Snedeker’s trip to Volvo World Match Play interrupted by midflight drama

CASARES, Spain — Deprived of his clubs and sleep following an emergency landing en route to Spain, Brandt Snedeker’s first appearance in Spain isn’t exactly going as planned.

The 26th-ranked American’s journey from Miami to Madrid ahead of the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain was interrupted on Monday when his plane was forced to land after a passenger suffered a heart attack.

Paul Lawrie becomes the 22nd player to make 500 or more starts on the European Tour this week. The record is 706 starts by Sam Torrance.

When he eventually arrived in Malaga on a connecting flight, he discovered his clubs and suitcase had been lost along the way, forcing him to use a makeshift set for Wednesday’s pro-am.

”It’s been weird,” Snedeker said. ”It’s been a long couple of days, but it’s worth it to get here.”

Snedeker — the only American in the tournament’s 24-man field — is hoping to have his clubs delivered in time for the first of his two matches in the round-robin stage, against Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn on Thursday. A good night’s sleep will come in handy as he starts his bid to become the first U.S. player to win the event since Mark O’Meara in 1998.

”We had to make the emergency landing in the middle of the ocean out in the Azores and spent three or four hours on the runway dealing with that situation,” said Snedeker, who missed the cut at The Players Championship last week. ”So I’m a bit tired. I’m trying my best not to nap before tonight, that will be the main thing.”

Snedeker’s other opponent in the group stage is South African rookie Branden Grace, who has already won three events on the European Tour this year.

Snedeker took advantage of Kyle Stanley’s final-round meltdown to win the Farmers Insurance Open in a playoff in January, but his only top-10 finish since came at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in February.

That bodes well for Snedeker in the $3.5 million showdown. A successful few days by Snedeker could give U.S. Captain Davis Love III a nudge ahead of the Ryder Cup against Europe in September.

”I love match play,” said Snedeker, of Nashville, Tenn. ”The one-on-one situations, when you can dictate the match by how you play, there is a lot of strategy involved.

”I love having one man to beat instead of 130-140 other guys. There’s a lot more pressure on every putt, which I kind of like.”

Snedeker missed out on selection for the 2010 Ryder Cup and is currently just outside the top eight on the U.S points list that will guarantee qualification for the match at Medinah.

He believes he’s in good shape to make the team for the first time.

”There’s a long way to go before that, but that’s a main goal of mine this year,” he said. ”There’s a lot of golf left, but winning this week would be a step in the right direction.

”I’m trying to get back into form after missing the cut at the Players last week, but I’m not too far off. I have been playing some good golf and my short game’s in good shape.”

The laid-back Snedeker should feel right at home in the sun and relaxed environment of the southern Spanish coast.

”I love coming over to Europe, the culture and the lifestyle. It really is my cup of tea here. I just always play bad, for some reason,” said Snedeker, who has missed the cut in all three of his appearances at the British Open. ”I’m going to really need those clubs to arrive.”

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/european-tour/brandt-snedeker-trip-volvo-world-match-play-interrupted-midflight-drama

Poulter, defending champ and match- play specialist, is man to beat in Spain

CASARES, Spain – Given his excellent Ryder Cup record and his unprecedented double in individual match-play tournaments, Ian Poulter’s preferred format for the 2016 Olympics is no surprise.

”I don’t know where they are with their decision-making … but I think match play would suit the Olympics better than a stroke-play event,” the Englishman said Wednesday.

Paul Lawrie becomes the 22nd player to make 500 or more starts on the European Tour this week. The record is 706 starts by Sam Torrance.

The proposed Olympic competition for men and women is a 72-hole individual stroke-play tournament, but Poulter surely would be installed among the favorites if there was a late change.

One of the grittiest players on the circuit, Poulter looks to be the man to beat when he defends his title at this week’s Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain.

”He seems to make the clutch putts,” said Justin Rose, one of Poulter’s rivals this week. ”He’s just one of those competitive guys, eye-to-eye, hates to lose.”

Poulter, the only player to win the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in the United States and the Volvo version on the European Tour, ground out a 4 and 2 victory over Luke Donald – then the world’s top player – in last year’s final.

Twelve months later, he has an even bigger incentive to win in southern Spain – it’s the year of the Ryder Cup, an event close to Poulter’s heart.

”I love match play. I love the buzz of it. I like looking straight at the guys you are playing. It puts you under pressure and it’s a great format we don’t play enough of,” Poulter said. ”Especially being a Ryder Cup year, it would be important for me to have a big week this week.”

With the biennial match with the United States a little more than four months away, Europe’s entrants couldn’t pick a better tournament to impress team Captain Jose Maria Olazabal than this.

The world’s top three players – Europeans Rory McIlroy, Donald and Lee Westwood – have decided to skip the event. But No. 9 Martin Kaymer, No. 12 Rose and 2010 Ryder Cup star Graeme McDowell are among the field.

Brandt Snedeker, who is vying for a spot on the U.S. team for the match in Medinah near Chicago from Sept. 28-30, is the only American in the 24-man field at the Finca Cortesin course near Malaga.

Snedeker hopes his clubs arrive for the event. On Monday, his plane made an emergency landing en route to Spain after a passenger suffered a heart attack. His suitcase and clubs were lost, forcing him to use a makeshift set for Wednesday’s pro-am.

Snedeker was drawn in a group alongside veteran Dane Thomas Bjorn and South Africa’s Branden Grace. There are eight groups of three players in the round-robin format, with the top two in each advancing to the last 16.

Grace is looking to become the first player to win four European Tour events in his first season after graduation from qualifying school. The omens are good for the 23-year-old South African. He won his last match-play event in his native country six years ago.

”It’s come all at once, it’s a bit of a shock,” Grace said of his current form after winning the Volvo China Open, Volvo Golf Champions and the Joburg Open. ”I couldn’t ask for a better spot. I think at this time, I’m just running with the emotion and the positives.”

Sergio Garcia and fellow Spaniard Alvaro Quiros are in the same group along with Japan’s Tetsuji Hiratsuka, while Rose, British Open champion Darren Clarke and Robert Rock will clash in an all-British group. Clarke hasn’t made a halfway cut all season and is without a top-10 finish since his victory at Royal St. George’s last July.

”My pride has been hurt,” Clarke said. ”I’ve been so frustrated with the whole thing because I’ve been trying so hard, too hard probably. Not to justify the Open win, but to back it up.”

Scotland’s Paul Lawrie is one of five other major winners in the field and likely to make Europe’s Ryder Cup lineup, having already won the Qatar Masters this season. This will be the 1999 British Open winner’s 500th European Tour event, making him only the 22nd player to achieve that feat.

Poulter is grouped with John Senden of Australia and Tom Lewis of England.

