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Tour Edge is readying for its 40th year in 2026 with the latest iteration of its Exotics metalwood lineup.

The new Exotics line includes three drivers, three fairway woods and a hybrid, all featuring new technologies from the company, such as Pyramid Face Technology — plus the company’s new logo.

With the driver and fairway woods, Tour Edge also is introducing a new “Lite” model, expanding on the ever-growing segment of the market that demands lighter swingweights to help create launch and speed.

“We are extremely proud of these clean, visually appealing head shapes at address,” Tour Edge CEO David Glod said in a press release. “Combined with the visible and internal technologies engineered into this lineup, our tour player, amateur and robot testing all confirm that these metalwoods deliver outstanding results across a wide range of player types and handicaps. We’re eager to see how golfers benefit from the new Exotics Lite driver and fairway, which rank among the lightest options on the market.”

Keep reading below for details on all the metalwoods, who they are for and my thoughts on this new release.

What is the new Exotics metalwood line?

Tour Edge’s new Exotics line consists of three drivers (LS, Max and Lite), three fairways (LS, Max and Lite) and a Max hybrid offering.

Tour Edge’s new Exotics metalwoods feature a Pyramid face technology.

Tour Edge

All of the new clubs feature a new full carbon construction, with 50 to 80 percent more carbon than the prior generation; a new “Pyramid Face Technology,” which reduces excess mass from the face and helps boost ball speed on off-center strikes; and more tungsten in the perimeter of the clubs to increase MOI.

The drivers and fairway woods also have a new “360° Ridgeback Technology,” with titanium or steel wrapped around the club to reinforce it.

Who is each club for?

With the new Exotics Line, each club type is optimized to fit a specific player type.

The Tour Edge Exotics LS driver and fairway wood.

Tour Edge.

LS Driver and LS FairwayWoods:The LS driver and fairway woods are the most compact shapes, designed for better players with a lot of speed looking to minimize spin. The driver checks in at 440 cc, but offers a best-in-class MOI of over 8,700. The LS fairway wood features a full titanium construction with a new RyzerSole, which pushes weight low and forward to promote high launch and low spin.

Both LS models feature adjustable hosels and front-to-back interchangeable weights to dial in launch and spin characteristics.

The Tour Edge Exotics Max family.

Tour Edge

Max Driver, Max Fairway Woods and Max Hybrids: The Max models are going to be your high forgiveness models, with the driver reaching over 10,500 MOI and appealing to the majority of golfers. The Max driver also has an adjustable rear weight to tune heel-to-toe CG placement and adjustable hosel. Both the fairway wood and hybrid adjustable weight allows swingweight adjustments with options from 5g to 20g.

The Tour Edge Exotics Lite driver and fairway wood.

Tour Edge

Lite Driver, Lite Fairway Woods: A newcomer to the exotics lineup is the Lite models, which are 5 percent lighter than their siblings and are paired with 40-gram shafts and a 42-gram grip for players who need a little help generating speed and launch. The Lite models are also draw-biased with an offset hosel, heel-concentrated CG and the most upright lie angles in the family.

My thoughts

The new line does a good job of promoting the idea that Tour Edge wants to enter a new era while staying true to what has kept it going for 40 years.

While these new woods have a decidedly “Tour Edge” look to them, the all-black design along with a full embrace of carbon offers a more premium appeal.

There is a price jump with the driver of $100, but at $500, that’s still $100 to $150 below the major OEMs’ drivers, and Tour Edge clearly thinks there’s a market for golfers who don’t want to pay more than $500 for a single club.

You’re also seeing some good segmentation with the models and clear identification of who should play what. These days, almost everyone knows that “LS” models are aimed at better players, and the ever-growing ultralight category is well represented by the “Lite” options.

Price, Specs and Availability

All of Tour Edge’s new Exotics line metalwoods are available for pre-order starting Oct. 7, and will officially become available on Nov. 4.

