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USA Today
08-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ping i240 irons blend tour-inspired shaping with enhanced forgiveness and feel
Ping's new i240 irons combine compact, tour-style shaping with a softer feel, higher launch, and more forgiveness in the long and mid-irons. Gear: Ping i240 irons Price: $217 with Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 115 shafts Specs: Cast 431 stainless steel body, tour-preferred groove design, activated elastomer insert, cavity-back construction. Available: Pre-sale begins July 15, full retail launch July 29 Who it's for: Golfers who want a compact, tour-inspired iron with added forgiveness and improved feel. What you should know: Designed to bridge the gap between Blueprint S and the i530, the i240 offers refined sound and feel, trajectory control, and more forgiveness in the long and mid-irons. The deep dive: At first glance, the new Ping i240 irons might look like a simple replacement for the i230, but there's more going on here. While the i240 maintains the same compact, tour-inspired footprint that helped the i230 find success on both the PGA and LPGA Tours, Ping's engineers have subtly made it more playable while retaining its better-player iron qualities. Cast from 431 stainless steel, the i240 delivers about 2.5 percent more moment of inertia (MOI) than the i230, thanks largely to something most golfers rarely focus on — the back of the club. Turn the Ping i240 around and you'll see a small slot that runs from the heel to the toe on the back of the head, filled with a silver-toned material. That's an injection-molded piece of elastomer that soaks up vibrations and enhances sound and feel. It also weighs less than the steel that would otherwise be in that location. Above the elastomer is a multi-material back badge that is 8.5 grams lighter than the badge on the i230. Combine all that with tip and toe weights that Ping adds to many of its irons, and without increasing the blade length, the company's designers were able to remove mass from the middle of the head and redistribute it down and to the edges of this perimeter-weighted design. That boosts the MOI and makes the i240 more stable on off-center strikes. Lowering the center of gravity (CG) helps the i240 achieve a higher launch angle than the i230, allowing accomplished golfers to obtain a more vertical angle of descent and enhanced stopping power on approach shots. Ping has also revised the grooves in the i240, moving away from the Micromax grooves used in the i230. That groove system added more grooves to enhance spin, especially from the rough — a feature that sounds like something elite players would want. However, some tour players found it was too effective, making it harder to judge how balls in a 'flyer lie' might behave. In response, Ping shifted the i240 to a wider-spaced, 'tour-preferred' groove configuration, aiming to deliver more predictable spin characteristics for players who mostly hit from the fairway but still want enough bite when shots are played from thicker, taller grass. Unlike Ping's game-improvement offerings, the i240 will be available in 3-iron through pitching wedge and utility wedge, giving fitters and players flexibility in how they configure their bags. Ping is also making the i240 available in a standard loft configuration, along with a Power Spec that makes long irons 1 to 1.5 degrees stronger, and a Retro Spec that makes the lofts 2 degrees weaker than standard. Again, it's all about giving players and fitters options — whether they're building a full set or blending long and scoring irons from different models. Ultimately, the i240 is a measured evolution. It doesn't aim to reinvent the players' cavity-back category, but it does sharpen and expand what was already a very successful formula for Ping. For accomplished golfers who want modern forgiveness and trajectory control in a compact, confidence-inspiring shape, it's a compelling option in a space that continues to attract some of the game's most discerning players.
