Volume Four Hundred Forty-Five

Will Rory play, will Spieth take three of four, will Tiger be maitre d’?

Hittin' the LinksWill he or won’t he? All signs point to a return to play for Rory McIlroy next week just in time for the PGA Championship. He has a tee time with Jordan Spieth and Zach Johnson. He’s been posting photos and video of himself working out and hitting shots. Indications certainly favor Rory teeing it up Thursday, though he doesn’t have to commit until his official tee time.

Even if the World No. 1’s ankle won’t let him play, the field will be plenty loaded with Speith, the two Johnson’s, Mickelson, Furyk, Watson, Day, Garcia, and, yes, that Woods guy. Plus, oh, about 10 or 20 who could win without totally shocking us, and the rest of the field who we might be surprised to see win, but are fully capable of doing so including, if the stars align just right, the club pros.

Let’s hit the links.

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New Irons and Wedges from PING

PING updates the G and the i series of irons while adding to the Glide wedge line up.

Bag DropOver the last handful of years, PING has followed a fairly predictable pattern of releasing the new “i” series iron one year followed by the “G” series the next. This has pretty much been their pattern since the i10/G10. This time around, the company is shaking things up with the new i and GMax irons. Both sets feature new technologies and should help add distance and accuracy to your bag. On top of the two new sets of irons, the company also announced the Glide ES wedges.

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Volume Four Hundred Forty-Four

Inbee gets her slam, Tiger shows signs of life, and Holly’s going to prom.

Hittin' the LinksTroy Merritt was the class of the Quicken Loans National this week. His 10-under 61 on Saturday followed by a 67 Sunday were three shots better than the nearest competitor. But his story wasn’t the one that many fans were most interested in.

Tiger Woods was in contention after a 68-66 start. In fact, if you only considered Thursday, Friday and Sunday, Tiger Woods (T18, -8) looked an awful lot like his old self this week. Unfortunately, Saturday’s round was a sloppy 74. But even in his struggles, there were flashes of the greatness that led us to first watch in awe when he played. The WGC field might be happy that he won’t be at Firestone next week where he’s won eight times.

Elsewhere, Inbee Park hit a major milestone at the Women’s British Open and self-promotion master Donald Trump managed to not upstage the competition (at least not much). And the EuroTour was practicing for the Ryder and President’s cups at the Paul Lawrie Match Play in Aberdeen. Kiradech Aphibarnrat beat Robert Karlsson to claim the event and his third European Tour victory, becoming the youngest Asian player to reach that mark.

Let’s hit the links.

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Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 815 Fairway Review

Callaway brings versatility and a new level of adjustability to a fairway wood in a classic-looking package.

Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 815 Fairway Alt HeroFairway woods are some of my favorite clubs. I use my 3W off the tee for those times when I’m struggling off with the driver or just need a little more accuracy on a tighter hole. I used to have a 5W that I was able to hit a very reliable draw with, whether off the tee or on the ground. I had to stop playing the 5-wood when I discovered a hairline fracture in the shaft, but I still use my 3W at least four or five times in a round.

Because I depend on my 3W so much, picking the right replacement is very important to me. It needs to be easy to hit off the tee as well as off the deck, and it needs to be just as long as it should be. I don’t need my 3W to go as far as my driver and I certainly don’t need it if it’s only good off the tee.

This is why I’m a big fan of Callaway’s Big Bertha Alpha 815 Fairway. Its versatile design allows it to do everything I need out of a fairway wood, without being a one-trick pony. As one of the most adjustable fairway woods on the market, there are a large number of things you can do to optimize the flight characteristics of your ball and customize the club to your swing.

Earlier this year, I reviewed the Big Bertha Alpha 815 Driver and thought it was an excellent club. Its little brother is just as good. Read on to find out more.

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What Should Golf Do About Donald Trump?

During Donald Trump’s campaign for president he is going to say some dumb things. How should golf manage this?

Thrash TalkDonald Trump is only slightly more talented than the most talentless celebrity out there – Kim Kardashian. Trump has made himself a celebrity by being a savvy businessman and then capitalizing on the current run of reality television shows. Prior to The Apprentice he was famous and people knew who he was, but after the run it had on NBC he has moved himself into full-fledged superstardom. He also happens to have a large sum of money and he likes to spend it on things that interest him. For better or for worse he is really interested in golf.

