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Morning 9: Match Play format perspectives aplenty | The best swing in golf? | McIlroy: I don’t “need” to win the Masters

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6 years ago

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By Ben Alberstadt (ben.alberstadt@golfwrx.com)

March 27, 2019

Good Wednesday morning, golf fans.
1. There’s a reason match play is played only once per year on the PGA Tour…
…so says the AP’s longtime scribe, Doug Ferguson in a meditation of this week’s deviation from medal play.
  • A morsel…”But even with the change, it still doesn’t solve one problem that exists in just about any format – the longer the tournament goes, the less interesting it gets because there are fewer possibilities.”
  • “Think back to The Players Championship two weeks ago when eight players had a share of the lead on the final day. In the Match Play, it comes down to two players over the final four hours, and that’s assuming it lasts that long. Watson only had to play 12 holes to win.”
  • “There are 12 matches involving 24 players on Saturday. There are four matches involving the same four players on Sunday, and that includes the consolation match, which is for world ranking points, FedEx Cup points, the difference of $138,000 and mostly something to fill dead time on television.”
  • And this side of the coin...”Imagine having a corporate hospitality tent on the 18th hole. Last year, only three of the 16 matches on the weekend even reached the 18th hole.”
2. Don’t worry about the format!
Geoff Shackelford reads between the lines of some of the match play tournament in general, format in particular, hand wringing (and offers something of a rebuttal to the sentiments above”
  • “With 64 of the world’s top 66 showing up two weeks before the Masters, this should be a time to celebrate a welcome format change from stroke play.”
  • “Turns out, the new and compressed schedule dynamics had no effect on the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. Gone are the days of top players dreading “the vagaries” of match play.”
  • “Yet we’re back to the same old, same old match play chatter: the sponsor isn’t happy with the format. After years of everyone hating to see top players headed to the airport on Wednesday night, the WGC consists of three guaranteed matches via pool play followed by single elimination over the weekend, leaving only four players to entertain the galleries.”
  • “Translation: not enough golfers are passing by the corporate tents on weekends even though attention on the golf is fleeting at best, non-existent when the shrimp cocktails come out.”
3. Tiger looking forward to new format
Continuing with the theme…
ESPN’s Bob Harig… “…Tiger Woods will face Patrick Cantlay, Brandt Snedeker and Aaron Wise this week during the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Championship, his first experience in the new format.”
  • “I really haven’t played a whole lot of match play since 2013 and I’m looking forward to it,” said Woods, who played in the Presidents Cup that year and in the 2018 Ryder Cup — his only match play opportunities since.
  • “I’m looking forward to the fact that I just get to focus on one guy. Each and every shot is different, and you don’t really care what the rest of the field is doing. I just have to beat the guy standing in front of me.”
4. McIlroy: I want to win the Masters, but I don’t need to
Bill Speros at Golfweek…”McIlroy spoke about the upcoming Masters and the desire to win at Augusta National to complete his career Grand Slam Tuesday during his pre-tournament press conference.”
  • “There’s a difference between a personal desire and a need,” he said of getting that elusive major victory in April. “I would have said a couple of years ago, ‘I need a to win a Masters. I need a green jacket.’ Where now it’s: ‘I want to. I want win it. I’d love to win it. But if I don’t, I’m OK.’ And I think that is the difference.”

