Indholdsfortegnelse for Oct-2018 i Golf Monthly

Some fantastic top-level golf has kept us fans enthralled over the past two months. In July, Francesco Molinari produced a nerveless display to claim the Claret Jug at Carnoustie. Three weeks later, the impressive Brooks Koepka found a different gear at the USPGA to push on past a stellar chasing pack led by a revitalised Tiger, while at the US Amateur, Norway's Viktor Hovland blew away the challengers at Pebble Beach. All scintillating stuff, but for me, the Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Lytham eclipsed them all, with Georgia Hall delivering an absolutely sensational performance to become the first female British Major winner since Catriona Matthew, also at Lytham, in 2009. As first professional wins go, it was something special. A bright future awaits, and I hope Georgia's victory…

Photography: Getty Images The GM View: It’s little surprise there’s demand for such a match, given the past relationship between the two, their form this season and their on-course personas. However, golf would be better served showcasing the raft of young talent in its ranks, rather than focusing attention on two 40-somethings who already have more money than they could spend in multiple lifetimes. @ScottInglisEFM: Love Phil and Tiger and quite like the theory of the head-to-head format but something just doesn’t sit right about the prize money and pay per view. Could be a good format to win a Major or Ryder Cup place in the future. drdel: Don’t understand the negative views. If it’s okay for two boxers, wrestlers or tennis players, why not golfers? @Rob_Greenfield: One of…

“TS DRIVERS ARE FAST AND ACCURATE FROM THE START AND YOU CAN THEN TWEAK BALL FLIGHT VIA A FITTING” Joel Tadman, GM technical editor Titleist has been teasing us for months about its new TS drivers and fairway woods, but now we know that TS stands for Titleist Speed. The R&D team was tasked with a project to create metalwoods that were immediately faster than 917. The increased ball speed you should experience from this simpler driver offering comes via a Speed Chassis comprising multiple technologies. The first is a more streamlined shape – specifically a more rounded section on the front of the crown – that lowers aerodynamic drag by 20 per cent. The titanium driver crown is the thinnest in the industry to help make the heads more…

Paul Waring won in Sweden using Wilson FG Tour, C300, V4 and V6 irons Brooks Koepka won the USPGA playing Mizuno JPX900 Tour irons All four 2018 Majors were won with a Titleist Pro V1 or Pro V1x golf ball Vokey SM7s and TaylorMade M4 woods helped Richard McEvoy to a first tour win Andrea Pavan won in Prague with Callaway woods and X-Forged 18 irons Tyrrell Hatton shot 64 with a Ping putter bought from a local shop…

Photography: Kevin Murray I've spent a lot of time in America of late, with the Bridgestone and USPGA followed by the FedExCup play-offs, but I was fortunate to find time to watch Georgia Hall's tremendous Ricoh Women's British Open victory. It got me thinking, wouldn't it be great if the World Cup of Golf became a mixed event? I honestly believe ladies' golf in the States gets a fair crack on the television – every LPGA Tour event is broadcast and goes out to a good number of people. Around the world, though, the story is different – I don't think it gets a fair go. I'm heading to Metropolitan GC in November, when two men from each country will compete for the World Cup. Why don't we keep the…

Laura Davies 1987 US Women’s Open, 1994 and 1996 LPGA Championship, 1996 du Maurier Classic With all the women's Majors played in the States or Canada until 2001, it's perhaps no surprise that the first British victory came as recently as 1987. Inevitably, it was Laura Davies who broke the duck at Plainfield Country Club, New Jersey. Davies would claim three more Majors over the next decade, and although she did win the Women's British Open in 1986, it was in its pre-Major days. Alison Nicholas 1997 US Women’s Open Nicholas also claimed the US Women's Open at Pumpkin Ridge, Oregon. Taking the lead with a second-round 66, Nicholas still led by three heading into Sunday, where a 3ft par putt on 18 saw her home by one from Nancy…

