PGA Tour Champions

Golf Playoffs and Golf Fitness

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A rare PSA. Tomorrow is Remembrance Day (Canada Day/The United Kingdom/Commonwealth), Veteran’s Day (United States) and Armistice Day (France). Please respect those that have fought, fallen, sacrificed or continue to fight for our freedom by observing a minute of silence at 11 a.m. 

On the 11th Day, of the 11th Month, at the 11th Hour the guns fell silent to signal the end of WWI in 1918. If your country wears a poppy please wear one out of respect.

“In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
    That mark our place; and in the sky
    The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below….”
– In Flanders Field by John McRae
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The National War Memorial. (Photo Credit: Crystal Toth)

In a show of hands. Who amongst us likes the current playoff formats for the respective professional golf tours around the world? I admit it, I can’t see the hands but speaking for myself I cannot stand them nor have I ever liked them.

It doesn’t matter which tour it is. It could be the LPGA Tour (Race to CME Globe), the Race to Dubai (European Tour), the PGA TOUR and their FedEx Cup Playoffs or the PGA TOUR Champions (Charles Schwab Cup). It’s of little consequence to me.

I don’t like them and I think it’s because it’s partially convoluted (too many moving parts) and personally speaking I think that it’s overthought. Honestly, I think they have the system sort of correct where they whittle down the field gradually. To a point wherein the case of the FedEx Cup they get the field down to 30 for the TOUR Championship at East Lake. However, after that, you need to be a mathematician and algorithm genius to figure things out. Look no further than this weekend at Charles Schwab Cup finale in Arizona on PGA TOUR Champions (can’t we just go back to Champion’s Tour?). Instead of getting a headache I’ll let esteemed writer Ron Mintz take the lead from Tweets this morning.

https://twitter.com/MintzGolf/status/1193353649369616384?s=20

Just reading it, I get overwhelmed with a headache. But yes, that’s how it cracked down if you’ve been watching this week at all. Between this (as I describe it) “tomfoolery” it seems like the system isn’t quite right. But I have a suggestion and maybe I’m oversimplifying things a tad. What about using the points system as they have in place and when it gets down to the final 30 or 40 or even 50 reset the points to zero. Introduce Match Play to the final event. Where the winner takes all? Too easy?

Golf fitness. I’ve recently posted about there being #nooffseason when it comes to golf. There’s always something that needs to be improved. Maybe you need to experiment with a grip change. When the snow flies, this is a great time to do it. Or maybe, your putting stroke needs work? By getting a Big Moss, PuttOut or BirdieBall putting matt you can work on your game if your season is hampered by the blast of “Old Man Winter’s Wind”. I will be experimenting with a few things. I’m looking for a little more distance during my golf “cease-fire” and it’s the distance that I lost after my stroke. But, I’m having a little gander and David Leadbetter’s “A Swing” because I’m thinking of making things a little more compact. But I’ve also gotten back to the gym.

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Hoping to turn my chicken legs into at least turkey legs.

I bought my gym membership a few days ago, but I was feeling really off. A combination of cardiac-type issues and depression. I managed to force myself up and out a few days ago and since I haven’t had a day where I didn’t work out. Who knows, maybe it’ll lead to a better mind and better golf. Seeing that I’m just getting back into it, I am going easy. I’m combining circuit-training and then alternating days of legs/back with arms/chest. Core days are every day. Cardio is important of course for weight maintenance (I want to lose a few pounds/gain muscle and tone). So I’ll be trying to post updates. Above is my blank canvas. Man, I got so weak. Today, I added “Battle Ropes” to my repertoire. Yep, those are going to be fun and the death of me.

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Until The Next Tee!!

#fightandgrind #seeuonthenexttee

USGA Retraction

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Alright, so the ongoing saga of the golf world versus the new modernized Rule of Golf rages on. This time… Or shall I say that once again the USGA is directly in the crosshairs.

If it isn’t bad enough that the rules struggles have been the thing of near animosity (no fault of the USGA) or the fact that they’ve made an embarrassment of themselves in USGA-sanctioned tournaments. Pick any one of the borderline idiotic rulings. Dustin Johnson’s “BunkerGate I” in 2016 at Oakmont. Then there was Anna Nordqvist’s infamous “BunkerGate 2” (also in 2016) when the U.S. Open was played at CordeValle Golf Club. I was actually gutted for both athletes at the time. Of course, there’s the debate every year and ultimately complaints from the player’s in the field about course set-up. Honestly, I think Mike Davis was setting up the courses fine. It should be difficult for these guys and girls to win the title. But it also shouldn’t be set up like a resort course nor it shouldn’t be a battle of attrition. Perhaps, I’m just getting mellow in my old age.

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This was a bad one. Anna Nordqvist at CordeValle during the 2016 U.S. Open. (Photo Credit: Sky Sports)

Say, the USGA loves to make questionable penalty calls but how about the one that they didn’t make? Phil Mickelson in the 2018 U.S. Open. Another irritating gaffe. It ‘s speculation on my part but if his name was Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Rory (no not that one… the other one) or I dunno… Kevin Na? Penalty? Almost a likelihood.

