The American missed the cut in more than half of the PGA Tour events he played in 2011 and he hasn’t had a win since 2006.

With two years left on his 10-year European Tour exemption after winning the 2003 British Open, Curtis started this year by playing the European Tour’s Desert Swing, which concluded with the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

After finishing 48th in Abu Dhabi and 47th in Qatar, Curtis improved in Dubai, finishing tied for 13th place.

“My thinking is play wherever I can and got to play good,” said Curtis, who makes his 2012 PGA Tour debut this week at the Mayakoba Golf Classic and expects to play 15 to 20 times in the United States this year. “I’m trying to take it one week at a time and play solid, and not focusing on what everyone else is doing. Just trying to play good golf for myself and hopefully that will lead to good results.”

Curtis is one several Americans using the European Tour in an attempt to revive their careers.
 
Most are counting on invites to tournaments such as two-time major champion John Daly, who tied for 37th in Dubai after finishing ninth in Qatar. Nicholas Thompson, who tied for 20th, received an invitation to Dubai after his sister Lexi Thompson won the Dubai Ladies Masters in December.
 
Curtis caught the golfing public’s imagination with his out-of-nowhere British Open victory, and visited President George W. Bush in the White House. Great things were expected from Curtis, but after two wins in 2006 he has done little since. His ranking has fallen to 304th.
 
Last year was by far his worst. He failed to make the cut in 13 of 23 events, and his best finish was a tie for 12th at the Northern Trust Open.
 
“It was a tough year. I didn’t play well, plain and simple,” Curtis said. “I missed a lot of cuts by one or two shots. It is the difference from keeping your card and not keeping your card. If I made some cuts, you never know what would happen on the weekend. Play well, make a couple of birdies and finish in the top 20. That is what you need to do.”
 
Curtis admits he “was frustrated” that he lost his card, but said he just has to put that behind him and do what he can to regain it. He insisted his game was showing signs of improvement, though he has to do a better job of closing out tournaments. He shot 74 in the final round in Abu Dhabi and 73 in Qatar before another 73 to close out in Dubai.
 
“I’m hitting the ball better than I did last year and overall putting a little bit better … making a few birdies,” he said. “Now, it seems to be turning in the right direction. It’s hard to tell after three weeks. You have to get some good results and finishing in the middle of the pack doesn’t really do it.”

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/european-tour/ben-curtis-after-losing-pga-tour-card-seeks-regain-form-far-home

It wasn’t the clutch putt that stood out. It was the spitting.

It’s a nervous habit Bradley didn’t realize he had, expectorating before just about every shot, sometimes more than once. It turned into quite a spat on Twitter, particularly from Europeans, and Bradley later tweeted an apology when he saw all the comments.

“I was very surprised to see the replay of the telecast to see how much I was spitting. To be honest with you, I really had no idea I was doing it. And I feel bad,” Bradley said. “It’s something that I’m going to work on and I just ask everybody to just kind of bear with me as I go through this, because it’s something I’ve done without even knowing it.

“In a way, I’m glad it happened,” he said. “But it’s something that I’m going to try very hard to stop.”

UP FOR GRABS: Martin Kaymer went to No. 1 in the world last year by reaching the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. This year, two players have a chance to take over No. 1.

Luke Donald has to reach the quarterfinals to assure staying at the top for the ninth month.

Rory McIlroy is at No. 2. The only way for him to get to No. 1 for the first time in his career is to win the Match Play, provided that Donald doesn’t make it beyond the second round.

Lee Westwood is at No. 3, and his odds are slightly better than McIlroy because he has played fewer tournaments. For Westwood to return to No. 1 — his position a year ago — he would have to win and make sure Donald doesn’t reach the quarterfinals.

LPGA IN SINGAPORE: It’s a play on words at the HSBC Women’s Champions event this week at Singapore, where organizers have referred to the winner as the “Champion of Champions.”

So far, it has lived up to its name.

In its four-year history, the winners have been Lorena Ochoa, Jiyai Shin and Ai Miyazato, all of whom had been No. 1 in the women’s world ranking. The exception is the defending champion, Karrie Webb, who dominated more than any of the other three before the ranking began. Webb is the only player to win the LPGA’s “Super Slam” of five majors.

The only players who have been at No. 1 and have not won the HSBC Women’s Champions are Yani Tseng and Cristie Kerr.

PRO-AM PREFERENCE: Tiger Woods will play his first pro-am of the year on the PGA Tour next week in the Honda Classic. And even though he finished 128th on the money list a year ago, he can count on an early tee time.

The tour used to rely on the money list to decide who gets the first choice of tee times. As was the case a year ago when he was 68th on the previous year’s money list, Woods got into some pro-ams as a sponsor’s pick.

In a change this year, the pick of tee times first goes to anyone who is in the “Life Member” category or in the World Golf Hall of Fame. Life members must have played 15 years and won at least 20 times. Woods completed his 15th year in 2011 and has 71 wins.

Others who fall into that category are Phil Mickelson, Davis Love III and Vijay Singh.

DIVOTS: The average score at Riviera was 72.6 for the week, not only the highest on the PGA Tour this year, but the only tournament that the score was over par. … For the first time in more than two years, Luke Donald made the cut in a tournament but failed to earn any world ranking points because he finished too low. … The LPGA Tour made it official last week by saying the Lotte Championship in Hawaii will be played at Ko Olina Golf Club on April 18-21. The LPGA previously had a tournament at the resort on the west end of Oahu. … Lee Westwood wanted to lose weight in the offseason, and he found the easiest way was to cut out alcohol. He’s done well, except when he went to Buckingham Palace to receive his Order of the British Empire. “You have to have a couple of glasses of champagne at lunch afterward and the night before,” he said. “But apart from that, I’m sort of back on being off of it.”

STAT OF THE WEEK: The last nine players to be No. 1 in the world are playing PGA Tour events this week — five in the Match Play Championship (Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els) and four in the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico (David Duval, Greg Norman, Tom Lehman, Nick Price).

FINAL WORD: “For a short hole, when you get out of position, the hardest shot is just to get back into position.” — Harrison Frazar on the 10th hole at Riviera.

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/pga-tour/notebook-keegan-bradley-promises-work-cutting-down-spitting

The last time Coetzee competed in the United States was in 2005, when he played for the University of San Diego under head coach Tim Mickelson, the brother of four-time major champion Phil Mickelson. He only stayed four months.

“And there’s a good reason why it only lasted four months,” he said.

Coetzee said he got off to a good start, making the traveling squad for the Toreros, but his game started to slip.

“San Diego is a pretty nice place to be,” he said. “The weather is pretty good, and there’s a lot of other good things you can do other than play golf. There was no one else to blame but myself. After four months, I couldn’t break 80. And I think it took me another three months to break par.”

He returned home and played in the South African Open. Because he had won the South African Amateur the year before, he was put in the same group with Retief Goosen and Tim Clark.

“I shot 88 … and I putted like a champion,” Coetzee said. “So I had to kind of make a decision — either play golf or go back and take my studies pretty seriously. It’s kind of a no-brainer for me. I love my sport way too much.”

Coetzee had to go through Q-School twice on the European Tour. He made a small breakthrough last year when he tied for 26th on the money list, mainly from his runner-up finish in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

He was two shots out of the lead going into the weekend at the British Open and tied for 15th.

