Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2016 i Golf Monthly

Those words from Rory McIlroy make up my favourite quote from an interview that sits at the heart of our exclusive 18-page special with arguably the most talented golfer the game has seen since Tiger in his prime. But, as Rory tells GM's Neil Tappin, hard work and desire lie behind the successes he has enjoyed to date, not a reliance on innate ability. He's a fascinating individual who shares many secrets in one of his most revealing interviews since turning professional. Neil first spent time with Rory back in 2009, playing with him in the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am as he was bursting onto the scene. Pretty much every year since, Neil has had the opportunity to sit down with Rory to talk about how his career is progressing.…

 Take a 6-iron and tee it up slightly, with the ball position just forward of centre. Take the club to the top, then make a movement downwards, leading with the left hip, putting your weight onto your left side, driving your hips forward and turning. Then, rather than accelerating into impact, pause the club when it's almost parallel to the ground. “ADDING THIS PAUSE HELPS YOU TO REALLY FEEL WHERE YOUR BODY IS BEFORE IMPACT" One reason people struggle to strike the ball well is because they don't get the downswing sequence correct. Adding this pause helps you to really feel where your body is. Ideally, your hips should be clearing left, your weight should be on your left side and your sternum should be over the ball so that…

Photography Kevin Murray “I first covered The Ryder Cup in 2006 and it blew my mind. Thinking about it now makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up” I wonder whether what we saw at Royal Troon was a little preview of what we'll witness in this year's Ryder Cup at Hazeltine. Henrik Stenson versus Phil Mickelson was as good as it gets. Not since the Duel in the Sun in 1977 have we seen such a titanic clash. I think it's safe to say events like that are one-in-40-year affairs. Anyway, back to golf's biggest event… The European team will have some new blood. I think it's safe to say that captain Clarke's rookies will be in for a golfing experience like no other. I can…

1985 SAM TORRANCE Europe, who hadn’t won the cup since 1957, led by two points heading into Sunday at The Belfry. They started brilliantly, only losing one of the first six matches. Torrance was seventh out, and holed a 20-footer for victory. 1987 EAMONN DARCY At Muirfield Village, Darcy holed a slick five-footer on the 18th to defeat Ben Crenshaw, who had been putting with a 1-iron since the 6th hole, and put Europe on course to win a first Ryder Cup on American soil. 1991 BERNHARD LANGER The 1991 Ryder Cup, known as the ‘War on the Shore’, came down to the final putt. If Langer holed his five-footer, Europe would have retained the trophy. His putt, however, slipped agonisingly past the right side of the cup. 1999 JUSTIN…

1 Killer mistake We are going to start this feature with the number-one mistake golfers make. If your backswing is too long when you pitch, you will instinctively start decelerating through impact – this is a natural reaction. If the club is moving too slowly as it reaches the ball, the player has to manipulate the speed and the loft to gain the desired distance. This can often result in poor contacts and inconsistent shots. So, a great place to start any practice session focused on pitching is to ensure that, however far you are looking to hit the ball – from short 40-yard pitches to longer 100-yard ones – your backswing and follow through are the same length. This will really help the consistency of your strikes and distances…

KEY TECH Use of boron increases durability of the grooves AIMED AT Players seeking longer-lasting spin control HOW MUCH £120 One drawback we all notice with wedges is how quickly that initial zip on chip and pitch shots wears off. It's something Mizuno wasn't keen on either, so with its new T7 wedge (£120) it has found a way to prolong the spin you get from the grooves. It has managed this by infusing boron within its Grain Flow Forged wedges, which it says significantly enhances groove durability. Explaining the technology to GM, David Llewellyn, director of R&D at Mizuno, said: “A very small trace of boron in the steel means we can not only now maintain that forged feel and precision, but also the performance of the grooves." As…