 
5. The best swing in golf?
…according to Brandel Chamblee, this could be it.
Golf Digest’s Keely Levins…”Brandel Chamblee fired off a hot take on Twitter, saying LPGA rookie Anne Van Dam might have the best swing in golf. GolfWeek’s Beth Ann Nichols tweeted about Dam’s impressive length off the tee, (she’s No. 1 in driving distance, averaging 292 yards) and Chamblee responded with…”She may well have the best swing in golf right now.”
6. Tiger talks equipment
Excellent work by Andrew Tursky at PGATour.com snagging a few minutes with TW at the TaylorMade tour truck/travelling warehouse event ahead of the Match Play, including Woods talking openly about Mike Taylor’s involvement in his irons and wedges.
  • TURSKY: With the switch to TaylorMade wedges from Nike, it seems like you’re changing out wedges more often. I saw you with a new wedge at THE PLAYERS, and then you had one in bubble wrap today [at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play practice round]. It seems like you’re able to change wedges more often. Can you speak to that?
  • WOODS:…But after use, at home practicing, bunker work, the grooves started getting worn down so I would send one in, have that re-blasted. That [wedge] would move into the back of the order. Then I had the fresh ones, and I’d wear that one out. Then that would get re-blasted, and eventually they’d come around and I used all 8 sets twice. Then once those were done – so 16 go-arounds – now we have to start it all over again, because they can’t get anymore spin on them. It’s a lot easier now, going through what we had to go through; those long testing sessions, a lot of work with Mike Taylor, a lot of work in the grind room. But when I had them right, I didn’t have to think about it, all I had to do was go hit. But once I wore them out 16 times, we had to restart the process.
  • TURSKY: You mentioned Mike [Taylor]. He was such a big part of building your golf clubs. Is he still involved at all with these new irons?
  • WOODS: Yeah, he worked on all these irons. He worked on all my wedges. I talk to him probably every few weeks, giving updates on how I feel, things that I think could be better. He’ll bounce a few ideas off me, what I think, what direction we need to go down the road, how can we make them any better than what they are. And this is the same process I went through all those years when I was working with him at Nike. But now working with him at TaylorMade, it’s a lot more seamless.
7. Rory could be No. 1 again
Who doesn’t love OWGR No. 1 scenarios? The man who could become No. 1 this week, it seems…
  • James Corrigan at The Telegraph… “….And the prospect of jumping from fourth to the top of the rankings, a previously stated aim he will achieve if he emulates his 2015 success in this event and Dustin Johnson fails to reach the semi-finals and Justin Rose the final?”
  • “No, not really,” he said, when asked if it was a big thing. “The big thing is winning my match tomorrow.”
8. A visit to Lamb Crafted; details on expansion plans
Our Johnny Newbern paid a visit to Tyson Lamb’s shop for a look at how the putter-building phenom works. Lamb shared details about the company’s plans for expansion as well.
  • And right now, it’s not enough to meet demand. Today, accessory sales (ball markers, divot tools, headcovers) are keeping the company moving forward. But Lamb wants to be able to focus on putters. With growth, that should be possible soon. The company is moving headquarters to a new facility in Plano, Texas, with much more space. And more importantly, more machines.
  • “If we were only making putters, we wouldn’t be in business,” Lamb said. “Revenue and customer based growth is strictly through accessories. We can make 15,000 products in a year and maybe make three to five hundred putters in a year. And that is going to increase astronomically when we move. Right now, we have two machines and if both are making accessories, we have nothing to make putters on. By the end of next year, we will more than likely have 5 machines. Plus, more people and more storage.”

Full piece.

9. High praise for Haotong’s hat
Golf Digest’s Coleman Bentley commented on the European Tour’s Instagram video of Phil Mickelson admiring Haotong Li’s accessorizing ahead of the Dell Match Play.
  • “…When Phil tells you he’s feeling your drip, you say and please and thank you, sir. Just ask Haotong Li, who could hardly believe his luck when Phil sauntered over at the Dell Match Play on Tuesday to say what’s up and compliment Haotong on his bold new headwear direction.
  • “The best part of this video is obviously Haotong’s reaction-a mixture of terror and elation that Phil even remembered his name, let alone noticed his new Powder-on-Safari lid. “It saves on sunscreen,” Li quips, barely containing his glee as Phil shouts “It’s hard to pull off but you’re doing it!”

 

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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.

