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Doesn’t Tiger deserve better than butt jokes?

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Below is just a sampling of the idiocy I saw in my Twitter feed immediately after Tiger Woods’ withdrawal today.

I can’t say it’s representative of the rest of what’s out there. I can, however, say it’s bothersome, ridiculous, and insensitive. Further, it was a sophomoric display of inappropriate humor from golf writers who should know better.

Dave Kindred – Golf Digest

Kyle Porter – CBS Sports

Adam Schupak – Golfweek

Jason Sobel – Golf Channel

Matthew Rudy – Golf Digest

Guy Yocom – Golf Digest

Stephanie Wei – Wei Under Par

Let’s get this out of the way too. Look at Tiger’s comments:

“It’s just my glutes are shutting off.  Then they don’t activate and then, hence, it goes into my lower back.”

The issue with his glutes LED to his back seizing up.

And further, the top portion of the glutes are part of the lower back anyway (if I remember my basic anatomy). Thus, it’s not like Tiger said, “I’m withdrawing because of a pain in my ass.”

It’s a back issue.

We’re burning the guy for offering a technical explanation for how it acted up? Where it hurt first?

To do so is insensitive and inappropriate. I’m not saying that Tiger Woods needs to be placed back on his pre-scandal pedestal or revered as the savior of humanity Earl Woods painted him as.

I am saying, however, that the man has a back injury. His game is in disarray. He tried to gut out a round and couldn’t. He’s arguably the greatest golfer of all time. Doesn’t he deserve a little better than butt jokes?

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

110 Comments

110 Comments

  1. Pingback: Stevie Wonder And Tiger Woods Golf Joke | Discounts For Golf

  2. Jack Nash

    Feb 16, 2015 at 4:39 pm

    You can put the blame on the tweeting twits from outfits like the Golf Channel and even this site. It’s unbelivable that they don’t understand all the muscle groups involved with the golf swing. Specially the big muscles including the glutes.

  3. Third time's the charm

    Feb 12, 2015 at 8:34 am

    I rarely comment on here, but so far I have had my “negative” comment about this article deleted twice. How embarrassing for Golfwrx that they won’t allow commenters to question an opinion piece with their own opinion! As a regular reader/fan/proud-golf-nerd that loves this site, I have never considered abandoning it. Until Today. I can understand Zak’s comment that they don’t allow personal attacks on their writers. If a commenter says “Ben’s an idiot,” sure, that’s uncalled for. But if someone says “this is a terrible article” that’s hardly unfair. It’s certainly more of a professional attack than a personal one, especially given that the writer is attacking OTHER WRITERS (and much more accomplished ones I might add) so why can’t we question him? How hypocritical. A lot of commenters are using their love or hate of Tiger Woods as the reason that this article is “ok” or “not ok.” This article’s problem has nothing to do with Tiger Woods. The problem is that the author is attacking other writers and then turning around and using their tweets to generate page clicks (revenue). “Golf as a whole is better off because of Tiger Woods.” See, that’s my OPINION. You are absolutely welcome to disagree with me, but I feel I could win that argument. In this instance, not only do I think the article is completely out of touch with reality, but it manages to be far more inappropriate in its approach than the writers who make butt jokes. Golfwrx would be better served by taking down this article than taking down our comments…but that’s just my opinion.

    • Brian

      Feb 16, 2015 at 4:23 pm

      It is part and parcel of the anti-Tiger v. pro-Tiger divide that has existed for years now. For some, you MUST choose a side, stick to that side, and never question anything brought to light, regardless of whether or not it is fact-based.

      Instead, you must be a lemming, at least at some websites I’ve participated, following the lead of someone who censors the message. (Not saying here, but elsewhere.) I for one welcome differing points of view AS LONG AS they are fact-based, and delivered in a respectful way.

    • Brian

      Feb 16, 2015 at 4:26 pm

      It is what has become of the Tiger debate.

  4. sharp

    Feb 10, 2015 at 2:46 pm

    I was at the Farmers on Friday and spoke to several other spectators that claimed to overhear players waiting on tee boxes speaking to each other (loudly as though they wanted to be overheard) about how Tiger was knocking out dumbbell squats the day before the round in the exercise facility. “No wonder his back went out” was the quote I was given. They made it sound like he was trying to intimidate the other players.

    Yeah it’s a third hand account so take it for what you will, but tell me that doesn’t match up with Tiger’s personality. Based on the way he’s interacted with fans, how he treated his wife, and this is a biggy, the way he was a massive A-list celebrity at a fairly young age, it’s not terribly surprising to me if he’s got a skewed world & self view that have lead him to his current situation.

    Let’s be real, can you imagine performing horribly at your mens club tournament and then telling everyone it was because your ass wasn’t working? There’s a screw loose there.

  5. leftright

    Feb 8, 2015 at 10:42 am

    If I was Tiger I would let my pride and vanity go out the window. The next medication he should take is something for anxiety or depression which he may very well have. He should call Butch Harmon and lay it all on the line and get back to the swing he had between 2000 and 2004. He is way to upright and his swing looks like a 4 handicappers swing. His head moves and he sometimes is up and down while keeping the head in the same position. He is also much quicker from transition than he once was. Like Obama, Tiger think the world is against him but Tiger can be saved, Obama can’t. If he allows time to pass it will but he has to own up to his mistakes.

    • Jeremy

      Feb 10, 2015 at 10:27 pm

      Wow, did not see the bizarre political commentary coming there. Way to keep us on our toes!

  6. KK

    Feb 7, 2015 at 10:33 pm

    What does Tiger deserve for the countless tantrums he’s thrown and foul language he’s used?

    • R JACKSON

      Feb 9, 2015 at 6:41 am

      You tread heavily, but you speak the truth.

    • Ilsompati

      Feb 13, 2015 at 12:22 pm

      A diaper and box of tissues perhaps???

  7. michael

    Feb 7, 2015 at 5:36 pm

    woods deserves stugots. he made his bed let him sleep with his harem!

    gee finchem there goes your bank account and pay check!

  8. theboef

    Feb 7, 2015 at 3:56 pm

    Yes he deserves better, he deserves jokes about pulling out, apparently his rate of pulling out is now much higher than it was when he was married!
    Everyone should be able to bear the brunt of jokes and biting satire!
    Love the shank count on the article by the way

  9. LindyLoulie

    Feb 7, 2015 at 2:09 pm

    Since everyone seems to have an opinion or theory as to what is causing the collapse of Tiger’s legendary golf game, I contribute my $.02 worth with a few theories of my own. No butt jokes included.

