"When Tiger Woods came up here to this tee box for the first time, he said "Holy shit! So now it's called the 'Holy Shit' hole. Every time anyone comes up here for the first time, they say "Holy shit!"' Little John, Old Head Caddie
We reported last month that Lefty might be taking on Tiger in a rematch of ‘The Match’ which took place in November 2018 for an obscene prize pot. The good news is that the match is confirmed and as we hoped this time it is for charity.
Every year on the Tuesday of the Masters week the top golfers gather for the traditional Champions Dinner. Yesterday it would have been Tiger Woods as defending champion selecting the menu but 2020 is sadly no ordinary year. Woods instead spent the evening tweeting a message that he was sharing dinner with his family.
Phil Mickelson has indicated that a rematch with Tiger Woods may be in the pipeline and a possibility during the pandemic lockdown. Talk is of a repeat of the last match that took place in 2018 when Lefty took the spoils of $9 million.
Annika Sorenstam and Gary Player will receive the highest honour a civilian can receive from President Trump at a ceremony on 23rd March. Sorenstam learned of the honour last year after a game of golf where she and Senator Lindsey Graham took on Gary Player and President Trump.
Trial by television was with us again at the Bay Hill Classic on Thursday. No Patrick Reed this time but rather the squeaky-clean Justin Rose. Rose had a tricky chip from the back of the 11th which he ran some 10 feet past the pin but did he move the ball at address?
As previously reported, the Golf Hall of Fame recently amended the qualification criteria moving the minimum age for both male and females to 45 from 50. So, it was hardly a ‘dropped my bacon sandwich’ moment when we learned that Tiger was on the list of finalists.
Erik van Rooyen celebrated his 30th birthday most spectacularly at the WGC-Mexico Championship as the South African tied the course record at Chapultepec Golf Club with a sizzling 62. That nine under par round moved van Rooyen to a ten under total and within a shot of Bryson DeChambeau’s lead.
It was inevitable that Patrick Reed, who is playing at the WGC event in Mexico City this week, was going to be asked about the latest comments from Bob Kostis and Brooks Koepka. Talking after Thursday’s first round he managed to dance around the question.
Alison Muirhead, from Scotland who last week won the Pre-Qualifier event came alive on day two of the final stage of Ladies European Tour Qualifying School. Firing a superb six-under-par 67 around the South Course at La Manga Club in Cartagena, Spain. Muirhead now leads by five shots from overnight leader Morgane Metraux who could only post a level par 73 around the South Course and Pia Babnik of Slovenia.
Call us old cynics but are the latest set of changes at the Golf Hall of Fame just a dressed way to get Tiger Woods inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame a few years earlier and boost the quality of the list of possible inductees for the 2021 draft? The rules were only changed some four years ago to move the minimum age from 40 to 50 and now it is being edged back to 45.
A lot of us have old clubs languishing in the garage or in the attic gathering dust. Those of a certain age may also have a modern-day antique - a wood actually made out of wood! But there is a man who has not one but over one thousand woods tucked away in storage and all of them made from what was the holy grail of golf manufacturing materials – persimmon!
I didn’t think I would hear myself say this, but I feel sorry for Patrick Reed. Don’t get me wrong the guy has handled the whole affair badly and he clearly was borderline cheating at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas last December. However, due to the Tour’s insistence that the matter has been dealt with it has basically thrown the American to the lions, who in this case are the media and the golfing public.
Tiger Woods will open his account for 2020 and quest for his record breaking 83rd tour title at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines from 23rd to 26th January. Woods last seen leading Team USA to victory at the Presidents Cup will then head to the Genesis Open at the Riviera Country Club in mid-February.
With all due respect to Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods et al we think the Golf Writers Association of America (“GWAA”) were spot on in voting for Brooks Koepka as Player of the Year for 2019. Koepka’s performance at the four majors was undeniable impressive – to win one, finish second in two and tie fourth in the other is quite some feat.
World number one, Jin Young Ko was the runaway winner of the Golf Writers Association of America (“GWAA”) Female Player of the Year. The South Korean star was the overwhelming choice with Nelly Korda way back in second place.
The gods were smiling on Justin Thomas in Hawaii on Sunday. Two clear, with three to go it looked like he had the Tournament of Champions in the bag. However, two sloppy bogies in his last three holes saw him have to win a play-off against Patrick Reed and defending champion Xander Schauffele.
