Indholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2022 i Golf Monthly

Collin Morikawa Morikawa didn’t make an impact in the US PGA and missed the cut at the Memorial as his quiet start to 2022 continues. Cameron Young Young is up 100+ spots in the world rankings this year after finishing T2 at the Wells Fargo then missing out by one in the US PGA. Dustin Johnson A missed cut at the US PGA was DJ’s second in three events, with the former World No.1 now down at 15th in the world rankings. Mito Pereira Despite events on the 72nd hole in the US PGA, four consecutive top-20 finishes have seen the Chilean hit the world’s top 50.…

Best moment in golf? Winning the Dunhill Links. How was it working with Robert Rock just before that win? He’s a good friend, and everybody out here knows he’s fantastic with the swing. If you could have a career mulligan, where would you use it? The BMW PGA in 2008. I pushed my drive on 17 and lost in a play-off. Your dream four-ball? I hate this question! Golfing-wise, I’d go with Tiger, Jack and Rory. What would you be doing if you weren’t a golfer? I’d be a ski instructor. Lowest round away from the tour? I haven’t got a clue! I remember a couple of 63s but that’s it I think. Any superstitions? I don’t like using Callaway balls with number 3 or 4. Favourite app on your…

As I write this, the fog of the last few months is beginning to clear and we’re getting a firmer idea of how the LIV Golf Series will play out this season. We now know which players have taken the plunge, but we’re less sure of the long-term consequences on their careers and professional golf as a whole. One thing we can be certain of, though, is that for every player that has crossed the Rubicon, there are many more waiting in the wings to see how the whole thing pans out. We know the Saudis have endless pots of gold and are planning to play the long game with this one, so it’s down to the PGA and DP World Tours to make the next move in terms of meting…

The Old Course at St Andrews is like no other on the Open rota, nor any other in the world for that matter. With vast double greens, extraordinary bunkering and crossover fairways, it poses a unique strategic challenge. On first inspection, many fine players over the years have been confused, even irritated, by the unusual layout. The great amateur Bobby Jones walked off the course in frustration during the 1921 Open Championship. But Jones, like all others who invest a little more in the Old Course, came to understand the subtleties and nuances of a layout that is a living and breathing embodiment of golfing history. To win at St Andrews, players must recognise and embrace the idiosyncrasies, adapt and show patience. St Andrews demands an exceptional golfing brain and…

My putting stroke lacks consistency By Top 50 Coach Clive Tucker If your stroke path is okay but the face is coming into impact at different angles and causing pushes and pulls, it’s usually down to a grip pressure change during the stroke. To boost consistency, place a ball between your right or trail forearm and the putter grip, as here. With the ball in place, you’ll feel pressure against your forearm, which you should look to maintain during the stroke. Keep the ball in place and the face should feel very stable through the stroke. Telltale sign If the ball drops, it indicates unwanted hand movement on the backswing or a flick with the hands at impact. How do I maximise distance downwind? By Top 50 Coach John Jacobs…

GM verdict The CT8 GPS electric trolley from PowaKaddy is one of the world’s smallest touchscreen GPS trolleys and is proof that modern, compact golf trolleys don’t need to skimp on useful features. While we are now familiar with embedded GPS systems in electric trolleys, the CT8 GPS offers one of the largest touchscreens around. It genuinely enhances the experience by providing a clearer view of what lies ahead on each hole, as well as easier access to the features. The GPS system is powerful and quick to catch up with your movements and course updates can be made through the seamless Bluetooth connectivity to the free app. It provides accurate and quick yardages to the front, middle and back of greens and the Drop Pin feature allows for even…

For golfers seeking more assistance from their irons this year, the nine models featured here should sit high on the list for consideration. We tested them thoroughly on the range and the golf course at Burghley Park Golf Club using the new Full Swing Kit launch monitor and Titleist Pro V1x golf balls to fully assess their performance. Looks All of these irons inspire confidence at address through size, some more than others with certain models doing it via a more traditional profile. The Callaway Rogue ST Max has unquestionably the thickest topline (closely followed by the Honma TWorld GS) as well as the greatest amount of offset. The Cleveland Launcher XL has the longest clubhead from heel to toe, providing more margin for error for golfers who frequently miss…

