Sunday, May 28, 2023

Rose Zhang Granted Special Exemption into 78th U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links

Rose Zhang, of Irvine, Calif., has been granted a special exemption into the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open Championship, which will be conducted July 6-9 at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links. The 20-year-old, who was previously exempt prior to turning professional, is set to make her fifth consecutive appearance in the championship.

“Competing in the U.S. Women’s Open is always a special experience, and being granted an exemption into the first at Pebble Beach is truly an honor,” said Zhang. “This is a big moment for our sport, and I’m very appreciative of the USGA for the opportunity to be part of it.”

Rose Zhang's First Event as a Pro - Mizuho Americas Open

On the heels of becoming the first female golfer to ever win back-to-back NCAA Individual Championships, the #1 ranked amateur in the world, Rose Zhang, has announced that she will be turning professional and has accepted a sponsor exemption in the Mizuho Americas Open, where she will make her professional debut from May 31 - June 4 at the iconic Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, NJ.

The three-time McCormack Medal winner left the amateur ranks having held the top position in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking for a record 141 consecutive weeks, dating back to September 2020. Zhang, who received the 2022 and 2023 Annika Award as the nation’s top female collegiate golfer, set the NCAA scoring average record at 68.70 this season, surpassing the previous record that she set last year by nearly a full stroke. She established herself as a champion at the biggest events in the sport, including victories at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur, 2021 U.S. Girls’ Junior and 2023 Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Her 12 titles in NCAA competition, earned in just 20 collegiate starts, are the most in Stanford history, besting Tiger Woods, Patrick Rodgers, and Maverick McNealy by one.

USGA Expands Funding for P.J. Boatwright Jr. Internship Program, Connecting More People to Careers In Golf

This week, the USGA welcomed its largest class of P.J. Boatwright Jr. interns to the annual Boatwright Summit as the organization kicks off the 32nd year of the career development initiative that provides on-the-job training across the USGA’s network of 58 Allied Golf Associations (AGAs).

As part of the organization’s commitment to foster a more inclusive game and connect more individuals to careers in golf, the USGA funds the program, in part through philanthropic contributions, and works closely with AGAs on intern recruitment and training. In 2023, the USGA is delivering a program-high $2.09 million to pay each intern, provide travel costs to the annual summit and support AGA operations to manage staffing locally.

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

These Bears Are Golden: Du/Zheng Take Title at Kiawah Island Club

Aaron Du and Sampson Zheng did not get the opportunity to play for an NCAA title this coming weekend in Arizona, so a USGA national championship is a mighty good substitute.

The two 21-year-old rising seniors at the University of California-Berkeley, whose team missed qualifying for NCAAs by three strokes exactly a week ago in Norman, Okla., capped off a remarkable five days at Kiawah Island Club on Wednesday by winning the 8th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship with a 2-and-1 victory over Drew Kittleson and Drew Stoltz in the 18-hole final at Cassique.

PING Proving Grounds Podcast Debuts May 25th

The PING Proving Grounds, a new podcast created to provide golfers behind-the-scenes insights into the company’s approach to designing the highest-performing equipment available, debuts tomorrow, PING CEO & President John K. Solheim announced today.

Hosted by golf broadcaster and journalist Shane Bacon and Marty Jertson, PING’s Vice President of Fitting & Performance, the podcast takes a deep dive into PING’s celebrated history and immeasurable contributions to golf equipment, custom fitting, and the game of golf in general. The pair will examine everything from golf club development to the tools, technologies and data that continue to improve the custom-fitting landscape. They’ll bring on expert guests, including PING tour professionals and brand ambassadors, to examine a variety of golf science and performance topics that are relatable to everyday golfers of all skill levels.

Stanford Sophomore Rose Zhang Wins 2023 Annika Award

Stanford sophomore and the world’s top-ranked female amateur golfer, Rose Zhang, was announced today as the back-to-back winner of the prestigious ANNIKA Award presented by Stifel, recognizing the most outstanding female NCAA Division I college golfer for the 2022-23 season. The announcement was made today by Hall-of-Famer Annika Sorenstam and Ron Kruszewski, Chairman and CEO of Stifel.

