December 31st, 2008 by PGA Golf Art

Phil Mickelson surprised many golf fans in 2004 when he decided to switch clubs shortly before the Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills, going from Titleist and Callaway Golf.

Professionals typically change clubs in the off-season when there is time for proper fitting and so they can develop some confidence in their new gear before the important tournaments are played.

Charles Howell III (left), who defeated Mickelson in a playoff to win the 2007 Nissan Open at Riviera Country Club, went that route in December by switching from Callaway to Bridgestone. The In the Bag portion of Howell’s official Web site still says, "To Be Announced Soon," but according to Bridgestone representatives he is now playing the soon-to-be-released J36 Cavity Back 3- through 6-iron and J36 Blade 7-iron through PW, as well as the Bridgestone WC Design Sand Wedge (54°). Howell also switched to the Bridgestone Tour B330-S golf ball. Interestingly, he did not have Bridgestone woods in his bag at the Mercedes-Benz Championship last week; Howell used a TaylorMade r7 SuperQuad TP driver, TaylorMade Burner fairway wood and a Ping Redwood putter.

The No. 11-ranked player in the world, Rory Sabbatini (right), got under the skin of Tiger Woods at the Wachovia Championship and again at the Target World Challenge. This season Sabbtini will be swoosh-less, having parted ways with Nike Golf and started a new relationship with Adams Golf.

According to a media release on Sabbatini’s Web site, he is now playing the Adams Insight driver, Idea Pro hybrid and Idea a3 irons. Sabbatini appeared to be using the yet-to-be released Odyssey Black Series i#9 putter.

While Sabbatini may have switched clubs, he’s still wearing skull belt buckles – David Dusek (Photos: Howell/Jonathan Ferrey/WireImage.com; Sabbatini/Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

December 31st, 2008 by PGA Golf Art

Hawaii’s two most prominent golfing teens, Tadd Fujikawa and Michelle Wie, are not in the field for the 2009 Sony Open.

December 31st, 2008 by PGA Golf Art

What’s ahead in 2009? We convened a meeting of SI senior writers Michael Bamberger,John Garrity, Alan Shipnuck and Gary Van Sickle, plus a PGA Tour player (who participated on the condition that he remain anonymous), and analyzed next season.

December 31st, 2008 by PGA Golf Art

SI’s Alan Shipnuck says it was Paul Azinger who single-handedly changed the American Ryder Cup team’s culture of losing and gave us the sloppiest, most joyous scene of the sports year.

December 31st, 2008 by PGA Golf Art

Echoing A Christmas Carol, our resident medium conjures Golf Future, a vision of fright and delight.

December 31st, 2008 by PGA Golf Art

The Tiger-inspired audience is vast, but it’s more fickle than one made up of golfers who will watch no matter who’s playing.

December 31st, 2008 by PGA Golf Art

A look back at the small moments of ‘08 that are sure to make you shake your head.

December 31st, 2008 by PGA Golf Art

Paul Goydos once joked that he made PGA Tour history in 2007 by winning the Sony Open as the first player to beat a field that included a 5-foot boy (Tadd Fujikawa) and a 6-foot girl (Michelle Wie). If Goydos wins at Waialae next month, it could be against a field that doesn’t include either of Hawaii’s most famous golfing teens.

December 31st, 2008 by PGA Golf Art

San Diego was still buzzing after five days of a U.S. Open that ranks among the most memorable. The airport was filled with chatter, and travelers stopped to watch highlights at every bar of Tiger Woods wincing and willing his way to victory. In a working area of the Crown Room at Lindbergh Airport, the agent for Tiger Woods sat alone with his legs crossed, feet pressed against the window as he…

December 31st, 2008 by PGA Golf Art

We’re less than 10 days away from the start of the 2009 PGA Tour schedule (the Mercedes-Benz Championship tees off on Jan. 8), and two weeks from the Sony Open.

And…