So in the last 24+ hours we had a brazen response from the USGA Public Relations department in response to criticism of the new rules by PGA TOUR star Justin Thomas. In a move that I’ve never seen before (I wouldn’t be so bold as to label it unprecedented) the USGA lashed back over social media (Twitter).

“Justin, we need to talk. You’ve canceled every meeting we’ve planned with you, but we are reaching out again. We were at the first 5 events, and tournaments last year, and your tour has had a seat at the table for 7 years. We’d love nothing more than to give you a seat. Call us.” -USGA PR

I actually went as far to commend them for it. They fought back and stuck up for themselves. Awesome! After all of the bitching and complaining from player’s about the rules from the safety of a keyboard they called out someone. Kudos. That was right up until today… March 5th, 2019.

 

It turns out that the USGA backed up quicker than the “Speed of Light” and backtracked their statement. It turns out that he (Thomas) did not avoid communication or meetings with the USGA. As you’ll read below.

Seriously, to the brain trust of the USGA you folks really need to get your collective heads extricated from your arse. If any or all of the above instances from your National Championships weren’t bad enough this looks really bad. I’m dying to know who the individual was. Your credibility almost seems to be diminishing in a way.

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The golf world will adjust to the new rules. In my article yesterday I suggested “growing pains”. I stand by that assertion but being a man of conviction I also stand by my word that you (the USGA) need to get your @!#$ together.

Until The Next Tee!!

#FightAndGrind #SeeUOnTheNextTee

Tour Edge Golf Making News… Again!

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Tour Edge Golf from Batavia, Illinois has been making plenty of waves and news as of late. Not only did the brand secure a Teezy Award in the “Top Cast Irons” category but they finished with a runner-up in the “Top Fairway Metal” category as well. I also feel the need to point out that their EXS driver also finished only a half a point behind the winner and runner-up scoring 36.5/40 points.

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Tour Edge Golf has also made recent signings to their TOUR staff as well. Among the signings are Champions TOUR veterans Duffy Waldorf, Tom Lehman, Tim Petrovic, and  Scott Mc Carron.

For more details, please see the press releases below.

Until The Next Tee!!

#FightAndGrind #SeeUOntheNextTee

 

Duffy Waldorf Signs with Tour Edge Exotics to
Hat/Shirt/Bag Logo and Club Staff Deal for 2019

Tour Edge announced today that Duffy Waldorf has officially signed a deal to endorse Tour Edge Exotics and to play their metalwoods on the PGA Tour Champions in 2019. Waldorf will feature Tour Edge Exotics logos on his headwear and shirts and will carry an Exotics CBX 119 staff bag.

“I was going to continue to play the Exotics hybrid no matter what this season and
then I started hitting 300-yard bombs with their fairway wood,” said Waldorf. “I’m
excited to explore the full line of Exotics equipment since the first two clubs I have
tried are in my bag.” I am a big fan of how this is a U.S. owned and operated company that has dedicated itself to the PGA Tour Champions. They are out here every week making sure we are taken care of with ultra-high-performance clubs and that is very much appreciated. I’ll be proud to wear their hat and carry their bag this year to help spread the word on Tour Edge Exotics.”

Waldorf served as an Exotics CBX staff player in 2018. He played Tour Edge Exotics
CBX fairway woods and hybrids all year en route to a season that saw him earn
$815,559.

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Waldorf finished 24th in the final Charles Schwab Cup points and money standings
in 2018. He earned four Top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour Champions but finished in
the Top 25 in 15 of the 27 events he played in 2018.

He earned a Top 5 finish at the Regions Tradition and 6th at the SENIOR PLAYERS
Championship, both major events. He also earned a 4th place finish at the PURE
Insurance Championship. He ended his season with a Top 10 finish in the Playoffs
at the Invesco QQQ Championship.

 

This year, Waldorf will be wearing Tour Edge Exotics logoed headwear and sporting
a Tour Edge Exotics logo on his chest and carrying a Tour Edge Exotics CBX 119
bag for the first time and will also expand his club usage to other categories with
Tour Edge Exotics clubs.

“Duffy is a grinder and a model of consistency out on the PGA Tour Champions,”
said Tour Edge President David Glod. “This is a big name in golf and a big deal for
Tour Edge to name as our 4th logo staff player. He was in play with us all year last
year and absolutely loves the clubs. I’m excited to work with him on the Exotics
CBX 119 down in Boca Raton as these clubs were designed for a golfer just like
Duffy in mind. I see a perfect marriage brewing.”

Waldorf will make his season debut February 8th at the Oasis Championship in Boca
Raton, Fl.

