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Contents FEBRUARY 2020
86 32
The Game 8
Your View
10
Month In Pictures
15
Winners’ Circle
16
Inside The Ropes
18
Debate
19
Diary
20
New Launches
22
In Detail
24
Love To Play
26
How To Bet On Golf
Features 32
Justin Rose interview
38
Justin Rose swing analysis
42
Justin Rose WITB
46
Play More Golf In 2020
52
2020 Tour Preview
58
7 Ways To Improve
60
Guido Migliozzi
Opinion 28
Wayne Riley
30
Matthew Southgate
114 Bill Elliott
Instruction 67
Eddie Pepperell
72
Fault Fixer
74
Strategy
76
Save Par
80
Ernie Els
82
Rules
67
Don’t Miss This Month!
What you can learn from four-time Major Champion Ernie Els p80
Equipment 86
Tested by Golf Monthly
92
Test Centre
94
Buyers’ Guide
96
Head To Head
Courses 101 Top 50 Stay And Play – our guide to the best venues across the length and breadth of these great isles
6
101
Contacts EDITORIAL Editor: Michael Harris Digital editor: Neil Tappin Senior content editor: Tom Clarke Technical editor: Joel Tadman Content editors: Nick Bonfield, David Taylor Editor-at-large: Bill Elliott Design director: Kevin Eason Design editor: Jamie Latchford Deputy design editor: Dan Franklin Picture researcher: Duncan Bond Digital writer: Elliott Heath Contributing editors: Fergus Bisset, Jeremy Ellwood, Rob Smith, Michael Weston Contributing writers: Roderick Easdale, Sam Tremlett Playing editor: Matthew Southgate Staff photographers: Tom Miles, Kevin Murray Contributors: Getty Images, Wayne Riley, Paul Severn, Kenny Smith, Robin Barwick, James Mason Golf Monthly, TI Media Limited, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough Business Park, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 7BF Tel: 01252 555213 Email: golfmonthly@ti-media.com Website: golf-monthly.co.uk ©TI Media Limited ISSN 0017-1816 Sell-out hotline: 020 7907 7777 Back issues: MAGS-UK Opening hours: 9.30am – 1.30pm Monday to Friday mags-uk.com/browse-by-publisher/ti-media.html Tel: 01795 662976 Email: support@mags-uk.com International editions: +1 888 313 5528 Syndication: Lucy Cox 020 314 85483, lucy.cox@ti-media.com / ti-mediacontent.com
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FROM THE EDITOR Michael Harris michael.harris@ti-media.com
The journey to better Anyone who has ever watched a tour pro hit shots in the flesh will know they play a very different game to us ordinary golfers. From the sound the ball makes when it comes off the clubface to the trajectory it flies on and of course the distance it travels, their ability to hit sublime shots more often than not is awe-inspiring. However, the more you analyse how golf at the very top level works, the more you understand that it is not a player’s great shots that determine their performances; rather, it’s the misses and mistakes that in fact define rounds, tournaments and even careers. For evidence of just how profound this truth is, I’d recommend you read our special feature with Justin Rose that is the centre piece of this issue. Rose is as modest in real life as he appears on TV. He reveals how his career has been shaped in a positive way by mistakes he has made, how understanding and accepting his limitations has allowed him to improve and how when it comes to technique, simple is almost always better. It’s a very insightful interview and it can be found on page 32. These same principles stand true for golfers like you and me. It’s not the good or even great shots you hit in the monthly medal that will determine what score you eventually sign for, but rather how destructive the bad ones turn out to be. Looking back over 2019, I had a season where I saw this theory proved on pretty much a weekly basis! I know this because despite feeling like I have been hitting the ball better than I ever have, my handicap has gone up. Also, I’ve been using a game-tracking device that allows me to look back at every shot – both good and bad – that I have hit on the course. My best shot of the year was a knockdown 6-iron that travelled 150 yards into the wind and finished inches away from a hole-in-one on the 2nd at Rosapenna. My worst shot was a 134-yard topped drive that trundled into a ditch on the 11th hole in round two of my club championship. I made a quadruple-bogey en route to a 94! I’m not a great one for new year’s resolutions, but I’ll make an exception when it comes to golf. For 2020, I’m pledging here and now to spend a lot more time working on the weakest areas of my game. See you on the chipping green!
Justin Rose offers a candid insight into his game
Printed by Walstead UK Limited
© 2020 Golf Monthly. Articles and features, including illustrations, can only be reproduced with the permission of the Editor. We regret we cannot be liable for the safe custody or return of any solicited or unsolicited material, whether typescripts, photographs, transparencies, artwork or computer discs. Golf Monthly is published 13 times a year. Contributors are advised to keep copies of all material submitted. US agent: Mercury International, 365 Blair Road, Avenel, NJ 07001. Periodicals paid at Rahway, NJ. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Golf Monthly, 365 Blair Road, Avenel, NJ 07001.
SUBSCRIBE TO GOLF MONTHLY! Get each issue delivered to your door and up to 40% off the price of a regular subscription. Visit golfmonthlysubs. co.uk/AXZ9 or turn to page 98 to find out more information 7
THE GAME
YOUR VIEW
The pick of the letters and emails to hit the Golf Monthly offices this month
Special contributions
An enjoyable visit
The excellent Wayne Riley continues to write great pieces, and in the January issue he posed a terrific question of us all as to what criteria should define great players? In my view, great golfers who did not actually win Career Grand Slams also more than deserve to be called ‘immortals’. A few examples of Major winners, but not Career Grand Slam
In the December edition, there were some recommendations for 36-hole courses, and I want to add to that list. I recently visited Enville Golf Club. Even after the dreadful weather, the courses were in fantastic condition. Generally with 36-hole venues there is a big difference in quality between the courses, but not at Enville. Both courses are absolutely stunning, with the ten holes in the woodland on the Lodge course particularly scenic. What made the trip even more enjoyable was the welcome from members, kitchen staff and most of all
The inimitable Seve won five Majors
the fantastic pro, who was extremely engaging. I would recommend any golf lovers to give Enville a try! Mick Emmerson, Harrogate
Out of the comfort zone I was reading Matthew Southgate’s column in the January edition and one thing he said got me thinking. He mentioned that he tends to pick courses that suit his game (once he has scheduled the Rolex Series events in). I have heard other players state this too, but I wonder whether they should be looking to play courses that do not suit them as well? After all, some or all in association with
Letter of the Month I enjoyed Michael Weston’s piece on rookie golfers who are ready to win from day one immensely [December issue]. I had it going through my mind as I watched German golfer Esther Henseleit win the Magical Kenya Ladies Open and the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit in her first year! She is only 20, but she showed the aggressiveness and poise of a player with countless years as a professional. It is great to see young players with the confidence and belief to win and pull off shots in pressure-filled situations. I think golf lends itself nicely to this, too. In other sports you might have to play head-to-head against an opponent with more experience than you to advance or win, but in golf all you can control is your ball. I believe more young players recognise this and therefore aren’t afraid of success anymore. Chris Scarlett, via email
winners, from my own list of immortals include geniuses such as Seve, Jose Maria Olazabal, Greg Norman, Payne Stewart, Nick Faldo, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer, Ian Woosnam and Tony Jacklin. These immortals made us all watch in amazement at their achievements over the years. They’ve entertained us, we’ve openly witnessed their highs and lows and they’ve made us laugh and cry in equal measure along the way. They have all more than played their part in making our game of golf something very special indeed. Dave Coughlan, Kildare 8
Esther Henseleit capped a glorious rookie season with a win in Kenya
LETTERS
OU R VI EW
Links courses like Lahinch can help develop different skills
Are there enough rivalries in professional golf?
Too much of a good thing The last golfing year was one of the best I can remember, with Tiger Woods winning The Masters, Shane Lowry’s sensational Open win in Northern Ireland and Europe’s last-gasp Solheim Cup victory. I’ve also enjoyed watching the superb seasons from Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm. However, I can’t help but feel there is simply too much golf on throughout the year. Every time I turn the telly on there’s a new tournament and I really feel that the game is suffering. The product is so diluted that you need to watch golf for five hours a week every single week to keep up with what’s going on in the game. Also, because there are so many events, the players have so many to choose from and therefore end up skipping half of them anyway. Look at the Turkish Open and the Nedbank Golf Challenge.
I’d love to see the European and PGA Tours take substantial breaks at the end of their seasons. For example, the NFL takes around six months off and the football season has a three-month break. Same with Formula 1. These gaps give fans genuine excitement and anticipation for the new season ahead – there is none of this in golf. Tim Weller, via email
No 78%
Yes 22%
Shane Lowry’s win at Portrush was a highlight of a congested 2019
Win!
The letter of the month winner receives a year’s supply (six dozen) of the best Titleist golf ball for his or her game
beaten most players in Major fields by the time he stands on the first tee. You’d expect some of those comments to have elicited some heated responses, but no one took the bait. One of the great things about golf is its congenial nature and the mutual respect it fosters, but there’s no doubt rivalry in sport adds extra intrigue and excitement. Perhaps some players don’t want to say what they really think for fear of upsetting sponsors, damaging their reputation or putting extra pressure on themselves, but we’d welcome more outspoken personalities in the pro game. 9
Photography: Getty Images, Ladies European Tour, Steve Carr
of the Majors might be played on ill-suited courses, but you’re not going to pass those by. Surely it is necessary to learn to compete on courses of all types? I’m not looking to criticise, merely gain further insight. Martin Cunningham, via email
Patrick Reed’s response to Cameron Smith’s comments about his two-stroke penalty at the Hero World Challenge – “It goes from wanting to beat those guys [Presidents Cup] to it now turning personal” – made us reflect on the lack of rivalries in the professional game. Can you name any modern golfing rivalries with a bit of edge to them? Last year, Brooks Koepka called out Bryson DeChambeau for slow play, claimed he didn’t consider Rory a rival, called Sergio Garcia a child for his actions in Saudi Arabia and said he’s already
FRO M TE E TO G RE EN
The Game Edited by Nick Bonfield and David Taylor
Tiger Woods Our player of 2019
The emotive images of Tiger Woods winning his 15th Major at Augusta National will live long in the memory. It was a pleasure to witness those scenes on the 18th green after years of career-threatening injuries made even Woods’ most optimistic fans question whether he’d be able to compete in a Major again, let alone win one. His journey back from the abyss serves as a poignant reminder that sheer strength of will can overcome the highest of hurdles.
10
22
$120,459,468
82
7
Woods’ 14th and 15th Major wins were more than ten years apart
Years between his first win at Augusta and his most recent
Tiger’s PGA Tour earnings – almost $30m more than Phil Mickelson, who’s second on the PGA Tour’s all-time money list
PGA Tour wins – tied most ever with Sam Snead
Different PGA Tour events he’s won five times or more
B Y T HE N UM BE R S
THE GAME
74
Min Woo Lee shot a second-round 74 to miss the cut at the Australian Open
2
12
Matt Jones won his second Australian Open title in December
MONTH IN PICTURES
18
Rasmus Hojgaard won the Mauritius Open to become the European Tour’s thirdyoungest victor (18 years, 271 days)
1
Tyler Duncan made one bogey all week at the RSM Classic, his first PGA Tour win
26
5
Months between Henrik Stenson’s last two victories – the Wyndham Championship (2017) and the 2019 Hero World Challenge
Pablo Larrazabal won his fifth European Tour title at the Alfred Dunhill Championship. He struggled badly with blisters during the final round 13
THE GAME
MONTH IN PICTURES
10
Paul McGinley finished tied 10th at the Staysure Tour’s event in the Seychelles
6
Jon Rahm has won six European Tour titles in 40 starts, most recently the DP World Tour Championship
14
THE GAME
WINNERS’ CIRCLE
“I came through when I needed it and I’m really proud of myself for that” Jon Rahm birdied the 72nd hole to win the European Tour’s DP World Tour Championship and the season-long Race to Dubai title Sergio has been a great Spanish champion for years, a Major winner. Ollie is a two-time Major Champion. Miguel Angel Jimenez has done a great job, too, and Alvaro Quiros has won this event. It’s just hard to put into perspective that since Seve, I’m the next Spaniard to win the Race to Dubai. It just doesn’t feel like it’s true.
Give us your reflections on winning your second DP World Tour Championship and your fourth Rolex Series title... I think it’s more of a reflection of a great year than just a good week. I felt like I had two different days in one during the final round. Those first seven holes, I felt like I couldn’t miss a shot. Then just one errant tee shot and a three-putt and things took a turn for the worse. It made me prove myself and show some determination and heart. Did you have to give yourself a little talking to after the three-putt on 15? I told myself on 16 before I hit the tee shot, “If you finish 4, 3, 4, you win the tournament”. I played three really solid holes with a birdie on 18. You dream of making birdies on 18 to win tournaments. How I was playing early on, I was hoping not to need that, but it happened. I came through when I needed it and I’m really proud of myself for that. Just give us your thoughts on the other achievements – winning the Race to Dubai and being only the second Spaniard after Seve to do it, and so early in your career as well… I thought about it all week and as soon as I made the putt. It’s so hard to believe that some of the greatest champions in European and Spanish golf haven’t been able to accomplish what I have in just three years.
Driver TaylorMade M5 9.5°, Aldila Tour Green 70TX shaft
3-wood TaylorMade M5 16°, Aldila Tour Green 70TX shaft
Winning score: -19 New world ranking: 3 Prize money: DP World: £2.34m; Race to Dubai bonus: £1.56m European Tour victories: 6
40
The win was his 6th from just 40 starts on the European Tour – 15 fewer tournaments than Seve needed
25
Rahm made 25 birdies in Dubai, as well as an eagle
What’s in the bag? 5-wood TaylorMade M5 19°, Graphite Design Tour AD-DI 8X shaft
Irons TaylorMade P750 (4-PW), Project X 6.5 shafts
You won $5million in total in one day. How do you treat yourself? I didn’t even think about that, honestly. I don’t do this for the money. It’s obviously a great thing, but it never crossed my mind. With that said, it’s a pretty cool feeling, I’m not going to lie. I just turned 25. It’s unbelievable that I’m going to have that coming my way. I have a great team around me that’s helped me get here, so a lot of that is obviously going to go to them as well. I have a long life to live, so hopefully I’ll put it in a savings account and not need it ever, and keep playing well, but at the same time I’ll help the ones who need it. I know my family will never worry about having problems again, which is fantastic. I won’t do anything extravagant, honestly. I’m not like that. The last time I thought I was making a big purchase, I bought an Xbox. You know, if there’s something that comes to mind, I’ll let you know, but there’s nothing in my mind right now.
Wedges TaylorMade Milled Grind Hi-Toe 520, 560 & 600, Project X 6.5 shafts
Putter TaylorMade Spider X Tour Prototype Ball TaylorMade TP5
15
Rory and DJ dominated several statistical categories in the 2010s
TOUR NEWS
The dawn of a new decade always brings with it a flurry of statistics looking back over the previous ten years, and the 2010s have thrown up their fair share of intriguing numbers. Distance continues to be a major talking point and the stats certainly
highlight the rapid pace of progression. In 2010, 12 players on the PGA Tour averaged 300 yards or more off the tee, with that figure increasing to 50 by the end of 2019. With two of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour, Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson, having the most wins during the decade (18 apiece), the old adage
GOOD MONTH/BAD MONTH Tyler Duncan Just months after struggling to keep his PGA Tour card, American Duncan (pictured) beat Webb Simpson in a play-off to secure his first ever PGA Tour title at the RSM Classic in Georgia.
Shugo Imahira The Japanese pro won the Dunlop Phoenix tournament for his second win of 2019, moving him comfortably inside the world’s top 50. 16
Jason Day After receiving a captain’s pick for the Presidents Cup, injury forced him to pull out. He hasn’t had a top-ten since June 2019.
Hong Kong Open The event was postponed at the end of last year due to ongoing civil unrest. It was rescheduled for this January, but it won’t be sanctioned by the European Tour.
‘drive for show, putt for dough’ is beginning to look a little outdated as we head into the 2020s. Speaking of Rory and Johnson, both players challenged for the honour of most weeks at World No.1 in the 2010s, but they were pipped to the post by, you guessed it, Tiger Woods. Despite an injury- and scandal-hit ten years, he still managed 103 weeks at the top, with McIlroy registering 95 and Johnson 91. It will be fascinating to see if Woods can reach the summit once more as he approaches the winter of his career. Finally, when looking at the Majors, it’s clear that American men still have the upper hand and Asian golfers dominate the women’s game. In 40 men’s Majors, 21 of them were won by Americans and of the 47 women’s Majors, 28 of them were won by a golfer from Asia. Looking at the state of both games right now, it would not be surprising to see that trend continue into the 2020s.
Words: Sam Tremlett Photography: Getty Images
End-of-decade stats highlight changing nature of pro game
INSIDE THE ROPES
3 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT
SHOT OF THE MONTH
Rasmus Hojgaard
During the final round of the Hero World Challenge, Henrik Stenson hit a fairwaywood approach at the par-5 15th to tap-in range.
1
Rasmus and his twin brother Nicolai, who is also a professional golfer, started the game when they were four years old. In an interview with GM, Nicolai said: “Both our parents were playing golf, so it was a case of taking the kids to the golf course. We tried playing and it was quite fun, but we played all the sports you can think of back then so at that time we didn’t think of playing golf all the time.”
2
The two brothers shot to prominence when they teamed up with John Axelsen to win the 2018 Eisenhower Trophy at the World Amateur Team Championship. Rasmus said of the experience: “It’s always a pleasure to represent your country. You are not just playing for yourself, you are playing for the whole nation, so it makes it even more special.”
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
3
He eagled the third play-off hole at the Mauritius Open to win his maiden European Tour title. It was just his fifth European Tour event and, at 18, he became the third-youngest winner in the tour’s history.
NEWS WRAP The Ladies European Tour Order of Merit will be renamed the Race to Costa Del Sol from next season. There will also be an additional bonus fund of £215,000, split between the top three finishers.
SOCIAL CORNER @PGATOUR: “Rory would be my player of the decade” Would you argue with current World No.1 Brooks Koepka’s choice of the best player over the past ten years?
40
¡
400 heat at the Alfred Dunhill Championship led to the European Tour allowing players to wear shorts in competition for the first time.
“IF YOU BREAK THE RULES U N I N T E N T I O N A L LY, IT’S NOT CHEATING” Patrick Reed responds to his two-shot penalty at the Hero World Challenge.
