Champion – Golfing Networks

Japan Men’s JGTO Kansai Open Golf Champion playing a Graphite Design Tour AD GC7-TX

admin — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:00:22 +0000

Carlsbad, CA – Pro’s Choice Golf Shafts, Inc. announced today that the winner of the Japan Men’s JGTO Kansai Open Golf Championship 2026 event, held in Osaka, Japan, was playing a Graphite Design Tour AD GC7-TX – Tour X-Stiff flex wood shaft in his Titleist Driver and a Graphite Design Tour AD DI-9 X-Stiff flex wood shaft in his TaylorMade #5 fairway metal wood. The champion secured a four-day score of 9 under par to win the tournament by 3 strokes, claiming his 3rd JGTO win.

“Congratulations to the champion of the 2026 Kansai Open Golf Championship this past weekend. We are elated that he chose to play two premium Graphite Design wood shafts, which helped power his performance on the way to capturing his third Japan Golf Tour victory,” stated Bill McPherson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Pro’s Choice Golf Shafts, Inc.

Designed and manufactured at the Graphite Design Japan factory headquarters, the Tour AD GC “Game Changer” wood shafts are pearl white with bronze and orange accents and finished with a gloss clear coat. Much like the other high-performance Tour AD wood shafts, the Tour AD GC utilizes premium, aerospace-quality carbon-fiber materials and is available in 40g R2, R1, and S flex, 50g R2, R1, S and X flex, 60g SR, S, X, and TX flex, 70g S, X, and TX flex, and 80g X flex.

The Tour AD GC shaft profile is Stiff in the butt section, Firm in the center section, and has a Firm+ tip to promote Mid launch angles and Low/Mid to Mid ball spin rates.

The Tour AD GC shaft integrates a new material technology called AD SHIELD, which consists of strategically placed special plies of carbon fiber combined with the modern TORAYCA® M40X material technology in the handle section of the shaft, resulting in a stiff yet smooth-feeling kick point and an optimized shaft profile.

The Tour AD GC shaft also utilizes the ultra-high modulus TORAYCA® T1100G carbon-fiber material in the tip section of the shaft for unrivaled shaft stability and precise ball control without the loss of the exceptional feel that Graphite Design shafts are so well known for.

Are you ready to make a change to how your Driver or Fairway metal woods perform? Experience the Tour AD GC and see if the new innovations that the Tour AD GC has might just be the biggest Game Changer to your golf game.

About Pro’s Choice:

Pro’s Choice Golf Shafts is the exclusive distributor of Graphite Design golf shafts in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, UAE, South Africa, South America, and Australia. Pro’s Choice Golf Shafts distributes all of the current Graphite Design shafts, including the new 2026 Graphite Design Tour AD FI wood shaft model, as well as the Anti-Gravity aG33-3, Tour AD GC, Tour AD VF, Tour AD CQ, Tour AD UB, Tour AD XC, Tour AD IZ, and Tour AD DI models of shafts. The company is located in Carlsbad, California, with a distribution warehouse located in Southern California.

About Graphite Design:

Located in Chichibu, Japan, Graphite Design Inc. has over 36 years of experience designing and manufacturing premium graphite-composite golf shafts. Numerous Graphite Design shafts can be seen in play by the best professional players on all tours worldwide. Validating the company’s “Tour AD” logo, all of Graphite Design’s Tour-proven shafts specifically promote “Accuracy and Distance”. On Tour, Graphite Design shafts recorded 44 Global tournament victories in 2025 and have helped numerous golf professionals earn well over 580 tour victories and multi-millions of dollars in prize money since inception.

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Club Champion Named Among Select Global Partners to Fit and Carry McLaren Golf’s Debut Club Line

admin — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 03:50:29 +0000

The World’s #1 Custom Club Fitter Becomes an Exclusive Fitting and Retail Partner for McLaren Golf

Willowbrook, IL – Club Champion, the world’s #1 custom golf club fitting company, announced it has been selected as one of a limited number of authorized fitting partners and retailers worldwide to carry and custom-fit the debut line of clubs from McLaren Golf, the new golf equipment brand born from one of motorsport’s most iconic names. Club Champion will offer McLaren Golf clubs exclusively through its custom fitting process at 160+ studio locations across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia, ensuring every McLaren Golf club purchased through Club Champion is precisely fit to the individual golfer’s swing.

The partnership makes Club Champion one of the few places in the world where golfers can access McLaren Golf equipment – and the only fitting environment where they can do so backed by Club Champion’s proprietary fitting process, industry-leading launch monitor technology, and the most comprehensive component library in golf with over 65,000 shaft, head, and grip combinations.