Waldorf will also take part in Tour Edge’s sponsorship of the PGA Tour Champions
Learning Center show on the Golf Channel. The PGA Tour Learning Center is a
popular Golf Channel television show that features professional tips and instruction
featuring the legends of golf from the PGA Tour Champions.

PGA Tour Champions Learning Center, Presented by Tour Edge, is scheduled to air
43 episodes in 2019, beginning January 22nd, with Tour Edge, prominently featured
within each episode. The series also will incorporate Tour Edge Exotics Staff Professionals like Waldorf, Tom Lehman, Scott McCarron, and Tim Petrovic among
others providing tips geared toward the amateur golfer.

“We set up on the range at every event in 2018 and over 50 different professionals
started playing Exotics,” said Glod. “The players have been very thankful for the
service we are providing them and it has led to some great relationships and great
feedback for me on club design.”

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Waldorf seen here in TaylorMade is switching out for Tour Edge Exotics.

In all, over 50 players have put over 300 Exotics clubs into play since Exotics was
launched to the tour in the last year. Eight out of the Top 25 players (32%) in the
Charles Schwab Cup final standings and 16 out of the Top 50 players put Exotics
into play in 2018.

On top of the six victories and 10 runner-up finishes procured by players using
Exotics on the 2018 PGA Tour Champions, players using Tour Edge clubs also
earned 34 Top 5 finishes and 60 Top 10 finishes in the 27 events played on the PGA
Tour Champions in 2018.

The Tour Edge Exotics CBX hybrid ranked as the #1 most played hybrid model at
the 2018 Senior PGA Championship and the Charles Schwab Cup Championship
with their Exotics CBX hybrid accounting for 16% of the hybrids in play, according
to the Darrell Survey.

 

Tour Edge Signs Tim Petrovic to Hat/Shirt Logo and Club Staff Deal for 2019

Tour Edge announced today that Tim Petrovic has officially signed a deal to endorse
Tour Edge Exotics and to play their metalwoods on the PGA Tour Champions in 2019. Petrovic will feature Tour Edge Exotics logos on his headwear and shirts.

“I am excited to rejoin the Tour Edge team and wear the Tour Edge logo in 2019,” said Petrovic. “My success last year was largely due to the reliability and performance of my Exotics clubs. They always came through when I called upon them leading me to 5 second place finishes on the Champions Tour.”

Petrovic served as an Exotics CBX staff player in 2018. He played Tour Edge Exotics
CBX fairway woods, hybrids, and iron-woods all year en route to a career year.

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Petrovic finished 9th in the final Charles Schwab Cup points and money standings in
2018 while playing two Exotics CBX fairway woods and two Exotics CBX IronWoods, as well as an Exotics CBX hybrid from time to time.

Petrovic earned six Top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour Champions, but five out of
those six Top 10’s were runner-up finishes, including high-profile 2nd place finishes
at the major KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, the major U.S. Senior Open Championship, and the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship. He
finished in the Top 25 in 12 of the 23 events he played in 2018.

This year, Petrovic will be wearing Tour Edge Exotics logoed headwear and sporting
a Tour Edge Exotics logo on his chest for the first time and will also expand his club
usage to other categories with Tour Edge Exotics clubs.

“What a year Tim Petrovic had last year on the PGA Tour Champions,” said Tour
Edge President David Glod. “He proved that he can hang with anyone out there and
that he is a force to be reckoned with. He is one of the players bringing a new competitive and fiery spirit to the PGA Tour Champions and we are proud to have
signed Tim to a deal where he can show off that he is playing our clubs while he is
out there competing. A saying we have around the office whenever he tees off is
‘Go Low Petro’ and we look forward to saying that a lot this year!”

Petrovic will make his season debut February 8th at the Oasis Championship in Boca
Raton, Fl.

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Team #TourEdge. Tim Petrovic (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Petrovic will also take part in Tour Edge’s sponsorship of the PGA Tour Champions
Learning Center show on the Golf Channel. The PGA Tour Learning Center is a
popular Golf Channel television show that features professional tips and instruction
featuring the legends of golf from the PGA Tour Champions.

PGA Tour Champions Learning Center, Presented by Tour Edge, is scheduled to air
43 episodes in 2019, beginning January 22nd, with Tour Edge, prominently featured
within each episode. The series also will incorporate Tour Edge Exotics Staff Professionals like Petrovic, Tom Lehman, Scott McCarron, and Duffy Waldorf among
others providing tips geared toward the amateur golfer.

“We set up on the range at every event in 2018 and over 50 different professionals
started playing Exotics,” said Glod. “The players have been very thankful for the
service we are providing them and it has led to some great relationships and great
feedback for me on club design.”

In all, over 50 players have put over 300 Exotics clubs into play since Exotics was
launched to the tour in the last year. Eight out of the Top 25 players (32%) in the
Charles Schwab Cup final standings and 16 out of the Top 50 players put Exotics
into play in 2018.

