19th Hole

Tour pro has radical idea to curb driving distance…and a golf legend says it’s actually his idea

Published

4 years ago

Oct 13, 2022

How to overcome the increasing desire to lengthen a golf course has been one of the most discussed topics for a long time.

Technological advances, as well as super-analytical computer systems, have meant that the driving averages on the PGA Tour have increased year-on-year, rising from 287 yards in 2010 to 299.8 yards through the 2021/22 season.

Related: ‘I really regret my decision’ – Dustin Johnson sarcastically mocks LIV critics

To show just how this has affected the traditional tournament, Bryson DeChambeau nearly drove the green at the par-5 6th hole at Bay Hill in 2021 – yeah, great fun but a mockery of it all.

Of course, they could make courses trickier. Bunker heavily on landing areas, narrow the fairways, decrease the size of the greens and on and on, but given many tournaments take place on courses reliant on the week-to-week player, closing them for a year doesn’t work.

Instead, outspoken Aussie pro Scott Hend suggests simply not teeing up the driver.

The 10-time Asian Tour winner took to Twitter to reveal his Masterplan:

Here is a easy way to battle the argument about the ball going tooooo far…..

You can't tee up your driver anymore, off the deck it is…

See issue fixed??????????????Now discuss…#JustSayn #golflife #BOOM #HowGoodIsGolf #SweepIt pic.twitter.com/heGJhTAr6V

— Scott Hend (@hendygolf) October 11, 2022

It seems far easier to implement the 49-year-old’s idea than most, and would row along with Tiger Woods and Patrick Cantlay, both players agreeing that something has to change.

Cantlay, tied for the lead at the Shriners last week until a wayward drive down the last saw him run up a double-bagel on the last hole, has been reported as saying, “Theoretically, the golf ball needs to go shorter. Every golf course I go to has different tee boxes farther back than even four or five years ago when I visited the golf course.”

No matter how valid the suggestion, Hend, whose Twitter bio introduces him as, ‘Pseudo expert on most things’ and ‘a little sarcastic at times’ sadly wasn’t being entirely serious. However, 6-time major champion Nick Faldo has previously mused the idea and he once again backed the idea.

Hello!? I remember getting shot down with this idea years ago! That would instantly bring back striking skills under pressure! I'd love to see who's good enough to drive 320 off the deck on a Sunday afternoon, more power to them if they can! ? Or a 1" max length tee? ? https://t.co/lhnCZqJ5m9

— Sir Nick Faldo (@NickFaldo006) October 12, 2022

One reply to Hend’s tweet made the case for accuracy over distance:

“Tom Kim has just won for the 2nd time on the PGA tour. He’s 128th in driving distance this season and was around 100th in driving distance for the week. Too easy to say the ball goes too far. It’s a lame argument what older generation fall back on.”

How much each player won at the 2026 Masters

Published

1 month ago

Apr 13, 2026

Gianni Magliocco

Rory McIlroy made it two wins in as many years at Augusta National, seeing off the challengers on a dramatic Sunday to slip on the green jacket once again. The victory earned Rory a whopping payday of $4.5 million, with Scottie Scheffler his closest challenger earning $2.43 million for his sole runner-up finish.

With a total prize purse of $22.5 million up for grabs, here’s a look at how much each player won at the 2026 Masters tournament.

For players that did not make the cut, they still earned $25k for their efforts at the year’s opening major.

