If you missed it, Srixon just launched its latest ZXi iron lineup, which consists of three distinct models.
Nothing about that sentence is a major detraction from what Srixon has done in the past. But there's one model that deserves a deeper conversation—and that's ZXi5+. On this week's Club Lab podcast, Uncle Gene and I discuss why Srixon's foray into the premium players-distance space has the potential to shake up a category that continues to boom.
We also dive into our latest robotic test on strong-lofted irons, the return of Brooks Koepka's trusty gamer and more. Listen to Club Lab on Apple, Spotify or wherever you consume podcasts.
Fox told Golf Digest on Wednesday at Wentworth that he was more than aware of the videos. “I've been a little bit shocked,” Fox said. “To be fair, most of them are really funny. I thought it was hilarious, but I still find it very, very weird.”
Fox said he was “impressed” with another AI-generated videos of dancing because “I can't dance.”
Assuming normal-ish rough, missing the fairway is less of a penalty the further away you are from the green. It's also less of a penalty for higher handicaps.
But all things equal, assuming the rough is a 20 yard penalty is a good rule of thumb. So, a drive that goes 250 yards into the rough is the same as one that goes 230 yards into the fairway. If your drive goes 260 yards into the rough, you're coming out ahead.
The landscape of college athletics is ever changing these days.
That would be the case again if a bill introduced this week in Congress becomes law. Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) and Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) have authored what they’re calling the Training and Education for Americans Members in University Sports and Athletics (TEAM USA) Act (H.R. 10351). The proposed legislation would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 by limiting the number of international student-athletes on a college roster to a maximum of 20 percent. “American colleges and universities should first and foremost provide opportunities for American students,” said Walberg, chair of the House Committee on Education & Workforce, in a press release. Division I college golf rosters are set at around eight or nine players, meaning teams could carry essentially one international player if the bill were to become law. According to Walberg, since 2001, the number of international student-athletes receiving scholarships has nearly tripled, from approximately 8,945 to roughly 25,000. It’s unclear how much support this bill, which would look to go into effect during the 2029-30 academic year, has as Congress also wrestles with the Protect College Sports Act.
Ryan Fox is still living it up with the claret jug.
The New Zealander possibly produced the greatest finish in Open Championship history and now he's possibly enjoying golf's oldest trophy more than anyone. And so are his friends. Fox shared this quick, funny story on Wednesday ahead of this week's BMW PGA Championship:
Love how he drops in at the end that his mate who was handed the jug filled with red wine, "proceeded to drink the whole thing." Sounds like Ryan Fox's house parties are the place to be.
With its successful hosting of the 2015 and 2024 U.S. Women’s Opens, Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club has earned a reputation for its stewardship toward women’s golf.
That was only solidified Tuesday when the USGA announced that the club will hold five more women’s championships in the coming years. In addition to another U.S. Women’s Open in 2044, Lancaster will be the site of the 2028 U.S. Girls’ Junior, 2033 U.S. Senior Women’s Open, 2037 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and the 2040 U.S. Women’s Amateur. John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer, applauded the club’s “multi-generational” commitment of the club. “Few clubs have the history, the golf course and the community support to take on that kind of responsibility, and Lancaster has already proven it on the game's biggest stage." What was even more uplifting is what Lancaster Country Club president Lauren Stadel said: “What makes this announcement so meaningful is what it represents for our entire community. These championships will inspire young girls to come out and watch the game’s best compete—and see champions crowned right here in their own backyard.”
Is starting your kid in golf early good for their brain development?
We’re not here to say we know for sure. What we do know is research has identified benefits for kids trained in music at a young age, and that the same reasons cited also apply to tasks required in golf. A Harvard Medical School study compared children trained in music at a young age to those with no musical training, and found the former group developed richer pathways between the two hemispheres of the brain, leading to betterr motor planning, decision-making, and executive function. According to the study, “musicians acquire and continuously practice a variety of complex motor, auditory, and multimodal skills.” In other words, musicians are forced to process information, perform a complex physical task, then react to their output in real time. For a study that isn’t about golf, it sounds a lot like golf.
"I've never had that much anticipation in my life in this sport."
As long as the United States side keeps winning every two years, the Presidents Cup will remain a punchline. In comparison to the Ryder Cup, it's a total JV event. After listening to Jacob Bridgeman describe "the call" from Brandt Snedeker, though, you realize you're doing him a huge disservice in acting as if the Presidents Cup is a joke. For a guy like Bridgeman, getting the nod to represent the U.S. is a massive career achievement, the latest sign that his play over the last two years has earned him the right to be mentioned among the elites. Who knows if he'll ever get an opportunity like this again?
Scotland’s “ghost course” is for sale. As detailed by our Jamie Kennedy, there is a David McLay Kidd layout in a small town in Perth that was completed in 2009 but never opened, even though the course continues to be maintained. The land, once known as “Gleneagles West,” is owned by billionaire Mahdi Al Tajir, and his family in the past has cited Brexit to financial crashes and political reasoning as reasons the grounds are untouched. Houses, a hotel and spa were also planned. However, the nearly 700-acre course is now listed for by property consultancy Knight Frank. “We're expecting a huge amount of interest from across the globe in what could be a once-in-a-lifetime asset: a substantial consented resort development site, with a golf course designed by a celebrated architect, in one of Scotland's most prestigious leisure locations.” Read Kennedy’s piece on the ghost course here.