On top of the six victories and 10 runner-up finishes procured by players using
Exotics on the 2018 PGA Tour Champions, players using Tour Edge clubs also
earned 34 Top 5 finishes and 60 Top 10 finishes in the 27 events played on the PGA
Tour Champions in 2018.

The Tour Edge Exotics CBX hybrid ranked as the #1 most played hybrid model at
the 2018 Senior PGA Championship and the Charles Schwab Cup Championship
with their Exotics CBX hybrid accounting for 16% of the hybrids in play, according
to the Darrell Survey.

Tom Lehman Played Brand New Exotics CBX
119 in Season-Opening Hawaii Victory

When Tom Lehman opened up the 2019 PGA Tour Champions season with a victory
at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, he did so with the brand new
Exotics CBX 119 hybrid by Tour Edge in the bag.

Tour Edge announced that Lehman officially signed a deal to wear a Tour Edge
Exotics logo on his chest, to carry an Exotics CBX 119 staff bag and to play their
Exotics metalwoods just a few days before the season-opening win.

“Right off the bat, we weren’t sure which CBX was in the bag for the win, the one
he played with and won with last year or the new CBX 119 we had just sent him a
few days prior to him leaving for Hawaii,” said Executive Vice President John
Craig. “We then heard from Tom this week that he instantly fell in love with the
new CBX 119 and put it right into play.”

Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai - Final Round

Photo Credit; Getty Images

Lehman officially put the Exotics CBX 119 18-degree hybrid with a Project X
EvenFlow Black shaft into play for the win. He also had a #2 Exotics CBX IronWood in play.

“I put the CBX 119 directly in the bag for Hawaii and came away with the win to
start the 2019 season,” said Lehman. “The CBX 119 is way better than the original
I played last year and that one was really, really good. It’s a great step up and I hit
key shots with it.”

Lehman erased a four-stroke deficit and won the Mitsubishi Electric Championship
at Hualalai by a stroke on the final hole. Lehman finished with a 17-under 199.

“I like the fact that the wind was blowing,” Lehman said. “I always feel like when
the wind blows, my chances get better. Historically, I’ve always been a real steady
ball striker, and when the wind blows, that’s what you really have to do.”

He caught the leader with three birdies in a four-hole stretch at Hualalai Golf Club
and sealed the win with his second straight 7-under-par 65 round. The victory was
Lehman’s 12th PGA Tour Champions victory and his 2nd in the past two seasons
while playing Exotics golf clubs.

“Huge congratulations are in order to Tom Lehman on his amazing comeback win
in Hawaii,” said Tour Edge founder and President David Glod. “For Tour Edge,
Hollywood could not have scripted it any better. We had just finished our awards
dinner at our National Sales Conference to kick off PGA Show week in Orlando.
Right as dinner ended, the entire company and sales force gathered around the
hotel bar TV with two holes left. A big celebration ensued when Tom won because it
means so much to us as a company to have our logo getting that amount of air
time and for us to get our 8th victory in the last year on the PGA Tours. Our on fire
2018 just continued right on into 2019 and it couldn’t have happened at a better
time.”

In 2019, Lehman will be wearing a Tour Edge Exotics logo and carrying a Tour Edge
bag all season long. He will also expand his club usage to other categories with
Tour Edge Exotics clubs. Lehman served as an Exotics CBX hybrid staff player in 2018 and played Tour Edge Exotics CBX hybrids all year en route to a PGA Tour Champions victory and an 18th place ranking in the Charles Schwab Cup. Lehman earned nine Top 10’s including 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishes in 2018.

“I had great success all year long with the Exotics CBX hybrid and fairway woods,”
said Lehman. “I’ve tested everything out there and I found Exotics to be the best
for my game. I look forward to testing other Exotics clubs as well moving forward.”

According to the Darrell Survey, six Tour Edge Exotics clubs were in play in the
smaller and restricted Hawaii field, including the two winning clubs by Lehman.
Exotics staffer Scott McCarron finished tied for 18th playing Exotics EXS hybrid to
start the season, while another 2018 winner with Exotics on the PGA Tour
Champions finished T25 with an Exotics CBX fairway wood.

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In all, over 50 players have put over 300 Exotics clubs into play since Exotics was
launched to the tour.

Eight out of the Top 25 players (32%) in the Charles Schwab Cup final standings
and 16 out of the Top 50 players put Exotics into play in 2018.

On top of the six victories and 10 runner-up finishes procured by players using
Exotics on the 2018 PGA Tour Champions, players using Tour Edge clubs also
earned 34 Top 5 finishes and 60 Top 10 finishes in the 27 events played on the PGA
Tour Champions in 2018.

The Tour Edge Exotics CBX hybrid ranked as the #1 most played hybrid model at
the 2018 Senior PGA Championship and the Charles Schwab Cup Championship
with their Exotics CBX hybrid accounting for 16% of the hybrids in play, according
to the Darrell Survey.

