Browsing: winner

Staged just a mile from the White House, this is a World Cup draw with a distinctly political feel.

The glittering ceremony is at the Kennedy Center, the famous Washington arts venue now chaired by US President Donald Trump after he overhauled its board this year.

Alongside stars from football, US sports and show business, Trump was in attendance, as will the leaders of the other two co-hosts – Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Proceedings, however, seem to have been planned with the US president very much in mind.

Seventies group Village People were booked to play YMCA, a Trump favourite that is regularly heard at his campaign rallies. And, in a break with tradition, the draw ceremony featured the awarding of a new Fifa Peace Prize.

Such gestures will only underline the alliance forged between the US president and Fifa’s Infantino, who announced the award last month, saying that Trump deserved to win the Nobel Peace Prize for his contribution to the Israel-Gaza ceasefire, and enthusiastically praising his policies.

For critics, such moves are a threat to Fifa’s commitment to political neutrality, one enshrined in its statutes, and risk turning the draw – and the tournament itself – into propaganda tools.

Those critics believe Infantino and Trump are effectively too close for comfort, and that it sends a message that world football’s governing body is aligning with the Make America Great Again (Maga) movement, and endorsing what many feel is a divisive administration.

Asked about the new peace award, amid reports that the Fifa Council was not consulted about it, one senior official at the governing body told BBC Sport: “Why can’t this be bigger than the Nobel Peace Prize? Football has huge global support, so it’s right that it recognises extraordinary efforts to bring about peace every year.”

They pointed to the fact that in 2019 there was no such controversy when Fifa gave the president of Argentina an award to honour his contribution to football, and said the organisation deserves praise for endorsing peace in a divided world.

You can read the full piece from Dan Roan here.

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Rory McIlroy battled through a much-discussed major drought before his Masters triumph last April, although one golf legend now says it will be “tough” for McIlroy to capture more major titles in the future.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, six-time major champ Nick Faldo, who, like McIlroy, starred for the European Ryder Cup team, said it will be difficult for McIlroy to replicate the emotional high he achieved when winning the Masters and completing the career Grand Slam earlier this year.

“It is like climbing Everest, you don’t turn around and say, ‘Let’s go up again next month,’” said Faldo, when asked if he expects McIlroy to win more majors. “There was so much emotion at Augusta, and you cannot reproduce the emotion to win a major like that again, so I think it will be tough for Rory to win another one.”

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McIlroy himself has explained the challenges Faldo alluded to.

“Look, you dream about the final putt going in at the Masters, but you don’t think about what comes next,” McIlroy said at the U.S. Open in June. “I think I’ve always been a player that struggles to play after a big event, after I win whatever tournament. I always struggle to show up with motivation the next week because you’ve just accomplished something and you want to enjoy it and you want to sort of relish the fact that you’ve achieved a goal.”

After he secured the green jacket, McIlroy didn’t win again on the PGA Tour in 2025, although he did win the Irish Open in September and was a key member of the European Ryder Cup team’s win at Bethpage Black.

He’s 36 now and has five major titles, including the slam. And while it’s easy to suggest it would be hard for him to find that drive to win more major titles, as Faldo did, the opposite scenario seemingly could just as easily play out: McIlroy could play free without pressure.

“He’s either going to be disappointed that he’s won 10 or he is going to be ecstatic that he’s got to five,” Faldo said.

In the same interview, while Faldo said McIlroy might be in a tough spot to win more, he raved about the prospects of World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

“Scottie seems to be very clear-headed right now,” Faldo said. “He’s in that wonderful moment where he trusts his game 100 percent. It’s like Tiger was. Scottie’s in that lovely mindset and routine of going to every tournament thinking, ‘How do I find a way to win this?’ Whereas other guys are just trying to get to Sunday. Some guys are choking on Thursday, but Scottie is choke-free at the moment, which is amazing.”

You can read the full Belfast Telegraph story with Faldo here.

As for McIlroy, you can see him in action this week. He’s teeing it up as the headliner at the Australian Open.

Italian tennis great Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open champion, has died at the age of 92.

Pietrangeli became the first Italian to win a Grand Slam singles title with his first triumph at Roland Garros in 1959 and retained the trophy a year later.

With 48 career titles, Pietrangeli was widely considered the country’s greatest ever player until the emergence of current world number two and four-time major winner Jannik Sinner.

“Italian tennis is mourning an icon. Nicola Pietrangeli, the only Italian inducted into the World Tennis Hall of Fame, has died,” the Italian Tennis Federation (FITP) confirmed on Monday.

In addition to his two French Open successes, Pietrangeli also finished runner-up in Paris in 1961 and 1964.