Zhang, the top-ranked player in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, Golfstat and Golfweek college rankings, captured the 2023 NCAA Women’s Golf Championships Individual Championship on Monday by one shot at 10-under par. With the victory, she became the first Division I women’s golfer to win multiple individual national championships, and is the first player since Maria Fassi (2018-19) to win back-to-back ANNIKA Award titles.

Garsen Putter Grips Achieve 68th and 69th Tour Victories

Garsen Golf congratulates Grayson Murray and Carlota Ciganda on their victories on Sunday while both using Garsen putter grips. Grayson put a Garsen Quad Tour pistol in play the week before leading to a one stroke victory at the Korn Ferry Tour AdventHealth Championship. Carlota finished at -2 to secure her win at the Ladies European Tour Aramco Team Series-Florida Tournament using a Garsen Quad Tour grip. In addition to 3 PGA Tour, 1 LPGA and 1 LET victory this year, Garsen now has a total of 69 tour wins.

The Quad Tour is the most traditional line of Garsen grips. The overriding structure of this grip includes a trapezoid design that is wider on the front of the grip than the bottom and slightly narrower than most traditional putting grips.

Contextualizing the U.S. Golf Economy

You may have heard that golf is now a $102 billion industry in the U.S. – 20% larger than it was in 2016, the last time there was a proper quantitative review of the game’s economic contributions.

$102 billion certainly sounds like a lot, but numbers like this aren’t all that easy to grasp. So, here’s some (hopefully) helpful context. $102 billion is five times the revenue of the NFL.­­i It’s roughly the global income of UPS, which delivered an average of 24.3 million packages per day in 2022.ii It’s 25% more money than Tesla, P&G and The Walt Disney Company made last year, 120% more than Nike brought in, and 220% more than Netflix.

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, True Blue Golf Club Unveil Leading Fall Golf Package

Caledonia Golf & Fish Club and True Blue Golf Club, two of America’s top 100 resort courses, have unveiled their always anticipated Golftoberfest package, an offer that provides traveling players with maximum value during the Myrtle Beach area’s peak fall season.

The package, which runs from October 1-31, is a three-night, four-round deal that allows golfers to play the pair of Mike Strantz designs in any combination they choose. Award-winning golf is complemented by villa accommodations that include 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom units at True Blue Resort.

Founders Group International Partners With Nicklaus Design For Restoration of Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club

Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club, a Jack Nicklaus signature design renowned for its beauty and challenge, closed May 22 for a greens and bunkers restoration and a clubhouse redesign, Founders Group International announced.

FGI contracted with Nicklaus Design and their Design Associate, Troy Vincent will be spearheading the four-month project. Pawleys, which features six back nine holes that play along a stunning tidal marsh, will reopen in late-September, allowing golfers to enjoy one of Myrtle Beach’s most popular courses during the heart of the fall season.

2nd U.S. Adaptive Open Set to Welcome a Global Field to Pinehurst in July

The field for the 2nd U.S. Adaptive Open – a national championship that showcases the world’s best golfers with disabilities on Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 6 from July 10-12 – has been set, the USGA announced today.

The USGA received 285 entries for the 2023 U.S. Adaptive Open, and the 96-player final field includes competitors from 28 states and 11 countries. The championship’s youngest competitor is 15-year-old Russell Aide from Canada, and Linda Port, of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., is the championship's oldest player at 75 years old. Of the 96 players in the field, 66 played last year, and 30 will be making their championship debut.

Top 2 Seeds Advance to Semifinals at Kiawah Island Club

The sting of not qualifying for the upcoming NCAA Division I Championships may be starting to finally wear off for Aaron Du and Sampson Zheng. Sure, the disappointment of their University of California-Berkeley team coming up three strokes short in last week’s regional in Norman, Okla., will always linger subconsciously, but what’s transpired over the last four days at Kiawah Island Club has at least given the two 21-year-old juniors a second wind of positive energy.

