Innholdsfortegnelse for November - December 2024 i Golf Magazine

In my nearly 30 years of writing about this game, I've often been asked the same three questions by friends, family and readers. They are, in no particular order: 1) “Do you know Tiger Woods?” 2) “What's the best job in golf, other than yours?” and 3) “Why is your handicap so high?” Quick answers to Nos. 1 and 3: “No” and “No clue.” I've lobbed questions at the Big Cat over the years during staged press conferences, but we're as close as Phil Mickelson and a cup of decaf. And I'm proud of my midhandicap status—hope is a powerful thing, folks. (And, just between us, I do have my moments.) Now… the middle query. The best job in golf? That's certainly an intriguing question. It's definitely not what I…

3 WINS ON THE 2024 KORN FERRY TOUR FOR MATT MCCARTY, EARNING HIM AN AUTOMATIC “BATTLEFIELD” PROMOTION TO THE PGA TOUR, WHERE HE WENT ON TO WIN OCTOBER'S BLACK DESERT CHAMPIONSHIP. 19 Years since Jason Gore, after his “battlefield” promotion, won 2005's 84 Lumber Classic to become the only player in history—until McCarty—to win three mini-tour events and a PGA Tour event in the same year. 16 NUMBER OF STROKES GAINED PUTTING BY THE INTERNATIONALS DURING FRIDAY'S FOURSOMES SESSION AT THE ’ 24 PRESIDENTS CUP. THEY SWEPT THE SESSION AFTER LOSING EVERY MATCH TO THE U.S. THE DAY BEFORE. Percentage of Fairways Hit by the Field Black Desert: 86% Trinity Forest: 82% Sherwood CC: 72% Augusta National: 71% Sea Island (Seaside): 71% Average Penalty, in Strokes, on Fairways Missed Sherwood…

IF YOU'RE LOOKING to spin your pitch shots high and soft, I've got the master recipe. Spinning it like the pros is fun in theory, but to actually do it requires having great fundamentals. Here's what I mean. First, you've got to keep the shaft lean fairly neutral, and the clubface must be slightly open at setup. Second, the length of your backswing has to be a bit longer than normal. I also recommend using some wrist hinge, which allows for a little bit of release down onto the ball. The key to this is using softer grip pressure, so take it down from a 10 to about a four. Finally, to get that funky action you're looking for, you need to deliver some speed at about one foot before…

GEAR GOLF.COM / THE BEST STUFF IN THE GAME Scan the code above to find an XXIO fitting event near you and demo the 13 line of lightweight and high-performance irons and woods (opposite). THIS FALL, GOLF MAGAZINE CAUGHT UP WITH XXIO GENERAL MANAGER RYAN POLANCO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE JAPAN-BASED MANUFACTURER'S SUCCESS AND—MORE IMPORTANT—WHY IT'S A BRAND THE MAJORITY OF REC GOLFERS SHOULD CONSIDER COME THIS BUYING SEASON (IN 10 BULLET POINTS). 1. THE PLAN A lot of gear companies focus on how to make their Tour players better, then figure a way to make clubs that work for everybody else—a kind of “reverse engineering.” At XXIO, we do it with the recreational player at top of mind first. The question most important to the brand is “What do…

WAIT, IS DOCKERS BACK? Absolutely. The reinvigorated Dockers brand is now more fashion-forward, stitching together modern threads that look business casual but feel as comfortable as any athleisure you'll find. We're especially into the Dockers Go collection (dockers.com) because, as the name implies, you can go anywhere and do just about anything wearing it. The Go Raglan Polo ($30) offers a comfortable spin on the traditional polo and is made of 40 percent recycled material. Below the belt, the Go Airweave collection features the Airweave Chino ($50) with four-way stretch and moisture-wicking fabric for yearround wearability. The Go Airweave 5-Pocket ($50) offers much the same comfort but in a jeans-style silhouette with scoop front pockets. Rounding out the collection is the Go Airweave Jogger ($50)—a classier take on modern jogger…