His opponent in the first round will be Rory McIlroy, the second-ranked player in the world. Even though Coetzee was the last player to get a spot — after Paul Casey withdrew with a shoulder injury — the seeds were based on the ranking that came out a week after the cutoff, and he moved one spot past Ernie Els.

If not for the Match Play, Coetzee would be in South Africa defending his title in the Telkom PGA Championship in South Africa. He’s not complaining.

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/pga-tour/george-coetzee-back-in-america-first-time-eventful-few-months-in-college

There was a time when a comment from his opponent in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, even tongue-in-cheek, would be an extra bit of motivation that Woods didn’t need. Most famous at this event was in 2006, when Stephen Ames was asked about playing Woods and said that anything could happen, adding with a big smile, “Especially where he’s hitting it.”

Woods beat him 9 and 8, the most lopsided score in tournament history.

But that was when Woods was No. 1 in the world. He is the No. 19 seed this week at Dove Mountain.
 
That was when Woods was winning two majors a year. Now he hasn’t won a tour event in more than two years.
 
So when Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, who faces Woods in the opening round Wednesday, said that his opponent is “beatable,” Woods didn’t seem the least bit bothered.
 
“I feel exactly the same way as he does,” Woods said. “I feel he’s beatable, too.”
 
Then again, that goes for all 64 players in the field for the first World Golf Championship of the year. The difference in talent at this level of golf is miniscule. Over 18 holes of match play, it’s even smaller.
 
The best example might be Luke Donald, the defending champion and No. 1 player in the world. For his opening round, he gets to play Ernie Els, a three-time major champion and seven-time winner of the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Wentworth, where each match is contested over 36 holes.
 
Not since the inaugural Match Play Championship in 1999 has No. 1 against No. 64 featured such big stars, when Woods beat Nick Faldo.
 
Of course, there’s a reason Els comes in as the No. 64 seed.
 
The Big Easy hasn’t won since the South African Open at the end of 2010, and he only got into this tournament because Phil Mickelson is taking a family vacation (Paul Casey later withdrew with injury). If his results don’t improve over the next few weeks, he might be out of the Masters for the first time in nearly 20 years.
 
Donald has had a slow start to the year. He tied for 48th in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, and closed with a 78 at Riviera last week to tie for 56th, the first time in more than two years that he didn’t earn ranking points despite making the cut.
 
Even so, he’s coming off a year in which he won money titles on the PGA Tour and European Tour, and won a career-high four tournaments, starting with the Match Play Championship. Donald was so dominant at Dove Mountain last year that he never played the 18th hole all week in competition.
 
“He had an unbelievable year last year, and becoming world No. 1. So he’s got a lot going for him,” Els said. “It’s 18 holes, you know? It’s not like I’m the worst match-play player in the world, either. I think I know what I need to do. You’ve got to keep the ball in play. You’ve got to keep it in play on every single hole, because he’s going to be in every hole.
 
“It’s basically who can make the most putts and make the most birdies,” he said. “So we’ll take it from there.”
 
U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy makes his PGA Tour debut this year by taking on George Coetzee, who is playing for the first time ever in America as a pro. Coetzee got in when Casey’s shoulder injury from snowboarding was not fully healed.
 
Lee Westwood is the No. 3 seed and will play Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium. Martin Kaymer, who lost in the championship match to Donald a year ago, is the No. 4 seed and opens with Greg Chalmers of Australia.
 
The Match Play is loaded with examples of those who play good rounds and lose to someone who made one more birdie, and guys who can’t break par who are lucky enough to play someone even worse.
 
Only twice has the No. 1 seed lost in the first round — Woods in 2002 and Steve Stricker in 2010.
 
Stricker, the fifth seed who opens against Kevin Na, is coming off a five-week break designed to keep his head fresh and build up strength in his left arm, a product of a neck injury.
 
No one knows how long they will stay. The smart players don’t even bother looking ahead in the bracket to see whom they might face in the next round. Ben Crane opens with Bubba Watson, interesting in that their caddies are sharing a room this week. One of them will be checking out Wednesday afternoon.
 
“If you get on a roll and you play well, you can run the tables here,” said Stricker, who did just that in 2001 as the No. 55 seed.
 
“I don’t think it really matters where you come from, to tell you the truth,” he said. “They’re all good players. There are 64 good players here, and they deserve to be here. They’ve shown that they’ve played well over the last year to be within that top 64. So you need to play well, just because everybody is good.”
 
Woods is a three-time winner of the Match Play Championship, yet this is the first time he has not been among the top four seeds. He shared the lead at Abu Dhabi going into the final round and tied for third, and he was in the penultimate group at Pebble Beach, four shots out of the lead, when he played with Mickelson and shot 75.
 
He is hitting the ball well. There are times when he is putting well. He is not yet winning.
 
As for the “beatable” comment? Woods said such things used to motivate him “quite a bit” when he was younger.
 
“But as I’ve matured and gone beyond that, it’s just an opinion,” the 36-year-old Woods said. “What matters is how I go out and play, and how I’m progressing in my game. At the end of the day when I’m retired, I think I’ll have mastered a pretty good record.”
 
Fernandez-Castano — known as “Gonzo” by the European press — won the Singapore Open last year for his fifth European Tour victory. This is his first appearance in the Match Play Championship.
 
Even though Woods no longer is not top of the world, Fernandez-Castano is approaching it the same way so many others have before, that he has nothing to lose.
 
“It’s a funny feeling because being 47th or 48th in the world ranking at the moment, you don’t expect to be paired against Tiger Woods,” he said. “But those things happen. He’s probably not at his best. And you have to look at it that way. Maybe it’s a good chance to play good. And maybe I can beat him. That would be a great feeling.”
 
“As I said before, I’m the underdog. I have nothing to lose,” he said. “And at the same time, I don’t think he’s at his best. So it’s a good opportunity. If I play well, I can beat him. I know I need to play good. He’s a great match-play player.”

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/pga-tour/tiger-woods-not-top-seed-still-target-wgc-accenture-match-play

Tseng met the challenge with a shot fitting her No. 1 ranking, controlling the spin perfectly to set up a tap-in putt.

HONDA LPGA THAILAND

Yani Tseng won the 2011 Honda LPGA Thailand en route to a record-setting season that saw her rise to No. 1 in the world ranking.

“It was an incredible shot. I think it’s the shot of the week,” Tseng said Sunday. “Especially, I saw that Ai hit it so close and I knew she was going to make that putt. So, I tell myself, `I need to get this close.”’

The 23-year-old Taiwanese star successfully defended her title for her 13th LPGA Tour victory, matching Miyazato with birdies on the final two holes to hold off her Japanese friend by a stroke.

“It was tough,” Tseng said about her approach on the par-5 18th. “I had 104 to the pin and a little uphill. I know my ball is going to spin a lot, so I just tried to keep it low and not spin too much. … I was very proud of myself for hitting that shot into 18 and making birdie to win.”

Tseng closed with a 6-under 66 to finish at 19-under 269 on the Old Course at Siam Country Club. She opened with a 73 so disappointing that she cried in her hotel rom afterward, then shot consecutive 65s to enter the final round a shot behind Miyazato.
 
