Sights and Sounds from the 2016 U.S. Open Wednesday Practice Round

Oakmont Country Club is widely considered to be the "Gold Standard" of championship golf, and 2016 marks the ninth time the U.S. Open will be played here. 

 

Jack Nicklaus won his first major here, Johnny Miller's final round 63 is one of the greatest final rounds in championship history, and I spent the day Wednesday walking the course, observing the players, and coming to my own conclusion that Oakmont might be possibly be the most difficult course in the world.

2016 Bridgestone Invitational Giveaway: Autographed Golf Balls

The Bridgestone Invitational is one of my favorite events of the season.  It's a world class, extremely strong field, with no cut line.  Firestone is a traditional layout, playing at brutal 7,400 yards.  And of course there's the world famous, 667-yard, Par 5, No. 16, also known as "The Monster." 

 

And of course whenever I'm traveling on Tour, I like to pick something up for my readers.  So this week I'll be giving away golf balls signed by players in the field.

Dustin Johnson TaylorMade Tour Preferred EF Wedge Good Karma U.S. Open Giveaway

I probably like Dustin Johnson for the same reasons you do.  He's a freakish athlete with a one of a kind swagger.  It's ridiculously thrilling to watch him play.  And of course he's a bit of an eccentric character. 

I also like D.J. however because he's endured more heartbreak than anyone should have to endure in major championships.  And so Saturday, I took matters into my own hands.

Throwing out some @DJohnsonPGA good karma. If DJ wins the #usopen, I'll give someone the TaylorMade EF 52* he plays. pic.twitter.com/M6JlCNNWzP

— Pete Pappas (@PGAPappas) June 18, 2016

Throwing some good karma out into the universe, I tweeted (and posted on Instagram) that I'd give away the same TaylorMade Tour Preferred EF wedge Johnson uses if he wins the U.S. Open.  And you know what happened yesterday.

USGA Statement Regarding Dustin Johnson Ruling

The USGA wishes to congratulate Dustin Johnson on his victory and thank him, and the other players in the field, for their professionalism and grace throughout the championship. Dustin is a wonderful champion, a talented golfer and a gentleman. 

 

Our team at the USGA has seen and heard a great deal of discussion and debate about the ruling on Dustin’s ball moving during the final round of the 2016 U.S. Open Championship at Oakmont Country Club. In addition to the explanations we offered upon the conclusion of the final round, we add these comments.

2016 U.S.Open Giveaway: CRU Golf Limited Edition U.S. Open Headcover, Official Oakmont Cap and Ball Marker, Adam Scott Signed Titleist Pro V1 Golf Ball

For the best examination of a player, where vengeance lays waste upon the world's best golfers, there's nothing like the four days of reckoning at a U.S. Open. 

 

 

And I'm in Oakmont this week for the 116th U.S. Open with some giveaways you're going to definitely want to get in on.

A Comprehensive Guide to the 2016 U.S. Open: Facts, Records, and Television Coverage & Live Streaming

Are you a U.S. Open super fan?  If you are here's a comprehensive guide to the 2016 championship at Oakmont, including records, figures, and other fun facts about U.S. Open history. 

 

I'll be in Oakmont all week starting Wednesday with tons of coverage, news, and giveaways.  And by the way, my pick to hoist the U.S. Open trophy on Sunday?  He's pictured above.

Sights and Sounds from The Memorial Tournament - Wednesday Practice Round 2016

The biggest names in golf are in Dublin this week for The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village.  And the Wednesday Pro-Am was loads of fun for fans who got to check out their favorite players up close and personal. 

 

Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, and Rory McIlroy drew some of the biggest crowds during their practice rounds.  Johnny Miller was recognized as the 2016 Memorial Tournament Honoree.  Even Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning was in town, showing off his 4 handicap index.

2016 PGA Merchandise Show DAY 3 RECAP (Part 3 of 3): Bentley, Cleveland, Srixon, Superstroke, and the Take Down

This was the proverbial 11th hour of the Show at this point.  Time to snap pictures of things I knew (and some didn't know) I missed. 

 

In this section we'll take a look at Bentley, Cleveland, Srixon, Superstroke, and a mishmash of assorted sights as companies started packing it up for the week.

2016 PGA Merchandise Show DAY 3 RECAP (Part 2 of 3): Chase 54, Sligo, Loudmouth, and Golf Pride

Only a few hours remained in the Show at this point.  It was time cover as much ground as possible and run the two-minute offense. 

 

I wasn't able to spend a lot of time with the companies in the next few sections like I did with others the first few days.  But these final companies stood out nevertheless as must visits.  In this section we'll take a look at some of the new styles from Chase 54, Sligo, Loudmouth, and putter grips from Golf Pride.

2016 PGA Merchandise Show DAY 3 RECAP (Part 1 of 3): Callaway Apparel, New Era Ryder Cup Caps, Ralph Lauren Ryder Cup Uniforms, and Bettinardi

Day 3 of the PGA Merchandise Show is a different animal than the first two days.  Crowds are smaller.  Many exhibitors have already decided if the Show was a success or not.  And some reps have even left the Show.  More than a few people are just meandering around with morning cocktails and yucking it up.  And of course there are hunter-gatherers scouring the floor looking for a few more samples or freebies. 

 

The final day for me however was exactly the same as the first two days.  Drop the clutch, lay rubber, and go full Ricky Bobby to the finish line.  So let's bring this all home with my DAY 3 RECAP: Part 1 (a multi-part series), and wrap it up with my Best of Show.

Callaway Golf Releasing Oakmont Inspired 2016 U.S. Open Limited Edition Staff Bags

If you're like me, you love the U.S. Open because it's the toughest test in golf.  And you also love our national championship because it's the inspiration for some of the coolest limited edition products you'll see all year. 