All three driver models will cost $499.99, the LS Fairway Woods come in at $399.99, the other fairways cost $249.99, while the max hybrid retails for $229.99.

The featured stock shaft offering for the metal woods is the Fujikura Ventus with Blue/Black, Red/Black and White/Black available. More shafts are available through TourEdge’s custom program.

Want to find the best woods for your game?Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

After Tour Edge‘s first rebrand ahead of its 40th year in 2026, the company is announcing three new iron models as part of its 2025 Exotics line.

The new Exotics line features two forged players’ irons in an MB and CB package, as well as a game-improvement focused Max iron. There’s also a hollow-bodied Ti-Utility Iron.

“Each model has been perfected to address a distinct performance need,” Tour Edge founder and CEO David Glod said in a release. “I’m confident that any golfer who steps into a Tour Edge fitting will walk away with a set that elevates their iron play.”

Keep reading below for details on all the irons, who they are for and my thoughts on this new release.

What is the new Exotics iron line?

Tour Edge’s new Exotics line consists of two forged iron models (MB and CB), the game-improvement Max iron and the Exotics Ti-Utility long-iron replacement.

All three of the iron models, including the MB, feature Tour Edge’s “VIBRCOR” technology, in which a TPU compound is placed inside the head to help dampen vibrations and increase ball speeds. It also pushes mass to the perimeter of the clubs, allowing for a more forgiving and solid strike.

The Tour Edge CB and MB irons share a lot of the same DNA.

Tour Edge

Both the MB and CB irons are forged from 1025 carbon steel and milled for a combination of feel and precision. The CB’s topline is just 1 mm thicker than the MB’s while both models share the same loft specs, making them easy to blend.

With the Maxirons, the company has taken the “Pyramid Face Technology” from the new Exotics driver line and added 100 pyramids to the face in variable 3D thicknesses to expand the sweet spot and deliver fast ball speeds across the face.

The Exotics Max irons.

Tour Edge

The Max irons also have a “360° Undercut Cavity” to lower CG and increase face flexion for a higher launch.

For the Ti-Utility, the company is once again taking the super-fast material and putting it into a long-iron replacement with a Titanium L-Cup face brazed to a steel body for weight savings.

Who is the new Exotics iron line for?

With the MBand CB irons, the target market are your better players who want forged precision and feel. The irons use a slightly stronger loft spec (32˚ 7-iron), so they’re optimal for better players who want a distance boost from stronger lofts.

The Maxirons are best suited for your 10-handicap or higher, or any player who needs more launch.

The Ti-Utility is one of the few titanium long irons on the market.

Tour Edge

Finally, the Ti-Utility is a better player’s long iron that will work optimally at the top of the bag as either a driving iron, 4-iron replacement or for players who don’t like hybrids.

My thoughts

When it comes to the new MB and CB irons, from a looks perspective, Tour Edge knocked these ones out of the park. The clean badging and new logo work well, and the shaping similarities between the two models make them super-easy to blend, which is a huge advantage.

I also really like how the CB is a shallow cavity-back, but it packs in technology like the VIBRCOR and Impact Zone Weighting for forgiveness.

The Max iron does a great job at hiding all of its tech from the address position and should offer a player-friendly option to improving golfers.

Lastly, the Ti-Utility is another great long iron replacement option from Tour Edge for players who want to add speed to the top of the bag. Few companies even offer titanium for any other part of the bag other than drivers or fairway woods, so to see Tour Edge continuing to use it for long-iron faces is exciting.

Price, specs and availability

All of Tour Edge’s new Exotics line irons are available for pre-order starting Oct. 7, and available to buy on Nov. 4.

The MB and CB irons will cost $1,249.99 for a 7-piece steel set or $1,349.99 for graphite. Stock shaft options will be the True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid 100 and 115.

The Max irons will cost $799.99 for a 7-piece steel set or $899.99 for graphite. Stock shaft options will be the KBS Tour Lite Steel R and a selection of Fujikura Ventus offerings.

