Sights from the U.S. Open at Erin Hills - Practice Round Tuesday

The excitement is building and you just get a sense something spectacular is going to happen this week at Erin Hills for the 117th playing of the U.S. Open. 

 

Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm looked relaxed, Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler appeared confident.   The ultimate test in golf starts for real in less than 48 hours and the world's best players are in top form.  Here are some of the best pictures from Tuesday's practice round. 

Sights from the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills - Practice Round Monday

It's U.S. Open week and the players were out Monday putting in work trying to figure out Erin Hills.  It will play as the longest course in U.S. Open history, the fescue is knee-high in some places, and bunkering is the most brutal players have ever seen in a U.S. Open. 

 

I'll be on the course most of the week and will give you my own impressions later in the week.  Here are some of the best pictures from Monday's practice round. 

PGAPappas PIN SEEKERS Podcast - Episode 2: The Memorial Tournament, Who is Si Woo Kim, Billy Horschel's Big Win, Rising Star Ollie Schniederjans, Wilson D300 Driver Review, and Cobra KING F7 Driver Review

There's a lot on tap in my new PIN SEEKERS Podcast: Episode 2.  I'm recapping Billy Horschel's emotional win at the AT&T Byron Nelson, but cautioning everyone not to expect Billy Ho to return to FedEx Cup Champion form right away. 

 

Ollie Schniederjans is having a solid rookie season, and I love absolutely everything about his game.  Schniederjan is poised to break through on Tour, and I'll tell you why and compare him to a top-10 player you might find startling. 

Sights and Sounds from the 2017 Memorial Tournament - Practice Rounds

The Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio gets better each year I cover it.  This year I met Barbara Nicklaus, walked inside the ropes for a first-hand look at what makes Muirfield Village so spectacular, and demanding.  And of course picked up some swag for you - for the second consecutive tournament I've covered, a player who signed for me went on to win the event.  Coincidence? 

 

You can check out my picture tour of the Muirfield course in previous articles.  The giveaway is already going on and you can check out what I picked up for you this week in that article.  And here are some pictures and videos of Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Justin Thomas, and the winner this year Jason Dufner - the players I followed during their practice rounds seemed to play pretty well during the week. 

The Memorial Tournament 2017 Giveaway: Signed Gear from Hideki Matsuyama, Jason Dufner, and Padraig Harrington

I'm having a blast down in Dublin for the 2017 Memorial Tournament.  To start the week I took you on an inside the ropes, hole by hole, detailed look at the majestic Muirfield Village. 

 

And now that the tournament has begun, it's time for the giveaways.  So I'm giving away a signed Jason Dufner Titleist Pro V1x ball, a signed Hideki Matsuyama Srixon Z Star XV ball, and a signed Padraig Harrington Wilson Staff Tour cap.  I might even have some other prizes near the end of the event. 

Muirfield Village Golf Club: Back-9 Hole By Hole Course Review - 2017 Memorial Tournament

We're continuing with my Muirfield Village Golf Club course review with a hole by hole look at the Back-9 now. 

 

As you probably know from my Front-9 review, we'll be looking at all views on the course from the tee box, fairway, around the green, and on the green for each hole. 

Muirfield Village Golf Club: Front-9 Hole By Hole Course Review - 2017 Memorial Tournament

It's name gives a nod to the game's origins, where the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers composed golf's original 13 rules.  It's design draws inspiration from Augusta National and Bobby Jones. And everywhere you look it has designer Jack Nicklaus' influence all over it. 

 

It's of course the prestigious Muirfield Village Golf Club.  And I'm taking you inside the ropes during the 2017 Memorial Tournament to walk the course with me for a hole by hole look at every tee shot, every second shot, every approach, every green, and every hazard.  Trust me, you've never seen Muirfield Village like this before. 

Titleist Introduces New Cameron & Crown Putters by Scotty Cameron

Master Putter Maker Scotty Cameron, following up on the success of last year’s Cameron & Crown introduction, is offering four  new models for 2017. 

 

Cameron & Crown putters by Scotty Cameron are precisely crafted at 33 inches and specifically weighted for the player whose setup demands a shorter putter.  The 2017 Cameron & Crown line includes popular head styles from Scotty’s tour-proven Select and Futura putter families.  The Select Newport, Select Mallet 1, Futura 5MB and Futura 6M provide modern blade, mid-mallet and high-MOI mallet options to satisfy a variety of strokes, styles and preferences of players at every level of the game. 

PGAPappas Pin Seekers Podcast - Debut Episode: The PLAYERS, Brooks Koepka Jinx, EDEL Golf Single Length Irons

Forget about the bland, mind-numbing golf talk.  Never mind the stomach-churning toadying of Tour pros or equipment companies.  My new podcast PIN SEEKERS is going to break the traditional molds in a hilarious, impaling, and sometimes even obscure manner that might best be described as a banquet of freethinking crazy. 

 

It was only a matter of time before I crashed the podcast party, and with a great team of With An Ohio Bias, we're going to bring you urgent, scathing, and intelligent insights and opinions that you won't hear anywhere else. 

Sights and Sounds from the 2017 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Course

If you ever get the chance to visit Hilton Head for the RBC Heritage, do it.  It's not a golf tournament with a party going on, it's more like a party with a golf tournament going on. 

