By:

GOLF Editors

January 22, 2023

Jon Rahm hits his tee shot on Sunday on the twelfth gap on the Pete Dye Stadium Course.

Getty Photographs

Test in each week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the most popular matters within the sport, and be a part of the dialog by tweeting us @golf_com. This week, we focus on LIV Golf’s TV deal, LPGA drama, Jon Rahm’s dominant run and extra.

1. LIV Golf introduced it had formally signed a “multi-year settlement” with the CW, granting broadcast and streaming rights to the community for its occasions starting this season. The opening spherical will probably be accessible solely on the app, with weekend protection broadcast on TV. A supply additionally informed GOLF.com’s James Colgan that LIV isn’t paying the CW to broadcast its occasions. Discovering a broadcast accomplice was paramount for LIV. Now that it’s accomplished, what do you consider this deal?

The LIV Golf-CW TV deal is official. Listed below are 9 issues we all know

By:

James Colgan

Josh Sens, senior author (@joshsens): This may’t be the deal LIV was dreaming of from the beginning. Removed from it. However components of it do sq. with LIV’s present gross sales pitch. The league is pushing the group and franchise angle arduous, with messaging that tilts towards a youthful demographic. Throw within the group names (Crushers, Fireballs, Hy Flyers, and so forth.), and all of it has a sort of a Ninja Turtles teen sheen to it that matches CW’s historically teeny bopper viewers. One disconnect is that apart from Smith and Niemann, LIV’s largest names skew older. And the general golf market is in fact a lot older, too. Nevertheless it does look like LIV is making a protracted play for a youthful crowd, seeking to construct these group allegiances that it could promote down the highway. How will all of it play out? Anybody claiming to know the reply is filled with it, I’d say. Numerous Brooks Koepka/Buffy the Vampire jokes floating round. However the different issue is that CW has new homeowners with a special imaginative and prescient of what they need the community to be. To precisely forecast, you’d must know the way profitable they’re going to be in attracting a brand new viewers, after which how/the place LIV would slot in with that. The one factor I can predict for certain is that my very own private happiness is not going to hinge on how the Hy Flyers carry out. However then, I believed Holey Moley was unwatchable, and I by no means understood why individuals purchased pet rocks, so don’t go by me.

Jessica Marksbury, multimedia editor (@jess_marksbury): Whether or not LIV paid for the TV time or not, it undoubtedly looks as if a step in the correct path. Perhaps I’m turning into a little bit of a dinosaur, however watching issues on TV nonetheless looks as if an improve from streaming-only, even when the viewers is smaller than YouTube’s. On the finish of the day, although, when it comes to being a professional competitor to the PGA Tour, I really feel just like the TV dwelling issues a lot lower than the world-ranking factors difficulty. 

Dylan Dethier, senior author (@dylan_dethier): Like every little thing in our unusual, divisive world, the CW deal has sufficient positives in it to present the pro-LIV faction one thing to have fun — and the anti-LIV crowd lots to make enjoyable of. To Sens’ level, I feel it’s arduous to know the way this can look till we all know the way forward for the CW and the extent of dedication to reinvention from guardian firm Nexstar. Total, it appears like a win for LIV to be in so many households — particularly given so many different broadcast alternatives have been by no means going to occur. However the entire thing remains to be a bit surreal. A PGA Tour rival on the CW! Get your One Tree Hill jokes off whereas we determine what’s occurring.

2. How a lot will TV scores inform us in 12 months 1? How a lot inventory ought to we put in them?

Sens: I predict poor scores this 12 months, however that’s clearly not a deal-breaker to a circuit with bottomless funding. What I’d watch extra carefully is whether or not LIV can proceed to draw huge names, which in flip would drive curiosity. Which in flip offers them an opportunity at drawing TV sponsors. And so forth. Meantime, offered the Saudis keep , there will probably be a 12 months 2, and a 12 months 3 and …

Marksbury: I’ll be stunned if scores aren’t larger than what we noticed from YouTube’s numbers. However I don’t assume it would matter all that a lot both means. As Josh mentioned, LIV appears decided to plug alongside for the foreseeable future.

