Along the shores just east of Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, J.J. Spaun got up-and-down for birdie on the par-5 18th hole for a 5-under 65 to take a one-shot lead at the Sony Open going into a final round where several players remain in the mix.
Golfing News & Blog Articles
Fleetwood clinches Team Cup for Britain & Ireland
Britain & Ireland completed a 17-8 win over Continental Europe in the Team Cup, with Tommy Fleetwood securing the point that clinched the victory.
Britain & Ireland within 2 points of Team Cup title
Britain and Ireland dominated the two foursomes sessions and took an 11-4 lead over Continental Europe at the Team Cup. Britain and Ireland needs just two points to clinch the trophy.
Fishburn, McCarthy carry lead into Sony weekend
Patrick Fishburn and Denny McCarthy share the lead in the Sony Open going into what figures to be a wide-open weekend at Waialae.
After reset, pain-free Spieth eyes Pebble return
Jordan Spieth said he used his recovery from August wrist surgery as a chance to reset. "Having to take three months off swinging forces you to come back and be wet concrete," he told the AP.
Learn to Read Greens
Understanding the greens is a key skill for lowering your golf scores. Use these tips to read the terrain, predict ball movement, and make confident putts:
1. Analyze the Overall Slope
- Step back and observe the entire green. Look for higher and lower points to understand the general direction the ball will roll.
2. Walk Around the Hole
- View the putt from behind the ball, behind the hole, and from the sides. Each angle can reveal subtle breaks and slopes.
3. Read the Grain
- Check the grass direction. Shiny grass typically means you're putting with the grain (faster), while darker grass indicates putting against the grain (slower).
4. Look for Natural Indicators
- Water drains to lower areas, and greens often slope toward nearby ponds, bunkers, or fairways. Use these clues to anticipate ball movement.
5. Trust Your Feet
- While walking on the green, pay attention to how the slope feels under your feet. It’s often easier to sense subtle breaks through balance.
6. Practice Visualization
- Picture the ball’s path rolling toward the hole. Imagine how speed and slope will interact with the putt.
7. Factor in Speed
- The speed of your putt greatly influences how much a ball will break. Faster putts take straighter lines, while slower putts follow more pronounced curves.
8. Use a Consistent Routine
- Approach every putt with a systematic process. This builds confidence and ensures you don’t rush or miss subtle details.
9. Be Aware of Course Conditions
- Wet or dry greens, morning dew, or afternoon heat can affect ball speed and roll. Adapt your read based on conditions.
10. Practice Green Reading
- Spend time on the practice green to test your reads. Experiment with different slopes, speeds, and angles to improve your accuracy.
Mastering green reading is part science, part art, and all about practice. The more greens you read, the better you’ll become at judging break and speed, giving you an edge in your short game!
Pros like Tom Kim use this clever hack to shape their drives
In this edition of Play Smart we explain a clever move that pros use to make sure their drives are shaped the way they want.
The post Pros like Tom Kim use this clever hack to shape their drives appeared first on Golf.
Callaway ERC Soft and Supersoft Golf Balls
Chrome is Callaway’s flagship golf ball franchise so I’m betting the new Chrome Tour Triple Diamond will receive most of the attention after the curtain comes down on all of their new golf ball releases.
But here’s a word to the wise for those of us who don’t possess “Tour-level” swing speed: Don’t sleep on the new versions of Callaway’s ERC Soft and Supersoft.
The mid-level, three-piece ERC Soft and entry-level two-piece Supersoft deserve their plaudits and remain integral to Callaway’s efforts in the ball category.
ERC Soft
I’m betting Ely Reeves Callaway, the late founder and CEO of Callaway Golf, would be pretty proud to have his initials on the ERC Soft golf ball.
Why? Nothing was more intoxicating to him than the feeling of a well-struck golf shot.










Peterson tied for lead in PGA Tour debut at Sony
Paul Peterson, a 36-year-old PGA Tour rookie making his debut, is tied for the lead at the Sony Open with five others after shooting a 6-under 64.
PGA Tour has yet to commit to Genesis at Riviera
Riviera Country Club hasn't been directly affected by the Palisades fire, but the PGA Tour has yet to commit to the Genesis Invitational being played there Feb. 13-16.
TGL golf league debut draws nearly 1M viewers
This week's debut of the TGL indoor golf league drew nearly a million viewers on ESPN, according to Nielsen.
The 2025 championship parlays: Which picks for 2025 do we love most?
We've all seen the receipts on social media of the small-bet champion parlays that come through. What do ours look like for 2025?
How to watch 2025 PGA Tour Sony Open: ESPN+ schedule
Will Hideki Matsuyama take home his second Sony Open title in 2025? Check out how to watch the PGA Tour event from Oahu.
McKibbin coy over reports linking him to LIV Golf
Tom McKibbin, who recently secured his PGA Tour card for the 2025 season, is playing coy over reports of a possible jump to LIV Golf.
How to Achieve Your Golf Goals in 2025
It’s that time of year again! Time for a fresh start and creating a new, better, happier you in 2025.
Most people set goals every year, but because these goals and New Year’s resolutions rely too much on willpower alone, they often fade and we quickly lose the motivation we had at the beginning of January.
Having been a Performance Coach for over 15 years I’ve seen it all, and through my experience, I’ve been able to formulate a system based on what I’ve seen work and what I’ve seen fail. It’s sustained motivation and effort over a longer period of time which achieves goals, so you have to use a system that changes habits and develops skills gradually. I’ve turned this email into an audio, so if you are an app subscriber, you’ll find it in the “Weekly Lessons”.
My 7 Step Goal Setting System
Step 1: Decide on your Goals
What are your top 3 big goals for 2025? Let’s not settle for ordinary, pick goals that will make this year extraordinary. Be very clear about what you want to achieve. Clear goals get clear results, blurry goals get mixed results.
Step 2: Figure out “Why?”
For each goal, write down why you want to achieve it. Big goals require a lot of sacrifices, discipline and struggle, so your “why” has to be big enough to keep you going. Why do you want to dedicate your precious time to achieving that goal? What is the pay-off? Imagine how it will feel to achieve those goals and see if that feeling is strong enough to motivate you to put in the work throughout the year.
Kisner named as 3rd U.S. Ryder Cup vice captain
Kevin Kisner, a four-time PGA Tour winner, will serve as one of Keegan Bradley's vice captains on the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
Niemann, Højgaard receive Masters invitations
LIV Golf captain Joaquín Niemann is headed back to the Masters in April, along with rising PGA Tour star Nicolai Højgaard, after the golfers received invitations to play in the first major championship of the season.
Bay Golf Club celebrates TGL's 1st match with win
TGL had its debut match Tuesday night, with Rickie Fowler, Matt Fitzpatrick and Xander Schauffele of New York Golf Club taking on Shane Lowry, Wyndham Clark and Ludvig Aberg of The Bay Golf Club in the opener.