Tour Edge Signs Scott McCarron to Logo Staff Deal for 2019

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Tour Edge announced today that Scott McCarron has officially signed a deal to play and endorse Tour Edge Exotics and to play their metalwoods on the PGA Tour Champions in 2019. McCarron will feature a Tour Edge Exotics logo on his left sleeve.

McCarron served as an Exotics CBX hybrid staff player in 2018. He played Tour
Edge Exotics CBX hybrids all year en route to two PGA Tour Champions victories
and a 2nd place finish in the Charles Schwab Cup.

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This year, McCarron will be wearing a Tour Edge Exotics logo for the first time and will also expand his club usage to other categories with Tour Edge Exotics clubs. “I love the Exotics hybrid and what it has done for my game, it is a great fit and a low spinning, hot faced hybrid that has me hitting more hybrids off the tee and in general because I have complete faith in the club,” said McCarron. “I am also proud to add their logo to my gear as I love what Tour Edge is doing as a company. They are a long-established U.S. owned and operated company that builds their premium clubs in the United States. I am looking forward to testing their Exotics drivers and fairway woods to find a home in my bag as well.”

McCarron finished 2nd in the final Charles Schwab Cup points and money standings in 2018 while playing both 17 and 19 degree Exotics CBX hybrids with a Fujikura Atmos shaft. The runner-up finish for the season was McCarron’s third-straight Top 5 Charles Schwab Cup finish (3rd/2017, 4th /2016)

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“Scott McCarron is a world-class player and top contender on the PGA Tour
Champions year in and year out,” said Tour Edge President David Glod. “His choice to represent Tour Edge and play our Exotics clubs truly validates how far we have come as a golf club manufacturer over the past 32 years. He is a perfect fit to represent our brand and the perfect ambassador for the PGA Tour Champions.”

McCarron won twice on the 2018 PGA Tour Champions with Tour Edge in his bag.
He won the Shaw Charity Classic Sept. 2nd and the American Family Insurance
Championship June 24th for his 8th win on the PGA Tour Champions over the last
three seasons.

“The PGA Tour Champions is a tour that has made amazing strides the past few
years,” said Glod. “It is more competitive than ever and is now one of the most
exciting tours in golf to watch with ultra-competitive players like Scott leading the way. I like to tell people who still call it ‘the Senior Tour’ to follow Scotty for a couple of holes and see if the word ‘senior’ properly describes his tenacity and the power he unleashes on the golf course. He truly is a special talent.”

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McCarron will be appearing for a meet-and-greet at the Tour Edge PGA Show booth from 11 AM to 12:30 PM on Thursday January 24th at Booth 843. Before that, he will make his season debut January 17th at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai.

McCarron will also take part in Tour Edge’s sponsorship of PGA Tour Champions
Learning Center show on the Golf Channel. The PGA Tour Learning Center is a
popular Golf Channel television show that features professional tips and instruction featuring the legends of golf from the PGA Tour Champions. PGA Tour Champions Learning Center, Presented by Tour Edge, is scheduled to air 43 episodes in 2019,beginning January 22nd , with Tour Edge prominently featured within each episode.The series also will incorporate Tour Edge Exotics Staff Professionals like McCarron,providing tips geared toward the amateur golfer.

In all, over 50 players have put over 300 Exotics clubs into play since Exotics was launched to the tour in the last year. Eight out of the Top 25 players (32%) in the Charles Schwab Cup final standings and 16 out of the Top 50 players put Exotics into play in 2018.

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On top of the six victories and 10 runner-up finishes procured by players using
Exotics on the 2018 PGA Tour Champions, players using Tour Edge clubs also
earned 34 Top 5 finishes and 60 Top 10 finishes in the 27 events played on the PGA Tour Champions in 2018.

The Tour Edge Exotics CBX hybrid ranked as the #1 most played hybrid model at
the 2018 Senior PGA Championship and the Charles Schwab Cup Championship
with their Exotics CBX hybrid accounting for 16% of the hybrids in play, according to the Darrell Survey.

About Tour Edge

In 1986, David Glod founded Tour Edge with a focus on offering golfers with high
quality and technologically advanced golf products that were as cutting edge as
they were affordable. He is now considered one of the preeminent master club
designers in golf club design and has led Tour Edge to be a Top 10 manufacturer in every club category.

Tour Edge products have been put in play on the PGA TOUR, PGA Tour Champions, LPGA Tour and Web.com Tour,as well as European professional tours, and have been in play in every PGA TOUR major event and in Ryder Cup competitions, leading to 17 wins for players playing Tour Edge products on the PGA Tours (10 PGA TOUR, 6 PGA Tour Champions and 1 Web.com Tour).

Bloodline Golf Putter Named to Golf Digest’s 2018 Hot List

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Generally speaking, I don’t really care what other publications or websites have to say about golf products. This is for one major reason. I like to form my own observations and conclusions. Period.

