How Marvin Leonard bucked conventional wisdom to build Colonial Country Club

For its 10th generation Spider putter, a line that launched in 2008, TaylorMade is releasing Spider “X� putters, which are the retail versions of the Spider prototype that Rory McIlroy, among other PGA TOUR players, has been using in 2019. (Click here for comments from TaylorMade’s Chris Trott on why TOUR players have switched into the new Spider X-style prototype designs.) What separates the new X designs from the Spider Tour Red and Tour Black putters, which reinvigorated the Spider line in recent years, is a new True Path alignment system. On the top of the crown and running parallel to the target line sits what TaylorMade calls an “optically engineering sightline,� highlighted by a white-colored crevice. This design is said to “enhance visual perception through color sensitivity,� and to reduce off-center strikes. For more visual alignment aid, there’s a black sightline that runs along the center of the crown. Additionally, the new Spider X shape is 5 percent smaller overall and with less-protruding back bumpers than the Spider Tour Red designs. TaylorMade says this makes it more of a mallet-type design that some players prefer. For greater forgiveness, additional weight has been added to the perimeter of the structure, and it has a deeper center of gravity. Golfers can dial in head weight and feel by way of two weight ports that rest in the outer edges of the back bumpers. There are three different weights available; 2-gram aluminum weights, 6-gram steel weights and 12-gram Tungsten weights. TaylorMade has redesigned the Pure Roll inserts on the putter faces, making the Surlyn insert thicker and with more grooves for less backspin. The company says the combination of added grooves and a thicker insert helps to deform the insert at impact and increases the amount of contact between the grooves and the golf ball. The new Spider X putters will be available on February 15 in a navy-and-white and a copper-and-white colorway; the copper version will come with either a short slant hosel or a single-bend, while the navy version is available in only the short slant neck. They each come with SuperStroke Pistol GTR 1.0 grips, KBS CT Tour putter shafts, and they will sell for $349.99 each. Right- and left-handed versions are available.

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Here are nine tidbits from the third round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am that gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. Be looking for the Emergency 9 shortly after the close of play of each round of the tournament. Door Ajar Co-54-hole leader Dustin Johnson was 16-under-par for the event and four-under for the day after seven holes on Saturday. His three bogeys on his next 11 holes saw him fall out of the lead. With that, a nice chunk of players were also let back into the tournament. Johnson righted the ship with a birdie on the last at Pebble Beach for 70 (-2) but after that beginning, it almost felt like a round over par. He’ll play in the final group tomorrow with Ted Potter, Jr. #59Watch Potter needed to play the final three holes at Monterrey Peninsula Country Club one-under-par to add his name to the famous list. Instead of a birdie, he made two bogeys instead and now finds himself tied with Johnson entering Sunday.  The lefty does own a T16 from three attempts at this event but backing up his career-best 62 playing with Dustin Johnson and Wayne Gretzky would truly be something. He’s cashed three top-10 finishes in 83 TOUR events, two at Greenbrier, including his only win and the other at Riviera, site of next week’s Genesis Open. Noted. SaturDay The last Saturday Jason Day was in the mix he was three back of Alex Noren at Torrey Pines and we all know how that worked out. Tomorrow he’ll begin the day T3, two shots back as he looks to win in back-to-back events for the third time in his career. That’s an impressive number considering he has 11 TOUR wins. His last four Sundays at Pebble Beach are 67, 71, 67 and 67.   Familiar Faces Gamers wondering where popular picks Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson are in the PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf and One & Done presented by SERVPRO don’t have to look very far. Rahm held his T5 position with 70 (-2) at Spyglass Hill while Mickelson made nothing but still resides inside the top 10 (T9) after an even-par round at Pebble Beach. Mickelson suggested that anything in the mid to upper 60’s tomorrow will be premium due to the difficult conditions. Of the top five selections in One & Done, four are T14 or better. Never Daunted Chez Reavie is clearly not a history major. He battled Gary Woodland into a playoff last week on a course where he NEVER had any success. He’s clearly riding that wave of confidence this week as well as his 66 at MPCC today moved him up 15 spots to eighth place and was the low round of the day on that track. Reavie’s largest direct deposit from this event was two years ago and it was good for T26. Not even an opening round 63 at MPCC that year could spring him forward. He’s played Pebble Beach on three Sundays and has signed for 74,76 and 77. He fired 67 there Thursday with seven birdies and a double so we’ll see which trend is bucked. Moving Day William McGirt had the low round of the day at Pebble Beach with 66. He moved up 71 spots to T16 after his bogey-free loop. Now, do it again! … Ben Martin’s set the low one at Spyglass Hill, also with 66, but he only moved up 70 spots to T29. This is the first time he will make the cut in four tries. … Russell Knox was one short of McGirt but his 67 advance him 54 spots to T16. Knox will be looking to improve on his best finish of T27. Moving Day Wrong Way Robert Garrigus has been sniffing around recently but his 75 at MPCC today dropped him 62 spots from T23 to T85 (MC). … Matt Kuchar fell right on the line after his 75 at Pebble Beach dropped him from T18 to T60. His reward is he gets another crack at Pebble Beach tomorrow. … Gamers noticed J.B. Holmes’ course history the last three weeks. After taking his time on the final hole at Farmers Insurance Open, he’s MC/MC in his last two. His 73 on Saturday dropped him 37 spots to the wrong side of the cut line. Here’s how tight the field is entering the final day: Vaughn Taylor carded 70 (-1) and dropped 12 spots from T8 to 20th. … Last year’s 54-hole leader Byeong Hun An posted 72 and dropped from T8 to T26. Don’t Sleep On… Each Saturday when I’m not dying from Flu I’ll check in on a few of Rob Bolton’s Sleepers. This week, Kevin Streelman shared the first round lead and is still in the top 10 (T9) after 54 holes. Streelman and Larry Fitzgerald are leading the Pro-Am so he’ll be locked in tomorrow. Nick Watney and Sam Saunders are also teeing it tomorrow and will look to sneak in the back door. Study Hall Don’t be surprised tomorrow if the rookies and newbies aren’t hanging around. Pebble Beach is notorious for chewing them up and spitting ’em out on the weekend so if you’re having lineup issues, lean veteran I say. … K.J. Choi is T16 heading into the final round but I’ll point out he’s 17-for-17 at Riviera and is in the field next week. … Rory McIlroy suggested after his round that the Poa annua might have gotten stuck in his mind after a rough Friday. He’ll get another dose of it at Riviera next week. I might just stick him in the closet until he returns to a more familiar South Florida. … Corey Connors streak of weekends is over at eight. I see you, rookie! … Charley Hoffman WD during the round citing a back issue. As of today he was in the field at the Genesis Open next week. Eyes open.

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