• WITH THE ARRIVAL of each new Top 100 ranking, the world's premier course architects peek to see where their work stands—even as they're skeptical about this business of calling something “the best.” But push them a bit (or a lot) and they'll offer up their own riffs on what makes a golf course list-worthy, unforgettable and great. For a lengthy roundtable discussion video-captured for GOLF.com‘s InsideGOLF, Senior Writer Josh Sens huddled with four course design virtuosos—Tom Doak (Pacific Dunes, No. 19; Ballyneal, No. 35); Bill Coore (Sand Hills, No. 7; Friar's Head, No. 15); Andrew Green (Oak Hill, No. 36; Inverness, No. 41) and Rob Collins (Landmand, Sweetens Cove)—to chat about all things Top 100. Here are excerpts from that conversation. Scan the QR code on the opposite page…

LESSONS: NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2024 The quality of your backswing sets the tone for the rest of your motion. To better yours, try sixtime major champion and HOF-er Nick Faldo's “preset” drill. Stand at address and hinge the club back, cocking only your wrists to get the club both horizontal to the ground and parallel to your target line. From here, simply turn your trail shoulder behind you into a full backswing while resisting with your trail side—no swaying. Says Faldo, the drill helps you “complete your backswing in a perfect position.” Faldo learned this drill from his longtime coach and teaching legend David Leadbetter, who often asked him to perform the drill and then actually swing down and hit live shots. After a few tries, go back and make…

THINK / PLAY / LIVE A golf hole is 4.25 inches in diameter, whereas a golf ball measures just 1.68 inches in diameter—meaning there's plenty of room for the ball to roll into the hole. However, the cup can look even smaller when you're not putting well. Here's a drill to help you feel like the hole is bigger than it actually is. To begin, set up with a few balls about four feet away from a hole on the practice green. Then start trying to sink putts. There's a catch—on every putt your goal is to roll the ball into a different part of the cup. You can do it five different ways: 1) dead center with perfect speed, 2) dead center with “dying” speed, 3) center while hitting…

“Originals” with Michael Bamberger “I wish it were different, but my fun comes from the analytical side of golf—the mechanics of the swing, correcting from stroke to stroke, swing to swing. If I hit a bad shot, I will walk to the next shot trying to figure out why I hit the bad shot.” —Baseball legend and golf addict Mike Schmidt, in the October episode “GOLF Originals” airs monthly on GOLF.com and on GOLF.com‘s YouTube channel “Subpar,” hosted by Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz “I was definitely a bit surprised, but the more I thought about it—I'm just fired up. I think he's gonna be awesome.” —Scottie Scheffler on Keegan Bradley being named U.S. captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup “Subpar” airs each Tuesday on audio platforms and YouTube “The Scoop” with Claire…

NOTHING PUNCTUATES an epic holiday gathering like a rich and flavorful nightcap. Kris Vickrey is the lead bartender at Constantino's—an elegant, members-only restaurant at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Ariz.—and he's conjured up a concoction that's sure to impress every guest at the table. The Autumn's Apple features a chocolate rim dipped in graham cracker crumbs and a heady mix of spiced rum, Grand Marnier, cinnamon-vanilla agave and heavy cream to give the cocktail its seasonally appropriate snowy-white hue. Adding a splash of sparkling apple cider before serving gives the drink a bubbly, fluffy lift and its namesake apple taste. Vickrey added the cocktail to the seasonal beverage menu at Constantino's for the first time last year, and the drink was such a hit that he says it will make a…

Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Browse our library of rulings and out-of-this-world decisions at GOLF.com/rules. A: Interesting question, albeit not quite as hard as the cart path itself. Playing by the book, you do need to put the ball in play again based on the spot on the cart path. However, playing from the previous spot (such as under stroke and distance) gives you a one clublength relief area to drop into, per Rule 14.6. If, post-drop, you still have interference from the path, you would be allowed to take free relief under Rule 16.1. Q: My buddy is 2 up on me after six holes when he realizes he's missing his sand wedge. His house is next to the 7th tee, and he runs inside the garage to get the club.…

