Golf Monthly January 2024

What was your golfing highlight of 2023? I have two. My first was the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone. For a sport that often takes itself too seriously, this biennial golf event produces an unlikely cocktail of passionate competition and diversionary fun. From kerfuffles in the car park to the all-new chant of ‘we’re on the right side of the tee’, the 44th edition showed a different side to our game. It was gloriously chaotic, unapologetically tribal and, crucially, we had a European win to celebrate – one which will only stoke the fire for Bethpage in two years. I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it. My second highlight requires you to indulge me in a shameless brag. Each year, myself and 15 friends disappear to a different area of…

Don’t put your clubs away over winter! I enjoyed the article in December’s issue on 25 reasons to love winter golf, which got me thinking. Our club was fortunate to win the 46-team M4 league competition this year, the group stages of which are played between September and April. The matches are always competitive and enjoyable irrespective of the weather and course conditions on the day. On an individual note, as a single-figure handicapper (just), I feel I have a greater chance of winning a winter club competition compared with a summer one. Winter can be a great leveller! What’s more, winter viral infections can have some benefits. My wife is part of a small beginner’s group at our club. Recently due to illness, she was the last woman standing,…

• Nicolai, congratulations on winning the DP World Tour Championship. You must be thrilled about it? It’s absolutely amazing. I didn’t really think about what kind of tournament or what size or anything else, but I really wanted to get a win. We put in a lot of work this year. I’m so proud of my team and everyone involved and I couldn’t wish for better people to have around me. It feels amazing, closing out in style with family and friends around. • You now have playing status on the PGA Tour for 2024. How will you approach that? At the moment, that’s something we have to figure out, the planning. We probably have to base ourselves over there. If you really want to compete against the best, I…

Luke Donald has been confirmed as the European Ryder Cup captain for the 2025 edition of the biennial match at Bethpage Black. The Englishman has been rewarded for his successful first outing. At Marco Simone, the Europeans stormed to victory by 16.5 points to 11.5 points over Zach Johnson’s USA, reclaiming the trophy after a 19-9 loss at Whistling Straits two years earlier. In the immediate aftermath of the emphatic win in Rome, there were calls from players for Donald to retain the captaincy. However, at first, he refused to commit to the possibility, instead giving himself time to reflect on his achievement. Now he has committed to the task of helping Europe retain the trophy on US soil. Certainly, it will be a far different proposition, with Team Europe…

326.3 Rory McIlroy set the new average driving distance record on the PGA Tour (yards) 45 The 2022/23 DP World Tour season featured 45 stroke-play events, including Majors, and one match-play event in 26 different countries $32,112,235 Viktor Hovland’s earnings on the PGA Tour in 2022/23 (excluding the Hero World Challenge) 6 There were six multiple winners on the DP World Tour in 2022/23: Rory McIlroy, Adrian Meronk, Ockie Strydom, Pablo Larrazabal, Thriston Lawrence and Vincent Norrman 1 In 2022/23, Scottie Scheffler ranked 1st on the PGA Tour in scoring average, top-ten finishes, strokes gained: total, strokes gained: off the tee, strokes gained: approach the green and greens in regulation 60 There were five rounds of 60 or lower on the PGA Tour in the 2022/23 season 145 The cut…

“PRO GOLF IS ON A ONE-WAY STREET TO NOWHERE. LOST ITS MIND, AND I’VE LOST MY RESPECT AND LOVE FOR IT”Eddie Pepperell reacts to the news that the PGA Tour spent $100m on 20 players through the Player Impact Program (PIP) “I THINK I’VE STILL GOT A GOOD EIGHT TO TEN YEARS LEFT IN ME WHERE I CAN PLAY AT THE TOP, TOP LEVEL”Rory McIlroy looks ahead after lifting the Race to Dubai trophy for a fifth time “EVERYONE HAD TOLD ME HOW BAD JORDAN WAS DRIVING THE BALL, AND EVERY TIME HE STOOD ON THE TEE HE HIT THE F****** FAIRWAY”Shane Lowry recalls his nervy encounter with Jordan Spieth in his Sunday singles match at the Ryder Cup “I STILL PINCH MYSELF IN THE MORNING WHEN I WAKE UP…