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GAM PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Alex Scott of Traverse City Tops Men’s Honor RollNovember 17, 2018GAM PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Alex Scott of Traverse City Tops Men’s Honor Roll FARMINGTON HILLS – Alex Scott of Traverse City achieved goals by pushing boundaries in his golf game in 2018. “I put in a lot of hard work and dedication and proved to myself that with ability, will power and discipline I can achieve where maybe others think I can’t,” he said. “I pushed boundaries every day and that is why I had the year I had.” Scott, a senior at Grand Valley State University, is the 2018 Golf Association of Michigan Men’s Player of the Year, Ken Hartmann, senior director of rules and competitions, announced today. GAM Players of the Year are determined by the GAM Honor Roll points system. Point totals can be found on a pull down from the Championships tab at gam.org. Over the next few weeks the GAM will announce more Players of the Year in gender and age categories. “At the U.S. Amateur Sectional qualifier, I just knew he was going to make it,” Hartmann said. “He is one of those guys you just know will have a good score at the end of the day because he is consistent and confident. I’m never shocked when he plays well.” Scott qualified for the U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach with a second-round 6-under 66 to tie for medalist honors in the sectional at Currie Municipal Golf Course in Midland. Once at Pebble Beach he qualified for match play with a tie for 10th in the stroke play portion of the championship, and then fell 1-up in the first round of match play to the top-ranked junior amateur golfer in the world, William Mouw of California. Just a few weeks prior to playing in the U.S. Amateur, Scott served notice of his great play by shooting a record 11-under 61 in the final round of the Michigan PGA’s Tournament of Champions at Boyne Mountain Resort. His 61 on the Alpine course put him in a playoff with Sam Weatherhead, a professional from Grand Rapids, and Scott emerged the winner. Scott, a GAM member through Traverse City Golf & Country Club, was the first amateur to win the TOC in its 27 years of existence. His Honor Roll total of 805 points topped Jake Kneen of White Lake, who became just the sixth amateur to win the Michigan Open Championship in its 101 years last summer. Kneen, a former Oakland University golfer who is a GAM member through Mystic Creek Golf & Banquet Center, also qualified for the U.S. Amateur but didn’t make match play. He had 635 Honor Roll points. Rounding out the top five were Michigan Amateur Champion Beau Breault of Hartland and Prestwick Village Golf Club with 481, GAM Champion James Piot of Canton at Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Center with 475 and Donnie Trosper of Canton and Carl’s Golfland-Plymouth with 410. Breault plays collegiate golf at Eastern Michigan, while Piot and Trosper are on Michigan State’s golf team. Hartmann said when Scott won the 2017 GAM Championship at Barton Hills it seemed to fuel him for the 2018 golf season. “That win lit a fuse under him and seemed to slingshot him to a great year collegiately (GLIAC Golfer of the Year, First Team All-American) in the USGA tournaments and with us,” he said. “I think it taught him what he is capable of. He’s not afraid to go low and go after it. That 61 (in the Tournament of Champions) shows that. On top of it all he’s a great kid and level-headed.” Scott said it means a lot to be Player of the Year. “There are a lot of really good players in the state and to be at the top at the end of the season is a great accomplishment,” he said. “I have to credit the team I have – everybody at Grand Valley, my dad and mom (Steve, Angela) and my teacher (Scott Hebert). I have support and guidance, and it will be impossible to repay Scott for what he has done in helping me with my game.”...
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Kerri Parks Is GAM Player of The Year – 2018November 17, 2018 Kerri Parks Is GAM Player of The Year – 2018 FARMINGTON HILLS – Kerri Parks of Flushing finished her summer golf schedule by winning the Michigan Women’s Amateur Championship at Western Golf & Country Club in Redford. “I don’t think summers can end better than that,” she said. “That was a great accomplishment for me. I’m proud of the way I worked through the year. I ended the summer with a bang.” Parks, a sophomore at Marshall University in Huntington, West. Va., is the 2018 Golf Association of Michigan Women’s Player of the Year, Ken Hartmann, senior director of rules and competitions, announced today. GAM Players of the Year are determined by the GAM Honor Roll points system. Point totals can be found under the Championships tab at gam.org. Over the next few weeks the GAM will announce more Players of the Year in gender and age categories. Earlier this week it was announced that Alex Scott of Traverse City is the Men’s Player of the Year. “She is a great grinder who is very consistent,” Hartmann said of Parks. “She won’t blow you away with a ton of birdies, but she will make some and then make par after par until she wins. That’s how she won the Michigan Amateur. She never lets herself be out of a hole. She has a great short game, and even when she gets down in a match, she just keeps coming and gets back in it.” Parks, a GAM member through Flushing Valley Golf & Country Club, totaled 555 Honor Roll points keyed by the Michigan Amateur win. Elayna Bowser of Dearborn Country Club and Loyola University of Chicago, who Parks topped 1-up in the championship match of the Women’s Amateur, was second with 535. Rounding out the top five were GAM Champion Allyson Geer of East Lansing, Michigan State University and Forest Akers Golf Club with 450, Aya Johnson of Muskegon Country Club and the University of Wisconsin with 285 and Sarah Shipley of Hastings, Gull Lake View Club & Resort and the University of Kentucky with 275. Parks said her 2018 year kept building as she improved her game. “I started out in the spring and played well at school and in the (Conference USA) tournament (T11 as freshman, tops on her team) and then through the summer practiced every day and continued to improve,” she said. “I shot two rounds in the 60s this summer, won the Women’s Am and got my first college win when I went back to school. The success I had shows how much I’ve improved, and it has fueled my fire to keep working at it.” A driver switch at the start of 2018 proved helpful to her success. “I added distance and was able to keep it in the fairway,” she said. “That gave me more confidence and it started to show in the way I played on the course. Confidence makes your whole game better.” Hartmann expects Parks, who won the 2017 GAM Championship, to continue her success. “You can see she works at it, and she is determined and competitive,” he said. “She’s also a nice person, friendly, and everybody enjoys playing with her. I wouldn’t be surprised to see her win another GAM Championship and perhaps another Michigan Amateur before her college career is finished. She is a very good golfer and continues to improve.”...