Bloodline Golf is a brand of putters that until recently is a new name to me. Admittedly, I have no familiarity with the brand and that’s a wonderful thing. I always love to learn about new potential game-changing products. Bloodline Golf features two putters in their line-up. They have a blade model called the R1-J Blade and the RG-1 Mallet. Both putters feature a stand-alone design allowing for better alignment and graphite shafts.

The brand has been in the news on a few fronts as of late. Canada’s Adam Svensson (a Titleist Staff Player) recently won on the Web.com Tour.  World Golf Hall of Fame Inductee and multiple Major winner Ernie Els not only became a Brand Ambassador for Bloodline Golf but also invested in the brand. Last but not least bloodline Golf as described in the press release below (as shared by Tracey Nackel of TEN Marketing and PR) was named to the Golf Digest Hot List. Please read below.

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Bloodline Golf Putter Named to Golf Digest’s 2018 Hot List 

_______________________________________________________________________________

 

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., February 13, 2018 — Bloodline Golf is pleased to announce that Golf Digest has awarded its RG-1 Mallet putter with a 2018 Hot List award. The Bloodline putter was released less than a year ago and has already been adopted by top players – most recently, the winner of the Abaco Classic on the Web.com Tour.

The Golf Digest Hot List awards for Equipment appears in the magazine’s March issue. The Hot List is an intense evaluation and testing of equipment gathered from three independent panels consisting of scientists, retailers and players during a two-week annual Hot List Summit. A product’s score is based on its weighted average in four criteria, including Performance, Innovation, Look/Sound/Feel, and Demand, with the first three largely determining the total score.

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Photo Credit: Bloodline Golf

“We are extremely proud to have made the Hot List in such a competitive category with our very first product,” said Brad Adams, Bloodline co-founder. “Our goal in designing this putter was to create a breakthrough technology that players would choose to play regardless of whether it stands up on its own or not. We went through numerous iterations and have included a combination of proprietary design features that are critical to the performance, look and feel of our putter.”

According to Golf Digest, “Alignment aids are practically universal in today’s putters, but Bloodline takes it to the extreme with a club that can (literally) stand on its own: You set the club behind the ball and walk behind it to ensure you’re on target. It does all this without sacrificing feel. The machined aluminum face, body and hosel are bonded to a stainless-steel soleplate for a sharp, crisp touch at impact.”

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Photo Credit: Bloodline Golf

“Once we designed the premium putter head, we matched it with a high-performance carbon fiber shaft,” added Larry Bischmann Bloodline co-founder. “With this combination, we were able to take advantage of stand-up features for alignment without sacrificing anything when it comes to feel at impact, distance control, and precise ball striking. We are excited that the Golf Digest Hot List panel of testers gave our young company a chance to be evaluated on an equal playing field with the more established club brands.”

Comments from testers include:

  • “When I first picked it up, I thought the shaft was crazy. But after trying it, I got it. The shaft transfers no vibrations when I hit the ball.” ~ Low Handicapper
  • “Constantly good on short and long putts alike.” ~  Mid Handicapper
  • “Sets really square. It takes the variable of aligning the putter out of it. It almost hits it for you.” ~ High Handicapper

Bloodline has developed a premium putter line of CNC-milled heads which include a high-performance graphite shaft that contributes to the putter’s unique capability to stand up by itself on the green.  The company recently announced that Hall-of-Famer Ernie Els has become the first high-profile investor in Bloodline and he will also be a brand ambassador over the coming years. Els was the first player to use Bloodline in a major championship when he played it in the U.S. Open at Erin Hills.

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Bloodline Golf

Bloodline’s RG-1 and R1-J putters are available both on line at http://www.bloodline.golf and in an exclusive retail network.

About Bloodline Golf

Bloodline Golf designs putters that have set a new standard in performance thanks to an innovative carbon fiber shaft/grip combination that enables the putters to stand alone on the green. This pioneering technology was introduced in the spring of 2017 and was used in tournament play soon after by players who have won multiple majors on the PGA TOUR.

The Bloodline brand is rooted in three generations of golf industry excellence and is committed to making a lasting impact on the game of golf. The company’s name pays tribute to a golf “bloodline” that includes Vale Adams, an extremely well-respected club professional from Illinois, his son Gary Adams, the founder of Taylor Made Golf, and his grandson Brad Adams, one of the founding members of Odyssey Golf. The legacy continues with Larry Bischmann, who built the team and strategy that launched the super-premium driver shaft, Diamana, which became the winningest driver shaft on the PGA TOUR. Adams and Bischmann joined forces to create the ultimate fusion of design, function, performance and heritage: Bloodline Golf.

For more information, visit www.bloodline.golf.

Keep up-to-date with all of the latest Bloodline Golf news on social media:
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Rrrrroll Back??