Dethier: If we’re in a position to get actual scores, I’d anticipate LIV to do tremendous. I’d be shocked if it was an in a single day sensation — however there’s a big contingent of people that get the CW and there’s additionally a big contingent of people that like watching golf on weekend afternoons. I’m guessing they’ll discover a number of cash between the sofa cushions to spend on advertising, too. What’s attention-grabbing to me is that by going from YouTube to broadcast TV, LIV appears to be taking part in on the PGA Tour’s turf. It’s, as Jay Monahan mentioned a pair weeks in the past, “product vs. product.” 

3. Brooke Henderson received the LPGA’s season-opening Hilton Grand Holidays Match of Champions on Sunday, however the occasion’s locker room state of affairs — or lack thereof — made headlines earlier within the week. Some gamers, nonetheless, have been miffed the controversy took away from the primary occasion of the 12 months. The place do you stand with all of this? Was it an enormous deal? Blown out of proportion? One thing in-between? 

‘Foolish factor to speak about’: LPGA gamers pissed off by locker drama

By:

Zephyr Melton

Sens: Subpar locker room storage is what is named a really privileged drawback. So in that sense, overblown. However not overblown within the sense that this could by no means occur to the boys, and if it did, are you able to think about the whining?

Marksbury: One thing in between. The belated locker supply appeared a bit clunky. It wasn’t the shortage of the bodily lockers themselves that was the principle drawback, however moderately the shortage of onsite personal area for the feminine rivals. However the occasion is a novel one on the LPGA schedule — a pro-am with each female and male rivals, and the venue merely didn’t have the lodging that the gamers are accustomed to week-in and week-out. So I discover myself agreeing extra with the gamers who shrugged it off as a blip on an in any other case cool event week.   

Dethier: I feel the locker speak was merited, however I feel everybody concerned would have most well-liked it stayed in-house — and that that vitality have been redirected to the competitors, which featured a head-to-head showdown between a few the sport’s most compelling gamers (Brooke Henderson and Nelly Korda) plus an look from rising star Maja Stark. Hopefully this will get the LPGA to double down its deal with its gamers and we chase compelling golf-related storylines.

4. On the PGA Tour, Jon Rahm continued his sensational run, holding off Davis Thompson to win the American Specific event by a shot. With Rahm proudly owning two wins already in 2023, we’ll set his win-total quantity at 4.5, and ask you if he goes over it, or below.  

Jon Rahm will get a fortunate bounce, wins once more on the American Specific

By:

Jack Hirsh

Sens: We’re seeing the Rahm we noticed in 2021, within the runup to his U.S. Open win, when the one factor that slowed him was a bout of Covid at Muirfield Village. He’ll win 5 – 6 this 12 months. You possibly can presently get him at 11-1 at Augusta. The betting favourite. Which appears about proper.

Marksbury: When Rahm completed the primary spherical trailing by two in La Quinta, he mentioned that he was crammed with confidence as a result of he was scoring properly even when he didn’t have his A-game. Jogged my memory of Tiger. When a participant of Rahm’s expertise will get in that zone, the sky is the restrict. Given the beginning he’s had this 12 months, I feel 5 is his quantity, so I’m undoubtedly betting the over.

Dethier: We’ve seen a bunch of gamers hit sizzling streaks lately. However discovering a second peak is rarified air, and now Rahm appears like he’s doing precisely that. I nonetheless assume 4 wins might be extra probably than 5 — in golf, “below” is at all times the sensible cash — however I certain wouldn’t be shocked if he completed the 12 months with seven wins, both. He’s presently one of many three greatest golfers on this planet — and he’s not third.

5. Max Homa graced the quilt of the newest difficulty of GOLF Journal, and in Dylan Dethier’s profile (which you’ll be able to learn right here) we realized about Homa’s battle with self-belief, his rise to the highest, Presidents Cup stardom and extra. Homa additionally mentioned, “For some time, with the social media stuff, individuals have been all like, ‘Man, I’d like to have a beer with that man.’ Properly, I don’t know in the event you actually would.” Which brings us to this uber-important query: Which professional (or two) would you most wish to have a beer with?

Max Homa isn’t regular. He’s much more attention-grabbing than that

By:

Dylan Dethier

Sens: One of many older guys with tales to inform and no hesitation telling them. I at all times discovered Craig Stadler to be a enjoyable interview. Calcavecchia in the event you may get him going? Or perhaps one of many Europeans. Sam Torrance. Monty. The youthful guys could be much less attention-grabbing, I feel, until you can slip fact serum into their beer.

