By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco and Matthew Vincenzi. For comments: [email protected] January 17, 2023 Good Tuesday morning, golf fans, as we head towards The American Express. 1. New PGA Tour PAC members PGATour.com staff…”The PGA TOUR today announced the 16-member Player Advisory Council (PAC) for 2023. The PAC advises and consults with the PGA TOUR Policy Board (Board of Directors) and Commissioner Jay Monahan on issues affecting the TOUR.” “Maverick McNealy, Adam Scott and Kevin Streelman have been selected by the Player Directors to run for PAC Chairman via election which ends February 13. The leading vote-getter will replace Charley Hoffman on January 1, 2024 as a Player Director on the PGA TOUR Policy Board, serving a three-year term (2024-26). The other Player Directors are Peter Malnati (2023-25), Rory McIlroy (2022-24), Webb Simpson (2023-25) and Patrick Cantlay, who is serving a one-year term (2023).” “Full list… Ryan Armour Sam Burns Corey Conners Rickie Fowler Brice Garnett Brian Harman Max Homa Mackenzie Hughes Shane Lowry Maverick McNealy Keith Mitchell Henrik Norlander Scottie Scheffler Adam Scott Kevin Streelman Will Zalatoris Full piece. 2. Kim on “lucky chip” Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…“Despite a tricky lie into the grain, Kim got the 10-yard chip running on a good line. Seconds later, the ball disappeared into the right side of the cup. Birdie. Tie ballgame.” “It’s like, if he made a par, like I’m more nervous because I have to save it, and then especially into the grain with the pressure, it’s much nervous for me,” Kim said. “But I knew it [was birdie]. I heard the sounds. Bogey is fine. I have to pass the hole, so I have to hit it aggressive. I think that really helps. Nothing to lose.” …”I just trying to kept calm, and calm was like little like less back nine, but I was keep trying to calm,” he said. “Was a lucky chip.” Full piece. 3. Nick Faldo’s new gig Adam Woodard for Golfweek…”It didn’t take long for Sir Nick Faldo to find his next job in golf after his retirement from TV last year.” “The six-time major champion announced Monday morning that he will be the new long-term host for the DP World Tour’s Betfred British Masters, held at The Belfry in England until 2026. The 2023 event is set for June 29-July 2.” “I’m very honored to have some very exciting news. Next year the Betfred British Masters will be hosted by yours truly, Sir Nick Faldo,” he said in a video released on Twitter. “It will be played at The Belfry, I’ve got lots of fun, happy memories there from the great Ryder Cup days. I will be hosting it for the next five years, so I’m sure we’re going to have a great field.” Full piece. 4. Nelly’s new sponsors Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols…“Nelly Korda’s 2023 changes aren’t limited to her apparel. Shortly after an announcement that she’s joined the Nike staff, TaylorMade posted that the World No. 2 had joined its roster.” “Beginning this week at the LPGA Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona in Florida, Korda will play a bag that’s full of TaylorMade equipment and TP5 golf balls. Korda will also wear TaylorMade-branded headwear and sport a TaylorMade staff bag.” “I signed with TaylorMade because of their proven ability to elevate the game of the best golfers in the world,” Korda said in a release. “In testing with the tour team, it was clear that not only was I working with high-performing equipment, but also a team that shared my passion for working as hard as possible to be in the best position to win. I’m thrilled to a part of Team TaylorMade.” Full piece. 5. Big fines for LPGA pros? Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols…”A couple of top-tier LPGA players are subject to a $25,000 fine for skipping this year’s Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. The LPGA’s 1-in-4 requirement stipulates that players in the top 80 of the CME points list compete in a domestic event once every four years.” “Both Minjee Lee and Jin Young Ko have been absent from the TOC field in recent years and would need to compete in 2023 to avoid penalty. Tommy Tangtiphaiboontana, VP of tour operations for the LPGA, said that both players have the right to appeal, and the decision would go to the commissioner. Ko had signed up for the event but withdrew.” Full piece. 6. PGA Tour pros playing Saudi International Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…”Cameron Young and three other PGA Tour players are slated to play in next month’s PIF Saudi International, according to the official tournament field list, which was posted Monday.” “Young, the reigning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, will be joined by current PGA Tour members Lucas Herbert, Jhonattan Vegas and Cameron Champ, all of whom would’ve needed to have had waivers approved by the PGA Tour in order to compete in the Asian Tour event, which will be played Feb. 2-5 at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City, opposite the Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.” “Multiple sources had previously told Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch, who also co-hosts Golf Channel’s “Golf Today,” that the PGA Tour had approved such waivers for Young and Co.” Full piece. 7. Interesting reason why Adam Scott is skipping the WMPO Our Matt Vincenzi…”Adam Scott, who’s currently the 37th ranked player in the world and has an invitation to all of the elevated events, has surprisingly decided to skip the Waste Management Phoenix Open. When speaking after his start at last week’s Sony Open in Hawaii, Scott explained that his decision was due to a misunderstanding about the schedule.” “Well, I don’t have a good reason for you. The embarrassing reason is I actually thought it went Phoenix, Pebble, LA, so I didn’t even consider it from the beginning.” “Yeah, I think spending a little time at home in Australia seems too good for me after two and a half years of not going home, so an extra week is nice.” Apparently, Scott thought the event in Phoenix would take place before the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, making it difficult for his typical schedule, but it actually takes place after Pebble Beach and before Riviera.” Full Piece. 8. LIV to…The CW Network!? A prediction from John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal…”No, it’s not going to be with Fox, despite rumors that the two were close to a deal last fall. Instead, LIV Golf will make a deal with The CW Network, which is majority owned by Nexstar. LIV will not receive a rights fee, but it will handle the bulk of ad sales. LIV also will handle all production Full Piece. 9. AmEx Photos Check out all of our galleries from this week’s event! Full Piece. Advertise with us

