The post Anthony Kim’s impossible LIV win: How’d it happen — and what does it mean? appeared first on Golf.

The post Anthony Kim’s impossible LIV win: How’d it happen — and what does it mean? appeared first on Golf.

Goodness, gracious, what a Saturday night (or early Sunday morning). Anthony Kim is a winner yet again, clinching the biggest chapter in an outrageous comeback story with a victory at a raucous LIV Australia. Below, GOLF editors Dylan Dethier, Sean Zak and James Colgan discuss the biggest moments, feelings, and takeaways from a most unexpected golf valentine.

1. Gentlemen, it’s nearly 1 a.m. in Chicago but I won’t be sleeping anytime soon because Anthony Kim just won on LIV Golf. It’s outright impossible to put everything about his story, his years away from the game, his battle with drug abuse and even his struggles since returning. But on Sunday in Australia, he shot 63 to beat Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. What are you thinking right now? 

Dylan Dethier, senior writer: Impossible. That’s what I keep thinking. No way. Anthony Kim’s early comeback golf was fascinating, compelling theater. But there was no sign that this was coming. He was not competitive in his first two years on LIV. He got relegated. That seemed an anticlimactic but inevitable end to the experiment. I was amazed and impressed that he made it through LIV’s Promotions event to earn his spot back; that was impressive. But chasing down Rahm and Bryson in the final round of LIV’s biggest event is like, six tiers up from there. Shocking on several levels.

Sean Zak, senior writer: I have spent most of the evening just laughing out loud at it. It’s so comically improbable that I couldn’t feel anything but joyous laughter bubbling up. He stared down two of the best players in the world and thumped them by three or more. That was among the most fun golf watches I’ve had in a very, very long time. (Apologies for not acknowledging, like, everything in AK’s past, which is important context!)

James Colgan, news and features editor: I’m thinking that the last time Anthony Kim won a golf tournament, Instagram didn’t exist. Literally. The fact that your winless streak can span three Presidential administrations, a decade-long disappearance from public life, two years of the most dispiriting tournament golf played by anyone on planet earth … and STILL end with a victory? There are no words. That’s just golf magic.

2. DeChambeau faded early, but Rahm continued to hang around. Kim had to make basically everything. Eventually, he won by three. What was top of mind as you watched it play out? 

Dethier Outside of the Ryder Cup, you just don’t see guys fist-pumping a whole lot these days. But AK just kept pouring putts in the middle and unleashing haymakers. He didn’t miss a shot the last…two hours? I kept waiting for the magnitude of the moment to hit, for pressure to trip him up. If anything the opposite happened.

Zak: The last time we saw anyone hoop that many putts to come back and steal a tournament? We were in St. Andrews with Cam Smith. Maybe that’s why I was laughing throughout it. Everything dripped into the center of the cup like there was nowhere else these putts could go. Reminds me of a Paul Azinger phrase from the day after Smith had that birdie barrage at the Old Course: “His putts, they would have fell into a thimble.” 

Colgan: I was thinking about how, every so often, a player experiences several hours in which the hole appears the size of an asteroid crater. And I was thinking about how Anthony Kim was definitely having one of those experiences.

3. Is there a way you can contextualize it all for those who weren’t following Kim’s journey closely? 

Dethier: Look, the fascinating thing about Kim isn’t just that he retired young. It’s that he vanished. Off the grid. Out of the public eye. For over a decade, the golf world — outside a small trusted circle — had no idea what he was up to. It felt like a big deal whenever we saw him at all. 

Early in this job I wrote up an interaction Kim had with a reader named Ben outside an LA brunch spot. It felt like a big deal at the time; he’d been gone for so long. He said his golf game was “non-existent.” That was seven years ago. Look, I’m not saying he just won the Masters. But for a guy to be that far away from the sport for that long? I just can’t think of any equivalent.

Zak: This might be a trick question, actually. Because Kim has shared just a snippet of what he really battled. I get the sense that he’s interested in sharing more about his addictions and depression and how that pushed his life right to the edge. Now he’s created the perfect ending, and I think we’ll actually receive a lot more context in the future. I’ll be anxious to learn more when he’s ready. 

Colgan: On February 20, 2025, Anthony Kim celebrated two years sober (ironically, given my earlier analogy) on Instagram. He detailed suffering from such serious withdrawal symptoms on his first days in rehab that he needed physical assistance to walk. He suggested he had used drugs while playing in major championships. And THAT story? That story didn’t include the decade he’d spent away or the rest of the golf stuff he needed to work through to get within a hundred miles of a victory … let alone in the winner’s circle.

4. There was a flurry of hugs for Kim in the moments after his win from all kinds of LIV characters. One was CEO of the league, Scott O’Neil, which made me think more about the league at-large. Does this mean anything extra for LIV Golf? 

