Thursday, June 15, 2023

Titleist is #1 Ball at U.S. Open for 75th Consecutive Year

At the 1949 U.S. Open at Medinah Country Club, more players chose to put a Titleist golf ball in play than any other brand, with 32 (20%) of the 159-player field teeing up a Titleist. For the first time, Titleist was the #1 ball at the U.S. Open Championship.

At every U.S. Open for the next three-quarters of a century – from Oakmont to Olympic and Pinehurst to Pebble Beach – Titleist golf balls have been the top choice of players competing for the U.S. Open trophy and a place in history.

Rickie Fowler's Record Setting Cobra WITB

Rickie Fowler shot an opening round 62, 8-under today on the North Course at Los Angeles Country Club to set a new 18-hole U.S. Open record.  Fowler's 10 birdies also marked the most ever recorded in any U.S. Open round.

Here is a list of the clubs Fowler used.

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

USGA Gives Fans More Ways than Ever to Follow the Action from the 123rd U.S. Open

Fans will be able to follow the U.S. Open like never before thanks to a comprehensive suite of digital offerings that will immerse audiences in the action at The Los Angeles Country Club from June 15-18.

“We’re thrilled to provide fans with an unprecedented level of access to this year’s championship through a number of innovative digital offerings that are sure to bring golf fans closer than ever before to the action at The Los Angeles Country Club,” said USGA Chief Commercial Officer Jon Podany. “From live streams of championship play on our all-new app to in-depth performance analytics, golf fans across the world will be able to immerse themselves in the U.S. Open.”

PUMA Golf Brings Culture and Authenticity to US Open with LA Themed Custom Shoes and Mural

Los Angeles is a city known for creativity and entertainment, so for the iconic US Open held at LACC, PUMA Golf linked their athletes with custom footwear artists to create designs that reflect each players’ individual inspiration for the week. PUMA Golf has also tapped native Angeleno and LA muralist Jonas Never, known for his renowned pop culture and sports murals around town, to create a mural featuring PUMA athletes Rickie Fowler, Gary Woodland and Justin Suh.

The mural, heavily inspired by Los Angeles graffiti and tattoo culture resides on the side of the Roger Dunn store at 1801 S. Bundy Dr., in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles, just minutes from Los Angeles Country Club.

Four for Four: Back to Back Quadruple Victory Weeks for Fujikura on Tour

Fujikura, the leader in performance golf shafts, was honored to be the winning driver and wood shaft across multiple global tours, with four victories on the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions, LPGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour.

At the RBC Canadian, Fujikura once again dominated the standings as the #1 driver, wood and hybrid shaft during the event at Oakdale Golf & Country Club. In total, 38.5% of the field used a Fujikura driver shaft, with another 35.8% using a Fujikura wood shaft and 32.0% using a Fujikura hybrid shaft.

EA Sports PGA Tour Title Update Includes Los Angeles Country Club and Free Play Weekend

EA SPORTS PGA TOUR has deployed Title Update 4.0, which celebrates the upcoming U.S. Open Championship happening this weekend with a new playable course, the Los Angeles Country Club, and updated designs in-game styled in the Season 3 U.S. Open Championship theme.

In addition to players being able to play the new course in all game modes, new challenges will also be released live during the major golf tournament that recreate iconic moments from each day.

PUMA Golf Introduces Limited Edition Stars and Stripes Ignite Articulate Shoes

PUMA Golf today introduced its new limited edition STARS AND STRIPES IGNITE ARTICULATE golf shoe. Designed as a celebration of the US Open, the limited model features a patriotic color scheme including red, white, and blue as well as understated stars covering the entire upper of the shoe.

Like the in-line version of the Ignite Articulate, the Stars and Stripes model takes cleated innovation to the next level thanks to a design that features an articulating outsole, midsole and upper that flexes with your foot, delivering exceptional support. Built to meet the rigorous performance demands of the world’s best golfers, the IGNITE ARTICULATE combines PUMA’s Tour-validated technologies in a lightweight, extremely comfortable package with a modern athletic silhouette.

