Founder & CEO of The Byrd, LLC, Kris Drey has long had a deep passion for golf and an even deeper affinity for organization.
He grew up surfing and golfing in sunny Southern California. His nickname, The Byrd, was born as a skinny kid with twiglike legs and a large beak.
Drey attended college in Northern California and upon graduation moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where he lives with his wife of 26 years, Ellen, and where he misses his two children now off to college.
Drey met his business partner, Matt Durso, in Catholic grade school where he perpetually broke all the rules. Fast forward to today and the tandem are still breaking rules but now with a purpose - making golf more enjoyable for all.
The golf bug hit me hard during Covid when there was nothing safe to do indoors so I dusted off my clubs, went outside, and became an addict.
I'm a rather fastidious person. Believing everything has its place in this world. And it's a little-known fact golfers have a lot of stuff which can be unruly and distracting to say the least.
I hate reaching into my disheveled porcupine pocket every single hole to find an amorphous mass of tees, divot tools, ball markers, gum, ChapStick, throat lozenges, and coinage just to get from tee-to-green.
That's just one dimension of the issue for male golfers. Female golfers have the opposite problem with no pockets and have to constantly ping-pong back and forth to the cart continually to get critical gear.
So, I decided to do something about it and invented a line of utility clothing and accessories that help golfers focus on their game – not their gear. Golf is hard enough and we don’t need to be distracted by our gear so our flagship product attacks the porcupine pocked head-on.
The Byrd Clyp is a one-of-a-kind golf multitool that can hold all of your essential equipment in a clean, organized manner and can be clipped anywhere so it's always where you want it. I wear mine on my shirt placket between the bottom two buttons. Then came the Byrd Belt that would make Batman drool.
This multi-purpose utility belt is made out of super trendy, high quality woven elastic and is reversible so it will house your tees, ball markers, divot tool, and glove on the course during the day and will hug your hips on the dance floor at night. And then there's the Byrd Byll (baseball hats and visors) that not only look good atop anyone's head but they also store tees and ball markers in style.
At our core, The Byrd is a company that understands that concentration is key to a great game of golf and is difficult to come by on the course. We strive to help you focus on your game, not your gear and look good doing it.
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I’m a big fan of organization and efficiency. When I see something for the first time, I think to myself, “how can that be better, more useful, faster.”
I’m a perpetual tinkerer and love making things that come from my imagination. I’ve been in digital product management my entire career, writing specifications for software but recently falling in love with creating physical products which lead me to the formation of The Byrd and our organizational golf tools.
I have over 200 slides in a deck of inventions that I want to make some day both within and outside of the golf world.
Yes, we will be in the Inventor’s section, booth #3701 and we are excited to show the golf world our innovations.
Our goal for the show is to meet as many people as possible, learn how the golf world works, show off our products, and test the market to hopefully validate our assumed product market fit.
Anyone and everyone who plays golf and even people who do not because our products are “lifestyle” products that can be used on and off the course.
Our belt, for example, is reversible so it is your golf utility belt on the course and your slick hip-hugger afterwards. We all use tees, ball markers, divot tools, and gloves so every one of us is a potential customer.
Whether you’re tired of digging through your pocket every single hole or you have no pockets to dig into – The Byrd gear will help remove some of the friction from your game so you can focus primary attention on your swing.
Everyone can use our products, men and women, young and old. We have seen strong sales of The Byrd Clyp to both demographics but a large percentage of women love the Clyp and the visor because they often have no pockets in their golf attire to store their equipment.
The Belt has been a big hit with men as well as The Clyp and the baseball hat.
MSRP for our products is very reasonable.
The Byrd Clyp is $18.95. The Byrd Belt is $47.95. The Byrd Byll (baseball hats and visors) is $28.95
And all of our products come “fully loaded” meaning the Clyp comes with two tees, and a ball marker. The Belt comes with two tees, a ball marker and a divot tool. And the hats with two tees, and a ball marker.
The bulk of our sales are from our website and we’ve seen good sales from green grass shops who love our products and want to customize them with their own logos.
We foresee direct-to-consumer continuing to be our strongest sales avenue, driving traffic to the website from marketing materials and soon from social media platforms.
