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Today's Golfer|Issue 432THE WORLD ACCORDING TO BEEFIs there a more honest, approachable, down-to-earth tour pro than Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston? Having just spent a day with him – to mark the launch of his new podcast with TG columnist John ‘Bad Golfer’ Robins, of which we're the official media partner – we can't think of a more affable player. No subject was off limits for discussion: On LIV Golf: “I don't judge any player for going to LIV. It's given players power and woken the tours up.”On stuffy attitudes: “Golf has to change. Who cares if you're wearing the wrong socks or a cap inside?”On amateurs taking the game too seriously: “I see the clubs thrown and I think, ‘This is meant to be your hobby’!”On getting back to the top: “Being a dad has given me…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432ON OUR RADAR RORY SET FOR RICHEST SEASON IN HISTORYGolf makes the Commonwealth GamesIt's taken almost 100 years, but golf will make its debut in the Commonwealth Games in Australia in 2026. Men and women will be part of the event for the first time in Victoria –and organisers are now exploring the possibility of adding a para-golf competition. The venue, format and qualifying criteria are yet to be confirmed, but the area is home to some of the world's best courses, including Kingston Heath, Peninsula Kingswood and Royal Melbourne (below).New gear breaking coverThe PGA Tour is a hotbed for equipment testing, as brands ‘seed’ their new products for the world's best to try. In the last few weeks we've seen the 2023 Titleist Pro V1 balls and new Cleveland wedges appear. LPGA Tour player Maja Stark even put…3 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432ON OUR RADAR RORY SET FOR RICHEST SEASON IN HISTORYFRONT NINE Golf makes the Commonwealth Games It's taken almost 100 years, but golf will make its debut in the Commonwealth Games in Australia in 2026. Men and women will be part of the event for the first time in Victoria –and organisers are now exploring the possibility of adding a para-golf competition. The venue, format and qualifying criteria are yet to be confirmed, but the area is home to some of the world's best courses, including Kingston Heath, Peninsula Kingswood and Royal Melbourne (below). New gear breaking cover The PGA Tour is a hotbed for equipment testing, as brands ‘seed’ their new products for the world's best to try. In the last few weeks we've seen the 2023 Titleist Pro V1 balls and new Cleveland wedges appear. LPGA Tour…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432THE RULES WINTER RULES REFRESHER!Preferred Lies (also known as ‘winter rules’) only apply to parts of the general area cut to fairway height or less. This does not cover rough or putting greens, but it does include aprons around the greens or paths mowed through the rough when they are cut to fairway height or less.It might save your back, but using your foot wedge to move your ball to a nicer piece of grass is not allowed. If you choose to roll the ball with your foot rather than placing it with your hand, you will be hit with a one-stroke penalty.As you are taking ‘relief’, you are allowed to clean or even substitute the ball when you're placing it. The ball must be placed on a spot no nearer the hole within…3 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432NUTS ABOUT GOLF GOLF'S MOST ROMANTIC LOVE STORYWhen Matt Ziance and Kate String fellow started dating, in the summer of 2020, golf was never far from the conversation. Matt's passion for the game convinced Kate to give it a go, and within three months she was celebrating her first hole-in-one.Their love for the game and each other blossomed from there, to the point that when Matt went out to buy a new sleeve of golf balls on April 28,2021, he returned a few hours later with a ring instead. Naturally, he played golf on the morning of the proposal and then spent the next 15 months planning a wedding “unlike any other” with his wife-to-be.“We couldn't think of a better way to make this 100 percent us than incorporating golf at every turn,” explains Matt, a former…3 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432TALENT SPOTTERJOO-HYUNG ‘TOM’ KIMThe PGA Tour's next big thing is on the fast track to superstardomWho is he?The PGA Tour have given Tom Kim the title of ‘Golf's Chief Energy Officer’. He was the standout performer for the Internationals in the Presidents Cup, and followed it up by becoming the first player since Tiger Woods to win twice on the PGA Tour before turning 21.Not bad. So, he's pretty highly rated then?At the Shriners Children's Open in October, he didn't make a single bogey and out-duelled Patrick Cantlay to finish three clear on 24 under par, tying the tournament record. It was his second win in four starts, having secured his PGA Tour status with a five-shot win at the Wyndham Championship in August.Didn't he rub the Americans up the wrong…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432NUTS ABOUT GOLF GOLF'S MOST ROMANTIC LOVE STORYFRONT NINE When Matt Ziance and Kate String fellow started dating, in the summer of 2020, golf was never far from the conversation. Matt's passion for the game convinced Kate to give it a go, and within three months she was celebrating her first hole-in-one. Their love for the game and each other blossomed from there, to the point that when Matt went out to buy a new sleeve of golf balls on April 28,2021, he returned a few hours later with a ring instead. Naturally, he played golf on the morning of the proposal and then spent the next 15 months planning a wedding “unlike any other” with his wife-to-be. “We couldn't think of a better way to make this 100 percent us than incorporating golf at every turn,”…3 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432TALENT SPOTTERJOO-HYUNG ‘TOM’ KIM The PGA Tour's next big thing is on the fast track to superstardom Who is he? The PGA Tour have given Tom Kim the title of ‘Golf's Chief Energy Officer’. He was the standout performer for the Internationals in the Presidents Cup, and followed it up by becoming the first player since Tiger Woods to win twice on the PGA Tour before turning 21. Not bad. So, he's pretty highly rated then? At the Shriners Children's Open in October, he didn't make a single bogey and out-duelled Patrick Cantlay to finish three clear on 24 under par, tying the tournament record. It was his second win in four starts, having secured his PGA Tour status with a five-shot win at the Wyndham Championship in August. Didn't he…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432FAIRWAY TO HEAVEN WHY WINTER IS THETIME TO CASH INWe are entering the time of year when the mercury battles to creep above zero even during daylight hours and it is easy to leave the clubs in the corner of the garage until the first glimpse of Augusta azaleas in April. But there are actually very good reasons to play a lot of golf in the winter –with the savings you can make on green fees at Top 100 courses one of the most compelling. Here's our guide to making the most of them… The savings This is the best bit, clearly. We chart 50 incredible deals on these pages – and just a glance down the list will surely whet your appetite for this task. The tactics Tee times at the elite courses have been seriously scarce this…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432TIME GOLF'S BIG FIVEAs a youngster, developing my game, I realised improvement came fastest when I broke the game down into three distinct areas:1. Understanding What am I trying to achieve with my technique? And why?2. Block training Essentially, repetitive drills to develop the technical change.3. Challenge Testing the new move under some form of pressure - either a devised game or in competition on the course.It was an approach that would bring me six professional victories in a tour career spanning 15 years… and it's one I continue to use today as a PGAqualifted coach.In this article, I will show you how you can apply it to the five most important parts of your game. I'm confident it will bring you the same, quick results it bought me.What are golf's Big Five?It…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432'OPERATION SINGLE FIGURES IS A GO!'I've been writing this column for two years now, and it was always intended to represent the bad-to-average club golfer in a world of tour pros and launch angles. I'm far more interested in how a 36-handicapper can break 100 for the first time than agonising about whether the Pro V1 is giving me the best spin around the green. However, even a duffer wants to be the best golfer they can be. After a dismal start to my Club Championships this year, I knew I was in trouble. I was 12 over at the turn, so any hope of playing to my handicap (14) was out of the window. I just decided to see if I could at least string two pars together to finish mid-table. In my head…4 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432SHOT #4 CHIPTHE TECHNIQUE SET-UP MATCHES IDEAL IMPACTWe