Professional Golf 2024 & 2025

I seem to recall Woosie changed to Marumans after he won the Masters......they were terrible, he ended up using his old clubs with Maurman embossed on them.....had stop after he was threatened being sued.
 
I would argue the club switch hoodoo that people go on about is largely a myth very few golfers have truly suffered and the level of skill these guys have they should be able to use any of the top brands with the fitting processes in place.

I don't think there are that many manufacturer fail stories - most of them can play with anything unless the gear is pure junk. The only bad ones I can think of were Rosey's Honma clubs and Bubba with the Volvik ball.

Penge was supposedly a Mizuno staffer before this, although it looks like he only really played their driver and irons, along with Vokey wedges, Scotty putter and a TM mini driver. The Golf Monthly article is seemingly suggesting he'll continue to use the Vokeys and Scotty. So I'm sure he'll do fine.
We shall see…
 
I've got a funny feeling there will be some backlash here from existing PGAT players that fell for the promises to those that stayed loyal.

Integrity of the PGAT will be under some serious scrutiny in the coming days, and rightfully so.

PGAT players who turned down a pile of Saudi cash will rightfully feel hurt by this. PGAT has done the right thing to reintegrate Koepka, I guess we shall see if the financial penalty has struck the right balance.
 
In case you missed it, pro golf is all about the money - always has been. The biggest tours and the biggest events have always been the ones with the most of it, and players have always followed it.

Yes, many players (mostly Americans) prefer to play on the PGA Tour's US-based travelling circus of exhibitions for millions of dollars rather than the ones that LIV operates around the world. Seemingly no-one now prefers the old European Tour, which is rather sad state of affairs, but one of their own making and hopefully not yet irreversible.

The players mentioned were in late stage discussions with LIV, along with a few others. By far the biggest reason they didn't go was belief in the supposed consequences (such as that there would be no way back) that kept being peddled - which were always a lie when it came to the big names (perhaps with the exception of Phil Mickelson), and so it has now proved.

Interesting to see the links to where both players stated that they didn’t go to LIV because of consequences?




 
Interesting to see the links to where both players stated that they didn’t go to LIV because of consequences?


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Xander Schauffele has consistently rejected lucrative offers to join LIV Golf, with his father, Stefan, stating "no chance," emphasizing Schauffele's focus on legacy over money and the importance of World Ranking Points, which LIV lacks for major qualification. While he's engaged in rumors, Schauffele prioritizes PGA Tour play and major championships, despite admitting to past meetings and accepting appearance fees from LIV, but ultimately prioritizing his PGA Tour career and legacy.



Well Steven Gerrard didn’t go to Chelsea because of the consequences…(death threats from the adoring LFC faithful)…so there is a precedent for sportsman thinking of the consequences (in both cases, threats - albeit of very different kinds) before declining moves..
 
PGAT players who turned down a pile of Saudi cash will rightfully feel hurt by this. PGAT has done the right thing to reintegrate Koepka, I guess we shall see if the financial penalty has struck the right balance.
As they should, because there is no real financial penalty. There's a lot of big numbers being thrown about regarding the value of the restrictions imposed, but they're wildly speculative and don't come close to what he reportedly earned in contract fees and winnings from LIV.

$5million to charity is largely negated as a tax write off, so meaningless to Koepka; given how he's played recently, the restriction on FexEx bonus money this year is worth next to $0; and the projected PGAT equity figures are pure fantasy. Even if we accept the top end estimates, he still comes out with $tens of millions more than he would have had staying on the PGA Tour.

*Rolapp, not Roland, obvs
 
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PGAT players who turned down a pile of Saudi cash will rightfully feel hurt by this. PGAT has done the right thing to reintegrate Koepka, I guess we shall see if the financial penalty has struck the right balance.

The PGAT are winging it, literally making it up as they go along.

Let's hope for their sake Rahm and / or BDC go back as well, otherwise it's a move that will do way more harm than good to the tour.
 
The PGAT are winging it, literally making it up as they go along.

Let's hope for their sake Rahm and / or BDC go back as well, otherwise it's a move that will do way more harm than good to the tour.
Rahm won’t be taking up the offer , Smith won’t

BDC will only if he is still allowed to do and own all his own you tube stuff etc

Koepka out of the “big 3” was always the one likely to move back

Rahm will prob look at end of contract
 
I don't think there are that many manufacturer fail stories - most of them can play with anything unless the gear is pure junk.

When these guys hit a rich vein of form, keeping the same feeling is really important to prolong it. Am sure it's largely a psychological thing. At their level, they will notice tiny little things, the feeling off the clubface is so important. Most players tend to hit a hot spell for a couple of years when they win all their majors, very few players sustain it for 5 years (or more).

Paradoxically, hitting the hot spell is the time to cash in and maximise sponsorship opportunities.

Koepka - man of the moment - is an interesting case study. He remained a free agent for several years, choosing to miss out on lucrative club sponsorship so that he could play whatever he wanted. I think he won all his majors playing a mixed bag. Although he's now signed up to play Srixon irons looks like he's still playing an M2 fairway wood, Nike 3 iron, Titleist driver and Scotty putter. So clearly he doesn't feel comfortable playing with anything.
 
Wow that’s a tangent and a half




Despite claims that death threats against him and his family made him change his mind last summer, it was actually the Anfield captain's father Paul who persuaded him to stay for one more season.”
Well you would say that wouldn't you? You're not going to stand there in public and say "Yeah those death threats really did the trick and changed my mind for me. Say what you like about death threats, but they get things done."
 
Re the effect of equipment for tour pros

Need to bear in mind we’re talking about elite world class tour pros; a fair few who won’t even play with the ball they were fitted for simply because of the number stamped on it!

Yeah I reckon with the margins they need to play to, the equipment is a big deal
 
Apparently he wants to spend more time with his family.
Which is what he will get not having to fly around the globe! I’m surprised this isn’t obvious.
Letting Koepka back penalty free makes good business sense by the PGAT but very poor on principle. Purely my opinion.
It’s not penalty free though!
 
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