Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2022 i Golf Monthly

Min Woo Lee The Australian had a solid end to what was a strong season. A T16 finish at the DP World Tour Championship followed three straight top-10s. Brooks Koepka The former World No. 1 missed back-to-back cuts on the PGA Tour to fall outside the world’s top 15 for the first time since the summer of 2017. Scottie Scheffler Scheffler backed up a 4th at the World Wide Technology Championship with a T2 at the Houston Open to move back into the world’s top 20. Ross Fisher Fisher missed cuts in four of the final five events of his season, not making the Race to Dubai finale and falling out of the world’s top 400.…

JB Hansen won in Dubai with a Titleist TSi3 driver, T100 irons and a Scotty Cameron T-6 STR Prototype putter. Jason Kokrak won the Houston Open with a TaylorMade SIM driver, PXG Gen4 0311T irons and a Bettinardi Studio Stock putter. Thomas Pieters won in Portugal with a Titleist TSi2 driver, a TaylorMade SIM fairway and a Scotty Cameron TourType SSS SB-2 putter. Lucas Herbert won the Butterfield Bermuda Championship with a TaylorMade SIM2 driver, P7TW irons (no 5-iron) and MG3 wedges. Brooks Koepka has signed a deal to play a Srixon ZX5 driver, ZX7 irons, a Z-Star prototype ball and Cleveland RTX ZipCore Tour wedges.…

This season has been as good as any in recent memory and it’s fitting that Collin Morikawa will end 2021 as the Race to Dubai champion after a simply stellar campaign. In a regular year, his win en debut at The Open would have been the stand-out moment, but Jon Rahm claiming his maiden Major at The US Open and Phil Mickelson becoming the oldest winner of a men’s Major probably made more headlines. Not wanting to be outdone, Morikawa produced a sublime back nine at the DP World Tour Championship to win the event and write his name into the history books as the first American to claim the European Tour’s season-long title. “Morikawa is made of different stuff. He’s going to win a lot of Majors” Simply put,…

2017 US OPEN (T8) Thomas notched his first Major top-ten finish at the 2017 US Open. Then 24, Thomas set a new record for the lowest US Open score in relation to par, his nine-under 63 on Saturday eclipsing Johnny Miller’s previous record by one. A disappointing final-round 75 meant he finished tied 8th. 2017 USPGA (1) JT, as he is affectionately known, made his Major breakthrough at Quail Hollow in the 2017 USPGA Championship. Watched on by father Mike and grandfather Paul, both PGA professionals, Thomas posted a final-round 68 to overcome a two-shot deficit and lift the Wanamaker Trophy. 2018 USPGA (T6) In defence of his USPGA crown, Thomas posted four highly respectable rounds in the 60s at Bellerive Country Club to finish in a tie for 6th.…

1 A weak grip often leads to the club opening up, but even when they strengthen the grip, some people still need a little help on the takeaway. The red ball attached to the shaft here sits square to the clubface at address. On the takeaway, it should sit on the side of the club towards the target line, rather than away from it, with the clubface mirroring your spine angle (main photo). If you open the face on the takeaway, it will point behind you. Weak grip In a weak grip, which often causes a slice, the left or upper hand is turned too far to the left on the club and the right hand sits too much on top of the grip. 2 Coming down, the red ball…

1. Driving I would say load into your left side if you’re a left-hander or more into your right side if you’re a right-hander. I see a lot of people who have a false turn; they don’t get wound up enough. This could mean letting your lead foot come off the ground so you can get truly wound up. As you get older, you start to lose a little of your mobility. Let that foot come off the ground to allow yourself to give a big and full turn – that’s the key thing for driving. 2. Iron play Make sure you swing within yourself. It’s not about distance and how far you hit a 6-iron and how far you hit a 9-iron. It’s trying to control those distances, so…

Immovable obstructions During their Saturday Ryder Cup foursomes at Whistling Straits, Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger encountered a Rules situation on the 15th after Berger’s drive ended up in thick rough behind a bunker, as Chris Wallace, Rules manager at The R&A, explains. After assessing their lie, Koepka requested a ruling from the walking referee regarding possible free relief from what he believed was an artificial drainage channel. Many of the bunkers at Whistling Straits have man-made ‘cut-out’ areas to funnel water into the course’s drainage system and, because these channels are artificially made, they had been deemed immovable obstructions. Rule 16 covers free relief from interference by animal holes, ground under repair, immovable obstructions or temporary water as these are all considered conditions that are not part of the…