all instinctively know when we've hit a good chip shot. There is that perfect, nipped contact of ball just before ground, and of course the sweetspot strike. We can also picture the conditions that create that strike - smooth acceleration, quiet hands, gently downward attack angle. In such a short swing as a chip, it's vital we preset these ideal impact conditions through our address.Spot the differenceTake a look at these two images. The shot on the left is at address: the right is impact. But if it wasn't for the movement in the clubface and the ball, you'd be hard pushed to tell them apart. And here is the technical understanding; on chip shots, the closer you can get your address position to…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432AN UNFAIR RACELETTER OF THE MONTH Rory McIlroy has only played in four Majors and three Rolex Series events, not winning once, yet somehow he is leading the DP World Tour. Points in all these events have counted towards both the USPGA and the DP World Tour. Ewen Ferguson has played in 20-plus events, won twice, and has no way of catching him. Does this sound fair? Wouldn't It be fairer for points won in an event to only be counted towards one tour? True DP World Tour players would at least then have a chance of actually winning the DP World Tour against the part-timers who only show up for the big point events. Trevor White, email…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432TIME GOLF'S BIG FIVEAs a youngster, developing my game, I realised improvement came fastest when I broke the game down into three distinct areas: 1. Understanding What am I trying to achieve with my technique? And why? 2. Block training Essentially, repetitive drills to develop the technical change. 3. Challenge Testing the new move under some form of pressure - either a devised game or in competition on the course. It was an approach that would bring me six professional victories in a tour career spanning 15 years… and it's one I continue to use today as a PGAqualifted coach. In this article, I will show you how you can apply it to the five most important parts of your game. I'm confident it will bring you the same, quick results it bought…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432SHOT #1 DRIVETHE TECHNIQUE PRIORITISE ALIGNMENT With the possible exception of the putter, the driver is the most important club in the bag to aim well; unfortunately, it's also the hardest. Its long shaft puts us furthest from the ball at address, making a square stance a tricky business. But it's important to persevere here and get it right: as we will see, poor aim sabotages distance as well as direction. The key understanding here is to base your alignment on a picture of the line from ball to the hole. Square alignment means arranging ourselves parallel to that line - as per the classic image of parallel railway lines. The big no-no By far the most common alignment error is to aim directly at the target as opposed to parallel to…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432FINCA UNCOVEREDThere is good reason to suggest the 2023 Solheim Cup will be the most eagerly anticipated in the history of the matches. Europe will try to defend the trophy with a team likely to resemble the one that won last year in Toledo, but with the powerful additions of Swedish pair Linn Grant and Maja Stark.The USA, stung by a loss on home soil, will arrive in Spain desperate to regain a trophy they used to dominate but have not held since 2017. The captains are new, interesting and multiple Majorwinning champions – Suzann Pettersen and Stacy Lewis.And the venue will not let the side down. The opulent Finca Cortesin resort in Andalucia is one of the world's great golf resorts; luxurious and spectacular yet also intimate and cosy. Once…4 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432THE CAPTAIN SUZANN PETTERSENWhat were your impressions of Finca Cortesin when you first visited?It is an amazing resort! The facilities are first class. Finca Cortesin is definitely the best venue of the Solheim Cup in my time and possibly in the history of the Solheim Cup. It has so many fantastic facilities, with an incredible hotel and restaurants on-site, as well as one of Europe's best golf courses. I can't wait to return here next year for the actual event. The closer we get, the more excited I get. Every day I have to pinch myself that this is not all just a dream.It has one of the finest hotels in Europe, not just among golf hotels – what aspects do you particularly like about it?The atmosphere and feel that they have created…3 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432KANE'S SWING IN DETAILHarry's Kane's swing has one very notable quirk; he's started hovering his driver in front of the ball on the tee. “I don't know where that comes from,” he says. “I used to hover my driver, and then I started moving it in front of the ball. I felt that it gave me a better position on the backswing and it seemed to work!” The rest of Harry's swing is pretty textbook, according to Advanced PGA Coach Steve Thomas……1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432THE BEST WORLD CUP GOLFERS EVERANDRIY SHEVCHENKOTwo goals helped his Ukraine team through to the WC quarterfinals in 2006. Passionate golfer who turned pro in 2020. Handicap fluctuates between one and four.LUIS FIGOThe Portuguese idol played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid and appeared in two World Cups (2002,2006). He plays off single figures.PEP GUARDIOLAThe Man City boss was capped 47 times by Spain and represented his country in the 1994 World Cup. An enthusiastic golfer, but he won't be happy with his 10-handicap.RUUD GULLITCaptained Holland in the 1990 WC, where the Dutch were defeated by Germany in the last 16. The seven-handicapper regularly plays in the Dunhill Links at St Andrews.ALAN SHEARERScored twice in his solitary WC in 1998, when England were knocked out by Argentina on penalties in the last 16. A fiercely…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432BEEF'S GOLF CLUBHave you heard the one about the vegan comedian who likes to work with beef?Thankfully it's not quite as odd as it sounds. The “broadly vegan” comedian is none other than Bad Golf star and TG columnist John Robins and the beef is, well, Beef. Or, as he's less commonly known, Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston.“Why broadly vegan?” Beef enquires. “Because eating f*cking prawns shouldn't count!” John replies, drawing the DP World Tour winner's infectious laugh as we chat at North Middlesex Golf Club.“Why Beef and John?” is more likely your question, unless you've already uncovered their new project. The pair have been working together on Beef's Golf Club, a new weekly free podcast from the team who created the No.1 hit That Peter Crouch Podcast, which hears them creating the dream…14 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432DONALD'S DATE WITH DESTINYDid you have any doubts about taking up the role, and being second choice? No, not really. To be honest, I was disappointed I didn't get the nod back in March, but sometimes we're given second chances, and I'm looking forward to making the most of it and am very, very excited. Having been a vice-captain at Whistling Straits, how would you sum up the size of the task facing you and the players to win the trophy back? Well, I think the European Tour and Ryder Cup Committee have a great template in place. We've had a lot of success over the years. We've won seven of the last to, nine of the last 13, so last year's defeat was very bitter. It was tough to swallow. It was…6 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432FINCA UNCOVEREDTHE 18th SOLHEIM CUP ONE YEAR TO GO There is good reason to suggest the 2023 Solheim Cup will be the most eagerly anticipated in the history of the matches. Europe will try to defend the trophy with a team likely to resemble the one that won last year in Toledo, but with the powerful additions of Swedish pair Linn Grant and Maja Stark. The USA, stung by a loss on home soil, will arrive in Spain desperate to regain a trophy they used to dominate but have not held since 2017. The captains are new, interesting and multiple Majorwinning champions – Suzann Pettersen and Stacy Lewis. And the venue will not let the side down. The opulent Finca Cortesin resort in Andalucia is one of the world's great golf…4 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN TO SAVE LIVESA sudden cardiac arrest is one of the biggest killers in the UK. Often it strikes without warning and it doesn't discriminate by age, gender or even fitness level.Golf courses are the fifth most likely place for people to suffer a cardiac arrest, but not enough golf clubs – or golfers – are equipped to help save a person's life on the course. Often there's little time to react and even less time to think, which is why learning CPR and having a defibrillator nearby is so important.We believe every club has a duty of care to its members and visitors. That's why we've joined forces