In case you’re one of the few people who haven’t seen this, Bubba Watson and the folks over at Oakley, along with hovercraft expert Chris Fitzgerald, president of Neoteric Hovercraft, Inc., an Indiana-based company, have built a hovercraft golf cart. (And the date of the above video’s release is April 2nd — my birthday! — so no, it’s not an April Fool’s joke.)
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In the latest Nike commercial, Tiger Woods plays a Dick’s Sporting Goods employee trying to sell a Covert driver to a customer. And just as perhaps the best closer in golfing history, he gets the job done.

How does this new ad stack up against the two other Nike Golf spots that Tiger has appeared in so far in 2013? As you may recall, there was the clever “I’m Sorry” commercial for the Covert (Woods hasn’t used the club in his two victories this season), and of course, the one where Tiger shares the stage with Rory McIlroy.

Finchem: Let’s create a clusterf*ck

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem interrupted the final match of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship to announce that the Tour is officially protesting the proposed rule to ban anchored putters. Earlier in the week, the Player Advisory Council and Policy Board convened to discuss the issue and the majority were against the rule change, and those who were initially for the ban were swayed to alter their position.

Now this is a big deal — the Tour openly defying golf’s governing bodies, which will most likely result in a chaotic mess, as I wrote earlier this weekend. (continue reading…)

Nike Golf unveiled a new commercial for its VR_S Covert driver. This time Tiger Woods makes a solo cameo, without his BFF Rory McIlroy. I enjoyed the ad. I found it slightly amusing in that Tiger hasn’t used the driver (in competition…yet), but hey, at least he’s not shown hitting it in the commercial.

Because we didn’t get around to posting it earlier in the week…

Did they actually film it together? Stilted banter and sleight-of-lens would suggest not.

Oh.

Conor Nagle

Bradley, the first player to win a major with a belly putter, eyes the imminent anchoring ban...with respectful distaste

The anchoring ban controversy elicits strong reactions. It pits a group of people who favor one school of thought against another faction who are set in their view on the issue. (Of course there are some who are indifferent because they say it doesn’t effect them one way or the other but that’s kind of missing the point.)

Now I’m sure you haven’t heard or watched or talked about this imminent new rule that will prohibit the anchoring of a club to the body. Trust me, I am dreading 3-4 more years of this, and more importantly, it’s taken away attention away from the multitude of interesting storylines at Q-school (that I have saved yet not enough hours in the day to write and post). That said, after this, I’m putting a hold on all things anchoring — with exceptions, like if it involves opinions of players at Q-school or if Webb Simpson and Keegan Bradley picket outside Sherwood Country Club. (continue reading…)

As expected, the USGA and the R&A proposed a new rule that would ban anchoring of the club, most applicably the putter, to the body when making a stroke on Wednesday morning in a joint teleconference (see below for video aired on Golf Channel).

While golf’s governing bodies call it a “proposal,” it’s pretty much been decided that the rule will be implemented — but of course, to cover their bases, there will be a 90-day thorough review, so the members of the USGA and R&A rules committees can hear every side to every argument possible (as if this hasn’t been discussed enough) before the next approval in Spring of 2013. (continue reading…)

Keegan to USGA: Fine, I'll deal with it.

On the eve of the joint teleconference by the USGA and R&A on Wednesday morning from 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. (EST), it’s widely purported that golf’s governing bodies will announce that the decision has been made to ban “anchoring,” aka the putting method used with belly and broomstick putters. Which allegedly will not go into effect until 2016 (because the USGA reviews the Rules of Golf every four years, don’t ask me why).

The short of it via industry chatter and insiders: Anchoring against the fulcrum (body) will be illegal, but golfers will still be allowed to anchor the putter against the arm — a la Matt Kuchar. You can use a long putter as long as it isn’t propped or wedged against a part of the body. The actual wording of the rule will be interesting because of the gray area that comes up in this game and the potential lawsuits. (continue reading…)

Rory McIlroy: eye on the prize.

The courtship is at an end, people.

World No1 Rory McIlroy has signed an endorsement contract with Nike believed to be worth in excess of $200 million. (continue reading…)

Keegan Bradley: say hello to his longer-than-standard friend. *ahem*

Golfweek’s Alex Miceli, currently in China for the WGC-HSBC Champions, has filed an interesting report on the growing resistance among exponents of anchored putting techniques to the idea of an equipment ban.

Some tour players, sensing their livelihoods at risk, are apparently willing to consider legal action in the event of a rules change. (continue reading…)