the Masters, Brandel went further into why he believes the opening major of the year was a failure for the breakaway tour.

You think they paid 3 billion for a few top tens and to be +82 as a group at major? A senior citizen beat some of their “stars” and almost all the game’s of LIV players have deteriorated since they sold their souls to the Saudis who only bought a moment in time… nothing else. https://t.co/xERkYsztIJ

— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) April 16, 2024