GM Verdict The new T200 represents the biggest makeover of any iron within the updated Titleist T-Series, not only because of how it looks but also how it has been constructed. Better players won’t be at all put off by the look of this club – it certainly doesn’t appear chunky – but the 7-iron loft of 31° suggests this is a small game-improvement iron, rather than a forgiving players’ club. Titleist claims to have made a conscious effort to improve the sound and feel of this iron versus the prior model. But while it remains lively from a wide area, we didn’t feel like there was any improvement here, and it actually maintained a clicky sound similar to if you were to tap the back of the iron with…

What a top man A few years ago my wife was ladies captain of a club near Gatwick. On her charity day there was an auction and one of the prizes was to play in a four-ball at Wentworth. In support of my wife and charity, I made a bid and, thankfully, secured the spot. I turned up on the day and two of my partners did not have any documentation to verify their handicaps, but we were then advised they played on the European Tour – and one was Richard Bland! We played four-ball better ball and I was Richard’s partner. The whole round was so enjoyable and memorable – and the two professionals were so understanding and constructive. Richard is not only a great golfer but an extremely…

History for Morikawa at European Tour finale ➛ Can you sum up your emotions and what it means to win the DP World Tour Championship and the Race to Dubai? It’s so special. I came here last time obviously not having played too many European Tour events, and I told everyone that I wanted to come out here and win, both the DP World Tour Championship and the Race to Dubai. I had it in my control this week. It’s just an amazing win, really special. ➛ How do you reflect on becoming the first American to win the Race to Dubai? I don’t know what to say. It’s an honour. There have been so many Americans that have been so great for this sport. To close out the Race…

The absence of Jon Rahm and Justin Rose was a major talking point ahead of the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship. Rahm, the World No. 1, was third in the Race to Dubai prior to the event, meaning he had a chance to top the standings for the second time in his career. Rose, a former No.1, was 22nd. Both opted to skip it, with Rahm citing burnout from a long season as the main factor. Far be it from us to question the reasoning, but with the ever-growing threat of breakaway circuits, was this the time to make one final effort and support the tour before the off-season? If you think not, that’s your prerogative, but consider this scenario: it’s the FedExCup finale and the duo are…

Trusted blade SAYS FERGUS BISSET Although involving the finest of margins, the fundamentals of good putting are simple on paper – pick a good line, get the alignment right, keep everything still and play through the ball with a square face and appropriate force. Do all those things correctly and the ball has a decent chance of going in. When you’re putting poorly, the chances are you’re doing one of those things incorrectly. It’s easier to work out which of those things you’re doing incorrectly if you don’t change another variable. By switching putter, you may temporarily mask an underlying problem and so potentially delay the discovery of an (easily fixable) flaw in your putting action. If you have a putter that’s served you proudly in the past – a…

Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG) was founded in 2014 with the goal of ‘making better golf clubs without compromise by using the world’s finest materials, with zero cost or time restraints’. It was an ambitious endeavour that meant the clubs came with a premium price and although well received, its pricey hardware for better players somewhat limited growth. Consequently, it has recently been on a rebranding mission with more competitive prices to attract golfers of all abilities. PXG’s Gen4 range remains at the top of the tree in terms of performance. The original Gen4 range – three driver models (£285), fairway wood, hybrid (both £225) and four iron models (£220 per club) – was launched earlier this year. In October, the more forgiving Gen4 XF 0341 fairway and Gen4 XF (Xtreme…

The LPGA season got the climax it deserved at the CME Group Tour Championship in November, with Jin Young Ko producing a masterclass to pull away from a chasing pack which included World No.1 Nelly Korda. It really was an awesome display and a fitting end to one of the best years for women’s golf I can remember. The Solheim Cup at Inverness Club was obviously the highlight from a European perspective, but the emerging rivalry between Ko and Korda could be even more exciting for the sport as a whole in the coming years. “Korda and Ko seem to be spurring each other on to even greater heights” Golf fans and the media have always loved a good rivalry, and when you have two players who are so clearly…