Du and Zhen, both natives of the People’s Republic of China who came to the United States as teenagers to attend high school in Florida, registered a pair of impressive victories on Tuesday at breezy Kiawah Island Club’s Cassique to reach the semifinals of the 8th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship.

Monday, May 22, 2023

USGA Announces 33 Additional Players Exempt for 123rd U.S. Open Championship

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that 33 additional golfers, including major champions Jason Day and Patrick Reed, have earned full exemptions into the 2023 U.S. Open Championship, to be contested June 15-18 at The Los Angeles (Calif.) Country Club’s North Course. These exemptions bring the number of fully exempt players to 84.

Exemptions were awarded to 25 players who earned a place in the top 60 of the Official World Golf Ranking® (OWGR®) as of May 22, who were not otherwise exempt. Day, who will compete in his 11th U.S. Open and is a two-time runner-up, won the 2015 PGA Championship. He is ranked No. 22. Reed, who won the 2018 Masters Tournament, is ranked No. 44. It will be Reed’s 10th U.S. Open.

Club Champion and TXG Launch Fathers of Fitting International Podcast

Club Champion, the globe’s top club fitter, has added a new podcast to their roster! Fathers of Fitting features the founders of the top fitting brands in the world — Club Champion, TXG, Golf Principles, and PureForm — as they are now all housed under the Club Champion umbrella. Founders Nick Sherburne, Ian Fraser, Jason MacNiven, and Paul Jenner come together to talk fitting, equipment, and all things golf. The new show is available in video form on YouTube and audio-only on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and a variety of other podcast platforms.

“This show is a fun take on the golf industry and it is decidedly different from our other content,” said Cassandra Bausch, Club Champion’s Director of Marketing and the host of the podcast. “We put four of the most unique personalities in the industry in one place, so you can imagine the potential with a more open format.”

Medalists Roll Into Final 16 at Breezy Kiawah Island Club

For the 32 sides who survived the stroke-play portion of the 8th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Kiawah Island Club, the start of the Round of 32 on Monday at breezy Cassique brought about a chance for a reboot. The great scoring from the weekend – which saw several championship scoring records matched – was now in the rearview mirror.

Now it’s all about beating an opponent, not an entire field, and living by the old clichĂ© of survive and advance.

Major Domination in New York for Fujikura Golf

Fujikura, the leader in performance golf shafts, was honored to be the #1 driver and wood shaft at the second Major championship of the year.

At the 105th PGA Championship, Fujikura followed up their previous major success in Augusta with another #1 driver and wood shaft spot in Rochester, New York.

Brooks Koepka Wins 2023 PGA Championship with Srixon and Cleveland Golf Club in the Bag

Brooks Koepka is the 2023 PGA Championship winner, earning his fifth major championship on Sunday at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York. This is his third Wanamaker trophy and first major title since 2019. Koepka has 11 Srixon/Cleveland Golf clubs in his bag and plays the Z-STAR DIAMOND golf ball.

It was a dominant performance from the now five-time major champion as he rose to the top and fended off the field at the demanding Oak Hill. After an opening round 2-over par 72, Koepka followed up with a second, and third-round 66, despite tough conditions. He carded a final round 3-under par 67 to win the tournament by two strokes. Koepka becomes only the third player in the stroke play era to have won three or more PGA Championships.

Sunday, May 21, 2023

PUMA Golf Launches New ALPHACAT NITRO Shoes

PUMA Golf has introduced the new ALPHACAT NITRO, a spikeless shoe with premium cushioning that provides explosive energy and propulsion with each step.  With the new Alphacat Nitro PUMA continues to raise the bar in the spikeless golf shoe category, creating a fashion forward design with hi-tech materials and advanced performance.