Marksbury: Completely agree, Josh! You need somebody with a minimal filter for certain, and a down-to-earth mentality. I’ll select from the PGA Tour for selection’s sake: Harry Higgs, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry. All three look like straight shooters and a variety of enjoyable.

Dethier: You couldn’t go flawed choosing Joel Dahmen, so long as you’re prepared to have one beer flip into seven. A pint at Lowry’s native pub would even be a thrill. And it will be an honor to be there for 20-year-old Tom Kim’s first-ever beer. 

Golf Journal

Subscribe To The Journal

Subscribe

Source link

By:

Jack Hirsh

January 22, 2023

Jon Rahm gained for the fourth time in his final six begins at The American Specific.

Getty Photos

After sprucing off his fourth win in his final six worldwide begins on the American Specific, Jon Rahm was requested what different athletes he respects for the way they deal with success.

It’s a good query to ask the person who’s the most well liked golfer on the planet. Nobody has crushed Rahm in 2023. He’s a mixed 54 underneath in two occasions, each wins and, going again additional, he’s solely completed exterior the highest 10 as soon as since August.

Rahm mentioned it was a “very lengthy listing,” however the one he named first, caught out: the late Los Angeles Lakers legend, Kobe Bryant.

“I spent loads of time listening to loads of his interviews and movies as a result of I see loads of similarities between us in the way in which we method our craft,” Rahm mentioned. “As a result of craft is the key phrase for Kobe. And having that obsessiveness that we each have over the sport. It’s any person to study from, for certain. Work ethic beats expertise day by day of the week, interval. And I wish to suppose that I’ve a extremely arduous work ethic and I put loads of time in.”

Winner’s bag: Jon Rahm’s Callaway gear on the 2023 American Specific Championship

By:

Jonathan Wall

Bryant wasn’t the one particular person he introduced up. He talked about his private buddies 23-time Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps and Arizona Cardinals gamers J.J. Watt and Zach Ertz, but it surely shouldn’t be shocking Bryant was the primary one he named.

It’s additionally attention-grabbing Rahm bought requested that query this week.

He confirmed up on the American Specific seemingly a person on a mission: He wasn’t going to be crushed by anybody.

He’d been vocal, for months, about how he was getting the quick finish of the keep on with the current adjustments to the Official World Golf Rating. Regardless of his outstanding run in his final 10 occasions, he’s moved solely from No. 6 to No. 3 within the Official World Golf Rating.

Rahm hasn’t precisely been quiet about his opinion on the rating, till this week.

He didn’t point out it as soon as in his pre-tournament press convention or every other time throughout the week. He even handed up an opportunity to touch upon it when a reporter referenced it, saying, “Regardless of what some computer systems may say.”

That query was about whether or not or not Rahm might preserve his run of dominance.

This time Rahm channeled Bryant’s Mamba Mentality, proving his personal obsession with perfecting his craft.

“In my thoughts, I really feel like I can get loads higher,” Rahm mentioned. “I really feel like that’s the mentality I ought to have. Once more, I work very arduous to do what I do. I might discover errors in each single spherical I’ve performed. Only a few instances I might say I’ve performed a flawless spherical.”

Regardless of his efficiency, it’s not truly that tough to select points Rahm had this week. He stalled halfway via his third spherical when he shortly jumped out within the lead. His putts stopped falling after the cup was seemingly as large as a basketball when he was 24 underneath via 48 holes.

The putts had hassle falling Sunday too even when Rahm mentioned he thought they have been getting in.

Jon Rahm will get a fortunate bounce, wins once more on the American Specific

By:

Jack Hirsh

“On 5, 7, 8, 10, 15, 17 and 18, all of these putts have been good,” he mentioned. “All of them regarded like they have been useless middle with two ft to go and simply on the finish they simply missed.”

His ball putting, then again, was otherwordly this week. Rahm completed sixth in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Inexperienced for the match, however that’s deceptive as a result of the primary two programs he performed didn’t have Strokes Gained information. He missed simply 12 greens all week.

“If I can maintain that going and the ball putting on the stage that I do know I can, I do know I can get higher,” he mentioned. “Once more, it’s my job to attempt to do the very best I can and to date I’m doing a fairly good job.”

Like Bryant, Rahm isn’t going to cease attempting to get higher, and whereas he wouldn’t say it, he’s bought a singular alternative this week to trip momentum towards the highest spot on the earth rankings.