Caddies tell the best stories. It’s a fact. And Billy Foster is one of the best storytellers of the bunch. It’s hardly surprising when you look at what an amazing journey his career has been. Foster has travelled the world caddying for and against the best players of the last four decades, worked at 15 Ryder Cups and won numerous prestigious tournaments with each of his employers. Standing alongside Seve Ballesteros, Darren Clarke, Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick, he’s had a front-row seat to – and been a part of – some of the greatest shots and moments in golfing history. We met up with Foster at his long-time home club, Bingley St Ives, to chat about the defining relationships and moments of his incredible 40-year career. How…

By Advanced PGA Pro Katie Dawkins First things first, do not take this tough shot on if the lie isn’t perfect. Consider the fact it’s not going to go that high, so be careful of hazards. Set-up wise, move the ball a touch further back in your stance – a clubhead inside the lead heel. Aim a little left (right-handers) to allow for a fade, as you want as much dynamic loft as possible. Then, focus on brushing the grass and finishing the swing. In fact, take a few practice swings trying to do just that. Don’t force it, let that ball get in the way – you swing and the club will do all the work for you. Grip down The driver is longer than the 3-wood, which puts…

Carden Park is a consummate and delightfully secluded golf destination in the north-west of England, a little to the south of Chester and not far from the Welsh border. Alongside the very well equipped and spacious hotel, it is home to two relatively young but now fully-grown courses of surprisingly different character. Nicklaus designs are always memorable and the one here features several of the family’s hallmarks, including bold and expansive bunkering, double fairways at the 7th and 15th and of course plenty of water. Depending on the wind, the lakes at both the 6th and the penultimate holes may well tempt the longer hitters to try and drive the green. On other holes, there are frequently choices to be made. The Cheshire course is sited on the eastern side…

Royal Norwich A little over seven years ago, Royal Norwich looked destined to be turned into housing. But an ambitious plan by the members to move it seven miles down the road to the Weston estate has proven to be a masterstroke. The designer of the new layout, Ross McMurray, also shaped the Twenty Ten course at Celtic Manor and the Albatros at Le Golf National. Like at those venues, course conditioning truly stands out. With barely a blade of grass out of place, it’s hard not to enjoy the round even if you’re playing badly. The sweeping par-5 3rd is a visual treat, as is the approach into the 6th. The drivable par-4 14th is your last realistic birdie chance before a fiddly finale through the trees, or over…

The European Tour, as it has been known for nearly five decades, is no more. As part of a $1 billion mega deal, golf’s second-biggest pro circuit has been rebranded the DP World Tour, just a couple of weeks shy of its 50th anniversary. From the start of the 2022 season, each event will have a minimum purse of $2m, making the circuit more appealing for players and staving off the threat of breakaway tours. An extra stop on the Rolex Series has also been added. All five of the lucrative events will now boast prize purses of at least $8m, with a record $10m up for grabs at 2022’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship. As well as the name change, the tournament schedule has been given a major makeover.…

Less wrist hinge Reduced wrist hinge is a good thought, too. On any shot, the more wrist hinge, the higher the ball flight, so if you don’t set your wrists as much at the top of the backswing, that will also help to keep ball flight down. Match your follow-through to the backswing length, so much shorter than for a full swing in calm conditions. Shorten the swing The temptation is often just to hit it harder, but it’s actually just the opposite as you look to control flight and take spin off the ball. Don’t be afraid to take two, maybe three clubs more. Then cut the backswing length down and swing a lot more smoothly. The ball will launch lower, too, because there’s less loft on a longer…

More than a decade after the debut of its GC2 launch monitor, Foresight Sports has announced the product’s successor, the GC3. The latest addition to the Game Changer (GC) family will provide more golfers with the photometric data accuracy and a true-to-life simulation experience. Built on the same advanced technology found in the company’s flagship launch monitor, the GCQuad, the new GC3 features a three-camera system that measures ball and club-performance data, both indoors and outdoors. It doesn’t offer putting analysis, but it does boast a new touchscreen on top and a barometric sensor, which takes into account temperature, humidity and altitude to give you even more accurate data based on these real-time factors. The GC3 will be just as much at home indoors as it is outdoors, coming with…

