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Morning 9: Desert winners: Simpson in Phoenix, G-Mac in Saudi Arabia | Shark backs Premier Golf League, Player calls it greedy

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By Ben Alberstadt
Email me at [email protected] and find me at @benalberstadt on Instagram and golfwrxEIC on Twitter.
February 3, 2020
Good Monday morning, golf fans. With all due respect to Webb and G-Mac, I’m most excited to see Andy Reid get a (Super Bowl) win under his belt! The Chiefs could be the next football dynasty.

 

1. Finau stymied by Simpson
AP report…”Simpson birdied the final two holes of regulation to force a playoff with Finau, then won with a 10-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole.”
  • “Two strokes ahead with two holes left, Finau missed an 18-foot birdie try in the playoff on the par-4 18th after driving left into the church pew bunkers.”
  • “Simpson two-putted for birdie from the fringe on the short par-4 17th and made a 17-footer for birdie from the edge of the green on the 18th. Finau, after hitting a 366-yard drive and an approach to 8 feet, missed a chance to win when his birdie try slid right.”

Full piece.

2. G-Mac’s Euro Tour victory drought ends in Saudi desert
ESPN report…”Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell has ended his five-and-a-half-year wait for a European Tour title with victory at the Saudi International on Sunday.”
  • “McDowell cared an up-and-down par 70 to finish 12 under for the tournament, two shots ahead of second place American defending champion Dustin Johnson”
  • “The 40-year-old Northern Irishman struggled to a bogey at the first hole, before carding a further two bogeys in a mixed final round. However, back-to-back birdies at the 12th and 13th holes were enough to secure McDowell his 11th Tour win, his first since defending his Alstom Open de France title in 2014.”

Full piece.

3. Shark: Bring on the Premier Golf League
Australian Associated Press report…“Greg Norman believes the mooted Premier Golf League has every chance of succeeding, 26 years after his own world tour proposal was shot down by the powerful PGA Tour. The Australian great says changing times mean the plan for 18 tournaments worth US$10 million (AU$14.9m) each featuring 48 leading players could work despite likely opposition from existing tours.”
  • …”You’ve got to remember back in my day the players were looked on a little bit different,” Norman told The Scotsman at the final day of the Saudi International on Sunday.
  • “Seve (Ballesteros), Jose (Maria Olazabal) and I were trying to tell everybody we were independent contractors who could go and play anywhere in the world we want…”
  • “Restraint of trade is not as prevalent – you can’t do it basically in this day and age – so that’s why this one probably has a little more legs.”
4. Mickelson’s momentum 
Brentley Romine for Golf Channel…“Mickelson fired a closing 3-under 67 Sunday to finish the week at 9 under, just three shots back of winner Graeme McDowell.”
  • “It was so fun to be back in the mix,” Mickelson told reporters afterward. “It’s been a while since I’ve been in contention. It’s been a while since I’ve been playing well and it feels really good. This has been a great week for me, a good step, and it was so fun coming down the stretch to feel the nervousness and the excitement and the opportunities.”
  • …”I haven’t been my best this last year since I won Pebble a year ago, and I’m excited to go back there next week with a little bit of momentum,” Mickelson said. “I feel like I have been playing well, but yet I haven’t had the results. I missed a couple of cuts and this week I really started to put things together and it’s a great week to build off of.”
5. “Bitter”
A bit of what Tony Finau said following his playoff defeat…
  • “Hat’s off to Webb. A couple birdies coming home, and if you’re going to get beat that’s how it should happen.”
  • “I definitely didn’t give him the tournament. He took the lead from me early and I got it late, but unfortunately it’s how the cookie crumbles today.”
  • “It’s a bitter week as I look back on it. But man, lots of stuff to be learned…I had a chance, a great chance to win this week. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen, but my game’s better than it’s ever been. I have more confidence now than I’ve ever had. And again, if you know anything about me, I’ll persevere through anything. If you want to say this is a stumbling block or whatever it is, to chase this next one, but I’ll knock it off soon and will be on my way.”