2019 is behind of us but it was not a great display by some who let down our great game and so have been inducted into the GolfPunk Hall of Shame. So which five golfers find themselves with the unwanted invite?
There were lots of hugs and high fives as Team USA fought back from a 10-8 deficit to win the Presidents Cup, once again, by a score of 16-14. That huge smile we saw after Wood’s victory at Augusta was back and the there was obvious emotion in the US Captain’s voice when talking after his team’s victory.
Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey was arrested as part of a prostitution sting in Central Florida. Gainey has been a pro golfer since 1997 and joined the PGA Tour in 2008, where he became famous for wearing gloves on both hands when playing.
To say that Patrick Reed is not one of the most popular players on tour would be somewhat of an understatement. However, he has done little for his stock in trade with his blatant breaking of the rules at the Hero World Challenge. Some would say he is very lucky to get away with just a two-stroke penalty.
GolfPunk send it condolences and prayers to Tom Watson and his family on the sad passing of Hilary Watson just before midnight on Thanksgiving Eve. Hilary, who Tom described as ‘my hero’ had been battling pancreatic cancer for two years.
The Labour party in the UK do not have the backing of GolfPunk favourites Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood. Both players tweeted their discontent at Jeremy Corbyn’s plan to tax the bejeezus out of all rich people. But GolfPunk have unearthed a document that suggests our Jezza also has his eye on turning golf courses into allotments!
GolfNow the biggest online tee time agency in the golf industry has grabbed an even bigger share of the market following the acquisition of EZLinks Golf by GolfNow owner, NBC Sports Group. Part of the EZLinks Golf portfolio is the online tee time booking platform TeeOff. So, what does this consolidation signal to the golf industry?
So it's Halloween and we scratched our heads to come up with an appropriate article to put out there before all those candy fuelled little darlings start pounding on your door. So we went searching back for some of our favourite 'trick' shots and then found the best shots of the year as your 'treat' for tuning in. Contrived we hear you say - it's a fair cop!
Eddie Pepperell must have mixed memories of Portugal Masters after missing the cut and losing his card in 2016. However, this year he appears to have found an innovative way to motivate himself, wagering Martin Kaymer about appearing on the Television Show First Dates.
Take one bike, one set of clubs, 14 different Open venues and one complete nutter and you have the ‘The Great British Open Challenge’. London-based PGA professional, Luke Willett, he with a famous golfing namesake, is to pedal his way between all the Open venues playing 18 holes at each and cycling with his clubs on his back!
We love Carnoustie. It’s probably one of the bestest courses in the UK, forget that the World! So, what better venue for a ‘Round of a Lifetime’ for one Edward Johnson from Massachusetts, U S of A.
Cleveland have been on a bit of a role when it comes to launching wrenches recently. Their CBX 2 wedges kicked it off, followed by their amazing Frontline Putters and the Huntington Beach range. Now, two years on from their return to the woods and irons market they are releasing the Launcher HB Turbo woods which they say are “sleeker, faster, and more forgiving” which is exactly what you want!
We very much like the prize being offered to the winning professional at this year’s Highland Golf Links Pro Am. As well as a cheque for a few bob the winner will receive a bottle of Tomatin 50-year-old single malt, which has been bottled exclusively for the tournament and is valued at more than £10,000!
The The European Tour has announced a concrete four-point plan aimed at tackling the issue of slow play in professional golf. The plan will be implemented at the start of the 2020 season and focuses on four key areas: regulation, education, innovation and field sizes.
Local favourite Stephanie Meadow will take a four shot lead into the final round of the ISPS HANDA World Invitational. The 27-year-old from Jordanstown, Northern Ireland shot a six under par 67 to sit on ten under for the event, four clear of England’s Eleanor Givens. In the men’s event, Damien Perrier of France and Todd Clement of England lead the field by a single shot following another long day with rain delays at Galgorm Castle.
Scotland’s Craig Ross and England’s Eleanor Givens are the first round leaders lead in the The ISPS HANDA World Invitational, both carding an impressive 6 under par. Ross shot an impressive birdie free round of 64 Massereene Golf Club while Givens had seven birdies and one solitary bogey in carding a 67 at Galgorm Castle Golf Club.
