Wow: Jason Day Drops Longtime Looper For Buddy

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George Savaricus reports that Jason Day will have a new bagman this week, dropping longtime supporter and mentor Colin Swatton for "high school roomate" Luke Reardon.

We officially are witnessing a bizarro trend: top players wanting a "mate" or "buddy" or fellow lad guiding them around because the older, wiser caddie was...too old? Not hip? Prone to not engaging in full smooching-up mode 24/7? Or, just merely to blame for the overcompensated, over-pampered boss stinking it up?

In this case, the move is especially perplexing give Swatton's guiding hand, as detailed by Day, in helping the Australian rise to No. 1. The sheer amount of melodrama Swatton has had to endure makes him sainthood worthy.

Anyway, as Kevin Casey points out, it'll probably be a short-lived playoff run for Reardon unless his man shows some of the old form.

 

 

Parsons Tweets He's Sued Taylor Made Over P790 Irons

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Looks like we have a fun patent battle looming with PXG Founder Bob Parsons going after Taylor Made according to...Bob Parsons.

Chris Nickel at MyGolfSpy reminds us that golf companies sue each other all the time, it's just a bit unusual for the founder of one to announce on Twitter.

While he isn't sure what the issue is, Nickel offers an assessment that includes this:

While neither TaylorMade nor PXG has offered any official statement, one has to think the basis for the suit has to do with the injection filled, hollow-body construction that is the foundation of most PXG products. While PXG uses thermoplastic elastomer and TaylorMade uses a TPU-based SpeedFoam, if the patents are broad enough, the material won’t matter. This case will likely boil down to process and construction, not the material composition of the goo.

Through the proverbial grapevine, MGS has learned that PXG anticipated this day would come, but it would have been impossible to foresee which OEM would step far enough over the line to prompt this response from Parson and PXG.

Even better, Parsons can travel to court in his new PXG helicopter reports Ben Aberstadt at GolfWRX.

2017 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Postponed Due To Irma

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A shame but perfectly understandable to (A) postpone and (B) try to stick with the host venue over relocating.

For Immediate Release:

USGA Postpones 31st U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur at Quail Creek Country Club in Naples, Fla.

FAR HILLS, N.J. (Sept. 12, 2017) – The USGA today announced that the 31st U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, scheduled to be played Oct. 7-12 at Quail Creek Country Club in Naples, Fla., will be postponed due to the impact of Hurricane Irma.

“After assessing the storm’s impact on the course, we have determined with Quail Creek that the championship cannot be successfully conducted on the scheduled dates next month,” said U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship Director Rachel Sadowski. “Our thoughts are with our good friends at Quail Creek, and with everyone in the Southeast affected by the storm.”

The USGA will continue to work closely with Quail Creek to determine when the championship will be played, and more details will be announced at a later date.

For more information about the championship, visit www.usga.org/womensmidam.

Roundup: USA Wins 2017 Walker Cup 19-7

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Sorry for the delayed roundup, but a combination of wanting to be respectful to our friends in Florida and those remembering 9/11, it just felt like a good day to pay respects elsewhere.

But this was a special event for all involved to cap off the USGA's biggest amateur event season--with MidAm's still to go--and I would be remiss in not celebrating another spectacular Walker Cup. The event reaffirmed its place as one of the best to watch and attend.

David Shefter's game story for WalkerCup.org on the matches.

Sunday Foursomes video highlights. And Sunday's Singles highlights.

Sunday photos from the matches by Chris Keane and J.D. Cuban captured the beauty of both the matches and venue.

Brentley Romine at Golfweek on redemption for Captain Spider Miller and Maverick McNealy after the 2015 landslide loss at Lytham.

Golf World's John Strege on Stewart Hagestad securing a Sunday singles point to cap off an incredible year for the mid-amateur.