Finca Cortesin is hosting the tournament for the third straight year following the switch from its longstanding venue of Wentworth in England. Organizers said Tuesday that the event will be moved next year, possibly outside Europe for the first time in its illustrious 47-year history.

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/european-tour/ian-poulter-defending-champ-and-match-play-specialist-man-beat-in-spain

Pettersen set to defend Sybase Match Play title seeking first win of season

GLADSTONE, N.J. – A year after meeting for the Sybase Match Play Championship, defending champion Suzann Pettersen and Cristie Kerr are in the same position on the LPGA Tour.

The two veterans are ranked in the world’s top five. And they are in the mid-teens in earnings. Yet they’re both doing something neither expected in May — looking for their first win of the year.

Pettersen and Kerr will try to break into the win column this week when 64 of the tour’s top players gather at Hamilton Farm Golf Club for a four-day grind and a $375,000 top prize. The tournament favorite has to be Yani Tseng, the No.1-ranked player who has already won three times this year.

Pettersen, who won twice last year, hasn’t finished better than sixth in eight events. It hasn’t been all bad. The Norwegian, after all, hasn’t finished worse than a tie for 26th in any event, but it’s been one off round that has often kept her from challenging for a title this year.

The 31-year-old, who is ranked No. 3, admits she’s off to a slow start, but she feels her game is falling into place. She hopes this tournament gives her a kick start.

“I know where my game is at. I feel like I’ve been in this situation before,” Pettersen said. “You get the questions, `When are you going to win, when are you going to kind of be there on a Sunday?’ It’s just a matter of time. The day it all clicks, it will be exciting again. And if we keep working hard and putting in the hard effort, I think the results will show.”

Kerr, who is ranked No. 5 in the world, might be a little more desperate. It’s been almost two years since she won the LPGA Championship for her 14th career victory. The 34-year-old Kerr has two top-10 finishes this year, but like Pettersen, it’s been one bad round that has prevented her from contending more.

Kerr not only wants to win for herself, but she feels that if Americans can win on tour, it will help the LPGA Tour grow.

“We are trying, we are trying our hardest, I can promise you that,” Kerr said. “We’re working hard and we definitely need to win.”

Winning this event won’t be easy. The eventual champion will have to capture six matches and sometimes, it’s just a matter of luck. You play well, and someone plays better and you’re still out.

Stacy Lewis, who won the LPGA’s last official event in Mobile, Ala., feels this might be the toughest event to win, especially with double rounds scheduled on the weekend.

“If you catch somebody when they get hot, you never know,” she said. “It’s definitely the hardest tournament to win. You’re going to have a bad day, you’re going to have a bad round, and if you can find a way to grind that match out in the second or third round, a lot of times that will win you the tournament.”

Pettersen said both she and Kerr limped to the finish line in the final match last year.

“I think we were just trying to survive to stand up at the end there,” Pettersen said. “It was a long week. I was sick as a dog that week. You know what they say, `look out for the sick golfer.’”

Despite the fatigue, Kerr felt both played well.

“We were definitely tired coming to the back nine on the last match, and that’s also this tournament,” she said. “It’s a test of endurance and a test of who’s the last person standing. I think that when you’re in the final match and you’re playing against one of your friends, of course you still want to win, but you want to have a good match.

“And we did.”

Pettersen will face Jodi Ewart in her first-round match Thursday. Kerr is paired against Belen Mozo of Spain, Tseng drew Jeong Jang of South Korea, while Lewis will play fellow American Pat Hurst.

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/lpga-tour/suzann-pettersen-set-defend-sybase-match-play-title-seeking-first-win-season

Bradley returns to HP Byron Nelson, where win last year led to major title

IRVING, Texas – Keegan Bradley sometimes looks at the PGA Championship trophy sitting on his mantel and starts laughing.

“It seems so bizarre that the Wanamaker Trophy, it’s in my room,” Bradley said. “Definitely, sometimes I have to ask myself, `Is this really real?’ … It’s cool to be living with it.”

The legendary Byron Nelson’s 100th birthday was Feb. 4, and the tournament is marking the milestone all this year.

One thing that helped set up Bradley to win that major in a three-hole playoff last August came nearly three months before that, when he got his first professional victory in a playoff at the HP Byron Nelson Championship.

“I went from an unknown rookie trying to keep his card to winning a PGA Tour event and locking up my future a little bit,” he said. “I was able to draw on my experience here, especially at the PGA playoff, and this tournament will always be special to me. … This tournament might have set up my whole career.”

Things certainly have changed the past year for the nephew of LPGA great Pat Bradley.

Keegan Bradley is back at the Nelson to play as a defending champion for the first time. The opening round is Thursday at TPC Four Seasons with a field that includes Matt Kuchar the week after he won The Players Championship.

At the Nelson last May, Bradley didn’t even stay in the resort hotel adjacent to the No. 1 tee near Lord Byron’s statue. He went basically unrecognized on the course and wasn’t asked to sign many autographs. He was even overshadowed during the final round by the local teenage amateur who was his playing partner.

Bradley initially wasn’t even planning to play at the Nelson last year.

His initial plan last year was to play at Colonial instead of the following week at the Nelson. The Texas two-step was in a rare reversed order, but this year is back to the more traditional schedule with the Nelson preceding Colonial.

Bradley is sure glad he took caddie Steve Hale’s advice.

“I was done, I had made my decision and Pepsi, my caddie, said, `Look, I think you should play (Nelson)’ — he’s never said anything like that in my career,” Bradley said. “He said Nelson fits your game better, and sure enough, we came here and won. Pepsi knew something I didn’t.”

Kuchar, No. 5 in the World Golf Ranking, and 10th-ranked Phil Mickelson are the only top-10 players from that list at the Nelson. Mickelson, a two-time Nelson champion back for the first time in five years, is No. 4 in the FedExCup standings, the highest from that ranking. Kuchar is sixth.

Winning a tournament the magnitude of The Players Championship was about the only scenario Kuchar could have imagined that “could throw a little bit of a wrench” on his plans to be at the Nelson. Still, there was never really any thought of not playing again this week after his fifth top-10 finish in his last seven tournaments.

“My caddie is from the Dallas area, my instructor is from the Dallas area,” Kuchar said. “Staying at the Four Seasons is special, it’s beautiful, where you don’t have to get in your car. There’s a lot of great things about coming to Dallas for me.”

Beside the extra time with his instructor a month before the U.S. Open, Kuchar’s kids that were celebrating with him after he won The Players Championship last weekend like putting on their cowboy boots in Texas.

Kuchar tied for sixth at last year’s Nelson at even par, three strokes behind the winning score of 277.

Bradley is 21st in the FedExCup standings and has made 11 of 13 cuts with three top-10s this season. His two missed cuts came in the two weeks before finishing 35th at The Players.