The Ti-Utility is available in three lofts (17, 19, 21) and retails for $229.99 a club in either chrome or black finishes. Stock-shaft options will be a selection of Fujikura Ventus offerings.

Want to find the best woods for your game?Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

John Cena’s Farewell Tour has become a topic of discussion among pundits and fans alike, with many thinking that it left a lot to be desired. However, WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi thinks otherwise.

Speaking on his podcast, Rikishi Fatu Off The Top, the 59-year-old was asked about his opinion on Cena’s final run. He praised The Cenation Leader for his contribution to the company and the business as a whole. He then thanked The Franchise Player and wished him the best for his future, and advised him to take it easy.

When asked about how he would rate the retirement tour on a scale of 10, Rikishi said he would score it at 15:

It’s been great. I think so. I mean, damn sure he came back to work, man. They got him busy. It’s like every TV show you see, John Cenaâ€s up in there. And I got to give it to him, man. His age, the many years heâ€s been doing it, the bumps, and just the demands of being that guy for the business for, well, 20 years or whatever the case may be, and heâ€s still out there.

Itâ€s a beautiful thing to be able to have the fans get a last glimpse of Mr. John Cena himself, the icon of the business. In his time, John did a lot. He carried that whole company on his shoulders for a minute. And to be able to see him doing this last runaround for his final tour, itâ€s a beautiful thing.

I just wish him love, respect, and success after the ring. Go out there and enjoy yourself, my man, because you damn sure worked for it. Weâ€re going to miss you.

[So on a one-to-10 basis, what do you think?]

Absolutely. I want to go 15.”

Rikishi Chooses Massive Name As John Cena’s Final Opponent

The former Intercontinental Champion was then asked about his thoughts on the rumors that Edge (aka Adam Copeland) could be The Last Real Champion’s last opponent, to which he replied that he would pick someone who could be considered the GOAT, stating that he would want The Rock to face Cena one last time.

He added that even if the match was not up to par, the conversation about the two WWE icons having a match would have more gravitas than Cena vs Edge. He said:

For me, I kind of see it like this–if Iâ€m going to pick somebody, Iâ€m going out. This is it for ‘Kishi. Never am I ever coming back, man. I would have to go after some of the GOATS.

Now, the one thing that people probably have never seen and would love to see–theyâ€ve seen it back in the day, but I think at this point, The Final Boss vs. John Cena. That right there, theyâ€ve got history.

I can go to sleep then, right? Whether it was a stinkeroo or whatever, at the end of the day, theyâ€re going to say, ‘Whoa! John Cenaâ€s last match was against The Rock.’ When you say The Rock–oh, there it is. But if itâ€s, ‘John Cena had his last match with Edge,’ does it carry a lot more weight? You see what Iâ€m saying?”

You can hear Rikishi’s comments in the video below:

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Adrien Dumont de Chassart didn’t just set the Korn Ferry Tour’s 72-hole scoring record in relation to par in his victory Sunday at the Compliance Solutions Championship.

The third-year pro out of the University of Illinois clinched his return to the PGA Tour.

Dumont de Chassart opened the week at Patriot Golf Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with back-to-back, 10-under 61s, and his closing 65 on Sunday marked his highest round of the tournament. At 33 under, he beat runner-up Marty Dou, another former PGA Tour pro, by seven shots.

With the win, his second on the KFT following his playoff victory in his pro debut in 2023, Dumont de Chassart moved from No. 26 in KFT points to No. 6. With just one tournament left in the KFT Finals, next week’s KFT Championship at French Lick, Dumont de Chassart has clinched his place inside the top 20 of points, which comes with a PGA Tour card, down from 30 cards in recent seasons.

Dou rose from No. 33 to No. 19, meaning he’s just inside the bubble with one event to go. Mitchell Meissner fell a spot to No. 21 and Julian Suri dropped three placed to No. 22.

