The Masters Unveils a Brand New Masters.com

by James on March 28, 2010 in News with No comments

The Masters Unveils a Brand New Masters.com

Come springtime, the official Masters website always pops onto my radar. I hit it up to check on changes to the course, the latest news, and of course all of the interviews, audio (Masters Radio) and video you can shake a stick at. This year it looks like we’ll be able to get our fix on a brand new and ‘stunningly simple layout’ recently launched at Masters.com. Go ahead and check it out right now.

Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted as the players are… With a beautiful image of Magnolia lane, the clubhouse (built in 1854, by the way), and ‘founders circle’ in plain view. Click the welcome button and you’ll be directed to the main site.

The rest is easy. Use the navigation bar at the top to move your way around, read the news, check out pairings, players, course info and much more.

A tip of the cap to The Masters yet again, the new site looks great… and I particularly love the hi-res course images used as backgrounds throughout the site. It really shows off and brings to life the best part about the years first major… the beautiful Augusta National golf course.

[Via: @The_Masters]

Tiger Woods Caught on Video, Practicing at Isleworth

by James on March 27, 2010 in News, Players with 1 Comment

Well what do we have here. We all know Tiger has been hard at work, on the course and on the range getting ready with the one-and-only Hank Haney… But due to the seclusion of the settings Woods’ generally frequents, we haven’t seen much (or anything) in the way of video proof. Cue the folks at TMZ *sigh*.

Tiger Woods Caught on Camera at IsleworthYes, sadly TMZ has managed to shoot a video of Tiger prepping for the masters at Isleworth with Hank Haney close by to provide guidance and advice. I can’t imagine how the cameraman got into the situation, and I shudder to think where he was hiding to get the video. Regardless, it’s great to see Tiger on the tee, and from what I can see, he looks loose and the swing is shaping up.

I hope the folks at Augusta National are going to have security setup on a tight perimeter of the course. Otherwise we may see more videos like this taken from the bushes…practice rounds perhaps?

Good grief.

Woods and Couples to Play Monday Practice Round at The Masters

by James on March 26, 2010 in News, Players with 3 Comments
Fred Couples and Tiger Woods

Fred Couples and Tiger WoodsThe press conferences are set, and we know Tiger is going to speak on Monday, April 5th at 2PM EST. Good stuff. But I know you’ve all been wondering, who and when is he going to play practice rounds with? Sure, he’s already been on the course getting ready this past week, but I’m talking about ‘official’ practice rounds here.

The latest on the topic comes from the Golf Channel. Fred Couples let TGC know that he and Tiger Woods will play 18 on the Monday of Masters week, the same day Tiger takes to the press conference podium. Should be an interesting pairing. Freddy has been through a lot in his own personal life, and heck, he’s won a green jacket of his own… I wouldn’t be surprised if Couples requested to play with Tiger, seems to me he may have some wisdom or helpful advice to pass on to the world’s #1.

Whatever happens, hopefully we’ll get a little insight into the practice round from Tiger when he sits down with the media.

[Via: TrailingTiger]

Miura Golf Introduces CB-501 Forged Cavity-Back Irons

by Annie Latham on March 26, 2010 in Golf Equipment, Irons with 1 Comment

Japanese golf-club manufacturer Miura Golf has just introduced its CB-501 forged cavity-back irons.  Like all Miura irons, the mild-steel CB-501s are hand precision-forged and custom crafted by Katsuhiro Miura, Miura Golf Inc.’s 67-year-old founder, whose forged clubmaking skills over the past 49 years have prompted the Japanese to claim he has “the Hands of God.”

What distinguishes the CB-501 is the effort Mr. Miura’s took to create an iron that featured the ideal ball flight, enough offset to promote playability, the perfect head size and a sole grind that would accommodate a broad range of players.  One of the things he ended up doing was borrowing a design feature from the company’s past-the sweet-spot muscle-back, which was used in a very different Miura iron, the CB-1003, back in 1996.

In all, Mr. Miura spent two years integrating these design variables in different ways until he found the blend that worked best for the widest range of golfers. The result is the CB-501-a cavity-back iron featuring a small muscle-back located behind the sweet spot that delivers the trajectory of a blade iron when the ball is struck on the center of the face. This style of iron also offers cavity-back forgiveness and ball flight, as the contact point moves away from the center of the face.

The CB-501-which boasts a W nickel (satin) chrome finish-is available in a 3-iron through pitching wedge set, right-hand only.  You can find it at high-end, custom-fitting shops.  Pricing is not available.   To learn more, go to www.miuragolf.com.