    Ever notice that nowadays every time Tiger plays poorly in the first day or two of a tournament he withdraws and sites some physical ailment as his excuse? I believe that his narcissism won’t allow him to take responsibility for his failures, so out come the somatic complaints and excuses. Nobody likes to play poorly, but look at some of the fellas — and gals — who buck-up and take their medicine with the hopes that they can turn it around in the next round. Phil is a perfect example. You don’t see him using his psoriatic arthritis — an autoimmune disease — as an excuse. That is a terrible disease which causes much pain and fatigue. Granted, he takes medication to keep it under control, however there are still side effects from the medication as well as the disease. His biggest “ailment” is his putting! LOL!!

    I find it interesting that when Tiger had all those knee problems he managed to win lots of tournaments anyway with the Torrey Pines victory being one of the most spectacular of all. In those days he played some of the most fantastic golf the world has ever seen.

    There is no doubt that his talent is phenomenal, and he has one of the strongest work ethics when it comes to honing his skills, however I wonder if his having been able to play so wondrously through all those injuries and pain had anything to do with certain steroids taken to reduce the inflammation thus allowing him to play through all that pain. That stuff makes you feel like you could conquer the world! It gives you great energy and strength and a feeling of well-being like no other. In addition it helps you play though and cope with much of the pain.

    I know all about this from personal experience because I have horrible back problems in addition to arthritic hand pain. When I receive steroid injections in my spine to alleviate the inflammation and pain I can go out to the course and play lights-out! Pain?? What pain?!? After the effects of the injections wear off my game goes back to the dumper. 🙁 BTW, I once was the multiple-time women’s club champ at my course. I can no longer compete, but I don’t make excuses. Much to my doctor’s and husband’s chagrin I still play and try to the best of my current abilities. Tiger needs to suck it up, quit whining, and do the same! That is IF his doctor signs him off on it. If the doc doesn’t sign him off then he needs to just forget trying to play and concentrate on rehabbing his back.

    Once Tiger’s knee was finally repaired properly and the “medications” were no longer necessary all of a sudden his game and the rest of his life collapsed. Just sayin’… . He dumps his caddy, his coach (Haney) dumps him, his wife dumps him, all of the girlfriends dump ON him, he gets a new coach who makes an analytical player out of one who was once a great, natural “feel” player, the back is ruined, and the game collapses into a state of complete disarray. He finally sees the light about that and dumps yet another coach. Probably the right move, however now what??

    Seems like he ought to get his gargantuan narcissistic ego out of the way and go hat-in-hand trundling off to see Butch or Hank again — the ones who coached him to all of his greatest victories. Then for good measure he should try to get his best-ever caddie — the one who stood by him through all his great victories as well as his worst scandals — to take him back!

    Finally, Tiger is certainly one of the greatest golfing talents of all time, but he is NOT the “Greatest Golfer Of All Time.” Jack is! Tiger does not deserve that title until he EARNS IT!! BTW, IMHO even if Tiger were to surpass Jack’s record, he might then deserve that title, however he will NEVER be the man that Jack is!

    • leftright

      Feb 8, 2015 at 10:37 am

      Great post! You pretty much said it all.

    • Yoda

      Feb 8, 2015 at 10:38 am

      you’re a bore. yes, pain is the great equalizer. tiger wasn’t taking anything that most weren’t taking…he was just a better player.

      • LindyLoulie

        Feb 9, 2015 at 12:37 pm

        Jon…AMEN!!!!!! It is so refreshing to know that someone besides me sees thru all the excuse-making by Tiger as well as by all who worship their fallen “God.” All the war cries of “YOU DE MAN!!!” by those beer-soaked-baseball hat-turned-backwards fanboys make me want to barf!! I totally agree with what you are saying. The steroids are gone and so is the game. I have always wondered how many tournaments he REALLY would have won if not for… ! I think drug testing on the tour should have been started long ago.

        Back in the day it made me sick to watch the media coverage concentrating all their focus on Tiger when there were lots of other guys who were playing some great golf and worked hard grinding it out. It was said that they were all just playing for second place. Baloney!! They were playing their hearts out trying to WIN despite the fact that THE ALMIGHTY was in the field. I hope that same media will wake up and see what other great talent is out there and stop their Tiger-worshipping. I’m thinking that if anybody has a chance of beating Jack’s record it might just be Rory. What a talent!! He plays some pretty damned exciting golf! Seems to be a nice guy too. No temper tantrums, no snotty attitude, and friendly to all who greet him.

        Tiger is a self-indulgent, narcissistic, highly talented, parents’-only-child, spoiled brat who has been forgiven for his bad behavior both on-course and off by his worshipping fans and media because of his immense talent. Because of this he thinks he is entitled to do whatever he wants with whomever he wants whenever he wants. And now his chickens are coming home to roost.

        As one who knows all about back problems from first hand experience I can tell you that you are right, Jon. When the back is killing you it is impossible to swing out of your shoes. Period. You simply can’t make the big turn and rip it. That is why I have lost 50 yards. And BTW, my butt doesn’t refuse to cooperate. My legs go into severe spasm (charley horses), so Tiger’s glute excuse doesn’t pass the smell test. And no, that is not another butt joke!

        Bottom line (no butt joke there, really!) is that without the drugs Tiger has lost his mighty game. The best way to excuse this while at the same time garnering pity from one’s adoring fans — including the always-admiring press — is to claim injury. The loss of Tiger’s game has led him down that rabbit hole of analysis paralysis. We all know what that does to one’s game!

        Oh, and I almost forgot… there was the part about abandoning his beloved Scotty Cameron Newport II putter in favor of that Nike flat stick. His putting has never been the same since. Can anyone tell me why he did that? I have heard that Nike demanded he use ALL of their gear. True?? Or are his putting woes just one more part of his giant case of the yips that have worked their way throughout his entire bag?

        Tiger, use all that immense talent you have, be humble (yes, I know that is very difficult if not impossible for you), and go see Butch. Dump your giant ego, make amends, work hard and get your game back on track. You do that and even I will cheer you on! And while you’re at it dump the Nike putter, drag that SC Newport out of the closet and get that putting “magic” back!

  10. Tom Smith

    Feb 7, 2015 at 12:55 pm

    Am I the only one who thinks Tiger was brilliant in stacking one euphemism on the back of another to explain his inability to motivate himself properly? The euphemism bearing the burden of the latest one has something to do with getting your beast of burden out of “PARK” and into “DRIVE”

  11. Al

    Feb 7, 2015 at 9:03 am

    The talentless are easily amused.