1 Club first at address The first thing to look at is distance away from the ball, but beware – just standing further and further away won't necessarily cure your shanks. It may even exacerbate the problem as you'll be more likely to tip forward on to your toes on your downswing, bringing the hosel back into play. To find the right distance away from the ball, set the club down behind the ball first, rather than feet first and then bringing the club down, as this can lead to inconsistencies at set-up. Then set the butt end of the grip under your chest, or, if you're struggling with the shanks, almost under your chin, making sure your weight is in the middle of your feet. Let your arms hang…

Andrew’s assessment Simon loses most of his drives right, with an open clubface and open shoulders doing the damage. He was taking the club away outside the line and his hands were also moving away from his body, well outside the ideal path they should be taking. Like many players who do this, he then broke his wrists and moved the club inside so it was back behind them. But this causes the clubface to get so open that it's impossible to square it at impact. Andrew’s remedy Simon's open shoulders were causing him a lot of problems, so we worked very hard on squaring him back up so they were parallel to his target line. We then tried to get his clubhead tracking lower to the ground in the…

LOOKS The sharper look over the ball stems from crisper edges and a straighter toe. From the rear, the overall design hasn't changed much from i200, but the larger elastomer piece is noticeable. PERFORMANCE Despite only subtle tweaks from the i200, we experienced a noticeable jump in 7-iron performance with the i210, perhaps due to a lighter shaft and better striking. This iron is aimed at golfers seeking a soft feel and forgiveness in a compact profile. Key technology With a larger elastomer insert in direct contact with the rear of the clubface, the i210 should feel softer than the i200. Grooves on the pitching and utility wedges now have a sharper edge radius and are spaced closer together to deliver more spin and consistent distances. The i210 is available…

Historically, buying golf balls required two key decisions – how much you were prepared to pay, and whether distance or spin and feel were your overriding priorities. Much has changed in recent years, and while price is still a factor, the edges have been blurred considerably in the distance versus feel trade-off. Ingenious design innovations now mean many more balls really are all-round performers. Premium tour-calibre balls still offer all the greenside control you could wish for, but without the inverse drop-off in distance they once had. Less-expensive balls that were once almost all about distance now offer improved degrees of feel and control on and around the green. Perhaps the most eye-catching progress is in the mid-sector, where balls like Titleist’s Tour Soft and Srixon’s AD333 Tour really do…

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Photography Tom Miles Squinting at my laptop while sipping a decent malt as midnight hurtled towards me, I must say the last few hours of the USPGA offered the most compelling golf of a year in which the Majors had already proved more compelling than usual. It was a squinty laptop experience, of course, because Sky has some problem with the USPGA people and declined to pay the required two million dollars, apparently, while happily laying out £11 million for, say, Watford versus Wolves. Go figure. Meanwhile, the BBC, having ridden to the rescue last year only to mess up by corralling their commentary team in a UK studio somewhere so they struggled to know what the hell was going on, also passed this time round. Like an estimated 100,000…

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Photography: Getty Images “Let’s see plenty of Tiger when he’s in the thick of it, but not to the exclusion of genuine contenders” YES  Let's not be silly – no one is denying that Tiger has warranted plenty of TV coverage as his remarkable comeback has gathered pace. But this is a question of balance, and sometimes it does become a little too much about one man when scores of other world-class golfers are deserving of just a little bit more attention. Making any sport too much about one man can potentially create a vacuum when he's no longer there, as we experienced to a degree at first when Tiger wasn't around. On his previous ill-fated comeback there was just a hint of rubbernecking voyeurism as every duffed chip and…

MIZUNO JPX919 IRONS The JPX900 iron range proved to be as popular among normal club golfers as the world's best. In the case of the Tour model, the world's best has included Brooks Koepka, winner of back-to-back US Opens. To replace them was always going to be a difficult task but Mizuno thinks it has cracked it thanks to the new JPX919 range, designed to deliver performance for all types of golf swing. Across the Tour, Forged and Hot Metal models you'll notice a new stability frame, which is open at the heel portion to allow greater perimeter weighting elsewhere without affecting feel. There's also a new Pearl Brush chrome-plated finish to enhance durability and soften the lines in bright sunlight. The JPX919 Tour is a compact, streamlined iron designed…

