Opinion & Analysis
The Wedge Guy: Failure to amaze…
Once again, I thank all of you for the feedback to last week’s post about the driver being the first scoring club. If everyone agreed with everything I write, this wouldn’t be nearly as fun and challenging as it is. So, keep up the feedback and challenges to my logic as we go forward, OK? I think I might push some of your buttons again today, so here goes.
I had one of those airline trips from hell last Monday, trying to get back from a visit to my nephew and his family in Boise. For the first time in my life, I saw our plane returned to the gate because our crew “timed out” while we were on the tarmac awaiting a delayed take-off. That led to a series of setbacks, which eventually put me back in Houston at 1:00 a.m., almost five hours later than scheduled…with a 2-1/2 hour drive still ahead of me.
Then, I woke up Tuesday morning with a head-cold-from-hell, which has had me in its grip ever since. That put me on the sofa watching more TV than I would on a typical weekend. And that allowed me to watch more of the Charles Schwab (Colonial) than I probably would have otherwise, along with some NBA and baseball.
Now, I’ll admit I have become a bit of a curmudgeon when it comes to professional golf. Not that I’m bad-tempered or anything, but I am a bit cantankerous. The game’s evolution from identifying those who have achieved broad mastery of all shotmaking, to those who are the strongest physical specimens and have great short games has simply lost me. When I tune into any professional athletic event, I fully expect, and want to be, AMAZED.
The NBA always does that, with a consistent show of unbelievable athleticism and shotmaking. I’m sure basketball purists argue about the evolution of the game from Chamberlain and Russell, to Bird and Magic, to Michael, to Steph and LeBron…but throughout my 50-plus years of watching, these guys almost always put on an impressive show of skills. Same goes for the NFL. I am not a follower of major league baseball, and don’t know many players, but an hour in front of the TV will almost always entertain you with amazing fielding and hitting displays.
Forgive me for my cynicism, but I just don’t get that amazed by PGA Tour golf anymore. In my hours of time in front of the TV, there were just too few instances of shotmaking prowess that made me go “wow.” One stat on Saturday showed that Jordan Spieth had made something like four hundred feet of putts in 2-1/2 rounds. Heck yeah, that’s impressive…but hardly riveting television. What I was looking for were pinpoint irons shots that set up birdies and a serious challenge to whoever was in the lead.
Congratulations are certainly due to Kevin Na for holding off everyone, but who really put a charge on to challenge him? Time and again, players looked like they might gain some ground, only to be derailed by poor driving and iron play. Maybe not “poor” by our amateur standards, but I’m not sure I saw more than one or two irons shots that just tore the flag down. What I did seem to see were lots of drives in the rough, short iron and wedge shots long, short or wide of the greens, and plenty of greenside recovery shots, too often followed by par attempts from well outside 6-8 feet.
Lee Trevino once said that there are two things that don’t last long – “dogs that chase cars and pros that putt for pars.” The point I believe he was making at the time was that he saw professional golf as a game of precision shotmaking, and that meant driving it in the fairway and hitting greens. And by my observation, the stars of the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s were pretty darn good at that kind of golf.
Ben Hogan was noted for hitting fairways and greens with commanding precision. Byron Nelson was so straight they named the first swing robot after him. Gene Littler was known as “Gene the Machine”. Johnny Miller set the bar tremendously high for knocking flags down, from nearly any range. Bear in mind his 63 at Oakmont to win the U.S. Open in 1966 was the result of hitting nearly every green, though 14 of this approach shots were hit with a 5-iron or longer. Pretty amazing stuff even if it weren’t a U.S. Open layout, wouldn’t you say?
Before you all want me tarred and feathered for lack of respect for the modern tour professional, let me say that these guys at the top have done what it takes to achieve modern greatness. The talent pool is very deep these days, as evidenced by the huge number of different winners every year. But other than Tiger, who has attained – and maintained – a constantly high level of performance from week-to-week, year-to-year for any length of time over the past twenty years or so? And in reality, do yesterday’s stars become today’s also-rans because others have passed them, or because they lost whatever it was they had found for that fleeting period of time?
In any era, in any sport, the singular challenge is to achieve a higher level of skill than the next guy (or team). On any given day or week, golf’s top players do that, but to me it just doesn’t make for riveting viewing any longer.
I accept that professional golf has changed dramatically in my lifetime, and that it will never again be what it once was. So, I’ll keep watching, hoping to be amazed…After all, we have the U.S. Open and The Open Championship still to come.
P.S. Next week, I promise to return to topics that will hopefully help you improve your golf this season. If you have any topics you would like to see me address, please drop me an email at [email protected].
Club Junkie
Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie
On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.
I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.
Opinion & Analysis
AVL: We’re talking about practice! My best tips for taking your game to the course
With the beginning of June on the horizon and courses rounding into peak condition for the season, it’s time to hone the finer skills that often get rusty over the winter. More sunlight also means more time to get out on the course and work on your game.