The top 75 players in points after this week advance to the KFT Championship. On Sunday, four players officially moved into – and four moved out of – the field at French Lick:

IN
James Nicholas: 78 -> 62
Samuel Anderson: 76 -> 70
Dylan Wu: 81 -> 71
Cole Hammer: 79 -> 72

OUT
Brandon Berry: 71 -> 76
Carl Yuan: 74 -> 77
Augusto Nunez: 73 -> 78
Fabian Gomez: 75 -> 80

KFT Championship full field

Here is the full field for the KFT Championship, listed in order of points rank:

x-clinched PGA Tour card

1. x-Johnny Keefer
2. x-Austin Smotherman
3. x-Neal Shipley
4. x-Emilio Gonzalez
5. x-Hank Lebioda
6. x-Adrien Dumont de Chassart
7. x-Chadler Blanchet
8. x-S.H. Kim
9. x-Zach Bauchou
10. x-Davis Chatfield
11. x-Christo Lamprecht
12. x-Pierceson Coody
13. S.T. Lee
14. Trace Crowe
15. Kensei Hirata
16. Jeffrey Kang
17. John VanDerLaan
18. Pontus Nyholm
19. Marty Dou
20. Sudarshan Yellamaraju
21. Mitchell Meissner
22. Julian Suri
23. Jeremy Gandon
24. Justin Suh
25. Alvaro Ortiz
26. Josh Teater
27. Austin Hitt
28. Logan McAllister
29. Myles Creighton
30. Ross Steelman
31. Kyle Westmoreland
32. Trent Phillips
33. Kevin Dougherty
34. Russell Knox
35. Nicolo Galletti
36. Patrick Welch
37. Davis Shore
38. Robby Shelton
39. Rick Lamb
40. Cole Sherwood
41. Ian Holt
42. Marcelo Rozo
43. Bryson Nimmer
44. Peter Kuest
45. Michael Johnson
46. Cooper Dossey
47. Zach James
48. Trey Winstead
49. Nick Gabrelcik
50. Stuart Macdonald
51. Alistair Docherty
52. Dylan Menante
53. Sebastian Cappelen
54. Barend Botha
55. Tyson Alexander
56. Blaine Hale Jr.
57. Shad Tuten
58. Ben Taylor
59. Caleb VanArragon
60. Jorge Fernandez Valdes
61. Wilson Furr
62. James Nicholas
63. Sandy Scott
64. S.Y. Noh
65. Tyler Duncan
66. Bryce Lewis
67. Matthew Anderson
68. Harry Hillier
69. Rob Oppenheim
70. Samuel Anderson
71. Dylan Wu
72. Cole Hammer
73. Taylor Montgomery
74. Joe Weiler
75. Blades Brown

JACKSON, Miss. — Steven Fisk said he wasn’t going to let anything get in the way of his first PGA Tour victory, and it took birdies on his last three holes Sunday to close with an 8-under 64 to win the Sanderson Farms Championship.

Fisk and Garrick Higgo of South Africa finally separated themselves over the closing holes at the Country Club of Jackson, and they put on quite a show.

They were tied when Fisk missed a 5-foot birdie putt on the reachable par-4 15th. That turned out to be his last mistake.

He holed a 40-foot birdie putt on the 16th, and Higgo said he heard someone in the crowd say, “Take that, Higgo.†The South African answered with a 12-foot birdie of his own — his fourth in a row on the back nine — and playfully put his finger against his lips with a smile.

Fisk hit wedge that danced around the cup and settled 3 feet away on the 17th. Higgo answered again with a wedge to just outside 3 feet. It appeared as though it would go down to the wire, except that Higgo’s short birdie putt caught the left lip.

Fisk pulled one head with the birdie, and then left no doubt with an approach to 4 feet for one final birdie to win by two shots over Higgo.