Dethier: I have to be honest: in this moment, I have no idea. In many ways this feels like an Anthony Kim story more than it does a LIV story — but the massive crowds and frenetic energy on site contributed tremendously to a wild night of golf viewing, so the fact that it came at LIV’s flagship event has to be a win.

I guess here’s what I feel certain of: this was the league’s biggest, realest moment thus far. A genuinely fascinating story intersecting with a genuinely preposterous stretch of golf. You can’t build the whole plane out of AK’s comeback — he can only win for the first time once! — but safe to say they’d take Rahm-Bryson-AK every event the rest of the way.

Zak: Imagine if this happened a week ago, when LIV Golf played under the lights in front of measly crowds in Saudi Arabia. Now throw that image away, because it happened in Adelaide, at what event organizers call the most-attended golf event in the history of Australia. It may not be a LIV story first, but AK gave LIV some of the best visuals it has ever received from the actual competition. Fans crowding in on the 18th hole, AK waving during a champions walk up to the green, champagne showering over him on the green. That trumps any concert-stage-champagne-and-sparklers we’ve seen in the last four years. 

Colgan: Of course it does! We’re up at god-knows-what-hour talking about a LIV event! That’s a substantial change from the usual for the league in a very big way. And Sean, to your point about the crowds … serious question: Why doesn’t LIV play MORE events in Australia?

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The post Anthony Kim completes remarkable comeback, wins first event in 16 years appeared first on Golf.

The post Anthony Kim completes remarkable comeback, wins first event in 16 years appeared first on Golf.

In January 2010, Apple chief executive Steve Jobs stepped before a crowded audience and announced the company’s latest world-changing invention: The iPad.

Three months later, the world’s first iPad users booted up their devices, connected to the internet, and were greeted with a golf headline: Anthony Kim had just won the Houston Open. Did those same tech diehards go on Instagram to celebrate the news? Nope. The social media giant was still six months from creation.

That’s how long it has been between Anthony Kim’s last victory and his latest one, which arrived after 16 long years early Sunday morning at LIV Australia. The 40-year-old pro shocked the golf world by winning by three shots at Royal Adelaide, completing a comeback that seemed impossible by optimistic standards just a few months earlier.

Kim won on Sunday after shooting a flawless, nine-under, bogey-free final round that featured four straight birdies — and five in six holes — to push several shots free of a chasing group that included major winners Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. Kim’s fist pumps reached a fever-pitch with an emotional scene on the 18th hole, where some of the 38,500 Australian fans in attendance stormed up the 18th fairway behind him to capture the scene on the green. After Kim’s tap-in par putt fell to clinch the tournament at 23 under par, his teammates showered him in “fizzy water,” (according to lead LIV broadcaster Arlo White), and Kim shared an emotional embrace with his wife and young daughter.

“I don’t really know what to say right now,” Kim said through tears. “It’s a bit overwhelming, but I’m never not gonna fight for my family. God gave me a talent, I was able to produce some good golf today. I knew it was coming. Nobody else had to believe in me but me.”

The full extent of Kim’s comeback from the golfing depths remains something of a mystery, but those watching early on Sunday morning in the United States had all the context they needed. Kim returned from more than a decade as golf’s disappeared superstar played poorly enough to get relegated from LIV Golf, and now, less than two years later, was back in the winner’s circle in arguably the league’s biggest event.

“I don’t really know how to put into words,” Kim said. “I knew this was going to happen, but for it to actually happen is pretty insane.”

Kim disappeared from pro golf for more than a decade following the highs of the early 2010s, and his whereabouts remained one of the most publicized stories in the sport through to the mid 2020s. In the year since returning to the sport to compete on LIV Golf, Kim has addressed his struggles with addiction and the depths of his recovery in a series of social media posts and interviews with LIV’s official social media channels. In six days, on February 20th, he will celebrate three years sober.

“For anybody that’s struggling right now, you can get through anything,” Kim said Sunday.

With the victory, Kim won $4 million and can move as high as 200th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

“I just want to thank all of the people who have supported me,” Kim said. “Including you, when I was not playing well, and I was on the verge of never coming back to LIV, always supported me. Thank you to everyone who’s been in my corner, so I’m going to keep doing it.”

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The post Phil Mickelson to miss start of LIV season due to ‘family health matter’ appeared first on Golf.

The post Phil Mickelson to miss start of LIV season due to ‘family health matter’ appeared first on Golf.

LIV Golf will start its fifth season without Phil Mickelson. 

In a social media post on Sunday morning, Mickelson, who captains HyFlyers GC, announced that he will miss the first two events of 2026 due to a family matter.

“I will not be able to participate in the first two LIV Events as Amy and I need to be present for a family health matter,” Mickelson wrote on X. “I can’t wait to compete again and look forward to rejoining my teammates as soon as possible.”

