Connect with us

19th Hole

Multiple major champ says the pros should be made to play Persimmon woods

Published

on

Bifurcation – ‘the point or area at which something divides into two branches or parts.’ (Merriam-Webster dictionary.)

Not a word heard very often, or at all, but now one ingrained into virtually every golf story in the past 48 hours, and now legendary player Tony Jacklin has joined other professionals in suggesting something other than the proposed Model Local Rule, where compettion organisers could enforce a ruling to ensure the players use a ball that travels shorter than balls currently used by professionals and amateurs alike.

The idea is not new. Indeed, the concept of differing balls used by the two sectors of golfer was debated on here as far back as 2017,  but with technology moving apace and with players getting stronger and fitter, the two rules makers have proposed a move to stop the huge hitting players that “threaten golf’s long-term sustainability and undermines the core principle that a broad and balanced set of playing skills” that should “remain the primary determinant of golf.”

Whilst everyday golfers will always try to match their professional counterparts, it is a rare thing to hear any comment that it’s unfair that they can’t hit the distances of Bryson, Rory, Cameron Young et al, particularly as distance does not always equate to accuracy.

Player such as Long Drive World Championship runner-up Bryson DeChambeau called the move ” the most atrocious thing that you could possibly do to the game of golf,” whilst current PGA Champion Justin Thomas (wearing a manufacturer’s cap) said the proposed move was “selfish” and that it ignored the fact that “we [the professional golfers] are athletes now.”

On Wednesday, two-time major winner and twice winning captain of the European Ryder Cup side added his opinion to the debate surrounding length.

The 78-year-old took to Twitter to suggest the way to overcome the bombers is to bring back persimmon woods for the professional elite.

Many replies were in agreement, suggesting the smaller head and sweet spot meant the driver used to be the hardest club in the bag to hit and the reason why classic courses were so difficult.

The last player to win a The Masters using a persimmon wood was Berhard Langer in 1993, with players such as Justin Leonard and David Love keeping one in the bag after the majority had moved on to metal beasts.

Whilst it seems as though viewers like to see reachable par-4s, there is a particular delight in watching the guile required around the classic, shorter tracks such as this week’s Copperhead, host of the Valspar Championship.

Whilst Jacklin seems to concede the days of four-iron or five-iron to par-4s is a thing of the past, the current move is certainly trying to get close to it.

More from the 19th Hole

Your Reaction?
  • 80
  • LEGIT11
  • WOW4
  • LOL9
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP3
  • OB2
  • SHANK18

19th Hole

“Is it a Titleist?” – Jerry Seinfeld shares never-before-heard details of iconic scene

Published

on

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.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Rich Eisen (@richeisen)


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

Your Reaction?
  • 9
  • LEGIT1
  • WOW0
  • LOL1
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK0

Continue Reading

19th Hole

Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game ‘on a much more global basis’

Published

on

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

Your Reaction?
  • 19
  • LEGIT4
  • WOW2
  • LOL4
  • IDHT2
  • FLOP3
  • OB0
  • SHANK24

Continue Reading

19th Hole

Tiger explains why golf has ‘negative connotations’ for daughter Sam

Published

on

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.

More from the 19th Hole

Your Reaction?
  • 10
  • LEGIT7
  • WOW1
  • LOL3
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP1
  • OB1
  • SHANK3

Continue Reading

WITB

Facebook

Trending