“McLaren built its name on the pursuit of perfection and so did we,” said Nick Sherburne, Club Champion Founder. “This partnership exists because both brands share an uncompromising commitment to precision – and to giving high-performance enthusiasts equipment that actually matches their capabilities.”

McLaren Golf: A New Standard for Performance Equipment

McLaren Golf enters the equipment market carrying one of the most recognizable brands in the world of performance engineering. Known for Formula 1 championships, hypercar design, and an obsessive pursuit of aerodynamic efficiency and material science, McLaren brings a fundamentally different approach to club design – one rooted in aerospace-grade materials, precision manufacturing tolerances, and data-driven performance optimization that mirrors the technology used in its racing and road car divisions.

The debut club line reflects that philosophy at every level: advanced carbon fiber and titanium construction, proprietary face technology designed to maximize ball speed across the hitting area, and a design language that is unmistakably McLaren – clean, purposeful, and built for those who refuse to compromise.

“We didn’t enter golf to make beautiful clubs,” said Tim Rittenhouse, McLaren Golf Chief Commercial Officer. “We entered to make the best-performing clubs in the world. The McLaren name has never stood for anything less than that standard – and McLaren Golf will be no different.”

Why Club Champion – And Why A Fitting Is Required

McLaren’s decision to partner with Club Champion for fitting and retail distribution reflects a shared philosophy: that a high-performance club in the wrong configuration for a golfer’s swing is a high-performance club that underperforms. Equipment at this level demands fitting. Off-the-rack delivery would be inconsistent with what the McLaren name represents.

Club Champion was selected for its unmatched fitting infrastructure – 160+ studio locations, proprietary fitting methodology and technology, and a brand reputation built on delivering measurable performance improvements for golfers of every level. Every McLaren Golf club sold through Club Champion will be custom-configured – shaft, head, loft, lie, length, and grip – to the specific golfer based on real swing data collected during a Club Champion fitting session.

‘The right club in the wrong configuration is still the wrong club.’ That principle is why Club Champion was built – and it’s why McLaren Golf chose Club Champion as one of their exclusive global fitting partners.

Availability and How to Access McLaren Golf Through Club Champion

McLaren Golf clubs will be available through Club Champion’s custom fitting process beginning in mid-May. Golfers interested in McLaren Golf equipment must begin with a Club Champion fitting session, during which their swing data will be used to configure the precise McLaren Golf specifications that will maximize performance for their individual game.

Given the limited global distribution of McLaren Golf equipment, demand is expected to significantly exceed initial availability. Club Champion encourages interested golfers to book a fitting session as early as possible by visiting clubchampion.com.

About Club Champion

Club Champion is the globe’s most prominent name in custom club fitting and building services. Established in 2010, there are now more than 150 Club Champion locations internationally, including studios in Canada, the UK, and Australia. Each US studio offers golfers access to over 65 brands and more than 65,000 hittable head and shaft combinations. Club Champion has solidified their position at the top of the industry through comprehensive Tour-level fittings, unrivaled club building, and the use of top-tier technology. The company is headquartered in Willowbrook, IL and boasts more than 400 employees, including hundreds of the most highly trained Master Fitters in the world. For more information about Club Champion, visit clubchampion.com.

About McLaren Golf

McLaren Golf is the golf equipment division of the McLaren Group, the British performance engineering and motorsport brand behind McLaren Formula 1, McLaren Automotive, and McLaren Applied. McLaren Golf brings the group’s expertise in advanced materials, aerodynamic design, and precision manufacturing to the golf equipment market, producing clubs built to the exacting tolerances that define everything the McLaren name represents. For more information, visit mclarengolf.com.

Media Contacts

Club Champion

Katie Johnson | (815) 690-8901

katie.johnson@clubchampion.com

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LPGA Tour’s The Chevron Champion Swings Big with Graphite Design Tour AD FI-6 Shaft Powered TaylorMade Qi4D Driver

admin — Sat, 23 May 2026 12:15:17 +0000

Carlsbad, CA – Pro’s Choice Golf Shafts, Inc. announced today that the winner of the LPGA Tour’s The Chevron Championship, held in Houston, TX, was playing a Graphite Design Tour AD FI-6 Stiff flex wood shaft in her TaylorMade Qi4D Driver. The champion claimed her third Major and 17th career win after posting a 4-day score of 65, 65, 70, 70 for a total of 18 under par, winning by 5 strokes.