The ALPHACAT NITRO design features a new and innovative NITRO FOAM material, which is infused with nitrogen gas to create exceptional cushioning and energy return with every step. The newly designed material is also extremely lightweight, allowing for an energy saving design. The Upper EXOShell is engineered with mesh to provide enhanced structure and support both during the swing and while walking. In addition, a Dual Material Alpha Traction sole design provides grip and stability in a wide variety of turf and weather conditions as well as impressive durability.  And true to form for all PUMA kicks, a unique Formstripe External Heel Counter looks cool wherever the shoes are worn.

College Sides Share Medalist Honors; Match 36-Hole Scoring Mark

Joe Cansler was headed to the scoring tent behind the 18th green of Kiawah Island Club’s Cassique on Sunday when he uttered the words, “best golf I’ve ever seen.” He wasn’t describing the play of his partner and fellow North Carolinian, Jeremy Ray, but what he saw the past five hours from a pair of University of California-Berkeley juniors – and one in particular – during the second and final round of stroke play of the 8th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship.

Sampsonyunhe Zheng, of the People’s Republic of China, who is partnering with countryman Aaron Du, recorded eight consecutive birdies from No. 9 on his own ball en route to a championship-record-tying day and eventually a share of medalist honors with 2022 semifinalists Carter Loflin, 18, of Duluth, Ga., and Wells Williams, 19, of West Point, Miss.

Saturday, May 20, 2023

Grady, Sovero Match Championship Record (61); Lead After Round 1

Kevin Grady didn’t know the 18-hole championship record, but he wanted to get to 10 under par. That meant making birdie on the final hole of Kiawah Island Club’s Cassique late Saturday afternoon. Grady stuffed his approach to 6 feet, converted the putt and he and partner Andrew Sovero completed a 10-under-par round of 61, matching the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball mark established last year by two sides.

It also gave the Catonsville, Md., residents a one-shot lead after the first round of the 2023 championship. They were one stroke ahead of Garrett Rank, of Canada, and Joseph Deraney, of Belden, Miss., a pair of past U.S. Mid-Amateur runners-up whose partnership was four years in the making. They carded a 9-under 62 on Kiawah Island Club’s River Course, the stroke-play, co-host. Jeffrey Forster and Teddy Vigna, a pair of teenagers from Santa Barbara, Calif., who are the fourth-youngest side in the field, also carded a 62 at Cassique.

Thursday, May 18, 2023

Jordan Spieth 2023 PGA Championship Scripting

Jordan Spieth has started off the new season strong with a runner-up finish and five top-10's, and he's poised for success with an eye on completing the Grand Slam at the PGA Championship this week.

Spieth has played in 10 PGA Championships in his career, and he's also been with Under Armour Golf for 10 years - ever since UA signed Spieth as an ambitious 19-year-old with no official Tour status back in 2013.  Here's a look at what Jordan will be wearing this week at Oak Hill.

Graphite Design Tour AD-HY Shaft Review - 2023

When we put a hybrid in our bag the hope is it's going to be easier to hit, higher launching, softer landing, and even a bit longer than the iron it's replacing.  But far too often you see and hear people saying they just can't hit hybrids.

Well the problem might not be your hybrid itself, but rather the shaft in your hybrid.  And for many players the new Graphite Design Tour AD-HY hybrid shaft is going to finally unlock the potential of your hybrid, maybe even making it the favorite club in your bag.

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

PGA Championship Offers Comprehensive Coverage with Multi-Platform Digital Products and Content

The 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York, will feature the PGA of America’s robust multichannel digital suite, interactive platforms and broadcast partners CBS Sports and ESPN.

The immersive experience will allow fans to interact and engage with the PGA Championship (May 18-21) through access to real-time scoring, video, updates and coaching from PGA Professionals.

Teen Queens: Clemente, Zweig Take Title at The Home Course

Five years ago, Avery Zweig made history as the youngest competitor in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship at 11 years, 3 months, a mark that still stands. On Wednesday at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash., she and her younger partner, Gianna Clemente, added their names to the record book in an even more meaningful way.

