Friday 15 January 2016
Ryder Cup star Victory Dubuisson is the highest-profile player to join TaylorMade in 2016. The firm has strengthened its European Tour statt with the addition of the Frenchman, along with Joost Luiten, Fabrizio Zanotti, Pelle Edberg, Joakim Lagergren, John Parry and Nacho Elvira. Dubuisson, who has multiple career victories on the European Tour playing Titleist equipment, turned professional in 2010 after enjoying...
Written by Rob McGarr on Monday 11 January 2016
Jordan Spieth dominated the Hyundai Tournamen of Champions, shooting rounds of 66, 64, 65 and 67 to give him an eight-shot victory and seventh career win. But the 22-year-old Texan wasn’t the only one to hit some tasty shots at the Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii. Watch these beauties and then pick your favourite… Jordan Spieth burnt the edge for an...
Written by Rob McGarr on Monday 11 January 2016
Jordan Spieth’s latest victory, a dominant showing at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, has drawn further comparisons between the 22-year-old Texan and 14-time major champ Tiger Woods. Spieth’s eight-shot victory made him only the second player in PGA Tour history to finish a 72-hole event at 30-under or better, following Ernie Els’ 31-under total at the Tournament of Champions in 2003.
Written by Simon Daddow, Equipment Editor on Friday 8 January 2016
Many golfers take great care in selecting the perfect driver, but plough on with a set of hand-me-down irons they’ve had for a decade. Considering you’re likely to hit your driver a dozen times in a round, at most, and hit 25-40 iron shots, it makes sense to put a lot of care into choosing the perfect irons for your...
Written by Rob McGarr on Wednesday 6 January 2016
A recent National Golf Foundation survey shows that over two-thirds of golfers use a distance-measuring device of some sort. Advocates say it gives them greater confidence, makes the game more enjoyable and, crucially, helps combat slow play. Ironically, the only players able to hit exact yardages consistently are the only ones not permitted to use them. On the PGA and European Tours,...
Written by Rob McGarr on Tuesday 5 January 2016
Shane Lowry’s miracle wedge shot has been voted 2015 European Tour Shot of the Year. Lowry’s shot, played at a crucial moment during the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, received nearly 25% of the votes. “It’s a huge honour to win European Tour Shot of the Year,” says Lowry. “It’s a shot I will never forget. Thanks to everyone who voted. I’m looking forward...
Monday 4 January 2016
Koepka, who is ranked 16th in the World Rankings, turned pro in 2012. The 25-year-old competed at Florida State University before joining the Challenge Tour in Europe, where he won four events. On the 2015 PGA Tour, he was a top-ten finisher in driving distance, won the Phoenix open title and finished T-5 at the PGA Championship. “Nike is an iconic...
Written by Rob McGarr on Monday 21 December 2015
Tiger Woods turns 40 on 30th December 2015. During the last decade, he’s slumped from the dominant player of his generation to 414th in the world, with back operations coming more frequently than tournament wins. Woods, who hasn’t won a Major since 2008, was recently named as on of Davis Love’s assistants for the 2016 Ryder Cup – an honour typically...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 17 December 2015
As 2015 draws to a close, it’s that time of year when we all retire to the drawing room and nestle down in front of an open fire, snifter of whiskey in hand, to reflect on the year’s highs and lows. In our case, that means watching 10 videos the PGA Tour have selected as their ‘shots of the year’ and...
Written by Rob McGarr on Tuesday 15 December 2015
When you watch a lot of golf, it’s easy to think that every hole is a birdie-fest. The top players hit it so far and so pure that most courses seem to have no defence against red-hot scoring. But, sometimes, the holes do come out on top. When it comes to the battle against players, the 17th at St Andrews is...
Written by Rob McGarr on Monday 14 December 2015
The Franklin Templeton Shootout is the PGA Tour’s version of the last day of term, when you’re allowed to bring in your favourite toys and watch largely unsuitable films while your teacher slyly nurses a bottle of whisky hidden in her handbag. The three-day pairs tournament, which comprises a scramble on the Thursday, alternate shot on Friday and better ball on...
Written by Rob McGarr on Monday 14 December 2015
We’re a bit upset that The Open won’t be on BBC anymore. We could cogitate on the pros and cons of that for hours, but one thing is for sure: we will very much enjoy Sky’s generous use of Protracer when the 2016 Open at Royal Troon comes around. We bloody love Protracer. We don’t know what it is, but there’s...
Written by Courses & Travel Editor Kevin Brown on Monday 14 December 2015
The 2022 Ryder Cup will be played at the Marco Simone course in Rome – the first time Italy has staged the bi-annual clash between Europe and the USA. It will be the 44th Ryder Cup and Italy somewhat surprisingly got the vote ahead of Germany and Spain’s bids while Austria were also in the running though very much the outsiders. European...
Written by Garrett Johnston on Friday 11 December 2015
“I want people to know who I am,” says Patrick Reed. He shouldn’t have too many concerns on that front. The 25-year-old from San Antonio, Texas, only turned pro four years ago, but his short career has already made countless headlines, cementing his role as golf’s biggest bad boy. He’s been accused of cheating in college events and stealing from fellow...
Written by Stuart Hood on Friday 11 December 2015
Francesco Molinari is the most accurate driver on the PGA Tour. That’s not our opinion – it’s a FACT. He hit more fairways than anyone else last season. We asked him for his secrets to finding the short grass, his plans for the Ryder Cup 2016 – and his love for West Ham. Your driving accuracy of 76.88% was the best...
Written by Rob McGarr on Monday 7 December 2015
John Daly was the first player to average over 300 yards in driving distance for an entire season. When he achieved that feat in 2001, he was the only one to do it. In 2015, 26 players on the PGA Tour did it, while 27 maintained an average of 300 yards or more on the European Tour. Daly was the original bomber.
Written by Rob McGarr on Monday 7 December 2015
Bubba Watson won the Hero World Challenge at the weekend, a tournament he very nearly didn’t enter. Having recently adopted a daughter, Bubba feared that her adoption paperwork and passport would not be sorted in time to allow her to travel, so declined his invitation to participate. “I said no, but if somebody does back out, let me know and...
Written by Rob McGarr on Friday 4 December 2015
Byeong Hun An has been crowned European Tour Rookie of the Year, becoming the first Korean winner of the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award. 24-year-old An made a significant impact early in his maiden campaign in The Race to Dubai, sealing a first European Tour title at one of its most prestigious events, the BMW PGA Championship at...
Written by Stuart Hood on Thursday 3 December 2015
The moment that changed George Coetzee’s life forever came when he was 13. “My mates and I used to play nine holes every day,” he recalls. “One day, my dad said, ‘This rubbish has got to stop. If you want to make it as a golfer you need to practise your putting while they play.’” Fast-forward 16 years and 29-year-old...
Written by Denis Hurley on Wednesday 2 December 2015
If you follow professional golf, you’ve probably found yourself, at one time or another, struggling to understand how the world golf rankings work. It can often seem nonsensical, particularly when players gain top spot in a week when they’ve missed the cut – or even just stayed at home. But there is a system. And it makes sense. You just...