  12. Cwolf

    Feb 6, 2015 at 9:54 pm

    The jokes are almost as bad as the article

  13. gvogel

    Feb 6, 2015 at 8:15 pm

    As usual, tiger brings the jokes on himself. He could have just said that his back muscles tightened up, and he was experiencing some pain.

    But the more he tries to put a positive spin on it, the worse it smells. Get Steiny in the act, and it plain out stinks.

    If he were really that guy in the lovely family photo album with Elin and the kids that he put out many years ago, there wouldn’t be anything to joke about.

    Sorry Ben; I’m old enough to have better role models and heroes.

  14. Pingback: Tiger Woods gave a ludicrous explanation for why he had to quit a tournament, and it’s sad to read | M xpress

  15. Milton

    Feb 6, 2015 at 4:37 pm

    You are right. We should be making fire hydrant jokes, and wondering what club Elin used to knock his teeth out.

  16. Pingback: Tiger Woods gave a ludicrous explanation for why he had to quit a tournament, and it’s sad to read | US Times

  17. VS

    Feb 6, 2015 at 3:52 pm

    A few more withdrawals and nobody will care anymore.

    • dwntnbrown

      Feb 12, 2015 at 9:14 pm

      nobody cares now. he is done stick a fork in him

  18. Tomterrific

    Feb 6, 2015 at 3:49 pm

    Good article Ben, I’m glad somebody has the balls to defend Tiger. Nick Faldo gleefully mocks Tiger and giggles about his problems, I can’t watch Sir Hick anymore. People jump on this anti-Tiger vendetta to feel good about themselves, now we know where bullies come from. How about a little respect for a man who is injured, but was and hopefully will be again the greatest golfer of all time.

    • Philip

      Feb 6, 2015 at 5:28 pm

      How could someone be the greatest golfer of all time and then not? He either is or isn’t. His current situation have no relevance. Of course, I do think he is the 2nd greatest golfer in the last 50 years, being 2nd or less in wins (majors, PGA Tour, Euro Tour, World wide). Although, I believe his winning percentage is impressive and his run in his twenties is something else.

    • Not Tiger

      Feb 11, 2015 at 8:54 pm

      Why defend Tiger? His poor bs excuses are pathetic. My butt doesn’t work right, my patterns are off. Be a man, take ownership of your mistakes and control of your arrogance. Jack will always be the best, not just for the majors but for being a great man and a gracious winner or loser. Jack was smart enough to know you don’t keep changing your swing either. Tiger gets worse with each change. One more and he will be a 14 Hncp.

  19. farmer

    Feb 6, 2015 at 3:10 pm

    How could there not be butt jokes? Seriously, is the only way Tiger can play is with four days of good weather, no awkward stances, and no delays that cause his glutes to go dead? I accept that he has a medical condition, but he has clearly not been ready to play since the surgery.

    • Ilsompati

      Feb 13, 2015 at 12:29 pm

      I agree, mental problems are medical conditions. Keeping those problems and not resolving them borders insanity.

  20. Tom

    Feb 6, 2015 at 2:52 pm

    Tiger deserves nothing from anyone and the “best golfer every” moniker is ridiculous. Nicklaus is that man… Woods is chasing Jack, not the reverse. Watching his short game over the last few months shows this has nothing to do with his back. He’s just not practicing at all and it shows. He’s gone from a top pro to a 11 handicap. He just needs to go to the short game facility at his home course (or his home) and spend 8 to 10 hours a day. And all this talk about “release pattern” is just stupid. Grow a pair tiger…

    • Lesson guy

      Feb 6, 2015 at 10:08 pm

      Somebody send Tom’s contact info to Tiger. Tom’s got it figured out.

      • Shallowface

        Feb 7, 2015 at 10:37 am

        There are a lot of people who have it figured out. The fact that Tiger can’t figure it out, won’t listen to those who could help, and thought the answer was to try to find the Haney swing again (which was successful only because of the short game and nothing else and looks like a guy trying to hook the ball around the house from the front yard to the back yard) completely kills the idea that he’s the smartest golfer of all time.

  21. Pingback: Tiger Woods gave a ludicrous explanation for why he had to quit a tournament, and it’s sad to read | us daily

  22. Cons

    Feb 6, 2015 at 1:11 pm

    Ben,

    Personally, I found these comments to be a touch more purple than sophomoric.

    ..Adjectives.. you know?

    Jus’ sayin,
    Cons

  23. Crabgrass

    Feb 6, 2015 at 1:01 pm

    molehill -> BA -> mountain
    Must be a slow day monitoring twitter.

  24. I H8

    Feb 6, 2015 at 12:56 pm

    If by entertain you mean poke the bear (that was, itself, poking another bear). And by inform you mean give an opinion. Yeah….sure.

  25. I H8

    Feb 6, 2015 at 12:54 pm

    Gotta agree.

  26. I H8

    Feb 6, 2015 at 12:52 pm

    Ok, the jokes were lame. So? The golf media has been dining out on Tiger Woods for the last 2 decades; how is this any different? All the golf media talks about is Tiger Woods. Like Billy Horschel said, anyone not named Tiger Woods is chopped liver.

  27. Dlygrisse

    Feb 6, 2015 at 12:50 pm

    I am sure what Tiger said is a term his personal trainer uses when helping him, but it sure did come across funny.

    Butt jokes are funny. Beavis?

  28. CD

    Feb 6, 2015 at 12:38 pm

    A lighten up
    B lighten up
    C he surely would be thinking ‘doh! Walked into that one!’
    D you say ‘deserve’ – no one owes Woods anything. He deserves respect for his golf by virtue of not making jokes?!?!? And in the alternative? If I refrain from making a back side joke then by the same logic he deserves comments re: cheating on his wife and family
    E Most top sports stars avoid blaming injury – even if they are injured for obvious reasons. You blame injury… only a fool wouldn’t anticipate people questioning your motives
    F he talked in some bizarre language like he is some champion athlete who desperately wants what he is good at to be a serious athletic endeavour: ‘activation’ ‘glutes’ like ‘reps’. You’re not benching 150kg. You’re not boxing. You’re not driving an F1 car.

  29. Chase Komaromi

    Feb 6, 2015 at 12:34 pm

    If you can’t respect Tiger as a person that’s understandable.. But if you can’t respect him as a golfer, you aren’t a true golf fan. The guy has shown numerous times how good he can play. Give him a break as far as the injuries go. Everyone has to remember that he is constantly under the media microscope so anything he says/does is all over the news. Nothing like an average professional golfer or athlete. At times you have to feel bad for the guy considering he never even had the chance to lead a normal life, with that talent he was bound to be special.. But with all that talent and fame comes a lot of responsibility that probably no human being could ever handle. Not a huge Tiger fan but the game is much more enjoyable to watch when he’s playing well..