On the DP World Tour, the winner of the Volvo China Open, held in Shanghai, China, was playing a Graphite Design Tour AD VF Utility Driving Iron in his Titleist T100 #3 Iron, claiming his 9^th DP World Tour title.

“Congratulations to The Chevron Championship winner for capturing her third Major and regaining the number 1 ranking. What a great exhibition of Accuracy and Distance and we are ecstatic she plays Graphite Design Tour AD FI”, stated Wayne Ageno, President, Pro’s Choice Golf Shafts, Inc.

The new 2026 Tour AD FI – Flight Intelligence – is the next evolution in golf shaft technology from Graphite Design. Designed and manufactured at Graphite Design’s Japan factory headquarters for players who demand precision, power, and consistency, the Tour AD FI features a futuristic look, complete with a sleek new TOUR AD logo, and is finished with a green-to-gloss black fade with silver accents.

Like the other high-performance Tour AD wood shafts, the Tour AD FI utilizes premium, aerospace-quality carbon-fiber materials and is available in 40g R2, R1, S flex and X flex, 50g R2, R1, S and X flex, 60g SR, S, X, and TX flex, 70g S, X, and TX flex, and 80g X flex.

The Tour AD FI shaft profile is Firm+ in the butt section and Firm+ in the center section and has a Stiff tip to promote Mid-launch angles and Low to Low/Mid-ball spin rates. It utilizes Graphite Design’s proprietary AD Shield technology and the new TORNADO TIP TECH, along with the modern Torayca M40X and T1100G material technologies, to reliably transmit the player’s input to the club head, allowing for consistent shot-making and enhanced performance on the course.

Whether shaping shots or maximizing distance, the new Tour AD FI adapts to your swing, delivering unparalleled stability and responsiveness. Elevate your game with a shaft that thinks as fast as you play – because intelligent performance starts with the new Tour AD Flight Intelligence golf shaft from Graphite Design.

About Pro’s Choice:

About Graphite Design:

Located in Chichibu, Japan, Graphite Design has over 36 years of experience designing and manufacturing premium graphite-composite golf shafts. Numerous Graphite Design shafts can be seen in play by the best professional players on all tours worldwide. Validating the company’s “Tour AD” logo, all of Graphite Design’s Tour-proven shafts specifically promote “Accuracy and Distance”. On Tour, Graphite Design shafts recorded 44 Global tournament victories in 2025 and have helped numerous golf professionals earn well over 580 tour victories and multi-millions of dollars in prize money since inception.

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How a past champion transformed Byron Nelson host course

admin — Wed, 20 May 2026 08:22:46 +0000

When Lanny Wadkins won the Byron Nelson Classic in 1973, he earned a $35,000 paycheck and a handsome trophy, presented in person by the tournament’s namesake.

Wadkins was 23, at the dawn of his career. Nelson was 61 and long retired from competition. The two became friends and fellow World Golf Hall of Famers. Their connection would not end there.

Through the decades, Wadkins watched as the Byron Nelson moved from venue to venue, leaving its home at Preston Trail Golf Club for other Dallas-area courses. Nelson remained its official host until his death in 2006, and his name has followed the event ever since. Wadkins, meanwhile, has forged a new tie to it as the architect of sweeping renovations to TPC Craig Ranch, which hosts this week’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson.

“Oh, I’ll be out there watching,” Wadkins said by phone. “I want to see how those guys take it on.”

Wadkins is 76, but he’s no old dog learning new tricks. He’s been involved in course design for decades, collecting credits that include Blackjack’s Crossing in Lajitas, Texas, and TPC Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. After his playing days, he climbed the broadcast tower and spent 18 years as a TV commentator. Now that that chapter is closed too, he’s turned his full attention to design. “I really don’t like to do something unless I can go all in,” he said.

His work at TPC Craig Ranch was the lynchpin to a $25 million overhaul carried out by club owner, Invited Clubs. The work began as soon as last year’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson wrapped up, with Scottie Scheffler running away with the title by eight shots at 31-under par. The course, a Tom Weiskopf design that opened in 2004, had never been touched. Now it has been.

Wadkins’ mandate was familiar in the modern era: stiffen defenses against the game’s best players while keeping the course playable for everyone else. One of the layout’s strengths, he said, was its flexible tee options, crucial in Texas, where the wind holds near-constant sway. He leaned into that, stretching several holes that play with a favoring prevailing wind. He also repositioned and deepened bunkers and tweaked angles on several holes. The 9th green now sits closer to a creek, for instance, while the 11th green — a bunker-less complex with false fronts that Wadkins described as reminiscent of the 14th at Augusta National — wraps closer to a lake.

