tmerick

2 years with asics gel course duo boas, still kickin

Some backyard short game - going until the grips fall off!

Fairway woods, so many fairway woods. It's going to be a long decision.

Hoping for a Big Ton repeat!

G’day Golfers,
 
This week we’re heading to Detroit, The Motor City, for the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
The Rocket Mortgage Classic is in a new spot on the PGA Tour this year, last year it was directly after the 3M Open (Tony Finau won both of these events for a career first back-to-back victory).


The host course for this event is the Detroit Golf Club, a par 72, 7,370-yard course established in 1899. This old course is a fairly new face on the PGA roster with it being added only 4 years ago.
It doesn’t offer your typical challenge for the PGA pros with fewer water hazards and lateral hazards and although the fairway is treelined, the wider fairways make this less of a positional test than other parkland courses.
Like the Travellers last week, I’d expect the winning score to be relatively high.

 

Last year, Tony Finau was victorious here completing back-to-back wins after winning the 3M the week prior. To say he has the mind of a champion is an understatement; last year, he had this to say:

“I won the golf tournament last week (at the 3M Open) … for some reason I left, and after bogeying the 18th hole, I had kind of a sour taste in my mouth and I think it just gave me extra motivation to put myself there again this week and just prove to myself the kind of champion that I am.”

Imagine winning a tournament and being annoyed you bogied the 18th? If I won a PGA event I’d be clocked off for the year!

The field this week is significantly lighter than the last few weeks with the highest-ranked player in the field being Max Homa at world number 9. In saying that, it’ll still be a challenging win for whoever lifts the trophy on Sunday; with the big dogs having a rest it means the rest of the field will be scrapping hard for a potential win.

 
Field Highlights

 
·         Max Homa – The current world number 9, Max had a great start to 2023 with 2 early wins and a very close solo-2nd at The Genesis Invitational. He also finished T-6 at The Players. Since then, he’s had a bit of a dip with a T-43 at The Masters, T-55 at The PGA Championship, and a missed cut at the US Open. He also missed the cut last week at the Travellers Championship. Hopefully, this is a slight dip for Max and he’s back to his winning ways soon.
 
·         Tony Finau – The defending champ and world number 14. Like Homa, Tony also has 2 wins on Tour this season and also 6 wins in total. Finau’s wins came at the Texas Childrens Open and the Mexico Open. Also like Homa, Finau’s form has dipped quite a bit since his last win finishing T-72 at the PGA Championship, MC at the Charles Schwab, T-32 at the US Open, and a T-45 last week at the Travellers. Finau has never had 3 wins on Tour in a single season, is this year the year?
 
·         Keegan Bradley – There’s a bit of symmetry this week as, like Finau and Homa, Bradley also has 6 total wins on Tour and 2 wins this season. The difference is, Bradley's latest win came last week at the Travellers Championship. With a light field this week, Bradley has everything going for him to repeat what Finau did last year and have back-to-back wins culminating at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

 
·         Collin Morikawa – Our symmetry ends with Collin Morikawa as, very uncharacteristically, has no wins on the PGA Tour this season. He came shockingly close at the Sentry of Champs in January, going into the final round with a multiple-shot lead only to be caught and overtaken by Rahm. I suspect that this collapse is still playing on Morikawa’s mind as since then he has not been himself; he has missed 5 cuts, and only managed 3 top-10’s in 15 events. Watching him play the last few weeks, he is still one of the best iron players on the PGA Tour, hopefully, he can put the past behind him and start lifting trophies again.
 
·         Rickie Fowler – BDR has been on a rising trend. He came close to securing his first major at the US Open and he’s had 3 top-10’s in his last 4 events. He’s had a great season as a whole, playing in 19 events and only missing 2 cuts (one of these coming in a major). He finished T-2 at the ZOZO and has had 7 top-10’s this season. Personally, I’m feeling a Rickie win this week.


 
The rest of the field can be found here.
 
Despite the absence of a lot of the top-10 talent, this should still be a pretty exciting event.
 
SPLATT

Some backyard short game - going until the grips fall off!

Some backyard short game - going until the grips fall off!

Duration: 00:54:25
Could the PGA Championship be Rahm's next step to a Grand Slam? Is Jason Day back in the game? Would you pay $400 for wedges? Tony & Chris break down this weekend's events and more on this week's NoPuttsGiven. ⬇️ Looking for something specific in the video? Click MORE ⬇️

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Finally pulled the trigger and picked up a paradym 3 wood. First time I've done a fitting for a fairway wood and actually found one that I can get up in the air and have good spin/distance numbers with.

MyGolfSpy Forum staff are very excited to have a second Bag Boy test on the schedule this year and get another 4 members involved in testing!