KEY TECH Faster faces and lower CGs help to make bad shots better AIMED AT Sporadic golfers who need extra help on mishits HOW MUCH £199 (hybrid), irons £649 (steel) and £829 (graphite) Callaway has taken the covers off its most forgiving clubs to date, unveiling the new Steelhead XR hybrid and Steelhead XR irons. The range pays homage to the Steelhead X-14 irons, which are among Callaway's most successful irons of all time. Throwback design aspects include a longer blade length, a more rounded toe and the signature hoselto-face transition in the new irons. Callaway's 360 Face Cup ensures you still get modern distance, with the edges of the ultra-thin faces thinner to increase off-centre distance. An innovative Hollow Bore-Thru hosel design has also allowed weight to be repositioned…

Photography Kim Porritt “THIS CLUB IS A GODSEND FROM POOR LIES AND WHEN HITTING INTO PAR 5s” Technical editor Joel Tadman NEED TO KNOW The King F6 Baffler Fairway comes in lofts from 16-19° (in 0.5° increments) and with three draw settings 1 KEY TECHNOLOGY Two sole rails improve forgiveness from any lie, while the backs of the rails help the sole glide out of the turf more smoothly. Adjustable 15g and 3g sole weights can be swapped to change your ball flight, while Cobra's MyFly8 hosel delivers eight loft and draw positions. 2 LOOKS This is a tour-inspired fairway wood, which explains the small profile the club has at address. This may not inspire confidence but it certainly makes you focus on trying to find the sweetspot, rather…

Rock up to your monthly medal in 2016 and you’re likely to see more golfers with trolleys than without. Such has been their surge in popularity that models now cater for every demographic, with bright colours and cool gadgets commonplace. The increased popularity of trolleys can be linked to our improving health awareness. The chance to reduce back and knee injuries is an obvious draw. Throw into the mix the opportunity to show off a few boys’ toys and it’s easy to see why so many golfers now use trolleys. But if you’re thinking about joining the ranks, there are still a few things worth considering beforehand... Firstly, you’ll need to choose between a push or electric model, with the latter running off a rechargeable battery. Push trolleys are great…

1972 The 72nd US Open was the first Major to be held at Pebble Beach. Jack Nicklaus won with a total score of 290 – two-over-par. No one has ever scored that high since and won a Major. This was Nicklaus’ 11th Major. 1982 Tom Watson pipped Jack Nicklaus to win the sixth of his eight career Majors thanks in large part to the amazing chip-in at 17 in the final round. The 1982 US Open was Nicklaus’ 18th (of 19) runner-up finishes in Majors. 1992 Tom Kite, at the time considered one of the game’s best players without a Major, finally sealed one of golf’s big four prizes at the age of 42. He finished at three-under. Jeff Sluman was the only other player under par. 2000 Only one…

Photography Getty Images, Tony Shone History boy Watching Justin Rose win the Olympic Gold Medal and seeing how much it meant to him, I just wonder if the absentees are beginning to question their decision not to attend. I was so utterly proud watching Hampshire's finest crying tears of golden joy on that historic Sunday evening. He totally embraced the Olympic experience and he will be forever etched in history, but more importantly, it showed that money isn't everything. Simon Thorpe, via email A missed opportunity I doubt I'm alone in thinking the Olympic golf was a wasted opportunity. This isn't down to Rose et al who were fantastic ambassadors for the game. The issue was the format. To introduce golf to the masses with a four-day stroke play competition…

Photography Paul Severn “Even if it’s longer and straighter on the range, the tempo and timing of your swing changes in competition and even more when you’re under the gun” I'm no equipment geek – the only thing that really matters to me is that anything new has to be an improvement. I've used Callaway my entire career, so I've got a lot of confidence in its products, but I'm rarely going to change unless a club can be proved to improve me – so if it goes further, dispersion is better or I've got more feel or control. The new gear is always technically better, but it's more about custom fitting to make the bigger gains. The sweetspot is getting bigger and that becomes a little harder to test,…

Rory McIlroy was running through one of his specific workouts as part of Nike’s promotion of a new app. The Nike+ Training Club app is designed to help different people reach their own specific fitness goals. Whether you are looking to train for an upcoming triathlon or simply want to improve your core strength for a more stable golf swing, there is help at hand. With more than 100 workouts and visual guidance from experts, the app personalises training to your needs and adapts as you go. It also makes it easier to share your workouts with friends.…