with Motocaddy – whose electric trolleys and app can pinpoint defibrillator locations – to launch ‘Drive for Defibs’ and make every golf club in…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432KANE'S SWING IN DETAILHarry's Kane's swing has one very notable quirk; he's started hovering his driver in front of the ball on the tee. “I don't know where that comes from,” he says. “I used to hover my driver, and then I started moving it in front of the ball. I felt that it gave me a better position on the backswing and it seemed to work!” The rest of Harry's swing is pretty textbook, according to Advanced PGA Coach Steve Thomas……1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432CADDIE ON YOUR SHOULDER DECODING A DRIVEABLE PAR 4Just 284 yards off the tees of the day - but tantalisingly shorter if you go direct - the par-4 10th hole on the Belfry's famous Brabazon layout is perhaps golf's ultimate risk/ reward hole. Flanked front and left by water, the sinuous green seems just about in reach. But is that the right play? Or will a lay-up yield better results? Let's see what leading data capture system Shot Scope (shotscope.com) makes of it all.1 Basic statsThis iconic hole has been played 1.762 times by Shot Scope users, with handicaps ranging from scratch to 25. The average score across all handicaps is 4.74, which actually makes it the hardest hole on the course relative to par. The most common score is par, recorded 39% of the time, with bogeys…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432FAULT FIXER THE ‘SH’-WORDArguably the most feared shot in golf, the shank has the capacity to destroy not just scorecards but confidence too. In this article I will explain exactly what is going on with this cursed shot, why we hit it, and present an aggressive three-stage plan for putting it to bed once and for all. Even if this shot is not currently afflicting you, keep note of this plan: it will stand you in good stead as and when you should need it… though let's hope that isn't for a very long time!WHAT ACTUALLY IS A SHANK?We can, perhaps, refer to the shank as an extreme heel strike – so extreme that contact takes place on the sharply angled area where the curved neck of the club folds into the clubface.…3 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432‘I've never received so much recognition for finishing second in my life’Chris DiMarco is lying on his bed, twiddling his thumbs and reminiscing about his starring role as one of golf's greatest supporting actors. He doesn't like to deal with ‘what ifs’, but 12 times he was cast as golf's nearly man while many of his Ryder Cup teammates took the acclaim. The American has always been very matter of fact about having lost more battles than he won, and yet for a golden period he was the only golfer who seemed capable of keeping up with Tiger at the peak of his powers. He had the best seat in the house for THAT chip-in at the 2005 Masters and went head-to-head with Tiger during an incredible 15-month stretch where he was deprived of his Major moment on two occasions by…15 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN TO SAVE LIVESA sudden cardiac arrest is one of the biggest killers in the UK. Often it strikes without warning and it doesn't discriminate by age, gender or even fitness level. Golf courses are the fifth most likely place for people to suffer a cardiac arrest, but not enough golf clubs – or golfers – are equipped to help save a person's life on the course. Often there's little time to react and even less time to think, which is why learning CPR and having a defibrillator nearby is so important. We believe every club has a duty of care to its members and visitors. That's why we've joined forces with Motocaddy – whose electric trolleys and app can pinpoint defibrillator locations – to launch ‘Drive for Defibs’ and make every golf…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432PLAY BETTERWatch hundreds of video tips at www.todaysgolfer.co.uk HERE TO HELP YOU SAVE SHOTS QUICK TIP CARD SHARP When our putting goes sour, it's easy to start trying to manipulate or over-control the strike. This robs the stroke of flow and rhythm. To beat this, use a scorecard to mask impact. Stick two tee pages through the card and push them into the ground, leaving room for the putter to swing below. Take your putter and set up normally, eyes over the card and the putter's hosel near its edge. Go ahead and strike the ball. With the blade hidden from you, the impulse to manipulate and control it is removed; you will simply swing the putter forward through the ball, allowing the ball to get in the way. This will…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432BREAK 100/90/80 IMPROVED SAND PLAY…PLAY BETTER I want to give the would-be 90-shooter one clear mandate from greenside sand: Less steep, more shallow. Almost all bunker problems will start to clear up when you think in terms of the clubface swinging forward, ruffling the surface of the sand, as opposed to it swinging downward and digging into it. The three tips we'll cover here will all help you deliver on this mandate; but as long as you're thinking in terms of shallowing your strike, you will be heading in the right direction. Address Hold sand on the face In practice, dig the toe of the club into the bunker to get some sand on the face. Note that, to stop the sand slipping straight off, you need to set the face in a more…4 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432CADDIE ON YOUR SHOULDER DECODING A DRIVEABLE PAR 4PLAY BETTER Just 284 yards off the tees of the day - but tantalisingly shorter if you go direct - the par-4 10th hole on the Belfry's famous Brabazon layout is perhaps golf's ultimate risk/ reward hole. Flanked front and left by water, the sinuous green seems just about in reach. But is that the right play? Or will a lay-up yield better results? Let's see what leading data capture system Shot Scope (shotscope.com) makes of it all. 1Basic stats This iconic hole has been played 1.762 times by Shot Scope users, with handicaps ranging from scratch to 25. The average score across all handicaps is 4.74, which actually makes it the hardest hole on the course relative to par. The most common score is par, recorded 39% of the…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432THE WORLD ACCORDING TO BEEFIs there a more honest, approachable, down-to-earth tour pro than Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston? Having just spent a day with him – to mark the launch of his new podcast with TGcolumnist John ‘Bad Golfer’ Robins, of which we're the official media partner – we can't think of a more affable player. No subject was off limits for discussion: On LIV Golf: “I don't judge any player for going to LIV. It's given players power and woken the tours up.” On stuffy attitudes: “Golf has to change. Who cares if you're wearing the wrong socks or a cap inside?” On amateurs taking the game too seriously: “I see the clubs thrown and I think, ‘This is meant to be your hobby’!” On getting back to the top: “Being a dad has…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432FRONT NINEWAR WOUNDS VISIBLE AT CANTERBURY GC The term ‘walking on hallowed ground’ has never been more appropriate than at Canterbury Golf Club. At first glance, the fairways just look burnt out, but what you can actually make out are the outlines of 100-year-old practice trenches, which re-emerged during the recent heatwave. Each of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th and 9th fairways feature remnants of zig-zagging ditches, which were used to train soldiers during World War I. The club's soil is strikingly similar to that of northern France, making it an ideal training ground for those travelling to the Continent. According to historical records kept by Kent County Council, it is likely the trenches were used by soldiers based at the Royal East Kent Regiment barracks prior to the course being…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432LOCKER ROOM CHAT 'MAKING THE RYDER CUP IS MY NO.1 PRIORITY'You were very emotional after your play-off victory at the Italian Open. Why was that?I think it was just because of the hard work that goes into it. People don't see the work that we put into the game and the changes that we make. They are personal, as well as business changes. You build close friendships with the people around you, so it's difficult to make changes and let them go.You parted company with your coach David Burns this summer after six years together. What was the motivating factor?I just needed a different voice. I'm now working with Simon Shanks. I felt like I had lost a bit of my DNA and who I was and the way I played golf. It was a disappointing start to the season.