Subsequent week’s occasion on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open begins early, on Wednesday and Rahm has historical past at Torrey Pines. He notched his first win there in 2017 and his largest win on the U.S. Open in 2021.

“If I can maintain hitting it off the tee and my iron sport retains staying at this stage I’m going to have a extremely good probability at that golf course,” Rahm mentioned. “So I can’t assist to smile as a result of, once more, it’s a really, very emotional week each time I’m going. In an excellent means. It’s a really particular place in my coronary heart.”

He was equally bullish on Thursday when requested about his possibilities. He was nonetheless two photographs again on the time.

All of us noticed how that turned out.

Jack Hirsh
Golf.com Editor

Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is 2020 graduate of Penn State College, incomes levels in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his highschool golf staff and nonetheless *tries* to stay aggressive in native amateurs. Earlier than becoming a member of GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but additionally producing, anchoring and even presenting the climate. He could be reached at [email protected]

Source link

By:

Nick Piastowski

January 22, 2023

Davis Thompson’s ball and Thompson on Sunday on the seventeenth gap on the Pete Dye Stadium Course.

twitter.com/Getty

With the pin in, Davis Thompson’s ball was out. 

But when the flagstick had been eliminated?

“I’ll in all probability play the ‘what-if’ recreation in my head for a very long time, sadly,” Thompson mentioned.

He might not be alone. In a stunning sequence throughout Sunday’s American Specific closing spherical, Thompson putted from 48 toes, 2 inches away for a share of the lead on the penultimate gap on the Pete Dye Stadium Course, just for his ball to strike the pin almost dead-center and ricochet a foot and a half previous. Ultimately, Jon Rahm maintained his one-stroke lead and gained by that margin, although the late change led to decision-making questions and a have a look at a brand new flagstick rule.

We’ll begin, although, with our starting, and whether or not the pin on the 159-yard, par-3 seventeenth was accountable. Thompson’s ball was transferring shortly — if it hadn’t hit something, our guess was it could have rolled perhaps 5 toes previous the outlet — and on a replay of the Golf Channel broadcast slowed to 1/16 velocity by GOLF.com, the ball appeared to strike the left-center of the pin. 

Two analysts, although, have been satisfied that Thompson’s putt was good. 

“If that pin is out, little doubt it goes in,” on-course announcer John Wooden, a former longtime caddie, mentioned on the printed. 

“It was proper within the middle,” mentioned John Cook dinner, a former longtime professional. “It doesn’t occur fairly often, however that pin value him proper there. No query in my thoughts, John. That was center-cut. It had some velocity, but it surely was proper within the middle.” 

And Thompson? Instantly afterward, he dropped his mallet putter, turned away from the outlet and coated his face with each fingers. He then propped up his white hat atop his head and rubbed his brow, earlier than circling round the fitting aspect of the inexperienced on his strategy to mark his ball.  

As Rahm was placing for his birdie — which he would miss — Thompson principally regarded towards the water fronting the inexperienced. 

“I had an important learn,” he mentioned afterward. “I in all probability hit it too agency. If it had nice velocity, it could have simply hit the flag and dropped. However we’ll by no means know.”

Jon Rahm will get a fortunate bounce, wins once more on the American Specific

By:

Jack Hirsh

Did Thompson contemplate pulling the flag? Did he contemplate asking caddie Dean Emerson to have a tendency it? Within the session with reporters, Thompson was requested solely: “What was the concerns so far as leaving the stick in?”

It’s right here the place he additionally gave the “what-if” remark. 

“Yeah, I imply, I often at all times go away the stick in from a protracted distance,” Thompson mentioned. “I really feel prefer it helps me with my velocity.”

Then there’s this: Earlier than a 2019 guidelines change, the flagstick needed to come out; if a ball hit it, a participant would take a two-stroke penalty. 

Rule 13.2 a (1) now reads this fashion: “The participant could make a stroke with the flagstick left within the gap, in order that it’s potential for the ball in movement to hit the flagstick. The participant should determine this earlier than making the stroke, by both: Leaving the flagstick the place it’s within the gap or transferring it in order that it’s centered within the gap and leaving it there, or having a eliminated flagstick  put again within the gap.

