Sometimes you need to take a break from watching golf on TV of whatever means you use to watch the action, and check out some social media, specifically Instagram. It’s quick and provides photos that can be entertaining and useful to learn more about players and products, notably balls. Here's some Instagram accounts that you should be following:
Paige Spiranac (@_paige.renee)
Followers: 1.2 Million
Paige is in the top-five in terms of ALL pro golfer Instagram accounts.That’s quite a feat given that she is relatively new to the pro scene, having played only two years since graduating from San Diego University. In 2015, Sportsgrid named her The Hottest Female Athlete.
On her website, www.paigespiranac.com, she is described as a “rising, young talent, media personality and online influencer who’s on a mission to show how much fun golf can be while making a positive impact on the world.”
She has been the victim of some cyber bullying and online hate, which can be the price of engaging in social media. She is the official ambassador for The Cybersmile Foundation and, according to her site, often speaks out about her many experiences being bullied throughout her childhood, college and pro career.
A post shared by Paige Spiranac (@_paige.renee) on
Wesley and George Bryan (@bryanbrosgolf)
Followers: 149,800
The success of Wesley winning the 2017 RBC Heritage Open magnified his status on the PGA Tour and social media. Prior to this, the Bryan Brothers were known for their trick shots.
A post shared by Andrew 'Beef' Johnston (@beefgolf) on
Bryson DeChambeau (@brysondechambeau)
Followers: 118,000
He’s one of many young talents on the PGA Tour and has drawn attention for the way he dresses, in particular his old-school hats. The fact he won a tournament this year really elevated his Instagram status.
Perry Lefko is an award-winning writer who has published nine books, three of them bestsellers. He has been involved in sports writing for more than 35 years and has interviewed many superstar athletes. He lives in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and enjoys watching golf and playing it.
Should equipment changes be noted publicly before a player tees it up in a PGA Tour event? While that may sound crazy, it is common practice in horse racing. Some bettors want all the information they can get. With gambling now a big part of sports, I don’t think it’s a crazy idea. Already this year we saw Collin Morikawa (TaylorMade TP5x) winning an event with a putter borrowed from another player. Chris Gotterup (Bridgestone Tour B X with Mindset) won two tournaments this year after changing ball. And remember when Scottie Scheffler (Titleist Pro V1) went on a tear changing to a blade putter to a mallet putter?
I’ve written this before and I’m repeating it because it never ceases to amaze me how televised sports is the ultimate reality show, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, as the now-defunct ABC Wild Word of Sports used as its intro. On the final hole of the Pebble Beach Open, Jacob Bridgeman (TaylorMade TP5x) was hitting a shot off of pebbles on the beach on the 18th hole. His ball ended up in the ocean and resulted in a bogey, tying him for eighth place when he was close enough starting the hole for a much better finish. I thought his spirits were crushed and dismissed him for the Genesis Invitational. So what does he do? Goes on a tear and headed into the final day, chasing a tournament record score. But he nearly frittered away the win, coming undone on the back half of the back nine and eking out a single stroke victory, and only because he parred a four-foot putt that must have seemed much longer because of the pressure. That’s drama, real drama, not manufactured reality. He won the event for the first time in his 66th tournament on the PGA Tour and only 65 days after marrying.
Some thoughts on the world of golf with the Masters less than eight weeks away: When Tiger Woods (Bridgestone Tour B XS) speaks, we all listen. As the host of the Genesis Invitational this week, Woods held his annual address about his health, career, playing in the Masters and the PGA Tour at large. Woods is gradually returning to swinging his clubs from his latest back surgery last fall, which naturally had reporters asking him about his playing status. He did not specify when he will return to playing again, yet he tersely and emphatically did not rule out playing in the Masters. “No,” he said. Woods has always tried to play in the Masters, no matter his physical condition.
Image Credit: Rezdy