1: Rory McIlroy, $4.5 million
2: Scottie Scheffler, $2.43 million
T3: Tyrrell Hatton, $1.08 million
T3: Russell Henley, $1.08 million
T3: Justin Rose, $1.08 million
T3: Cameron Young, $1.08 million
T7: Collin Morikawa, $725,625
T7: Sam Burns, $725,625
T9: Xander Schauffele, $630,00
T9: Max Homa, $630,00
11: Jake Knapp, $562,500
T12: Jordan Spieth, $427,500
T12: Brooks Koepka, $427,500
T12: Hideki Matsuyama, $427,500
T12: Patrick Reed, $427,500
T12: Patrick Cantlay, $427,500
T12: Jason Day, $427,500
T18: Viktor Hovland, $315,000
T18: Maverick McNealy, $315,000
T18: Matt Fitzpatrick, $315,000
T21: Keegan Bradley, $252,000
T21: Ludvig Aberg, $252,000
T21: Wyndham Clark, $252,000
T24: Matt McCarty, $182,083
T24: Adam Scott, $182,083
T24: Sam Stevens, $182,083
T24: Chris Gotterup, $182,083
T24: Michael Brennan, $182,083
T24: Brian Campbell, $182,083
T30: Alex Noren, $146,250
T30: Harris English, $146,250
T30: Shane Lowry, $146,250
T33: Gary Woodland, $121,500
T33: Dustin Johnson, $121,500
T33: Brian Harman, $121,500
T33: Tommy Fleetwood, $121,500
T33: Ben Griffin, $121,500
T38: Jon Rahm, $105,750
T38: Ryan Gerard, $101,250
T38: Haotong Li, $96,750
T41: Justin Thomas, $92,250
T41: Sepp Straka, $87,750
T41: Jacob Bridgeman, $83,250
T41: Kristoffer Reitan, $78,750
T41: Nick Taylor, $74,250
46: Sungjae Im, $69,750
47: Si Woo Kim, $65,250
48: Aaron Rai, $61,650
T49: Corey Conners, $57,600
T49: Marco Penge, $57,600
51: Kurt Kitayama, $55,250
52: Sergio Garcia, $54,000
53: Rasmus Hojgaard, $52,650
54: Charl Schwartzel, $51,300

19th Hole

CBS’s Sunday Masters coverage slammed by golf fans

Published

1 month ago

Apr 13, 2026

Gianni Magliocco

While Sunday was a dramatic day at the Masters, many golf fans were left feeling frustrated by the CBS final round coverage.

There were plenty of moments that golf fans took to social media to air their frustrations on Sunday over, including a lack of shots being shown throughout the day, being behind the live action, confusion over the approach shots of the final group on 18, and providing an angle for the winning putt where the cup couldn’t be seen.

Here’s a look at some of the criticisms that were directed at the CBS coverage throughout the day on X:

This has been a brutal broadcast for CBS. When the folks from Augusta sit down with them this year, you can bet they’ll talk about this 15 seconds where we have no idea where Rory’s ball went, and Dottie moans. #TheMasters pic.twitter.com/ak3mkpIN7V

— Ryan (@PossiblyRy) April 12, 2026

It’s rare criticism coming in for CBS, who are usually heavily praised for their Masters coverage each year.

19th Hole

The surprise club Tommy Fleetwood says is key to his Masters chances

Published

1 month ago

Apr 7, 2026

Gianni Magliocco

Tommy Fleetwood goes in search for the first major victory of his career again this week, with the Englishman proving to be a popular pick at Augusta National.

Fleetwood’s best showing at Augusta came back in 2024 where he finished T3, and while speaking at his pre-tournament press conference, the 35-year-old emphasized the importance of his 9-wood in his pursuit of the green jacket.

Speaking on Tuesday to media, Fleetwood said:

“It’s a great 9-wood golf course. I think it’s always been — I can’t remember when I first put like a 9-wood in or a high lofted club, but it’s a perfect like 9-wood golf course. I’ve had that in the bag for a few years.”

The Englishman continued, revealing that his strategy for the week won’t just be to hit driver off the tee as much as possible:

“Yeah, it’s funny really because I know Augusta is probably associated with being fairly forgiving off the tee in a way, so you think you can whale around driver a little bit. But I don’t necessarily think that’s always the play for me. I think there’s holes that set up really well where I can draw it with the mini driver if I’m feeling less comfortable with the driver and things like that.”

That strategy he believes will make his TaylorMade Qi10 9-wood extra critical this week in Georgia:

“The biggest thing is the 9-wood for me. If I can put myself in position on the par-5s or the 4th long par-3, like it — for me, I can’t really hit that high 4-iron, so 9-wood helps me a lot.”