DeChambeau's ball secret: Will he win the US Open 2024 because of this small detail? (Image: Getty)
For Bryson DeChambeau, the week at the US Open 2024 could hardly have gone better so far. Before his final round, he stands at the top with a three-stroke lead and expressed his satisfaction with his golf game in an interview. This might be partly due to a secret he revealed in the press conference following his third round.
US Open 2024: Do specially prepared balls secure the win?
As Bryson DeChambeau revealed in response to a well-informed journalist, a small but promising detail of the American’s preparation is how he treats his golf balls. According to him, the 30-year-old soaks his balls in a epsom salt solution before his rounds to balance them. Normally, Epsom salt is used for body detoxification. Well, DeChambeau expects a similar effect on his golf balls. He explains the reasoning behind this process as follows: “Golf balls are out of balance. It’s just because of the manufacturing process, there is always going to be an error. Especially when it’s a sphere.” DeChambeau aims to keep the balls in a better balance through this process and they are also marked for alignment during DeChambeau’s shots, with the heavier side of the ball pointing downwards. He further compares an unprepared golf ball to a mud ball, whose flight and roll-out are inconsistent due to small dirt particles affecting the weight distribution.
Even though DeChambeau is aware that this preparation if anything only influences his game by a minimal fraction, he wants to do everything possible to start his round in the best way possible. This trick might help him more mentally than it does in terms of the actual flight path of the ball. However, if he manages to maintain his lead and win the US Open 2024, no one will be able to criticize his routine.
Venue of the US Open 2024: Pinehurst No. 2. (Image: Getty)
All golf fans can look forward to another upcoming highlight. From June 13 to 16, the 2024 US Open will take place. Following the Masters Tournament and the PGA Championship, it is the third major of the year. But how does this prestigious golf event stand? Here is a brief overview of the prize money the pros can expect, where the golf US Open will be held this year, and which players have the best chances of winning.
US Open 2024 Back in Pinehurst
The venue for this year’s US Open may seem familiar to golf enthusiasts. The Pinehurst Resort & C.C. (Course No. 2) in Pinehurst, North Carolina, is one of the most well-known courses in the USA. Now the US Open returns to the prestigious course after it was last held there in 2014. The par-72 course is a total of 7,588 yards long. The prize money for the tournament will be announced during the tournament week, although last year’s winner, Wyndham Clark, enjoyed a prize share of $3.6 million. Due to its particularly challenging tee shots, the Pinehurst course is feared by many players and is considered one of the more difficult courses on the tour.
Participants and Favorites: Who Has the Best Chances of Winning?
The most renowned faces participating in the 2024 US Open are also the top contenders for the overall victory. World number one Scottie Scheffler arrives in North Carolina with the best odds of winning and a fresh win at the Memorial Tournament. According to betting odds, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka, and Jon Rahm are also strong contenders for the major tournament title. Altough the Rahm had to withdraw from the Houston LIV Golf event due to an injury on his foot.
Scottie Scheffler has been delivering consistent performances on the tour for some time now and won the first major of the year, the Masters Tournament. He finished tied for 8th in the second major, the PGA Championship. Last year, he placed third at the US Open. For defending champion Wyndham Clark, the chances of winning seem somewhat lower – at least based on his current form. Although the American has managed some good finishes this year, he has recently struggled also missing the cut in both majors.
Similarly, LIV Golf players Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm have shown good performances on their tour, but did not achieve notable placements in the US Masters and the PGA Championship. Rory McIlroy‘s prospects look more promising. He finished second in last year’s US Open and is currently in stable form. American Xander Schauffele‘s form is also on the rise. Schauffele won the PGA Championship in May.
Roger Federer finds joy in his new hobby: Golf. (Image: Getty)
After officially announcing his retirement in 2022, some time has now passed. He undoubtedly ranked among the greatest in tennis and defined an era. We are talking about Roger Federer, who, as seen in a video on X (formerly Twitter), has found a new hobby.
Roger Federer Picks Up Golf
The short video on social media shows the Swiss athlete playing golf. Even though the title “Roger Federer picking up a new hobby” teases that Federer is learning golf as a new sport, it quickly becomes evident, that it is not the first time he has held a golf club in his hand.
His impressive golf swing is causing a stir on the internet and is also receiving positive feedback from golf professionals. LPGA Tour player Nelly Korda seems eager to show Federer a few things. “Do you need a coach?” she commented under Federer’s video.
Arguably the most important part of your game: Golf Wedges. (Image. Getty)
Golf wedges are the scoring clubs. 70 percent of all shots occur within 100 yards of the green, making wedges essential for every golfer’s game. Wedges are crucial for creating birdie opportunities from the fairway or saving par after missing the green, but they can also cause significant trouble for golfers who struggle within the 100-yard range. Therefore, it is crucial that the wedges you have in your bag suit you and support your game.
