Golf Monthly June 2024

neil.tappin@futurenet.com The first time I ever laid eyes on Rory McIlroy was outside the clubhouse at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai, just before the 2006 Desert Classic. Stood on his own, waiting for a car, it would have been easy to miss the 16-year-old amateur. In fact, I would have missed him if it wasn’t for Paul Severn, the photographer I was standing with. “That’s the young guy from Northern Ireland. Apparently he’s going to be extremely good,” said Paul. Over the years, I’ve had a version of this conversation umpteen times with and about various people. In fact, whenever a young player arrives on tour, there’s usually someone in the background telling you that you’re looking at the next world beater. The problem is the gap. The difference…

No incentive to work at it There has been much debate around the WHS. A lot of it at my local club, especially among my fellow low-handicappers, has been pretty negative. I am sure there are positives and negatives for both the old and new systems, but I am certain that WHS does not encourage the average golfer to work harder on their game as much as the old system did. Previously, if a player was going through a bad spell, they had to have a lesson or work on their game if they once again wished to be competitive. With the new system, their run of bad rounds can quickly increase their handicap to such an extent as to once again make them competitive without their game actually improving.…

Scottie, congratulations on winning your second Masters title. Can you sum up how it feels? It’s hard to put into words how special this is. It was a long week, a grind of a week. The golf course was so challenging, and to be wearing the Green Jacket again and taking it home is extremely special. Did you ever allow yourself to enjoy the lead? No. Just like any human would, your mind starts to wander a little bit out there. I mean, we’re out there for four or five hours at a time. You’ve got to let your mind wander. I tried to soak in stuff around me. I looked up at the trees at times. I looked up at the fans occasionally to try to soak in some…

Nelly Korda claimed her fifth-straight victory and second Major title after a three-under-par 69 in the final round of the Chevron Championship. Her victory at the Club at Carlton Woods ties the record for consecutive wins on the LPGA Tour, with Nancy Lopez (1978) and Annika Sorenstam (2004-05) the only other players in history to match the remarkable feat. Korda recorded five birdies and two bogeys in her final round to finish on 13-under-par for the tournament, beating Sweden’s Maja Stark by two strokes. Lauren Coughlin and Brooke Henderson were a further shot behind on 10-under-par. Englishwomen Georgia Hall, Charley Hull and amateur Lottie Woad all registered top-25 finishes in the first Major of the season. Korda started well with four birdies in her first 10 holes, before the nerves…

STATS: 2024 MASTERS SPECIAL Rory McIlroy had the best four-round driving distance average as measured on the 5th and 15th holes 317.62 100% SAND SAVE RECORDS OF THOSE WHO MADE THE CUT MOST BIRDIES BY PAR OF HOLE 21 The total number of eagles recorded during the 2024 Masters 5 The number of eagles on par 4s – three on the 3rd, one each on 14 and 17 2 Both of Patrick Cantlay’s eagles came on par 4s (3rd and 17th) AGE OF THE OLDEST PLAYERS TO MAKE THE CUT 23 Different nationalities teed it up at Augusta with 46 of the 89 starters from America 12 Adam Hadwin found the most bunkers with a dozen visits to the sand over four days…

“I DON’T KNOW WHY THEY’D CARE ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY WE’RE MAKING AND HOW MUCH MORE WE WANT TO MAKE. IT’S QUITE NAUSEATING”Max Homa says fans are rightly sick of the conflict in men’s golf “WE NEED A STAGE. WE NEED TO BE ON PRIME-TIME TV AND WE NEED TO SHOWCASE THE TALENT WE HAVE OUT HERE, WHICH IS A LOT”World No.1 Nelly Korda on how to grow the women’s game “I’M PLAYING THIS PGA TOUR EVENT AND I WILL PLAY THE PGA TOUR FOR THE REST OF MY CAREER”Rory McIlroy emphatically shut down reports he was set to join LIV Golf for $850m before the RBC Heritage “I’M JUST PINCHING MYSELF, HONESTLY. I DON’T REALLY KNOW WHAT I’M SEEING. THE GUY IS SPECIAL. HE’S A DIFFERENT KIND OF SPECIAL”Caddie…