Ernie Els and Retief Goosen visited the White House, showcasing the power of golf diplomacy.
Author: Matthias Gräf
Advances in sweet spot technology, size, launch angle, composition, ball speed, and forgiveness are just a few categories where manufacturers like Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade or Cobra invest considerable time and money in research and development. The result is a vast array of drivers on the market, each with unique features and benefits.
How to Choose the Right Driver: Key Factors and Considerations
Golfers face a tough decision in selecting the “right” driver from this extensive range, while pairing this with goals like aiming for shorter approach shots, greater distances, or even the chance for eagles. Although it’s just one club in the bag, it’s often the most expensive. To help you make an informed decision, here are the key factors to consider when buying a driver.
Key Considerations for Choosing a Golf Driver
Clubhead Size: What’s Right for You?
Clubheads are measured by volume in cubic centimeters (cc), with the maximum allowed size being 460 cc. Nearly all modern drivers utilize the full 460 cc, offering more forgiveness. Compact or mini drivers are available for players seeking greater control and precision. The shape of the clubhead, whether vertical or horizontal, and its degree of forgiveness and loft vary based on the manufacturer’s design.
Best Material for the Driver
Driver technology has come a long way from persimmon and even steel woods. Today, drivers are predominantly made from titanium, carbon or similar lightweight materials. Titanium is favored for its strength, durability, and light weight, allowing for larger clubheads without a significant increase in weight. This enables faster swings, longer drives, and greater forgiveness thanks to a larger sweet spot. Some drivers feature a mix of materials, incorporating light substances like carbon or heavier ones like tungsten to optimize performance.
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Moment of Inertia (MOI) and Center of Gravity (CG)
The CG of a driver is a singular balance point. Adjusting fixed or movable weights in the clubhead shifts this balance. Generally, a lower and rearward CG produces more spin, resulting in a higher ball flight and increased forgiveness. Moving the CG forward enhances ball speed but reduces spin and MOI, which impacts forgiveness. A higher MOI means less likelihood of club twisting on off-center hits.
Optimal Launch Angle for Your Driver
Getting fitted by a professional is crucial to determine the best launch angle. Key factors influencing ball flight include ball spin and launch angle. The loft angle significantly affects how high or low the ball launches.
Selecting the Right Loft
Loft determines the ball’s flight height and is measured vertically. Most drivers have a loft between 8 and 12 degrees. Higher loft creates more backspin, lifting the ball. Many golfers mistakenly believe lower loft equals longer drives, but a higher loft often results in a longer carry for most players.
Recommended Lofts and Shafts for Drivers by Skill Level
| Player Type | Shaft | Loft |
|---|---|---|
| Women and seniors with a swing speed of less than 60 mph | Ladies or seniors | 13 – 15 degrees |
| Seniors with a swing speed of 60 – 75 mph | Seniors | 13 degrees |
| Players with a swing speed of 75-85 mph | Regular | 12 degrees |
| Players with a swing speed of 85-95 mph | Stiff | 10 – 11 degrees |
| Players with a swing speed of more than 95 mph | Stiff or X-Stiff | < 10 degrees |
How Does Adjusting the Driver Work (Loft, Clubhead & Weight)?
Loft
Determining the ideal loft and launch angle can be challenging. To address this, manufacturers have introduced adjustable features that allow customization by turning a screw. Many drivers enable loft adjustments of up to 4 or 5 degrees, varying by brand and model. It’s important to realign the clubface during these adjustments, as misalignment can affect the ball’s horizontal flight, causing it to veer right or left.
Clubhead
The clubhead’s angle to the target is crucial. When the clubhead is perfectly vertical, it is perpendicular to the target. Turning the clubface away opens the clubhead and reduces loft, while turning it towards the player closes the clubface and increases loft. For players who slice, a closed clubface helps maintain the target angle and prevent the ball from veering right. Conversely, an open clubhead can help players who hook to the left achieve straighter shots. Here are some tips to improve your clubhead speed.
Driver Weight
Adjustable weights in the clubhead can significantly influence the ball’s flight by affecting the center of gravity and moment of inertia. The goal is to achieve the optimal center of gravity at impact, regardless of weight settings. Drivers can have various weights ranging from 1 to 20 grams, which can be positioned on the sole to promote a draw (more weight at the back), fade (more weight at the front), or higher ball flight (more weight at the back). Each manufacturer offers different methods for adjusting these weights.
