If there’s one golf business event you
WWW.WORLDG
k GLOBAL GOLF CONFERENCE k GLOBAL GOLF TRADE SHOW k GLOBAL GOLF AWARDS k GLOBAL AGRONOMY SYMPOSIUM k GOLF TOURNAMENTS k GOLF TOURISM WORLD GOLF EXPO MARCH 16 - 18, 2021 MISSION HILLS, HAIKOU, HAINAN, CHINA
A GOLF BUSINESS CARNIVAL LIKE NEVER BEFORE. SIMPLY THE BEST!
u must attend in 2021, make it WGE!
GOLFEXPO.COM
MISSION HILLS GROUP
www.missionhillschina.com
ASIA PACIFIC GOLF GROUP ZZZ DVLDSDFLÆ“FJROIJURXS FRP
ISSUE
238
AUGUST 2020
The World Golf Expo (WGE) will lift off and throw open its doors for one of the world’s most important business gatherings of the multi-billion-dollar golf industry. The inaugural event, co-organised by the giant Mission Hills Group and the Asia Pacific Golf Group (the publisher of Asian Golf) will be staged on the spectacular island of Hainan. This island has often been described as the “Hawaii of the East” and for good reason. It has a vista of stunning landscapes complete with miles of pristine beautiful beaches washed by warm and inviting tropical waters. A perfect venue for a world class golf summit!
16 28 HAINAN – ASIA’S NEW BUSINESS POWERHOUSE! The idyllic island of Hainan is stirring. It is taking on the major free trade ports of the world and it has big plans to be a major force in international trade. Time for the golf industry to wake up and start looking at Hainan as a manufacturing and operational base in Asia.
SHARED THOUGHTS | FROM PUBLISHER
8
38
While professional golf has been busy churning out young, new and talented players, the game has stubbornly clung on to a man who has been singularly credited with the success of the modern game. The history that he has created since he first walked onto to the competition platform in 1996 and the legacy that he has created, is perhaps the greatest story ever told and recorded in the world of sport. The most talked about professional golfer at the moment has got to be the 26-year old Bryson DeChambeau. Everyone is talking about the outrageous distances that he is recording with his drives. Even the legendary Tiger Woods has a thing or two to say about DeChambeau’s performance. Find out what Tiger has to say.
ISSUE
238
AUGUST 2020
Polling is over for the inaugural Global Golf Awards. Scheduled to have been concluded at the end of May but because of the pandemic, the deadline for the on-line poll was extended to July 31. The reason for the extension of the deadline was due to the fact that a great majority of golf clubs the world over were in a state of lockdown meaning that they had no access to their members and golfers to promote the online poll. Based on the outcome of the number of valid votes received, the extension did do the trick.
32
46 PGA TOUR: ATWAL EYES THE CHAMPIONS TOUR!
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54
One of the most recognisable names in Indian professional golf is that of Arjun Atwal. After some 25 years on the global stage, Atwal is getting ready to break onto the Champions Tour in North America. Read about this fascinating Asian professional golfer as he recalls some of his personal milestones.
54 PART EINSTEIN, PART HERCULES, ALL CHAMPION GOLFER! The centre of focus on the PGA Tour seems to be Bryson DeChambeau and his new physique and his power game. The 26-year old is currently burning up the fairways with his mind-blowing drives. ASIAN GOLF throws the spotlight on the new-look DeChambeau in this report by the PGA Tour’s Jim McCabe.
62
68
62 NUMERO UNO – MAGNIFICO! Spanish super-star, the 25-year old Jon “Rambo” Rahm is the new world number one player on Tour. ASIAN GOLF celebrates his ascendency to the Globe’s top spot in golf!
68 ISOLATION TRAINING DURING THE PANDEMIC The Coronavirus pandemic is having a large negative impact on many different aspects of society, one in particular, sports. Isolation has affected many elite athletes’ ability to practice. Golf is no exception. ASIAN GOLF turned to Shawn Humphries, ranked amongst the top elite golf coaches in the world to find out how he was coping with the coaching and training of elite players under his charge.
AUGUST 20-23
AUGUST 27-30
CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS ©2020 PGA TOUR, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PLAYER APPEARANCE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
SEPTEMBER 4-7
Mike Sebastian
INTERNATIONAL ROVING EDITOR
Editor/Chief Executive Officer [mike@asiapacificgolfgroup.com]
Alan Campbell (China/Middle East) Correspondent
GLOBAL EDITORIAL ADVISORY PANEL
Angela Raymond
President [angela@asiapacificgolfgroup.com]
Gregg Patterson
President, Tribal Magic Inc.