1 Game plan Before we get into any of the more technical elements to a good opening drive, let's focus on your game plan. When you are nervous it is imperative that you work within your comfort zone. Choose a shot you know you can hit. This sounds painfully obvious, I know, but it's amazing how often players hit the shot they think they should hit off the first tee instead of the one they know they can hit. A game plan that takes you out of your comfort zone will add to the nerves and make a bad swing more likely. So study the hole, think about where the major hazards are and then select a club and a shot you know you can hit. If that's a fade…

KEY TECH Multiple new technologies combine to improve feel, spin and distance control AIMED AT Comprehensive loft and sole grind options to suit every golfer HOW MUCH £99 Replacing a product that delivered real value and quality is always a tough ask, but with the new RTX-3 wedge, which follows on from the 588 RTX 2.0, Cleveland looks to have earned a pat on the back. The new model comes in lofts from 46-64° and boasts a raft of updates, including something Cleveland is calling Feel Balancing technology. This is where saved weight from the hosel area has allowed the centre of gravity (CG) to be shifted nearer the middle of the face where it can help reduce vibration to improve feel. It also helps to stop the head twisting…

KEY TECH S1 updated with downhill speed control and electronic parking brake AIMED AT Golfers who tend to play on hilly courses HOW MUCH £499.99 to £549.99 Keen to find ways to make its offerings more practical and less intrusive on your round, Motocaddy has introduced an advanced version of its popular S1 model, which will feature downhill speed control and an electronic parking brake. The chief update means it can now maintain a constant speed while moving down a gradient. This works thanks to a single motor that automatically adjusts the trolley's power output to control the rate of descent, meaning the user does not have to do anything. In real terms, it means you won't find yourself pulling on the handle to stop your trolley running away downhill,…

KEY TECH Ping’s variable-depth TR tech now comes on a milled face AIMED AT Golfers seeking a premium look who three-putt too often HOW MUCH £275 (£299 with adjustable-length shaft) Keen to make its putters as popular as its woods and irons, Ping has released a new milled Vault range. The two blades and two mallets all feature a new take on Ping's TR face, where the variable-depth pattern is milled onto the face to help speed up off-centre strikes. It's a design that means heel and toe putts are more likely to reach the distance of central strikes for much better consistency on the greens. Ping fans will know the design from the Scottsdale TR and Cadence TR lines. However, because it's now being applied via a milling process,…

KEY TECHNOLOGY The Predator driver utilises a four-piece forged titanium construction in the 460cc clubhead to maximise distance and forgiveness. It is available in four matching clubhead and shaft colours – yellow, orange, black or green – and six different adjustable loft options, three with draw bias. GM REVIEW Looks At address, the crown has striking cosmetics regardless of the colour you choose. The triangular pattern subconsciously helps you position the ball centrally and swing the club away on a neutral path. The head shape is quite toe heavy and the face is set forward of the hosel, but the larger profile is sure to inspire confidence. Performance This driver is easy to align and feels solid and powerful from the sweetspot. Lynx's ‘firm' shaft felt like it sat between…

“NIKE NEVER MANAGED TO CREATE THAT ONE GAME-CHANGER” Joel Tadman For a brand with the slogan ‘Just Do It', when it came to golf equipment Nike just couldn't any longer. On the one hand, the announcement that it would no longer be producing golf clubs, balls and bags, and would focus only on golf shoes and apparel, came as a big shock to me. I was just starting out in golf when Nike came on the scene, and I remember the excitement of finding a rare Tour Accuracy in the rough in the late 1990s. More pertinently, Nike has invested millions of dollars in its golf business – the R&D facility at The Oven in Texas, not to mention the multi-million-dollar endorsement deals. But when you look at its dwindling…