Newsweek
04-06-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Max Homa Lands Tiger Woods' Former Caddie at RBC Canadian Open
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. This week's RBC Canadian Open is a pivotal moment for Max Homa's season, as it's his last chance to qualify for the U.S. Open. If he doesn't have an outstanding performance at TPC Toronto, he will miss the season's third major for the first time since 2020. Acknowledging the importance of having an experienced caddie in situations like this and having recently lost his own, Homa reached out to one of the best available options. Lance Bennett, who has worked with Tiger Woods and Matt Kuchar, among others, was the one he called. Golfweek's Adam Schupak reported this information and other caddie-related moves on the PGA Tour through his X account: "Word from the caddie yard: Max Homa will have Lance Bennett on the bag this week," Schupak posted. "Bennett was working for Michael Thorbjornsen but Thor hired JJ Jakovac as his full-time caddie. If you're scoring at home, JJ had been on Collin Morikawa's bag until Joe Greiner left Max for him." Word from the caddie yard: Max Homa will have Lance Bennett on the bag this week. Bennett was working for Michael Thorbjornsen but Thor hired JJ Jakovac as his full-time caddie. If you're scoring at home, JJ had been on Collin Morikawa's bag until Joe Greiner left Max for him. 🤯 — Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak) June 3, 2025 Since 2003, Lance Bennett has gained experience on both the PGA and LPGA Tours. Matt Kuchar has been his longest-standing employer, but he has also worked with stars such as Sungjae Im and Davis Riley on the men's side and with Juli Inkster, Paula Creamer, and Lorena Ochoa among the ladies. Bennett worked with Woods in all five tournaments he played in during the 2024 season: the Genesis Invitational, the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and the Open Championship. The 15-time major champion said he has a good rapport with the veteran caddie: "As far as Lance is concerned, I've had a great relationship with him over the years going back to when he caddied for Kooch [Matt Kuchar] and when we played at the Presidents Cup together back in, what, Muirfield Village [2013], Woods said, according to "Very down to earth, very loyal, and how he conversed through the years, I've also taken notice of that," he added. "We've had the same type of feeling in how we look at the golf course and how we read putts. They're very similar." Max Homa of the United States plays a shot from the 18th tee during the third round of the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday 2025 at Muirfield Village Golf Club on May 31, 2025 in... Max Homa of the United States plays a shot from the 18th tee during the third round of the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday 2025 at Muirfield Village Golf Club on May 31, 2025 in Dublin, Ohio. MoreMax Homa parted ways with his caddie, Bill Harke, just before the final qualifier for the US Open last Monday in Columbus, Ohio. Homa was reportedly the only player carrying his own bag at the event. The six-time PGA Tour winner ultimately failed to earn a spot at Oakmont through the qualifier, leaving the RBC Canadian Open as his last hope. More Golf: US Open: High School Junior Shoots 63-63 to Earn Spot at Oakmont
Cision Canada
02-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Stalk&Barrel Whisky Named Official Partner of Golf Canada
Proudly Poured for the Fairway: A Partnership Toasting Canadian Golf TORONTO, June 2, 2025 /CNW/ - Stalk&Barrel Whisky and Golf Canada are raising a glass to Canadian sport and spirits. The Ontario-based distillery has renewed its role as the Official Canadian Whisky of Golf Canada, cementing its presence at Canada's premier tournaments: the RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women's Open. This partnership brings together two proudly Canadian institutions as golf in Canada booms. With six million players hitting the fairways annually, rising TV viewership, and homegrown talent on the PGA and LPGA Tours, Stalk&Barrel's continued investment is a celebration of the game's momentum and the communities behind it. "With Canadian TV audiences for the Masters on the rise and a record seven Canadians teeing up at THE PLAYERS, Canadian golf has never been stronger," said Karen Lai Drake, Senior Brand Manager, at Stalk&Barrel Whisky. "The partnership is a celebration of Canadian excellence - on the green and in the glass - and we're proud to be a part of it." The partnership draws a natural parallel between golf and whisky - both rooted in heritage, refined in craft, and built around moments that bring people together. From post-round toasts at the clubhouse to quiet pours at home, Stalk&Barrel is becoming a staple for Canadian golf. At both National Opens, the brand will have an on-site presence with signage, broadcast integrations, and whisky tastings. Off the course, a content-first campaign - including social coverage, storytelling, and influencer collaborations - will amplify the brand's presence and deepen its connection with golf fans online. Stalk&Barrel's focus on craft and cultural alignment reflects a broader shift in the Canadian beverage space. With over $14 billion in annual golf-related consumer spending - on par with the domestic beer market - there is a growing appetite for alternatives at the 19th hole. Stalk&Barrel's small-batch roots and Canadian identity make it uniquely positioned to lead that charge. About Stalk&Barrel Whisky Stalk&Barrel is a small-batch Canadian whisky brand, proudly distilled in Ontario. Crafted with care, Stalk&Barrel brings bold character to every pour. Available at LCBO. About Golf Canada Golf Canada is the National Sports Federation and governing body for golf in Canada, representing 360,000 golfers and 1,522 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada's mission is to increase Canadian participation and excellence in golf. By investing in the growth of the sport and introducing more participants of all ages to the game, our vision is to be a world leader in golf. For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit
