A Deck of Heat: Cleveland Golf, Srixon, and SWAG Partner for “High Roller” Limited-Edition Drop

(HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.) – CLEVELAND GOLF, SRIXON, and SWAG are back for another limited-edition collaboration, and this time, they’re going all in. Introducing the Cleveland Golf, Srixon, and SWAG “High Roller” collection, a fresh new drop inspired by the energy and attitude of the casino floor.

Featuring custom face card artwork built around SWAG’s iconic designs, the “High Roller” collection delivers the personality golfers love from SWAG with the trusted short-game performance of Cleveland Golf’s RTZ Black Satin Wedges and Srixon’s tour-trusted Z-STAR DIAMOND golf balls.

After the response to last year’s collaboration, it was clear our consumers wanted more. Today’s modern golfer is looking for performance, but they also want personality and authenticity. Partnering with SWAG again allows us to keep listening, keep evolving, and continue delivering products that reflect where the game is headed. -Chris Kircher, Vice President of Marketing at Cleveland Golf

The “High Roller” RTZ Black Satin Wedges feature five bold, face card inspired designs showcasing the Jack, Queen, King, Ace, and Joker. With casino-style detailing and SWAG’s unmistakable flair, this limited-edition lineup is built to stand out in the bag and at address. Each loft is tied directly to a unique design, including six right-handed options: 50° and 52° in the Jack face card, 54° in the Queen, 56° in the King, 58° in the Ace, and 60° in the Joker. Left-handed golfers will have three loft options available: 52° in the Jack, 56° in the Queen, and 60° in the King.

Additionally, each RTZ Black Satin Wedge comes equipped with a True Temper Dynamic Gold shaft featuring a SWAG-designed label, paired with Golf Pride MCC Black/Gold grips, and custom Black/Gold ferrules for a premium, cohesive finish.

Rounding out the “High Roller” collection are custom Srixon Z-STAR DIAMOND golf balls, showcasing diamond-themed artwork that nods to the ball’s name while tying seamlessly into the wedge designs for a complete look.

SWAG has never been about blending in. We’ve always pushed the culture side of golf forward, and it’s exciting to work with Cleveland Golf and Srixon, a partner that understands that energy while delivering the performance golfers expect at the highest level. Together we’re creating something special for players who want their gear to make a statement without sacrificing performance. -Sean Ferrell, Vice President of Marketing at SWAG

Both the wedges and golf balls will be sold through SWAG, Srixon, and Cleveland Golf’s main websites, as well as exclusive retailers Dick’s Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy. Limited quantities will be available.

To shop the “High Roller” collection, visit swag.golf, us.dunlopsports.com, or visit your participating local retailer.   

Product Information & Pricing

Pricing:

SWAG x RTZ Black Satin Wedge: $222.22

SWAG x Srixon Z-STAR DIAMOND Golf Balls: $59.99

Product Information:

Lofts & Grinds:

RH (50°- 60° MID)

LH (52°, 56°, 60° MID)

Designs: Face Cards with SWAG characters

Card Denominations: Jack, Queen, King, Ace, Joker

Premium Components: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shaft, Golf Pride MCC Black/Gold grips, Custom Black/Gold Ferrule

Each design is final, with no custom options available.

Launch Date: March 25, 2025

Chris Gotterup Leads Expert Picks as Betting Value Emerges in Houston

With a new PGA TOUR season comes a refreshed approach to Expert Picks, blending fantasy strategy with betting insight for the 2026 campaign. This year also introduces updates to PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, including the ability to adjust rosters during tournaments — adding a new layer of strategy for players.

Each week, a panel of PGATOUR.COM experts submits their fantasy lineups, consisting of four starters — including a captain who earns bonus points — and two bench players who can be rotated after each round. There’s an added twist: each golfer can only be used three times per segment, forcing players to think long-term while still chasing weekly results.

Alongside fantasy selections, Golfbet experts highlight betting angles they find appealing, offering a full snapshot of the field at the Texas Children’s Houston Open. For a deeper dive, Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton also provides a full breakdown in his weekly Power Rankings.

Expert Picks to Win

The panel is leaning heavily toward one name this week: Chris Gotterup, who earned three of the six votes. He’s joined by Min Woo Lee, Jake Knapp, and Brooks Koepka as the remaining selections, signaling a mix of rising talent and proven firepower.

Betting Picks to Watch

Several prop bets stand out as intriguing plays:

Aldrich Potgieter, Top 20 (+360): A boom-or-bust option, but his length off the tee makes him a strong fit for Memorial Park — a course that rewards power.

