Stars lurk around Nelson leaders Hahn, Barnes

Phil Mickelson has never been afraid to experiment, even after the age of 50. His tinkering has continued into this new season, where he unveiled some tweaks to his putter in this week’s season-opening Fortinet Championship. Mickelson used the new flatstick to gain nearly a stroke on the greens in his first-round 70 at the Silverado Resort in Napa, California. He is still using the same prototype head – a blade-style similar to the classic Wilson 8802 — that he unveiled when he began experimenting with arm-lock putting at the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational. The prototype, which has a similar appearance to the Odyssey PM Blade that he has used for years, is built to rotate less throughout the stroke. This week, Mickelson added loft to the putter while using a longer grip and shaft. He said Thursday that he’s been messing with the grip extension for approximately six weeks. “It takes a little getting used to, but it seems like I’ve had moments where I just start rolling it in from everywhere,” Mickelson said. Callaway Senior Club Performance Analyst Gerritt Pon, who works closely with Mickelson on his equipment, said the SuperStroke WristLock on Mickelson’s putter is now 17 inches, which Pon said is “a little longer than previously.” “The putter is extended to 41 inches with a little more loft than his normal blade specs,” Pon said. “The longer grip allows him to grip down a little more than the original wrist-lock grip.” The putter Mickelson used in Memphis, Tennessee, was 40.75 inches. By adding a quarter-inch to the putter and extending the grip, Mickelson is effectively “choking down” on the putter more. “I did putt well, so I thought it was good,” Mickelson said Thursday. “I’m hitting them solid, online. So tomorrow I need to get a good round, I need to shoot something (in the) mid-60s. I’m playing well enough to do it, I believe, and I’m certainly putting well enough.” Mickelson’s second round at Silverado is scheduled to begin at 4:05 p.m. Eastern.

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It’s Ryder Cup week, and it’s looking to be one of the most anticipated in recent history. An extra year of waiting will do that. To capitalize on the excitement, a number of companies have been releasing Ryder Cup-themed products. Here’s a look at some unique items you can get your hands on to celebrate the 43rd edition of the intercontinental competition. Adidas Golf’s limited-edition Stan Smith golf shoe The iconic Stan Smith shoe has received the Ryder Cup treatment. To celebrate the event being held in Wisconsin – i.e. “America’s Dairyland” – the shoe’s design pays tribute to the cows that give the state its distinctive title. The shoe is on sale now at adidas.com and costs $120. TaylorMade Ryder Cup-inspired SIM2 Max drivers Packed with the technology of the regular SIM2 Max drivers, TaylorMade has given fans the chance to show their team’s colors in a unique way. For the U.S., that of course means the iconic Stars and Stripes detail on the clubhead, while the European edition contains a yellow-and-blue color scheme. Both SIM2 Max limited-edition Ryder Cup drivers are available to pre-order now at TaylorMade.com for a price of $529.99 each. Blue Delta Ryder Cup-edition denim jeans All players, captains and PGA staff have been specially fit by Blue Delta Jeans and will wear these jeans to the private team dinner during Ryder Cup week. The jeans feature a Ryder Cup logo on the watch pocket, with each pair handmade in Mississippi. The Ryder Cup jeans cost $500 and are available to purchase at BlueDeltaJeans.com. RLX Navy/Camo Team USA 2020 Ryder Cup Team-Issued Ralph Lauren is the official apparel provider of the U.S. team, and you can wear exactly what the players will have on the course with the brand’s team-issued full-zip jacket. The camo top contains speckles of the golden trophy the team is trying to reclaim and is available at Shop.PGA.com for a price of $248. Short Par 4 Ryder Cup Box This box from Short Par 4 is full of RLX Ryder Cup goodies from apparel and accessories similar to what the team will be wearing at Whistling Straits, with options for both men and women. The box costs $220 and is available at ShortPar4.com. Reef Spackler Ryder Cup-edition golf sandals These spiked flip-flops are built for both the course and the beach, with a Ryder Cup edition sandal for both fans of the U.S. (currently sold out) and European sides. The flip-flops feature a signature built-in bottle opener and are available here at Reef.com for $100. FootJoy Flex limited-edition Ryder Cup shoes European fans will likely love this addition from FootJoy, with the shoes featuring a yellow-and-blue pattern with a Ryder Cup logo on the tongue of the shoe as well as the trophy on the side. The shoes cost €119 and are available at AmericanGolf.eu.