COURSES Pebble Beach 18 holes, par 72, GF $495 Spyglass Hill 18 holes, par 72, GF $395 The Links at Spanish Bay 18 holes, par 72, GF $280 Del Monte 18 holes, par 72, GF $110 Peter Hay 9 holes, par 27, GF $30/$10 for 13 to 17-year-olds, under 12s free ACCOMMODATION The Lodge – rooms from $815 per night Inn at Spanish Bay – rooms from $695 per night Casa Palmero – rooms from $975 per night PACKAGES Pebble Beach offers a variety of seasonal packages and special offers that can represent significant savings on the advertised rates for green fees and accommodation. See pebblebeach.com/ pebblebeach.com/golf-vacation-packages-and-getaways/ golf-vacation-packages-and-getaways/ for the latest. Address 1700 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, CA 93953, United States T: +1 831 574 5609 W: pebblebeach.com…

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Photography Getty Images “I THINK TO REALLY REACH YOUR POTENTIAL IN GOLF, YOU HAVE TO BE AN ATHLETE” How do you approach the sport these days from an athletic standpoint? Are golfers athletes? I train in Loughborough, and I think I'm relatively strong until all the rugby girls come in! I think you have to be athletic in golf. There's a huge amount of strain on your body, it's a quick movement and you have to be very strong from the ground up, especially in the women's game. I think the guys can kind of get away with it, but I think to really reach their potential in golf, a girl has to be an athlete. Lexi Thompson is tall and grew up with brothers, Charley Hull is built well…

Imagination and technique are both very important in the short game, but I think imagination is more important most of the time on tour, because when we miss greens we rarely find good positions or easy lies that present us with straightforward chips. That's when imagination and creativity come to the fore. That said, those two shots from the cacti in the WGC-Match Play final two years ago were just luck. There was no technique or imagination – it was just hit it and see! 1 You have to make a choice on a lot of chips, because there will often be a risky option and a less risky one. This is where you and I might need to differ a little because I will always take on the shot…

Photography Paul Severn “We were all buzzing after watching Ian Poulter birdie the last five holes to win his four-ball. The atmosphere in the team room was transformed” For me, nothing I achieve in my career will ever match victory in The Open Championship at Carnoustie in 1999. That goes without saying. But the final day of the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah is a close second. It was an amazing experience. Being part of a European team that overhauled a four-point deficit to win by one is something that will live with me forever. It was a comeback that actually began the evening before. We were all buzzing when we came in off the course after watching Ian Poulter birdie the last five holes to win his four-ball match…

How is Rory as a pupil? He's a keen athlete and asks questions in the right way so he doesn't just take answers for answers' sake, he wants to know the reasons behind doing things. As a pupil that's what I like. I like to be accountable, objective and Rory is always looking for the reasons and evidence behind what we're doing, so he's great from my perspective. How hard do you push him? The way I like to think about it is that any athlete that you're working with, you want them to take ownership. You want them to understand that if they push it harder then they are going to be a bit more effective. I'm not your classic fitness coach: my background is more academic in terms…

Copyright: ©2016 TI Golf Holdings, Inc, reprinted with permission With two four-ball matches still to finish on Saturday afternoon, Europe looked doomed at 10-4 down. What then unfolded will be forever remembered as one of the greatest comebacks in sporting history... Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald started things off with a point against Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker before Ian Poulter, partnering Rory McIlroy, produced a Ryder Cup masterclass. Playing against Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson, The Englishman finished with five consecutive birdies to take the point and totally change the atmosphere in the European team room. This momentum was carried into the Sunday with Donald, Poulter, McIlroy, Justin Rose and Paul Lawrie triumphing in the first five matches out. Rose’s win against Phil Mickelson was perhaps most memorable because,…

Photography Tom Miles There is a reason golf coaches use the word ‘coil' when referring to the rotation of the body. This is because your upper body is turning – or coiling – against the resistance provided by your lower body. The difference in the angle between your upper and lower body at the top of the backswing is the secret power ingredient that provides real speed as you unwind through the downswing. To picture how it works, think of your body as a coil. At the top of the backswing it is stretched, ready to spring back through the downswing. The only way to create that stretch, however, is to resist the turn of the upper body. Without any resistance (if you let your hips turn as much as…