Even though golf wedges may seem to have undergone less technological development compared to irons or drivers, this is not true upon closer inspection. There are many different wedges with unique specifications, making the search for the right club to enhance your game a worthwhile endeavor. The following explanations are intended to expand your knowledge of golf wedges and help you make a decision for or against a wedge to improve your game.
There are basically four different types of wedges:
Pitching Wedges (PW)
The first and most widely used wedge is the pitching wedge. It generally has a loft of 44 to 48 degrees and is primarily used for full swings into the green and longer chips. Many club sets today tend to give the pitching wedge a lower loft, making it “longer”. This suggests to the player that they have more distance in their shots, but it also creates a gap in the shot distances, necessitating a gap wedge.
As the name suggests, the gap wedge fills the gap between the pitching wedge and the sand wedge. The loft usually ranges between 50 and 55 degrees. In terms of use, it is very similar to the pitching wedge, but the gap wedge is used from slightly shorter distances and offers a wider range of options from the fairway and around the green.
Sand Wedges (SW)
Typically, sand wedges have a loft of around 56 degrees and are primarily used to escape green-side bunkers or for short pitches. Due to the design of the sole, they are specifically tailored for these shots but also offer additional options for approach shots.
Gradually, the lob wedge has gained increasing popularity and significance in golfers’ club selections. As the name suggests, the lob wedge has the highest loft – usually 60 to 62 degrees, sometimes even up to 64 degrees – to allow the player to achieve extreme heights on the ball with pitch and chip shots. It is mostly used as a short-game club around the green rather than for approach shots. For shots from deep rough or sand, it is often more suitable due to its high loft, though it is more challenging for the less experienced golfer to play compared to wedges with lower loft.
The loft of a golf wedge is simply the angle at which it lifts the ball off the ground. As mentioned above, wedges range from about 44 to 64 degrees. Most professionals, as well as many amateur golfers, have three to four wedges in their bag to have the widest possible range of options for short shots. The higher the loft of a wedge, the higher the ball flight will be, with a correspondingly shorter distance.
The bounce of a wedge refers to various characteristics of the club’s sole. The bounce focuses on the part of the club that touches the ground during a shot, causing the club to ‘bounce’ through the ball. Bounce is the overarching term for the elements involved in the design of the club’s sole: the bounce angle, the width of the sole, the leading edge, and the camber (the curvature of the sole). Finding the right bounce for your wedge will especially improve your chipping and pitching.
Golf wedges come with different bounces. The bounce refers to the sole of the club.
For firm ground, such as that found on links courses, a lower bounce wedge is generally more suitable. This produces a “sharper” ball contact because less surface area of the club interacts with the ground due to the flatter angle, resulting in a shallower divot. In contrast, a standard bounce is more appropriate for softer ground as it allows the club to dig deeper into the ground after impact, enabling a steeper, more aggressive swing.
Finishes of Wedges
Wedges are crafted from various materials and thus come in different finishes, which refer to the various surface treatments of a club. Here’s a selection of common coatings and their benefits.
The traditional coating in which most wedges are delivered is chrome. It provides the classic look, a soft, solid feel, and simultaneously protects the club from corrosion.
Black Nickel
Black Nickel is a special color variant of the classic chrome coating. It offers the same durability and the same soft, solid feel as traditional chrome coating.
Similar to the Black Nickel finish, Nickel provides a blend of the alloy’s soft characteristics with the steadfast properties of the surface. Additionally, the matte color of nickel reduces potential reflections that can occur with shiny materials, giving the wedge a traditional appearance.
Rusty/Raw
These untreated steel wedges are designed to rust over time. The corrosion on the surface provides the player with a more immediate feel and increases the spin imparted on the ball. These wedges are also matte but have the shortest lifespan of all finishes and are typically used by better players.
This finish is offered by some companies and is created through a special heat treatment. This process produces a non-reflective appearance as well as a soft feel. Over time, the Oil Can finish will evolve more and more towards a Rusty/Raw finish.
This finish shares the characteristics of both the Oil-Can and Rusty/Raw variants, producing an extremely soft feel. The difference from the aforementioned options lies in the material composition. Over time, the Beryllium Copper finish will darken as oxygen reacts with the metal.
Wedge shafts are mostly made of steel
Nearly all golf wedges come with steel shafts, except for clubs that are part of a graphite shaft set or have a custom fitting option. Additionally, most wedges come with a standard wedge flex in stores. This flex is similar in flexibility to a steel shaft with a stiffness rating of ‘stiff’, but tailored to the length – or rather, the shortness – of a wedge. It is designed to provide maximum feel and accuracy, but flex is generally less critical in short clubs like wedges.