Andrew Wood Founder/President, Legendary Marketing
James Prusa
Raquel Arcega
Executive Creative Art Director [raquel@asiapacificgolfgroup.com]
Director, SKY72 Golf Resorts
James Cronk President, Cronk Group
IT Consultant
Alice Ho
Tech-Know Integrators
Business Executive [alice@asiapacificgolfgroup.com]
INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES
Alice Ho
Myra Paras
Email: alice@asiapacificgolfgroup.com
Accounts Executive [myra@asiapacificgolfgroup.com]
ASIA PACIFIC GOLF GROUP(2014) PTE LTD Singapore Post Centre Post Office, P.O. Box 532, Singapore 914018 Tel: +65 6323 2800 | Fax: +65 6323 2838 Company Registration No.: 201405689G
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED No part of Asian Golf may be reproduced in any other publications, printed or published without the written permission of the publisher. Opinions in Asian Golf are the writers’ and are not necessarily endorsed by Asian Golf. Asian Golf accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, transparencies or other materials. Manuscripts, photographs and artwork will not be returned unless accompanied by appropriate postage.
While professional golf has been busy churning out young, new and talented players, the game has stubbornly clung on to a man who has been singularly credited with the success of the modern game. The history that he has created since he ďŹ rst walked onto to the competition platform in 1996 and the legacy that he has created, is perhaps the greatest story ever told and recorded in the world of sport.
T
he very mention of his name emotes a sense of extreme excitement; a promise of spectacle; and a god-like persona that rules over the game. Tiger Woods has been all of this plus more. He has been to the very top of the highest pinnacle.
He has faced adversity both in the field of battle and on the personal front. He has experienced the sweet smell of success and the pain of defeat. But he has also paid a huge price for all of this and that is the toll that it has had on his personal well-being. A pain that may taunt him for the rest of his life! That said, Tiger has given us all good cause to celebrate his achievements and his contributions to the modern game. But like life itself, all good things cannot go on at infinitum. It is something that happens to all of us – and that is the challenge of ageing and trying to beat the process. This seems to be a problem confronting Tiger and he has been quoted as saying that “ageing is not fun.” In a recent interview, Tiger explained, “Early on in my career I thought it was fantastic because I was getting better and better and better and now, I’m just trying to hold on.” He has had a long lay-off due in large part
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU
to the PGA Tour’s coronavirus suspension. He had missed earlier tournaments in Florida owing to lingering back problems. After having won the Masters last April, it was felt that he would emerge from cold storage with his body suitably repaired, were wide of the mark. “I wasn’t quite moving as well as I’d like and couldn’t quite turn back and couldn’t quite clear,” said Tiger. “It was a bit of a struggle.” Of late, Tiger has conceded that back stiffness frequently emerges during pre-round warm-ups. “It’s going to happen more times than not …. the last four or five years have been difficult as
JON RAHM
I’ve gone through procedures and have tried to come back,” The 44-year old said. “I don’t have the same type of stamina as I used to have, that’s for sure, when I was training hard and running and all that stuff. Granted, I’m a lot older now, so things change, they evolve. You try to suck it up as best you can and get through it.” Tiger, you are a legend like no other. What you have done for the game of golf is monumental and your legacy for the game will live on through the ages and it will be carried on proudly on the shoulders of a whole cadre of youngsters who were weaned on the spirit of Tiger Woods. Play if you wish, but your fans will always cherish the memories that you have given them to remember you by.
XANDER SCHAUFFELE
JORDAN SPIETH
JUSTIN THOMAS
I DON’T HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF STAMINA AS
I USED TO
HAVE, THAT’S FOR SURE, WHEN
I WAS TRAINING
HARD AND RUNNING AND ALL THAT STUFF.
GRANTED, I’M A LOT OLDER NOW, SO THINGS CHANGE, THEY EVOLVE. YOU TRY TO SUCK IT UP AS BEST YOU CAN AND GET THROUGH IT.