Here was Hagestad hitting into his beloved 15th hole Sunday and bringing the Walker Cup into the LACC clubhouse for members to enjoy: 

Day two of the Walker Cup, @stew teeing off at the fifteenth in a 2&1 victory. #walkercup2017

A post shared by Geoff Shackelford (@geoffshac) on Sep 10, 2017 at 6:38pm PDT


John Hopkins assesses the matches and where things went turned so suddenly for a GB&I that played better than the final match score suggested.

Alistair Tait talks to the GB&I side for Golfweek and they blamed their play on the type of golf played, however it's fascinating to see how much they assumed the course had to be played with only an aerial attack.

Cart drivers take note: Captain Miller had his foursomes players not "caucusing" too much, meaning they played proper foursomes with the player due to hit the next shot moving down play. This, and other match notes from Global Golf Post.

Alex Miceli at MorningRead.com explores the two sides explorations into adding a third day. Alistair Tait at Golfweek is opposed. Put me down for kicking off with a first day four-ball session, followed by the weekend days remaining the same.

The winning team picture by Chris Keane, always one of the best scenes in golf:

Your winners of the 46th #WalkerCup Match, the USA! 📸USGA/Chris Keane

A post shared by United States Golf Association (@usga) on Sep 10, 2017 at 7:57pm PDT

Colin Morikawa, Doug Ghim and Maverick McNealy all went 4-0, the first time three players on one team have done so.

Jim Nugent talked to Curtis Strange, Brad Faxon and Buddy Marucci about their fond Walker Cup memories, and make sure to check out those team turtlenecks from ’83.

John Strege talks to the USGA's Mike Davis about using the Walker Cup to learn about the setting up LACC North for the 2023 U.S. Open.

Ben Crenshaw talked to AmateurGolf.com about the matches and LACC.


My take from Saturday night on the 78-yard 15th, which gave everyone a thrill and exceeded expectations as set out in last week's Eye On Design looking at this hole.

For those of you who watched my LACC 7th hole Eye On Design video from this week, you'll know seeing this setup and successful play was just what we hoped would happen:

Par 4? Just a driver and putter necessary for @collin_morikawa 💪💪 #WalkerCup

A post shared by United States Golf Association (@usga) on Sep 9, 2017 at 2:50pm PDT

Finally, loved these casual team shoes by Canoos and modeled by Captain Spider. You can buy 'em here.

R.I.P. Don Ohlmeyer

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What a stellar remembrance from the New York Times' Richard Sandomir covering the life and times of longtime television producer and executive Don Ohlmeyer, who passed away Sunday at 72.

For the golf world, he'll always be remembered for his ambitious, slightly crazy idea to start the Skins Game.

As the executive producer of NBC Sports for five years, he elevated the quality of its broadcasts and gave it some of the swagger of ABC’s sports division. But he was disappointed when the opportunity to oversee NBC’s broadcasts of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow was scuttled when President Jimmy Carter refused to allow the United States to participate because of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.

Two years later, he left NBC to create Ohlmeyer Communications, where he continued to produce sports programs like the Skins Game, a golf exhibition; television movies like the Emmy Award-winning “Special Bulletin,” a story about nuclear terrorism that was presented as if it were happening in real time; and musical events like “Season’s Greetings: An Evening With John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra.”

John Strege at Golf World with more on Ohlmeyer's legacy in golf, which also includes sons Chris (producer) and Todd (college golf coach).

2017 Walker Cup Day Two Quick Roundup

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...has arrived and well, I'm going out to watch. So while we have our friends in Florida in mind, please forgive the coverage from day two at The Walker Cup.

The USA team has taken a strong 8-4 lead after a late surge in singles, writes Brentley Romine.

GB&I is in trouble after falling four points down, writes Alistair Tait.

LACC's 15th hole played 78 yards Saturday. I report for Golfweek.

Make sure to go see all of Chris Keane and J.D. Cuban's amazing photos from The Walker Cup's official account. Just one:

 

The fans are out to watch the world's best amateur golfers in a star-studded city. #WalkerCup

A post shared by The Walker Cup (@thewalkercup) on Sep 9, 2017 at 4:19pm PDT

 

2017 Walker Cup Session One, This And That

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The players have refined the art of the practice round, the course looks superb and Los Angeles Country Club is ready for its unveiling.