“I had some luck out there,” Tseng said, pointing to the lucky Thai statue where she made a wish. “I shot 1 over the first round, but I came back very soon and played 20 under the next three days. I felt like I could improve a lot and I feel like something gave me luck.”
 
She also visited the statue last year.
 
“I just wish I could win this tournament,” she said.
 
Last year, Tseng won the event for the first of her seven 2011 LPGA Tour victories, including major victories in the LPGA Championship and Women’s British Open. The five-time major champion finished the year with 12 worldwide victories. She has 33 career worldwide professional victories.
 
“I feel much more pressure coming into this year,” Tseng said. “Last year, when I started, I was nothing. I was just in the top five in the world, but I don’t have 12 wins or world No. 1 title. After last year, I have world No. 1 and I had 12 wins and that pressure keep going on and on.”
 
Miyazato finished with a 67.
 
“Of course, Yani is No. 1, so I knew it wouldn’t be easy today,” Miyazato said. “I kind of expected her to play that way.”
 
South Korea’s Jiyai Shin, tied for the lead with Tseng after a birdie of her own on the par-4 17th, had a 67 to finish two strokes back.
 
Tseng eagled the par-5 opening hole and Miyazato had a birdie, leaving them tied at 15 under. Tseng took the lead with a birdie on the par-4 third, and added birdies on the par-4 sixth and par-5 seventh. At the turn, she had a three-stroke lead over Shin and four-shot advantage over Miyazato.
 
“I played really well on the front nine, but it was tough on the back nine, especially when you see Jiyai and Ai keep making birdies,” Tseng said. “It got tight down the stretch. It was tough. I feel like I had lots of emotions today.”
 
Shin, playing a group ahead of Tseng and Miyazato, birdied the par-4 10th to pull within two and gained another stroke when Tseng bogeyed the hole. Tseng pushed her lead to two with a birdie on the par-3 12th, but bogeyed the par-4 13th.
 
Miyazato birdied the 10th and pulled within one of Tseng with a birdie on the par-4 15th, then matched Tseng with a par on 16 and the birdies on 17 and 18.
 
“Overall, I played really well and I’m very happy that I could finish strong today,” Miyazato said. “I really enjoyed playing with Yani, but next time I want to win.”
 
South Korea’s Amy Yang shot a 69 to finish fourth at 14 under.
 
Sixteen-year-old Thai amateur Ariya Jutanugarn followed her third-round 65 with a 74 to tie for 12th to 7 under. She played the final five holes in 4 over, making a double bogey-7 on No. 18. Last year, Jutanugarn won the U.S. Junior Girls’ Championship and was the Rolex Junior Player of the Year.
 
American Lexi Thompson had five back-nine birdies in a 66 to tie for 14th at 6 under. “I’m really happy with the way I’m hitting it,” Thompson said.

Second-ranked Suzann Pettersen had a 78 to drop into a tie for 21st at 4 under. She began the round four strokes out of the lead, while Michelle Wie shot a 73 to tie for 38th at 1 over. Morgan Pressel had a hole-in-one with an 8-iron on the 136-yard eighth hole. She finished with a 71 to tie for 49th at 4 over.

Also Sunday in Christchurch, New Zealand, Australia’s Lindsey Wright made a 13-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th for a 4-under 68 and a one-stroke victory Sunday in the New Zealand Women’s Open.
 
Wright finished at 10-under 206 at Pegasus Golf Club in the event sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour and Australian Ladies Professional Golf.

“It’s unbelievable,” Wright said. “It’s still sinking in. I putted really well all day and the last six holes I was really nervous.”
 
The 32-year-old former Pepperdine player is a regular on the LPGA Tour.
 
American Alison Walshe and Australia’s Jessica Speechley tied for second. Walshe closed with a 69, and Speechley had a 65.
 
“I looked at the leaderboard and saw Alison Walshe up there and Speechley at 9 under and thought, `No, I can make this putt. Just keep your head down, just hit a great putt,”’ Wright said.
 
Canada’s Lorie Kane and Australia’s Stephanie Na shot 69 to tie for fourth at 8 under.
 
Fourteen-year-old Lydia Ko, part of a six-way tie for the second-round lead, shot a 74 to tie for 17th at 4 under. The South Korean-born New Zealander, the world’s top-ranked amateur, became the youngest winner of a professional tour event last month in the Women’s New South Wales Open.

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/lpga-tour/yani-tseng-hits-shot-week-win-honda-lpga-thailand-one

FEBRUARY 19
Simon Wilson 
@pgatourshaftrep   Another great week on Tour for @truetempergolf all 3 in the playoff use TT, Congrats to Bill Haas and @TitleistonTour. Bill plays X100..

PGA.COM EQUIPMENT SECTION

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.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

@StuartAppleby “This new @odysseygolf Flip Face putter makes me think two heads are better than one.” — PGA Tour player (and punster) Stuart Appleby

@pgatourshaftrep   “@kggolf: @pgatourshaftrep @truetempergolf @TitleistonTour what are the other two guys playing?” PX by TT

Fujikura Composites 
@FujikuraOnTour   Wow crazy one in LA. New Speeder against old in playoff. Old school won this time.

VokeyWedges 
@VokeyWedges   Another win for Vokey Wedges! Congrats Bill Haas on an amazing up and down for birdie to win @NTrustOpen #InVokeWeTrust

Peter Millar
@petermillar   Amazing finish. Congratulations to Peter Millar’s own Bill Haas for his win at the 2012 Northern Trust Open! Great job, Bill! #NTrustOpen

Cleveland-Srixon 
@CGSrixonTour   The year’s 1st @NationwideTour event is over in Colombia staffer Skip Kendall is your winner by 1! This was his 1st event with new 588MBs

@CGSrixonTour   Keegan’s bag this week at Riviera: Classic 290 Driver 9.0, FL Fwy 14*, DST hyb 2i, Tour Mashie 3i, CG7 T, 588 Forged 52 58. Z-Star Ball.

@CGSrixonTour   RT “@10YardDraw: I would say the @ClevelandGolf Classic @Miyazakishafts Kusula white combo is working VERY well for Bradley! BOMBED”

Keegan Bradley 
@Keegan_Bradley   For everyone who’s asking it’s the new @ClevelandGolf Classic Driver. With a 61 gram Miyazaki shaft in it. 10.5 degrees. Things HOT!

Adams Golf
@AdamsGolfInc  Shout out to our sister brand Yes! Putters. @KennyPerryGolf rolled it amazing this wknd to win @ChampionsTour 27 putts/round avg. 24 birdies

@AdamsGolfInc   w/ Redline Irons, Speedline F11 Driver, (2) Idea Super XTD Hybrids Yes! putter RT @GolfChannel Kenny Perry sets 36-hole scoring record

Titleist
@Titleist   What’s in Bill Haas’ bag? Titleist Pro V1x, 910 driver/fwy metal, CB irons, @VokeyWedges @ScottyCameron putter bit.ly/bvYoKn

TaylorMade Golf 
@TaylorMadeGolf   RT @CharlieTour: @TheSergioGarcia today at @NTrustOpen: Take a look at what’s in his bag pic.twitter.com/N2xW7tRk #driverlove
 
FEBRUARY 18
KBS Tour Shafts 
@KBSShafts   “@NVOnePutt: @KBSShafts which shaft is Perez playin?? Thx!” PP is in the CTaper S+ and playing well. look forward to Sunday!