Whether it’s the practice green or the driving range, there’s always something to improve—whether you’re enjoying the fresh air or preparing for a weekend game or tournament. You can work on drills or freestyle around the green, and friendly competition is a great way to sharpen your skills.
While there are endless ways to get better at golf, I’m going to focus on practicing around the green. Let’s take a look at a few things to keep in mind as we head into the summer months.
Drills
From the driving range to the practice green, it’s important to incorporate drills into your routine. Years ago, I spent a weekend working on my short game with James Sieckmann. He recommended doing drill work for 5–10 minutes, then returning to your main practice.
This way, you create a balance between structured drills and real-world scenarios, so you’re not confined to “perfect” situations. For example, hitting the same three-foot putt over and over is good for repetition, but after a while, it becomes less interactive for your brain.
My approach is to use a putting trainer with a narrow gate for the ball to pass through, or simply place tees just outside the width of the ball. I’ll hit a series of four putts through the gate for three sets. Then, from a similar distance, I’ll hit four putts without the training aid and repeat that sequence three times.
Next, I’ll hit a number of 15–25 foot putts in a random fashion, then circle back to repeat the short putt drills with and without the training aid.
This breaks up the rhythm of hitting short putts with the training aid. When you hit the same short putts over and over, it’s easy to get into a groove—which is great for the drill, but not reflective of actual course play. While finding a rhythm is fundamental for drills, I like to introduce variation with longer putts to keep things realistic.
Game Mode
Once you’ve established a foundation with drills, it’s time to simulate on-course scenarios. This is where a few practice games come in handy.
One that I’ve been enjoying lately involves putting 10- to 15-footers with two balls. If I make the putt, great! If I miss, I pull the missed ball back a putter length. Suddenly, that little tap-in becomes a nerve-wracking three-footer—at least at first. As you get better at this game, those three- and five-footers become much more comfortable and routine.
It may sound cliché, but each shot is just what it is—it’s how we react that makes the difference. I like this game because it blends the pressure of on-course putting with the consequence of leaving yourself a much longer putt than usual.
Another game I like is one I recently learned from Brad Faxon. Place three tees in a line at four different locations around the hole: one at 3 feet, one at 6 feet, and one at 8 feet. The 3- and 6-foot putts count as par, and the 8-footer is for birdie.
This game keeps you focused on scoring and helps you get into a competitive mindset. You can even think about this putting game while you’re on the course. I just started playing it, and last week I couldn’t get better than two under par.
Competition
Competition during practice is when drills and games come to life, and you start to see results. For me, nothing beats a putting contest with a friend or two. In the right setting, these contests can become talking points for the whole season.
Match play, a game of 21, or simply seeing who can make the most one-putts (with a small prize on the line) are all great ways to simulate real on-course pressure. Recently, I played in a putting contest where one competitor made back-to-back 30- and 50-foot putts. As they say, expect your opponent to make every putt—and he nearly did. That’s impressive, and it’s something you see on the course, too: you have to stay committed to your game plan, no matter what.
When it comes to practice, it’s important to blend feedback from recent rounds with the fundamentals you want to reinforce. Drills, games, and competition—from the driving range to the putting green—form the backbone of skills you’ll rely on during actual rounds.
Finding the right balance is something we’re all working on, one practice session at a time. With the beginning of June on the horizon and courses rounding into peak condition for the season, it’s time to hone the finer skills that often get rusty over the winter. More sunlight also means more time to get out on the course and work on your game. Whether it’s the practice green or the driving range, there’s always something to improve—whether you’re enjoying the fresh air or preparing for a weekend game or tournament. You can work on drills or freestyle around the green, and friendly competition is a great way to sharpen your skills. While there are endless ways to get better at golf, I’m going to focus on practicing around the green. Let’s take a look at a few things to keep in mind as we head into the summer months.
Drills
From the driving range to the practice green, it’s important to incorporate drills into your routine. Years ago, I spent a weekend working on my short game with James Sieckmann. He recommended doing drill work for 5–10 minutes, then returning to your main practice. This way, you create a balance between structured drills and real-world scenarios, so you’re not confined to “perfect” situations. For example, hitting the same three-foot putt over and over is good for repetition, but after a while, it becomes less interactive for your brain.
My approach is to use a putting trainer with a narrow gate for the ball to pass through, or simply place tees just outside the width of the ball. I’ll hit a series of four putts through the gate for three sets. Then, from a similar distance, I’ll hit four putts without the training aid and repeat that sequence three times. Next, I’ll hit a number of 15–25 foot putts in a random fashion, then circle back to repeat the short putt drills with and without the training aid.