BET OF THE MONTH Rasmus Hojgaard at 129-1. The Dane secured his first European Tour title at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open. 17
THE GAME
DEBATE
Should we be making the game harder for the pros? No
Yes
“I’m sort of honestly sick of coming back over to The European People watch professional golf to see an activity they enjoy Tour and shooting 15-under-par and finishing 30th. I don’t think performed at the highest level. Spectators want to marvel at the courses are set up hard enough. There are no penalties for the players’ ability to produce shots and scores they can only bad shots.” The words of World No.2, Rory McIlroy, after 2019’s dream of. Anything that reduces that level of excitement would Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. be detrimental to the health of the sport. Okay, perhaps not great timing after an To be a captivating spectacle, pro golf event where the courses are deliberately set must be inspiring. The casual viewer is far AND OUR up on the lenient side, but McIlroy did more likely to keep watching and a SURVEYS SAID... express his sentiments a little better the next youngster more likely to feel the urge to pick day: “Strategy, course management and up a club if they’re exposed to high-octane, shot-making are important aspects of low-scoring tournaments. Should we be making tournament golf that are being slowly taken Humans will steadily improve at anything the game harder out of the game at the top level, not just in they apply themselves to. Striving to for the pros? Europe but worldwide.” progress is in our nature. Like any other I guess it all comes down to whether you physical activity, golfers develop new want to see a birdie-fest every week, or the methods, techniques and technologies to top pros having to work a little harder, surpass their rivals. As such, they continue Yes 76% allowing the most skilled, both physically and to get better. Seeing how good they can get No 24% mentally, to really shine. Exciting though is compelling and it would be counterbirdies are, I would favour the latter. That said, intuitive to place unnecessary restrictions I’m not for anything that makes golf appear to on this advancement. be discouragingly difficult at a time when it The excellence of the top pros is needs to do all it can to retain and attract undoubtedly enhanced by fabulous modern Do players get away interest – rather a few tweaks so players don’t equipment. But their brilliant play is by no with too many errant away with quite so much. get means wholly because of it. They are trained shots in the pro game? The R&A has no desire to go down the athletes focused on squeezing everything equipment bifurcation route, whereby possible out of their games. professionals and club golfers could end up I like watching these players tackle playing different gear. So the answer must be, courses I can relate to. When they play the Yes 84% as Rory suggests, to set courses up so errant Old Course at St Andrews and shoot the 16% No shots are more likely to get punished, forcing lights out, my appreciation of their supreme players to think a little rather than blasting skill is heightened as I have some sort of away with driver and then dealing with understanding of the test they’re facing. If whatever they’ve left themselves. If what they can finish a four-round tournament they’ve potentially left themselves is just a 30-under-par, that’s simply incredible and a little more undesirable, we might get a little fabulous showcase of sporting excellence more balance back into the pro game. that should be celebrated, not questioned. What’s your view? Email golfmonthly@ti-media.com
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Illustrations: Peter Strain
says Jeremy Ellwood
says Fergus Bisset
DIARY
Your Golfing Calendar
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MARCH ISSUE OF GM OUT
Words: Sam Tremlett Photography: Getty Images
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22 1980: start of the senior tour On this day, the PGA’s Tournament Policy Board held a vote that created the Senior PGA Tour, which would become the PGA Tour Champions. Hale Irwin has the most wins (45).
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FEBRUARY
Happy 40th, Sergio! The Ryder Cup’s record point scorer and 2017 Masters winner turns 40.
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship The European Tour heads to the Middle East for the year’s first Rolex Series event. Shane Lowry defends.
17 1937: Patty Berg wins inaugural Titleholders Championship The iconic American golfer won the first of her 15 Major titles on this day.
24 dzone range on sale ed itself as a major ipment business dback range. It sed it with the of clubs, which nuary.
19
THE GAME
Wilson Staff Launch Pad Range from £129
W
The Launch Pad ilson is introducing driver comes in a new range of 10.5° and 13° lofts super gameimprovement clubs designed to help high-handicappers combat their driver slice and stop fatting their iron shots. The clubhead of the Launch Pad irons incorporates a wide, progressive sole throughout the set that prevents it from digging into the turf before impact. A late-breaking bounce angle keeps the leading edge up through impact to create a cleaner strike and is said to Golf can be a difficult pastime, especially for those just starting out, reduce fat shots by 73 per cent. The but the Launch Pad range looks to lightweight design makes it easier make it easier. For anyone with a slice, for golfers to generate club speed these woods are going to straighten with minimal effort. your flight, while the sole design on the irons is going to provide the The Wilson Staff Launch Pad forgiveness on strike that driver, fairways and a new FYbrid all high-handicappers incorporate a moderately offset need. hosel to help tighten dispersion. The CG has been moved towards the heel and forward to encourage a draw shape. At just 272 grams, the driver is very lightweight to maximise swing speed, while a +2˚ upright lie angle assists in beating a slice. The Launch Pad fairway woods are designed with the same upright lie angle as the driver, along with lightweight components and a Carpenter Custom 455 face for maximum control and distance. The new Launch Pad FYbrid has been created to replace the 3-iron, 3-hybrid or even 7-wood. At 41” in length and 19.5˚ in loft, it optimises loft-tolength ratio for the ideal launch angle. The Wilson Staff Launch Pad range goes on sale on January 23 with the following RRPs: driver £269; fairway £149; FYbrid £129; irons £549 in steel shafts and £645 in graphite (5-SW).
GM says
Golf Monthly tests all equipment using the market-leading Foresight Sports GCQuad launch monitor to ensure accurate data is gathered. Edited by Joel Tadman 20
Scotty Cameron Phantom X 12.5 putter £399
Galvin Green Bart £160
Callaway Hyperdry 14 stand bag £239.95
Created for players who want a mallet with more toe flow, thanks to a low-bend shaft. It has a single gloss-black sightline and is available in a left-handed version.
Part of the limited Upcycle Edition that is made from materials often discarded from the production run. This minimises the social and environmental impact of the brand’s products.
Made from an ultralight 50 Denier coated fabric for added waterproof protection, but also 17 per cent lighter. Boasts a self-balancing X-Act Fit strap.
Ogio Fuse Aquatech 304 stand bag £199.99
Ben Hogan PTx Pro Black Forged iron £650
Adidas Collection Zero apparel range from £44.95
Boasts five waterproof pockets, including a soft-lined valuables pocket. A double shoulder strap with Fit Disc technology makes it easier to carry.
This darker Diamond Black Metal (DBM) finish is up to seven times more durable than nickel chrome, reduces glare and helps with alignment.
Features street-inspired polos, jackets, sweatshirts and trousers. Designed with performance materials and more of a lifestyle look and feel.
Honma Beres range from £329
XXIO 11 range prices TBC
XXIO X range prices TBC
Forgiving woods and irons for golfers with driver swing speeds of around 90mph. Options graded from two to five stars depending on the shaft technology and premium details.
Brass and rubber weights in the buttend of the driver raise the balance point, making it easier to swing faster. A double undercut cavity on the irons boosts flexibility for added ball speed.
A lightweight, easy-to-swing range of woods and irons for the better player. The driver features a carbon fibre sole to optimise launch, while a perimeter channel on the irons ups distance.
4 BEST SHOT TRACKERS
Arccos Caddie £249
Shot Scope V2 £169
The free app uses shot data and artificial intelligence to recommend optimal club choices and hole strategies.
Tags placed in the tops of clubs track shots, while the watch doubles as a GPS. A new course hub brings users together.
Garmin Approach CT10 £259.99 Stats for each club with a sensor will show on your Garmin watch.
Game Golf Live £139 Tap the tags in your clubs to the receiver on your belt to track shots and gain detailed performance analysis. 21
THE GAME
FootJoy Tour X Shoe £179.99
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he Tour S, which launched at the start of 2018, was unquestionably a very good shoe which offered impressive stability, although coming in at more than £200 it perhaps went beyond that ceiling price that golfers were willing to pay. But in Tour X, FootJoy claims to deliver the ‘X’ factor by combining the best of Tour S with the leading features of D.N.A. Helix and Fury, and without breaking the bank.
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FootJoy sought out feedback from the world’s best players and claims the Tour X delivers the best of everything in terms of grip, comfort and stability. It does this through a host of innovations. Even more stability than Tour S comes from the TPU PowerPlate outsole, which houses nine Launch Pods, translucent in colour and positioned wider with cleats at the edges for perimeter stability. You’ll also notice the bold Tour X graphic, which you’ll no doubt spot during golf coverage on TV.
Additional support comes from the PowerStrap across the midfoot. This is assisted by reinforced lacing eyelets, allowing you to pull your laces tighter for a more snug and secure fit. Comfort comes from the Ortholite Impressions FitBed we saw in the Fury shoe, which features two layers – one that returns to its original shape and another memory foam layer that gradually moulds to the shape of your foot over time. A 3D Foam collar, similar to the one on D.N.A. Helix, provides
IN DETAIL
Richard Fryer
FootJoy’s director of product management tells us about the design nuances of Tour X
What did you learn from Tour S when creating Tour X? Stability comes from the PowerPlate outsole complete with Launch Pods
The players loved the stability, but wanted a softer leather and more comfort without compromising the tensile strength. This is why we have used our ChromoSkin leather – it’s thin, supple, strong and won’t ‘bag out’ after wear. The OrthoLite Impressions FitBed provides the comfort.
How do you increase comfort in a shoe designed for stability? ‘Comfort’ is a subjective term. Making things softer may feel nice, but if it doesn’t provide the necessary support, structure, cushioning and rebound for the whole round, it is no longer a comfortable shoe. Tour X’s Fine Tuned Foam midsole delivers cushioning and rebound to minimise foot fatigue. The Tour X shoe comes in three colours, including a silver Boa option
What other useful features have you added to Tour X? Firstly, the bump-outs on the outsole that provide lateral stability do protrude slightly from the midsole, so we switched these to a clear TPU to blend into the grass. Secondly, our Tour-Spec stretch tongue has a goring strap and will allow the tongue and top of the shoe to fit different foot shapes.
padding around the ankle. There’s also a Tour-Spec stretch tongue for a soft feeling on top of your foot and that will also be experienced from the upper, which is made from a soft, breathable and waterproof ChromoSkin leather by Pittards. The FootJoy Tour X shoe goes on sale on January 15 with an RRP of £179.99 (Boa £199.99).
“I’ve been testing Tour X for a while now and it might be my favourite ever FootJoy shoe” Joel Tadman, GM technical editor
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THE GAME
Praia D’El Rey Wo rd s Je re my El l wo od P hoto gra p hy Peter C o rd e n
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Portugal from €53.50 to €83 par 73, 6,684 yards
LOVE TO PLAY
W
hen Cynthia Dye’s West Cliffs wonder opened to widespread acclaim on Portugal’s Silver Coast an hour north-west of Lisbon in 2017, it further augmented the growing golfing reputation of the area in and around the country’s capital. But West Cliffs is far from the first golfing treasure in the region, with sister course Praia D’El Rey, which opened in 1997, a longstanding fixture in Portugal’s top ten. This Cabell B Robinson creation close to Obidos serves up drama aplenty as it weaves through lush vegetation with tantalising coastal
views, before emerging out on to a glorious stretch of rugged oceanside holes midway through the back nine. The stretch from the 12th to the 15th is coastal golf at its finest, with the derelict shoreside buildings in this photo close to the 14th green somehow enhancing rather than spoiling the visual drama of the setting. As you turn back from the coast and head for home, there’s a monster uphill 570-yarder to negotiate on the 17th – though thankfully it is SI1 if you’ve got a Stableford card in hand. With other highly regarded courses close by, the Lisbon area can certainly now give the Algarve a decent run for its money.
In the area? Four others to play
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West Cliffs GF: from €53.50 to €83 Troia GF: €102 Quinta do Peru GF: €57-€67 Oitavos Dunes GF: €65-€155
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G M A S KS ...
How do you bet on golf? Wo rd s To m Cla rke • P h otog ra p hy G ett y I m ages
Our very own GM Tipster reveals his tactics when having a flutter, looks at the biggest winners of 2019 and tells us who to keep an eye on in the months ahead
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hen Sweden’s Sebastian Soderberg birdied the first play-off hole at the European Masters in September, he saw off four other players to claim a dramatic first European Tour title. At one point he had been priced as high as 1,000/1 to win; in contrast, Rory McIlroy, one of the players he beat in the play-off, had been 5/1 at the start of the event. Welcome to the highs and lows of golf betting. I have been the GM Tipster for four years now and over that time I have managed to pick over 40 winners and built a profit just shy of 1,000 points. “What are points?”, I hear you cry. Well, they are a mechanism to make sure that you stick to how much you can afford. If you are going to put a bet on, you must expect to lose the cash that you stake. Winners do not come around often and you have to be canny or you will lose your entire bankroll. What I can afford to spend on betting may be different to you – I usually have a basic £1-per-point system. Your limit may be £10 per point or even 50p a point, it doesn’t matter. The only thing that does is that you are responsible and don’t overstretch. Golf betting can be
Aaron Wise, having spoilt the GM Tipster’s party
fickle, because, well, golf is fickle – luck plays a huge part in the game. But betting can also add hugely to the enjoyment and excitement of an event if it’s done in a sensible manner. How to spot a winner There can be over 150 players teeing it up each week, so how do you spot the 1,000/1 winner? It’s not an exact science, but there are several things to look out for: 1 – The previous week. Check out the players who have had a low final round the week before. Soderberg shot 63 in the final round of the Scandinavian Invitation a week before his win. 2 – The course. Look at the results
from the past few years – the phrase “horses for courses” really does apply in golf. Kevin Kisner was runner-up in the WGC-Match Play in 2018 and won in 2019. 3 – The season. There are some players you just know are going to win at some point! Tommy Fleetwood had seven top-tens and 27 straight cuts made before winning the Nedbank Golf Challenge. Persistence pays off! 4 – Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. I usually bet on four golfers a tournament, ranging from a favourite to a big-priced outsider. Sometimes, of course, winners just come from nowhere. Brendon Todd had played 18 events in 2019 with eight missed cuts – he then went on a run of win, win, 4th. Don’t forget each-way bets So, what kind of bets do I go for? Please do not forget each-way bets – these can help tick along your bankroll and mean you go from a losing week to breaking even at least. Each-way bets are two bets – one for the golfer to win, the other for them to place (usually in the top five). If they do place you will normally get paid a quarter of the odds. Another good idea is laying bets. This is when you wager on an outcome not to happen and can be found on betting
“Golf betting can be fickle, because, well, golf is fickle – luck plays a huge part in the game”
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BETTING
Sebastian Soderberg was 1,000/1 to win the European Masters
exchanges where you bet against other punters. The plus side to this is that you can get much bigger odds – although loses can be substantial. I prefer a much safer way and that is double betting – when you bet on two outcomes and both must happen to win. Each-way double betting on two events happening in the same week means that if one winner comes in, then a win or even a place in the PGA Tour event could lead to a big profit. The most agonising each-way double I had was in 2018 – I backed Adrian Otaegui to win the Belgian Knockout (he won) and I picked
Marc Leishman to win the AT&T Byron Nelson Could Molinari – he held the lead after be back to his 54 holes. What could best this year? have been a four-figure victory turned into three figures when Aaron Wise pipped Leishman to the post. a Ryder Cup year some big names will be hoping to return to form, and Who will win in 2020? I’m tipping Francesco Molinari and The Majors are where people get Jordan Spieth to both come good. most excited – Tiger Woods is So, get analysing, check out the currently 11/1 to win The Masters, stats, but most importantly, work but he is as long as 25/1 to win The out your budget. Of course, if all Open. McIlroy is as short as 7/4 to else fails, you can go to the Golf win a Major, but to win twice is a bit Monthly website every Tuesday and more attractive at 12/1. With it being see my tips. Good luck! 27
WAY N E R I L EY
A former member of the European Tour and two-time winner, Wayne is part of the Sky Sports golf team. He writes exclusively for Golf Monthly
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can’t quite believe the next Ryder Cup is only nine months away. It still feels like yesterday that Thomas Bjorn’s troops did a number on the Americans at Le Golf National in Paris, with Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood starring for the boys in blue. I know there’s so much happening in the world of golf this year – the four Majors and the Olympics, too – but Whistling Straits will be on us before we know it, and I’m very intrigued as to the composition of the European team. It has obviously been incredibly strong in recent years – four victories in the last five Ryder Cups and seven in the last nine – but I think 2020 could be a transitional year, with a number of stalwarts of the past decade far from guaranteed a place in the side. In my mind – and you may disagree! – there are only four players who are nailed on to make the team: Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood. We don’t really need to go into much detail about why those guys will make the team. McIlroy and Rose have loads of Ryder Cup experience and have been top of the European golfing ladder for some time. Fleetwood has proved over the last couple of years that he’s a world-class player and Rahm is just as good as it gets. He’s a phenomenal player and he’s such a great competitor – he’s nicknamed Rahmbo for a reason. Let me tell you, if you asked the Americans to name the one player they wanted to avoid in the singles, Rahm would be at the top of a lot of lists. But beyond that talented quartet, things get a little murkier. In 2018, Bjorn
probably be no for me. Poulter will be 44 by September (so will Stenson) and the other two will also be the wrong side of 40. Now, I know age isn’t the be all and end all, but with a lot of talented Europeans coming through and establishing themselves in recent years, perhaps 2020 is the time for a changing of the guard. All eras have to come to an end at some point, and it might not be the worst idea to bed some Ryder Cup stars of the future in at Whistling Straits. I still think there will be good experience in the European side. Along with the four I mentioned earlier, Danny Willett, Francesco Molinari, Matt Fitzpatrick and Tyrrell Hatton – all players who have competed before – will be expected to qualify. There are then others, like Robert MacIntyre, Rasmus Hojgaard and Viktor Hovland, who you’d expect to be there or thereabouts. Obviously it depends on the composition of the automatic qualifiers, but I’d like to see Harrington give precedence to the younger players when it comes to his picks. Someone else who has a good chance of making the team is Eddie Pepperell. Now, I have a bone to pick with Eddie after he sent out a tweet recently of him in my trademark hat that said: “I think I look like a younger, slimmer and more handsome Wayne Riley.” Eddie is a great character who I have a lot of time for and I think he’ll follow me into commentary one day, but more handsome, come on Eddie. Surely even you don’t believe that! If you do, perhaps find the nearest mirror and look into it! All jokes aside, I hope 2020 is a prosperous year for everyone.
