Tour Proven: James Nicholas Wins the 2026 Astara Golf Championship
The 2026 Astara Golf Championship came down to the last putt on the 72nd hole. Trailing by just one shot, James Nicholas needed a birdie on the Par 5 18th hole to secure his first Korn Ferry Tour victory. Sticking his second shot to 13 feet, James had the opportunity to capitalize in triumphant fashion. He holed the putt for Eagle and won by 2 strokes with a final tournament score of 265, 19 under par, successfully securing his breakthrough win.
With incredible focus and remarkable precision, James Nicholas overcame difficult course conditions. His triumph reflects not only his talent but also the importance of trusting the right equipment. A significant contributor to his success? The QUAD Tour 17 Non-Tapered.
James overcame the competition and was first in scrambling percentage (81.25%), demonstrating his ability to recover and save par under pressure. Matched with a tournament leading 1.66 Putts per GIR (Greens in Regulation), showing just how essential his putting and putter grip were to his success.
“Congratulations to James on a breakthrough win at the Astara Golf Championship,” said Garsen Golf CEO and Founder Bernerd Garsen. “We’ve worked closely with James over the years to help him find the best fitting grip for his game, and I think we’ve finally found one in the QUAD Tour 17 Non-Tapered. It was amazing to see how consistent and resilient his putting was this week. Congratulations James, this one has been a long time coming.”
His consistent putting throughout the championship was, in part, due to his choice in the QUAD Tour 17 Non-Tapered. The QUAD Tour 17 Non-Tapered grip, praised for its ergonomic design and superior feel, allowed James to maintain confidence and precision on the greens. Perfectly aligning with his playing style, it reinforced the connection between player and putter, proving that the right tools make a world of difference.
It’s inspiring to see how James has evolved as a player over the years, and this championship win is a testament to his arduous efforts and commitment. Not only does this win signify a milestone for James, but it also highlights the potential of innovative golf equipment to elevate a player's game.
The Garsen Golf QUAD Tour 17 Non-Tapered is a versatile grip that provides a comfortable, traditional style form factor that can be utilized and adapted to any player’s putting style.
The QUAD Tour 17 design works well for all putting styles, including traditional, claw, and saw style putting grips. With a flat topline and bottom, players can easily square up the putter face with complete consistency every time. Its unique shape takes “the hands out of the putting” and promotes shoulder rotation, creating a solid putting stroke, which will give you a one-piece feel, leading to a more consistent stroke.
This Non-Tapered, Extended length version of the QUAD Tour line is the heaviest grip in the Garsen Golf lineup and provides a counterbalanced feel without the need for additional weight being added to the putter or the shaft – we call this Flow Balance. Paired with its smooth texture, it fits and feels comfortable in players' hands.
QUAD Tour 17 Non-Tapered Specs:
Grip diameter: 1.4 Inches
Weight: 120 grams
Core Size: .600
Firmness: Medium
Shock Absorption: High
Material: High-Tech PU
Feel: Semi-tacky Smooth Textured
Profile: Non-Tapered Four-Sided Angled