This breaks up the rhythm of hitting short putts with the training aid. When you hit the same short putts over and over, it’s easy to get into a groove—which is great for the drill, but not reflective of actual course play. While finding a rhythm is fundamental for drills, I like to introduce variation with longer putts to keep things realistic.
Game Mode
Once you’ve established a foundation with drills, it’s time to simulate on-course scenarios. This is where a few practice games come in handy. One that I’ve been enjoying lately involves putting 10- to 15-footers with two balls. If I make the putt, great! If I miss, I pull the missed ball back a putter length.
Suddenly, that little tap-in becomes a nerve-wracking three-footer—at least at first. As you get better at this game, those three- and five-footers become much more comfortable and routine. It may sound cliché, but each shot is just what it is—it’s how we react that makes the difference. I like this game because it blends the pressure of on-course putting with the consequence of leaving yourself a much longer putt than usual.
Another game I like is one I recently learned from Brad Faxon. Place three tees in a line at four different locations around the hole: one at 3 feet, one at 6 feet, and one at 8 feet. The 3- and 6-foot putts count as par, and the 8-footer is for birdie.
This game keeps you focused on scoring and helps you get into a competitive mindset. You can even think about this putting game while you’re on the course. I just started playing it, and last week I couldn’t get better than two under par.
Competition
Competition during practice is when drills and games come to life, and you start to see results. For me, nothing beats a putting contest with a friend or two. In the right setting, these contests can become talking points for the whole season. Match play, a game of 21, or simply seeing who can make the most one-putts (with a small prize on the line) are all great ways to simulate real on-course pressure. Recently, I played in a putting contest where one competitor made back-to-back 30- and 50-foot putts. As they say, expect your opponent to make every putt—and he nearly did. That’s impressive, and it’s something you see on the course, too: you have to stay committed to your game plan, no matter what.
When it comes to practice, it’s important to blend feedback from recent rounds with the fundamentals you want to reinforce. Drills, games, and competition—from the driving range to the putting green—form the backbone of skills you’ll rely on during actual rounds. Finding the right balance is something we’re all working on, one practice session at a time.
For Korean golfers, we always look forward to the last of the kkot-saem-chu-I for the true start of a new golf season. The term refers to a cold snap, but literally translates as “winter being jealous of the flowers beginning to bloom, thus lashing out one final time before surrendering to spring”.
A rather poetic mouthful packed into a short expression.
Koreans can be like that. Understated, yet oddly expressive at the same time. And nowhere is this more true on the golf course and in our golf bags. In fact, I suspect many Korean golfers look forward to new apparel and accessory drops more than they do actual equipment launches each year.
At this point, Korean golf fashion may exist on its own timeline. (courtesy of @seonbi_golfer)
There is ample evidence to support that suspicion. Korea is the world’s third-largest golf market behind the United States and Japan, yet its appetite for golf apparel exceeds that of both countries combined. Recent estimates suggest that Korea accounts for nearly 40 percent of the global golf apparel market, placing it among the world’s most influential golf fashion markets and punching well above its size.
Simply, we care deeply about how new golf clubs look and feel, but enjoy looking good while swinging them even more.
Golfers in the West may laugh and say that golf is played on a course, not a fashion runway. Perhaps. But what’s the harm in trying to look and feel good, if the added self-confidence can help actual performance? It certainly seems to have worked for Jason Day, who may have unlocked a new stats category: dormant strokes gained. Coincidence?
During the COVID-era, estimates placed the market near $9 billion, an astonishing figure for a single country.
As a proud member of Gen X, I’ve witnessed the highs and lows of golf fashion firsthand. The pleated trousers and wing-tipped shoes of Jack Nicklaus, the stylish plus-fours and knickers of Payne Stewart, the baggy black trousers and fitted mock-necks of Tiger Woods, and the thigh-hugging athletic tailoring of Rory McIlroy. Golf fashion, like the golf swing itself, has rarely stood still.
But nowhere have those trends shifted, evolved, and been scrutinized quite as relentlessly as in Korea. Here, golf fashion moves faster than fairway gossip, and consumers dissect brands with a level of discernment that can be both impressive and mildly terrifying. New brands are studied, judged, embraced, or dismissed with startling efficiency.
The result is a consumer base with one of the sharpest eyes for quality and authenticity anywhere in the world. It is difficult to quantify, but easy to recognize. Clean lines without trying too hard. Luxury mixed with utility. Trend awareness balanced by restraint and purpose.
It’s golf fashion shaped by one of the world’s most style-literate cities, something I like to call Seoul Sensibilities, referring to the taste level forged by a uniquely competitive environment.
And increasingly, global brands have noticed.