Ping Golf 
@PingTour   Congratulations on your victories! “@busterdoo54: With my new G20 irons I beat my husband the first two rounds of the season – straight up!”

Graeme McDowell
@Graeme_McDowell   RT @Clay1235 @Graeme_McDowell hey Graeme how well do you like your srixon z-tx irons? I might get a set of them pure as the driven snow

Aaron Baddeley
@AaronBadds   “@ghostofhogan: @AaronBadds what apparel brand u wearing this yr?liked ur shirt today double pockets is awesome old school look Thx – Ogio

FootJoy Europe 
@FootJoyEurope   “@jim_gardener: Loving my new @FootJoy #sports shoes and #performance shirt #1shoeingolf pic.twitter.com/bV1CnbWm” Good way to start the season!

TaylorMade Golf 
@TaylorMadeGolf   @DJohnsonPGA is gaming the new R11S. #driverlove RT @stephencbishop: Hey @TaylorMadeGolf, What Driver does Dustin Johnson play?

FEBRUARY 17
Callaway Golf 
@CallawayGolf   Phil Mickelson is in the clubhouse and in the lead by 2 at Riviera with a #RAZRFit Driver and a #HEXBlack Tour Golf Ball. Go Lefty!

@CallawayGolf   RT @richbow9: @CallawayGolf All clean and ready for Saturday morning tee time. bit.ly/yzr2vQ – Nice Clubs

Kevin Streelman 
@Streels54   “@KeeganGilligan: @Streels54 favorite club in your bag?” 4 iron

Cleveland-Srixon 
@CGSrixonTour   Awesome! RT“@CharlieBeljan: Incorporating a little tour yellow into the wedding with the tie. The ball might not fly pic.twitter.com/SfiBIh0W”

Cleveland Golf 
@ClevelandGolf   Preach it! “@WDicker19: @ClevelandGolf #ClassicDriver just found a driver that knocked the R11s off my #1 list.”

@ClevelandGolf   A classic look with modern technology, the Classic Driver is now available in stores! fb.me/1vTsF5YQn

TaylorMade Golf 
@TaylorMadeGolf   Nice RT @rYannbradleY: after hitting 6 different irons for an hour half, it’s confirmed. the @TaylorMadeGolf R11s are in my near future

Ian Poulter 
@IanJamesPoulter   4 new shafts to try in my 3 wood, I’m sure 1 o these will work. pic.twitter.com/bs2IGTqh

Simon Wilson 
@pgatourshaftrep   “@IanJamesPoulter: 4 new shafts to try in my 3 wood, I’m sure 1 o these will work. pic.twitter.com/f1rAfiU2” the 2 on the right!

Dacota Dryden 
@DacotaDryden   “@CMcCormickGolf: Thanks @getgfore rocking the colors now. pic.twitter.com/nC7PkHAX”. How are those gloves?

Ping Golf 
@PingTour   Outstanding Job! “@Birrgolfshop: Fitted i20 10.5 Aldila RIP NV today on Trackman! Gained 31 yds. on all competitors! #incredible distance.”

Andrew Gruss, PGA 
@AndrewGrussPGA   Love the way the new @Titleist 712 CB’s feel! I think a great improvement over the 710 model. #bestinthebusiness

Nike Golf 
@nikegolf   Golf never sleeps! RT @JordanRogers26: Night Golf #counts @nikefuel twitpic.com/8kx182

TaylorMade Golf Europe 
@TaylorMadeTour   Gareth Maybin @MAYBSTER showing his LOVE for the R11S today in India with a 69 . #driverlove #adidas twitpic.com/8l1qcb

Mizuno Golf Europe 
@MizunoGolf_News   Peter Whiteford leading with MP69′s in India. One to watch in 2012.

FEBRUARY 16
SMS Inc. 
@SMSInc_On_Tour   2 players in this weeks @European_Tour event carried 2 drivers in their bag. #AvanthaMasters

@SMSInc_On_Tour   9 players in this week’s @European_Tour event didn’t have a 3 or 4 iron in their bag. 2 players didn’t have a 3, 4 or 5 iron #AvanthaMasters

@SMSInc_On_Tour   1 player in this weeks @European_Tour event chose to use 13 clubs in their bag. #AvanthaMasters

@SMSInc_On_Tour   50% players in this week’s @European_Tour event didn’t have a 3 iron in their bag. #AvanthaMasters

@SMSInc_On_Tour   9.8% of players in this week’s @European_Tour used either a long or belly putter. #AvanthaMasters

@SMSInc_On_Tour   29.5% of players had changed their driver since their last @European_Tour event. 23.5% had changed putter, 18.2% had changed their ball.

@SMSInc_On_Tour   Average clubs per player in the #Avantha Masters – Fairway woods – 1.38, hybrids – 0.92, 2 irons – 0.05, wedges – 3.23. @European_Tour

Kim Welch 
@MissKimWelch   that is hot. I want one! “@acmillerPGA: @EDELgolf thanks David for the new putter. Putts as sexy as it looks pic.twitter.com/CdMibkrd”

Callaway Golf Europe 
@CallawayTourSpy   Half the field at the Avantha Masters in New Delhi are using an @odysseygolf putter! #1PutterInGolf

Graham DeLaet 
@GrahamDeLaet   Locker room attendants at Riv group all the bags by manufacturer. Looks pretty cool. pic.twitter.com/d6xMxXBX

Whitlam Golf 
@WhitlamGolfUSA   Year of the dragon putters almost done twitpic.com/8kuw7y twitpic.com/8kuw7w

adidas Golf 
@adidasGolf   Must’ve been a lucky outfit! Congrats on your ace – RT @ThePCreamer: First round outfit! pic.twitter.com/GjR9lYtu

Hunter Mahan 
@HunterMahan   Many have asked. Now rocking my own signature @Underarmour Drive sunglasses. Check out these early sketches. pic.twitter.com/m1XjhQTg

Scratch Golf 
@scratch_golf   Some new wedges for one of our Staff Players, Liam Kendregan. pic.twitter.com/HIjkLgCF

@scratch_golf   And his irons…. pic.twitter.com/ROErIZBH

Mike Brown, PGA 
@MikeBrown_PGA   Got my new #FootJoy jacquard polos. Fantastic athletic fit adjustments. Can’t wait for season to begin. #golftweet

Titleist Europe 
@TitleistEurope   Titleist staffer Chinnarat Phadungsil with his custom #scottycameron putter yfrog.com/nyhfhfhj

@TitleistEurope   #scottycameron found a new putter loyalist in Delhi this week yfrog.com/ocubacxtj

TaylorMade Golf
@TaylorMadeGolf    ‘@1aurence9owell Our TM pro staffers are wearing hearts at @NTrustOpen to mark the launch of R11S Driver on @PGATOUR #DriverLove campaign

Bridgestone Golf 
@bridgestonegolf   Fred Couples makes 2012 @PGATOUR debut at @NTrustOpen with new #B330.