KEY TECH Three different-sized irons are made with three different materials AIMED AT Each model has a unique performance to suit different types of players HOW MUCH £105 per iron (Hot Metal), £120 (Forged and Tour) Such is its reputation in the irons market, Mizuno has always had a lot of golfers of ranging abilities wanting to play its clubs. Its new JPX900 range has three models to suit different needs so that nobody will miss out. The three new irons sets – JPX900 Tour, JPX900 Forged and JPX900 Hot Metal – each have distinctive performance attributes that are made possible by the unique base materials used. Mizuno’s newest material, chromoly 4140M, features in the most forgiving set, the JPX900 Hot Metal. The new material paved the way for Mizuno’s…

KEY TECH Exo-Cage weight repositioned for more forgiveness AIMED AT Golfers seeking both distance and accuracy off the tee HOW MUCH £369 (driver) and £229 (fairway) Twelve years on from the original Fusion woods, Callaway has reinvented the line via an aerospace-grade titanium exoskeleton called an Exo-Cage. This has been paired with a crown and sole made from triaxial carbon, which is over 65 per cent less dense than titanium and more than 35 per cent thinner than Callaway's previous composite material, to relocate 35g inside the Big Bertha Fusion driver. The centre of gravity (CG) has therefore been optimised and the moment of inertia (MOI) increased by 17 per cent compared to XR16 – a huge jump that increases forgiveness. This driver also incorporates Speed Step technology for a…

Words Jake O'Reilly KEY TECH New travel solution for golfers AIMED AT Those keen to avoid the fuss of airports HOW MUCH From £29 each way BagSolo, a new solution that provides convenience for travelling golfers, offers a door-to-door courier service to destinations around the world from as little as £29 each way. Designed to relieve the stress of travelling with your equipment, BagSolo says its service will allow you to relax and enjoy your journey without having to worry if your golf bag will make it safely. Partnered with FedEx and UPS, the service removes potential excess baggage charges and queues at check-in, plus the hassle of lugging a golf bag to and from the airport. The BagSolo service covers destinations in the UK, Europe and America, among others.…

KEY TECHNOLOGY A removable moulded sock liner supports and cradles your feet, while a breathable, full-grain leather upper and a lightweight waterproof membrane keep them cool and dry. ‘Super-charged' cushioning is said to return energy as you walk. Finally, a built-in lateral TPU wrap stops your heel rolling over as you swing, providing added control. GM REVIEW Looks There can be many comparisons drawn between this and the FootJoy D.N.A. model – like the full-grain perforated leather, the style of laces and the overall performance – which is no bad thing as both are excellent golf shoes that come in at a similar price. Performance This is a very technical golf shoe designed to help golfers get the most from the ground and swing more consistently. This centres around locking…

Photography Kevin Murray The Golf Par 71, 6,601 yards The course, which opened in 2001, plays over mostly gently undulating linksland above neighbouring Kilspindie Golf Club, with views out over the Firth of Forth and Gosford Bay. The greens, several of which are raised up, pose a real challenge should you stray out of position, but must surely bring a whole new dimension to the short games of those who play here often! The 9th plays back up to a long green by the clubhouse, while the 10th is a strong, well-bunkered par 3 in among some elegant houses. The classic risk-and-reward par-4 15th is reachable some days, but if you miss pin-high left, you'll be left scratching your head at the chip you face. Also play… Craigielaw lies just…

Photography Tom Miles “Faldo played in every segment that weekend and when I spoke to him on that Sunday evening in the Midlands he looked ten years older” It's been a trip, a long, winding, wonderful trip. From my first Ryder Cup matches at Lytham in 1977 through to this latest rumble back in the US of A, I've watched them all, written about them all and, most important, enjoyed them all. Some more than others. This 2016 Minneapolis gig will mark the 40th matches since Sam Ryder had his big idea in between selling seeds to gardeners. Turns out I've covered 18 of them, a posse of Ryder Cups that, when traced back, show how much the old tussle has changed. For a start, Lytham turned out to be…