Full piece

6. Player on Premier Golf League and “greed”
Gary Player’s money argument is a curious one in the world of pro sports (Kevin Durant earned more than $100 million in salary last year, for reference)…anyway…
  • Geoff Shackelford pulling from a John McCauley report…”I find a lot of greed in the sport now,” Player added. “When someone comes along like this, what do you do?
  • “Do you discard the PGA Tour where you’ve played all your life? Are you just going to say ‘to hell with you now?’ I don’t like that. It is crazy to say you don’t like money, but it’s not as though they are struggling.
  • “I think Rory McIlroy made $23 million last year without even taking in his contracts. How much money do you want? Loyalty to me is very big.”
7. Motivating McDowell
G-Mac is drawing inspiration from an unlikely source…
  • Golf Digest’s Dave Shedloski writes...”Graeme McDowell was thinking of Drew Brees when he arrived in Hawaii just before the start of the new year to compete in the PGA Tour’s Sentry Tournament of Champions. The former U.S. Open champion always has appreciated the hard-nosed competitiveness of the New Orleans Saints quarterback, but it was something Brees had recently said, not something he did, that got McDowell’s attention as he arrived at Kapalua’s Plantation Course.”
  • “[Brees] just said he’s going to play every season like it’s his last. He’s going to work his ass off and enjoy it while he’s doing it, and that struck a chord with me,” said McDowell, who at 40 is just seven months younger than Brees. “You never know how long you can play, how long you’re going to have out here. So yeah, I like that attitude. I’m going to try and have that kind of an attitude this season. And the next couple of seasons, really.”
8. Haley Moore heads Down Under
Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols…”Haley, 21, will begin her 2020 LPGA season roughly 8,000 miles away and 19 hours ahead of those she loves. But while she won’t have an entourage, Moore will have some familiar faces in the crowd at the ISPS Handa Vic Open. For two years she competed in the Australian Master of the Amateurs event and her host family, the Sephtons, hope to make the drive over from Melbourne for Thursday’s round.”
  • “The third LPGA event of 2020 will feature a second round of rookies making their first appearance. In addition to Moore, newbies Andrea Lee, Jiwon Jeon, Maia Schechter, Matilda Castren and Linnea Johansson are also in the field. Eight rookies played in the new Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio.”

Full piece.

9. The full WMPO experience
Young Quinn may have been overserved…
Chelsea Curtis, Arizona Republic…“Quinn Jamieson, 20, was accused of stealing alcohol about 11:45 a.m. inside the event, said Scottsdale police spokesman Sgt. Ben Hoster.”
  • “Initially, Jamieson was being chased on foot by event workers, said Hoster. He ran inside the event before scaling a barbed-wire fence of the Central Arizona Project Aqueduct and jumping into the canal, Hoster said.”
  • “Jamieson swam in the canal for about 10 minutes and was unable to get out on his own, according to Hoster. Scottsdale fire personnel threw him a “throw bag” to help him out of the canal just after noon, Hoster said.”

 

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

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Most birdies without breaking par – GolfWRXers discuss

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In our forums, one user is wondering how many birdies other players have had in a round while still failing to break par. @Lalan45, unfortunately, asked the question after a unique experience of their own.

They wrote:

“Today I managed 8 birdies but still shot even par, could have been a round to remember! What’s the most birdies you’ve made in a round and still didn’t break par?”

Our members in the forum shared their own experiences with successful rounds that still resulted in a score over par. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

  • kwcsports: “I’ve had 5 a few times, still shot 80+ haha.”
  • jda: “I played a course for the first time, had 8 birdies, 9 doubles and an eagle. The infamous no-par round. I kept the scorecard. Every shot had a creek that I did not know about, or I was within 8-10 feet for a birdie look. To this day, I have no idea if I should be really jacked up or mad about that performance.”
  • jvincent: “I think my record is either 5 or 6. Probably shot 75.”
  • Instron4204: “3 birdies and shot a 92…man I suck!”

Entire Thread: “Most Birdies Without Breaking Par.”

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Best current stock shaft 2026 – GolfWRXers discuss

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In our forums, one user is asking for thoughts on the best stock shafts offered in 2026. Stock shafts are the shafts included with a club when it’s purchased from retailers or OEMs.

@DTorres asked:

The last couple years has seen a lot of updates and additions to no upcharge stock shafts, which do you think is the best offering in 2026?

Im a bit of a shaft nerd and recently during my Members Testing with the Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond I found the updated Project X Denali Frost Black to be a fantastic stock shaft. I absolutely did not mesh well with the original Denali. Just curious what other people think are the current best Stock shaft offerings out with new models and stock Ventus options and LinQ options popping up here and there.