It has rather flown under the radar but yesterday the ISPS HANDA World Invitational event for both men and women teed of at Galgorm Castle Golf Club and Massereene Golf Club. A first for golf in Europe as women will play alongside (sort of) the men and will play for the same money.
TaylorMade are on a roll, of that there can be little doubt and when the TP Patina Putter collection drops you can be sure it will cause more than a little stir. The marketing bumpf is all well and good, but well, just look at them.
Well we have run out of majors but Tiger will still be coming out to play in August as the FedEx Cup Playoffs commence this week in Jersey City, with The Northern Trust. It’s all change with the play-offs and we had to read it a few times before we sussed it out. So here’s how it will work..
We take a look at what the pros are eating before a game and during the round in an effort to find out where the GolfPunk team might be going wrong when it come to the golf diet!
We thought we’d seen it all but this really takes the biscuit – Mini golf in a cathedral! Rochester Cathedral have set up a nine-hole mini-golf course for the summer. The course has been paid for by the Rochester Bridge Trust and so the course features a lot of, err bridges.
One of golf´s great masterpieces, severe, fascinating, beautiful and without weakness...... Continuing the theme of everything Ireland, GolfPunk looks back to one of its favourite courses south of the border, Waterville Golf Club - You Little Beauty!
Old Head of Kinsale Golf Links, Co. Cork, Ireland 12th hole (Courcean Stage) Par 5 564 yards
The GolfPunk team love the game of golf and are big supporters of the idea of improving the etiquette on the course and in general. However, this week the big news running around social media was about the US amateur golfer that carded an impressively poor 194 for 18 holes and things got worse when the Florida State Golf Association confirmed it was actually a 131 over par 202!
J. B. Holmes leads the Open after a fine 66 on day one but all the talk was about Tiger and Rory. Once again when the spotlight of expectation was on him McIlroy failed to deliver and Tiger, well Tiger just looked tired.
Ok time for a rerun of our GolfPunk rant. The three-minute rule is a good one and it is intended to speed up play like the other good rule change, putting with the pin in. I am sure most pros did not expect to suffer too much from the rule change but then they are not playing Royal Portrush every day.
Each year the winner of The Open receives the famous claret jug which he must return before the following year’s event. But what is the history behind this iconic trophy?
Derek The Donkey, GolfPunk's grumpy horse-envier once again delivers his 'Joke of the Week'. As you know he likes nothing better than a proper good laugh as long as it's at someone else's expense...
Summer is finally upon us the fairways are firming up, the shorts are out so all you need is a nice pair of comfy shoes. PUMA is releasing their latest iterations of their iconic PUMA Suede shoe and we must say they do look rather lush!
The weather has been rubbish so far this year (on both sides of the pond it seems) and it’s got the team dreaming of sunnier climbs. The Maldives is always a luxurious option (especially if you're feeling flush), but there was never a need to take the wrenches….UNTIL NOW!
Once upon a time what golfers wore on the course was not something that was talked about much. This might have something to do with the fact that they wore a standardised uniform of shirt, jumper of varying style and slacks. Oh, and of course the obligatory golf shoe which usually looked like something your grandad thought was cutting edge.
GolfPunk will be donning their tartan trews on the opening day of the Solheim Cup at Gleneagle for #TartanFriday. Catriona Matthew has been working with Abacus Sportswear of Sweden to produce the official Solheim Cup tartan for Team Europe and the results are as they say north of the border ‘pure tidy’.
To hit a drive that bounces on the fairway and runs in to a divot is bad enough but if it runs in to an old pitch mark that really tries one’s patience. You curse your luck and play the ball as best you can – right? Not the Kooch who decided to try and invent a whole new sub rule!
Everybody’s chewing or so it seems these days and it’s no longer just plain old Wrigley’s, now it’s all about CBD, the new craze sweeping the sporting world and even two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson has endorsed it (who’d have thought it?).
Matt Wallace is riding high, particularly after his strong performance at the USPGA at Bethpage Black. However, his pal and GolfPunk favourite, Eddie Pepperell, decided to bring him down to ground in this hilarious European Tour video.
Excellent interview with Tiger Woods speaking to GOLFTV’s Lead Tour Correspondent, Henni Zuel about the upcoming 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black. He discusses the course, his preparations and his playing partners for the first two days - Brooksie and Franny!