“That’s one way to defend these days,” he said. “I try to put the driver back into play as an important club.”

On the greens, Wadkins and his team went with bentgrass, a receptive turf that allowed them to create challenging contours. Hole locations sit in relatively flat areas, so players will be rewarded for precise approaches. But sloppy shots stand to be punished, leaving players with long, bending putts or testy recoveries from run-off areas.

“Without stellar iron play, it’s going to take some real imagination to play well,” Wadkins said.

Growing up in Virginia, Wadkins cut his teeth on Golden Age designs, including a pair of William Flynn courses. Those experiences stuck.

“I did well enough in my career that I got to play a lot of really great courses,” he said. “But always really liked the old stuff.”

At Wake Forest, his home course was Old Town Club, a Perry Maxwell design, and he credits Maxwell’s wrinkled, contoured greens as an influence in his own work.

Some of that old-school sensibility shows up at Craig Ranch. The par-3 4th now features a Biarritz green, a classic design element, with a deep swale bisecting the putting surface. The 11th green, with no bunkers and a series of false fronts funneling wayward approaches away from the hole, is reminiscent of the 14th at Augusta. On the 6th hole, Wadkins and his team added a fronting lion’s mouth bunker, stiffening the demands of a short par 4 that Wadkins watched players carve up last year. They also stretched the tournament tee back to the fence line and installed crossing bunkers at 320 yards, forcing players to decide whether to lay up safely to a ticklish distance, or challenge the sand.

How hard will the course play? Wadkins isn’t sure. A lot depends on setup, which he does not control. He planned to play a practice round with his sons to get a feel for things — though he’s quick to note his game is no barometer of elite golf. “I hit it so short, I can hear it land,” he said.

If he had his way, the rough would be thick and the greens lightning-paced. “I think they could play them at 13,” he said, “though I don’t think the Tour would want to play them quite that quick.”

Hard to know what the winning number will be. The purse, though, will be dramatically different than it was when Wadkins won. The total payout tops $10 million, with the winner taking home $1.8 million.

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Senior PGA Champion plays Graphite Design Tour AD in Win

admin — Sat, 09 May 2026 23:52:12 +0000

Carlsbad, CA – Pro’s Choice Golf Shafts, Inc. announces that the winner of the Senior PGA Championship, held at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, FL, was playing a Graphite Design Tour AD XC-6 X-Stiff wood shaft in his Ping G440 MAX Driver, claiming his third win of the 2026 season.

Additionally, on the LIV Golf Tour, the winner of the LIV Golf Mexico City event was playing a Graphite Design Tour AD DI-8 X-Stifff flex wood shaft in each of his Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond #3 and #5 Fairway metal woods, collecting his second LIV Golf trophy this year. Also, the winner of the Korn Ferry Tour Tulum Championship at PGA Riviera Maya was playing a Graphite Design Tour AD DI 95 X-Stiff hybrid shaft in his Titleist GT3 19° Hybrid.

“Congratulations to the standout winners at the Senior PGA Championship, LIV Golf Mexico City, and the Tulum Championship events this past weekend. It was an impressive display of elite-level golf across all three tours, and we are honored that each champion trusted Graphite Design premium Tour AD shafts in their clubs to deliver tour-level Accuracy and Distance under pressure”, stated Simon Wood, Tour Promotions Manager, Pro’s Choice Golf Shafts, Inc.

The Graphite Design Tour AD XC, designed for “Xtra Carry,” was developed and is manufactured at Graphite Design Japan’s headquarters. It is black with silver and red accents, a silver fade on the tip, and a matte clear coat.

Like the other high-performance Tour AD wood shafts, the Tour AD XC utilizes premium, aerospace-quality carbon-fiber materials and is available in 40g R2, R1, and S flex, 50g R2, R1, S and X flex, 60g SR, S, X and TX flex, 70g S, X and TX flex, and 80g S and X flex.

The Tour AD XC shaft profile is softer in the butt section, stiffer in the center section, and has a stiff tip to promote a low-to-mid launch angle and low spin with the ball. The Tour AD XC also utilizes the brand new TORAYCA® M40X carbon-fiber pre-preg in the Mid to Tip Section of the shaft, as well as the TORAYCA® T1100G carbon-fiber pre-preg with NANOALLOY® technology in the tip section of the shaft for unrivaled shaft stability and precise ball control without the loss of the exceptional feel that Graphite Design shafts are so well known for.