Kurt Kitayama, Top 10 (+300): Riding momentum into Houston after a strong start to 2026, including a runner-up finish at Riviera, and steady past results at this event.

Tony Finau, Top 20 (+280): Consistent form continues, with three top-20 finishes in his last six starts. He also brings strong course history, including a win and a runner-up.

Jake Knapp (-120) over Nicolai Højgaard: While both players have similar skill sets, Knapp’s elite putting — currently second on TOUR in Strokes Gained: Putting — could be the deciding factor.

Gary Woodland, Top 20 (+300): Distance has been a key trend at Memorial Park, and Woodland fits the mold as one of the TOUR’s longest hitters. He also enters in form after a T14 last week.

Marco Penge, Top UK & Ireland (+375): Coming off his best finish of the season and leading the TOUR in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee, Penge is a strong candidate to top this specific market.

With power expected to play a major role at Memorial Park, both fantasy managers and bettors will be targeting players who can dominate off the tee — and ride that advantage into contention.

What Keeps You on Course in the Rain?

Looking at the racks and displays in pro shops across the country you could be forgiven for thinking that we’re a nation of all-weather golfers. 

But with the National Golf Foundation reporting that for every inch of rain that falls, rounds played reduce by 2.2%1, are we quite the golf obsessed fanatics that we like to believe?

Performance golf bag manufacturer BIG MAX believe that those numbers don’t tell the full tale, suggesting that while there are plenty of fair-weather golfers, many of us would always rather be on the course. 

“There are millions of golfers around the world, and I count myself as one, who believe that any day with a club in their hand is a good day. They will never cancel a round, they’ll be grinding at the range on a winter night and they will proudly tell the tale in the bar after,” commented Doug Wright, CEO of BIG MAX USA.  “As a bag manufacturer, our job is to support them to do the things they love by keeping their gear dry, their valuables safe, and ensuring that a wet bag won’t stink out the garage for the next week. Being prepared for what the elements throw at you is a ‘must have’ and that’s why weatherproofing comes as standard with BIG MAX.” 

With a recent Accuweather2 report showed that over the last decade, heavy rainfall greater than 2 inches within a 24-hour period has increased by 23%. So with the chances of getting caught in a downpour on the rise, golfers are more often faced with choice of getting wet or staying at home. 

“If you spend the whole week thinking about your next round, then you are not alone! To let the weather get the better of that is a tragedy, and our experience is that with the right preparation, more and more golfers are talking on the challenge.” continues Wright. “With a good glove, a quality waterproof suit, a stash of towels in your waterproof BIG MAX bag, and the mentality to turn up whatever the weather, a wet day on the course is an adventure in waiting and an opportunity for new tales to be told!”

If Wright is correct, perhaps this isn’t a question of weather, but more one of mind-set. While it’s fair to say that most golfers would rather play on a warm sunny day, a weather affected round is a challenge to be faced and presents the opportunity for more than one story to be told in the clubhouse!

How much does it take to keep you away from the course, and what gear helps you stay on it?

1 https://www.ngf.org/full-shots/october-2025-national-rounds-played/ 

2 https://www.accuweather.com/en/climate/groundbreaking-accuweather-climate-study-reveals-profoundclimate-trends-with-far-reaching-impacts/1850366

For more information on BIG MAX, visit https://us.bigmaxgolf.com/ 

Tiger Woods Targets Masters Return, Begins Comeback in TGL Finals

Tiger Woods is eyeing a return to the biggest stage in golf at the 2026 Masters—but first, he’s taking a significant step back into competition under the bright lights of the TGL Finals.

The 15-time major champion is set to suit up for Jupiter Links GC on Tuesday night, marking his first competitive appearance of 2026. His team faces a must-win scenario after dropping the opening match of the best-of-three finals to Los Angeles Golf Club. A victory would force a decisive rubber match later that same evening, though it remains unclear how much Woods would play if the series goes the distance.

For Woods, the TGL stage offers more than just a shot at a championship—it’s a controlled environment to test his body as he builds toward a possible return to The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, where he has authored some of the sport’s most iconic moments.

The five-time Masters champion has not competed since the 2024 Open Championship and continues to work his way back from a series of significant injuries. His most recent procedure—a surgery to repair a collapsed lumbar disc in October 2025—marked his seventh back operation since 2014. He also rebounded from a ruptured Achilles suffered just weeks before the 2025 Masters. While he’s indicated that his Achilles is no longer an issue, the final hurdle remains regaining full confidence in his back.

A Measured Path Forward

Woods’ return in TGL could be just the beginning. A logical next step would be a debut on the PGA Tour Champions circuit at the Hoag Classic, where the use of a cart would allow him to manage the physical demands of competition while logging valuable tournament reps.

