Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa set the early pace at the Kroger Queen City Championship with a 7-under-par 65 in the first round Thursday in Maineville, Ohio.
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In an age of finely tuned college players and NIL deals, the U.S. Mid-Amateur’s eclectic field is a refreshing throwback.
The post The most intriguing field in men’s golf? It’s not on PGA Tour or LIV appeared first on Golf.
Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee ripped LIV Golf ratings. “LIV remains in the witness protection program of sports viewership.”
The post ‘Witness protection program of sports viewership’: Brandel Chamblee rips LIV ratings appeared first on Golf.
Rory McIlroy lost the clubhead on his 9-iron and then lost the lead by going out of bounds on the last hole, shooting an eventful 5-under 67 in the first round of the BMW PGA Championship.
The PGA of America announced that LIV Golf players are eligible to compete in both the PGA Championship and U.S. Ryder Cup teams going forward.
Mastering the fundamentals of golf is key to improving your game and achieving consistency on the course. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you focus on the essential elements of golf:
1. Grip
- Grip Types: The three main grips are the Overlap Grip, Interlock Grip, and Baseball Grip. Experiment to find which feels most comfortable and effective for you.
- Grip Pressure: Hold the club with a firm but not overly tight grip. Your grip pressure should be light enough to allow for wrist hinge but firm enough to control the club.
- Hand Position: For a right-handed golfer, your left hand should be at the top of the grip, and your right hand should fit just below it. Both hands should work together as a unit.
2. Stance and Posture
- Stance: Position your feet shoulder-width apart for stability. Your weight should be evenly distributed between both feet.
- Posture: Bend from your hips, keeping your back straight and knees slightly flexed. Your arms should hang naturally in front of you, and your body should be tilted slightly forward.
3. Alignment
- Target Line: Align your body parallel to the target line. Your feet, hips, and shoulders should be aligned with where you want the ball to go.
- Clubface Alignment: Ensure that the clubface is square to the target line at address. This helps in hitting the ball accurately.
4. Swing Mechanics
- Backswing: Start your backswing by turning your shoulders and hips while keeping your arms relaxed. Your wrists should hinge naturally as you bring the club back.
- Downswing: Initiate the downswing by rotating your hips and transferring your weight from your back foot to your front foot. Keep your head still and your eyes on the ball.
- Follow-Through: Finish your swing with a smooth follow-through, allowing your body to rotate fully. Your weight should shift to your front foot, and your hips should face the target.
5. Short Game Fundamentals
- Chipping: Use a slightly open stance and position the ball in the center of your stance. Focus on a pendulum-like motion with your shoulders to control the chip.
- Pitching: For pitch shots, use a slightly open stance and a more upright swing. The goal is to get the ball airborne quickly and land it softly on the green.
- Putting: Use a straight-back, straight-through stroke with minimal wrist movement. Focus on keeping your body still and making a smooth, consistent stroke.
6. Mental Game
- Focus: Stay focused on one shot at a time. Avoid dwelling on past mistakes or future shots.
- Course Management: Make strategic decisions based on your strengths and the layout of the course. Play to your strengths and avoid unnecessary risks.
- Visualization: Visualize successful shots and positive outcomes before executing them. This helps build confidence and reduce anxiety.
7. Practice Routine
- Drills: Incorporate specific drills into your practice sessions to work on different aspects of your game, such as putting, chipping, and full swing.
- Consistency: Practice regularly and focus on maintaining consistency in your fundamentals. Regular practice helps reinforce good habits and improve performance.
- Feedback: Use video analysis or seek feedback from a coach to identify areas for improvement and ensure you’re maintaining proper technique.
8. Equipment
- Club Fitting: Ensure your clubs are fitted to your body and swing style. Properly fitted clubs can enhance your performance and comfort.
- Ball Selection: Choose a golf ball that suits your playing style and preferences. Different balls offer varying levels of control, distance, and feel.
9. Fitness
- Strength and Flexibility: Incorporate exercises that improve your strength, flexibility, and balance. A strong and flexible body helps in maintaining a consistent swing and preventing injuries.
- Core Stability: Focus on exercises that strengthen your core, as a stable core is essential for a balanced and powerful swing.
By focusing on these fundamental aspects of golf and incorporating them into your practice routine, you’ll build a solid foundation for improving your game and achieving better results on the course.
Topgolf Callaway is announcing a multiyear agreement with Golf Saudi to bring Topgolf Callaway brands to Saudi Arabia.
