Notes: Bae's new-ball win, Day's custom 1-iron
Sang-Moon Bae won the HP Byron Nelson Championship with Callaway’s new Hex Chrome+ golf ball, TaylorMade customizes a one-off RocketBladez 1-iron for Jason Day; more.
Achenbach: This anchor drops quietly
As it turned out, there were no changes to the rules proposal to ban an anchored stroke, first presented on Nov. 28, 2012. Tuesday’s tranquil gathering wasn't lengthy, ending after a few predictable questions from journalists.
Word of advice on anchoring rule: Be very careful
Rule 14-1B bans the anchored-swing method but does not ban long or belly putters. Enforcement and interpreting the rule often will boil down to intent.
Cobra eyes wedge market with Tour Trusty
Building off its Trusty Rusty wedge heritage, Cobra Golf aims to become a bigger player in the category with an extensive line of Tour Trusty clubs.
Toy Box: Woods changes driver shaft
Tiger Woods didn’t need his driver much at The Players, but to better tackle a tight TPC Sawgrass course, he switched to a heavier driver shaft for greater accuracy.
Toy Box: Rookie Ernst wins with Ping
Derek Ernst, the rookie winner of the Wells Fargo Championship, had 14 Ping clubs in his bag. He followed fellow Ping staff player Billy Horschel, who won a week earlier in New Orleans.
MPC to re-launch Loomis graphite shaft
Meyer Performance Composites is preparing to re-launch the Loomis graphite iron shaft, which enjoyed its hey-day in the mid-1990s when it boasted Greg Norman and Davis Love III among its users.
Cobra to produce limited-edition U.S. Open driver
A limited-edition Cobra AMP Cell Pro driver will be made to commemorate the U.S. Open. Cobra plans to sell 600 beginning June 1.
Titleist to offer Scott's TVD-K as custom option
Adam Scott won the Masters using a 60-degree Titleist wedge with 10 degrees of bounce. Titleist will now offer that model through custom offerings at Vokey WedgeWorks.
Adams, Tour Edge irons blend performance, price
The Adams Super S and Tour Edge Exotics XCG6 irons may never be used by touring pros, but they're designed to deliver high performance for amateurs. And they're affordable.
Toy Box: Horschel wields Pings for first Tour victory
After earning three consecutive top-10 finishes leading to the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Billy Horschel finally broke through and won his first PGA Tour event.
Rife re-emerges with new products
Since acquiring Rife in 2012, new owner and president Ben Zylstra has been busy developing products and a brand identity: He wants the company to be known as a manufacturer of putters that look like pieces of art.
Toy Box: Scott proves clutch with Cameron prototype
Adam Scott delivered two pressure-packed putts on Sunday – one that earned him a spot in a playoff, the other a Masters title – courtesy of a new Scotty Cameron putter.
Back to the grind? Not before our Sunday awards
The Masters is over. I don’t know if I can stand it, returning to real life. And I’m not the only one. But here are the Sunday awards from Augusta National.
Bubba takes a stand in Moving Day Awards
Bubba Watson on viewers calling in rules infractions: “I’m going to start calling in (as a protest against callers). You can put bad press on somebody. All it takes is one person to say something and bad press gets on you, even though you did nothing wrong.”
In recognition of high scores and slow play
After 36-holes at Augusta National, and Jim Achenbach is back to hand out more awards.
Nicklaus uses namesake driver in ceremonial start
Jack Nicklaus' club of choice as an honorary starter at the Masters? A 45-inch, 9-degree Nicklaus ML4 driver with a stiff shaft. The club had a customized Secret Grip from Boccieri Golf.
Donald's Masters arsenal includes MP-H4
Luke Donald is carrying an MP-H4 3-iron at Augusta. The 2-iron through 7-iron of this new Mizuno forged set are hollow, with the two-piece head joined together by plasma welding.
At Augusta, Ping showcases adjustable putters
Ping staff players, including Lee Westwood and Hunter Mahan, used adjustable Scottsdale TR putters, featuring grooves designed to enhance distance control on off-center hits.
After Round 1 of Masters, the envelope, please. . .
Take a look at some awards after the first day of play at the 2013 Masters at Augusta National brought to you by Jim Achenbach.
Mickelson recovers for first-round 71 at Masters
Phil Mickelson’s 1-under-par 71 in the opening round of the Masters was a tale of two nines. He was, by his own assessment, Captain Hack on the front nine and the Comeback Kid on the back nine.
Lyle draws attention with giant Black Swan
Former Masters and British Open champion Sandy Lyle turned heads Thursday using a Black Swan putter, which features one of the largest putter heads in golf.
Woods switches to VRS Covert 3-wood
Tiger Woods carried a new Nike VRS Covert 3-wood in Thursday’s opening round of the Masters, replacing the Nike VR Pro Limited Edition 3-wood he had used for more than a year.
Big Three salute the game with ceremonial drives
Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus just "dinked" drives on the 1st tee to kick-off the Masters. But their ceremonial role allowed them to salute the game – and gave fans a chance to honor the Big Three.
At Masters, Bradley sticks with Odyssey Sabertooth
Keegan Bradley considered switching to a slightly shorter version of his preferred Odyssey Sabertooth belly putter, but ultimately let "feel" make his decision.
