A roundup of the week’s hottest stories in golf for Monday, May 9, 2016 …
Adidas plans to sell off TaylorMade, Adams and Ashworth
On Wednesday, Adidas ended speculation that their major golf brands were on the chopping block by announcing that the $17.1 billion company intends to sell off TaylorMade, Adams and Ashworth golf brands.
Adidas has owned TaylorMade since 1997, when the Germany-based sports company bought the golf brand from skiing manufacturer, Salomon, for $1.4 billion. Adidas plans to continue selling their own branded golf shoes and sportswear after a buyer is found. TaylorMade reported a 6 percent sales gain last quarter, while Adams and Ashworth continued to falter.
What impact do you think this will have on the industry?
Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow
James Hahn (9 under) collected his first win of the season in a playoff over Roberto Castro. Hahn, who had missed eight straight cuts, shot a final round 70 and capitalized on two Castro miscues on the first sudden-death playoff hole to walk away with his second career victory.
Rickie Fowler (7 under) held the 54-hole lead and failed to convert for the win, stumbling to a final round 74 and T-4 finish.
Information via PGATOUR.com:
- Driver – PXG 0811X Prototype 9° (Aldila Rogue Max 65TX shaft)
- 3-wood – PXG 0341 15° (Aldila NV 2KXV 80X shaft)
- Hybrid – PXG 0317 17° (Aldila NV 2KXV 85X shaft)
- Irons – PXG 0311T (3-i Aldila Rogue 110X shaft, 4i-9i True Temper Project X LZ 6.5 shafts)
- Wedges – PXG 0311T Milled (47° True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 Tour Issue shaft), Titleist Vokey SM5 (54-10S° True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 Tour Issue shaft), Titleist Vokey Prototype (60J° True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 Tour Issue shaft)
- Putter – Odyssey Works 2-Ball
- Ball – Titleist Pro-V1x
Congratulations, James, we hope you celebrated like this …
Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic
Ariya Jutanugarn (14 under) carded a Sunday 72 to win her first LPGA Tour Event, fending off hard-charging Stacy Lewis and Morgan Pressel. The Thailand native is the first Thai woman to win on the LPGA, and she told reporters her hands were shaking on the final three holes, but was able to hold on for the victory. Jutanugarn’s mom was in attendance for what must have been a memorable Mother’s Day.
#ICYMI: Twenty-five-time LPGA Tour winner and 1998 U.S. Women’s Open champion, Se Ri Pak, received a special exemption from the USGA to compete at this year’s Women’s U.S. Open as she heads into retirement.
Quit Hitting Yourself
Zac Blair channeled (and later Tweeted) his inner Woody Austin on Friday at Quail Hollow by smashing his putter against his head after missing a birdie putt on the par-5 fifth hole. To compound the issue, Blair used his then-bent putter to complete the hole, and was subsequently DQ’d for using a nonconforming golf club.
The silver lining? Blair himself reported the rules violation. Golf clap, Zac, well done.
#GottaDoBetter pic.twitter.com/2DtXfWwOZT
— Zac Blair (@z_blair) May 6, 2016
If You Get Knocked Down …
Colonel Kevin Reinert, a 61-year-old retired military veteran, finished a round of golf that was cut short seven months ago by recording a 6 on the 18th hole at Starmount Country Club in Greensboro, NC. Why the seven month delay? Reinert was struck by a car in October during his round, leaving him with a broken femur, two broken patellas, and various torn ligaments and tendons.
Follow the link below to hear more from North Carolina’s My Fox 8 on the story:
Man hit by car on Greensboro golf course during crime spree finishes round 7 months later
Sports Illustrated’s Anonymous Tour Poll
SI released an anonymous Tour poll that surveyed over 150 players from the PGA, LPGA and Champions Tours. Here are a few of the highlights:
Would you rather win The PLAYERS or Olympic Gold?
- The Players – 62%
- Gold – 38%
If you were in a bar fight, who would you want to have your back?
- Ernie Els – 15%
- Keegan Bradley – 9%
- Angel Cabrera – 7%
- Nobody on tour – 18%
- “I’ve heard some bar stories about Ernie.”
Who would make a better Ryder Cup captain, Tiger or Phil?
- Phil – 49%
- Tiger – 44%
- Neither – 7%
- “I want to play for Tiger. Phil, not so much.”
Ping’s New iBlade Irons
Ping’s newest addition to their iron family, the iBlade, was spotted last week in bags at Quail Hollow, and will make their reported debut at The PLAYERS this weekend. Check out what GolfWRX had to say about the new S55 successor:
Spotted: @PingTour‘s new iBlade irons https://t.co/PhUze5lg37 pic.twitter.com/vD6bjxwbi9
— GolfWRX (@GolfWRX) May 9, 2016
Extras!
Kevin Kisner’s home course suspension has been mercifully lifted…
Suspension Lifted: @K_Kisner back in at home course https://t.co/shAcGVNqgS pic.twitter.com/B98Ve0tsKI
— GolfWRX (@GolfWRX) May 9, 2016
Trick shot genius and Web.com Tour player, Wesley Bryan, announced his PGA Tour debut at the FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis…
Pretty dang excited to announce that I will be making my PGA TOUR debut at the @fesjcmemphis! pic.twitter.com/14gy1QLiKk
— Wesley Bryan (@wesleybryangolf) May 3, 2016
According to the National Hole-In-One Registry, the odds of a low handicapper making an ace are 5,000-to-1.
Nice shot, Leicester City.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelESPN) May 2, 2016
Thoughts and Prayers from GolfTEC
The golfing world was put on hold for a moment last week when 2009 British Open Champion, Stewart Cink, announced on Twitter he was taking a leave from the PGA Tour to help his wife, Lisa, battle breast cancer. Positive thoughts and best wishes from GolfTEC to Lisa, Stewart, and the entire Cink family.
Stewart Cink to step away from golf as wife battles breast cancer https://t.co/SlfHtOekdk
— ESPN Golf (@ESPNGolf) May 4, 2016
Be sure to check back here at the GolfTEC Scramble again next Monday for our latest weekly edition of The Links!