SHOWSTOPPER Kedleston Park This regional Open qualifying venue is full of variety and presented in excellent condition, in particular the fast greens which reward good putting. The downhill par-5 1st is a modest opener that represents a strong birdie chance, but it toughens up quickly afterwards as the fairways become tighter and strategic bunkering pinches in at various points. The majestic Kedleston Hall sweeps into view for the first time behind the 5th green, as does the water that plays a significant role in front of the green on the par-3 7th, which requires a well-struck iron shot to carry it. The 10th is a beautiful short par 4 down the hill, while the 12th is an absolute brute requiring two solid and accurate blows to even get near the…

1One of the biggest things amateurs get wrong when attempting to hit this shot is teeing the ball up too high. Far better to imagine you’re setting the ball up on the tee so it mimics a perfect lie on the fairway. Next, you need to adjust your set-up. Starting with ball position, move it back a couple of inches towards the middle of your stance. You also want to split your weight pretty evenly between your left and right side, although some would benefit from feeling like there’s a bit more weight on the lead side at first. 2 The problem with too high a tee (right-hand ball in photo) is that, while it might seem to make things easier, the reality is very different. The issue is that…

1The only thing your golf ball ‘understands’ is impact so it’s vital to develop a real awareness of what it should look like. With your irons, you want to compress the ball, but many golfers find the concept of hitting down to make the ball go up, as in this photo, difficult to grasp. I see a lot of golfers shifting their weight onto their back foot and trying to scoop the ball into the air. 2 This is what that scooping action looks like and, sadly, the consequences of this disastrous move are two-fold. For starters, you lose distance because the club is either perpendicular to the ground or, in extreme cases, leaning back as here. And you also lose control of the strike as you’ve got no margin…

Choosing the right golf ball is a frequently neglected area. While many golfers will painstakingly hone their club line-up via custom fitting, some will still play with a hotchpotch of balls picked up in haste from the pro shop or found out on the course. But for those looking for incremental gains, the right ball could be the difference between breaking 80 for the first time or not hitting their season’s goals. Stay loyal Sticking to the same ball will improve consistency as you learn to trust its performance across all areas of your game. If selecting the right ball is as important as having the right clubs, just how should you go about making this choice? While it isn’t an exact science, there are a few factors every golfer…

A grand day out I attended the British Masters at The Belfry with my wife, and what a revelation compared with some sporting events. We saw players happy to pose for photos and sign autographs, and Sky on-course commentator Iona Stephen was lovely to fans when asked for a selfie. Tim Barter said hello from his cart and the on-course interaction between players and fans was great. Special mention should go to Sam Horsfield – he was playing well and in the zone but was happy to fist-bump spectators and sign a ball for a young fan. Pure class, and I was so glad to see him win the following week. We shall definitely go again. What a finish on Sunday as well – hats off to anyone who can birdie…

Minjee Lee captured her second Major and claimed the largest prize in the history of the female game with a four-shot victory over Mina Harigae in the 77th US Women’s Open at Pine Needles. Lee added a level-par 71 to rounds of 67, 66 and 67 for a 271 total, following in the footsteps of Karrie Webb and Jan Stephenson to become the third Australian to win this great championship. “I’m speechless, I can’t believe it right now,” Lee said. “It’s super, super special. It’s been my dream since I was a little girl, it’s the one I always wanted to win and now I’ve done it, it feels amazing.” The 26-year-old began the final round three clear of Harigae but quickly extended the lead with two opening birdies on…