He played a record 164 matches at the Davis Cup for Italy, winning 120, and led his country to its first title in 1976.

David Haggerty, president of the International Tennis Federation (ITF), said: “Nicola Pietrangeli was the true embodiment of everything the Davis Cup represents – passion, prestige and pride in representing your nation.

“As well as reaching the top of the game as an individual, Nicola truly understood what it meant to play tennis for something bigger than himself, and his incredible achievements are carved into the 125-year history of the Davis Cup.

“He leaves a vast and immeasurable tennis legacy both in Italy and across the world. On behalf of everyone at the ITF, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to his family and friends.”

Rafael Nadal, a record 14-time French Open winner, paid tribute on X, describing Pietrangeli as “a great of Italian and world tennis”.

Organisers of the Italian Open, where Pietrangeli was a two-time winner, said: “It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Nicola Pietrangeli, a true legend of Italian tennis. Ciao, Nicola.”

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Fuzzy Zoeller, the two-time major champion whose genial public persona was overshadowed by a racially insensitive joke about Tiger Woods that came to define the latter part of his career, has died aged 74.

No cause of death was immediately available. Brian Naugle, tournament director of the Insperity Invitational in Houston and a longtime colleague, said Zoeller’s daughter notified him of the death on Thursday.

Zoeller, born Frank Urban Zoeller Jr in New Albany, Indiana, was one of golf’s most outgoing characters across a career that delivered historic highs. He was the first player in more than four decades to win the Masters on his debut, claiming the 1979 green jacket after a three-man playoff. Five years later at the US Open at Winged Foot, he outlasted Greg Norman in an 18-hole Monday playoff after famously waving a white towel from the fairway, believing Norman had just holed a birdie putt to beat him. It turned out to be a par, and Zoeller won by eight shots the next day.

US president Donald Trump, who often praised Zoeller, posted a tribute on Truth Social. “Very sad to hear that the highly respected and beloved Professional Golfer, Fuzzy Zoeller, has passed away,†he wrote, citing Zoeller’s major victories and calling him “a truly remarkable person and playerâ€.

But for all of Zoeller’s success and easygoing charm, it was the 1997 Masters that irrevocably altered his standing in the sport. As Woods marched toward a transformative, record-breaking victory at Augusta National, a relaxed Zoeller – drink in hand – was stopped by a CNN crew near the clubhouse and asked for his thoughts. His reply, delivered with a smile and a snap of his fingers, sparked immediate outrage.

“That little boy is driving well and he’s putting well,†Zoeller said, before adding that Woods should be congratulated, then joking that officials should “tell him not [to] serve fried chicken next year … or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve.â€

Zoeller apologized, but the blowback only grew as it took Woods two weeks to address the remarks while traveling. Zoeller later said he received death threats for years. In Golf Digest in 2008, he called it “the worst thing I’ve gone through in my entire life,†adding: “If people wanted me to feel the same hurt I projected on others, I’m here to tell you they got their way.â€

He said he had “cried many times†and offered “countless†apologies for words he described as a misguided attempt at humor that did not reflect who he was. “Still, I’ve come to terms with the fact that this incident will never, ever go away.â€

Fuzzy Zoeller is congratulated by his caddie during the 1979 Masters in Augusta, Georgia. Photograph: Augusta National/Getty Images

Zoeller’s playing record extended well beyond his two major triumphs. He won eight additional PGA Tour titles, captured two PGA Tour Champions victories including a Senior PGA Championship, and represented the United States in three Ryder Cups. Known for playing quickly and whistling between shots, he cultivated an image of a player who both competed hard and relished the walk.

His 1979 Masters win remains one of Augusta’s most enduring debuts. Arriving as a first-time competitor, he reached a playoff after Ed Sneed bogeyed the final three holes. On the second extra hole, Zoeller stiffed his approach to six feet and rolled in the winning birdie, tossing his putter skyward in celebration. “I’ve never been to heaven,†he once said. “I guess winning the Masters is as close as I’m going to get.â€

At Winged Foot five years later, he believed Norman’s 40-plus-foot par putt on the 18th was a birdie that had beaten him and responded with a theatrical white-towel wave from the fairway. After an official told him the score, Zoeller forced the playoff and dominated, though he later joked that he regretted giving away the now-famous towel.

Zoeller played college golf first at Edison Junior College and later at the University of Houston, then a powerhouse programme. He turned professional in 1973. His wife, Diane, died in 2021. He is survived by three children, including his daughter Gretchen, with whom he often played in the PNC Championship. He was awarded the USGA’s Bob Jones Award for sportsmanship in 1985.