As we ramp-up we expect business-to-business to grow and become a larger part of our business since all of our products are fully customizable with your corporate branding, colors, patterns, etc.
The customer is our number one priority and we strive for fanatical customer service with little touches like including a personal “thank you” note from my co-founder Matt and I. In every package we include a note encouraging customers to let us know how well their new Byrd products work.
We will soon be launching customer ratings and comments on our website and have a 100% commitment to our product’s functionality so if anything goes wrong with your Byrd gear, we will replace it. We are also big believers in making data-driven decisions so collecting feedback is imperative for us.
The sport requires so much gear – it’s unbelievable. We haul these huge golf bags around with 15 pockets housing 50 different items for a single round.
I am interested in streamlining the sport so we don’t have so much to think about other than our swing.
Soon The Byrd product line will be even bigger consisting of never before seen, streamlined gear making your game more efficient and keeping you looking good when playing.
Short-term – getting the word out about The Byrd. We’ve done no advertising or marketing and our social presence is lacking but we’re working on it and will hopefully have an ad campaign running soon.
A longer-term concern we have is funding all of my crazy ideas. I have close to 50 inventions I want to bring to life but that takes cash which we’re trying to make as we speak.
A perpetual tinkerer and life-long student of the efficiency game.
It took me close to 50 years to discover my passion which is making products that serve a purpose, solve problems, and make life more productive. I never knew I could conceptualize, design, and create physical products and I absolutely love doing it.
When someone comes to me with a problem, I set to task in my workshop to solve it, one way or another. I’m thrilled to be in the position I am today, offering meaningful products to the world and hopefully making people happy.
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The 2023 golf year is rapidly drawing to a close but the year brought to the forefront a number of newsmakers who took center stage making a key impact as we now head into 2024.
Here are the ten most noteworthy newsmakers – in no particular order of emphasis – and how each shaped the golf landscape with a broad range of outcomes.
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While Greg Norman may be the public face of LIV – the real power player is Yasir Al-Rumayyan. Norman has often provided ongoing verbal fuel with a range of public comments but like an iceberg that hides much of its mass below water, it is Al-Rumayyan who plays the critical role as actual maestro in deciding what golf music LIV chooses to play via the Public Investment Fund (PIF) he controls.
The 53-year-old Saudi prefers to remain in the shadows but make no mistake it is he carrying out the various moves that keep LIV front and center in shaping professional golf.
Al-Rumayyan wisely opted in to a "framework agreement" with the PGA TOUR on June 6 and to ensure LIV remains a formidable foe he lured Spaniard Jon Rahm just weeks ago to the roster of professional golfers now calling LIV home. The signing of Rahm clearly sent a powerful message to the PGA TOUR as they dialogue with other potential investors on any new partnership. In short, LIV is not going away by any stretch of the imagination.
Like any smart poker player, Al-Rumayyan keeps his cards close to the vest and declines interviews save for the one he jointly gave with Monahan to CNBC when the framework agreement was announced.
Al-Rumayyan has expressed a clear desire to have a prime seat at the table when professional golf is discussed. The PGA TOUR may have the brand at this moment but the capital firmly rests in Yasir's hands. As circumstances unfold the focus of LIV may certainly evolve beyond the 54-hole no-cut shotgun start events taking place now.
If anything is clear – do not underestimate Al-Rumayyan – those doing that, do so at their peril.
The impact of June 6 – when PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan sat across from Al-Rumayyan and announced via CNBC a "framework agreement" between the two parties – was startling for the reverse course that had been preached incessantly by Monahan prior to that event.
Monahan's ascension to the lead officer position with the PGA TOUR after taking the reins from Tim Finchem had gone smoothly and his handling of the TOUR's restart following the global pandemic won praise for his keen handling of the various key issues involved.
However, Monahan's standing with professional golfers who remained with the PGA TOUR took a considerable public hit as players denounced the hypocrisy of the man who had been steadfast in leading the organization's denouncement of the rival effort from LIV.
The pressures of the situation forced Monahan for a period of weeks to deal with unspecified health issues and even with his return there has been ongoing critiques that his capacity to act in a unilateral way again will never happen without tour player approval – most notably via new Policy Board member Tiger Woods.