The U.S. needs to get off to a strong start in foursomes, not always their strong suit, writes Brentley Romine for Golfweek.

The first day session pairings were announced at the flag-raising ceremony, here they are.

Morning Foursomes

7:15 a.m. – Harry Ellis and Alfie Plant, GB&I vs. Collin Morikawa and Norman Xiong, USA

7:30 a.m. – Connor Syme and Paul McBride, GB&I vs. Doc Redman and Will Zalatoris, USA

7:45 a.m. – Scott Gregory and Jack Singh Brar, GB&I vs. Scottie Scheffler and Cameron Champ, USA

8 a.m. – David Boote and Jack Davidson, GB&I vs. Maverick McNealy and Doug Ghim, USA

Afternoon Singles

12:45 p.m. – Harry Ellis, GB&I vs. Braden Thornberry, USA

12:55 p.m. – Connor Syme, GB&I vs. Norman Xiong, USA

1:05 p.m. – Jack Singh Brar, GB&I vs. Stewart Hagestad, USA

1:15 p.m. – Paul McBride, GB&I vs. Collin Morikawa, USA

1:25 p.m. – Matthew Jordan, GB&I vs. Will Zalatoris, USA

1:35 p.m. – Robert MacIntyre, GB&I vs. Cameron Champ, USA

1:45 p.m. – David Boote, GB&I vs. Doug Ghim, USA

1:55 p.m. – Scott Gregory, GB&I vs. Maverick McNealy, USA

Ali Stafford has a fun look back at what became of the 2001 Walker Cup teams.

Photos from a beautiful Friday practice session and evening in Los Angeles.

Mike Trostel of the USGA interviewed Gil Hanse and myself about the golf course design and restoration.

You can follow scoring here.

WalkerCup.org will feature additional coverage in addition to Fox Sports 1's six hours each day.

FS1 is on from 9-12 pm PT Saturday morning and 2-5 pm PT for their afternoon coverage.

Enjoy the matches!

Video: Eye On Design, The Genius Of LACC's Short Par-3 15th

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One of my favorite short threes on the planet gets a chance to shine. It could play as short as 85 yards and long as 140 in the 2017 Walker Cup.

As I explain in this Eye On Design, the hole was a 1927-28 creation when LACC was remodeled and may have have briefly featured sand in the middle, but if it was there, the bunker was short-lived and replaced by a large pimple.

Golf Top 100 Panel Confidential: Most Underrated Course, Favorite Golden Age Architect And Course They'd Play Every Day

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There is some fun follow-up content from the Golf Magazine Top 100 U.S. and World lists here. They tackle most underrated great course (North Berwick edges LACC North!), greatest Golden Age architect (Good Doc), best modern day architect (Coore), most overrated design element (Conditioning), and course they’d chose to play every day (Cypress Point).

Roundup: 2017 Walker Cup Almost Here, GB&I Bullish On Chances

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Alistair Tait of Golfweek talks to a GB&I squad that is bullish on their chances even though the bookmakers disagree.

“The best thing about our team is that we’ve grown up together,” said Florida State’s Harry Ellis, the reigning British Amateur champion. “I’ve been with Alfie (Plant) for five or six years. Jack (Singh Brar), Scott (Gregory) and I live 10 miles apart so we’ve grown up together. Actually, this whole group has all come through junior golf together.

“They’ve got a strong team but there’s something about this group of guys that feels special. Everything feels right. There’s a natural camaraderie. Even with me being away at school for the last few years, I come back and it’s just like family.”

Teammates face off!  Wake Forest's current men's golf team features a member of both squads and two graduated Stanford players also could face off representing their countries. David Shefter with all of the fun details.

Jeff Hall tells Mike Trostel what it means to have Los Angeles Country Club as a host, with some fun drone footage by Fred Vuich accompanying.