1 What will be the biggest performance improvement golfers will notice over 917? First and foremost, players will notice the speed of TS drivers and fairways. After that, players will appreciate the increased forgiveness that provides more consistent results, as well as the sound and feel, which our engineers work diligently to control. 2 How do TS2 and TS3 differ in terms of performance potential? TS2 and TS3 deliver speed to players in two distinct ways. For those who require maximum forgiveness with speed, TS2 is your driver. It's fast and provides incredible head stability and feel. The TS3 allows golfers to select a CG to align more closely with their impact location, minimise their standard miss or enable them to hit a more consistent shot shape, thanks to a…

1 Buy a new set of clubs. The kit is not the problem. 2 Play with your eyes closed. You are not Ty Webb. 3 Enter a 36-hole open – pure self-flagellation. 4 Look to your playing partners for sympathy. They have their own problems. 5 Tell the pro pre-round “this one is for a supplementary score”. Quit hitting yourself, quit hitting yourself. 6 Agree to go on a three-week golfing tour of North Korea. Just don’t. 7 Put your name down in the medal to play with the club champ. Neither you nor they will enjoy the experience. 8 Lie awake in bed at night counting what your score could have been. We know, you can’t stop yourself… 9 Snap every club in your bag. It will only make…

Peter Newby was a caddie on the European Tour for 33 years between 1982 and 2015. He worked with David Gilford for ten years and with José María Cañizares and Peter Baker among others. Peter was Chairman of the European Tour Caddies Association between 2009 and 2011. He is now the European Tour representative for Bushnell Golf. What memories most stand out from your time on tour? I have some great memories, but I guess the wins are the things that stick out. My favourite winning memory is probably with Peter Baker in the 1988 Benson & Hedges International. Wow, 30 years ago now! We eagled the 72nd hole to force a play-off with Nick Faldo who was at the peak of his powers, and then eagled the second play-off…

1 Ground support The ground can either be your friend or your foe in chipping, and if you're looking to improve your striking, probably the latter. Most amateurs I see have too steep an angle of attack. The leading edge is presented to the ball and the club gets stuck in the ground, with inconsistent strikes then costing them shots. A much more reliable way to chip is with a shallower angle of attack. Instead of the club digging in, the sole ‘bounces' through impact, giving you a much greater margin for error in the strike. It's almost more like a bunker shot than an old-fashioned chip. Instead of setting the ball back in your stance and your hands ahead of the ball at address, place the ball in the…

Photography: Kevin Murray At 5ft 10ins and just over 10st, Justin Thomas might have a slight build, but through exceptional technique he can generate a staggering amount of speed. His swing is an example of how power and control go hand in hand, but to understand exactly why, we must study the finer details. As always, the address position is vital and Thomas is a great person to copy. The two elements to note here are his posture and his shoulder tilt. He has a solid spine angle that means his arms can hang naturally down without having to reach for the club – this will help him set the club on a good path. From the square-on angle you can see how the ball is forward in his stance,…

“MORE VERSATILITY AND SPIN FROM THE ROUGH IS WHAT GOOD PLAYERS WANT, AND RTX 4 DELIVERS THIS”Joel Tadman, GM Technical Editor LOOKS Aside from an extra cutout section at the back of the sole, RTX 4 looks fairly similar to RTX 3. Better players will enjoy the compact shape, lack of offset and squarer leading edge in the lower lofts. VERSATILITY The XLow grind is a nice addition, although its use will be limited to tight, firm lies and very open-faced shots. With four grinds in total in multiple loft and bounce options, golfers can build a set suited to the shots they want to play. SPIN Strike the ball cleanly and you're rewarded with a low, piercing flight that skips and then checks up sharply on the second bounce.…

PERFORMANCE The adjustable loft allows you to create the ball flight you want to see. It offered a nice blend of distance off the tee while still stopping into greens on approach shots. LOOKS Easy to align thanks to the white scoreline, the white arrow encouraged a slightly inside takeaway. The wide sole inspired confidence at address. This club is aimed at golfers seeking an iron-like alternative to their hybrid or most-lofted fairway wood. Key technology TaylorMade’s Speed Foam technology inside the clubhead helps generate ball speed while also dampening vibration to optimise sound and feel. An ultra-low CG creates a hotter, higher launch for more distance and improved playability. The iron face profile and medium sole width enhance versatility. VERDICT The GAPR Mid is larger than the Lo but…