Many golf brands in Korea have their own flagship shops dedicated to apparel only
Titleist understood this years ago, when its apparel business in Korea took on a life of its own under new ownership and local direction. What had once been a straightforward extension of an iconic equipment giant became something sharper and more premium. By going all in on the serious Tour-player look (I couldn’t even fit into their XL sizes), Titleist struck the right chord with Korean consumers and helped its fledgling apparel business break into the mainstream. Titleist became a household name even for non-golfers who wore its caps, shirts, and windbreakers in daily life. In many ways, it proved that even heritage golf brands could carry real fashion credibility when viewed through a Korean lens.
Several years later, PXG took a page out of Titleist’s playbook and followed suit. Korean consumers helped transform the brand from one known largely for irons and loud commercials into something broader and more stylish. PXG apparel’s growth in Korea was explosive, where it found an early audience and turned the category into something more than mere logo merchandise. It is still hard to walk anywhere in Seoul without seeing its palindrome logo.
Malbon’s meteoric rise in the United States was genuine, but its ascent into a global golf lifestyle brand owes much to Korea, where it was elevated by a market already fluent in modern golf style. Korea did not simply embrace Malbon. It pressure-tested the concept, refined its appeal, and helped push it into the global spotlight.
As such, new brands may arrive from abroad, but more often than not, their sharpest evolution happens here. If a brand can earn credibility in Seoul, it’s deemed to have passed one of the toughest style audits in the game.
That is why the next meaningful chapter may not come from outside, but from a Korean brand moving in the opposite direction, carrying those Seoul Sensibilities outward as K-pop once did.
Play young Stay dope.
From Seoul, With Intent
Khalhon is a label that feels less like a trend-chasing newcomer and more like the product of a market that has already seen everything. Golfers here have long been surrounded by luxury logos, technical fabrics, and tour uniforms disguised as lifestyle wear and vice-versa. In other words, novelty alone rarely lasts here, and the Koreans seems to understand that instinctively.
Its style language leans into clean silhouettes, relaxed but tailored proportions, muted palettes, and premium materials that speak quietly but confidently. There is a modern city aesthetic running through it all, with strong layering pieces, thoughtful textures, and subtle branding that suggests sophistication rather than demanding attention.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
Most importantly, the garments seem designed to blur the line between golfwear and everyday style. Shirts, trousers, knitwear, and outer layers move comfortably between a game of screen golf, a lunch reservation, an airport gate, or an afternoon coffee in Gangnam with friends.
It raises the question of whether this is golfwear that happens to look good off the course, or everyday clothing that performs beautifully on the fairways.
Personally, I have long appreciated Nike Golf for its clean, athletic modernization of golf attire. It also has the useful side effect of making me look like a more serious golfer than I probably am. But off the course, there are times when being instantly identified as the golf guy in a crowd of non-golfers can feel a touch self-conscious.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
That is part of what drew me to Khalhon, which seemed to blend golf and everyday wear naturally. While some of the outfits may be slightly beyond my personal confidence level, the brand also offers tasteful options for older guys like me who still want to express a little personality without regretting the decision later.
These are not simply flashy outfits worn on the course and then banished to the closet until the next tee time. They work surprisingly well off the course too, and I suspect many of the pieces will still look right a couple of years from now, which would certainly be kinder to my wallet than most golf fashion trends tend to be.
And perhaps that broader lifestyle positioning also helps explain why someone like Sean Wotherspoon would find Khalhon creatively interesting in the first place.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
“Korea is not only one of the most fashion-forward golf markets in the world, but one of the most fashion-forward markets globally. Korea is ahead, and I love to watch and try to catch up.” – Sean Wotherspoon, Creative Director at Khalhon
Seoul and Beyond
If Khalhon’s rise says something about where Korean golf fashion is today, its relationship with Sean Wotherspoon says even more about where it is heading.
For readers less familiar with Sean Wotherspoon, his arrival at Khalhon is not some routine celebrity endorsement or influencer collaboration. In design and streetwear circles, Wotherspoon is regarded as one of the more influential creative voices of his generation, particularly when it comes to blending nostalgia, storytelling, and contemporary culture into products that people can connect with.
He first gained widespread attention through his now-famous Nike sneaker collaborations, where his vintage-inspired designs and instinct for color helped turn him into one of the defining artists of the late-2010s sneaker era. His work gradually expanded beyond footwear into apparel, automotive collaborations, collectibles, and broader lifestyle design.
Modern golf style now extends well beyond the fairways, where performance and functionality are largely expected by default. And while plenty of brands already make technically competent golfwear, Khalhon seems more focused on designing clothes people would genuinely want to wear even after the round ends.
And when guys at Wotherspoon’s level show genuine interest in working with a Korean golf brand as its new Creative Director, fashion circles tend to sit up and pay attention. There’s already a huge buzz among the fashion-conscious here about upcoming collabs with iconic sports stars and brands.
