Graeme McDowell WITB What's In The Bag - The Golf Equipment McDowell Used to Win the 2019 Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship

Graeme McDowell rekindled some of his old magic in the Dominican Republic this week to win the Corales Puntacana Club & Resort Championship on Sunday by one stroke for his first PGA Tour title since 2015.  McDowell finished 18-under, 270 for the tournament, and closed with a 3-under 69 on the final round. 

 

McDowell was surgical with his Srixon driver, averaging 286 yards off the tee and hitting more than 85-percent of the fairways.  The 39-year old former U.S. Open champion was also masterful with his Srixon irons, hitting more than 77-percent of the greens in regulation.  And McDowell led the field in Putts-Per-Green-In-Regulation using the same Odyssey putter he won the U.S. Open with in 2010. 

Kevin Kisner WITB What's In The Bag - The Golf Equipment Kisner Used to Win the 2019 WGC Dell Technologies Match Play

After reaching the championship match at the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play for the second year in a row, Kevin Kisner found redemption on Sunday and won his first WGC championship by defeating Matt Kuchar 3-and-2. 

 

Kisner lost to Bubba Watson in the championship round last year, and has proven to be an outstanding match play player.  Over the last two WGC Match Play events, Kisner defeated heavyweight players like Kuchar (twice), Dustin Johnson, Francesco Molinari, and Ian Poulter.  The win was Kisner's third PGA Tour title, and by far his biggest. 

Cobra Golf KING MIM Wedges Preview - A New Standard in Precision and Feel

Cobra Golf's new KING MIM wedges are unlike any wedge you've ever seen or played before.  That's because Cobra's MIM wedges are the first in the industry to ever be made from 304 stainless steel with MIM (metal injection molding) creating the entire head from a CAD file. 

 

Some will say this is just a fancy way of saying the club is cast, but nothing could be further from the truth.  The MIM delivers all the benefits and properties of a forging, but at the cost of a casting.  And MIM represents a significant advantage in wedge manufacturing by delivering the most precise shape possible for exceptional feel and turf interaction in every single MIM wedge manufactured. 

PUMA Golf Union Camo Collection Preview - Camo that Doesn't Blend In

PUMA Golf released a unique Union Camo Collection today that Rickie Fowler will wear at The Masters later next month.  The Union Camo Collection layers shapes of the United States with the state of Georgia and is sure to stand out. 

 

Available in men's and youth sizing, the Union Camo Collection focuses on heathered textures and blocky lines to create a fashion-forward yet refined look, inspired by the memorable location of the year's first major. 

Swing Caddie SC300 Launch Monitor Preview - The Next Best Thing to Having Your Own Professional Swing Coach

The Swing Caddie SC200 portable launch monitor was a bestselling training aid last year, providing affordable access to swing data for golfers of all levels.  And now Voice Caddie is making things even better and more informative with the newest generation SC300. 

 

I showed you the SC300 back at the PGA Show, and told you why I thought Swing Caddie absolutely nailed it with this model.  Whether you use it indoors or outdoors, the new SC300 will let you evaluate your swing in more ways than ever before. 

Aerotech SteelFiber Shafts Win First and Second Place at the LPGA Bank of Hope Founders Cup

Aerotech SteelFiber graphite iron shafts dominated the LPGA Bank of Hope Founders Cup, capturing first-place and T2 finishes in Phoenix. 

 

2019 LPGA Rookie of the Year Jin Young Ko played prototype SteelFiber graphite irons shafts exclusive to the Asian market, and hit an incredible 16 of 18 greens-in-regulation in the final round.  Ko posted strong scores of 64 and 65 in the final two rounds to win her first U.S. event. 

2019 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play: Inside the Course (Austin Country Club)

Austin Country Club is a Pete Dye designed course, which means players who find themselves out of position will find themselves in a world of hurt.  Dye courses are adventures that players can never be adequately prepared for, and match play just ratchets up that intensity. 

 

The 7,108 yard, par 71 track is the oldest course in Texas and might be a little too short for a stroke play event, but it's absolutely perfect for the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.  It's not a bombers course, but a fair share of drivable par-4s will produce immensely watchable and dramatic theater.  Strategy and accuracy can make up for a lack of distance off the tee, which means any kind of player can win here. 

5 Things to Know about the 2019 WGC-Dell Technologues Match Play

It's grueling.  It's volatile.  It's the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club and there will be chaos.  Inside the match play vortex playing an opponent's personality is just as important as playing the opponent himself.  And if match play history has taught us only one thing, it's that virtually anything can happen. 

