Golfing News & Blog Articles

Two members of the TaylorMade SIM2 driver family landed on the USGA list this morning and we expect there will be at least one more added before the drivers hit retail in early 2021.

The new models (SIM2 and SIM2 MAX) give PGA TOUR players the option of putting them in play as soon as this week. Time with the Tour in mind would also explain the absence of the SIM2 MAX D (draw-biased) version which we can only assume will hit the list at a later date.

While Keegan Bradley put the SIM MAX D in play this year, generally speaking, there’s not much demand for draw-biased drivers on Tour.

TaylorMade SIM2 Drivers – What’s New?

The USGA’s photos don’t tell us much about what updates TaylorMade will be making to its aerodynamically driven Shape in Motion story but it appears the larger tale behind the TaylorMade SIM2 drivers will be powered by what the company chose to remove from the new models.

As is plainly apparent from the photos, neither TaylorMade SIM2 driver model features an adjustable weight track. The visible weights on the trailing edge and in the front are likely for swing-weighting purposes only.

Is newer really better?

We are led to believe by all the ads that we should be hitting 400-yd drives by now. Is it all just a bunch of hype and marketing? If you buy that new $500 new driver will the newest technology really make a difference? This is the most requested test by MyGolfSpy readers. So, we had to find out the answer. We just completed testing of the past 5 years of MyGolfSpy #MostWanted winners in a head-to-head-to-head-to-head-to-head driver test.

But before we reveal the results we want you to guess who will win.

GIVEAWAY

Monday, December 21st, 2020 (mark your calendars) we will be announcing the winner of the 5-year driver test. But, first, let’s have some fun! If you can guess (1st – 5th) place winners in order you will win a $500 gift card to GlobalGolf!

Here we have the Miura Giken TB-ZERO blade, which is Miura Japan’s latest muscle back. Today, we have a particular version produced in limited numbers using a material process called fe 99.3% pure. Why would Miura Japan create a second version using a different technique? The simple answer is for a softer feel, as Miura’s are known to deliver firm feedback outside of the clubface center. This is what better players often want, yet Miura irons are known to fall short in softness outside of the face center mostly due to the design and the fact they use spin welded hosel’s they acquire from the foundry TADA mfg in Himeji. Spin welded hosels can be a somewhat controversial topic, yes they are inferior to a single-piece forging, but it’s virtually impossible to tell. There are a few other brands that use them; they cost less in design and in-mold production. I know some guys at Endo and Honma who can spot spin welded just looking at it, but 99.99% will never see the difference.

Oh, and before I forget, Miura’s lawyers want me to write that we are no longer an authorized dealer. There are many reasons I’m sure you guys would find surprising, and I won’t get into it. One thing has been clear, Miura Global doesn’t want the rest of the world to see or purchase the best and newest versions offered by Miura Giken Japan. Both are quality products made the same way, but to put it simply, many of the global products are dated, Japanese models. For example, the “new” MB-101 is the 2007 MB-5003 from Japan. The baby blade and 1957 blade, as they are known in the USA, are designs so old they have not been used for almost two decades in Japan. The TOUR wedge in Japan is made of FE99% standard while the global model is not, So one would only guess that the TB-Zero from Japan is Miura globals next blade model in a year or two, hopefully not ten years from now like some of the others. Feel free to cross-reference the release years (here)

Matt Kuchar and Harris English became the first team to win the QBE Shootout three times, finished at 37-under 179 to break the mark of 34 under they set in 2013, and won by nine strokes to top their 2013 record of seven.

Englishman Lee Westwood was crowned Europe's number one golfer for the third time in his career with a second-placed finish on Sunday behind compatriot Matthew Fitzpatrick, who won the European Tour's season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

The final round of the U.S. Women's Open has been pushed to Monday due to thunderstorms.

Hinako Shibuno passed a big test Saturday in a classic U.S. Women's Open that put a premium on par, keeping the lead with a 3-over 74 going into a final round at Champions Golf Club that figures to be the toughest of all.

Matt Kuchar and Harris English took a five-stroke lead Saturday in the QBE Shootout, opening and closing with long birdie runs for an 11-under 61 in modified alternate-shot play.

American Patrick Reed carded a disappointing third-round 71 to drop into a share of the lead with Laurie Canter and Matthew Fitzpatrick at the European Tour's season-ending DP World Tour Championship on Saturday.

Hinako Shibuno opened a 3-shot lead over Linn Grant at the U.S. Women's Open, where Nelly Korda and Lexi Thompson were among the notables to miss the cut.

Kevin Na and Sean O'Hair teamed to shoot a 16-under 56 in the scramble format Friday to take the first-round lead in the QBE Shootout.

Dec. 11, 2020

Steph Curry Event Unlikely in 2021; Safeway Open In Limbo

Amidst a flurry of activity, it appears that there’s some possible changes coming to the NorCal golf scene.

As first reported by San Francisco Chronicle golf writer and NCGA Golf Magazine regular contributor Ron Kroichick, it appears that Warrior star Steph Curry’s plans to hold a new PGA Tour event at TPC Harding Park have hit a bump. The inaugural event was to possibly be held in September 2021, but it now looks like that won’t happen.

As part of that news, Medinah Country Club in Chicago was named the new host of the 2026 Presidents Cup, as first reported by Golfchannel.com.

TPC Harding Park had been tabbed to host the Cup, but relinquished its rights to the biennial match in its pursuit of having Curry host an event at the course.

The post Sacramento Valley’s Senior Amateur appeared first on Northern California Golf Association.

The post Sacramento Valley’s Women’s Amateur appeared first on Northern California Golf Association.

American Patrick Reed carded a superb eight-under-par 64 in the second round to take a two-shot lead over Matthew Fitzpatrick at the European Tour's season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

The Americans will get another chance to win a cup at Medinah, which has been awarded the Presidents Cup in 2026.

The purpose of the BagBoy Tracker is drawing stick figures on a whiteboard simple. Its function is to give golfers answers to questions we’ve all asked but probably haven’t taken the time to answer.

How far do you actually walk during a round of golf?

Three miles? Five miles? More?

What about the number of calories you burn? (Probably more than you think.)

It might not be a revolutionary device and it probably won’t save you any strokes but it will help you quantify the health benefits of walking and remove some guilt about that second bowl of ice cream.

The PGA Tour's effort to bring spectators back to golf tournaments will proceed slowly into 2021, with only the Waste Management Phoenix Open looking to have a significant number of fans on site.

As LPGA Tour players compete this week in the last major of 2020 at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas, don’t be surprised to see many of them pull out hybrids and cavityback irons from their bags. This is true for the longest hitters as well as the most accurate players. Why? Because these clubs are more forgiving than long irons and blades.

And, truth be told, the average male golfer would benefit from a bag makeup that’s more like an LPGA player’s.

Before you argue, let’s look at the facts.

Average Joes versus The Best Women in the World

The average male golfer swings his driver at 93.4 mph. The average LPGA player has a driver swing speed of 94 mph. So, unless you’re swinging at 114 mph like the elite men, put away that extra-stiff driver in favor of a more flexible shaft.

But for most men, the fascination of what is in a pro’s bag centers around PGA TOUR players. With rare exception, the victims of this misguided focus are male amateur golfers.

Amy Olson, helped by a hole-in-one on No. 16, shot a 4-under 67 in Thursday's first round to lead the U.S. Women's Open by 1 shot.