To the Victor Go the Spoils: Jordan Spieth Dethrones Tiger Woods as Top Earner in Golf

Jordan Spieth isn't merely in the zone these days.  He is the zone.  Spieth earned more than $53 million in 2015, supplanting Tiger Woods as golf's highest earner. 

 

Spieth ranked 16th in total earnings in 2014.  But thanks to a career-high five wins on Tour last season, including victories at The Masters and U.S. Open, Spieth raked in more than $23 million on the course.  Other endorsement deals, including a a 10-year deal with Under Armour, brought in another $30 million.

Spieth-O-Meter: Jordan Spieth's Masterpiece at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions

Has Jordan Spieth actually gotten better over last season?  It might not even be a question of if, but a question of why. 

 

The 22-year old reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year cruised to an 8-stroke victory Sunday at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, shooting a staggering 30-under par.  That's the second-lowest score to par by a 72-hole tournament champion in Tour history.

Miura Golf Launches New Left Handed Irons and Putter for 2016

Lefties?  It's time to rejoice.  Miura Golf is now offering a new Y Grind, left handed option in two of its most legendary blade and cavity back irons, as well as a left handed putter model for the first time in its history. 

 

The popular MB 001 and CB 57 irons now feature leading edge and sole modifications that promise to elevate performance to another level.  And the XM 006 putter will finally show some love for lefty players seeking the very best from a classic design.

Callaway Golf Debuts New XR 16 and XR 16 Pro Drivers and Fairway Woods for 2016

Callaway Golf has announced the release of their new line of XR 16 and XR 16 Pro drivers and fairway woods.  And it's all about redefining what is possible with ball speed and aerodynamics. 

 

The new XR 16 and XR Pro drivers are the second generation of XR woods from Callaway, but don't let the familiar looks fool you.  Callaway teamed up with the aircraft specialists at Boeing to deliver the ultimate in ball speed and forgiveness.

Open Champion Zach Johnson Signs with PXG, Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau move to Nike Golf

The PGA Tour is back in action later this week at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, but Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG) and Nike Golf have already fired the first big shots of 2016. 

 

PXG, a company you'll be hearing about a lot more this year, inked Open champion Zach Johnson, former FedExCup champion Billy Horschel, and U.S. Open Women's champion Kristy Kerr to new equipment endorsement deals.  And Nike Golf signed big hitters Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau to their tour staff.

The 2015 PGA Tour Season in Review - Best of the Best (Part 3 of 3)

The 2015 PGA Tour season had it all didn't it?  Drama.  Disappointment.  Domination.  And even a little bit of comedy for good measure.  Weekly narratives almost wrote themselves. 

So let's look back at some of the unforgettable moments of this past year.  Whatever your favorite moments were, I think we'd all agree that 2015 was one of the best, and certainly one of the most entertaining seasons in Tour history.

The 2015 PGA Tour Season in Review - Best of the Best (Part 2 of 3)

The 2015 PGA Tour season had it all didn't it?  Drama.  Disappointment.  Domination.  And even a little bit of comedy for good measure.  Weekly narratives almost wrote themselves. 

So let's look back at some of the unforgettable moments of this past year.  Whatever your favorite moments were, I think we'd all agree that 2015 was one of the best, and certainly one of the most entertaining seasons in Tour history.

The 2015 PGA Tour Season in Review - Best of the Best (Part 1 of 3)

The 2015 PGA Tour season had it all didn't it?  Drama.  Disappointment.  Domination.  And even a little bit of comedy for good measure.  Weekly narratives almost wrote themselves. 

So let's look back at some of the unforgettable moments of this past year.  Whatever your favorite moments were, I think we'd all agree that 2015 was one of the best, and certainly one of the most entertaining seasons in Tour history.

Fujikura 2016 XLR8 Shafts Preview - The Art of Speed

Tell me if you've heard this one before.  It starts as a passion.  Then quickly turns into an obsession.  And eventually becomes a never-ending quest that continues for the rest of our lives. 

What is it?  It's the golfer's insatiable lust for speed.  More speed, more distance.  More distance, more fun.  And let's be honest, no one's snatching their tee from the ground or admiring drives that scoot 220 yards down the fairway.  But pound one out there 280 yards?  Even in the rough?  Velvet ropes open and champagne flows from the heavens. 

 

And the folks at Fujikura understand our obsession with speed.  You might even say they have an obsession with our obsession.  So it's not surprising Fujikura designed their new XLR8 line-up of shafts for 2016 with a focus on increased club-head speed above all else.

Fujikura 2016 Speeder Evolution II Shafts Preview - Enter the Evolution

When you think of Bruce Lee, the greatest icon in martial arts history, what do you think of?  His astonishing power?  Ripped-to-the-bone muscle?  No one ever got tired of watching Lee launch bad guys through dojo walls, that's for sure. 

 

It's probably safe to assume you don't immediately think of golf shafts.  But maybe it's time you should.  Because the new 2016 Fujikura Speeder Evolution II just might be the Bruce Lee of all golf shafts. 

Featuring a stronger carbon fiber, leaner shaft geometry, and a more explosive kick than the original Evolution, the Evo II adapts what is useful, rejects what is not, and adds specifically what is Fujikura's own.

Leave Jason Day Alone Already

By now you've probably seen it so many times you're sick of seeing it.  But you should be even sicker of hearing about how Jason Day didn't protect his wife.

Day and his wife Ellie were sitting courtside at the Cavs game Thursday night against the Thunder, and LeBron James basically destroyed Ellie diving for a loose ball. 



Ellie left the arena on a stretcher, and was taken to a Cleveland hospital.  She is fine now, though she did suffer concussion like symptoms, and said it felt like she was "hit by a truck." 