The deal, which was announced in a press release issued at 3 a.m. Eastern Time today (10 a.m. Riyadh time), includes plans to build three Topgolf facilities in Saudi Arabia by 2023, with an option for two more in the future. Those venues will be owned and operated by Golf Saudi.
Additionally, Callaway, Odyssey, TravisMathew and Ogio will be the official equipment and apparel brands for the Saudi men’s, women’s and junior national golf teams. Saudi Elite golf professionals and golf pros working at Golf Saudi facilities will also be sponsored by those brands.
Finally, Golf Saudi will be the official distributor of Callaway, Odyssey and Ogio products in Saudi Arabia.
What does this mean?
In the press release, Ben Sharpe, the current Managing Director and President of Callaway’s EMEA division, said: “We’re excited to enter another market in the Middle East with three (Topgolf) venues in Saudi Arabia. We have found a strong partner in Golf Saudi to help us bring our modern golf brands … to the region and help transform Saudi Arabia into an exceptional golfing nation.”
There are not too many legitimate complaints when it comes to the Masters and Augusta National. The tournament is outstanding in all facets—especially when it comes to the in-person experience for patrons.
One of the few (and perhaps only) glaring issues with the tournament in recent years has been the lackluster offering of its TV coverage. Thankfully, that is changing for 2025.
A little background here to set the scene: throughout most of its history, the Masters used to only show the back nine. It wasn’t until the 1997 tournament when TV viewers even saw a few holes on the front side. It took until 2002 (!) for full 18-hole coverage.
Historically, a part of the Masters TV philosophy has been exclusivity. They didn’t want you to sit around and watch 12 hours on TV because that, in the minds of the tournament hosts, took away from the mythical nature the event.
As time went on and technology evolved, that philosophy has become obsolete. Still, the Masters has held onto parts of that philosophy. Throughout the past two decades, Saturday TV coverage only started at 3 p.m. ET and Sunday coverage began at 2 p.m. ET. There was no other way to watch a main feed of the broadcast prior to that.
This time last year, I had the chance to play the beautiful Royal Dornoch. I’ve never experienced anything quite like it and it remains my favorite all-time golfing experience.
While I haven’t been able to make it back (having a baby this year foiled my plans), a new apparel collection from Mantra has me reliving my experience all over again. It’s no consolation but at least I can sit on the couch in a Scottish-inspired polo and an Irn Bru soda.
The Scottish Highlands Collection from Mantra encapsulates perfectly the feelings I had golfing on Scotland’s coast. It’s inspired by the rolling green hills, rugged terrain and misty moors of the home of golf. This much is evidenced by the deep, earth-tone colors and unique patterns that relate to the area’s unique biome.
The collection also uses tartans from the same region.
“We wanted to create a collection that not only honors the roots of golf but also connects our community to the incredible landscapes of the Scottish Highlands,” said Dominic Natalizio, Founder and CEO of Mantra. “Every piece in this collection is designed to evoke the spirit of Scotland while also providing the modern golfer with the performance and style they expect from Mantra.”
The Toulon Golf Small Batch Tulsa putter is inspired by the Tulsa Sound of the city of Tulsa, Okla.The Toulon Tulsa is a classic blade design with a fresh Toulon spin on the flow neck.Available Sept. 19 at ToulonGolf.com with a MSRP of $1,800.
Living on Tulsa time
Odds are I’m going to make some of the people who live in Tulsa feel slighted today. Not intentionally, of course, it’s just that I don’t know much about Tulsa. As such, I initially had no clue why Toulon would choose to name their latest Small Batch putter after this city in northeast Oklahoma.
There is a golf presence in Tulsa. The Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa has hosted quite a few major golf tournaments. The course has been the venue for three U.S. Opens, a handful of U.S. Amateur tournaments and five PGA Championships. The most recent major played there was the 2022 PGA Championship. Belated congratulations to Justin Thomas if he’s reading this.
That country club has an amazing tournament history but is that enough to name the putter after the city of Tulsa?
Maybe Sean Toulon is a big Sylvester Stallone fan and is all pumped up for Season 2 of Tulsa King.
As it turns out, Toulon’s reason for naming this Small Batch putter after Tulsa was not really golf or Stallone motivated. Instead, the motivator was sound.
Each week, we’re going to bring you the best deals to improve your game. Thursday is all about golf technology. Golf, similar to all sports, is more and more becoming a data driven sport. Advancements in rangefinders, shot trackers, wearable tech, and launch monitors, just to name a few, have exploded in recent years. Gaining insight on strengths and weaknesses in your game can help you tailor your practice to improve those specific areas holding you back.
