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Sergio Garcia Surprises Golfers at Bethpage Black

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On a recent spring morning at the Black Course at Bethpage State Park, local golfers were following their normal routine.  Range balls were being struck and tee times confirmed. Then something out of the ordinary happened. Fresh off the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, TaylorMade Staffer Sergio Garcia strolled up to the driving range. The mood couldn’t have been more different than in 2002, when Sergio’s frustration with U.S. Open spectators came to a head at Bethpage Black. Instead, he was greeted by both surprised and ecstatic golfers.

Beyond the “meet and greet,” Garcia then announced that all golfers would be fit for TaylorMade’s SLDR S driver. This was part of TaylorMade’s “Distance for All” campaign for the SLDR S family, which the company says is designed to fit a wide variety of golfers and swing speeds. Check out the day’s highlights in the video below.

[youtube id=”7ZhCf8omzYQ” width=”620″ height=”360″]

13 Comments

13 Comments

  1. Derek

    Jul 13, 2014 at 8:41 am

    While I’m a HUGE fan of major companies like TMAG giving back to the pouplace and having stars like Sergio and Bubba et all surprising golfers with visits and givewaways…

    Why are TMAG and the pros focusing on premier golf courses..? (yes I realize that Bethpage and it’s 5? courses are public… But it costs $200 with a cart for any non-NYState resident and like $120 even for a resident…)

    We keep going on about how we want to grow the game and increase continued participation… I golf at least bi-weekly and have for 5 years and counting… but when I see the major companies and pros supporting the more prestigious courses and the wealthier-already-committed golfers and giving them free gear… What does that say to less wealthy, less fortunate and less-inclined-to-golf golfers?

    I for one already do not support TMAG as a company. And now further I have lost almost complete respect for them as a golf icon because I now know that never will I be able to enjoy the pleasure of meeting a professional golfer; the pleasure of a free driver fitting by the “#1 driver in golf”; the pleassure of a free “#1 driver in golf”.

    I feel as though this was the wrong tactic. I can GUARANTEE most of the people playing Bethpage Black that day had updated or decent drivers. I can GUARANTEE that your average lower quality course where half the guys still use their dad’s, brother’s, uncle’s sets and the other half have 2-3 year old sets cause they can barely afford to play; let alone gear up every year, would have appreciated the sentiment much more.

    Just my 2 cents.

  2. Dan

    Jul 7, 2014 at 1:18 pm

    Funny that they have a “Distance Driver” event at BSP Driving range, where we are not allowed to hit drivers b/c they go onto Round Swamp Road

  3. Lee

    Jul 2, 2014 at 3:06 am

    What a blast for those lucky enough to have been involved.

  4. Tom

    Jul 1, 2014 at 11:09 am

    Nice job Taylormade. Good for all the folks at BP, Taylormade, and Sergio. Worth every penny they paid for all those drivers, the help getting it done and Sergio to be there. Nice to have us “commoners” surprised once and a while

  5. Tin Whistle

    Jul 1, 2014 at 11:06 am

    Way to go, Sergio. Now go win the Open Championship.

  6. Brodie Hock

    Jul 1, 2014 at 10:33 am

    Sergio still has Sergio moments…but he has come along way since the US Open at Bethpage back in ’02

  7. Pingback: Sergio Garcia Surprises Golfers at Bethpage Black | Spacetimeandi.com

  8. Martin

    Jun 30, 2014 at 8:59 pm

    Very cool.

  9. Will

    Jun 30, 2014 at 8:45 pm

    I was at this event, it was pretty awesome. Got fitted for a 10* SLDRs. Very cool promotional event by TaylorMade.

    • Dave C

      Jul 1, 2014 at 11:11 pm

      Were you given the driver or did you pay for it?

      • I

        Jul 2, 2014 at 3:41 am

        Free, like it says, they were giving them away. Free.

      • steve

        Jul 2, 2014 at 4:01 pm

        Yeah Sergio was there selling them out of his trunk

        • Billy baroo

          Jul 2, 2014 at 7:23 pm

          Yup getting rid of the ” junk in his trunk ” good one BILL!

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

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GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.

In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.

Check out links to all our photos below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

 

 

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Tour Tech Rundown: Heroic Henley

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Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.

Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.

PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole

Eric Cole did nearly everything that a fellow can do, to secure a first PGA Tour title. He stayed one shot clear of Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin. He kept US Open champion Gary Woodland and wunderkind Michael Brennan two shots distant. He posted 70 on day four to reach twelve under par. And then, Russell Henley revealed his Dr. Strange cloak. Henley made 47 feet of birdie putts on holes 16, 17, and 18, to jump from minus-nine to twelve-deep, and secured a spot in a playoff with Cole. The duo returned to the final tee, and put on a stripe show.

