USGA Announces 27 Additional Players Exempt for 121st U.S. Open Championship

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that 27 additional golfers, including major champions Adam Scott and Bubba Watson, have earned full exemptions into the 2021 U.S. Open Championship, to be played June 17-20 on the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course, in San Diego, Calif. These exemptions bring the number of fully exempt players to 76.

Exemptions were awarded to 24 players who earned a place in the top 60 of the Official World Golf Ranking® (OWGR) as of May 24, who were not otherwise exempt. Scott, who will compete in his 20th U.S. Open, won the 2013 Masters Tournament. He is ranked No. 39. Watson, who won the 2012 and 2014 Masters, is ranked No. 58. It will be Watson’s 15th U.S. Open. Brian Harman and Tommy Fleetwood, who were U.S. Open runners-up in 2017 and 2018, respectively, also earned entry through the OWGR. Fleetwood is No. 31 and Harman is No. 49.

Club Champion Opens New Studio in West Long Branch New Jersey

Custom golf club fitter Club Champion announces the opening of its new fitting studio, located at 310 RT 36, West Long Branch, New Jersey. The store is open and accepting fitting appointments. This is Club Champion’s fourth location in the state of New Jersey.

Club Champion fits, sells and builds custom golf clubs using brands like Callaway, TaylorMade, Ping, Titleist, Cobra, Fujikura, Golf Pride and many more. The company delivers a Tour-level fitting that produces longer, more accurate shots with a nearly 100% satisfaction rate for golfers of any ability level.

Galvin Green Reports Strong Growth in North American Market

Leading golf apparel brand Galvin Green has reported strong growth across the US and Canadian markets in recent months, with its range of stylish garments appealing to golfers looking for something special - from brightly colored outerwear to bold patterned polo shirts.

Designed for golfers by golfers, the brand’s award-winning 2021 ‘GameDay’ collection features premium lightweight yet durable garments, made from sustainable materials and available in a selection of fashionable colors that standout both on and off the golf course.

Cobra Golf Announces KING Vintage Family of Putters Featuring SIK Face Technology and Adjustable Weights

Cobra Golf®, a leader in golf club innovation, has announced one of two new putter families under the KING umbrella. The KING Vintage Series of putters blends classic shapes with modern and innovative performance. The family includes four unique shapes: a blade (Sport-45 & Sport-60), mallet (Torino), fang (Nova & Nova-40) and an oversize mallet (Stingray & Stingray-40) with model names that are inspired by classic sports cars.

The putters feature a steel chassis, simple sightlines for alignment, and a black and turbo yellow color scheme. With multiple shapes, hosels, and an adjustable weighting system, the Vintage family has a variety of options for any style of putting stroke. Additionally, COBRA engineers worked with SIK Golf and Bryson DeChambeau to design improved roll in a soft yet crisp feeling aluminum face insert. Utilizing SIK’s patented Descending Loft Technology (DLT), which features four descending lofts on the face, to produce the most consistent roll trajectory for different putting strokes and angles of attack.

Cobra Golf Introduces First Complete Line of 3D Printed Multi Material Putters

COBRA Golf announced their first foray into the putter world in 2020, when they partnered with HP to become the first OEM to launch a commercial, 3D printed metal putter with the limited-edition KING SuperSport-35.

And now COBRA announced its official entry into the putter market with the KING 3D Printed Series – its first complete line of 3D Printed multi-material putters.

Firestone Country Club Announces Limited Time Stay and Play Packages

Firestone Country Club – renowned as one of North America’s most historic venues for championship golf – announces limited stay-and-play packages ideal for golf buddy trips and staycations this summer.

Through Sept. 6, the exclusive stay-and-play packages include overnight accommodations in Firestone’s standard club rooms and rounds of golf. There are 1 Day | 1 Night experiences including golf on the North Course, 2 Days | 1 Night itineraries including a round of golf on the South and North Courses and 2 Days | 2 Nights packages including golf on both courses. Rates for each package will be based on room type, courses, nights and rounds.