Illustration: Peter Strain
“There are only four players nailed on to make the European Ryder Cup team”
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overlooked some players who many felt were deserving of a pick in order to bolster his side with experience. He watched Matt Wallace birdie the 18th hole twice in a play-off at the Made in Denmark to win his third European Tour event of the season – quite an achievement given he must have thought a victory would land him a wildcard pick. That’s a huge amount of pressure to play with. But alas, it wasn’t to be. Why not? Because Bjorn opted for Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey – a quartet with 20 Ryder Cup appearances between them. It turned out to be a good decision as they played some inspired golf between them to help Europe to a comfortable victory. It might not have turned out that way, though, and it doesn’t mean others weren’t unlucky to miss out. My question is this: do the likes of Poulter and Garcia get a pick this year if, like 2018, they are a long way outside the automatic qualification places? It’s hard to say at this stage, but the answer would
MATTHEW SOUTHGATE Our playing editor has ten European Tour top-tens, including a 6th at the 2017 Open and a 2nd at this year’s Dunhill Links
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’m often asked about the best characters on tour, and Jamie Donaldson would probably be top of my list. He’s got an amazing sense of humour, his story delivery is so good and he just constantly looks like he’s up to mischief. He’s been on tour for ages, travelled all over the world and played in the Ryder Cup, so he’s got some amazing stories. Everyone loves JD. He’s like the class clown who’s never grown up. Obviously he works hard too, but when you go out for dinner he’ll have the whole table in hysterics. Someone else I get on really well with is Tom Lewis. It’s an interesting one, because the person the public see is not the same bloke I’ve been friends with for years. We’re always taking the mickey out of each other and he’s great fun. When the golf shoes go on, he’s quite serious, but when they come off and you get him away from the course, he’s a different guy. Alex Levy and Mike Lorenzo-Vera are also two great personalities on tour. To be honest, I get on with everyone, and generally everyone gets on with everyone. It’s a nice environment. Obviously you get your little cliques with the various nationalities, but everyone mixes and gets along well. The nationality thing really isn’t much of a factor – at the end of the day we’re all out there trying to be as good as we possibly can and hoping to have a bit of fun along the way. There’s a really good camaraderie out on tour and I know some people have
captain, and that has a lot to do with the nature of the two tours. As soon as Padraig Harrington opens his mouth in the team room, everyone will be quiet and listen intently because of how he is and what he’s accomplished. In some sports, it can take a while for rookies to be welcomed and accepted, but it’s not like that on the European Tour. It doesn’t matter where you are on your journey. When someone new turns up, you know how hard they’ve had to work to get there so there’s already that respect. Some of the new boys really make an impact, too, like Robert MacIntyre. He’s always smiling and nothing seems to faze him. He’s such a likeable lad. Another element that enhances tour life is the caddies. They are such a great bunch. What’s interesting is the way golfers operate is pretty comparable – we all go about things in a similar way with regards decision making, practice, gym work and so on – but the approaches the caddies take are often very different. Some love to have a laugh, some drink a lot and others are much more serious. It’s more about personality with a caddie – they aren’t there to do one individual job. They are your right-hand man. You have to get along and you need to have a laugh, but there’s a balance. You spend more time with your caddie than your wife! Being a professional golfer is a pretty unique career. It’s like a roving circus and the dynamic of tour life is an interesting one. It’s great fun, though, and we’re all fortunate to be doing what we’re doing.
Illustration: Peter Strain
“There’s a really good camaraderie out on tour. Everyone looks after each other”
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used that as a partial explanation as to why Europe has such a good recent record in the Ryder Cup. I definitely think there’s something in that. Everyone looks after each other and when you travel around the world as much as we do, things come up that bring you closer together – getting stuck in an airport for hours and so on. You don’t have to look far if you want a chat or need someone to help you out. Everyone knows each other’s business – whether someone is having a relationship break-up or has lost a parent – and keeps an eye out for each other. It’s almost like we all live it together. It’s lovely. So when it comes to the Ryder Cup, the players in the team all have good relationships. Playing for the captain is also a big thing. The captains are always respected anyway, and then they spend the best part of two years strengthening their relationships with the people who are likely to make the side. In my mind, the European captain always seems to do a much better job than the American
A n ew tr avel site made for people who love to tr avel by pe ople w h o l ove to tr avel. Specialising in l u x ur y, f amil y and adventure tr avel inspir a t ion.
Words J usti n Ros e wi th N ei l Ta pp i n • Por t raits To m Mi les • P hotog raphy G ett y Im ages
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Justin Rose tells us how his game has evolved over the years to make him one of the most consistent performers in the world
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INTERVIEW
he challenge that golf poses carries with it a curious contradiction. That is, to play well you need to develop a solid technique, but to perform your best when it matters most you need to rely on your natural feel. Put simply, having a great swing does not necessarily make you a great player. Striking a balance between developing your technical skill without losing your instinctive talent is possibly the biggest test for those at the highest level. One player who seems to have navigated this dangerous path better than most is Justin Rose. The Englishman is now in his 22nd season on tour and over the last half dozen or so years has become one of golf’s most consistent performers. At the heart of this lies his incredible ballstriking which has become the envy of many of his fellow competitors, and yet his instinctive, competitive skill remains as strong as ever. Here, Rose talks about the lessons he’s learned, his work with Sean Foley and the swing flaws that are, in some ways, his biggest strength...
Justin has spent a total of 13 weeks as World No.1
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Justin has always released the club hard
My swing DNA There are two things that have remained fairly constant in my swing from when I first started playing golf. I release it pretty hard in the swing and that comes from years of growing up with a very open clubface. The club would be very toe-down at the top of my backswing so I would have to work hard to square the face at impact. As a young player, this was a way of creating speed. Because of that, my head tends to stay back through impact
as well. Those are the traits I’ve had a really hard time getting rid of, but in some ways they’re my talent. This is how I play golf. I’m not a guy who is closed and super-strong at the top of the backswing and that holds the face very passive through impact. I can sort of do it on the driving range, when I’m in the flow, but it’s something that I’ve never really been able to bed into my game to take to the golf course. Early lessons My dad taught me about the fundamentals – having a good grip, alignment, set-up. He read golf magazines and he passed on what he knew, but I would say he taught me more about the mental side. He was fantastic at how we prepared for events. I think I was way ahead of the curve in terms of how we
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would go about setting our targets and working into a tournament. Whether it was the McGregor Trophy for U16s or the Carris Trophy for England U18s, we would have a two- or three-month plan in place for how I would prepare. I even remember getting ready for the Walker Cup. I’d never played in America and I’d never played in that amount of humidity. So, I remember going up to my bathroom, turning on the shower, turning on the bathtub; trying to steam the whole room up, wearing layers of clothing and practising my putting in there for an hour. That was my way of preparing. My dad always encouraged me to think
Foley factor When I started with Sean Foley, we definitely had a three-phase approach – backswing, transition and then the follow-through. I still
haven’t mastered the followthrough, in terms of being completely in balance with the clubface stable. We’re always continuing to refine my game, but we’ve had to work around my injuries as well. Sean inherited some problems with my swing and my body based upon my previous technique. So from 2016 we started to look at the golf swing not so much from how we would want it to be technically perfect, but what was safe for me. In some ways we went a little bit retro – we call it 1960s style. I now have a lot more slack in my lower half, where my
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Celebrating his 2002 British Masters win with his parents and sister
“My dad taught me the fundamentals, but I would say he taught me more about the mental side” about the mental side and preparation. We also had a recall system. I remember at Radcliffe-onTrent, where the England U16s Championship was played, I hit a great shot into the last hole to six feet. We called it the Radcliffe-OnTrent 9-iron. Forever more, every time I had a 9-iron, I’d try to conjure up those positive memories. He was very, very good at the mental side.
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right leg straightens and my left leg moves a lot more. It’s like Sam Snead and guys of the past, rather than the X-factor approach of today where you keep the lower half still and you turn the upper body on top. We’ve gone away from that methodology. I think Sean’s intellect has caught up with his intuition. As a coach, he has learnt so much on the Trackman side, but more from biomechanics. He doesn’t have a one-method-fitsall approach, which I don’t think is good coaching. Instead, you need to understand the tendencies of a player and what they are physically capable of doing or not doing. From there you have work-arounds. He had that somewhat figured out intuitively when he was a young coach. Now, his intellect is making sense of it all.
G R E A T N E S S 2010
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June 2013 Wins the US Open and moves up to 3rd in the world
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November 2018 Hits the top of the world rankings for the first time
July 1998 Finishes T4th at The Open as an amateur
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July 2000 Drops to 651 after missing 21 cuts in a row 2000
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INTERVIEW
Rose employs a lot more slack in his lower half, similar to Sam Snead (left), rather than the modern X-factor approach (Brooks Koepka, right)
I think both of us are now going on a slightly different journey, where we’re going back to simplicity. Taking away the camera, taking away Trackman and just going back a little bit more to the art form of it, rather than always trying to scientifically prove it.
Technique and feel I sometimes like to use technology to get a benchmark for where my feels are. With the driver, I like to hit shots on Trackman because if I hit 2˚ or 3˚ up on the ball, I want to know how far out to the right I can swing the club to create what is a
“It’s important at my age to work smartly and efficiently and make the most of the time I spend practising” Technology in coaching I think Trackman has been huge in terms of understanding the D-plane – that is the combination of swing direction and attack angle. Those are the two things that create the club path. I used to look at my divot and think, “My divot is straight so why is the ball hooking?” Well, if you swing straight at the target with a very steep angle of attack, essentially the sweetspot is travelling out to the right through the ball. Science has figured that out. I could never understand why I always used to hook the ball when I tried to hit it low and it’s for the exact same reason. You put your ball back in your stance and all of a sudden, you’re hitting down more and the sweetspot is travelling more to the right. As a result you’re putting more right-to-left spin on the ball. 36
fairly neutral path. I can learn by doing that. It’s creating a benchmark as a feel. I wouldn’t say that I’m actually that technical; people often think that I am but I would use the technology to create a feel. What can I then go and play with on the golf course? It’s just a way of giving myself parameters.
Two-way miss You can never play perfect golf. I think that great golf is about how good your bad shots are. A friend of mine, a beginner golfer, said, “I have quite a big ‘V’ in my game.” That was the way he described it where the ball goes left and right. I said to him, “I’ve got a ‘V’ in my game too, it’s probably just a lot tighter than yours.” We’re always trying to bring these parameters in, in terms of what’s good and what’s bad. A two-way miss is very hard to play with. If you have a tendency, one way or another, you can always make a smart decision on the golf course knowing what your tendencies are. Trying to get rid of a two-way miss will be the first thing you’ve got to try and do in your game.
Putting The exploration of my putting through the years has been interesting. The more I learned about my He’s been working with Sean Foley putting, the worse I since 2009 became to the point where I had learned enough. I realised what didn’t work, what I had to strip away and what I had to simplify. For every player there are growth phases and performance phases. I think that it’s
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Rose has adopted a claw grip in recent years
important to go through those growth phases while you’re trying to learn and tinker, get better and improve. The performance phases are always generally stripping things away and simplifying it. Work balance It’s important at the age I am now that I work smartly and efficiently and make the most of the time I spend practising. If I was to split it up, I’d say a practice day would involve an hour in the gym, an hour putting, an hour chipping and an hour hitting balls. I don’t know where the rest of the day goes! I think as a young man,
as a young pro and as a kid, you’ve got to spend as much time as you can learning and honing your game, but you have to be creative as well. I would always discourage people from just standing on the range for four or five hours. I think that it takes such a toll on your body over time. I would encourage them to do two or three drills that challenge them; that make the skill of hitting balls harder. I would go and hit off a sandy lie for an hour, so my body is going to figure out what to do to make good, clean contact. Don’t just have a perfect lie and hit for hours. We call that deep practice – where you take a skill and make it harder and try and do it efficiently. Then spend time on the golf course. As a kid, the thing that probably developed my game the most was throwing my ball 100 yards
into the woods and figuring out a path through and how many shots it would take me to get it into the hole. That’s where the creativity is born. I think chalk lines and alignment sticks have their place, but I don’t think that’s really going to drive you on. That can get you very, very efficient at the game, but I don’t think it’s going to make you great at the game.
In action at the Northern Trust in New Jersey 37
INSTRUCTION
Justin’s sternum is set directly over the ball at address
MR CONSISTENCY Justin Rose is renowned for having one of the most consistent and technically impressive swings in the game. Golf Monthly Top 25 Coach Ged Walters takes a look at the key positions to see what you can learn…
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Address position One of the main reasons why Justin Rose is such an impressively consistent ballstriker is evident in this photograph. There is a lot to learn from his address position. Firstly, Justin’s torso sits directly above his hips with only the slightest of spine tilts away from the target – this is just what you are looking for with an iron in hand. His feet are set at shoulder width apart and his weight distribution is even between his left and right sides. He has a small amount of shaft lean that encourages him to deliver the correct amount of dynamic loft through impact. Here, he has built the ideal foundation for a powerful, balanced and technically sound swing.
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His feet are shoulder width apart, providing both stability and mobility
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Halfway back At this point in the swing, Justin’s shoulders have already made a big turn. To facilitate this, notice how his hips have also rotated (although not as much as his shoulders). This is where much of the power in Justin’s swing is created. Notice also how central his body remains: his sternum is still over the ball, which shows that he is not moving much into his trail side. His left arm also retains all of its extension, which creates impressive width in his backswing.
3 Justin’s upper body turns well beyond 90˚ at the top, with his hips resisting that turn
Top of the backswing By the top of the backswing, Justin’s shoulders have turned well beyond 90˚. By completing his backswing so effectively, Justin has the time to get the club into a good delivery position in the downswing. The other thing to note here is how well centred his body remains at the top – there is no unnecessary movement off the ball, which is another reason for the Englishman’s consistency.
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Justin’s left elbow remains fully extended here as his right elbow tucks into his right side
The gap between Justin’s knees increases as his lower body starts to unwind
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Halfway down The space between his knees has increased at the start of the downswing. This unwinding lower half helps him create lots of power. Despite this big shift, notice how his back is still almost facing the target. His left arm is fully extended but his right elbow is close to his right side. This is a great way of getting the club into position ready for his body to unwind through the ball.
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Justin’s hands are ahead of the clubhead as his body rotates through impact
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Impact By looking at Justin’s impact position, you can really start to understand why he is such a consistent ball-striker. His weight has moved on to his left side and his hips and shoulders are both open to the target line through impact. This shows how well his body is rotating towards the finish position. Notice also how his hands are ahead of the club and his arms are beautifully extended. All of these elements enable him to hit the ground in the correct spot every time.
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Finish position In the finish position, his weight is around 90 to 95 per cent through his left leg and mainly into his heel, with his right foot up on tip-toes. In addition to that, his right hip is forward and his chest is facing left of the target. All of this shows how well he has completed his downswing turn. He retains complete balance throughout what is widely regarded as one of the best swings in the modern game.
Justin’s right hip is forward and his chest is pointing left of the target
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WHATÕS IN MY BAG?
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“What’s In My Bag?” Wo rd s Ju st in Ro s e • Ph otog rap hy To m Miles , G ett y Images
The Englishman switched to Japanese manufacturer Honma last year, winning on his second outing at Torrey Pines. Here, he talks us through his current line-up
ow that we are a year on, I am very comfortable with the move to Honma. I think the irons have just been perfect, but the driver has probably been the most exciting club for me. I picked up three or four miles per hour ball speed with it very, very quickly. I wasn’t expecting that. I knew that the irons would be great. When I moved to Honma I really bought into the Takumi, the Japanese master craftsmen. These are the guys making the clubs by hand and it’s a company with 60 years of rich club-making history. I had a lot of trust in the brand, but I’m disappointed with the way I played in 2019. Just through the way life has been, I wasn’t able to do those sort of three- or four-week training camps with my team. I think it caught up with me a little bit towards the end of the year. I didn’t quite get the scheduling right, so I’m looking forward to a really good off-season and some hard work to come out and have a really great year in 2020. 43
WHAT’S IN MY BAG?
DRIVER Honma TW747 Shaft: TPT Golf 14 MKP LT SW I have the driver set up slightly upright and slightly open. I hate to see a flat driver. For me, a flat driver that makes me feel like I’m going to hit it right, I’ll snap hook all day long. I’m not going to just allow the club to do what I feel like it’s going to do. I’m going to manipulate it one way or another. It is incredibly fast – I picked up quite a few miles per hour ball speed with it – and I just think it’s got such a clean, classic look. That means that it doesn’t really tell a story about the technology, but there’s a lot of carbon fibre in there. I got them to put the Honma mole on as a small alignment aid on the crown. The driver I used previously always had the bug there and I thought I would just try it. I’m still 50-50 on whether I love it or prefer it clean, so watch this space!
FAIRWAY WOODS TaylorMade M6, 15˚ & 19˚ Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei Orange CK Series 80TX For the time being, I have stuck with the TaylorMade M6 3-wood and 5-wood. I will switch out the 5-wood depending on the golf course. Generally, when we play links golf, I tend to put the longirons in and the 5-wood comes out.
LONG-IRONS Honma TW747 V or Honma TW747U Shaft: KBS Tour C-Taper 125 I have a couple of variations of 4-irons.
THE LINE UP
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I have the V too, which I’ll choose whether it par 5s or s
IRON Honma T Shaft: KB I’ve had a l tailoring th a blade is a and feel go quality of t difference me. Sound buttery thr solid. I don steel, but I miles per h irons. Whe need to kn spin rates correct. O thing I’m re big on, and think it’s because o how I relea the club, is see a high gives me t passive th Whenev telling me swing it. S upright-loo can be pas when I’m p y g
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Honma TW747
Axis 1
Honma TW747
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say I hit my irons a little shorter because my hands are passive through the ball. When I’m not playing well, I’m a little more chasey with it and I actually hit them too far.
WEDGES Honma TW Rose Proto, 47˚ & 52˚, Titleist Vokey SM7, 56˚ & 60˚ Shaft: KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 I’ve always tried to use a specialist wedge-style 47˚ because I feel like it’s a better looking club to chip with. It’s a Rose Proto and I have the same in the 52˚, and then a couple of Vokeys for now. They have been fantastic for me, but I think I’ve got some good stuff cooking with the guys at Honma. For me, it’s just time to go to work, to test them properly, and that takes a while. If you do anything custom with a wedge, it is very hard to replicate it. I keep challenging them to make the perfect one that I don’t have to take to the grinding wheel and get some special work done to, because I might want to use a wedge a month. If you’ve got to keep grinding it perfectly, that’s actually a hassle. We are working hard on wedges.
PUTTER Axis 1 This has worked well for me recently. It’s a very different looking putter. Basically, the shaft intersects right through the sweetspot. This means it’s perfectly balanced and makes my stroke feel much more smooth and has performed really well. I putted it very well last year.
“The irons have just been perfect, but the driver has been the most exciting club for me”
TaylorMade M6 15°
Honma TW MB Rose Proto Honma TW Rose Proto
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HOW TO IN 2020! Wo rd s Fergus Bi s s et • P h oto gra p hy To m Mi les , Da n G o uld , Gett y Im ages
Take stock this winter and consider how you might fit more golf into your schedule. It might be more feasible than you think 46
YOUR GOLFING YEAR
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t the end of the 2019 season, Golf Monthly posed a question on Twitter that simply asked, “have you played enough golf in 2019?” The overwhelming response was in the negative. And the reason why? In the majority of cases, it was lack of time. More significant commitments, be it work or family, take precedence, but many
of those commenting lamented having less time for leisure in the modern world. Golf is time-consuming, but it always has been. Is it really the case that we have less time than we did 30 years ago? More flexible working practices in many industries have come in with a view to facilitate a healthier work/life balance, while the convenience of
the internet should reduce the amount of time spent on life’s tiresome admin. So where is all the time going? The modern world is undoubtedly fast paced. There’s an expectation of immediacy, and having everything at our fingertips has resulted in a reduction in the need for forward planning. It’s more challenging to fit a lengthy activity like golf into a
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YOUR GOLFING YEAR Lessons will lead to a desire to get out on the course
schedule that’s focused solely on the imminent. If golf is important to you but you aren’t getting your fair share of it, perhaps it’s time to have a think about how you might change that in the coming months.