G/FORE 
@getgfore   Ricky Barnes rocking the new G/FORE lavender glove with his pal Rickie Fowler at The Northern Trust Open fb.me/1BkmJKIog

John Letters Golf 
@JohnLettersGolf   Check out the new MM Grind- Serious #spin #golf pic.twitter.com/zwCgaGPg

@JohnLettersGolf   Playable sole #golf #wedges pic.twitter.com/t0gn5JbP

@JohnLettersGolf   Tour player @Hansonprogolf wedges in production. #soin #golf #JL pic.twitter.com/hGowukmG

Ping Golf
@PingTour   Thanks Rob! “@POSIRob: Wow, finally saw the i20 irons woods in hand…you guys have outdone yourself again. That’s how a club should look”

TaylorMade Golf Europe 
@TaylorMadeTour   Driver love in India from Marcus Fraser and his first round 70. @Marcusfraser #driverlove twitpic.com/8knhjz

@TaylorMadeTour   Russ THE VOICE Bray calls in to pick up his new golf clubs @UnicornDarts pic.twitter.com/0RsvT0rJ

@TaylorMadeTour   Check out Russ Bray’s newly engraved wedges! #180 @UnicornDarts @Russ180 pic.twitter.com/PSkH0kDC

FEBRUARY 15
Nicole Hage 
@NicoleHage    Finally figured out my equipment for the yr: changed back to my @PingTour S56 irons added the i20 D3W- everything D-PW With @MatrixShafts

@NicoleHage   My fav change is getting rid of the hybrid which I never have liked put in the @PingTour G20 3iron which is bent close to a 1iron! #badass

@NicoleHage   Fourteen wedges 50, 54 60 and a @PingTour Craz-E belly putter!

Nike Golf 
@nikegolf   Turns out the perfect swing creates a Nike Swoosh courtesy of @jhonattanvegas pic.twitter.com/hagcTxJT

Scratch Golf 
@scratch_golf   One of a kind, hand milled cavity back!! fb.me/1Fz3jlaFf

@scratch_golf   A little different view!! pic.twitter.com/YfrLYXYT

Ryann O’Toole
@RyannOToole   “@gaylordsports: These are the new @Kikkorgolf shoes @RyannOToole will be wearing this year bit.ly/y1fENN” they are honestly the best

UST Mamiya Shafts 
@USTMamiya   Proforce VTS 75 Silver in X flex = #1 driving distance on the PGA Tour… fb.me/10I72cdGj

Paula Creamer 
@ThePCreamer   Look at my new signature Paula shoe! Love the back of the shoe and the three stripes look amazing! pic.twitter.com/YQNhbJ4x

Sandra Gal 
@TheSandraGal   My two new 2012 Callaway tools are in stores now: the Hex Black tour golf ball and the RAZR FIT Driver. Check them out! #distance

Robert Garrigus 
@robertgarrigus   Tried the RBZ 3 wood today and was flying it 320! Nice job guys@TaylorMadeGolf not to mention strait as well!! #sendit

Rickie Fowler 
@RickieFowlerPGA   New addition to the bag #headcover lockerz.com/s/184166583

Caroline Westrup 
@CarolineWestrup   Just received my new #G20 fairway woods today, and they are awesome! Shot -1 @Pingtoureurope @PingTour

Lauren Doughtie 
@Laurendoughtie   New wedges in the bag for two days now… Love them! Thanks @TFJgolfgirl pic.twitter.com/NZKBTlYS

Mark Russo, PGA 
@markrussopga   First 3 swings with my new @Titleist 910 D2. Not too bad! Maybe a bit high on the face, but that’s user error. yfrog.com/kev9lkwj

Ping Golf 
@PingTour   Rain rain, go away! “@kennymaggard: Can’t wait to get out on the course with these…just need the weather to clear up! pic.twitter.com/bqZcFH1X

@PingTour   PING Pro @HunterMahan moments before pounding his G20 driver down the fairway of a challenging par 4. #FilthyLong pic.twitter.com/V5mUDZIo

@PingTour   Practice makes perfect! PING Pro @HunterMahan putting for birdie during the @NTrustOpen Pro-am. #AnserMilled pic.twitter.com/ayUsS8VB

Cleveland-Srixon 
@CGSrixonTour   PHOTO: From our Champions Tour Rep: “It’s Hall of Fame Day in the trailer.” Ben Crenshaw and Larry Nelson. WOW! pic.twitter.com/zPQtCaH1

Jones Sports Company 
@JonesSportsCo   Wow. RT @bgee17: Check it out, @JonesSportsCo bag from 1988 just came in sporting a full set of staff blades #perfect lockerz.com/s/184079992

Vokey Wedges 
@VokeyWedges   Some cool combo snow/staircase stamping on a 200 Series wedge. yfrog.com/obwjvrcj

Titleist Europe 
@TitleistEurope   Some funky stamping on Romain Wattel’s SM4 @VokeyWedges yfrog.com/g0al4utj

Callaway Golf 
@CallawayGolf   A few HEX BLack Tour golf balls ready to be hit on the range at Riviera. Admit it, you want to try this new ball. pic.twitter.com/XVR4z5S3

FEBRUARY 14
Vokey Wedges 
@VokeyWedges   Voke regripping for a PGA Tour loyalist. How cool is that. #service #DaVoke yfrog.com/kfo7pkipj

@VokeyWedges   Vokey Tour Rep Aaron Dill checking out the TrackMan stats on some new SM4′s. yfrog.com/oe1kgzpj

@VokeyWedges   Earthquake in LA? Oh, no that’s just @GaryWoodland bombing his 910D3 325 yds. #wow yfrog.com/odnjsbrj

@VokeyWedges   Very nice! RT “@PeteMcCall: Excited to wear my new @VokeyWedges SM4 cap! bit.ly/xAVpTA“

@VokeyWedges   Voke is going to work on a new low bounce 60-L SM4 for @stallingsgolf for the year’s first major. yfrog.com/kf49jlcj

@VokeyWedges   Voke working with Daisuke M. from our Japan tour team. #matching yfrog.com/nulutvxj

Matthew Nixon 
@mattnixon_golf   My Valentines day present from @PINGTourEurope came today!! yfrog.com/h45g0zbj

@mattnixon_golf   Even came with a nice little paint job! #playyourbest @PINGTourEurope yfrog.com/estdltij

House of Fleming 
@HouseofFleming   “@Killengolf: The locker room at Riviera at the end of the day lockerz.com/s/183905824” nice!

Arron Oberholser 
@ArronOberholser   Big thanks to Patrick LeVine from @PlayersTowel for the sweet towels for me and SJSU. Looks great and performs great. pic.twitter.com/ltl9yAkL

Kelly Williams, PGA 
@KWPGA   Thanks @FootJoy for new gear from the Newport collection! Appropriate packing it for a trip to LA to watch @jteater12 ! lockerz.com/s/183910791

Charlie Tour (TaylorMade rep)
@CharlieTour   Sergio stopped for 13-club regrip today. Simple, right? Nope. Counterbalance shaft weights make for quite a process. pic.twitter.com/ckw6apgR

@CharlieTour   Another look at Jason Day wearing @adidasgolf FP and swinging new #RocketBallz driver at @NTrustOpen on Monday #TM2012 pic.twitter.com/ukezyNBX

TaylorMade Golf 
@TaylorMadeGolf   ‘@ogilviej looking good rocking the #RocketBallz during practice for @NTrustOpen [photo] twitpic.com/8jxk0m

@TaylorMadeGolf   [PHOTO] @jdriscollpga spotted showing off the hashtag on No. 1 tee @NTrustOpen. Is he tweeting about his #driverlove? pic.twitter.com/WRCZd8h4

@TaylorMadeGolf    [PHOTO] Close-up look at @TheSergioGarcia staff bag with the #driverlove headcover @NTrustOpen. #TM2012 pic.twitter.com/8mHwmBBS

TaylorMade Golf Europe 
@TaylorMadeTour   “@matt9dawson: Look what I got for Valentines Day. I luv my Taylormade!! #driverlove pic.twitter.com/rnaHvYIA” Need to get you an R11S Daws.