New Fairway Wood with a Plus 20-Yard Guarantee…

by Annie Latham on March 26, 2010 in Golf Equipment, Fairway Woods with 1 Comment

Tour Edge of Batavia, IL has an offer it hopes golfers won’t refuse — Try their new Exotics CB3 Tour fairway wood, which the company is guaranteeing will add 20-yards more than the distance your are currently getting from  your current fairway woods.  If it doesn’t deliver as promised, you can get your money back.

So what makes the CB3 so capable of propelling your ball farther down the fairway?

To start, it boasts a forged 15-3-3-3 titanium cupped face that is lighter and more powerful.  The company has also played around with variable face thickness which includes a thinner perimeter ring around the striking surface.  Thin face equals long hitting.  Who knew?

And, as they say in the informercials, there’s more!

The a high-tech, titanium cupped face is paired with a heavier hyper steel body. What they did was eliminate every single gram of excess weight  from the face area  and shifted to the rear skirt and sole for a deeper center of gravity.

The Exotics CB3 fairway wood will set you back $299 and comes with come with a lifetime warranty.  Regarding the promotional 20-extra yard guarantee, the catch is that “you can return it under the company’s 30-day play guarantee for a store credit or refund depending on the retailer’s policy.”   A quick check indicates that the CB3 can be found at Sports Authority and Dick’s Sporting Goods.  TGW.com carries it too.   Make sure you check ahead before you pull the trigger.

Masters Pre-Tourny Press Conferences Scheduled: Tiger Sets the Stage on April 5th

by James on March 25, 2010 in News with 2 Comments

Tiger Woods to Speak at The Masters on April 5th

The big news yesterday was no doubt the announcement of the Tiger Woods press conference at The Masters. He’s all setup to sit down with the press on April 5th, at 2PM EST. Excellent. While many are no doubt looking forward to asking him questions, one has to assume he’ll be all golf talk, and no personal talk… At least, that’s what I think we have to bank on until he proves otherwise. The other day when he talked for a few minutes with The Golf Channel and ESPN, he did open up, but these were 1-on-1 interviews… Sitting down to answer personal questions from a throng of golf reporters isn’t something I can see Tiger ‘hitting’. But we’ll see. What do you think?

The Masters pre-tourny interview schedule has also been released. Press conferences will proceed as follows:

Monday, April 5

Tuesday, April 6

  • 9 a.m. Raymond Floyd
  • 10 a.m. Padraig Harrington
  • 11 a.m. Stewart Cink
  • Noon Angel Cabrera
  • 12:30 p.m. Chang-won Han
  • 2 p.m. David Duval
  • 2:30 p.m. Phil Mickelson
  • 3:30 p.m. Steve Stricker
  • 4 p.m. Geoff Ogilvy
  • 4:30 p.m. Matteo Manassero
  • 5:00 p.m. Jack Nicklaus

Wednesday, April 7

  • 12:30 p.m. William Porter Payne, chairman, Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament

No matter your opinion of Tiger these days, it should be one heck of a press conference. It’s time to step-up TW. Again, the conference is set for Monday, April 5th at 2PM EST. Setup your TiVo.

Note: Thought it was interesting to see Jack Nicklaus slated for the last slot on Tuesday. I’m sure all of the other players will be asked about Tiger, but I’m particularly interested to hear what Jack has to say. This is another one to watch too, me thinks 🙂

[Via: GolfWeek]

SeeMore Intros the DB4 CS Gunmetal with RST2 Technology

by James on March 24, 2010 in Golf Equipment, Putters, SeeMore with 1 Comment
SeeMore DB4 CS Gunmetal with RST2 Technology

SeeMore DB4 CS Gunmetal with RST2 TechnologyYou may have first became aware of SeeMore back in 1999, when Payne Stewart used a SeeMore putter to win the U.S. Open. That was quite awhile ago, and ever since the brand was re-launched in 2007, it seems as though more success is shining through. Most notably was Zach Johnson’s 2007 Masters victory in which he stroked a SeeMore. In 2009 Johnson ended up 4th on the tour money list earning a cool $4.7 million, no doubt in part to the smooth-rolling SeeMore in his bag. I could go on with more highlights from the brand, but simply know that 10 players out of the top 125 on the money list used a SeeMore in 2009… and now they’re expanding their line.

New from the SeeMore Putter Company is the DB4 CS Gunmetal. The new putter features SeeMore’s RST2 technology, which helps you get yourself aligned and in proper position to make a great stroke. The ‘RST2’ technology is an update to the ‘RST’ technology currently built-in to the current lineup, as the update takes on a blade design with offset hosel for the first time ever. The main difference between RST2 and the traditional RST technology is the location of the markings. With an RST2, you’ll find the alignment system housed on top of the hosel, vs. the RST system which was (is) found on the top heel portion of the putter.