Nancy Lopez, the LPGA Hall of Fame member and 48-time winner who this week received the Byron Nelson Prize, said she likes to watch older PGA players like Fred Couples and Ernie Els. But one of the youngsters she pays attention to is Bradley, largely because of her connection with Pat Bradley.

“When I met Keegan, he was a little bitty guy, and I didn’t know that he played golf at the time. I don’t think Pat ever said that she had a nephew playing or was going to go on the PGA Tour,” Lopez said. “When I saw him I said, `That’s Pat Bradley’s nephew. It has to be.’ He looks just like her, or her brothers. … He’s fun to watch.”

Pat Bradley won 31 times, including six majors.

Before winning at the Nelson last year, Keegan Bradley regularly spoke with his aunt through text messages and phone calls about playing and what it was like at the end of tournaments.

Their conversations have changed a lot since then.

“We talk about off-the-course stuff, business kind of stuff, media … talking about winning major championships, how she won her first when she was about my age,” said Keegan, who turns 26 next month. “It’s more of how to win tournaments now and how to be in contention and handle it as opposed to just feeling comfortable at a golf tournament on the PGA Tour. So it’s cool how it’s evolved.”

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/pga-tour/keegan-bradley-returns-hp-byron-nelson-championship-where-win-last-year-led-major

U.S. Amateur trophy among artifacts stolen in burglary at USGA Museum

BERNARDS TOWNSHIP, N.J. – The U.S. Amateur trophy is among the artifacts missing after a burglar broke into the U.S. Golf Association Museum in northern New Jersey.

Somerset County prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano says police responded to the building in Bernards Township after a burglar alarm was activated there around 2:40 a.m. Wednesday.

Officers found several trophy cases had been extensively damaged with an ax and noticed some trophies and other items were missing.

Museum officials say among the items taken were the U.S. Amateur trophy that was created in 1926, and a replica of the late Ben Hogan’s Hickok Belt, which he won for being the nation’s top professional athlete in 1953.

Soriano says security video shows the burglary apparently was carried out by one person.

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/industry-news/us-amateur-trophy-among-artifacts-stolen-in-burglary-usga-museum

Notebook: Johnson plans to return at Memorial after three months on shelf

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – DUSTIN RETURNS: Dustin Johnson will have missed nearly three months when he returns at the Memorial.

Johnson aggravated a back injury while lifting a jet ski from the water the weekend before the Masters, and he has not played since then. He has slipped to No. 67 in the FedExCup standings, and No. 21 in the Ryder Cup standings.

”Obviously, I can’t wait to get back out and compete,” Johnson said in a statement from his management company. ”I came into this year with some big goals, including making our Ryder Cup team, so I’ve got some serious ground to make up this summer.”

Johnson had planned to play at the HP Byron Nelson Championship, but decided to wait two more weeks. He did not say how much he plans to play in the summer, but indicated that another two weeks off wasn’t going to hurt him.

”It will be great to get back out there, and I can assure you I’ll be plenty motivated,” he said.

WHAT’S IN A NAME: Sunghoon Kang, who made an 8-foot birdie putt on the last hole of the last tournament to keep his PGA Tour card last year, quietly altered his name the last two weeks without much notice.

He now is Sung Kang.

What happened to the last part of his first name?

”It’s hard for you guys to say it,” he told a group of reporters at Sawgrass. ”You guys didn’t even try to say it right, so I changed it for you guys.”

He could have used initials like K.J. Choi or S.Y. Noh, or even K.T. Kim. Kang, however, thought that might be a problem.

”Then you guys would say, ‘Shhhhh,”’ he said with a laugh.

Despite not going to college, Kang has become proficient in English. He said he used to come to the United States as a teenager to train for a few weeks in the winter and summer. Most of his time was spent in Dallas with the Hank Haney group.

Asked if he ever bought cowboy boots, Kang must have misunderstood.

”No,” he said. ”I’m a Lakers fan.”

IMG CHANGES: About the only disruption for Luke Donald this year is off the course.

His agent, Jon Wagner, was among three employees who left IMG two weeks ago. Golfweek magazine reports this week that two of his clients, Trevor Immelman and Sean O’Hair, also have left IMG. Donald remains with IMG, as his contract does not expire until the end of 2013. His business affairs will be managed by Jon Heaton, whose clients include Steve Stricker.

Meanwhile, Golfweek reported that IMG Worldwide was granted a temporary restraining order to keep Wagner from recruiting IMG employees, clients or prospects. A hearing is scheduled this week to decide if it should be permanent.

A year ago, Mark Steinberg left IMG as head of the golf division when he could not reach agreement on a new contract. He took Tiger Woods with him to Excel Sports Management, though Stricker and Annika Sorenstam stayed put.

The magazine cited sources in reporting that IMG’s staff of player reps has dwindled from 40 employees to 13 in the last 12 years.

CVS CHARITY CLASSIC: Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa return to competition next month for the CVS Caremark Charity Classic, the two-day event hosted by Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade that has raised more than $15 million for New England charities.

The two retired stars will have some LPGA company June 17-19 at Rhode Island Country Club. They will be joined by Yani Tseng, the five-time major champion and No. 1 in women’s golf, and Lexi Thompson. Organizers say Juli Inkster, out all year recovering from elbow surgery, also plans to play.

Among the male players are Mark Calcavecchia, Corey Pavin and Peter Jacobsen.

DIVOTS: Paul Lawrie is making his 500th career start on the European Tour when he plays in the Volvo World Match Play Championship this week in Spain. He is the 22nd member to join the ”500 Club,” and for his efforts, he received an engraved ice bucket from the tour. The record for most starts is Sam Torrance at 706. … Angel Cabrera had a good week — the son of the two-time major champion, anyway. Angel Cabrera Jr. was among 67 players who earned cards on the Canadian Tour at qualifying school. … Now that he is in the World Golf Hall of Fame, Sandy Lyle can play in full-field tournaments on the Champions Tour. He previously had limited status. … Pierre Bechmann of France will be captain of The Royal Ancient Golf Club starting in September. He is the first captain from continental Europe.

STAT OF THE WEEK: Ben Curtis has earned $2,096,730 in his last four tournaments. That’s more than the $2,035,126 he made from 2009-2011 combined.

TWEET OF THE WEEK: ”Between Na’s routine, Barkley’s swing and my speech. We would make one hell of a threesome.” — Sophie Gustafson, LPGA Tour player with a severe stutter.

FINAL WORD: ”If there had never been a Tiger Woods, there’s no telling how many tournaments Phil Mickelson or Ernie Els would have won. But there is a Tiger Woods.” — Butch Harmon, who has worked with all three of them.

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/pga-tour/notebook-dustin-johnson-plans-return-memorial-after-three-months-shelf

Ryder Cup’s shadow looms large over Volvo World Match Play showdown

CASARES, Spain – With the Ryder Cup a little more than four months away, Europe’s top players couldn’t pick a better tournament to impress team Captain Jose Maria Olazabal than this week’s Volvo World Match Play Championship in southern Spain.