LIV kicks off its season on Feb. 4 at Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia before heading Down Under the following week for an event at The Grange Golf Club in Australia.

Mickelson’s news comes at a volatile time for LIV, which recently lost two of its biggest stars, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed, both of whom have opted to return to the PGA Tour. Koepka, in fact, is competing in Mickelson’s hometown of San Diego this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.

A prominent face on LIV, Mickelson, 55, is also an active voice on social media, where he mixes golf-related remarks with pointed political commentary.

Earlier this week, though, in his most recent X post prior to Sunday’s announcement, he struck a different tone with a message of emotional support to an unspecified audience.

“I don’t know who needs to hear this but you are enough just by existing,” Mickelson wrote. “Who you are you are in this moment is enough to make you special and unique. Know that.”

In his message Sunday, Mickelson said that Oliie Schiederjans will fill in for him in Riyadh “as I root on HyFlyers GC from afar.”

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The post He chose LIV Golf over the PGA Tour. Now he earned a Masters invite appeared first on Golf.

The post He chose LIV Golf over the PGA Tour. Now he earned a Masters invite appeared first on Golf.

When Tom McKibbin declined to join the PGA Tour and instead bolted to LIV Golf, the up-and-coming pro also threw away what seemed like a more likely pathway to major championships.

Playing on LIV Golf, there’s still no World Ranking points awarded, meaning it’s difficult to climb up high enough in the OWGR to earn major invites. McKibbin instead had to focus on limited starts elsewhere, like this week’s debut on the Asian Tour (where dozens of LIV pros were also in the field).

McKibbin entered the final round leading by one — then he won by seven.

The 22-year-old Northern Irishman cruised to win the Hong Kong Open on Sunday, and thanks to a recent change regarding qualifying criteria it earned him invites into the 2026 Masters and Open Championship.

“Very excited to go back and play my third Open, it will be very, very cool,” McKibbin said. “And to have that drive down Magnolia Lane for the first time ever, it will be even more special. You know, I think sort of historic tournaments like this deserve those spots, and yeah, it’s great to sort of take advantage of those.”

McKibbin shot a final-round 63 (he opened the tournament with a 60 on Thursday) to finish 27 under overall. American Peter Uihlein finished in solo second.

Last year, McKibbin earned his PGA Tour card via his Race to Dubai finish on the DP World Tour, but he elected instead to join LIV — despite what his mentor, Rory McIlroy, advised him.

McKibbin grew up on the same Holywood golf course McIlroy did, and McIlroy has known him since he was 10 or 11 years old. When McKibbin received an offer to play on LIV Golf, he called McIlroy to talk it over.

“We had a really good conversation,” McIlroy said earlier this year. “And I talked to him multiple times over the course of December [2024] to sort of get a feel for, you know, what he was thinking, and obviously what — you know, yeah, basically what he was going to do. And all I could do is give my perspective. … I said to him, ‘If I were in your shoes, I would make a different choice than the one you’re thinking of making.’ I think, you know, working so hard to get your Tour card in the States, something that he did, to achieve that goal last year was a big achievement.”

McKibbin instead joined Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team. But now he’ll see McIlroy, the defending Masters champ, at Augusta National next year.

“When I was deciding whether to join LIV it was a big factor,” McKibbin said of earning major starts, “but I seemed to back myself, played the best golf I can and see where that leads me. I played two [majors] last year and two next year. If you can play good golf that takes care of it and you can definitely still get in these big tournaments.”

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The post How LIV rookie Josele Luis Ballester built set for his insane speed | Bag Spy appeared first on Golf.

The post How LIV rookie Josele Luis Ballester built set for his insane speed | Bag Spy appeared first on Golf.

There is definitely something different about Josele Luis Ballester.

Ask anyone around the collegiate game and they’ll tell you the former Arizona State Sun Devil and 2024 U.S. Amateur champion was either the or at the very least among the top two players to come out of college this year. He’s the definition of the modern golfer: athletic, fast (195+ mph with the driver), can overpower any course on the planet — and, yes, he’s young (only 21). The youth surge is real in golf and is becoming more and more like professional tennis. These kids coming outta school are not only ready to win but also typically all have that one thing every golfer desires: speed. Even the slower elite college players possess 170+ mph ball speed. It’s a different game than it was 15 years ago, and Ballester is the prototype example of that.

Fitting someone with Ballester’s speed is no easy task, because his speed comes more from brute strength than technique. In other words, he’s a raw athlete who doesn’t play the tee-it-high-and-hit-up-on-it game; his angle of attack is down, his launch is low and the amount of attention he must pay to his spin is probably more critical than most. Why? At sub-8 degrees of launch and 195 mph+ you need every rotation of spin you can find to keep the ball in the air. Last player I can remember like this was Cameron Champ.