  30. Keith Cook

    Feb 6, 2015 at 12:30 pm

    Zak, as a fellow golf writer and editor for a website, I appreciate your defense of Ben and what you feel is out of place. However, within the article itself, words like “idiocy” and “sophomoric” are used – directly – and specifically at fellow golf writers. In fact, within the criticism itself, the article uses cut/paste twitter examples (with the writer’s names given) as examples, which degrades the author’s credibility during the piece.

    Again, I appreciate the defense, but just as much could be gained by helping Ben out in understanding his article is an example of exactly what he’s bringing to light (being critical of someone by being critical). The criticism and remarks of the article are spot on as elitist and condescending. I don’t mind writers sometimes being purposefully provocative (it’s good for business), but this is a poorly crafted vent – at best.

    For the article’s point of whether Tiger is above it all from criticism, the answer is no. In fact, there is no way “I tried to activate my glutes” doesn’t make its way into golf speak all over the world. It’s right up there with “I’m just here so I don’t get fined” in the so far awesome quotes of 2015. Now, I could say more about this, but I couldn’t activate my texting thumb glutes. You see, I took a break between paragraphs and my texting thumb glutes deactivated and I couldn’t reactivate them. I must WD myself at this point. (see that’s funny!)

    Keith Cook

    • Merty Huckle

      Feb 6, 2015 at 12:31 pm

      Keith Cook nailed it. This article is tabloid trash.

  31. DHaab

    Feb 6, 2015 at 12:08 pm

    Actually, he did 1 of those 3. And he did that 1 thing very poorly.

  32. Richard

    Feb 6, 2015 at 11:30 am

    Tiger is one of the best, if not the best golfers in the history of the game and i think he has been really really great for golf. It’s sad that so many people are haters and gladly make negative comments. It’s sad that his extremely successful career should end to soon because of all his injuries. I really hope he will recover.

  33. Lance Kulman

    Feb 6, 2015 at 10:59 am

    I am becoming more and more frustrated with the media especially the so-called “experts” who write for Golf Digest, Golf, Golf World and others. These individuals think it is OK to “kick” a guy when he is down. Wake up! It’s not!! Tiger was gracious enough to grant an interview to a pack of reports and camera people while in the parking lot, all while enjoying immense pain and trying to gracefully leave to get the back and legs looked at. When asked to step away one of officers finally had to step in and tell the reporters to move back. The media is giving itself a black eye with sensationalism, speculation and outright fabrication just to make a buck at the expense of one of the greatist golfers to ever play the game. Gentlemen and Ladies, if it weren’t for Tiger these great purses would not be available, the PGA would not be so successful and these great young golfers you are seeing coming up wouldn’t be able to make a suitable living playing a great game. So before you condescend and berate any person, not just Tiger, take a second and use some compassion and insight in your reporting.

  34. west

    Feb 6, 2015 at 10:56 am

    He does deserve “more,” but(t) he also needs to be able to laugh at himself. Talking about “glute loading” as a serious subject can come from only one man. However, if Tiger/the media doesn’t realize how funny this sounds to the common man…they need to lighten up some.

  35. Shawshakeredemp

    Feb 6, 2015 at 10:53 am

    I watch the jokes come from fans, critics, analyst and wondered why? I don’t believe it’s fair! And it makes me wonder aloud if he were white would this be going on!! We are talking about probably the greatest golfer ever and the man soley responsible for the golf purses today!! Is the any respect in this so called “Gentlemens game” if someone for Tiger! I guess when he some day is gone! The roses will come!! Shame!!

    • mizzy

      Feb 6, 2015 at 11:04 am

      Al Sharpton, it has nothing to do with race, it has to do with the guy alienating people and putting himself on a pedastal.

      When you are an a**hat to members of the media, other golfers, valets, etc you are going to get a verbal beatdown when you fail.

      Side note: Didn’t Tiger play the ’08 us open on one knee?

      • Scott

        Feb 6, 2015 at 11:47 am

        mizzy – 100% correct. The chicken have come home to roost for Mr. Woods.

  36. AllBOdoesisgolf

    Feb 6, 2015 at 10:52 am

    short answer… no

  37. Regis

    Feb 6, 2015 at 10:46 am

    Tiger has never shown any class or compassion to anyone in his meteoric rise. Starting with Fuzzy Zoeller. There are a number of “old sayings”. Most germane for the moment “Be careful how you treat people in the way up ……….

  38. Tiger Woods Glutes

    Feb 6, 2015 at 10:44 am

    This article’s headline was edited! It’s still lame. Jokes are jokes. How is this front page?

  39. Bruce

    Feb 6, 2015 at 10:40 am

    Tiger Woods takes MILLIONS in endorsement payments from golf consumers EVERY year – injured or not. After all, Nike and others must charge consumers to pay Tiger.
    Now, what does Tiger give back: “respect my privacy” and similar statements when asked simple questions. Apparently, in Tiger’s eyes, the consumers paying him are unworthy of a word from royalty like him.
    Jokes we see now are simply the consumer public returning Tiger’s poor additude.

  40. Ron

    Feb 6, 2015 at 10:29 am

    Enoug already! If the media would leave it alone, it would bey nice. Therear other golfers at Torrey Pines. The entire golf world doesn’t go away becase Tiger pulls out of a tournament.
    Golf Channel had over 30 minutes of “discussion” on his “pull-out”. Who cares? Move on!

  41. Chris

    Feb 6, 2015 at 10:27 am

    Why does he deserve better than Phil, Ricky, or even P.Reed? Jokes have been made about all three but as soon as it’s all-precious Tiger at the butt end (pun intended), then it’s a problem?! Give me a break. He is the one who deserves the most ridicule, he and King James – both of which cry and whine at the slightest bit of pain only to make a “comeback” seem that much more heroic. Now can we talk about DJ please and move on?

  42. Rob Manwiller

    Feb 6, 2015 at 10:16 am

    When a PGA golfer engages in the kind of countless extra-marital acts Tiger has, putting his family through torment and anguish, also embarrassing his golfing cohorts, I personally have no sympathy for the man, and he should receive all the wrath that’s due him. He most likely still dates some of the same bimbos. Did he repent? Most likely not. The Lord works in mysterious ways, doesn’t he? I think his own head holds the problem and the issues.

    • NR

      Feb 6, 2015 at 10:34 am

      So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. John 8:8

      You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Romans 2:1

      Do not judge, or you too will be judged. Matthew 7:1

      The Lord also left us some guidance. Just a thought.