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Srixon Z 585 Irons ReviewNovember 17, 2018Srixon Z 585 Irons Review Srixon Z585 Irons Grade: A Teachers’ Comments: Powerful. Easier to hit than I expected from a forged iron. Srixon recently sent 4-, 6- and 9-irons from their new Z 585 set for review. After a month of testing, I am in love with these clubs. If I had a complete set, they would replace the Callaway Apex irons currently in my bag. The Srixons are players’ clubs that an average duffer such as myself can both aspire to and benefit from. My strongest impression is of the Srixon Z 585’s power. Every shot feels solid. Balls rocket off the face. Feedback is tremendous. The Srixon 585s are longer than my Callaway Apexes, and slightly shorter than my venerable TaylorMade R7 XDs (which to date are still the longest irons I have wielded). In spite of being slightly less long, I prefer the Srixon Z 585 irons for their feel and accuracy. Feel is the key. I am willing to sacrifice a little bit of distance for the feedback forged irons provide with their feel. With a forged iron such as the Srixon Z 585, I have a sense of where the ball makes contact on the face, and that leads to continuous correction. Game improvement irons, such as the R7 XD, while providing immediate results, in the end don’t demand improvement. I always am looking for ways to improve. I also was impressed with the accuracy of the Srixon Z 585. They are very straight and while playing them, I holed out for an Eagle three and also had several other near misses. That is not my usual game. View this post on Instagram An Eagle three from the fairway with a Srixon 585 nine iron and a Volvik Vivid ball. Straightened the flag and in it went. . #Golf #golfblog #eagle @srixongolf @volvikgolf A post shared by GolfBlogger.Com (@golfblogger) on Oct 4, 2018 at 3:47pm PDT View this post on Instagram Darn near holed out from the fairway for an Eagle 2 . #golf #michigan #golfblog #Golfblogger A post shared by GolfBlogger.Com (@golfblogger) on Sep 17, 2018 at 12:04pm PDTThe Srixon Z 585 irons feature:1020 Carbon Steel forged construction A “Tour VT Sole” for more consistent ball striking and better turf interaction. A “Speed Groove” Forged Construction – An internal channel on the SUP10 face insert within the Z 585 Irons that allows for more face-flex, enhancing ball speed and distance. For me, the most interesting feature of the Srixon 585s is the Tour VT “V” shaped sole. I can’t recall seeing another like it. From the leading edge, the sole rises slightly to a crest line at the center, then descends toward the back. The design makes perfect sense, and I wonder why I haven’t seen it before. Just close your eyes for a moment and visualize a club with that sole striking the ground. In play, the VT sole really seemed to help pick the ball off the ground. My home course is a muni, with some of the most varied conditions I have ever experienced on a course. Parts of the fairways are lush; others are hardpan. The “rough” can be jungle-like. Or swampy. Or simply bare dirt. We’ve got grass, and weeds masquerading as grass. The VT sole performed well in all of those conditions. There’s just something about that “V” that encourages good contact. Visually, the Srixon Z 585 are a beautiful set of irons. The backs have an intricate diamond pattern to go with a clean black-and-silver look. At address, the Srixon Z 585s hit a good middle ground for me. They’re big enough to inspire confidence, while retaining that player’s club look. I like a club that makes me think I’m going to carve the ball out of the grass, and the Srixon Z 585s have that look. The Srizon Z 585 irons are available in 3 – AW with a wide variety of shafts. Srixon Vice President of Research and Development Jeff Brunski says that “The Z 585 Irons are yet another step forward for Srixon as we continue to produce some of the highest-performing irons designed for better players.” I am going to disagree with Srixon VP Jeff Brunski a little bit. The Srixon Z 585 irons are not just for “better players,” but also for those who aspire to be better players. If I had a full set, these would be my gamers. The Srixon Z 585 irons review was first published on October 17, 2018 and is based on playtesting with irons provided by Srixon....
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Golf Grill SetNovember 16, 2018 Golf Grill Set Ridiculous Golf Item of the Week...