Trust in all aspects of life is a fragile matter. Once broken it can prove to be a nearly insurmountable mountain to climb back to the very top.
Monahan's position, prior to the major flip-flopping on LIV, appeared centered on stable concrete. However, the Commissioner's job position heading into 2024 is more or less resting on shifting Saudi sands - no pun intended.
After a dominant amateur career, the 20-year-old served quick notice after turning professional and in less than two week's time won her inaugural event on the LPGA Tour – the first time that had been done since 1951.
Zhang had an outstanding collegiate career at Stanford and on April 1, 2023, she captured the Augusta National Women's Amateur. In that same month, she was ranked number one in the World Amateur Golf Rankings for the 141st week, the most of any player in history.
In May 2023, Zhang won the individual NCAA championship for the second consecutive year, becoming the first woman in the event's history to win twice. Her 68.80 scoring average over 31 rounds in the 2022-23 season is the lowest in NCAA women's golf history, bettering the record her Stanford teammate Rachel Heck had set the previous year.
Rose demonstrated immediate impact as a professional and placed in the top ten in four of the five women major events she competed in.
2023 proved to be a noticeable liftoff for the talented 20-year-old who ends the year as the 26th ranked player globally. Can she climb even higher heights in 2024?
The potential to do so is clearly present – so is the related pressure in doing so.
After Team Europe was demolished by a juggernaut USA team in the 2021 Ryder Cup matches at Whistling Straits the need to galvanize and regroup for the 2023 event in Rome was essential.
Prior to the beginnings of LIV, the ensemble of potential captains for Europe contained a roster of several notable names. Eventually Henrik Stenson was selected but the Swede was forced out because of his LIV connection, joining a parade of other key stars such as Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter an Graeme McDowell. All bolted for the upstart tour and what appeared to be a treasure chest of prospective captain's names was whittled down to uncertainty going forward.
Into the breach, Luke Donald was selected. The Englishman, a former world-ranked number one player, demonstrated a quiet resolve and mended key fences needing attention.
Donald reached out to all the key prospects being considered for selection and let it be known those who left for LIV were not going to be included.
The 46-year-old put together a European team that seized an opening day 4-0 lead in the foursomes and never looked back. Luke's captaincy was warmly received by all his players. Reclaiming the famed bi-annual trophy named for Samuel Ryder also dispelled the notion that the best days of European golf were in the past.
Donald's success was reinforced with him being re-named captain for the '25 matches scheduled at Bethpage's Black Course in New York. He becomes the first back-to-back captain since Bernard Gallacher did so from 1991-95.
Many had predicted the first American victory on European soil dating back to 1991. That forecast was quickly dismantled and decisively turned away at Marco Simone. Donald's leadership at the helm via his astute and adroit meshing of his players paved the way for a dominant and convincing win.
Cool hand Luke proved to be the right man at the right time.
In March the USGA and R&A - the two primary rules organizations within golf – announced a model local rule in which golf ball usage would be split between those at the elite level and those playing the game recreationally.
The joint announcement had been planned for some time to deal with the belief modern golf balls were flying excessive distances and therefore causing harm on a few fronts.
Prior to the announcement both rules making organizations had stated a desire to keep all levels of play under one rules umbrella. Bifurcation was seen – without stating it as such – as a needed way to deal with major increases in overall distance being attained by high-speed players at the elite levels.
Hitting distances at the elite level of the game have consistently increased over the past 20, 40, and 60 years. It’s been two decades since we last revisited our testing standards for ball distances,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA. “Predictable, continued increases will become a significant issue for the next generation if not addressed soon.
The model local rule (MLR) we are proposing is simple to implement, forward-looking and does so without any impact on the recreational game. We are taking the next steps in this process, guided first and foremost by doing what’s right by the entire game.”
Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, said, “We have worked closely with the golf industry throughout this process and taken time to listen carefully to their perspectives and reflect on the helpful and constructive feedback they have provided. At the core of our proposal is a desire to minimize the impact on a flourishing recreational game.
“We believe the proposed Model Local Rule will help us move forward in a way that protects the inherent qualities of the sport and reduces the pressure to lengthen courses. This is an important issue for golf and one which needs to be addressed if the sport is to retain its unique challenge and appeal.”
