Golf store takes swing at reopening amid coronavirus pandemic

2019 RBC Canadian Open, End of Round 1. Course scoring averages: Overall: -0.59 strokes per round Morning wave: -0.82 Afternoon wave: -0.36 Current cutline: 83 players at -1 or better (T59th position) Top 3 most likely projected cutlines: 2 under par: 26.7% 1 under par: 22.8% 3 under par: 20.8% Top 10 win probabilities: Keegan Bradley (1, -7, 12.1%) Matt Kuchar (T7, -5, 8.6%) Rory McIlroy (T25, -3, 8.4%) Webb Simpson (T15, -4, 6.1%) Shane Lowry (T2, -6, 5.2%) Sungjae Im (T2, -6, 3.9%) Henrik Stenson (T15, -4, 3.9%) Erik van Rooyen (T2, -6, 3.5%) Adam Hadwin (T7, -5, 3.3%) Jimmy Walker (T7, -5, 2.5%) NOTE: These reports are based off the live predictive model run by @DataGolf. The model provides live “Make Cut�, “Top 20�, “Top 5�, and “Win� probabilities every 5 minutes from the opening tee shot to the final putt of every PGA TOUR event. Briefly, the model takes account of the current form of each golfer as well as the difficulty of their remaining holes, and probabilities are calculated from 20K simulations. To follow live finish probabilities throughout the remainder of the RBC Canadian Open, or to see how each golfer’s probabilities have evolved from the start of the event to the current time, click here for the model’s home page.  

Click here to read the full article…

DETROIT – Given that he had delivered his opening tee shot in Wednesday’s pro-am at 7:20 a.m. – a tee time that had necessitated an arrival to Detroit Golf Club just after sunrise – and followed that up with a “Shot For Heroes� ceremony that introduced a vehicle by which more funds will be raised for a charity that is already up to $1 million, then put himself in front of a heartwarming presentation to 15-year-old Anthony Trudel at the request of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, by late afternoon Rickie Fowler could not be blamed if he were dragging. Instead, he talked with enthusiasm about two trails of rejuvenation – his golf game and with Dan Gilbert’s vision for Detroit. As for the former, Fowler shrugged off a second-round 77 at the recent U.S. Open that took him out of contention and chose to focus on success earlier in the season – a fifth career win at the Waste Management Phoenix Open that was celebrated with family and friends who had never seen him raise a PGA TOUR trophy, and four other top 10s. “So far, it’s been a fun year,� he said. But it’s the latter that motivates Fowler in a different fashion, a more personal way. True, he’s got a sponsorship deal with Quicken Loans and Rocket Mortgage that is profitable, but Fowler has come to admire Dan Gilbert (the 57-year-old founder of Quicken Loans) and the man’s dream to revitalize Detroit. Fowler said he saw first-hand the Motown life Monday night. “Got a solid five hours in downtown. It’s cool to hear the stories of how much it’s changed, not just over the last five to 10 years, but really in the last two,� said Fowler. “A lot of stuff going on.� And, be advised, that Fowler knows what it means to have “a lot of stuff going on.� Consider his dance card once his 18-hole pro-am, was concluded – more than five hours, by the way, that was spent inside the ropes with one Kid Rock. “Fun to be in his hometown,� laughed Fowler, who plays golf or has dinner with Kid Rock frequently in the Jupiter, Florida, area. “I’ve heard a lot about Detroit from him.� Fowler helped introduce the “Shot For Heroes� corner at Detroit GC where visitors can take two 60-yard wedge shots and donate to a cause that wants to end homelessness for military veterans. It was an appearance at the “Shot For Heroes� ceremony that was especially sweet, because Fowler has become involved with the Trudel story since he heard about it in the spring of 2018. He lives about an hour south of Fowler’s home in Jupiter and was diagnosed with a brain tumor during a visit to a hospital in Boca Raton. From there, Trudel was air-lifted to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami and through Make-A-Wish, Trudel forwarded the desire to meet Fowler, one of his heroes. As a special guest of the Rocket Mortgage officials this week, Trudel spent time with Fowler Wednesday at Detroit Golf Club. The youngster hit balls, was gifted a new set of Cobra golf clubs, and learned that he’d be an honorary observer of Fowler’s second-round. “I told him to make sure he brings me some good luck and we’ll have some fun out there,� said Fowler. All of the duties, Fowler acknowledged, came with being “part of a tournament and kind of, I guess, in a little bit of a ‘host’ role.� But now 30 and in his 10th PGA TOUR season, Fowler has learned to effectively juggle his golf, his business interests and his personal life and when it comes to the proceedings this week, “it’s something I want to succeed.� There’s no reason it can’t come in conjunction with a level of golf that highlighted the earlier months of 2019 when in an eight-tournament stretch Fowler had a win, three other top 10s, and a spot inside the top 10 in the Officials World Golf Ranking. The goal going forward, he said, is simple. “Put myself in a good position for the (FedExCup) Playoffs,� he said. “I put myself in a great position early in the year, but you want to finish just as well as you started.�

Click here to read the full article…

FootJoy Pro|SL & Pro|SL Carbon Although the Pro/SL has been the most worn shoe on global Tours, FootJoy decided to take it to another level in 2020. The results are more stability, traction, and comfort. The new Infinity Outsole is 11.5% wider and offers 30% more traction than the outsole on the previous generation. A new Pro|SL Carbon version integrates a full-length carbon fiber insert into the midsole for even more stability and motion control. The carbon fiber flexes and snaps back to its molded position with each step. This recovers more of the energy generated while walking, resulting in less leg and foot fatigue at the end of the round. True Linkswear Ecoknit Sustainability has been one of the biggest trends in apparel in footwear the PGA Merchandise Show. Feeding into that trend is the new Ecoknit shoe from True Linkswear. The uppers are completely created from recycled bottles, with each pair using eight recycled bottles. This casual silhouette works as well off the course as it does on it. Now you can feel good about looking good. Ralph Lauren Continuing with the eco-friendly story, Ralph Lauren is using a recycled polyester on three of its core knits. The brand is also working with factories that embrace gender equality on their executive teams. From a fashion standpoint, stylish microprints and sophisticated shades of grey take center stage for Fall 2020. Popular layering pieces, like hybrid jackets, insulated vests, and cashmere hoodies return in updated colorways for the season. Jim Nantz by Vineyard Vines Vineyard Vines recently opened a new concept store featuring the Jim Nantz by Vineyard Vines Collection just steps from Pebble Beach Golf Links’ iconic practice green. The store is filled with performance polos, 1�2-zip, vests, sweaters, cardigans and jackets, each of which pays homage to the history of the course and the area. At the forefront of the collection is the Pescadero Performance ½-Zip, which was inspired by the scenic Pescadero Point. Another showcase piece in the collection is the Carmel Polo with a small, sophisticated print. Bonobos Prints are once again the talk of the show and Bonobos has some of the coolest ones around. Building on its relationship with Justin Rose, the brand has created a range of rose-inspired prints, both large and small. Other key pieces from Bonobos include its popular Highland, Highland Tour, and Lightweight 5-Pocket pants in a variety of classic colors. G/FORE MG4+ G/FORE is known for a modern and edgy attitude that pushes golf fashion to places it has never been. The latest example of this is the new MG4+ shoe. With a sleek upper and expansive midsole, the MG4+ looks like it just walked off a high-fashion runway. This shoe is about more than trendy good looks, though. A 3D molded external heel counter provides lateral stability while a non-slip outsole with hybrid knurled and sawtooth traction keep players in contact with the ground.

Click here to read the full article…