A roundup of the latest news, notes, posts, and whatnot from the golf world – primarily focused on, and around, the major professional golf tours.
Rose Switches From Taylormade to Honma
Justin Rose, the defending FedExCup champ, has reportedly signed an endorsement deal with Honma. The 38-year old Englishman will continue to play a Taylormade TP5 golf ball, but will place 10 Honma clubs in his bag, starting this year.
Per Golfweek:
According to John Kawaja, a consultant to Honma, Rose’s contract is for 10 clubs, including the driver. He is not under contract to play a specific golf ball, and it is anticipated he will continue to play the TaylorMade TP5. He will use a Honma bag, and Honma will be on both sides of his hat. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed…
Kawaja said that when Rose makes his 2019 debut, he likely will be playing a Honma World 747 460 driver, World 747 V prototype irons (4-6), World 747 Rose prototype irons (7-9) and World 747 Rose prototype wedges (47, 56, 60 degrees).
LaCava Refused Work; Waited For Woods
Joe LaCava, the caddie for Tiger Woods, reportedly turned down the opportunity to look for work with other players, and instead waited it out for nearly four years, while Woods struggled with a combination of physical and emotional pain, resulting in an addiction to painkillers.
Per ESPN:
LaCava, 54, who has caddied on the PGA Tour for some 30 years, began working for Woods in 2011 and was there for the good times as he won nine times worldwide through 2013.
Then back problems set in, leading to four surgeries, including a spinal fusion that threatened Woods’ career.
“He basically said to me, look, if you wanna go find another guy to work for, I’m OK with that,” LaCava said during the ESPN documentary “Return of the Roar,” which airs Sunday at 9 p.m. ET.
But LaCava did not look around…
Starting with the 2014 season, LaCava caddied just 24 times for Woods over four years, his 2017 season again halted by back trouble that led to the fusion surgery. On a few occasions, LaCava said he visited Woods in Florida.
Did You Hear About: Mickelson’s Beat-the-Field Streak?
Golf.com’s Stats guru Mark Broadie identifies some of golf’s most impressive runs, including Phil Mickelson’s beat-the-field streak of 19 rounds in a row.
Who had the longest beat-the-field streak in the 2018 PGA Tour season? That award goes to Phil Mickelson, with a run of 19 rounds in a row. His streak started at the end of January, in round four of the Farmers Insurance Open, and ended the last week of March, in round three of the Houston Open. That two-month stretch included one win and four top-10 finishes.
Here are the beat-the-field-streak leaders in recent seasons (with one clarifying note — these numbers allow for a streak to be carried over from the previous season): Jon Rahm, 22 rounds in 2017; Danny Willett, 14 in 2016; Rory McIlroy and Jason Day, both at 22 in 2015; Bubba Watson, 23 in 2014; Zach Johnson, 22 in 2013; Rickie Fowler, 19 in 2012; and Luke Donald, 26 in 2011.
