Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2023 i Golf Monthly

Rasmus Hojgaard A missed cut at the Omega European Masters was the Dane’s third in four starts and meant he dropped out of the world’s top 100. Connor Syme The Scotsman finished in a tie for fourth at the ISPS Handa World Invitational and then in a tie for third at the Omega European Masters. Ashleigh Buhai The 2022 AIG Women’s Open winner missed the second of three consecutive cuts when she tried to defend her maiden Major title. Alexander Bjork The Swede followed up a T14 at the Czech Masters by finishing second at the Omega European Masters to move back into the world’s top 100.…

Across the line The slice is very often caused by your swing cutting across the target line, which sends the ball curling away to the right to varying degrees and robs you of distance and power. To beat a slice, you will often need to exaggerate the opposite moves and feels for a while, until the correct movement begins to come more naturally. ‘Close then away’ What I mean by ‘close then away’ is that you need to feel your arms staying close to your right hip on the way down, before moving far away from your left hip as you swing through. ‘Close then away’ gets your arm path following your swing path and stops you getting too cramped and pulling the club around your body as you swing…

Early 2023 saw the launch of the Mizuno ST-Z 230 driver, a genuine all-rounder that we loved for its looks and playability. While it was enjoyable for the majority of golfers, we thought it perhaps lacked the compact shape and lower spin profile that some faster-swinging golfers prefer. That’s where the new ST-G driver comes in. With its slightly more compact 440cc head, it is aimed directly at the fasterswinging golfer looking for a midto low-spinning rocket off the tee. The ST-G has been built around Mizuno’s Cortech Chamber, a technology designed to increase ball speeds and reduce spin. This technology encases a stainless steel weight with elastomeric TPU, taking the stress away from the clubface and creating an additional energy source. It also locates weight closer to the face…

Depending on when you’re reading this, the Ryder and Solheim Cups may or may not have happened. But regardless of the results, I’m extremely encouraged about the future of European golf. There is much to be optimistic about in both the men’s and women’s games, and the rise of Ludvig Aberg will no doubt offer real encouragement to those who are slightly further behind the scintillating Swede on their path to the professional game. “Could Ludvig Aberg be the next Rory? Who knows, but i t’s certainly a possibility” Aberg has been unbelievable since he turned pro. Well, he was unbelievable in the amateur ranks, too. I remember having a conversation with some fellow Sky commentators a few months back and the excitement was palpable – there was a feeling…

You might have missed it, but the Mizuho Americas Open on the LPGA Tour was one of the most significant weeks in world golf this year, despite not carrying Major status or Saudi Arabian funding. Played at Liberty National in New Jersey in May – with the Statue of Liberty serving as the photographers’ backdrop – it was here that American Rose Zhang made her debut as a professional golfer, and more than that, where she won and earned membership of the LPGA Tour at the first time of asking. “I just couldn’t believe it,” Zhang begins in an exclusive interview with Golf Monthly. “It was just the week before when I won the NCAAs with my teammates, and to turn pro and go out and win, it was amazing.…

When Arnold Palmer travelled to play in The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in 1961, it’s fair to say the American public was not overly excited. Despite the fact that Arnie had finished 2nd the previous year at St Andrews and was on a scintillating run of form, having won five times on the PGA Tour so far in the season, sports fans didn’t much care what their hero got up to on the other side of the pond. Writing under the headline “Junior tournaments head area’s golf card” in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, from Arnie’s home state of Pennsylvania on the Sunday before play commenced at Birkdale, Phil Gundelfinger included a tertiary subheading stating “Arnold Palmer plays tomorrow in British Open”. Amid amateur news, he wrote that, “Events involving area…

By Top 50 Coach Dan Grieve There are many occasions when we need to keep the flight down and we can overthink how best to get our bodies into the right set-up. When you want to hit a lower shot, move the ball a little bit further back, as we are always reminded, but very simply look low, about eight feet in front of you. That gets your shoulders tilting, with your right higher than your left. This then encourages that shorter, punchy finish. So look low and finish low. The high one For a higher shot, have the ball position nearer the front foot, hands slightly behind the ball, and look into the sky. How do I fix a hook with my driver? By Top 50 Coach Ben Emerson…

