Over the Green

You knew it had to happen sometime, Tiger Woods going into the earnings stratsphere. Now a article on Forbes.com makes it official. Tiger has passed the billion (yes, that’s a B) in prize money, endorsements and other income. Of course he kind of backed into it with his loss to Phil Mickelson this past Sunday but he still took the $10.5 million from FedEx.

Two observations. First, he is just now entering his prime earning years as a pro…seems like forever but he has only been playing on the PGA Tour since 1996.

Secondly, the only other player who can be mentioned in the same breath from a performance standpoint, Jack Nicklaus, made just under $6 million of prize money in his entire career. This does include endorsement income or appearance fees, etc. but is a great expression of how times have changed.

With the USGA changing the rules for grooves from the current square design to a V-shape which harkens back to those in play a generation ago every golfer should be aware of a few facts.

First, the new grooves are required only on irons with 25 degrees or more of loft, essentially a 5-iron, and the rule was specifically put in place to make it more difficult to control shots to the green from the rough. The USGA’s thinking being pros are hitting the ball too far, we’ve done what we can to rein in driver performance, ball performance and course set up so let’s just make it harder to hit from the rough and stop a shot on the green.

The obvious rejoinder is, so what if touring professionals hit the ball further. If a little of that technology derived distance shows up in my game, so much the better. But that will not be the case since all clubs made after January 2010 must follow the groove rules. It’s probably fair to say Phil, Tiger and rest of the PGA Tour players have more than enough talent to overcome this roll back of technology but very few if any recreational golfers do or conceivable ever will. More…

Mizuno MX-300 Irons
Mizuno is known for irons and particularly forged irons and forged irons are typically used by professionals and very good amateurs. Seldom is Mizuno mentioned in the same breath with other makers who have made reputations building game-improvement type irons.

That perception of Mizuno may be changing even though they have made quality irons in the less-than-skilled category for years with the new MX-300 line just introduced. These forged cavity backs are said to have the look of blades and may even appeal to better players.

According to Dick Lyons, vp and gm of Mizuno USA Golf Division, “We realize that there are many players out there looking for some added forgiveness, but prefer a more traditional head shape and profile in the playing position.”

Lyons continued, “The MX-300s are the perfect iron for those players. Our patented Grain Flow Forging process is going to provide feel you can’t find anywhere else, while Y-Tune Pro Technology allows for enhanced workability and ball control with an expanded sweet area for increased playability. You just can’t ask for anything more.”

The usual shaft options are available and suggested retail for a MX-300 set of 4-iron through gap wedge is $900 in steel but with a likely street price of $800.

NBC did it again, spent the first 11 minutes of their coverage by my watch with football scores, touting their programming and talking about the tournament. In other words making the assumption we aren’t interested in seeing actual golf shots.

Also unnoticed by Hicks and Miller evidentally in the focused coverage they provided of Tiger’s flat play today was that Lefty’s 65 was two better than the next low round (Furyk and Z. Johnson) and that the course scoring average was over par.

The Peacock Network seems increasingly to be enamoured by the sound of Johnny Miller’s voice and Dan Hicks rambles. Too bad because their camera work and production values are first rate.

Mizuno MP-58 Irons

Mizuno has stepped into the multi-material iron market with the MP-58 line combining conventional steel with titanium in the forging process.

“The MP line of irons continues to evolve and to meet the demands of better players, many of who are looking for increased playability in their irons,” said Dick Lyons, Vice President and General Manager, Mizuno USA Golf Division. “Through revolutionary Dual Muscle Titanium Technology, we have succeeded in increasing forgiveness in a player preferred head shape, without sacrificing solid feel, ball control or workability. The lightweight titanium allowed for the strategic redistribution of weight around the club head for increased playability, while extensive use of Modal Analysis ensured the optimization of impact, sound, and especially feel. The MP-58 is the most technologically advanced MP iron Mizuno has ever created.”

Grooves on the MP-58 heads conform to the USGA new rules. A set with steel shafts carry a MSRP of $1,200.

I’ve lived in Florida for a long time and enjoy its many benefits starting with the weather and can even deal with the tourist traffic or the visitors themselves…most of the time.

Case in point, a few days after the New Year, I decided to play golf without the usual arranged group of fellow enthusiasts or my wife, who often plays. She had penciled in a mall trek with our daughter thus leaving me to my own devices.

Likewise I had found my friends occupied. One said something about having to de-lint his clothes dryer so I knew he would be tied up for awhile and another had a sudden fit of sneezing into the phone, obviously putting him out of action for the day. No matter, playing with new acquaintances can be fun too. In the golf shop the young man was most accommodating, matching me up with a threesome who was on the first tee ready to play. More…

Recently, while searching for a putting stroke I had somehow mislaid, an acquaintance walked onto the practice putting green with the latest and greatest magic wand flat stick.