The world’s top three – Europeans Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood – have all chosen to skip one of only two match-play events on the calendar, but No. 9 Martin Kaymer, No. 12 Justin Rose, 2010 Ryder Cup star Graeme McDowell and defending champion Ian Poulter are among the big names present.

Poulter ground out a victory over Donald – then the world’s in-form player – in last year’s final, proving again that he is one of the grittiest performers in a format that doesn’t always reward the lowest scorer.

”I love the cut and thrust of match play and find it a refreshing change from the usual stroke-play format we play week in, week out,” said Poulter, who is coming off a 25th-place finish at the Players Championship.

”With the fact it’s Ryder Cup year, I think it will be even more exciting.”

Brandt Snedeker, who is battling to be part of the United States team for the match in Medinah near Chicago from Sept. 28-30, is the only American in the 24-man field at the Finca Cortesin course near Malaga.

There are eight groups of three players in the round-robin format, with the top two from each going through to the last 16.

Snedeker was drawn in a group alongside veteran Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn and South Africa’s Branden Grace, who has taken the European Tour by storm this year and is looking to become the first player to win four events in his first season after graduation from qualifying school.

The omens are good for the 23-year-old South African, too – he won his last match-play event back in his native country six years ago.

”It’s come all at once, it’s a bit of a shock,” Grace said of his recent form, which has seen him capture the Volvo China Open, Volvo Golf Champions and the Joburg Open.

”I couldn’t ask for a better spot. I think at this time, I’m just running with the emotion and the positives.”

Sergio Garcia and fellow Spaniard Alvaro Quiros were selected in the same group, while Rose, British Open champion Darren Clarke and Robert Rock will clash in an all-British group.

Scotland’s Paul Lawrie is one of five other major winners in the field and is in line to make Europe’s Ryder Cup lineup, having already won the Qatar Masters this season. This will be the 1999 British Open winner’s 500th European Tour event, making him only the 22nd player to achieve that feat.

Finca Cortesin is staging the tournament for the third straight year following the switch from its long-standing venue of Wentworth in England. Organizers said Tuesday, however, that the event will be moved next year, possibly outside Europe for the first time in its 47-year history.

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/european-tour/ryder-cups-shadow-looms-large-over-volvo-world-match-play-showdown

Woods adds Greenbrier Classic to schedule, also will return to Memorial

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. – Tiger Woods is heading to the hills this summer to play in The Greenbrier Classic.

Tournament organizers said that Woods had committed to play July 5-8 in the event, which began only two years ago. It is played on The Old White TPC Course, where two years ago Stuart Appleby closed with a 59 to win.

It will be the third time in the last nine months that Woods plays a tournament for the first time as a pro. He played the Frys.com Open in October in San Martin, Calif., and the Honda Classic in March. Woods last played the Honda Classic as a teenager.

Phil Mickelson already has said he is returning to The Greenbrier, giving the 3-year-old event two of the biggest names in golf.

Woods also said he will return to the Memorial Tournament later this month.

Woods has accepted an invitation to play in the tournament founded by Jack Nicklaus. So have Jason Day, Bill Haas and Sunday’s winner of the Players Championship, Matt Kuchar.

The 37th Memorial will be played May 31-June 3 at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

Woods won the Memorial in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2009. He missed last year’s tournament while he recovered from knee and Achilles injuries.

Woods has 10 top-10 finishes at the Memorial and has never missed the cut. He has the lowest scoring average in the tournament (minimum of 10 rounds) at 69.62 and has earned more than $3.9 million at it.

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/pga-tour/tiger-woods-adds-greenbrier-classic-schedule-also-will-return-memorial

Two decades after last penalty, slow play still big problem on PGA Tour

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – In more peaceful times, when Tiger Woods had gone six months without losing and golf seemed to revolve around him, he ended a monthly newsletter with a rare trip to the soap box to complain about the pace of play on the PGA Tour.

”Before I go, I would like to talk about slow play,” Woods wrote. ”It’s been an ongoing problem on the PGA Tour for a long time.”

That was in 2008.

When he finished The Players Championship on Sunday, Woods measured progress with one word.

”Worse,” he said.

The focus last week at the TPC Sawgrass eventually returned to the guy holding the trophy, as it should. The PGA Tour had reason to celebrate for a couple of reasons. It had a worthy champion in Matt Kuchar, who won the money title two years ago and has an infectious smile that makes him a fan favorite. Also, the tournament finished on Sunday.

Kevin Na was only joking – we think – when he spoke about his battle to pull the trigger and his bizarre habit of purposely whiffing on a swing so he could start over. ”But just bear with me, and hopefully we get that (Sunday) round in,” Na said.

In fact, the topic came up on the eve of The Players Championship when commissioner Tim Finchem was asked if the PGA Tour felt a sense of urgency to play faster and an obligation to set an example for golfers everywhere. His answer included this nugget that made little sense.

”I actually think we might want to experiment with penalty shots,” Finchem said. ”But I don’t think penalty shots make a difference, to be honest with you.”

How would he know?

This week at the HP Byron Nelson Championship marks the 20-year anniversary of the last time a PGA Tour was assessed a one-shot penalty for taking too much time. That was Dillard Pruitt, now a rules official who carries a stopwatch. That one stroke wound up costing him $9,600 – when $9,600 actually meant something. He was fined $1,000, and he was relegated to play in the last group for the next two weeks.

Stewart Cink was asked about progress with the pace of play. A few years ago, he was fined $20,000 for getting put on the clock 10 times in a season, and he has worked to improve.

”Is it because of the leader?” Cink replied on Sunday as Na was headed to the practice range.

Sure, it’s easy to pick on Na. He is changing his swing and fighting some demons to get comfortable over the ball. He became a sympathetic figure to some in the media for his honesty and his pledge to try harder, though it should be pointed out that Na has been slow ever since he joined the PGA Tour. Not so sympathetic were some in the gallery who shouted out, ”Pull the trigger!” and ”Hit it!” to reverse effect. He had to back off shots and wound up taking even longer.

Slow play has been part of the conversation all season. If golf were a presidential campaign, slow play would be the equivalent of the economy.

Luke Donald was on holiday in Barbados when he was watching the final round of the season-opener in Hawaii, which featured Na, Jonathan Byrd, Ben Crane and Webb Simpson in the last four groups. He took to Twitter and ended one plea by saying, ”Slow play is killing our sport.”

Finchem addressed the broader problem, which represents somewhat of a Catch-22.

Ask just about any rules official and they would say the size of fields make it nearly impossible to get around in a reasonable time. Can anyone remember the last time the cut was made on a Friday at Riviera? That’s why the Masters gets nervous when its field size approaches 100 players.