After taking a commanding five-shot lead into the final round at Royal Liverpool, Brian Harman got off to a shaky start with a dropped shot at the 2nd and a leaked tee shot on the par-5 5th that found its way into a gorse bush. Jim Gough, Rules manager at The R&A, explains what his options were and how he proceeded. Harman was able to find and identify his ball, but decided it was unplayable and took penalty relief. Rule 19 covers the relief options for an unplayable ball, which allow a player to get out of a difficult situation anywhere on the course (except in a penalty area), normally for one penalty stroke. Knowing your unplayable ball relief options can help you to get out of trouble and keep…

Edited by Jeremy Ellwood & Rob Smith If there is another course in Ireland where you can see a dozen flags from the clubhouse or car park, I don’t know it. They rise above this links, nestled against the Irish Sea and an hour south of Dublin. It is a par 70 that teases you from the moment you arrive, and those opening views are just the start of it. Here is a low links all laid out before you, dunes chasing along fairways, humps and hollows cast in shadow and greens that shine as bright as beacons. Arklow may not have the lazy spaces of other links and it may not be mentioned in the same breath as the big guns of Irish golf, but when you get…

I’ve played quite a bit of golf in Devon over the years, but mainly on the north coast. I’ve been a regular visitor to Royal North Devon and also a few times at nearby Saunton. When you think of Devon golf, those are probably the first two venues that spring to mind. But I’d also become aware through various conversations over the years of the quality of golf to be found on the south Devon coast between Exeter and Salcombe. I wanted to explore more, so I booked a few days in early May to travel down there with some golfing buddies. I loaded up the car with (as ever) probably too much kit and headed off, firstly, for the spectacular clifftop course at Thurlestone. Thurlestone Golf Club Pulling up…

Ping is a brand with a long and rich history of supporting women’s golf, engineering clubs packed with game-enjoyment technology tailored to benefit female golfers. G Le3 is the new family of custom-made clubs designed for women with a driver swing speed of 80mph or less and the line-up complements Ping’s existing G430 and G430 HL ranges, which would also be in the conversation when our three golfers travelled to Ping’s HQ in Gainsborough. The concept of custom-fitting golf equipment isn’t new; in fact, it was introduced by Ping over 45 years ago. Female golfers have often shied away from made-tomeasure clubs, especially those new to the game who feel their golf is not yet up to a standard that warrants this service. This couldn’t be further from the…

In praise of the women I am always disappointed when I speak to fellow women golf enthusiasts about LPGA tournaments and am met with a total lack of interest. Often, they haven’t even heard of some of the top women in the sport, but they know, and avidly follow, the men. I loved watching the AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath. Lilia Vu was such a worthy winner, and Charley Hull put up an incredible fight. As well as thoroughly enjoying the skill of the players, I was delighted to see their interaction with the crowd, particularly the children. The men’s game is exciting, but the women’s game is somehow more accessible and a wonderful learning opportunity for keen golfers. It’s also a superb example of gracious sportsmanship (sportswomanship?), with…

The United States overhauled a three-point deficit to beat Great Britain and Ireland 14.5-11.5 and retain the Walker Cup. GB&I took a 7.5-4.5 lead into the second and final day at the Old Course in St Andrews, but saw their advantage cut to one point after the visitors claimed three of the four Sunday morning foursomes. That set up a potentially blockbuster singles session but the US proved too strong, winning four and halving two of the first six matches to vault into the lead. Jack Bingham and Mark Power stemmed the tide, but it was too little too late for the hosts. Austin Greaser and David Ford added the finishing touches in the final two matches to get the Americans over the line, securing a fifth victory in a…

