Expert picks for the Safeway Open

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HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Stewart Cink has seen a lot, but at 47 he doesn’t always remember it, something he readily jokes about on Twitter. At the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town, he shot the fur off the course (a favorite Cink-ism) with twin 63s and then hung on over the weekend. His final-round 70, on a day when no one got closer than three strokes, got him to 19 under par and left him four clear of runners-up Emiliano Grillo (68) and Harold Varner III (66). What made this, his eighth win, stand out? “The fact that it happened at my age,” he said. But also, he added, the friends and family who were there to celebrate with him. Cink, who is the second two-time winner on TOUR this season after Bryson DeChambeau and moves from 26th to third in the FedExCup standings, celebrated the win with wife Lisa and their sons, Connor and Reagan (also Cink’s caddie), plus Connor’s fiancé and several friends. “Everything in between the shots,” Reagan said, when asked what he will remember about the win—his second with his dad this season. “Walking down the fairways, hanging out. We talk and we plan the shots and we’ve got a good system, but it’s just like the time we get to spend joking around walking down the fairway, it’s awesome. It’s the best. It really is.” What’s gotten into Stewart Cink? He talks about the importance of his team, and attributes his comeback season partly to his new trainer Cornel Driessen. With Driessen’s help, the veteran pro — Cink won the 1997 Travelers Championship the year Collin Morikawa was born — has actually gained distance despite being on the doorstep of PGA TOUR Champions eligibility. Cink was 144th in the FedExCup and 300th in the world after he missed the cut at the Wyndham Championship to end last season. He made a few equipment changes, became more efficient, and with Driessen gained so much strength and mobility he began to adopt a whole new style of play. “I was able to really kind of change my game into a little bit more of a power game,” he said. But nowhere was the change to Cink’s team more evident than with the guy carrying his bag as he won the season-opening Fortinet Open in Napa last fall — his first win in over 11 years. “He and I have always just been on the same wavelength,” Cink said of his son. “We’re kind of from the same DNA, and I mean literally like we are the same person. We think about things – we think about jokes, we notice the same funny stuff, we just pick up on the same kind of little details about things in our immediate surroundings.” Despite all that their arrangement was supposed to be temporary; Reagan, 23, is a newly minted Georgia Tech graduate (industrial engineering) who has been working in the flight operations department for Delta Airlines. He’s a scratch handicap and has his own life to lead. “The traveling and living in a circus out here like I’ve done for my whole adult life is made tolerable by being a player,” Cink said at the Sanderson Farms Championship last fall, when he and Reagan agreed that it would take a top-five finish for them to keep going (Cink finished T12). “If you’re playing, you’re kind of the top level of the wedding cake out here.” Cink went back to his main caddie, Kip Henley, and opened with scores of 67-63 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. “I was like, it doesn’t matter who caddies for me right now, I’m just killing it!” Cink said Sunday with a laugh. Then he shot 70-81 on the weekend. He reunited with Reagan at the Bermuda Championship, but not for obvious reasons. Cink said Bermuda was going to be hard to get to and gave Henley the week off — and then finished T4 with his son back on the bag. Stewart and Reagan now seemed like too good a team to break up. “Our flight out of Bermuda was on Monday afternoon at like 3 p.m. because there weren’t any flights at the time because of COVID, so we had a long time to sit around the hotel room,” said Cink, the second oldest Heritage winner (Hale Irwin, 48). “Lisa was there, Reagan was there, and that Monday in the morning while we were waiting for our flight, we had a big team pow wow.” Cink told Reagan he wanted him on the bag at the Masters. Then he reconsidered. “I said, ‘You know what, come to think of it, how would you just like to caddie for this season?’” Cink said. “He said, ‘I’m so glad you asked.’” Reagan was supposed to start work in two days but called his team. Stewart, though, went straight to the top, placing a call to Delta CEO Ed Bastian — a friend, as luck would have it. “I didn’t ask Ed to do anything,” Cink said. “I just said, ‘Ed, if you were me, what do you think you would do?’ And he’s got grown daughters and I’ve got sons, and he said, ‘Stewart, this is the opportunity of a lifetime.’ I don’t think Ed would mind me quoting him. He said, ‘We love Reagan. We think Reagan is going to work at Delta for 40 years. “We don’t think waiting one more year is going to hurt, so let him caddie.’” Reagan, who is engaged to be married July 31st, will caddie for his dad through the FedExCup Playoffs. “And then I’ll be back on the caddie market or maybe retire,” Stewart said with a laugh. Not that anyone would let him. The best comeback story of this season just keeps getting better.

