Tag: Long Drive

2024 World Long Drive World Championships feature cash prizes for top three 400+-yard drives

The three longest drives Sunday that go beyond 400 yards will be awarded an additional cash bonus.

The 2024 World Long Drive World Championships started Thursday in Atlanta. The competition features two divisions of golfers vying for money and bragging rights.

Eagles Landing Country Club in Stockbridge, Georgia, is the site for this year’s title, with a men’s open division – 96 competitors – and the women’s division – 22 – duking it out over four days.

The open division’s best competitor this season is Colton Casto with three victories, including back-to-back coming into the championships. Meanwhile, Mai Dechathipat has two wins in the women’s divison, the lone woman to win more than once, including the most recent stop.

Coming into the championships, the longest drive this season in the open division is 463 yards by Justin James. The longest drive in the women’s division is 387 yards by Dechathipat.

The prize money in Atlanta this week was adjusted Thursday evening, upping both the open division to $40,000 and the women’s division to $15,000. There’s additional prize money up for grabs this week. On Sunday, the three longest drives that go beyond 400 yards, into an area dubbed the Newton Landing Zone, will be awarded an additional cash bonus.

Saturday’s rounds will be live on ESPN+. The women’s final will be on Golf Channel on Monday and the open final will be on Golf Channel on Tuesday.

Jason Kelce wins American Century Championship’s Long Drive Competition, celebrates with bubbly

The sibling rivalry between Jason and Travis Kelce is heating up once again.

The sibling rivalry between Jason and Travis Kelce is heating up once again. This time on the golf course.

As the annual American Century Championship gets underway in Lake Tahoe this weekend, Jason got out to the course early and demonstrated his raw power by smashing a ball 322 yards to win the Long Drive Competition.

It was Jason Kelce’s first time teeing up in the Longest Drive and it couldn’t have gone any better. With AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” playing over the speakers, the retired Philadelphia Eagles star stepped up to the tee and did everything right. Perfect swing, perfect contact, perfect carry.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9TdI4IPHu5/

There’s just something a little bittersweet about the victory since Travis Kelce won the contest last year with a much longer drive with a carry of 362 yards.

Jason Kelce tees off at the American Century Championship’s long-drive affair. (Photo: Sherry McManus)

On the one hand, Jason defended the Kelce family’s title. On the other, the next episode of New Heights recapping the weekend should be much more fun for Travis than Jason.

We might need a drive-off between these two to settle this one. Or at the very least, Travis needs to try to reclaim his title next year.

Three winners crowned at 2023 World Long Drive Championships, including Kyle Berkshire

World Long Drive’s tag line is “This is golf at full throttle,” and this year’s championship did not disappoint.

World Long Drive’s tag line is “This is golf at full throttle” and this year’s championship did not disappoint.

World Long Drive announced its return to the sport in 2023, and after a long season, three new world champions were crowned at the Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta.

Ryan Reisbeck took home the title of the Senior Division Champion. His winning drive totaled 372 yards as he faced Robert Oristaglio.

“I’ve been chasing this goal for 13 years now and it’s great to finally achieve it,” said Reisbeck.

Kyle Berkshire faced Sean Johnson in the finals and won his third world title with a drive of 398 yards. Berkshire had a season full of breakthroughs as well as drawbacks, but he delivered when it mattered most.

Monica Lieving faced four-time world champion Phillis Meti in the womens finals and took home her first championship title with a drive of 288 yards. This is not anywhere near Lieving’s typical driving distances, but Meti went out of bounds on all six balls resulting in a win for Lieving.

Prior to the World Championship, Lieving set a new personal best of 125.2 mph clubhead speed and 187 mph ball speed. These numbers are faster than most PGA Tour players.

2023 World Long Drive

All three players won with a 48” Kinetixx Velocity LD30+ shaft. Reisbeck and Lieving used the Callaway Paradym Long Drive head and Berkshire used the Cobra Aerojet Long Drive head.

All three champions train out of One Stop Power Shop in North Carolina coached by Bobby Peterson. Peterson has coached all three athletes for multiple years and these wins came with a lot of sweat and tears.

“I’m pleased with the effort of the entire OSPS team. We’ve worked hard all year and for the team to us in this position it awesome,” Peterson said. “Congratulations to Monica Lieving Ladies World Ling Champion and Kyle Berkshire open World Long Drive Champion and Ryan Reisbeck Senior World Long Drive Champion. That’s a clean sweep for the OSPS.”

To learn more about the sport, go to Worldlongdrive.com.

Golf instruction: Stop giving up power with your driver

Let’s get your swing a little bit longer.

Using power efficiently in the golf swing is something that most amateur golfers have not mastered. Oftentimes, when golfers try to swing harder they get out of sorts and lose their timing and delivery of the club.

