Golfing News & Blog Articles

Jim Furyk will be a part of the inaugural World Champions Cup, an event that was originally booked to debut in 2021, but was pushed ahead to Dec. 7-10 of this year at the Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida.

It’s rare that a golf equipment company runs unopposed in any category. I mean, given that more than one reputable brand makes a chipper, you wouldn’t think TaylorMade would have the mini-driver category all to itself but that’s how things stand right now as the company launches the BRNR Mini Driver.

This latest iteration, as the vowel-less name suggests, is a bit of an aesthetic throwback to TaylorMade’s classic Burner TI Bubble 2 lineup.

By my count, the BRNR is TaylorMade’s fifth foray into the category and, other than a large PING fairway wood and a singular Callaway Big Bertha mini-driver, nobody else has bothered to compete.

Why?

The simple explanation is that mini-drivers are niche products that don’t fit neatly into the mix for most players. As we dig into that and why you may or may not want to consider one, it makes sense to start with the obvious question.

We al know that the ball doesn’t travel as far when it’s cold and it seems to go a little farther when it’s really hot, but how much influence will temperature have on my carry distance?

Golf is a sport that requires skill, technique, and precision. One of the factors that can affect distance is temperature. Temperature can have a significant impact on the distance a golf ball will travel, as it can affect the ball's flight characteristics along with the golfer's swing mechanics. In this post, we will explore the effects of temperature on ball flight only. We don’t delve into the affect that all the extra clothing you’re wearing because it’s so cold will have on your ability to swing. This is only the effect of temperature on ball flight, not on our ability to swing the club normally when it’s either cold or hot.

Here is a chart that I created with the help of the engineers at PING. It’s super simple and easy to remember - just the way I like it!

Temperature Data:

Most of our club carry distances are acquired in temperatures close to 75º F (24º C)

TaylorMade P790 Phantom Black Irons – Key Takeaways

Flagship player’s distance iron offered in black PVD finishBlacked-out KBS Tour Lite shaft, Golf Pride Z-Grip 360 standard$1,499.99 for a seven-piece set, available now

The TaylorMade P790 Phantom Black irons cry out for golf to create a new category.

 OEMs offering black versions of their flagship irons during the off-year used to be a fad. Then it became a trend.

I’m not sure what comes after “trend” but this is starting to feel like standard operating procedure.

The short story here is that the TaylorMade P790 Phantom Black irons are exactly the same as the chrome P790 iron set that came out in September of 2021. Except, of course, they’re black PVD. Name any OEM and they’re doing the same thing. The idea, obviously, is to give an iron set a mid-life cycle kick in the trousers and help sales as the new versions are being readied.

Call it a cash grab, a marketing ploy or even a “limited edition.” Whatever you want to call it, mid-life cycle blacked-out irons are officially in the playbook.

The current U.S. Open champion holds off Jordan Spieth while Grace Kim wins in just her third LPGA event to get into the Chevron. Plus, a post-Masters round-up and an unusual moment from the Lotte.

Matt Fitzpatrick defeated defending champion Jordan Spieth on the third playoff hole at the RBC Heritage on Sunday.

Reactions at the Masters to the current distance proposal should encourage Augusta National and the governing bodies to so as much as possible now.

Australian rookie Grace Kim won the LOTTE Championship on Saturday at breezy Hoakalei for her first LPGA Tour title.

U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick shot his best round on the PGA Tour with a 63 Saturday for a one-shot lead over Patrick Cantlay through three rounds at the RBC Heritage.

Yu Jin Sung shot a 1-under 71 on Saturday at windy Hoakalei Country Club to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the LOTTE Championship.

Jimmy Walker shot a second straight 6-under 65 on Friday to lead the RBC Heritage by 3 shots, while Masters champion Jon Rahm recovered from his opening-round 1-over 72 with a 64 to move to 6-under.

Rory McIlroy has been docked $3 million after missing his second "designated event" of the PGA Tour season without a specified reason, according to multiple reports.

Tiger Woods' 2019 Masters title came 11 years after his last major win. He's not the only elite athlete to have a long wait between championships.

Welcome back to another edition of #AskMyGolfSpy where readers like you submit your top questions to our experts here at MGS. You can pass along your questions to the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or right here in the comments section below!

