Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 454 i Today's Golfer

Welcome to my first edition of Today's Golfer. This issue, I'll aim to give you a little insight into life on tour, what happens behind the scenes in a Ryder Cup, my technique, my clubs and my clothing. It's been a cool journey so far - I am very proud of everything I have achieved so far, but I hope there is more to come! One writer once called me “the first elite tour player to teach himself the game from scratch, in the dark, in a second language, via YouTube…” That made me smile! I started young, getting into the golt swing, so I feel I have a pretty good understanding of what's going on and how it relates to what I'm doing when I hit a ball. There's…

1 PUTTOUT PRO GOLF PUTTING MAT £54.99 | SAVE £15 A home putting set-up is a fantastic training tool, and the PuttOUT mat makes practice enjoyable, effective and easy to fit into your day wherever you are. Constructed with a durable, heavy-rubber backing to allow the mat to lie smooth and flat on any surface, it rolls away easily into its compact carry bag for practice on the go. 2 TITLEIST VOKEY SM9 WEDGE £129 | SAVE £40 Titleist wedge guru Bob Vokey rarely puts a foot wrong and the Vokey Design SM9 wedges are perhaps the most versatile, accurate and forgiving wedges he has ever created. They offer an enormous variety of different lofts and grinds that allow you to select the perfect wedge for your ability, playing style…

@Thetodaysgolfer @TodaysGolferBauer @Todaysgolfer @Todaysgolfer PING LETTER OF THE MONTH WINS … A BRAND-NEW PING PUTTER RRP £250 UNFAIR CHARACTERISATIONS While I can agree that the WHS isn't perfect, there are those of us with higher handicaps that do knuckle down and are regularly on the golf course or driving range three or four times a week to get our handicaps to a level that others may deem acceptable. LETTER OF THE MONTH It's a sad tact that there are goiters out there who look down on those ot us with higher handicaps. Having experienced this attitude, I prefer to not play competitively as I do not wish to be perceived to be somehow manipulating the system when it is simply due to a lack of ability. It would be highly…

“Growing up in Norway, I saw J.Lindeberg a bunch, especially at Miklagard, which was my home course at one time. They had a relationship with the brand so I would always see JL garments everywhere. So I was familiar with the brand and once I turned pro, I thought JL was a great fit for me. Their clothing is modern, a little innovative, and it looks sporty but elegant as well. “The big thing for me is that it's very comfortable and the fabric is really high guality. I think most people can find something in the range that speaks to them or fits their personality. They do a good job of covering all bases and I really like the unigue colours and patterns they use. I think that part…

Viktor Hovland's clothing brand of choice, J.Lindeberg, has just entered into an exclusive partnership which sees the global fashion and lifestyle icon become the Official Clothing Supplier of the DP World Tour. It also sees J.Lindeberg become the Official Clothing Supplier of two of the Tour's most iconic events in 2024. To find out more about the partnership, why it's a perfect fit and how it will be brought to life on Tour and at retail stockists, we caught up with JL's CEO, Hans-Christian Meyer. What does this partnershi Wean for J.Lindeberg? This is an exciting milestone for J.Lindeberg and it feels like a natural progression of our golf journey. This collaboration perfectly aligns with our vision to bridge the worlds of sport and fashion globally, highlighting and deepening our…

PARIS OLYMPICS 2004 July 26th - August 11th After several hours of media interviews on a late June afternoon, Xander Schauffele is done talking about the PGA Championship. The Olympics will soon be his new point of focus and he is only too happy to discuss how much it means to him and his family. “I was a bit in shock, to be honest,” he says, when asked to describe how it felt to stand on the top step of the podium three years ago. “You see it on TV, with the emotion and hearing your national anthem. It's just incredible, really special. For me and my family, it obviously means a lot with what my dad was trying to do before his tragic accident, so there's a really special…

Why golf, why The Open and why now? Golf is arguably the hardest sport of all, and this provides ample opportunity for tension, humour and euphoria – perfect for a feel-good novel like Open Links. And irrefutably, golf is the most beautiful sport. The Openis the oldest and most venerable golf tournament. A pal at my local club is attempting to qualify for The Open this year. He'll be one of thousands of plus-1 amateurs, but who knows, if the gods smile down and he plays to his capabilities, then he will get to tee it up with Rory, Jordan and Tiger – players so famous they only need one name. This possibility is intoxicating and almost unique in sport. Akin to a great FA Cup run by a minnow,…