      • Wyzen Hymer

        Feb 6, 2015 at 12:24 pm

        I’ve often wondered, aren’t those who condemn people for condemning someone else … guilty of the same thing?

        BTW… Mr. Alberstadt … I think you’d feel better if you’d just lighten up. Face it, Dave Kindred’s comment was humorous. Besides, the jokes are about Tiger… why is YOUR nose out of joint? I’m no sociologist, but it certainly seems that those who cannot take a depreciating joke tend to invite more – and even harsher jokes the next time. On Tiger’s behalf, you may want to Grin and “Golden Bear” it. Seriously, they called Nicklaus – “Fat Jack” – and he didn’t like it, but he didn’t drop a litter of kittens. He just went out and consistently beat many of the “best golfers of all time” (Arnold, Gary, Lee, Tom, etc) and became “arguably the greatest golfer of all time.” .
        Sticks and stones and all that Mr. Alberstadt…

  43. RobG

    Feb 6, 2015 at 10:15 am

    I have the same lower back problems. I know what its like to have my lower back and glutes give out mid-round and lose all the strength in my legs. Its tough, so I won’t criticize, but I think people need to lighten up a bit…. There’s never a bad time for a good butt joke!

  44. Professor

    Feb 6, 2015 at 10:14 am

    Haters gonna hate!

  45. BOBBY D

    Feb 6, 2015 at 10:13 am

    WHO REALLY CARES…TIGER IS ONE LIE AFTER ANOTHER,”GLUTES DIDN’T BREAK DOWN AFTER THE BIRDIE…THEN CAME THE DOUBLE,TIME TO GO…THE GAME IS BETTER WITHOUT YOU,A CHEAT,A LIER AND A FRAUD!!!

  46. AJ Jensen

    Feb 6, 2015 at 10:09 am

    I think it’s disgraceful the way people are bashing Tiger. The man revolutionized the sport of golf. He got people into golf who’d never have been interested in golf. He made golf matter again, and believe me that’s important. Tiger is a great golfer by any metric or standard. The kids Tiger influenced will be coming of age soon, and who knows what’s possible… who knows what miracles we’ll see on tour, that might never have happened if not for Tiger Woods.

  47. James

    Feb 6, 2015 at 10:08 am

    Well, the media make such a hype about Tiger, Tiger tracker, tiger this Tiger That, everyone then wait to see the big return, changing his chipping swing, bla bla bla, his game has become as complicated as the words he use, his gluts dit not want to fire up. Please help us, if any other player struggles we don’t see them on the broadcast , we want to watch golf not the Tiger drame soap opera

  48. Robert

    Feb 6, 2015 at 10:08 am

    When the quantity of Tiger butt jokes reaches one-tenth of the number of Mickelson “moobs” jokes, then I’ll stop laughing and attempt to take your request seriously.

  49. P Grant

    Feb 6, 2015 at 10:07 am

    Tigers game will never improve until he gets back to a wining lifestyle…….Prostitutes, partying, and cheating and lying to those who care about him. Its a proven success formula and anything less shows the truth about his struggles.

  50. juststeve

    Feb 6, 2015 at 10:06 am

    Tiger chose to make himself a public figure, went out of his way to do it. He has profited greatly from his status as a public figure. Now he shouldn’t be heard to complain because as a public figure he gets negative comments along with the worshipful ones.

    Steve

  51. Joe

    Feb 6, 2015 at 10:03 am

    The tiger bashing is not funny anymore. Kicking a person when they are down seldom is, especially when they have BEEN down for quite a while.

  52. Daniel

    Feb 6, 2015 at 9:43 am

    Ben, you’re the worst. I almost commented after the “10 things not to do at a golf tournament” article but refrained. So here it goes. LIGHTEN UP….you are the type of person that dissuades people from taking interest in golf because of the way you portray the game. Get your nose out of the air, and stop taking yourself so seriously…..because nobody else does.

    • Zak Kozuchowski

      Feb 6, 2015 at 9:46 am

      Daniel,

      There’s a difference between disagreeing with what a writer says and personally attacking him or her. We do not tolerate personal attacks of writers in our comments section, and this is comment is awful close to crossing that line.

      Please clean it up, guys.

      • John

        Feb 6, 2015 at 10:10 am

        Wow! I don’t see anything personal about Daniel’s reply. He’s commenting on Ben’s commentary. Is this not a public forum? Watch out, or the board Nazi’s will ban you and delete your posts if you don’t agree with them.

        C’mon, is Tiger to be held on such a pedestal that no one can criticize the man for what he says or have a little fun at his expense. We were all laughing around the office this morning with that comment too. “Couldn’t get my glutes to activate?” Really? Is Tiger that familiar with the anatomy of the human body that he knows where his back pain originates from? I think not. How about just saying that his back is hurting so much so that he can’t continue.

        Best golfer of all time? Debatable. Certainly a dominant force, the likes of which have not been seen in quite some time. His activities off the golf course speak more about him than the scores he posts and titles he has won.

      • RPK

        Feb 6, 2015 at 10:18 am

        Well said …

      • Jim

        Feb 6, 2015 at 10:27 am

        Butt, it’s perfectly fine for your writer to attack the writers who made comments about Tiger’s problem? Double standard my friend. You ALL need to get your nose out of the sky.

    • Dave L

      Feb 6, 2015 at 10:10 am

      Daniel you should take a look at yourself before passing judgement. You almost commented on a article before, thank you so much from refraining, you’re a model of self righteousness. The man is just tryin to give you another side of the story on a man thats not even 12 months removed from major back surgery.

  53. JB

    Feb 6, 2015 at 9:42 am

    Lighten up and have a sense of humor.

  54. aldan777

    Feb 6, 2015 at 9:35 am

    Where does golf go without Mr.Woods . I think Golf is on the decline in popularity ,hope not well see in 2 yrs and lets talk about some real issue in golf. Price tags on these golf club $$$$$.outrages. No wounder it declining .

  55. Colin Gillbanks

    Feb 6, 2015 at 8:50 am

    Jeez. Lighten up.

  56. David

    Feb 6, 2015 at 6:14 am

    Jack Nicklaus is the greatest golfer of all time. Please, get that right at least.

  57. Joe Golfer

    Feb 6, 2015 at 1:59 am

    I see that GolfWRX has a new feature this year where readers can rate the article by clicking an icon at bottom of article.
    It is called “Your Reaction?”
    One of those listed is IDHT.
    I had to Google it to find out what it means.
    Two meanings listed that could possibly fit:
    1. I Definitely Hear That
    2. I Don’t Have Time
    So GolfWRX, which one is it?

