FEBRUARY 8, 2016
G HELPS LPGA
PROS CONTEND
H
ighlighted by Brooke Henderson’s second-place finish, three PING pros playing new G products finished inside the top 10 at the Coates Golf Championship on the LPGA Tour. Henderson, with a G driver and G Stretch 3-wood, held the lead at various times and nearly powered her way to her second LPGA victory. The Canadian was one spot ahead of South Korean star In Gee Chun, the defending U.S. Women’s Open champion, who relied on a G LS Tec driver, G 3-wood, G hybrid, and G irons. Paula Reto in ninth put a new G driver in the bag last week.
Longer driver leads to longer results. SEE STORY NEXT PAGE.
A new G driver has paid dividends for Brooke Henderson.
SULLIVAN RIDES G TECHNOLOGY TO T2 FINISH
W
ith a G driver, 3-wood, and hybrid recently added to his bag, PING Pro Andy Sullivan took full advantage with a strong performance in the elite Omega Dubai Desert Classic, finishing T2, one shot back. He was -18 on rounds of 70-66-66-68, rolling in 21 birdies for the week with his
Cadence TR Anser 2 putter. The Englishman was in a see-saw battle throughout the final round, making five birdies, including one on the 72nd hole that tied him for the lead. It was a continuation of strong play for the 28-year-old, who had a breakout year in 2015, winning three times on the European Tour.
Andy Sullivan
SHOT
OF THE
WEEK
Sebastian Muñoz
G30 CLUBS KEY WEB.COM WIN PING Pro Sebastian Muñoz hoisted the trophy in front of his hometown fans in Bogota, Colombia, where he won the Web.com Tour’s Club Colombia Championship. Muñoz, 23, played a G30 driver, 3-wood and hybrid, i20 irons, Glide wedges, and a B60 putter.
This year PING is celebrating a momentous Big 5-0 birthday, one with ties to last week’s Phoenix Open. It was at that event in 1966 that founder Karsten Solheim first introduced his Anser putter to PGA Tour pros. Personally handcrafted in his Arizona garage using his mill and hand tools, the Anser would go on to win only a few weeks later and many, many times since, becoming the winningest putter in golf history.
EUROPEAN TSHWANE OPEN
PGA TOUR
Pretoria CC Waterkloof, South Africa Feb. 11-14 PING Pros in the field: Rhys Davies Daniel Gavins Brandon Stone
Bubba Watson
CHAMPIONS
AT&T PEBBLE BEACH PRO-AM
Pebble Beach GL Monterey, Calif. Feb. 11-14
PING Pros in the field: Luke Guthrie Andrew Landry David Lingmerth Hunter Mahan Rob Oppenheim Martin Piller Alex Prugh Daniel Summerhays Michael Thompson Bubba Watson
WITH 48-INCH DRIVER, HENDERSON ADDS SPEED AND DISTANCE Brooke Henderson’s switch to a 48-inch shaft in her G driver has provided added distance, the 18-year-old told the press after the LPGA’s Coates Golf Championship, where she finished solo 2nd. TV commentators reported she has gained as much as 20 yards. “I’ve definitely gained a lot of distance, and I think it was a big key to the way I played this week,” she said. “It’s the longest it can be, and so far it’s been good to me.” Scott Wolpa, PING’s LPGA Tour Rep, said the longer shaft added 3 to 4 mph in clubhead speed during their testing. In combination with reducing her loft, they achieved her desired launch characteristics for gaining distance, one of her goals being to reach every par 5 in two.
Jeff Maggert CHUBB CLASSIC
TwinEagles GC (Talon) Naples, Fla. Feb. 12-14 PING Pros in the field: Mark Calcavecchia Bob Gilder Jeff Maggert Kevin Sutherland Kirk Triplett
BROOKE’S G DRIVER: 9º, -1º SETTING SHAFT: PING TFC 419 STIFF SWINGWEIGHT: D6