Mizuno Golf Staff Player Greyson Sigg Secures PGA Tour Card with Korn Ferry Tour Win

Mizuno staff player Greyson Sigg continued his climb up the professional ranks by claiming his first Korn Ferry Tour win and earning playing rights on the PGA Tour.

26-year-old Greyson Sigg, a former University of Georgia standout, produced a remarkable four-round total score of 20-under-par to win the Visit Knoxville Open on the Korn Ferry Tour. It was his first victory on the circuit.

Shot Scope GPS Smart Watch Records 100 Millionth Golfer Shot

Shot Scope (www.shotscope.com), a leading international manufacturer of GPS-based golf management systems, including the award-winning V3 Smart Golf Watch, today announced the Company’s products have recorded 100 million golf shots.

Surprisingly, over the past four years Shot Scope has recorded 50 million golf shots, while in the past 10 months alone it added 50 million more, which is a strong testament not only to Shot Scope product technology, but the growing popularity of golf around the world.

Golf Pride Expands MCC Teams Collection to Include Plus4 Grips with New Colors

Golf Pride, an industry leader in grip innovation and the #1 Grip on Tour®, announced today it is expanding its popular MCC® Teams family by offering the original 15 team color combinations in the Plus4 model as well as five new color options in Plus4.

The line extension is the perfect option for players that want to show their fandom and style on the course, and prefer the larger lower hand feel of Plus4. The new color options bring together performance-technology, expression of colorful style and many more opportunities to show college, pro, or even high school spirit.

PUMA Golf Releases Palmetto Collection for Second Major Championship of Season

PUMA Golf introduced the latest in its Tracks drop, the Palmetto Collection. The head-to-toe collection pays homage to the PGA Championship and the classic styles of the South, debuting PUMA’s first technical seersucker fabric, with performance elements needed for golf.

Designed using the Palmetto tree the state tree of South Carolina, Rickie Fowler, Bryson DeChambeau and Gary Woodland will wear pieces from the Collection as they tee it up this week at Kiawah Island.

USGA Welcomes 135 P.J. Boatwright Interns in 30th Anniversary Class

The USGA will fund 135 internships across its network of 59 Allied Golf Associations (AGAs) in 2021 through the P.J. Boatwright Jr. Internship Program, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

Since the program’s inception in 1991, the USGA has invested more than $30 million into cultivating future leaders of the golf industry by providing qualified applicants of all backgrounds with paid, hands-on experience as staff members at state and regional golf associations. The program has helped launch the careers of more than 3,000 individuals, with alumni holding leadership positions throughout the golf and broader sports industries and beyond.

USGA Announces Tee Times for 6th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship

The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced tee times for the first two rounds of the 6th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship, Saturday (May 22) and Sunday (May 23), at 7,475-yard, par-72 Chambers Bay, in University Place, Wash., and at 7,279-yard, par-71 The Home Course, in DuPont, Wash.

The U.S. Amateur Four-Ball consists of 36 holes of stroke play on May 22 and 23, after which the 128 sides (256 players) will be reduced to the low 32 sides (64 players). There will be five rounds of match play at Chambers Bay, starting May 24. The quarterfinals are slated for May 25, while the semifinals will be played the following morning. The championship is scheduled to conclude with an 18-hole final on Wednesday, May 26, starting at 1 p.m. PDT.

Under Armour Spieth 5 Spikeless Golf Shoes Review - The Best UA Golf Shoes to Date

Ever since Under Armour released their first Jordan Spieth model golf shoes four years ago (the Spieth One), there's been a strong diversity of opinion about them with each successive release.  From comfort and fit to traction and design, feelings on the Spieth shoes were mixed.

And I can tell you right off the bat, there will be a striking consensus about the new Spieth 5.  In every way possible, these are the best Spieth shoes Under Armour has ever designed (and it's not even close).

USGA Announces Special Exemption for Phil Mickelson into the 121st U.S. Open Championship

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that Phil Mickelson has received a special exemption into the 121st U.S. Open Championship, which will be conducted June 17-20 at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif.

“Phil Mickelson’s incredible USGA playing record and overall career achievements are among the most noteworthy in the game’s history,” said USGA CEO Mike Davis. “We are thrilled to welcome him to this year’s U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.”