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Alright! Right up until this moment I’ve been very quiet about the hot topic that has come up lately. No it isn’t Tiger’s comeback at the Hero World Challenge but he is involved in this article. Then again so are legends of golf Mr. Jack Nicklaus and Mr. Gary Player. Of course I am talking about the latest talk of rolling back the golf ball.The reason is simple and I totally understand their concern. The fact is that Tour players are making certain golf courses obsolete. Most notably, some of the courses in the rota for the Open Championship. Imagine a world where there is no Open Championship on the Old Course at St. Andrew’s. When you think about it… it isn’t far-fetched at all.

The talk of rolling the golf ball back is not a new idea. Mr. Nicklaus has stated this in the past so his suggestion about a uniform golf ball is nothing new. I remember going back to 2015 during the week of the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay the timeless legend Mr. Player stated that golf courses were “getting too long” and that the “mismanagement of the golf ball” is leading to the demise of golf courses. Even more recently, Mr. Player stated that it was “sad” to see the Old Course being defeated by today’s golf ball. He actually expressed concerns in 2005. Tiger Woods joined the “campaign” on dialing the golf ball back very recently as well. Of course, there were those who follow the game that said he wants the golf ball rolled back because he is no longer the longest guy out there. But there he was clearly stating that “We” need to do something. So if this is a concern than why has nothing been done?

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While evolution and progress can be a great thing in some cases it isn’t. In a world of checks and balances something has to give. I have a hard time seeing the likes of the major brands in the industry saying yes to having a uniform golf ball. After all, in the case of Titleist their marketing model has nothing to do with their golf clubs or their mid-range golf balls. It’s all about the Pro V1 golf ball. Play what the best in the world play! Of course, the Pro V1 will almost certainly continue to live for the masses.  But getting back to giving a new meaning to “the one ball rule” how would that process occur? Bids by the likes of Acushnet, Srixon Golf,  Bridgestone Golf, Wilson Golf etc with the winner being selected and to the victor go the spoils? Seems hardly fair right? If all company’s had to adhere to the same criteria that would theoretically work. But then I get this eerie premonition.

Just like when rolling and shaving softball bats was a thing when I was still playing softball. To make composite softball bats more lively guys at all levels of softball would shave the inner walls of the bat and roll the bats to make them “pop” reducing their break-in period which made the bats hot!!!. The result… pitchers dreaded lobbing up every pitch because of the balls exit speed coming back up the middle. Trust me.. it was deadly!   The governing bodies at Provincial Championships had x-ray machines to check for any suspected bats breaching the rule. Remember my premonition? Imagine the eventual winner of a tournament won a tournament that we’ll call ‘The Masters”. The winner was  hitting the “rolled back” golf ball long. Meanwhile, up in The Butler Cabin  by the fireplace sits an x-ray machine. Right before the Green Jacket presentation they examine the golf ball… or all of the golf balls in the golf bag of the winner. Somehow, there was one ball that magically slipped through quality and control at Plant#3 and there’s an illegal golf ball. Disqualification.

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Photo Credit: scottishgolfhistory.com

 

The reality of the game and rolling the golf ball back only is a concern for such a low percentage of golfers around the world. For everyone else (mere mortals) this debate doesn’t or shouldn’t really effect them. With all due respect to Mr. Nicklaus, Mr. Player and Mr. Woods the problem really stems back to my entire baseball bat scenario. Sure the golf ball is long. Maybe it doesn’t spin as much. But those baseball bats started to launch the ball out of the ball park 375 feet  at will. One league I played in had houses built right behind the sports complex. Segments of 50′ mesh nets were strung up in a vain attempt to protect the houses against incoming “mortar shells”. It sort of worked but yet windows were still getting smashed. The league brought in a flight restricted ball and sure the instances of baseballs being hit off of the roofs of neighboring houses decreased but not by much. So what was the correlation and why was it still a problem… other than poor city planning? The bats and athlete’s themselves.

I personally think that the issue with golf and this entire “rolling back crusade” is with the golf clubs themselves. Let’s face it… when you’re an arthritic 70-year-old man you shouldn’t really hitting the ball further than when you were 50. But you are! If there’s an issue with too much length look at the new equipment that’s being constructed from space-aged materials. If it’s anything it’s the equipment causing the issues.  Not just drivers and irons but the turf equipment too. Bear with me for a second regarding the latter. But again, this only pertains to a small percentage of golfers. Have scores dropped significantly among amateurs over the last 5 years with all of the advances in technology? The answer is no! Look at the technology in place for these guys playing on television on Sunday afternoon’s. Sure it’s out there for amateur’s as well  but the technology goes far outside of having the right shafts installed into your set. Who saw Rocky IV? Remember the technology that “Ivan Drago” had? Technology that actually makes the athlete with much advanced workout programs. Golfers at the collegiate and professional levels like their NHL, NFL, and MLB counterparts are quite simply bigger, faster and stronger. So… is the answer having 8,500 yard long golf courses? My thought is no! How the heck does that help and what is a solution?