PRESENTED BY Shot Scope This paragraph may be an introduction to the crime of hitting from the top, but quite frankly most club golfers don't need one. That nasty itch to belt the ball into next week as soon as we reach the top of the backswing is one so many amateurs are ready to scratch… despite the generally disastrous results it delivers. Let's take a closer look at the problems hitting from the top causes, before learning a simple thought and exercise that will help you curb this damaging impulse. In the crime of hitting from the top the guilty party is the upper body – shoulders and torso. The backswing coil loads these joints with potential power, and the urge to expend it straight away can prove too…

On one of my recent Brain Booster podcasts, Solheim Cup star Bronte Law was talking about time spent with one of her heroes, Ian Woosnam. “Ian told me that, for him, the game is a mental one,” she explained. An innocent enough comment, perhaps… though one that prompted two responses from listeners, both of which amounted to the same thing: ‘Of course golf is mental for Woosie… he already knows how to swing the club.’ These comments, I think, reflect not just a general misunderstanding about the point of the mind game, but also a widely held belief among club players: that golf becomes an increasingly mental game as the skill level rises. Hackers should work on their technique, while tour pros, their methods locked down, need to focus on…

WHAT'S IN THE BAG Ping usually sign staff players from their college programmes, but Viktor didn't play lots of Ping equipment at school in Norway. Instead, he was a phenomenal amateur who hailed from the same nation as founder Karsten Solheim – so Ping felt he was a perfect player for them. “We've worked together since he became a professional,” explains Ping PGA Tour fitter Kenton Oates. “It's been a whirlwind five years, yet it still feels like we're learning from him. Of course we see him out on tour if he needs anything, but we've also got into a nice rhythm of going to see him at home in Oklahoma once a year. “He has no problem testing on site at tournaments if there's an issue or he's trying…

I grew up playing The Glamorganshire in Pennarth. Golf was a big part of my life as a child – I'd get dropped off on a Saturday and it felt like I got picked up again on a Sunday night! The Glamorganshire has a great loop, so you could play the 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th – those five holes would take you an hour. That was perfect on an evening – 7pm on a Wednesday night – so me and my dad would do that and they are probably some of my happiest memories of golf. Nowadays, Porthcawl is my favourite. It's probably too hard for me and is the opposite of everything I think is fun in a course, but there is just something magical about it. The…

101. Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire 102. Narin & Portnoo, Co. Donegal 103. Hayling, Hampshire 104. Royal Worlington & New't, Suffolk 105. Royal North Devon, Devon 106. St Andrews (Castle), Fife 107. Dunbar, East Lothian 108. Panmure, Angus 109. Beau Desert, Staffordshire 110. Dundonald, Ayrshire 111. Aldeburgh, Suffolk 112. Murcar, Aberdeenshire 113. Seacroft, Lincolnshire 114. Ferndown, Dorset 115. Castlerock (Mussenden), Co. L'derry 116. Portsalon, Co. Donegal 117. New Zealand, Surrey 118. Wentworth (East), Surrey 119. Little Aston, West Midlands 120. Woburn (Marquess’), Bucks 121. Lough Erne, Co. Fermanagh 122. Goswick, Northumberland 123. Southerndown, South Wales 124. Huntercombe, Oxfordshire 125. Delamere Forest, Cheshire 126. Shiskine, Argyll 127. Boat of Garten, Highlands 128. Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire 129. Ipswich (Purdis Heath), Suffolk 130. Moray (Old), Highlands 131. Luffness, East Lothian 132. Gailes Links, Ayrshire 133. Conwy,…

STAGE 1. BACKSWING: ‘STRAIGHTEN TRAIL LEG, TOP OF SPINE TO TARGET’ 1. Trail leg When we address the ball, we need some flex in our knees to create a comfortable yet mobile starting position. The ideal knee flex sets the knee caps over the laces of both shoes. If the trail knee were to retain this flex throughout the backswing, it would seriously limit hip rotation and core engagement. Not straight, but straight-er So as you swing back, allow that trail knee to extend. We don't want a locked, straight leg at the top, but a straightening joint promotes rotation through the pelvis and helps you recruit those larger, core muscle groups. Try this in practice before taking the feel to the course. 2. Spine to target The second backswing…