Please welcome and congratulate our testers for the ZTF Bag!
@HeathS16
@OdinSnipes414
@carter18
@MrBandit

Recently picked up a slightly used Stealth+ and a scotty newport super select 2. Loving both of them so far. I need to upgrade my fairway woods next 😞

Recently picked up a slightly used Stealth+ and a scotty newport super select 2. Loving both of them so far. I need to upgrade my fairway woods next 😞

Recently picked up a slightly used Stealth+ and a scotty newport super select 2. Loving both of them so far. I need to upgrade my fairway woods next 😞

Recently picked up a slightly used Stealth+ and a scotty newport super select 2. Loving both of them so far. I need to upgrade my fairway woods next 😞

Recently picked up a slightly used Stealth+ and a scotty newport super select 2. Loving both of them so far. I need to upgrade my fairway woods next 😞

Recently picked up a slightly used Stealth+ and a scotty newport super select 2. Loving both of them so far. I need to upgrade my fairway woods next 😞

Putting the new putter to work with an 8ft indoor mat in the office with a puttout putting plane and alignment combo. Hit about 100 putts this morning. Really makes the meetings fly by :).

Putting the new putter to work with an 8ft indoor mat in the office with a puttout putting plane and alignment combo. Hit about 100 putts this morning. Really makes the meetings fly by :).

I FINALLY got to hit the range for the first time this year. 
I've been on a big Moe Norman kick lately, and I've been watching a lot of videos about the single plane swing from Todd Graves (lil Moe).
It feels awkward with irons, like any swing change usually does, however, with the driver, it felt very natural.
Normally when I hit my driver at the range, too much ego slips in, and I start trying to hammer the living p!ss out of it, which usually translates into less than ideal shots, snap hooks, big slices, etc.. 
Using the SPS method with my driver.... I've never, ever, ever, hit it so consistently (on the range)... EVER... 
It feels like I'm using less power, but generating as much distance as I normally would, which is part of the idea of the SPS, it's a much more efficient swing (apparently). 
I also hit it all over the face, high, low, heel, toe... almost every ball went dead straight... 
I FEEL like I'm really onto something, but I've had that feeling so many times, and then just get my hopes destroyed when trying to put it into practice, lol. 
I can't wait for my first round so I can try it out and see where it goes. 

My plan is to go out after my Dr appt and try and work on something I saw on a Rahm video (how he sets up for a draw and in conjunction w some info I saw on a Jim Hardy DVD). I'm hoping to see if it'll work for a mortal. Hopefully the wind will die down to where I can actually see if its doing any good.

Putting the new putter to work with an 8ft indoor mat in the office with a puttout putting plane and alignment combo. Hit about 100 putts this morning. Really makes the meetings fly by :).

Putting the new putter to work with an 8ft indoor mat in the office with a puttout putting plane and alignment combo. Hit about 100 putts this morning. Really makes the meetings fly by :).

Putting the new putter to work with an 8ft indoor mat in the office with a puttout putting plane and alignment combo. Hit about 100 putts this morning. Really makes the meetings fly by :).

G’day Golfers,
A tradition unlike any other.
It’s finally here!


After months of regular season golf, including a couple of higher-profile designated events, the 2023 season’s first major has arrived. Get ready for those big gates on Magnolia Drive to swing open and drive on down towards the Augusta National Clubhouse because it’s time for The Masters, baby!
This week is like Christmas for a golf nut, but instead of unwrapping yet another pair of new socks, we’re treated to the greenest of fairways, the whitest bunkers, and (in my opinion) the best major of the year.
There is so much to get to for this event including what happened last year, this year’s dramas with LIV, Scottie’s dinner menu, potential storylines, course changes, who’s hot, and so much more. So let’s jump right into things with something that needs absolutely no introduction, the course.
The Masters is the only major that is held on the same course each year, Augusta National.
Augusta National Golf Club is a par 72 currently sitting at 7,545 yards, but that may change next year. Being the only course that holds a major every year, Augusta is constantly tweaking the course; adding yards to certain holes, re-doing greens, and adding whatever hazards they can.

For 2023, there’s been a significant change to the par-5 13th the last hole of Amens Corner. It has had the tee box pushed back and been lengthened by 35 yards to a total of 545 yards; the added distance is supposed to dissuade golfers from cutting the corner and hopefully see more golfers have a long iron for an approach rather than a wedge.
Amen Corner is a section of the course, comprising of the par-4 11th, par-3 12th, and par-5 13th. Many Masters runs have been made or broken in this stretch of holes.

Adding the distance to the 13th means that the total playing distance of 7,545 yards makes Augusta National the longest in Masters History. Maybe DeChambeau will upgrade his prediction to a par-69 for himself.
The Masters has so many traditions from jacket to dinner to 1950s-priced food, but one we can’t forget is the famed par-3 contest.
The Par 3 contest is always a favourite of mine as it’s a chance to see another side of many of the pros who are about to try and make history. Wives, girlfriends, children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews all happily serve as caddies. The par-3 comp is held on the Wednesday before the tournament and is normally a bit of a stress reliever for the players. It dates back to the 1960s when the inaugural one was won by Sam Snead (because of course it was).
Interestingly, no winner of the par-3 comp has ever gone on to win The Masters; take from that what you will.
Another tradition, before we get to the field and actual golf itself, is the Champions Dinner.
Scottie Scheffler won last year so he gets the honour of designing the menu for the Champions Dinner this year, and oh boy, if it isn’t Scheffler on a plate. Cheeseburger sliders, Texas rib-eye, mac & cheese; it all screams Scheffler. One of my favourite things to speculate on is what the Masters champion will have as his dinner the next year and I think I nailed Scottie’s 100% after his win last year.