Get fit with your local professional club fitter into the new Graphite Design Tour AD XC and get ready to experience the Xtra Carry you are looking for to lower your scores.

About Pro’s Choice:

Pro’s Choice Golf Shafts is the exclusive distributor of Graphite Design golf shafts in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, UAE, South Africa, South America, and Australia. Pro’s Choice Golf Shafts distributes all of the current Graphite Design shafts, including the new 2026 Graphite Design Tour AD FI wood shaft model, as well as the Anti-Gravity aG33-3, Tour AD GC, Tour AD VF, Tour AD CQ, Tour AD UB, Tour AD XC, Tour AD IZ, and Tour AD DI models of shafts. The company is located in Carlsbad, California, with a distribution warehouse located in Southern California.

About Graphite Design:

Bill McPherson, Pro’s Choice Golf Shafts, b.mcpherson@proschoicegolfshafts.com, 619-454-6283

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INTERVIEW WITH 2025 SPEEDGOLF CHAMPION JAMES HARDY

admin — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:36:33 +0000

Last month at Sunningdale Heath GC, PGA Member James Hardy stunned the field to lift the British Speedgolf Champion Trophy, just two months after first trying the sport.

A self-confessed “golf geek” who came to the game at 16 before earning a US golf scholarship and completing his PGA training, Hardy has found in Speedgolf the perfect blend of competition, community and fitness.

Golf News caught up with him to hear about his late start in golf, his rapid rise in Speedgolf, and why he believes the format could play a big role in the future of the game.

Tell us how you got into golf at 16 and the path it took you?

I was a late starter, picking up golf at 16 when my dad joined me at the local club. I was hooked immediately.

Within two years I became Club Champion, which led to a golf scholarship in the US.

My game really developed there under my coach and close friend Beau Baugh, who I still visit to this day. Winning the South East Collegiate Championship is still one of my fondest memories.

After graduating, I returned to the UK to complete my PGA, and since then, I’ve been immersed in the game in every way.

James Hardy on his way to victory

How did you hear about Speedgolf and get involved?

I have my partner to thank. She knew I was a golf geek and always first out at Aldwickbury to squeeze in a quick two-hour round.

She entered me into the British Speedgolf Championship and the moment I tried it, I knew it was the perfect fit.

The European Speedgolf Championship in Finland was your first event, how did you get on and what did you learn ahead of the British?

I actually entered the European Open at the last minute, just weeks before the British. As a complete newcomer, finishing 8th was a huge surprise and gave me valuable lessons about preparation and pace.

But what really stood out was the Speedgolf community. From Close House PGA Pro Will Robson’s advice, to running pointers from former Champion Luke Willett and practical equipment advice from others, everyone was so generous with their support.

That sense of family was as important as the competition itself.

You won against stiff opposition at the British Speedgolf Championships. What did this mean to you and what impact has it had on your future ambitions?

I’d only been playing Speedgolf for two months, so my goal was just to finish in the top 10.

Winning with such a large and accomplished field was a complete shock, proof of what happens when you put yourself out there and commit.

But the real highlight for me was raising £3,000 for Parkinson’s UK in honour of my dad, who lives with the condition. That meant more than the trophy. Looking forward, I want to take on more of the International Speedgolf circuit, keep improving, and do my bit to grow the sport.

Quick turnaround and onto the next tee

Speedgolf is about pace and performance. How do you balance golf and fitness, and what could you build on?

Golf is my strength, fitness is still a work in progress. Speed isn’t naturally my strong suit, but I’m determined to improve that side of my game. The beauty of Speedgolf is that it pushes you to keep getting better in both areas.

As a PGA member who didn’t pursue a tour or coaching career, how would you describe your love of golf — and why does Speedgolf fit you so well?

I’m a golf geek at heart, but I’ve always loved fitness too,football, skiing, the gym, running. Speedgolf feels like it was designed for me. It’s quicker, it’s healthier, it builds community, and it’s fun.

Golf is evolving, and I believe clubs will soon start offering Speedgolf tee times.

How does Speedgolf fit alongside managing a business when time is precious?

That’s one of its biggest appeals. You can play 18 holes in under an hour and get a serious workout at the same time.

Even on tough days, you walk away fitter, sharper, and having learned something new.

For anyone balancing work and life, Speedgolf is the ultimate way to keep golf in your routine

British Speedgolf Champion 2025 James Hardy

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