“My creative direction for Khalhon is disruptive, colorful, nostalgic, and modern. My goal is to blend these avenues seamlessly within each collection.” – Sean Wotherspoon
In chatting with Sean, what stood out most to me was how genuinely energized he sounded about the project itself. Despite having already worked across and countless other creative spaces, he described golf as a completely fresh category for him, saying that Khalhon “will be an amazing vehicle for my design work.”
At the same time, his enthusiasm seemed tied just as much to Korea itself. He spoke openly about admiring Korea’s fashion culture while repeatedly insisting he is still a terrible golfer.
There was something oddly refreshing about that humility. Rather than sounding like a celebrity parachuting into golf simply because the category suddenly became fashionable, Sean sounded genuinely curious about what Korea might do with the category next.
And perhaps that is what makes Khalhon feel interesting right now. The brand feels less like a trend-chaser and more like the natural result of a market now confident enough to export its own point of view.
For years, global brands came to Korea to sharpen their image against one of the most discerning audiences anywhere. Now, a Korean label appears ready to send those Seoul Sensibilities outward instead.
Which brings us back to kkot-saem-chu-i.
That final cold snap before spring always arrives with a reminder that seasons are changing, whether we notice it immediately or not. Golf fashion feels a little like that right now as well, as the old boundaries between sport, streetwear, luxury, and everyday style continue to soften.
And somewhere in Seoul, a Korean golf label already seems prepared for whatever season comes next. I just hope they have everything in my size.
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Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
John Erickson
Jun 3, 2019 at 12:47 am
Terry, I could not agree more. As a former tour player who dedicated a life to golf, I don’t even watch the game anymore. I have zero interest in the decline of the game, the courses, the giant frying pan drivers, wide fairways, huge perfect greens, little penalty for errant driving. Golf is a total bore to me. When I played on tour, you had to drive it in the fairway just as Hogan said.. “it’s the most important shot to set up the hole”. We had to place the ball on the green and below the hole, and often the greens were far from perfect. Less than perfect greens made golf more of a ball strikers game. With perfect greens, the great putters can run the table. I liked it when the greens were not so perfect because it took that advantage out of the lights out putters. They would still make more but not as many. Moe Norman told me once that anyone could make a 30 foot putt…. even a beginner, but it took great still to hit a 1 iron 30 feet from the hole. This new version of golf is a different as baseball is to softball. The game needs a persimmon and balata reset. Simple really.
scooter
May 30, 2019 at 9:33 pm
Having attended the Colonial this past weekend, I was again reminded how much more amazing the game is in person as opposed to watching it on TV. I agree, TV concentrates too much on putts and doesn’t show enough of the field. In person, you can see the green slopes and realize how small the targets are to get the ball close and score on some greens with tucked pins. And you’re able to watch short game techniques that are really amazing when they’ve short-sided themselves in long rough or bunkers … by not covering the field you don’t see the “fails” at some of these difficult shots and realize just how small the margin for error is. Same goes for trouble shots when the drives go astray. And it’s great to see all the tee shot variations at Colonial’s tight hole #5 with out of bounds on both sides, all the way from tee to green. Bottom line, MUCH more interesting in person and kind of boring on TV.
KW
May 30, 2019 at 7:55 pm
Some good points on both sides, but I think much of the “lack of amazement” is not realizing just how hard and precise this game is. 1/8″ off a 100mph clubface can be mediocre to disastrous. We play our casual rounds and hit that approach shot from 120yds to 20′ and are disappointed. Yet the average pro approach shot is 22′ and the very best in the world probably average 11′–just saying, the game is really hard!
greg mcneill
May 30, 2019 at 10:46 am
I admit I quit reading when you wrote that Miller won the US Open in 1966. That was probably the most famous final round in US Open history and you can’t get the year right? (It was 1973, btw. Casper beat Palmer in ’66 when Arnie blew a 7 shot lead in the last 9 holes).
Championship
May 30, 2019 at 5:16 am
Do you get “amazed” by a Friday night regular season Knicks vs Cavs 30-pt blowout win? That is the equivalent of what the Colonial was. Not every tournament is going to be A+, but doesn’t make sense to make blanket statements like that.
Also, you are celebrating the raw athletic talent you see in the NBA, but then saying the same thing makes golf boring with the longer hitters? The game has changed, but there is still PLENTY more than long drives out there, which is why the world long drivers aren’t the same guys on the Tour.
