PGA / LPGA / personal golf

[MagpieRacer]

Finally got out on my home course yesterday, shot a pretty rubbish score (namely thanks to 2 poor holes, a 6 on the par 3 6th and a 10 on the par 4 9th.) Shot 54 for the 9, with a par on 7 and had a look at birdie on 8 but 3 putted for a 5. Irons felt fantastic, strongest part of my game by far, wedges were excellent and when I did pull out the big stick, it did everything I asked. Putting let me down big time, missed some very simple putts and left a lot of longer ones very short.
Course looked great as well.

First pic is looking at the 4th green on the way to the 1st tee, looking down the 4th fairway, second pic is the par 3 2nd from the tee box, 189 yards, water as you see it plus another water hazard just front right of the green.

@lilcat89 played the whole 9 hole round with the new TM Speed Soft, felt really good, seems to be managing what it claims, got good distance on the big shots and it felt really nice around the green, little clicky off the putter but not in a horrible way. Definitely worth checking out and might be the one I go for this season.

 

[lilcat89]

Finally got out on my home course yesterday, shot a pretty rubbish score (namely thanks to 2 poor holes, a 6 on the par 3 6th and a 10 on the par 4 9th.) Shot 54 for the 9, with a par on 7 and had a look at birdie on 8 but 3 putted for a 5. Irons felt fantastic, strongest part of my game by far, wedges were excellent and when I did pull out the big stick, it did everything I asked. Putting let me down big time, missed some very simple putts and left a lot of longer ones very short.
Course looked great as well.
View attachment 1338473View attachment 1338474

First pic is looking at the 4th green on the way to the 1st tee, looking down the 4th fairway, second pic is the par 3 2nd from the tee box, 189 yards, water as you see it plus another water hazard just front right of the green.

It looks quite nice out there. 50 yards and in is my weak point as well.

@lilcat89 played the whole 9 hole round with the new TM Speed Soft, felt really good, seems to be managing what it claims, got good distance on the big shots and it felt really nice around the green, little clicky off the putter but not in a horrible way. Definitely worth checking out and might be the one I go for this season.

Good to know! Ill have to give them a go next time I play.

 

[MagpieRacer]

New putter came in, went down to the club today and picked out s grip, so that's all done now. Went with a SuperStroke Zenergy Flatso 2.0 grip.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Played 18 today, shot 103, played some silly holes and some needlessly bad shots but on the whole pretty happy. Made a birdie on the 7th which is my first birdie since I started playing again last May, so pretty happy with that. Hit a 210 yard hybrid off the tee, put a 7 iron to within 10 foot from 150 yard and sunk the putt.
Was good fun to be playing evening golf again.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Broke 100 today, shot 96, with 4 pars on the card.

 

[Joey D]

I only loosely follow the LPGA, but Nelly Korda is ridiculous. She won her fourth straight tournament this past weekend.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Halfway through the Masters at Augusta National this week, Tiger Woods has set a new record for consecutive cuts made at the Masters, 24 in a row and will play the weekend.

Bryson DeChambeau shot a brilliant 65 on the first day to take the early lead, before a 1 over round 2 sits him at -6 for the tournament, tied for the lead with Max Homa and Scottie Scheffler.

The wind was pretty brutal on both days but particularly Friday, swirling, gusting winds causing all sorts of problems. Plenty of rounds in the 80s being posted and some top names dropping out. Viktor Hovland, Wyndham Clark, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia all missing the cut.

Should be a very entertaining weekend, especially with Bryson on form.

 

[Joey D]

I'd like to see Max Homa hold on to win it especially since he's never won a major. I also wouldn't mind seeing Nicolai Højgaard make a charge either since he's never really found success in majors either.

 

[MagpieRacer]

I'd like to see Max Homa hold on to win it especially since he's never won a major. I also wouldn't mind seeing Nicolai Højgaard make a charge either since he's never really found success in majors either.

Started well so far Højgaard, Aberg as well.