Never mind the brand name, this putter was one you would instantly recognize from the dozens of advertisements featuring a steely-eyed professional whose endorsement intimates verification of the manufacturer’s claims. We waved to acknowledge each others’ presence but after only a few minutes he exclaimed in quite a loud voice, “I can’t make a #*)?@^ thing with this!”

Not really wanting to become involved but at least trying to commiserate with his problem I said, “Yeah, some days are like that.” The truth of the matter was, if my putting stroke didn’t return I was thinking of making inquires as to whether the golf club had a croquet team or maybe my wife could teach me a new pastime like tatting lace.

“I just bought this thing…two hundred bucks,” said he. “What do you think? You want to try it?” More…

Pro Black
Adams Golf’s Idea Pro Black Hybrids are a line extension of the Idea Pro Black muscle-back irons and like the irons are targeted at better players. Available in five lofts between 16 and 26 degrees and in either of two shafts – the Aldila Voodoo 85-gram graphite (Oct. 1) or the Matrix Ozik 95-gram graphite (Nov. 1) – suggested retail is $249.99. shaft. Idea Pro Black hybrids begin shipping to golf shops October 1 (with Aldila Voodoo shafts) and November 15 (with Matrix Ozik shafts) with a suggested retail price of $249.99.
Pinnacle
As Titleist points out in addition to their market leading Pro V1 balls they are have the second best selling golf ball, Pinnacle. Five new or reworked Pinnacle offerings (four men’s and one women’s) for recreational golf will hit shops Oct. 1, each expected to have a street price of $15 per dozen.
Zoom Bandon
If playing in wet weather is your thing the Nike Zoom Bandon may be worth a look. To quote the Nike press release, “Designed for the avid golfer who won’t be kept away on a rainy day, the Nike Zoom Bandon features a seam-sealed synthetic upper as well as a waterproof lining that provides an unmatched level of waterproof protection as well as a breathable barrier to moisture.” The shoe has lots of technical and design features that Nike says enhance comfort and performance. The Zoom Bandon is available for $176 per pair.

Today Arnie is 80.

I’m old enough to have watched him from the start, first on the PGA Tour and then on the Champions Tour (neé Senior Tour) which he single-handily made viable with his presence.

Everyone who’s been around the golf writing business for a while has a Palmer story. I have several.

One I want to share with you took place during an interview session a number of years ago when he was seriously considering not playing the Masters any longer. (He said that a number of times, most often right after a poor round when the walking scorers no longer showed a number after his name).

The occasion of the interview was the inauguration of another of his hundreds of golf course designs. In this case it was evident he wasn’t very enthusiastic about the design; the routing was hemmed in by large homes and contoured around ponds excavated to satisfy the environmentalists. However, as was his style, he was enthusiastic (cynically, if only about the fee the owners paid him) and as his wont, put on a mini-clinic while warming up prior to racing around the front nine.

No back nine – he and three of us writers, who I’m positive would not have bothered to show up at a course opening if it hadn’t been the King, repaired to the men’s grill for liquid refreshment. Sitting there, relaxed, he started pumping us for what questions we would ask in the subsequent press conference, so “he could be prepared.”

There were the obligatory inquiries into his course design philosophy and how it was used on this newest of his creations and several other equally yawn-provoking exchanges. After a while the conversation turned to the state of his game and what his competitive plans were. His answers were human and truthful without the use of the royal “we” affected by so many of the toursters today.

I asked a couple of more questions concerning what he was working on to improve his swing and then he gave me the quote which became the lead for an otherwise painfully dull story.

Palmer opined, “You know Ed, where there’s a club and a ball there’s hope.”

Not only is this a great memory of time spent with Arnold Palmer and a pretty good story, I think it expresses his love of the game and why so many fans love him.

Maybe next time I’ll tell you another…a true one about the men’s room at Bay Hill Club.

In the utility club business there’s no more an iconic name than TaylorMade Golf’s “Raylor.” As soon as it hit the scene 20 years ago it was an instant favorite and remains so today to the extent that on two occasions recently your reporter has even seen them in golf bags.

TMaG’s announced last week the return of the Raylor, not as a utility club but updated and redesigned as a hybrid in either 19 or 22 degrees. The new Raylor no longer has the two distinctive sole “rails” of the original design but does feature a pointed leading edge and a sole shaped like a ship’s hull. These, combined with a low center of gravity, allow the Raylor to easily get the ball out of grassy lies. More…