COR Value and Smash Factor: What Do They Mean?
COR (Coefficient of Restitution) measures the energy transfer from the clubhead to the ball, with a maximum allowed COR of 0.83. The smash factor indicates how efficiently energy is transferred, calculated by dividing ball speed by clubhead speed. An ideal smash factor is 1.50.
Shaft Type and Length: How They Affect Your Driver
The shaft is crucial for driver performance. Manufacturers offer shafts in various flexes, such as regular (R), stiff (S), and extra stiff (XS). Less stiff shafts promote a higher, right-to-left ball flight, while stiffer shafts create a lower trajectory with a tendency to the right. The standard driver length is 48 inches, but most range between 43 and 46 inches. A longer shaft can generate more speed but may reduce control.
What Comes After the Driver?
Once you’ve nailed your driver shot from the tee, the goal is to reach the green in regulation or better. This brings fairway woods and irons into play. Check out our comprehensive guides on fairway woods and irons for more insights.
By considering these factors and getting properly fitted, you’ll be well on your way to finding the perfect driver to enhance your game.
Tony Finau has had a successful 2024 on the PGA Tour, translating his skill and consistency into substantial earnings. Known for his powerful drives and steady play, Finau has accumulated significant prize money through various tournaments this year.
Tony Finau’s Earnings & Net Worth
As of now, Tony Finau’s total earnings for 2024 amount to approximately $2,977,173.64. This impressive figure reflects his strong performances across multiple events. Here is a breakdown of his notable finishes and earnings:
- The Sentry Tournament of Champions: T38 finish, earning $96,000.
- The American Express: T25 finish, earning $63,980.
- Farmers Insurance Open: T6 finish, earning $303,750.
- AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am: T47 finish, earning $48,857.14.
- The Genesis Invitational: T19 finish, earning $251,400.
- Mexico Open at Vidanta: T13 finish, earning $145,125.
- THE PLAYERS Championship: T45 finish, earning $70,062.50.
- Texas Children’s Houston Open: T2 finish, earning $553,735.
- Masters Tournament: T55 finish, earning $46,000.
- RBC Heritage: T12 finish, earning $393,000.
- Wells Fargo Championship: T52 finish, earning $47,000.
- PGA Championship: T18 finish, earning $230,764.
Tony Finau’s Top Performances
Finau’s top performances this year include:
- T6 at Farmers Insurance Open
- T2 at Texas Children’s Houston Open
- T12 at RBC Heritage
These finishes highlight Finau’s ability to consistently place high in competitive fields, significantly boosting his earnings and standing on the PGA Tour.
Conclusion
Tony Finau’s earnings for 2024 underscore his exceptional talent and dedication to golf. With a total of approximately $3 million in prize money, Finau has proven himself to be one of the top earners on the PGA Tour. His remarkable performances not only enhance his net worth but also establish him as a formidable competitor in the golfing world.
Sahith Theegala has had an outstanding year in 2024, with significant earnings from various PGA Tour events. Known for his skill and consistency, Theegala’s performances have translated into substantial prize money, reflecting his growing prominence in the world of golf.
Sahith Theegala’s Earnings & Net Worth
As of now, Sahith Theegala has earned a total of approximately $7,094,628.33 in 2024. This impressive figure is the result of his participation in multiple tournaments where he secured top positions. Below is a detailed breakdown of his notable performances and earnings:
- The Sentry Tournament of Champions: 2nd place finish, earning $2,160,000.
- Farmers Insurance Open: T64 finish, earning $19,080.
- AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am: T20 finish, earning $210,333.33.
- WM Phoenix Open: 5th place finish, earning $360,800.
- The Genesis Invitational: T37 finish, earning $96,500.
- Arnold Palmer Invitational: T6 finish, earning $730,000.
- THE PLAYERS Championship: T9 finish, earning $706,250.
- Texas Children’s Houston Open: T28 finish, earning $65,065.
- Masters Tournament: T45 finish, earning $57,200.
- RBC Heritage: 2nd place finish, earning $2,160,000.
- Wells Fargo Championship: T52 finish, earning $47,000.
- PGA Championship: T12 finish, earnings not listed but typically substantial.
These earnings highlight Theegala’s consistent top finishes and his ability to compete at a high level, securing significant prize money.