“I came out today with an attitude that nothing was going to stop me,†Fisk said during his Golf Channel interview on the 18th green. “I just felt like I’d be standing right here, right now, before the round started. I know I’m good enough. I thought I could do it.â€

And he did, finishing at 24-under 264 for a win that carries big benefits for the 28-year-old who played his college golf at Georgia Southern and who played on the 2019 Walker Cup team at Royal Liverpool.

Fisk was at No. 135 in the FedExCup standings, destined to return to the Korn Ferry Tour unless he made up ground during the remaining two months of the Fall Series. Only the top 100 at the end of the season keep full cards.

He now has a two-year exemption through 2027, after it took him five years to get to the tour.

“To have some job security is pretty nice,†Fisk said. “It’s been a long, hard year.â€

Higgo looked to have taken himself out of the mix with a bogey-bogey start to the back nine. But then he ran off four straight birdies to catch Fisk, and was poised to make it five in a row until the short miss at the 17th that cost him.

“My mindset was to birdie every hole,†Higgo said. “I almost did that. Steven did the same, so hats off to him.â€

Here’s how the $6 million purse was paid out at Jackson Country Club in Jackson, Mississippi.

Danny Walker was tied for the lead early on the back nine, but he hit it into the water going for the green on the par-5 11th and made bogey, and then drove left into a hazard on the 17th that led to another bogey. He shot 69 and tied for third with Vince Whaley (67) and Ryder Cup player Rasmus Hojgaard, who had a 66-65 weekend.

All three of those players came away with a small consolation prize. Hojgaard was at No. 87 in the FedExCup, which is why he left the Ryder Cup celebration in New York for Mississippi. He went up 12 spots to No. 75.

The other two moved up 18 spots, Whaley to No. 84 and Walker to No. 86.

“I won’t be quite as stressed out, hopefully, around that 100 number,†said Walker, who had missed the cut in eight straight tournaments coming into the Sanderson Farms Championship. “You can just go to play to win, really. That will be a lot nicer feeling.â€

Hojgaard, Whaley and Walker were among those headed for Japan for the Baycurrent Classic, the lone PGA Tour stop in Asia this year.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Tommy Gainey holed a long eagle putt from off the green at the par-5 13th to take the lead, and he closed with a 6-under 66 for a two-shot victory in the Constellation Furyk & Friends for his first PGA Tour Champions title.

Gainey had to go through qualifying just to get into the field at Timuquana Country Club. He started the final round four shots behind Matt Gogel, and then pulled away in the middle of the back nine to hold off Cameron Percy of Australia.

Percy was one shot behind when he was fooled on a 15-foot birdie chance on the par-17th. He missed another birdie chance from 15 feet on the final hole, and Gainey rolled in a 6-foot birdie putt to finish at 14-under 202.

Gainey had gone through four Monday qualifiers this year. He now is exempt and moves to No. 37 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings.

“I grinded for a long time, and finally I can say that grinding and hard work has paid off,†Gainey said. “Man, a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.â€

Gogel shot 75 and tied for third in a group that included Vijay Singh and Thomas Bjorn, a vice captain for Europe in its Ryder Cup victory last week.

This was the final year at Timuquana, a popular Donald Ross design. The tournament moves 60 miles south to Ocean Hammock next year.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Tommy Gainey holed a long eagle putt from off the green at the par-5 13th to take the lead, and he closed with a 6-under 66 for a two-shot victory in the Constellation Furyk & Friends for his first PGA Tour Champions title.

Gainey, 50, had to go through qualifying just to get into the field at Timuquana Country Club. He started the final round four shots behind Matt Gogel, and then pulled away in the middle of the back nine to hold off Cameron Percy of Australia.

Percy was one shot behind when he was fooled on a 15-foot birdie chance on the par-17th. He missed another birdie chance from 15 feet on the final hole, and Gainey rolled in a 6-foot birdie putt to finish at 14-under 202.

Gainey had gone through four Monday qualifiers this year. He now is exempt and moves to No. 37 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings.