But to reduce the field is to take away playing opportunities, the very thing Finchem is determined to provide. It’s not a simple solution.

”We elect not to do that,” Finchem said. ”Because as much as we like to see a stronger pace of play, the playing opportunities for the number of players we have had are more important. We’ll generate the playing opportunities first, and take our lumps second. It’s as simple as that.”

Solutions are not that easy to find or this would have been fixed years ago. And it’s not fair to compare the pace on tour with how long it takes to play golf at your local club. In recreational golf, the pins aren’t four paces from the edge of the green, tucked behind bunkers. The greens aren’t as firm as a hardwood floor. A putt isn’t worth $399,000, which is what it cost Rickie Fowler when he missed that 8-footer on his last hole.

The problem on the PGA Tour might be attitude.

Donald said what annoys him most is when a player does not starting thinking about his next shot until it’s his turn. The way it has gone for the last 20 years, why hurry when on one else does?

”We know when they drive up and tell us to hurry up, it means nothing,” Geoff Ogilvy said. ”When I first came out and someone told me to hurry up, I got all flustered and was rushing. Now, it’s a laugh. Yeah, we’ll try. But some guys don’t even try because they don’t do anything.

”I bet if you polled the tour, half the fast players would say, ‘Give me penalties,’ just to scare everyone.”

Or maybe the tour could try a perk instead of a punishment.

”You want to help slow play?” said Roger Maltbie, the NBC Sports analyst and former PGA Tour winner. ”Hand them their cards on the first tee and say, ‘If you bring this back to us in less than four hours, you can take a stroke off your score.’ Let’s see how that works.”

It couldn’t hurt.

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/pga-tour/slow-play-still-big-problem-pga-tour-two-decades-after-last-penalty

A week’s worth of tweets, May 7-13, 2012

Many prominent golf companies, players and PGA instructors regularly take to Twitter to talk about their equipment and other aspects of their game. Here is a round-up of some of the most interesting golf-related Twitter entries from the week of May 7-13, featuring Joe Ogilvie, Natalie Gulbis, Hunter Mahan and more:
 
MAY 13
Matrix Shafts  ‏ 

@MatrixShafts   Congratulations to the winner of The Players Championship, who trusted Matrix Shafts in his game to take the win today in Florida!

@MatrixShafts   Take a look at the 2003 2005 Walker Cup Captain Bob Lewis getting fitted by our friends at TaylorMade with his… http://fb.me/1lQPEn4A6

What do you think about your golf equipment? Rate and review your clubs in the PGA.com Equipment Section, where you also can see what’s in the bags of tournament winners, check out new equipment photo galleries and even catch up on the latest tweets from tour players and equipment companies.

Scott Gutschewski  ‏ 
@GootchPGA   @Andres_Gonzales guess who puts their clubs in their bag like this? http://pic.twitter.com/cAAVCmtN

Kentwool  ‏ 
@kentwool   Matt Kuchar 2012 #PlayersChamp rocks @KENTWOOL socks! http://ow.ly/i/CLWr

Mallory Blackwelder  ‏ 
@MalBlackwelder   Here’s a sample of my new @pukkaheadwear hats! http://pic.twitter.com/8XTLrdns

Rife Putters  ‏ 
@RIFEPUTTERS   “@Putting_Doctor: RIFE Wins, Congrats Matt Kuchar #constantcontact”

Kirk Oguri, PGA  ‏ 
@KIRKOGURI   Giving @TaylorMadeGolf ATV wedges a chance. Lots of sole grinding on 60*, some on 55*. Really like em so far! http://lockerz.com/s/208844367

Vokey Wedges  ‏ 
@VokeyWedges   Another win for Vokey Wedges! Congrats to @THEPLAYERSChamp #InVokeWeTrust

59 Belts ‏
@
59beltsGUY   “@_dillonmays: I still use putter headcovers and belts/buckles to size up my comp. Big ups to @59beltsGUY for helping me be scary!” #ntimid8

Bridgestone Golf  ‏ 
@bridgestonegolf   Lime Green! @KNunzi: @bridgestonegolf in an argument with my roommate. What is the exact color of Kuchars hat?? #imgoingwithmintgreen

Tracey Lynn Golf  ‏ 
@TraceyLynnGolf   Layered up! Playing golf in Denver today -wearing Tracey Lynn fleece pants + pullover, l/s mock underneath – perfect! http://pic.twitter.com/HNhk1aDm

Titleist Europe  ‏ 
@TitleistEurope   Congratulations to @TitleistEurope Ambassador Ricardo Santos on his 1st European Tour win in Madeira with a final round 63. #1ballingolf

MAY 12
FootJoy  ‏ 

@FootJoy   Wow! RT @Willow_Golf: @FootJoy Here’s my MyJoys in company colors. Thanks for making the best shoes I’ve ever worn!!! http://pic.twitter.com/eqGiIwbm

@FootJoy   Agreed! Great choice. RT @tychandler_: That’s a good looking shoe. @FootJoy http://pic.twitter.com/f7qPgjQb

Dacota Dryden  ‏ 
@DacotaDryden   Getting work in for US open quali! @PUMAGolf gear on and @cobragolf clubs all dialed in! #pure http://pic.twitter.com/a1G9Ti5h

Sligo Wear  ‏ 
@SLIGOWEAR   BG melon plaids http://instagr.am/p/Kh2UbIiWr0/

David Byrne  ‏ 
@David_Byrne87  Kuchar putts the best with his @RIFEPUTTERS Barbados Island Series. #inthecenter

Natalie Gulbis  ‏ 
@natalie_gulbis   With Claud Harmon at the new Butch Harmon golf school in Florida http://twitpic.com/9k8vfg

@natalie_gulbis   At the Putting Studio http://twitpic.com/9kacfl

Roberto Castro  ‏ 
@cicioCASTRO   “I feel like Sergio at Medinah” – @Franc0_Castr0 rocking the vintage adidas spikes. http://pic.twitter.com/Hv4Cb8Pz

Hank Haney, PGA  ‏ 
@HankDHaney   Get a @TaylorMadeGolf RBZ 3 wood, hit it 297 lose the driver RT @jones_pw:hit my 3W 270-280 but hitting driver 240-250 with a slice?

MAY 11
LoudMouth Golf  ‏ 

@LoudMouthGolf   Check out this stylish duo! #LoudmouthNation http://pic.twitter.com/D2FdZOQm

Jane Park  ‏ 
@TheJanePark   Pull golf balls from my bag and find chocolate on them. What the hell is wrong with me? http://pic.twitter.com/ZKmRHCTr

Ping Golf  ‏ 
@PingTour   RT “@walker7088: After playing 26 yrs, I made my 1st hole in one in my 5th round with my new i20′s #awesome” Congratulations on your ace!!