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It appears as though the Vancouver Canucks are in the initial stages of preparing to sell off assets as they’ve slogged through yet another subpar start to their season, and the Detroit Red Wings could be in prime position to right a wrong from 2018.

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As you may recall, the Red Wings selected forward Filip Zadina with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. The Canucks followed by selecting Hughes, who was bred in the nearby suburb of Ann Arbor by playing for the University of Michigan Wolverines.

As a freshman, he set a school record with 24 assists, the most ever by a first-year defenseman, and earned selections on both the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and the All-Big Ten Second Team.

Hughes also played for the U.S. National Team Development Program, based in Plymouth.

While Detroit’s selection of Zadina seemed like a steal at the time, both players could not have gone in more opposite directions during their respective NHL careers.

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Zadina never panned out as expected and ultimately finished his time with the Red Wings having scored just 28 goals in 190 games. He played a lone season with the San Jose Sharks in 2023-24, scoring 13 goals in 72 games before returning overseas, where he now plays in Switzerland with Davos HC.

Meanwhile, Hughes has blossomed into not only the best defenseman in Canucks history, but also one of the most talented blue liners in recent NHL memory. He has already become the franchiseâ€s all-time leader in both assists and total points by a defenseman, and set a new NHL record for a defenseman by reaching 300 career assists in just 376 games.

He also won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman in 2024.

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Hughes, who is under contract for one more season at a reasonable $7.85 million cap hit, was linked to the Red Wings amid the uncertainty facing the Canucks. The speculation came from Insider Tyler Yaremchuk during a Daily Faceoff Live segment with fellow Insider and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton.

Yaremchuk said the following:

“If you were to go get Quinn Hughes in the middle of this season, maybe a team like Detroit would be willing to pay a lot for him, going, ‘You know what? We’re going to be ablde to get him in our organization for a year and a half. Even if he walks at the end of it, we get two playoff runs out of him, or we have 18 months to convince this guy to stay and show we’re serious about contending.'”

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The Red Wings, who have not played beyond the 82nd game of the regular season since 2016, would benefit significantly from Hughes†presence on their blue line. His ties to the metro-Detroit area could make a potential move appealing to him, and his addition could provide the substantial boost needed to push the club over the top in its pursuit of a playoff berth.

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Detroit also has ample salary-cap space to facilitate not only a trade for Hughes, but also a contract extension for him ahead of the 2027-28 season. That, combined with the expected rise in the salary cap and several contracts set to come off Detroitâ€s books by then, makes the scenario all the more feasible.

However, it would be contingent on what kind of package the Canucks would request in return, which could potentially include rookie defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka.

While Sandin-Pellikka has the potential to become a top-pairing defenseman later in his career, Hughes has already established himself as one of the best players at the position in the NHL today.

The Red Wings are likely keeping close tabs on the situation in Vancouver, and acquiring Hughes would be the crown jewel of GM Steve Yzermanâ€s NHL player-acquisition repertoire.

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Through two periods, the Kings looked stuck in purgatory. Their offense sagged, and every promising rush ended in a turnover. A switch flipped beginning in the third period when Los Angeles delivered in the clutch, something theyâ€ve struggled to accomplish this season.

Brandt Clarke delivered a power play goal, avoiding overtime to send the Senators packing in a gritty Kings 2-1 win over Ottawa.

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The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Kings, where they looked awful, especially down the stretch in overtime games, failing to close out in the clutch, but today they showed up in late-game situations.

Ugly Start by Both Teams

Ottawa controlled the game through the first two periods, outshooting Los Angeles and winning nearly 70% of its faceoffs. But the Kings survived thanks to their goaltending and defensive group that didnâ€t bend when needed to make a stop.

Still, the Senators were in it all game when winger Fabian Zetterlund hit a big shot that went high in the air past the Kings’ defenders and into the net in the third. This game felt like it would end the same way it always has for the Kings: in overtime, and they would lose consistently.

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Kings Close it Out

But, instead, the Kings got a wake-up call that they desperately needed and didnâ€t let the game go into an extra period.

After the game-tying shot from the Senators, just a few minutes later, the Kings earned their chance to take the game away from Ottawa, who took a costly penalty. On the following play, Clarke, consistently becoming one of the Kings’ best players this season, stepped into the middle of the ice and hammered a big shot through traffic to break the tie.

The puck whistled past every Ottawa defender and gave the Kings their first lead of the night.

From there, the King tightened up their defense in the final minutes of the game as Clarkeâ€s goal held serve and fended off Ottawaâ€s final push.

