🏌🏻 Golfers And Their Nicknames

Good morning. Is another PGA Tour star jumping ship to LIV? We also dive deeper into reasons behind the PGA Tour losing sponsors, and the nicknames of some of the golfing greats.

That, and tips on how to position your ball for Irons in today's edition of Golf Reporter.

PS: Lookout for the winner of the Scotty Cameron Phantom X 11.5 in this Friday’s edition.

⛳ This day in history: On this date in 1938, Patty Berg retained her title at the LPGA Titleholders Championship, Augusta Country Club, by a massive 14 strokes ahead of Jane Cothran. Berg was a founding member and the first president of the LPGA. Her 15 major title wins remain the all-time record for most major wins by a female golfer.

ALBATROSS
Wyndham Clark Jumping Ship To LIV?

2023 US Open Champion Wyndham Clark could potentially join John Rahm’s new LIV Golf team Legion XIII ahead of the new season. While there has been no official confirmation yet, Clark has been on the radar of the Saudi-backed league for a long time.

If Wyndham Clark decides to leave for LIV Golf, he will become a free agent since he's an incoming player who didn't rank on the leaderboard last year. That means he could meet with any team, from Brooks Koepka's squad to Phil Mickelson's group, and sign with them.

Besides Wyndham Clark, No 10-ranked amateur Caleb Surratt and Keiran Vincent are reportedly heading to LIV as well to join Jon Rahm's team.

TWEET
Worth Mentioning

EAGLE
PGA Tour To Lose More Sponsors?

The PGA Tour has recently lost two of its longtime sponsors - Wells Fargo and Farmers Insurance. Wells Fargo will not renew their contract at the end of this year while Farmers Insurance won't extend their deal beyond 2026 as per official statements.

The Tour has been commanding between $13-15 million per year from title sponsors. PGA Tour's Player director Webb Simpson feels that these massive demands are resulting in sponsors pulling out.

The Tour’s 2024 schedule features $398.9 million in prize money over 27 tournaments, plus an extra $75 million for the Tour Championship purse. The increase in purses has, in part, comes as a response to LIV Golf and the enormous contracts it had signed some of its stars to.

LOCKER ROOM
What else is making news

Player of the Year: LIV Golf's new recruit Andy Ogletree has been named Asian Tour's Player of the Year and won the Kyi Hla Han Award. Ogletree enjoyed a remarkable 2023 on the Asian Tour that included two wins on its International Series and five more top 10 finishes on the circuit.

DP World Tour: Bernd Wiesberger is set to return to the DP World Tour at the Dubai Desert Classic after spending two years at LIV Golf. Wiesberger represented Cleeks GC last season and stood 41st in the LIV individual standings.

Joaquin Niemann: Joaquin Niemann's contract with Adidas is over and he will be seen in complete LIV gear during the new season. Niemann signed with Adidas in 2018, when he was the World No. 1 amateur golfer.

LIV Golf: LIV is copying the NBA's gesture to honor players who win team events. While LIV Golf won’t be handing out banners, they have announced that team ‘Crushers GC’, who are the 2023 team champions led by Bryson DeChambeau, will receive rings. DeChambeau along with team members Paul Casey, Charles Howell III and Anirban Lahiri, will be awarded the lavish rings at the season-opener in Mayakoba, Mexico.

BIRDIE
Famous Golfers And Their Nicknames

Take a look at how some of golf's greatest players received their famous nicknames.

Phil Mickelson - Lefty

Mickelson is naturally right-handed but learnt the game by mirroring his father's swing. He is only the third left-hander to win a Major, following Bob Charles and Mike Weir.

Billy Casper - Buffalo Bill

Casper ate buffalo meat and organic vegetables to keep his weight down - that's how he got his nickname. After switching to this diet, Casper won three Majors and registered 51 PGA Tour victories.

Eldrick Tont Woods - Tiger

The Tiger in Tiger Woods comes from his father Earl's friend, a South Vietnamese Colonel named Vuong Dang Phong, who used to be known as Tiger.

Jack Nicklaus - Golden Bear

Nicklaus apparently chose his own nickname after visiting Columbus Zoo where he saw a bear that was painted gold for an exhibit. In his early days he was labelled 'Ohio Fats' due to his portly frame.

Arnold Palmer - The King

Palmer was first labelled 'The King' in the 1960s after he won four Masters titles in alternate years. Palmer was Golf's first superstar and wore the crown very easily.

Check out the complete list.

DRIVING RANGE
Ball Position For Irons

Golf ball position in stance is more than just where it is relative to your feet. In this golf lesson, we discuss the key factors to have a great ball position.