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The course of the future now. (Photo Credit: Daily Mail)

I never thought that I would say this but maybe.. just maybe the USGA has had it “sort of” right all along with their set-ups. Maybe the superintendents at said courses would take an issue to this but maybe growing out the rough, making fairways narrower and the greens firmer and faster is the answer. Moreover, water the living “bejeezus” out of the fairways. Drench them… and forget about these guys getting 50+ yards of roll. My Lord… most of the fairways that these guys play on roll faster on a “Stimp” than the greens at most Semi-Private golf courses. The machinery that superintendents have at their disposal has come a long way since the era of “Caddyshack’. I’ve said for too long that golf has become hard to watch. Seeing these guys posting combined -24 scores for a tournament is hurting the game and making the game boring to watch. Many people go to car races for the “wrecks” and that’s why I love the carnage at the U.S. Open. High scores and punishment for wayward shots. Many of these courses also feature fairways as wide as the eyes can see… or they should be considering their width. Look at Erin Hills… wow! Heck, even Glen Abbey site of the RBC Canadian Open has massive fairways where the bombers can bomb away at will. If they miss… no big deal because there is no rough. If you want to roll anything back… roll back the course conditioning.

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2004 U.S. Open Shinnecock Hills (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Maybe my solution is too simplified. You aren’t going to be able to roll back the athlete (force them to be obese) and you might be able to do something about rolling back the ball and/or equipment. But the one thing that golf needs to do is preserve the game and preserve the likes of Tillinghast, Thompson, Nicklaus, Palmer, Robert Trent Jones and Ross. Make these guys “golf the ball” around the course. Screw “bomb and gouge” and make these guys hit golf shots. Make them work the ball and penalize a miss.

Until The Next Tee!!

Cleveland Golf Announces New Putter Line

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Special thanks go out to Cleveland Golf Marketing Communications Specialist Noelle Zavaleta for sharing the most recent press release. With the release of this new putter line from Cleveland Golf  it completes a very promising line-up of products. Please see the press release below.

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Photo Credit: Cleveland Golf

New TFi 2135 Satin Putters from Cleveland Golf Provide Total Speed Control and Perfect Alignment

 HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — Aug. 28, 2017 — CLEVELAND GOLF® unveils new alignment and speed control technologies in the updated TFi® 2135 Satin putter models. Featuring a new tour satin color scheme, high-contrast alignment lines and a customized milling pattern on each of the five head shapes, the new putters are available for pre-sale Aug. 28, 2017 and officially launch Sept. 15, 2017.

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Photo Credit: Cleveland Golf

Since its founding in 1979, Cleveland Golf’s innovative putter designs have pushed the limits of technology, look, and feel. The new TFi 2135 Satin putters continue this tradition, with putter advancements designed to improve alignment, soft feel, and speed control.

 Speed Optimized Milling on the TFi 2135 Satin putters adjusts energy transference so that every putt rolls to the same distance regardless of where it is struck on the face. Because MOI varies across models, the amount of ball speed correction has been individually customized to each of the five shapes, ensuring every model employs the precise level of speed correction required for consistent distance control.

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Photo Credit: Cleveland Golf

“Traditional putters come up short when you hit the ball even just a bit toward the heel or toe,” said Jeff Brunski, Director of Research and Development at Cleveland Golf. “We lowered ball speed on center strikes and added ball speed on off-center strikes to produce uniform distance no matter where you strike the ball.”

 “The exact magnitude of these changes varies slightly based on the shape and weighting of the putter model. So we’ve actually produced a different face for every model within the family to make sure each one provides perfect distance control.”

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Photo Credit: Cleveland Golf

The 2135 Alignment Technology used on each TFi 2135 Satin putter provides perfect alignment on every putt. With sightlines raised 21.35 millimeters off the ground—the exact radius of a golf ball—the technology delivers accurate alignment feedback regardless of address position. The new putters improve upon previous generations of 2135 Alignment Technology with 50 percent higher contrast sightlines that make precise alignment even easier.

 The putters’ multi-material head construction uses True Feel Innovation®: a Polymer TPU face insert that dampens vibrations and enhances feel. Paired with face milling that’s three times deeper than previous models, the new TFi 2135 Satin putters strike the ball with exceptionally soft feel.

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Photo Credit: Cleveland Golf

 Key Innovations Inside TFi 2135 Satin Putters:

·         High Contrast 2135 Alignment Technology raises the sightline to the exact center of the golf ball, providing accurate alignment regardless of eye position at address.

·         True Feel Innovation uses multi-material construction to produce extremely soft feel.

·         Speed Optimized Milling provides perfect distance control by adding speed on off-center hits.

 The TFi 2135 Satin standard models are 1.0, RHO, Elevado and Cero; the counterbalanced models are 8.0 and Elevado CB. Standard heads with the mid-sized pistol grip are $149.99 MAP. Standard heads with over-sized grips are $159.99 MAP. Counterbalanced models are $179.99 MAP.

 Until The Next Tee!!