If the USGA and R&A have a set of testing protocols for drivers to be conforming (distance) and a majority of drivers meet those protocols, why would I buy a new 2024 driver? – @SlowMoSwing

You should only buy a new driver in 2024 if it’s measurably better than what you have now, although I will accept “because I wanted to” as a valid reason for buying a new club.

For all intents and purposes, USGA regulations are limited to volume, length, moment of inertia (MOI) and Characteristic of Time (CT). 

As we’ve discussed, there’s some wiggle room between CT and the old COR limit that does allow drivers to get slightly faster. Off-center performance continues to improve with each new release and, while the benefits are largely limited to faster players, there’s no cap on aerodynamic efficiency. 

Titleist has introduced their 2023 lineup of golf stand bags. The new Players StaDry 4, Players 4 and Players 5 were designed with a focus on functionality. The goal? Make your walk more enjoyable.

Release Details

Available now at golf retail shops and online Players 4 StaDry, Players 4 and Players 5Retail of $295 for Players 4 StaDry, $265 for Players 4 & 5, respectively

What’s New for 2023?

Titleist Players 4 StaDry

The 2023 Titleist Players 4 StaDry golf stand bag features waterproof construction without sacrificing function. The Players 4 StaDry features plentiful storage, including a full-length apparel pocket. It weighs just under four pounds. Lightweight design is a key feature for any good golf stand bag.

Waterproof construction, including seam-sealed zippersSix pockets and dual carry strapsFour-way club dividerFull-length apparel pocket and external drink sleeve

Titleist Players 4

The 2023 Titleist Players 4 golf stand bag features premium materials and lightweight construction to make your walk more enjoyable. Between the dual carry strap and ample storage, the new Players 4 should be a suitable carry companion.

Four-way club dividerFull-length apparel pocket and external drink sleeveHigh-grade aluminum legsYKK zippers

Titleist Players 5

The Titleist Players 5 golf stand bag is the biggest and most robust of the new 2023 collection of Titleist stand bags. It features a five-way club divider for better organization and even more storage for the golfer who needs an a few extra balls (or boxes).

Dual carry strapSeven storage pocketsFive-way club dividerVelcro glove patches

Give It To Me Straight

Let’s be real. The upgrades to the Titleist lineup of golf stand bags are marginal. Similar to the upgrades in clubs, you aren’t going to see an insane jump in performance. That said, if there’s anyone who understands the benefits of premium zippers and well-thought-out pockets, it’s me.

Natthakritta Vongtaveelap shot a 2-under 70 to hold onto a share of the lead at Hoakalei Country Club, while Frida Kinhult shot a 76 to fall six shots back.

Viktor Hovland's round of 7-under 64 at the rain-delayed RBC Heritage on Thursday gave him a first-round lead for a second straight week while Masters champion Jon Rahm was eight shots behind.

Cobra Limited Edition 50th Anniversary AEROJET Drivers – Key Takeaways

·       Special AEROJET and AEROJET LS models to celebrate COBRA’s 50th anniversary.

·       Black and gold color scheme with 50th anniversary graphics and head cover

·       $599 each, available starting today

The new COBRA Limited Edition 50th Anniversary AEROJET drivers couldn’t come at a better time. Not only do these new drivers celebrate COBRA’s first half-century as a corporate entity but they also break the Special/Limited Edition release gap that’s lasted all of 22 days.

Sure, it’s black paint and gold accents on regular AEROJET drivers. But c’mon, 50 years in business is worthy of celebration. And if you’re a COBRA fan, it just might be a collectible you just might want to, uhhh, collect.

Well, we thought this might happen.

The new PXG 0317 CB is here but it’s more than just PXG’s latest iron release.

It likely marks the end of the “0311 T” model which combined a thin-face architecture with player-preferred aesthetics (less offset, thin topline, compact footprint).  But what the PXG 0317 CB seems to suggest is that the 0311 T wasn’t the ideal fit for the target golfer.

So let’s collectively pour one out for arguably the second most famous Model T.

That’s a reach. But, whatever.

2023's big winners, losers and somewhere in-betweens from another memorable week in Augusta.

The Quadrilateral’s traditional post-Masters roundup of the week.