Author: Cody Thrasher

Nike CCi Cast Irons Review

Nike Golf’s newest irons are solid all the way around, nothing more and nothing less.

Nike CCi Iron HeroI’ve had the opportunity to review a few different sets of irons over the past six or eight months, all of which were positive experiences. I had the Nike Slingshot OSS Irons first, and I hit those pretty well. They weren’t as consistent as I would have liked, so I was very excited to give the Nike CCi Cast irons a chance.

The Slingshot and CCi irons are completely different when it comes to technology and look, but in the end, they are about the same when it comes to performance. The CCi Cast irons are respectable in all categories, but is respectable enough in the competitive world of golf equipment? Read my breakdown to find out if they are made for you or not.

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Nationwide Tour Graduates Taste Early Success

There are several 2006 Nationwide Tour graduates making an early splash during the new season.

Thrash TalkTiger Woods made his 2007 debut this past weekend at The Buick Invitational and won his seventh consecutive PGA Tour event. Wow, what a surprise! In all seriousness, it’s good to see Tiger again. There is no doubt the buzz around the PGA Tour is a lot higher when Mr. Woods tees it up.

Tiger’s win at Torrey Pines wasn’t as dominant as some in the past, but a win is a win. He intimidated and broke down a handful of youngsters along the way. The list of young golfers included the new FedEx Cup points leader, Charles Howell III. Chuckie may not ever win another tournament, but he has mastered the art of coming in second. It was actually refreshing to see CHIII have a solid final round compared to the usual choke job.

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Feel Good Stories

There are a handful of golfers I’d like to see in the winner’s circle in 2007.

Thrash TalkI know this is a golf website, but congratulations are in order for Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. They finally got past the New England Patriots in the postseason and are on their way to The Super Bowl. My wife wanted me to congratulate Peyton Manning, so I figured I better sneak that in first. Now it’s time to talk a little golf.

Charley Hoffman won The Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in a playoff this past Sunday to pick up his first PGA Tour victory. The playing conditions in the final round were brutal, and the leaders heading into the final round (Justin Rose and Lucas Glover) crumbled big time down the stretch. Hoffman has contended a few times over the past year, and he deserved his win last week. Maybe he can afford a haircut now.

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The Art of Choking

The PGA Tour’s brightest young stars can’t seem to finish the job on Sunday.

Thrash TalkForgive me if I sound a little hasty this week. It’s no secret by now that Charles Howell III is far and away my favorite golfer in the world. Howell III had The Sony Open trophy well within his grasp this past Sunday before crumbling like an Oreo cookie. I had my victory celebration planned out, but I should have known better. Just when CH3 looked to be getting over the hump, he let himself and his number one fan down yet again.

I’ve watched the PGA Tour since the early-to-mid 1990s, and I can’t recall being so disappointed in a tournament finish as I was this past Sunday. Even after Howell III lost his lead, he still had a chance to birdie the 72nd hole to force a playoff. An awful chip and putt later, and he finished in a tie for second with fellow young gun, Luke Donald.

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The FedEx Cup is Off and Running

Vijay Singh and The Golf Channel started 2007 off in style.

Thrash TalkFans of the PGA Tour have been waiting for the start of the FedEx Cup since the official announcement nearly a year ago. It has only been two months since the 2006 PGA Tour season ended, but the start of the 2007 season couldn’t have come too soon. I’m glad the new era in golf has finally arrived, and it looks like things will be very interesting all season long.

Stuart Appleby failed in his bid to win four consecutive Mercedes Championships, and Vijay Singh took full advantage of the situation. Singh has been denied his win at Kapalua in recent years, but he finally got his win on the island this past weekend. The Fijiian obviously jumped to the top of the FedEx Cup standings with his impressive win in the season opener, and he will be tough to beat in 2007.

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Bunker’s Dozen: December 2006

The Bunker’s Dozen ends 2006 with a bang and a new number one!

Thrash TalkThe 2006 season has been a long one, but golf fans have been treated to another exciting year in the world of golf. The past month has also been a crazy one, mostly outside the PGA Tour. The Tour Championship wrapped up in early November, and the golf spotlight then shifted towards the LPGA Tour and European Tour.

Lorena Ochoa held off Karrie Webb to win the LPGA Tour Player of the Year award, and Julieta Granada won a million dollars in the season’s final event. Padraig Harrington, coming off his recent European Tour Order of Merit title, beat Tiger Woods in a playoff to win the Dunlop Phoenix. How high will these golfers be in the latest edition of Bunker’s Dozen? You know the drill, so keep on reading!

If you have anything to add, feel free to comment below or discuss it in the forum. I hope you enjoy this month’s list.

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Top Storylines for 2007: Part Two

Part two of the top storylines for 2007 discusses The Golf Channel, Lefty, and more.

Thrash TalkWith the 2007 golf season right around the corner, I’m previewing some of the top storylines that will garner attention in the coming weeks. Last week, I published part one of the top storylines for 2007, so check that out if you haven’t already. It’s time to talk about five more golf questions that are on my mind heading into the new year.

The Golf Channel is going to be the new home for PGA Tour opening-round action starting in 2007 and will be for at least 14 years beyond that. Will the two make a great team, or will it be a struggle from the beginning? Also, it has been over two years since Ernie Els won a PGA Tour event, and it’s been over a year for Retief Goosen. Finally, Phil Mickelson hasn’t been the same since his collapse at Winged Foot this past June. Can Els, Goosen, and Lefty bounce back in 2007? You will read about all this and more in this week’s article.

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Top Storylines for 2007: Part One

It’s never too early to talk about 2007, so that’s what I’m going to do for the next couple weeks.

Thrash TalkThe start of the 2007 PGA Tour season is only a month away, and the LPGA Tour season will start shortly thereafter. It’s good to have a break every once in awhile, but I’m already getting excited about 2007. The silly season has been okay, but it just isn’t the same as the real deal. The Mercedes Championship can’t come soon enough.

With the new season right around the corner, many questions instantly come to mind. Some are pretty self-explanatory, and some seem to be neverending. How many majors will Tiger win next season, and can he possibly improve on his spectacular 2006 season? Also, will Michelle Wie finally win something of importance, or will her résumé remain winless?

I’ll dive into these questions and more in this first of two installments of the top storylines for 2007. Let’s get this party started!

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2006 PGA Tour Season Review

The 2006 PGA Tour season left golf fans with a lot of memories, some good and some bad.

Thrash TalkThe 2007 PGA Tour season will begin in a little over a month, and The FedEx Cup will be in full swing. Before that, it’s time to officially put the 2006 season to rest. As usual, there were a lot of great memories mixed in with some bad ones. New golfers emerged onto the scene, while some of the big guns limped their way throughout the season.

Tiger added two more major championships to his trophy case, and Phil added one more as well. A young Aussie stepped up in a big way to win a major championship of his own, and the Europeans once again had their way with the United States in the Ryder Cup. All these memories and more made 2006 a great season. I’ve picked out some of the most memorable storylines from the past year, and I hope you enjoy!

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