Did golf not just bring us what is widely considered to be one of the greatest moments in sports history about a month ago at The Masters? Pretty amazing to me
Sahil
May 30, 2019 at 3:09 am
There are guys in my club who have the ability to make shots from almost anywhere. These guys have lost their ability to hit the ball far. They use golf clubs that are yonkers old. They have genuine golf skills that could challenge any pro’s approach shot. They are shot makers. We obsessed with distance and this philosophy of “distance is king” has been hammered home by the golf club industry obviously to make more money which is fair in a lot of ways but at the same time golfers need to make that choice. I’d like to see a pro tournament where drivers and 3 woods are disallowed, to genuinely see who’s the best golfer. Grip it and rip it, is way too taxing on the body, ask Tiger, Jason Day, Rory. If every pro golfer is almost always making 40-50ft putts , it does make the game boring and also gives us amateurs an unrealistic view on how golf is played. Adapting to different course. playing parkland one week and a links the next. Then we have professional golfers actually complaining about the difficulty of a course, they actually say the course is too difficult. really!!!! pros practice 8 hours a day, this is their job. It’s amazing what babies they are. So I definitely agree, true skills and shot-making on approach shots and around the green is a skill that needs to be brought back. Having a birdie putt from 40-50ft is the norm, then emphasis falls onto putting and then putters and then the industry coming out with new putters, its a viscous cycle. Golf at heart is about loving the game. Spending time on the course and testing your skills.
Donn
May 30, 2019 at 2:29 am
1. TV coverage is pretty bad. Too much time is of the anchors yakk yakk, not enough of the whole field making full swing shots. And Yes, too much TV is just the putt. In the Masters, if I am home watching, I would like them to broadcast at least 40 or 50 of the tee shots from the 1st tee, more tee shots all over the course, even guys in the middle of the pack.
2. Is it just me, or do we see way too many mid and long putts fall way too short? I keep reading that 0 % of puts that are too short will ever go in, right?
3. At Colonial, last 2 rounds, I saw Finau swing a lot. Yikes. His swing is far from textbook, but I didn’t hear any comments. Is Furyk’s swing the only one where it is ok to call it weird?
4. I think it is time to redesign some courses to add more risks or actual dead zones at 300 yards. More doglegs, or severe narrowing of the fairway from say 300 to 330 yards, to force more of the big hitters to play the locations like courses presented to the pros 40 years ago. When most of the par 4s are wedges to the green, it is monotonous as Koepka said.
Terence Gillmore
May 29, 2019 at 8:57 pm
Trevino said that what can’t last is “chipping for pars” not “putting for pars”
Bob Jones
Jun 1, 2019 at 12:26 pm
Yes. This is how the quote is supposed to go.
Dave r
May 29, 2019 at 7:31 pm
Watching LPGA golf us older types can relate better. The smash boys really not worth watching anymore . It’s the same old thing hit it as far as you can find it and repeat . I watched the college golf and they are hitting 6 and 7 irons 210 yards was wondering what the wedge guy thinks are 6 irons really 6 irons or are they 6 irons with a 4-5 iron lofts. Would agree watching golf on tv is like watching paint dry.
Geoffrey Holland
May 29, 2019 at 6:07 pm
What a garbage article.
Darrin Lygrisse
May 29, 2019 at 5:44 pm
You know what fails to amaze me these days? Sports writing.
There used to be an old adage in journalism, “the smaller the ball the better the writing” Now it pretty much just all sucks. Professional writing is dead for the most part, I used to love getting my Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, Golf Illustrated, my Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, and reading all the great articles, cover to cover. Now the only thing I subscribe to is this GolfWRX email newsletter, which when I try to open, tries to get me to subscribe every single damn time, even though I have been since 2006.
It would be nice to see some real professionals on the beat again.
Donn
May 30, 2019 at 2:12 am
Love this one.
Steve
May 29, 2019 at 5:28 pm
Isn’t that the beauty of the PGA, though? ANYONE’s first tee shot on Thursday could lead to a win, and not because some team has a higher salary cap or lets their star player build a super team around him.
Vas
May 29, 2019 at 5:13 pm
I almost totally agree, but would have presented it differently. Golf now is basically the same as tennis. Success is all about physicality and hitting the ball as hard as you can. The equipment makes it that way. There was no incentive to looking like a linebacker in 1985 because you would spin the ball off the planet and not break 80. It’s totally okay to prefer serve-and-volley tennis instead of the grunt-fest from the baseline. It’s equally okay to prefer pre-90s skill-emphasized golf instead of guys swinging for the fences with the driver. What’s not okay is to place ANY blame or insult on ANY player. They’re all businessmen. They’re doing what works. If my kids really take to the game, I’m going have them swing as fast as they can and figure out the rest later.
Daniel
May 29, 2019 at 5:04 pm
Maybe the problem with not being amazed with pro golf anymore has to do with the tv coverage. When I watch now it seems like all I see are putts. They show all the leaders shots, especially on Sunday in a major when it’s a big name, but not everybody else.
I like the shot tracers and wish there was more of that. It’s good to see the trajectory of the ball, and not just a close up shot of it flying in the air with nothing but sky around.
JK
May 29, 2019 at 4:47 pm
Dustin Johnson has won every year for 12 seasons, something only Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus have done.
Phil Mickelson, who is nearing 50, won already this year and is consistently in the top 25 of tournaments in which he plays.
