/ Geoff Shackelford
Hideki Matsuyama's tactical decision and a go-for-the-green 3-wood shows what can make pro golf genuinely thrilling. Gosh it’s fun when to see a player go for a par-5 in two with a wood!
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Srixon Z-STAR DIVIDE – Key Takeaways
Srixon’s Tour-level Z-STAR and Z-STAR XV get the two-color DIVIDE treatment.$44.99 per dozenAvailable Jan. 21The new Srixon Z-STAR DIVIDE yellow/white golf balls beg one simple and obvious question.
Why?
Fortunately, there’s a simple and obvious answer to that simple and obvious question.
Why the hell not?
I’m sure a bit more went into Srixon’s decision-making than why the hell not? There had to be questions of market potential, unit forecasting, break-even points, new-equipment capital expenditure and amortization, the potential for cannibalizing existing sales versus market share growth and so on. Those are all for the grown-ups to decide.
As a sizable herd prepares to descend on Saudi Arabia in a few weeks to cash in and talk league golf with Greg Norman’s pals, there are signs that the Crown Prince’s act is wearing then. Except with autocrat-tolerating pro golfers.
While the potential damage to sportwashing may make those at the Global Home feel better about the likelihood of Saudis failing at disruption, the damage done to the “product” may be just as painful.
Last week Bryson DeChambeau, who has been blowing off press sessions even when he’s endorsed by the tournament sponsor, gladly talked about the Public Investment Fund Saudi International Powered by Softbank Investment Advisers (PIFSIPSIA).
It’s amazing what happens when the fees are paid by folks linked to murder instead of mortgages! From Steve DiMeglio’s item at Golfweek:
“So, not a politician, first off,” he said Thursday in a video conference with the media ahead of next month’s tournament in the Middle East. “I’m a golfer, first and foremost, and I want to play where the best golfers in the world are going to play. And that is the end of the story for me.”
Hideki Matsuyama made up a five-shot deficit on the back nine and then won the Sony Open in a playoff with one of the best shots he never saw, a 3-wood into the sun to 3 feet for an eagle to beat Russell Henley on Sunday.
It’s not a huge surprise to read of Kevin Kisner’s frustration over getting passed over in recent Cup Captain’s picks. After stellar play in 2017’s Presidents Cup, Kisner seemed like a wise candidate for Paris the following year. Especially given the likelihood of the European’s narrowing landing areas and nullifying long driving. He was passed over for Royal Melbourne’s 2019 Presidents Cup despite being a strong fit for the course and format. And as he continued to emerge as an incredible match play golfer, culminating in a 2019 WGC match play win, his game was seen as less suited to the (ultimately successful) plan for Whistling Straits: bomb’s away!
Either way Kisner’s no Task Force fan based on comments made in the Subpar podcast hosted by Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz.
From Golf.com’s story by James Colgan detailing Kisner’s gripes:
“I don’t know, man. They don’t like me I, guess,” Kisner told GOLF’s Subpar podcast. “I’ve had the same phone call for about four [Ryder Cups] in a row from about every captain. ‘Man, you were on the team and then you didn’t play well in the playoffs.’ OK, bud.”
If match play resume is part of the criteria, Kisner certainly has an argument. In five starts at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, between 2016-2021, he’s 16-6-2, including a victory at the event in 2019.
Golf is a pastime of the open air—“a blowing away of mental cobwebs,” runs the famous phrase—and in golf there is, or ought to be, no place for the cheat, the ignoramus, or the opportunist where the rules are concerned. It is impossible to eradicate cheating entirely and there will always be some golfers eager to profit by the letter of the law to the detriment of the spirit. But I believe the great majority of golfers are men and women enjoying the game for the game’s sake and willing to obey both letter and spirit. GEOFFREY COUSINS
Russell Henley fired a 3-under 67 Saturday at the Sony Open in Hawaii and earned a two-shot lead over Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama with one round to go on the Waialae course in Honolulu.