…3 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432LOCKER ROOM CHAT 'MAKING THE RYDER CUP IS MY NO.1 PRIORITY'FRONT NINE You were very emotional after your play-off victory at the Italian Open. Why was that? I think it was just because of the hard work that goes into it. People don't see the work that we put into the game and the changes that we make. They are personal, as well as business changes. You build close friendships with the people around you, so it's difficult to make changes and let them go. You parted company with your coach David Burns this summer after six years together. What was the motivating factor? I just needed a different voice. I'm now working with Simon Shanks. I felt like I had lost a bit of my DNA and who I was and the way I played golf. It was a…3 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432AROUND THE CLUBSJack's big plans for Scotland Jack Nicklaus won all three of his Open Championships in Scotland, so it was almost inevitable that he would design a course there, and his first is set to open in late 2024. Ury Estate, near Aberdeen, is a 1,600-acre development being built around a castle, with plans for around 500 homes to create the first residential golf community in Europe branded with the Nicklaus name. The parkland design, at 7,300 yards, has views of the sea and circles the historic mansion house, part of which will be converted into the clubhouse. Reed all about it! If you needed proof that golf is a game for all ages, amateur golfer Rosemary Reed has just celebrated her fourth Central England Mixed Foursomes title – at the…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432FAIRWAY TO HEAVEN WHY WINTER IS THETIME TO CASH INWe are entering the time of year when the mercury battles to creep above zero even during daylight hours and it is easy to leave the clubs in the corner of the garage until the first glimpse of Augusta azaleas in April. But there are actually very good reasons to play a lot of golf in the winter –with the savings you can make on green fees at Top 100 courses one of the most compelling. Here's our guide to making the most of them…The savings This is the best bit, clearly. We chart 50 incredible deals on these pages – and just a glance down the list will surely whet your appetite for this task.The tactics Tee times at the elite courses have been seriously scarce this summer because…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 43250 BRILLIANT WINTER GREEN FEE DEALSAT TOP 100 COURSESTurnberry Ailsa £350 (£425 non-resident) Fri-Mon down to (>) £120 (£200) Fri-SunCarnoustie £270 > £135Cruden Bay £165 midweek > £75 midweekRoyal Aberdeen £195 > £95Dornoch £210 > £115Nairn £190 Mon-Sun > £50-£60Royal Birkdale £295 > £185Gullane £195 Mon-Fri > £98North Berwick £200 Sun-Fri > £110Prestwick £220 Mon-Fri > £105Western Gailes £190 including lunch Mon-Fri > £70Southerness £90 > £50 (£60 weekend)Gleneagles £230 > £78The Machrie £80 (£130 visitor) > £65 bothRoyal St George's £225 > £125Ganton £150 Mon-Fri > £80Alwoodley £175 > £125Mooortown £150 weekend > £75Hollinwell £150 Mon-Fri > £75Sherwood Forest £100 > £55The Grove £199 Thu-Sun > £135Aldeburgh £125 Sun-Fri > £65Thorpeness £70 > £45The Berkshire £255 weekend > £195Woking £140 > £100West Hill £140 > £90St Enodoc £135 Mon-Fri > £65Saunton £130 > £80Hayling £120 > £80Hunstanton…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432'OPERATION SINGLE FIGURES IS A GO!'I've been writing this column for two years now, and it was always intended to represent the bad-to-average club golfer in a world of tour pros and launch angles. I'm far more interested in how a 36-handicapper can break 100 for the first time than agonising about whether the Pro V1 is giving me the best spin around the green. However, even a duffer wants to be the best golfer they can be.After a dismal start to my Club Championships this year, I knew I was in trouble. I was 12 over at the turn, so any hope of playing to my handicap (14) was out of the window. I just decided to see if I could at least string two pars together to finish mid-table. In my head I…4 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432AN UNFAIR RACELETTER OF THE MONTHRory McIlroy has only played in four Majors and three Rolex Series events, not winning once, yet somehow he is leading the DP World Tour. Points in all these events have counted towards both the USPGA and the DP World Tour. Ewen Ferguson has played in 20-plus events, won twice, and has no way of catching him. Does this sound fair?Wouldn't It be fairer for points won in an event to only be counted towards one tour? True DP World Tour players would at least then have a chance of actually winning the DP World Tour against the part-timers who only show up for the big point events.Trevor White, email…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432OBJECT OF DESIRE TIGER'S PUTTER GIVEN A MASTERS TWISTIf you're of the belief that you can never have too many putters, you might want to feast your eyes on this collection, which wouldn't look out of place in Tiger Woods’ garage. With limited runs ranging from 500 to just 150 each year, these Masters-branded putters are seriously rare and typically only available to official patrons with deep pockets. That was until Golf Clubs 4 Cash managed to acquire a set of nine Scotty Cameron putters, featuring unique designs with special-edition headcovers. The collection starts (naturally) with the first-ever Masters edition, produced in 2013, and possibly the most iconic putter of them all: Tiger's favourite, the Newport 2. The Newport features a further four times, along with the Laguna, Fastback and Flowback 5.5 from last year. The entire collection…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432SHOT #2 MID-IRONTHE TECHNIQUE HARNESS THE SWING'S LOW POINTTechnically, the key iron concept we need to understand is low point - the bottom of the clubhead's generally circular arc. The low point of the swing happens when our lead arm and clubshaft are at their point of maximum extension: this puts it broadly under our lead chest.Low point and ball-turf strikeThis understanding is vital for irons, because to create the correct contact and flight they need to be struck with a slightly downward or descending blow. If you are to achieve this, the club must not reach the low point of its arc until after the ball is struck. Technically, this means the lead chest and low point of the swing must be ahead (target-side of the ball at impact. This is…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432YOUR VIEWAs well as email (editDrial@toDdaysgolfer.CO.uk) and post (Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough, PE2 6EA), you can contact us using any of these social platforms… @Thetodaysgolfer @TodaysGolferBauer @Todaysgolfer @Todaysgolfer PING LETTER OF WINS… ABRAND-NEW PING PUTTER RRR €250 AN UNWANTED 15TH CLUB My wife and I recently had a week's golfing break at one of Norfolk's best clubs. I won't name the course as that's not important. We had a balcony overlooking the 18th fairway and, after a morning's round, spent most afternoons on said balcony. What shocked my wife and I was how many golfers were using 15 clubs, not 14. This 15th club I refer to is called the ‘foot wedge’. The number of players who used the foot wedge to give themselves a better lie was unbelievable. One…3 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432WHAT THE PLAYERS SAY…“There are some good par 5s where you can go to the green to make some birdies and eagles, but at the same time there could be some drama. We have 16, a drivable hole, and if you hit your driver really well, you can set yourself up in spots to be aggressive to the green. It could be a fun one next year.”Viktor Hovland“They have done a good job with the course. I just heard that Luke Donald compared it to Celtic Manor. I think there are some similarities. I think it's going to be better for the crowds. There are some really nice, natural amphitheatres around some greens. It's not that big of a property, so many holes are next to each other, which obviously helps with the…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432DONALD'S DATE WITH DESTINYDid you have any doubts about taking up the role, and being second choice?No, not really. To be honest, I was disappointed I didn't get the nod back in March, but sometimes we're given second chances, and I'm looking forward to making the most of it and am very, very excited.Having been a vice-captain at Whistling Straits, how would you sum up the size of the task facing you and the players to win the trophy back?Well, I think the European Tour and Ryder Cup Committee have a great template in place. We've had a lot of success over the years. We've won seven of the last to, nine of the last 13, so last year's defeat was very bitter. It was tough to swallow. It was the first time…7 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432SHOT #3 PITCHTHE TECHNIQUE PRESERVE 'Y' For your technical understanding on pitching, I want you to picture the Y shape created by your arms and club at set-up. From here, imagine a part-swing where the shape remains intact throughout. How would that look? And feel? And what might be the advantages of such a motion for pitch shots? Here, I'm demonstrating this preserved Y technique at its backswing and throughswing extremes. Two things stand out: There is little or no wrist action. The arms remain broadly extended, as they were at address. While this motion may look a little wooden, it has three massive advantages to pitching: 1. It is easier to control the speed of the club 2. It is easier to control the loft on the clubface. 