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

123rd U.S. Open Championship Notebook and Stories

The U.S. Open returns to Los Angeles on the 75th anniversary of Ben Hogan's win in 1948.  Los Angeles Country Club will be hosting the championship for the first time.

The North Course will pay to a par of 70, at 7,423 yards and is ready for it's world spotlight.  Here's a deep dive into the 123rd U.S. Open from LACC North.

RBC Canadian Open Winner Plays Graphite Design Tour AD to Victory

Pro’s Choice Golf Shafts, Inc. announced today that the winner of the RBC Canadian Open tournament held at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Ontario, Canada was playing a Graphite Design Tour AD DI Hybrid 95 X flex hybrid shaft in his Titleist TSR2 21° Hybrid.  The champion eagled the 4th playoff hole to claim his 3rd PGA Tour victory and become the first Canadian to win the RBC Canadian Open since 1954.

“Congratulations to the RBC Canadian Open champion on his historic win this past weekend in Canada.  The champions ability and his trusty hybrid were two key elements that aided him during the playoff holes to earn the win” stated Bill McPherson, Vice President of Sales, Pro’s Choice Golf Shafts, Inc.

An Above Par Father’s Day at Omni Hotels & Resorts

Father's Day is a great way to show the dad in your life how much you care—about him and his golf game. Located in some of the country’s most beautiful destinations, Omni Hotels & Resorts has a portfolio of 26 above-par golf courses designed by renowned architects and offer challenges for golfers at all levels of play. Schedule tee time or plan a golf vacation in prime locations on legendary greens to enjoy the resorts championship golf resorts. Select properties listed below with un’FORE’getable Father’s Day offers.

As the proud Official Hotel Partner of the PGA TOUR®, Omni Hotels & Resorts is excited to offer an exclusive golf package at 12 select resort destinations across the country with the PGA Tour Golf Package.

Monday, June 12, 2023

Los Angeles Country Club North Course Review: An Overview (2023 U.S. Open)

It's important where players win their U.S. Open Championship.  Great courses produce great drama and even greater champions.  Cathedrals of the game matter.  Ghosts of the past matter.

And when Los Angeles Country Club opens its curtains to the world this week for the 123rd U.S. Open, it will be a legacy defining moment.

USGA Announces Tee Times for 123rd U.S. Open Championship

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced tee times for the first two rounds of the 2023 U.S. Open Championship, Thursday (June 15) and Friday (June 16), at 7,423-yard, par-70 The Los Angeles (Calif.) Country Club (North Course).

The U.S. Open is a 72-hole, stroke-play competition. A field of 156 players will play 18 holes of stroke play on June 15 and 16, after which the field will be reduced to the low 60 scores and ties. Those players making the cut will play 18 holes on June 17 and 18. If there is a tie upon the completion of 72 holes, a two-hole aggregate playoff will immediately follow. If this playoff results in a tie, the tied players will immediately continue to play off hole-by-hole until the winner is determined.

The Centennial Collection from FootJoy

For 100 years, FootJoy has been synonymous with golf-specific design and performance innovation.  The brand was born from a company-wide naming competition in 1923, where an associate in the Brockton, MA stitching room submitted a name for a new line of shoes the company was developing – FOOTJOY.

The brand continues to lead and innovate in golf wearables and will celebrate 100 years in the making with the Centennial Collection. This collection is FJ’s take on an unmatched legacy of performance innovation and style, featuring a limited edition Premiere Series Wilcox for Men, a Women’s Premiere Series Shield Tip and an apparel collection that includes timeless and sophisticated polos, cardigans, hoodies and sweaters.

COBRA Golf Unveils Limited Edition US Open Golf Bag

With the arrival of the 2023 US Open, COBRA Golf has unveiled a Limited-Edition US Open Staff and Stand Bag.  Like all COBRA Golf bags, those made for the US Open are crafted with premium materials for an elevated, Tour-caliber look and feel.