And the rule for tending the flag? That’s addressed beneath Rule 13.2 b (1), which reads: “The participant could make a stroke with the flagstick faraway from the outlet, in order that his or her ball in movement won’t hit the flagstick within the gap. The participant should determine this earlier than making the stroke, by both: Having the flagstick faraway from the outlet earlier than taking part in the ball, or authorizing somebody to attend the flagstick, which suggests to take away it by: First holding the flagstick in, above or subsequent to the outlet earlier than and through the stroke to indicate the participant the place the outlet  is, after which eradicating the flagstick after the stroke is made.”

On the Golf Channel broadcast, Wooden identified the change, too. 

“Boy, I’m speechless over that,” he mentioned of the putt. “That rule, for the reason that change, you actually haven’t seen it have an effect on the golf event. I don’t bear in mind it occurring anyhow. That is the primary one the place I really feel like that rule change could have modified the end result.” 

Dave Pelz: The science proves it is best to go away the flagstick in whenever you putt

By:

Dave Pelz

Robust phrases. However why was the change made? In response to a narrative on the USGA’s web site, it was meant to hurry up play — and not using a caddie, after all, a participant must take away the flagstick themselves, then putt. 

And that naturally raises this query: Is there a bonus to holding it in? At instances, people like Bryson DeChambeau and placing guru Dave Pelz have informed you sure — and in 2019, Pelz did right here — and others will say no. Notably, the USGA story additionally had this line:

“On steadiness it’s anticipated that there isn’t a benefit in with the ability to putt with the unattended flagstick within the gap: In some circumstances, the ball could strike the flagstick and bounce out of the outlet when it would in any other case have been holed, and in different circumstances, the ball could hit the flagstick and end within the gap when it would in any other case have missed.”

So what occurred after the seventeenth on Sunday?

Thompson nonetheless had an opportunity, after all; he remained only a stroke behind Rahm. However on 18, he hit over the inexperienced on his method, and an admirable effort to pitch in for birdie landed about 2 toes away, whereas Rahm parred.

Admirably, Thompson then talked to the reporters. He didn’t must. 

“I had an important week,” the 23-year-old from Georgia mentioned. “Competing towards the perfect on this planet is my dream and I did that as we speak and proved that I can grasp with ’em. It was a number of enjoyable.

“A number of nerves and I hit a number of high quality golf photographs beneath stress, which was actually cool.”

Golf Journal

Subscribe To The Journal

Subscribe

Nick Piastowski
Golf.com Editor

Nick Piastowski is a Senior Editor at Golf.com and Golf Journal. In his position, he’s liable for enhancing, writing and creating tales throughout the golf house. And when he’s not writing about methods to hit the golf ball farther and straighter, the Milwaukee native might be taking part in the sport, hitting the ball left, proper and brief, and consuming a chilly beer to clean away his rating. You’ll be able to attain out to him about any of those matters — his tales, his recreation or his beers — at [email protected]

Source link

LA QUINTA, Calif. — Whereas Jon Rahm had loads of probabilities to pump his proper fist after good pictures on Sunday, the look of aid on his face after holding off rookie Davis Thompson put into perspective his victory at The American Categorical.

The Spanish star took benefit of errors by Thompson over the adventuresome remaining three holes and closed with a 4-under 68 to win by one stroke, his second PGA Tour win in as many begins this 12 months.

“I am, in a bizarre approach, glad that at the moment went the best way it went,” Rahm stated. “I’ve loved some runaway victories, I’ve loved some comebacks, however at the moment was definitely a battle. Out of the 5 birdies I made, what’s it, one, two, three of them have been tap-ins and the opposite two have been principally 6-footers. In order that tells you the story.”

Rahm pumped his fist a remaining time after tapping in for a two-putt par on No. 18 at PGA West’s Stadium Course.

Editor’s Picks

1 Associated

Rahm and Thompson have been tied with three holes to play when Thompson, who led by way of 36 holes and shared the lead with Rahm coming into Sunday, pulled his drive right into a deep fairway bunker on the par-5 sixteenth and wound up with par. Rahm made birdie to take the lead.

On the par-3 seventeenth, Thompson selected to go away the pin in for his 50-foot birdie putt on the island inexperienced, and the ball squarely hit the pin and rolled away. The 23-year-old from Georgia dropped his putter and put his palms to his face. As he walked to the 18th tee after tapping in for par, he pulled his shirt up over his mouth in frustration.

“I normally at all times depart the stick in from a protracted distance,” Thompson stated. “I really feel prefer it helps me with my velocity. I am going to most likely play the ‘what if’ sport in my head for a very long time, sadly. I had a terrific learn. I most likely hit it too agency. If it had nice velocity it will have simply hit the flag and dropped. However we’ll by no means know. I am pleased with myself for this week.”

