Innholdsfortegnelse for January/February 2022 i Golf Magazine

ON THE BACK NINE AT ALBANY GOLF COURSE, NASSAU, BAHAMAS Dylan Dethier: As you look ahead to 2022, what gets you excited about the golf year? Rory McIlroy: I feel like I’m at a place where I’m really comfortable with my game, so I’m excited for getting to tournaments and carrying that feeling with me. Last season, I felt there were tournaments where I was, like, trying to cram before an exam. DD: Cram for an exam when you don’t know the material. RM: A lot of cramming and a lot of stress Monday through Wednesday. This season, I’m looking forward to tournaments where I’m not going to feel like that. DD: You got off to a nice start a few months ago at the CJ Cup. RM: I actually…

4 Super-speedy drivers in Callaway’s revamped Rogue ST line 4 Red-faced TaylorMade woods that help you max out energy transfer 1 Easy-to-hit Cleveland hybrid to replace your pesky fairway woods 2 Pro V1 models designed specifically for your indoor practice game 8 PING irons in its i59 lineup that may be the company’s best yet “Rogue ST produced consistent ball speeds across the entire face during robot testing. If mishits are a problem, this deserves consideration.”—Jonathan Wall, GOLF’s managing editor (equipment) Callaway Rogue ST Driver $550 What’s the deal: The new Rogue ST driver lineup (the ST stands for “Speed Tuned”) replaces the Callaway Mavrik drivers that launched in 2020. A lot has changed since then. The Rogue ST uses a new Jailbreak Speedframe, an all-new rear tungsten Speed Cartridge, updated face construction and an…

As anyone who’s ever watched his parabolic shots on Toptracer can attest, Bubba Watson doesn’t do straightforward. Point A to Point B is invariably a winding road: Bubba gonna Bubba. So, back when the two-time Masters champion decided to join the march of his fellow golf pros on the entrepreneurial route, it’s little surprise that he skipped the private label wine. You might as well have asked him to hit a stock 8-iron. Where to begin in Watson’s world of investments? How about the sweet spot—literally. Bubba’s Sweet Spot, a candy shop, sates sugar cravings in Pensacola, Fla., where the homegrown Watson has assembled a business portfolio as varied as his shotmaking. Car dealership? Check. (Specifically, Sandy & Bubba’s Milton Chevrolet.) Apartment complex? The man built it and sold it…

Scoring restaurant reservations is not an issue for certain Tour pros. They bypass the hurdle altogether by investing in eateries of their own. Here are the joints they call home. 1000 North Ernie Els is among the founding partners at this swanky waterfront restaurant in Jupiter, Fla. So is golf fanatic Michael Jordan. Among 1000 North’s other minority investors: Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler. The Woods Tiger Woods’ place, also in Jupiter, consistently earns high praise. Does it hurt that the 15-time major champ—and many of his South Florida–based Tour pals—dines there on occasion? No. We’ll have what he’s having. LemonShark Poke & Makai Grill After digging in at a LemonShark in San Diego four nights in a row, Billy Horschel decided to become a franchisee.…

The age-old advice of gripping your clubs so that the Vs created by your thumbs and forefingers point toward your rear shoulder doesn’t cut it anymore. Not even close. Research on human anatomy and efficient movement proves that there’s no universal “best way” to set your hands on the handle. Every player’s body and range of motion varies, often wildly. If you don’t consider these differences when taking your grip, you’ll be fighting yourself and risking injury the whole way—and hitting slices and hooks without ever knowing why. Here’s the smart way to set your hands to max out your natural potential and almost guarantee a more consistent ballflight. Turn the page to get started. 1 Start with Your Lead Hand Set it naturally so that your lead arm can move…

SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2004, the Titleist Performance Institute has collected thousands of physical assessments from golfers at every level, along with 3D motion-capture data of elite-level and Tour players from all over the world. I’ve spent hours upon hours studying this intel alongside my TPI cofounder Dr. Greg Rose. We’ve found that the best players consistently create space for themselves to swing freely during both their backswings and downswings. This discovery has become such a central part of my teaching that I even developed an acronym for it: SPACE, which stands for Speed, Power, Accuracy, Consistency and Efficiency. Here’s how to get more of each. 1. Set up like an athlete Creating space for your swing starts at setup. Most recreational golfers sit at a desk all day, which…

OBVIOUSLY, THE NUMBER-ONE thing you want to do when faced with a bunker shot is to get the ball up and out of the sand. But if you want to shoot lower scores, that’s only half of it. You also need to produce a consistent trajectory and spin formula so that you can better predict how the ball will react in the air and when it lands. Try this simple approach. Set up over the ball as you normally would, which in most cases is in a position with the hands above or even slightly ahead of the ball at address. Then, the goal is to simply return the hands to the exact same spot before you unhinge your hands through impact. This does two things: First, it promotes a…