Twelve Past Champions Scheduled to Compete in 41st U.S. Senior Open in Omaha

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that it has accepted 2,999 entries for the 41st U.S. Senior Open Championship, scheduled for July 8-11, 2021 at Omaha (Neb.) Country Club. Twelve past champions are among the 84 players who are currently fully exempt into the championship.

Kenny Perry, the 2013 and 2017 champion, and 11 other Senior Open champions are fully exempt from having to qualify for the championship. They are: Olin Browne (2011), Brad Bryant (2007), Roger Chapman (2012), Fred Funk (2009), Bernhard Langer (2010), Jeff Maggert (2015), Colin Montgomerie (2014), Don Pooley (2002), Eduardo Romero (2008), Gene Sauers (2016) and David Toms (2018).

Annika Sorenstam to Compete in Her First U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship

Three-time U.S. Women’s Open champion Annika Sorenstam has filed an entry as a fully exempt player for the 3rd U.S. Women’s Senior Open Championship, which is scheduled for July 29-Aug. 1, 2021, at Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield, Conn. 

 

Sorenstam, who turned 50 last October and plans to make her U.S. Senior Women’s Open debut, was elected president of the International Golf Federation last December. She competed on the LPGA Tour in February at the Gainbridge Classic on her home course, Lake Nona Golf & Country Club,13 years removed from her last competitive start. Sorenstam made the 36-hole cut, her 299th made cut in 308 career LPGA Tour starts. The 2003 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee has competed in 15 U.S. Women’s Opens, with three victories and seven finishes inside the top 10.

USGA Announces Special Exemption for Cristie Kerr into the 76th U.S. Women’s Open

The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced that 2007 U.S. Women’s Open champion Cristie Kerr has accepted a special exemption into the 76th U.S. Women’s Open Championship, which will be conducted June 3–6 at The Olympic Club (Lake Course) in San Francisco, Calif. 

 

Kerr, 43, captured the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C., defeating Lorena Ochoa and Angela Park by two strokes. Kerr, a 20-time winner on the LPGA Tour, will be making her 24th consecutive start in the U.S. Women’s Open. She has finished in the top 10 eight times, most recently in the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open at CordeValle in San Martin, Calif. Kerr was also a member of the 1996 USA Curtis Cup Team.

FootJoy Introduces Southern Living Collection

FJ continues to innovate as the leader in golf wearables with the Southern Living Collection. This collection is FJ’s take on timeless Southern Style, which celebrates the effortless, yet sophisticated charm of the Low Country. The apparel pieces combine a casual, Southern style with premium, lightweight materials and advanced performance fabrics.

Southern Living commemorates the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island by featuring warm, inviting Southern-inspired colors with a modern twist on traditional seersucker print.

TaylorMade Golf to be Acquired by Centroid Investment Partners

TaylorMade Golf Company, Inc. has announced that its current financial sponsor, KPS Capital Partners has signed a definitive agreement, through an affiliate, to sell TaylorMade Golf Company, Inc., to Centroid Investment Partners, a Seoul, Korea based private equity firm. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Established in 1979, TaylorMade is a leading global manufacturer of golf equipment, balls, bags and accessories with a #1 or #2 market position in most of its key categories and markets. For over 40 years, TaylorMade has brought innovative, high performance product technologies to golfers worldwide and has an unrivaled portfolio of athletes across the global tours including world #1 Dustin Johnson, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Collin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler, Matthew Wolff, SH Park, Charley Hull, Maria Fassi and Sierra Brooks.

Tour Edge Sets Record for Clubs in Play at Major Championship

Tour Edge set a new personal best for the number of clubs in play in a PGA TOUR event and at a Major Championship this past week at the Regions Tradition with 55 total Exotics clubs in play, according to the Darrell Survey.

In total, 21 various Exotics drivers, fairways, and hybrids, eight Exotics utility irons, two sets of Exotics C721 irons, two sets of Exotics Forged irons and five EXS Blade Wedges were in play by 17 different players at the Regions Traditions.