LI HAOTONG
SUNG-JAE I
SI WOO KIM
As the world moves on, look ahead with pride at those who will follow in your great footsteps. There are young stars like Jon Rahm (25), Xander Schauffele (25), Bryson DeChambeau (25), Jordan Spieth (26) and Justin Thomas (26). Hot on their heels are rookies who have recently graduated from college. Stars like Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa and Matthew Wolff are 23 years old or younger. This trio of young guns are followed by an impressive posse of about 20 guys who all possess tremendous talent and skill to keep the professional game humming along in good health. The youngest of the emerging young guns is a teenager called Akshay Bhatia (18) who decided to skip college and turn pro on his 18th birthday last January. And let us not forget our young guns from Asia. Amongst the hot guys are South Korea’s Sung-jae Im (21), PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, Si Woo Kim (24) with more than US$10 million in career earnings, Li Haotong (24), from China and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond (23). These youngsters have all been inspired by Tiger and they have Tiger’s will to win burning in their bellies! Golf’s future is in good hands!
M
VIKTOR HOVLAND
AKSHAY BHATIA
MATTHEW WOLFF
JAZZ JANEWATTANANOND
COLLIN MORIKAWA
The past few months will go down as the toughest months experienced by the golf industry in Asia. Never in the modern era, have the brakes been slammed down so hard on the industry. The pandemic has been merciless in its attack on governments, countries, and all ďŹ elds of human endeavour. The manufacturing sector was shut down. Local economies skidded to a halt. Airlines were grounded. All sporting activities were placed in cold storage. Lights went out in entertainment districts and the lock-down forced by the rampaging Coronavirus brought life to a grinding halt. Given this dire scenario, what are the options? Quite honestly, the options are limited but that does not mean that we all must throw up our hands and just succumb to the virus. No way! Now that we know more about the virus and with proper and effective safety protocols in place and with the effective observance of these rules by the public, life can continue and bounce back. Against this backdrop of positivity, the Inaugural World Golf Expo has ignited its booster engines and the show is well on its way to leading the golf industry on its triumphant comeback!
T
he World Golf Expo (WGE) will lift off and throw open its doors for one of the world’s most important business gatherings of the multi-billion-dollar golf industry. The inaugural event, co-organised by the giant Mission Hills Group and the Asia Pacific Golf Group (the publisher of Asian
Golf) will be staged on the spectacular island of Hainan. This island has often been described as the “Hawaii of the East” and for good reason. It has a vista of stunning landscapes
complete with miles of pristine beautiful beaches washed by
in the Asian region and justifies its development as golf’s
warm and inviting tropical waters.
major hub for the Asia Pacific,” Sebastian explained.
“It is the perfect location for a major international event
The WGE will have two distinct components – one will be
like the WGE,” said Mike Sebastian, producer of the event.
a two-day business summit and the other, a three-day trade
“With its extensive attractions, world class golf courses and
show for golf merchandise, apparel, accessories and turf and
hotels and resorts to match the best the world has to offer,
agronomy products. “One of the highlights will be the grand
we are glad to have selected the capital city of this island to
gala banquet which will see the staging of the inaugural
host this major gathering.”
Global Golf Awards, the grandest awards show in the indus-
One of the key considerations for the selection of Haikou
try,” said Sebastian. This is a very ambitious undertaking
as the venue was its geographical position to all of Asia. It is
and the programme has received tremendous support with
centrally positioned and within reach of golf’s major markets.
107,360 valid votes received from all over the world for the
“From Haikou, it is easily accessible by the millions of golfers
various featured award categories.
ONE OF THE KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE SELECTION OF
HAIKOU AS THE VENUE WAS ITS GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION TO ALL OF ASIA. IT IS CENTRALLY POSITIONED AND WITHIN REACH OF GOLF’S MAJOR MARKETS.
“FROM HAIKOU, IT IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE BY THE MILLIONS OF GOLFERS IN THE
ASIAN REGION AND JUSTIFIES ITS DEVELASIA PACIFIC.
OPMENT AS GOLF’S MAJOR HUB FOR THE
– MIKE SEBASTIAN
The main objective is to transform Haikou into the permanent venue for the WGE and the Global Golf Awards. This being the case, every effort is being made by the organisers
tion as the World’s Largest Golf Resort with 22 golf courses spread over an area that exceeds 44 square miles. “We will continue to build on our existing foundation
to present a truly memorable and world-class event. As a
based on the group’s ‘golf and more’ leisure philosophy, ex-
post pandemic event, it will be an ideal opportunity for the
panding on our business segments,” explained Dr. Chu. “We
golf industry to congregate, network and share the experi-
will continue to branch out into a wider range of investments
ences that everyone was forced to experience.
and offerings, and focus on our role as a ‘super-connector’,
In keeping with positioning the WGE as one of the
bringing into China brand offerings and experiences from
industry’s top business events, it is only appropriate that the
around the globe. By building on our strengths, opening up
WGE is presented by two men who rank amongst the most
new markets and exploring novelty projects, we will offer our
powerful people in the world of golf.
guests more diverse, vibrant, and memorable experiences,”
The joint hosts for WGE are Dr. Ken Chu, Chairman of the Mission Hills Group and Mr. Tenniel Chu, Group Vice Chairman. Together, they lead a sprawling US$10 billion conglomerate that enjoys the privileged unchallenged posi-
he added.