Jim Grundberg, SeeMore’s Managing Partner commented on the release of the new DB4:

“The new DB4, like all of the SeeMore putters before it, is one that solves one of the most fundamental problems in putting, that of consistently accurate alignment at address. It offers the confidence to make a fundamentally solid and repeatable putting stroke each and every time… The RST2 patented alignment feature is extremely exciting in that it has been developed with the input of the world’s best tour players over the past 2 years and simply makes a great putter design better by improving a player’s ability to set up square to the intended target line.”

More images of the SeeMore DB4 CS Gunmetal with RST2 technology are below. The putter is 100% milled in the USA, and is available in carbon steel with a proprietary multi-layer black satin finish. Price? MSRP $295.

SeeMore DB4 CS Gunmetal with RST2 Technology - Side ViewSeeMore DB4 CS Gunmetal with RST2 Technology

More info: SeeMore.com

[Via: TheGolfWire]

Tiger Woods Caught Practicing at Augusta National

by James on March 23, 2010 in News with 1 Comment

Tiger Woods and Hank Haney at The Masters

What do you do when you’re Tiger Woods, knowing that the Tavistock Cup is going on right now in your very own gated community at Isleworth? Well, you give your wife and kids a big hug and kiss (hopefully), and hop on a plane to Augusta to for some practice rounds, of course!

Last night while watching the Golf Channel, one of my favorites (Tim Rosaforte) noted that Tiger was confirmed to be at Augusta on Monday, getting a practice round in for the upcoming Masters tournament. Today he’ll no doubt be found at Augusta National as well, as the Tavistock Cup comes to a conclusion today.

Smart move by Tiger for sure. Why hang around Isleworth if you’re not ready for competition… Get out of the way, and prep yourself for the first major of the year.

Can Tiger win The Masters? That remains to be seen. However, the ‘ol standby bet of Tiger vs. the Field has to favor the field this time around me thinks. Usually it sits around 50/50… But this year I think the field as the edge 60/40 or even 70/30… would you agree?

Cobra Golf’s New S2 Max Irons Unveiled

by Annie Latham on March 23, 2010 in Golf Equipment, Cobra, Irons with 1 Comment

Cobra Golf has just unveiled some new high-performance sticks in a line that has been dubbed Cobra S2 Max.  Available in both iron and iron-hybrid integrated sets,  the S2 Max clubs are designed for maximum forgiveness and high launch for mid- to high-handicap players.  With the S2 Max Iron-Hybrid Set, you get ” Baffler-style hybrids” that provide proper distance gapping throughout the set for players who prefer hitting forgiving hybrids over long irons.

There are several options available:

  • Men’s Graphite set includes 3/H, 4/H and 5/H hybrids, and 6-PW irons, featuring Aldila DVS-HL shafts ($776 SRP).
  • Men’s Steel set includes 3/H and 4/H hybrids with Aldila DVS-HL graphite shafts, and 5-PW irons with FST steel shafts ($632 SRP).
  • Women’s and Seniors’/Lite sets include 4/H, 5/H and 6/H hybrids, 7-PW, and SW irons with Aldila DVS-HL graphite shafts ($776 SRP).

Note: You can find these clubs for significantly less at Golfsmith and TGW.com.

The Cobra S2 Max line has received a Gold Award in the 2010 Golf Digest Hot List. For more information about the Cobra S2 Max Irons and Cobra S2 Max Iron-Hybrid Integrated Set, go to www.cobragolf.com.

Self-teeing System Added to Haggin Oaks Golf Complex

by Annie Latham on March 23, 2010 in News with No comments

The Haggin Oaks Golf Complex, in the Sacramento region of California, has just added the  Power Tee, self-teeing system  to its driving range.  The Power Tee system works by pouring the golfer’s bucket of balls in an underground holding container. After adjusting tee height, a ball pops out of the hole in the mat and tees the ball automatically. After a shot, the tee disappears into a hole and reappears seconds later with another ball.

According to head golf professional, Mike Woods, PGA, “The Power Tee system makes practicing easier and quicker for golfers of all ages and abilities. It also helps players become more consistent with stance and posture and lessens strain on backs and joints. Golfers who have used it tell me it’s really a lot of fun.”

Even before adding the Power Tee system, Haggin Oaks made Range Magazine’s list of America’s Top 100 Driving Ranges.

The Power Tee system, designed and manufactured in Britain, is very easy to use.   The tee has up to 40 adjustable tee heights (4 standard).

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