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The performance wasnâ€t pretty for the Kings. The opening minutes of the game were flat and ugly. But, a win is a win, especially in a year where the Pacific Division is looking like a dog-fight. It was a big Monday night win for the Kings to secure a much-needed win to get back in the win column.

Up next, the Kings will travel to Anaheim on their one-game road stand to take on the Ducks at 1:00 p.m. EST.

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For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

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Smriti Mandhana and Palash Muchhal snapped at their Haldi ceremony. (Images via X/Screengrabs) The wedding celebrations of India batter Smriti Mandhana and composer-filmmaker Palash Muchhal have begun, with the Haldi ceremony setting the tone for the final stretch toward their November 23 wedding. The festivities, held two days before the big day, unfolded in a warm, colourful setting as family, friends and teammates gathered around the bride. The Haldi event quickly became the highlight of the day. Mandhana, dressed in a bright yellow outfit, was seen laughing, dancing and soaking in the moment as traditional dhol beats echoed across the venue. The decorations, done entirely in yellow, added to the festive ambience and matched the lively mood around the World Cup winner. A major point of attention for fans was the presence of several India womenâ€s team players, who turned the celebration into a spirited ‘team bride†moment. Shafali Verma, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Renuka Singh Thakur, Radha Yadav and Richa Ghosh joined Mandhana on the dance floor, with clips of the group enjoying the ceremony gaining quick traction online. Their participation offered a glimpse into the camaraderie that extends beyond the field.Afterwards, clips of the couple at the ceremony also went viral on social media. The two, who were seated beside each other, also shared a heartwarming moment during the celebrations, which was shared widely on social media. Ahead of the Haldi, Muchhal had already shared a personal moment with fans through a proposal video on Instagram.Watch the video hereIn the clip, Mandhana was blindfolded and guided to the DY Patil Stadium. When she uncovered her eyes, Muchhal was seen kneeling with a bouquet of roses and a ring. Her emotional reaction followed naturally, and the moment was sealed with the caption, “She said yes,†as posted by Palash Muchhal. With November 23 approaching, anticipation around the wedding has intensified. Mandhanaâ€s marriage comes at a significant time in her cricketing journey, following Indiaâ€s historic victory in which she played a central role.

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Which moment from the Haldi ceremony stood out to you the most?

As the celebrations continue, more events are expected to follow, with the couple keeping several details private for now. The Haldi ceremony, however, has already offered an intimate look at the start of their wedding week – one filled with colour, music and close friends.

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Welcome to GOLF’s Fully Equipped’s weekly Tour equipment report. Each Friday of PGA Tour weeks (plus other times, if news warrants), GOLF equipment editor Jack Hirsh will run you through some of the biggest news surrounding golf clubs on Tour, including changes, tweaks and launches.

ST SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — The final week of the PGA Tour season brings with it plenty of stress as players look to lock up their playing status for 2026, and it’s led to a very interesting week in gear.

But being on the ground at Sea Island Golf Club, home of the RSM Classic, this week also gave us a chance to get to know the newest PGA Tour winner, Adam Schenk, and what he calls his “complicated” relationship with gear. We call it life as a gear nerd.

Schenk won last week with a bag setup that didn’t include a fairway wood, and just three clubs (his wedges) released post-2018, including his original Odyssey Tri-Hot Rossie putter from the early 2000s. He had a split set of irons from two brands — Ping i210 2- through 5-iron and then Mizuno MP-18 SCs 6-PW with an MP-18 MMC 8-iron tucked away in there too.

That’s just what was in the bag in Bermuda. Schenk is known as one of the most notorious gear switchers on the PGA Tour with a solid rotation of sticks, but rarely anything new.

At his press conference at Sea Island on Tuesday, I asked Schenk about his relationship with gear and got one of the most insightful answers I’ve heard this season.

Asked last week’s winner, Adam Schenk, about his relationship with gear after he won with only the only clubs in his bag from post-2018 being his wedges.

Got one of the coolest quotes on gear I’ve heard this year: pic.twitter.com/DNzqjbk93K

— Jack Hirsh (@JR_HIRSHey) November 18, 2025

Schenk started off by saying he likes to tinker and likes to set his bag up to prioritize accuracy over length. To do that, he needs more spin, which the older equipment gives him.

“I generally set up my bag to go straight,” he said. “So like my driver, I launch it lower so I need spin. So I have a lot of speed, kind of created in a little inefficient way, but like I have to have enough spin. So like the older equipment, a lot of time goes shorter for me, and it spins more, so that’s why I generally set up my bag that way.”

Spin is also a reason why Schenk says he is one of the last remaining users of the 2017 Titleist Pro V1.