Editor’s Picks

“I grinded for a long time, and finally I can say that grinding and hard work has paid off,” Gainey said. “Man, a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”

Gogel shot 75 and tied for third in a group that included Vijay Singh and Thomas Bjorn, a vice captain for Europe in its Ryder Cup victory last week.

This was the final year at Timuquana, a popular Donald Ross design. The tournament moves 60 miles south to Ocean Hammock next year.

It’s common knowledge at this point that if an average golfer wants to improve their game, they shouldn’t be modeling their bag after a PGA Tour pro, but rather an LPGA or PGA Tour Champions player.

PGA Tour pros have insane swing speeds and are able to play shots that courses just weren’t designed for. They have very different golf clubs to meet their needs.

On the flip side, LPGA and older pros have much slower swing speeds and play courses more as the architects intended. That results in a very different golf bag setup and it’s one the average golfer can learn a lot from.

Min Woo Lee hits fades, so why is he using a ‘Draw’ driver head? | Tour Report

By:

Jack Hirsh

On this week’s episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped, co-host Jake Morrow, speaking from this week’s Epson Tour Championship, explained how all of the the players there leave their ego at the door when it comes to golf clubs.

Morrow explained that in filming multiple “What’s in the Bag” videos that day, he saw multiple players who had no irons longer than an 8-iron.

“I think replacing long irons with hybrids until the point that you’re comfortable is an extremely underrated equipment story, right?” Morrow said. “Like, if it’s a 7-hybrid, then it’s a 7-hybrid and who cares?

“If you hit your number and the ball stops where you want it to, then that’s great. And nobody should tell you that that’s wrong. Nobody should judge you for that.”

On the PGA Tour, players have largely rendered traditional 2- and 3-irons extinct, with the 4-iron coming next. Morrow was seeing lots of 7-hybrids this week.

The fact of the matter is that hybrids and high-lofted fairway woods are significantly easier to hit than the equivelent irons, and if some of the most precise and demanding ballstrikers on the planet are opting for them, then there’s no reason for an average golfer to play a set consisting of driver, 3-wood, 5-wood and 4i-PW.

For more from Morrow, co-host Johnny Wunder and this week’s guest, GOLF’s Maddi MacClurg, listen to the full episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped here or watch it below.

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

There is no question that PGA Tour veteran Stephan Jaeger is an elite golfer. But in one moment on Thursday at the Sanderson Farms Championship, Jaeger looked more like your 20-handicap friend at a local muni.

That’s thanks to a mishit with his driver during Round 1 so bad that the TV broadcast called it “shocking.”

Stephan Jaeger hits 104-yard top at Sanderson Farms Championship

When he arrived at the par-4 17th hole in Thursday’s opening round, Jaeger had a sparkling bogey-free scorecard and a four-under score to show for it. The early lead at the Sanderson Farms Championship was in sight.

But then something happened that’s familiar to all recreational golfers but is wholly unfamiliar to Tour pros, especially Tour winners.

Star amateur hit with rare penalty at PGA Tour event

By:

Kevin Cunningham

Jaeger lined up his tee shot, drew back his driver and unleashed his swing. But instead of making clean contact, the bottom of his driver smacked the top of the ball.

As the video review shows, Jaeger’s ball first hit the ground just after impact, then sailed forward just above the grass, eventually coming to rest 104 yards from the tee box.

It also appeared to come up short of at least one set of member tees at the Country Club of Jackson.

Check it out below.

Just after impact, either Jaeger, his playing partner or caddie can be heard saying, “You ever seen anything like that?”

“He’s topped it,” one TV analyst remarked. “Completely topped it.”

“He’s swinging this club at around 120 mph and just catches the top of that ball … shocking,” his partner in the booth replied.

Jaeger rockets up the leaderboard after embarrassing miss

Unfortunately for Jaeger, the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open winner, his top led to a bogey at 17, dropping his final score for the opening round to three under.

