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James Achenbach

Stories by James

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Rugge's USGA legacy: Harmony with clubmakers

Dick Rugge, 64, announced his resignation Nov. 5 after nearly 13 years on the job. He will step down Feb. 2, ending a regime that took a giant step toward clarifying current and future golf equipment rules.

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Nike introduces new Covert driver line

In February, 2013, golfers will see Nike's new Covert drivers, fairway woods and hybrids in retail outlets. Throughout November, 2012, Nike is staging official introductions of the Covert driver and saving the fairway woods and hybrids for later.

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Mickelson playing HSBC with TaylorMade 3-wood

Phil Mickelson is playing the HSBC Champions in China with a TaylorMade Rocketballz 3-wood.

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Long Drive champ Winther has one tip: swing fast

Hitting into a 40 mph headwind, Ryan Winther won the World Long Drive championship with a bomb of 343 yards, using a driver with only 4.5 degrees of loft.

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Renowned teacher Flick, 82, inspired next generation

Renowned instructor Jim Flick died Nov. 5 at his home in Carlsbad, Calif. He was 82. The teacher, whose students included Jack Nicklaus and Tom Lehman, leaves a legacy as an ambassador of the game and an inspiration for junior golfers.

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Callaway X Forged iron's unique heritage

In early 2013 we also will see a new generation of fairway woods from Callaway, along with an enhanced version of the Razr X driver used by Ernie Els to win the 2012 Open Championship.

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Toy Box notes: Gainey’s driver testing pays off

Before The McGladrey Classic, Tommy Gainey spent an off-week experimenting with Callaway Razr Fit drivers and weighting schemes.

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TaylorMade introduces RocketBladez, its new line of irons

TaylorMade has generated plenty of buzz with white metalwoods in the past few years. Now the company hopes to do the same with its new irons, RocketBladez.

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UST teaching importance of shaft torque

Why do so many golfers talk incessantly about shaft flex but never seem to talk about shaft torque? It’s a good question because torque is so important in the choice of a shaft. Shaftmaker UST Mamiya is trying to do something about this. It’s a scholarly response.

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Norman's Masters collapse: Mental flaw caused by physical flaw

Greg Norman collapsed at the 1996 Masters. That story has been told. But Rick Jensen says that the little-known story is that Norman held little confidence heading into Augusta National that year.

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Industry experts dish on new ways to measure golf fitness

Did Camilo Villegas lose his game by tinkering too much with his swing? Is Rory McIlroy's aggressive swing "a train wreck waiting to happen?" Both were topics of discussion at the World Golf Fitness Summit.

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Humble, self-effacing Foley dishes at Fitness Summit

Despite the fact he teaches the world’s most recognizable golfer, Tiger Woods, instructor Sean Foley might be the most humble, self-effacing instructor in golf.

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Simson defeats Skinner for 2nd USGA Senior Am title

Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C., playing with unwavering precision, won his second USGA Senior Amateur title Thursday with a 4-and-3 victory over Curtis Skinner of Lake Bluff, Ill.

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Defending champ goes down at Senior Am

The defending USGA Senior Amateur champion went down in flames Wednesday, putting like a man with Crooked Aim Disease and losing in the quarterfinal round of match play.

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Simson advances to Senior Am final

Paul Simson has played in 55 USGA championships during his long career, but few rounds have been as satisfying as the one he experienced Wednesday afternoon in the semifinal round of the USGA Senior Amateur.

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Former pros winning Senior Am now a trend

When former pro Stan Lee won the USGA Senior Amateur in 2007, it signaled a start to the trend of reinstated amateurs winning the event.

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Toy Box: Lee sticks with what works

Toy box notes: Defending USGA Senior Amateur champion Louis Lee hasn't changed a thing in his bag since last year.

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Ramirez downs Holtgrieve at Senior Amateur

The one they call "Harry," Gerardo Ramirez, took down medalist Jim Holtgrieve, the U.S. Walker Cup captain, on Tuesday at the USGA Senior Amateur.

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Lutz falls at USGA Senior Amateur

Chip Lutz, widely considered the world's top senior amateur, lost to Jim Knoll in the first round of match play at the USGA Senior Amateur.

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Bemowski among Senior Am match-play qualifiers

Mark Bemowski, 66, was among the match-play qualifiers at USGA Senior Amateur on Sunday.

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Cobra launches AMP Cell driver

Cobra's AMP Cell driver family will offer golfers more loft-adjustment choices than anything currently on the market.

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Toy Box: Snedeker opts for unconventional

Brandt Snedeker opted for the uncoventional in winning the Tour CHampionship with a bag that included a black-head TaylorMade Burner SuperFast driver.

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Toy Box notes: Shin's bag mostly Mizuno

Jiyai Shin won the Ricoh Women’s British Open by nine strokes for her second consecutive LPGA victory.