 

And Callaway Golf's new Oakmont inspired 2016 U.S. Open Staff bag is sure to be one of the season's best.

2016 The Memorial Tournament Tickets Giveaway

The PGA Tour comes to my part of town twice a year.  And so this year I thought I'd send two lucky winners to see how awesome The Memorial Tournament is in person. 

 

The Memorial is only one week away, and the field will be stacked.  Players like Jason Day,  Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Justin Thomas, and Bryson DeChambeau (watch out for this kid) have already committed to play.  And you'll even see Peyton Manning in Dublin on Wednesday for the Pro-Am.

TaylorMade Releasing Spider Limited and Spider Limited Red Putters - Inspired by Jason Day

On the back of Jason Day’s emphatic win at THE PLAYERS Championship, TaylorMade Golf has announced the release of the new Spider Limited and Spider Limited Red putters, both inspired by the No. 1 player in the OWGR and one of the Tour's best statistical putters, Jason Day. 

 

During his storybook rise to No. 1 late last fall, Day came to the TaylorMade team with a request for a putter similar in style to his trusted Itsy Bitsy prototype (the putter he’s used for multiple wins on the PGA TOUR, including his first major victory at the 2015 PGA Championship).

Odyssey Releasing New Limited Edition Highway 101 Putters

California has long been a hot bed for creativity in design.  Down the southern coast is Carlsbad, home of Odyssey Golf and the Mecca for golf club designers.  To pay homage to their hometown, Odyssey has developed a line of putters dedicated to one of the most recognizable landmarks ever in California, U.S. Highway 101. 

 

The aesthetic design is a tribute to the 101, and the technology pays off Odyssey’s heritage of continuous innovation.  The key highlight is Odyssey's latest insert technology called the Sound Chamber.

Callaway Golf Releasing New Apex Black Irons

Callaway Golf's new Apex Black Irons are precision engineered with industry-leading, category-defining 360 Face Cup technology for exceptional, consistent ball speed across the face and playability in a forged players iron.  And they've added a sleek all black look with a Satin Black PVD finish and premium shaft options, with a vast no upcharge list to customize your set. 

 

The progressive design creates scoring performance from your long irons to your short irons.  High tech, multi-piece construction provides a combination of distance, feel and control that can suit any player.  And the extremely soft feel is a product of quadruple net forging using mild carbon steel.  When you combine all of these advanced technologies with the all black finish, you have a forged iron for all golfers with an unforgettable look.

2016 PGA Merchandise Show DAY 2 RECAP (Part 5 of 5): A Grab Bag of Pictures and Videos

This is Part 5 of my DAY 2 RECAP.  I should really call this one just a mini-recap though.  Only a few pictures and videos here.  Sleep deprivation was catching up to me, and I actually got lost walking five minutes back to the hotel. 

 

When I did get back to my room, I refueled with a few cups of coffee.  Every hour.  Straight through to morning.  I was ready to take on the final DAY 3 of the Show.  And remember to check out my Best of Show when I wrap up this coverage.  It's chock-full of game changers.

2016 PGA Merchandise Show DAY 2 RECAP (Part 4 of 5): Devereux, Skechers, Tour Edge, and Kentwool

At this point in the Show I was seriously running on pure adrenaline.  I wasn't sure how many companies I'd covered already.  I knew it was a lot.  I also knew it wasn't enough.  So it was time to go flat-out, Ethan Hunt maniac mode to finish the Show strong. 

 

So let's keep rolling on with new gear from Devereux, Skechers, Tour Edge, and Kentwool in my DAY 2 coverage of the 2016 PGA Merchandise Show: Part 4 (a multi-part series).

2016 PGA Merchandise Show DAY 2 RECAP (Part 3 of 5): UnderArmour, TaylorMade, Adidas, Galvin Green, and SeeMore

New gear from Under Armour, TaylorMade, Adidas, Galvin Green, and Seemore is next up in my DAY 2 coverage of the 2016 PGA Merchandise Show: Part 3 (a multi-part series). 

 

We're just about half way through my Show coverage at this point.  And if you think you've seen a lot already?  Well, there's a whole lot more where that came from.

2016 PGA Merchandise Show DAY 2 RECAP (Part 2 of 5): CRU, Carnoustie, ECCO, and Titleist

We're pressing on with my DAY 2 coverage of the 2016 PGA Merchandise Show: Part 2 (a multi-part series).  And here you'll find mouth-watering new gear from CRU Golf, Carnoustie Sportswear, ECCO Golf, and Titleist. 

 

Day 2 was probably the busiest day for me, and new contenders for Best of Show were determined to stake their claim.  It's not time to reveal the winners just yet, but my excitement visiting with these companies was palpable.

2016 PGA Merchandise Show DAY 2 RECAP (Part 1 of 5): Piretti, Fujikura, Sunice, and Antigua

I had more than a half-dozen interviews on Day 2 of the 2016 PGA Merchandise Show, and all of them were in different parts of the Convention Center.  Remember O.J. Simpson in the Hertz airport commercials?  That was pretty much me negotiating the PGA floor.  Leaping, sprinting, diving all over one-million square feet of exhibits.  If you're familiar with the Oklahoma Drill, there were moments like that as well. 

 

The focus of this DAY 2 RECAP: Part 1 (a multi-part series) moves towards a mix of apparel and accessories, along with more equipment coverage.  And on the fashion front you'll see tons of stylish new designs, ranging from distinguished and classic, to brash and athletic. 

Bottom line?  Golf styles have never been better.  And I'll let you know which lines earned my highest acclaim in the Best of Show Recap.