Clemente, 15, of Estero, Fla.; and Zweig, 16, of McKinney, Texas; rallied from an early 2-hole deficit to defeat current collegians Tiffany Le and Kate Villegas, 3 and 1, and capture the 8th iteration of a competition that has been dominated by juniors. Clemente, the runner-up in last year’s U.S. Girls’ Junior, and Zweig surpassed 2016 champions Hailee Cooper (16) and Kaitlyn Papp (17) as the youngest champions of this event by a combined two years of age.

Bagging Big Bucks: How a Top Caddie Out-Earns Pro Golfers

Ever wondered what it's like to be a caddie for a top PGA Tour golfer? It's not just about carrying clubs; it's about having unmatched knowledge of the course, making crucial decisions, and - you guessed it - making some serious cash.

Meet Ted Scott, the caddie for Scottie Scheffler, who's raking in more dough than many pro golfers, thanks to his golfer's on-course success. In this rotowire.com article you go inside the lucrative world of elite caddies, revealing just how much they make and how their earnings stack up against those of some notable PGA Tour players.

USGA Announces Tee Times for 8th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced tee times for the first two rounds of the 8th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship on Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21 at Kiawah Island Club in Kiawah Island, S.C.

The U.S. Amateur Four-Ball consists of 18 holes of stroke play on May 20 and 18 holes of stroke play on May 21, after which the 128 sides (256 players) will be reduced to the low 32 sides (64 players) for match play. There will be five rounds of match play, starting May 22 with the first round. The second and quarterfinal rounds are slated for May 23. The semifinals will be played the morning of May 24, with the 18-hole championship match scheduled to follow that afternoon.

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Young Stars Steal Show as Championship Reaches Semifinals

Despite their young ages, Gianna Clemente and Avery Zweig are no strangers to USGA competition. Zweig, 16, is playing in her fifth U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship, teaming up with Clemente, 15, for the last three, reaching the semifinals in 2021 and the Round of 16 in 2022. Clemente, who first burst onto the scene when she qualified as an 11-year-old for the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur, has since Monday-qualified for three LPGA Tour events, and last year reached the final match of the U.S. Girls’ Junior. Zweig already has a U.S. Women’s Open appearance under her belt.

The high schoolers entered this week’s 8th U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball as a team to watch, their junior careers clearly making them a formidable threat. After rounds of 69-67 in stroke play, they entered the match-play bracket at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash., as the No. 15 seed, and cruised through the first two rounds with a pair of 5-and-4 victories. In Tuesday afternoon’s quarterfinal match, Clemente and Zweig took the lead for good against Vanessa Borovilos and Cara Heisterkamp on the eighth hole en route to a 3-and-2 victory.

8th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship – Inside The Field

The 2023 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball from Kiawah Island Club will be the 20th USGA championship in South Carolina.  The U.S. Amateur Four-Ball consists of 128 two-player teams, each playing their own ball throughout the round.

Each team’s score is determined by using the lower score of the partners for each hole. After 36 holes of stroke play, the field is reduced to the low 32 teams for the championship’s match-play bracket (all matches contested at 18 holes).  Here's a closer look inside the field.

2023 PGA Championship Longshots

The second major championship of the year is here as the golf world turns its attention to Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, New York, for this week's PGA Championship.

Oak Hill is hosting the event for the first time since 2013 -- when Jason Dufner won at 40-to-1 odds -- and will play long as a par-70 at approximately 7,400 yards. Soft conditions will make the course play even longer and scoring opportunities will be limited by the extremely thick rough.

Cobra Golf Unveils Limited Edition PGA Championship Staff Bag

With the second major of the year having arrived, COBRA Golf is unveiling a new, Limited Edition PGA Championship Staff Bag.  Like all COBRA Golf bags, these unique staff bags are crafted with premium materials for an elevated, tour-caliber look and feel.

The design of Cobra’s PGA Championship staff bag borrows elements from Oak Hill’s famed Tudor style clubhouse, with a brick pattern on the side panel and ivy growing into the Cobra logo. The city of Rochester used to be known as the “flour city,” due to the abundance of flour mills in the area, and accordingly hints of wheat are sprinkled throughout the bag’s design. Colors like Old Gold, Brick, Tudor, and Log provide a timeless feel, which is appropriate for a course so rich in history.

