19th Hole
86-year-old Gary Player shows off remarkable club head and ball speed numbers
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.
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).
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
“Is it a Titleist?” – Jerry Seinfeld shares never-before-heard details of iconic scene
On Thursday, legendary comedian Jerry Seinfeld joined the Rich Eisen Show and shared an awesome story from a “Seinfeld” episode titled “The Marine Biologist.”
In the episode, a golf ball goes into the blow hole of a whale. According to Seinfeld, that was never in the episode’s script.
Seinfeld recalls saying the night before the filming of the episode, “What if what puts the whale in distress is Kramer’s golf ball?”
“He’s hitting golf balls at the beach. George is at the beach with a girl, we haven’t connected them!”
“We write that speech the night before at two o’clock in the morning…The sea was angry that day my friend.”
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Kramer finishes the iconic scene by asking “Is it a Titleist?” Seinfeld told Eisen the show sought Titleist’s permission to mention its name, saying the ball had to be a Titleist. Fortunately for lovers of the iconic show, the company agreed.
If (somehow) you’re unfamiliar with the scene, check it out below.
More from the 19th Hole
- Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game “on a much more global basis”
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Tiger explains why golf has “negative connotations” for daughter Sam
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19th Hole
Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game ‘on a much more global basis’
While speaking with Bloomberg, golf legend Phil Mickelson acknowledged that he is inching close towards retirement.
“I’m 53 now,” Phil said, “and my career, you know, it’s — if I’m being truthful, it’s on — it’s — it’s — I’m a — it’s towards its end.”
Mickelson added that one of his focuses now is helping other young players.
“Now, I would like to help others find the same enjoyment and fulfillment that the game has provided me. I’d like them to experience that as well.”
The six-time major champion credited LIV with reaching new markets in golf to help it grow.
“I think that’s exciting for everyone involved in the game because we are going to reach markets that we didn’t reach before. I think it’s going to inspire more golf courses, inspire more manufacturers selling clubs and equipment, but also inspiring young kids to try to play golf professionally. I just see that the game of golf is going to grow on a much more global basis because of the excitement and the presence that LIV Golf has.”
Mickelson is playing at this week’s LIV Singapore and shot a first round 72 (+1).
More from the 19th Hole
- The wild reason why Mark Wahlberg was initially denied entry to an Australian golf club
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
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19th Hole
Tiger explains why golf has ‘negative connotations’ for daughter Sam
While Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, has certainly inherited his father’s love for golf, his daughter, Sam, has not.
On Wednesday, Tiger made an appearance on The Today Show with Carson Daly and explained his daughter’s relationship with golf.
“Golf has negative connotations for her. When she was growing up, golf took daddy away from her. I had to pack, I had to leave, and I was gone for weeks. So, there were negative connotations to it.
“We developed our own relationship and our own rapport outside of golf. We do things that doesn’t involve golf. Meanwhile, my son and I, everything we do is golf related.”
The nine-minute interview touches on plenty of other subjects, such as Tiger’s relationship with his late father, Earl.
It’s arguably the most open we’ve seen the 15-time major champion in an interview and is most definitely worth watching.
Tiger Woods sits down with Carson Daly to talk about golf, growing up in Southern California, his father and his new apparel line, Sun Day Red. pic.twitter.com/2TFbSNxzxq
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) May 1, 2024
More from the 19th Hole
- The wild reason why Mark Wahlberg was initially denied entry to an Australian golf club
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
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