3. It is…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432HARRY KANE TALKS GOLFHarry Kane is one of those annoying people who excels in just about every sporting activity he tries his hand at.Millions will be watching as the Tottenham striker leads the England team out for the World Cup in Qatar in a few weeks’ time.But not many will know he's an accomplished golfer, too; a scratch handicap Wentworth member who has played with Tiger Woods. Twice. Earlier this year he even teed it up at Augusta National, 24 hours after Scottie Scheffler had donned the Green Jacket.Kane cannot get enough of golf. Obviously rounds are restricted during the football season, but whenever he has time off, he usually ends up on the course, often with Spurs teammates Eric Dier and Matt Doherty… as he reveals here in our exclusive interview.When did…10 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432THE BEST COURSES TO PLAY IN QATARThe players won't have time for any golf in Qatar, but visiting fans might fancy teeing it up and the good news is that the capital, Doha, is the home of two quality DP World Tour venues.First to arrive in this corner of the Middle East was Peter Harradine's par 72 Doha GC layout, which first hosted the Qatar Masters in 1998.The Qatar Masters switched to Education City GC, home of the equally challenging Jose Maria Olazabal layout, in 2020. It's next to the World Cup stadium (inset) and boasts a floodlit nine-holer along with a six-hole course warm-up –ideal if you haven't a lot of time on your hands.Green fees: Doha from £120; Education City from £84.…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432WHAT THE PLAYERS SAY…“There are some good par 5s where you can go to the green to make some birdies and eagles, but at the same time there could be some drama. We have 16, a drivable hole, and if you hit your driver really well, you can set yourself up in spots to be aggressive to the green. It could be a fun one next year.” Viktor Hovland “They have done a good job with the course. I just heard that Luke Donald compared it to Celtic Manor. I think there are some similarities. I think it's going to be better for the crowds. There are some really nice, natural amphitheatres around some greens. It's not that big of a property, so many holes are next to each other, which obviously helps…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432SIX TO WATCHRory McIlroy told us that there's a “core of six or seven guys” who are pretty much assured of a place in Luke Donald's team. That leaves just a handful of places up for grabs to join the likes of Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose on the plane to Italy. These are some of the leading candidates so far… FRANCESCO MOLINARI Can you imagine the uproar in Italy if their favourite son isn't picked, particularly as he went five for five in Paris in 2018 and formed one half of the ‘Moliwood’ partnership. Injuries and a loss of form have pushed him behind his fellow countryman Guido Migliozzi in the pecking order, but he is slowly working his way back…3 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432‘I've never received so much recognition for finishing second in my life’Chris DiMarco is lying on his bed, twiddling his thumbs and reminiscing about his starring role as one of golf's greatest supporting actors. He doesn't like to deal with ‘what ifs’, but 12 times he was cast as golf's nearly man while many of his Ryder Cup teammates took the acclaim.The American has always been very matter of fact about having lost more battles than he won, and yet for a golden period he was the only golfer who seemed capable of keeping up with Tiger at the peak of his powers.He had the best seat in the house for THAT chip-in at the 2005 Masters and went head-to-head with Tiger during an incredible 15-month stretch where he was deprived of his Major moment on two occasions by the man…15 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432PLAY BETTERWatch hundreds of video tips at www.todaysgolfer.co.ukHERE TO HELP YOU SAVE SHOTSQUICK TIP CARD SHARPWhen our putting goes sour, it's easy to start trying to manipulate or over-control the strike. This robs the stroke of flow and rhythm. To beat this, use a scorecard to mask impact. Stick two tee pages through the card and push them into the ground, leaving room for the putter to swing below. Take your putter and set up normally, eyes over the card and the putter's hosel near its edge. Go ahead and strike the ball. With the blade hidden from you, the impulse to manipulate and control it is removed; you will simply swing the putter forward through the ball, allowing the ball to get in the way. This will help you retrain…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432BREAK 100/90/80 IMPROVED SAND PLAY…I want to give the would-be 90-shooter one clear mandate from greenside sand: Less steep, more shallow. Almost all bunker problems will start to clear up when you think in terms of the clubface swinging forward, ruffling the surface of the sand, as opposed to it swinging downward and digging into it. The three tips we'll cover here will all help you deliver on this mandate; but as long as you're thinking in terms of shallowing your strike, you will be heading in the right direction.AddressHold sand on the faceIn practice, dig the toe of the club into the bunker to get some sand on the face. Note that, to stop the sand slipping straight off, you need to set the face in a more open or lofted position. This…4 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432MIND GAMES HOW TO GUARANTEE A GREAT ROUND OF GOLFIt is a natural human instinct to look for certainty in life. But right now, we'd have to admit life is not making it so easy for us. Be it post-pandemic adjustment, the cost of living crisis or the war in Ukraine, the world at present seems both unsettled and unsettling; and this is, of course, one reason why the recent death of our sovereign - a rare source of assurance in a changing world - was so keenly felt.This may not seem to have too much to do with golf, you might argue. But I would dispute that. The game we love has the potential to help us find much of the certainty we crave in life, if we would let it.For this we have to look beyond the…4 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432CLASSIC LESSONS ERNEST JONES’ ‘SWING THE CLUBHEAD’Some 85 years ago, a golf book was published. Called Swinging into Golf, it was written by one of the few famous golf coaches of the day, Manchester's Ernest Jones. And on its green cover, it displayed two slightly surreal images of a disembodied hand dangling a piece of cloth. This image would come to represent one of golf's most famous coaching principles: swing the clubhead. And it's as relevant today as it was eight decades ago.What Jones believedErnest Jones was the ultimate advocate for keeping it simple. “The most amazing tiling about the game,” he once noted, “is the fact the poorest players are the ones who try to do the most. I believe, rather, in simplifying the game by giving the pupil one definite and positive axiom to…3 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432BEEF'S GOLF CLUBHave you heard the one about the vegan comedian who likes to work with beef? Thankfully it's not quite as odd as it sounds. The “broadly vegan” comedian is none other than Bad Golf star and TG columnist John Robins and the beef is, well, Beef. Or, as he's less commonly known, Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston. “Why broadly vegan?” Beef enquires. “Because eating f*cking prawns shouldn't count!” John replies, drawing the DP World Tour winner's infectious laugh as we chat at North Middlesex Golf Club. “Why Beef and John?” is more likely your question, unless you've already uncovered their new project. The pair have been working together on Beef's Golf Club, a new weekly free podcast from the team who created the No.1 hit That Peter Crouch Podcast, which hears them…13 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432HOW DO I PLAY… A BALL IN A DIVOTWhile it is pretty rare to find your ball lying in an open and unrepaired divot, the technique for dealing with it applies to any situation where the ball is sitting well down. Clearly with the ball so low, we are going to have to find a way of digging it out. Adopt these three measures and you can still make reasonable contact, advancing the ball up the fairway and perhaps even to the green.YOUR COACHOLIVER MORTON Archerfield Performance Centre. 