What are these dumb claims that no one has maintained performance over the years? Did you not see a guy win back-to-back US Opens followed closely by back-to-back PGA championships?
Did you forget about just a few years ago when Phil Mickelson was in the final group of the Open Championship, shot 65, and didn’t win?
Did you miss when someone shot 62 in a major?
Terrible article
Pelling
May 29, 2019 at 5:43 pm
Did you not forget Phil chasing after a putt he hit at Shinnecock and slapping the ball while it was moving?
DavidRB
May 29, 2019 at 4:40 pm
Couldn’t agree more with Terry. Golf has become boring. Don’t take me wrong, the boring part is because “these guys are good”, precise and boring. I do think the huge purses have caused some to play for the money and not the trophy. Kevin Na played the way one needs to to master Colonial. If you have never been there, try it if you can. It takes precise boring golf to win there.
Keep it up Terry. The bomb and gouge style of play deserves more accurate wedge play. What I saw last week, the players couln’t get the ball hole-high from 125 or less.
Grumpy Old Man
May 29, 2019 at 4:29 pm
“You kids get off my lawn!” – Terry Koehler
Shallowface
May 30, 2019 at 8:06 am
Beyond Beyond Beyond played.
Shallowface
May 31, 2019 at 1:19 pm
That is so far beyond played you should be ashamed of yourself.
The dude
May 29, 2019 at 4:25 pm
“Dogs that chase cars….and Ben Hogan equipment”
ButchT
May 30, 2019 at 5:27 am
Where did that come from?
PSG
May 29, 2019 at 1:20 pm
The Tour used to be much less top-heavy in terms of prize support. Virtually all the increase in prize money has gone to the top 5 spots. There used to be a 12% gap between number 5 and number 10. Now its about 170%.
The “best players” used to be guys who would shoot 70 every day. Now you are much better off shooting 65 four straight days and shoot over 80 the rest of the year. That’s why you see the decisions you do – players fire at pins because winning the tournament is much higher rewarded than making the cut.
You can like it or not like it but to act as if these players are less skilled is asinine. They’re not less skilled, that’s absurd. They are trying to win. In the days you reference the prize money was in being in the top 25 every week. Now it is in winning once a year. Because of this they’re not shooting middle of the green.
Do you honestly think the players of today woke up and decided to be worse and dumber?! Of course not. They are incentivized to take risks, and they do.
Cody
May 29, 2019 at 9:44 am
I would take the current top ten golfers vs. any top ten golfers of any time period.
Murv
May 29, 2019 at 7:26 pm
Today’s players against 60’s and 70’s players using 60’s equipment and balls. I’ll take the old guys.
Jason Day said it best. Back in the day they curved the ball around the hazards because they had to. Today they just hit it high, straight over the hazards.
carl spackler
May 29, 2019 at 9:38 am
its really too bad we dont have better shot data from the old days. i would love to see the strokes gained stats for the best players from the 60s through the 90s
i would bet the ball striking was a bit better in the old days, but not as much as people like to think. todays greens are harder, faster and the ball spins less which makes it harder to hold shots on the green
Glass half full
May 29, 2019 at 7:02 am
I like watching sports on tv because these athletes can perform at a level I cannot. Colonial isn’t a big tournament in the calendar but still, Kevin Na was impressive. Even if I could the ball as far and straight as a PGA Tour pro, I know that hardly anyone can qualify because….it’s damn hard. I’m not a fan of cynical articles like these, your rant seems petty. These guys ( women ) are very talented.
Shallowface
May 29, 2019 at 3:26 am
What I find interesting is how many tour pros say they never watch golf on television. Imagine if we all get up one morning and decide we’re not going to watch anymore. The only reason pro golf exists is because someone wants to watch it. Terry is right. There’s nothing really interesting going on there anymore. The 210 yard 2 iron second into a Par 4. Now that was some good television.
golfrank
May 29, 2019 at 5:56 pm
Maybe it’s less interesting today because the 210-yard 2-iron has been replaced by a 210-yard 7-iron.
Shallowface
May 30, 2019 at 8:04 am
Yep, which is entirely due to a ball that doesn’t spin as it used to. Athleticism has NOTHING to do with it.
It’s never going to happen, but if it were possible to legislate the old balata spin rates into the modern golf ball the game would become interesting to watch again. The ball wouldn’t go as far and more importantly it wouldn’t go as straight. It would be more affected by the wind. All of the challenges that made golf the game it was, but no longer is.
But that sort of thing falls to the USGA, who only has the authority which it is granted by those who choose to play under its rules. If they were to do such a thing, the PGA Tour would simply say “we are going to play by our rules” and nothing would change.
The USGA, as irrelevant as it has become, wouldn’t want to be driven into a state of total irrelevance. So they’ll continue to do nothing and like it.