Fast forward to December 6 and the USGA and R&A backtracked from their stated position several months earlier and announced all levels of players would be under one specific golf ball standard.
In sum – the "rollback" would go into effect January 1, 2028 for elite level competitions and on January 1, 2030 for all other players.
Needless to say, other key groups within the broader family have not exactly been jumping for joy. The PGA of America, PGA TOUR and different equipment companies all stated some sort of varying concerns.
David Maher, CEO of Acushnet, the leading manufacturer of golf balls globally stated matters succinctly – "Many important stakeholders do not see distance as a problem the way the governing bodies do and therefore come to differing conclusion about how to proceed to ensure the best possible outcome for the sport."
Given the volatile nature of the topic one can be assured more comments – pro and con – will be provided in the years ahead.
This would mean distances previously attained would be reined in according to skill level. At the highest of levels, the loss would be 9-11 yards while those at the recreational level roughly five or less yards.
The USGA and R&A only have direct control of golf ball usage for the events they run. The central dimension rests with each persuading others to follow in lockstep the direction they wish to go.
While the train is planning to leave the station in a few years' time it will take considerable effort for the two rules making organizations to prove why following their lead is in the best interest for all connected to the sport.
The jury on that specific question is still out.
Whatever the 15-time major winner does is always news. Woods returned to competition in this year's Masters and made the cut for a record tying 24th time – sharing the mark with Fred Couples and Gary Player.
However, the only issue was weather for the third round deteriorated and his surgically repaired foot caused extreme pain forcing the four-time green jacket winner to withdraw. The first time he had not completed 72 holes at Augusta.
Woods returned to competition later in the year at his Hero Challenge event in the Bahamas but his play resulted in finishing near the bottom of the limited field event and a distant 20 shots behind winner Scottie Scheffler. Tiger also played with his son Charlie in the PNC Championship in Orlando in December.
The just turned 48-year-old is now turning his attention to being a recently installed member of the PGA TOUR advisory board. Woods was not happy with the unilateral decision by Commissioner Jay Monahan acting in concert with two board members in starting dialogue with LIV Tour without getting any feedback from the players prior to such an action being taken.
Tiger has stated he plans to return to competition – albeit with a scaled-down schedule and having him compete in only a few select events outside the major championships. As of now, the three-time winner of the U.S. Open is not eligible for that event for the first time since 1996.
The fundamental issue remains – can Woods summon the requisite skills to be a meaningful competitor? This year's Masters marks the fourth anniversary of his 15th major triumph and fourth green jacket. Woods believes he still has competitive rubber on his tires.
The question remains will Tiger be able to prove his critics wrong or is he in denial that he can approach a level of play that can bring him back to the winner's circle. If Woods is unable to demonstrate that capacity one cannot rule out the possibility he may retire from active competition.
Golf architecture takes a placement via the efforts of its most sought-after designer – Gil Hanse. The 60-year-old continues a stellar run of efforts – via updating of pre-existing championship courses as well as new efforts that have reaped critical acclaim.
Hanse catapulted his career by landing the plum assignment of designing the 18-hole course for the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 games.
In short order he has been the point man in resurrecting illustrious championship courses such as Winged Foot, Baltusrol, Oakland Hills, Merion, Oakmont, Southern Hills, The Country Club, to name just a few.
The most recent success took place this past June when The Los Angeles CC hosted the U.S. Open on its North Course. For years the club vociferously eschewed any desire to host outside events even though the USGA had courted the club to stage the national championship of American golf.
Hanse brilliantly updated the famed George Thomas design with assistance from long-time associates Jim Wagner and Geoff Shackelford.
LACC took a test run in hosting the 2017 Walker Cup matches. For the U.S. Open the North Course featured an array of different holes – par-3s ranging from 124 to 290 yards.
Hanse's original designs have incorporated many of the design elements that came into existence during golf's golden age of architecture in the 1920s. His continued efforts have hastened many clubs to rethink what they provide and how to engage an array of other architects who have followed in the footsteps Hanse has put into motion.
The four-time major winner went in different directions throughout 2023. Initially, the gifted golfer became the point person in advocating on behalf of the PGA TOUR.