Ground-up warning Most advice on downswing sequencing centres around the concept of starting from the ground up. While I'd broadly agree with that, following this instruction can lead to an awkward and unbalanced first move down, the hips and pelvis thrusting laterally towards the target with the upper body rocking back in response. Besides being bad for your back, this move sees the club bottom out way before the ball and leads to erratic contact. As we will see, there is a better concept and thought process that is easier to execute and delivers better results. Step 1. Move laterally… from head to toe Instead of thinking in terms of ‘ground up’ or lower body only, I'd like you to think of your first move as a lateral shift through…

Show of hands Begin your work on path by dropping your driver and addressing the ball with your palms facing each other. Leaving your gloved hand in place, swing back to the top with your trail hand only. Thunder clap The best and simplest way to feel a powerful and effective downswing path is to think how you would swing that trail hand down to make the loudest clap possible. Naturally, it would swing down and smack square into the lead-hand palm. Silent treatment There is one sure way to reduce the volume of the clap, and that is to swing the trail hand down and across the lead palm. Try it for yourself, the trail hand starting from out in front of you, as shown. It'll be more of…

Viktor Hovland has come a long way from the days he spent honing his swing by watching YouTube videos and beating balls in a converted air hangar in Oslo, Norway. He was 18 when he left for the bright lights of America, and just 22 when he broke a longstanding Jack Nicklaus record by posting the lowest 72-hole score by an amateur in US Open history. Now 26, he has gone onto greater heights since then, winning to times in four years and acquiring cult-level stat us I ecause of his w it and relatability as a tn golf nerd. In his first DP World Tour ever as an amateur, he played the first round with a deliberate pause at the top of his backswing and shot a bogey-free 68.…

What ate your thoughts on this partnership for both the DPWT and for J.Lindeberg? I'm really stoked about it! I feel this partnership is a perfect match, bringing together J.Lindeberg's innovative designs with the prestige and global reach of the DPWT. I've been an ambassador since 2019 and have seen how J.Lindeberg have grown, staying committed to quality and style while expanding their presence on the international stage, and reinforcing their position as a leader in golf fashion. What's been your favourite J.Lindeberg collection that you've worn so far? I really like the Tour collections that are inspired by, and designed for, the Majors. The aesthetics are always on point and the materials they use are incredible. It's really the perfect mix of style and functionality, with pieces that kept…

THIS MUCH I KNOW No one remembers who finished second, the saying goes. It's nonsense of course, and The Open demonstrated why on two occasions in four years at the turn of the millennium. With Jean van de Velde's antics at Carnoustie in 1999 fresh in the memory, Gary Evans produced a similar level of drama further down Scotland's east coast at Muirfield. No-one remembers second? Evans finished tied for fifth, but mention his name and Muirfield in the same sentence to a golf fan – even a general sports fan, probably – and they will recall with a smile the events of Sunday, July 21. It started an incredible three-year run in The Open for Evans, a superstar amateur who never won on tour and is thus cast as…

Watch hundreds of video tips at www.todays-golfter.com HERE TO HELP YOU SAVE SHOTS One goal I have had has been increasing my clubhead speed. To do that, I tried to make everything in my swing faster. It makes my hand path longer, my turn bigger and I'm pushing harder off the ground, which translates into a faster clubhead. That's a big difference from what many amateurs do. They try to swing faster but don't turn their hips or shoulders more. That restricts speed. It should feel like you're letting the clubhead go, instead of directing it through impact with your hands. When it comes to hitting fairways, one of my tendencies is to aim too far right, and that's when I get into trouble off the tee. My stock shot…

YOUR COACH 1 The driving ranges of Britain are full of golfers spending valuable time and money working on their games. It is rare, though, to find one who is really making that time and cash count. To train a new swing move effectively, we need reference points and feedback; without these, we cannot know if we are starting from a consistent position or executing the movements we are looking to make. This is why I advise golfers to build what I would term a ‘swing station’ on the range. 2 A swing station can be as simple or elaborate as you like. The simplest one can be based on two clubs or alignment sticks, placed on the ground to promote parallel aim of body and clubface. But you can also: 1.…

Canon have taken their first steps into golf equipment with a tech-packed laser rangefinder But the PowerShot is not just any old rangefinder - it is the first with a built-in camera. The brand say the PowerShot is “a nimble and advanced laser” that targets everyone from beginners to pros and they fully expect it to be among 2024’s best rangefinder options. Pocket-sized and rechargeable, PowerShot not only gives fast and accurate yardages from anywhere on the course, it also lets golfers video their swing or shots on the easy-to-use camera, which shoots 11MP images and full HD video. CANON POWERSHOT £329.99 Dimensions: 31 x 58.9 x 91.2mm Weight: 151g…