From there, a carefully planned stretch of rest and preparation could position him for a return to Augusta—potentially his 27th Masters appearance. While course knowledge has never been a concern for Woods, the physical challenge of navigating Augusta’s demanding terrain remains a key test.

Chasing History at Augusta

Woods’ legacy at Augusta National is rivaled only by Jack Nicklaus, the only player with more Masters victories. From his historic win as a 22-year-old in 1997 to his emotional triumph in 2019, Woods has collected five green jackets and nine additional top-10 finishes.

Now 50, he would need a remarkable performance to contend for a sixth title—and potentially tie Nicklaus’ record. More realistically, success may be defined by endurance: completing four rounds, extending his made-cut streak, and proving his body can withstand the grind of major championship golf.

Since his 2019 victory, Woods has made the cut in each of his Masters appearances, though he hasn’t finished higher than a tie for 38th. Even so, his presence alone would be a major storyline.

Because for golf fans, the possibility of seeing Tiger Woods back in contention—walking the fairways of Augusta once again—remains as compelling as ever.

Fitzpatrick Wins Through Frustration, Takes Aim at Slow Play at Valspar

Matthew Fitzpatrick finally returned to the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour — but not without voicing a familiar frustration along the way.

The Englishman captured the Valspar Championship, shooting a steady three-under 68 on Sunday. Yet his victory came amid what he described as a disruptive, stop-and-start pace of play.

“That was really frustrating. It was slow today,” Fitzpatrick said afterward. “There was a lot of stop-start.”

Though he stopped short of naming his playing partner, Adrien Dumont de Chassart, the context was clear. Fitzpatrick’s comments echoed years of criticism he’s directed at slow play and the Tour’s handling of it — a stance he has previously labeled “appalling” and “a disgrace.”

The issue became particularly noticeable during a difficult stretch for Dumont de Chassart, whose round unraveled early with a triple-bogey 8 after hitting his opening tee shot out of bounds. Another 8 later in the round only compounded matters — along with the time it took to recover from those mistakes.

At one point, Fitzpatrick even played out of turn in an effort to keep things moving and eventually asked a rules official to intervene. NBC on-course reporter John Wood described Fitzpatrick as “perturbed,” while noting the pace was “glacial, to be kind.”

Rules official Orlando Pope confirmed that Dumont de Chassart was being monitored, which ultimately resulted in an official warning — though no penalty was issued.

Fitzpatrick pointed to a key distinction: high scores can naturally slow a round, but being unprepared to hit only makes matters worse.

“When you’re not ready to play a golf shot, it gets frustrating,” he said. “Especially when you’re playing well or in contention. It knocks you out of your rhythm.”

That disruption lingered for several holes, as Fitzpatrick tried to balance maintaining pace with staying focused on winning.

Still, he managed both.

Despite the interruptions, Fitzpatrick held on to secure his first PGA Tour victory in nearly three years. Dumont de Chassart, meanwhile, finished T26 with a 74 — avoiding penalties but drawing attention to a long-debated issue.

Slow play remains one of golf’s most persistent challenges. It has been nearly a decade since the PGA Tour last issued a stroke penalty for pace-of-play violations, and while new measures have been discussed, meaningful enforcement remains elusive.

For Fitzpatrick, it’s more of the same conversation — one he’s not sure will ever lead to real change.

But on this Sunday, at least, it didn’t cost him the trophy.

The Artist Across the Road: Mike Strantz at True Blue and Caledonia

(PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C.) — Long before Mike Strantz became a cult hero in golf architecture circles, he was walking sandy ground in Pawleys Island with a paint gun, a handful of flags, and a clear vision in his mind.

Across the road from one another sit Caledonia Golf & Fish Club and True Blue Golf Club - two courses that reflect different chapters of Strantz’s creative life yet are forever linked by his restless imagination.

Mike Jones remembers it vividly.

Jones, now with Maverick Golf Design, worked as a shaper for Strantz at True Blue. He wasn’t there for the original construction of Caledonia, but while True Blue was being built, Strantz frequently crossed the road to tweak and refine his first solo design.

“In his head, a golf course was never finished,” Jones said. “He was always looking for something he could improve.”

Caledonia, Strantz’s first solo design, was crafted from a relatively modest 120-acre canvas. It is intimate, strategic, framed by centuries-old oaks and Lowcountry character. True Blue, built a couple years later, was entirely different - expansive, muscular, unapologetically bold.