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Meijer LPGA Classic Volunteer Wins Inaugural XL Catlin Volunteer Service AwardNovember 15, 2018Meijer LPGA Classic Volunteer Wins Inaugural XL Catlin Volunteer Service Award Ellen Bruinsma Wins Inaugural XL Catlin Volunteer Service Award Bruinsma’s selection earns the Meijer LPGA Classic’s charity partner, Simply Give, a check for $10,000 NAPLES, Fla., Nov. 15, 2018 – Ellen Bruinsma, chairperson of Volunteer Services for the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, has earned the inaugural XL Catlin Volunteer Service Award for exemplifying the spirit of volunteerism and going above and beyond expectations in her tournament role. The award, presented by global (re) insurance leader XL Catlin, was established to honor deserving volunteers at each event during the LPGA Tour season. Every tournament week, a nominated volunteer receives a recognition plaque and his/her story of volunteerism is shared on LPGA.com and throughout LPGA and local media outlets. One of those nominees is then selected at the end of the season to win $10,000, a sum that will go to the charity of the tournament which nominated the volunteer. In addition, that nominee will receive an LPGA prize package. With Bruinsma winning the 2018 XL Catlin Volunteer Service Award, a check for $10,000 was handed over on Wednesday night to the Meijer LPGA Classic’s charity partner, Simply Give – on the eve of this week’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Fla. “The XL Catlin LPGA Volunteer Award allowed us to tell the amazing stories of so many dedicated volunteers throughout the 2018 season,” said Kelly Hyne, the LPGA’s Chief Sales Officer. “We congratulate Ellen and thank XL Catlin for their partnership in benefiting the Meijer LPGA Classic’s charity partner Simply Give through this impactful program.” In nominating Bruinsma as the Meijer LPGA Classic’s deserving volunteer for 2018, tournament director Taylor Gleghorn said: “Ellen has been the chairperson of Volunteer Services for all five years of the tournament. She is often the first face to all volunteers and she makes sure to welcome every volunteer with a smile. Ellen is a wonderful ambassador to the tournament, even when she’s working the longest hours.” XL Catlin, a global company that provides insurance and reinsurance to clients in more than 215 countries, announced the launch of the season-long XL Catlin Volunteer Service Award in November last year when it became an Official Marketing Partner in the LPGA family. “We are pleased to partner with the LPGA and to play our part in recognizing the hard work, dedication and enthusiasm shown by all the volunteers,” said Greg Hendrick, CEO of AXA XL. “Often the unsung heroes, we are delighted to take this opportunity to celebrate the invaluable role they play and to support Simply Give in honor of Ellen Bruinsma and the Meijer LPGA Classic.” About XL Group Ltd XL Group Ltd (NYSE:XL), through its subsidiaries and under the XL Catlin brand, is a global insurance and reinsurance company providing property, casualty and specialty products to industrial, commercial and professional firms, insurance companies and other enterprises throughout the world. Clients look to XL Catlin for answers to their most complex risks and to help move their world forward. To learn more, visit www.xlgroup.com. About the LPGA The LPGA is the world’s leading professional golf organization for women. Founded in 1950 and headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla., the association celebrates a diverse and storied membership with more than 2,300 members representing more than 30 countries. With a vision to inspire, empower, educate and entertain by showcasing the very best of women’s golf, LPGA Tour Professionals compete across the globe, while the Symetra Tour, the official development and qualifying tour of the LPGA, consistently produces a pipeline of talent ready for the world stage. Additionally, LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals directly impact the game through teaching, coaching and management. The LPGA demonstrates its dedication to the development of the game through The LPGA Foundation. Since 1991, this charitable organization has been committed to empowering and supporting girls and women through developmental and humanitarian golf initiatives, such as LPGA*USGA Girls Golf....
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Cortex Wins Driver vs Driver 2November 15, 2018Cortex Wins Driver vs Driver 2 I just caught up with the final episode of Driver v Driver 2, Wilson’s Shark-Tank-Like golf reality show. In spite of initial skepticism about the ability to remain interesting for a second season, I enjoyed watching it. It is without a doubt the best reality show Golf Channel has done. The show came down to Cortex and Rozwell, two drivers that actually had some interesting ideas. Cortex has a titanium cage, into which carbon fiber panels were set and a huge sliding weight. Roswell had a weight pattern that looked like a stylized infinity sign, and a carbon crown based on bone structures. Or something like that, Like many on the show, my head started spinning when designer Tim Slama started talking about it. Ultimately, the judges decided on Evan Hoffman’s Cortex design. Hoffman won the $250,000 prize, and the driver is now available for purchase at Wilson. “Season Two of the show yielded two amazing finalists; the Cortex and the Rozwell,” said Tim Clarke, President of Wilson Golf. “Ultimately, the Cortex came out on top with its clean, classic shape, overall consistent performance results from a wide range of player testers, and steady sound across the entire face of the club. We are excited to get this driver into the hands of players at all levels of the game.” Rozwell designer Tim Slama didn’t walk away with his hands empty, though. Wilson was so impressed with the Oregon State engineering student’s design that they are paying for his final year of college and offering him a job when he graduates. Kudos to Wilson Sports for that. I would not be surprised to see a Rozwell-like driver from Wilson in the future. Evan Hoffman’s winning Cortex design got a lot of rave reviews from testers on the show. It is innovative and seemingly produced great results without straying far from a classic driver look. The Cortex features:Fast Cage TechnologyComprises a weight-tuned titanium internal structure inside the club head that is covered with 44 percent carbon fiber for precise weight distribution and maximum adjustability.Sliding Adjustable WeightsPossessing a 2-gram and 8-gram weight, golfers can easily switch the positions of the weights to help promote a neutral, draw or a fade off the tee.Longest Slide TrackCortex offers Wilson’s longest slide track to give golfers a wide range of spin options to help deliver a low launching ball flight or a high launch angle for maximum carry distance.Fast Fit Hosel SystemCortex comes with a Fast Fit hosel system with six adjustable loft options to allow players to fine tune the loft of the driver in half-degree increments. Hosel is backwards compatible, making the Cortex compatible with shafts from other Wilson Staff drivers.While Driver v Driver was over in just six short episodes, Hoffman worked with Wilson engineers over eighteen months. Given that lead time before the show was aired, I wonder if Wilson is already working on a Driver v Driver 3. For my part, I think it would be interesting for them to try a Putter v Putter. After all, you drive for show and putt for dough. ...