David Harvey is a senior project manager for leading professional services firm WSP. He is an expert in time management. “Planning is the key to managing your time effectively. It might seem obvious, but I’m surprised by how few people apply this in everyday life,” he says. “Identify how your activities fit together and establish slots where an activity like golf can sit. If you lay out your schedule for a week, you’ll be surprised by how much time isn’t actually accounted for. Organise and prioritise on your weekly plan and you might find there is actually space for golf. Planning like this needn’t take more than ten minutes and could be well worth it.” Harvey thinks technology is partly to blame for people feeling they are ‘time poor’. “Your smartphone is one of the most attention-seeking things in your life and it, together with social media, takes up far too much time for many people,” he says. “Have a think about that and consider more time with your phone on ‘do not Target some of the key club events you want to play in
disturb’ or even off. You might find yourself liberated, with a sense you have more freedom to do things in the real world!”
Take a look at your club’s 2020 fixtures and target some of the key events you would like to play in. Write them in your diary. Yes, some may end up being superseded, but at least put a marker down. If you don’t, you’ll end up committing to something inconsequential, meaning you miss the Summer Cup… again. In addition, consider joining club teams to play in organised
matches, enter knockouts or perhaps join a society. We reached out on GM’s forum, asking for people who get the very most from their golf to let us know how they fit it in with everyday life. Phil Coumbe (Liverpoolphil on the forum) played over 200 rounds of golf in 2019 and he manages to find a balance between working shifts, being a husband and father and a keen golfer. “I play in three societies, I’ve joined club teams and, of course, have enjoyed playing some great courses through the forum,” he says. “My wife plays high-level hockey so is also sporting minded and there must be give and take.”
Select some courses in your area you enjoy playing or would love to play for the first time. See if any of their opens correspond with empty dates in your diary. Commit to them now, before they fill up. Outside of competition, perhaps set yourself a couple of key missions for the year. Pick one prestigious course in your area and make a point that you will play it in 2020. Then do a little research and find one ‘hidden gem’ to tick off.
Golf needn’t simply be your 9.07 Saturday 18-hole round followed by 48
Joining a society will give you more chances to play
an orange juice and lemonade in the clubhouse. If you become stuck in a rut then golf isn’t the dynamic, exciting extra-curricular activity that it should be. Ian Murgatroyd (Imurg) is a driving instructor who works his golf around his lessons and sees how important it is to be flexible on playing times. “I think there’s more than just playing en masse on a Saturday or Sunday morning,” he says. “I always have my clubs in the car and will take chances to squeeze in nine holes. I also often play early on summer mornings. I think people would get the benefit of playing at different times, going out later on weekend afternoons for example, when it’s quiet and rounds will be far quicker.”
Play at different times of day, play with different people, play nine holes, go to the range, have a chip or a putt. “Owing to the weekends being family time, I try to play the vast majority of my golf through the week,” Says David Papas (Papas1982). “It takes planning, but I managed over 75 rounds this year. Working shifts and not being afraid of the cold and wet helps. I fit rounds in where I can, sometimes co-ordinating with school runs. During the summer I fit in nine holes after work at least twice a week. Often, I play the front nine one evening, then the back nine the next.”
Attending a big event could be the inspiration you need
Have a real think about what it is you actually enjoy about golf. If it’s competition, then look to enter more of them. If it’s purely the social side of the game, then join in with one of the roll-ups at the club, join a society or sign up to one of the social, inter-club matches. If you enjoy practice, then dedicate more golfing time to it. As mentioned above, golf doesn’t simply have to be one identikit 18-hole round per week.
Take a course of lessons. If anything will inspire you to find a way to golf more, it’s playing well. If you come into the season fresh off a course of lessons, you’ll be itching to see how effective the instruction has been. You need motivation to find time to do anything in life and the prospect of improvement should provide it.
It doesn’t need to be a top professional tournament, although a trip to
The Open is tough to beat. There are a number of superb amateur events to take in around the UK, and all are free to attend. The Amateur Championship at Birkdale, the Curtis Cup at Conwy, the St Andrews Links Trophy, the Lytham Trophy: all will allow you to get up close to some of the world’s best amateur golfers. Witness how the game can be played and you’ll be motivated to get out and improve your own golf.
A great way to get more from golf is to volunteer at your club. You don’t have to join the committee but put yourself forward as available to help out. You might organise the odd match (that you can then play in), you might help out with the junior section. You will spend more time at the club and that will afford opportunities to grab a bit of playing time – a quick nine holes or a visit to the short-game area. Again, it’s about taking the opportunities. Golf is not a one-dimensional sport. It can be played at almost any time of the day and on any day of the week in one form or another. With forward planning and consideration for how you might be flexible, both with time and your approach to the game, 2020 could be your busiest golfing year yet. 49
Make your dream golf holiday a reality! Escape the January blues with one of Golfbreaks’ stunning worldwide holidays and make 2020 the year you finally book the trip of a lifetime...
Pebble Beach is one of the world’s most iconic courses
Photography: Kevin Murray, Getty Images
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Jumeirah Golf Estates is home to the DP World Tour Championship
ow is the winter of our golfing discontent, when our normally lovely courses are often looking under the weather, while grey skies and low temperatures make our favourite sport distinctly less appealing. The Christmas break is already a memory, and we golfers need something to look forward to. A little research can uncover some great deals on flights, with a good number of major airlines including free carriage of clubs. It’s time to pack up that flight bag and head to sunnier climes further afield for some serious swing therapy. This is a Ryder Cup year, and the European Tour’s season really hots up with several tournaments in the Middle East, which therefore seems a great place to start. The UAE is home to a fantastic and ever-growing collection of
GM PROMOTION
There are three glorious courses at Fancourt in South Africa
remarkably varied, top-quality courses. Here, you can follow in the footsteps of your golfing heroes by playing at Emirates GC, home of the Dubai Desert Classic, Jumeirah Golf Estates, which hosts the DP World Tour Championship, or a few miles down the coast at Abu Dhabi GC, where the year kicks off in style with the HSBC Championship. Each of these courses offers a spectacle of exciting and superbly manicured golf, and the supporting cast includes some equally strong designs such as Dubai Creek, Saadiyat Beach and Yas Links. Low-season flights offer particularly good value, and it’s not just the golf that draws families and golfing groups to this amazing country. Along with guaranteed sun, the hotels, water sports, restaurants and shopping facilities are among the best in the world. The world is your oyster As well as being an ideal holiday destination with so much to see and do, South Africa also offers remarkable value for money. With no jet-lag to worry about, this is a country where the great outdoors is a way of life. Alongside the golf, there are wildlife safaris, golden beaches, vineyards, barbecues and a wealth of leisure and sporting activities. Perhaps its best-known resort is Sun City, with two fabulous Gary Player courses. In 2020, it will host the 40th consecutive Nedbank Golf Challenge. The trophy is adorned with the names of many golfing legends and is currently held by Tommy Fleetwood. Player was also responsible for the three lovely layouts at Fancourt, midway along the nation’s south coast, where the Links course is widely regarded as the best in the country. The same architect also designed beautiful Leopard Creek on the edge of Kruger National Park, which each year hosts the Alfred Dunhill Championship. This makes it the perfect location for golf and safari. Other wonderful courses include two Jack Nicklaus designs at Pearl Valley and Simola, as well as historic Durban Country Club.
Kiawah Island’s Ocean course is stunning
The American dream Arguably the greatest golfing destination of the lot in terms of variety and strength in depth is the USA. In California, Pebble Beach is one of the most iconic courses in the game. And while many of the nation’s most famous courses are private, this and the host of the 2021 US Open, Torrey Pines near San Diego, are open to all. Up in the hills, Palm Springs is a lively city that is home to a terrific selection of courses, including no fewer than six at PGA West. To the south, Florida is the ‘sunshine state’ and is packed with golf of every size, shape and description, with something to suit all tastes and budgets. Plenty of courses host PGA Tour events, such as Bay Hill (the Arnold Palmer Invitational), Innisbrook (the Valspar Championship) and, most famously of all, TPC Sawgrass, home of the Players Championship. The PGA National Resort at Palm Beach hosts the Honda Classic and has five top-notch courses to choose from.
Talking of variety, further up the eastern seaboard in South Carolina is Myrtle Beach, home to a staggering 80 courses. Hilton Head Island has a full holiday’s worth of golf, including Harbour Town, while the Ocean course, host of the dramatic 1991 Ryder Cup, is one of five on Kiawah Island. Each of these fantastic destinations has its own share of bucket-list courses, and a popular option is to combine a few rounds with actually attending one of the tournaments in the area. Each also offers far more than golf, so is ideal for a family holiday with something for everyone. What could be more exciting for a golfer than booking a sunshine trip with a tried-and-trusted tour operator to sample some of the amazing courses the pros get to play? With so much incredible golf on offer, the biggest problem is deciding exactly where to go. Happily, golfbreaks.com is the perfect place to start.
The famous Dubai backdrop at Emirates GC’s Majlis course
For more information on all of the destinations featured here and many more, contact Golfbreaks, the golf travel experts. Visit golfbreaks.com or call 0845 678 2400
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VISION We've picked out ten players and ten tournaments to look out for over the next 12 months Wo rd s Sa m Tre m lett , N i c k B o nfi eld , Dav i d Tayl or • Photography Gett y I mages
Akshay Bhatia Age: 17 World ranking: 2,061 Nationality: American Career highlight: 2019 Walker Cup winner Anyone currently working with George Gankas is sure to receive a lot of attention – just look at Matthew Wolff. Another player under his tutelage is American Akshay Bhatia. The 17-yearold recently turned professional after an amateur career that included a runner-up finish at the 2018 US Junior Amateur and two silver medals at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics. He also won two points at the 2019 Walker Cup. 52
Calum Hill Age: 25 World ranking: 119 Nationality: Scottish Career highlight: Won twice on the Challenge Tour in 2019 Robert MacIntyre may be the darling of Scottish golf at the moment, but one Scot who should not be overlooked is Calum Hill. He rarely misses a cut and looks to be comfortable on the big
stage, as shown by his performance in the 2018 US Open at Shinnecock Hills. He made the cut in his first Major and was well positioned heading into the weekend, but a third-round 81 curtailed any dreams of victory. Still, Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler and Rory McIlroy had all strayed into the 80s during the week. A three-time winner on the Challenge Tour, keep an eye out for Hill on the main circuit this year.
Lily Muni He Age: 20 World ranking: 373 Nationality: Chinese Career Highlight: Won 2019 LPGA Q-Series Tournament With the power of social media, we are able to see youngsters show their golfing talent in ways that were previously impossible. The problem is that all too often these social media stars do not deliver on their early promise and struggle to make it out on
tour. That definitely isn’t the case for Lily Muni He. She won the 2019 LPGA Q-Series Tournament by three strokes to secure her LPGA Tour card for 2020. This will be her second season on the LPGA Tour. Her best finish in her rookie year was tied 27th, but not many golfers find success in their first season. It takes time to get accustomed to tour life, and now she has been to the Q-Series twice and completed her rookie LPGA year, she is primed to make the next big jump.
Viktor Hovland Age: 22 World ranking: 97 Nationality: Norwegian Career highlight: 2018 US Amateur winner; low amateur at the 2018 Masters and US Open A lot has been written about Hovland of late, and rightly so. After his strong amateur career and several impressive tournaments as a professional, everyone knows what an exceptional young talent he is. But 2020 should be the year he gets in the winners’ circle for the first time, and he has a good chance of making his Ryder Cup debut at Whistling Straits. Europe’s captain, Padraig Harrington, has already acknowledged his immense potential. 53
2020 VISION
Sung-jae Im Age: 21 World ranking: 33 Nationality: South Korean Career highlight: 2019 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year At the time of writing, there are 23 Koreans in the top 50 of the women’s world rankings, but just four in the men’s top 100. The highest-ranked is 21-year-old Im, who looks to be a superstar in the making. During his rookie season on the PGA Tour, he was a model of consistency and made an astounding 480 birdies in 122 rounds, which put him number one in that statistic. It is surely only a matter of time before he registers his first PGA Tour win.
Victor Perez
Matthew Jordan Age: 23 World ranking: 178 Nationality: English Career highlight: Challenge Tour win With 12 players currently in the world’s top 100, English golf is in great shape. That could become 13 in the not-toodistant future as Matthew Jordan continues to rise up the rankings. In 2019, he played 23 times on the Challenge Tour, winning once, earning seven top-tens and only missing one cut. Jordan had a stellar amateur career in which he competed in the 2017 Walker Cup and won the St Andrews Links and Lytham Trophies. At one stage he had a +7 handicap, so expect him to make an impact on the European Tour in 2020.
Scottie Scheffler
Guido Migliozzi Age: 22 World ranking: 110 Nationality: Italian Career highlight: Two-time winner on the European Tour in 2019 Migliozzi turned professional in 2016, but things didn’t start well as he missed eight cuts in his first ten Alps Tour events. But he quickly rectified that with three wins and found himself competing on the European Tour last year. Once again he struggled initially, but he turned it around to win twice in a seven-event span. We expect him to breach the world’s top 100 soon, and he has an outside chance of being on the plane when Team Europe heads to Wisconsin in September.
Atthaya Thitikul
Age: 27 World ranking: 51 Nationality: French Career highlight: 2019 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship winner
Age: 23 World ranking: 67 Nationality: American Career highlight: Two-time winner on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019
Age: 16 World ranking: 224 Nationality: Thai Career highlight: Two-time winner on the Ladies European Tour
France has been screaming for a star golfer of late, and Victor Perez could be the man. The 27-year-old has worked his way up from the Alps Tour to the European Tour, winning every year since 2016, most recently and impressively at the 2019 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship – a tournament with a quality field. Given it came in his first season with a European Tour card, you’d expect more victories to be on the horizon. Look out for the impressive Frenchman in 2020.
At the start of 2019, Scheffler was ranked outside the world’s top 1,500. But two wins on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019 and three top-seven finishes in seven PGA Tour starts have seen him move comfortably inside the top 100. Scheffler has no significant weakness to his game, he averages 313 yards off the tee and he currently averages five birdies a round. He joins the likes of Matthew Wolff and Collin Morikawa as young, powerful and aggressive players to keep an eye on in 2020.
Thitkul is just 16 years old and already a two-time winner on the Ladies European Tour. In 2017, she won the Ladies European Thailand Championship at the age of 14, which made her the youngest golfer to ever win a professional event. In 2019, she won the same tournament, which earmarked her as a superstar in the making. She is currently the world’s top-ranked women’s amateur golfer and she is expected to turn pro later this year.
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Tournaments
The Masters Augusta National | 9-12 April With the USPGA Championship now taking place in May and The Open concluding in July, more than eight months will have passed without Major golf by the time Augusta National returns to our screens in early April – something that will only serve to enhance the excitement around golf’s most anticipated Major. Of course, it will do well to live up to last year, when Tiger Woods completed one of sport’s greatest comebacks by securing his 15th Major title, but Augusta always seems to produce scarcely believable storylines. This is, in part, due to the nature of the course and the fact so many of the world’s best players have games that are ideally suited to this pristine Georgian layout. Will Tiger land a 16th Major title? Can Rory complete the Career Grand Slam? How will Koepka fare in his pursuit of a fifth Major? All these questions and more will be answered come April.
The USPGA Championship
The Open Championship Royal St George’s | 16-19 July
TPC Harding Park | 14-17 May Brooks Koepka will look to register his third consecutive USPGA Championship victory at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco following his thrilling triumph last year. On that occasion, the event was staged at the fearsome Bethpage Black, but Harding Park will present a different challenge. It’s considerably shorter and, as such, there will be less emphasis on power hitting, something that should bring more players into contention. With the strongest field of any men’s Major, the tournament is wide open, though Rory McIlroy – who won the WGC-Match Play here in 2015 – will fancy his chances.
Shane Lowry defends his Open title at Royal St George’s in Kent, the first time the course has hosted the event since an emotional Darren Clarke won in 2011. It will be the 15th time the tournament has been held at Sandwich, which is more than any other English course. It was the first venue outside of Scotland to host The Open when JH Taylor prevailed in 1897. Recent winners at the course include Ben Curtis in 2003, Greg Norman in 1993 and Sandy Lyle in 1985. The current tradition of St Andrews hosting every five years has been changed to allow the Home of Golf to hold the 150th Open in 2021. 55
2020 VISION
Olympic Men’s Golf Competition Kasumigaseki Country Club July 30-Aug 2 Four years after golf’s return to the Olympics after a 112-year hiatus, Japan’s Kasumigaseki Country Club will stage an event many hope will attract a better field than Rio in 2016. Then, Justin Rose secured gold for Team GB, with Henrik Stenson coming in second and Matt Kuchar taking home the bronze medal. This time, there is optimism more of the world’s top players will participate, given how well the event was received four years ago. Tiger Woods has expressed an interest in playing, as has Rory McIlroy, who will represent Ireland. The top 15 players in the world rankings will qualify, with a limit of four golfers per country. The remaining spots in the 60-man field will go to the highest-ranked players from countries who do not already have two qualified.
AIG Women’s British Open Royal Troon GC | 20-23 August Hinako Shibuno will defend the title she won last year at Woburn when the stars of the women’s game head to Royal Troon for the 20th AIG Women’s British Open. The Japanese player sensationally triumphed on the Marquess’ course in her first Major and her first event outside her homeland. This year, the non-European challenge will once again be strong, but Georgia Hall’s triumph at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 2018 is still fresh in the memory, and will no doubt serve as inspiration to a home challenge led by the likes of Charley Hull and Bronte Law. World No.1 Jin-young Ko, Nelly Korda, Brooke Henderson and Lexi Thompson all look like good bets to feature, though. 56
The BMW PGA Championship
Scandinavian Mixed Bro Hof Slott GC | 11-14 Jun
Wentworth | 10-13 September The European Tour will hope to build on 2019’s success, when its flagship event switched to September to take advantage of the PGA Tour’s August finish. The move prompted several big-name Americans to make the trip across the pond and that, coupled with a mostly glorious week of sunshine and a popular winner in Danny Willett, meant it was hailed a great move. Next year’s schedule is slightly more jam-packed with an Olympics and a Ryder Cup to fit in, so it will be interesting to see if the field is as strong. The fact it’s the final tournament for European Ryder Cup qualification should help.
This innovative event, co-sanction by the European and Ladies European Tours and hosted by Swedish Major Champions Annika Sorenstam and Henrik Stenson, will see men and women going head to head on the same golf course, competing for one prize fund and one trophy. The field will be made up of 78 men and 78 women. “The European Tour has been leading the way in terms of innovative formats and I believe this is certainly one that can be part of the way golf is played in the future,” said Stenson. Male and female pros will also play together at the GolfSixes Cascais, the Vic Open and the Trophee Hassan II.
The Amateur Championship Royal Birkdale and West Lancashire | 15-20 June The Amateur Championship is one of the most prestigious amateur events in world golf, with the winner securing exemptions to The Open and US Open and an invitation to The Masters. The tournament is a mixed stroke play and match play format played over six days, with former winners including Bobby Jones, Sergio Garcia and Jose Maria Olazabal. It was first held at Hoylake in 1885, where 44 players competed. This year will be the 125th edition and will see 288 competitors tee it up at the two host courses. Irishman James Sugrue won the title last year.