We were given the option for any stock shafts for our members review. I went with the 70g Black Frost 6.5 because it’s a shaft I don’t have, it’s an updated version of the original Denali and hear little about. I typically use a Diamana WB, GD VF or a HOF Raptor. I’m not saying it was neck and neck with any of those but it was a pleasant surprise I’m not accustomed to in stock shaft offerings.

Our members in the forum have been offering up their own thoughts on the best stock shafts available in 2026. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

  • rsballer10: “IMO – MCA Ka’ili White Darkwave, Tensei 1k Black/white, UST Lin-Q White. People are free to spend their money however they see fit, but for me personally the shaft catalogs these days have enough options that I don’t see the value of a $400 upcharge. I have never had a problem finding a no upcharge shaft that fits the bend profile and weight that I need. Whether the paint job is good enough or not is above my pay scale.”
  • bcflyguy1: “Project X Titan Black. I’ve had one in 60TX in my Quantum TD Max for several weeks now. Have to give Titlieist their flowers for finding a way to make it available as a featured option; very shrewd bit of business and one that I suspect will be duplicated by the other companies. TT/PX have a certified banger on their hands with Titan.”
  • CTG77: “Undoubtedly, it’s the Tensei 1K RIP shafts from Titleist. The Tensei line gives about 98% of the performance of a Ventus VeloCore+ shaft at a tiny fraction of the cost if you’re looking for a blue or red profile. The white is not an exact match for Ventus Black, but it’s closer to it than the non-VeloCore+ Ventus shafts that come from Callaway or formerly came from TaylorMade.”

Entire Thread: “Best current stock shaft 2026.”

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GolfWRX’s Father’s Day Gift Guide (2026)

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A reminder from your friends at GolfWRX: Father’s Day is June 21. And as we do every year, we’re rounding up the best gifts for dad.

As we say every year, there’s no better golf-related Father’s Day gift than a round of golf with pops. Be it a country club or your favorite muni, take the time to get together to play 18 if you can.

Let’s get to the gifts.

Ghost Golf Qualifier Diamond Polo

We like the new polos that Ghost is offering, as the fabric and fit are so good. These new Qualifier Collection polos breathe well, are lightweight, stretch with your swing, and of course look great. You can wear them on the course, in the office, or just out at a casual event and they will fit right in.

Buy here.

STR8-Strip Grip Tape Remover

If your dad is an equipment aficionado and tinkers with his clubs, this tool works wonders. Removing grip tape has never been easier, just put a little head on the tape and the STR8-Strip peals it right off the shaft without any damage.

Buy here.

Why Golf: Putting Thing

When it comes to practice, it is good to have a purpose. This “Putting Thing” sure does it. We know from personal experience how challenging it can be and how rewarding it is on the practice green. This also provides some competition for your kiddo to see who will unload the dishwasher or do the next chore around the house.

Buy here.

OluKai Lae‘ahi Men’s Breathable Slip-On Shoes

Riding to and from the course in style and comfort is always a good thing. If you’re in a hurry, it’s a nice feature to slide into your shoes and get to the tee time. For the post-game shoe, at your locker or while putting your clubs away in the car. Nice to slide into a shoe that looks good anywhere. Pair that with meeting the family for dinner, no need to change!

Buy here.

Therabody Theragun Relief

A little wellness goes a long way. Keeping loose is a good way to go when it comes to the weekend game or treatment during the week. If there is a little ache or pain, the Theragun is there to help out. Help loosen up the back for a pre-game warm-up or cool-down. 

Buy here.

World Cup golf apparel

Something for the soccer dads. Embrace the World Cup fever this summer on the course with custom gear to support the nation of your choice.

Buy here.

FootJoy Pro SL spikeless golf shoes

Give the old man a break and save his feet with the Footjoy Pro SL Men’s Spikeless Golf Shoes for some added comfort on the course.

Buy here.

Bushnell Wingman 2 GPS speaker

Combine all the hits as well as some game improvement with the Wingman 2 Golf GPS Speaker by getting audible distance readings from 38,000+ courses worldwide through the Wingman 2 remote or speaker.

Buy here.

Personalized Titleist Pro V1 golf balls

The No. 1 ball in golf is a safe bet, and the Pro V1 fits the largest chunk of the bell curve if you don’t know what ball pops plays. Add personalization for a, well, personal touch!

Buy here.

 

  • GolfWRX may earn a commission for purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.

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