I had a chance to go through Ballester’s bag with Ping’s LIV rep, Spencer Rothluebber, who offered some interesting insight into Ballester’s setup.

JW: When fitting someone with Ballester’s speed and launch conditions, what do you have to stay mindful of?

SR: Iron and wedges wise, not much different than any other player. Metal woods are where it differs. Josele is either level or negative on his attack angle so where your norms on Tour of 12 launch and 2,300 spin would be perfect for most, it’s not enough juice to keep the ball in the air. He’s looking in the 7-8 launch in the 2,700-2,900 RPM range.

Another unique thing about his setup is he prefers softer feeling shafts. We do this because he doesn’t want to miss shots left and primarily only hits a fade off the tee. A higher lofted driver is also preferred so he can have the feeling of covering the ball, while still being able to launch it. Hence the MCA Diamana RF, which has a stiff handle yet softer tip profile. He plays his driver at D4+, which to some would feel like a rock at the end of a bull whip. Perfect for how he delivers the club. You’ll find a good number of Tour players want an AOA at closer to zero for control and with the proper make-up of loft, CG and shaft, you can re-create optimal launch conditions without having to “swing up” on it. That’s why getting fit is so important.

JW: What did he gain switching from the Ping Crossover driving iron to iDi? 

SR: Turf interaction was the most important thing. The iDi was significantly better through the turf, and sound/feel was also better from Crossover to iDi. Turf interaction with everything longer than a 3-wood is so important; it has influence on strike point, which in turn has a direct effect on launch, spin, etc. We always have to be mindful of that especially with someone at his speed.

JW: What’s the most difficult aspect of dialing in his bag? 

SR: Due to his speed, wedges are difficult. I have tried to promote adding another wedge to allow more stock-number shots because his speed makes it tough to control his distances. This is the plight of any real long hitter: gapping can get funky and it’s usually at the bottom of the bag. The players that prioritize short irons/wedges and really evolve in that area (a la Dustin Johnson) seem to have the greatest success. Essentially, it’s teaching a knockout puncher to also be a technician. Not simple for some — it takes a ton of work and commitment.

JW: Any of his Trackman data catch your eye? 

SR: Anytime I see a Tour pro at 200 mph [of ball speed], it’s always crazy to witness.

Here is Josele Luis Ballester’s full setup:

Driver: G430 LST 10.5 @ 9.25 (Big-)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diaman RF 70TX (Tip 1, 45.25 EOG, D4+)

Mini-Driver: TaylorMade BRNR 13.5
Shaft: MCA Kuro Kage 80TX (43.5 EOG, D4)

Utility Iron: Ping iDi #2 18
Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT UT 125TX (39.75, D3)

PING iDi Custom Driving Iron

The iDi marks a big step forward in driving iron and long-iron performance, giving better golfers the flexibility of three loft choices to fit their distance number and trajectory window. Loft offerings are optimized for launch and spin in 2, 3 & 4 irons with a thinner, forged maraging steel face that flexes to increase ball speed and distance. The 2 is a traditional driving iron, delivering low launch and spin. The 3 (mid launch, mid spin) is designed as a driving iron or long-iron replacement. The 4 launches higher with more spin, making it easier to hold greens and is also recommended as a long iron replacement. The 17-4 stainless steel head is both deeper front to back and shallower, which allows for 15% higher MOI on high/low impacts, and makes room for the new inR-Air technology. inR-Air is a pocket of air in the clubhead that damps sound and improves feel. The covered cavity and i-Beam structure help reduce vibration. In addition, iDi is shorter heel-to-toe to make it easier to tun over. For control in shot making, each iDi is approximately 1/4″ shorter and 1° flatter. 

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Irons: (4) Ping IBlade (5-PW) Ping Blueprint (1 flat, std length, D2+)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X7
Lofts: 23/27/30.5/34/38/42/46

Wedges: Ping Glide Pro Forged (50/10S, 54/10S, 58/10S)
Shafts: Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (Std length, D5)

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X (34 inches, 2.5 loft)
Grip: Golf Pride Pro Only Cord

TaylorMade 2025 Spider Tour X Black L-Neck Custom Putter

  SPIDER TOUR X L-NECK For nearly two decades Spider putters have been delivering championship-winning stability and performance to professionals and amateurs alike. Scottie Scheffler recently joined this group by stepping into the winner’s circle for the third time in four starts with a Spider Tour X L-Neck in the bag. TRUE PATH™ ALIGNMENT Navigate the greens with clarity with the optically-engineered True Path™ Alignment system. This legacy tech from TaylorMade helps you better visualize the line to the hole while also making it easier to aim the putter towards your target. WHITE TPU PURE ROLL™ INSERT Experience a softer feel with our White TPU Pure Roll™ insert. Crafted from a blend of Surlyn and aluminum, it features grooves angled at 45° for optimal forward roll and better overall roll characteristics. PRECISION WEIGHTING AND DESIGN A thin wall undercut and steel wireframe allow for precision CG placement, creating a superstructure with enhanced stability and forgiveness.