The US Open Winged Foot | 18-21 June The tournament returns to Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, New York, for the first time since 2006. That year, Geoff Ogilvy won his only Major title, beating Colin Montgomerie, Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk by one stroke – Monty and Phil both double-bogeyed the final hole to hand the Australian the title. Ogilvy’s winning score of +5 was the highest in the US Open since Hale Irwin shot +7 in 1974, also at Winged Foot. Don’t expect the course to be any less fierce come June, especially given Gary Woodland’s un-US-Openlike winning score of -13 at Pebble Beach last year.
The Ryder Cup Whistling Straits 25-27 September Padraig Harrington will be at the helm for Europe as he takes on a US side led by Steve Stricker out for revenge after their 17.5-10.5 trouncing in Paris. Whistling Straits in Wisconsin plays
host, having already welcomed three USPGAs since opening in 1998, most recently in 2015 when Jason Day triumphed. It boasts over 1,000 bunkers, with Dustin Johnson famously falling foul of one on the 18th in 2010. Europe have won four of the last five editions and nine of the last 12. 57
7 Ways To Improve In 2020 Wo rd s Ne i l Ta pp i n • Ill u strat ion Dav id Ly tt leto n
Want to make lasting improvements to your game this year? Here are seven ways to lower your handicap in 2020 VALUABLE LESSONS It’s amazing how often amateurs proudly tell their friends, “I’ve been playing for 15 years and I’ve never had a lesson.” Yes, that would explain why you are spending 50 per cent of your time looking for your golf ball in the bushes. Imagine what you might be able to achieve with some professional help!
GEARING UP One of the greatest feelings in golf is putting shiny new clubs into play. Not even your own children will carry your hopes and dreams like these bad boys. Frankly, your golf bag will be the envy of your friends, even if the rest of your game has them rolling in the aisles.
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7 WAYS TO IMPROVE IN 2020 MIND OVER MATTER Most golfers have two swings. There’s the calm, fluid version you adopt on the range, and then there’s the jagged collection of unrelated spasms you use on the course. If this rings a bell, devoting some time to understanding how the mind works in a sporting context could be the cure.
STRATEGIC SUCCESS Shooting better scores doesn’t necessarily require a Nick Faldo-style swing rebuild. For many amateurs, a relatively simple tweak holds the key. Here’s a way to improve things: once you’ve decided what shot you’re going to play, give yourself a percentage chance of success. If it’s under 50, start again!
BASIC INSTINCTS Even at the highest level, every golf swing is different. One thing every tour player has in common, however, is the way they stand to the ball. From posture and grip to stance and alignment, try to look like Tiger at address. The comparison will no doubt end there, but this approach will at least give you a chance of making a good swing.
MONEY MATCHES Money, as they say, is the root of all evil. In a golfing context, it can help expose the worst of all your character flaws. Give yourself a chance in 2020 and politely withdraw yourself from bits and avoid money matches. On the down side, you will be labelled the most boring golfer at the club. On the plus side, you won’t find yourself crying over five-footers.
SHORT GAME Here’s a novel idea: if you want to lower your handicap this year, why not spend more than five minutes working on your short game. Believe it or not, there’s a correlation between the lack of practice time and the number of duffs you hit. 59
Ph oto gra phy To m Mi les , G ett y I m ages
START Guido Migliozzi won two times in his first season on the European Tour. He sits down with Michael Weston to discuss a dream debut campaign
To borrow a phrase from the world of social media, Guido Migliozzi is ‘living his best life’. If you follow the young Italian, you’ll be aware of this. In 2019, he won twice in what was his rookie season on the European Tour. The 22-year-old is “doing the best job” and doing it rather well. Like most professional sportspeople, he keeps his fans up to date with regular Instagram and Twitter updates; nothing narcissistic, just his scoring, schedule and, more recently, the 60
odd trophy shot. We can expect more of these, because the man from Vicenza has come a long way in a very short period of time. In November 2018, Migliozzi claimed the 16th card at Q-School, a six-round grind he describes as a “marathon” and one he’d rather not experience again. He needn’t worry about that for the time being, not given the way he’s playing. His first victory came in just his 14th European Tour event at the Kenya Open in March, and the other at the Belgian Knockout 11 weeks later. What a start to your tour career. No wonder he’s grinning. “Obviously it’s been a really good start. It’s been wonderful,” he smiles. It’s an understatement. Some players spend their whole careers on tour without ever tasting victory – and this young chap is already on a hat-trick. Despite this glittering start,
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however, he still finds himself in awe of the whole professional golf thing, travelling the world playing the game he loves. “It’s a good feeling. I love everything, all the players, the organisation of the tournaments, and I feel very good,” he says. “I played two years on the Alps Tour and Challenge Tour working on my game, starting from the bottom, and it took a while. I was saying in my head, ‘You’re a professional,
but he’s not about to splash it all on a Maserati. In the summer of 2016, he became Niall Horan’s first signing with management company Modest! Golf. No one knows more about coping with stardom at such a young age than the One Direction star. In any case, Migliozzi prefers motorbikes. “Golf humbles you quickly and I must keep working hard to progress and keep moving forward,” he says. “This is a brutal
“The win in Kenya meant a lot and proved I could win on tour. It gave me so much confidence” you have to do everything as a professional player’. “Those tours are a great learning curve and they are getting stronger and more competitive. I learned so much from the Alps Tour and winning undoubtedly helped me when I took the step on to the European Tour. It’s a real job. I went to Q-School and it’s a very tough week, full of pressure. I’m lucky it went well for me. I wanted only to get a tour card. It was really tough but I made it and here I am playing with friends.”
sport. I try and forget about the bad things. I give all I have on the course and I’m really emotional when I play. I want every single shot to be very good. I keep the fire inside me. I remember a three-putt bogey on a par 5 I had in Germany. I threw the trophy away and I was burning inside. There are highs and
lows. When I have lows, I just put my golf bag away and I don’t play.” It’s been mostly highs so far. Modest! Golf’s Mark McDonnell has had a front-row seat watching his client’s rapid development over the last three years. In 2016, he won the Portuguese Amateur Championship and represented his country at The Eisenhower Trophy. Then, after turning professional, he won three times on the Alps Tour in the space of just 12 months. “We’re proud of all our boys and girls,” says McDonnell. “We’re not the reason guys like Guido are breaking through, but we feel as though we have a small role to play in their development. Guido has shown what can be done with hard work and talent. He’s not even in his mid-20s yet, so there’s so much more to come. I think the future is bright for him. Most importantly he’s still the same guy now as he was three years ago. It’s always nice to see when they remain grounded.” Migliozzi’s first European Tour victory came in Kenya
An incredible rise The 22-year-old is riding the crest of a wave. It can be crude to talk about prize money, but rankings and cash are intrinsically linked. In 2018, he earned less than €10,000 in prize money. A year later, he finished the season having banked nearly €850,000. It’s a vast sum of money,
5 of Italy’s best
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Francesco Molinari Francesco became the first Italian to win a Major when he landed The Open in 2018. Two months later, he won all five of his Ryder Cup matches – another record. He’s 11th on the European Tour’s career money list having amassed nearly €23m.
Edoardo Molinari The three-time European Tour winner last tasted victory in 2017, when he claimed the Trophee Hassan II. His biggest triumph came at the Scottish Open in 2010, a month before he won the Johnnie Walker Championship to earn a Ryder Cup berth.
GUIDO MIGLIOZZI
He finished 40th in the 2019 Race to Dubai
On the importance of having someone like Horan as a mentor, McDonnell adds: “He’s inspirational. He’s experienced growing up in the spotlight, earning a lot of money very quickly and being under scrutiny. He can relate to the players.” He certainly can, and Migliozzi is clearly a fan. You know you’ve made it when you trade fist-bump emojis on social media with one of the biggest pop stars in the world. An unexpected victory Turn the clock back the best part of a year and few would have predicted Migliozzi’s victory in Kenya. He arrived in Nairobi having made just two cuts from seven tournaments. He’d missed the cut the week before in Qatar, when he could do no better than a 75. It meant in 18 rounds, he had broken 70 just twice. However, a lot can
Costantino Rocca Rocca’s putt through the Valley of Sin in 1995 is one of The Open’s most memorable moments. He may never have won a Major, but he was Italy’s first golfing star. In 1997, he became the first Italian to play in the Ryder Cup, defeating Tiger in the singles.
with my learning,” he says. “I also got to play with Justin Rose at the Italian Open. These guys are so open and encouraging with the rookies and the younger guys on tour. No doubt I have learned bits from all of them. I really have appreciated how supportive they have been. “ I was lucky to get an opportunity to play with Rory in a practice round at Wentworth. I have to work a hundred times harder to get where I want. It’s good inspiration. His consistency and skill showed me how much more I have to work on in order to get to the very top.” On the evidence of his rookie campaign, such lofty goals hardly seem overambitious. What about making a Ryder Cup debut on home turf? “That would be a dream come true. I need to keep
change in seven days. The Magical Kenya Open was, well, “magic”. Migliozzi fired four rounds in the 60s to win by one. “That win meant a lot and just proved I could win on tour,” he says. “It gave me so much confidence. I was supposed to go back to Italy afterwards, but the win meant I could go to Malaysia. So I celebrated on the plane. When I got home I celebrated with all my family and friends and that was pretty good. Then came the second one [win], so that confirmed I was working in the right way.” New doors have been opening ever since. In November, he recorded his best finish in a Rolex Series event, a tie for tenth at the Turkish Airlines Open. A week later and he looked set to contend in the Nedbank Golf Challenge before falling away over the weekend. Then, in Dubai, he ended his campaign with a credible share of 16th spot. All the while, he’s been studying the best in the world. “Playing with the likes of Tommy [Fleetwood] is great and all helps
pushing and keep working hard. It’s been a wonderful season but I have more work to do. Let’s see what the future brings. I have to be patient and wait for the next page of the book.” He’ll certainly be fun to watch this season. Give him a follow.
Matteo Manassero In 2010, the former World No.1 amateur became the youngest winner on the European Tour, landing the Castello Masters at just 17. Two-and-a-half years later, aged 20, he made history again when he became the youngest winner of the BMW PGA Championship.
Andrea Pavan European Tour victories in 2018 and ’19 saw the 30-year-old from Rome climb into the world’s top 100. The four-time Challenge Tour winner, who studied at the University of Texas, is currently the second highest-ranked Italian, behind Francesco Molinari.
A second win came at the Belgian Knockout
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GM PROMOTION
“ I RETIRED TOO
EARLY AND FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT. NOW I DO JUDO TWICE A WEEK AND GOLF ON A FRIDAY” Customer Experience Leader Fred has been at McDonald’s for 14 years, and it’s done wonders for his social life
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eturning to work after a period of time away from it can seem like a daunting prospect, regardless of your situation or age, but it is never too late. For Fred, it was a case of retiring too early and regretting it. So he returned to employment and for the past 14 years has been finding fulfilment by working at McDonald’s, where he has risen to the position of Customer Experience Leader. “I retired before I was entitled to my state pension so I was finding it very difficult. There was a young lady who brought her child to judo, which I do twice a week, and she said she worked for McDonald’s. I did not know McDonald’s offered a restaurant experience, I always thought it was just called fast food. So a few weeks later I plucked up the courage and I said ‘Are there any jobs going?’
Two weeks later I got an interview and I started on January 5, 2005. “My first job was in the kitchen, prepping food for breakfast and dinnertime. Now my role is in the dining area offering hospitality, QUICK FIRE QUIZ greeting people as Big Mac or they come in and to Quarter Pounder: Big Mac make sure that Milkshake or McFlurry: McFlurry French Fries or salad: French Fries they’re satisfied. Chicken McNuggets or Chicken “I like to treat Selects: Chicken Selects people as I like to be Early bird or night owl: I like doing that treated. You can tell a Night owl because if you don’t lot by body language. You keep them up they start can tell if they don’t want to to slip. Making sure I get be bothered, you can see if everything right when I go they’re upset and you can see if to work inspires me. “In terms of you can have a bit of fun with social life away from work, I do them. If you get it right you’ve judo twice a week, fishing on a cracked it. Saturday and golf on a Friday. “I’m encouraged to be myself, As a team we go out regularly which has not always been the and I’ve been to places I wouldn’t case in other jobs. But my have gone if I’d stayed at home. favourite things about the job are It has broadened my mind a lot meeting people, working with the and made me more sociable than other crew members and keeping I was before.” the standards up for McDonald’s.
■ Working at McDonald’s is more than just a job. Whatever you want to get out of your career, why not see what McDonald’s can do for you. For more information, visit people.mcdonalds.co.uk 64
5 WAYS A RETURN TO WORK COULD HELP YOUR GOLF GAME It can improve problem-solving Stuck in the rough behind some trees and trying to work out the best course of action? This is a problem that needs to be solved, and a return to work could be the way to improve your problem-solving abilities. Regular work teaches you to think clearly and rationally – a useful skill on the golf
It can help with time management Driving, iron play, short game, putting, mental game – these are just a few of the many parts of golf, and knowing how to divide your time between them all is a skill that must be learned. Everyone has to be able to manage their time at work, and learning how to do so will have a positive effect on your game.
It does wonders for your communication One of the many joys of golf is talking to your playing partners or fellow club members. Communication is a key part of most people’s working lives, so getting better at it will mean improved engagement with the golfing community.
It helps foster new friendships What happens when you work with people every day? You make friends. What are friends great for? Playing golf with. Crucially, it helps you earn more money We all want new equipment, whether it’s a driver, a putter or a bag. Get back to work, get some money in the bank and get shopping. 65
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TRANSFORM YOUR GAME
Instructi n EDDIE PEPPERELL WITH NEIL TAPPIN
Think Smart, Play
Photography: Golf Media Library, Getty Images
Eddie Pepperell’s tips on improving both your long and short game...
in practice and grooved a better feeling. If you feel like you need to ingrain a swing change and you think the only way you are going to get there is through repetitions, by all means go and hit balls. However, I tend to veer on the other side. I prefer to use drills because you can be more direct and precise with your practice. When my irons tend to be good, chipping and pitching is easy, and vice versa. Here’s how I think about these two essential areas of the game.
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Rhythm and sequencing
The worst mistake people make is that they try to improve by training positions. The golf swing is a movement, so you want to train a move. What you’ll find is when you move correctly with a good flow, you get great positions. That’s why you should really only watch your swing at full speed. When you watch a swing in slow motion, you don’t get any sense for the flow. Even the best players in the world, like Adam Scott, you can tell when you watch TV if he’s hit a bad shot or a good shot, because something looks different. I bet that when it comes to the positions in the swing, it is hardly different at all – the difference is the sequence and the flow. So when I am practising, I am training a sequence. Left-arm drill One move I really don’t like is when the club gets stuck behind me on the way down. I hate that, so to encourage a better move where the club is out in front of me more, I use this drill. 68
I put a ball in my left hand and I get into a good posture, with my left arm hanging straight down. Before I move to the top of the backswing, I turn my left hand so my thumb is nearest to my body. This creates the feeling that my left shoulder is internally rotated, but also that my
back is facing the target for longer at the top. My left arm goes up and then, as I start the downswing, I throw the ball down. By doing that with my lead arm, it brings my shoulders more on top of my hips and discourages the move where the club gets stuck behind me.
EDDIE PEPPERELL EDDIE’S KEY 2 0 1 9 S TAT S
63.4% Greens in regulation
30th Strokes gained: tee-to-green
3.8 Birdies per round
Re-route drill Start with club to the right of the ball (inset picture). From here, you will need to re-route the club on the way down, creating an inside path to find the strike. Notice how far Eddie’s body has rotated here, and that the club is attacking the ball from slightly inside the target line
he second drill I do is a re-route drill, hich forces me to attack the ball on e inside. It keeps my hips quiet and I ave to rotate my body to square the ce up. With this drill I am basically tting an inside-to-inside fade. These two drills help train the pposite of my bad habits with an mphasis on flow or sequencing. hat’s it, and it’s what I have done for wo years. There is still some technical uff I work on at times if necessary, but y and large, 90% of the time those wo drills are what I focus on.
Technique and skill I think the main component of skill is technique, so I am always trying to get that right. When I am playing golf, all I think about is my technique, using the feedback from each shot – what happened there, what was my shot pattern, what do I need to do on the next shot? The two swing feels I play with have different misses. Your misses can actually build trust, and trust is massive. You can only really get to a position of pure trust after a period of time, experiencing golf shots on the course under pressure and seeing misses and shot patterns. 69
Long game to short game TRADITIONAL
I never practise my chipping at home. I do a fair bit at tournaments, especially if I miss a lot of greens! It correlates so much to my full-swing technique. I think chipping and pitching is basically an extension of iron play, and vice-versa. Technique is so important and you’ve got to get that right. If that’s right you can spend more time eating chocolate in front of the TV than practising!
Modern v traditional chipping If I started again I would take on more of the modern chipping technique that players now use, but I’m a poisoned chalice and just have to deal with what I have got! I have a fair bit of handle drag in transition (the hands move towards the target at the start of the downswing). If I just rotated my body from here, as you would with the other
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technique, I would miss the ball. At some point, the club has to fall to the ground, and to do that I pull the handle in towards my body. What you see in more modern chippers is the club falling at the start of the downswing. This means the club is in a nice, wide position and from here, you can collect the ball by turning your body and using the bounce through impact.
EDDIE PEPPERELL Bad lies I tend to put the ball back in my stance and make more of a descending blow. To get the clubface back square, that’s where I talk about the handle needing to come back into my body because otherwise I could shank it, fat it, I could do all sorts of stuff! So as the ball goes back and the blow is more descending, the handle has to work in.
Loft check The biggest problems amateurs have in the short game come from issues in the backswing. I see so many players take the club back with a shut face. If you haven’t got loft on the face, it is impossible to chip well. All the great chippers will make sure the toe of the wedge is pointing to the sky in the backswing. If it’s shut on the way back, then you have to create loft and that’s when you start doing all sorts of bad things with the handle. Check by stopping at the top of the backswing to see if the toe is pointing straight up.
The best chippers get loft on the club early in the backswing, so they don’t have to manipulate anything to create it through impact
W H AT ’ S I N T H E B AG ? Driver: Fairway woods: 2-iron: Irons (3-PW): Wedges: Putter: Ball:
Ping G410 Plus Mizuno ST190, Callaway GBB Epic Mizuno MMC Fli-Hi, KBS S-Taper shaft Mizuno MP-20 MMC, KBS KBS Tour V130 X shafts Mizuno T20 (50˚, 55˚, 59˚), KBS-C Taper shafts Bettinardi Studio Stock 8 Titleist Pro V1 71
FAULT FIXER
The rotation drill that will boost your ball-striking By Top 25 Coach Steve Robinson
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This drill will improve the way you rotate your body during the swing and, as a result, enhance your ball-striking. From this position, hit some shots with a mid-iron (I use an 8-iron) and focus on unwinding your arms and body together in balance. Stand with your legs together. Then, take your rear foot back just past the heel of your front foot, and get onto your toes (rear foot only).
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Photography: Kevin Murray. Shot on location at La Cala
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This is what we’re aiming for – my arms and hands are in balance with my body. My knees have stayed together and I haven’t had to try and rebalance through the swing. There’s no tilting. This drill will help keep your knee and chin levels constant and promote a more consistent contact. Movement creates power, balance controls it.
