Why Tiger sitting out this week might be a sign of a new scheduling strategy

On the range at the 2019 Valero Texas Open on Monday, Titleist unveiled new TS4 drivers, an addition to its previously released TS-family drivers that are being played on TOUR and currently sell at retail. Titleist has found tremendous success on the PGA TOUR so far with the TS2 and TS3 drivers, winning the driver count at multiple PGA TOUR events, and the company reports that they are “the most played driver models this season on the PGA TOUR.� “TS drivers have exceeded all our expectations both on TOUR and with golfers around the world,� said Josh Talge, Vice President of Marketing, Titleist Golf Clubs. “When it comes to driver performance, TS has shown that it’s no longer a one- or two-horse race.� However, the company says there remains certain players who can improve their driving performance with the TS4. The new TS4 driver is an “ultra low-spin� design, which Titleist says will produce about 300 rpm less spin compared to its current models. This product is reminiscent of the 915D4 drivers that were a low-spin option in the 915D-series of drivers. “While we know most golfers find their best fit in a TS2 or TS3 driver, there is a percentage of players out there with distinct performance needs, such as aggressive spin reduction,� Talge said. “TS4 is the ultra low-spin driver that still produces exceptional ball speed. If you want to hit it longer but are having trouble controlling spin off the tee, TS4 was made for you.� Like the previously released TS drivers, the TS4 drivers have a titanium construction with thinner crowns and faces than previous Titleist models. By removing weight from the crown and face, Titleist was able to reposition CG (center of gravity) to optimize ball speeds without sacrificing forgiveness. The difference between the TS2/TS3 drivers and the new TS4 is that the CG of the new TS4 is positioned closer to the face and lower in the club head to reduce spin. You’ll notice the positioning of the SureFit Flatweight is near the face on the sole, rather than on the rear of the sole. Also, while the TS2 and TS3 drivers are 460cc heads, the TS4 is 430cc, which is a smaller profile that better players prefer, according to Titleist. The smaller, pear-shaped head decreases drag for faster swing speeds, too. Of course, with a smaller head and repositioned CG, there is a sacrifice that may hurt forgiveness for some players who don’t always hit the center of the face. “When it comes to ultra low-spin drivers, there’s always going to be some tradeoff in terms of MOI,� Talge said. “But for those golfers who create too much spin because of the way they deliver the club head, we know through our player testing that TS4 can give them greater distance consistency versus what they would see in a higher-MOI product.� Titleist’s TS4 drivers ($499) will hit retail in late June, and they will be available in 8.5, 9.5 and 10.5-degree lofts for righties (only 8.5 and 9.5 heads offered for lefties). Each driver has Titleist’s SureFit hosel for loft and lie adjustments, and they come stock with a selection of shafts including Project X Even Flow T1100 White, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black, Mitsubishi Tensei AV Series Blue, and Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Black Dual Core. For more on the TS2 and TS3 drivers, click here. 

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The second round of the Safeway Open gets underway Friday in Napa, California. Here’s everything you need to follow the action. Round 2 leaderboard Round 2 tee times HOW TO FOLLOW Television: Thursday-Friday, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday-Sunday, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) PGA TOUR LIVE: Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. ET (Featured Groups) Radio: Thursday-Friday, 3 p.m.-9 p.m. ET. Saturday-Sunday, 4 p.m.-9 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com/liveaudio). FEATURED GROUPS (ALL TIMES LOCAL) Justin Thomas, Brandt Snedeker, Jim Furyk 7:50 a.m. (No. 10 tee) Phil Mickelson, Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay 8 a.m. (No. 10 tee) Adam Scott, Hideki Matsuyama, Sebastián Muñoz 12:45 p.m. (No. 1 tee) Kevin Tway, Bryson DeChambeau, Francesco Molinari 12:35 p.m. (No. 1 tee) MUST READS Romo enjoys hot start with opening-round 70 Quadruple-bogey 9 mars Mickelson’s season-opener Scott, Landry share first-round lead Cut prediction Nicklaus planning renovation of Muirfield Village Mickelson aiming for Presidents Cup pick DJ plans Hero World Challenge return, will play Presidents Cup How Tringale found success after swinging faster Finding contentment helped McNealy get on TOUR Thomas uses cancer scare to help others Top 10 rookies to watch What to expect during the fall schedule Sign-up and play Fantasy Golf CALL OF THE DAY