Joe Ogilvie  ‏ 
@ogilviej   Capitulation http://pic.twitter.com/DIsc4kNt

KBS Tour Shafts  ‏ 
@KBSShafts   19 pros in KBS shafts at The Players Championship!! The most impressive part is the quality of players requesting KBS every week.

David Byrne  ‏ 
@David_Byrne87  Good to see Kuch rocking that @RIFEPUTTERS Barbados island series belly. #rife4life

Jofit  ‏ 
@
4allbyjofit   Cute Raspberry outfit with shoes from our friends Kikkor @polyvore http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?.svc=twitterid=48521496 http://pic.twitter.com/woOWEftp

Joel Sjoholm  ‏ 
@SwedishTORO   Regular shaft for J.EDFORS? http://pic.twitter.com/woLRqCsP

Titleist Canada  ‏ 
@TitleistCA   We love it! Thanks for the support! RT @bracklittle: @TitleistCA golf ball display at The Ranch Golf and Country Club http://pic.twitter.com/DgacGtfY

Aldila Golf  ‏ 
@AldilaGolf   #Aldila golf wins the wood, driver, and hybrid shaft count at #The Players Championship!

FairwayStyles.com  ‏ 
@FairwayStyles   Brian Gay kicking off the Players in @SLIGOWEAR Wisteria striped pants, awesome! http://bit.ly/IId3Mu http://pic.twitter.com/PLqammLt

Sligo Wear‏ 
@SLIGOWEAR   @SLIGOWEAR office attire http://instagr.am/p/KfVFD3CWuw/

@SLIGOWEAR   More Friday Sligo office attire pics coming in. If you are wearing Sligo today tweet us your pic! http://instagr.am/p/KfbGPFCWgn/

Ping Tour Europe  ‏ 
@PINGTourEurope   RT @noahsarkgolf: Got our new Ping shop in shop display installed today, awesome… @PingTour @PINGTourEurope http://pic.twitter.com/4vRneWvQ

SMS Inc.  ‏ 
@SMSInc_On_Tour   #MadeiraIslandsOpen – % of players changing clubs since their last @European_Tour event – Ball 17.9%, Driver 34.6%, Putter 39.7%.

MAY 10
Joe Ogilvie  ‏ 

@ogilviej   RBZ deepface tour driver worked decent today. Not an easy course for the maiden voyage…but happy with the way it performed.

Sligo Wear ‏ 
@SLIGOWEAR   Rocking our new wisteria stripe pants @BrianGayPGA @SLIGOWEAR @THEPLAYERSChamp @pgatour Zimbio Pics http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Brian+Gay/PLAYERS+Championship+Round+One/ktSKS51d4xg

Kyle Thompson  ‏ 
@KyleThompsonPGA   I love getting these yellow boxes in the mail. Thanks @Titleist and @ScottyCameron! http://pic.twitter.com/9TAfPwOn

@KyleThompsonPGA   http://pic.twitter.com/iLUzKUTz

Callaway Golf  ‏ 
@CallawayGolf   Rock legend Alice Cooper gets to the golf course in style. Would you expect anything less? http://instagr.am/p/Kdmp0El7CA/ @RealAliceCooper

@CallawayGolf    That looks SCARY good. RT @duckhook7: “The Ghost” #udesignRAZRFit driver http://shar.es/2ywY7 via @CallawayGolf

Suzann Pettersen  ‏ 
@suzannpettersen   New color for the summer! @nikegolf I like;) http://pic.twitter.com/vT3km22o

Cleveland Srixon  ‏ 
@CGSrixonTour   Your going to give it a whirl? RT”@TravisHampshire: Has a professional golfer ever won a tournament with a full set of hybrids?? #mashie”

Chris Wilson  ‏ 
@TheRealCWilson   Overheard at local golf shop: “Hey do we have any more Rickie hats??” “Nope, been sold out, can’t keep em in stock” @RickieFowlerPGA

Adams Golf  ‏ 
@AdamsGolfInc   Nwide winner @paulhaleygolf testing the soon2b released Idea CMB irons “nice feel, nice ball flight, didn’t miss one” http://pic.twitter.com/WDkjpUs6

FootJoy Europe  ‏ 
@FootJoyEurope   “@timhallpga: @footjoy @footjoyeurope #icons with #thsg #whatapartnership #instagolf http://instagr.am/p/Kce1fLxq3s/” Beauties!

Callaway Golf Europe  ‏ 
@CallawayTourSpy   You’re welcome Joe – Enjoy! @JoeMillerLDC Gotta love a little @CallawayTourSpy @CallawayGolf care package , thanks guys http://pic.twitter.com/C340lJUD

MAY 9
Charlie Tour (TaylorMade)  ‏ 

@CharlieTour   I can run.. But I cannot hide RT @IMGgolf: Here’s Sergio last night at the launch of @TaylorMadeGolf Performance Lab http://twitpic.com/9j6lzo

David Byrne  ‏ 
@David_Byrne87  How awesome are these shoes!!! #nikehightops – go well with my @nikegolf dunks! http://lockerz.com/s/207743479

Mikko Ilonen  ‏ 
@MikkoIlonen   Shoe delivery today, nothing better than fresh pair of white FootJoys! #1ShoeAndGloveInGolf http://pic.twitter.com/T3C8Lf8i

Players Towel ‏
@PlayersTowel   SAWGRASS 17 – Friend or Foe? 120,000 – The number of balls that find the wet stuff every year. That’s an average… http://fb.me/1JAc71V0d

Nike Golf  ‏ 
@nikegolf   Pick a Method any Method…final day of practice for #THEPLAYERS. Practice #counts. http://twitpic.com/9j353p

@nikegolf   Happy to be tending to morning duties…@theweeman77 attacks replacing the spikes on @Paul_Casey ‘s Lunars http://twitpic.com/9j4hme

@nikegolf   Trying to figure out why the VR_S forged long irons are so hot!? @Paul_Casey had a 162 mph ball speed/275 yds http://twitpic.com/9j6do4

@nikegolf   Trying out a new VR_S forged long iron this week @JhonattanVegas instantly added it to his bag. #THEPLAYERS http://twitpic.com/9j7v8z

Adam Hadwin  ‏ 
@ahadwingolf   “@JHass097: what putter do you use?” Odyssey pti14.. think black series with a white ice insert.