Callaway Golf 
@CallawayGolf   The wedges of The Big Easy inside the Callaway tour trailer. How would you stamp your wedges? pic.twitter.com/1gX7LaPm

@CallawayGolf   Freddie Jacobson making his first appearance of the season this week. Here he is teeing off on #11 with his RAZR Fit. pic.twitter.com/CNqipc5k

adidas Golf 
@adidasGolf   [PHOTO] @TheSergioGarcia @CamiloVillegasR played practice round together today @NTrustOpen – both wore #TOUR360ATV pic.twitter.com/5LCfcZh3

@adidasGolf    A pair of #golf Sambas (not released yet) looking sweet – RT @Iain_Douglas: @adidasGolf guess I am quite lucky then pic.twitter.com/ck6IInMC

@adidasGolf   Nice – RT @CharlieTour: Jason Day wearing @adidasgolf FP swinging new #RocketBallz driver at @NTrustOpen pic.twitter.com/pjcO8e0F

@adidasGolf    [PHOTO] @TheSergioGarcia is @NTrustOpen this morning for his @PGATOUR ’12 debut. What do you think of his new adi bag? pic.twitter.com/PMP3jhIz

@adidasGolf    [PHOTO] Our @PGATOUR reps are wearing Fashion Performance @NTrustOpen. Here they are working with staffer Chez Reavie pic.twitter.com/Z4AI6oXj

Cleveland Golf 
@ClevelandGolf   Out at Riv today. Here are some new prototype irons being bent for @davidtomsgolf. What do you think @CGSrixonTour ? pic.twitter.com/OiGa3cU2

Cleveland-Srixon 
@CGSrixonTour  .@ClevelandGolf I will see your DT Proto irons pic raise you Jason Kokrak’s launch monitor numbers with the #Classic! pic.twitter.com/KtOtCauK

Ping Golf 
@PingTour   Congrats on your 1st victory of 2012! “@JimmyKozi: Won my first college event of the semester using all PING equipment. The i20 is a beast!”

@PingTour   “@Andysull59: Just got my new ping anser 4 putter with custom weights in it looks so good thanks to the boys @PINGTourEurope ”

Nike Golf 
@nikegolf   Dunk spotting! @jamielovemark makin @JhonattanVegas envious of his kicks on the tee box @NTrustOpen twitpic.com/8jwy1u

Titleist Canada 
@TitleistCA   We’re at Titleist Ball Plant 3 today with the entire Canadian Crew.

@TitleistCA   A fresh batch of Pro V1 right off the line. yfrog.com/odt24zkj

SMS Inc. 
@SMSInc_On_Tour    24.6% of players in the Dubai Desert Classic used a pitching wedge that was a different model to their 3-9 iron set.
 
FEBRUARY 13
Callaway Golf Europe 
@CallawayTourSpy    Phil’s winning bag at #PebbleBeach: #RAZRFit 9.5º; #HEXBlack Tour Ball; BB Diablo 3wd; JAWS Wedges (52, 60 64) @odysseygolf PT82 putter

@CallawayTourSpy    Phil’s winning irons: X-Forged (4); X-Prototype (5) #RAZR X Musclebacks (6-PW) – 3rd in Greens in Reg, hitting 75% for the week

Stuart Appleby 
@StuartAppleby   This new @odysseygolf Flip Face putter makes me think two heads are better than one.

Trevor Immelman 
@TrevorImmelman   Been using it since October, love it! “@KaiHunter73: @TrevorImmelman Have you tried the Callaway RAZR Fit Driver yet?

Jackie Barenborg 
@JackieBGolf   Happy Valentines day to me!! Got my Ping I20 irons, hybrids and Tour-S wedges!! Just in time for my pro-am this week twitpic.com/8jhfmf

Darren Clarke 
@DarrenClarke60  RT @Spudstein @DarrenClarke60 whats the best set of clubs you have ever owned?? My tayloymades that I won the open with!!

@DarrenClarke60  RT @moore_darryl @DarrenClarke60 how many scottys have u in your collection now. A few…I either give them back or to charity

Jason Gore 
@JasonGore59   “@CoryWorks: @JasonGore59 which tm irons you playing”. Playing the @TaylorMadeGolf MB irons. R11s driver and the RBZ 3 wood!

Glenn Paul 
@gpprogolf   Played the new @TaylorMadeGolf Pentax TP5 today. Always said it would take a great ball to make me switch from the Pro V1. Today I found it!

Richard S. Johnson 
@Rich_S_Johnson   Got a couple of new wedges from @TaylorMadeGolf. Looks really good:-) Thank you

@Rich_S_Johnson   No removable insert in these. Here is a pic of them pic.twitter.com/zbWKU2Q3

Charlie Tour  (TaylorMade rep)
@CharlieTour   It’s #R11S driver launch week at @NTrustOpen – check out our special edition hats and headcover showcasing #driverlove pic.twitter.com/5vDtfwSJ

@CharlieTour   [PHOTO] Goose is first player by the truck Monday – built him a new #R11S driver (9 deg) and #RBZ fairway (14.5 deg) pic.twitter.com/B2pS9zIt

@CharlieTour   [PHOTO]: Johnson Wagner in the @TaylorMadeGolf @PGATOUR truck, autographing #R11S #driverlove headcover @NTrustOpen pic.twitter.com/koUCyGOO

@CharlieTour   Special week for @SonyOpen champ Wagner, whose brother D.J. is on his bag for @NTrustOpen. Came by for set maintenance – 13 clubs regripped

@CharlieTour   J. Day is debuting new Fashion Perfomance line from @adidasGolf @NTrustOpen. All-black look for Monday practice including #TOUR360ATV ftwr

@CharlieTour    [PHOTO]: Special Delivery: view from the backseat of our #driverlove transport to the @PGATOUR locker room at Riviera pic.twitter.com/9DiuL6tQ

@CharlieTour   Sergio’s locker @NTrustOpen is full of #driverlove and PENTA TP 5 golf balls he’ll play during his @PGATOUR ’12 debut pic.twitter.com/L03RG0Z0

Simon Wilson 
@pgatourshaftrep   Testing with the Goose! RBZ 5 wood with Project X 8A4! yfrog.com/odd4segj

@pgatourshaftrep   PX 8A4 @TaylorMadeGolf @TaylorMadeTour RBZ testing with Reteif! #riviera yfrog.com/kk32eayj

Callaway Golf 
@CallawayGolf   Would these HEX Black Tour balls, gloves or hats in the Callaway trailer at Riviera look good in your golf locker? pic.twitter.com/7jjgVHhc

@CallawayGolf   The bag of @TwoGlovesGolf at Riviera. He loves the Gamecocks. Did you see him in the new Callaway ad above Vegas? pic.twitter.com/yq9QkzPl

Cleveland Golf 
@ClevelandGolf   Did you know that the 588 Forged Wedge has so many loft, bounce, and finish options that you can build over 40,000 unique 3 wedge sets?