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The Harrington JacketNovember 15, 2018Harrington Jackets on Amazon. I am currently shopping around for a nice Harrington Jacket. First produced in the 1930s, the Harrington Jacket was originally intended for golfers. The original manufacturer, Baracuta, was owned by two golfing brothers, John and Issac Miller. The design certainly fits the bill, with its loose fit and ribbed wrists and waist. The interior was done in a Fraser tartan. Pockets were slanted and flapped. The Baracuta model is known as a G9 — the “G” is for golf. Originally called a “Blouson” (french for short wool), it acquired the name Harrington when it was worn by Ryan O’Neal in Peyton Place. His character’s name was Rodney Harrington. Harrington style jackets today are iconic, and iconically cool. James Dean wore a red Harrington style jacket in Rebel Without A Cause. Elvis wore one in King Creole. Steve McQueen, the King of Cool himself, wore them regularly. Daniel Craig as James Bond 007 even got into a Harrington Jacket in Quantum of Solace. The brilliant thing about these jackets is that you can wear them anywhere and with nearly everything. They’ll look good with jeans or khakis, polos or button downs. And they’re appropriate for a wide variety of social settings. ...
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CME Group LPGA Tour Championship Preview – 2018November 14, 2018CME Group LPGA Tour Championship Preview – 2018 2018 LPGA SEASON ENDS WITH CME GROUP TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP After 31 tournaments, 25 winners, 13 host countries and one international team competition, the 2018 LPGA Tour season wraps up this week with the CME Group Tour Championship. World No. 1 and the season’s dominant player Ariya Jutanugarn leads the field of 72 elite players, with 12 women vying for the $1 million bonus that goes to the winner of the Race to the CME Globe. The Race to the CME Globe is a season-long points competition in which LPGA Members accumulate points in every Official LPGA Tournament. Following the Blue Bay LPGA, the top 72 LPGA Members, as well as any non-member winners and any alternates, in the Race to the CME Globe points standings were seeded into the championship field. For the top five players, it’s easy – win the CME Group Tour Championship and take home $1 million. However, the top 12 in the points race all have a mathematical chance to take the title of Race to the CME Globe Champion and win the coveted check. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE CME GROUP TOUR CHAMPIONSHIPThis is the fifth playing of the CME Group Tour Championship and the fifth consecutive year it will be played on Tiburon Golf Club’s Gold Course All four past champions are in this week’s field – Lydia Ko (2014), Cristie Kerr (2015), Charley Hull (2016) and Ariya Jutanugarn (2017) Shanshan Feng won the CME Titleholders on this same golf course in 2013 The tournament’s low 18-hole score is 62, set by Lydia Ko in the second round in 2016 The tournament’s low 72-hole score is 19-under 269, set by Charley Hull in 2016HUMBLE JUTANUGARN NOT FOCUSED ON POTENTIAL GLORY What is Ariya Jutanugarn’s biggest takeaway from her stellar 2018 season? She loves feeling “free” on the golf course, and when she’s feeling “free,” the sky is the limit for the 22-year-old Thai phenom. “When I’m nervous, when I’m scared, I worry because I think about the outcome, because I want to play well,” said Jutanugarn, who is No. 1 in the Race to the CME Globe reset points and has the most chances to earn the $1 million bonus. “I want to hit this shot good because I care about other people, what they’re going to thinking about me. But then I have to come back to myself and know that other people’s expectations are not my expectation. I have to know what is my expectation, because I expect to have a good commitment with every shot. I expect myself to have fun, enjoy and feel free on the course.” Jutanugarn could take a clean sweep of the season’s award. She has already clinched 2018 Rolex Player of the Year honors, as well as the Money Title and the LEADERS Top 10s competition. She also leads the LPGA in scoring average at 69.431, with Jin Young Ko in second at 69.596 and Minjee Lee in third at 69.642. Projections show that if Jutanugarn finishes the season at her current stroke average, Ko needs to be 15 to 16 strokes better than Jutanugarn to pass her, while Lee would need to be 20 to 21 strokes better. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW DEFENDING CME GROUP TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER ARIYA JUTANUGARNJutanugarn has been No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings since October 29, a span of three weeks She has been World No. 1 a cumulative eight weeks over the last two years Jutanugarn won the 2017 CME Group Tour Championship with a birdie-birdie finish, taking a one-stroke win over Lexi Thompsonand Jessica Korda Jutanugarn has already clinched 2018 Rolex Player of the Year honors, as well as the Money Title and the LEADERS Top 10s competition Should Jutanugarn emerge victorious this week, shewould become the first player to win at least four events in a single season since she won five events in 2016RACE TO THE CME GLOBE RESET STANDINGSRank Player Reset Points1 Ariya Jutanugarn 50002 Minjee Lee 47503 Brooke Henderson 45004 Nasa Hataoka 42505 Sung Hyun Park 40006 Sei Young Kim 36007 Jin Young Ko 32008 So Yeon Ryu 28009 Moriya Jutanugarn 240010 Lydia Ko 210011 Marina Alex 180012 Carlota Ciganda 1600 RACE TO THE CME GLOBE WINNING SCENARIOS Ariya Jutanugarn – Guaranteed to win with a victory at the CME Group Tour Championship, finish 40th or better to have a chance 2. Minjee Lee – Guaranteed to win with a victory at the CME Group Tour Championship, finish 30th or better to have a chance 3. Brooke Henderson – Guaranteed to win with a victory at the CME Group Tour Championship, finish 12th or better to have a chance 4. Nasa Hataoka – Guaranteed to win with a victory at the CME Group Tour Championship, finish ninth or better to have a chance 5. Sung Hyun Park – Guaranteed to win with a victory at the CME Group Tour Championship, finish eighth or better to have a chance 6. Sei Young Kim – Finish sixth or better to have a chance 7. Jin Young Ko – Finish fourth or better to have a chance 8. So Yeon Ryu – Finish third or better to have a chance 9. Moriya Jutanugarn – Must win the CME Group Tour Championship and the following: Ariya Jutanugarn finish ninth or worse, Minjee Lee finish eighth or worse, Brooke Henderson finish seventh or worse, Nasa Hataoka finish sixth or worse, Sung Hyun Park finish fifth or worse and Sei Young Kim finish third or worse 10. Lydia Ko – Must win the CME Group Tour Championship and the following: Ariya Jutanugarn finish 12th or worse, Minjee Lee finish 10th or worse, Brooke Henderson finish eighth or worse, Nasa Hataoka finish seventh or worse, Sung Hyun Park finish sixth or worse, Sei Young Kim finish fifth or worse and Jin Young Ko finish third or worse 11. Marina Alex – Must win the CME Group Tour Championship and the following: Ariya Jutanugarn finish 26th or worse, Minjee Lee finish 12th or worse, Brooke Henderson finish 10th or worse, Nasa Hataoka finish eighth or worse, Sung Hyun Park finish seventh or worse, Sei Young Kim finish sixth or worse and Jin Young Ko finish fourth or worse 12. Carlota Ciganda – Must win the CME Group Tour Championship and the following: Ariya Jutanugarn finish 41st or worse, Minjee Lee finish 21st or worse, Brooke Henderson finish 12th or worse, Nasa Hataoka finish 10th or worse, Sung Hyun Park finish eighth or worse, Sei Young Kim finish seventh or worse, Jin Young Ko finish fifth or worse and So Yeon Ryu finish third or worseRACE TO THE CME GLOBE TIE SCENARIOS In the event of a tie in the Race to the CME Globe, the winner will be decided by a sudden-death playoff immediately following the completion of the competition. There are 19 potential tie scenarios that could happen based on player finish positions at the CME Group Tour Championship. For more information, contact a member of the LPGA Tour Media staff. LEE BELIEVES HER EXPERIENCE WILL SHINE AT CME Sitting at No. 2 in the Race to the CME Globe heading into the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, Minjee Lee has a plethora of quality finishes that provide a backdrop of experience she will take advantage of on the big stage this week. With a $1 million bonus prize on the line in addition to the normal tournament payout, Lee is ready to continue, and finish, her strong 2018 campaign. It has included a win at the LPGA Volvik Championship, as well as 12 other top-10 finishes and three runner-up results. One of those second-place showings came at the inaugural LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship in April when Lee fell to Lydia Ko on the first hole of a playoff. The finish did not derail her, but instead helped Lee grow even stronger. “All my experience in the last three years, I’m just a little bit more mature and settled in on the Tour so I know myself better and how to handle things,” said Lee, the No. 5 player in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. “In San Francisco I lost in a playoff, but to get myself in that position I was really happy. I’ve had a lot of great experiences this year and been in contention quite a lot but haven’t been able to win multiple times.” NOTABLE FIRST-ROUND GROUPINGS (all times local) Defending champion and Race No. 1 seed Ariya Jutanugarn is in the final group off the first tee at 10:41 a.m., alongside No. 2 seed Minjee Lee and No. 3 seed Brooke Henderson 2018 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award winner Jin Young Ko tees off at No. 1 at 10:19 a.m., joined by So Yeon Ryu and Moriya Jutanugarn SOCIAL MEDIA Tournament: @CMEGroupLPGA; @CMEGroupTourChamp (Instagram) LPGA: @LPGA, @LPGAMedia (Twitter), @lpga_tour (Instagram) TV TIMES (all times Eastern) Thursday, Nov. 15 – 4:30-7:30 p.m. (tape delay) on Golf Channel Friday, Nov. 16 – 4:30-7:30 p.m. (tape delay) on Golf Channel Saturday, Nov. 17 – 4:30-7:30 p.m. (tape delay) on Golf Channel Sunday, Nov. 18 – 1-4 p.m. on ABC ...