We do this ranking every two years, but anyone thinking we start working on it a month before it goes to print would be very mistaken. In fact it is a two-year process. The county and regional lists we have recently created feed into the England and Scotland rankings and they then form the basis for the GB&I list. We are simply never not assessing and ranking courses. That said, this year we have made even more effort than usual in the lead-up to this list by trying to visit the key courses: those that might come in, those that might drop out, and those that might jump up or nudge down. In the six weeks leading up to the pages being printed, the panel visited 36 courses. The key…

“Tom Fazio did an amazing redesign of the course. It's beautiful. It can be made as easy or as hard as they want. That's the beauty of a good challenge. The course was in fantastic shape, too. We don't really see golf courses like this throughout the year, it's truly impressive. They've done an amazing job and the superintendent should be happy. But it's not only beautiful to look at, it also plays great. The greens are tricky. There are a lot of run-offs but it's still fair. It's really, really enjoyable.” “Returning to Adare after the redesign was everything I expected and way more. It will be a very special course for the Ryder Cup. I just really hope I'm playing in it! Speaking to a few American golfers…

BARE MY SOUL RICK SHIELS What was your first car? It was a little Citroen C2, nothing fancy, three door. I actually had two, because I had an accident in the first one. And what was your first job? A paper round, and I really liked it. I have stupidly fond memories of getting up early to deliver papers! What's the closest brush you've ever had with death? I've got four! Each one of them is a car crash, but I was only driving in one of them – which links back to the first question! Thankfully we got through… and none of them were recent. If you could have one superpower… Flying. Go anywhere, whenever, it would cool. Do you ever see an upset bird? What's the biggest perk of…

1 Shaft lab to the stars Most brands who work with the best golfers on the planet expect to pay out millions of dollars in sponsorship, as tour pro endorsement is the most expensive way to get noticed in golf. Somehow, though, Fujikura buck that trend. They've carved out such an enviable reputation for creating the best, most stable shafts available, that by making models for Major champions, for half the world's top 10 and for swathes of tour players, the brand have fast become recognised as the stock driver shaft on tour, with players playing Fujikura for free. 2 Breaking into the USA Fujikura originally started out in Japan in the 1970s, but in 1994 they decided to set up a US office in Carlsbad, California. It was formed…

DRILL 1: EXTENDED ARMS Our first width-training exercise addresses those collapsing arms directly 1. Set the width Hold your driver horizontally, as shown. Place your lead-hand palm against the butt of the club and grip the centre of the shaft with your trail hand, palm facing away from you. Feel both arms are comfortably extended. 2. High and wide From here, create a backswing by pushing up through your lead palm. Aim to make a full backswing coil, the lead arm pushing up through horizontal. Keep your trail arm as extended as possible throughout this ‘backswing’. As you work on this exercise, you'll feel how increasing the swing arc promotes the core engagement we learned in Speed Boost #1, with your back facing the target at the top. DRILL 2:…

AUGUST 2018 Dominated the US Amateur and trailed for only one hole in six matches at Pebble Beach. Crushed Devon Bling 6&5 in the final. APRIL 2019 Rose to No.1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking after finishing tied for 32nd on his Masters debut. Also became the first Norwegian to make the cut at Augusta National. JUNE 2019 Turned pro after becoming the first player since Matt Kuchar in 1998 to win low amateur honours at the Masters and US Open in the same season. AUGUST 2019 Graduated from the Korn Ferry Tour alongside Scottie Scheffler. OCTOBER 2019 Set a new PGA Tour record after posting 19 consecutive rounds in the 60s. FEBRUARY 2020 On his 12th start as a professional, became the first Norwegian to win on the…

“My dad was responsible for getting me into golf. He worked as an engineer on a project in St Louis and he used to dirive past the driving range every day on his way to work. He got hooked pretty quickly and when he came back to Norway, he bought me a junior set, which is how I got into it. I must have been four at the time. But I didn't really commit to it seriously until I was 11 maybe. That's when I started practising all year round.” “I was lucky enough to spend three years on a golf scholarship at Oklahoma State University. I was actually teammates with Matt Wolff and Kris Ventura, who I used to play against in junior events back in Norway. At the…