Anyone who has been privileged to play such courses as Prestwick, St.Andrews, Dornoch or North Berwick in Scotland cannot forget the joys of tantalizing little hummocks and the golfing appearance they give those courses. Over and over again, my American friends who have played those British courses remark to me on the charming variation one gets in lies on fairways and the shots up to the hole where hummocks exist.
TOM SIMPSON
Russell Henley played his final six holes in 6 under and finished with a 63 on Friday to take a three-shot lead in the Sony Open. First-round leader Kevin Na fell seven back.
Anyone who has been privileged to play such courses as Prestwick, St.Andrews, Dornoch or North Berwick in Scotland cannot forget the joys of tantalizing little hummocks and the golfing appearance they give those courses. Over and over again, my American friends who have played those British courses remark to me on the charming variation one gets in lies on fairways and the shots up to the hole where hummocks exist.
TOM SIMPSON
Anyone who has been privileged to play such courses as Prestwick, St.Andrews, Dornoch or North Berwick in Scotland cannot forget the joys of tantalizing little hummocks and the golfing appearance they give those courses. Over and over again, my American friends who have played those British courses remark to me on the charming variation one gets in lies on fairways and the shots up to the hole where hummocks exist.
TOM SIMPSON
For 2022, Mizuno has launched ST-X 220 and ST-Z 220 driversIncreased stability is the emphasis for both modelsRetail price is $449. Availability begins February 3rd
In our story on Mizuno’s new drool-worthy Mizuno Pro Iron lineup, we talked about a new approach at Mizuno. Call it a modernization perhaps or simply the necessary adaptation to the changing nature of golf. Evidenced by that Mizuno Pro, however, is the notion that a newly modern Mizuno isn’t likely do anything radical—no red faces on these drivers.
The release of new ST-Z 220 and ST-X 220 drivers is all about steady progression. Improvement without embellishment—performance with universal appeal that still speaks to the guy who loves Mizuno for what it has always been.
With that in mind, don’t expect the ST-Z 220 and ST-X 220 to be radical departures from what came before them.
Premium Beta Titanium CORETECH Face
For 2022, Mizuno has launched ST-X 220 fairway woods and hybridsIncreased launch and slight draw bias is the emphasisRetail price is $229 (fairway) $224 (hybrid). Availability begins February 3rd
Mizuno makes historically and quantifiably kick-ass irons. Use any metric you’d like but that’s the case and pretty much everyone gets that.
However, the primary opportunity cost for that success has been an admittedly lackluster line of metalwoods. At least until several generations ago.
One could argue that the 2019 ST 190 driver served as a line of demarcation. At that point, Mizuno acknowledged that the primary barrier to entry is top-end ball speed. Meaning that while a driver might have plenty of wonderful features, nothing can overcome a lack of top-tier ball speed. In the driver world, speed is currency and Mizuno didn’t have enough disposable income.
Since that point, Mizuno’s renewed focus on fairway woods and hybrids has allowed the brand to take a stance that its entire metalwood line-up is no longer an industry afterthought.
The rare combination of head and heart is why no one in golf can reach more people more quickly and with more cooperation than Tim Rosaforte. Along with having the cellphone numbers of hundreds of pros on the men’s and women’s world rankings, Tim has the numbers of their agents, swing coaches, caddies, trainers, parents, spouses, siblings, best friends, college coaches and teammates, etc. Watching Tim work his cell on a Sunday night against a hard deadline would have had Hildy Johnson in awe. JAIME DIAZ
The rare combination of head and heart is why no one in golf can reach more people more quickly and with more cooperation than Tim Rosaforte. Along with having the cellphone numbers of hundreds of pros on the men’s and women’s world rankings, Tim has the numbers of their agents, swing coaches, caddies, trainers, parents, spouses, siblings, best friends, college coaches and teammates, etc. Watching Tim work his cell on a Sunday night against a hard deadline would have had Hildy Johnson in awe. JAIME DIAZ