 

[MagpieRacer]

May have jinxed Højgaard...4 bogies back to back.

 

[Omnis]

You sure did. Almost Spieth bad.

 

[Omnis]

Congrats to Scheffler, the true #1. The guy is just unbelievable.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Congrats to Scheffler, the rule true #1. The guy is just unbelievable.

He was outstanding yesterday. Well deserved for sure, class of the field and class of 2024. Delighted for Åberg, even if his double was a par he would have stoll been 2 back, he's a top class talent with a brilliantly repeatable swing. Nice that he just steps up and hits too, no faffing.

Disappointed that Bryson Faded, had a feeling he would as the course firmed up. Max Homa bottled it, Morikawa did Morokawa things.

Rory? Bleh, it's in his head now. Pains me to say it but I don't think he'll ever get the grand slam.

 

[Omnis]

I think Augusta rewards the power fade off the tee. Draw players like Rory and Bryson have their distance neutralized by all the trouble right. Bryson managed it on day 1 but walking down that hill and all the way back up takes a toll. By the final day, he just had zero feel left in the rest of his game. Likewise, Tiger made the cut but he just physically fell apart. I can't imagine walking a major for 4 straight days and being fresh with my best stuff each time. Insane.

 

[MagpieRacer]

I only loosely follow the LPGA, but Nelly Korda is ridiculous. She won her fourth straight tournament this past weekend.

First women's major this weekend, the Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods, Nelly Korda could make it 5 in a row and match Nancy Lopez' record of 5 in a row in 1978, which also included a major (LPGA Championship) and Annika Sorenstam in 2005. The Chevron has a record $7.9m purse up for grabs and Lilia Vu is the defending champion. But Kordas form is exceptional and will undoubtedly be the one to watch, Jin Young Ko a distant 2nd in the odds for victory.

Elsewhere, rumours started hitting hard about Rory McIlroy making an $850m switch to LIV golf, his manager and now Rory himself have shut this down, but there's no smoke without fire and other golfers have shut rumours down before jumping ship.

This weekend is also the next signature event of the PGA TOUR schedule, the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links. A stacked field ready to take on the tight course, minus Viktor Hovland who, like Rory did last year, has withdrawn after a poor Masters showing. Matt Fitzpatrick defends here, Rory makes his 3rd appearance at Harbour Town, 2020 and 2014 his last entries, it's a course that very much doesn't suit his style. Expect Si Woo Kim, Tommy Fleetwood, Ludvig Aberg to be strong. Scottie Scheffler is in the field as he awaits his first born, his mind may be elsewhere, but he cannot be ruled out given his form.

 

[Omnis]

LIV is dying and the PGAT pays better with the elevated events now. No reason for Rory to jump. Especially if Rory's and Tiger's gameshow/stadium golf thing finally goes live.

 

[MagpieRacer]

LIV is dying and the PGAT pays better with the elevated events now. No reason for Rory to jump. Especially if Rory's and Tiger's gameshow/stadium golf thing finally goes live.

I wouldn't say LIV is dying. I'd say pro golf is dying as a whole in terms of viewing figures declining generally. The Masters proved that pro golf is better when the best players are all in the same field. If we get to that point via a deal between all the tours then that'll be for the betterment of everything as it stands.

Scottie Scheffler is leading the RBC Hertiage at Harbour Town after 3 rounds, looking formidable as he bids to do something not done since 1985, win the week after winning the Masters.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Mission complete for Nelly, 5 consecutive wins, 2nd major championship, domination.

 

[Omnis]

Well, the TaylorMade strategy of going after young golfers and just giving them everything for free is really working out for them now. Seems like everyone on top is team TM now.

 

[lilcat89]

I got a chance to play last Saturday and shot a PB 91. They were doing a lot of work on the greens, with 3 temporary greens, but I played really well some exceptions. Short game was switched on, which helped. Could have easily broken 90. Also tried the new TM SpeedSofts and really liked them, more forgiving around the greens. I approve!