Monday, May 15, 2023

8th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship Fact Sheet

The 8th U.S. Amateur Four Ball Championship kicks off this week from Kiawah Island Club and will be played on the Cassique and River Courses.

The Kiawah Island Club’s Cassique Course opened in 2000 and was designed by Tom Watson, the 1982 U.S. Open champion and a five-time winner of The Open Championship, conducted by The R&A. The links-style course is named for the Kiawah Indian chief who settled in an area where the Kiawah River meets the Atlantic Ocean. The River Course, designed by Tom Fazio, was the club’s first course, opening in 1995. It overlooks the Kiawah River to the north and Bass Pond to the southeast. Six holes play to the river’s edge while the others play through marsh and maritime forest.

Defending Champions, Most Medalists Among Sides to Advance at Women’s Amateur Four-Ball

The first match-play round of the 2023 USGA championship season is in the books, and it produced the typical array of winning moments for some, disappointment for others and dramatic swings of momentum on both sides. Long before the warm sun began to dip over the Olympic Mountains, six of the seven stroke play co-medalists in the 8th U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash., continued their strong play to advance to Tuesday morning’s Round of 16.

Among them were the No. 2-seeded side of Shannon Aubert and Calli Ringsby. The 27-year-old former Stanford teammates, the two oldest players remaining in the field, used their experience and poise to pull out a late victory.

SWAG Golf Partners with Club Champion

Swag Golf, the premium, limited-edition golf accessory, equipment, and apparel company, has announced a new strategic partnership with Club Champion, which offers all golfers Tour-quality golf club fittings. Club Champion has over 110 locations nationwide, including studios in every major golf market. Their trusted club fitting experts are regularly featured on Golf Digest’s Top 100 Fitter lists, driven in part by the more than 100,000 fittings they complete annually.

With this agreement, Swag Golf will be selling four putter models with five exclusive headcovers only available at Club Champion, making them the only location in the country to offer fittings for Swag Golf putters. These products will launch on May 15 at 50 Club Champion locations in the US. The Swag Golf putter designs to be sold at Club Champion will include the US-made, highly-sought after, precision milled putters and fan favorites – Handsome One, Handsome Too, Savage One, and Savage Too.

Jason Day Completes Comeback at AT&T Byron Nelson with Bridgestone Golf

Bridgestone Golf staff player Jason Day captured his 13th PGA Tour victory on Sunday at the AT&T Byron Nelson. Day’s confidence in his Bridgestone TOUR B X golf ball led to a final round 62 and 23-under-par total that was marked by signature big drives, pinpoint iron play, and rock-solid putting.

“Innovation is the hallmark of Bridgestone Golf,” said Elliot Mellow, Bridgestone Marketing Manager. “Jason was in a position to play any ball he wanted when he signed with Bridgestone last year. He was looking for the best performance he could get, and after seeing what Tiger was doing with our golf ball, he decided to test it. As is the case with a lot of top players who test our TOUR B golf ball, he made the switch almost immediately.”

Sunday, May 14, 2023

Callaway Releases New Chrome Soft USA TruTrack Golf Balls

Callaway Golf has introduced their new TruTrack golf balls.  The next evolution of Truvis and Triple Track technologies brought into one ball providing more roll feedback on the golf ball and enhancing it with alignment.

TruTrack will be available in Chrome Soft, Chrome Soft X, and Chrome Soft X LS models.

Callaway Golf Big Bertha and Big Bertha REVO Take Super Game Improvement to New Heights

Callaway Golf's new Big Bertha family is designed to provide the easiest to hit clubs you've ever experienced. This super game-improvement lineup is precisely engineered for players who want to launch the ball higher and play with more confidence every time they tee it up. The extremely forgiving lineup is designed to make every shot your best.

