TST Staff Predictions for the Masters

It’s time to start the first major of golf’s 2016 season, let’s see what the staff expects for this years event.

Thrash TalkHello Friends, it is time for a tradition unlike any other, the Masters. I know for me watching golfer walk around such a beautiful setting like Augusta National is really a great way to get the spring season in gear.

This season has all sorts of intrigue with almost all of the young guns peaking at just the right time. Jordan, Rory, Rickie, Jason, all have either won, or been very close to winning and look primed to win the seasons first major. Even though Tiger will miss out, Phil looks ready to hold up the flag for old guard and might be a sleeper pick from the SandTrap staff.

Let’s see what the staff expects for this season.

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Volume Four Hundred Seventy-Two

Yes, sir!

Hittin' the LinksDespite the fact that it snowed here in Central Ohio this weekend, Spring has arrived. I know, because the Masters starts on Thursday.

The annual Drive, Chip, and Putt contest kicked off the week at Augusta National, giving us a first look for the year at those Georgia pines and beautifully manicured grounds. The anticipation is just going to build until those ceremonial tee shots fly Thursday morning.

The women held their first major of the year in California and the same teenager who won the last one picked up where she left off.

Let’s hit the links.

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Volume Four Hundred Seventy-One

Jason Day is really having his, well, day.

Hittin' the LinksAustin Country Club had a good showing at this week’s WGC Dell Match Play. The short holes worked well in the format, and there were some ridiculously long downhill drives. As is typically the case with match play, big names fell at the hands of not so big names, but in the end the player on the hottest streak won.

We’re two weeks out from the Masters. Just a quick stop in Houston to go before that annual rite of Spring tees off on the hallowed grounds of Augusta National. Golf’s big three are playing well, as are a number of other top names. It’s going to be fun.

Let’s hit the links.

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Callaway XR16 Driver Review

For Callaway’s update to the XR line of drivers they have collaborated with one of the world’s foremost aeronautical companies in Boeing to help you hit the ball farther. Do they succeed, read on to find out.

XR16In the last few years golf equipment manufacturers have had to up their game in order to convince us golfers that we should upgrade from our current model. Each manufacturer is taking a slightly different route, but certainly a big focus nowadays is aerodynamics. The name of the game is reduce airflow in order to help you eek out as much distance as you can.

The engineers at Callaway went to the foremost expert on aerodynamics and partnered with them to make the XR16. They went to Boeing. In the airline industry the focus for the past few years has been remarkably similar to what has gone on in golf club design. They want to make planes lighter and they use materials like Carbon Fiber in order to accomplish this. They always want to reduce drag as much as possible to save on fuel costs as well.

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PING G Driver Review

Following the extremely popular G30 driver PING looked to design even more aerodynamics into their latest release, the PING G driver, I took it for a test drive to see how it performs.

PING GIt is often said that nature often inspires the best designs. It is evolution that often provides the simplest and most beautiful solution to many problems. So when PING engineers sat down to improve upon one of the best drivers on the market, the G30, they looked to nature. The engineers who worked on PING G driver looked to nature to inspire and improve their design; in fact, they looked to the wings of a dragonfly.

One of the key features of the extremely popular G30 was the turbulators that were added to the top of the clubhead. The features the PING engineers gleamed from the dragonfly were geared to further improve the airflow of the clubhead. More speed to help you hit it farther. The idea being that larger clubheads particularly ones that are 460cc do not need to trade off aerodynamics. So PING set out to make a driver that has the aerodynamic features of a 3 wood, but the forgiveness and power given from a driver.

For this review I was give a 9° PING G driver with an stiff Alta shaft. Let’s dive in to see if this merger of nature and technology helped me hit it any farther.

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Volume Four Hundred Seventy

It’s all about Arnie.

Hittin' the LinksJordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler kind of stepped in it last week by not playing. For two guys who generally do all the right things, their absence (and that of other top Americans) at Bay Hill was noticeable. Yes, their schedules are very hectic and both have been doing quite a bit of traveling this year. Still, it’s Arnie’s week.

All tour players owe a great deal to Arnold Palmer for popularizing golf beyond the country club set, for trailblazing endorsement deals, and so much more. Unfortunately, the number of times left that he’ll be there to shake the winner’s hand as they come off the 18th is dwindling. This year he will sit out the ceremonial first drive at the Masters because he can no longer hit it like he wants to. American pros, find another week to get your rest in, this one belongs to the King.

Best t-shirt at Bay Hill? “Arnie for President, 2016.” We could (and probably will) do worse.

Let’s hit the links.

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Volume Four Hundred Sixty-Nine

Spring ahead… Golf, too.

Hittin' the LinksThis week we set the clocks ahead, which means that spring and the core of the golf season are almost upon us.

Next week is the Arnold Palmer Classic, a week later the WGC Match Play, then the Houston Open follows, and then the one we’re always waiting for. Major season begins with the Masters in four short weeks.

But first, the Valspar Championship frustrated tour pros all week and gave us the game’s #1 pro getting beat by the game’s #1 amateur. So that was pretty cool.

Let’s hit the links.

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Volume Four Hundred Sixty-Eight

Wetting your putter, bowling on the course, and a tour pro can’t break 80.

Hittin' the LinksThe WGC Cadillac Championship turned out to be quite a spectacle. The Donald turned up on Sunday amid cheers and shouts of “small hands.” A crowded and quality leader board led to a late charge on Sunday by the eventual winner. There were rules controversies, big numbers, and narrow escapes. What more could you ask for?

In the end, Adam Scott beat fellow countryman Steven Bowditch by 49 strokes. Let’s hit the links.

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Volume Four Hundred Sixty-Seven

Rickie falters, Lexi rules, and Adam makes a quad and survives.

Hittin' the LinksDoes anyone else remember that Adam Scott started out last year putting well with a short putter before returning to the security blanket of the broom? Well, now he’s won with the regular-length flat stick and, barring a retreat on the rule by the USGA, there’s no going back.

Sergio, Sergio, Sergio. You were supposed to be the new rival for Tiger, more than 16 years ago. And you’re still allergic to Sunday? Bogey-bogey-birdie finishes don’t often work out.

On the women’s side of things, Lexi Thompson proved once again that when the flat stick cooperates, she is very, very hard to beat.

Next week, we get our first stop at a Trump property with the presidential candidate leading the GOP field in an election year. This should be weird.

Let’s hit the links.

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