The trope isn’t unheard of. Two years ago, Billy Horschel claimed more pros hit fades these days because they don’t have to worry about them over-spinning with modern equipment. Tiger Woods has often complained that the modern golf ball doesn’t spin as much as it used to and because of that, he isn’t able to shape shots to the same degree as he could early in his career.

It’s something that almost everyone agrees on, and is why you see many pros weakening lofts to get spin back in the bag. If there’s one thing they can do, it’s take spin off, like Schenk did with his 150-yard 4-irons in the heavy breezes in Bermuda last week.

He also said he’ll switch his driver setup depending on not just what the course presents, but also the weather conditions on a given day.

“If it’s the John Deere Classic and it’s 95 degrees, I can swing 124 or 125 [mph] pretty easily. If you’re at Pebble Beach teeing off and it’s 52 degrees, good luck,” Schenk explained. “You’re not going to be able to swing that same driver that fast. You’re going to be able to swing 116, 17 maybe. So like that driver setup that you have when it’s 95 degrees is not going to perform the same.

“I’m not going to play the same driver if it’s 52 degrees or if it’s 95. I’m going to have to make some small change or I’m going to have to swing the driver that I would play at John Deere significantly different or I’m going to lose it really, really, far right once or twice.”

As for his plans this week, Schenk’s caddie, Rob Bradley, said he might even use both drivers he has this week — the Ping G400 he won last week with and a G430 Max. One for draws and one for fades. But for Round 1 on the Plantation course, Schenk just went with the G400. It’s possible that it could change throughout the week, according to Tour reps I spoke with. That’s not an unusual occurrence for him, maybe even more than 50 percent of the time.

Adam Schenk’s clubs: What’s in his Bermuda Championship-winning bag

By:

Jack Hirsh

Nor is playing a split set of irons from two different manufacturers in a model progression that might not even make sense — such as how there is an MP-18 MMC 8-iron tucked into his 6-PW set of MP 18-SCs. Why is the 8-iron a more forgiving model? Schenk’s answer was on-brand.

“I was having problems with my 8-iron not spinning enough so that was the first 8-iron that I found,” he said. “I was looking for the split cavity (SC) 8-iron, I couldn’t find a new one. The one new one I have has a big rock mark in the middle of it. I was like, I don’t know if that really matters but it’s big enough to where it could.”

Schenk probably exhausted all options looking for an MP-18 SC 8-iron replacement. A rep told me he has no problems trying to buy what he’s looking for on eBay or elsewhere if he can’t find it on a truck.

But this 8-iron also carries some sentimental value.

Also noticed a single Mizuno MP-18 MMC 8-iron within his 6-PW set of MP-18 SCs that he used last week (both from 2017 btw).

“I was having problems with my 8-iron not spinning enough so that was the first 8-iron that I found. I was looking for the split cavity (SC) 8-iron, I… pic.twitter.com/W0goclqYPb

— Jack Hirsh (@JR_HIRSHey) November 18, 2025

“So I made my first cut ever on the PGA Tour, funny enough, with those Mizuno MP-18 MMCs, multi-material cavity. That’s the 8-iron that I played in Jackson, Mississippi, my first cut ever on Tour and that was my third or fourth event with it in the bag. My other 8-iron was just going way too far, not spinning enough.”

I’m pretty biased, but as a gear reporter, it’s really cool to hear a Tour pro be so passionate about his or her equipment. I think everyone has a relationship like that with their first nice putter or the driver that won them a club championship.

Adam Schenk might have that with every piece of gear he owns and that’s awesome. It’s very clear he thinks about gear way differently than most PGA Tour pros.

TaylorMade Qi4D, Ping G440 K make PGA Tour debuts

The last official PGA Tour event of 2025 featured the debuts of two new 2026 drivers on the U.S. circuit.

TaylorMade’s Qi4D driver made its way into the bags of two of the company’s young, rising star staffers in Karl Vilips and Luke Clanton.

Karl Vilips (First 2 photos) and Luke Clanton (second 2) are both carrying the new @TaylorMadeGolf Qi4D driver this week. Both their caddies Tim Butler (Vilips) and Jason Wiertel told me they were a go for competition this week.

Won’t know for sure until tomorrow, but it seem’s… pic.twitter.com/2sBjU0a0s3

— Jack Hirsh (@JR_HIRSHey) November 19, 2025

Ben Polland, this year’s PGA Professional Championship winner, also had the new driver in the bag. Both Vilips and Polland had 9.0-degree heads while Clanton had an 8.0-degree head.

Conversion for the Qi4D family has been very strong with six players gaming it the first week it was on the conforming list two weeks ago in Abu Dhabi, including Tommy Fleetwood (LS) and Rory McIlroy. This week was the first week the new heads were seeded on the U.S. Tour and to get both Clanton and Vilips into it right off the bat is significant.