SOUND BITES “JACK’S A HYPOCRITE. WHEN HE CAME OUT WITH THOSE COMMENTS, I’M THINKING, ‘HE MUST HAVE A SHORT MEMORY’. QUOTE-UNQUOTE, HE SAID: ‘THIS [ LIVGOLF] IS GOOD FOR OUR GAME. IF IT’S GOOD FOR THE GAME OF GOLF, IT’S GOOD BY ME’” “MY GAMBLING GOT TO A POINT OF BEING RECKLESS AND EMBARRASSING. I HAD TO ADDRESS IT AND I’VE BEEN ADDRESSING IT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND FOR HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF THERAPY” “ YAY FOR THE LIV ANNOUNCEMENT THE DAY BEFORE THE BIGGEST WEEK IN WOMEN’S GOLF HISTORY. LOVE THAT FOR US” “I DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE IT WAS ONE THAT GOT AWAY. BUT, AGAIN, I HAVE TO TAKE THE POSITIVES AND THE FACT THAT EIGHTH PLACE IN A MAJOR IS ABSOLUTELY THE WORST I COULD’VE FINISHED”…

Egypt GF: €85 Stats: par 72, 6,468 yards Midway down Egypt’s eastern coastline and bordering the shimmering Red Sea, Gary Player’s first North African design opened for play in 1998. It covers a vast expanse of gently undulating desert, with the mountains to the west providing a fabulous backdrop. Player is renowned for his spectacular designs such as Thracian Cliffs in Bulgaria and the Links at Fancourt in South Africa and Somabay is no exception. The Cascades name comes from a number of lakes with waterfalls and fountains, in particular the one separating the 9th and 18th holes. Wind is a regular companion at this exposed location, which perfectly mixes inland holes running through the dunes with a handful that border the sea. The 4th runs directly out to the…

Never has it been more true... build it and they will come. All 290,000 of them booked in, men, women and children, eager to be part of history and a meandering sporting tapestry more impressive than any other, the door shut to non-ticket holders for the very first time. Yes, the 150th Open Championship offers much and, yes, it will deliver, be it in wind, rain, sunshine, shadow or, quite probably, a bit of each. Whoever wins will feel even more blessed than usual. Those of us with the keys to the door will be more privileged than ever. I can’t wait for the fun to begin and I know you will feel the same. The Open at St Andrews is always special. The Old Course, so simple yet so…

TOMMY FLEETWOOD (2nd) 2019, Royal Portrush Started Sunday four back, but in the end Shane Lowry cruised home by six. JUSTIN ROSE (T2nd) 2018, Carnoustie Shot 64 on moving day, but finished two behind Francesco Molinari. IAN POULTER & LEE WESTWOOD (T3rd) 2013, Muirfield Poulter posted a final-round 67, but Westwood slumped to a 75. Both finished four behind Phil Mickelson. LEE WESTWOOD (2nd) 2010, St Andrews The Louis Oosthuizen show. Westwood finished a distant seven shots back. LEE WESTWOOD (T3rd) 2009, Turnberry Should have been Tom Watson’s; ended up Stewart Cink’s. Westwood three-putted 18 to miss out by one. IAN POULTER (2nd) 2008, Royal Birkdale Padraig Harrington held off Poulter’s strong challenge to win by four. BRIAN DAVIS (T6th) 2003, Royal St George’s Davis shot two weekend 68s to…

In 1978, you finished T7 at your first St Andrews Open. How was that experience? It was just amazing. I loved it from the word go. Some people say, “What the heck is this place?”, but I kind of got it and enjoyed it straight away. I only finished four shots back of Jack in 1978. That was when I told myself I can win The Open one day; that gave me the belief. When you give yourself the belief that yes, this is doable, it becomes a genuine goal. I knew I could handle that. Obviously it took nine more years until it happened. Everything gets so accentuated at St Andrews. If you miss a shot on a normal golf course, it finishes 30 feet from the hole; there,…