  58. Nathan

    Feb 6, 2015 at 12:04 am

    Ahh No! Tiger gives but jokes, tiger gets but jokes. Simple! I think he is over it completely, I mean c’mon its tiger woods!!. If tiger wants to play tiger will play, if tiger wants to win tuger will win. It’s just that Simple!

  59. Ken

    Feb 5, 2015 at 10:49 pm

    All I know is that my year is off to a better start than those of Tiger, Brian Williams, or Radio Shack.

  60. anon

    Feb 5, 2015 at 10:41 pm

    We shouldn’t make Tiger butt jokes? What an asinine thing to write.

  61. Nicebob

    Feb 5, 2015 at 10:36 pm

    Horrific foot in mouth by the author. Doesn’t like the sophomoric butt jokes yet he reprints them as click bait for WRX hits. SERIOUSLY HYPOCRITICAL!

  62. Josh

    Feb 5, 2015 at 10:33 pm

    For the most part those that report the news do it tactfully…. Then there are those that make the others look like the scum of the earth, these are the ones who were picked last in gym class and vent there inadequecies online. The funny thing is what Tiger is saying actually makes sense, until you have had back problems you won’t understand the “glute” statement..

  63. Tom Duckworth

    Feb 5, 2015 at 10:22 pm

    I wish him well I hope he gets over this and gets back to finish out on a good note this year.
    For all his short comings he made himself into a great golfer that thrilled us. I’m not his biggest fan but I don’t enjoy seeing him kicked when he’s down. No one deserves that.

    • anon

      Feb 6, 2015 at 7:35 am

      A guy who cheats on his wife with multiple women deserves it.

  64. chad ryan

    Feb 5, 2015 at 10:16 pm

    We would all respect him if he just finished a round. 75% of people don’t think he’s really hurt. he only WD’s when he plays bad. He looks like a golfer with zero confidence. He looks like a golfer with swing flaws (two way miss) and MOST OF ALL he looks like a golfer that hasn’t practiced much. I and half the guys on this forum probably deal with back pain. I have a displaced disc in my lower back and i still play every weekend. NEVER notice it DURING the round but i’m stiff as Rex Ryan in a shoe store the next morning.

    • Brian

      Feb 6, 2015 at 7:26 am

      Hear that! I have two herniated discs from the Marine Corps 11 years ago(!) but I still play to the best of my ability as often as possible.

      Not saying I’m a better man than Tiger. I can’t believe people trying to ASSassinate Tiger’s character though.

  65. Philip

    Feb 5, 2015 at 9:48 pm

    But how could he go a few practice rounds without concern, but when the pressure starts, he walks?

    I know swing changes affect the short game, but 5-15 minutes of focus and one can get enough of a short game to survive a round. Pain is pain, when the back hurts is stays hurt … so again, how come only during tournament rounds? Why not during the thousands of chips, and the long hours of bent over a putting green? When my back is hurting I can forget about sitting, standing, resting, driving a car, golf – like right!

    Something just doesn’t add up. Unless if he is taking so many pain killers that he is flying during practice, which is why he is always optimistic, but for actual tournament golf he has no choice but to stop the drugs and it is just a question of how long till he cannot play. Maybe in the past he could go 4 rounds, but each time now it is getting shorter and shorter.

    Oh well, back to golf – counting down till spring!

  66. DB

    Feb 5, 2015 at 9:48 pm

    Ben, you fancy yourself a reporter, right? So can we assume you’ve never taken a jab at anyone, anytime, for any reason? Just because you’re a Tiger fan does’t mean everyone else is, nor should they be required to show restraint when he pulls this crap. The title you’ve bestowed upon him as “arguably the greatest golfer of all time” is being argued loud and clear. If he wants to even remain in the conversation about that title he should just retire now, he’s only making it worse the longer he goes on like this. The problem with a lie, is that you have to keep telling it forever… lies to his wife, lies to his sponsors, lies to the media about numerous things such as injuries and swing changes and coach changes and mentors dying, all that supposedly effect his game… heck, he even lied about how his tooth got knocked out. We’d all have more respect if he just said he wasn’t feeling it and was withdrew without all the silly excuses.

  67. Straightdriver235

    Feb 5, 2015 at 9:47 pm

    Thou shalt not insult the prophet, or he will be avenged. Charlie Hebdo… no, it’s Tiger Woods!!!!

  68. heinket

    Feb 5, 2015 at 9:39 pm

    I’ve had (4) back/neck fusions in the past 6 years. I know back pain very, very well!! The one thing that aggregated my back the most was driving a car. Tiger got in his car, rotated his back to the right to look over his right shoulder, and then proceeded to back up and drive away. If his back hurt him that much, he would have been unable to do that. Period.

    • Philip

      Feb 5, 2015 at 9:52 pm

      When I just had whiplash from a car accident, turning my head was like sticking knives in my back. I do not want to imagine more serious back injuries.

  69. Hicks

    Feb 5, 2015 at 9:32 pm

    How big of a fanboy tenderfoot must Alberstadt be to write this garbage? Do us all a favor and don’t put an article out for a WHILE.

  70. mo

    Feb 5, 2015 at 9:26 pm

    Should’ve just said he had back spasms.

  71. ANOTHER JEFF

    Feb 5, 2015 at 9:17 pm

    Have we forgotten what Haney said in his book? Those with close contact with Tiger say he has all these mysterious injuries. Remember, Stevie rolling eyes as Tiger describes the injury du jour? I think more and more I see Hanks tell all, whether it should have been written or not, as a pretty factual depiction of what is going on on Jupiter Island. The guy can play on a broken leg when he’s hitting it well. When his game is off……. I think a hang nail would suffice as an injury worthy of withdrawing.

    • Large chris

      Feb 6, 2015 at 4:46 am

      Agree with this…. And probably an element of psychosomosis – trying to convince himself he is injured, to save his ego.

      Apart from the driving a car comment, he was also sitting beside fowler waiting for a hole to clear, rather than doing any stretching or getting some treatment. I thought for a long long time that Tiger could make a great comeback, but now I just don’t see the desire to do the practice necessary.

  72. Joe

    Feb 5, 2015 at 9:06 pm

    A man who cheated on his wife and kids as well as being rude with the media and fans in the past and present (until his recent attempts to be a nice guy) deserves all the ridicule that comes his way. As the old saying goes, ‘You reap what you sow’. I for one will never have any sympathy for him.

  73. RG

    Feb 5, 2015 at 8:59 pm

    I’m just amazed that he works out and he’s fine, he plays practice rounds and he’s fine, but every time he shows up for a tournament and hits it sideways he’ can barely walk. It’s not his back it’s his brain.

