What the USGA Got Wrong at Oakmont

The USGA has an important job in the U.S. Open of doling out penalties, at Oakmont this year I explain why they did a pretty awful job

Thrash TalkDustin Johnson is no rookie when it comes to penalties assessed in the final round of a major. Who can forget his famous bunker episode at the PGA Championship a few years ago? At that time, he merely missed out on a playoff, but the rule was clear and even he himself admitted he’d made a mistake. There is no question he grounded his club and no question he was in a bunker. It was really hard to tell it was a bunker – I know I had no idea – but many people did and it is his job to notice such things.

Fast forward to this year’s U.S. Open. He was Dustin again in a rules quandary. Did he in some way cause the ball to move during his practice stroke on the fourth green? This is the question that everyone is interested in answering. Now that the dust has settled a little on this issue we are starting to see that some mistakes were made and many – far more than I thought – professional golfers are not clear on the rules.

Continue reading “What the USGA Got Wrong at Oakmont”

TST Staff Predictions for the 2016 U.S. Open

The 2016 playing of the U.S. Open is set to begin at Oakmont with just about everyone playing well. Let’s see what the TST staff expects for this year’s event.

Thrash TalkIf you love a good test of golf, then without question you love watching the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. The members love to tell anyone who’ll listen that they slow the greens down when the pros show up. They love to test themselves and watch the professionals test themselves as well.

This season brings the three big names in golf – Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, and Rory McIlroy – all playing well and primed to contend on the weekend. Expectations could not be higher for a young gun showdown.

With all these exciting expectations lets see what the staff expects for this year’s event.

Continue reading “TST Staff Predictions for the 2016 U.S. Open”

Volume Four Hundred Eighty-One

It’s almost U.S. Open time. You can almost hear the knees knocking.

Hittin' the LinksIt rained once again on the Memorial. But despite the soft conditions, players were mainly backing up on Sunday.

Matt Kuchar came out after Sunday’s rain delay and promptly made double-bogey. Dustin Johnson just might be the best tee-to-green player on the tour, and its worst putter. It sure looked like it this week.

With the U.S. Open starting in just 10 days, the big three are looking solid but not invincible. Jason Day and Rory McIlory were in the conversation until late on Sunday. Jordan Spieth looked a little shaky over the weekend but had his game working earlier in the week. With the way they are playing, as well as with some strong performances by others, Oakmont could be a whole lot of fun.

Let’s hit the links.

Continue reading “Volume Four Hundred Eighty-One”

Harry Taylor Design Wedges Review

Harry Taylor is probably a name you are not familiar with, but he has been in the golf industry designing clubs for years. Now he has decided to enter the market with a line of precision milled wedges.

XR16In many ways, picking a wedge can be extremely similar to picking a putter. While the designs don’t vary quite as much (there are no mallet wedges), still there is a great deal of personalization and customization that is available to golfers today.

When I look into golfers’ bags at their wedges, I very often see one of two scenarios. One is what I would describe as a pot luck of wedges. One wedge won at a tournament, one they bought when they lost one on vacation, really, no rhyme or reason to the selection. The second scenario is an off-the-rack set of two to three wedges made by a brand name club manufacture which may or may not (usually not) have been fit for them.

The reality is wedge fitting is important. Because of the customization, mainly the bounce and flange design differences, one wedge might be better for you based on your swing over the one you’d otherwise be tempted to pick off the rack. A great deal of craftsmanship goes into a wedge. Golfers should pay more attention.

Continue reading “Harry Taylor Design Wedges Review”

Volume Four Hundred Eighty

What slump?

Hittin' the LinksWhat a time to be a golf fan.

Each of the game’s Big(gest) Three — Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, and Rory McIlroy — have each won in their last start and will go head to head this week at the Memorial. Meanwhile, the ranks of the also-could-wins are packed solid.

Are we missing Tiger, who will not tee it up at yet another tournament this week. Yes, but there’s also plenty of fantastic golf being played. The U.S. Open has the potential of being epic.

Let’s hit the links.

Continue reading “Volume Four Hundred Eighty”

Post Mortem on the Dan Plan

Sadly, the Dan Plan is over. I analyze what happened and what we can learn from one man’s adventure.

Thrash TalkAs a child I can remember wanting to be a professional baseball player. My mom told me that being a professional athlete was hard. Really hard. She told me to imagine filling a football stadium full of kids my age, and then selecting the one kid who was going to be a professional baseball player. The rest of us… we were going to be doing something else.

Dear mom was merely helping me set proper expectations. I know it is unpopular now to tell your kids that they can’t achieve their dreams. I see other parents telling their children that they can do anything they put their mind to. I get it. We are supposed to be supportive. Trophies for everyone!

You can read on the TST forum around once month some young kid will come on saying he wants to be a professional golfer. Most people say “follow your dreams,” some will say “good luck,” and one or two members will say something similar to what my mom said. A few years ago someone recommended to one of these hopeful people that they read The Talent Code. So I did. The author suggests that greatness isn’t born, but rather expertise is earned through hard work. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

So when I first heard about the The Dan Plan, I was immediately attracted to the idea. One of the main tenants of The Talent Code is the ten thousand hour theory. Dan was going to test it. Perfect.

Continue reading “Post Mortem on the Dan Plan”

Volume Four Hundred Seventy-Nine

Sergio survives, Rory rallies, and Ariya arrives (again).

Hittin' the LinksThe off the course developments this week were almost as interesting as the competition on the course.

Tiger Watch 2016 may be longer than expected after he looked stiff at a media event and dunked three straight wedge shots in the water at Congressional. Maybe we won’t be seeing him in Dublin in a little over a week for the Memorial.

Elsewhere, Mickelson reached an agreement with the Feds. A former European Ryder Cup Team captain (McGinley) indicated that a former European Ryder Cup Team member (McIlroy) has issues between his ears. (Wonder if his thoughts have changed after Sunday.) And the membership of an Open Championship venue put up the sign “No gurlz aloud.”

Let’s hit the links.

Continue reading “Volume Four Hundred Seventy-Nine”

Volume Four Hundred Seventy-Eight

Jason Day, ladies and gentlemen. Jason. Day.

Hittin the LinksJason Day outlasted the best field in golf to take home the crystal at the Players Championship, shooting a Sunday 71 to cap off a dominant week. Day opened with 63-66, and didn’t take his foot off the pedal, even as the conditions worsened over the weekend. The win at TPC Sawgrass is Day’s seventh in his last 17 tournaments.

We also take a look at Rory’s continued (relative) struggles, get an update on Olympic golf, and sneak a peek into the continued awkwardness of Tiger’s post-Thanksgiving life.

Let’s hit the links.

Continue reading “Volume Four Hundred Seventy-Eight”

Volume Four Hundred Seventy-Seven

Still no end in sight for Tiger Watch ’16.

Hittin' the LinksTiger Woods did not register for next week’s Players Championship, so that means the next most likely even that he’ll be part of is the Memorial the first week of June. His camp has apparently made housing arrangements for both the Memorial and the U.S. Open. We’ll see if Tiger comes out to play.

Elsewhere, the rumors we’ve been hearing for months are true. Adidas is looking to sell TaylorMade, Adams and Ashworth. The leading candidates to purchase at least TM are rumored to be Under Armour and New Balance, but that could all be conjecture.

In the meantime, next week will bring a Dye-abolical time in Ponte Vedra. It’s always a good time, probably more so for us watching than those playing.

Let’s hit the links.

Continue reading “Volume Four Hundred Seventy-Seven”