@ClevelandGolf   Stat: En route to his Top Ten last week at Pebble, staffer Jason Kokrak lead the field in #GIR with his 588mb irons!

FootJoy Europe 
@FootJoyEurope   “@jCalder94: My new 2012 @FootJoy sports , going to be feeling like @McIlroyRory when I win everything with them on lockerz.com/s/183356056”

TaylorMade Golf 
@TaylorMadeGolf   Huge congrats to @TaylorMadeGolf @adidasGolf staff player Jessica Korda who at 18 years old, won Australian Open over wknd. First LPGA Title

@TaylorMadeGolf   Love it! RT @Bobatscoregolf: Driver love headcover from @HearnDavid at a cool LA Open. #driverlove yfrog.com/kknwfozj

Ping Tour Europe 
@PINGTourEurope   Here’s a special ‘JW’ Anser Milled 4 putter, with extra tungsten weighting, being shipped to staff player @andysull59. ow.ly/i/sppF

TaylorMade Golf Europe 
@TaylorMadeTour   More product has arrived from the US. #india twitpic.com/8jaumt

Article source: http://www.pga.com/golf-equipment/weeks-worth-tweets/weeks-worth-tweets-february-13-19-2012

Haas, 29, carded a final-round 69 to earn a share of the lead with Mickelson and reigning PGA Championship Keegan Bradley, and he produced the Hollywood magic that earned him the win on the second playoff hole.

WORLD RANKING

Luke Donald has held the No. 1 spot for 39 weeks, putting him sixth on the all-time list of most weeks on top. Nick Price (44 weeks) is fifth, while Ian Woosnam (50 weeks) is fourth.

Mickelson was the only one of the trio to drive well at the 10th hole – the second in the playoff after all three parred No. 18 to begin sudden death. But despite landing in the rough, Haas finished the better, chipping onto the green and then sinking a massive putt that put the pressure on his rivals.

With neither Mickelson nor Bradley able to make a birdie of his own, Haas celebrated his fourth PGA Tour title – and first since he won the 2011 season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta.

“I never expected to make a 40-footer, and especially in that situation,” Haas said. “That was a little bit of luck involved, but felt like I put a good roll on it, and it was meant to be, I guess.”

Mickelson, who won a week ago at Pebble Beach, climbed up to ninth in the world ranking after just missing out on a second successive victory. Haas is up to a career-high 12th place after starting the week in 22nd, while Bradley rose to 19th place, dropping Tiger Woods down to No. 20. Bradley was ranked 26th heading to Riviera, and is in the top 20 for the first time in his career.

Even though both Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood took last week off, they again swapped spots in the ranking, with McIlroy up to second behind No. 1 Luke Donald and Westwood falling one spot to third. Martin Kaymer and Steve Stricker remain fourth and fifth, while Webb Simpson is still sixth, Jason Day is still seventh and Adam Scott is still eighth.

Mickelson’s move up to ninth bumped previous No. 9 Charl Schwartzel down to 11th, while Dustin Johnson’s tie for fourth at Riviera was enough to keep him in 10th place.

The second 10 includes No. 11 Schwartzel, No. 12 Haas, No. 13 Graeme McDowell, No. 14 Matt Kuchar, No. 15 Nick Watney, No. 16 Sergio Garcia, No. 17 K.J. Choi, No. 18 Brandt Snedeker, No. 19 Bradley and No. 20 Woods.

For his victory in the Avantha Masters in India on Sunday, Jbe Kruger of South Africa moved up to 109th from his previous perch at No. 159.

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/pga-tour/phil-mickelson-back-top-10-in-world-ranking-after-playoff-loss-northern-trust-open

Bill Haas
Northern Trust Open, PGA Tour
Driver: Titleist 910D2 (8.5 degrees, Fujikura Speeder 757 shaft)
3-Wood: Titleist 910F (13.5 degrees, Fujikura Motore VC 8.1 shaft)
2-Iron: Titleist CB 712 (True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shaft)
3-9 Irons: Titleist CB 710 (True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shafts)
48-Degree Wedge: Titleist CB 710 (True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shaft)
54-Degree Wedge: Titleist Vokey Design Spin Milled (True Temper Dynamic Gold shaft)
60-Degree Wedge: Titleist Vokey Design Spin Milled (True Temper Dynamic Gold shaft)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Select Kombi mid-length
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Footwear: FootJoy FJ Icon

PGA.COM VALUE GUIDE

Are you interested in learning more about the value of your golf clubs? Be sure to check out the PGA.com Value Guide, the national standard for golf club value. Using the PGA.com Value Guide, you can determine their value, along with hundreds of other clubs, and trade in your used equipment for cash or credit toward the clubs you want right now.

Jbe Kruger
Avantha Masters, European Tour
Driver: Titleist 910D3 (7.5 degrees)
3-Wood: Titleist 910F (13.5 degrees)
18-Degree Hybrid: Titleist 910H Tour
4-9 Irons: Titleist AP2 712
48-Degree Wedge: Titleist AP2 712
50-Degree Wedge: Titleist Vokey SM4
56-Degree Wedge: Titleist Vokey SM4
64-Degree Wedge: Titleist Vokey SM4
Putter: Yes! Jennifer
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Footwear: FootJoy FJ Icon
 
Yani Tseng
Honda LPGA Thailand, LPGA Tour
Driver: Adams Speedline 9032LS (9.5 degrees, Fujikura Motore F1 shaft)
3-Wood: Adams Speedline (14 degrees, Fujikura Rombax shaft)
19-Degree Hybrid: Adams Idea a7 (Fujikura E-Series shaft)
22-Degree Hybrid: Adams Idea a7 (Fujikura E-Series shaft)
4-9 Irons: Adams Idea Tech a4
48-Degree Wedge: Adams Idea Tech a4
52-Degree Wedge: Callaway X Forged
58-Degree Wedge: Callaway X Forged
Putter: TaylorMade Tour Daytona Ghost
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Footwear: FootJoy Women’s DryJoys

Kenny Perry
ACE Group Classic, Champions Tour
Driver: Adams Speedline F11 (9.5 degrees)
15-Degree Hybrid: Adams Idea Super XTD (Matrix Ozik hM3 shaft)
 17-Degree Hybrid: Adams Idea Super XTD (Matrix Ozik hM3 shaft)
3-9 Irons: Adams Redline
48-Degree Wedge: Adams Redline
Wedges: Cleveland
Putter: Yes! Tracy
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Skip Kendall
Pacific Rubiales Colombia Championship, Nationwide Tour
Driver: Cleveland Launcher TL310 (Miyazaki CKUA 59 shaft)
3-Wood: Cleveland Launcher FL (Miyazaki Kusala Black 83 shaft)
5-Wood: Cleveland Launcher FL (Miyazaki Kusala Black 83 shaft)
3-9 Irons: Cleveland 588 MB (True Temper Dynamic Gold shafts)
48-Degree Wedge: Cleveland 588 MB (True Temper Dynamic Gold shaft)
52-Degree Wedge: Cleveland CG15
60-Degree Wedge: Cleveland CG15
Putter: Never Compromise Dinero Tycoon
Ball: Srixon Z-STARxv Tour Yellow

See all the 2012 weekly editions of What’s in the Winners’ Bags in our exclusive archive.