Caution: You can actually generate a lot of speed from the position you take in this drill, but aim for 80-90% of a full swing.
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If my right side tilts as I hit the ball, I’m going to lose my balance. Players who have a tendency to help the ball in the air are often in this position (top right). Falling back shallows the angle of attack, causing heavy and thin strikes. Others keep their head down, which actually makes it difficult to unwind your body. Your head should move with the ‘triangle’ formed by your shoulders and arms. 73
STRATEGY
Don’t fear the bare-lie chip 1
Given the choice, ‘less is more’, which means when you have green to work with, use less loft. Because you need less of a swing, you’ll have a better chance of executing a good strike out of the middle of the club.
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Photography: Kevin Murray. Shot on location at La Cala
Caution: You know you’re going to encounter some resistance as soon as you make contact, but make sure you don’t react to that with a really tight grip.
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Be realistic about your results when you find yourself in positions like this. It’s often a case of taking your medicine. I like to practise where the low point is – as I’m getting a feel for here – particularly on a slope, because that can vary. Getting the ball position in that place is essential.
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Of course, you need more loft when you have no green to work with. It’s important to trust that the club will return back to the same point for a good strike. The trick is not to panic from the top and speed up, or try and produce a different swing type or shape. Let the weight of the club drop into the back of the ball.
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SAVE PAR
Hole more short putts By Top 25 Coach Andrew Jones
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Getting used to hearing the sound of the ball dropping is a great way to build confidence, so set up a workstation where it’s almost impossible to miss. You could use alignment sticks to create a channel – like the kids’ bumpers in ten pin bowling – to make sure you can’t miss. I also like putting from a virtually unmissable distance (inset pic). I used to putt 50 balls from 18 inches to guarantee holing it and hearing that sound.
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Photography: Dan Gould. Shot on location at London Golf Club
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Narrowing your focus point can really help. One way to do this is to make the hole smaller in practice via a narrower tee peg entrance gate, which can then make it seem a little bigger out on the course. I also like popping a tee peg in the back of the cup. This not only narrows your focus further, but if you can get your ball to clip that tee before dropping, you’re hitting it at the right pace for a short putt too.
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I would also advocate a nice compact stroke. Take the club too far back and the face tends to rotate too much, which is a disaster on short putts. Too long an action (bottom photo) creates more scope for things to go wrong. Try setting up with a tee where your backstroke should stop and a tee gate where the putter should stop on the follow-through. Keeping the stroke a little brisker is a key to short putting.
Caution: Resist the temptation for a sneaky peek! Put a coin down beside the ball and stay looking at that after the stroke to keep your head and body stable.
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GAME CHANGER Golf Monthly editor Mike Harris reflects on his season-long venture with COBRA Golf, with particular focus on playing One-Length irons…
Mike with his COBRA club line-up
One-Length irons have improved Mike’s strike quality and consistency...
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t the start of the 2019 season, GM editor Mike Harris embarked on a targeted campaign to halt a slide in form with the help of COBRA PUMA Golf. When Mike underwent his full driver-to-wedge COBRA fitting at the start of the season he was playing off 8.8, with eyes set firmly on exploring every possible avenue to turn the corner. Technique, course management and fitness advice from COBRA PUMA Golf’s popular YouTube coach, Alex Elliott, were also all part of Mike’s ‘Get Fast, Go Low’ mission. In his fitting, Mike tried, and then embraced, COBRA’s One-Length concept pioneered by Bryson DeChambeau, in which all irons are
7-iron length, from wedges to utility irons if so desired. The rationale is that the 7-iron is a favourite club for many, so why not simplify things and make every club feel and play like one? COBRA Golf takes care to keep feel the same, too, adding up to 15g of weight in the long-irons and taking away up to 26g in the shorter irons. Shafts are also progressively weighted, so every iron is the same swing weight as well as the same length. The theory is that a more repeatable set-up and swing throughout the set will result in greater consistency and accuracy. In this final instalment, Mike focuses on his experiences with One-Length irons throughout the year…
GM PROMOTION
Mike’s One-Length feedback I’ve played well over 50 rounds with my irons and they have lived up to the promise of the fitting day. Part of my desire to give it a try was that I’ve always felt iron play to be a weakness, and you do need to put some practice in so it feels more natural when you face a full wedge shot with a club that’s 7-iron length. But it didn’t take me that long to get used to it on the course. I didn’t opt for One-Length in my wedges and utility irons initially, and although I stuck to variable-length wedges, COBRA Golf kindly allowed me to switch to One-Length utility irons mid-season as I was hitting my 5- and 6-irons well and felt the switch would benefit my long-iron play. These are my One-Length pros and cons…
Pros l I have undoubtedly hit my irons better. l I have become more consistent throughout the bag. l My Arccos shot-tracking data shows I’m more accurate with my 6-iron than my 50˚ wedge (a pro or a con?). l Bump-and-runs with my One-Length utility irons have proved a great option. Cons l Variable-length utilities seemed increasingly hard to hit as I became more comfortable with the rest of my irons. l It took a while to get used to the longer 8- and 9-irons on chip shots. l The pitching wedge can ‘feel’ long. l I’m hitting my 5- and 6-irons a similar distance. Apparently, such gapping issues are not uncommon.
Photography: Jeremy Ellwood
...and proved useful for some short-game shots
MIKE’S ENDO F -Y E A R R E P O R T My closing handicap is 9.8 after a lot of 0.1s, so it’s been frustrating. When I’ve played well, I’ve played a lot better than in previous years, so the good shots have been really good. Arccos data shows the short game has been a bit of a struggle, although that has definitely turned a corner from a real low point at the start of the summer. I’ve felt the pressure of trying to improve, too. In competitions, when I start dropping shots my mind starts telling me, “You’re not going to make buffer or get a cut now,” particularly around my home course, Hartley Wintney, where it’s tight and the greens are so small. I’ve also struggled to stick to the old ‘one shot at a time’ adage, and many of my errors have been course management-related. That said, I did shoot 75 in a friendly at Liphook – my best score for three years – and that was a good indication of where I feel my best golf is now at. I played well from start to finish and got up and down a lot, too. When I did start playing better, the weather sadly took a turn and wiped out a number of competition rounds. So, no handicap cut, but I’ve really enjoyed the One-Length irons and my COBRA King F9 driver, so maybe 2020 will be the year that I reap what has been sown in 2019. And yes, I will be sticking with One-Length!
What’s in the bag? Mike’s 2019 COBRA Golf line-up
Driver COBRA King F9 Yellow, 9˚
Fairway wood COBRA King F9 Yellow, 3-4
Utility irons COBRA King Black Utility One-Length, 2-3 and 3-4
Irons (5-PW) COBRA King Forged Tec Black One-Length
Wedges COBRA King Black Versatile Grind, 50˚, 54˚ & 58˚ 79
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TOUR INSIGHT
Best Tips
Ernie Els The four-time Major Champion and winner of over 70 tournaments worldwide shares some of the secrets that took him to the very top
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Finding extra yards You can’t just go at the ball harder. Try to feel like your chest is over the middle of your stance at impact, which helps you sync your upper and lower body through the hitting zone, a key to solid contact. It also gives you a little bit of ‘hang back’ so you sweep the ball away on an upward curve. Coping with nerves Everyone gets nervous, even the best players. Pre-shot routine is key. I have my glove unfastened until I’m ready to ‘get into my shot’. When the moment comes, I’ll pull the Velcro across and that’s my mental trigger to focus on what I need to do.
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Pitching and chipping Play less loft if that option is available. You don’t always need to go with a lob wedge. For all shots, especially short shots, try to focus on keeping your forearms very soft at address. That softness spreads into your swing.
Long-iron striking Swap to hybrids! Seriously, I don’t have conventional longirons in my bag anymore. Srixon sorted me out with some new utility irons and they’re amazing. For all long shots, you’ve got to finish your backswing. Really stretch it out and get that left shoulder behind the ball; that’s been a key swing thought through my career.
Bunker play Try to control the entry point in the sand a lot better. If you can hit the same spot every time, it kind of eliminates at least one variable. Then keep the rhythm of your swing the same, controlling distance with the length of your backswing.
Photography: Getty Images
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Reading greens One of the things us pros see in Pro-Ams every week is amateurs under-reading putts. Try to get into a mindset where you ‘see’ more of the high side on a putt, commit to a line and then work on your speed control. Think more about how the ball is going to break as it gets near the hole; that’s when the green’s contours have the most influence on line.
Course management Golf’s a dream when you’re hitting fairways and greens, but if your game is out of whack, you need to learn how to grind out a score. Try not to lose your patience or get reckless. You’ll actually get a kick out of shooting a decent score when you’re not playing anywhere near your best.
Club selection Under-clubbing is as common as under-reading putts. Try this trick: think of a club, take one more and then swing with perfect balance. Trust me, you’ll hit more consistent iron shots and you’ll get the ball into the heart of the green more often.
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Putting If you’re not making your share, don’t be afraid to experiment. Try different grips, move the ball around in your stance, maybe a different putter to give your eyes a fresh look. Anything goes with putting, just mix things up and see if you can hit on a feeling that works.
W H AT ’ S I N T H E B AG ? Driver: XXIO X, 10.5° 3-wood: XXIO X, 15° Irons: Srixon Z U85 utility irons (2-5), Srixon Z 785 (6-PW) Wedges: Cleveland RTX 4, 52°, 56° and 60° Putter: Bloodline Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
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More up-and-downs A sloppy approach putt or chip is such a drain on your score and your spirits. From 50, 60, 70 feet or whatever, you’ve got to prioritise distance control above all else. Visualise the golf ball dying into that little three-foot circle around the hole. It’s an old-school tip but it’s one of the best. 81
Enhance your knowledge
Rules
Words by Grant Moir, Jeremy Ellwood
One year on: Golf’s new Rules
It’s 12 months since major revisions to the Rules of Golf came into effect. Here, we reflect on the year with R&A Rules director, Grant Moir fter a lengthy build-up and major re-education programme via a variety of resources, golfers finally got to tee it up under the highly publicised new Rules of Golf on January 1, 2019. The sum of all the changes to the Rules by which we must abide out on the course added up to the most comprehensive modifications for over a generation. The goals of this Rules modernisation initiative were many and varied, among them: a drive to make the Rules easier to both understand and apply; a desire to
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Grant Moir (L) is the R&A’s Rules chief
dispense with what were perhaps unnecessarily harsh penalties; and a commitment to doing whatever might be possible from a Rules perspective to address growing concerns over pace of play and the impact that is perceived to be having on participation. No doubt we all have our own thoughts about the various changes introduced, but over the past year we’ve all had to adapt to penalty areas rather than hazards, putting with the flagstick in (if so desired), giving up our ball searches after three minutes and dropping from knee-height, along with many other less high-profile changes.
RULES The flagstick-in putting Rule has been well received
So, how have they bedded in and how have they been received across the golfing world? We spoke to Grant Moir, R&A Rules director, to find out what the feedback has been and how those who spent several years drafting the new Rules feel it has gone… Have things gone better or worse than expected? We always knew there would be a transition period. Change is never easy and initially it certainly could have gone more smoothly, but overall, we’re extremely pleased with how well the new Rules have been received. Our aim was to modernise the Rules by making them easier to understand and apply and the feedback we’re receiving is that we’ve done that. Who is the feedback coming from? Most of it at this point is anecdotal through people we meet from our affiliated national associations and those we’re teaching the Rules to. Now that we’re a year on, we’re looking to embark on a more formalised feedback process through our national affiliates to try to get a sense of what club golfers and golf club administrators feel Haotong Li was penalised in Dubai
about not only the new Rules, but also the publications, the new app, the changes that they’ve maybe made to course markings in penalty areas and the like. The feedback we’re receiving has been positive, but we would like to get a better feel and understanding of how it has impacted globally. Were you surprised by the backlash early on, especially among tour pros on Twitter? We took some, you could say, very courageous steps and some things
were very different. We knew we were asking a lot of people to adjust to those and inevitably the changes were the focus of a lot of attention. We made some necessary adjustments to some areas of the Rules – the caddie alignment Rule being one of those – so we reacted to that. But it’s amazing how things have gone quiet, as it were, with the Rules – it has felt like it just needed a little bit of time to bed in. We always look at it from the point of view that no news is good news, because that means golf is the story rather than the Rules. The Haotong Li ‘caddie lining up’ penalty in Dubai attracted a lot of attention… We needed to make a few adjustments so that
it wasn’t quite as catch-all as it was initially, and we did that. Since then, things have gone very quiet on that front as well. That Rule has achieved what we wanted it to achieve. What has been very encouraging is that we have had a lot of good comment and feedback. I was in Australia earlier in the year at the Australian Women’s Open and a few of the volunteers, when they saw that I represented The R&A, were telling me how much they loved the new Rules. I’ve been working here for 25 years and I’ve never had a club golfer come up to me before and tell me that they love the Rules, so that was a nice experience. Generally speaking, at the elite level it’s gone very, very quiet now and I think that what looked new and perhaps a bit strange has very quickly become the norm. 83
Which changes would you say people have found hardest and easiest to accept and embrace? People certainly embraced the flagstick Rule very quickly from the outset, and the three-minute search has proved to be very popular. I’m not sure there’s anything that people don’t accept, but I think there might be areas of the Rules where people aren’t taking full advantage of the changes we’ve made. They maybe don’t understand that there are certain permissions that weren’t there before. Speaking, again anecdotally, I was playing with some friends last week on damp greens that had a bit of foot traffic on them, and people maybe aren’t taking full advantage of the ability to repair damage
84
on the putting greens. Overall, I would say that people have embraced the changes and there’s not really anything that they’re railing against. Some people have been saying the knee-high drop is awkward, particularly for older golfers… It’s interesting. I would say the whole dropping process has been something that’s a real positive within the new Rules. You’re dropping from a low height into a
specified relief area and the ball has to stay in there. The process seems to be much quicker and there are far fewer re-drops and placings, so the process itself is easier to understand and apply. In terms of the awkwardness, I think to begin with people were using slightly awkward methods and have adjusted now to dropping from knee-height. And if you count up the number of times that you pick the ball out of the hole, tee it up or mark your ball on the putting green in comparison to
“Our remit when we started this process was to review the entire Rule book. No stone was left unturned”
RULES
the number of times you’re required to drop the ball at knee-height, there are more strenuous aspects to the game than the odd occasion that you drop the ball. Is there any indication that some of the measures brought in to potentially help with pace of play have helped? Part of our thinking in these changes was to ensure that the Rules weren’t an inhibitor to improved pace of play. I think we recognised that no one change would significantly speed up the game, but the flagstick Rule and the three-minute search, we’re told, have had significant benefits on pace of play – particularly the flagstick Rule in countries where people play a lot of fourball golf and all four are now putting with the flagstick in. We’ve had reports of 20-30 minute
improvements in round times and obviously that’s terrific. At the elite level, where there perhaps are a few more relief scenarios, the dropping procedure and the ease of it, and the fact that it can sometimes be done without calling in a Rules official, is beneficial. But as an overall package, I think the Rules have helped with pace of play and that was firmly in our sights when we made all the changes. Are you aware of greenkeeper feedback from some clubs that holes are getting damaged as people pull the flagstick out with the ball in? We’re aware of some of the concerns that the hole is perhaps becoming worn a bit more quickly than it did previously, and it’s certainly something we’re keeping an eye on. We obviously urge golfers to be as careful as possible in removing the ball from the hole in the same way that we urge them to care for the course elsewhere – the hole is no different. A year on, is there anything you wish either had or hadn’t been changed? Our remit when we started this process eight years ago was to review the entire Rule book and no stone was left unturned. None of us imagined that we would actually make as significant a change to the Rule book as we have done, so we’re very pleased with the outcome. But the review of the Rules is an ongoing process – we haven’t stopped. Our aim remains to make the Rules easier to understand and apply. We don’t want to revert to complexity by making minor adjustments and exceptions to deal with unusual situations. We’re in a new Rules review period now – we started almost
The R&A Rules app has proved popular
immediately after releasing the 2019 Rules – and I don’t see that ever changing. Do you think there’s a sense that because this was such a big change, more people are now more aware of the Rules than before? I would say that is right. The changes were so significant that I think most golfers felt the need to brush up on the basics. There was certainly a huge amount of enthusiasm for our bite-size resources like our ‘Top 20 most important Rules changes’. In a strange way, a side benefit of the changes to the dropping Rules and the flagstick Rule was that anyone watching golf on television could see that something had changed, so they were immediately aware of the new Rules and wanted to know more about them. So yes, we firmly believe that golfers have a better understanding of the Rules now than ever before, which is great.
Scrutiny on knee-high drops has reduced over time
The three-minute search time has helped reduce round times
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Tested by real golfers
Edited by Joel Tadman
Looks It differs from the P790 in that it has a much wider sole, more offset, thicker topline and longer blade length from heel to toe. It also has a lighter, less reflective finish.
G M Verd i ct
TaylorMade P790 Ti Iron £2,699
Brands like PXG and Honma have proven there is a demand for the ultra-premium iron set and the P790 Ti is TaylorMade’s foray into this lucrative market. It comes soon after the launch of the updated P790 iron, which will certainly be a popular choice among a range of players, but in terms of the construction the P790 Ti is a very different beast. We hit shots with both 7-irons on the Foresight Sports GC2 launch monitor and there were some differences. Firstly, the ball flight with the P790 Ti was noticeably higher, helping with both distance and stopping power. As with the P790, the head is hollow and filled with Speedfoam, providing that hot, explosive feel with a pleasing sound too, although it felt like the P790 Ti had a touch more oomph behind it. Sure enough, it gave us nearly 2mph more ball speed. The spin was similar at just under 86
6,000rpm and as a result of the extra speed and higher flight, we achieved an average carry of 174 yards versus 172 with the P790. This small difference is partly a testament to how good the latest P790 is, but in P790 Ti there is an option that The P790 Ti was easy to launch
will suit a player seeking more help with their iron shots. Through its size alone it will be more stable and efficient on slight off-centre hits, and the extra launch while maintaining spin should help slower swing speeds increase carry distance. The sole interacts with the ground differently, too. With the wider sole and a little extra bounce, the clubhead is encouraged to glide rather than dig. This will help the majority of golfers increase their margin for error on the strike. The main stumbling block is, of course, the price. Working out at £385 per club, the P790 Ti represents a big investment for an iron that some players might find is a touch chunky on their eye at address, and doesn’t offer a significant leap in performance over the new P790.
TESTED BY GOLF MONTHLY
Up Against Ball flight We were surprised to see the P790 Ti launch the ball higher than the P790, despite the lofts being two degrees stronger. The ball flight was 2-3 yards higher on average with the 28.5° 7-iron.
Callaway Epic Forged £1,999 A suspended tungsten core sits within urethane microspheres to optimise launch, as well as sound and feel.
Titleist Cncpt CP-01 £3,500 A Super Metal L-Face insert – the thinnest unsupported, constant-thickness face in golf – produces faster ball speeds.