In addition, the new Big Bertha REVA lineup has been developed extensively with data and individual player feedback to create a best-in-class new women’s lineup that’s ideally suited for every level of player. It’s precisely engineered for more more distance and more accuracy on the course.

Record 7 Sides Share Medalist Honors (133) at The Home Course

It’s been unseasonably warm in the Pacific Northwest this weekend with temperatures, normally in the mid- to upper-60s, nearly reaching 90 degrees. But the mercury wasn’t the only thing rising along the shores of Puget Sound. No amount of sunblock could stop the onslaught of great scores being produced at The Home Course, in DuPont, Wash., during Sunday’s final round of stroke play at the 8th U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship.

How about a record seven sides sharing medalist honors at 11-under-par 133. That’s the most for any USGA amateur championship, surpassing the six who medaled in the 2007 U.S. Mid-Amateur at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon. All of this occurring with winds in the 10- to 15-mile-per-hour range and gusting as high as 20 mph.

2023 PGA Championship Coverage Live on SiriusXM

SiriusXM has announced its coverage of the 2023 PGA Championship, taking place Thursday, May 18th through Sunday, May 21st at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, NY.

Live Championship play-by-play, which SiriusXM will co-produce with Westwood One, will air starting at 1 pm ET on Thursday and Friday, and 2 pm ET on Saturday and Sunday. SiriusXM will also provide live look-ins during its programming in the morning and early afternoon each day to give listeners play-by-play and updates on featured groups playing earlier in the day.

Thursday, May 11, 2023

Vokey WedgeWorks Introduces Limited Edition 58 Degree and 60 Degree V Grind Wedges

Vokey WedgeWorks introduces the new Limited 58.10° and 60.10° V Grind, inspired by the collaboration of Master Craftsman Bob Vokey and Vokey Tour Rep Aaron Dill with tour players around the world.

The V Grind is designed for players seeking a wedge that provides increased bounce on square faced shots and enhanced relief on open faced shots. On full shots, the V Grind features high measured bounce forward on the sole. Yet when the face of the V Grind is opened, the wedge produces increased versatility through heel, toe, and trailing edge sole relief, allowing the leading edge to stay closer to the ground.

Scotty Cameron Introduces Four New Models to Super Select Putter Family

The Super Select line of Scotty Cameron putters is now complete with the addition of four new models – the GOLO 6, GOLO 6.5, Fastback 1.5 and Del Mar – arriving in golf shops on Friday, May 19.

Inspired by the long-term success of tour professionals who have trusted prior generation GOLO models, Cameron has refined this sought-after design with the new Super Select GOLO 6 and GOLO 6.5 mid-mallet putter offerings. Revamped Fastback 1.5 and Del Mar models further bolster a Super Select milled putter lineup that features new dual-milled face technology and enhanced feel in a variety of head shapes and neck configurations to appeal to nearly every golfer’s putting preference.

USGA Names Johnny Miller as 2023 Bob Jones Award Recipient

The United States Golf Association has selected Johnny Miller as the recipient of this year’s Bob Jones Award, the association’s highest honor that recognizes character, respect and a commitment to sportsmanship in the game of golf.

“Johnny’s contributions to our game are significant, and honoring him with the Bob Jones Award reflects everything he means to the game and everything the game means to him,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA.

USGA Announces Tee Times for 8th U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced tee times for the first two rounds of the 8th U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship on Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14 at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash.

The U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball consists of 18 holes of stroke play on May 13 and 18 holes of stroke play on May 14, after which the 64 sides (128 players) will be reduced to the low 32 sides (64 players) for match play. There will be five rounds of match play, starting May 15 with the first round. The second and quarterfinal rounds are slated for May 16. The semifinals will be played the morning of May 17, with the 18-hole championship match scheduled to follow that afternoon.

Todd Snyder x FootJoy | The Back Tees Collection

How would the most iconic players in golf history dress if they stepped onto the links today? The answer is the Todd Snyder x FootJoy Collection. Titled “The Back Tees”, the collection was inspired by the golf fashion of old-school greats on and off the course. The styles borrow from the traditional codes of American menswear and place them in performance technical fabrics.

