Golf Monthly October 2025

neil.tappin@futurenet.com Earlier this year, I was reprimanded for breaking a club’s dress code. The problem? I was wearing shorts which were fine, but my socks were a light grey instead of the approved white. After some debate, and considerable embarrassment, I was allowed to play, albeit with my socks tucked down into my golf shoes. This exchange left me pondering dress codes. Specifically, when clubs create them, I wonder how much thought is given to their negative impact? My gut feeling is that committees spend more time focusing on legislating against the unlikely spectre of football shirts or work overalls, and not enough time thinking about what happens when the rules are enforced. One of the most positive changes of late has been how the game has opened itself up…

Great-value golf on Shetland My wife and I have just returned from the Shetland Islands, playing the most northerly UK course (Whalsay £40 a day), second most northerly (Dale, Lerwick £35 a day) and the most northerly nine-hole course (Asta, near Scalloway £20 a day). What an experience! Despite being so far north, all courses were in excellent condition, with the greens at Dale and Whalsay fantastic, proper greens. Yet they each only have one full-time greenkeeper, relying on club volunteers to maintain the courses. At Whalsay, we even had the privilege of meeting Gordon, a local fisherman, who laid out the course himself in the early 1970s and gave us each a ball marker as a souvenir. Needless to say, the views and scenery were stunning. While The Open…

Congratulations on winning your second BMW PGA Championship. What does this mean to you? It’s so many emotions right now. The play-off felt a little bit easier than maybe coming down the 72nd hole, a little bit better conditions. I thought I hit that one in the water. But I had a great lie so tried to put it up there on the right side of the green and got fortunate with a good break. The chip was sitting quite nicely. I saw his [Adrien Saddier’s] ball didn’t catch as nice a break maybe. It makes a difference. You’re now the most successful Swedish player in DP World Tour history, ahead of Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson in terms of victories. How proud are you of that feat? Yes, I…

The 2026 Irish Open will take place at Trump International Golf Links, Doonbeg in County Clare, the DP World Tour (DPWT) has confirmed in announcing its new schedule. The event, won this year by Rory McIlroy at the K Club, returns to the coast, with Doonbeg making its DPWT debut. The Greg Norman-designed layout, with later modifications from Martin Hawtree, is 48th in Golf Monthly’s UK&I Top 100 rankings, and is known for its huge dunes and stunning coastal views. Trump International Golf Links Scotland in Aberdeen made its DPWT debut this August with the Nexo Championship, which is not yet on the 2026 schedule. Two tournaments still to be confirmed are a Middle East event in February and a European event in August. Another change for 2026 is the…

Tommy Fleetwood’s career PGA Tour earnings following his Tour Championship victory 8.93 Average OWGR points gap after the Irish Open between World No.1 Scottie Scheffler and World No.2 Rory McIlroy 76 Number of cuts made by recent winner Cameron Young in his 97 PGA Tour starts (78.3%) 147 Yards from which Mason Howell holed out on 17 to win his Walker Cup Sunday foursomes 73 World ranking spots Joakim Lagergren climbed, to a career-high 121st, after the Irish Open HIGHEST WORLD-RANKED PLAYERS from each of the home nations after the Irish Open 22 Lowest world-ranked player (when teams announced) to make the 2025 USA Ryder Cupside – Sam Burns 79 Lowest world-ranked player (when teams announced) to make the 2025 European Ryder Cup side – Jon Rahm PLAYERS TO WIN…

“I GUESS IT’S NOT OVER UNTIL THE FAT LADY SINGS BUT I WAS SHAKING OVER THAT LAST PUTT BECAUSE I JUST DIDN’T EXPECT IT”Charley Hull reacts to winning the Kroger Queen City Championship after Jeeno Thitikul four-putted the 72nd hole “THINGS PROBABLY NEEDED TO CHANGE. IT’S MY JOB AND I NEEDED TO GET MYSELF TOGETHER”Matt Fitzpatrick speaks candidly to the BBC about howhe rescued his season after a poor start to 2025 “IT MEANS A LOT THAT MY OLDEST FRIEND AND THE GUY THAT I CAN TALK TO ABOUT ANYTHING IS THERE BESIDE ME WHEN I’M DOING THESE THINGS”Rory McIlroy opens up on his relationship with long-time caddie Harry Diamond “THE GOAL IS NOT INCREMENTAL CHANGE. THE GOAL IS SIGNIFICANT CHANGE”The new PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp says he’s prepared…