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Toy Box notes: McIlroy's wedge setup

BMW Championship winner Rory McIlroy has won three of his past four starts. His all-around play has been stellar, including an extraordinary ability to save par.

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Mizuno to introduce four new iron models

Mizuno is about to introduce four new iron models, and golfers might be surprised by what they see, says James Achenbach.

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Toy Box notes: McIlroy wins with Titleist

Rory McIlroy won his second big title in a month, with his one-shot victory at the Deutsche Bank Championship.

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Titleist introduces 913 hybrid, fairway wood

Titleist's new 913 driver has made an early appearance on Tour with the likes of Rory McIlroy, and now you will see more of the 913 fairway and hybrid line as well.

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Els goes more upright with putter

Toy Box notes: Ernie Els goes more upright with his putter, while Luke Donald puts Mizuno's new irons in play.

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Ping's Anser line is 'super premium'

Ping's adjustable driver is a bet on golfers understanding the benefits of a personalized driver, with the whole line hitting stores in late August.

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Augusta didn't solve women's participation problem

Our James Achenbach says that Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore don't fix the larger problem at hand.

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Cow Pasture Classic celebrates Hogan

The Cow Pasture Golf Classic features men and women simply sidestepping cow patties to enjoy this tournament in Ben Hogan's hometown.

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McIlroy wins with Titleist's 913 driver

PGA Championship winner Rory McIlroy became the first PGA Tour player to win using Titleist’s new 913 driver.

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New focus on shaft science has helped pros, amateurs

Major shaft manufacturers are building phenomenal shafts. Gone are the days when building a golf shaft was a fickle, inconsistent process.

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Trip to The Machrie meant to be savored

Like the Isle of Islay’s malt whisky, a trip to this remote links is meant to be savored says our James Achenbach.

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'Anchoring' ban would spark market worries

A potential ban of anchoring a putter would have a ripple-down effect, not only for the players, but for equipment manufacturers as well, says our James Achenbach.

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Toy Box: Mickelson tests "high-toe" Odyssey

For the final three rounds of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Phil Mickelson used an Odyssey prototype putter. In tour van jargon, the putter was a “high toe” version of his normal Odyssey No. 9 blade.

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Toy Box notes: Els uses new Callaway utility

Ernie Els carried three Callaway X Utility Prototypes in his bag for the Open Championship.

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Toy Box notes: Chapman wins with Rife putter

Roger Chapman wins U.S. Senior Open with Rife putter, as well as 11 Titleist clubs and two Adams hybrids.

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Superior putting paces Langer to Senior Open lead

Bernhard Langer has hit 50 of 54 greens in regulation at the U.S. Senior Open, and his flat stick is doing the rest of the job as he holds a four-shot lead at Indianwood.

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Senior Open: Ten Broeck a David among Goliaths

Players as tough as Lance Ten Broeck don't come around every day. That the 56-year-old journeyman has the 36-hole lead at the U.S. Senior Open seems fitting.

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Lehman, Pavin in contention at U.S. Senior Open

It is feeling like 1995 all over again, with Tom Lehman and Corey Pavin (above) showing their old U.S. Open form at the U.S. Senior Open at Indianwood.

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Kite shoots record 28 on front 9 at Senior Open

Tom Kite set a USGA championship record at the U.S. Senior Open on Thursday when he made the turn with a 7-under 28 that included just 11 putts. James Achenbach

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Brewer on Callaway's cuts: Painful but necessary

Chip Brewer, the new chief executive of Callaway Golf, called a 12 percent reduction in the company’s workforce “a lousy part of the process but a necessary one.”

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Short course still provides challenge at Senior Open

So what if the course for the U.S. Senior Open is a mere 6,891 yards? Driving the ball well is still quite the task at Indianwood Golf and Country Club writes James Achenbach.

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Achenbach: Rick Vershure shows off honesty, integrity

Rick Vershure didn't have a chance to play the U.S. Senior Open - held at his home course Indianwood near Detroit - because he called himself out for non-conforming grooves.

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Toy box: Putters key in victories for Potter Jr., Choi

Ted Potter Jr. and Na Yeon Choi relied heavily on their putters to help bring home victories July 8.

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Cobra to showcase special-edition orange AMP driver

There is orange, and then there is screaming, fire-breathing orange. Cobra’s new special edition orange AMP driver, inspired by Rickie Fowler, falls into the latter category.

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14 players use Titleist 913 driver at AT&T National

The Darrell Survey equipment count from the AT&T National revealed that 34 players used Titleist drivers, including 14 with the new 913 model.

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Toy Box: Tour players get look at Titleist 913

As PGA Tour players arrived June 25 for the AT&T National, they were greeted by the new Titleist 913 driver line.

Q&A: John Ward, Adams Golf president

Twelve days into his new job as the new head of Adams Golf, John Ward spoke with Golfweek in Plano, Texas.