4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. n

    Mar 27, 2019 at 2:20 pm

    Im not sure you can have ‘the best swing in golf’ if you’re 135th in driving accuracy. The best swing is the one that’s the most effective, not the best looking. But im sure others will disagree

    Reply Report comment

    • Mower

      Mar 27, 2019 at 4:23 pm

      “But I’m sure others will disagree.” Well yes!

      The best swing is the one that is most aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Accuracy be damned!

      Reply Report comment

  2. Thomas A

    Mar 27, 2019 at 10:10 am

    We should all wear buckets hate more.

    Reply Report comment

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Tour Rundown: Bend, but don’t break

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3 weeks ago

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Aug 4, 2025

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I’m going to gush in this intro paragraph, to get the emo stuff done early. I’ve not pulled harder for a professional to win, than Cameron Young. I coach golf in New York state, and each spring, my best golfers head to a state championship in Poughkeepsie. I first saw Cameron there as a 9th grade student. I saw him three more times after that. I reconnecected with Coach Haas from Wake Forest, an old interview subject from my days on the Old Gold and Black, the Wake newspaper. He was there to watch Cameron. After four years at Wake Forest, Young won on the Korn Ferry Tour, made it to the big tour, almost won two majors, almost won five other events, and finally got the chalice about 25 minutes from the Wake campus. Congratulations, Cameron. You truly are a glass of the finest. #MotherSoDear

OK, let’s move on to the Tour Rundown. The major championship season closed this week in Wales, with the Women’s Open championship. The PGA Tour bounced through Greensboror, N.C., while the PGA Tour Americas hit TO (aka, Toronto) for a long-winded event. The Korn Ferry lads made a stop in Utah, one of just two events for that tour in August. The many-events, golf season is winding down, as we ease from summer toward fall in the northern hemisphere. Let’s bask in the glory of an August sunrise, and run down a quartet of events from the first weekend of the eighth month.

LET/LPGA @ Women’s Open: Miyu bends, but she doesn’t break

Royal Porthcawl was not a known commodity in the major tournament community. The Welsh links had served as host to men’s senior opens, men’s amateurs, and Curtis and Walker Cups in prior years, but never an Open championship for the women or the men. The last-kept secret in UK golf was revealed once again to the world this week, as the best female golfers took to the sandy stage.

Mao Saigo, Grace Kim, Maja Stark, and Minjee Lee hoped to add a second major title to previous wins this season, but only Lee was able to finish inside the top ten. The 2025 playing of the Women’s Open gave us a new-faces gallery from day one. The Kordas and Thitikulls were nowhere to be found, and it was the Mayashitas, Katsus, and Lim Kims that secured the Cymru spotlight. The first round lead was held at 67 by two golfers. One of them battled to the end, while the other posted 81 on day two, and missed the cut. Sitting one shot behind was Miyu Yamashita.

On day two, Yamashita posted the round of the tournament. Her 65 moved her to the front of the aisle, in just her fourth turn around a women’s Open championship. With the pre-event favorites drifting off pace, followers narrowed into two camps: those on the side of an underdog, and others hoping for a weekend charge from back in the pack. In the end, we had a bit of both.

On Saturday, Yamashita bent with 74 on Saturday, offering rays of hope to her pursuing pack. England’s Charley Hull made a run on Sunday closing within one shot before tailing off to a T2 finish with Minami Katsu. Katsu posted the other 65 of the week, on Saturday, but could not overtake her countrywoman, Yamashita. wunderkind Lottie Woad needed one round in the 60s to find her pace, but could only must close-to’s, ending on 284 and a tie with Minjee for eighth.

On Sunday, Yamashita put away the thoughts of Saturday’s struggles, with three-under 33 on the outward half. She closed in plus-one 37, but still won by two, for a first Major and LPGA title.

PGA Tour @ Wyndham: Young gathers first title near home

Cameron Young grew up along the Hudson river, above metro New York, but he also calls Winston-Salem home. He spent four years as a student and athlete at Wake Forest University, then embarked on tour. This week in Greensboro, after a bit of a break, Young opened with 63-62, and revved the engine of Is this the week once more. Runner-up finishes at the Open, the PGA, and a handful of PGA Tour events had followers wonder when the day would come.