 

Every hole has a definitive outcome, win, lose, or draw.  The excitement is as compelling as it is unpredictable.  Two players standing toe to toe in a test of wills, needing only to defeat the man who stands before him. 

Mitsubishi and Aldila Golf Win the Valspar and Maybank Championship to Continue Impressive Streaks on the PGA and European Tour

Every week on professional golf tours there are battles.  There are the obvious battles we all tune in to watch, between players competing for trophies, titles, and prize money.  But there are also equipment battles between companies competing to claim brand wins and vying for use by the best players on the planet. 

 

And for the third consecutive week on the PGA Tour, a Mitsubishi Golf shaft was used by the winner.  Over on the European Tour side the winner there used an Aldila shaft, with Aldila and Mitsubishi combing to account for over 50-percent of all shafts in the field. 

Paul Casey WITB What's In The Bag - The Golf Equipment Casey Used to Win The Valspar Championship

Paul Casey made history on Sunday at the Valspar Championship when he became the first player to win this event in back-to-back seasons.  For Casey, it was his third victory on the PGA Tour, and he needed to hold off World No. 1 Dustin Johnson and hard-charging Jason Kokrak to successfully defend his title. 

 

Casey is projected to rise to World No. 11 with the win, and with The Masters only a few weeks away, he's certain to be part of the conversation.  Casey has a strong record at Augusta and hasn't finished worse than 15th place there over the last four years. 

USGA Names Jason Gore as Senior Director of Player Relations

Following an extensive search, the USGA has appointed longtime PGA Tour player and four-time U.S. Open competitor Jason Gore as its first Senior Director of Player Relations. 

 

The appointment launches a comprehensive program aimed at sharing information and strengthening engagement with players in areas of importance to the USGA.  These include initiatives to grow and advance the game, research critical to the game's health, and continuing to incorporate the players' perspective in its work to advance the sport. 

The Valspar Championship: Inside the Course (Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club)

The PGA Tour returns to Florida this week for the 19th playing of the Valspar Championship. Ten of the top-30 players in the World will tee it up on the par 71, 7,340 yard Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club including Dustin Johnson (1), Jon Rahm (10), Patrick Reed (16), Bubba Watson (17), and defending champion Paul Casey (15). 

 

Copperhead is a shot-maker's course with plenty of risk-reward situations that demand attention on every swing.  It was the third most difficult non-major course last season, and the final three holes known as the "Snake Pit" have been the third toughest non-major final three holes on Tour since 2003 (with a scoring average of plus 0.562 strokes). 

5 Things to Know about the 2019 Valspar Championship

The Valspar Championship is fast becoming one of the most respected and popular stops on the PGA Tour.  The telecast is broadcast to more than 220 countries and translated into 29 different languages.  And players have consistently voted The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook as a top-10 favorite venue on Tour because of its exceptional conditioning and demanding layout. 

 

Defending champion Paul Casey will attempt to become the only back-to-back champion in Valspar history, and will tee it up against field that includes 10 of the top 30 players in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), including World No. 1 Dustin Johnson and No. 10 Jon Rahm.  Only four of the 18 defending Valspar champions have finished in the top-10 the following season. 

Cobra PUMA Golf and Volition America 2019 Collection Preview - Honoring American Patriotism with Stylish Apparel On and Off the Course

The Cobra PUMA Golf and Volition America partnership officially launched three years ago, and has proved increasingly popular with golfers and non-golfers alike.  The 2019 collection is sure to bring even greater excitement with a patriotic ensemble of clothing and footwear that honors our great country and the men and women of the military. 

 

Volition America is an organization built on a crusade to promote love of country, inspire people's decisions, and celebrate the power of choice.  And all apparel, footwear, and accessories from this collection supports the Folds of Honor Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to providing educational scholarships to spouses and children of America's fallen and disabled service members. 

Golf Pride Captures Multiple Wins at The PLAYERS Championship

The golf grip isn't a sexy story like the driver, or the irons are.  It doesn't get the attention like the putter does, or even the fairway wood.  But your grips are essentially like tires on a car, and 116 players trusted Golf Pride grips at The PLAYERS last week, making it the leading swing and putter grip brand in play. 

 

Eight players who finished in the Top 10, including the champion Rory McIlroy, chose Golf Pride grips at TPC Sawgrass.  McIlroy used Tour Velvet Cord grips to capture his first PLAYERS title, and ALIGN Technology grips earned a top-3 finish. 