Both golfers found the fairway off the tee, and Henley improved on his regulation play with an approach to four feet. Cole did himself proud, tucking an iron to a dozen feet, but he was unable to convert the putt for three. Henley is one of the best putters on tour, and he proved it once more by draining a putt for a fourth consecutive birdie, and a sixth PGA Tour title. For Eric Cole, that first victory should come, and soon. He has done everything necessary to earn the chalice lift.

Henley’s Suitcase

  • Driver: Titleist TSi3 at 10 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g 6.5 TX
  • Metal: Titleist TS3 at 16.5 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
  • Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
  • Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
  • Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
  • Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
  • Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
  • Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
  • Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T5 Tour Prototype

LPGA @ Shoprite LPGA: Welcome back, Celine!

Soo Bin Joo had her eyes on a maiden LPGA title. She held the lead after two rounds, then hit a red light at the intersection of can-I and how-To. Joo posted plus-two on day three in New Jersey, and dropped to a T4 finish, which was still a career-best for the young Korean golfer. Instead of a new face, a familiar face returned to the top of the podium.

Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.

Day three saw Boutier manage the windswept Seaview Bay course with six birdies and a bogey. She was challenged in the end by Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who signed for a 66 of her own. Yubol came up one shot shy of the top ladder rung. Finishing in third place at -7, two back of the winner, was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh.

Celine’s Suitcase

  • Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at 9 degrees. Shaft: Graphite Design AD IZ-5
  • Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
  • Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen5.
  • Iron: PXG 0311 P Gen 4 5-9 irons
  • Wedge: PXG 0311 T Gen 4 PW
  • Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II at 50, 54, 58 degrees
  • Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 DASS

DP World Tour @ Austrian Alpine: KK? KK!

Kota Kaneko has a rhythmic name. It has strong vowels and a run of voiceless stops in its crunchy K sounds. On Sunday in Austria, Kaneko put a stop to a challenge from Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and everyone else, and claimed a first-ever title on the DP World Tour. Gouveia did well to reach 16-under par over four days, but Kaneko held firm, two shots in the clear.

Davis Bryant of the USA also forged a strong challenge for the win. He ended in a tie with Gouveia for second place. Kaneko began and finished his final round in a bit of a malaise, but he caught fire midway through. Birdies at 10, 12, and 13 provided the necessary cushion to cruise to the finish line without breaking a serious sweat.

Kaneko’s Suitcase

  • Driver: Ping Max G440
  • Metals: TaylorMade Qi4D at 15, 16.5, 21, and 24 degrees
  • Irons: TaylorMade P760 5 and 6 irons
  • Irons: TaylorMade P7TW 7-9 irons
  • Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design at 46, 52, 56, and 60 degrees
  • Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Arm Lock #7

Korn Ferry Tour @ UNC Health Championship: Improbably Alvaro

Alvaro Ortiz may have had a bit of scare on the outward nine on Sunday, but he came through in clutch fashion in the end. Ortiz began the day bogey-double, and added another double bogey at the 11th hole. He was mired in a downward trend, spiraling away from the top of the leader’s board. Ortiz found hope at the 14th, where his first birdie of the day tumbled home. Inspired, he closed with birdies and 17 and 18 to catch Ross Steelman at 10-under par, and the duo returned to the 18th deck for overtime.

The extra session concluded in brief time. Ortiz, buoyed by his newly-retrieved confidence, hit the fairway with driver, then approached to six feet and drained the putt. Gobsmacked, Steelman could do little more than smile and applaud, as his run at the top came to a close. The victory was the first for Ortiz on the KFT, and will implant him squarely in the chase for a PGA Tour promotion.

Alvaro’s Suitcase

  • Driver: Ping G430 MAX driver at 9 degrees loft
  • Metal: Ping G430 MAX 3W
  • Iron: Ping iDi Driving Iron
  • Irons: Ping Blueprint S irons
  • Wedges
  • Putter: Scottsdale TR Piper C

LIV @ Korea: Me llamo Joaquin

Chile’s Joaquin Niemann had been away from the LIV winner’s circle throughout all of 2026. This week in Korea, he reminded us that he is still a force to consider. Niemann chased down Taylor Gooch over the closing holes at Asiad Country Club, then claimed victory with a hole-one birdie in extra time. Bryson DeChambeau claimed solo third, one shot in arrears at minus-eleven. Dustin Johnson finished on fourth, one putt farther back.

Niemann’s Suitcase

  • Driver: Ping 440 LST
  • Metal: Ping G440 Max at 15 degrees
  • Metal: Ping G425 Max at 21 degrees
  • Hybrid: Ping G430 at 25 degrees
  • Irons: Ping Blueprint S 5 through PW
  • Wedges: Ping S159 at 52, 56, and 60 degrees
  • Putter: Ping PLD Anser

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Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge

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Driver: Titleist TSi3 (10 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70 6.5 TX

3-wood: Titleist TS3 (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX

7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Project X Denali Black 80 TX

Irons: Titleist T250 (4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT (4-6), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (7-9)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F @47, 50-08F @51, 54-10S @55, 60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48), S400 (47)

Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X5 Tour Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

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