Worrying about his ticket to the US Open 2024: Adam Scott. (Image: Getty)
The US Open takes place from the 13th to the 16th of June at the infamous Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. 156 players are invited to compete at the third major of this year after the Masters Tournament in April and the PGA Championship, which took place in May. The qualifying tournaments for the major took place last weekend, whereas Adam Scott’s major streak is in jeopardy.
US Open 2024 without Adam Scott?
As for the other majors, there are also various criteria for participation in the US Open. After Australian Adam Scott failed to qualify in advance, he took part in a qualifying tournament last weekend. In order to secure one of the starting places at the US Open, he ultimately had to compete in a playoff with Cameron Davis, which he lost in the end. As a result, he was unable to secure a place, which not only makes his participation in the tournament uncertain, but also jeopardizes his streak of major appearances, which is the longest active streak in professional golf.
After Davis gave him the chance to qualify in the playoff with a bogey finish in the qualifying tournament, Scott was unable to keep pace with Davis’ birdie on the third play-off hole. Earlier, Davis had countered a chip-in from Scott on the first playoff hole with an important and difficult putt to keep the playoff going. For Adam Scott, who has played in every major since the 2001 Open Championship, there is still a chance of a starting place at the US Open this year. The USGA has kept a total of six places open for players who qualify late via the World Golf Ranking.
Matt Kuchar and Phil Mickelson at every US Open at Pinehurst
In the other qualifying tournaments, a total of 687 players competed for 44 places in the upcoming Major. Among others, Matt Kuchar prevailed in Florida. Together with Phil Mickelson, the two will be the only players to have taken part in every US Open held at Pinehurst (1999, 2005, 2014).
The tournaments were rather mixed for the players in the LIV Golf League, of which a total of 17 players competed. Only two of them, Dean Burmester and David Puig, came out on top. Joaquin Niemann was unfortunate to miss out with a double bogey shortly before the end of his final round.
The 35-year-old American Justin Lower’s first participation in the US Open is a matter close to his heart, as he became emotional in an interview after his qualification. “The Sunday of the US Open usually falls on Father’s Day and I lost my dad when I was 15. Just to be able to play on that day in the US Open will be really cool.”
One of the holes in case of a playoff at the PGA Championship 2024. (Image: Getty)
The PGA Championship 2024, like all major tournaments, has a playoff format. However, it differs from that of the Masters and the U.S. Open. Since 1958, the PGA Championship has been played in stroke play, which has also changed the playoff procedure.
If two or more golfers are tied after 72 holes, they play a three-hole playoff. The player with the lower score wins the playoff.
If two or more golfers are still tied after the three-hole playoff, they continue in a “sudden-death playoff.” In this format, the first player to complete a hole in fewer strokes than their competitors wins.
PGA Championship 2024 in Valhalla
For the major tournament, if a tie occurs, a three-hole playoff will be played first. If this does not result in a winner, a sudden-death playoff begins. At Valhalla Golf Club, the playoff will take place on holes 13, 17, and 18. If a winner is still not determined after these three holes, the sudden-death playoff will continue on holes 18, 13, 17, and 18, repeating until someone makes a mistake. The first player to achieve a lower score on a hole wins.
Trailing close behind at the PGA Championship 2024: Shane Lowry. (Image: Getty)
The Moving Day of the PGA Championship 2024 is over and Shane Lowry just missed a record score that hasn’t been broken for over 100 years by a few centimeters. The 62 he played has been played only four times in the history of the major event. With two mediocre rounds on the first two days, Lowry’s only goal was to get himself back into the tournament, which he certainly did. Helping him reach the newest record round after Schauffele’s 62 on the first day, was his selection of clubs.
New investor and Tour ambassador for Arccos: Matt Fitzpatrick.
Arccos proudly welcomes U.S. Open Champion Matthew Fitzpatrick as an investor and Tour Ambassador, which will see him continue using Arccos to analyze his performance and refine his preparations for PGA Tour events, major championships and Ryder Cups.
Currently No. 14 on the Official World Golf Ranking, Fitzpatrick has tracked his on-course data for over a decade, leveraging it to become the world’s top-ranked amateur by winning the 2013 U.S. Amateur Championship. As a pro, the native of Sheffield, England has represented Europe in three Ryder Cups and claimed eight DP World Tour titles along with the 2022 U.S. Open and the 2023 RBC Heritage on the PGA Tour.