Ben Hogan Golf Precision Milled FORGED Putter Line Preview - First Putter Introduction in Nearly 15 Years

Ben Hogan once said, "There are no shortcuts in the quest for perfection."  And today the Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company introduced its first putter line in nearly fifteen years.  The new Precision Milled FORGED putter line promises unmatched feel on consistency on the face for ultimate distance control and true roll. 

 

The new CNC precision milled putters are crafted from soft, 1020 carbon steel in a multi-step forging process that strengthens and purifies the molecular structure of the metal.  True forging refines and tightens the grain structure of the steel and provides for uniform density across the entire face.  This eliminates hot spots (or dead areas) and results in unparalleled feel, consistent distance control, "trueness" on every roll. 

Mitsubishi Golf TENSEI White Shaft Tour Cap Giveaway - Celebrating the Rory McIlroy Win at The PLAYERS Championship

Rory McIlroy emerged victorious on St. Patrick's Day at The PLAYERS Championship thanks in large part to two late birdies on the last four holes, and some clutch, and absolutely huge shots from the tee box. 

 

McIlroy used a Mitsubishi Golf TENSEI CK Pro White shaft in both his driver and fairway wood, and his 346-yard bomb off the tee on the par-5, 520-yard, 16th hole was the longest drive on the entire round.  McIlroy also ripped an incredibly gutsy 288-yard drive down the middle on the dangerous 18th hole with the tournament on the line, and averaged more than 310 yards off the tee for the week. 

Rory McIlroy WITB What's In The Bag - The Golf Equipment McIlroy Used to Win The PLAYERS Championship

Coming into The PLAYERS Championship, Rory McIlroy's last five starts looked like this:  T4, T5, T4, runner-up, and T6.  The media narrative was Rory lost a step, that he wasn't the same elite player anymore, and that he can't finish. 

 

But McIlroy basically raised the middle finger to that absurdity and won The PLAYERS in brilliant fashion.  Rory led the field in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green for the week, and shot a 2-under par 70 in tough conditions Sunday at TPC Sawgrass, and made it look like he could be ready to dominate again. 

THE PLAYERS Championship 2019 GIVEAWAY: Titleist St. Patrick's Day Tour Performance Hat and Shamrock Pro V1 Golf Balls

It's the richest event on the PGA Tour.  It's the strongest field of any tournament played on the same course every year.  It's the PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass, and it has all the hallmarks of a major championship.  So of course I'm having a PLAYERS GIVEAWAY for all of you! 

 

This year's marquee field includes the game's most talented players, including all 50 of the top-50 players in the world.  And this year's PLAYERS giveaway includes the coolest limited edition swag you'll find anywhere on the planet.  A Titleist St. Patrick's Day Tour Performance hat (exactly like the Tour pros wear), and Shamrock Pro V1 golf balls. 

THE PLAYERS Championship: Inside the Course (TPC Sawgrass The Stadium Course)

The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is one of the most complete courses in all of professional golf, testing every aspect of a player's game, from the mechanical to the mental.  No two holes run in the same direction, and it's designed to ensure any style of play can win here. 

 

Every year The PLAYERS Championship elicits compelling theater, as the hazards and angles of this Pete Dye course makes playing it a mental battle as well as a physical one.  Bad results will happen to good shots, and the pressure of playing this historic venue (particularly on Saturday and Sunday) will unnerve even the best.  TPC Sawgrass is going to ask players a lot of questions about their game.  And they better have the answers. 

5 Things to Know about the 2019 PLAYERS Championship

A robust field chock full of heavyweights travels to TPC Sawgrass this week to play the Stadium Course for THE PLAYERS Championship.  Although THE PLAYERS is not a Grand Slam event, victory here can be a career-defining moment. 

 

The Stadium Course favors no particular player or style of play, but opinions on its caliber range from prestigious architectural design to unflattering rancor spiced with R-rated four-letter words. 

Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x Golf Balls Now Available in High Optic Yellow

Titleist has given us extraordinary distance in our golf balls.  They've given us superior scoring control and unmatched consistency as well.  And now for the first time ever, Titleist is also giving us Pro V1 and Pro V1x balls in a new, high optic yellow color. 

 

The introduction of a high-visibility yellow color option to the Pro V1 family (the most played golf balls at every level of competitive golf and the best-selling models in the game) answers the growing demand from members of Team Titleist and golfers around the world. 