USA Captain Spider Miller wants to see the competition expanded to three days, with a four-ball component added, writes Jim Nugent of Global Golf Post.

Michael Bamberger loves the Walker Cup venue list and explains why LACC fits with the prestigious venues that have previously hosted.

Brentley Romine of Golfweek talks to players about their time with President George Bush, who lunched with the team and tended the flag for them in a four hole-exhibition Thursday. 

Here are the USGA's video highlights from the day with 43.

Images from the practice round by Harry How and Chris Keane capture plenty of great moments and the special setting.

Quick Take On Golf Magazine's 2017 U.S. And World Top 100

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In just a glance through the biennial U.S. and World lists, it sure looks like the panel is going full anti-Golf Digest and rewarding shorter, cooler, classier golf architecture in similar fashion to the Golfweek's annual list. Pure restorations as opposed to redos defacing the old architecture, also appear to be stylish.

The real standout for me: Prestwick cracking the world Top 100, a fantastic exclamation point to the aforementioned trends.

And nice to see this week's Walker Cup host at its highest ranking ever, arriving at 13th in the U.S. and 22nd in the world, even edging out that South Korean masterwork, Nine Bridges.

Eye on Design Video: LACC's Par-3/Par-4 7th Hole

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Architect George Thomas's effort to propel the Golden Age forward with more intricate course strategy will be on display this week at the Walker Cup. With one day to go before the opening ceremony, both teams are getting a sense of the possible hole location and tee scenarios making LACC North such a fascinating study. (In my view, the second best match play course on the planet.)

On no hole will that be more evident than the par-3 7th, which also can morph into a fascinating risk-reward par-4 using a more strategically demanding hole location. I explain here...

Rules Of Golf Input Window Closed, "Common Themes" Emerge

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You can read the full USGA/R&A press release online at some point, but it sounds like many golfers shared strong opinions on the boldest proposed Rules of Golf changes.

What those opinions were, we are still not sure but this is our hint until the two governing bodies play a lot of golf take many meetings mulling the possibilities.

•    Golfers provided the most feedback on the proposed Rules changes focused on the putting green (such as putting with the flagstick left in the hole, repairing spike marks and eliminating the penalty for accidentally moving a ball); the creation of “penalty areas” (extending water hazard type relief and eliminating penalties for moving loose impediments and grounding a club); and the new dropping procedures (including the size of “relief areas”). 

Erin Hills Fallout: Shinnecock Hills To Be Narrowed After Restoration Widening

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In light of the recent brouhaha over player comments at TPC Boston's forced layup that caused driver-hugging players to go down another fairway, Jaime Diaz concludes for Golf World that recent distance gains are going to keep leading to more setup and design dramas. He says the big picture of recent course setup issues suggests "a day of reckoning is coming."

Much of that conclusion is based on this disheartening news out of Southampton.

Next year the U.S. Open is going to a Golden Age classic, Shinnecock Hills, artful in the extreme, but also shortish. It’s the kind of venue that is most at risk of being overrun by the modern game.

In the last few years, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw restored the course. The fairways were widened (up to 60 yards), the greens expanded, and trees were removed. Visually, the result was spectacular, and the club’s members have loved the changes.

The USGA, too, initially sang the restoration’s praises, but recently officials have reconsidered their original setup plans at Shinnecock. The fairway width—done to create more strategic angles and options—was deemed too wide (perhaps in the wake of Erin Hills). Native fescue rough is now being planted on the edges of the fairway to narrow them back down. The course won’t be as narrow as it was when it held the championship in 1986, 1995 and 2004, but it will be narrower than what was originally planned on for 2018.

Why? Diaz concludes...

So that the art of Shinnecock can be brought out rather than overrun, the decision was made that long and crooked has to be punished.

In an odd way I wonder if such a high profile change to such a high profile course this late in the game is being implemented with the full knowledge that this reinforces the need for a variable distance ball?