3D biomechanics and junior development specialist www.theleadingedgegolfcompany.com1 Address: Ball forward, not backMoving the ball back to create a steeper strike may seem the best option here; blit the reality is that it tends to keep us on our back foot when we need to be driving forward. Instead play it…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432WILSON STAFF MODEL MILLED PUTTERSFor the best golf equipment coverage online visit www.todaysgolfer.co.uk‘THANKS TO ITS ILLUSTRIOUS HERITAGE, THE 8802 IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE NEW FAMILY’Wilson have seen quite a renaissance among decent golfers since reintroducing the Staff Model marquee back in 2019. The rebirth started with the Staff Model Blade, which Gary Woodland used to win the US Open in 2019, and carried on with matching Staff Model wedges, a utility' iron, tour balls and a forged, cavity back CB iron.With sales on the up and the Staff Model franchise boosting Wilson's overall reputation, the time is right to introduce a Staff Model CNC Milled putter family.Wilson's putter pedigree stretches way back, but it was Arnold Palmer's involvement in designing the ‘Flanged Blade’ 8802 putter in 1960 that put the company on the…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432TITLEIST TSR DRIVERSFor the best golf equipment coverage online visit www.todaysgolfer.co.uk£529 (£699 premium shaft option)Unlike other brands, Titleist love ‘seeding’ new products on tour way before they're available to consumers. The idea builds excitement among Titleist fans and means the brand's tour team get months to dial in the new equipment to their tour stars. In the case of the new TSR drivers, the idea has well and truly paid off.Titleist started handing out TSR woods in June, and since then they have featured in the bags of Open champion Cameron Smith and three other PGA Tour winners (J.T. Poston, Joohyung Kim, Will Zalatoris). So, when TSR hit the shops in September they were already fully tour validated.Titleist TSR2The TSR2 has a more refined players’ shape than previous models, yet it remains…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432MIND GAMES HOW TO GUARANTEE A GREAT ROUND OF GOLFIt is a natural human instinct to look for certainty in life. But right now, we'd have to admit life is not making it so easy for us. Be it post-pandemic adjustment, the cost of living crisis or the war in Ukraine, the world at present seems both unsettled and unsettling; and this is, of course, one reason why the recent death of our sovereign - a rare source of assurance in a changing world - was so keenly felt. This may not seem to have too much to do with golf, you might argue. But I would dispute that. The game we love has the potential to help us find much of the certainty we crave in life, if we would let it. For this we have to look…3 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432FRONT NINEWAR WOUNDS VISIBLE AT CANTERBURY GCThe term ‘walking on hallowed ground’ has never been more appropriate than at Canterbury Golf Club. At first glance, the fairways just look burnt out, but what you can actually make out are the outlines of 100-year-old practice trenches, which re-emerged during the recent heatwave.Each of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th and 9th fairways feature remnants of zig-zagging ditches, which were used to train soldiers during World War I.The club's soil is strikingly similar to that of northern France, making it an ideal training ground for those travelling to the Continent.According to historical records kept by Kent County Council, it is likely the trenches were used by soldiers based at the Royal East Kent Regiment barracks prior to the course being built in 1927.A legacy…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432WHAT THEY SAY“Men and women, six of each on each team. I just think with the strength and quality you have in the ladies’ game now, on the international side, I think that would really equate the teams. Look at the rankings, you only need to go down as far as number eight in the world to fill the six ladies that would join the six international players.”Paul McGinley believes he has come up with the perfect solution to make the Presidents Cup more competitive in the future.“I've been through a lot in the past couple of years, specifically injuries. I found that a pretty significant mental challenge to get through. There were times during last year where I didn't think that I was going to be playing this year, so it's…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432WHAT THEY SAY“Men and women, six of each on each team. I just think with the strength and quality you have in the ladies’ game now, on theinternational side, I think that would really equate the teams. Look at the rankings, you only need to go down as far as number eight in the world to fill the six ladies that would join the six international players.” Paul McGinley believes he has come up with the perfect solution to make the Presidents Cup more competitive in the future. “I've been through a lot in the past couple of years, specifically injuries. I found that a pretty significantmental challenge to get through. There were times during last year where I didn't think that I was going to be playing this year, so it's…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432AROUND THE CLUBSJack's big plans for ScotlandJack Nicklaus won all three of his Open Championships in Scotland, so it was almost inevitable that he would design a course there, and his first is set to open in late 2024. Ury Estate, near Aberdeen, is a 1,600-acre development being built around a castle, with plans for around 500 homes to create the first residential golf community in Europe branded with the Nicklaus name. The parkland design, at 7,300 yards, has views of the sea and circles the historic mansion house, part of which will be converted into the clubhouse.Reed all about it!If you needed proof that golf is a game for all ages, amateur golfer Rosemary Reed has just celebrated her fourth Central England Mixed Foursomes title – at the grand old age…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432THE RULES WINTER RULES REFRESHER!Preferred Lies (also known as ‘winter rules’) only apply to parts of the general area cut to fairway height or less. This does not cover rough or putting greens, but it does include aprons around the greens or paths mowed through the rough when they are cut to fairway height or less. It might save your back, but using your foot wedge to move your ball to a nicer piece of grass is not allowed. If you choose to roll the ball with your foot rather than placing it with your hand, you will be hit with a one-stroke penalty. As you are taking ‘relief’, you are allowed to clean or even substitute the ball when you're placing it. The ball must be placed on a spot no nearer the…3 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432OBJECT OF DESIRE TIGER'S PUTTER GIVEN A MASTERS TWISTIf you're of the belief that you can never have too many putters, you might want to feast your eyes on this collection, which wouldn't look out of place in Tiger Woods’ garage. With limited runs ranging from 500 to just 150 each year, these Masters-branded putters are seriously rare and typically only available to official patrons with deep pockets. That was until Golf Clubs 4 Cash managed to acquire a set of nine Scotty Cameron putters, featuring unique designs with special-edition headcovers.The collection starts (naturally) with the first-ever Masters edition, produced in 2013, and possibly the most iconic putter of them all: Tiger's favourite, the Newport 2. The Newport features a further four times, along with the Laguna, Fastback and Flowback 5.5 from last year.The entire collection is priced…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432YOUR VIEWAs well as email (editDrial@toDdaysgolfer.CO.uk) and post (Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough, PE2 6EA), you can contact us using any of these social platforms…@Thetodaysgolfer@TodaysGolferBauer@Todaysgolfer@TodaysgolferPING LETTER OF WINS… ABRAND-NEW PING PUTTER RRR €250AN UNWANTED 15TH CLUBMy wife and I recently had a week's golfing break at one of Norfolk's best clubs. I won't name the course as that's not important. We had a balcony overlooking the 18th fairway and, after a morning's round, spent most afternoons on said balcony. What shocked my wife and I was how many golfers were using 15 clubs, not 14. This 15th club I refer to is called the ‘foot wedge’.The number of players who used the foot wedge to give themselves a better lie was unbelievable. One chap drove his ball out of bounds and…3 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 43250 BRILLIANT WINTER GREEN FEE DEALSAT TOP 100 COURSESTurnberry Ailsa £350 (£425 non-resident) Fri-Mon down to (>) £120 (£200) Fri-Sun Carnoustie £270 > £135 Cruden Bay £165 midweek > £75 midweek Royal Aberdeen £195 > £95 Dornoch £210 > £115 Nairn £190 Mon-Sun > £50-£60 Royal Birkdale £295 > £185 Gullane £195 Mon-Fri > £98 North Berwick £200 Sun-Fri > £110 Prestwick £220 Mon-Fri > £105 Western Gailes £190 including lunch Mon-Fri > £70 Southerness £90 > £50 (£60 weekend) Gleneagles £230 > £78 The Machrie £80 (£130 visitor) > £65 both Royal St George's £225 > £125 Ganton £150 Mon-Fri > £80 Alwoodley £175 > £125 Mooortown £150 weekend > £75 Hollinwell £150 Mon-Fri > £75 Sherwood Forest £100 > £55 The Grove £199 Thu-Sun > £135 Aldeburgh £125 Sun-Fri > £65 Thorpeness £70 > £45 The…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432SHOT #1 DRIVETHE TECHNIQUE PRIORITISE ALIGNMENTWith the possible exception of the putter, the driver is the most important club in the bag to aim well; unfortunately, it's also the hardest. Its long shaft puts us furthest from the ball at address, making a square stance a tricky business. But it's important to persevere here and get it right: as we will see, poor aim sabotages distance as well as direction. The key understanding here is to base your alignment on a picture of the line from ball to the hole. Square alignment means arranging ourselves parallel to that line - as per the classic image of parallel railway lines.The big no-noBy far the most common alignment error is to aim directly at the target as opposed to parallel to the ball-target line.