Routinely McIlroy would prompt questions from media on the latest point / counterpoint on the happening of LIV.
Rory was steadfast in his advocacy of the PGA TOUR and many wondered whether such involvement only served to undercut his effort to end a major-less drought stretching back to 2014.
McIlroy started off the year by winning the Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour. He birdied the final two holes to beat Patrick Reed by one shot. But he missed the cut at the Masters and after a short break rebounded and finished tied for seventh at the PGA Championship in May.
At the U.S. Open in June, McIlroy finished solo-second, one shot behind winner Wyndham Clark. In July, the week before The Open Championship, McIlroy won the Genesis Scottish Open. The following week at The Open Championship, he finished tied-sixth. In September 2023, McIlroy played on the European team in the 2023 Ryder cup at Marco Simone in Rome. The European team won 16.5–11.5 and McIlroy went 4–1–0 including a win in his Sunday singles match against Sam Burns.
McIlroy wisely withdrew his participation with the PGA TOUR advisory board citing the need to more fully prepare for the events he enters. Now, at 34 years of age, Rory's story is ever more clear. Establish a legacy that can take his accomplishments to the next level.
Securing a 5th major did not happen in 2023 – but recent play and a desire to more fully zone in for the year ahead makes watching McIlroy front and center for 2024. Should that happen at Augusta, McIlroy would join the most elite of clubs - becoming only the 6th member of the career Grand Slam club.
The stakes are indeed that high.
Competitive golf provides the opportunity for elite players to show their consummate skills. Such events also provide a pathway for those further down the skills ladder in terms of overall recognition.
At this year's PGA Championship, a man by the name of Michael Block emerged onto the scene.
Block, like other little known aspiring players, earned the right to compete in the May event held on the East Course at Oak Hill in Rochester NY. He is not a Tour player but one of the select few local level professionals who played in the final field.
For many such players the intersection with a major championship often means playing 36 holes and failing to make the halfway cut. Returning home in near anonymity.
Block proved otherwise scoring matching rounds of 70. However, unlike others who successfully secure weekend rounds and then faded from view, Block maintained a presence throughout the event.
The highlight came during the final round when paired with Rory McIlroy. Block played first at the par-3 15th and promptly knocked his 7-iron shot directly into the hole. Upon doing so Block turned to his caddie and McIlroy to confirm his dazzling feat.
The crowd roared with the result and Block finished off the round in grand fashion after missing the 18th green he deftly played his pitch shot to seven feet and made the final putt. The four-round total of 281 provided him an exemption into the field for the 2024 PGA Championship to be played at Valhalla in Louisville, KY.
Rarely do players of lesser standing have an impact during major championship play. The stakes are incredibly high and the pressure can overwhelm even the most seasoned of players. For the 46-year-old the wherewithal to play in past major events had resulted in always missing the cut.
Michael Block may have made his 15 minutes of fame as Andy Warhol once famously stated. But his time at Oak Hill during the PGA Championship was nothing short of grand golf theater courtesy of a sensational slam dunk hole-in-one.
Oak Hill was a defining moment and showed a powerful Walter Mitty type story always provides a connection with a heavy underdog.
While golf is a game of a lifetime the wherewithal to play it competitively at the high level reaches a peak for many people and then the descent becomes noticeable. While that preamble may be the norm for many it does not align itself with Bernhard Langer.
Like the 'Energizer Bunny' - Langer keeps going and going.
When Hale Irwin set the mark with 45 PGA TOUR Champions titles the pathway to surpass that record seemed improbable. The 50+ Tour is stacked with more top tier players than ever. There's also the reality that one's best years likely come early right after one becomes eligible to play.
Langer has never let others define him. This is a man who overcame chronic yips at different intervals in his career – a situation that would have driven others into permanent oblivion. When Bernhard missed a Ryder Cup clinching putt at Kiawah in the 1991 matches such a hiccup would have placed an anchor around the neck of many. No so for the focused German.
Bernhard tied the Irwin mark this past February with a win at the Chubb Classic. But the ceiling for many Champions Tour events is contested via 54-hole events.