Speaking of Scottie Scheffler, his phenomenal win last year topped off his stellar winning run coming only 2 months after his first-ever PGA Tour win and his 4th win in 6 starts. Scheffler dominated last year's tournament with his only stumble being a 4-putt on the 72nd hole of the competition, luckily he had enough shots up his sleeve that he was still crowned champion when the ball finally fell in the cup. 
 
The weather is set to play a part in this year’s Masters with the forecast looking pretty terrible. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday all have scattered thunderstorms and potential rain showers anticipated. There’s also a high chance of some strong winds with possible 20-mph gusts. The last time a Master’s was pushed to a Monday finish was in 1983, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
 
The LIV boys are back in town. Despite the players on the LIV tour continuing to drop down the OWGR rankings due to not being eligible for ranking points, 18 players have managed to qualify for this year's tournament. The qualifications come from a top-50 OWGR ranking at the end of 2022, winning any other major within the last 5 years, or previously winning a Masters tournament.
I, for one, am not a fan of LIV, but I’m very intrigued to see how they will compete in this year’s competition. With 18 out of 88 players coming from LIV, there’s a high chance that one of them will be in the mix during the final round, most likely DJ or Cam Smith (or both), but also Talor Gooch, Jason Kokrak, Kevin Na, and Charl Schwartzel are in the field and all finished inside the top-15 last year.
The 88-man field this year is made up of 52 from the PGA Tour, 18 from LIV, 8 amateurs, 7 senior past champions, and 3 from the DP World Tour.
That’s a pretty competitive mix.
 
Field Highlights
·         Scottie Scheffler – Scottie is trying to become the first person since Tiger in 2001-02 to successfully defend a Masters Championship. He comes in after already successfully defending his WM Phoenix Open win, nearly defending his WGC Matchplay win by making it to the semi-finals, and winning The Players Championship. Scheffler also arrives at Augusta as the only player other than Tiger Wood and Jack Nicklaus to hold The Players and Masters titles concurrently. That’s some good company to be in. With the inclusion of world number 5, Cam Smith, to the field this is THE strongest field of the year, and Scottie still seems like the man to beat.
·         Rory McIlroy – Rory is looking to complete his career grand slam by adding a green jacket to his wardrobe. He looked unstoppable during his final round last year, his highlight reel-worthy bunker hole-out on the 18th closed out a final round 64 tied for the lowest final-round score in Masters history. I’m sure he’ll be hoping some of that momentum carries over to this year. McIlroy has taken his Masters prep even more seriously this year saying he has played 81 holes at Augusta over the past 2 weeks, including an 18-hole round where he had just 19 putts. If he brings this game to the actual competition then the green jacket is as good as his.
·         Jon Rahm – Rahm looked absolutely unstoppable earlier in the season. You’d be forgiven in thinking he would have won everything he played in, or even crazier, winning the grand slam this year. Since that amazing run earlier in the year, Rahm has fallen off the radar a little bit with a T-39 at the Arnold Palmer, withdrawing from The Players Championship due to illness, and a T-31 at the WGC Matchplay. But, if Rahm comes into this event firing on all cylinders then he’ll definitely be in the conversation on Sunday.
·         Cam Smith – The LIV defection that hurt me the most. Cam has been severely missed on the PGA Tour this season with his cool demeanour, no-nonsense putting, and shot-making ability. His win at The Players last year will go down as a classic despite his move to the rival tour. What is going to be interesting to watch is if he can match his performance at The Masters last year. Cam was in the final group with Scottie and came very close to taking a green jacket home down under. But, his last couple of outings at the LIV events leave a lot to be desired with a 29th at Orlando and 26th at Tuscon. These would be fairly average results in a full field, but in a limited field with no cut it’s even worse. I think Cam’s tournament is going to go one of two ways, he is either in the conversation on Sunday or he’s not even going to make the cut. Either way, it’s going to be interesting.
·         Tiger Woods – Will Tiger make the cut again this year? That is probably the more common question these days rather than, will Tiger win? However, Tiger himself says he feels better this year than he did last year, he feels much stronger and healthier and his golf game is in a much better spot. Also, Tiger isn’t going to play any tournament unless he thinks he has a realistic chance to win; that’s just who the guy is and why he’s the G.O.A.T (and no that doesn’t stand for Golfers On A Team). My gut says Tiger makes the cut, and if he’s anywhere near the top of the leaderboard come Sunday then everyone else will have quite the fight on their hands.
The groups and tee times for the first round can be found here

 
Whatever happens over the next few days The Masters always has a way of bringing out something special in those that compete.
What do you guys think?
 
Golfers, that’s it from me. May your picks make the cut.
And if you ever are fortunate enough to ever play a round at Augusta, don’t tempt fate and call it a par 67 😀
 
Splatt