 

The course is gorgeous, the play is exciting, and the overall vibe is 100-percent feel good.  Here are a few sights and sounds from the week. 

RBC Heritage Giveaway: Signed Wesley Bryan Callaway Golf Ball, Harbour Town Lighthouse Divot Tool, and Poker Chip/Ball Marker

PGA Tour rookie and trick shot artist Wesley Bryan won the first tournament of his career last week at the RBC Heritage, and to celebrate I'm giving away a Harbour Town Lighthouse divot tool, Harbour Town poker chip/ball  marker, and of course a Callaway golf ball signed by RBC Champion Wesley Bryan. 

 

Bryan is one of those guys you just want to root for.  He's genuine, he's humble, and he's quite a character to boot.  When reminded after his victory that he wasn't even on Tour 15 months ago, Bryan replied, "Well that escalated quickly." 

Cobra Golf and Bryson DeChambeau Going Retro: Heritage Collection Preview

COBRA PUMA GOLF has announced their new Heritage Collection, including a Limited Edition Wood Grain KING F7 driver, a sophisticated chestnut herringbone pattern Driver Cap, along with stylish apparel and footwear. 

 

The collection is designed to celebrate the rich history of golf and a nod to its icons. To bring the collection to life, COBRA PUMA GOLF is teaming up with Bryson DeChambeau for this tribute to the game and its bygone era with “throwback” style and equipment. 

Masters Hangover Giveaway: 4 Pack of Swing Oil Golf Performance Drinks and 1 Year Subscription to Golf Digest or Golf Magazine

The Masters hangover is real.  We all know that.  And so I'm doing my part to help you with the cure. 

 

I'm giving away a 4 pack of Swing Oil Golf Performance Drink and a 1-year subscription to Golf Digest or Golf Magazine (your choice).  We'll have three winners for this one. 

Swing Oil Golf Performance Drink Review

My first experience with Swing Oil was back in January at the PGA Merchandise Show.  If you followed my daily coverage you know I was running around like a cheetah during the Show, and spent all day at Demo Day hitting clubs.  I didn’t crack any ribs testing new gear like Rory, but there was no denying my body felt fatigued. 

 

Well I drank one pack of Swing Oil on the second day of the Show and within an hour that stiff, aching feeling in my muscles was basically gone.  Another one that evening before I went to sleep and the next morning I didn’t feel any delayed muscle soreness like I did the first two days. 

CRU Golf 2017 Major Collection The Masters Headcovers Review

It's the pinnacle of American golf.  A worldwide obsession where players must shut out the noise and focus on the task at hand.  It's The Masters.  It's Augusta National.  And CRU Golf's limited edition Masters Headcovers capture its hypnotic allure with compelling reverence and admiration. 

 

The Masters. Just two words, but thousands of emotions.  Admiring CRU's Masters headcovers right out of the box I started to nostalgically drift off, and could almost smell the aroma of pine straw, see the explosions of azaleas.  I even imagined driving up Magnolia Lane with legends of Masters past recounting stories of Amen Corner, Butler Cabin, and of course the iconic green jacket. 

Srixon Z-Star XV, Z-Star, and Q-Star Tour Golf Balls Review

Golf season hasn’t quite started up here in Ohio, but a few nice days last week gave me the perfect opportunity to put in some extensive time with the new Srixon Z-Star XV, Z-Star, and Q-Star Tour balls. 

 

To compare how each ball performed relative to the other, I hit multiple shots from the same spots on the course using driver, a 7 iron, and a 56* wedge, and did this on a variety of holes.  A friend came with me and did the same thing so we could compare impressions. 

Titleist Releases Limited Edition 716 AP1 Smoke Irons

The maximum distance and maximum forgiveness of Titleist 716 AP1 irons can now be experienced in a sleek new finish: Limited Edition Smoke. 

 

The Smoke finish is a test run because many golfers have been asking for it.  There's been a gravitation to darker finishes in the Vokey SM6 wedges, and the smoke finish in the 716 AP1 irons will make the club look smaller at address. 

Sights and Sounds from the WGC Dell Match Play & Bill Haas Signed Titleist Pro V1 Ball Giveaway

My first tournament of the season finds me in Texas for the Dell WGC Match Play this week.  Surprising upsets, dazzling performances, and the glorious hill country of Austin Country Club have made this a fun one. 

 

Here are a few pictures and videos from the week capturing some of the action. 

2017 PGA Merchandise Show - Best of Show

More than 13,000 words, 1,900 pictures and videos, and thousands of swings later, recaps from Demo Day and the PGA Show are done.  Which means it's time for my Best of Show. 

 

In some categories the difference between winners and honorable mention was razor thin, almost like making a putt versus having one lip out on you. But distinctions have to be made. No participation ribbons in my Best of Show. 

2017 PGA Merchandise Show - Day 3 Recap (Part 3): Titleist, Vokey Wedges, Scotty Cameron, TaylorMade, Adidas, Ping, and Tear Down

No matter how you measure your game, you're going to need more than great technique to play your best and shoot your lowest scores.  The right tools always matter. 

 

So let's sink our teeth into the latest gear from Titleist, Vokey, Scotty Cameron, TaylorMade, Adidas, and Ping in this final section of PGA Show recaps.