Still, that left him just four shots off the lead heading into Round 2, with one eye on his second-career victory. And in Friday’s round, Jaeger showed zero signs that the top had impacted him negatively.

Starting on the back nine, he made three birdies over his first five holes. At the site of his embarrassing shot from Thursday, the par-4 17th, he laced a 297-yard drive to the right fairway, ending with a par.

He sat three shots off the lead with several holes left to play in his second round.

At this week’s 2025 Sanderson Farms Championship, amateur Michael La Sasso is hoping to make the next big move in his golf career. But the reigning NCAA champ’s dream start was derailed when he was hit with a rare two-stroke penalty in the first round.

Here’s what you need to know.

NCAA champ Michael La Sasso’s burgeoning PGA Tour career

So far in his college golf career, La Sasso has put together a future pro golf pedigree. The 21-year-old Ole Miss Rebel won the 2025 NCAA individual national championship in May.

That win and his stellar college record as a whole have him in second on the PGA Tour University ranking. The player who finishes first earns his PGA Tour card.

While he missed the cut in his first four pro starts this year, including the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont, La Sasso successfully made the cut in his last start at the 3M Open in July. He eventually finished T44.

But this week is extra special for La Sasso in that it’s being held so close to his school, Ole Miss.

Michael La Sasso sinks 13-foot birdie putt on No. 17 at Sanderson Farms

In the first round of the 2025 Sanderson Farms, Michael La Sasso’s drive on the 440-yard, par-4 17th travels 286 yards, finding the right fairway and leaving 131 yards to the hole, his 136-yard approach shot from the fairway lands on the left side of the green, leaving a 12-foot 9-inch putt, and he sank a 12-foot-9-inch birdie putt to reach 4-under par for the round.

As a result, he has a lot support following him around the Country Club of Jackson, as he explained in his pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday.

“This place has been great. I’ve had a lot of people come up and talk to me about this before the week even started so there’s been a lot of support,” La Sasso said. “It’s nice playing in the hometown. There’s a lot of people wearing Ole Miss gear, which is definitely nice to see familiar faces. It’s been great so far.”

And while La Sasso’s many supporters were treated to a fine display of golf from La Sasso on Thursday, it wasn’t all positive news for their favorite player in Round 1.

Michael La Sasso gets PGA Tour penalty for improving lie

At first when La Sasso finished his opening round at the Sanderson Farms Championship, he couldn’t have been more pleased. He initially recorded a six-under 66 that would have put him in solo second place behind a quartet of leaders at seven under.

But then two strokes were added to his score. Not all the details of the penalty are clear at the time of this writing, but here’s what we know happened.

On the par-4 6th hole, La Sasso’s 15th hole of the day, he hit his tee shot into the right rough, knocked his approach on the green and two-putted for par.

Slow-play penalty threatens pro’s PGA Tour card hopes

By:

Kevin Cunningham

But according to several reports citing the Associated Press, La Sasso earned a penalty on the 6th for violating Rule 8.1a which governs improving lies. According to PGATour.com, the offense occurred before his second shot.

Rule 8.1a “restricts what you may do to improve any of the ‘conditions affecting your stroke.’ Except in the limited ways allowed in Rules 8.1b, c and d, you must not take any of these actions if they improve the conditions affecting your stroke: move, bend or break any growing or attached natural object, or immovable obstruction, integral object or boundary object, or tee-marker for the teeing area when playing a ball from that teeing area; move a loose impediment or movable obstruction into position (such as to build a stance); alter the surface of the ground. Remove or press down sand or loose soil. Remove dew, frost or water.”

We don’t know which of these specific violations La Sasso committed. But we do know that he was assessed a two-stroke penalty in accordance with the rules. La Sasso declined to speak to the media after his round to shed light on the incident.

But that’s where the bad news ends for La Sasso. Even with the penalty, he finished the round T13 at four under, just three shots off the lead.