How the P790 Ti (left) compares with the P790
Honma Beres from £329 per club A new C-Cup structure wrapped around the toe expands the size of the sweetspot for more distance and forgiveness.
Key Tec h n o lo g y It gets its name from a special 9-1-1 titanium, which has a very high strength-to-weight ratio, meaning TaylorMade could make the face thinner to increase ball speed. The saved weight also allows for a tungsten back bar, which weighs 119g on average, positioned in the rear portion of the cavity. The Thru-Slot Speed Pocket expands the flexible area of the face to generate faster ball speeds.
“For mid-handicappers, P790 Ti offers everything they would want in an iron set. But the price tag may be difficult to justify” Joel Tadman, GM technical editor
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REVIEWS
Odyssey Stroke Lab Black Ten Putter £269 GM Ve rd i ct
K ey Te ch n ol o g y
The Stroke Lab Ten is one of two models that feature within the new Black collection, and given how impressive the looks and performance are, we wouldn’t be surprised if there were some more shapes added to the range next year. With its extremely high MOI construction, this particular model focuses strongly on forgiveness. Its stability is able to counter those slightly off-centre hits that five years ago may have missed the hole from short range but now find the bottom of the cup. Short putts were a breeze
88
It is supported admirably by the Stroke Lab shaft construction, which we have found to produce a smoother, more consistent tempo where the clubface seems to return to square much more naturally and frequently. This helped us hole our fair share from that crucial 8- to 12-foot range. The vivid alignment aid on the top contributes too, as does the oversize grip. The impressive Microhinge Star face insert, which feels and sounds soft – but not excessively so – ensures the ball hugs the ground early. As a result of a new-found confidence, our distance control from long range also improved. This helped eliminate threeputts by getting closer to the hole and being more proficient from short range.
Inspired by the #7 and Indianapolis shapes, the multi-material Ten comes in slant or double-bend neck options. A new Microhinge Star insert creates a firmer feel and pleasing sound at impact, while providing the same roll characteristics of Odyssey’s popular White Hot Microhinge insert. The Stroke Lab shaft and head weight distribution encourage a more consistent putting stroke.
Looks The shape may well look somewhat familiar to you. It encourages proper aim thanks to the thick white sightline contrasting sharply with the black body.
Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Driver £309 GM Ve r d ic t Cleveland impressed us last year with the Launcher HB driver. It offered nonadjustable, no-nonsense distance with a strong, draw-biased shot shape. That trend continues with this new model and while there has been a £30 price increase, there is extra performance to justify it. Out of the middle, this driver can compete with the major players in the category. It gave us ball speeds in excess of 156mph, nearly 2mph quicker than the previous model. It launched a little lower, but with spin remaining low at around 2300rpm, the carry distance increased by a few yards – the more optimum flight
It was a fun driver to put in play
meant we got even more total yardage. It feels fast and stable at impact but does come with a loud, high-pitched sound that we didn’t overly care for. That said, direction seemed simple to control as we could rely on the draw-biased head to
return the ball back to our target, although it did overdo it at times. The large profile certainly inspires confidence at address and the raised lines at the back make it look fast. We also liked the premium matte finish. The Launcher HB Turbo remains a simple, fuss-free and wallet-friendly driver choice for golfers who should see gains in performance when using the correct shaft and loft combination. There is now a draw model that offers even more slice correction.
Looks It is long from front-to-back and is fairly busy on top. The line where the crown drops down a level encourages a closed face when used for alignment, which will help slicers.
Ke y Te ch n o lo g y A Turbocharged Cup Face stretches along the crown and sole and has a unique variable thickness pattern that delivers more speed across the face. The redesigned HiBore crown features a prominent step that lowers the CG, while the Ultralight hosel removes undesirable mass. A new Miyazaki C. Kua shaft pulls weight from the length of the shaft and repositions it at the grip end, making it feel easier to swing quickly. 89
REVIEWS
Looks A pleasing shape, with a thickish topline that inspires confidence without looking chunky. Some may prefer less offset at address, but the polished finish is certainly pleasing on the eye.
The club provides ample versatility
Wilson Staff Utility Iron £169 G M Ve r d ic t Staff player Gary Woodland created a buzz around this product in 2019, using it en route to US Open victory at Pebble Beach. On first inspection, it looked like a versatile club that could do lots of different jobs, and this proved to be the case. Testing on the Foresight GCQuad showed that it translates club speed into impressive ball speeds on a strong, penetrating flight. The sound was a little more clicky than I was hoping for, and I was expecting the 21° option to flight the ball a little higher, but it was able to strike a good balance between distance and stopping power. The KBS hybrid shaft also impressed, helping control the clubface while maximising speed. On the course, it gave us a reliable option off tees and it was proficient from the turf, although dirt does tend to gather 90
in the screw hole on the sole. This minor inconvenience aside, we really enjoyed using the Wilson Staff Utility. Coming in at The Wilson Staff Utility delivered impressive ball speed
under £170, it provides excellent value for golfers seeking an iron-like club to sit between their fairway and longest iron.
Ke y Te ch n o l o g y Designed to deliver a combination of distance, reliability and forgiveness, thanks to seven grams of weight positioned low in the clubhead for increased launch. A high-strength maraging steel face delivers greater ball speeds across the entire hitting area for improved distances. Available in three lofts of 18˚, 21˚ and 24˚ in right-hand only with a KBS Tour Hybrid stock shaft.
Adidas Tour360 XT Twin Boa Shoe £179.95
G M Ve rd i ct The Adidas Tour360 XT Twin Boa shoe is one of the more unique and intriguing cleated shoe designs on the market, so we were keen to see if the concept added anything extra to the user experience. The dual Boa dial system is simple to operate. Pull them out to loosen, pull the shoes open, slide your feet in, push the dials back in and then twist to tighten. The process is arguably quicker and involves marginally less faff than traditional laces, although there isn’t much in it. Tightening them both gives you that complete locked-in feel while still being comfortable to walk in. You limit the chance of movement inside and gain a strong connection with the ground. The fit was impressive
We really like how the lower dial creates a more snug feeling in the vamp section, where most golf shoes can be overly roomy. Crucially, it does this while maintaining space for the toes to move and not feel pinched in. The other thing that’s great about the separate midfoot dial is that you can create room by not tightening it as much if you have wide feet. As with the other Tour360 XT offerings, you do feel quite high off the ground when you factor in the cleated outsole, but the Boost cushioning that you are raised up on does enhance the comfort and genuinely provides a spring in your step. The grip from the outsole is superb and the shoes strike a nice balance of providing a stable footing during the swing while also being flexible in key areas. This ensures you’re not thinking about them when walking between shots. They’re waterproof and it was hard to tell the uppers were synthetic and not real leather. For us, there is value in the extra investment from this unique lacing system if you enjoy a locked-in fit and feel.
Styling There’s quite a lot going on when you look down on this shoe. That said, the various features are all white, which helps to minimise any distractions.
Ke y Te c h n o l o g y The shoe offers micro-adjustability in two separate zones. The first is the independent main dial with highstrength Boa lace that, when combined with the forged 360 wrap, creates power by locking the area between your midfoot and forefoot. The lower Boa zone provides micro-adjustability from the middle to bottom instep for a customised fit, feel and support without irritation or discomfort. 91
TEST CENTRE
JOEL TADMAN ON...
ASK OUR EXPERT What style of putter is good for a beginner? Joel222, GM forum I think when starting out, it is important to distinguish which style of putter you prefer the look of, considering different shapes, sizes and alignment features. A putter fitting can guide you into a weighting system that matches your stroke type, but looks instil confidence, which trumps everything in my opinion. That said, not
only are mallet putters more forgiving but they are also easier to align, so this might be a good place to begin. I want a waterproof, comfortable, reasonably-priced pair of winter shoes. What do you recommend? 3offthetee, GM forum I would always suggest a black, cleated pair of shoes for winter. Assuming you don’t want to pay more than £120, my top three would be the FootJoy Arc XT, Under Armour Hovr Drive and Adidas CP Traxion. Skechers also offers some very comfortable and affordable options. FootJoy even does a winter golf boot, which offers next-level protection if your home course is particularly boggy.
92
Why 2019 was another vintage year of gear
s another year has come and gone, it’s a fitting time to reflect on the best innovations that were brought to the table in 2019. I was happy to see Cobra experience such success with its King F9 Speedback driver. The company has been making solid, more affordable gear for a while now, and becoming the number-one-selling driver in the first quarter of 2019 was just reward for the effort put in behind the scenes. Elsewhere in the driver sector, we saw Callaway use a super computer and artificial intelligence (AI) to shape its
A
The 2019 gear that impressed us
face design. I must admit I never saw this coming, but I can now see AI playing a much bigger part in analysing and maximising performance, especially when you consider how Arccos is using data to help golfers better understand their games. Who knows, maybe one day in the future a computer will be able to create a clubface design tailored to your exact impact pattern, matched with a shaft custom built for your swing! I digress... TaylorMade claimed to have reached maximum ball speed with its Speed Injected Twist Face, so it will be interesting to see in which direction it goes in 2020. Elsewhere, the Ping G410 Plus driver maintains its place in my bag for its relentless ability to find fairways. The Titleist T-Series irons and utilities really impressed me, along with the Pro V1 balls, Honma’s unique driver and Mizuno’s iron offerings. Across the board, every manufacturer has truly raised its game to try and grab your attention. Ultimately, though, you need to figure out what works best for you.
The display is certainly one of the best on the market
MY ON-COURSE REVIEWS
J O E LÕ S T E S T R E P O R T
Is this £1,600 GPS watch worth the money?
● Features Plenty. There’s a black and white mode to save power once inactive for a few seconds. The accompanying app can provide club recommendations if you enter your carry distances before play. You can receive texts, add your score as you play and even tag shot locations and clubs used, which helps with the performance analysis post-round.
Products like the Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45 Golf Edition GPS watch don’t come around too often, so we were excited to give it a try on the course at the London Club...
● Navigation The colour display is bright and bold, with arced lines showing you the distance to reach and carry specific points. The detail is useful enough, but you can use the Tag Heuer GPS app for a deeper dive, which features brilliant 3D flyovers of the hole ahead.
● Styling With its white strap and green trim, the watch has a sporty, athletic design that doesn’t scream golf. An additional black rubber strap option provides further off-course versatility. It’s a touch chunky but surprisingly lightweight and the strap is adjustable to fit your wrist for maximum comfort.
● Verdict An accurate, feature-packed and stylish GPS that is one of the best around, although there are others that do a similar job for a quarter of the price. But golfers for whom money is no object will still be tempted by this luxury timepiece.
GolfBuddy Aim L10V laser Compact, light and with lots of features, including slope and even the option of having the distance spoken to you. Great value. Price £269.99
HottMitt heated mittens We like how the short bursts of heat save battery, the reduced faff compared with normal mittens and the ability to charge your phone. Price £89.99
THIS CAUGHT MY EYE... CuddleClones headcovers What is it? A US-based website that makes life-like wood headcovers of your favourite pet. GM verdict The level of detail is incredible and the materials used are of a high quality. They’re pricey, but would certainly make a great gift for a loved one. Price £123.70 plus £62.22 for Even PGA Tour player Jamie international shipping. Lovemark has one
FootJoy ProDry Crew socks Soft, comfortable and just the right thickness to add enough warmth without making shoes feel too tight. Price £9 a pair 93
BUYERS’ GUIDE
The TaylorMade P790 Ti (£2,699) uses a premium titanium and tungsten back bar to increase speed and launch
The Mizuno MP-20 MMC (£165 per club) uses a 12g toe weight to increase stability
Titleist’s T100 (£160 per club) is a players’ cavity back with extra camber on the sole
The Cobra King Forged Tec One iron (£899) should now produce more consistent flights
Irons
W
hether it’s a safe shot off the tee, a pinpoint approach or a chip-and-run to a back flag, your irons will always get a full workout every round you play. That is why you need to love everything about them, especially when you consider the financial investment required! The choice on the market is incredibly varied, which is both a blessing and curse in that it can be tricky to narrow down your selection, but a session with
a reputable fitter will help to streamline your search. We’re seeing trends towards compact, almost blade-like irons that pack in the firepower of a chunky cavity back from ten years ago. You need to be comfortable with what you look down on, but don’t be intimidated by smaller profiles as new technology makes launch easier and forgiveness more pronounced. Our showcase only covers a small section of the market, but will hopefully steer you in the right direction for your next iron-set purchase.
“Do you really need more distance, or would a change in ball flight, spin or distance consistency actually be more beneficial?” Joel Tadman, GM technical editor 94
Top B u yi ng T i ps
1
The number on the bottom of the club means very little. Check the loft of the irons you test against your current set to account for distance gains.
2
Beware: with extra distance comes potential gapping issues at the wedge end of your bag. Consider adjusting your lofts or adding a wedge to fill any holes.
3
Cobra’s one-length irons are a good option if you want a more consistent strike.
Best all-rounders
Best for forgiveness
Best for distance
Best for feel
IRONS
Mizuno MP-20 MB £150 per club
Ping Blueprint £219 per club
Callaway Apex 19 Pro £1,299
This forged blade has a tapered topline and cambered sole to boost forgiveness from strikes high and low on the face.
Mass concentrated behind the impact zone delivers a pleasing sound and feel. A tungsten toe screw increases forgiveness.
An average of 50 grams of tungsten in each iron precisely positions the CG for enhanced ball-flight control.
Cobra King Speedzone £699
Wilson Staff D7 £469
Yonex Ezone CB 701 £220 per club
Carbon fibre replaces steel on the topline in the 4- to 7-irons to redistribute weight for better performance.
Three rows of Power Holes on the sole of the 4- to 7-irons increase face deflection for more distance. A filler material improves feel.
Ping G410 £126 per club
Titleist T300 £125 per club
Smaller than G400 yet more forgiving, thanks to the removal of the Custom Tuning Port in the cavity and tungsten weights being added in the hosel and toe.
Max Impact technology combines Titleist’s thinnest face, a structural support and a silicone polymer core to extend the face’s maximum speed area.
High-strength chromoly 4140M metal promotes accelerated ball speeds, while re-engineered Sound Ribs improve impact feel.
Titleist T200 £160 per club
Honma TWorld747 P £969
TaylorMade P790 £1,299
Features the same ball-speed enhancing Max Impact innovation as T300 but in a smaller profile at address.
A 20g tungsten weight runs along the sole to help launch the ball higher and assist with thin shots. Price is for a six-piece set.
A seven per cent thinner face makes it faster and the sole radius has been tweaked, making it less likely to dig.
Strong lofts work with a tungsten core that lowers the CG and a light, durable Namd graphite shaft.
Mizuno JPX919 Hot Metal £120 per club
95
HEAD TO HEAD
Ping G410 Crossover
Titleist U500
Loft: 20° Shaft: Ping Alta CB 70 Red S (76g)
Loft: 20° Shaft: Project X Hzrdus Smoke 6.0 (90g)
8 9 9 8 9 43
A larger clubhead to look down on with a thicker topline and more offset. It’s not quite the players’ profile low-handicappers will prefer, but it will certainly inspire confidence for the game-improver.
Off the deck, it provided a strong, stable ball flight that is high enough to provide an element of stopping power, while also being able to penetrate the wind and produce good distance off the tee.
It certainly felt more stable on off-centre hits, partly down to the larger size, and the launch monitor confirmed there was a greater consistency of carry distances across the board from varying strike points.
It’s easy to strike cleanly from a variety of lies, even when the ball is sitting down in the rough, and provides consistent performance. It did seem a little more difficult to shape the ball.
The profile at address suggests a focus on forgiveness over playability, but skilled golfers are still able to alter the trajectory at will. It’s an impressive all-round offering that will appeal to many abilities.
96
L O OK S
9
B A LL F L IG H T
F O R G IV E NE S S
The U500 more than competed with the Ping in terms of speed and distance, e shaft being half and inch he shaft is also 14g heavier, yet the ball fractionally higher.
8 9 9 44
V E R S ATIL ITY
O VE R A LL A PPE A L
TOTAL S
Better players will enjoy the minimal offset and thin topline, along with the ample meat behind the ball. The lighter satin finish and blade-style design also bolsters the premium appeal.
Strikes severely off centre felt a little harsher, like the clubhead was twisting more in the hands, resulting in slightly bigger drop-offs in carry distance. But slight mishits weren’t noticeably punished.
This was adept at pulling off a variety of shots. It can hit the ball low to battle a head wind but can also flight shots higher into par 5s. The generous sole width with more camber aided turf interaction.
Far from a one-dimensional offering, the U500 is ideal for golfers who prefer the look of an iron to a hybrid. There’s also the option of the U510 model for added launch and forgiveness.
UTILITY IRONS
The U500 features 98g of tungsten on average, which lowers the CG for increased launch with trajectory control, and a high MOI for stability
The hollow G410 Crossover features a maraging steel face and houses a 30g tungsten toe weight to increase forgiveness off centre
Performance averages Ball speed (mph)
Launch (degrees)
Spin (rpm)
Peak height (yards)
Carry (yards)
Ping
140.9
11.7
3,862
30
222
Titleist
141.2
12
3,792
31
223
Range testing played a part
Two blade-like options here
The U500 really impressed us
97
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STAY & PLAY IR VENUES K
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We have travelled the length and breadth of these great isles to give you the definitive list of the best places to stay and play in 2020
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n nearly every corner of the UK and Ireland you will find somewhere where you can both stay and play golf. The choice ranges from the humble dormy house to the grandest of five-star resorts, with options in between to suit all tastes, preferences and budgets. The real thrill of the stay and play golf break is being able to practically tumble out of bed on to the 1st tee. For this feature, we have scoured the length and breadth of the country in our quest to pick out what we believe are the 50 best places for golfers to stay and play within these shores, with the emphasis on mid- to large-scale resorts both famous and perhaps less well known.
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Some of our most renowned golf hotels have been on the map for nearly a hundred years, or more; others only opened this century; others still have been investing heavily in major upgrades to hotel, course or both in the quest to better their facilities. Some boast world-famous layouts that rank highly in our biennial UK and Ireland
Top 100 Courses list; some offer accommodation of the very highest standard; others offer amazing dining experiences, a wide range of additional activities or superb health and spa facilities. The best of the best, and the ones we have ranked as our top ten, offer incredible all-round facilities both on and off the course. The remaining Slieve Russell in County Cavan
TOP 50 STAY AND PLAY
researching your first golfing break of 2020, whether it’s with the family, your best golfing mates or a bigger group from your club? We hope that the following pages will provide you with all the inspiration you need to refine your shortlist and plan the perfect golfing getaway. Note: Cameron House on Loch Lomond is not included in our latest Top 50 as we understand the main hotel will be closed until late 2020.
“The thrill of a stay and play break is being able to practically tumble out of bed and on to the 1st tee”
STAY & PLAY ● The cosy alternative While our main focus here is the larger golf hotels and resorts, for many, the dormy house or lodge alternative can be a very attractive proposition. The calibre of accommodation varies from fairly modest to very high-spec and there’s something great about wandering out of your room, coffee in hand, to greet the dawn chorus, with the mist slowly clearing from the 1st. Staying in a club’s dormy house can prove a very inexpensive way to play a top course (Royal Lytham,
Royal Porthcawl or Burnham and Berrow, for example), but there are other options too. Rolls of Monmouth in south Wales, New Woll in the Scottish Borders and Holyhead in north Wales are among the clubs to offer selfcatering cottages or apartments, while Waterville in Ireland and Castle Stuart in Scotland both offer small-scale accommodation of a very high standard.
