News
GolfWRX’s 2018 Fathers Day Gift Guide: 4 opinions, 20 items
It’s time for our traditional GolfWRX PSA: Father’s Day (June 17) is rapidly approaching. And as we do every year, we’re rounding up the best gifts for dad.
This year, we’re doing something a little different with the guide. Instead of having one or two writers contribute to the guide, we got four distinct voices to share their opinions on what to get your dad — or, in some cases, what to get your husband on behalf of your children (assuming your toddlers don’t go shopping on their own).
But as we say every year: There’s no better golf-related Father’s Day gift than a round of golf with pops. Be it a country club or your favorite muni, take the time to get together to play 18 if you can.
Anyway, on to the WRX contributors and their selections.
Staff Writer Ben Alberstadt
Callaway Rogue/Rogue Sub Zero
Why not get dad the winner of our GolfWRX Gear Trials Members Choice: The Callaway Rogue Sub Zero? If your dad’s a better player, you may want to consider giving him the driver GolfWRX members liked best. If your dad is an average player with average swing speed, try the Callaway Rogue, our Fitters Choice for average golfers.
Bushnell Hybrid rangefinder
The latest from the industry leader: Bushnell’s Hybrid rangefinder delivers distance to front and back of the green. Jolt technology will let dad know when he’s locked on to the flag. The combination of technology and ease of use make the Hybrid the right play.
Titleist USA Flag Headcovers
These premium leather, classically embroidered, patriotic headcovers will add the perfect splash of red, white and blue to dad’s golf bag.
UA Tuned Golf Propel sunglasses
The UA Tuned Golf lens features a proprietary tint formula for heightened contrast in bright conditions while offering exceptional clarity. Giving golfers a competitive edge, the technology improves depth perception and enhances definition of the fairway and greens to better plan shots and read putts. At least, that’s what Under Armour says. We just say, they look cool, and if they help dad play better golf, even better.
Golftec lessons
Golftec teaches approximately 1 million lessons annually around the world with the average student dropping seven strokes from their game, according to the company. I say it every year, but giving the gift of better golf — the reasonable probability of improvement, at the very least — may be the best golf gift.
Editor-in-Chief Andrew Tursky
Club Champion fitting
As Ben stated above, the best golf gift is improvement. The second best way to improve — or maybe the best way to improve depending on who you ask — is a club fitting. And Club Champion does it right. I recently went through a fitting at the Royal Oak, Michigan, location since I’m switching from righty to lefty. The guys there are top notch fitters, and they have Trackman, a Sam PuttLab, and all the shafts and heads you could need.
Your dad is going to buy new equipment anyway, so it might as well be fit correctly to help him improve his game.
Custom Artisan lob wedge
The Artisan Golf wedges, ground by legend Mike Taylor himself, aren’t just wedges, but works of art. If you want to give a great gift, custom order an Artisan lob wedge. Take a few photos of his current lob wedge and send a Direct Message to Artisan Golf through their Instagram account. Taylor can essentially replicate the sole grind so your dad will get a wedge that looks great, and performs in a way that’s familiar. You can customize the stampings also, so leave him a message or just get his name engraved on the back. Trust me, pops will be happy with your gift.
Mevo launch monitor
Is the FlightScope Mevo the absolute most accurate launch monitor on the market? No, it’s not. But it’s a 3D Doppler Radar that’s only $500, and it will get close enough on club speed, ball speed, smash factor, launch angle, spin rate, carry distance and flight time to be valuable, and it’s a fun tool to use on the course with your buddies. It’s only about the size of an Altoids can, and can be used inside and outside. Dad will have fun with this gift, I promise.
GolfWRX Store
If dad reads GolfWRX.com, it’s very likely he’ll appreciate a GolfWRX hat, divot tool or new headcover. We have some awesome designs made by the best manufacturers in the business, AND we’re offering 10 percent off for the holiday. That’s 10 percent off the entire store (use the code Father10WRX). The only problem is that if dad reads GolfWRX, that means he’s likely reading this story and will know you got a discount. He won’t care though, he’ll appreciate the smart shopping and great gift.
Check out our store here (and remember to use Father10WRX)!
Links and Kings headcovers
Check out these headcovers and tell me that dad won’t love one of these beauties. You can’t. They have a number of different designs, and you can customize them to your liking, too. Here’s a tip: Think of his favorite sports team and get a set of covers with that color scheme. He’ll think of you every time he plays golf and appreciate the awesome gift.
