D. Johnson in first LIV field; Phil not on initial list

Kim Hyo-joo won the HSBC Women’s World Championship at Singapore’s Sentosa Golf Club on Sunday as Australian Hannah Green bogeyed the last two holes to hand the South Korean victory.

Click here to read the full article…

Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro White shafts represent the next evolution of the company’s premium low launch, low spin shaft option. Engineers utilized an abundance of high-tech materials in the creation of the successor to the popular CK Pro White — foremost among these is the 1K Fiber that gives the shaft its name. Super-premium 1K Fiber is three times thinner than Carbon Kevlar, and it produces a tighter, more consistent weave. According to Mitsubishi, this allows for the transmission of more high-frequency vibrations through the shaft to create a signature “1K feel.” In other words, pure shots feel really pure, and on the other side of the coin, it’s easier to tell when a shot hasn’t been struck in the center of the face: a valuable piece of feedback. “The Tensei 1K series is the result of a years-long collaboration with our team in Japan. Tensei 1K is the most premium Tensei part we’ve ever made and uses the most premium materials and most advanced shaft construction technologies we currently have. We pulled out all the stops to try to bring the best shaft we’ve ever made into golfers’ hands across the globe,” said Mark Gunther, VP of Sales and Marketing While the fiber gets top billing, It’s the combination of the 1K Fiber and new XLINK Tech Resin System that showcases the company’s commitment to premium materials and performance. As a refresher, resin binds the layers of a golf shaft together. Unique to Mitsubishi Chemical, XLINK Tech Resin System is an innovative dual-phase process that creates a carbon-rich structure that is universally stronger, while still remaining responsive. According to Gunther, “Tech bonded structures are both higher modulus and higher elongation, two key factors we look for to improve stability.” Tod Boretto, Composite Engineering Executive at Mitsubishi Chemical, broke things down further on the 1K front. What does “1K” refer to exactly? TB: 1K Fiber describes the number of individual carbon fiber filaments that are contained with a fiber bundle. These fiber bundles contain 1,000 (1K) individual filaments of carbon fiber that are smaller than the diameter of a human hair. Normally a carbon fiber bundle, commonly referred to as a “tow” bundle, contains upwards of 3,000 to 12,000 filaments which makes the layers of the carbon weave much thicker and heavier than a carbon weave made from 1K fiber. What does 1K Fiber allow engineers to do, for lack of a better word? TB: The very thin-lightweight nature of the 1K weave allows us to place this layer on the outside of the layered composite construction in the upper section of the shaft where the wall thickness is much thinner than compared to the tip section of the shaft. By placing this thin-lightweight 1K weave in the upper section of the shaft, we minimize the thin section of the shaft from ovalizing during the swing under the loads applied by the golfer. This provides superior stability and minimizes tube deflection. It increases accuracy and face placement of the head at impact. Anything else you’d like to mention about 1K Fiber? TB: An added benefit to the golfer is that the 1K weave is comprised solely of carbon fiber compared to prior Tensei Designs, which included kevlar/carbon and our proprietary Aluminum Vapor technology. By eliminating the use of materials like Kevlar and Aluminum Vapor, the 1K transmits vibrations from impact faster and over a broader range of frequencies thusly providing critical feedback to the golfer as to where they struck the ball on the face. In other words, ball strikes on the toe or heel of the clubface are more easily felt by the golfer, which allows the golfer to make a swing adjustment while on the course and not in front of a launch monitor. GEARS A final element of the Tensei 1K Pro White shaft story is the implementation of GEARS 3D motion capture system, which allows Mitsubishi Chemical engineers to measure both the golfer and club simultaneously. Nodes are placed on the club head and shaft to measure how the shaft twists, deflects, droops, loads, etc. For the company, it’s extremely useful to validate new products and prototypes, but equally valuable when it shows designers where to make corrections and adjustments. Zane Nuttall, Manager of Product Development and Innovation on GEARS: “We have always thoroughly tested our products with robotics and player tests. As we continued to apply more resources within this process, we began to work with the GEARS motion capture system to analyze the shaft’s behavior in 3D motion. This allows us to validate existing structures and qualify developmental structures. As we continue to grow, it is important to take our testing processes and systems to the next level.” Weights and flexes Tensei Pro White 1K 50 (R, S, X, TX Flex) Tensei Pro White 1K 60 (R, S, X, TX Flex) Tensei Pro White 1K 70 (S, X, TX Flex) Tensei Pro White 1K 80 (S, X, TX Flex) This special production will be available only at MCA authorized retailers and dealers with a suggested retail price of $500.