Article source: http://www.pga.com/golf-equipment/winners-bag/whats-in-winners-bags-week-february-19-2012

This was a year ago at Torrey Pines.

2012 NORTHERN TRUST OPEN

This year’s edition of the Northern Trust Open is the 48th PGA Tour event that Riviera has hosted since it opened in 1926.

Among those in the gallery that day was Billy Harmon, the swing coach for Haas. The more famous Harmon is his older brother, Butch, though the family often jokes that’s only because Butch has better clients.

There was no friendly wager among them, though Billy Harmon said his brother told him, “I have more horses in the race.”

Along with Mickelson, Dustin Johnson was in the hunt that day and Nick Watney put together a late rally. Ultimately, Bubba Watson won the tournament.

A year later, Haas is starting to show he belongs in the stable of top American golfers.

Up the California coast, on a Riviera course that played the toughest of any PGA Tour event this year, Haas steadied himself after consecutive bogeys on the back nine with a 3-wood into the par-5 17th that set up a birdie and a par save from the front of the 18th green that gave him a 2-under 69.
 
Haas kept his wits even after hearing the ground-shaking roar of Mickelson’s birdie on the 18th from just off the green, followed by another big cheer when Keegan Bradley made his birdie putt to force a three-man playoff.
 
The last cheer was for Haas, who rolled in a 45-foot birdie putt across the 10th green to win the Northern Trust Open.
 
“To beat a guy like Keegan and also Phil — guys of their caliber — in a playoff is amazing, something I’ll never forget,” Haas said.
 
Even as he was walking into the media center late Sunday afternoon, a reporter asked him about his father, Jay Haas, a nine-time winner and Ryder Cup player.
 
Haas rarely gets through an interview without someone asking about his father, which he doesn’t mind, although the 29-year-old clearly is starting to come into his own.
 
“He’s starting to establish himself as a very, very good player,” said Billy Harmon, who doesn’t throw out compliments easily. “More than anything, he’s starting to believe. You don’t have to change anything with Bill. He just has to learn from experience, and he’s getting that now. He’s been in the hunt more often. He’s failed in the hunt, he’s succeeded in the hunt.”
 
What impressed Harmon about Riviera is that Haas, who fought his swing, came through with his short game. While the 45-foot birdie putt will get the attention, it was made possible by an 80-foot chip from just short of the 18th on the first playoff hole to about 3 feet. It’s one of the hardest shots to get to the hole.
 
“He won with his short game,” Harmon said. “And he usually wins with his long game.”
 
It took Haas longer than he expected to get going, but the numbers are starting to add up. It was the third straight year Haas has won on the PGA Tour, one of the best gauges of a player moving up. He advanced to No. 12 in the world, a ranking difficult to dispute.
 
And it was his fourth career win, a number that could be even higher if not for playoff losses a year ago in the Bob Hope Classic and the Greenbrier Classic.
 
Of the Americans still in their 20s, only Johnson with five has more. Johnson is generally regarded as the best young American in golf, a winner of two FedExCup playoff events (BMW Championship in 2010, The Barclays last year) who already has played in the final group at three majors.
 
There is a simplicity to Haas’ swing that would suggest he’s in this for the long haul. He doesn’t make constant trips to Palm Springs to see Harmon. They talk every now and then on the phone. Haas tells him what he’s feeling in the swing, Harmon might make a suggestion, or sometimes says nothing more than, “Keep it up.”
 
“Bill does it with an effortless — almost like Fred Couples — swing,” Harmon said. “It’s a swing that is not marred by thought. He’s an under-instructed player. His father was smart enough not to give him too much instruction, and I was lucky to have Claude Harmon as a father who said, ‘You can’t teach talent, but you can screw it up.’ It would take a golfing moron to try to change Bill Haas’ swing.”
 
Riviera was only the latest big win for Haas.
 
Five months ago, he won the Tour Championship and the $10 million prize for capturing the FedExCup. He closed with a 68 at East Lake, despite two bogeys in his last three holes, and beat Hunter Mahan in a playoff made famous by one shot. With his ball partially submerged in the lake to the left of the 17th green, Haas splashed out to 3 feet to save par and extend the playoff.
 
Some misunderstood Haas last year at Quail Hollow, where he opened with a 64 and said he was striving to have a season like the one by Matt Kuchar, who consistently placed in the top 10. It made it sound as though Haas was happy to cash a big check, but his point was that the more chances he gives himself, the better the odds of winning.
 
This was his first chance to win this year, and he cashed in.
 
Even with his name recognition, and memories of his improbable water shot that led to a $10 million payoff last year, Haas felt as if he were the forgotten player in a three-man playoff.
 
“Everybody is cheering for Phil. He just won last week. He’s the man. And if I’m at home, I’m cheering for Phil,” Haas said. “Keegan has a big fan base. I think they were easily more popular than I was in that group. I’m not saying the fans did anything wrong. I just was somewhat under the radar, I guess.”
 
He might not have that luxury much longer.

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/pga-tour/bill-haas-rapidly-becoming-well-rounded-champion-dramatic-riviera-victory-shows

Whiteford, one off the lead at the start of the day, was removed from contention after TV replays of his third shot to the 18th on Saturday showed that his ball rolled a fraction before he played to the green. Because he signed his card, it meant disqualification.

AVANTHA MASTERS

India’s own SSP Chowrasia has won two of three editions of the Avantha Masters staged so far.

Officials reviewed the matter as the 31-year-old, who led after the first and second days, began the final round and he was given the bad news just after bogeying the short third.

It was a happier day for South African Kruger, whose final-round 69 was enough to finish 14 under for a two-stroke victory.

He almost lost his nerve at the end despite carrying a three-shot lead to the 17th tee. A bogey on that hole followed by a loose drive on the 18th gave him cause for concern, but he rescued par to take the title.

Spain’s Jorge Campillo signed for a 67 — tied for best of the day — to finish tied for second with Germany’s Marcel Siem.

Marcus Fraser of Austria and Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara finished three off the lead.

“Peter felt his ball may have moved and for confirmation asked his caddie, a fellow competitor and a TV cameraman, who said they didn’t think it had, and so he continued on to finish the hole,” said European Tour Chief Referee John Paramor. “Overnight several viewers contacted the Tour website. This was reviewed by the Rules Committee, who were able to determine that the ball had in fact moved. He should have incurred a penalty of one stroke and replaced the ball.

“As he did not do so, he was disqualified for signing for a score lower than taken for failing to include the penalty he had incurred,” Paramor explained. “If he had contacted a member of the Rules Team before signing his scorecard, the footage would have been reviewed at the time and he would have averted the disqualification penalty.”

“I should have reviewed it. You can see it when you look at TV,” said Whiteford. “John spoke to me before I went out, so to be honest my head wasn’t in it from the first tee.

“I’m not cheating obviously,” he added. “It’s one of those things, but disappointing.”

Kruger finished second on the Asian Tour three times in 2010, while his best previous result on the European Tour was third at the Africa Open the same year. His best on this year’s European Tour has been ninth at the Joburg Open in South Africa.
 

Article source: http://www.pga.com/news/european-tour/jbe-kruger-earns-first-european-tour-title-two-shot-win-avantha-masters