Rahm hit his tee shot right into a bunker on 18 however recovered properly with a shot to fifteen ft and pumped his fist. Thompson’s drive discovered the golf green however his method bounced on the inexperienced and ran down the slope behind it. The rookie hit a daring flop store that settled a foot to the best of the outlet. He shot 69.

“I had a terrific week,” stated Thompson, who made 5 eagles by way of the primary two rounds, tying the PGA Tour file for eagles in a 72-hole occasion. “Competing in opposition to the most effective on the earth is my dream and I did that at the moment and proved that I can cling with ’em. It was numerous enjoyable. A whole lot of nerves and I hit numerous high quality golf pictures below strain, which was actually cool.”

Rahm completed at 27-under 261 and gained for the ninth time on the PGA Tour. He strikes up one spot to No. 3 on the earth. He’s taking part in this week at Torrey Pines, whereas world No. 1 Rory McIlroy makes his 2023 debut in Dubai on the European tour.

Rahm now has gained 4 of his final six begins — he gained twice on the European tour on the finish of final 12 months. This was his seventh straight prime 10 worldwide, a streak that started after the Tour Championship in late August.

He turned the third participant since 2000 with a number of PGA Tour wins in January, becoming a member of Justin Thomas (2017) and Ernie Els (2003). And it was his third profession end at 27 below or higher, breaking a tie with Phil Mickelson for many in tour historical past.

“Heck of a begin,” stated Rahm, who gained the Sentry Event of Champions two weeks in the past at Kapalua. “Clearly Sentry and this one are very, very totally different golf programs and really totally different golf. You continue to need to go low in each of them. So fortunately the mentality is similar.

“Physique’s been feeling nice. My swing’s been feeling actually, actually good. And it exhibits, proper?. Even after I’m saying I is probably not as comfy as I would really like, I am taking pictures 64s as a result of every little thing is simply firing when it must.”

Xander Schauffele, two weeks after he withdrew due to again ache, closed with a 62 and completed two behind with Chris Kirk (64). It was his third profession spherical of 10 below or higher, making him the one participant in final 40 PGA Tour seasons to have three profession remaining rounds that low.

Taylor Montgomery was difficult Rahm and Thompson till he put his tee shot into the water on the seventeenth. He closed with a 66 and completed fifth.

Scottie Scheffler closed with a 67 and tied for eleventh. He narrowly missed a birdie putt on the ultimate gap that might have allowed him to return to No. 1 by a fraction of a degree over McIlroy. Scheffler will not be taking part in this week.

Data from ESPN Stats & Data and The Related Press was used on this report.

Source link

By:

Jonathan Wall

January 22, 2023

Jon Rahm’s Odyssey putter has been on fireplace this yr.

Jonathan Wall/GOLF

Jon Rahm birdied the sixteenth gap to win to say the American Categorical Championship by one shot over Davis Thompson. The victory was Rahm’s fourth in his final six begins worldwide.

Take a better have a look at his Callaway gear setup.

Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (Aldila Tour Inexperienced 75TX shaft), 10.5 levels

3-wood: Paradym Triple Diamond (Aldila Tour Inexperienced 85TX shaft), 16 levels

5-wood: Paradym Triple Diamond (Graphite Design Tour AD DI8X shaft), 18 levels

Irons: Callaway Apex TCB (4-PW; True Mood Undertaking X 6.5 shafts)

Wedges: Callaway Jaws RAW (52, 56 and 60 levels; True Mood Undertaking X 6.5 shafts)

Putter: Odyssey White Scorching OG Rossie S

Ball: Callaway Chrome Smooth X

Grips: Golf Satisfaction New Decade MultiCompound Midsize

Wish to overhaul your bag for 2023? Discover a becoming location close to you at GOLF’s affiliate firm True Spec Golf. For extra on the newest gear information and knowledge, take a look at our newest Totally Outfitted podcast beneath.

Jonathan Wall
Golf.com Editor

Jonathan Wall is GOLF Journal and GOLF.com’s Managing Editor for Tools. Previous to becoming a member of the workers on the finish of 2018, he spent 6 years overlaying gear for the PGA Tour.

Source link

ORLANDO, Fla. — Brooke Henderson units a aim of successful a number of LPGA Tour titles on the outset of every season. She did not wait lengthy to gather her first trophy of 2023.

