Hovland's driver broken in transit

[dubbelbogey]

Looks like Viktor Hovland's clubs were delayed in getting to him in Hawaii. Sounds like his driver shaft got busted in the process.

 

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/viktor-hovland-driver-snapped-by-airline-on-eve-of-years-first-pga-tour-event?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=golfdigest

 

He posted a picture showing the broken driver, but there is no Stiff Arm (or similar) in the shot. Seems somewhat suspect that a pro at his level wouldn't protect his clubs a bit better. Or, did he have a Stiff Arm in the bag and did it still fail to protect the driver?

 

 

[BB28403]

I mean wahhh wahhh 😭 

 

guess ping will send him new ones either way right?

 

since their lofts could be compromised.

[PZero]

[dcmidnight]

Not going to harp on this but of all the broken club stories I've heard over the years, 100% of them have been in soft sided cases like this. Been using an SKB for 10 years or so, stunned that more pros dont use them. But while these cases seem very rare regardless, things like this do happen.

 

But...either way, Viktor, leaving your heads attached to the shafts while in transit is absolute amateur hour - PGA pro or not.

Edited January 5, 2022 by dcmidnight

[Jc0]

And this is why you remove wood heads when you travel. 

[dcmidnight]

Just now, Jc0 said:

And this is why you remove wood heads when you travel. 

 

No kidding.

[jholz]

I was honestly a bit surprised by the show of emotion from Hovland over this incident...

 

although I completely understand. You should have heard me on the line with Fedex customer service when my irons got lost in transit. Not one of my finest moments as a human being. 

 

but, dude seems so unflappable on the course. 

 

At the end of the day, I'm not a tour pro and I don't trust the airlines with my clubs one single bit. When I travel, I rent clubs. My babies stay nice, safe, and snuggly in their little bag at home. They are so cute! 🥰

[dcmidnight]

I agree, he went off cursing at Delta in other posts - seems a little...pampered/ridiculous to be honest. Like someone who has never traveled commercial before. How many thousands of flights were cancelled yesterday? 

 

I fly with mine in a hard shell case - with a GPS/tracker tag on it. I'm amazed that somehow I'm more OCD about my gear than a PGA Pro.

[Valtiel]

Um, last time this happened he went on to win the tournament with a loaner shaft. PRETTY sure this is a good omen for him.  😂

[Kenbone]

This is why I only fly private. 😜

Edited January 5, 2022 by Kenbone

[golftech]

Where’s the club glove stiff arm?

[Mr.Cleeks]

Next time Viktor should travel to Hawaii via boat to avoid such a catastrophe. 

[DLiver]

VH has a NetJets affiliation. I'm guessing that the long haul to HI made him choose commercial. And, since he doesn't fly commercial (much) these days, his kit for his golf bag while traveling is quite different than yours and mine. 😉

[KBong]

🤣

 

[straightshot7]

Why isn’t he using a hard case? 

[MtlJeff]

Baggage handlers with soft shell cases be like

 

 

 

 

 

[khalespace]

He broke the driver intentionally, to be on the PIP list for 2022.

[Holy Moses]

2 hours ago, dcmidnight said:

I agree, he went off cursing at Delta in other posts - seems a little...pampered/ridiculous to be honest. Like someone who has never traveled commercial before. How many thousands of flights were cancelled yesterday? 

 

I fly with mine in a hard shell case - with a GPS/tracker tag on it. I'm amazed that somehow I'm more OCD about my gear than a PGA Pro.

He had been waiting 5-6 days for his clubs. Lost luggage occurs, but it shouldn’t take that long.

[Creedo77]

Kinda odd that for one he didn’t see on the delta app that his bag wasn’t on the plane. 
 

Most pros don’t use the hard case. I’ve never used one so I’m not sure how much more you can fit. Most guys will throw in a couple pairs of shoes and other training aids in their travel bags. 

Edited January 6, 2022 by Creedo77

[Foreleft]

He is probably upset that with Pings horrid turnaround times, he won’t have a driver ready for his Champions Tour debut.

[dubbelbogey]

I've been to a few PGA Tour and European Tour events and have been able to see their gear as they check in/out of the hotel. Virtually all of them use soft cases - typically Club Glove, though not exclusively. As far as I could tell, Stiff Arm or similar were also standard.

 

I was curious about this so I asked somebody who was part of a player's group. He said it was because hard cases break with the amount of travel they do. They get crushed and racked to the point where the hinges break and the latches won't latch anymore.

 

 

 

[nikeblades00]

I really would of figured he had a few extra sets of everything, and someone could ship it overnight to him if need be. 

So I wonder if he practiced during those 5-6 days with someone else's clubs or new stock clubs from a store possibly.

[dcmidnight]

8 hours ago, dubbelbogey said:

I was curious about this so I asked somebody who was part of a player's group. He said it was because hard cases break with the amount of travel they do. They get crushed and racked to the point where the hinges break and the latches won't latch anymore.

 

I've gotten the opposite answer, that so many of these guys fly some sort of private or shared private - at least for all the domestic travel - that they dont worry about their bags going through the "regular channels". You can even see the original picture of his CG bag, it certainly doesnt looked stuffed full of padding like most of us would do.

 

SKBs will take a beating and they are specifically built to replace broken parts. In other words - if one latch breaks, you can easily take it off and replace it with the new one they send you. This has happened to me once and they sent me two new latches - no questions asked.

 

Sorry but I cant buy the argument that "our bags go through so many beatings and so much harsh treatment that we chose to use a bag with less protection...because the hinge might break". Better than your driver breaking.

[LukeDonaldsTiger]

SKB‘s are sturdy, but a pain to handle. Softcases, stiff arm, unscrewing wood heads, putting socks over every other iron head, tangling 2-3 towels over the clubs is better IMO. 

If I was a Tour Pro with a big bag, I‘d even put the irons in with the heads in the bottom (grips up). 

[CaseyC]

Had it happen to me on the way back from Hawaii on AA.   Broke the driver, 3 wood and stiff arm.

 

I take heads off now

Edited January 6, 2022 by CaseyC

[bscinstnct]

 

[hunterdog]

VH can really afford to, at the least, ship his bag via FedEx or ShipStix.  I have used both services and it’s an added expense but the clubs have always shown up timely and at my hotel; no pain dragging through an airport and picking up on the other end.  Even then I remove the heads, use a support, stick plenty of towels, wet weather gear, around the club heads. I know an carrier should, in perfect world, get all of your bags to the destination timely and in good repair but we know it’s not a perfect world; look how many travelers will not check baggage.

[J_Tizzle]

I'm surprised he's flying Delta in all honesty.  Needs a NetJets sponsorship so he doesn't have to deal with that stuff.  

[J_Tizzle]

10 hours ago, dubbelbogey said:

I've been to a few PGA Tour and European Tour events and have been able to see their gear as they check in/out of the hotel. Virtually all of them use soft cases - typically Club Glove, though not exclusively. As far as I could tell, Stiff Arm or similar were also standard.

 

I was curious about this so I asked somebody who was part of a player's group. He said it was because hard cases break with the amount of travel they do. They get crushed and racked to the point where the hinges break and the latches won't latch anymore.

 

 

 

 

Thats a very good point I hadn't thought of, I'm sure those cases just mashed up to the point where they won't close/latch then they have a whole other set of issues.  

[dcmidnight]

I'm not making fun of the guy but its entirely possible he doesnt fly commercial with his clubs - ever - and doesnt know any better in terms of how to pack his gear. 

 

Honestly I hope its that bc there's no other explanation I can talk myself into. 

 

Didn't Ok State travel private for their golf events? (I could be making that up).