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Grips: Golf Pride Z-Grip Chord

The post How LIV rookie Josele Luis Ballester built set for his insane speed | Bag Spy appeared first on Golf.

The post A ‘less bulky’ Bryson DeChambeau reveals how he still bombs it appeared first on Golf.

The post A ‘less bulky’ Bryson DeChambeau reveals how he still bombs it appeared first on Golf.

If you grew up playing baseball, you probably heard the old cliche: “Mass equals gas”. It’s often preached to pitchers who are looking to gain some extra miles-per-hour on the radar gun — and it seems this gospel has made its way into golf too. 

You might remember when Bryson DeChambeau beefed up by lifting big and slugging protein shakes seven times a day. Simply put, he was bulking up to bomb it — and it worked. 

News

From 2019 to 2020, DeChambeau added 22 yards to his average driving distance and led the PGA Tour in the category. Essentially proving that powerlifting and a high-protein diet can increase your length off the tee.

But there’s a new twist to DeChambeau’s story: he’s slimmed down since. But, that doesn’t mean that he’s lost his distance. If anything, it seems a leaner DeChambeau is still launching the ball. So how does a “less bulky” Bryson still nuke it?

In a recent interview, he finally spilled the secret.

“I feel like I’m almost just as strong, if not stronger now, and when I go at it, I can get the 200 mile-an-hour ball speed very easily right now,” DeChambeau says.

“I’ve kept it just because I hit golf balls every day and I speed train every once in a while,” DeChambeau says. “It wasn’t really more the diet rather than speed training, hitting 100 balls three times a week as fast as I can with the driver, and just keep pushing the limits with a Foresight monitor telling me how fast I was hitting it.”

So it seems the key to distance off the tee lies less in your diet and more in the elbow grease — or the hard work DeChambeau has put into speed training. 

While DeChambeau likely has experts helping him design the optimal speed training plan, alongside his regimen of hitting 100 balls three times a week, you don’t need them begin your own distance journey. There are plenty of speed training systems, like the one below, that can help you boost your clubhead speed and start launching the ball farther in no time.

TheStack | Speed Trainer | Award Winning App

TheStack Hardware 5 milled Stack weights enable 30 weight combinations between 0g and 300g Dual-purpose weight case / phone stand Highly engineered training club – Adult (41.5″) or Junior (38.5″) version (see Fitting Juniors) Stack training requires a speed device that can measure swings without ball impact.  We recommend bundling with Stack Radar (Bluetooth connectivity).  View all compatible devices here. TheStack App Training Rated 4.9 with 5,500+ Reviews on App Store Includes 1-Year Membership to TheStack App Now on iOS, Android (Beta), and Chrome Web (Beta) Adaptive speed training formulated by Dr. Sasho MacKenzie Guided workout timer for reps, sets, and rest intervals Custom speed metrics to track your gains Bluetooth Connectivity to integration devices.  Hands-free data entry using voice entry technology for non-integrated devices Membership includes Bundled access to Stack Putting (iOS), Stack Wedging (iOS), and the Learning Library (All Platforms) Train and track up to twenty local (i.e. family) users under one login.  App works with Family Sharing so the entire family can train easily on separate devices Connect to any other Stacker using Share Codes Are you a Coach?  Learn about our Coaches License  Platform Availability iOS: Access TheStack App from the App Store when your order arrives. Requires iOS 15.0 or newer. Access Speed, Wedging, Putting, and the Learning Library. Android & Web (Beta): Install TheStack App from the Google Play Store or access it on Chrome Web when your order arrives. Access Speed + Learning Library today; Wedging + Putting coming in a future update. See our FAQ pages for questions about membership access.          * Speed radar not included, view all compatible devices here

$299.00 from Fairway Jockey

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The post 2 keys for playing golf at elevation, according to LIV pros appeared first on Golf.

The post 2 keys for playing golf at elevation, according to LIV pros appeared first on Golf.

There are many factors that can affect how your golf ball reacts when you strike it. Temperature, humidity, wind and even elevation all play a role in how far your ball flies.

Among these factors, elevation is probably the one that most recreational golfers have the least experience dealing with. Everyone has played golf with variable weather conditions, but not everyone has traveled to different locales with varying elevations.

As a general rule of thumb, the higher the elevation, the longer your ball flies. Several years back, Titleist conducted a study that found that for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain, the ball flies 1.2% farther. That means at 5,000 feet (like in, say, Denver) your ball will carry roughly 6 percent farther (a 200-yard shot will fly 212 yards). These numbers will vary based on other factors, but that’s a good place to start.