Technique is even more critical on shots inside 100 yards since you need to generate a consistent trajectory to control distances. A good drill I use with some of my high-level players is to take three balls and hit from a variety of yardages. Start at 20 yards, then move back five yards until you get to 50. Simply chart your distance control and see how far the ball is carrying from each location.…

GEAR Style TODAY'S MODERN GOLF outerwear is as stylishly solid as the jackets we wear every day to the office (or around the neighborhood for you remote workers). The exciting new designs, fits and performance characteristics are perfect for staying active in the cooler months ahead. When it comes to the fairway, PXG's Windbreaker Golfer Jacket ($250; pxg.com) is particularly notable because of its hidden stretch back panel for greater range of motion when you swing a club. Other features include a full-zipper front, plush-lined collar, elastic cuffs, lined hand pockets, secret interior pockets and faux leather shoulder vents. Along with this lightweight jacket, PXG's full line of outerwear comes in a variety of fashion-forward styles for both men and women, designed and constructed to wear before, during and after your…

Trajectory and distance control on those tricky 40to 70-yard wedge shots is a must. Regardless of the yardage you're facing, a few setup tweaks can get you flighting short approaches like a seasoned pro. [1] Set up to the ball as normal. Whatever the yardage, grab one more club than you think you need and grip down on the handle as you see here. [2] Remove your lead hand from the grip and place it on your lead thigh. [3] With the help of your hand, push at least 65 percent of your weight over to your front leg. It should feel like you're leaning a bit toward the target. [4] Without moving anything else, place your lead hand back on the grip. This setup ensures a proper delivery and…

G: The logical place to start is how did you get into golf? DR: Oh, man, I was lucky. My best friend's dad was in the Navy, and we had three different military bases in Charleston [South Carolina] that all had golf courses. He took me for the first time when I was 14. It was instant love for me, and I've had a love for golf ever since. G: Where did the idea for Monday After the Masters, your charity golf event, come from? DR: It had been a tournament for a year or two before we got involved. We took it over and made it a big pro-am. It just took on a life of its own. It's been almost 30 years, and we've raised millions of dollars…

8AM Happenings In the highly anticipated third iteration of the Bridges Cup, the team of elite mid-amateurs from the United States barely held on in the final session to best the Internationals, 17-15, at Haesley Nine Bridges in South Korea. The victory represents the third straight in this competition for the Americans. The Bridges Cup is a partnership between South Korean conglomerate CJ Group and 8AM Golf that features two teams in a Ryder Cup–style competition over three days. The first iteration was held at CJ-owned Nine Bridges (No. 87 in GOLF's world ranking), on Jeju Island in 2022. The next year, the competition moved to Les Bordes (No. 83) in France. Each team is hand-selected by their captains and comprised of high-level amateur golfers with résumés that include USGA…

Clubhouse GOLF.COM / SMART GOLF STARTS HERE / NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2024 CALLING FROM HIS CAR IN SCOTTSDALE, AZ, AFTER LEAVING THE SET OF GOLF'S “SUBPAR” PODCAST Dylan Dethier: You're on a break from your TV gig. Does this feel like your off-season? Colt Knost: It's definitely my off-season. I've done a few things for work here and there. I still do our SiriusXM show [Gravy and the Sleaze] and GOLF's “Subpar.” But, for the most part, I get to play a lot of golf this time of year. DD: Are you playing at home with a regular group or are you now, like, America's guest? CK: Yeah, mostly at home at [Scottsdale's] Whisper Rock. I've played a few member-guests. I just got back from Vegas, playing the Southern Highlands, which was a…