The Belek coastline has evolved into one of the world’s most densely populated golfing playgrounds, packed with remarkably diverse and top-quality courses. Antalya is one of the finest clubs here and it is home to two beautiful and eminently enjoyable designs. Slightly longer and a little tougher, the PGA Sultan course has hosted a number of big events, including the 2012 Turkish Airlines World Golf Final won by Justin Rose. Tiger Woods described it as “a real shotmaker’s course” and most of the holes are tree-lined, with water regularly in play. There is drama and beauty all the way with plenty of wow-factor, including the par-3 8th over water and the long 16th, Temptation, where you must stay left of a lake and then carry a stream that crosses diagonally…

Rory McIlroy was holding court with the media on the Tuesday of this year’s USPGA Championship at Kiawah Island’s Ocean course, the session running over its allotted time, when Justin Thomas appeared at the back of the room. He was up next for his pre-tournament interview. The final question to McIlroy, meanwhile, was about the significance of his own 2012 USPGA victory, the second Major triumph of his career. The Northern Irishman decided to have a little fun. “It was huge,” he said, looking at Thomas. “A lot of guys have won one Major, but it’s a big hurdle to get to the second. It was good to get that monkey off my back. I definitely didn’t want to be stuck on one for a long time, so happy to…

Turned pro in 2011 Came through 2011 and ’12 European Tour Q-School Came from seven shots back to win his first European Tour event at the 2015 South African Open, beating Charl Schwartzel in a play-off Made a hole-in-one at the 2014 KLM Open to win a flight into space Won the 2015 Portugal Masters by nine shots, leading after every round Was the first player in 2015 to win three times on the European Tour Reached a career-high world ranking of 28 in February 2016 His 257 total in winning the 2020 English Championship set a new 72-hole scoring record on the European Tour Has career earnings of just over €9.6 million…

There are a number of reasons why we sit down on a Sunday evening to watch the world’s best players. First of all, there’s no better sight than witnessing Rory McIlroy in total control of his game, Jordan Spieth putt his rivals into submission or even Bryson DeChambeau trying to muscle his way to victory. However, these players offer more than just entertainment. Every week, the likes of Jon Rahm and co provide free tips – we just have to watch and learn. Of course, sometimes those swing slo-mos get a little bit technical, and what works for someone like Dustin Johnson might not work for the average club golfer. So, we asked Top 25 Coach Gary Alliss to analyse seven of the world’s finest players. What is it exactly…

1 A key part of being a good chipper is striking the ball consistently, but that’s something a lot handicap golfers struggle to do. The main mistake I see from amateurs is the low point of the swing arc being too far back, which causes the leading edge to dig into the ground. Then the reaction to that is the opposite, where you pull up and lean back through impact and skull the ball across the green. If you can improve your strike and increase your margin for error at impact, you’ll chip the ball a lot closer to the hole. 2 Turn your chest through the shot A simple and effective way to chip is to set up with the ball pretty central and your hands just a touch…

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GM Verdict The ST-G 220 is a third ST model from Mizuno that offers a different address and spin profile, as well as moveable weight. Make a few practice swings and you may notice a loud ‘whoosh’ sound, unmistakably made by the air passing over the weight tracks. We swung this driver 2mph slower on average than our TaylorMade SIM2 – this could be down to a combination of the air resistance from the tracks, but also the shorter stock shaft of 45 inches. But in the low-spin setting (pictured top), the ball speed was actually very similar, so it became more efficient and the strikes were better. In like-for-like loft, both produced almost identical launch, spin and peak height, with the SIM2 carrying three yards further. In the same…

Bang for your buck is crucial in a sport where costs can add up, so which areas of the bag can you save on without affecting your experience too much – and which are imperative you invest in? Where to spend Driver. I want the longest, most forgiving and consistent driver and the only way to get that is to play the latest models. At lower price points, I’ve found the components don’t tend to be as good and spin rates are often too high. Wedges. From my experience, using a wedge with deteriorated grooves means the amount of spin you get will be lower and less consistent. You lose that predictability, which is crucial when trying to knock it close to the flag. Irons. These are an expensive purchase…