J.R. Smith is a two-time NBA Champion. Now, in his mid-30s, he’s going back to college and playing on the golf team at North Carolina A&T University. When he was a guest on my “Off Course” podcast recently, I asked him why. “I wanted to challenge my mental aspect,” he said. “I want to prove I can do so many more things than just play basketball.” It’s such a unique journey, but let me tell you: J.R.’s got some serious game.…

I PLAYED GOLF IN 40-DEGREE WEATHER the other day. Just me, myself and I at the home course in West Orange, N.J. Google it: Essex County CC—an amalgamation of Tillinghast, Banks and Raynor set on a high spot (for Jersey standards) where a prevailing south wind helps and hurts in equal amounts. ’Twas mid-December, my previous round (Halloween?) a distant memory. Shaping my course of action that day was a focus on contact, not score, and why I hook putts. I wore a hand warmer around my waist, à la Aaron Rodgers. It worked. (Buy one for yourself on page 31.) Trees were leafless; the bar cart normally stationed between the 5th green and the 6th tee packed in a shed somewhere, I guessed, for a long winter’s nap. Sorta…

4,300 Total hours of PGA Tour streaming coverage available on ESPN+ in 2022, more than tripling the Tour’s previous annual high number. (SOURCE: ESPN+) 63 Consecutive greens hit in regulation by Jin Young Ko, the longest streak on any major professional tour since 1992 (the first year this stat was tracked). (SOURCE: LPGA) 35 Previous consecutive GIR record, held by Steve Stricker. (SOURCE: PGA TOUR) DISTRIBUTION OF CLUB SPEED FOR THE AVERAGE MALE RECREATIONAL GOLFER Median speed: 93.4 mph (SOURCE: SHOTLINK) 300 Dollars fetched on eBay for a dozen Titleist Pro V1 Left Dot golf balls. The limited-edition, Tour-specific balls have earned a cult following among gearheads for their low-flying characteristics. (SOURCE: eBAY)…

AUGUSTA MUNICIPAL WAS PLAYING FAST, and Pal Joey had warned Caveman and me that the track was known for bone-hard fairways and greens that were watered using a bowl and spoon. The green at one par 3 sat noticeably lower than the tee box, and it occurred to me that, given the tarmac-like conditions, I might blade a short iron about three quarters of the way to the hole and let it bounce the final 40 yards, give or take an inch. All went as planned, leaving me 15 feet or so for the two. What a clever boy, thought I of myself, and then Caveman stood in the box and fired one right at the stinking flag. It landed like a pillow two inches from the hole. That moment…

Where does Tiger Woods put his money? Into a posh eatery and high-tech putt-putt courses. Bubba Watson’s investment sweet spot? Candy and car dealerships. Abraham Ancer, a first-time Tour winner just a few months ago, now stars opposite Mark Wahlberg in a thriller tequila deal. In the era of prodigious purses and savvy strategic thinking, pro golfers are making it their business to be in business outside of their sport, while show-biz stalwarts and superstar athletes like Steph Curry, Peyton Manning and Andy Roddick are discovering that the smart money is in golf itself. What’s in their wallets? Turn the page.…

Golf is a social sport, so it makes sense that its players are avid purveyors of social lubricants. Some pros are in the business of suds, others whiskey, but wine is really what has so many of them tipsy. 1. Leishman Lager This light beer was cooked up by Virginia Beach’s Back Bay Brewery for a gala supporting Aussie Marc Leishman’s Begin Again Foundation. It’s now a go-to brew throughout the coastal city. 2. Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka Fuzzy Zoeller launched his vodka line 12 years ago, when it seemed the wine market was besotted with golfer blends. He was right. 3. Loch Lomond 25 In 2019, Colin Montgomerie partnered with the centuries-old Scottish distillery to release 500 limited-edition bottles of single-malt Scotch whisky. They became collector’s items when Monty…

The fairways are filled with golf-obsessed celebrities and all-star athletes, but none have gone in on the game more thoroughly than Stephen Curry. Here’s an overview of the pursuits that have turned the Golden State Warrior sharpshooter and two-time league MVP into golf’s most diversified crossover star. TV Networker Holey Moley has this been a hit. On top of his role as producer, Curry appears as “resident golf pro” on this loopy mini-golf reality show, which recently re-upped for a fourth season on ABC. Content Creator As if his success in televised putt-putt weren’t enough, Curry’s production company has a freshly inked deal with NBC/Golf Channel that calls for the NBA champ to have a hand in golf-related content. Curry’s appearance at the 2020 Ryder Cup, conducting on-course interviews with…

