Lee Westwood Won’t be Number One for Very Long

Lee Westwood might be on top of world right now, but his reign as golf’s top player could be short lived.

Trap Five LogoLadies and gentlemen, Lee Westwood is now officially the number one ranked golfer in the world. Given that he took the top spot from media machine Tiger Woods, I probably don’t even have to tell you that. Although the story of Westwood’s fall from a top player early last decade is a good one, nice stories don’t a great golfer make. Even including his European Tour play, Westwood has no career majors and fewer wins the last two years than Tiger Woods, newly vegetarian Phil Mickelson, Martin Kaymer, and Steve Stricker. While his consistent play over the last few years has put him at the apex of his sport, here are five reasons that Lee Westwood won’t last as the top golfer.

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Westwood’s Ascension Caps Foreign Golf Invasion

What an ugly year for American golf. Not only did the top U.S. players collapse, but the so-called future stars were embarrassing compared to the young studs from abroad.

Thrash TalkWe’ve known for a month that the calendar was going to be the only one to knock Tiger Woods from his perch atop the World Golf Rankings.

So when Lee Westwood rose to number one four days ago, it summed up golf in 2010: a foreign golfer steps in as an American falters. The was the year that American golf took one right on the chin from the rest of the world.

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Callaway Releases New Diablo Octane Drivers and Fairway Woods

Callaway adds some fuel to their Diablo line with the new Diablo Octane and Diablo Octane Tour drivers and fairway woods.

Bag DropWhat happens when an established golf equipment manufacturer creates a research and development partnership with an Italian automaker known for their insanely fast supercars? We’ll answer that question in a minute, but it should come as no surprise that Callaway and Autmobilia Lamborghini (commonly known as just “Lamborghini”) have officially formalized their partnership after a number of years of collaboration on advanced materials. That, and apparently they both have some sort of obsession with the devil (Lamborghini Diablo, Callaway’s Diablo line of clubs, see the pattern here??).

Before I start spreading rumors of some devil worship cult that exists deep within the these two corporate giants, you should probably know that the Lamborghini Diablo was actually named after a fighting bull. Now that I’ve drifted ridiculously off-topic, I’m going to yank us right back like a bull fighter yanking away the red cape so that we can take a look at the latest drivers and fairway woods from Callaway.

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Titleist Introduces 910 Drivers – First Adjustable Models from Titleist

Titleist joins the ranks of manufacturers who offer adjustable clubs with the new 910 series.

Bag DropBob Dylan sang “Times They Are A-Changin’,” though in the world of golf equipment, it may have never been as true as it is now. While others have had a few different variations of adjustability, Titleist had yet to jump on the bandwagon. As they say, being first to market doesn’t equate to being better.

Does this mean that adjustable drivers have reached a point where it’s so mainstream that the adjustability factor has no effect on how “traditional” people perceive a manufacturer and their clubs, or does it simply mean Titleist is evolving out of that “traditionally traditional” mold? Though the introduction of the 910 series as well as the AP Series might lead one to believe they’re just progressing and working in new technology, who really cares either way?? Plain and simple we, as players, are getting a beautiful new adjustable driver from one of the most established, respected names on the market.

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Volume Two Hundred Fifty Five

Ricky Fowler is cooler than Justin Bieber

Hittin' the LinksHello again golf fans and welcome to yet another edition of everybody’s favorite column, Hittin’ the Links. One more event remains in the 2010 PGA Tour season, one more shot for many players on the bubble to make sure they retain their cards. But first the Tour will take off a couple of weeks for the big cats head overseas for the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic and the WGC-HSBC Champions. That gives the rest of the lot two weeks to get their games in tip top shape before they head off to visit Mickey Mouse.

In this newest volume of HTL we begin with a look at party animal Anthony Kim, then take note as Adam Scott moves into his prime, and investigate why Rickie Fowler is cooler than Justin Bieber. Also, we find out how much money Elin really got, look in on the youngest winner ever on the European Tour, and check out the amazing end to the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital Open. Read on!

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Is it Equipment or Technique? I Vote For Both

Lesson combined with club fitting offered a prime example of all the game’s learning tools.

Thrash TalkI’m constantly stumped by the venom and vigor of golfers who swear anything can be fixed with the right equipment, and those who say with enough lessons and practice, you can break par with 25-year-old gear.

I’ve straddled the line through the years, often falling more on the “answers are in the dirt” side, but I took it to another level. Being around pro shops I’d heard my share of tips and advice, but as a Harvey Penick disciple, I didn’t want to weigh my golf mind down with much other than “take dead aim.”

More recently I’ve overhauled my golf bag, kicked the only putter I’ve ever known to the curb, and spend way way too much time reading about equipment I’ll never own.

With all that in mind, I’d say I was prime for a learning academy revelation.

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Mizuno MP T-11 Wedges, MP-53 and MP-63 Irons Round Out Fall 2010 Lineup

Continuing our coverage of the newest clubs Mizuno has to offer, we take a look at the newest in the ever-popular MP series. Do we have something here to add to the early holiday wish list?

Bag DropThis week at Bag Drop, we shift gears from Mizuno’s new game improvement JPX line to the latest in their game enhancement MP line. Though the MP line has naturally evolved over the last few years, there are a few things we all expect to stay the same – the buttery feel, the near perfect sound, and the understated, modern good looks.

Also included in this week’s roundup is the newest in the MP T- line of forged wedges, the MP T-11. I could give you a long, drawn out introduction, but quite frankly, I know you want to get to the good stuff, and we have a lot to cover this week, so let’s get started!

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Volume Two Hundred Fifty Four

The Shark’s getting hitched again, Harrington breaks his win-less steak, and we find out what $775,000 will get you

Hittin' the LinksHello there fellow Sand Trap faithfuls and welcome to another volume of Hittin’ the Links. The end of the season is near and with the amount of money necessary to keep a tour card these days its no wonder some PGA Tour players are beginning to sweat a little. It will be an interesting story to watch play out as we get closer and closer to the season ending event at Disney World on November 11th-14th.

In this volume of HTL we begin with a look at the Great White Shark’s impending nuptials, then turn our attention to some transgender issues on the LPGA Tour, and see the star studded field headed to the Chevron World Challenge. Also, we investigate exactly how much money is needed to stay on Tour, find out why it might be Captain Jose, and do a wrap-up of the week’s events. Read on!

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Mizuno Introduces JPX-800 Series Irons

Mizuno ushers in a new era of performance game improvement irons built with the combined skill of their club designers from Japan, Europe, and the U.S.

Bag DropHow do you improve on one of the more popular game improvement lines of the past few years? If you’re Mizuno, you don’t – instead, you pull all the great ideas and technology from your assets around the world, and build something new.

Some may mourn the loss of Mizuno’s MX line (myself included, the MX-300s are still seeing heavy rotation in my bag, and I don’t plan on changing anytime soon), but after taking a look at the new JPX-800 and JPX-800 Pro there’s a good chance those feelings will change. The JPX line, in fact, is set to be Mizuno’s global (as in, not U.S. or Japan only, as we’ve seen in the past) brand of game improvement gear, and becomes the newest complement to the award winning MP line.

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