Vilips gained .737 strokes off the tee in Round 1 on the Seaside course — the only course with ShotLink this week — and heads into the weekend at 10-under after consecutive 66s to start the week. Also on Seaside on Thursday, Clanton gained .972 shots off the tee in an opening-round 67.

Also seeing strong conversion is Ping’s new G440 K driver, which saw three players bag it this week.

Taylor Montgomery, Trey Mullinax and Kevin Streelman each put the new driver in play, which is presumably the successor to the popular G430 Max 10K used by Ben Griffin to win three times this year.

Mullinax is in the top 30 on the leaderboard after two rounds and picked up .883 SG: Off-the-Tee in Round 1 at Seaside as he fights to retain his playing status for next year.

Scottsdale Tec putters draw lots of intrigue

Ping’s Scottsdale Tec putters made their debut on the PGA Tour this week.

The line features all white mallet models in several hosel configurations, including two in Ping’s Onset low torque setup. The low torque options are the Ally Blue Onset, which has been part of the PLD offerings on Tour, and the Ketsch Onset, which is a new shape to Ping’s Onset offerings.

While Ping unveiled their super soft Scottsdale line in March, it garnered much interest on the PGA Tour, though it did get some action in Europe. The new Scottsdale Tec putters appear to have a new, more responsive insert.

Sahith Theegala was among the pros giving them a long test on the practice green and ordered one to be sent home for him to continue testing in the offseason.

Busy week for Tour Reps

Perhaps no one was busier this week at Sea Island than Vokey Tour Rep Aaron Dill. Actually, that probably applies to all the Tour reps onsite this week at the RSM Classic, as all of the players in the field likely hadn’t seen any of the Tour trucks for three weeks, since the Bank of Utah Championship.

Trucks weren’t at the last two PGA Tour stops in Bermuda and Mexico as they were outside the U.S., and the logistics were too challenging.

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Titleist

With around 90 to 100 players in this week’s 156-player field who play one or more Vokey wedges in their bags, that’s a lot of work for Dill and the Vokey team to catch up on any service needs from the last couple of weeks.

But then add to it that many players are playing for their jobs this week with the cut off of the FedEx Cup Fall top-100 to retain full status for next year and that many players are looking for fresh gear to break in and practice with over the offseason, Dill and team were slammed.

“It’s pretty nice to have a lot to do and a lot of players to work with,” Dill told GOLF. “It’s just a sign that we’re doing good work.”

Dill said players were mostly focused on fine-tuning the clubs they already had, or getting fresh grooves for the week in their lob wedges, but one trend Dill noticed was some players looking for more bounce in their sand wedges at Sea Island Golf Club.

“Players that are in a .08M-grind or a .10S, those players have the ability to increase bounce,” Dill said. “But we want to make sure that they’re doing it in a specific and calculated way. We’re not just trying to throw more bounce at them for everything. It’s where do we need more bounce? While still maintaining some versatility or some sort of short game component. So you just got to ask questions and find that balance.”

There were also plenty of players looking to order new gear for next year.

Odyssey’s Cody Hale said many players fighting for their status aren’t looking to break in new gear, just have their specs checked and maybe fresh grips here and there. But there are also plenty of guys ordering new stuff for next year.

Odyssey Tri-Hot Square 2 Square Jailbird Custom Putter

We’ve moved Zero Torque Forward.
Odyssey’s new line of S2S TRI-HOT putters is a revolution in the “Zero Torque” category. Using multi-material construction, we have been able to move the CG of these putters far enough forward to get the shaft entering the head on the topline eliminating the need for shaft lean and thus eliminating one of the biggest barriers to entry for this style of putter.
Forward CG and Hosel Position 
By moving the CG forward we were able to position the hosel spud on the topline, much closer to the face than typical “Zero Torque” putters for a more natural, intuitive and comfortable set up position.
Multi-Material Construction
By strategically using Aluminum, Steel, and over 140 grams of tungsten we have been able to design a “Zero Torque” putter with more than 80% of its weight under the topline and allowing for our forward CG and hosel position.
New FRD Groove
This new Forward Roll Design Groove is deeper and more aggressive. With a 19° slope it works in conjunction with the dual layer design to improve forward roll up and down the face.

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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Odyssey

“We’re taking a lot of orders and getting them prepared to send out for testing for the start of the year,” Hale said. “With new product coming out, that’s always a good time to pique their interest.

“We have a few new products that we’ll start sending out in the next couple of weeks that aren’t on the [practice] green.”