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RSM Classic Preview – 2018November 14, 20182018 The RSM Classic Dates: November 12-18, 2018 Where: Sea Island Golf Club Par/Yards: Seaside (host) 70/7,005; Plantation 72/6,907 2017 champion: Austin Cook Purse: $6,400,000/$1,152,000 FedExCup: 500 points to the winner Format: 72-hole stroke play Field: 156 Twitter: @TheRSMClassic 2018-19 PGA TOUR Season continues at The RSM Classic, wrapping up the Fall portion of the scheduleThe RSM Classic marks the eighth event of the 2018-19 PGA TOUR Season in a wraparound schedule that bridges two years with 46 events — 43 Regular Season events and three FedExCup Playoffs events. The fall includes eight FedExCup events, which began at the Safeway Open and ends this week at the Sea Island Golf Club. Following a break, the season resumes in January with the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. Significant changes for PGA TOUR in 2018-19 A season with a better flow from start to finish; a return of THE PLAYERS Championship to March, which kicks off a cadence of significant events over five months; and a season that concludes with the FedExCup Playoffs. Every week matters – four of the eight winners during the fall of 2017 qualified for the season-ending TOUR Championship (Justin Thomas, Patton Kizzire, Patrick Cantlay and FedExCup champion Justin Rose). The FedExCup Playoffs – which have been reduced from four to three events beginning this season and will conclude before Labor Day, allowing the TOUR to compete to own the August sports calendar – will feature fields of 125 for THE NORTHERN TRUST, 70 for the BMW Championship and 30 for the TOUR Championship, where the FedExCup Champion will be determined. A simplified, strokes-based scoring system at the TOUR Championship that crowns a singular champion. Instead of a points reset at the TOUR Championship, the TOUR is instituting a strokes-based system related to the FedExCup standings through the BMW Championship. TThe scoring system virtually replicates the win probabilities of the current system but uses strokes instead of points – which is much easier for golf fans, and the casual sports fan, to understand. The leader through the first two FedExCup Playoffs events will begin the TOUR Championship at 10-under par. The next four players will start at -8 through -5, respectively. The next five will begin at -4, regressing by one stroke per five players until players 26-30 start at even par. With the implementation of this change, the player with the lowest total score including FedExCup Starting Strokes will be the FedExCup champion and be credited with an official victory in the TOUR Championship. Two constants will the drama and the crowning of a deserving champion seen over the first 12 years of the FedExCup. Using next year’s scoring at the 2018 TOUR Championship, Justin Rose – thanks to a birdie on the 72nd hole — would have captured the FedExCup by a single stroke over Tiger Woods, Billy Horschel and Dustin Johnson. A $10 million Wyndham Rewards-sponsored bonus – the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 — where players will be rewarded for their outstanding play during the Regular Season, prior to the start of the FedExCup Playoffs.The top Regular Season finisher in FedExCup points through the Wyndham Championship will earn $2 million, followed by $1.5 million for the runner-up with the 10th-place finisher earning $500,000. Dustin Johnson led last year’s FedExCup standings through the Wyndham Championship, just 83 points ahead of Justin Thomas. Including the Wyndham Rewards Top 10, there will be a doubling of FedExCup total bonus money available to players, from $35 million to $70 million. A look back at Austin Cook’s win at The RSM Classic in 2017 Austin Cook converted a three-shot lead into a four-stroke victory over J.J. Spaun, carding birdies on three of his last four holes (Nos. 15, 17, 18) to finish 21-under 261 (one shy of Kevin Kisner’s tournament record from 2015). Cook earned his first career PGA TOUR victory in his 14th career TOUR start, and just his fourth official start as a member, at the age of 26 years, 8 months, 6 days. Cook became the fifth player to win in his first start at The RSM Classic. Following Heath Slocum’s win in the inaugural RSM Classic in 2010, Ben Crane (2011), Robert Streb (2014) and Mac Hughes (2016) also won in their first appearance. Cook became the fifth player who made The RSM Classic their first career PGA TOUR victory, including the four consecutive: Cook (2017), Mac Hughes (2016), Kevin Kisner (2015), Robert Streb (2014) and Tommy Gainey (2012). Cook set a tournament record for low 54-hole total with his score of 194. The previous record was 196 by