Editor’s Letter

LIV Golf ready to make its bow a er PGA Championship drama at Southern Hills and a thrilling Dubai Golf Trophy comeptition closer to home

By Matt Smith

IT HAS BEEN QUITE a month as the mercury begins to remind us that summer is upon us and the sprinklers are going into overdrive to prevent the fairways and greens turning brown.

Thankfully we have had a feast of golf to keep us entertained on the box in the luxury of our air-conditioned apartments.

Cream of the crop was the PGA Championship, where Justin Thomas barged his way through a pack of players who all seemed like they did not want to claim the Wanamaker Trophy at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Case in point was Saturday overnight leader Mito Pereira, who had one of those heartbreaking fi nal-round collapses that get aired over and over every time the PGA comes around once again.

The 29-year-old JT, however, made experience count, and he drew on the memories of his PGA Championship victory in 2017 at Quail Hollow to hold his nerve and get his hands on the gargantuan piece of silverware once again.

The innovative Aramco Team Series has also made a welcome return — bigger and richer — with Bangkok making its bow on the Ladies European Tour team event.

Despite the wealth of local talent on show in Thailand, including Patty Tavatanakit and the Jutanugarn sisters Moriya and Ariya, it was Belgium’s Manon de Roey who claimed the individual title while Aussie Whitney Hillier and co won the team event.

These tournaments are a real welcome breath of fresh air to the golfing circuit, where four rounds of matchplay can sometimes get a little wearing week in, week out.

Closer to home we had one of the most dramatic Dubai Golf Trophy tournaments in its 23-year history, with the Professional team just about holding their nerve to defeat the Amateurs by 16.5 points to 15.5 in the UAE’s flagship Ryder Cupstyle competition.

Belgium’s Manon de Roey won the inaugural Aramco Team Series — Bangkok

It all came down to the fi nal green and the fi nal stroke, with Purna Sharma keeping it together to half his match with Barry Pavic and get his team over the line when it looked like we were heading for a draw, meaning the Ams retaining the trophy for an astonishing seventh year on the trot.

But, as it unfolded, it is Mike Major’s Pros who have fi nally reclaimed the crystal trophy and the bragging rights that go with it.

Not before time...

While the heat can get a bit unbearable in the UAE during the summer, it is prime time over in Europe and the States for some of the biggest events of the year.

While the dust has barely settled on the PGA Championship and JT has yet to plonk the Wanamaker back in his trophy cabinet, eyes are already shifting over to The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, where one of the oldest courses in the States is preparing to host its fi fth US Open.

Amid all the commotion over Tiger Woods’ return to action and Phil Mickelson’s self-imposed exile from the game, it really is anyone’s guess as to who will claim the trophy in the competition’s 122nd year.

And then there is the small matter of the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series event taking place at Centurion just outside London.

Greg Norman’s brainchild will fi nally get under way after months of sniping, threats and promises of wealth-of-a-small-nation prizes on off er. This is an event that is not short on controversy nor cash, and with plenty more Saudi-backed dollars on off er, this looks to be an intriguing and permanent addition to the golfi ng calendar.

With the likes of Mickelson, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler expected to be in the fi eld, there will be no lack of big-name stardust, despite both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour threatening to ban any of their players that opt to chase the big bucks.

There will be 48 players divided into 12 teams over eight events with a staggering $255 million on offer. There are no cuts, shotgun starts and 54 holes, guaranteeing every player a money-spinning three days’ work, regardless of how they fare. Nice work if you can get it. No wonder so many big guns are being swayed to play, despite any potential threats. A few of these tournaments could set you up for life.

Watch this space as this is one saga that will run and run.

Oddly, while the heat does continue to rise in UAE, there does not seem to be any lack in enthusiasm for the hardy golfers to get out and face the searing sun.

Notable by their absence this year are the summer membership off ers that we usually see advertised all over town. As far as we can see, only Trump and Jebel Ali are offering any sort of summer promotions to drive numbers, with demand for tee times seemingly still sky high. Let us know if you have heard any diff erent...

Justin Thomas kept his cool to claim the PGA Championship at Southern Hils in Oklahoma

editor-in-chief Obaid Humaid Al Tayer

Ian Fairservice

editor Matt Smith art director Clarkwin Cruz editorial assistant Londresa Flores instruction editors Luke Tidmarsh, Euan Bowden, Tom Ogilvie, Matthew Brookes, Lea Pouillard, Alex Riggs

Anthony Milne publisher David Burke

S. Sunil Kumar production manager Binu Purandaran

the golf digest publications editor-in-chief Jerry Tarde

& partnerships Greg Chatzinoff international editor Ju Kuang Tan

golf digest usa editor-in-chief Jerry Tarde general manager Chris Reynolds editorial director Max Adler executive editor Peter Morrice art director Chloe Galkin managing editors Alan P. Pittman, Ryan Herrington (News) chief playing editor Tiger Woods playing editors Phil Mickelson, Francesco Molinari, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Tom Watson

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