The Callaway team was also busy on the back end of the range, doing their annual testing of the new 2026 driver line. This is something that happens every year at RSM and while I couldn’t witness it, it should get everyone excited for what is coming in 2026.

Check this out

This section is dedicated to one cool photo we’ve snapped recently on Tour, but haven’t had a reason to share yet. For this week, check out the latest Scotty Cameron Circle T putters on the green, which now all feature stamping to indicate the insert material. This Tel3 Newport 2 has a Teryllium insert.

Scotty Cameron is now stamping the insert materials on all their putters.

Jack Hirsh/GOLF

Odds and Ends

Some other gear changes and notes we’re tracking this week.

Odyssey saw its first three S2S Tri-Hot putters go in play on the PGA Tour this week with Adrien Dumont de Chassart (Rossie), Joel Dahmen (Jailbird) and Greyson Sigg (Rossie) gaming the low torque mallets. Sigg is just two shots off the lead after 36 holes … Speaking of Dumont de Chassart, in his first start on the PGA Tour since re-earning his card on the Korn Ferry Tour this year, he becomes the latest PGA Tour user of the mysterious Callaway Apex MB ’26s … Tommy Gainey got into the field this week as an alternate with a cool set of Rouge ST and Paradym Ai-Smoke game-improvement irons … Brice Garnett is playing a set of Callaway X Forged Max irons … Project X Titan shafts debuted this week, although prototypes have been floating around, including in the bag of Austin Eckroat.

3 things you should read/watch

A selection of GOLF content from the past week that may interest you.

The unsuspecting beneficiary of the 64-degree wedge | Bag Builders – Jake Morrow tells you why you shouldn’t discount Vokey’s latest limited edition lob wedge.

Titleist Vokey SM10 Black Vapor Limited Edition Custom Wedge

The limited edition SM10 Black Vapor introduces a premium ultra-dark finish for the most played wedge on Tour. The Titanium Carbide Vapor coating produces a pitch-black sheen with smudge resistance and enhanced durability—keeping your wedges looking as pure as they play.

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Srixon returns to game-improvement market with new ZXiR irons – Srixon is bringing it’s first game-improvement irons to the market in 10 years and it’s first ever set of game-improvement irons. Why these irons could be a huge hit in their category.

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Bettinardi adds new SB3, SB5 putters to Antidote lineup – Bettinardi is adding to its Antidote “Zero Torque” lineup with the new SB3 and SB5 shapes.

Bettinardi 2025 Antidote SB5 Custom Putter

The Antidote Series was first introduced to simplify putting through advanced zero torque design. With the addition of the SB3 and SB5, Bettinardi brings new options to golfers who demand tour-proven stability with head shapes that inspire total confidence at address.

Antidote SB3 – A high M.O.I., fang-style mallet engineered to stay square through impact. Its modern shape enhances alignment and framing, while Simply Balanced™ Zero Torque Technology eliminates twisting for consistent roll.
Antidote SB5 – A compact mallet featuring sweeping shoulders that flow into the rear flange, distributing weight evenly to the perimeter for exceptional balance and control in a refined silhouette.

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Bettinardi 2025 Antidote SB3 Custom Putter

The Antidote Series was first introduced to simplify putting through advanced zero torque design. With the addition of the SB3 and SB5, Bettinardi brings new options to golfers who demand tour-proven stability with head shapes that inspire total confidence at address.

Antidote SB3 – A high M.O.I., fang-style mallet engineered to stay square through impact. Its modern shape enhances alignment and framing, while Simply Balanced™ Zero Torque Technology eliminates twisting for consistent roll.
Antidote SB5 – A compact mallet featuring sweeping shoulders that flow into the rear flange, distributing weight evenly to the perimeter for exceptional balance and control in a refined silhouette.

View Product

Jack Hirsh welcomes your comments at Jack.Hirsh@golf.com.

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

Nov 19, 2025, 02:43 PM ET

Randy Jones, the left-hander who won the Cy Young Award with the San Diego Padres in 1976 during a 10-year major league career, has died. He was 75.

The Padres announced Wednesday that Jones died Tuesday, without disclosing a location or cause.

Jones pitched eight seasons for San Diego and two for the New York Mets, going 100-123 with a 3.42 ERA. He still holds the Padres franchise records with 253 starts, 71 complete games, 18 shutouts and 1,766 innings pitched.

Randy Jones was one of the majors’ best pitchers in 1975 and 1976, earning two All-Star selections and becoming the first Padres player to win the Cy Young. He pitched eight seasons for the Padres and two for the Mets, going 100-123 with a 3.42 ERA. AP Photo/WF, File

Jones was one of the majors’ best pitchers in 1975 and 1976, earning two All-Star selections and becoming the first player to win the Cy Young for the Padres, who began play as an expansion team in 1969.