Notable Performances and Earnings
In addition to his earnings, Theegala’s top finishes this year include:
- 2nd at The Sentry Tournament of Champions
- 5th at WM Phoenix Open
- 2nd at RBC Heritage
- T6 at Arnold Palmer Invitational
- T9 at THE PLAYERS Championship
These performances have not only boosted his earnings but also his standing in the golf world.
Conclusion
Sahith Theegala’s earnings in 2024 underscore his exceptional talent and dedication to the sport. With a total of approximately $7.1 million in prize money, Theegala has proven himself to be one of the top earners on the PGA Tour this year. His remarkable performances enhance his net worth and establish him as a rising star in professional golf.
Scottie Scheffler Earnings in 2024
Scottie Scheffler has had a phenomenal year in 2024, showcasing his exceptional golfing talent and consistency on the PGA Tour. His performances have translated into substantial earnings, reflecting his status as one of the top golfers in the world.
Scottie Scheffler Earnings 2024
As of now, Scottie Scheffler’s total earnings for 2024 amount to approximately $19,714,652.50. This impressive figure is a result of his participation in various high-profile tournaments where he consistently finished at or near the top. Here are some of his notable performances:
- The Sentry Tournament of Champions: T5 finish, earning $690,500.
- The American Express: T17 finish, earning $132,300.
- AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am: T6 finish, earning $642,500.
- WM Phoenix Open: T3 finish, earning $519,200.
- The Genesis Invitational: T10 finish, earning $455,000.
- Arnold Palmer Invitational: 1st place, earning $4,000,000.
- THE PLAYERS Championship: 1st place, earning $4,500,000.
- Texas Children’s Houston Open: T2 finish, earning $553,735.
- Masters Tournament: 1st place, earning $3,600,000.
- RBC Heritage: 1st place, earning $3,600,000.
- PGA Championship: T8 finish, earning $521,417.50.
Key Performances and Earnings
Scheffler’s remarkable success is highlighted by his multiple first-place finishes, particularly at prestigious events like the Arnold Palmer Invitational, THE PLAYERS Championship, the Masters Tournament, and the RBC Heritage. These victories alone contributed significantly to his overall earnings.
Conclusion
Scottie Scheffler’s earnings for 2024 underscore his exceptional talent and dedication to the sport of golf. With a total of approximately $19.7 million in prize money, Scheffler has proven himself to be one of the top earners on the PGA Tour. His outstanding performances not only enhance his net worth but also establish him as a dominant force in the golfing world.
Rules of golf have been around since the very beginning of golf. Just what those very first rules of golf were, no one can quite say today. One thing is certain: The first written rules of golf date back to the middle of the 18th century. They were drawn up in 1744 by the Gentlemen Golfers of Leith (today known as the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers of Muirfield), one of the oldest golf clubs in the world.
It all started with 13 rules of golf
Many of the initial 13 rules of golf still exist today, albeit in modified form:
- You must tee up the golf ball within one club length (tees now measure two club lengths in depth).
- Your tee must be on the ground (tee used to mean small pyramids of sand).
- You are not allowed to change the ball with which you tee off (the one-ball rule goes back to a long tradition – currently the rule can be found in Golf Rule 15 with a few modifications).
- You are not allowed to remove stones, bones or broken club parts to play the ball. The fairway is an exception. There, you are allowed to remove small obstructions within a radius of one club length from the ball (bones may sound strange – today, small obstructions are summarized as loose obstructive natural materials in Golf Rule 23).
- If your ball lands in water or any type of watery debris, you are free to pick it up and re-putt behind the hazard. You may then play the ball with any club, but you will incur a penalty stroke against your opponent (origin of the penalty stroke rule for water hazards – Golf Rule 26).
- If your ball interferes with your opponent’s ball(s), you may pick it up until the last ball is played (Rule of Golf 22-2).
- When putting your golf ball in the hole, you should honestly hit the ball only in the direction of the hole and not in the direction of the opponent’s balls in order to play them out.
- If you lose your ball because you gave it up or for any other reason, you must return to the point from which you last teed off. You will receive a penalty stroke for this (Golf Rule 27-1).
- No one is allowed to mark the ideal line to the hole with their club or anything else while putting (embedded in Golf Rule 8-2).
- If a ball is stopped by a person, horse, dog, or anything else, the stopped ball must be played from the position where it came to rest (“play it as it lies”; per Golf Rule 19-1).
- If you swing your club to tee off, but you lower it again, even without actually hitting the ball, the movement is counted as a stroke played (definition of a stroke).