But reactions on social media leveling responsibility on Day for Ellie's injuries reached epic proportions of absurdity.  The most ridiculous criticism coming from ESPN's Mike Golic, who admonished Day on The Mike & Mike Show, saying, "Make an effort to protect your wife!"

2nd Annual PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway

We're just a few hours away from kicking off my 2nd Annual PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway, and I want everyone to know how grateful I am today. 

I'm grateful I can write about golf for a living.  I'm grateful I learn something new about the game we love almost every day.  And I'm grateful that you take time out of your busy lives to always check in with my blog for golf news, gear previews and reviews, and sometimes just to be entertained. 

I wrote more previews and reviews this year than last, covered more tournaments on Tour, even had more appearances on ESPN and CBS Sports radio talking all things golf.  Because of you. 

So this giveaway is just my small way of wrapping up the year, and saying thank you... to everyone.

Sunice Golf Flexvent and Zephal Rain Jacket Review: Silencing Mother Nature

Every golfer knows playing in the rain and wind creates a few challenges.  The condition of the course changes in the rain.  The responsiveness of your ball changes in the wind.  Even the way you think about how to approach your round will change. 

But when you're battling the elements, there's nothing worse than spending time worrying about how cold or wet you are instead of concentrating on your game. 

The Sunice Kern Flexvent and Carleton Zephal jackets are your cure for the bad weather blues, and will protect you against Mother Nature at her worst.  Without a doubt, these are two of the best performing rain and wind jackets on the market today.

CRU Golf Presidents Cup Headcover Review: The Father of all Headcovers

We all want things that are unique.  Things that are classic, extremely well made, maybe even hard to find.  Things that never go out of style, and are better than ordinary.  And I mean really, really better than ordinary. 

And the folks at CRU Golf absolutely nailed it with their Limited Edition Presidents Cup headcover.  Made exclusively for the 2015 United States team, the headcover is a rousing tribute to the most enduring and recognizable symbols of American liberty.  The Stars and Stripes.  And the Declaration of Independence. 

It's the father of all headcovers.  It's tirelessly handsome.  And positively wicked.  But it's only available until the end of the year.  And then it's gone forever.

PGAPappas Holiday Golf Gift Guide - 2015 Gear of the Year

In the few years I've been writing about golf, I haven't really thought about a Holiday Golf Gift Guide.  But when companies started asking me this season to include their products in my guide, two things came to mind. 

First, I guess it's time I have a Holiday Gift Guide.  But also second, why not feature the best clubs, clothes, and accessories I've played, worn, used, and reviewed this year as gift ideas. 

As you know, I'll never write a review on gear I don't like, don't use, and am not able to thoroughly test just because a company has new product they want to send me.  I'm grateful you trust my opinion, and it may sound corny, but I hold your trust in the highest regard. 

So here's my first ever Holiday Golf Gift Guide, an unfiltered, unbiased lineup of gifts that also happen to make my "Gear of the Year" for 2015.  And I'm positive everyone on your list will love to see some of these under their trees or in their stockings. 

ECCO Golf unveils new Speed Hybrid golf shoes for 2016 - PREVIEW

Saying ECCO Golf knows how to make comfortable golf shoes, is like saying Jordan Spieth knows how to make putts.  True on both accounts, to be sure.  But really only scratching the surface of the total story. 

 

Ecco has been making comfortable, functional, Tour-proven golf shoes for years.  And in 2016, the new ECCO Speed Hybrid combines a cool, vintage sneaker aesthetic with leading-edge comfort technology that will coordinate with nearly any outfit. 

Ben Hogan Golf building momentum with new 2016 PTx, hi irons, and hybrids - PREVIEW

When the new Ben Hogan FT. WORTH 15 irons and TK wedges were unveiled in January, the golf world stood up and took notice. 

Fast forward a few months, and serious golfers everywhere were elated with the new Hogans.  The sleek look of traditional blades, combined with state-of-the-art perimeter technology has been a huge success. 

 

But the Ben Hogan Company is not resting on its laurels.  And you can look for Hogan to build on its momentum in 2016 with two new irons designs, and new hybrids, designed not just for serious golfers, but also for golfers serious about getting better. 

Sunice Golf 2016 Preview

If you've never owned anything from Sunice Golf, trust me, 2016 is definitely a great time to start. 

 

The new line-up covers every possible weather condition, from cold and wet, to dry and hot, and will be available in five categories based on those conditions: Rain, Wind, Thermal, Layers, and Sportswear.

Cobra KING F6 Irons Preview

There's an abundance of technology in the new Cobra KING F6 irons.  And they're definitely going to be some of the most fun irons to hit in 2016. 

 

But the folks at Cobra also believe the F6's will revolutionize the progressive set iron design.  And at first glance, it's very easy to see why. 

The F6's are one of the best examples I've seen in years of true game-improvement irons from which both better players and average players will reap benefits. 

Exclusive First Look: 2016 Wilson FG Tour F5 Drivers Woods and Hybrids Hands-on Preview

I'm always reminded of poker when golf companies release new clubs. Sometimes companies make what I'd call a cool-headed raise, like a few refinements, for a little extra distance or forgiveness. 

Other times companies only make minor changes, not even improvements really, what I call a bluff, so the clubs can still be sold as new and improved. 

And sometimes, but not very often, companies go all in on their new release, confident that real technological progress has been made, and their new line-up is truly something special. 

 

Today, Wilson Golf announced the release of their new FG Tour F5 drivers, woods, and hybrids.  And I've seen enough of these clubs to tell you this much... Wilson just pushed their full stack forward with the release of the FG Tour F5 family.