- For The Win
How one brilliant idea transformed the U.S. Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup teams
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Back in 2008, Paul Azinger led the weakest U.S. Ryder Cup team in recent history into battle. His back against the wall, and with the U.S. team without a victory since 1999, he drew inspiration from he Navy SEALS. That idea led to what Azinger later called the “Pod System,” and the concept is pretty simple: Professional golfers aren’t used to having partners, or being on a team, but as Azinger saw it, the European Team boasted an inherent advantage in making that transition because the team featured players from a variety of different countries. That may not sound like an advantage, but in a roundabout way, it kind of is. To make things simple, let’s say pretend a European
- Golf Channel
Hideki on 'secret' marriage: Nobody asked me
Just a day after falling short in his bid to become the first player from Japan to win a major at the PGA Championship, Hideki Matsuyama announced that he was married and his wife had given birth to the couple’s first child. Matsuyama, who finished tied for fifth at Quail Hollow, revealed that he was married in January and that his daughter was born in July, although he didn’t reveal the identity of his wife. “No one really asked me if I was married, so I didn't have to answer that question,” he said on Tuesday at The Northern Trust, where he will begin the playoffs No. 1 on the season-long points list. Despite having a bevy of reporters following his every move at events, the world’s second-ranked player was able to keep his marriage, and pending fatherhood, a secret; and when asked about his family he made it clear where his focus is this week.
- Golfweek.com
Scotty Cameron talks Justin Thomas, trends in mallets and more
The name Scotty Cameron has become synonymous with high-quality putters, and Titleist’s master craftsman for putters (that’s his official title) has worked with scores of the game’s top players. From Tiger Woods to Phil Mickelson, Brad Faxon to Jordan Spieth, they’ve all come to his California studio to have their putting stroke scrutinized, and to have Cameron and his staff make them a putter. Cameron, 54, recently spoke at length with Golfweek‘s David Dusek about trends, finding just the right putter to match your stroke and more. David Dusek: I have learned that some of the simplest questions are the most difficult to answer, so I’m going to toss one to you that couldn’t be easier: How do you fit a player to a putter?