The Belfry offers much more than just Ryder Cup memories
Words: Jeremy Ellwood, Rob Smith Photography: Getty Images, Kevin Murray, Andy Hiseman
40 on our list, which we have not ranked, all offer a superb stay and play golfing experience. With the number of stay and play facilities in the UK and Ireland running into the hundreds, there is plenty of competition in the sector, which means there are often some very tasty deals to be had, particularly if you’re happy to go out of season and avoid those busy Friday and Saturday nights. So, what better way to while away those cold winter nights than
● 15 dormy houses to consider - Alnmouth, Northumberland - Bigbury, Devon - Burnham & Berrow, Somerset - County Louth - Cowdray Park, West Sussex - Formby, Merseyside - Ganton, Yorkshire - Lancaster, Lancashire - Pyle & Kenfig, Bridgend County - Royal Lytham & St Annes, Lancashire - Royal Porthcawl, Bridgend County - Royal St David’s, Gwynedd - Seaford, East Sussex - Tenby, Pembrokeshire - Woodsome Hall, Yorkshire
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“The views staring down the 1st hole to the rolling hills beyond are some of the finest on the 850-acre estate”
The 1st hole of the PGA Centenary course
Over the past three years, many millions have been invested in upgrading and improving the hotel’s dining facilities and bedrooms 104
TOP 50 STAY AND PLAY
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Gleneagles, Perth & Kinross The renowned Perthshire hotel has long been known as the ‘Glorious Playground’, and it’s a truly fitting title. You will almost certainly experience goosebumps as you make the final turn to face the imposing front aspect of the main chateau-style hotel, where the traditional rooms contrast beautifully with the more contemporary ones in Braid House to your left. The Glorious Playground proved more glorious than ever last September, when Catriona Matthew’s ladies reclaimed the Solheim Cup on the newest of the three courses – the PGA Centenary. This newcomer may not yet boast the reputation of James Braid’s King’s and shorter Queen’s layouts, but the views staring down the 1st hole to the rolling hills beyond are some of the finest on the 850-acre estate. Braid’s contrasting masterpieces are cleverly designed, with drama at every turn, either within the holes themselves or in the surrounding scenery. They represent heathland golf at its finest, with a handful of blind shots, some stirring drives and more than the odd raised green to contend with, including the famous 1st on the King’s. But there is so much more to offer at the ‘Palace in the Glen’, as it was christened on opening back in 1924. Over the past three years, many millions have been invested in upgrading and improving the hotel’s dining facilities, from the Century Bar in the main hotel to the excellent Dormy Restaurant and Auchterarder 70 bar looking out over the final holes on the King’s and Queen’s. Many of the renovations have sought to tap fully back into the glamour of railway travel in the ’20s and ’30s, and nowhere is The chateau-style hotel that more evident than in the new American Bar and the Strathearn Restaurant. Guests can enjoy first-rate health and spa facilities, falconry, horse-riding, tennis, off-roading, cycling, gundog training, clay pigeon and game shooting, fly fishing and even ferret racing! Gleneagles is our No.1 because it has everything, yet resolutely refuses to rest on its well-earned laurels. The best way to find out more is to go and experience it as a very special treat to self and loved ones! 105
Trump Turnberry, Ayrshire The magnificent Ailsa course was the beneficiary of a critically acclaimed upgrade under the supervision of Martin Ebert in 2015. The course has subsequently risen to sit at the apex of the Golf Monthly Top 100. The most dramatic changes are those around the turn, with the 9th now a spectacular par 3 along the clifftops. The lighthouse has also been transformed into a perfect halfway house.
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Adare Manor, County Limerick The original parkland course at Adare Manor was designed by Robert Trent Jones 25 years ago. Straddling the fast-flowing River Maigue, it was always a lovely place to stay and play, but its purchase by JP McManus in 2015 led to an upgrade like no other. The bold decision was made to close the hotel and course for the best part of two years in order to conduct the most
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Duly sustained, the back nine begins with an excellent par 5 following the cliffs and another breathtaking short hole at 11. In 2017, Ebert completed a reworking of the Kintyre course, now known as the King Robert the Bruce. The iconic hotel dates back to 1906 and has also been refurbished to the highest possible standard, with suites, lodges and apartments, fine dining and much more. With all manner of activities on offer, this is a true bucket-list destination.
complete renovation conceivable. Tom Fazio was enlisted to redesign the course, and with the exception of the routing, everything was changed. State-of-the-art drainage caters for whatever the Irish weather can conjure up, while more expansive new bunkering serves up a strategic and visual feast. A similarly lavish approach has been taken to the fairytale hotel, various dining options and non-golf activities, the result being a simply sensational resort.
TOP 50 STAY AND PLAY
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Trump International Golf Links, Doonbeg, County Clare The fabulous 1st at Doonbeg whets the appetite for a round of golf as much as any other opening hole. A par 5 played to a well-protected green that is superbly sited in the dunes, it sets the tone for what is a wonderful round overlooking Doughmore Bay. The course opened 18 years ago as Greg Norman’s only design in the UK&I. Partly due to coastal erosion, it was
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The Grove, Hertfordshire London always needed a top-drawer golfing hotel, and The Grove is just the job as it is moments away from the M25. It opened in 2003, and unusually for golf in the UK it has no members and is effectively run as a very successful, upscale, pay-and-play. The gently undulating parkland course was designed by Kyle Phillips, and it is at the centre of a first-class hotel, business and leisure complex.
revisited by Martin Hawtree following its purchase by the Trump Organization in 2014. The result is a thoroughly modern links that boasts a tremendous selection of memorable holes. The distinctive and stylish hotel is at the southern end of the property overlooking the beach and course, and there are accommodation options to suit all tastes. There is an intimate and friendly atmosphere in the bar and restaurant, and the White Horses spa offers a variety of invigorating treatments.
The bunkering is excellent, and it can test the best while being playable by all. There are GPS-enabled buggies, and the well-stocked halfway house and drinks carts will keep you refreshed during your round. Water comes into play at the 3rd and 4th, each of which is a peach. On the back nine, both of the par 3s are very appealing, especially the 13th with its elevated tee. Dining options include the Glasshouse and the Stables, and the hotel has a fabulous array of rooms and suites.
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Mount Juliet Estate, County Kilkenny Midway between Dublin in the east and Cork in the south, not only is Mount Juliet one of the most beautiful country estates in Ireland, but many believe that the Jack Nicklaus design is the finest inland course in the country. The secluded setting is home to a country house hotel, a characterful clubhouse, various lodges, a Paul
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Old Course Hotel/The Duke’s Course, Fife St Andrews is a worldwide draw for lovers of links golf, but variety is the spice of life and the Duke’s course, which is owned and operated by the Old Course Hotel, makes for a very fine alternative. The course itself is a couple of miles up the hill, and it was designed by five-time Open Champion Peter Thomson. Its elevated position makes for
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McGinley golf academy, an equestrian centre, fishing, archery and, of course, a majestic championship course. Having hosted two WGC events, this year it will be home to the prestigious Irish Open, a Rolex Series event. The course works its way through specimen trees, some of which border attractive but testing ponds and lakes, and is exceptionally pretty. Back in the manor house, the Michelinstarred Lady Helen restaurant is a delight.
excellent vistas, and it is characterised by distinctive and abundant bunkering. The hotel borders the 17th on the Old Course and its grounds must have received more wayward golf balls than any other. The five-star resort offers a variety of dining options, a spa and a swimming pool, and golfing packages are available. The Road Hole bar is home to more than 300 whiskies and, next door, the historic Jigger Inn is a firm favourite.
TOP 50 STAY AND PLAY
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Trump International Scotland/MacLeod House, Aberdeenshire One of the finest and indeed toughest new designs in the last 20 years, this no-holds-barred links will this summer celebrate its eighth birthday. It really is a remarkable achievement, with Martin Hawtree belying the adage that you cannot create an instant classic. His rollercoaster ride through the towering dunes is enormous fun, and unusually for such a course, every hole is distinct and memorable. Everything is beautifully defined and the views from some of the tees are simply outstanding. Trump MacLeod House and Lodge has already been awarded five stars, and there are packages available for those who want to indulge themselves, some of which include golf at other GM Top 100 Courses.
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Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire This beautifully manicured 300-acre estate dates back to way before Harry Colt was invited to design the course in 1908. Each of the three loops of nine has recently received a full bunkering makeover, resulting in a far more visually and strategically dramatic experience, with the Colt nine home to a pair of exceptional par 3s. The 3rd is played over a ditch to a well-bunkered green, while the 7th was the original model for MacKenzie’s 16th at Augusta National. The five-star hotel is premier league in every way, with 21 rooms in the Mansion and a further 28 rooms and suites in the Pavilion, where there is also a pool, Italian marble steam rooms, a sauna, a spa and a gym. Tennis is a particular highlight, and there are three superb restaurants.
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Fairmont St Andrews, Fife This rolling 550-acre estate on the outskirts of the Home of Golf features an expansive, 209-bedroom, award-winning hotel and not one but two extremely enjoyable courses. The Torrance runs on slightly more elevated ground and its back nine has fine views towards St Andrews. It has a pair of signature holes at 16 and 17 that run down to and then along the cliff. The Kittocks has perhaps even more ‘wow’ factor, with several absolute crackers such as the 7th, 9th and 15th. The stylish clubhouse is a stroll or shuttle-bus from the hotel, which offers a spa with a range of therapeutic treatments, a gym, swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, steam room and more. Even better, residents enjoy favourable and very reasonable green fees. 109
Strength in depth The UK and Ireland is blessed with an embarrassment of riches when it comes to golfing getaways, as the remaining 40 entries in our list prove... Archerfield The very high-spec accommodation is complemented by two contrasting courses, practice facilities to die for and a spacious relaxed clubhouse.
The Belfry Three courses, including the famous Brabazon, all that Ryder Cup history and major hotel improvements keep The Belfry at golf’s top table.
Bovey Castle The tranquility and beauty of the setting are matched by the hotel’s five-star grandeur and the delightful free-flowing beck meandering through the front nine.
Bowood Enjoy one of Wiltshire’s finest courses with a stay in the luxurious hotel, or maybe a family treat in the gorgeous Queenwood Lodge.
Brocket Hall There are 46 exquisitely decorated rooms plus two fine courses, with a memorable short ferry crossing to the Melbourne course’s 18th green.
Carnoustie The course with the most thrilling finish in Open golf is home to a friendly and informal hotel right behind the 18th green.
Carton House Near Dublin, this lush estate boasts two top-flight modern courses in the grounds of a fabulous 18thcentury mansion.
Celtic Manor Enjoy the Twenty Ten’s famous water holes plus the Roman Road and Montgomerie layouts. Stay in the resort hotel, the cosier Manor House or the Hunter Lodges.
Close House With its stylish Stables accommodation, this Golf Monthly Top 100 rollercoaster ride and 2020 British Masters host venue is packed with variety.
Dromoland Castle Stay and play on a grand scale in rooms furnished in a style befitting a castle. The beautiful parkland layout rolls through woodland and water.
Druids Glen This five-star resort’s fine parkland course offers back-nine drama aplenty, most memorably on the testing par-4 13th, which plays down and over water.
East Sussex National This extremely attractive 1,100-acre estate is home to a large, multi-facility hotel and a pair of testing and enjoyable courses. Endless drama at Old Head
Forest of Arden The Arden course has hosted many top-level tournaments, but the Aylesford is also great fun. An ideal hotel and country club for golfing groups of all sizes.
Fota Island This beautiful parkland course has hosted three Irish Opens and the five-star hotel is a wonderful base when in southern Ireland.
Foxhills This ever-improving Surrey country club boasts 45 holes of tree-lined golf, a spa, four awardwinning restaurants and more.
Goodwood The two courses on this famous Sussex estate include James Braid’s modified and renovated Downs course, with spectacular views over Chichester and beyond.
Hanbury Manor The distinctive red-brick manor house forms the backdrop to several back-nine holes on the flatter ground. By contrast, the front nine is quite a rollercoaster ride.
The K Club Host of the emotional 2006 Ryder Cup, the K Club has two very interesting courses, a fabulous hotel and every type of leisure activity.
Lough Erne Sir Nick Faldo’s spectacular and exciting lough-side design on a 600-acre peninsula is accompanied by a prestigious five-star hotel.
The Machrie The finest contemporary golf course redesign in the UK is a glorious, rolling links. The fully upgraded hotel makes this a must-play destination.
Machrihanish Dunes This thoroughly modern links offers a very different experience while the Ugadale Hotel is beautifully appointed and extremely comfortable. 110
TOP 50 STAY AND PLAY Nick Faldo’s design at Lough Erne
Rosapenna
Foxhills in Surrey
Manor House This five-star hotel in picturepostcard Castle Combe is an absolute treasure, with its rolling layout boasting several memorable par 3s.
Matfen Hall This grand stately home with three fine loops of nine offers a gentler walking experience than neighbours Slaley Hall and Close House.
Meldrum House This quintessentially Scottish baronial castle near Aberdeen is a magnificent place to stay and a glorious place to play, with its wonderfully varied layout.
Murrayshall The 18-hole Murrayshall course is complemented by the Lynedoch ten-holer, with major upgrades to the hotel enhancing the Murrayshall experience.
Old Head Enhanced by the luxurious Members’ Suites, there is no golf course more dramatic or literally more breathtaking in the UK & Ireland.
Old Thorns With its fine course, hotel and new self-catering apartments, health club and spa, this is a complete sporting destination.
The Point at Polzeath Fresh investment and vision have taken The Point to a new level. Stay in the contemporary apartments or one of the well-equipped cottages.
Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links Designed by Bernhard Langer, the course has been improved in recent times, as has the perfectly located golf hotel.
The terrific Sandy Hills links and lovely Old course combine with the hotel to make this one of the best golf resorts anywhere.
The Roxburghe This small, classy hotel exudes charm, with the golf on a grand parkland scale. Memorable holes include the dramatic 14th with its stirring viaduct backdrop.
Slaley Hall Both courses here have tour history. The Hunting layout’s remote moorland feel is in harmony with the hotel’s away-from-it-all ambiance.
Slieve Russell Off the beaten track, this attractive and varied parkland design is complemented wonderfully by a stylish four-star hotel.
Spey Valley
Prince’s The revitalised Himalayas loop and ongoing enhancements to the Shore and Dunes make this constantly improving 38-room complex a superb venue.
Rockliffe Hall Along with its five-star accommodation, spa, superb cuisine and other sporting activities, this challenging course is an excellent test. Fine views at Tewkesbury Park
Macdonald’s largest Scottish resort offers accommodation options to suit all and a magnificent 18-hole heathland course beside the Spey.
St Mellion The famous Nicklaus course boasts many strong holes and a dramatic routing, with the hotel overlooking the testing 18th.
Tewkesbury Park Major recent investment has elevated this hotel to a new level. Its lofty setting serves up fine views across to the Malverns and Wales.
Trevose The tip-top Championship course, scenic Headland nine-holer and multiple accommodation options make this a complete golf destination.
The Vale This 143-room hotel with its award-winning restaurant and spa is home to two very enjoyable and surprisingly contrasting courses. 111
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I
met a bloke in a pub the other evening. Big chap, small beard, medium drinker, you know the sort. Standing at the bar we fell into conversation – incidentally, why do we ‘fall’ into conversation or, indeed, ‘fall’ into bed? Sometimes we do the latter after ‘falling in love’. Whatever the answer to that poser, my new acquaintance posed an even bigger question after we discovered we shared a passing interest in golf. “Here,” he said. “How’s that Jon Rahm won the European Tour Golfer of the Year thing? He plays in America, doesn’t he? And he speaks with an American accent.” So we batted this one backwards and forwards for a few minutes before giving up on the subject and deciding that awards in golf, like the game itself, sometimes aren’t necessarily fair. A couple of days later I was at a London hotel to enjoy the Golfer of the Year lunch and to see Rahm pick up his trophy. Except our new No.1 wasn’t at the lunch. He couldn’t make it as he was down to play in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. He sent a message saying he was honoured, privileged, delighted and quite possibly beside himself with joy at being chosen by an elite panel of judges. Still, his physical absence emphasised the ongoing dilemma faced by the European Tour’s hierarchy, who just have to swallow the fact that, ultimately, they are a feeder tour into the even more lucrative American circuit. Chief executive Keith Pelley, a bouncy, loquacious Canadian, knew he had to address this when speaking to a room full of his major sponsors.
Which brings me back to Rahm. The European circuit puts on 39 events a year beyond Majors and WGCs. Rahm played in six of these, winning the Irish and Spanish Opens as well as the seasonender in Dubai. He is the official European Tour No.1 and now its Player of the Year as well. Still only 25, he is a terrific golfer and quite likely to become World No.1 in the next 12 months. Bernd Wiesberger played in 26 of the European Tour’s regular events and won three of them. Is Rahm the superior golfer? Yes, absolutely. Is Wiesberger the more committed European? Yes, totally. Do I now expect Wiesberger to play more on the PGA Tour in 2020? I’ll be pleasantly surprised if he doesn’t. I’m afraid Mr Pelley may need to keep those ‘wrong glasses’ – the rose-tinted ones – if he is to stay optimistic about life next year. Mind you, it’s around this time of year that I put on my own rose-tinted spectacles as I contemplate winter hibernation before launching myself back into golf next season. I play some of my best stuff during the winter for the simple reason that I rarely play at all. Instead, I lie back and think of sunny days, songbirds and dry, springy fairways as I play my favourite courses in my mind. It’s amazing how well I play during these rounds – how many fairways I hit, how many putts I hole from ten, twenty feet and how effortlessly I recover from bunkers. There comes a time when the old game is best played from a prone position in front of a roaring fire, and preferably after a long, quite liquid, lunch. Whatever your plans, whether playing or dreaming about playing, I wish you the best of New Years. Thanks for casting an eye.
Illustration: Peter Strain
“The European Tour has to swallow the fact it’s a feeder tour for the American circuit”
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Apparently there was a carefully prepared speech, but Pelley had put on the wrong glasses that morning and apologised for ignoring this and going off-script instead. While the media might lament the absence of so many big names at events like the recent multimillion dollar Turkish Airlines Open won by Tyrrell Hatton after a six man play-off, Pelley and his executive team had, he claimed, enjoyed an exciting epiphany moment the day after this event ended. Social media, it seems, had gone nuts over the play-off, showing that the world was entranced by a posse play-off under floodlights in Turkey. The conclusion was the missing stars were not actually missed much. It was an audacious attempt at camouflage and it may even have worked a bit on some of the money men listening. However, most, I suspect, were thinking, “If only wee Rory had been there.” Meanwhile I was thinking, “If only more of them recognised how vital the European Tour was to their development as players and actually crossed the Atlantic more often.”