Resident Fashion Expert Jordan Madley
Halo Sport headphones
If you’re trying to relax on the course, why not go all the way? These headphones literally help your mind and body work as one.
Criquet golf shirts
These remind me of the shirts my dad used to wear, and if I get one for my husband as a Father’s Day gift from our kids, I can steal it for myself!
Iliac Golf walking bag
I think bags traditionally are a bit overdone, but this bag is simply a piece of functional art.
Rolex Day-Date 40
I couldn’t help myself! Let’s be honest, all the legends had a Rolex. If it’s in the budget, who wouldn’t want to have something in common with the King?
The Grip Master kangaroo leather grips
Traditional, functional, and who can argue with Palmer and Nicklaus who played leather grips for years?
Director of Original Content Johnny Wunder
Custom Jones golf bag
These bags are a throwback to my childhood, and the quality is second to none. The custom options are limitless.
True Linkswear Original
This Washington-based shoe company is making extremely cool crossover kicks. Who doesn’t love a shoe you can wear on the course and on the street?
Blast Motion Swing and Stroke Analyzer
The coolest golf aid I’ve seen in a while. It tracks your swing and stroke in three different ways: tempo, path, and pace.
DST Compressor 8-iron
Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose train with it…they hit fairly well. Enough said.
The Net Return Pro Series
For the northern golfer who longs to hit balls in the winter, this is as good as it gets.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship
GolfWRX is on site this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the PGA Championship.
While we see fewer equipment changes and new gear seeding at major championships, we get a look at custom gear and looks into the bags of players we rarely see, which is just as exciting. In the case of the PGA Championship, this means a look at the gear some of the PGA Professionals who qualified for the tournament will be gaming, and LIV players, such as Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed.
Check out links to all our albums from Valhalla below and check back throughout the week as we continue to update.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Michael Block – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Patrick Reed – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cam Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Josh Speight – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Takumi Kanaya – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kyle Mendoza – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Adrian Meronk – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jordan Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jeremy Wells – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jared Jones – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Somers – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Larkin Gross – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tracy Phillips – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jon Rahm – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Keita Nakajima – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kazuma Kobori – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- David Puig – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Ryan Van Velzen – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brad Marek – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rich Beem WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Phil Mickelson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Matt Dobyns – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Lucas Herbert – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jason Dufner – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Daly – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Taylor Gooch – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dean Burmester – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dustin Johnson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
Pullout Albums
- Ping putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Bettinardi covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cameron putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Max Homa – Titleist 2 wood – 2024 PGA Championship
- Scotty Cameron experimental putter shaft by UST – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – new Ping putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka’s new Cameron putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s Cobra bag and Aerojet driver – 2024 PGA Championship
- Super Stroke grip – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tiger Woods – 2024 PGA Championship
- Michael Block’s new TaylorMade “Proto” 7-iron, from address – 2024 PGA Championship
- Odyssey putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
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News
Morning 9: Is it Rory’s time? | Stricker WDs | Why Valhalla is a great major venue
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News
Tour Rundown: Rose blooms, Rory rolls
This week last year, I found myself praying to the weather goddesses and gods that Rochester would be spared their wrath over the next seven days. The 2023 Oak Hill PGA Championship (that was slated for August when the contract was signed) was on the horizon, and I wanted my region to show well. Things turned out fine, with all four seasons making an appearance, a PGA Professional (Blockie!) stealing hearts, and a proven champion in Koepka (although I was pulling for Viktor.)
This year, no concerns. Louisville will shine this week at Valhalla, but we’ve matters to consider before we look to four days of coverage this week. Nelly did not win on the LPGA this week, so who did? The PGA Tour held two events in the Carolinas, and Tour Champions celebrated a major event in Alabama. Four noteworthy events to run down, so let’s head to RunDownTown and take care of business.
LPGA @ Founders Cup: Rose blooms
There was a sense that Rose Zhang might have a role in the 2020s version of the LPGA. After winning everything there was in amateur golf, she came out and won her first tournament as a professional. That was last May and, let’s be honest, who among us thought it would take 12 months for Zhang to win again? Rhymes with hero, I know.
This week in New Jersey, eyes were on Nelly Korda, as she made a run at a sixth consecutive win on the LPGA circuit. Korda ran out of gas on Saturday, and that was just fine. Madelene Sagstrom and Zhang had turned the soiree at Upper Montclair into a battle of birdies. Gabriela Ruffels came third at nine-under par. No one else reached double digits under par but Sagstrom and Zhang. They didn’t just reach -10…they more than doubled it.