Si Woo Kim won his fourth PGA Tour event at the Sony Open this weekend. He started his Sunday three shots back but finished with two birdies to win by one shot over Hayden Buckley at Waialae Country Club. Kim happily raised the gold trophy into the bright Hawaiian air with a rose gold Patek Philippe Aquanaut on his wrist.

WOTW Specs:
Name: Patek Philippe Aquanaut
Reference: 5167R-001
Limited: No
Date: 2009 – Current
Case: Rose Gold
Bezel: Rose Gold
Dial: Brown
Size: 40.8mm
Movement: Caliber 26-330 S C, 30 Jewels
Power Reserve: 45 Hours
Glass: Saphire Crystal
Waterproof: 120 Meters
Bracelet: Brown Composite Strap
Price: $43,760 (~$75,000)

We don’t seem to feature Patek Philippe watches on WOTW enough, but today we get to look at Si Woo Kim’s Aquanaut! Patek Phillippe was founded by Antoni Patek and Adrien Philippe in 1839. Patek Philippe is considered one of the premier watch makers in the world right now and is one of the last family-owned watch companies left. The Aquanaut line was released in 1997, and while not as popular and collectable as the Nautilus, has become and extremely popular and collectable piece.

Aquanauts come in a variety of materials and with different mechanical options depending on what you would like on your wrist. Kim’s 5167R reference number identifies it as being made from rose gold. You can currently get an Aquanaut in stainless steel or white gold. Kim’s Aquanaut has a 40.8mm case that is crafted from rose gold. The caseback has a large display window where you can see the exquisitely finished mechanical movement. The screw-down case back window is made from ultra scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and sealed for a water resistance rating of 120 meters. On the right side of the case are two crown guards that protect the screw-down crown. On top of the case is the very famous dodecagon bezel with very subtle 12 sides. The bezel has a vertical brushed finish that is perfectly laid down and polished sides for classic contrast. Another scratch resistant sapphire crystal sits in the bezel to protect the dial and hands. A brown dial is embossed with what look like longitude and latitude lines from a globe and is surrounded by rose gold hour numerals. A luminescent material fills in the numerals and the rose gold hour and minute hands for easy reading in low light and the date window sits at 3 o’clock.