Aerotech Golf Shafts Continue Rolling with Strong Performances at the Hoag Classic

One week after winning the Cologuard Classic, Aerotech Golf SteelFiber shafts captured two top-10 finishes at the Hoag Classic on the Champions Tour. 



Woody Austin roared into contention in the second round when he hit 89-percent of the greens in regulation.  The 1995 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year fell just short of winning on the second playoff hole, and finished 10-under and runner-up for the tournament. Austin plays SteelFiber i110 shafts in his irons, and i125 shafts in his wedges. 

Mitsubishi Golf Shafts Continue Worldwide Dominance with Wins at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and Arnold Palmer Invitational

Mitsubishi Golf shafts picked up two huge wins yesterday with victories at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters the Arnold Palmer Invitational.  Justin Harding won the Qatar Masters using a Mitsubishi Diamana W-Series 60x shaft in his driver, while Francesco Molinari won the Arnold Palmer Invitational using a  Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue 70 shaft in his driver. 

 

Harding averaged 300 yards off the tee and ranked 16th in driving accuracy.  While Molinari averaged 295 yards off the tee and hit an incredible 86-percent of the fairways. 

Francesco Molinari WITB What's In The Bag - The Golf Equipment Molinari Used to Win the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill

You couldn't have written a better script for Francesco Molinari and Callaway Golf.  Before the Arnold Palmer Invitational kicked on Thursday, Molinari and Callaway inked a new equipment deal to make the Champion Golfer of the Year Callaway's newest stud in their line-up of big name players.  Molinari then proceeded to go out and win in his first official start as a Callaway staffer. 

 

The 36-year old Molinari roared back from five shots down on Sunday with the kind of flair that would have made Palmer proud.  Molinari recorded five birdies in the last six holes, capped off by a 44-foot bomb on the 18th for an 8-under, 64 on the day and 12-under overall for the tournament. 

Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Giveaway - Limited Edition PUMA Golf P Cap Inspired by Arnold Palmer

The Arnold Palmer Invitational always attracts one of the most star-studded fields of the season, and Arnie's Place is challenging for even the best players in the world.  It's been almost three years since The King passed away, but Palmer's influence and touch can  be seen and felt everywhere around Bay Hill this week. 

 

There's a lot of limited edition gear released during API week honoring Palmer, and rightly so.  However, PUMA's tribute might be one of the best ever.  And although I wasn't planning a giveaway, when I woke up today for some reason the thought, "What would Arnie do?" was in my head.  And I decided to give away one of those sweet limited edition pink PUMA P caps that honor Palmer and you've seen Rickie Fowler wearing this week. 

Miura Golf K-Grind 2.0 Milled Wedge Preview - Timeless Craftsmanship Merges with Modern Milling

Miura Golf is giving one of its most iconic clubs a modern upgrade.  Following in the footsteps of the original 1957 K-Grind wedge, the new K-Grind 2.0 features the signature knuckled sole of the 1957 model, but adds cutting-edge milling techniques for an unrivaled combination of functionality and feel. 

 

Given the proven staying-power of the K-Grind, the Miura family craftsmen sought to maintain the integrity of the original design by preserving the fluted sole that enables the clubface to remain square at impact. 

5 Things to Know about the 2019 Arnold Palmer Invitational

The Arnold Palmer Invitational has been a staple on the PGA Tour since 1966, and ever since Palmer became the host and moved the event to Bay Hill Country Club in 1979 it's routinely featured one of the strongest non-Major fields of the year. 

 

Originally known as the Florida Citrus Open, the API is one of just five tournaments with invitational status, and for the first time is part of the Open Qualifying Series (OQS), offering three spots in the 2019 Open Championship to the top players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties. 

Arnold Palmer Invitational: Inside the Course (Bay Hill Club and Lodge Championship Course)

Arnold Palmer transcended the game, and along the way won the hearts and minds of millions of people with his own swashbuckling, daring style of cool.  So it's fitting that whoever hoists the hardware this Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational will likely have to play with that same kind of Palmer fearlessness.  Twelve of the last 14 winners at Bay Hill and Lodge have won by only two strokes or less. 

 

Bay Hill's Championship Course is a go-for-broke, par-72, 7,419 yard layout with more than 150 acres of thick rough that can grow up to four inches tall. Fairway bunkers extend out far enough so that big hitters can’t bomb it off the tee with impunity.  While greenside bunkers and run-off areas closely guard the small, firm greens, putting a nostalgic premium on short-game strategy and finesse shots. 

