Two years ago, Patrick Cantlay was just starting his comeback from a career-threatening back injury. The PGA TOUR’s first team event in decades was fast approaching. “I wasn’t sure if anybody would really want to play with me. I hadn’t played very many tournaments in three years,â€� said Cantlay, who played just six TOUR events from 2014-16. He decided to phone a friend from his amateur days. Cantlay was a high-schooler when he played a practice round with Patrick Reed at one of the country’s top amateur events, the Western Amateur. Now Cantlay wanted to team with him at TPC Louisiana. Related: Why Tiger chose Tiger … and 15 other things Reed accepted, and the partnership has lasted through all three team editions of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Cantlay and Reed are even the rare team that coordinates outfits. The partnership could make its way to Australia next month. With Jordan Spieth not on this year’s roster and all 11 players clamoring to team with Tiger Woods, it could make sense for the Patricks to pair at the Presidents Cup. Cantlay and Reed, two iconoclasts who are known to keep to themselves, are kindred spirits. Reed stays firmly ensconced in the tight circle known as Team Reed, while the quiet Cantlay is an old soul who can speak more easily about classic rock than college football. “We’ve always enjoyed each other’s company and enjoyed each other’s competitiveness,â€� Reed said. “We are both pretty intense and like team competitions.â€� They finished T14 in the 2017 Zurich and improved to T7 the following year. They missed the cut this year. TPC Louisiana is a much different test than Royal Melbourne, though. The Alister Mackenzie design in Australia promises to play firm and fast. That plays into the hands of Reed and Cantlay. Cantlay, winner of this year’s Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, has long expressed his preference for classic venues, especially those with fast, sloping greens that require players to calculate the perfect combination of speed and line. “I feel like the golf courses, as far as I’m concerned, the rough can’t be long enough, the fairways can’t be narrow enough, the greens can’t be fast enough. I love golf like that,â€� Cantlay said after his win at Muirfield Village. Reed, of course, already has one win at a Mackenzie masterpiece. Their games ostensibly fit well together, with Cantlay known for his strong ball-striking and Reed’s short game being his strong suit. Cantlay said the stats didn’t influence his decision to pair with Reed, though. “You just want to play with the best player that you can,â€� he said. “If you’re good and they’re good, you’ve got a better chance to win than most everybody else.â€� Cantlay finished second to Rory McIlroy in Strokes Gained: Total in 2019. He will be representing the United States for the first time since the 2011 Walker Cup. Reed is the only player to play in every TOUR Championship and qualify for every U.S. team since 2014. This was the first time Captain America needed a captain’s pick, though. In the wake of his 2018 Masters victory, Reed struggled with the changes that come with a maiden major victory. A family vacation to the Hamptons after this year’s PGA Championship helped him regain his form. He’s finished in the top 25 in 13 of his past 14 worldwide starts. His win at THE NORTHERN TRUST was his first since his victory at Augusta National. Reed’s last appearance on a U.S. team, at the 2018 Ryder Cup, ended in controversy, however. He said he was “blindsidedâ€� by not being paired with Spieth. Reed went 1-2 in Paris, losing both his team matches with Woods. Reed said in the same interview that Woods, who won the previous week’s TOUR Championship, apologized for his performance. Reed used to emulate Woods by wearing red-and-black, and they forged a strong bond when Reed was an assistant captain at the 2016 Ryder Cup and 2017 Presidents Cup. Reed insists that last year’s controversy has “been put to bed,â€� however. “I could see myself playing with any one of the guys,â€� he said recently. Cantlay could be a good start.