Inside this elegant piece is Patek’s Caliber 26-330 S C self-winding movement that is designed and built completely in-house. Patek is well known for the extreme detail that goes into each of their watches. They might spend hours hand finishing one of the 212 parts in the 26-330 that will be covered and never seen by any eyes. A 21k gold rotor winds the movement with the natural movement of your wrist and the movement offers around 45 hours of power reserve.

The tropical strap on Kim’s Aquanaut is a brown composite material with a square texture on the outside. Patek doesn’t get deep into what the composite is made of but they skipped rubber to ensure that the strap can withstand every day wear and exposure to water over long periods of time. The strap comes together with an ornate fold-over clasp. The clasp is made from matching rose gold and features the Patek Philippe logo embossed on it. The demand for Aquanauts isn’t as strong as the Nautilus but finding one of these at your local Patek Philippe dealer isn’t easy. If you can get one at retail then the $43,760 will feel like a bargain compared to the $75,000 price a 5167R goes for on the secondary market.

What you need to know: Making their PGA Tour debut this week at The American Express and building on the TSi platform, Titleist is catering to the middle portion of the fitting bell curve with TSR2 and TSR3 hybrids. “Forgiving speed and performance,” is the branding for the TSR2. TSR3 is a smaller profile and offers precision, workability, and adjustability.

Titleist TSR2, TSR3 hybrids: What’s new, key technology

New shaping: TSR2 hybrids remain slightly longer with a classical shape. TSR3 hybrids are designed for a more iron-like look with a reduction in offset.

Deeper CG, higher MOI: Center of gravity is lower and deeper in the TSR2 for higher launch, maximum forgiveness. TSR3 hybrids feature a higher body inertia for more stability.

Sole relief: Both TSR2 and TSR3 feature sole relief pockets. Less surface area equals less dragging or grabbing.

Performance-tuned adjustability: A refined 5-position SureFit Adjustable CG Track System in TSR3 allows for a wider and more precise range of CG placements.

Additional model details

TSR2

• High launching
• Mid-low spin
• Forgiving
• Suited for sweepers
• Extended blade length
• Improved sole shape

TSR3

• Designed for workability, precision
• Refined, tour-inspired shape
• Flatter trajectory
• New 5-position SureFit adjustable CG track system

What Titleist says

“TSR2 and TSR3 hybrids offer players options at the top end of the bag,” said Tom Bennett, Principal Product Manager – Fairways & Hybrids. “Players can choose between the more classical shape and high launch of the TSR2 or the refined profile and adjustability of the TSR3. Both clubs provide a fast, forgiving, and high-launching long-iron alternative that gives the golfer the confidence to pull off any shot.”

Price, specs, availability

TSR2: Features head weight adjustability (same as driver/fairway)
RH and LH Lofts: 18, 21, 24 degrees

TSR3: Enhanced 5-position SureFit CG Adjustability
Features head weight adjustability (same as TSR3 driver/fairway)
RH and LH Lofts: 19, 21, 24 degrees

Featured shafts: The TSR hybrid shaft lineup features four aftermarket models from top shaft manufacturers to provide a wide range that complements different players and swing profiles.

• Tensei 1K Black 85/95g HY: Low launch/low spin
• HZRDUS Black 4G 80/90g HY: Low-mid launch/low spin
• Tensei AV Blue 65g HY: Mid launch/mid spin
• HZRDUS Red 60g HY: Mid-high launch/mid spin

Standard length: 40.5, 40, 39.5 inches (ladies one inch under men’s stock build)

Featured grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 Flat Cap

Availability: Available for fittings and presale on February 2. In golf shops worldwide beginning February 23.

Price: $299