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SYDNEY – Rory McIlroy was heading toward the end of 2013 feeling pretty ordinary after a winless year. Jordan Spieth was doing the same in 2014. And now Jason Day, who started 2017 as No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking but now sits 12th on the global list, is heading into the holiday season without a new trophy to admire. On each occasion, the criticism had started. The questions about what was wrong with them had well and truly begun. We hold our superstars to a high standard you see. Under pressure, McIlroy headed to Sydney in his off-season to play the Australian Open and ultimately won it by taking down a red-hot Adam Scott on Sunday. Scott had won the Masters at Augusta that season and was coming off wins at the Australian Masters and Australian PGA Championship in earlier weeks. But McIlroy came over the top of the national hero on Sunday and ultimately went on to dominate in 2014, winning The Open Championship, the PGA Championship, the World Golf Championships–Bridgestone Invitational and the BMW PGA Championship on the European Tour. He was PGA TOUR Player of the Year and laid some credit on his Australian win for the resurgence. “I did take a lot from that victory,â€� McIlroy said as he lined up for his title defense in Sydney in 2014. “It was my one and only victory of 2013 but it ended the year for me on a high and gave me momentum going into 2014.â€� But that week in Sydney wouldn’t go the same way for McIlroy. Instead, it was Spieth’s turn. The Texan shot a still much talked about 8-under 63 in brutal winds on Sunday to bury the demons he was facing for not being able to close out multiple chances to win on the PGA TOUR that year. The following season, just like McIlroy, he would win two majors and be Player of the Year. Spieth actually won five times and claimed the FedExCup in a sensational season. “The Australian Open may have been the most important tournament that I’ve ever played in because at the time, it had been maybe a year and a half since winning the John Deere in that playoff where I kind of squeaked in, luckily,â€� Spieth said. “Going there to an elite field with the world No. 1 player (McIlroy at the time) and obviously with the local favorite Adam (Scott) and with a venue like The Australian, to put myself in a position and just have a level of patience that I had not had when I was in contention prior to that was important.â€� So now, it is Day’s turn. After a year to forget that has seen his standing in the OWGR slide quickly, the now 30-year-old has a chance for his first win since THE PLAYERS Championship 2016. Through two rounds at The Australian Golf Club the 10-time PGA TOUR winner Day sits at 8-under and just one shot behind 21-year-old leader Lucas Herbert. Cameron Davis, a 22-year-old, is a shot back at 7-under with Anthony Quayle, at 23 at 6-under. Clearly Day is the favorite with two rounds to go with TOUR winners Cameron Smith and Matt Jones five off the lead and Spieth eight shots adrift. The chance to create a springboard to a comeback season has not been lost on him. “I haven’t won this year. But this would be a nice little end of the year cap, just to know that it wasn’t such a disappointing year,â€� Day said. “This is a huge kind of confidence builder for me this week and if I can somehow pull the win off, that would be great. “A win is a win, regardless of where you are, where you play. To have the Stonehaven Cup on the mantel would be great. It would be a good kick start going to next year’s season, back on the PGA TOUR. “I just know how Jordan’s done from having the confidence coming from this event and going forward and winning two majors the year after and having a lot of confidence going to the start of the year.â€� Speaking of Spieth, Day won’t rest despite the healthy gap between the pair. While those closest to Day have merely fractions of experience in winning big events, Spieth is still a factor. “If he gets something going on the weekend he can hole a lot of putts and make a lot of birdies and make a charge, and usually he does make a charge on the weekend,â€� Day said. “Seven strokes is obviously not enough but I’d like to keep pushing forward and hopefully I don’t see him in my rear view mirror at all.â€� If Day does surge ahead this weekend, be sure to remember it when picking your 2018 major winners.

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