Francesco Molinari Signs Equipment Deal with Callaway Golf - Will Play Full Bag of Callaway Clubs and Golf Ball

Reigning Champion Golfer of the Year Francesco Molinari has joined the Callaway Golf Tour Staff and will play Callaway woods, irons, wedges, an Odyssey Putter, a Chrome Soft Golf Ball, and use a Callaway Staff Bag beginning this week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. 

 

Molinari has used Callaway clubs this season, but this week at Bay Hill marks his official debut as a Callaway staffer.  The deal will have Molinari (the No. 10 ranked Player in the World) playing all 14 Callaway clubs in his bag. 

Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company Equalizer BLACK Wedges Preview - Expanded Line Includes Additional Lofts and Finishes

Nearly one year after the successful launch of the Equalizer wedge line, Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company has introduced a full-line of Equalizer BLACK wedges that includes more loft options and finishes than ever before. 

 

Named after the legendary Ben Hogan's famed "secret weapon, " the Equalizer BLACK wedges were initially introduced as a limited-edition set in late 2018.  Using a Diamond Black Metal proprietary finish (like on the Ft. Worth BLACK irons), these wedges offer reduced glare and better contrast with the ball.  And unlike dark, painted finishes offered by other club manufacturers, the Diamond Black Finish is up to seven times more durable than nickel chrome. 

Aerotech SteelFiber Shafts Continue Dominating on Professional Tours

SteelFiber graphite iron shafts landed first and second place finishes at the Cologuard Classic on the Champions Tour last week, as well as second and third place finishes at the HSBC Women’s World Championship on the LPGA Tour, continuing Aerotech's global dominance on professional tours this season. 

 

Marc O'Meara used SteelFiber i110 shafts in his irons at the Cologuard Classic and hit almost 75-percent of the greens in regulation for the week en route to a 17-under, 202 for the tournament.  The two-time major champion recorded eight birdies in the final round, good for a four-shot victory. 

Keith Mitchell WITB What's In The Bag - The Golf Equipment Mitchell Used to Win The Honda Classic

Kevin Mitchell held off Rickie Fowler and Brooks Koepka on Sunday at The Honda Classic to grab his first career PGA Tour victory.  Mitchell birdied holes 12, 13, and 15 to charge up the leaderboard filled with superstars and major champions, before dropping in a walk-off 15 footer on the 18th for birdie to secure his one-shot win. 

 

The second year pro began the day with back-to-back bogeys on the tough PGA National Champions Course, and as many as six players shared the lead on the back-nine.  But Mitchell roared back with four birdies in the last seven holes (for a final round 67) and finished nine-under, 271 overall for the tournament. 

Rickie Fowler and Cobra PUMA Golf Honor the Legendary Arnold Palmer with Iconic Limited Edition Bag, Shoes, and Gear at the 2019 Arnold Palmer Invitational

In a tribute to Arnold Palmer, Rickie Fowler will once again head to Bay Hill for the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, with special plans to pay tribute to The King. 

 

Throughout the week, Fowler will sport a custom PUMA Arnold Palmer P Cap, Limited Edition IGNITE PROADAPT footwear, and carry a custom COBRA x Vessel Stand Bag, all sporting the iconic Umbrella Logo, designed to honor the life and career of golf's most beloved figure. 

On the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, the 19th Hole has Become a State-of-the-Art Mobile Fitness Center

Being a professional golfer has some pretty awesome perks.  From the free equipment, courtesy cars, and all you can eat food to chartered travel and complimentary dry cleaning, the players are definitely taken care of. 

 

And this week the PGA Tour unveiled two new state-of-the-art mobile fitness centers at The Honda Classic that will travel the Tour and Champions Tour throughout the season, pretty much bringing fitness training to an entirely new level of spectacular. 

Under Armour HOVR Drive Golf Shoes Preview - Full Round Comfort and Responsiveness

Sometimes when a golf shoe focuses on comfort or softness, it loses responsiveness.  Think of walking in the sand on the beach for example.  Extremely soft and comfortable, but you don't really have much feel.  And too many golf shoes on the market today unfortunately sacrifice feel as a trade-off for giving you comfort. 

 

Enter the new Under Armour's HOVR Drive golf shoes.  Delivering both total comfort and powerful energy transfer, the new HOVR Drive shoes are a standout option for golfers who demand lightweight flexibility and full-round comfort and support.  Under Armour is basically saying you can finally have your cake and eat it too.