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SEA ISLAND, Ga. – The 2019 RSM Classic is the last full-field event in the United States in 2019, so it’s no wonder a slew of new products have been unveiled this week. Companies are gathering feedback from PGA TOUR players on new pieces of equipment for 2020, and giving players a chance to test out and get fit into some never-before-seen products. Along with the new Titleist Vokey SM8 wedges, which started undergoing the TOUR seeding process this week, a number of other companies brought out new equipment for the first time, too, including Mizuno, Accra, Project X, Callaway, Axis1, Bettinardi, and SuperStroke. Check out the new equipment below, and what we know so far about each product. Axis1 Rose Black putters In 2019, Justin Rose finished 3rd in overall putting average for the year using an Axis1 Rose prototype putter, which was a two-toned mallet putter initially designed for him. Eventually, that Rose prototype became available to retail. This week, Axis1 unveiled a new Axis1 Rose Black putter that’s modeled after Rose’s putter, except it has an all-black colorway that’s black ion-plated. Made from 303 stainless steel and CNC-milled, the Axis1 Black is also available at retail. SuperStroke Traxion 1.0 PT putter grip Possibly adding onto SuperStroke’s extensive line of Traxion putter grips, which are played by a number of top players on the PGA TOUR, is a new Traxion 1.0 PT grip. It has a smaller diameter than most of the Traxion grips, and it has different textures throughout the grip that are designed to fit different locations on your hands, according to a company representative. The putter grips are currently being tested on TOUR, but they’re still in the prototype phase. Mizuno ST 200 and ST 200G Mizuno unveiled its new ST 200 and ST 200G drivers that are the likely replacements for its ST 190 and ST 190G drivers that were popular on TOUR in 2018-2019. A number of players were spotted testing the new prototype driver models on the range, including Luke Donald, Adam Schenk, Chris Kirk, and Rhein Gibson, among others. Gibson, who was recently an equipment free agent, has officially signed with Mizuno. He’s currently using the new Mizuno ST 200 driver, a TaylorMade fairway wood, a Srixon driving iron, Mizuno JPX 919 Tour irons, Mizuno and Titleist wedges, and a Swag Golf putter. He’s also wearing a Mizuno hat and has a Mizuno staff bag. Callaway Apex MB prototype short irons Aaron Wise was spotted testing “Apex MB� short irons on Monday. While they are early prototypes, according to several sources, the irons appear to have raw faces,milled back cavities, and what appears to be some kind of weight that sits behind the face in the cavity. Unfortunately, that’s all we know so far about this new iron design. Project X EvenFlow Riptide CB Adding to its line of EvenFlow shafts, Project X unveiled a new Small Batch Riptide CB shaft that has a counter-balanced construction for greater stability. Accra Prototype steel shafts True Sports, a company that owns True Temper, recently acquired Accra Golf Shafts, so both shaft companies now exist under the same umbrella. Early this week, Accra unveiled a new prototype steel shaft. While it’s still early in the process, PGA TOUR players are putting the shaft through the paces this week in testing. Bettinardi new TOUR prototypes Bettinardi recently announced a retail line of 2020 BB and Inovai series putters, but it seems the company’s TOUR selection has gotten an upgrade, as well. On the putting green this week, Bettinardi was showing a number of new prototype designs, including an Hexperimental mallet, an Hexperimental DASS blade and a BBBW prototype blade. 

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It’s almost Christmas Party season and the TOUR will have their annual pre-holiday get-together on lovely Sea Island to wrap up the first half of the schedule. The par-70 Seaside Course (7,005 yards) was the original host but Plantation was added to the rotation for the 2015 edition won by Kevin Kisner. Seaside’s large TifEagle Bermuda greens will provide the challenge this week, if the wind stays down, as the pros are rarely bothered by two inches of rough. RELATED: Power Rankings | Daily fantasy advice | Sleeper picks The par-72 Plantation Course (7,060 yards) was just completely renovated and redesigned by tournament host Davis Love III and his brother Mark. I wouldn’t expect it to play as easy as it has in the past, which is normal in year one after changes, but that yardage shouldn’t bother many, if any.  