Langer only added to his legacy in breaking the mark with a superlative win at the U.S. Senior Open. He accomplished that amazing feat by outlasting the tour's top player Steve Stricker who was competing in his home State of Wisconsin.
Langer won his second U.S. Senior Open and added his record 12th senior major title. In addition, the wins extended to 17 consecutive years in which he has won at least one such event. There are no words that can adequately encapsulate what Bernhard has achieved. His commitment to preparation is second to none. No less than Tiger Woods has commended the resolve Langer has shown for so many years.
He capped off the year in grand fashion claiming the PNC Championship in December with son Jason for a record tying 5th win in the event. Just to show a bit of elasticity – Langer won his first two PNC titles with son Stefan.
The Langers sprinted to the title with a final round score of 59 in the scramble format. Easily overcoming a three-shot deficit to start the round and win by two over the Duval team.
In a word --
Wunderbar.
The odds are that golf may not enjoy the happiest of new years – well, at least so far as it goes for professional golf. (The game that really matters, of course, is the stuff that we play.) And so far as it goes on golf’s tours, the R&A and USGA have run into some serious blowback – inevitably so – as regards their efforts to rein in the distance the ball travels, something they would like to see implemented by 2028. Pretty much all the equipment manufacturers and the tour players they sponsor are against the idea. One particular tour player, Adam Scott, has a different idea. “The biggest fundamental change in the game since I’ve been a pro,” he told Golf Magic, “is traditionally the driver has been the hardest club to hit, and now it’s the most forgiving. And that’s the biggest evolutionary change in the golf bag to me.” So let us carry on using drivers with 460cc heads but make the pros use something smaller! Let’s see if that notion catches on.
And then there’s LIV. There is simply no way of getting away from LIV Golf...well, other than by restricting your golf viewing to the major TV outlets. And even then you will not have avoided LIV Golf if you have been watching the DP World Tour; five of the circuit’s final six tournaments of 2023 were won by LIV players. Their number now, of course, includes Jon Rahm, for a fee reported to be £240 million (The Times) or £450 million (Daily Telegraph). That’s quite a disparity, but then all LIV figures are quite divisive. Take Greg Norman, for example.
Although Norman is still in his post. How long the same goes for the hapless Jay Monahan, commissioner of the PGA Tour, is a moot point. In an interview just before Christmas, Viktor Hovland said he could understand why Rahm had defected. And it wasn’t only for the money. “The management of the PGA Tour has done such a bad job,” said the Norwegian. “I’m not complaining about the position I’m in, I’m very grateful, but the management has not done a good job. They almost see the players as labour, not as part of the members. After all, we are the PGA Tour. Without players, there is nothing.” When LIV first started making waves, Monahan refused to ‘demean’ himself by negotiating with them and constantly referred to it as the ‘Saudi Golf League’ which as an organisation was an ongoing insult to the bereaved families of the 9/11 attacks. If he stays in post in any LIV-related deal, he will very much be the junior partner.
Finally, an out-of-left-field prediction. If a deal does get done between the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and the Public Investment Fund, the Saudi backer of LIV Golf, you might find the Ryder Cup being played every year and one in three of the matches being played in Saudi Arabia, perhaps beginning after the centenary match in Ireland in 2027. Oh, and remember that long-ago floated suggestion that as the fourth of the four majors the USPGA Championship might sometimes be played outside the United States in order to enhance its allure? Maybe make a note about that one day enjoying itself in Jeddah, too.
Happy New Year!
You can follow Robert Green on Twitter @robrtgreen and enjoy his other blog f-factors.com
Shane Lowry is “not surprised by anything” in golf after Jon Rahm’s move to LIV Golf but remains hopeful the men’s game can unite in the future.
The start of the Saudi-backed league in 2022 sent shockwaves through the sport, with the likes of Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Sergio Garcia all leaving the PGA Tour to compete in LIV’s 54-hole, limited-field events.
Rahm had been a staunch supporter of the PGA Tour and while June’s framework agreement between the American circuit, the DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – which bankrolls LIV – was hoped to bring the game back together, many players were publicly critical of the secretive nature of negotiations which led to the agreement.
Rahm’s move earlier this month was the latest chapter in a tumultuous period for the game and Lowry admits nothing surprises him anymore.
“We weren’t too surprised in the end, but I’m not surprised by anything that happens at the minute,” Lowry told reporters at the launch of the Irish Open.
“It had been rumoured for a while so there’s no smoke without fire, is there?”
After his switch, Rahm spoke of his hope that he would be able to continue to play across tours, a hope shared by his European Ryder Cup team-mate from 2021 and September’s 16.6-11.5 win over the United States.
“Hopeful is the word I’d use,” added Lowry.
“I mean, I’m not involved in anything. I just try to worry about my own thing and get on with my own game.
“But I’d be very hopeful that at some stage in the near future we will be back playing the same tournaments together and I think that’s what the world of golf needs.”
As the weather gets colder, the daydreams of Augusta National in April grow stronger across golf fans and punters. Many golfers will be itching to test out the new clubs purchased in the winter holiday season and are also waiting to watch Scottie, Jon, Rory and the rest of them navigate Amen Corner with a two-stroke lead on Sunday! For those golf fanatics and punters in general, we’ll look at the current odds for the 2024 Masters, along with some names of players that should be monitored heading into the event.
2024 Masters Betting Odds
| Player | DraftKings | FanDuel | Bet365 | UniBet |
| Jon Rahm | +750 | +750 | +750 | +750 |
| Scottie Scheffler | +800 | +850 | +900 | +900 |
| Rory McIlroy | +900 | +850 | +900 | +900 |
| Jordan Speith | +1600 | +1500 | +1600 | +1600 |
| Viktor Hovland | +1400 | +1700 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Brooks Koepka | +1600 | +1700 | +1400 | +1800 |
| Patrick Cantlay | +2000 | +1900 | +1800 | +2000 |
| Cameron Smith | +2200 | +2100 | +1800 | +2200 |
| Collin Morikawa | +2200 | +2100 | +2500 | +2000 |
| Xander Schauffele | +2200 | +2800 | +2200 | +2000 |
*odds as of December 18, 2023
Leaders in the Clubhouse
Jon Rahm: The Spaniard wore the infamous green jacket for the first time in 2023, but he will enter the 2024 Masters as a member of LIV instead of the PGA. Rahm signed an astronomical deal with LIV during the off-season, so fans won’t see much of him prior to April when he looks to defend his crown. Regardless of who he is affiliated with, Rahm has proven to be comfortable playing in Augusta, with four top-ten finishes to go along with his outright win last year.
Scottie Scheffler: After winning the event in 2022, Scheffler could not defend his title last year, as he managed a T10 finish. Hitting greens in regulation is a massive factor in being competitive at Augusta, and Scheffler led the PGA Tour in GIR for the 2022-23 season, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone to see his odds where they are.
Rory McIlroy: You never know what you’ll get when Rory shows up to the Masters. In 2022, he would leave with a second-place finish after shooting a 64 in the final round, but last year, he missed the halfway cut. Despite his up-and-down success in the event, one of the biggest things that makes McIlroy so appealing is his ability to crush par 5s, as he finished the 2022-23 season ranked 23rd in the PGA in Par 5 scoring average.
Jordan Speith: Outside of two down years by his standards in 2020 and 2022, Speith has been a constant name at the top of the leaderboard for this event. In his debut in the event, he finished T2, and after finishing T4 last year, he has now finished T5 or better in five of the ten times he’s played in the Masters. Despite winning no events in 2022-23, Speith’s experience always makes him a tough name to ignore.
The Sleepers
Ludvig Aberg: Right now, on most NJ Sportsbook apps, Aberg is listed at (+4000) to win the Masters, and while he would have to be the first debutant to win the event since 1979, he’s still a name to watch at least for the Top Debutant betting market. In his first year on the PGA Tour, Aberg put on a show with four top-ten finishes while also dazzling in the Ryder Cup. After finishing 2nd in strokes gained off the tee for the 2022-23 campaign, the Swede could be a popular name by the time April rolls around.
Sahith Theegala: Even at 26 years old, Theegala has already shown impressive poise in big moments. The Pepperdine alumni was a name a lot of people were excited about heading into last year's event, and he lived up to the hype by shooting a 67 in his fourth round and finishing 9th. After that finish, he is currently (+8000) to win the event in 2024.