SOUND BITES “WE STOPPED COUNTING AFTER EIGHT DRINKS” Jon Rahm revealed details of a boozy practice round at his home course ahead of his Masters win. “IT WAS THE MOST FUN I’VE HAD LOSING IN QUITE SOME TIME” Xander Schauffele enjoyed his final-round battle at the Tour Championship with Viktor Hovland. “I WOULD TRADE THE MONEY FOR ANOTHER WIN AND MORE MAJORS” Collin Morikawa says money is not a motivation. BRIEFS Twin sisters aged 14 set course records Annabel and Emily Peaford, 14-year-old twins, both set course records at the English Women’s Champion Club at St Ives GC. Annabel’s two-under 70 gave her the record after day one, but Emily shot 67 on the second day. American high school student shoots 59 in professional tournament Parker Sands, a high school…

Heart on your sleeve says Fergus Bisset If you prick us, do we not bleed? Despite what some members of the liberal left might say, golfers are human. We have human emotions that should be – no, must be – expressed. In life, to bottle up one’s emotions is generally unhealthy. The unsaid can often be much more damaging in the long run than a short, sharp and fiery reckoning. When it comes to golf, I would be a terrible hypocrite if I were to argue against wearing your heart on your sleeve on the course. My temper has mellowed with middle age, but my playing partners would confirm I’m prone to the odd outburst of consternation. I find it cathartic to vent frustrations. On the flip side, nothing will…

Callaway’s new Apex Pro Series has been three years in the making, with three new irons and a new utility iron headlining an extensive range that rivals TaylorMade’s P-Series and Titleist’s T-Series, both of which have also just received updates. The standout new technology spanning the whole range is Callaway’s new Dynamic Sole Design. The MB model features a dual chamfer on both leading and trailing edge to allow the blade to cut through the turf more efficiently, while the CB and Apex Pro irons feature pre-worn leading and trailing edges to harness a more effective path through the turf. The precision irons in the range are the Apex MB and CB models. These are aimed at high-speed players looking for maximum control and precision from a forged iron. The…

It seems only yesterday when we were talking about the ‘Scottie-style’ cheeseburger sliders at The Masters and watching Jon Rahm overthrow Brooks Koepka for the Green Jacket, but all four of 2023’s men’s Majors are now confined to the history books. The men’s Major schedule changed in 2019, with the US PGA Championship moving from August to May. The result is a Major each month from April to July, but a long gap between the conclusion of The Open and the following year’s Masters at Augusta. Still, the condensed Major schedule delivers plenty of fireworks in a short space of time, and while 2023’s Majors probably won’t go down in the history books as the best set ever, there were plenty of memorable and dramatic moments. Jon Rahm prevailed at…

Abnormal course conditions (ACCs) fall into four categories under the Rules – animal holes, ground under repair, immovable obstructions and temporary water – none of which is intended to be part of the challenge of the game of golf. This month, we’re looking at the last of these four ACCs, and specifically what your options are if you encounter temporary water in a bunker. First, though, just to clarify what temporary water is – it is any temporary accumulation of water on the surface of the ground (such as puddles from rainfall or an irrigation leak, or an overflow from a body of water) that is not in a penalty area and can be seen before or after you take a stance (without pressing down excessively with your feet). Usually,…

GM verdict Titleist has always made impressive irons for golfers across the handicap spectrum. From the previous T-Series, the T100 could have been considered too compact for single-figure handicappers with dwindling confidence levels, yet the T100 S iron didn’t quite offer the forgiveness of certain competitor models. Step forward the new T150, an iron that better bridges the gap between the players’ T100 and the more distance-orientated T200. Compared with the new T100, the T150’s sole and topline are noticeably wider, while the blade lengths are fractionally more generous. With a 7-iron loft of 32°, it offers a little more speed than the T100, which comes in at 34°. For us, this created a fairly significant jump in carry distance of around ten yards, and it was a little more…

One of the fastest growing sectors in golf equipment has come via the swathe of new remote-controlled electric trolleys designed to take the stress away from pushing or pulling, while adding extra functionality into the mix. We’ve tested three of the leading models to see how they differ and help you choose the one that most suits your needs. “THE CONVENIENCE OF A REMOTE TROLLEY IS UNMATCHED. IT FEELS LIKE YOU’VE GOT A CADDIE WITH YOU” Looks The Motocaddy M7 GPS follows the style of the rest of the brand’s extensive range. It looks smart, although the clip-in anti-tip rear wheel and wired battery could perhaps appear sleeker. The Stewart Golf Vertx Remote has benefited from a wider brand refresh, with an updated logo and new wheels that give it…