“THE GOOD NEWS IS GOLF BALLS ARE MORE VERSATILE THAN EVER, SO EVEN IF PREMIUM BALLS ARE BEYOND YOUR BUDGET, YOU CAN STILL ENJOY EXCELLENT ALL-ROUND PERFORMANCE”Joel Tadman, GM technical editor 1 Go for a ball fitting. You may be sceptical, but many golfers have pinpointed a ball that spins more or less, goes further or flies better for them. 2 Some balls will feel better or fly further for you. Think about your key preferences, then buy the ball within your budget that best meets those requirements. 3 If you're serious about your golf, sticking to the same model will improve your consistency. Just using any ball you find could prove a false economy.…

TEIGNMOUTH Devon This delightful and at times testing clifftop course was laid out by Alister MacKenzie some ten years before he went on to design Augusta. His greatest legacy is an abundance of two-tier greens, often surrounded by bumps and hollows, and there is terrific variety all the way including six wonderfully assorted short holes. Perched way up at 800 feet, there are panoramic views out to sea, down over the town and estuary and inland towards Dartmoor. Teignmouth offers scenic golf of the highest order from start to finish. W: teignmouthgolfclub.co.uk GF: Round: £45wd/£55we; Day: £60wd/£70we MALONE County Antrim Belfast is blessed with a good number of fine courses and the 27 parkland holes at Malone are some of the area's very best, offering a peaceful oasis just minutes…

Photography: Getty Images, Tom Miles Youth of today As a fit and very active pensioner playing regular friendly and competitive rounds with my pals, I rarely get the chance to play with other members, let alone juniors. My pal and I recently entered a midweek Stableford leaving a vacant place should anyone wish to join us. Being the school holidays, we were not entirely surprised to find that one of our aspiring juniors was waiting on the first tee when we arrived. He was the 13-year-old son of our club’s junior liaison officer, with a playing handicap of 13. We set off having all made the usual introductions. A few minutes later on the second tee, we were introduced to another junior member who courteously asked us if “it would…

For many players, one of the toughest shots is the half wedge, as taking speed out of the swing can often cause poor strikes and unreliable distance control. Place an alignment stick in the ground, as shown. The idea is to swing your hands back as far as the top of the stick – this is a half swing. Often there is a huge difference between ‘feel' and ‘real', with players thinking they are swinging half way but actually moving much further. Once you have mastered control of the length, measure how far the ball goes with each of your wedges. You will then get a half-wedge number to add to your full-wedge distance. This should help improve your up-and-down percentage from inside 100 yards. 1 Wedge options Try this…

UNDER ARMOUR SPIETH 2 MID SHOE The new version has a bootie construction that extends over your ankle for a snug fit plus added support and protection. ADIDAS GO-TO JACKET Features include articulated elbows for maximum movement and a water-resistant fabric. ECCO BIOM HYBRID 3 SHOES This Gore-Tex, spikeless shoe now comes in a choice of new colours and styles. SRIXON Z U85 UTILITY IRON This fully hollow club now has a wider sole to suit the needs of even more golfers. Available from 2- to 6-iron.…

Scott doubles up Adam Scott carried two putters for much of the USPGA – a Kombi Long broomstick and a standard-length Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Timeless, which he never used. Poults’ new pair Ian Poulter was spied wearing what looks to be a new Boa-laced pair of FootJoy Pro/SL shoes at the USPGA . A glimpse into the future? Sergio Garcia was seen testing a prototype Odyssey putter shaft in his Toulon Design Madison at the Wyndham Championship. It has a black upper part near the handle and a steel tip.…

Photography: Paul Severn It's been a busy few weeks for me, but not necessarily on the course! I took a month off after The Open, withdrawing from the USPGA because of a shoulder injury, and only returned to action in the Czech Masters at the end of August. I took the kids on holiday, went to the south of France on a boat and then paid a visit to Portugal for a couple of weeks. So I'm definitely well rested and ready to go for the rest of the season! It's nice to have breaks as you get older as your body takes a bit longer to recover and needs a bit more time off, but it's not necessarily something I've planned – it's just fallen that way. Mind you,…