Close to the pin is where Theegala has proven to be the most dangerous, as he finished last season ranked 22nd in strokes gained around-the-green and 17th in strokes gained for putting, which bodes well at a course like Augusta National.
The Why Not Section
If we learned anything from last year’s event, there can always be an unexpected name hanging around at the top of the leaderboard. Sam Bennett was the latest example, as he finished T16 despite still being in college at the time. As a reminder, these are not picks for the event but more just names worth keeping in the back of your mind.
Si Woo Kim: Coming off a T29 finish last year, Kim is currently (+15000) to win the event on BetRivers. His finish at the Masters may not blow anyone away, but he had a strong 2022-23 season with five top-ten finishes and a T20 finish in the FedEx Cup. With good driver accuracy and an ability to perform well out of the sand or bunkers, Kim could be looking at an even better finish this year.
Standing in 9th position as the world's most popular sport, golf has an estimated 450 million fans who enjoy either spectating, watching golf on TV, or playing the game or via online gaming platforms and virtual reality.
Since originating on the eastern coast of Scotland, the game of golf has evolved somewhat. For instance, the original equipment used to play included bent sticks hitting pebbles over tracks and dunes.
However, in the 15th century, the popularity of golf impaired the nation's ability to defend itself against an enemy as many neglected their duty to complete military training. As such, King James II banned golf in 1457.
But, despite the ban, people continued to play golf regardless. And in 1502, the game was reinstated with a seal of royal approval from King James IV of Scotland.
Although golf was originally restricted to “wealthy, overweight Protestants”, today it’s open to anybody who owns hideous clothing! - Dave Berry
The game's popularity has increased somewhat since its inception with more people wanting to indulge in the many benefits playing golf brings, such as;
One of the biggest developments in golf to date is the ability for fans to play using a golf simulator and virtual reality software. Which brings its own added benefits, such as;
With winter upon us but the need to play golf still looming, playing online is a strong alternative. So, for a rundown of the best online golf courses to play right now, continue reading…
Starting at the home where golf began, St. Andrews allows players to play multiple courses in the Links Trust including the world famous ‘Old’ – a true iconic venue.
Arguably an underrated design, Franklin Hills features pristine greens, a volcano hole and some interesting strategic placements off the tee, making this a must-play for the experience alone.
Playing golf by the sea is a dream for many fans, and the simulation of Pebble Beach is the next best thing to the real-life setting, allowing players to be near cliff-sides and the Pacific Ocean.
The scenery includes sweeping artificial flat lies of grass, making this the perfect setting to put your golfing abilities to use.
The course was designed by Rob Collins and Tad King and the design is difficult, firm and fast.
The allocated slots for booking a bay vary, but usually, they're around an hour.
So, if you're playing alone and want to practice, consider using the last 15 minutes to play on Sweetens Cove Golf Course.
The architect Gil Hanse's work was brought to life here featuring tight surrounds and shorter grass run-offs.
This course is popular because it is one of a few where players need to hit balls strategically into slopes and shape their shots.
Much like St. Andrews, Rio's course is best known for firm greens, fairways and challenging pins.
Featuring beautiful landscapes St Georges reveals lush green lawns unlike any other. From the rolls and old-school contours and stunning views.
Another firm favourite for golfers who enjoy ocean views, Casa De Camp, created by Pete Dye, is a visually pleasing golf site that gently slopes towards the cliff side and then dips into the ocean.
Furthermore, this course has consecutively won a position in the world's top 100 golf courses, so be sure to try it out when the need for a simulated sea view whilst playing.
With some of the best-simulated golf courses you can play online, you'll be sure to keep boredom at bay during the winter season, improve your golfing skills and have a lot of fun as you do.
Louis Oosthuizen has won the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open with a final round 69 for a 17-under, 271 total.
Laurie Canter came second at 15-under, Jacques de Villiers, Daniel Brown and Sebastian Söderberg tied for third at 14-under.
Oosthuizen moves up to 133 from 197 this week, Canter to 178 from 253, de Villiers to 725 from 984, Brown to 198 from 230 and Söderberg up eight places to 141.