 

[MagpieRacer]

Played 13 holes yesterday evening before running out of light. Very mixed round, lots of doubles, a triple, a quad but also a couple pars and a chip in birdie.

Using Srixon Q Star Tour divide balls at the moment, I like the speedsofts but they scuff, chip and peel very easily. The Srixons feel nice, urethane covers, easy to track in the sky and the previous gen ones are at silly prices so stocked up on them.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Rory has won the Wells Fargo, with a pretty dominant display in round 4 yesterday at Quail Hollow. Went in 2 shots behind Xander Schauffele and beat him by 5, despite a double bogey on 18.



Hitting form at the right time with the PGA Championship next week. Rory going in with 2 wins from his last 2 starts, Scheffler with 2 wins in his last 2 starts and reigning champion Brooks Koepka with a convincing win in his last start.

The PGA Championship at Valhalla is also Rorys last major win, it would be poetic to win there again but it won't be easy at all.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Scheffler arrested on the way in to round 2 of the PGA Championship after a traffic flow mix up.

What is going on?

 

[Omnis]

#FreeScottie #TeeTimesMatter

Louisville Police are really batting 1000. Scottie got released, but, count on this being the last golf tournament ever played in Kentucky. PGA will never return to Valhalla after this. Cut line is gonna be like -15; it's a sham of a major golf course anyway.

 

[MagpieRacer]

#FreeScottie #TeeTimesMatter

Louisville Police are really batting 1000. Scottie got released, but, count on this being the last golf tournament ever played in Kentucky. PGA will never return to Valhalla after this. Cut line is gonna be like -15; it's a sham of a major golf course anyway.

It's a very pretty course but yeah, it isn't major worthy. Scottie is going to either shoot an 85 or a 59 today, no in between.

Elsewhere, supposed best iron striker in the world, LIV 2023 champion and 'top 3' golfer Talor Gooch shot even par yesterday to go into round 2 9 shots back. An eagle on the last making it look like a better day. Jon Rahm had some struggles but rallied with a great sequence of birdies to rescue a torrid day.

Schauffele leads after shooting a -9 62, plenty of players within 5 of the lead though and wet conditions currently will make it even more of a scoring course this morning so expect it to tighten up.

 

[Omnis]

Xander finally closed. Knew he'd have to win a major at some point. Bryson was also on a tear. I think this 2nd place finish renews his Master's exemption. Golf is better without the silly LIV fracture. They need to rework LIV into a parallel team tour.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Xander finally closed. Knew he'd have to win a major at some point. Bryson was also on a tear. I think this 2nd place finish renews his Master's exemption. Golf is better without the silly LIV fracture. They need to rework LIV into a parallel team tour.

100% agree. Bryson is always electric, played very well indeed. Was rooting for Hovland though, tough start to his season, back with his old coach and looked his old self again.

Glad Xander finally got it over the line though, he's on a real streak at the moment in terms of his playing, will be a threat at the US Open next month as well for sure.

 

[Omnis]

Can't help wondering what's going on with Wyndham Clark. Dude fell off so hard-- it's like that lip-out lipped out his whole season haha

 

[MagpieRacer]

Can't help wondering what's going on with Wyndham Clark. Dude fell off so hard-- it's like that lip-out lipped out his whole season haha

Yeah ever since he won at Pebble he's been nowhere, one hit wonder maybe?

Or perhaps karma for making silly statements about the structure of golf.

 

[lilcat89]

So this happened on Sunday as well. This kid will remember Bryson forever now.



In personal golfing news, I was on vacation in Colorado last week and played twice. For the first time, I took my clubs on the plane with me! The course I played had just opened after being closed since July last year. The first round was pretty terrible considering how good I felt before I left. The second round on Friday though, was incredible, and a career low round. I finally got a chance to play the TM SpeedSofts for a full round and I must say I liked them a lot. They don’t spin as much as the TP5x that I usually play, but at half the price, I never expected them to.
Monday’s 97

Friday’s low of 87 (almost beat my dad as well) 17 is my nemesis hole!