As Tiger prepares for what could be the compelling second chapter of his come-back story he could have done without a lawsuit being slapped on him and his girlfriend in relation to death of an employee of his restaurant in Florida.
GolfPunk's resident tipster, Nick Fleming, picked 2nd place Joel Dahmen as an each way bet at Wells Fargo Championship at the weekend and sadly missed out on Jorge Campillo, who down as a winner, faded to finish third as Mikko Korhonen came through to see off France’s Benjamin Hebert at the first play-off hole.
In his first outing since The Masters, Rory McIlroy carded an opening five under par 66 to share the lead of the Wells Fargo International from Quail Hollow. The Northern Irishman shares the lead with America’s Joel Dahmen, one of GolfPunk’s each-way tips for the event.
Tiger Woods. The incredible story so far...
As Tiger Woods holed the winning putt some time around 7.35pm on Sunday I was asked an awkward question: "Are you crying??", "Seriously, mate, are you crying?" "I've just something... sniff... in my eye, that's ... sniff... all..."
Tiger Woods signed a multi-year deal with TaylorMade back at the begining of 2017, with Woods set to play their driver, fairway woods, irons and wedges. And now it is pay back time for TaylorMade....
The threat of bad weather has resulted in an early start for the whole field. Play will commence from both the 1st and 10th tees at 7:30 local time and will be in groups of three. Rather handy for UK and European viewers who can watch it after their Sunday lunch rather than having to stay up late!
I’m probably going to get shot down in flames for this one, but I am going to put it out there, Mr Woods is a lucky golfer. It may be golfing blasphemy akin to suggesting the Beatles, excluding their early stuff, were not that good or suggesting that David Beckham was actually not all that brilliant.
Well, there you have it. After all these years it seemed to be written in the stars that Tiger would deliver once again among the azaleas and pines of Augusta. Yes, he rode his luck a little, but ultimately he was the player that held his nerve the best coming down the stretch.
Despite being slide-tackled by a steward on the 14th hole, Tiger Woods produced a stunning round of 68 to put himself right in contention for his fourth Masters title going into the weekend.
Saturday Tee Times and pairings as Ian Poulter goes out with Tiger Woods...
We had everything on Friday at The Masters: A stellar leaderboard; birdies galore; storm threats; unbelievable recovery shots; a marshall slide-tackling Tiger Woods on the 14th hole (he still made birdie) and some truly comical moments starring Zach Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
As the freshly blooming azaleas of Augusta National Golf Club mark the arrival of the northern spring, the golfing world’s attention turns towards Georgia, USA, for the first men’s Major of the year – the Masters Tournament, which has been supported by Rolex since 1999.
The Golf Scientist, Bryson DeChambeau, and one half of golf's Odd Couple, Brooks Koepka, lit up day one of the Masters with rounds of 66 to take a one shot lead over fellow American Phil Mickelson.
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has announced it will be offering free golf bag luggage on its flights to Abu Dhabi with immediate effect.
Seven lucky golfers are heading to this week’s Masters to battle it out for a million dollars – all hoping they can land another ace to change their life.
Patrick Reed promises to “fatten those boys up a little” with his Masters menu. But what exactly did he serve up?
Remember when Europeans dominated the Masters? From 1980 to 2000, the tournament was won 11 times by European golfers. Since then, not so much, with only two winners in the last 18 years. It's worth noting, however, that those wins (Danny Willett and Sergio Garcia) make up two of the last three Masters. Maybe the transition of power at Augusta has already begun?
Calling all self-respecting better players out there. Tiger Woods and TaylorMade have collaborated to create a premium players iron set. Say hello to the new P-7TW range...
Great to deliver a winner again for GolfPunk readers; nervy stuff but Paul Casey held on to win at 26/1 at last week’s Valspar Championship!!
Rising Chinese Taipei teenage star Chang Hsin-chiao defied jangling nerves and an accomplished male opponent on a nail-biting final day at the 13th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final.
Chang Hsin-chiao is relishing the prospect of facing off with Chinese Taipei compatriot Chen Ting-yu and Indian Keshav Mishra in what promises to be an intriguing final-day showdown at the 13th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final.
GOLFBUDDY is introducing the latest generation of golf GPS devices this spring, as it launches the aim W10 GPS watch and the Voice 2 GPS.
PGA Catalunya Resort, one of Europe’s finest golf experiences, today begins a year-long celebration to mark the 20th anniversary of its iconic Stadium Course, the No.1* ranked layout in Spain for the last seven years.