When he entered golf in earnest a few years ago, I was excited. If he is able to bring his money, his celebrity, and his management style to golf, then golf will benefit. And for the most part he has done that. He has taken to investing in struggling clubs, pumping big amounts of money into them, redesigning them, and making them better. Famous locations such as Doral and Turnberry had to change their names to Trump Doral and Trump Turnberry, but I am willing to put up with that if he makes the courses better. And by all accounts he has done just that.

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Nike Vapor Flex Driver Review

Nike gives us a taste of what’s cooking at The Oven.

Nike Vapor Flex Driver HeroWhat do you want from a driver?

Distance? Check.

Adjustability? Check.

Great looks? Check.

The best sound and feel I’ve ever experienced? Check.

The Nike Vapor Flex driver reflects not what a driver should be, but what a driver can be. It’s an insane concoction of technology that builds on the innovations Nike has brought to market over the past half-decade, all packaged into one sleek clubhead.

Amazingly, when you actually take it for a spin, it all seems to make sense. It’s a better-player’s club that, despite the lime green and wild esthetics, produces a muted sound and a boring trajectory.

Let’s dive in.

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Volume Four Hundred Forty-Three

Always look before you reach in the hole for your ball. Just saying…

Hittin' the LinksTwo players rode the momentum of their good play in the British Open to wins this week. Jason Day did not leave the big putt short this week, and beat a nation’s hope. Danny Willett put together four solid rounds, including a 62, en route to his victory in Switzerland.

Jordan Spieth may have fell short in his Grand Slam campaign, but he did get a drink from the Claret Jug, anyway. Speaking of the jug, the “The Tiger Woods of Iowa,” took his on the usual post-major media blitz.

Not a bad week in golf, unless your Robert Allenby. Let’s hit the links.

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A Rivalry is Born

With Tiger in decline, golf needs a new superstar, if things continue as they are now we might get more than just one.

Thrash TalkThe one thing that makes sport great is rivalries. Baseball has series like the subway series. Football has divisional games which inferior teams can rise up and beat some of the best teams just because of the familiarity. I have been to an English Football derby and the electricity in the stadium is fantastic! Everyone – even the players – can understand the necessity of having someone against whom you compete. Someone who drives you to play better.

Golf has had its share of great rivalries. Consider Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson. These two guys grew up in the same caddie yard and then went on to compete on the PGA Tour. Hollywood couldn’t have scripted a better story. There was the big three for a while with Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Gary Player. They were the foundation for the modern golf rivalry. Each golfer to a man says they were constantly watching what the other guys were doing. As Arnold began to fade with age, Tom Watson became a worthy competitor to Jack and provided one of the best mano e mano fights that golf has ever seen in The Duel in the Sun. Jack Nicklaus has always stated that Tom made him a better competitor. Jack won more but Tom would rise up and challenge Jack, and very often beat him.

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Volume Four Hundred Forty-Two

Wow. Just wow.

Hittin' the LinksThat was one wild final day of the Open Championship!

For much of the back nine, the likelihood of a 2015 grand slam seemed like a very long shot, indeed. Then, for a short time, it seemed like it was fated to happen. But the cell phones clicked and the ball spun back (like balls aren’t supposed to in links golf) down into the depths of the Valley of Sin. Spieth was left with a difficult putt-chip up the steep ridge to make the playoff. His putt missed one-ball left of the cup.

Just like that, Jordan Spieth came up one shot short of keeping the dream of a modern grand slam alive.

Instead, a player that I never would have guessed to prevail on a links course birdied the first two playoff holes and then hung on through the last two to emerge victorious.

But what a spectacle the Old Course hosted this week… the wind blew, the rain fell, Tiger missed another major cut, Colin Montgomerie’s son worked the scoreboard, Graham DeLaet’s clubs got dusted, Tim Clark withdrew for an odd reason, DJ looked unbeatable and then he didn’t, Watson said goodbye to the Open, no one wanted this birdie, Robson read the names for the playoff and hung up his microphone, the amateurs nearly stole the show, and finally there was a new Champion Golfer of the Year.

What a week! Let’s hit the links.

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