This week, the golfers on the LIV circuit are teeing it up at Golf Club de Chapultepec — the former home of the WGC-Mexico Championship — which sits at 7,835 feet above sea level. The golf balls will be flying this week.

Ahead of LIV Mexico City, a couple of players were asked about the keys for playing golf at high altitude. Check out their answers below.

1. Dial in your numbers

If you walk to the 1st tee without getting a feel for your carry distances on the range beforehand, you’re setting yourself up for failure. As we noted above, your stock carry numbers are likely to differ from what you’re used to.

“You’re going to see a lot of launch monitors on the range and on the golf course,” Abraham Ancer said. “Everybody trying to figure out their formula of how to attack the altitude, because definitely for some people it can be 10 percent, maybe for huge hitters that hit it really, really far and high, could be 15, 17 percent.”

You may not have access to a launch monitor before you tee off, but at the very least you should head to the range and get a feel for how far the ball is flying. It could be the difference between a fun round and a day of frustrations.

2. Commit to your shots

With the ball flying longer than you’re used to, it can be mentally challenging to pull the trigger once you’re over the ball. With a shorter club in your hand than you’re used to, it can be easy to doubt yourself and make an uncommitted swing.

“The most important part for me is to commit before I hit every shot because sometimes it’s hard to believe that you can hit a 50-degree 190 yards,” David Puig says. “I’m not used to that. So committing is going to be a super-important factor.”

Overcoming the mental hurdle of being a “long hitter” for the day can be difficult, but it’s crucial to trust yourself and make committed swings.

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The post Phil Mickelson reveals Augusta National tactic that made him Masters champion appeared first on Golf.

The post Phil Mickelson reveals Augusta National tactic that made him Masters champion appeared first on Golf.

Masters veterans pick up all kinds of Augusta National-taming wisdom along the way.

Ben Hogan would aim right of the 11th green, seeking to avoid opening Amen Corner with a splash and a gurgle. Nick Faldo has spoken of the importance of, in the case of missed putts, ensuring you leave yourself makable comebackers, if you can wrap your head around that strategy. Tiger Woods can tell you all about the effect Rae’s Creek has on how balls trundle across the property.

At LIV’s Miami event on Wednesday, Sergio Garcia, the 2017 green-jacket winner, said an easy trap into which players fall during Masters Week is wanting it too much and letting that intense desire to excel rattle them when things don’t get their way. “You have to regroup,” he said.

Seated next to Sergio Garcia was his LIV stablemate, Phil Mickelson, who has three emerald coats of his own. You’d be forgiven for thinking Mickelson, who will make his 32nd career Masters next week, couldn’t possibly have anything new to say about Augusta National but that will never be the case. The man has more stories than the Brothers Grimm, and on Wednesday he was in a particularly reflective mood — to the point where he readily parted with some of his own Augusta enlightenment.    

For Mickelson, learning how to win at Augusta National came down not so much to calming his nerves or carrying two drivers (something he has tried) but more so to his approach to a specific hole: the par-5 15th. “I would press,” he said of how he played 15 early in his Masters career. “I would force the issue.”

That’s an easy thing to do on Firethorn, which historically has played as the course’s second-easiest hole with a 4.77 scoring average.

Bobby Jones, the ANGC co-founder, believed that all of the course’s par-5s should be reachable by skilled players, and the 15th, which even after a recent lengthening extends to only 550 yards, is no exception. A drive over the crest of the fairway leaves only a mid-iron (longer hitters) to hybrid (shorter knockers) to a green guarded by water short and long. Eagles are gettable. Birdies common. Pars acceptable. But bogeys or worse? Those must be avoided at all costs.

In the second round of the 1998 Masters, Mickelson bogeyed 15. A year later, in the opening round, he made a double on the same hole, one of his only slipups en route to a T6 finish (five back of José María Olazábal). In 2000, again in the hunt, he bogeyed 15 on Sunday before tying for 7th. Lesson learned? It sure seemed that way. Over his next three Masters, Mickelson didn’t drop a single shot at 15, playing the hole in a cumulative eight under par. Then, in 2004, came his maiden win. He didn’t birdie 15 that week but also avoided any self-inflicted wounds.

“When I finally did win it, I felt like, all right, a 5 is okay there,” Mickelson said Wednesday. “Like, I could lose the tournament on 15; I don’t need to make 4 every time. So I would always press the issue, and I’d make 6, 7 a number of times trying to make a 4, and when I finally accepted a 5 on that hole and tried to win it elsewhere, that’s when I seemed to finally break through. That was the hole that I felt like being more patient and taking a different strategy and not pushing the issue allowed me to ultimately take advantage of the other holes to win.”

Mickelson, 54, can still overpower the 15th but not as easily as he once did. To add some muscle to his bag, he said he experimented with a 7-wood but found that it produced too much spin so instead he settled on a 5-wood.