Shallowface
May 31, 2019 at 1:17 pm
What we need is a ball on the order of the original Spalding Tour Edition, which was a two piece with a urethane cover that spun as much or more that a wound balata ball. That would Make Golf Great Again.
Jack
May 28, 2019 at 10:03 pm
Terry is talking about pro golfers like they are a bunch of amateurs, constantly missing greens and trying to get up and down or worse. These guys are really good tee to green, and that includes the long irons. Kevin Na just put together 4 rounds that were 3 of them really good (1 course record). Often pro’s will get 1 record round and puke it up the next. he didn’t. That’s why he won by 4. Give some credit to the winners. Also it’s not like most tournaments are decided by 4 shots and Na is a consistent winner on tour (although he is a tour staple at this point). Na just caught fire and left the field behind.
I think there’s some old timers bias here. Of course the top old pro’s were very good, but I doubt the middle tier guys were very good either. See? I just said that without any research or proof. The pro’s nowadays need to be very good with their long irons which they need to hit even further, so in many ways they are even more accurate than the guys had to be before. If they don’t score on par 5’s with their long clubs, they need to get hot on par 4’s which isn’t always easy with the par 4’s getting longer and longer. Even par 3’s are like 200 plus yards often. There have been plenty of memorable shots, most recently Koepka’s dominance and DJ almost making it up, and prior to that Tiger showing us some old school shot making.
Yes the long hitters wedge in, but they are not all hitting it 320. The 290 guys are still hitting mid irons. And if the pro’s of the old days had to hit long irons into par 4’s all the time, they probably didn’t last on tour very long.
Appreciate your wedge expert articles, but this wasn’t really your best work.
The dude
May 28, 2019 at 11:01 pm
This reply was too long….way too long
R
May 28, 2019 at 9:52 pm
You’re crazy Terry. And really should quit talking or writing. For ever. You’re only making yourself sound a prat, and forget that this stuff stays on the web for ever. For ever. Realize that. It’s going to be readable for ever. It’s not like this stupid writing will be forgotten in some backwoods bookshop in the Middle Ages. Not any more. This is how you will be remembered
JP
May 28, 2019 at 9:59 pm
So how do you really feel about this article? Haha
Shallowface
May 29, 2019 at 3:19 am
Forever is one word, not two.
The Dean
May 29, 2019 at 11:37 pm
He is a good Episcopalian… For (space) Ever. 2 words sez the BCP
Nick
May 28, 2019 at 8:51 pm
Terry,
Ironically, when I read your first article, I thought about the same things are happening in the MLB and NBA. Strikeouts, walks and home runs are at all time highs. You can argue whether that is good or bad.
The NBA parallels golf even more because the mid-range shot has all but disappeared. Teams now pretty much just shoot 3s and layups or dunks. Thirty years ago, teams averaged 2.2 three point shots per game. This season, that number is up to 11.4. Again, you can argue whether that is good or bad, but it is happening.
I love reading your stuff, but I think you are missing the mark here. Golf is but one sport following the same trend.
Daniel
May 29, 2019 at 4:58 pm
I agree 100% Nick.
To me, golf is not better or worse than it once was, it’s just different.
Joseph Greenberg
May 30, 2019 at 7:24 am
right on (3) point. bigger picture problem for NBA and MLB is rapidly declining viewership, with baseball suffering major falloff in attendance. If all the fan sees is Ks and HRs, there is no action, particularly if watching on tv. Same to lesser degree with NBA, except my beloved Warriors when they move the ball and themselves around, play D, and run the break.
The threat to golf is more severe, as aging target market loses relatability to massive young stars.
NBB
May 28, 2019 at 6:25 pm
Perhaps via the use of tour data determine the yardage in which to begin progressively narrowing a fairway as it approaches the green and as the fairway narrows, the rough would become progessively more dense toward the green? Perhaps the progressiveness of faiway width and rough density would only slightly favor the longest hitters (given their propensity for missing the fairway at the great distances), but such would favor accuracy for all and enlarge the field of contenders. Perhaps, also, slow the greens down to ‘difficult’ rather than ‘aw, that ain’t right’?
J
May 28, 2019 at 1:36 pm
You lost me when you said the NBA consistently amazes you. Regular season games are hard to watch for me. No one gives consistent effort the full game it seems like to me. Boring as hell for me. YMMV as usual
Juststeve
May 28, 2019 at 12:31 pm
Terry: You and I agree. I remember when hitting all the clubs, including long irons and fairway wood, was the mark of a great golfer. Now its just smash, pitch and putt. Not nearly as interesting. Perhaps I’ll watch more of the LPGA.
Bombers Golf Shop
May 29, 2019 at 4:50 pm
Besides, almost every damn amateur male golfer should take notes on how the LPGA players swing. They pick courses’ bones with a smooth, repeatable action. Pound for pound, they are the best.