Henderson was dominant all through and delivered a 2-under 70 on Sunday at Lake Nona to finish a wire-to-wire victory within the season-opening Hilton Grand Holidays Match of Champions.

In windy and typically tough situations, the 25-year-old from Canada performed steadily, ensuring to not give a lot hope to a bunch behind her attempting to mount any kind of problem. She started her day main by 3 and finally gained by 4, ending the occasion at 16-under 272. It was her thirteenth LPGA victory.

“It’s so thrilling,” Henderson stated. “I at all times attempt to win a pair occasions every year, so to get one proper approach out of the gate takes a little bit little bit of strain off. … It is thrilling to be in competition, and much more thrilling to hoist trophies.”

Henderson has had her eye on a Match of Champions title for some time. She hadn’t completed exterior of ninth within the occasion the previous 4 seasons, and she or he was a runner-up to Danielle Kang a yr in the past. Sunday marked her sixteenth consecutive spherical beneath par on the LPGA courting to 2022 and her sixteenth consecutive rating beneath par on this event.

Brooke Henderson started Sunday main by 3 and finally gained by 4, ending the occasion at 16-under 272 for her thirteenth LPGA victory. Julio Aguilar/Getty Photographs

Successful additionally helps her put to relaxation a irritating finish to 2022. She withdrew with a again harm in her second-to-last begin on the Pelican Ladies’s Championship in November, and managed the ache sufficient to tie for seventh within the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.

From there, it was relaxation and rehab earlier than switching to new golf equipment. There have been 14 new golf equipment in her bag at Lake Nona, together with the putter, which helped to provide 19 birdies on a really robust take a look at of golf.

Henderson entered the week at No. 7 within the ladies’s world rating. She was requested if her season-opening triumph would possibly open the door to different massive objectives, equivalent to being No. 1 or being the LPGA’s Participant of the Yr.

“That will be superior,” Henderson stated. “Clearly, I had the dream begin.”

Second-year LPGA professional Maja Stark of Sweden confirmed a pleasant ending kick by taking pictures 5-under 31 on her remaining 9. She tied for second alongside England’s Charlie Hull. Each shot 69, Hull doing so for the fourth consecutive day.

Stark has dedicated herself to including a number of hours every week to her time spent training placing, and it confirmed in her scorching play over the ultimate 9 holes. Three over via seven, she birdied six of her remaining 10 holes.

“It offers me quite a lot of confidence,” Stark stated. “I really feel I’ve had a great week with my driver and a few good irons. The placing, too. I really feel like if it retains going like this, could possibly be the most effective yr but.”

Hull was happy together with her end given the challenges of attempting to get her recreation prepared in England in midwinter. She spent three days training in Morocco earlier than persevering with on to Orlando.

Henderson was affected person on Sunday, doing most of her harm on Lake Nona’s par 5s, making birdies on three of them. When she birdied the ninth gap, she had a 4-shot lead over Nelly Korda, and she or he rebuilt the result in 4 as soon as once more with one final birdie on the par-5 fifteenth.

Korda, at No. 2 the highest-ranked participant on this winners-only discipline as a result of No. 1 Lydia Ko skipped the event after getting married, made solely three birdies and settled for fourth for a second consecutive yr. For Korda, the week was a story of two nines; she performed the entrance 9 in 1 beneath par for the week, and the second 9 in 10 beneath. Henderson was 10 beneath on the entrance 9.

“Yeah, the entrance 9 and I did not actually get alongside too effectively,” stated Korda, who shot 72 on Sunday. “Hopefully subsequent yr we’ll develop into higher pals.”

Korda stated she was disillusioned with the end result, however having performed her first event with new tools, no less than she had a recreation plan going ahead.

“What’s good is that I’ve lots to work and I am very enthusiastic about it,” she stated. “I’ve 4 weeks [off from the tour] to type of grind and see the place my recreation is.”

Tennis participant and former Davis Cup captain Mardy Fish ran away with the celeb division, making 152 factors within the Modified Stableford format. Fish additionally gained the title two years in the past. Former MLB pitcher Mark Mulder (136 factors) was runner-up.

Annika Sorenstam, a 72-time winner on the LPGA Tour and Lake Nona resident who performed among the many celebrities and athletes, tied for third with navy veteran Chad Pfeifer.

Source link