- During the game, the ball that is farthest from the hole is always played (almost unchanged after all this time: golf rule 10).
- Neither ditches, streams or dams built to protect and delimit the golf course, nor construction sites located on the course should be seen as obstacles. The ball is to be picked up, re-putted and played with any club.
The Rules of Golf have evolved over time, taking a giant leap in 1897 when the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A) formed a Rules Committee. Since 1952, the R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA) have met every two years.
The history of the British Open dates back to 1860, at a time when America is on the verge of a drastic civil war and makes Abraham Lincoln its president in November, things are much more leisurely in Great Britain. In Scotland, a society of golfers comes together to play the first Open Championship on a twelve-hole round on the grounds of Prestwick Golf Club on October 17, 1860.
The Open Tournament Page | News, Leaderboard & Tee Times
First venue of the British Open: Built by a genius
The course at Prestwick Golf Club had been designed by golf’s all-round genius Old Tom Morris, the host club’s greenkeeper at the time, whose son managed the first hole-in-one at the tournament just seven years later. Both dominated the tournament for several years in the beginning.
Later, the competition was held on three different courses, always in alternation, after Young Tom Morris had won the tournament on his father’s course three times in a row. Because the early contests were played on a twelve-hole course, the round was played three times in just one day to reach a total of 36 holes.
Golf on the move
When the first British Open took place, golf was in the midst of a flurry of change. Outside of Great Britain, golf was still barely established at the time – the first German golf club (the Royal Homburger Golf Club and the Wiesbadener Golf-Club are in dispute over the designation of the first German golf club) did not open its doors until the end of the century.
The first ladies’ golf club was founded seven years after the Open premiere, although half a century had passed since the first ladies’ golf tournament at the time of the first Open Championship. Played at Musselburgh – a course that would also host the British Open on a few occasions – it was the first documented ladies’ tournament in the history of golf.
Dynamic period of golf technology
But the sport also underwent some technological changes in the period before and after the first British Open. While hickory shafts were still common at the first Open, by the end of the century experiments would be made with the steel shaft that would later revolutionize the game. Similarly, in 1898, the Haskell ball with a wrapped hard rubber core replaced the gutta-percha ball established in 1848, which had been common at the first and subsequent tournaments.
In 1894, the USGA was founded, which meant that for the first time there was also a regulating institution in golf in the United States. Four years later, the Stableford method of counting was invented and the wooden tee was patented the following year. At the first British Open, moreover, professional golfers were still rare, but participation by amateurs was nevertheless prohibited – so it came about that the first field of participants consisted of only eight golfers.
The British Open is traditionally played on links courses, alternating between Scotland, England and Northern Ireland. The venues are selected according to a fixed Open Rota principle, in which nine fixed courses (all links courses) alternate.
The Open Rota includes the following courses:
- The Old Course at St Andrews
- Carnoustie
- Royal St George’s
- Royal Lytham & St Annes
- Royal Birkdale
- Turnberry
- Royal Liverpool
- Royal Portrush
- Royal Troon
The only constant in this constant change is: The Old Course. The golf course is part of the British Open every five years. It’s easy to remember: All years ending in 0 and 5 like 2000, 2005, 2010 lead the participants to the course in St Andrews.
Open Rota without clear order or rhythm
The organizer, Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A), selects the Open Rota to fit together as harmoniously as possible – without any clear order or rhythm. In doing so, they coordinate their selections with the clubs’ schedules and construction or renovation plans, for example, or pay attention to the course’s requirements for players.
For example, Royal Birkdale was the venue in 1983, then eight years later in 1991, again seven years later in 1998, and then not again for another ten years in 2008. Royal Liverpool, on the other hand, was the venue for the British Open in 1967 and then not again until almost 40 years later in 2006. With the next venue in 2014, the break was not even close to that long. In 2017, it’s Royal Birkdale’s turn for the tenth time.
Every year in July, the world’s golfing elite gather in Great Britain for the The Open. The Open Championship is the oldest of the four major tournaments and the only one held in Europe. The Open was first played in 1860, and today the Claret Jug is one of the most coveted trophies in golf. All the special features, the long history and all the facts about the tournament can be found in this overview.
From the history of the British Open
- British Open – First staging
- The Open Rota, the venues of the British Open
- Golf History: The 13 very first Rules of Golf
The special features of the tournament
- British Open – Cut rule
- British Open – Qualifying criteria
- British Open – “Claret Jug” victory award
- Historic British Open – The most important events