Standing too close or too far from the ball creates all sorts of negative reactions in your swing—as GOLF Top 100 Teacher Dave Phillips explains earlier in this section (page 88). How do you check to make sure you’re the perfect distance away from the ball? Hamilton Farms GC director of instruction Nick Bova has a simple solution: Take your setup and then drop your trail hand off the club. If your hand swings away from the grip and toward your body, it means you’re standing too far away. If it moves away from you, it means you’re standing too close. When your hand hangs level with the grip after letting go, you’re perfect.…

To develop more dynamic speed in your downswing, you must increase your ability to rotate your body through the impact zone. To get started, grab a 6-pound medicine ball and, if you can, find a friend nearby to help out. 1. Hold the medicine ball in front of you in your golf posture, then simulate your backswing, rotating with the ball in front of your chest. The key is to maintain your address posture as you “swing” to the top. 2. From the top, slam the ball into the ground on the target side of the golf ball, so it bounces toward your friend standing to your left (a wall works just as well). To add more rotation and challenge, bounce the ball to your friend about 45 degrees behind…

THE BIGGEST FACTOR in your success as a golfer is your ability to strike the ball purely from any lie. And many times it’ll be from a downhill. Here’s an easy way to ensure crisp contact and—hopefully—a birdie putt. Slide an alignment stick through your front belt loops as I’ve done here. On your backswing, keep the stick pointed along the target line as you wind up. Start your transition by driving the front end of the stick downward and toward the target as you retain the coil in your shoulders. This move is crucial to moving the low point of your swing forward, which is what all good golfers do to strike the ball solidly. After this downshift, point the front end of the stick upward as you rotate…

When: December 2, 2021 Where: Hero World Challenge 10:15 a.m. Arrives putting green. 10:16 a.m. Starts with a series of varied lag putts, hitting two balls to each hole. 10:20 a.m. Breaks down his caddie Ted Scott’s tennis match versus Rory’s caddie Harry Diamond (winner: Diamond). 10:23 a.m. Sets up a tee “gate” on a chalk line and hits four-foot putts up the chalk line. 10:31 a.m. Off to the range! Starts with wedges and works his way up through the bag. 10:39 a.m. Chats up playing partner Sam Burns, whose mint-green shirt is the same color as Scheffler’s. 10:54 a.m. Off to the short game area! Picks a tricky chip. Holes his second try. 11:03 a.m. Back to the putting green for five-footers. Obsessed with starting line. 11:16 a.m.…

A COMMON MISTAKE players make when considering strategic options off the tee is comparing one outcome directly to another. I’m sure you’ve heard someone say, “I’d rather be 150 in the fairway than 120 in the rough.” This statement, on average, is true, but it’s also like saying, “When I hit on 17 in blackjack, I’d rather get a four than a two.” It’s true, sure, but not useful because there is an entire range of possible outcomes that can happen. After all, you could hit on 17, not bust and still lose. It’s the same in golf, which is why I’ve pulled up the 7th hole at Pinehurst No. 2 as an example. It’s a short hole—just 358 yards—and when I played it during the 1999 U.S. Open I…

The practice green can be the loneliest place at the course. Most golfers go straight from the range—if they even make it there—to the first tee. While the pursuit of more distance is all the craze, becoming a better putter is the surest way to become a better player. The Perfect Practice putting mat ($170) is the ideal training aid to help make that happen. An indoor simulator might not be in the cards for your home setup, but there’s always room to roll out the mat. The unit has two holes to choose from, an auto ball return and alignment guides. In addition to the standard mat sold in our Pro Shop, you can also order custom versions to represent your favorite college. The Perfect Practice mat is your…

…How you can fix a slice with your takeaway When you’re struggling with shots that have a lot of curve one way or the other, it’s super important to understand why. It’s your clubface position. For slicers, this means the clubface is too open. You can see it happen on the takeaway—a slicer externally rotates his or her trail arm too much at the start of the swing, which opens the face. If this is you, your only chance from this position is to compensate like crazy to get it back to square in time for impact. The advice I always give slicers is to limit their external rotation. In simpler terms, make sure the palm of your trail hand points more toward the grass when the club reaches parallel…