    • Philip

      Feb 5, 2015 at 9:36 pm

      That is the interesting thing in all this …

  74. Double Mocha Man

    Feb 5, 2015 at 8:56 pm

    I’m not a Tiger fan but he showed great restraint with 12 cameras in his face in the parking lot… and it was fun to see that he drives his car himself.

  75. Harley

    Feb 5, 2015 at 8:52 pm

    Yea you are way better person for only ridiculing these guys for ridiculing Tiger. Pat yourself on the back for a well written piece of….

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Opinion & Analysis

Brandel Chamblee PGA Championship Q&A: Rose’s huge McLaren risk, distracted LIV pros and why Aronimink suits the bombers

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PGA Championship week is here, and Brandel Chamblee did not hold back in our latest discussion ahead of the season’s second major.

In our 2026 PGA Championship Q&A, golf’s leading analyst made the case that PIF pulling LIV’s funding has left its players competing in a state of confusion, called Justin Rose’s mid-season equipment switch a huge risk at 45, and explained why Aronimink will be a bombers’ delight this week.

Check out the full Q&A below.

Gianni: With the PIF confirming that they’re pulling funding from LIV at the end of the season, what impact do you expect that to have on the LIV players competing at the PGA Championship?

Brandel: I would imagine that they have all been thrown into a state of confusion, and will be distracted, not knowing where they are going to play next year and not knowing exactly their road back to either the DP World Tour or the PGA Tour. Or in Rahm’s case, being tied to a sinking ship for the next few years, likely playing for pennies on the dollar in events that no one cares about or watches.

I doubt this would put him in the best frame of mind to compete at his highest level. Keeping in mind, however, that majors are the only time that LIV disciples get to play in events that matter, so never disregard the motivation they have to prove to the world they are still relevant.

Gianni: Justin Rose switched to McLaren Golf equipment mid-season while playing some of the best golf of his career. What do you make of the change?

Brandel: I don’t really know what to make of Rose switching equipment. It seems a huge risk on his part, even though it is likely, in my opinion, that the clubs he’s playing are similar, if not the exact grinds, to what he was playing previously, with a McLaren stamp on them.

Having said that, at best, it is a distraction when he seemed to be as dialed in with his game as any 45-year-old could be and trending in the majors to perhaps do something that would definitely put him in the Hall of Fame. At worst, given the possibility that these clubs aren’t just duplicates of his old set stamped with McLaren on them, he’s made an equipment change that would take time, and 45-year-old athletes don’t have the time to do such things.

Gianni: Aronimink has only hosted a handful of professional events since it hosted the 1962 PGA Championship. What kind of test does it present, and does a course with less recent major championship history tend to level the playing field?

Brandel: Even though Aronimink has only hosted a handful of meaningful professional events, it has been fairly discerning in who can win there. When Keegan Bradley won the BMW Championship on the Donald Ross masterpiece in 2018, he was the 2nd best iron player on tour coming into that week. When Nick Watney won the AT&T at Aronimink in 2011, he was 2nd in strokes gained total coming into the week.

In 2020, Aronimink hosted the KPMG Championship, and Sei Young Kim won. On the LPGA that year, she was first in greens in regulation, putts per green in regulation, and scoring average on the way to being the LPGA player of the year. And then there is the 1962 PGA Championship won by Gary Player, who eventually became just one of a few players to win the career grand slam on the way to winning 9 majors. It is a formidable test, and if it’s not softened by rain, it will bring out the best in the upper echelons of the game.

Gianni: Is there a specific hole at Aronimink that you think will do the most to decide the winner?

Brandel: The hardest hole at Aronimink in each of the three tour events that have been played there since 2010 has been the long par-3 8th hole, with the par-4 10th being the second hardest, so most of the carnage will happen around the turn, but with the par-5 16th offering opportunities for bold plays and the tough closing holes at 17 and 18, the finish is likely to be frenetic.

Gianni: The PGA Championship has always sat in the shadow of the other majors. What does the ideal PGA Championship look like in your eyes, and what would it take for it to carve out its own identity?

Brandel: The PGA Championship, to whatever degree it suffers from the comparison to the other three majors, is still counted just as much when adding them up at the end of one’s career. Almost 1/3 of Nicklaus’ major wins were the five PGA Championships he won. Walter Hagen won 11 majors, five of which were PGA Championships.

Tiger Woods twice in his career won back-to-back PGA Championships, and those four majors count just as much as the other 11 he won. The PGA may not have the prestige of the other three, but it carries the same weight. Having said that, I preferred the identity that it had as the last major of the year.

Gianni: You nailed your Masters picks. Rory won, Scottie finished solo second, and Morikawa surged to a tie for seventh. Who are your top 3 picks for the PGA Championship and why?

Brandel: I am not a huge fan of majors played on golf courses that have been shorn of most of the trees, although I understand some of the agronomic reasons for doing so and of course the ease with which it allows members to play after errant drives. However, at the highest level, it all but eliminates any strategy off the tee and turns professional golf into an even bigger slugfest. That means that it will likely be a bomber’s delight this week, but fortunately, Scottie Scheffler is long enough to play that game and straight enough to play it better than anyone else.

The major championships give us very few surprises anymore, going back to the beginning of 2012, so the last 57 majors played, the average world rank of the winners has been better than 15th in the world. So look at the highest ranked and longest drivers who are on form coming into the PGA Championship who also have great short games as the surrounds at Aronimink are very challenging. That’s Scottie Scheffler by a mile and then McIlroy and Cameron Young with a far bigger nod towards DeChambeau than I gave him at the Masters.

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Club Junkie

A putter that I love and hate – Club Junkie Podcast

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In this episode of the Club Junkie Podcast, we dive into one of the most interesting flatstick releases of the year with a full review of the new TaylorMade SYSTM 2 putters. After spending time on the greens, I break down what makes this design stand out, where it performs, and why it has me completely torn between loving it and fighting it. If you are into feel, alignment, and consistency, this is one you will want to hear about.

We also take a look at some of the putters in play on the PGA Tour last week. From familiar favorites to a few surprising setups, there is always something to learn from what the best players in the world are rolling with under pressure.

To wrap things up, I walk through the process of building a set of JP Golf Prime irons paired with Baddazz Gold Series shafts. From component selection to performance goals, this is a deep dive into what goes into creating a unique custom set and why this combo has been so intriguing.

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Opinion & Analysis

From 14 handicap to pro: 4 things I’d tell golfers at 50

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This year my 50th birthday. Gosh, where has the time gone?

As a teenager in rural Missouri, some of my junior high and high school years felt interminable. Graduation seemed light years away. But the older I get, the faster life seems to fly by.