1 Paint a picture A lot of people decide on their start line without painting a picture of the curve of the putt in their mind. Wherever you look at the putt or whether you use your feet to judge the slope, it’s all with the end goal of trying to create an image of the path of the ball to the hole. Base your start line on the curve you think the ball will take, rather than aiming at an arbitrary distance outside the hole. 2 Roll the ball on the curve Picture the curve and put something like a ghost hole or tee down about two-thirds of the way to the hole – apoint you think the ball will roll over to go in. Figure out if that’s…

1 The main issue I see with amateur golfers and game improvers who struggle with fatting their pitch shots – which is where the clubface hits the ground before the ball – is they tend to really try and hit at the ball, as opposed to collecting it. Start by taking a much narrower stance than you would with your irons. If anything, you may want a fraction more weight on your front foot. X X Loft You have to trust the loft to elevate the ball. Also, experiment with different lofts – you have enough wedges in your bag. ✓ ✓ 2 Amateurs have a tendency to tilt their weight on to the front foot, which encourages them to get way too steep. From there, they fall back on…

During the play of a hole, you may have the ball in your hand for various reasons, and Rule 14.1c details when you are not permitted to clean it. Doing so when you are not allowed will result in a penalty. First, it should be pointed out that you are always allowed to clean your ball: 1) when you’ve reached the safety of the putting green and are able to mark and lift it; 2) between the play of holes; and 3) whenever you are taking free relief or a penalty drop. The finer detail comes when you might have the ball in your hand during play of a hole for other reasons before you reach the green. There are four scenarios to look out for. The first is when…

ASK OUR EXPERT What are your thoughts on a higher-handicapper using a rangefinder? Fabia999, GM forum Even if a high-handicapper knows how far a wellstruck shot with each club travels, reproducing it on the course is so infrequent that the distance to the pin almost becomes irrelevant. Higherhandicappers may also be better served trying to hit the middle of the green to increase the margin of error. But a rangefinder offers many other uses – like slope mode or scoping out trouble off the tee – so perhaps try a cheap one initially to see if the concept is worth pursuing. Is my iron set sand wedge holding me back? Craig Thompson, email It will certainly limit creativity. The soles generally play wider, so when the ball is sitting down,…

MUST PLAY Mention Fulford and golfers of a certain vintage will instantly recall Bernhard Langer scaling a tree to play his third shot to the 17th in the 1981 Benson and Hedges International. Slightly younger enthusiasts may remember a fresh-faced Peter Baker eagling the 18th in regulation play and repeating the feat in a play-off to pip Nick Faldo in 1988, a couple of years before the event relocated to St Mellion after remaining at Fulford for 18 of its first 19 stagings. But tour pro heroics aside, many would rate this fine course just south of York, created by Alister McKenzie’s brother Charles, among the top five in Yorkshire – no mean feat in a county blessed with more than 180 clubs. Different feel over the road The opening…

Cooden Beach Fowler designed this expansive and very much one-of-a-kind seaside course back in 1912. It is situated on an easy-walking and spacious plot of land between Eastbourne and Hastings in East Sussex. Not really a links, it is difficult to categorise and all the better for it! Protected by a sea wall that carries the local railway line, there are ponds, ditches and all manner of interesting and unusual features that lend to the fun and challenge on offer. For golfers interested in variety and originality, Cooden Beach has much to offer. GF: 18 holes: £50wd, £60we Looking back down the par-4 13th hole, a left-to-right dogleg next to the railway line with Pevensey Bay beyond Taunton & Pickeridge This Somerset club dates from 1892, with Fowler designing the…

How special is it to win a second US PGA with your dad and granddad being PGA pros? It’s very, very special. But at this point, any Major is great; I don’t care which one. As Tom Brady says, your favourite Super Bowl is your next one, and that’s what my favourite Major is. I just think it’s so hard to win. I legitimately think it’s harder to win now than it was when I first came out on tour. You came in with so much experience. Did that help? It definitely did come those last three or four holes. I played that back nine beautifully. The holes where I missed the green I was able to salvage par, which is what you have to do to win a Major.…