Great debate abounds year-round amongst golfers and the golf media alike about which the top golf courses in England are, but less often the topic turns to which are the best value courses in a country boasting hundreds of good quality layouts.
The luxurious and picturesque Argentario Golf Resort & Spa (www.argentarioresort.com) has joined The PGA’s growing list of exceptional branded resorts as the ‘PGA National Italy’.
Yesterday I was faced with an impossible shot – my ball was suspended in a bush. It was just asking to be hit even though it was a foot off the ground, and three inches into the bush. Things did not end well from there. But in the spirit of taking on the damned near ridiculous...
Tommy Fleetwood and Keegand Bradley lead the way going into day two on -7. Rory is two back while Matt Wallace and Ian Poulter sit at -3. Day one highlights and Fridat tee times here...
Women’s Golf Day will return for its fourth year on June 4th 2019 in what promises to be the largest single-day celebration of Women’s golf that the world has ever seen.
The award-winning AQUA golf bag range from BIG MAX is adding two new designs for 2019, with innovative new technology and stylish upgrades leading the way for Europe’s #1 waterproof bag brand.
New golf and cycling services have been introduced at the popular Lindner Golf Resort Portals Nous, in Mallorca, as it reopened for the new season following a major €6.5m renovation.
One of Vietnam’s leading golf layouts, Laguna Golf Lang Co, is staying at the top of its maintenance game by utilizing the talents of a very special group of greenkeepers: a family of water buffalo.
Laguna Golf Phuket will become the first golf course to host a PGA TOUR Series-China event outside of mainland China when it hosts the Tour’s third and final Global Qualifying Tournament from March 5-8.
Unlimited golf in an idyllic setting is the mouth-watering prospect that awaits golfers taking up Verdura Resort’s invitation to book a stay-and-play break at the exclusive Sicilian venue this spring.
The nominations for the 59club Service Excellence Awards have today been revealed, with some of the highest-profile and best-loved venues across the globe in the running for a golf industry sales and service excellence ‘Oscar’.
The altruistic Golf in Society initiative, which delivers person-centred golf sessions for people with chronic illnesses, is the first recipient of a financial award from the new charitable arm of the not-for-profit Golf Business International.
Ahead of the Sultanate’s biggest sporting event, the Oman Open, European Tour player’s Matteo Manassero and Marcel Siem competed head-to-head in a golf challenge with a difference at host venue Al Mouj Golf.
Gleneagles, the world-famous Scottish hotel and sporting estate, is giving all golfers the chance to celebrate its hosting of The Solheim Cup, September 9-15, with the launch of a special four-ball green fee that runs until the end of April, 2019.
Johnson's 21st career victory is the second global win for TaylorMade’s New M5 & M6 Drivers featuring the company’s ground-breaking Speed Injected Twist Face technology; with the victory, Johnson joins stablemate Tiger Woods as the only players to win a WGC event 3 times.
Across a week at the start of February, 934 American Golf customers took on the Battle of the Brands Driver test and found the Callaway Epic Flash to produce the biggest distance increase, with an average improvement of 8.3 yards.
Foresight Sports, market leader in advanced simulation technology, has updated its industry-leading FSX 2018 software to include a host of new features, including a carnival-style series of mini-games.
La Reserva de Sotogrande Invitational, a Ladies European Tour event sponsored by La Reserva de Sotogrande and organized by Deporte & Business that will be played from 16 to 19 May, will mark the first of three visits to Spain for the LET in 2019.
Galvin Green, the leading premium performance golf apparel brand, has launched its most advanced collection of technical clothing for the start of the 2019 season, with a total of 368 ground-breaking garments and matching accessories.
Golf fans visiting this year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Fla. will have a special opportunity to immerse themselves in the life and experiences of the tournament’s iconic namesake in the Arnold Palmer Experience, a series of interactive experiences designed to celebrate the life of Mr Palmer.
Situated in the foothills of the beautiful Mijas Mountains with breath-taking views of the stunning Andalusian countryside, La Cala’s superb 54-hole resort offers an idyllic rural retreat just 20 minutes from Marbella and only 30 minutes from Malaga airport.
An association of consultants working within the golf industry has responded to national media coverage of a report which criticised a city council for spending £2,400 on golf consultancy services.