“I’ve got one I really like and that I anticipate hitting into 13 and 15 based on the last couple of years where my ball is ending up off the tee and the yardage I have left,” he said.

Another Masters, another plan.

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The post On the range at LIV Golf Miami, these clubs most caught my eye appeared first on Golf.

MIAMI — Whatever your opinion of LIV Golf, being here at the Blue Monster with the likes of Bryson, Rahm, Brooks and Niemann is electric.

LIV has a totally different vibe than other professional events. The easiest way to describe is welcoming and creator-friendly; this is my second LIV event (I also attended LIV Bedminster in 2023), and I have yet to have a boring minute onsite. It’s a good time.

Adding to the energy this week are the YouTube stars who are on full blast for the LIV’s new pre-tournament exhibition, The Duals.

Grant Horvat, George and Wesley Bryan, Fat Perez, Luke Kwon and Rick Shiels all are here to battle it out with pro partners in a competition that will air on Horvat’s massive YouTube channel (1.12 million subscribers and counting).

Here are the teams:

Tuesday and Wednesday are closed to the public so from a content creation and access perspective, it’s a dream. The players are laid back, the golf course is elite and the teams stay together in wolf packs. As a gear dork, I also was amped to check out some bags I haven’t seen in a while. Of everything I saw (visit my Instagram page for pics and videos), these were the clubs that most caught my eye.

Bryson DeChambeau’s Avoda and LA Golf prototype irons

The story of Bryson’s bag goes well beyond these irons, but for the purposes of this exercise, we’re dialing in only on his irons. As a natural drawer, Bryson is always looking for optimized toe strikes to harmonize with his in-to-out swing path and mitigate an aggressive left miss. Having curvature or bulge on the face (with onset) allows him to keep the face to path in a good spot so he can swing out to the right and trust that even a shot off the toe will start right and stay right. When Bryson goes south, his path gets in to out and the handle gets up, which can lead to chaos if the face isn’t dialed. Keep in mind, he’s still in the one-length set-up so that factors in here as well. He’s unique because of his insane speed, but there is without a doubt real world application to the rest of us when this concept gets fully cooked.

I’ll do a deep dive with Bryson sometime soon for the full story. That video might last 9 hours.

Phil Mickelson’s machine-milled Callaway X-Forged irons

For all the gear heads out there, this is a set that will grab your attention. Lefty is no stranger to getting Callaway to one-off a set for him and these clubs are no different. (Actually, there are two sets floating around, including another Callaway Left-Hander.) Machine-milled sets are pricey. I won’t give you the exact cost, but I will say that you could buy a pretty decent car or Trackman with the dough. Phil put a custom grind on the soles to help the clubs get through the turf faster. The stock version — which a number of Tour players use at this point (Hojgaard twins, Rose Zhang, Ronnie Yin, Min Woo Lee in the long irons, to name a few) — have a back edge relief and a little front bounce, but Phil added a hair more to suit his taste. His irons have MCA MMT Proto 115TX shafts.

Joaquin Niemann’s Ping G430 5 Hybrid

Joaquin is fast, as in 185 mph of ball speed fast. So when you see a 5-hybrid in the part of the bag where a 4-iron should be, it’s pretty wild. Why? As Ping Tour rep Spencer Rothleubber told me:

“Joaco is what we would call a low launch yet mid-spin player. Usually ‘shaft-leaners’ tend to fight the overspin. Not this guy. In simple terms, his angle of attack (AOA) is down but he’s still pretty shallow, which looks like a player that launches it low and tends to need a hair more spin to keep the ball in the air.”

A low-launch player who wants “help” getting the ball up with spin? Sound familiar? This is why arguably the hottest player in the world’s longest iron is a 5-iron. Niemann carries this hybrid 225-230 yards in the air with spin in the mid to high 4000s.

ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore | Ping

Wesley Bryan’s two 4-irons

I know Wes really well so this move doesn’t surprise me at all. When he signed his Takomo deal early last year and started the testing, he found something interesting in the 5-iron section of his bag: For whatever reason, the Takomo 101U 4-iron bent back two degrees was the best “5-iron” for him. It was forgiving, launched high and gave him a club he could carry anywhere form 212 to 225 yards. So why not just use the 5-iron in the same head? Well, they don’t make one. Next question is why not just go with the same head in the 4-iron in the same model and 4-iron loft? Because Wes hits it too far. Welcome to the mind of Wesley Bryan. The T200 4-iron was the perfect fit here giving him a 225-240 club that launches and spins. Get fit, people!

ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore | Titleist

I have much more content coming out of Doral. To follow along in real time, visit @Johnny_wunder and @fully_equipped on IG.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2025? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The post Whatever Greg Norman’s relationship is with Augusta National, they’re bonded appeared first on Golf.