On Saturday, Young continued his torrid pace with 65, giving him a five-shot advantage over his closest pursuer. Sunday saw the Scarborough native open with bogey, then reel off five consecutive birdies to remind folks that his time had, at last, arrived. Pars to the 16th, before two harmless bogeys coming home, made Young the 1000th winner of an official PGA Tour event (dating back to before there was a PGA Tour) throughout history. What’s next? I have a suspicion, but I’m not letting on. Mac Meissner closed with 66 to finish solo 2nd, while Mark Hubbard and Alex Noren tied for third.

Korn Ferry Tour @ Utah Championship: Are you Suri it’s Julian?

Who knows exactly when the flower will bloom? Julian Suri played a solid careet at Duke University, then paid his dues on the world’s minor tours for three years. He won twice on two tours in Europe, in 2017. Since then, the grind has continued for the journeyman from New York city. At age 34, Suri broke through in Beehive state, outlasting another grinder (Spencer Levin) and four others, by two shots.

Taylor Montgomery began the week with 62, then posted 64, then 68, and finally, 70. That final round was his undoing. He finished in that second-place tie, two back of the leader. Trace Crowe, Barend Botha, and Kensei Hirata made up the last of the almost quintet. As for Suri, his Sunday play was sublime. His nines were 32 and 31, with his only radar blip a bogey at ten. He closed in style with one final birdie, to double his winning margin. Hogan bloomed late…might Suri?

PGA Tour Americas @ Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates

Some tournament names run longer than others. This week in Toronto, at the Heathlands course at TPC Toronto, we might have seen the longest tournament title in recorded history. The OVOPBVCCBMA was a splendid affair. It saw three rounds of 62 on Thursday, but of those early risers, only Drew Goodman would stick around until the end. 64 was the low tally on day two, and two of those legionnaires managed to finish inside the top three at week’s end. Saturday brought a 63 from Patrick Newcomb, and he would follow with 64 on Sunday, to finish solo fourth.

Who, then, ended up winning the acronym of the year? It turns out that Carson Bacha had the right stuff in TeeOhhh. Bacha and Jay Card III posted 63 and 64, respectively, on day four, to tie for medalist honors at 23-under 261. Nathan Franks was one shot adrift, despite also closing with 63. If you didn’t go low on Sunday, it was about the check, not the championship.

Bacha and JC3 returned to the 18th hole twice in overtime. Card nearly chipped in from the thick stuff for birdie, while Bacha peeked and shoved a ten-feet attempt at the win. On the second go-round, Card was long with his approach, into the native grasses once more. He was unable to escape, and a routine par from the fairway was enough to earn the former Auburn golfers a first KFT title.

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2025 Wyndham Championship

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4 weeks ago

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Jul 29, 2025

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GolfWRX is live this week from the final event of the PGA Tour’s regular season, the Wyndham Championship.

Photos are flowing into the forums from Sedgefield Country Club, where we already have a GolfWRX spirit animal Adam Schenk WITB and plenty of putters for your viewing pleasure.

Check out links to all our photos below, which we’ll continue to update as more arrive.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.

 

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BK’s Breakdowns: Kurt Kitayama’s Winning WITB, 3M Open

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4 weeks ago

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Jul 28, 2025

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Kurt Kitayama just won his 2nd PGA Tour event at the 3M Open. Kurt is a Bridgestone staffer but with just the ball and bag. Here are the rest of the clubs he used to secure a win at the 2025 3M Open.

Driver: Titleist GT3 (11 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 TX

3-wood: Titleist GT1 3Tour (14.5 degrees, A3 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 TX

7-wood: Titleist GT1 (21 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 9 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 Tour Prototype
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy 1.0PT

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS (with Mindset)

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