Monday 17 October 2016
The rules of golf don’t say that you have to put a mark on your ball, but it’s a very good idea nonetheless. Rule 6-5 states: “The responsibility for playing the proper ball rests with the player. Each player should put an identification mark on his ball.” Grabbing a Sharpie and adding your initials or a little smiley face could stop you...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 31 March 2016
Jordan Spieth had us ridiculously excited after winning the first two majors of 2015. We went into The Open at St Andrews knowing that Spieth, who was yet to turn 21, was already halfway to a proper Grand Slam. The ‘Tiger Slam’ of 2000-2001 which saw him hold all four major titles at once was hugely impressive, of course, but Big...
Written by Rob McGarr on Monday 28 March 2016
Jason Day’s WGC-Dell Match Play victory saw him become the number one player in the world. The 28-year-old Australian will be hoping he can stay there for longer than the one week he managed last time he was in that position, and it would take a brave man to bet against him. Day overcame a bad back and arguably the best...
Written by Rob McGarr on Sunday 27 March 2016
There isn’t much that Russell Knox won’t try in his hunt for success. Only a month ago we discovered that the 30-year-old had turned to Google in the hunt for a putting tip that would change his game. He found one, and it worked, helping him secure his first European Tour title at the WGC-HSBC Champions. << Check out the internet tip...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 24 March 2016
A couple of years ago, a survey of 25 PGA Tour players revealed that 18 of them don’t think about anything at all during their golf swing. But can that really be true? You’re playing on the world’s biggest stage, with millions watching and huge amounts of money on the line, and we’re meant to believe that your mind isn’t racing with...
Written by Rob McGarr on Wednesday 23 March 2016
Ever since Paul the Octopus (RIP) proved surprisingly successful at predicting football results, other animals have been stepping up to the plate. A clairvoyant manatee named Buffett correctly predicted the Superbowl winner six years on the trot, a small-clawed otter had some success during Euro 2012, a Brazilian sea turtle backed his home nation to do well in the 2014 World...
Written by Rob McGarr on Tuesday 22 March 2016
Last week, we brought you the news that both Jordan Spieth and Ian Poulter were having a bit of a hard time on social media. Spieth wasn’t happy that a tweet from the PGA Tour’s official account made it sound like he might feign injury to withdraw from the Valspar Championship, and his mood wasn’t improved when someone on Instagram...
Written by Rob McGarr on Tuesday 22 March 2016
Whenever we see a trickshot genius in action, we always wonder why they aren’t competing on tour rather than entertaining people on a corporate golf day. If you can hit a 350-yard high draw off the deck with a driver, what’s stopping you winning PGA or European Tour events? Admittedly, being able to hit a flop shot with an umbrella...
Written by Rob McGarr on Sunday 20 March 2016
@PGATOUR What’s the point In educating kids about the importance of shouting FORE!! (Jason Day’s tee shot on 18) Ridiculous & dangerous — Nick Huby (@PCGAJUNIORTOUR) March 20, 2016 Jason Day won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, making an excellent up-and-down from the bunker on the final hole to snatch a one-shot victory over Kevin Chappell after a final round filled with twists...
Written by Rob McGarr on Friday 18 March 2016
We all know what it’s like to reach the turn after a good nine holes. “Just keep it going,” we tell ourselves. “Nothing silly on the back nine and this will be a great round.” Inevitably, the wheels fall off and we’re left struggling to make the buffer zone. So imagine what it would be like to play the first nine...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 17 March 2016
By any normal person’s standards, Jordan Spieth hasn’t had a bad start at all to 2016. In seven starts, he has one victory, one second place, and a further top-five finish. By the standards of a man who won the first two majors of last year and picked up seven titles, earning over $23 million in prize money, however, he’s...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 17 March 2016
The PGA of America has decided to permanently cancel the Grand Slam of Golf. The four-man, 36-hole event had been played annually since 1979 and typically brings together the four major champions from the previous calendar year. There was no Grand Slam of Golf in 2015. The PGA decided to pull the event due to be played at Trump National after Donald...
Written by Rob McGarr on Wednesday 16 March 2016
Last week, after a disappointing 76 in the opening round of the Valspar Championship, Jordan Spieth checked social media to find the PGA Tour insinuating that he might feign injury and withdraw from the tournament and a ‘fan’ describing him as “garbage” and that, putting aside, every aspect of his game is average. Spieth understandably took umbrage and reacted to both...
Written by Rob McGarr on Wednesday 16 March 2016
Who do you think is the best putter in the world? Jordan Spieth? Brandt Snedeker? Aaron Baddeley? Jason Day? Not even close. The above names are all fantastic with the flat blade, but they’re not a patch on Steve Stricker. It pays to be careful when looking at golf statistics, as they can easily be misinterpreted. Some people would assume that the simplest...
Written by Rob McGarr on Tuesday 15 March 2016
When you go for a golf lesson, the pro will normally ask you what you’re hoping to achieve. Almost everybody says, “more consistency”. It makes sense. There isn’t a golfer out there who hasn’t hit at least one shot they were happy with. It’s what keeps you coming back for more. If you could hit every drive like that one on the...
Written by Today's Golfer on Monday 14 March 2016
It’s hasn’t all been plain sailing for Keith Pelley, the new boss of the European Tour, since he took over last autumn. He made headlines when he bent the rules for Rory McIlroy, changed the Ryder Cup qualifying rules and pledged to tackle slow play – but Pelley is also thinking about the bigger picture… How’s it been so far? Very busy.
Written by Rob McGarr on Monday 14 March 2016
We feel sorry for Brandon Hagy’s golf ball. The 24-year-old American hits it HARD. During yesterday’s final round of the Valspar Championship, Hagy hit three drives on holes that were being tracked by TrackMan. One of them had a ball speed of 193.65 miles per hour, one was clocked at 191.32 mph, and even the slowest of the three was...
Written by Rob McGarr on Friday 11 March 2016
Jordan Spieth hasn’t been very Jordan Spiethy lately. He finished outside the top-20 at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, missed the cut at the Northern Trust Open, and finished tied-17th at last week’s WGC-Cadillac Championship, only registering one round in the 60s. It’s a long way from being a disaster – it’s not even a slump – but the world number...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 10 March 2016
Adam Scott, a man dismissed by many as a 35-year-old has-been destined for a life of misery with a short putter he can’t use, has proved his doubters wrong by winning the last two events on the PGA Tour. Scott, who now has 13 PGA Tour wins to add to his 10 European Tour victories and one major, won the Honda...
Written by Rob McGarr on Thursday 10 March 2016
The Olympic Golf Course in Rio just hosted its first event, ahead of the game’s reintroduction to the Olympics this August. Five men and four women, all Brazilian professionals, took part in a test event designed to see how the course handles quality players and shots. Miriam Nagl was the best-performing woman of the day, shooting a 4-under par 67, while...