It was no good. He gave up pretending to sleep and opened his eyes for good. He sighed, heavily. Everything felt wrong; or nothing felt right. He couldn't decide. It felt like he hadn't slept at all. Not a single wink – and this added to the acute sense of anxiety that had started yesterday afternoon. And not any ordinary anxiety or nerves; that much he was used to. This was something else. Something he hadn't experienced before. It felt untoward and unsettling. The fear of the unknown; don't they say that's the worst fear of all? And if so, then why should he feel normal, on a day like today? It was just after 4.30am, half an hour before his alarm was scheduled to wake him. His tiredness aside,…

PLAY BETTER PRESENTED BY Shot Scope YOUR COACH From tour pro to weekend golfer, we all face tee shots where finding the fairway is essential. With shot-tracking data showing no particular accuracy gain in taking a more lofted club, I would still recommend driver for this scenario; but there are certain changes you can make to harness your motion and promote control over out-and-out distance. Whatever your skill level, this advice will help you find the cut grass when it matters. Compact control The driver is the longest club in the bag and creates the strongest forces and highest speeds. Typically, we need an expansive set-up to accommodate it – wide stance, plenty of room to swing. But with the fairway-finder drive, the rules change. To gain the control a…

I define ‘release’ as a ‘swing of the clubhead’. It can swing more (clubhead overtakes handle through the strike) or it can swing less (handle remains ahead of the clubhead at impact). My Short Game System is based on taking control of clubhead swing to develop three different release patterns, and learning when to use which. I've already given TG readers a grounding in how to apply the 3 Releases to fairway (issue 440) and sand (444); let's now focus on greenside slopes. By using the right release at the right time, you can take the danger out of these potentially awkward shots. DOWNSLOPE: USE RELEASE 1 Release 1 uses the smallest amount of clubhead swing, the handle remaining forward of the clubface through the strike. It is the one…

Wilson have built quite a following for their premium Staff Model club and golf ball family. Some traditionalists even argue that the brand now make some of the best irons on the market. And with the value of their stock rising, the company believe it's now the perfect time to introduce their new Wilson Staff Model RB Utility iron. As the RB should generally fall into the hands of decent players, Wilson have worked with threetime Major champion and longtime Wilson ambassador Padraig Harrington to develop and refine the new design. The Irishman has long been a fan of Wilson utility irons, so he's more qualified than most to give feedback. Here's what you can expect. HOLLOW BODY Strategically positioned internal rib (RB) structures improve stability on mishits while also…

Which is your favourite course overall in GB&I? Sunninadale Old. Which is the course you find the most fun to play? Good question. Most fun… very good question. Something that's fun… it's not difficult, but fun… hmm. Oh, I've got it: Sunningdale Heath. That came from way back in my mind! But, yes, Sunningdale Heath — it is an 18-hole course with some par 4s but a lot of par 3s. It is incredibly difficult as a challenge, so therefore, to me at least, it's fun. Which course has the best setting and ambience? Turnberry. Which course offers the best all round examination? Probably Carnoustie. Which is your favourite hole? And why? The Postage Stamp… because I can reach it! Where would you most enjoy on a summer's evening? It…

“I've always loved coming to Ireland since the first time, which was in ’99 with Payne Stewart and Mark O'Meara. We were fishing down in Waterville and we also played Ballybunion. We had some great times at Royal County Down, The European… I've played Adare now, too, which is also very special. “I went to Ireland on several occasions not only to get over the time difference but also to get used to links golf. I've been lucky enough to have either JP McManus or Dermot Desmond helicopter us around and play different venues, so I got used to links golf. It's played on the ground and yardages are generally thrown out the window. Just because it's 176 on the card, it doesn't mean it's an automatic 8-iron, you know.…

We all want to get the most out of our time on the course. And for many of us, equipment is a hugely important way to enhance the enjoyment we get from the game. Yet while huge swathes of golfers put hours into researching the latest driver designs, many never give the shaft in their new driver any thought at all. Fujikura are out to change to all that. The Japanese giant's matrix of shafts is designed to help golfers of every ability and every swing speed to hit shots further and straighter. Fujikura are the leading light of shafts on tour. With 20 of the world's top 50 male players using the brand's driver shafts unpaid, you know your game is in safe hands by choosing one. Get the…