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The 2020 PGA Merchandise Show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, wrapped last week. After scouring every aisle and booth, we’re here to bring you the highlights from the golf merchandise world’s winter extravaganza. First, let’s take a look at what the major equipment manufacturers brought with them to Florida. Photos below are courtesy of GolfWRX unless otherwise noted. Titleist The four big-ticket items Titleist brought to the show were the T100S and T400 irons, Vokey SM8 Wedges, and Scotty Cameron Special Select putters. T100S irons When Titleist launched its T-Series line, the hot item was the T100. It gained instant popularity on the big tours and bumped into the must-try category for all fitters. There was one catch: A good portion of the feedback coming back from players and fitters was the need for an option for the players who wanted slightly stronger lofts For set blending with other T models To bring the flight down a bit for players that tend to add dynamic loft at impact To have the ability to have strong lofts without bending them strong which decreases bounce and add offset Enter the T100S irons. T400 irons This iron is really easy to explain: It’s fast, fun, forgiving and will allow anyone with a heartbeat to get it up in the air and have a blast doing it. The T400 is hot across the face, and for a beefed-up distance iron, it looks fairly pleasing. Titleist is known as a “better player” company, especially in the irons. This is its answer to please the masses Vokey Design SM8 wedges With the SM8, it’s all about spin and lowering the launch. These are shot characteristics that can help all players. Regardless of your swing speed, launch angle etc., every player needs a wedge that spins and helps keep the golf ball down for control. Vokey and his team achieved this by continuing with their variable CG (center of gravity) placement—adjusting it to increase MOI (moment of intertia) by seven percent and adding a tungsten weight out towards the toe in the 58 to 62-degree models. This helps to create a bit more stability on open-faced shots. Scotty Cameron Special Select putters With the 2020 edition, Scotty Cameron goes back to what made him famous from the beginning: classic shapes with fun details, all while adding the stability tech players these days are chasing. With titanium weighting in the blade models and stainless steel in the mallets, the Special Select is everything we need to keep it online and enjoy looking at a putter while we are doing it. TaylorMade Although absent from the show for the second year in a row, talk about TaylorMade’s SIM driver and metalwoods was everywhere. It’s not uncommon for a company to waive its right to the PGA Show, but TM’s physical absence is felt. They are big, disruptive, popular and have the tour staff to justify it all. Even without a physical presence, SIM, Tiger, and Rory made it into almost every conversation we heard on the floor. Callaway Callaway came to the show having just launched a bevy of new wares: Mavrik metalwoods, Mavrik irons, new Odyssey putters, and a new line of Chrome Soft golf balls. Mavrik metalwoods With the help of artificial intelligence, as well as design inspiration from the nuances of previous lines, Callaway recently launched its Mavrik line, which has three editions. Mavrik, Mavrik Max and Mavrik Sub Zero. In simple terms its the standard version (Mavrik), forgiving version (Max), and low launch/low spin version (Sub Zero). Like with any Callaway PGA Show effort, this one was big, robust and a must-see for all who attended. Mavrik irons Once again, artificial intelligence is a key factor in this line of Callaway irons, and with the introduction of Flash Face for the first time in a set of irons, Callaway is offering a Mavrik iron for every player. Mavrik, Mavrik Max, and Mavrik Pro. Odyssey Triple Track putters Although sightlines and alignment have been offered, upgraded, and tweaked over the years, Callaway went all-in on the Triple Track idea, and in this case, it’s something that could. The idea is simple: line up the lines on the putter with the lines on the ball. The ball will hopefully “track” your intended start line and find the bottom of the cup. Chrome Soft and Chrome Soft X golf balls Callaway is fully committed to establishing itself as a contender in the golf ball market. With the ball plant and R&D located in Chicopee, Massachusetts and over $50 million in renovations to that facility, Callaway has elevated itself in the ball category year over year. With a beefed-up internal system, the new Chrome Soft will add even more spin, higher peak heights and overall distance than the previous version. The Chrome Soft X  went under the same upgrades and will catch the eye of the player looking for a flatter ball flight. Ping Besides the John Deere Ping Anser rolling balls across the lawn, the big news from Ping was the introduction of its new G710 irons. G710 irons Like many irons in this distance category, the Ping G710 is an easy-to-hit, good-looking