Articles by E. Michael Johnson

Start your engines!

McLaren’s shock entry into the golf space promises plenty of thrills and – hopefully – very few spills.

The clubs J.J. Spaun used to win the 2026 Valero Texas Open

It wasn’t exactly Davy Crockett and James Bowie at the Alamo, but J.J. Spaun dodged some bullets on the way to winning the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio. It marked the second time Spaun has won the event, emerging victorious in 2022 as well.

Tester Approved: The best putters for players with poor distance control

Grief on the greens takes on many forms, from not making reasonable putts to three-jacking all over the lot. Perhaps there is no more maddening form of it than the failure to knock a 20-footer into the proverbial “circle of trust”—close enough for a no-doubt-about-it gimme from even the stingiest of opponents. That’s why one Read more…

Most popular Masters wins

Aside from the obvious (2013), these were the most well-received victories from 40 years of covering golf.

Tester Approved: The best irons for bad iron players

Hitting greens is key to being able to score. However, before you break out a “Captain Obvious” retort, you’d probably be surprised to know that players with handicaps in the mid-teens only average hitting three or four greens a round. Add in that it’s rare to find a short-game wizard in that handicap range and Read more…

PXG Stick’em Forged wedges: What you need to know

PXG’s new Stick’em Forged wedges deliver tour-inspired feel and consistency. Triple-forged 8620 steel, high toe weighting, optimized grooves and versatile grinds give golfers more spin, stability and confidence around the green.

Ping i540 irons: What you need to know

Ping has introduced the i540 irons, a players-distance model featuring a maraging steel face, tungsten weighting and inR-Air technology to deliver more speed, higher launch and improved feel.

McLaren races into the golf equipment business

McLaren is entering the golf equipment market with the launch of McLaren Golf. The racing and automotive giant promises innovation-led, high-performance products, with its first unveil scheduled for 29 April.