Sligo Wear  ‏ 
@SLIGOWEAR   Northern Territory representative Aussie Boys Tourney wearing @SLIGOWEAR at Pacific GC @SligoAustralia http://instagr.am/p/KaKy4-iWkz/

@SLIGOWEAR   Aussie boys @SLIGOWEAR @SligoAustralia http://instagr.am/p/KaMjUmiWlU/

Hunter Mahan  ‏ 
@HunterMahan   Some sweet threads by @UnderArmour for me this week. http://pic.twitter.com/N7X9NgjS

Cobra Golf  ‏ 
@cobragolf   Rickie plays the AMP Pro Proto Irons, check out our AMP Irons AMP Forged Irons to see what fits your game http://bit.ly/KbeoPX

Precision Putting Products  ‏ 
@precisionputtin   Check Out our New Mallet! http://bit.ly/K355gZ #PGA #GOLF #AWESOME #PUTTER

Adams Golf  ‏ 
@AdamsGolfInc   Give Mom some great fashion for the fairway with our colorful Idea a12 OS Ladies Sets – new Sterling set just released http://pic.twitter.com/ValVACaE

FootJoy  ‏ 
@FootJoy   Just like @McIlroyRory! RT @cloudpro5: @FootJoy I love my footjoy sports no better shoe for my game!! http://lockerz.com/s/207300474

Callaway Golf ‏
@CallawayGolf  .@JBHolmesgolf getting reps on the range at @THEPLAYERSChamp sporting his #UK bag. @UKCoachCalipari @UKAthleticsNews http://pic.twitter.com/zTVM6747

Ping Golf ‏
@PingTour   Photo: Have you seen the new friend that PING Pro @Scott_Langley made on the range the other day? https://pic.twitter.com/Jj3c9t37

@PingTour   With 225 to the front 245 to the pin, PING Pro @WestwoodLee pures his 3-iron on the par 3 8th hole at TPC Sawgrass http://pic.twitter.com/Rf2NKVnl

TaylorMade Golf  ‏ 
@TaylorMadeGolf   Awesome #MyPenta pic RT @jsideshow: just got my personalized number 23 TP5 Penta balls in today. What’s your number? http://pic.twitter.com/wC2d2VDI

TaylorMade Golf Europe  ‏ 
@TaylorMadeTour   Paul McGinley has just arrived at HQ for some re-grips, lofts and lies. http://pic.twitter.com/Pw2IlXz1

Scratch Golf  ‏ 
@scratch_golf   PICTURE*** This is our Case Harden Finish. http://fb.me/1CSFA4K8E

@scratch_golf   PICTURE *** This is our Rem Brown Finish. http://fb.me/1EnDVuJlx

@scratch_golf   PICTURE *** This is our Black Oxide (XXX Black) Finish. http://fb.me/LPJwQXCw

G/Fore  ‏ 
@getgfore   Oklahoma Christian University’s @ostark1 in G/FORE crimson posting red numbers at a US Open Qualifier today. http://pic.twitter.com/1IlfISK1

MAY 8
59 Belts  ‏ 
@
59beltsGUY   U of Redlands Bulldogs off to the NCAA’s rockin 59! Do Work guys!! http://pic.twitter.com/xGTGz0nB

Ping Tour Europe  ‏ 
@PINGTourEurope   This is special – Tom’s silver medal. (Tom Lewis’ silver medal as leading amateur in 2011 British Open) http://pic.twitter.com/fdY4azJn

Ping Golf  ‏ 
@PingTour   We’re on the range right now with PING Pro Louis Oosthuizen while he works on a ball-striking drill… #S56 http://pic.twitter.com/RlIbtW8R

@PingTour   On the range this afternoon at @ThePlayersChamp is PING Pro @WestwoodLee warming up with his PING driver… http://pic.twitter.com/Eezc6cr7

@PingTour   This afternoon PING Pro @chrisdimarco signed one of his custom PING putter headcovers for a fellow U of F alumni http://pic.twitter.com/fcsE1yeJ

@PingTour   This afternoon we re-gripped PING Pro @HeathSlocum’s Anser Milled putter with laser like precision… http://pic.twitter.com/ztsckqJM

Vokey Wedges  ‏ 
@VokeyWedges   Here’s the @WellsFargoGolf champ’s 4 Vokey setup: 248.10 @47*, 250.08 @51*, 254.12 @55*, SM4 60-L @59*, 1.5* Flat, 1/2″ under, S400 shafts.

G/Fore  ‏ 
@getgfore   Oklahoma Christian University’s @ostark1 in G/FORE crimson posting red numbers at a US Open Qualifier today. http://pic.twitter.com/1IlfISK1

TaylorMade Golf  ‏ 
@TaylorMadeGolf   Get your own at http://taylormadegolf.com/MyPenta RT Sean O’Hair spent some serious time working on his short game with his #MyPenta http://instagr.am/p/KYsqmPSO3U/

@TaylorMadeGolf   [PHOTO] TaylorMade eggs are ready to be cracked on the driving range @THEPLAYERSChamp this morning #MyPenta http://pic.twitter.com/fNUfnuUh

@TaylorMadeGolf   Great pic! RT @ryanfinnigan: @TaylorMadeGolf I trust a Penta tp5 for every high school golf match #MyPenta #hfgolf http://pic.twitter.com/uk6OSa9U

@TaylorMadeGolf   [PHOTO] TaylorMade Staffer Sergio Garcia is helping us with the Grand Opening of the new TMPL @TPCSawgrass tonight. http://pic.twitter.com/gQFoo7S2

Nike Golf  ‏ 
@nikegolf   First Nike bag on the range this morning at #THEPLAYERS #makeitcount @JhonattanVegas http://twitpic.com/9iqs17

@nikegolf   Undeniable power. @JhonattanVegas droppin bombs with his VR_S driver on the range at #THEPLAYERS http://twitpic.com/9irj9t

@nikegolf   Getting work done on his VR Pro Combo irons at #THEPLAYERS @simondyson77 has asked to flatten them 1-degree. http://twitpic.com/9itja2

@nikegolf   After the rain passed the Tour Van got busy. Crankin on clubs for @tigerwoods @stewartcink Glover #THEPLAYERS http://twitpic.com/9iuztx

@nikegolf   Twins spotting! Lucas Glover and Nike Rob lookin good rockin the Ultra Stripe polo today @THEPLAYERSChamp http://twitpic.com/9iven3

@nikegolf   Nike Rob bending a VR Pro 48-degree wedge 1/2 a degree for @stewartcink #THEPLAYERS http://twitpic.com/9iurry

@nikegolf   In his afternoon practice rd, @TigerWoods hit his SQ II 5-wood solid off the tee on the Par 4 4th #THEPLAYERS http://twitpic.com/9ivt49

@nikegolf   Thanks for the #AskCarl Qs Tweeps! @petterswede is off to the range to test out a new VR_S driver http://twitpic.com/9iw62x

Pukka Headwear  ‏ 
@pukkaheadwear   In Dana Point, CA @theINFINTREE (Infinity Surfboard Co.) got their first delivery of Pukka Caps in stock. #BeOriginal http://pic.twitter.com/DJZpOBkM