party of a golf club. Although it is a distance iron, I wouldn’t be surprised to see these land in the bags of lower handicappers due to their overall ease of use and surprising versatility—you can work them a bit, which is saying a lot in this class. L8 Bag For 2020, Ping is bringing back an updated version of one of its most iconic golf bag designs: the L8. The L8 offers a four-way top divider with spacious pockets—and a single carry strap for those looking to enjoy carrying the old fashioned way. To keep it accurate to the previous version, Ping is using very heavy-duty materials to make the bag last well into the future. Cobra Its been a few months now since Cobra offered up its follow up to the sleeper hit of 2019, the F9. The Speed Zone and Speed Zone Xtreme drivers are everything the F9 was but they are actually a bit easier to hit. With the incorporation of the “Infinity Face,” Cobra is now able to fine-tune all parts of the hitting area, all while adding much-needed optic improvements to the address position (i.e. the driver looks a bit easier to maneuver), which is always a good thing. Bridgestone In the golf ball category, the buzz of the show was the new Bridgestone Tour B series of golf balls. Whenever Tiger Woods’ name is involved in a launch, there is always a buzz, but in this case, the golf ball’s early testing superseded even the Big Cat’s influence. With its revolutionary Reactiv cover technology, Bridgestone has created a three-piece ball with max distance and serious spin around the greens. Especially the Tiger ball (Tour B XS). Bridgestone Tour B Series golf balls Tour B X Low Launch, Low spin off driver with control around the greens. Designed for swing speeds of 105 mph and above. Tour B XS Tiger’s ball. Lower spin on driver and a ton of spin through the rest of the bag. Designed for swing speeds of 105 mph and above. Tour B RX Same idea as the X but for swing speeds sub-105. Tour B RXS More spin then the RX. For swing speeds under 105. Honma: TR20 driver Like the irons, Honma relies on the long-earned expertise of the Takumis in Japan to create, shape and execute golf clubs that will definitely get attention. The TR20 is a serious piece of craftsmanship, and from the early opinions overall, it has surprisingly high ball speeds, a hammerhead feel at impact and plenty of playability. I believe the curiosity around Honma is still high after only a year into this North American push, but there’s no better way to grab equipment headlines than a hot driver. The TR20 is offered in 460 and 440 models. Flightscope: Mevo+ Flightscope specializes in radar launch monitors to help golfers, fitters, and teachers better understand the dynamics of the golf swing and ball flight. The Mevo+ is an all-new unit that offers more data than ever seen before in the sub-$2,500 category—the premium Flightscope x3 unit offers a full spectrum of data parameters but is more than $12,000. The Mevo+ also comes with E6 Simulator integration to allow you to quickly and easily play indoor golf for no extra fees on 5 built-in golf courses. Dormie Workshop: Head covers This Canadian Company continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible when you combine imagination and creativity with the tradition of well-crafted leather goods. From custom headcovers designed to look just like your favorite dog, to offering you the opportunity to represent your favorite sports team, Dormie Workshop does it all. True Linkswear: Shoes True Linkswear has built its reputation on creating some of the most comfortable shoes for on and off the golf course. At the PGA Show, True introduced several new models including a shoe that uses recycled plastic to not just make the shoe but help reduce unnecessary waste. Puma Golf: Ignite PWRADAPT Caged Puma Golf makes the shoe of choice for Rickie Fowler. The new Ignite PWRADAPT Caged provides 360-degree support inside and out, with an internal sock bootie to keep your feet dry, paired with an outer PWRCage saddle to fully support the midfoot and prevent slipping. Links & Kings: Assorted accessories Links and Kings products range from belts and scorecard holders to luggage and golf carry bags. It’s their mission to create products that pay homage to the heritage of the game of golf while meeting the needs of the modern player. Each item is handcrafted with meticulous attention to deal using the finest exotics leathers. MacKenzie: Golf bags MacKenzie bags can be found at golf clubs around the world or custom ordered exactly to your requested design specs direct from the company. The bags are made from your choice of ballistic nylon, waxed canvas, or leather and are heirloom quality crafted one by one. Vega Golf: Adjustable bounce wedge Bounce is an important part of selecting the right wedge, and thanks to Vega Golf’s Alcor Tour adjustable bounce wedge you can change on the fly depending on course condition or your swing needs. Vega gives you the option to purchase the wedge with just a single sole or all three soles for an additional cost.

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