Click here to read the full article…

The iconic lighthouse is wrapped in plaid as this week’s RBC Heritage celebrates its 50th year on the PGA TOUR. The field includes 14 of the top 30 in the FedExCup, highlighted by No. 2 Patton Kizzire; No. 7 Dustin Johnson, who returns to Harbour Town for the first time since 2009; and No. 13 Paul Casey. Although the relatively relaxed RBC is a welcome reprieve after the Masters, low stress can turn into high stakes in a hurry. Jim Furyk won at Harbour Town and went on to win the entire FedExCup in 2010. (Furyk also won the RBC in 2015.) Dustin Johnson (T10), Marc Leishman (9) and Cameron Smith (5) are among the hot players in the field after posting top-10s at the Masters. Dru Love is playing on a sponsor’s exemption, while his dad, Davis, is a five-time winner here. Luke Donald, meanwhile, has done just about everything but wear the plaid jacket, with five runner-up finishes, two thirds and a T15 since 2009. John Senden makes his first TOUR start since his son started cancer treatments last year, while Wesley Bryan is the defending champ, having edged Donald by a shot. Patrick Cantlay, Ollie Schniederjans and William McGirt tied for third, two back. Harbour Town Golf Links is a 7,099-yard, par-71 Pete Dye design that rewards pinpoint accuracy. Its relatively modest length, small greens, and low-key vibe give the tournament its identity. The RBC Heritage is also the largest professional sporting event in South Carolina. PGA TOUR LIVE Thursday-Friday broadcasts will begin at 7:30 a.m. and end at 6 p.m., with a Twitter window of 7:30-approximately 8:30 a.m. each day. We will move to featured hole coverage at 3 p.m. Featured holes will consist of the 192-yard, par-3 14th, which plays over water and to a green guarded in part by overhanging trees and a pot bunker; and the 174-yard, par-3 17th, where the wind can blow tee shots into the 90-yard bunker on the left, or into the lagoon left of it. Here are the Featured Groups: (Note: All times Eastern; FedExCup ranking in parentheses.) THURSDAY Kevin Kisner (30), Graeme McDowell (121), Jim Furyk (151) Kisner made his Presidents Cup debut last fall, and in his last two starts he’s been T28 at the Masters and runner-up at the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play. That makes him the hottest player in the group, especially given that McDowell and Furyk play at Augusta National last week. Be that as it may, they have something he doesn’t; McDowell (2013) and Furyk (2015, 2010) are past champions at Harbour Town. Tee time: 8 a.m. off 10. Dustin Johnson (7), Wesley Bryan (150), Matt Kuchar (60) Bryan is looking to recapture the form that saw him capture his first victory a year ago. Kuchar, meanwhile, has been a model of consistency with 10 made cuts in 10 starts, his best a T5 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and a T8 at the Houston Open two weeks ago. Johnson has yet to distinguish himself at Harbour Town, where he hasn’t played since 2009 (MC), but the world No. 1 seems to be rounding into form after a top-10 finish at the Masters. Tee time: 8:10 a.m. off 10. FRIDAY Ian Poulter (25), Paul Casey (10), Davis Love III (192) Love says he’s “got a lot of new parts� after hip-replacement surgery last year and injuring his neck snowboarding before that. He is 30 years removed from his first victory at the RBC Heritage, but his institutional knowledge is off the charts after four additional victories at Harbour Town, giving him five total. Casey picked up his first TOUR victory since 2009 at the Valspar Championship, and is coming off a T15 at the Masters in which he threatened the course record. Poulter, meanwhile, is also hot after capturing the Houston Open in a playoff two week ago. Tee time: 8 a.m. off 10. Xander Schauffele (46), Cameron Smith (22), Brandt Snedeker (132) Reigning Rookie of the Year Schauffele has had an uneven sophomore season, while Smith seems to be knocking on the door for his first individual TOUR win after T5 finishes at the Masters and WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. Both players are just 24 years old. The veteran of the group is Snedeker, 37, who is coming off an injury-plagued season but proved he has what it takes at Harbour Town with a victory in 2011. He’s also a former FedExCup champion (2012). Tee time: 8:10 a.m. off 10.  

Click here to read the full article…