Matt Fitzpatrick as Arccos’ pioneer
Fitzpatrick became the first client of Molinari’s analytics service, now called Arccos Pro Insights, which he credits as key to his U.S. Open victory at Brookline Country Club. Arccos Pro Insights counts more than 35 top professionals as clients – including Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland, and Nelly Korda – with Molinari serving as Arccos’ Chief Data Strategist and Lead Tour Ambassador.
“Matt’s success to this point and the role data has played is so impressive to me and speaks to the authenticity of his relationship with Arccos,” said Sal Syed, Arccos CEO & Co-Founder. “He is a user and true advocate for the power of what we have built, especially through his accomplishments while working with Edoardo. With Matt now an investor in Arccos and using the system to capture his data, the insights he provides will help fuel our product development and further accelerate our growth.”
Large variety of data
Arccos has built the sport’s largest on-course dataset, now encompassing over 900 million shots and more than 1.5 trillion data points across 18 million rounds recorded by Arccos members. The system, featuring a smart sensor in each club grip paired with a mobile app, is a trusted tool for both amateurs and elite players worldwide.
“I’ve always had a huge interest in the power of data and how it can help me play my best. That’s why I started to work with Edoardo Molinari and what drove me to use Arccos,” Fitzpatrick shared. “After learning more about the company and meeting CEO Sal Syed, I’m thoroughly impressed by how much they’ve helped golfers make smarter decisions and shoot lower scores. On Tour we use the data to shave a fraction of a stroke so you can imagine the impact Arccos insights have for amateur players.”
New convenient tracking device
Arccos recently launched Link Pro, a device that tracks a player’s shots automatically without a phone and works inside a player’s front pocket to seamlessly capture on-course data. Ideal for use in professional competitions, Link Pro is the size of a car key fob and comes standard with a wireless charging case that provides up to 12 rounds on a single charge.
About Arccos Golf LLC
Arccos Golf LLC offers a game tracking experience that integrates Artificial Intelligence with real-time on-course data to deliver insights that help players maximize their potential. Listed among the “World’s Most Innovative Companies” by Fast Company, Arccos boasts the golf industry’s richest data set. Among its official partners and investors are PGA Tour, PING, Cobra PUMA Golf, TaylorMade, Srixon-Cleveland Golf, Club Champion, EA Sports, Golf Digest, Topgolf, Callaway Brands Corp. and others.
Happy about the new addition to the family: Scottie Scheffler. (Image: Getty)
For world number one Scottie Scheffler, a lot has happened in the past few days. Recently, the American golfer took a short break from the PGA Tour. Last week, his son was born. Scheffler had already announced beforehand that he would exclude participation in the PGA Championship 2024 if the birth of his child falls within the tournament period. After the birth, there is now nothing standing in the way of his participation in the second major of the year.
Scottie Scheffler’s announces Family Addition
Scheffler recently provided an update to his fans via Instagram, where he directed heartfelt words to his newborn: “Welcome to the world little one. Your mom & dad love you so much.”
For PGA Tour star Scottie Scheffler and his wife Meredith Scudder, it is their first child. Although there has been no confirmation from the parents themselves, the official PGA Tour website announced that they have welcomed a baby boy named Bennett. Scheffler’s son was born on May 8th.
PGA Championship 2024: Scottie Scheffler to Compete in Major
These news should bring joy not only to Scottie Scheffler and his wife but also to golf fans, as Scheffler will not only become a father for the first time but also compete in the second major tournament of the year, the PGA Championship 2024. Previously, the 27-year-old had announced that he would exclude participation if the birth fell during the tournament period. With son Bennett being born last week, he will be part of the field for the PGA Championship 2024, competing for his second major title of the year.
Part of the field at the PGA Championship 2024: Talor Gooch. (Image: Getty)
From May 16th to 19th, the PGA Championship 2024 will take place at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Following the US Masters 2024 in April, it’s the second major of the year. Among the players in the field is Talor Gooch, who typically competes in the LIV Golf League. The PGA extended a special invitation to him for the tournament.
PGA Championship 2024 with Talor Gooch
As announced by Talor Gooch via social media, the American has received an invitation from the PGA of America for the PGA Championship 2024. It will be Gooch’s fifth appearance in the tournament. In addition to him, Joaquin Niemann, who also plays in the LIV Golf League, received a special invitation. An official list of participants in the major will follow in the coming days. However, it is known that the two LIV players will compete next week and will be part of the 156-player field.
After not receiving an invitation for Talor Gooch for the US Masters 2024 in April, the PGA Championship 2024 marks the first major of the year for the 32-year-old. Leading up to the Masters, Gooch made headlines by criticizing the PGA for the absence of invitations for some LIV players, questioning the level of the tournament.
Talor Gooch has already participated in the past four PGA Championships. His best finish came in 2022 with a tied 20th place. Last year, he missed the cut.