Check out this week’s deals below to find tech deals to take your game to the next level.
Garmin Approach S62
Get all the information you need during your round on your wrist. With features like virtual caddie, plays like distance and green view, you’ll be lowering your scores in no time.
Bushnell Wingman View GPS Speaker
Features an LCD screen that provides GPS distance and music information, along with premium quality audio and the ability to receive audible GPS distances, the Wingman View offers golfers a “best in class” audio experience on the course.
Garmin Approach R10
Get more from your game with the Garmin R10. Track swing metrics while practicing on the range or play virtual rounds through compatible software like E6, Awesome Golf, and more.
Vortex Optics has been a dominant force in the hunting and outdoor optics industry, specializing in high-end scopes, sights, binoculars and rangefinders. In 2024, they launched a line of rangefinders specifically designed for the golfer. Featuring three models with varying price points and features, paired with their unconditional lifetime warranty, have they established themselves as a major player in another sporting category?
Their golf rangefinder line consists of three models: Blade, Blade Slope and Anarch. The Blade is the base version and includes a cart magnet and pin-spotter mode. The Blade Slope builds on those features by adding a slope function. The Anarch, their premium model, adds a red display and image stabilization. All models are tournament legal, shockproof and waterproof.
Four members of the MyGolfSpy Forum were selected to put the Vortex line of rangefinders through rigorous testing. Read on to see what they have to say and if Vortex deserves consideration when you’re shopping for an upgrade.
Vortex rangefinder testing highlights
Optics Quality: Testers raved about the crystal-clear optics throughout the line of rangefinders. 6X zoom made it easy to locate targets and Anarch testers noted that the image-stabilization feature made it easy to lock on to both pins and hazards on-course.Build and Durability: Testers noted how well-constructed the full line of rangefinders were, saying they felt heavy in terms of build quality, not excessively bulky. They fit well in hand, had a premium feel and the “Magnesium Chassis with Comfort Guard” helped with keeping a secure grip in all conditions.A Personal Touch: Testers all received a hand-written letter from the Vortex team along with Vortex’s “Flight Pack” accessory kit, including tees, ball markers, branded golf balls, a hat and towel. They loved the personal touch this brought to their testing experience.Accurate Yardage: When it comes to club selection, accuracy cannot be compromised. All Vortex models were second-to-none with all testers comparing these rangefinders to other major competitors. Differences as large as eight yards were noted, which can lead to pulling the wrong club.Initial thoughts and impressions
Our testers were eager to get underway with the testing of Vortex’s line of rangefinders, with two testers putting the Anarch through its paces and one tester working with the Blade and Blade Slope, respectively. Initial impressions were overwhelmingly positive.
Hosel_Rockets was impressed with the lengths Vortex went to, saying, “they went above and beyond to make me feel like part of the Vortex team. Along with the rangefinder, they also sent over an extra box filled with goodies, including a hat, divot tools, tees, golf balls, a towel, and two separate hand-written notes.”
Scottie Scheffler's caddie, Ted Scott, joined GOLF's Subpar podcast to discuss a Masters snafu, betting with Scheffler and more.
The post Scottie Scheffler’s infamous Masters 4-putt? Here’s what really happened appeared first on Golf.
At first, the PGA Tour collaborated with YouTube golfers. Now, it should steal one of their greatest ideas.
The post The PGA Tour should steal a genius idea from YouTube. Here’s why appeared first on Golf.
Pinehurst is a golfer's dream, but if you're hoping for championship-worthy golf, you don't need to stay at No. 2.
The post This epic U.S. Open host hides minutes away from Pinehurst No. 2 appeared first on Golf.
Top teacher Tom Stickney explains how using different golf ball positions can lead to varying trajectories and shot types.
The post How varying ball positions impact your swing path, per top teacher appeared first on Golf.
In today's edition of Play Smart, we hear from major champ Sergio Garcia on an easy feel to fix an over-the-top swing.
The post Sergio Garcia’s simple advice for fixing an over-the-top swing appeared first on Golf.
Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the Saudi PIF governor, made a surprise appearance at one of the PGA of America’s new Frisco courses Tuesday.
The post LIV Golf chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan makes surprise visit to PGA Frisco appeared first on Golf.
Rory McIlroy says the main sticking points holding up a deal between the PGA Tour and the Saudi backers of the rival LIV Golf League are the U.S. Department of Justice and conflicting views from players on both sides.