TaylorMade Spider GTX £299 Loft: 2.5° Head weight: 365g The TruPath alignment’s Y shape morphs into a white bar with a sightline that flows nicely over the leading edge to ensure you line up the face correctly. The brighter ones among the six colour options help your eyes to focus on the alignment aid more. The insert is made of urethane (TPU) and silver aluminium beams, which make for a slightly firmer feel and higher-pitched noise than the Odyssey. We could really feel the back weight during the stroke, which gave us a great sensation of stability. Despite it being a more compact mallet, there was a huge amount of forgiveness. The stability bar at the rear of the chassis helps to keep the head moving through impact and…

W henmy editor asked me to go and play the UK’s most dramatic golf hole, a few candidates sprung to mind. The 9th at Royal County Down and the Calamity Corner 16th at Royal Portrush – both in Northern Ireland – popped into my head. But there was one hole that stood head and shoulders above the rest. A dramatic hole has to really stir the senses. Visually, it needs to offer something unique and take your breath away when you see it. The sound of waves crashing against the coastline would certainly enhance any feelings of drama and the 9th hole on the Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry, in my opinion, is the best of the bunch. When the hotel perched atop the hill first comes into view, the…

Aberg earns Ryder Cup pick with Swiss success Congratulations on winning the Omega European Masters. How does it feel? I don’t even know where to start. It’s a pretty surreal feeling. I’m super happy. I probably wouldn’t have expected my first victory to come so soon after turning pro, but if you’d asked me if I was capable of it, I would have said yes. But to do it, it’s pretty cool. You started the back nine three shots back of Matt Fitzpatrick. Take us through it… I heard the roar when Matt made birdie on the 13th as I was in the 14th fairway. But I was able to make a nice seven-footer there for birdie, and that was a big moment for me. On 15, I hit a…

What’s your dream four-ball? Rory McIlroy, Lorena Ochoa and Jack Nicklaus. Your best moment in golf? My winning putt on the 18th hole in Japan [Toto Japan Classic]. What would you be doing if you weren’t a golfer? Something in sport. I always wanted to be a footballer. If you had a career mulligan, where would you use it? Honestly, I wouldn’t change anything. All of my mistakes I have learnt from and I wouldn’t be the golfer I am without them. Favourite app on your phone? Instagram. Which fellow tour pro would you have on your bag? Charlotte Thomas. What’s the lowest score you’ve ever shot? 64. What’s the hardest thing about life on tour? Travelling out of a suitcase for months. If you could only play one course,…

WHAT’S IN THE BAG? Driver Irons Putter Fairway wood Wedges Ball GEAR NEWS ROUND-UP Dan Brown secured his maiden pro win at Galgorm Castle with Ping G430 woods, two iCrossovers, i230 irons and a custom all-black PLD putter. Lilia Vu won the AIG Women’s Open using a TaylorMade Stealth Plus driver, Callaway Apex UW, Srixon ZX7 Mk II irons and a Scotty Cameron GoLo 5. Todd Clements claimed his first DP World Tour victory in Prague with a Titleist TSR3 driver, Ping G430 Max fairways and a Titleist Pro V1x ball. Xander Schauffele equalled Hovland’s 261 Tour Championship score using Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond woods and a Chrome Soft X ball. Ludvig Aberg won in Crans using a Titleist TSR2 driver, 718 T-MB 2-iron, 2020 T100…

If you are to believe social media then the modern-day driving range is now an all-singing, all-flashing version of what many of us grew up with. While it will appeal to many, this hi-tech world plays a game many of us are unfamiliar with when we want to have a bit of fun or put in some serious practice time. Boomers and Swingers, ten miles from Manchester city centre, is a driving range unlike any other and about as far removed from any of the above as you can get. In fact, it doesn’t even describe itself as a driving range – it’s a ‘ballwhacking field’ without any flags. And it has decommissioned military tanks for targets. Yes, you heard that right. “I was telling everyone I was going to…