Jones Sports Company  ‏ 
@JonesSportsCo   On set at Studio 3, shooting our bags for our new website launching this June. http://lockerz.com/s/207465894 http://lockerz.com/s/207465910

Fujikura Composites  ‏ 
@FujikuraOnTour   Where is everybody in the Ping truck? http://pic.twitter.com/enW3kuq4

@FujikuraOnTour   Bag room at TPC looking for our fed ex box. http://pic.twitter.com/8XLpHSnb

Jofit  ‏ 
@
4allbyjofit   Pair 2 Jofit styles together to create the look of a dress http://fb.me/250pSommI

Cleveland Srixon  ‏ 
@CGSrixonTour   PHOTO: a look inside G-Mac’s bag sitting in trailer at THE PLAYERS. Lots of #588 love… http://pic.twitter.com/2bFMGe5W

@CGSrixonTour   PHOTO: Keegan rockin’ a special BLACK PEARL version of his @ClevelandGolf 588 staff bag this week @ THE PLAYERS! #pure http://pic.twitter.com/Bd7e2EpW

Titleist  ‏ 
@Titleist   Ben Curtis checks in with our @ScottyCameron Tour Reps on the practice green at #ThePlayers http://twitpic.com/9ismer #teamtitleist

Callaway Golf Europe  ‏ 
@CallawayTourSpy   Hello Madeira! Here we are on the Island (with Nic Fasth’s bag), and YES the sun is out! http://pic.twitter.com/HzxkN7EN

SMS Inc.  ‏ 
@SMSInc_On_Tour   Congratulations to the latest @European_Tour winner @F_Molinari on his win at #opendeespana. See the winning bag here. http://pic.twitter.com/mPf70nhA

@SMSInc_On_Tour   Francesco Molinari became the first @European_Tour winner of 2012 to have 2 utility clubs in his bag.

MAY 7
SeeMore Putters  ‏ 

@SeeMorePutters   Close-up of Tour Bag The Players Championship – http://pinterest.com/pin/14777504997643942/ via @pinterest

@SeeMorePutters   Putting Green today @TPCSawgrass – awesome day! Hope you are have a great day as well! http://pinterest.com/pin/14777504997643859/ via @pinterest

Kevin Streelman  ‏ 
@Streels54   “@graphicdesign79: @Streels54 talking about new @WilsonGolf clubs http://pic.twitter.com/242C0f7i” Awesome stuff coming out Great work guys

Callaway Golf  ‏ 
@CallawayGolf   This young #Callaway fan is ready to go low. And he can pull off a fedora hat better than Don Draper, which is awesome. http://pic.twitter.com/qVmWJaik

Shasta Averyhardt  ‏ 
@IamSAveryhardt   These shoes are forever #Winning @TFJgolfgirl http://pic.twitter.com/xIOFfSnT

Nike Golf  ‏ 
@nikegolf   After hitting a VR_S forged long iron @Kevin_Chappell said “This is awesome” gave it some love! #THEPLAYERS http://twitpic.com/9ikz3o

@nikegolf   Checkin specs on the head of a new 43″ VR_S 3-wood for Lucas Glover to test out @TPCSawgrass http://twitpic.com/9iftet

@nikegolf   Grippin Lucas Glover’s new VR_S 3-wood…6 mask + 1 two way. #BigMitts http://twitpic.com/9igm4z

@nikegolf   Talkin about his VR Pro wedges… @JhonattanVegas is looking for a sharper leading edge for @THEPLAYERSChamp http://twitpic.com/9ihiwi

@nikegolf   Adding hot melt to a VR Pro LTD 5-wood head to make a D3 swingweight for @petterswede @THEPLAYERSChamp http://twitpic.com/9iilya

@nikegolf   New stick for @petterswede. Carl checkin out his new VR Pro LTD 5-wood…fresh from the Tour Van. http://twitpic.com/9ijl85

@nikegolf   After hitting a VR_S forged long iron @Kevin_Chappell said “This is awesome” gave it some love! #THEPLAYERS http://twitpic.com/9ikz3o

Michael Johnson  ‏ 
@PirettiGolf   On their way to Korea! http://pic.twitter.com/magsqnoG

TaylorMade Golf  ‏ 
@TaylorMadeGolf   [PHOTO] Must-see: New #RBZ rug was delivered and installed on Tour truck today @THEPLAYERSChamp. That’s RocketBallz! http://pic.twitter.com/CuCmIxHC

Charlie Tour (TaylorMade)  ‏ 
@CharlieTour   [PHOTO] Fred Funk in the house! Fresh off Champions win, former #Players Champ stopped by TM truck Monday at Sawgrass http://pic.twitter.com/2QxC71dt

@CharlieTour   Check out @Y_E_Yang #MyPenta on Monday @THEPLAYERSChamp – No. 3s getting ready for TPC Sawgrass locker transport http://pic.twitter.com/gnibW82o

@CharlieTour   Coincidence – #MyPenta number is 17 – also the number #PentaTP5 we’ve got out on the putting green @THEPLAYERSChamp http://pic.twitter.com/fvybI27z

Ping Golf  ‏ 
@PingTour   Earlier this morning we presented a gold platted Scottsdale Wolverine C to the winner of the 2012 Mayakoba Golf Classic http://pic.twitter.com/ZV3g31A2

@PingTour   In for surgery this morning is a set of S56 irons. We’re installing new CTP weights to help increase the swing weight http://pic.twitter.com/2d3NlSot

KBS Tour Shafts  ‏ 
@KBSShafts   28 pros trusted KBS shafts this week on the Nationwide Tour! That is another KBS record!

Cobra Golf  ‏ 
@cobragolf   Get AMP’d like @RickieFowlerPGA See what clubs he plays here http://bit.ly/kS2twe RT to win a white/vibrant orange Tour hat like he wore Sun

Callaway Golf  ‏ 
@CallawayGolf  .@THEPLAYERSChamp week has officially begun, these HEX Black Tour golf balls are about to get some work on the range. http://instagr.am/p/KVW7Rsl7BK/

Fujikura Composites  ‏ 
@FujikuraOnTour   Mark working hard in the Adams van. http://pic.twitter.com/Ka2PiCRp

@FujikuraOnTour   Wow that looks good at address http://pic.twitter.com/nBwns057

@FujikuraOnTour   Gold Ping putter for John Huh http://pic.twitter.com/QDG6dEHN

Jofit  ‏ 
@
4allbyjofit   Navy with Poppy @polyvore http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?.svc=twitterid=47915649 http://pic.twitter.com/x9K6xKqW

Simon Wilson  ‏ 
@pgatourshaftrep   Great double this week for True Temper Iron Shafts wins at The Open de Espana and The Wells Fargo thanks to @F_Molinari @RickieFowlerPGA

Article source: http://www.pga.com/golf-equipment/weeks-worth-tweets/weeks-worth-tweets-may-7-13-2012