the last two winners, Kevin Kisner (2015) and Mac Hughes (2016). Field Austin Cook returns for his first title defense on the PGA TOUR Tournament host Davis Love III will make his 761st official PGA TOUR start this week Past FedExCup champions: Jim Furyk (2010), Bill Haas (2011) Seven of eight past champions are competing (Austin Cook/2017, Mackenzie Hughes/2016, Kevin Kisner/2015, Robert Streb/2014, Chris Kirk/2013, Tommy Gainey/2012, Ben Crane/2011; inaugural 2010 winner Heath Slocum is not playing) Top-ranked player in the current FedExCup ranking (Cameron Champ/9) Players from the 2018 TOUR Championship (Webb Simpson, Patton Kizzire) Players with 10 or more wins: Davis Love III (21), Ernie Els (19), Jim Furyk (17), Zach Johnson (12) Top contenders Webb Simpson Entering the week#20 OWGR 6 Starts at The RSM Classic 2 Top-10s at The RSM Classic 263 PGA TOUR starts 5 PGA TOUR wins 1 PGA TOUR starts in 2018-19 0 Wins in 2018-19 0 Top-10s in 2018-19 106 Current 2018-19 FedExCup rankingWins (5)2011 Wyndham Championshi Deutsche Bank Championship 2012 S. Open 2013 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. 2018 THE PLAYERS Championship.Best 2018-19 results:T15/Shriners Hospitals for Children Open Finished T15 in his season debut at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open Starts at The RSM Classic: 2010 (T12), 2011 (2), 2013 (T7), 2014 (T41), 2016 (T36), 2017 (WD) Victory at THE PLAYERS Championship in 2018, his first on TOUR since 2013, led to an 11th-place finish in the FedExCup Kevin Kisner Entering the week#32 OWGR 7 Starts at The RSM Classic 3 Top-10s at The RSM Classic 186 PGA TOUR starts 2 PGA TOUR wins 1 PGA TOUR starts in 2018-19 0 Wins in 2018-19 0 Top-10s in 2018-19 N/R Current 2018-19 FedExCup rankingWins (2)2015 The RSM Classic. 2017 DEAN & DELUCA Invitational.esults: MC/Mayakoba Golf ClassicStarts at The RSM Classic: 2011 (T26), 2012 (MC), 2013 (T20), 2014 (T4), 2015 (1), 2016 (MC), 2017 (T4) Finished 47th in the FedExCup last season, snapping three straight trips to the TOUR Championship Sea Island connections Tournament host, Sea Island resident and “Team RSM” member Davis Love III headlines a growing list of players with Sea Island connections, with the majority training out of the state-of-the-art Sea Island Golf Performance Center. PGA TOUR professionals who live or train in the area include (but is not limited to) Davis Love III, Patton Kizzire, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Jonathan Byrd, Harris English, Brian Harman, J.T. Poston, Hudson Swafford, Josh Teater and Michael Thompson. Miscellaneous RSM Classic NotesThere have been three playoffs at The RSM Classic: o Ben Crane defeated Webb Simpson in 2011. Robert Streb outlasted Brendon de Jonge and Will Mackenzie in 2014. Mackenzie Hughes defeated Billy Horschel, Henrik Norlander, Blayne Barber and Camilo Villegas in 2016. Best come-from-behind victory: 7 strokes (Tommy Gainey, 2012). Best 18-hole score: 60 (Tommy Gainey, round four, 2012). Kevin Kisner owns the tournament scoring record (260 in 2015). Kisner also owns the event’s largest margin of victory (six strokes). Austin Cook (2017), Mackenzie Hughes (2016), Kevin Kisner (2015), Chris Kirk (2013) and Ben Crane (2010) have carried the 54-hole lead on to victory at the event. About RSMRSM US LLP is the sixth-largest global audit, tax and consulting network. RSM is celebrating its 92nd of operation and has firms in 120 countries. RSM features over 43,000 staff members in over 800 offices across the world. The change from the McGladrey Classic to The RSM Classic in 2015 reflected the title sponsor’s name change from McGladrey LLP to RSM US LLP. The Chicago-based firm announced in June, 2015 that the change would be occurring on October 26, 2015 to unite its international network under one brand and better showcase its global capabilities. “Team RSM” features Davis Love III, Zach Johnson, Chris Kirk, Chris DiMarco, Dru Love, Andy Sullivan, Paul Lawrie, Paul Waring, Hinrich Arkenau. ...
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TaylorMade M4 DriverNovember 14, 2018 TaylorMade M4 Driver Mad Science. That’s what the TaylorMade M4 driver is. It features:New face curvature w/corrective face angle on off-center hits, to reduce side spin & deliver straighter shots. Provides more loft in high-toe & less loft in low-heel for more consistent spin Hammerhead slot: the reinforced outer portions of the slot allow for a lighter, more flexible face, resulting in a larger sweet spot The center portion of the slot increases ball speed low on the face and drops unwanted spin for more distance GEOCOUSTIC: Shaped for a solid and explosive sound. Reduced sole volume enables a larger, more forgiving face....