…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432SHOT #3 PITCHTHE TECHNIQUE PRESERVE 'Y'For your technical understanding on pitching, I want you to picture the Y shape created by your arms and club at set-up. From here, imagine a part-swing where the shape remains intact throughout. How would that look? And feel? And what might be the advantages of such a motion for pitch shots?Here, I'm demonstrating this preserved Y technique at its backswing and throughswing extremes. Two things stand out: There is little or no wrist action. The arms remain broadly extended, as they were at address.While this motion may look a little wooden, it has three massive advantages to pitching:1. It is easier to control the speed of the club2. It is easier to control the loft on the clubface.3. It is easier to control the low point…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432SHOT #5 PUTTTHE TECHNIQUE HOW POSTURE AFFECTS LINE AND LENGTHBecause putting is not an athletic motion, it can be easy to relegate techniq ue to an afterthought. But as we will see here, unless you are technically sound at address you are asking for trouble. Putting is about speed and direction. We achieve the first through a solid, centred strike and the second through a square blade. Your posture can make or break these crucial elements.Speed… and a centred strikeHere, my address obeys three simple but important rules: My eyes are directly over the ball The clubshaft and forearms form a continuous line. I'm perfectly balanced, weight evenly spread under the laces. Combined, these elements give me my best chance of controlling the path of the stroke, and so centring the strike.…3 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432HOW THE NEW QUALIFICATION SYSTEM WORKSQualification began at the BMW PGA Championship last month and will continue through to September 3 next year, three weeks before the start of the Ryder Cup. Six spots will be allocated to the three leading players on the European Points List, followed by the top three on the World Points List. Captain Luke Donald will then select six wildcards – the same amount as US captain Zach Johnson – to complete his 12-man team in Rome. The Ryder Cup committee have also agreed to a change in the points allocation for the European Points List, to the benefit of members playing mainly on the DP World Tour. The eligibility of LIV golfers has yet to be decided.…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432SIX TO WATCHRory McIlroy told us that there's a “core of six or seven guys” who are pretty much assured of a place in Luke Donald's team. That leaves just a handful of places up for grabs to join the likes of Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose on the plane to Italy. These are some of the leading candidates so far…FRANCESCO MOLINARICan you imagine the uproar in Italy if their favourite son isn't picked, particularly as he went five for five in Paris in 2018 and formed one half of the ‘Moliwood’ partnership. Injuries and a loss of form have pushed him behind his fellow countryman Guido Migliozzi in the pecking order, but he is slowly working his way back up the…3 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432SHOT #2 MID-IRONTHE TECHNIQUE HARNESS THE SWING'S LOW POINT Technically, the key iron concept we need to understand is low point - the bottom of the clubhead's generally circular arc. The low point of the swing happens when our lead arm and clubshaft are at their point of maximum extension: this puts it broadly under our lead chest. Low point and ball-turf strike This understanding is vital for irons, because to create the correct contact and flight they need to be struck with a slightly downward or descending blow. If you are to achieve this, the club must not reach the low point of its arc until after the ball is struck. Technically, this means the lead chest and low point of the swing must be ahead (target-side of the ball at…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432SHOT #4 CHIPTHE TECHNIQUE SET-UP MATCHES IDEAL IMPACT We all instinctively know when we've hit a good chip shot. There is that perfect, nipped contact of ball just before ground, and of course the sweetspot strike. We can also picture the conditions that create that strike - smooth acceleration, quiet hands, gently downward attack angle. In such a short swing as a chip, it's vital we preset these ideal impact conditions through our address. Spot the difference Take a look at these two images. The shot on the left is at address: the right is impact. But if it wasn't for the movement in the clubface and the ball, you'd be hard pushed to tell them apart. And here is the technical understanding; on chip shots, the closer you can get your…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432SHOT #5 PUTTTHE TECHNIQUE HOW POSTURE AFFECTS LINE AND LENGTH Because putting is not an athletic motion, it can be easy to relegate techniq ue to an afterthought. But as we will see here, unless you are technically sound at address you are asking for trouble. Putting is about speed and direction. We achieve the first through a solid, centred strike and the second through a square blade. Your posture can make or break these crucial elements. Speed… and a centred strike Here, my address obeys three simple but important rules: My eyes are directly over the ball The clubshaft and forearms form a continuous line. I'm perfectly balanced, weight evenly spread under the laces. Combined, these elements give me my best chance of controlling the path of the stroke, and so…3 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432HOW THE NEW QUALIFICATION SYSTEM WORKSQualification began at the BMW PGA Championship last month and will continue through to September 3 next year, three weeks before the start of the Ryder Cup. Six spots will be allocated to the three leading players on the European Points List, followed by the top three on the World Points List. Captain Luke Donald will then select six wildcards – the same amount as US captain Zach Johnson – to complete his 12-man team in Rome. The Ryder Cup committee have also agreed to a change in the points allocation for the European Points List, to the benefit of members playing mainly on the DP World Tour. The eligibility of LIV golfers has yet to be decided.…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432BUILDING THE PERFECT CLUBTHE COURSEJohn “It needs to be just as enjoyable and just as playable regardless of your handicap. There's nothing worse than feeling a course is beyond you. You want everyone to walk away saying, ‘I loved that course’.”Beef “But it also needs to be a course that makes you a better player. A good teeing system allows you all to play at a level, but you also want to help people improve, especially around the greens.”THE RULESJohn “There should be higher punishments for people who don't play provisional balls. And I'd like to see spotters on every golf course! We had one at our club champs on a hole where, normally, two out of four players lose their ball, but on that day nobody lost a ball.”Beef “Not getting relief…3 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432MANAGE YOUR WAY TO LOWER SCORESThe object of golf is to get the ball in the hole in as few shots as possible. How strange it is, then, that achieving this is so rarely thought about by the world's golfers. With long game power and full-swing technique dominating the hearts and minds of today's club players, scoring can all too easily be relegated to an afterthought. That is a shame, because it is here–within too yards of the green–that we can really start to express ourselves as golfers.Yes, of course, a base level of technical competences helpful in scoring; but with elements such as awarencess, creativity, course reading and mental state all playing vital roles, scoring is clearly more art than science.In this article you will learn five key practices that will help you develop…7 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432THE