Strantz designed without overreliance on numbers or grid systems. Where many architects use tightly plotted grading plans, Strantz relied on instinct and artistry.

“He’d sit on a tee box with a sketch pad and draw the hole,” Jones said. “Just a pencil drawing - the fairway lines, the bunkers, the horizon lines. Then he’d hand copies to the three of us shapers, and we’d build it.”

There were no endless flags marking five-foot grids. No dependence on rigid measurements.

“The only time we really used numbers was for drainage,” Jones said. “Everything else was visual. When we thought we were close, we’d use a smart level just to make sure we were in a playable range.”

That approach made Strantz rare.

“There’s very few people who are true artists that can draw it and see it like that,” Jones said. “Most depend on photos and numbers. Mike didn’t.”

Strantz was deeply hands-on. Living in Charleston during the True Blue build, he would drive up each evening - often the first one on site and the last to leave. Dressed in blue jeans and a T-shirt, he’d move across the property, framing corridors, painting bunker edges, walking holes from green back to tee to establish perspective.

On one occasion, during installation of the pump station at True Blue, Jones and Strantz worked nearly straight through the night laying pipe in sandy soil that kept collapsing from groundwater pressure.

“We started at 7 in the morning and worked until 3 the next morning,” Jones recalled. “Mike was right there the whole time. Digging, banding pipe, tightening bolts. Then we went home, showered, took about an hour nap, and came back.”

That was Strantz. Fully invested.

His commitment only deepened in later years. During construction of his final project at Monterey Peninsula Country Club Strantz was undergoing chemotherapy. Jones would sometimes drive him to treatments, wait, then bring him back to the site.

“He’d get out of the truck with his flags and paint gun and go right back to work,” Jones said. “He loved being on a golf course that much.”

Strantz’s style evolved dramatically after Caledonia. Where Caledonia whispers, True Blue roars. Where Caledonia fits gracefully into its Lowcountry setting, True Blue stretches and rolls with dramatic scale. Yet both courses share a common DNA - strategic angles, artistic shaping, and a refusal to be ordinary.

“He never wanted to copy himself,” Jones said. “He would block out what he’d done before and start fresh.”

Today, architects may borrow from Strantz’s bold shaping and visual drama, but those who worked beside him know what truly set him apart.

“If you didn’t have that vision, you couldn’t understand what he was doing,” Jones said. “But he knew. He could see it before it was there.”

Across the road in Pawleys Island, that vision still lives - in two courses that tell the story of an artist who never stopped creating.

KemperSports Selected to Manage the Course at Sewanee

Top ranked Collegiate golf course to undergo Bunker Renovation

(Sewanee, Tenn.) — KemperSports, a leading golf, sports, and hospitality experience company, has announced a new partnership with the University of the South to oversee operations of the University’s acclaimed mountain-top golf facility, the Course at Sewanee, as well as its on-site restaurant, Green’s View Grill. Alongside the management transition, a comprehensive bunker renovation project is underway, reinforcing a shared passion to enhancing course conditions and the overall player experience.

On the campus of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee—recently ranked No. 1 among the most beautiful campuses in the country by The Princeton Review—the Gil Hanse–designed Course at Sewanee sits atop the scenic Cumberland Plateau. Known for its walkable layout, natural beauty, and welcoming atmosphere, the course has earned numerous accolades, including recognition as one of “The 25 Greatest College Golf Courses in America” by Golf Digest and inclusion in Golf Magazine’s “50 Best Nine-Hole Courses in the World.”

Home of the Sewanee Tigers nationally ranked golf programs, the course now joins the experience-driven KemperSports portfolio. With the company’s operational expertise, agronomic leadership, and success with daily-fee facilities nationwide behind it, the course is poised to deliver an elevated standard on and off the course for guests.

“We are excited to welcome KemperSports to Sewanee,” says University President Rob Pearigen. “Their experience in course operations, food and beverage services, and long-term facility planning aligns with our vision for the Course at Sewanee. This partnership, combined with upcoming capital improvements, positions us well for continued success.”

A key component of the partnership is a planned bunker renovation now underway. The renovation will focus on improving drainage, sand consistency, and overall playability, while enhancing aesthetics and long-term sustainability. The project is designed to preserve the course’s strategic character while delivering improved conditions for golfers of all skill levels.

”The Course at Sewanee is a very special golf course,” says KemperSports CEO Steve Skinner. “Gil Hanse was able to create a beautiful, challenging and fun layout. We are excited to improve the golf experience for students, alumni, and guests while building upon its national reputation to draw players from throughout the country.”

For more information about the Course at Sewanee, visit www.thecourseatsewanee.com.