[anyclip-media thumbnail=”https://cdn5.anyclip.com/aJ4FB4sBLH5_irLu6Y8p/1696629986923_248x140_thumbnail.jpg” playlistId=”undefined” content=”PHNjcmlwdCBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vcGxheWVyLnBvcHRvay5jb20vYW55Y2xpcC13aWRnZXQvbHJlLXdpZGdldC9wcm9kL3YxL3NyYy9scmUuanMiIGRhdGEtYXI9IjE2OjkiIGRhdGEtcGxpZD0ibWZmZGlyc2Nncnp1ZXRjaWd2cHdzNHNtb3UzZnNvZHEiIHB1Ym5hbWU9IjE5OTgiIHdpZGdldG5hbWU9IjAwMTZNMDAwMDJVMEIxa1FBRl9NODMyNyI+Cjwvc2NyaXB0Pg==”][/anyclip-media]

This week, Golfweek’s fitness guru and long driver Averee Dovsek demonstrates how to harness more power when hitting your driver.

Having length and extension in your backswing can lead to a better position at the top of the swing and this can help with a better impact position.

If you’re interested in any of Averee’s fitness content, click here.

If you’re looking for more instruction, click here.

Kyle Berkshire hits record 579-yard drive at Rochelle Ranch in Wyoming

There’s long and then there’s Kyle Berkshire long.

There’s long and then there’s Kyle Berkshire long.

The long-drive champ has outdone himself once again, this time at Rochelle Ranch Golf Course in Rawlins, Wyoming.

On Monday, Berkshire was playing the No. 3-ranked golf course on Golfweek’s Best courses you can play in Wyoming, which also happens to be the longest course in the state, tipping out at 7,925 yards.

Berkshire was on the 12th hole and on his eighth tee shot that morning, he made history. The moment, of course, was captured on cell phone video for all the world to see.

As it turns out, he set two records Monday. A few holes after launching his long-drive ball, he set the mark for ball speed off the club: 241.7 mph.

According to Berkshire’s team, the ball carried 515 yards and was in the air for 11 seconds. Spotters originally measured it at 577 yards but after further review, it officially came in at 579.66 yards, beating the previous mark by 26 yards.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 tag=451197054]

Travis Kelce mashes tee shot to win long drive contest at American Century Championship

That ball is gone.

[anyclip pubname=”2122″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8171″]

Travis Kelce is no stranger to smothering opponents on the football field for the Kansas City Chiefs. He can also mash a golf ball.

Two weeks ago, Kelce and Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes topped Golden State Warriors stars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in Capital One’s The Match in Las Vegas. Now, Kelce has another golfing accolade he can add to his resume: long drive champion.

Kelce and other celebrities are at Lake Tahoe this week for the 2023 American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe. It’s one of the best fan events of the year, as celebrities take on one another in a modified Stableford format over 54 holes. Tony Romo, the defending champion, is the favorite to win. Action gets underway Friday.

However, the two-time Super Bowl winning tight end gets bragging rights for being the longest off the tee. During Thursday’s long drive competition, Kelce mashed his tee shot with a carry (!!!) of 362 yards to win the title.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuqFVrZMhJr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Not a bad few weeks for Kelce with the sticks.

What does it take to win a men’s World Long Drive competition?

Everyone can think of that one friend who hits their driver a bit further than the rest of the friend group.

Everyone can think of that one friend who hits their driver a bit further than the rest of the friend group.

Whether they’re an ex-baseball player, another type of athlete or just a guy with good genetics, maybe the topic of long drive has been brought up. World Long Drive is back, but what exactly does it take to win a men’s competition?

Colton Casto, a 27-year-old from Snohomish, Washington, won this last weekend in Memphis, Tennessee, with a winning ball of 380 yards, and this victory was a long time coming.

Casto has been working with his coach, Bobby Peterson of One Stop Power Shop, out of Newton Grove, North Carolina, since 2018. Peterson has produced many world champions, such as Kyle Berkshire and more, but Casto’s journey has been a lengthy one.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ct__6nPOwGl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Peterson owns the OSPS training center, where his athletes hit on simulators and on a lit, outdoor driving range. Training typically consists of multiple hitting sessions, resulting in hundreds of balls hit. Casto has spent eight full weeks at OSPS since the beginning of the year.

When Casto started with Peterson in 2018, his swing speed was around 140 mph and his ball speed topped out at 210 mph. The top ten long drivers swing speeds are now in the 155-169 mph range with ball speeds averaging in the 212-230 mph range.

“Colton and I have put in a lot of work. After the last competition in Denver, he decided to come back to OSPS where we worked on some things to correct his 14 to 15 inch low point in his swing, ” Peterson said. “This was causing him to close the face too quick and flip it. We drilled on that all week long pretty intensely, putting in 200 to 400 balls a day.”