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2018 Meijer LPGA Classic Champion Donates 1/3rd of Winnings to Simply GiveNovember 13, 20182018 Meijer LPGA Classic Champion Donates Portion of Winnings to Simply Give So Yeon Ryu donates $100,000 after the 5th annual tournament GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – For the first time in tournament history, the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give champion donated a portion of her winnings back to the retailer’s Simply Give program. Tournament representatives and So Yeon Ryu from the Republic of Korea today announced the $100,000 donation to the program that stocks the shelves of the retailer’s food pantry partners across the Midwest. “On Pro-am day, I was joined with the CEO of Meijer and had a chance to learn more about the Simply Give program,” Ryu said. “I decided to donate to the program if I win this tournament, and that became my motivation. I am very happy that I could keep the promise to myself.” A crowd of enthusiastic fans braved the steamy weather and lined the ropes at Blythefield Country Club June 12-17 to watch a competitive field of 144 world-class golfers play 72 holes of stroke play. Ultimately, Ryu shot 21 under par in the final round to claim the title as Meijer LPGA Classic champion. Ryu won $300,000 from the $2 million purse, which is shared among the Top 10 players. “Thanks to So Yeon Ryu’s generosity, the impact of the Meijer LPGA Classic is extended to additional hungry neighbors in the communities we serve,” said Rick Keyes, Meijer President & CEO. “I had the opportunity to spend time with her during tournament week and explain the importance of the Simply Give program. We’re thankful at just how much she appreciates, and supports, what our tournament is trying to accomplish.” The 2018 Meijer LPGA Classic was the fifth annual tournament benefiting the Meijer Simply Give program. Together with Ryu’s donation, the five tournaments have generated $4.3 million for food pantries across the Midwest to feed hungry neighbors. The 2019 Meijer LPGA Classic will return to Blythefield Country Club from June 11-16. Meijer started Simply Give in November 2008 and has since generated more than $43 million for its food pantry partners. About Meijer: Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates more than 240 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. A privately-owned and family-operated company since 1934, Meijer has a fundamental philosophy aimed at strengthening the communities it serves and proudly donates more than 6 percent of its net profit each year to charities throughout the Midwest. With hunger as a corporate philanthropic focus, Meijer partners with hundreds of food banks and pantries through its Simply Give and food rescue programs. Meijer also supports education, disaster relief, and health and wellness initiatives. For additional information on Meijer philanthropy, please visit www.meijercommunity.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer and @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer. About Blythefield Country Club: Located just north of Grand Rapids, Blythefield has been providing families the best golf and social experience in West Michigan since 1928. With the Rogue River flowing through, Blythefield boasts one of the most beautiful championship layouts in Michigan. Previously, Blythefield has hosted the 1953 Western Amateur, the 1961 Western Open, won by Arnold Palmer, and the 2005 Western Junior won by Rickie Fowler. Beginning in 2014, Blythefield is honored to host the Meijer LPGA Classic. Learn more about Blythefield Country Club at www.blythefieldcc.org....
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Race To The CME Globe Winners and HistoryNovember 13, 2018Race To The CME Globe Winners and History The Race To The CME Globe is a season long points race on the LPGA Tour. Introduced in 2014, the race culminates in the CME Group Tour Championship. During the LPGA season, players accumulate points based on tournament finishes. The winner of the Race to the CME Globe is determined through a combination of season-long points, and points earned during the CME Group Tour Championship. To prevent a forgone conclusion to the season, points are reset before the CME Group Tour Championship, based on each player’s position in the points list. Points earned during the Tour Championship are then added to the “reset points” to determine the overall Race to the CME Globe Winner. The “reset” points are such that only the top 12 actually have a chance of winning the Race To The CME Globe. Points are awarded at all official events. In most events, players who make the cut earn points based on their position. In no-cut tournaments, only those in the top 40 and ties earn CME Globe points. Lorena Ochoa Match Play participants who advance to the round of 32 earn points. Winners of regular tour events earn 500 points; a second place finish is worth 300; third, 190 and so forth. Winners of majors earn 625 points, with a second being worth 375. The Tour Championship field consists of the top 72 players in the points standings, non-members with a win, and members who are not in the top 72, but who have a win. Race To The CME Globe winners receive a $1 million bonus. First place winners of the Tour Championship receive a$500,000 share of the $2.5 million purse. The CME in the title is CME Group, a Chicago-based financial securities group. CME recently extended its sponsorship to 2023. A list of Race To The CME Globe Winners follows:...
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DP World Championship Winners and HistoryNovember 13, 2018The DP World Championship is the final event in the European Tour’s Race To Dubai. The tournament is held at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai. When it was first held in 2009, the Race To Dubai replaced the Order of Merit (money list). The tournament features the top 60 players in the year-long Race To Dubai. The winner of the Race To Dubai receives a ten-year European Tour exemption, while the winner of the Dubai World Championship tournament receives a five-year European Tour exemption. The title sponsor is DP World, a shipping company based in Dubai. The complete list of DP World Championship Winners follows:...
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Honma Beres S-06 DriverNovember 13, 2018Honma Beres S-06 Driver This gold number will only set you back $4, 299.99. Honma calls this the “ultimate premium golf club” with “The finest craftsmanship that Honma’s master craftsmen haver ever designed.” It features:Face deflection strongly supported by the new crown and sole design The resilience of the crown and sole by deflection on impact supports clubface repulsion The impact from a hit is transmitted effectively to the crown and sole by the face design. The three new internal ribs extended from the face exert the never-before-seen interlocking effect between parts, resulting in high resilience and efficiency. * The face designed to give the highest performance. The Ti-6-4 high-density forging method allows for a partially different thickness design based on thorough calculation, providing the most efficient face deflection. The shaft is specially designed for the S-05 with a high launch angle and head speed ensures a longer carry distance. The stiffness distribution adds the stable direction of the hit to the excellent grip....
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RSM Classic Winners and HistoryNovember 12, 2018In 2015, consulting firm McGladrey changed its name to RSM, and so too did the McGladrey Classic. Now renamed the RSM Classic, the tournament is played on Sea Island at the Sea Island Golf Club. The tournament is organized by the Davis Love Foundation. Davis Love III is a resident of Sea Island. The inaugural event in 2010 was won by Heath Slocum, one stroke ahead of runner-up Bill Haas. Beginning in 2015, the event has been be played in November and the field expanded to 156 players. A second course was added to the event. A list of RSM Classic winners follows:...
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Titleist Scotty Cameron Golo PutterNovember 12, 2018 Titleist Scotty Cameron Golo Putter What makes a putter worth $33, 577? I don’t know either, but that’s what this Cameron GoLo is being offered for on Amazon. Check the link to see for yourself....
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