I’m also increasingly aware of my mortality. My dad died recently. Earlier this year, a friend and fellow PGA of America professional and I were texting about our next catch-up. The next message I received was news of his unexpected passing at 48. Shortly after, a woman I dated in college succumbed to cancer at 51.

Certainly, one can share perspective at any age. Seniors help freshmen, veterans guide rookies. But reaching this milestone feels like as good a time as any to do one of those “what would I tell my younger self?” articles.

I’ve had a uniquely varied career in golf. I started as a 27-year-old, average-length-hitting, 14-handicap computer engineer and somehow managed to turn pro before running out of money, constantly bootstrapping my way forward. I’ve won qualifiers and set venue records in the World Long Drive Championships, finished fifth at the Speedgolf World Championships, coached all skill levels as a PGA of America professional, built industry-leading swing speed training programs for Swing Man Golf, helped advance the single-length iron market with Sterling Irons®, caddied on the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions, and played about 300 courses across 32 countries.

It’s been a ride, and I’ve gone both deep and wide.

So while I can consult and advise from a lot of angles, let me keep it to a few things I’d tell the average golfer who wants to improve.

1. Think About What You Want

Everyone has their own reason for picking up a golf club.

Oddly, as a professional athlete, I’m not internally driven by competition. That can be challenging, as the industry currently prioritizes and incentivizes competition over the love of the game.

For me, I love walking and being outdoors. Nature helps balance my energy. I prefer courses that are integrated into the natural beauty of their surroundings. I’m comfortable practicing alone. I’m a deep thinker, and I genuinely enjoy investigating the game, using data and intuition to unearth unique, often innovative insights. I’m fortunate to be strong and athletic, so I appreciate the chance to engage with my abilities. Traveling feels adventurous. I could go on.

You don’t have to overthink it like I do. For you, it might be as simple as hitting balls to escape work, hanging out with friends, and playing loosely with the rules and the score.

The point is to give yourself permission to play for your own reasons, and let that be enough.

But if improvement is your goal, thinking about your destination—and when you want to get there—is important, because it dictates the steps you need to take. When I set out to go from a 14-handicap to the PGA TOUR as quickly as possible, the steps I needed were very different from those of a working golfer trying to break 90 in six months. That’s also different from someone who just wants a few peaceful hours outside each week, away from work or family.

None of these goals are better than the others, but each requires a different plan that you can work backward from.

2. There Are Lots of Things That Can Work

One of the challenges of golf is that, although there are rules for playing, there aren’t clear, industry-wide standards for how to best play the game. There’s a lot of gray area.

You might hear a top coach or trainer insist that a certain move is the best way to swing or train. Then you dig a bit deeper and, much to your confusion and frustration, another respected coach or trainer says something completely different. I don’t think anyone is trying to confuse you—at least I hope not. It’s just where the industry is right now.

You have to be careful with advice from tournament pros, too. They might be great at scoring, but they’re also human and sometimes just as susceptible as amateurs to believing things that don’t really move the needle. Tour players might describe what they feel, but that’s not always what they’re actually doing when assessed with technology.

I recently ran a test on my YouTube channel (which connects to my GolfWRX article “How to use your hands in the golf swing for power and accuracy”), and, interestingly, two of the most commonly taught hand actions produced the worst results in the test.

Coaches can certainly help. If you find someone you connect with to help navigate, that’s great. But there are many ways to get the ball in the hole. In the current landscape, you may need to seek multiple opinions, think critically, and use your own intuition to discern what seems true and whose advice resonates with you.

I’d recommend seeking someone who is open-minded and always learning, because things constantly change. Absolutes like “correct” or “proper” should raise a red flag. AI can be useful, but it tends to confidently repeat popular advice, so proceed with caution.

3. Get Custom Fit

If you’re serious about becoming a better player, getting custom fit is hugely important. There’s no sense fighting your equipment if you don’t have to. Most better players get fit these days and, if they don’t, they’re usually skilled enough to work around clubs that aren’t ideal.

If you plan to play for a long time, it’s worth spending a little more upfront to get something that truly fits you and your game, rather than continually buying and discarding equipment.

Equipment rules haven’t really changed significantly since the early 2000s. To stay in business, manufacturers keep pushing those limits. If you pull a bunch of clubs and balls off the rack and test them, you’ll find differences. I’ve tested two new drivers and seen a 30-yard total distance gap. Usually, the issue isn’t bad equipment; it’s that the combination of components simply isn’t the best fit.

It’s like wearing a new pair of floppy clown shoes. Sure, they’re shoes—but you won’t sprint your best in them compared to track shoes that fit perfectly.

Be wary of what’s called custom fitting, too. Sometimes the term is used as a marketing strategy rather than an actual fitting. In some retail settings, fitters may be incentivized to steer you toward higher-priced components. That doesn’t automatically mean it’s not the best fit, but you should be aware of potential biases.

I learned a version of this lesson outside of golf. Years ago, I bought a tennis racquet at a big box store from a seemingly knowledgeable employee who thought it would suit me best. The racquet gave me tennis elbow, and I spent months recovering with rest and acupuncture. The next season, I invested more time and money to find what actually fit me, and I walked away with something amazing that I still play with years later.

So if you’re going to get fit, be smart about it.

Find someone you believe has deep knowledge—possibly with certifications, but not necessarily. Make sure there’s a wide inventory across many brands. Check recent reviews for the individual fitter if possible. Make sure you trust that the fitter has your best interests at heart. If they’re wearing a hat or shirt with a specific brand’s logo, proceed with caution. Unless you specifically want a certain brand or look, be wary of upsells, especially if two options perform nearly the same.

Also, while golf is called a sport of integrity, there’s a thread of manipulation in the industry. I once drafted an equipment article for an industry magazine, structured just like one of their previous popular stories, with matching word count and great photos. The assistant editor loved it; it was useful to readers and required little work on his part. But the editor-in-chief nixed the story. When I asked why, I was told it was because I wasn’t an advertiser. It turned out the article I’d modeled mine after was a paid ad cleverly disguised as editorial content.

I really dislike games, clickbait, and fear-based manipulation. I hope this changes, but golfers deserve to know it exists.

4. Distance and Strategy Matter

There’s a real relationship between how far you hit the ball and your scoring average, even at the PGA TOUR level.

I experienced this early in my pro career. I started as a power hitter, swinging in the high 120s and breaking 200 mph ball speed with a stock driver.

Back then, some instructors advised swinging at 80%, so I tried slowing down for more accuracy. That worked fine on shorter, tighter courses. But on longer setups, I was coming into greens with too much club, and par 5s stopped being

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