Sagstrom had the look of a winner with five holes left to play. She was three shots clear of Zhang, at 23-under par. The Swede played her closing quintet in plus-one, finishing at 22-deep, 13 shots ahead of Ruffels. That performance we’d anticipated from Zhang? It happened on Sunday. She closed with four birdies in five holes to snatch victory number two, by two shots. Spring is a lovely time for a Rose in bloom.
Take a look back at hole No. 1… @rosezhang is living life on the edge ? pic.twitter.com/o6z6SK7TRA
— LPGA (@LPGA) May 12, 2024
PGA Tour @ Wells Fargo: Rory the Fourth is crowned in Charlotte
Xander Schauffele is a likable lad. He has an Olympic gold medal on his shelf, and a few PGA Tour titles to his credit. Even X knows that even par won’t get much done in a final round unless conditions are brutal. They weren’t brutal at Quail Hollow on Sunday. X posted even par on day four. It kept him ahead of third-place finisher Byeong Hun An but gave him zero chance of challenging for the title.
Paired with Xander in round four was the King of Quail, Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman had previously won thrice at the North Carolina track, and he was champing at the bit to gain some momentum on the road to Louisville. While Xander scored increasingly worse along the week (64-67-70-71) McIlroy saved his best round for the final round. Thanks to five birdies and two eagles, McIlroy ran away with the event, winning his fourth Wells Fargo by five over Schauffele.
HOLE-OUT EAGLE FOR RORY!!!
He now leads by SIX! pic.twitter.com/UE49lwfwNC
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 12, 2024
PGA Tour @ Myrtle Beach Classic: a little CG won the inaugural week
It always seemed odd that the PGA Tour had zero stops along the Grand Strand each season. This week’s event seemed odd in that the golfers played the same course each day, and there were zero handicaps involved. Most events at Myrtle Beach involve hundreds of amateurs at dozens of courses, with all sorts of handicaps.
The Dunes Club is a Robert Trent Jones Sr. course, down toward Pawley’s Island. It claims what used to be considered an unreachable, par-five hole, the watery 13th. Nothing is unreachable any longer, including a 22-under par total for a six-shot win. Chris Gotterup, a former Rutgers and Oklahoma golfer, played sizzling golf all week and won by a sextet of shots. Gotterup opened with 66, then improved to 64 on Friday. His Saturday 65 sounded a beacon of “come get me,” and his closing 67 ensured that second place was the only thing up for grabs.
Chasing the podium’s second level were a bunch of young Americans. In the end, Alastair Docherty and Davis Thompson reached 16-deep, thanks to rounds of 64 and 68 on Sunday. They held off six golfers at 15-under par. The victory was Gotterup’s first on tour and should be enough to get him a Wikipedia page, among other plaudits.
Leader by SIX!
@ChrisGotterup | @MyrtleBeachC pic.twitter.com/TVdA6ZPYc4— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 12, 2024
PGA Tour Champions @ Regions Traditions: Vindication for Dougie
Doug Barron, if I recall correctly, was suspended by the Powers That Be, way back in 2009, for testosterone. He was naturally low in the hormone, so he took supplements. This did not sit well with certain admins, so he was put on the shelf for 18 months. Not cool.
In 2019, Barron came out on the Tour Champions. He won in August. The next year, despite the craziness of Covid, he won again. Barron hit a dry spell for a few years. He kept his card, but accrued no additional victories. In late April, Barron showed serious signs of life, with a t2 at Mitsubishi. This week in Birmingham, he jumped out to a lead, lost it, then gained it back on Saturday. With major championship glory on the line, Barron brought the train into the station with 68 on Sunday.
Stephen Alker, the man who could not lose just two years ago, gave serious chase with a closing 63. He moved up 11 slots, into solo 2nd on Sunday. He finished two shots back of the champion. Two shots ain’t much. Cough once and you drop a pair. Third place saw a three-way tie, including last year’s winner (Steve Stricker) and runner-up (Ernie Els.) Despite the intimidating presence of the game’s greats, however, Doug Barron had more than enough of everything this week, and he has a third Tour Champions title to show off.
At the @RegionsTrad, all champions receive a green bike.
Doug Barron decided to take a victory lap ? pic.twitter.com/bEzENMjZwv
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) May 13, 2024
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