Scott to wield 913D3 driver and Futura prototype
Adam Scott will compete at the Masters with a new driver and putter: a Titleist 913D3 driver and a Scotty Cameron Futura X Prototype putter.
Harrington will use TaylorMade R1 driver at Masters
Padraig Harrington, playing a game of musical chairs with his driver, will go into the Masters with a TaylorMade R1 driver and an abundance of confidence.
Mickelson will put Phrankenwood in play at Augusta
Phil Mickelson’s supercharged Masters 2-wood is really a driver disguised as a fairway wood, Mickelson divulged Tuesday during a press conference.
Achenbach: McIlroy impresses as a big thinker
People talk about Rory McIlroy’s big swing. They talk about his length off the tee. They talk about the height of his shots. They talk about his fearlessness. But nobody talks about his intelligence. And they should.
Callaway: Phrankenwood is Lefty's "mystery" club
Callaway officials confirmed the Phrankenwood (a 2-wood) was the "mystery" club referenced by Phil Mickelson in Houston; they do not know whether he will carry it during the Masters.
Fitting Month: Callaway shares advice from the King
Jeff Opheim, Callaway's tour rep for the Champions Tour, shares club-fitting advice gleaned from the King.
Furyk's two drivers a page out of Mickelson's book
A week before Augusta, Jim Furyk is using two drivers while playing in the Valero Texas Open. While new to Furyk, the concept of a two-driver bag has been shown off by Phil Mickelson in recent years.
Iomic and No. 1 focus on U.S. grip market
Iomic and No. 1 golf grips, made by two different Japanese companies, are making a bigger push in the U.S. with "sticky" and colorful products.
SeeMore expands business, creates Putter Institute
SeeMore Putter is creating a putting institute to bring together teachers and golfers to dissect putting online and in person.
Toy Box: Versa's paint scheme attracts attention
Odyssey is busy on the PGA Tour with players either switching to new Versa putters or requesting Versa paint jobs on their existing putter models (the Versa putter head has alternating sections of black and white).
SuperStroke innovations aim to help putting
The original oversized SuperStroke was designed to take hands out of the stroke. That innovation has led to an array of putting grips and growing popularity on the pro tours.
Fast friends on tour: Molinari, Pirelli and Lamkin
Francesco Molinari agreed to use special Pirelli grips on his Nike clubs. He chose grip manufacturer Lamkin because he already felt comfortable using Lamkin’s i6 3GEN grips.
Toy Box: Streelman relies on popular wedge configuration
A 54-60 wedge configuration of differing brands helped carry Kevin Streelman to his first PGA Tour win at Tampa Bay
Grip Month: Counterbalancing key behind Boccieri grip
The Secret Grip, with a tungsten insert in the butt cap of the grip, serves as a counterbalance. Advocates, including Jack Nicklaus, say it slows the hands during the swing and promotes accuracy.
Toy Box: Woods becomes Covert operative
At the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral, Tiger Woods captured his second win of the year and his first WGC victory since 2009.
Don't expect USGA, R&A to blink on anchoring
When the USGA and R&A settle the anchoring debate, don't expect the decision to come down to a popularity contest. In fact, it's fair to anticipate the proposed ban taking effect.
Toy Box: Thompson tames challenges with Ping
Michael Thompson used 13 Ping clubs en route to capturing the Honda Classic, his first career PGA Tour victory.
Grip Month: Golf Pride's green Victory set the bar
Golf Pride's green Victory grip popularized slip-ons and transformed the category. Though it's no longer available at retail, its legacy has shaped Golf Pride's evolution as a leading grip maker.
Shaft Month: Oban delivers performance for a premium
With industry veterans at the helm, Oban is building its shaft business with one word in mind: premium. Company officials say they're all about top-tier performance for a top-tier price.
Toy Box: New Bettinardi putter aids Kuchar
With the help of his new Bettinardi putter, Matt Kuchar won his first WGC-Accenture Match Play. Check out the latest Toy Box Notes!
Shaft Month: Matrix aims to make fitting simple
Shaftmaker Matrix has taken a giant step toward simplifying shaft fitting. The company’s new Flight System contains three designations for shafts: Black Tie (low trajectory), Red Tie (mid trajectory) and White Tie (high trajectory).
Shaft Month: Steel offers plenty of options
For 75 years, steel iron shafts have dominated the marketplace, mostly for their consistency and stability. New lightweight versions – suitable for tour players and amateurs – are bound to continue steel's popularity.
Shaft Month: A decade after NV, Aldila extends its legacy
John Merrick's win at the Northern Trust Open validates the enduring legacy of Aldila's NV shaft. But the company hardly is content and is planning a major push with graphite iron shafts.
Shaft Month: Nunchuk touts "one-size-fits-all" shaft
When it comes to shafts, Nunchuk's Bryan Nicholson advocates one weight and one flex for all golfers, regardless of their age, strength, swing speed or ability. It may seem like a radical concept, but Nunchuk has its supporters, including a prominent long-drive champion.
Vossler, 84, watched his golf vision grow in desert
Ernie Vossler, one of the co-founders of PGA West and a man who possessed a grand vision for golf courses surrounded by residential communities, died Feb. 16 at his home in La Quinta, Calif.
Previous Next