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For the second consecutive year, LIV Golf is doing Miami the week before the Masters. LIV is at Trump Doral, once a stronghold of the PGA Tour, but that was then. There’s a lot of that in golf lately. 

Thirteen LIVsters are playing in the Masters next week. Seven green-coated their way in: Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel and Bubba Watson. Three others (Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Cameron Smith­) secured their Thursday-Friday Augusta tee times by way of victory in other Grand Slam events. And the final three, Tyrrell Hatton of England, Adrian Meronk of Poland and Joaquin Niemann of Chile, got in by way of an open-mic competition.

Last year, there was one other LIVster who went from the Miami event to the Augusta event, though not as a player: Greg Norman. Norman, now 70 and fit as ever, was the commissioner and CEO of LIV Golf until January. He attended the 2024 Masters as a paying spectator, even though, by tradition, former major champions are invited by the club to attend the tournament. This year, Norman is not at Doral and there’s no reason to think he’ll be at Augusta, either. The march of time. Two places that forever will be associated with Norman are Doral, where he won three times, and Augusta, where he had three second-place finishes.

Last year, at the LIV event at Trump Doral, everywhere you turned, there was Shark. (In his playing heyday, Tour caddies did not say “the Shark.” He was Shark.) You saw him at the driving range, in Doral’s restaurants, on the course, at the Sunday-night prize ceremony. 

I went to the LIV event in Miami last year, chiefly to play in its pro-am, gathering string for a new book. (This one steals openly from George Plimpton and his classic journal of pro-am life, The Bogey Man.) I played in the pro-am as a guest. Along the way, I ate some fine meals in player-family-caddie dining and heard a caddie describe the new garden he was designing for his house. I went to a Saturday-night tournament concert and heard a loud rapper named Akon. And, during the pro-am round, I enjoyed expert advice from my caddie, Mac Barnhardt, who was taking a slide from his regular job, life-coaching Andy Ogletree, LIV golfer and HyFlyer. Ogletree was our front-nine pro-am pro.

The previous night, at the pro-am party, Greg Norman was the bouncer. OK, not the bouncer but the LIV commissioner, and at the door when I got to the tent. “Come on in here, you a–hole,” Norman said, giving me a hug. I’ve always had a nice rapport with Norman. He knows I am a stodgy traditionalist who thinks serious tournament golf should be played with full fields over four rounds with a cut. He doesn’t seem to hold it against me.

I saw a lot of Norman at the height of his powers and since then. He has been one of the most charismatic figures in the game. As a reporter, I have found he’ll answer almost any question you ask him. Last month, I asked him about the final punctuation mark from the 1996 Masters. That was the year he was the 54-hole leader over Nick Faldo by six, but after 72 holes, Faldo had won by five over Norman. The 18th-hole hug the two men shared was remarkable, because they weren’t even frenemies — neither had any affection for the other. It mystifies Norman to this day.

“Faldo was an aloof, self-centered enigma, which made him the player he was,” Norman told me. “So, I cannot explain the hug. Let’s just say it was a byproduct of the values golf carries, not the players.” What a candid and insightful thing to say.

Some people have wondered if those Masters invitations for former major winners are a real thing. Most are — unless you are Greg Norman.

One amusing aside about that. Jeff Sluman, winner of the 1988 PGA Championship, played in the Masters 17 times between 1988 and 2007. He knew he hadn’t qualified to play in the 2008 Masters, but one day an invitation on heavy Augusta National stationery arrived at the Sluman home in suburban Chicago.

“So, you are playing?” Linda Sluman, an oncologist, asked her husband.

“No, honey,” Sluman said. “I got invited to attend the Masters, not play in it.”

Many former champions attend the Masters. In any given year, you might see Lou Graham (winner of the 1975 U.S. Open) or David Graham (winner of the 1981 U.S. Open) on campus at Augusta. It’s an effective way to hand down ye olde game from one generation to the next. For years, you’d see Jerry Pate playing in the Wednesday par-3 tournament.

But don’t go looking for Jeff Sluman at Augusta. (His view is that when he was done playing it was time to clear the stage.) And don’t go looking for Greg Norman.

Norman tried to launch a world golf tour in 1995 and never gave up on the idea. Thirty years later, it would be easy to say none of this could have been predicted. Well, here’s one person who would not say that: Jack Nicklaus.

In his 1997 autobiography, My Story, Nicklaus wrote presciently about the prospect for a world tour. If you have the book, you can find the relevant section on pages 326 through 328. Here’s one paragraph from it:

“Despite the abortive effort of early 1995 to launch a ‘World Tour,’ my guess is that the final resolution of the closed-door issue will accompany the evolution of just such an entity in one form or another. That’s because some kind of world golf circuit is such a logical end-product of golf’s ever-growing internationalization.”

Here’s another person who saw it coming: Greg Norman.

Michael Bamberger welcomes your comments at michael.bamberger@golf.com

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