1 In stroke play, Jezz leans on his club inside the bunker while assessing his next shot. What is the ruling? A There is no penalty. B Jezz gets one penalty stroke. C Jezz gets the general penalty (two strokes). 2 In stroke play, Jezz asks Fergus for swing advice and Fergus advises that he’s extending too early. What is the ruling? A Only Jezz gets the general penalty (two strokes). B Only Fergus gets the general penalty (two strokes). C Both Jezz and Fergus get the general penalty (two strokes). 3 In stroke play, Jezz removes a stone just behind his ball inside a penalty area. What is the ruling? A There is no penalty. B Jezz gets the general penalty (two strokes). C Jezz gets the general penalty…

What bounce should I have on my wedges? Dominic Ballard, via email It depends on the types of surface you mostly play from, as well as your angle of attack. I’d recommend a session with your PGA pro to check things out and then go for a fitting to work out gapping, bounce and grind preferences. Most importantly, I think it’s best to have a variety of bounces. For example, I have a very low-bounce 60° wedge I use to pick the ball off tight lies, while my 56° wedge has more sole bounce to help me get out of bunkers. What’s the best utility iron for a mid- to highhandicapper? SteveJay, GM forum I’d still recommend going for a hybrid in this part of the bag. They have a…

Package sets are an affordable and stress-free gateway for those new to golf to get their hands on their first set of golf clubs. Over the last few years, the quality and thoughtfulness behind the design of package sets has improved markedly, as has the amount of options available. Package sets come with a swathe of benefits, the best being they remove the headache of assembling a full set piece by piece. For those looking to just dip their toes into golf, there is some great value to be had, too, and package sets offer a gateway into the game without you having to invest too much at once. With plenty of premium package sets being introduced in 2023, even returning golfers have viable options in this part of…

Burnham & Berrow The superb Championship links – Golf Monthly’s top-ranked course in the south-west – continues to go from strength to strength courtesy of several recent improvements. The 2nd is one of the best links par 4s anywhere, traversing rumpled terrain all the way to the green, while the front-nine par 3s are the stuff of legend. The short 5th, christened Colt, is ably defended by a big bunker set into the steep front slope, while the superbly bunkered 9th now plays from a slightly different angle following construction of a new dune behind the 8th green. There’s also a new dune and fairway bunker left of the 12th fairway – if you didn’t know better, you’d swear they had been there since time immemorial! Championship (Spoon course): par…

Harewood Downs Situated just outside the north-western stretches of the M25, Harewood Downs dates back to 1907. Its attractive course has a strong design heritage, with input from JH Taylor, James Braid and Cecil Hutchison. More recently, Mackenzie and Ebert have conducted a substantial bunker upgrade, which has modernised the course to cater for today’s equipment and tastes. The result is an undulating par-69 course with a handful of varied par 3s, on which yardage can be deceiving but where fine Don’t views will keep you interested all the way. be short the entrance to GF: 18 holes: £70wd the green on the par-3 3rd at Harewood Downs is very well guarded. Surrey Downs In a county packed with big-name golf, Surrey Downs is a relative newcomer that is just…

Golf Monthly’s editor-atlarge and Golf Ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK As those great philosophers, Abba, pointed out some time ago... ‘Money, money, money... it’s a rich man’s world’. Now, more than ever, it’s also an elite golfer’s world. Okay, golf has always offered a treasure chest for those with enough talent, sufficient dedication, reasonable shards of decent luck now and then and a supportive family to play a game for a living. Now, however, it is reaching another level, a ridiculously high plateau offering eye-watering amounts of dosh for whacking a ball. “It is not the talented Viktor’s fault that they pressed that cheque into his grateful hand” You’ll have noticed that Viktor Hovland won the FedEx jamboree thing and was handed a cheque for $18 million. Good for him…