Quiet wrists se your normal putting grip, so the shaft is relatively upright at address. Your wrists should barely need to get involved because the ball will naturally come off the hybrid face quite fast. Gripping the club very lightly is a great way to help the club absorb some of that ball speed – the firmer you grip, the faster the ball will come off the face. Maintain the triangle The ball will be further away from you than when putting because of the length of the hybrid shaft, but think putting rather than chipping stroke. Maintain the triangle between arms, hands and club throughout both backswing and throughstroke, albeit not quite a perfect triangle as the elbows will be slightly flexed because of the shaft length. Incredibly forgiving…

I know it feels like a decent time ago now, and by the time you read this the US Open champion will have been crowned, but Justin Thomas deserves huge credit for his victory in the US PGA at Southern Hills. It was looking like being another close-but–no-cigar event for Thomas and he was starting to get a reputation in some quarters for squandering good opportunities, which is a subject no player wants to answer questions about heading into golf’s big four. I’m glad he’s put that storyline to bed. “I do think some Americans will struggle with the speed of the Old Course greens” Thomas is the best wedge player in the world. The rhythm is the same on the backswing as on the follow-through and his distance control…

Collin Morikawa knew exactly how special it felt to be an Open Champion before he had even hit a ball in anger at Royal St George’s – or indeed any other Open venue. Morikawa was approached by an R&A official the day before he was due to make his debut appearance in the game’s oldest Major Championship and asked if he would mind acting like a winner-in-waiting. Whoever made that call must have had a crystal ball. Just four days later Morikawa was hoisting the Claret Jug aloft, after becoming the only golfer to win two Majors at the first attempt. He previously achieved that feat at the 2020 US PGA Championship, but says the odd tale of coincidence surrounding his Open triumph still makes him smile to this day. The…

1860 The first Open Championship took place at Prestwick, where Willie Park Snr came out on top in a field of just eight. No prize money was on offer. 1873 St Andrews hosted the first Open not to be contested at Prestwick. Tom Kidd was champion and the first player to be presented with the Claret Jug. 1890 Amateur John Ball Jnr was the first Englishman to win The Open in its 30th staging. It was the first step in The Open becoming a national, and latterly international, event. 1892 Future Golf Monthly editor Harold Hilton won the first Open held at Muirfield and first contested over 72 holes. Previously it had been 36 holes played in a single day. 1894 Royal St George’s hosted the first Open Championship to…

Although it’s called the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, its clubhouse only opened in 1854 and in the ‘Auld Grey Toon’, that is very much a new-build. Much of St Andrews is almost inconceivably old – older than Yoda. The Old Course goes back so far they don’t even know when golf on this pre-eminent links began. We know locals played on this rolling terrain in the 16th century, but some form of the game was probably played here long before that. The history of St Andrews goes back even further, deep into the Middle Ages, and there is an extraordinary concentration of rich heritage to be found within the town’s compact dimensions. The bygone spirits of St Andrews rise from the well-worn cobbles, sweep across the…

1 Are you slicing or hooking the ball? If so, it’s a good idea to check your grip. Correct hand position on the club, whether you’re interlocking or overlapping, will not only help the clubface return square at impact, it will give you optimum power. If you can see three or four knuckles on your left hand (right-handed golfers) at address and your right hand is almost underneath the club (below), that’s a strong grip. This will most commonly lead to hooks, as the face wants to turn over through impact (pictured). Everyone’s hands and knuckles are different sizes, so this is just a guide. X Homework Pop a club by your bathroom door and every time you walk past, take your neutral grip and make a waggle. ✓ 2…

Chris Wallace, Rules manager at The R&A, explains that golf’s rules penalties are designed to appropriately cancel out any potential advantage gained when breaching the rules, or when paying the price for taking relief. One-stroke penalties apply in both match play and stroke play when either the potential advantage gained is minor or a player takes penalty relief by playing a ball from a different place than where the original was lying. The general penalty (loss of hole in match play, two strokes in stroke play) applies where the potential advantage is more significant. And disqualification is reserved for certain actions or breaches involving serious misconduct, or where the potential advantage is too significant for the player’s score to be considered valid. One unfortunate example of a player gaining a…