CAPTAIN SUZANN PETTERSENTHE 18th SOLHEIM CUP ONE YEAR TO GO What were your impressions of Finca Cortesin when you first visited? It is an amazing resort! The facilities are first class. Finca Cortesin is definitely the best venue of the Solheim Cup in my time and possibly in the history of the Solheim Cup. It has so many fantastic facilities, with an incredible hotel and restaurants on-site, as well as one of Europe's best golf courses. I can't wait to return here next year for the actual event. The closer we get, the more excited I get. Every day I have to pinch myself that this is not all just a dream. It has one of the finest hotels in Europe, not just among golf hotels – what aspects do you particularly…3 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432HARRY KANE TALKS GOLFHarry Kane is one of those annoying people who excels in just about every sporting activity he tries his hand at. Millions will be watching as the Tottenham striker leads the England team out for the World Cup in Qatar in a few weeks’ time. But not many will know he's an accomplished golfer, too; a scratch handicap Wentworth member who has played with Tiger Woods. Twice. Earlier this year he even teed it up at Augusta National, 24 hours after Scottie Scheffler had donned the Green Jacket. Kane cannot get enough of golf. Obviously rounds are restricted during the football season, but whenever he has time off, he usually ends up on the course, often with Spurs teammates Eric Dier and Matt Doherty… as he reveals here in our…9 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432THE BEST COURSES TO PLAY IN QATARThe players won't have time for any golf in Qatar, but visiting fans might fancy teeing it up and the good news is that the capital, Doha, is the home of two quality DP World Tour venues. First to arrive in this corner of the Middle East was Peter Harradine's par 72 Doha GC layout, which first hosted the Qatar Masters in 1998. The Qatar Masters switched to Education City GC, home of the equally challenging Jose Maria Olazabal layout, in 2020. It's next to the World Cup stadium (inset) and boasts a floodlit nine-holer along with a six-hole course warm-up –ideal if you haven't a lot of time on your hands. Green fees: Doha from £120; Education City from £84.…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432THE BEST WORLD CUP GOLFERS EVERANDRIY SHEVCHENKO Two goals helped his Ukraine team through to the WC quarterfinals in 2006. Passionate golfer who turned pro in 2020. Handicap fluctuates between one and four. LUIS FIGO The Portuguese idol played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid and appeared in two World Cups (2002,2006). He plays off single figures. PEP GUARDIOLA The Man City boss was capped 47 times by Spain and represented his country in the 1994 World Cup. An enthusiastic golfer, but he won't be happy with his 10-handicap. RUUD GULLIT Captained Holland in the 1990 WC, where the Dutch were defeated by Germany in the last 16. The seven-handicapper regularly plays in the Dunhill Links at St Andrews. ALAN SHEARER Scored twice in his solitary WC in 1998, when England were knocked out by…1 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432THE KEY QUESTION HOW HARD SHOULD I HIT THE BALL?We need to take a step back before answering this common question. Instead of considering how hard to hit the ball, we need to ask ourselves what part of our body we're using to generate the force. If we try to generate speed from the wrong areas, we are doomed no matter how hard we hit: conversely, when we focus on the correct power generators, we can hit the ball a long way with relatively little effort. In this article we are going to learn how good footwork fires up the swing's ideal power creators, and delivers maximum force for minimal effort. Let's get started.TAKING IT FROM THE TOPHere we are at the top of the backswing, primed to make our downswing move and pile on the speed. At this…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432BUILDING THE PERFECT CLUBTHE COURSE John “It needs to be just as enjoyable and just as playable regardless of your handicap. There's nothing worse than feeling a course is beyond you. You want everyone to walk away saying, ‘I loved that course’.” Beef “But it also needs to be a course that makes you a better player. A good teeing system allows you all to play at a level, but you also want to help people improve, especially around the greens.” THE RULES John “There should be higher punishments for people who don't play provisional balls. And I'd like to see spotters on every golf course! We had one at our club champs on a hole where, normally, two out of four players lose their ball, but on that day nobody lost a…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432MANAGE YOUR WAY TO LOWER SCORESThe object of golf is to get the ball in the hole in as few shots as possible. How strange it is, then, that achieving this is so rarely thought about by the world's golfers. With long game power and full-swing technique dominating the hearts and minds of today's club players, scoring can all too easily be relegated to an afterthought. That is a shame, because it is here–within too yards of the green–that we can really start to express ourselves as golfers. Yes, of course, a base level of technical competences helpful in scoring; but with elements such as awarencess, creativity, course reading and mental state all playing vital roles, scoring is clearly more art than science. In this article you will learn five key practices that will help…7 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432PING i230 IRONSAny brand looking to update their most-played tour iron approaches the project with serious trepidation. And so they should. Companies have come to realise over the years that fiddling with the clubs top tour players are very comfortable with comes with significant risk. New clubs might look great at sales presentations, but if they don't get used by the world's best players, questions are asked…Ping's i210 has been their most-played tour iron since 2018, and during its four-year lifespan it has racked up 45 tour wins in the hands of stars such as Viktor Hovland and Lee Westwood. There was plenty of pressure on its replacement, so Ping asked their players what improvements they wanted from an i210 replacement.While many said leave it alone, former Open Champion Stewart Cink opened…2 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432PXG 0317 ST BLADESHaving a US Marines call sign for its name says everything you need to know about PXG's new elite player 0317 ST blade.That's the designation of a ‘Scout Sniper’, a Marine who's highly skilled in marksmanship and who can deliver precision long-range fire onto a selected target. In golf terms, it means this beautiful new muscleback blade is aimed at skilled golfers who dine out on shaping shots towards the flagstick.‘THE 0317 TAKES ITS NAME FROM SNIPER MARINES. AS THAT SUGGESTS, IT'S AIMED AT SKILLED GOLFERS’According to PXG, what sets the new 0317 ST blade apart is the forged then CNC-milled construction and robot polishing, which eliminates the inconsistencies traditionally associated with hand-finishing irons and wedges. PXG's unique weight tech - which lets golfers try lighter and heavier swingweights and/or…3 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432MORE MOD/1 IRONSTo many, the word ‘modular’ will conjure nightmarish images of putting toget her Ikea flat-pack furniture. The giant Swedish retailer introduced modular furniture decades ago, giving consumers the ability to customise an item to whatever space they had available at home. To PGA professional-tumed-golf club engineer Bruce Sizemore, however, modular has represented a new opportunity to take golf clubs back to the drawing board. There, he did away with the rules relating to head design and created afresh without being influenced by preconceived ideas of how golf clubs need to look. That fresh thinking has allowed Sizemore to work out ways to optimise golf clubs that just haven't been possible before. “This is not different for the sake of being different,” he explains. “More is different because there's significant performance…4 min
Today's Golfer|Issue 432TAYLORMADE'S NEW CUSTOM BUILD LABCustom fitted golf equipment has never been more popular – and TaylorMade are one of the major benefactors. Not so long ago they customised just five percent of the clubs they sold. Now that number almost exceeds 50 percent.To keep up with demand, the brand have just invested £1 million to extend the custom build lab at their European HQ in Basingstoke, allowing them to triple their daily output. Naturally, we wanted to see it for ourselves, so we secured ourselves an access-all-areas pass to find out the extensive process your clubs go through before they reach your doorstep.THE LAB IN FOCUSTech reliantTechnology plays a massive role in keeping things on track. All club parts have a barcode and are scanned at every workstation. It means any mistake can be…2 min