STOCKING FILLERS The Ultimate Golf Quiz Book £6.99, amazon.co.uk Over 400 themed quiz questions, a perfect gift for adults and older children who are fans of golf. ProQuip triple wadded mittens £24, thegolfshoponline.co.uk ProQuip winter mittens are triple wadded for extra warmth, windproof and adjustable for a great fit on cold winter days. Gruvtowl +Gruvbrush towel £15, gruvtowl.com The Gruvtowl is a high-performance waffle-weave microfibre golf towel with attached +Gruvbrush to easily clean the grooves of your club, enabling you to have the best contact possible on every shot. The GolfFather mug £8.99, amazon.co.uk Novelty golf mugs can sometimes be naff, but we’re a fan of this play on the cult classic film. Lindt Milk Chocolate Golf Balls £7.99 for three, amazon.co.uk Tee up three balls you will be happy…

Over the course of a year, I play a lot of golf away from home. Sometimes clubs arrange for me to play with somebody; other times, they leave me to head out on a voyage of discovery alone. I’m perfectly happy either way and get just as much enjoyment out there on my own as I do in company. I’m probably not the most social of animals, but I’m certainly no recluse either, especially when it comes to meeting people on a golf course where the inherent common bond ensures flowing conversation. And there are certainly downsides to playing alone, particularly on a busy course where you’re in among the threes and fours, and either getting held up or feeling a bit of a nuisance, despite the days of ‘no…

What are the special features of the course? Agricultural land was donated to the club almost 120 years ago and it has evolved into a course of great variety with top-quality greens. We now have one of the best nine-hole layouts in the country. Why is Gifford the right club for you? It has always been one of the friendliest and most welcoming of clubs. The humble but charming clubhouse still retains the frontage of the original building, with subtle improvements. The club has retained its friendly image for members and visitors alike and is a credit to the conservation village itself. How has the course changed since you joined? Gradually and subtly. We’ve a few more trees than in the early years, new tees and sand bunkers have been…

✦ Meldrum House, Oldmeldrum This magnificent hotel lies 30 minutes north-west of Aberdeen. You can stay in the Manor House, Estate Rooms or Stables, and excellent dining is available in the Pineapple restaurant, 800-year-old Cave bar or the new private dining domes. The haggis bon-bons come highly recommended! ✦ The Station Hotel, Aberdeen A short stroll from the station, this hotel offers tastefully decorated, good-sized rooms. ✦ The Chester Hotel, Aberdeen Elegance is the name of the game in this hotel, where the rooms are beautifully furnished and very well equipped. ✦ Travel LNER offers daily direct Azuma services from King’s Cross to Aberdeen, with the fastest journey times just over seven hours. Aberdeen trains also stop at Stonehaven. For more information about golf in Aberdeenshire, log on to visitabdn.com/what-to-do/golf/…

East Sussex National Opening to great acclaim just over 30 years ago, it wasn’t long before the East course was hosting back-to-back European Opens. Both layouts were designed by Bob Cupp, a long-time design collaborator with Jack Nicklaus, and there is a distinctly American feel at these two challenging parkland courses. Each runs through magnificent specimen trees, and there are plenty of streams and ponds to contemplate and admire. The West course may be the slightly tougher, but it’s hard to choose between these two fine layouts. GF: 18 holes: £60wd, £75we St Mellion One of the most impressive aspects of the two excellent courses at St Mellion is how different they are from one another. The Kernow was completely revised a decade or so ago, and although it is…

Golf, as we all know, is a game of subtlety, even a unique form of sporting artistry combining creativity, concentration, precise physical movement and a permanent desire to be blessed with good fortune. At least this is what the old game should be – but rarely it is. That it is so contrary is part of its charm. No one knows what their game will be like on any given day. Play well in the morning and the high chance is you will perform poorly in the afternoon. The other big eternal truth is that if you ever reach the lowest point of despondency, so desolate you consider giving the game up in favour of chess or cold-water swimming – or perhaps both – then this is the precise moment…