Former pro explains why players resented Tiger Woods when he first came on Tour

Welcome to Play Smart, a game-improvement column that drops every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Game Improvement Editor Luke Kerr-Dineen (who you can follow on Twitter right here). Putting on wickedly fast greens is a task that gives golfers of all levels sleepless nights. But navigating slow, slightly bumpier greens...

Like most young pros, 27-year-old Chilean Mito Pereira — who recently grabbed headlines as the leader of the PGA Championship for 71 holes before a double-bogey on the 18th dropped him into T3 — grew up idolizing Tiger Woods. Even though he was too young to appreciate Woods’...

On an exclusive tour of the Callaway golf ball plant in Chicopee, Mass., watch the step-by-step process of making a ball from rubber mixing to painting and packaging. GOLF’s Dylan Dethier and Claire Rogers find a new appreciation for every golf ball’s journey.

When Mito Pereira watched his PGA Championship title hopes drown in a creek to the right of the 18th fairway at Southern Hills, golf observers — as often happens in such cruel, indelible moments — looked for historical comps, or other instances of 72nd-hole major heartbreak. Dustin Johnson at Whistling Straits (grounded club). Van de Velde at Carnoustie (rolled-up pants). Mickelson at Winged Foot (fore left!).

A review of Justin Thomas’ winner’s press conference on Sunday at the PGA Championship tells us plenty about the newest two-time major champ. About his mindset going into Sunday’s final round. About a key conversation he had with caddie Bones Mackay. About how much this win meant after a half-decade spent chasing his second major. And while I covered Thomas’ week here, I was left thinking about Thomas’ reaction to the final question of the session, which was about his good friend Tiger Woods.

The Rules of Golf are tricky! Thankfully, we’ve got the guru. Our Rules Guy knows the book front to back. Got a question? He’s got all the answers. I play right-handed. Recently, my ball stopped inches from a tree trunk. I considered turning my 4-iron upside down to hit the ball as a lefty but decided to play left-handed with the back of my putter. Allowed? — Dave Silkwood, Troutdale, Ore.

Charles Howell III has played in 10 Masters at Augusta National during his career, but he also apparently spent some time on the exclusive course long before he turned pro. Howell, the 42-year-old three-time winner on the PGA Tour, was the guest on this week’s GOLF Subpar Podcast with co-hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz. In the show they discussed Tiger Woods, what led Howell to turning pro and, of course, what it was like growing up in Augusta, Ga., with the world’s most famous course in your backyard.

————— Thank’s to our official sponsor Dewar’s. Make sure to check out their Reserve Bar listings today: https://www.reservebar.com/collections/house-of-dewars. This episode was possible in part thanks to our partnership with TaylorMade. If you want to step into every shot you face and think, “I love it,” try the most complete ball in golf. Head to TaylorMadeGolf.com and use the promo code SUBPAR for free shipping.

On this week’s episode of Off Course with Claude Harmon, Mito Pereira explained what prompted him to give up the game at 15 years old. Follow Claude to submit questions, enter giveaways and keep up with the latest Off Course updates on Instagram at @ClaudeHarmon3. Thanks to our partners...

Welcome to Stuff Golfers Should Know, a GOLF.com series in which we reveal all kinds of useful golf (and life!) wisdom that is sure to make you the smartest, savviest and most prepared player in your foursome. ***. How’s your sand game? Not your shot-making skills but the technique and...

Rory McIlroy was asked this week the advice he gives juniors, and he repeated one word seven times. “It’s not really about how far you hit it, there’s all this sort of stuff that is important, but I think just have fun.”. “Having fun is the most important...

The Rules of Golf, as Dylan Frittelli once accurately stated, remain undefeated, and that became obvious once again Wednesday, this time at the NCAA Tournament. What more could be at stake than the team NCAA title, during the final match on the course?. Not much. But that’s the situation Stanford’s...

Welcome to Play Smart, a game-improvement column that drops every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Game Improvement Editor Luke Kerr-Dineen (who you can follow on Twitter right here). In a special edition of Play Smart, GOLF & ADP have partnered to uncover how the best players in the world prepare...

He was asked if his play’s been frustrating. He was asked if he felt he got away from the player he is. These aren’t typical questions of Patrick Reed. And this hasn’t been a typical year for him. On Friday, he was again at the top of a leaderboard — in fourth, one shot back of three players, after two rounds at the Charles Schwab Challenge — but it had been a while.

Let’s kick this piece off with a question: What’s the most important aspect when constructing a wedge? Some would say it’s matching the grind to a golfer’s typical delivery and course conditions. Others might contend that dialing in the loft gaps can lead to short game success. A softer shaft flex, when compared to the irons, is another common play.

————— Thank’s to our official sponsor Dewar’s. Make sure to check out their Reserve Bar listings today: https://www.reservebar.com/collections/house-of-dewars. This episode was possible in part thanks to our partnership with TaylorMade. If you want to step into every shot you face and think, “I love it,” try the most complete ball in golf. Head to TaylorMadeGolf.com and use the promo code SUBPAR for free shipping.

Justin Thomas’ fairytale May came to an end on Friday evening in Forth Worth, Texas, where he followed up an opening-round 71 with a 72 to miss the cut at the Charles Schwab Challenge by two strokes. The newly-minted PGA Champion previously finished T5 at the AT&T Byron Nelson...

Charles Howell III has a story about bagels. And if you’re wondering where Tiger Woods’ mind’s at in his comeback, it’s worth your time. Some backstory first. Howell’s been a pro since 2000. He’s won three times and cashed over $41 million in PGA Tour paychecks. Of course, when he left Oklahoma State 22 years ago, he had earned none of that, though he wasn’t without an idea of how to get there.

Women’s golf is getting one of its biggest stars back in action. Nelly Korda, who has been sidelined since March because of a blood clot in her left arm, is returning to competitive golf at next week’s U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles. She made the announcement on her Instagram account Friday morning with a one-sentence caption: “See you guys @uswomensopen next week.”

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before. “I feel like if it just nicks a leaf or something, it’s short. I think it’s got a chance to get right through that. I think it’s the right height for this club. I think a good shot on either one — just a really good shot on this one is way better than really good on the other, and I think an average shot on both is in the same spot. And then it could be really bad either way, too.”