He finished second in Cy Young voting behind Tom Seaver in 1975 after going 20-12 with an NL-leading 2.24 ERA for a San Diego team that won just 71 games.

Jones won the award one year later, winning 22 games for a 73-win team while pitching 315 1/3 innings over 40 starts, including 25 complete games — all tops in the majors. When he pitched, the still-young Padres experienced a surge in attendance from fans who appreciated his everyman stature and resourceful pitching skills. And he made the cover of Sports Illustrated.

He earned the save in the 1975 All-Star Game, and he got the victory for the NL in 1976. He never regained his top form after injuring his arm during his final start of 1976, but he remained a major league starter until 1982 with the Mets.

Jones was a ground ball specialist who relied on deception and control instead of velocity, leading to his “Junkman” nickname. His career statistics reflect a bygone era of baseball: He started 285 games and pitched 1,933 career innings in his 10-year career but recorded only 735 career strikeouts, including just 93 in his Cy Young season.

“Randy was a cornerstone of our franchise for over five decades,” the Padres said in a statement. “His impact and popularity only grew in his post-playing career, becoming a tremendous ambassador for the team and a true fan favorite. Crossing paths with RJ and talking baseball or life was a joy for everyone fortunate enough to spend time with him. Randy was committed to San Diego, the Padres and his family. He was a giant in our lives and our franchise history.”

Born in Orange County, Jones returned to San Diego County after his playing career ended and became a face of the Padres franchise at games and in the community. A barbecue restaurant bearing his name was established at the Padres’ former home, Qualcomm Stadium, and later moved to Petco Park along with the team.

Jones announced in 2017 that he had throat cancer, likely a result of his career-long use of chewing tobacco. He announced he was cancer-free in 2018.

Jones’ No. 35 was retired by the Padres in 1997, and he joined the team’s Hall of Fame in 1999.

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Randy Jones, San Diego Padres Hall of Famer and 1976 NL Cy Young Award winner, has died at the of 75, the team announced on Wednesday.

“With deep sorrow and heavy hearts, the Padres mourn the passing of our beloved left-hander, Randy Jones,” the statement read. “Randy was a cornerstone of our franchise for over five decades, highlighted by becoming the first Padres pitcher to win the Cy Young Award. Inducted into the Padres Hall of Fame in 1999, his impact and popularity only grew in his post-playing career, becoming a tremendous ambassador for the team and a true fan favorite. Crossing paths with RJ and talking baseball or life was a joy for everyone fortunate enough to spend time with him. Randy was committed to San Diego, the Padres, and his family. He was a giant in our lives and our franchise history.

“We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his wife Marie and the entire Jones family during this difficult time. RJ will be greatly missed.â€

A fifth-round pick in the 1972 MLB draft, Jones joined the Padres a year later, making 19 starts during his rookie season. During his time in San Diego from 1973-1980, he would win 92 games and make two All-Star Game appearances.

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In 1975, Jones posted the first of two 20-win seasons and finished runner-up for the Cy Young behind New York Mets ace Tom Seaver. A year later, the award would be his after a season where he went 22-14 with 25 complete games, 315.1 innings pitched, a 2.74 ERA, and a 1.027 WHIP. The lefty’s sinker was so effective, he recorded only 93 strikeouts that season and opponents’ batting average with balls in play was .238, according to FanGraphs, third-lowest in MLB.

Jones even earned the cover of “Sports Illustrated” that summer.

When Jones took the mound, Padres fans came out as shown by the nearly 12,000-person increase in attendance during his 21 home starts in 1976.

“It was a magical relationship that we had when I was pitching, the way the fans supported me in â€75 and â€76, and even after that,†Jones told MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell in 2018. “I enjoy them. I still look forward to seeing a lot of those folks.â€

During his final start in 1976, Jones suffered a torn nerve in his left biceps tendon and needed surgery that offseason. He would pitch only 147.1 innings the following year and was dealt to the Mets ahead of the 1981 season. He would play two seasons in New York before being released. He tried one last go with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but was cut before the start of the 1983 season.

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During his retirement, Jones became a mentor for pitcher Barry Zito with the longtime Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants lefty going to Jones’ home for lessons for three years. Zito would go on to win 165 games, make three All-Star games, and win the 2002 AL Cy Young Award and the 2012 World Series.

The Padres retired Jones’ No. 35 in 1997 and he was later a part of the franchise’s inaugural Hall of Fame class in 1999.

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