Hamburg in July, and a 20ft putt was all that stood between Richard McEvoy and a first European Tour title. As soon as it left the putter face it looked destined for the bottom of the cup. A clenched fist appeared the moment the ball disappeared from view and his cap was removed moments later. After 17 years and 285 tournaments, victory at the Porsche European Open put an end to all the unwanted stats. Just minutes later, Twitter went into meltdown over Bryson DeChambeau's brief handshake following his implosion over the final few holes. But that wasn't about to overshadow McEvoy's finest moment on tour. Among the outrage on social media aimed at his American playing partner, tributes were pouring in for 'Macca'. “Seeing @RichardMcEvoy79 get that first European…

Photography: Getty Images Over the last 23 years, Ian Poulter has won 17 times in 13 countries and played a crucial role on four victorious Ryder Cup teams. Knowing his game and how to manage it lies at the heart of his ability to contend, and his recent return to the top table of world golf is a testament to the work ethic and smart strategy that have become his trademark. In this exclusive instruction feature, the Englishman offers five essential lessons to help golfers of all abilities. From unlocking your power potential to pitching it close and practising better, what follows is a rare insight into the mindset of one of the game's most experienced campaigners. His simple advice could help you shoot lower scores this weekend! 1 Power…

A powerful two-way miss is about as destructive as it gets off the tee. It not only robs you of balls as they fly off in all directions, but it also drains you of confidence every time you face a tight tee shot as you have no idea where the ball is going. Golf Monthly reader Simon James knows this all too well, after battling a major bout of both hooks and blocks this season. Trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel, he applied for one of our regular reader lessons. Not a man afraid of a challenge, GM Top 25 Coach Andrew Reynolds stepped forward to get Simon's driving back on track. Andrew has worked with some of England's finest talents while coaching the national…

FEATURES You can measure shots, access front, middle and back distances to the green and receive smartphone text and call notifications on the handle. There's also a USB charging port. ASSEMBLY This process has been made much simpler, now needing just two clips to fold up and down. You can even then invert the wheels if you want to save yet more space. This trolley is aimed at golfers who are short on space but still want features galore. Key technology The M5 Connect is the world’s only compact-folding trolley to offer GPS information and smartphone notifications direct to the trolley handle. It now features completely new frame, wheel and battery designs that combine to create a smaller folded footprint than previous generations. GPS functionality comes from the free Motocaddy…

In any sport at professional level, with early success comes the opportunity to cash in via lucrative sponsorship and endorsement deals. A few logos on the shirt and bag are one thing, but changing the tools with which you ply your trade is a different kettle of fish altogether. Golf is a sport in which equipment arguably plays a more significant role in performance and confidence than in many others (I'm thinking football, rugby or hockey to name a few), which is one of many reasons why manufacturers are keen for the world's best players to be seen using their kit over anyone else's. I've heard stories from reputable sources of reps swarming round newly qualified tour pros on the range at their first event in an attempt to get…

CLASSIC SCOTTY CAMERON SELECT The seven new Select models feature four-way sole-balancing technology to help the head sit perfectly square at address. CLEAN-LOOKING TAYLORMADE TP BLACK COPPER COLLECTION These stylish putters feature Pure Roll inserts with 45° angled grooves to improve roll. CUSTOMISABLE PING VAULT 2.0 The new Vault 2.0 range offers customisable sole weights, Ping's True Roll grooves and a choice of eye-catching finishes. RESPONSIVE BETTINARDI BB BB putters are milled from a single piece of proprietary blend soft carbon steel to deliver consistently great feel.…

Photography: Kevin Murray THE GOLF Hunting course: par 72, 6,850 yards; Priestman course: par 72, 6,597 yards Since my last visit they have switched the nines around on the Hunting course, which has a moorland feel in places, with beautiful azaleas and rhododendrons lining other fairways. This makes good sense, for although the 1st is now steeply uphill, it is not overly long, and the two par 5s that follow let you open your shoulders more than on the early holes of the back nine. It also means that the final hole is now one of the best on the course, a testing long par 4 that plays gently back up to a raised green. There's water to contend with near the end, too – left of the par-4 14th…