THE DESERT CLASSIC is a sunbaked Tour spectacle contested every January in La Quinta, Calif. It’s revised its name more than a handful of times over the years (it’s now The American Express), but, to many, it will always affectionately be known as the Bob Hope, as it was called for more than 40 years. It’s an homage to the Hollywood star who helped thrust the tournament into national consciousness when, in 1965, he lent the event his name and significant influence. Hope loved golf and the California desert—so much so that he spent years building what is now known as the Bob Hope House: a 24,000-square-foot, 10-bedroom, 13-bath, mushroom-shaped edifice nestled into the rugged hillside of the Santa Rosa Mountains. If you’re driving through Palm Springs on Highway 111—the…

Pro golfers and celebrities have been ham-and-egging it since the days of Bing Crosby and his Clambake. But they aren’t just pairing up in pro-ams anymore. There’s real business at hand—mixed with legit camaraderie. Witness the scene on this sun-kissed afternoon in Beverly Hills, where Abraham Ancer and Mark Wahlberg are whacking pitching wedges on the sprawling grounds behind Wahlberg’s home. Even in street clothes, there’s no mistaking Ancer, the bantam-built 30-year-old Tour pro whose face has become a fixture on Sunday broadcasts. Wahlberg, for his part, would stand out anywhere, a Hollywood star, still ripped at 50, his box-office biceps straining the sleeves of his T-shirt. True to reputation, an entourage surrounds him, including several handlers and an HBO film crew. With the cameras whirring, Wahlberg cedes the stage to…

SPEED POWER ACCURACY CONSISTENCY EFFICIENCY LOOK FOR THE DOTS: Each tip throughout this section features a corresponding color code to help you understand which part of your game it will improve the most. Shaky putter Slicer Low handicapper Short-game sufferer Short hitter Swing student High handicapper…

A LOT OF HIGHER HANDICAPS tend to swing from narrow to wide, meaning that their arms and club move too close to their body on the backswing, which results in a chain reaction that causes them to throw the clubhead out on the downswing. It’s known as “casting,” and it costs you both consistency and power. Instead, think about your swing going from wide to narrow. One drill you can do to help with this is to hold the club with your left hand, then place the palm of your right hand on the butt end of the grip (see photos at left). As you make your backswing, push out with your right hand. Doing this will engage the key power muscles in your upper body, and you should be…

THERE’S A NEW PRODUCT capturing the interest of some high-profile golfers, including Annika Sorenstam, Henrik Stenson, Bryson DeChambeau and Vijay Singh. Each has partnered with the company and uses it in their training. It’s called deWiz ($699; dewizgolf.com)—a device that’s worn like a wristwatch. It measures the distance, speed and direction of your swing, then sends a 3D model instantly to your iPhone. You can set certain goals, like swinging back a certain length—“I’m almost at 59 inches,” says Singh of his current driver backswing—and if you don’t swing within your preset parameters, deWiz will give you the needed feedback. It’s a next-gen way of tracking what your hands do during your swing and learning cues that can accelerate improvement. GOLF I Q: PGA TOUR AVERAGE BALL SPEEDS…

THE ABILITY TO HIT the ball both high and low on command near the green is the hallmark of a good player. If you can navigate out of trouble or attack pins either by taking the high road or the low road, you’ll shoot better scores because of it. You can see me hitting both types of shots above. If you want to change the trajectory of your chips, the easiest way is to change your ball position. For low shots, put the ball back in your stance. This will help your hands be more forward at address and impact. If you want to hit the ball higher, move your ball position more forward. Your hands will start in a more neutral spot and return there at impact. I see…

WHEN IT COMES TO my swing, I’m like a lot of Tour players: I try to keep my thoughts pretty simple and take care of the details that I can control. One of these details is the position of the clubface on takeaway, which I check before every full swing. You can see me doing this here during a practice round in Japan ahead of a round at the 2021 Olympic Games. My takeaway drill is pretty easy to do. Not only that, it can improve your backswing too. Start by getting into your normal setup, rotate back, then stop when the shaft reaches parallel to the ground. Without moving anything else, swivel your head to the right and take note of what you see. I look for three things:…

Drew Stoltz: You played during maybe what could go down as the greatest era [ever] in professional tennis. You got Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic all coming out. To make a golf comparison, is that the equivalent of, like, three Tiger Woods 2000 out there you gotta compete against? Mardy Fish: No, there’d be a Jack, Tiger, and I don’t even know who’s third… Stoltz: Hogan! Fish: Hogan, yeah. But all of them would be 20-something years old. All in their prime. Colt Knost: That’s totally what it was like for you. Fish: Those three [tennis] players—they’ve taken everything from us. They’ve taken our legs, our souls, our bank accounts. Everything. We’ll never see another generation like it. Stoltz: Yeah. Doesn’t leave much room for everybody else. Who…