“Golf is played on a five-and-a-half-inch course… the space between your ears.” —Bobby Jones WHAT'S YOUR GOLF HANDICAP? No, not your current playing index. I'm talking about your self-handicap, defined as your favorite excuse after a sub-par shot or a wayover-par round—and unlike what's next to your name in the GHIN, it has nothing to do with how you compete. Instead, it's all about how you compete against yourself. Self-handicapping is a psychological term for the rationalizations we make to protect our self-esteem. We don't like to fail, so we preemptively and defensively identify a reason why we might. Two summers ago, in fact, this magazine ranked the most common first-tee excuses—alibis like “I didn't have a chance to warm up,” “I've never played this course before” or the leader…

Peter Kostis: We spent over 30 years between us at CBS. I get asked all the time, “Do you miss the job?” What I really miss is playing golf with you and Ian [Baker-Finch] in the towns that we went to. I mean, we've been blessed to play… Gary McCord: Everything! PK: Everything. I mean, I probably played 80 or 90 of the Top 100 in the U.S. (p. 56) GM: And you start stacking up the iconic ones, like Oakmont, Shinnecock, The Golf Club—it goes on and on. [Ranking them is] so subjective. It's unbelievable. PK: It's interesting that when we look at the older golf courses in the Top 100, they're not the ball-buster, 8,000-yard golf courses. They're more controlled. You play your golf ball from here to…

Scoring Clubs THERE IS NO CLUB in the bag designed to be as multifunctional as a good solid wedge, and the new Hi-Toe 4 wedge ($180; taylormadegolf.com) from Taylor-Made is as versatile as they come. The latest Hi-Toe iteration starts with a raw face design featuring Spin Tread technology and grooves from top to bottom for maximum spin and stopping power—even in wet conditions. The high-toe design serves two purposes: First, it makes it easier to hit open-faced chips with more groove surface area to execute a wider variety of shots, including open-faced flops. Second, the higher toe raises the CG for a lower launch and increases spin rate, resulting in added control and consistency from around the green. Other features include a milled sole and copper finish. Models range…

• PUBLIC AFFAIRS To scan our Top 100 Courses in the U.S. list is, as we said from the start, to dream about playing these places. But let's not be Pollyanna about a ranking like this. A majority of these courses—82 of our Top 100—are private and mostly out of reach for the average weekend warrior. Of the list's 11 tantalizing new entries, only The Lido (with limited tee times for resort guests) and Pinehurst No. 10 are open to the public. At the same time, four resort courses that enjoyed pride of place in our 2022 ranking—Pinehurst No. 4, Sand Valley, Sheep Ranch and Streamsong (Blue)—have slipped out of the Top 100. But dreams and bucket lists aren't a privilege of the few, and great course architecture thrives well…

THINK / PLAY / LIVE: THE ENLIGHTENED GAME Lessons IF YOU SLICE, it's likely because you allow the clubhead to move in front of your hand path on the way down to the ball from the top. The club needs to stay behind your hand path until you start moving into impact. Next time you practice, position a ball just off your back foot as you see I've done here. Set up like normal and swing. Using your peripheral vision as you start down, use the second ball as a guide for your clubhead, making sure it stays behind the ball instead of moving in front of it (as in away from you). The trick is to allow your trail arm to elongate while keeping the bend in your trail wrist…

THINK / PLAY / LIVE BEN HOGAN was a little laid-off at the top (shaft pointing left of target). Fred Couples and most long-drive guys are across the line (shaft pointing right of target). My guess is that you're not as talented as Hogan or Couples or can drive it 400-plus yards. For most golfers, a neutral top position works best and can actually boost your distance and make you more accurate. Here's how to get it. Grab any iron from your bag and fold it up over your trail shoulder, keeping your elbows in tight to your sides. Have a buddy place an alignment rod across the inside of both elbows (below). (You can do this by yourself, too, after you hinge the club up.) Important: Make sure the…