Casto came out on top in Memphis using a Callaway Paradym Long Drive Head set at 2.5 degrees and a 48″ Kinetixx Hypersonic D10 shaft. 

“I couldn’t even talk after the win. It has been such a grind to get to this point,” said Casto.

Added Peterson: “He did the work, came to Memphis and it all came together. I couldn’t be prouder of what he did and of all the OSPS members. We had 10 in the field last week, and seven made the top 16. That’s two wins in a row for us, and we look forward to the next event.”

You can learn more information about World Long Drive here.

Anthony Livingston, who was recently diagnosed with Leukemia, is competing at this week’s World Long Drive event in Florida

Golfweek’s Averee Dovsek talks with Livingston here.

World Long Drive is back, and the second event of the season is underway in Hobe Sound, Florida.

The best hitters from around the world have traveled to test their power and distance in the Florida heat.

This is the second long drive event held in Hobe Sound and each division has developed immensely since 2022.

Golfweek’s Averee Dovsek spoke with Anthony Livingston who helped develop this event at the Hobe Sound Polo Club as he is a local competitor in the area.

Livingston was recently diagnosed with Leukemia and has decided to power through his treatment and compete this weekend.

You can watch the action of this weekend’s events on the World Long Drive’s YouTube channel here.

Rory McIlroy hits one of the greatest drives of all-time to win match against Denny McCarthy at WGC-Dell Match Play

You’ll have to see it to believe it.

Earlier this week, Rory McIlroy said he was in favor of the USGA and R&A proposal to roll back the golf ball for professional and top amateurs.

“I think it’s going to help identify who the best players are a bit easier,” he said.

Well, there’s no question McIlroy is one of the best players in the world. He has been for more than a decade. On Thursday, during his match against Denny McCarthy in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club, McIlroy hit one of the best drives of all-time.

And that’s no exaggeration.

McIlroy and McCarthy’s match reached the 18th hole with the Northern Irishman 1 up. He had the first shot, and his smashed his driver with 188 mph ball speed. It finally landed 349 yards away on the front of the green. It ended 3 feet, 9 inches from the hole. You’ll have to see it to believe it.

That tee shot is the only one through the first two days to end up on the green.

[pickup_prop id=”31514″]

McCarthy’s shot ended up short of the green, and his second shot landed outside of McIlroy’s. McCarthy conceded the match, and McIlroy won 2 up.

Earlier in their match on the par-5 12th hole, McIlroy had a drive that traveled 420 yards.

However, the highlight of the day was his incredible tee shot on the 18th.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=]

World Long Drive sold to GF Sports and Entertainment; competitions return to TV in 2023 with bigger purses

World Long Drive is coming back to TV.

World Long Drive is coming back in 2023 and will be bigger and stronger than before.

GF Sports & Entertainment has acquired the World Long Drive IP, and the sport is set to return to TV on the Golf Channel with bigger purses and excitement.

The last couple of years have been a slow stretch for the sport of long drive. It was not televised during the COVID-19 pandemic when Golf Channel postponed and then canceled the season for World Long Drive. The players decided to pick up the baton and host events at One Stop Power Shop in North Carolina, which blossomed into the Professional Long Drivers Association.

The PLDA faced challenges of travel during COVID and finding advertising dollars within pandemic budgets, but it had the goal of keeping the sport alive. There are a lot of new names in the sport since the last televised event in 2019, and they feel it’s important to get the athletes in the right light and fans on board with the growing sport.

The 2023 WLD season with be comprised of 12 events domestically and more than 30 events internationally. Players will tee it up to win more than $1.1 million in cash prizes. Competitors will have the opportunity to qualify for the World Long Drive Championship at eight qualifying North American events, equating to 128 total qualifying spots.

The tour tees off March 10-12, in Mesquite, Nevada. The Championship will be Oct. 18-22 at Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta.

“World Long Drive is exciting, challenging and fun,” said professional golfer and 2022 PLDA Championship runner-up Bryson DeChambeau. “I started long drive to increase my swing speed, and then I got addicted to hitting it farther and farther. I’m looking forward to qualifying for Atlanta and competing on a national stage in 2023.”

volvik world long drive championship- Season 2018
Volvik World Long Drive Championship  (Photo by: Cy Cyr/Golf Channel)

Amateur level competitors from all over the world aspiring to join the tour will have the opportunity to qualify at various ranges to make it to the grand stage of the championship. This grows the sport in inclusivity, as it will give competitors from 18 different countries the opportunity to compete in the established league.

“To say I am thrilled for World Long Drive to be returning to television is an understatement,” said 2019 World Long Drive Champion Kyle Berkshire. “The sport and its athletes deserve to be showcased on this platform, and I am excited for all of us to deliver many memorable moments and storylines to the viewers over the years to come.”

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01f1jy2metwcg6v9hc image=]