Year: 2009

Volume Two Hundred Six

The PGA Tour takes the week off, the PGA Cup stays in America, and Haney takes on Romano

Hittin' the LinksHello golf fans, and welcome to Hittin’ the Links. The PGA Tour took a little time off this week, but I am still on the job trying to find whatever tidbits of golf news remain. So without further delay…

In this edition of HTL we start off looking at the PGA Cup, then turn our attention to the next “Haney Project” victim, and then take a look at our newest golf millionaire. Also we ponder a very bored golfer, take a peek at the newest technological Tour bags, and then do a wrap-up of the weeks winners. Read on!

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My Three Favorite Golfers of 2009

Three guys whom I enjoyed following in 2009, Tiger Woods not included.

Thrash TalkI present to you my list of three golfers whom I enjoyed watching this year. Not included are any of the major winners or Tiger Woods. As they year winds down into the manufactured drama of the FedExCup, and the majority of PGA Tour pros have been sent packing, these guys stand out in my mind for reasons which are not entirely clear.

I feel obligated here, too, to extend an honorable mention to Jeff Klauk who earned $1,036,524.50 this year as a rookie. Must be a tough life being the 77th highest paid golfer on the PGA Tour in 2009. Well done, Mr. Klauk. Also, Marc Leishman, who bettered Klauk on the money list and is yet to be eliminated from the FedExCup. Seeing their success inspires me to search the couch cushions for the $20,000 it costs to head to Q School. I’m not sure my 4.2 index would travel though…

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Golf Talk [Episode 126]

Tiger takes a day off and his points lead goes from 1503 to 250. 🙂

Golf Talk PodcastTiger Woods wins in a walk while the rest of the field struggle to get into the Tour Championship (particularly Brandt Snedeker). Also, Phil’s decision to play in the Presidents Cup, Zach Johnson’s shank, and a whole lot more in this episode of Golf Talk.

You can subscribe to the RSS feed for our podcasts here or download Episode 126 as an MP4 file. For those who want to subscribe to us in iTunes, click here.

For this week’s Show Notes – links to articles we discuss in the show and additional information – just read on.

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Nike Golf Reveals Details on New Method Putter

The secret Method to relieving the madness in your putting has finally arrived.

Bag Drop If you’ve visited our equipment forum at any point in the past, you’ve most likely seen a thread in which someone asks for putter recommendations. Shortly thereafter, you’re sure to see someone mention how a putter is a “personal choice” or “personal experience.” How much more “personal” would that putter be if you won the Open Championship or the U.S. Open with it?

Following that line of thinking, it might be safe to say that the recently announced Nike Method is so personal to Stewart Cink and Lucas Glover, their significant others might be a little jealous at this point. Nike Golf‘s putters have been somewhat of an enigma in the past few years. While it’s true that the IC and Unitized series may have had a few wild looking variations, they were generally met with good reviews, yet somehow, they never really had same degree of retail success that Nike’s woods, irons, and balls did. Nike again enters the high-end putter market with the new Method line, and this time, the performance is already validated by a couple of high-profile major championship wins. Follow as we take a quick look at the new Method putter from Nike Golf!

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Volume Two Hundred Five

Daly is done for the rest of the year, The U.S. retains the Walker Cup, and Tiger wins again

Hittin' the LinksBuenos dias Sand Trappers and welcome again to Hittin’ the Links. Well the PGA Tour season is starting to wind down, there is a slight chill beginning to show up in the morning air, and soon Tiger Woods will go in hibernation. Yes, fall is here. Not that that’s a bad thing, mind you. Around here this is the best time of year to play golf.

In this issue of HTL, we first look at J.D. and his plans for the rest of the year, then turn our attention to the guy who thinks Sergio will never win a major, and check out who made two holes-in-one in the same round. Also in this edition we look at Lorena taking heat, investigate what is happening with PGA Tour purses, and do a wrap-up of this week’s tournaments. Read on.

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Biggest Surprises of 2009

See if you agree with my picks for the five biggest surprises of 2009.

Trap Five LogoThis season the PGA Tour has given us some memorable – or at least notable – winners. It has also given us some surprising performances, results, and standings.

We all have our favorites and not-so-favorites. But, when the ones we expect to be consistent are not, we question their abilities. All players have their good and bad days. What we can expect is there will be surprise winners, and there will be those players who do not do as well as we might anticipated.

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Goodbye, Eye Candy

Recently, an agency which provides female models to caddy for interested golfers was banned from a number of courses in England. Good move?

Thrash TalkI woefully regret that it has taken me more a week to learn of the grim news. Eye Candy Caddies, a reputable British business entity which provides (theoretically) capable and attractive young women to serve as loopers is currently in the process of being blacklisted; it’s services having been banned from a number of courses in England managed by the villainous entity known as Leaderboard Golf.

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Golf Talk [Episode 125]

Steve Stricker is Mr. September. Could he win Comeback Player of the Year again? 🙂

Golf Talk PodcastSteve Stricker wins in Boston and takes over #1 in FedExCup race and #2 in the world. Plus, Suzann Pettersen keeps doing her, uhhh, “stuff,” an LPGA tournament is back, Annika has a girl, and a whole lot more in this episode of Golf Talk.

You can subscribe to the RSS feed for our podcasts here or download Episode 125 as an MP4 file. For those who want to subscribe to us in iTunes, click here.

For this week’s Show Notes – links to articles we discuss in the show and additional information – just read on.

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TaylorMade Prepares Penta TP Ball

After three years of development, TaylorMade Golf announces the new Penta TP, the first five-piece golf ball to reach the market.

Bag DropNormally, when choosing a ball, one takes into account that there is a subtle tradeoff between maximum distance and maximum spin around the greens. Golf ball technology has progressed so that there is less of a tradeoff, and TaylorMade claims to have eliminated it with a new ball they’ll introduce soon: the Penta TP.

Titleist has been dominant in the ball market, despite challenges, for decades. Though TaylorMade’s TP Red and TP Black were reviewed well, they did little to take away from Titleist’s market share and have been heavily discounted at retailers for most of 2009.

The Penta TP is TaylorMade’s next offensive attack.

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