For this collaboration, Todd and the FootJoy team set out to create contemporary interpretations of 60s and 70s golf style. The team emphasized refined fabrics--including pique polos, mercerized sweaters and cotton/cashmere sweatshirts--then reinterpreted these iconic athletic styles in a thoroughly modern way. The collection features apparel in blacks, blues, olives and as well as geometric and jacquard prints, and two new premium pebble-grain leather golf shoes based on FootJoy’s Wilcox and Field Premiere Series models.

PING Slam PLD Limited Pal 2 Coming May 16th

The PLD Limited Pal 2 putter, the second of four precision-milled PING putters celebrating the brand winning all four major championships in 1988, will be available for purchase on pingpld.com, beginning at 2 pm ET on Tuesday, May 16.

Known as the “PING Slam,” the celebration recognizes a historic achievement that had never happened before 1988 and hasn’t happened since for any putter brand. Precision-milled versions of the four winning models (Pal, Pal 2, Zing 2 and Anser), respectively, are available each Tuesday of this year’s four major championship weeks, giving collectors a rare opportunity to own a part of PING’s storied putter history.

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Evnroll ER ZERO Z.1 Putter Review

The new Evnroll ZERO Z.1 putter is one of the best mallet putters I've ever used.  It checks off every performance box you want with exceptional stability, roll, and distance control.  And that's only the beginning.

The modern shape might not be for everyone.  But for a lot of players the ZERO Z.1 will be the kind of putter that stays in your bag forever.  It's really that good.

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

8th U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship – Inside the Field

The U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball was first played in 2015. The championship is open to two-player sides (or teams) of female amateurs with individual Handicap Indexes not exceeding 14.4. There are no age restrictions, and partners are not required to be from the same club, state, or country.

Here's a look at the 64 teams (or sides) and 128 golfers in the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball field.  Play begins this week, May 10th through May 17th at The Home Course in Dupont, Washington.

8th U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship Fact Sheet

The Home Course, in DuPont, Wash., has been chosen by the USGA to host the 8th U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship. The dates of the championship are May 13-17, 2023.

This will be the second USGA championship to be held at The Home Course, which hosted the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links. The course also served as the stroke-play co-host for the 2010 U.S. Amateur and 2021 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, each of which was contested at Chambers Bay. The U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship returns to the Pacific Northwest for the first time since the inaugural event was played in 2015 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, in Bandon, Ore.

So Yeon Ryu Receives Special Exemption into 78th U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links

So Yeon Ryu, the 2011 champion from the Republic of Korea, has accepted a special exemption from the USGA into the field for the 78th U.S. Women’s Open Championship, to be contested July 6-9 at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links. Ryu, whose maiden major victory came in the U.S. Women’s Open at The Broadmoor (East Course) in Colorado Springs, Colo., will be making her 14th consecutive start in the championship.

“I am excited and honored to accept this special exemption into the U.S. Women’s Open,” said Ryu. “This championship means so much to me, and to be able to compete in it again, and to do so at a place as special as Pebble Beach, is thrilling, and I am so grateful to the USGA for this opportunity. I look forward to teeing it up there in July.”

National Golf Day and New Economic Impact Study

The American Golf Industry Coalition, which represents a partnership among golf’s leading organizations, is celebrating the 15th annual National Golf Day today. The event includes hundreds of representatives who have gathered to reinforce golf’s economic, societal, environmental, and health contributions through more than 200 meetings with Members of Congress and their staffs.

The Coalition is also releasing a new national Economic Impact Study, which shows golf’s growth in popularity as a recreational activity with roughly 1 in 7 people participating and a $102 billion direct economic impact in 2022, an increase of 20% over its $84 billion direct impact in 2016.

Father's Day Gift Ideas for the Golfing Dad

Golf Simulators continue to gain popularity in residential and commercial spaces.

And with prices the best they've ever been, this might be the ideal time to splurge on dad and get him something for Father's Day he'll use forever.