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LOS ANGELES – The usually jammed 405 freeway was wide open with seven lanes on each side near empty. The drive from home had never been quicker but trying to find a parking spot at Rancho Park Golf Course proved as difficult as always. RELATED: Where things stand, watch to expect for TOUR and fans | Why bonds of golf are so vital | A message to our fans Rancho – as the locals affectionately call it – is the premier municipal course owned by the city of Los Angeles. It hosted the L.A. Open (now The Genesis Invitational) on 17 occasions from 1956-67, 1969-72 and in 1983. It is steeped in history. Arnold Palmer won three times at Rancho while Charlie Sifford and Billy Casper also prevailed there. It is the site where Jack Nicklaus earned his first PGA TOUR check — a huge $33.33 as a 21-year-old rookie in 1962 after he tied for 50th. Nancy Lopez won two of the three LPGA events staged there. On multiple occasions, Rancho has served as the busiest muni in America, routinely logging over 100,000 rounds a year. On this Friday afternoon, things were no different. Strange, perhaps, given the previous day, the mayor of Los Angeles and the governor of California had given stay-at-home edicts due to the coronavirus pandemic. Perhaps that’s why it was so busy, golfers recognizing that courses might not be open much longer. In fact the starter, a little disgruntled, remarks that today and the day before had been the busiest in some time. Nik Adell is at the window looking for a tee time. There are taped lines on the ground six feet apart to show people where to stand to keep social distancing protocols in place. This is one of many changes to the norm. Carts are still available, but for single riders only. Flagsticks are to remain in and untouched. Ball washers and rakes have been removed from the course. Adell, his wife and friend Ken are put on a waiting list, so he buys a card that allows priority online booking for the future. Turns out he is a member at a nearby private club that has already closed. “Golf is a stress reliever. And I work in the financial markets … so right now I need a stress reliever,â€� Adell said. “We just had to play. We don’t know when they will shut this all down.â€� It is a sentiment shared by multiple people I talk to. From others on the waiting list, players practicing on the range, and a group of (let’s just say nine to stay under the rules) friends engaged in a very serious putting duel on the practice green. The uncertainty of availability of golf has everyone wanting to cram as much in as possible. I, too, can relate as I walk to the first tee to meet the foursome I’ll share the next five hours with – at an acceptable distance of course. I am joined by Ben Northenor, Matt Macedo and Adam Zoucha wondering if this might be my last round in months. Northenor is a 41-year-old who was laid off from his job as an editor on the hit show Dynasty as Hollywood came to a halt. He found golf only in the last 18 months but is, by his own admission, basically obsessed with it. When he was given the layoff news, he went right out to play with his 7-year-old son and has since tried to play as much as possible. “It is hard to put into words, but the game is almost therapeutic, possibly even necessary in times like this,â€� Northenor said after making a great par on the first from a rake-less fairway bunker. “Golf has helped in every aspect of my life. As an editor, having a producer standing over your shoulder is real pressure. Trying to make a 5-footer to win a hole, or make a birdie or par, recreates that. “We search for perfection on a daily basis in our lives, but golf reminds you to enjoy the journey, as much, if not more so, than the destination. Countless obstacles are always thrown in your way but one must never give up.â€� Thirty-year-olds Macedo and Zoucha are college friends who also scrambled to Rancho when another course had closed. Zoucha is supposed to be married on June 6 … in Italy. He is resigned to the fact a change of venue is likely although holds out small hope of a postponement. Zoucha is a double digit handicapper but impressively wields a Scotty Cameron putter, a gift from his fiancée. I’d like to borrow it on this round, given I accidently left my TaylorMade Spider at the Everill family mini-golf course and am now putting with a wedge. But of course sharing is NOT caring at the moment. “I hope this place stays open. It allows people an outlet where they still can be cautious and practice social distancing,â€� Zoucha said. “It will be a shame to cancel the wedding trip but of course that’s nothing compared to what others are experiencing. I feel for those even more directly affected.â€� If not for my questions, Coronavirus talk would have likely been near non-existent. The four of us took extra time telling stories that made us smile and laugh and, of course, well-naturedly ribbed each other for each thin, fat, topped or shanked shot. But we also heavily praised those great shots that keep everyone wanting golf in their lives. As the sun set, we made a point of visiting the famous plaque on the par-5 18th that commemorates Palmer making a 12 there during the 1961 L.A. Open, two years before winning the first of his three titles. It was first erected in 1963 with Palmer in attendance “as an inspiration to all golfersâ€� and the rededicated plaque includes a quote from Palmer: Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening – and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented. Before going our separate ways post-round, the four of us agreed the game itself also remains an inspiration, now more than ever. And we were hopeful that Rancho might stay open a bit longer, providing therapy in these uncertain times. Alas, the news came down over the weekend – all public courses in Los Angeles now closed. But I look forward to one day getting back out to Rancho, perhaps even sharing another round with my new golf mates Adam, Matt and Ben. Coming Tuesday: PGATOUR.COM’s Jim McCabe visits his local course in Quincy, Massachusetts.

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