This year the US Open will be hosted by the storied Los Angeles Country Club from June 15th to June 18th.  The club has previously held the Walker Cup but the 2023 US Open will be the first major played at LACC and the first US Open contested in the Los Angeles area in 75 years. To celebrate the momentous event, Cobra will release a new Americana inspired bag that layers in the iconic landmarks and street culture of Los Angeles, adorned with palm trees and stars to reference to key locations like Beverly Hills and Sunset Blvd.

Sunday, June 11, 2023

2023 U.S. Open Championship Notes and Insights

The Los Angeles Country Club is hosting a U.S. Open for the first time. It is the seventh venue to make its U.S. Open debut over the last 50 years, joining Atlanta Athletic Club (1976), Pinehurst (1999), Bethpage (2002), Torrey Pines (2008), Chambers Bay (2015) and Erin Hills (2017).

This will mark the 15th U.S. Open, and 20th major played in the state of California. The only foreign players to win a U.S. Open in California are Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell (in 2010 at Pebble Beach) and Jon Rahm (in 2021 at Torrey Pines). The only other foreign player to win a major in California is Australia’s Steve Elkington, who won the 1995 PGA Championship at Riviera.

123rd U.S. Open Championship – Fact Sheet

The Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course will be set up at 7,423 yards and will play to a par of 35-35–70.

The yardage for each round of the championship will vary due to course setup and conditions.

Saturday, June 10, 2023

PXG Launches Summer 2023 Apparel Capsule Collection

PXG has launched a PXG Apparel Summer 2023 Capsule that contains both trendy and timeless pieces that fit effortlessness into every golfer’s summer wardrobe. With the limited collection, PXG focuses on core, golf-centric pieces, introducing new technical fabrications that deliver contemporary silhouettes and boast a timely and timeless color palette of sunshine yellow and navy.

The PXG Apparel Summer 2023 Capsule features 11 classic course-ready styles with PXG signature details – six for men and five for women. The men’s capsule features 4 core polos, one with brand-new bonded fabrication technology that allows for extreme breathability and comfort. Two new silhouettes with a classic appeal also make their debut, a layerable, four-way stretch golf vest and a new slim golf short, adding flare as well as function to a golfer’s summer game.

PING Slam PLD Limited Zing 2 Drops Tuesday June 13th

The PLD Limited Zing 2 putter, the third 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, June 13.

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.

Macklemomre Teams with Adidas in New Apparel Collection

Adiidas and Macklemore’s Bogey Boys are reimagining timeless styles from the 70s and 80s that established new trends for fashion, lifestyle and sports. Today, adidas and Bogey Boys are introducing the adidas x Bogey Boys collection featuring crisp designs and high-quality performance materials that combine vintage styles from golf and tennis with a modern feel, all for easy on- and off-course wear. The limited-edition capsule featuring apparel and footwear for men and women will be available at select locations beginning Wednesday, June 14.

“As the original sports brand, we’ve been designing product for sports like golf and tennis for more than 50 years,” said Dylan Moore, senior creative director, adidas Golf. “As we continue our mission to be the most progressive golf brand in the world, this heritage gives us the luxury of revisiting our extensive archives for inspiration. Those now-retro designs were inspiring to us, and we know that golfers are once again looking for products that present classic, clean, and bold aesthetics with an attitude. Macklemore and the Bogey Boys team were the perfect partners for this because of their love for vintage apparel and eye-catching designs.”

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

The PGAPappas Podcast - Episode 2: Leigh Steinberg Talks the PGA and DP World Tour Merger with PIF and LIV Golf

Yesterday's bombshell news of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour merging with the PIF (Public Investment Fund) and LIV Golf is making a potential golf super league look more and more probable.  The PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV Golf will all exist under one umbrella and professional golf may never be the same again.

My guest for Episode 2 is superstar sports agent Leigh Steinberg, and his insights into the proposed merger and issues surrounding it are profound and penetrating.  Leigh and I talk about the winners and losers in the deal, what PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan has done wrong and what opportunities exist for him to do right, as well as sportswashing, player and fan vested interests, and a whole lot more.