Equipment
Masters TV Ratings Fall 22% as Watson Wins in 2012
The final round of the Masters Tournament drew its worst preliminary television ratings since 2004 as Bubba Watson topped Louis Oosthuizen in a sudden-death playoff and Tiger Woods had his worst finish as a professional.
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Yesterday’s fourth round at Augusta National Golf Club was watched on CBS in an average of 8.1 percent of households in the top 56 U.S. television markets, Jerry Caraccioli, a spokesman for the CBS Corp. (CBS) (CBS) network, said in a telephone interview. That’s 22 percent lower than the 10.4 rating CBS drew a year ago, when Charl Schwartzel captured the title and Woods contended before faltering over the final nine holes.
Watson, 33, won on the second playoff hole after hooking an approach shot from out of the trees to 10 feet of the cup. That set up a two-putt par for the win after Louis Oosthuizen made bogey. It was Watson’s first major championship.
It was also the Easter holiday yesterday and television viewers who did tune in didn’t get a chance to see much of Woods, who began the day at 3-over par and shot a 2-over 74 to tie for 40th place. A 14-time major-tournament champion who hasn’t won a one of golf’s four biggest tournaments since the 2008 U.S. Open, Woods entered the tournament as the favorite after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational on March 25.
Phil Mickelson, another fan favorite, did contend, finishing at 8-under — two strokes behind the leaders — to tie for third with Lee Westwood, Matt Kuchar and Peter Hanson. Mickelson had an even-par round that included a triple bogey.
Audience Breakdown
Full national ratings won’t be available until April 12. Mickelson’s win at the 2004 Masters drew a 7.3 national rating. The previous low before that was Bernhard Langer’s victory in 1993, which drew a 6.8 for the final round.
Equipment
Tour Edge unveils all-new Exotics mini driver
Tour Edge Golf has today introduced the all-new Exotics mini driver, engineered to deliver a powerful combination of speed, control, and versatility in the long game.
The Exotics Mini combines a titanium face with a stainless-steel body in design to balance ball speed with stability and control, creating a versatile option at the top end of the bag.

At the core of the design is Tour Edge’s proprietary Combo Brazing technology, a high-precision thermal bonding process that seamlessly fuses a titanium cup face to a stainless-steel body into a single, continuous structure. By eliminating energy loss found in traditional multi-piece constructions, Combo Brazing is designed to deliver faster face response, more efficient energy transfer, and a uniquely powerful yet controlled feel.

The multi-material construction also allows mass to be positioned lower and deeper in the head in a bid to increase stability, while the thin titanium face is engineered to maintain ball speed across a wider impact area.

“While the initial goal was to enhance control and versatility in the long game, Combo Brazing ultimately drove measurable gains in ball speed and distance within the mini driver category. In robot testing, we’ve documented higher ball speeds, higher launch, reduced spin, and increased carry and total distance compared to leading models.” – Vice President of R&D Matt Neeley

In addition to distance performance, the Exotics mini emphasizes forgiveness through a heavier stainless-steel body that shifts mass toward the perimeter. This configuration increases MOI relative to traditional all-titanium mini drivers, helping preserve ball speed and directional stability on off-center strikes. Paired with Pyramid Face Technology from the Exotics metalwood line, the design is intended to support consistent speed across the face.

To further enhance MOI, a lightweight carbon fiber crown frees additional mass that is strategically repositioned low and deep in the head in design to improve stability and promote optimal launch with controlled spin.

“We designed the Mini to be about five millimeters shallower than other mini drivers on the market. That change improves playability off the deck. From a clean fairway lie, it can function as a strong 3-wood alternative while still providing control off the tee.” – Tour Edge CEO David Glod
An adjustable hosel system allows for loft and lie tuning to dial in trajectory and shot shape, while a fixed 13-gram rear weight helps stabilize the head through impact to improve dispersion consistency. The Exotics Mini Driver is available in 11.5 and 13.5-degree lofts in right-handed models.

Pricing & Availability
The Exotics Mini Driver is available for pre-order beginning today for $399.99 USD at touredge.com, and will be available for purchase at retail outlets worldwide on May 22, 2026.
Equipment
Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss
In our forums, our members have been pitting a Srixon ZXi combo against a TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo. WRXer ‘edutch22’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons and kicks off the thread saying:
“Looking at picking up a new set of irons and think I’ve narrowed it down to Srixon ZXi combo or Taylormade P7CB/770 combo. I am currently a 5 cap and allbeit I feel irons are my weakness. My miss is a little to the toe side. I am decently steep at 4-5 down. Always thought I am high spin but recently on trackman my 7 was spinning at 5800 roughly.
My question or looking for thoughts on which one would benefit me more from a forgiveness standpoint? Or is there another iron is should be looking at entirely? I only get to play about once or twice a week, if I am not playing a 2-3 day event. Thanks in advance.”
And our members have been sharing their thoughts and suggestions in response.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- manima1: “You just can’t go wrong with Srixon ZXi7.”
- MattM97: “You have to hit them to know, the V-Sole on the Srixon can be make or break for many.”
- dmeeksDC: “P7CB is more forgiving for me than ZXi7 because my main miss is low middle and the P7CB still flies and spins great on that miss. These are both really nice irons but I like the P7CB more than the Zxi7 and the P770 (or P790) more than the Zxi5. The Srixons are larger so if that gives you confidence that is the way to go. I don’t feel like I get any benefit from the V-sole and the P7CBs live up to their high Maltby forgiveness rating so the TaylorMades have been great for me.”
Entire Thread: “Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
Equipment
From the GolfWRX Classifieds: 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @pianoman0123 has a 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo up for grabs.

From the listing: “2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade Combo. 4-8 irons are CB’s and the 9,PW are Blades. 5-PW have Project X 6.0 Shafts and the 4 Iron has a Steelfiber CW110 Stiff Shaft. Standard Length, Lie and Lofts. These are in very good condition the shafts just don’t work for me. Like new Lamkin Grips on the 5-PW and a stock Golf Pride on the 4 Iron. $525 OBO.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Shankuu
Apr 24, 2012 at 4:38 pm
I thoroughly enjoyed watching this years Masters. I don’t watch much when tiger’s in contention cause everything becomes the “tiger Show”. Congrats to Bubba and the hard right in the middle of the fairway!
BF
Apr 9, 2012 at 11:03 pm
The internet coverge was wonderful. Not too yippy, yappy from the likes of Nance and the pompus brit Sir Nick. The first half hour I know I tuned out and back into the internet as the constant yammering of those two made me sick. I miss Frank in the trailer and Venturi in the booth. Ken knew when to shut up and let the cameras do the “talking”, and obviously Frank had his team doing what he directed them to do. I would much rather listen to a player discuss shot making process than Nick tell me how “he did it” or Nance just plain talking about absolutely nothing.
WAY TO MUCH NEEDLESS TALKING
Charlie
Apr 9, 2012 at 10:30 pm
I don’t give a damn what the ratings were. It was a TERRIFIC tournament. In fact, I’d say one of the best, in recent years.
Who cares if a bunch of non–golfers failed to tune in because their hero, Tiger Woods had a bad week?
The golf industry needs to promote other talent than Woods, in my opinion. Therein lies the answer. But if it doesn’t work? So what!
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