The final regular season event of calendar 2019 will have 156 players casually knocking it around the Seaside (host) and Plantation (Thursday/Friday only) courses for one final chance to become exempt for the rest of this season and the next two. Toss in $1.188 million, (500 FedExCup points) to the winner and it’s not a bad White Elephant gift! The 10th edition at such a popular place to live for the pros would suggest course form is important this week. While I’m not arguing, I’ll point out there have been no repeat or multiple winners during this run. Gamers will remember that’s hardly a surprise in events when tons of birdies and scores in the 60s are required annually to compete. While the residents of Sea Island should have the most reps, don’t forget that when these guys go “home” during the season for a few weeks they aren’t out grinding or playing. They’re usually resting or spending time with family. The recent winners below will point out some interesting trends for use this week. Recent Winners 2018: Charles Howell III (-19, 263) Sea Island resident broke a four-year streak of first-time winners at The RSM Classic. … Defeated Patrick Rodgers in a two-hole playoff. … Led after 18, 36 and 54 holes. … 36-hole lead of three is largest in tournament history and was bogey-free. … Becomes fifth 54-hole leader of the last six to close the deal. … Led the field in GIR and posted sixth in Putting: Birdie-or-Better percentage. Notables: Rodgers closed 61-62 to set the TOUR record for the final two rounds. … Rodgers led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting and birdies with 26. … Top 45 players were 10-under or lower. … Webb Simpson led the field Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green, closed 63-65 for solo third. Luke List matched Simpson’s weekend but was T4. … Nick Watney (64) posted the lowest round of the week at Plantation. 2017: Austin Cook (-21, 261) Missed Kisner’s winning total by a shot as he won by four. … Put on a clinic as he was T4 fairways, T2 GIR and T1 scrambling. … Tied the 36-hole record (-14) while setting the 54-hole record (-18). … Led the field with 23 birdies against only two bogeys (no others). … First TOUR win in 14th start. … First time at the event. … Fifth first-time winner in eight at The RSM Classic. Notables: 2014 champ Chris Kirk (T4) played in the final group and set the Plantation course record (63) in Round 1. … J.J. Spaun (2nd) and Cook shared the low round of the week at Seaside with 62. … Brian Gay (3rd) opened 65-64 and was one of 11 players to post all four rounds in the 60s. … Kevin Streelman (T17) posted one bogey over 72 holes. 2016: Mackenzie Hughes (-17, 265) Opened with 61 on Seaside and never looked back. … Led after every round, except the last, as he won a five-man playoff on Monday. … First TOUR victory in his ninth start. … First attempt at The RSM Classic. … Led the field Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green and birdies (23), second in Putting: Birdie-or-Better percentage and third in scrambling. … Made a triple (!) in Round 3 and still won. Notables: Billy Horschel (P2) and Henrik Norlander (P2) are in the field again this year. … Jim Furyk (T6) and Patrick Rodgers (T10) are also competing this week. … Cut was 5 under. … Resident Jonathan Byrd (T21) and Stewart Cink (T10) signed for 62 at Seaside. Key stat leaders Top golfers in each statistic on the 2018-19 PGA TOUR are listed only if they are scheduled to compete this week. The RSM Classic does NOT use laser measurements on the Plantation course.  * – previous top 10 finish here Greens in Regulation  5  *Jason Dufner  7  *Charles Howell III  8  Josh Teater 12 Talor Gooch 12 Shawn Stefani 14 Martin Laird 15 *Kevin Streelman 17 Cameron Tringale 18 Brice Garnett 20 *Matt Kuchar 23 Jhonattan Vegas 24 *Jim Furyk 25 Hank Lebioda 26 Russell Knox Putting: Birdie-or-Better Percentage  6  Denny McCarthy  7  Aaron Wise 11 Si Woo Kim 14 Dominic Bozzelli 20 Troy Merritt 21 Sepp Straka 23 *Vaughn Taylor Sub-Par Rounds  2  Adam Schenk  3  *Vaughn Taylor  4  Rory Sabbatini  5  *Charles Howell III  8  *Billy Horschel  8  Nick Taylor 12 Joel Dahmen 12 *Kevin Kisner 12 J.T. Poston 19 *Webb Simpson 19 *Matt Kuchar 19 Brian Stuard 22 *Harris English 26 Brice Garnett 26 Matt Jones 26 Denny McCarthy Bermuda Bosses Kevin Kisner: The inaugural champ when Plantation was added, Kisner is 53 under the last four years with a MC. His top 10s include the last two years plus T4 the final time Seaside was the exclusive track. Charles Howell III: His win last season was his fourth top-10 payoff in nine starts. I’d say he’s comfortable on this layout. Webb Simpson: If a fantastic short game is one of the keys, he’ll be involved. Lost a playoff in 2011 and was third last year. Zach Johnson: I used to believe this was his come-down event from a long season but the last two years he’s popped into the top 10 and is 28 under. This might be his new John Deere Classic as he gets older! Dig Deeper Patrick Rodgers: As noted above, he’s found his happy spot here with P2 and T10 in two of his last three attempts. Russell Henley: One of the many Georgia Bulldogs to find top-10 successes on the Golden Isles, Henley has cashed three times in the big bucks in five tries. Brian Harman: Picked up his second top-10 check with T4 two years ago but has posted 66 or better in four of his last six rounds. Chris Kirk: Course record holder at Plantation has T4, T4 and WIN in three of his last six. Wait, What? Matt Kuchar: Never worse than T29 but only one top 10 (T7, 2014) as he’ll make his eighth start. Billy Horschel: Lost in a playoff to Hughes in 2016 yet didn’t play the last two seasons.

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