1 In stroke play, Fergus has a blind shot to the green so purposefully leaves his bag on the hill as a reference point to aim at. What is the ruling? A There is no penalty. B Fergus gets one penalty stroke. C Fergus gets the general penalty (two strokes). 2 In stroke play, Jezz has interference to his backswing from a bush behind his ball, so Fergus holds the branch out of the way while he makes a stroke. What is the ruling? A There is no penalty. B Jezz gets one penalty stroke. C Jezz gets the general penalty (two strokes). 3 In stroke play, Fergus mistakenly tees off from the wrong teeing area. What is the ruling? A Fergus gets the general penalty (two strokes) and must…

Looks The long white sight line on the trailing edge sits in a slot that is about the same width as the golf ball to ensure that you are pointing correctly. GM verdict The Ping PLD (Putting Lab Design) DS72 putter is one of the more modern-looking shapes in the line-up, but with hints of some of the classic face-balanced mallets from Ping’s history. The head is milled from premium forged 303 stainless steel and the face features the Deep AMP aggressive milling pattern that helps to make the putter sound softer at impact. The feel is very good, as you would expect from a forged head. In these days of hi-tech inserts, a classic metal face that feels good is nice to see. It will provide great feedback no…

Ping i525 £180 per club 7-iron loft: 30.5° Shaft: Project X I0 6.0, 110g Wilson D9 Forged £132 per club 7-iron loft: 30.5° Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 S300 Looks It boasts a less reflective satin finish, which we marginally preferred, and a darker hitting area that frames the ball well. The extra grooves on the face are obvious in the playing position, while the shaping is especially traditional for a Ping iron. 9 ~ 8 Feel/sound An elegant, premium-looking iron from every angle. It is similar in size and offset to the i525 but has a slightly thicker topline, a more rounded toe and a mirror-chrome finish, which makes the face less easy to see down at address. It offers up a more clicky, metallic sound at…

ASK THE EXPERTS What are your thoughts on tough closing holes? Eric Hunsworth, Peebles I’m not sure many of us really relish too taxing a finale. Hopefully, even on courses with tough closing holes, there will still be forward tee options to soften the sting a little. I’ve been a member of two clubs where the 18th was the hardest hole, and it was always galling to grit it out for three-and-a-half hours only to throw it all away with a double or treble on 18! The problem is that such an outcome can really sour the post-round mood, and surely we want people to come off the course enthused and ready to go again, rather than on a real downer? I’ve played a couple of places recently with relatively…

Golf Monthly’s editor-atlarge and Golf Ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK By the time you cast a possibly weary eye over these words, the inaugural LIV Golf Series event, the first of eight this year, will have taken place at Centurion Club. This, of course, is a big deal. You may know what you think of the format – 48 players, 12 teams, shotgun start, loadsamoney, just three rounds. You may have gone or watched a free stream or just read about it. You will have an informed view and so will I. “It may not last, but as gravy trains go, this LIV Series is not Bisto, it’s gold dust” Right now I don’t, not really, although I do appreciate this is the biggest disruption of the pro scene’s status quo…

Technology in golf equipment is advancing almost faster than we can keep up with. Just as our phones are getting smaller and more powerful, so too is our golf gear hitting new technological heights when it comes to helping us play better. In the grand history of the game, it’s not that long ago that woods were made of actual wood and you could literally hit it ‘out of the screws’. Fast forward to 2022 and artificial intelligence (A.I.) is now increasingly influencing and improving club design and manufacturing. While much time is spent chasing distance through technological advances, not enough is perhaps spent talking about how new technology can help you be more consistent. We all have days when everything is going well, but perhaps not as often as…