It is a veritable City of Leisure. In Haikou alone, the Mission Hills Group’s presence is vast: over 20 square kilometres of golf courses, 10,000 apartments, high end hotels including the Ritz-Carlton, the Renaissance, and the Hard Rock Hotel. It also operates the world’s largest spa facility, a 240,000-square-metre entertainment district and Movietown, a Universal-studio sort of experience. Another major showcase venture involves partnerships with the world famous Spanish FC Barcelona and the NBA to bring the world’s most famous football club and the world’s largest professional basketball league to its Haikou resort, making Hainan island a leading hub for football and basketball development in China. “I am proud to say that we have changed the game of golf, evolving it from being a sport for the affluent to one that caters to the mass market. By making Mission Hills Haikou accessible to the public, we aim to promote the game of golf
I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE CHANGED THE GAME OF GOLF, EVOLVING IT FROM BEING A SPORT FOR THE AFFLUENT TO ONE THAT CATERS TO THE MASS MARKET.
BY MAKING MISSION HILLS HAIKOU ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, WE AIM TO PROMOTE THE GAME OF GOLF BY MAKING IT AFFORDABLE. IN ADDITION, BY INTRODUCING MANY MORE ATTRACTIONS, FACILITIES AND AMENITIES, WE ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO VISIT A GOLF DESTINATION COLLECTIVELY TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.
– TENNIEL CHU
MOVIETOWN
FC BARCELONA MUSEUM
by making it affordable. In addition, by introducing many
gentlemen who have so much to offer and share with the golf
more attractions, facilities and amenities, we encourage
industry,” said Sebastian. He went on to add, “Collectively,
families to visit a golf destination collectively to have a good
they are owners of a unique template for success and they
time,” pointed out Mr. Chu.
will both help set the mood and tempo for the Dawn Of A New
“On the golf front, our mission is to grow the game so it’s available for everyone, beyond how it is seen traditionally as a
Era for golf in the Asia Pacific region.” The confirmed show dates for WGE are March 16 – 18,
prestigious and elite game. Each year over 25,000 juniors go
2021. In the coming weeks, the event programme and speak-
through our doors – we have the world’s largest youth golfing
ers will be rolled out “We have lined up a very impressive list
programme. We also have three golf courses that are free to
of international speakers who will be unveiled in the next few
juniors globally to access and experience golf,” Mr. Chu added.
weeks, “Sebastian revealed.
Driven by the unending vision of the two Chu brothers,
Besides the programme, the organisers are also work-
there is no end to the development of the Mission Hills facili-
ing on various special deals which will include extremely
ties in Haikou. In a nutshell, the Mission Hills resort is made
attractive stay and play golf packages and visits to the major
to inspire a healthy, harmonious, and happy lifestyle.
attractions at the Mission Hills Resort. “The aim is to create
“We are delighted that both Dr. Chu and Tenniel have
and generate a carnival-like atmosphere at WGE and with the
accepted the invitation to be co-hosts of the World Golf Expo
massive resources of the Mission Hills Group, expect only the
… we could not ask for more gracious hosts than these two
very best,” said Sebastian.
NBA MUSEUM
WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD ON OUR EXISTING FOUNDATION BASED ON THE GROUP’S ‘GOLF AND MORE’ LEISURE PHILOSOPHY, EXPANDING ON OUR BUSINESS SEGMENTS. “WE WILL CONTINUE TO BRANCH OUT INTO A WIDER RANGE OF INVESTMENTS AND OFFERINGS, AND FOCUS ON OUR ROLE AS A ‘SUPER-CONNECTOR’, BRINGING INTO CHINA BRAND OFFERINGS AND EXPERIENCES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. BY BUILDING ON OUR STRENGTHS, OPENING UP NEW MARKETS AND EXPLORING NOVELTY PROJECTS, WE WILL OFFER OUR GUESTS MORE DIVERSE, VIBRANT, AND MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES. – DR KEN CHU
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THE FTZ STATUS OF HAINAN MAKES IT AN EXCELLENT OPERATIONAL BASE FOR A MYRIAD OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSES
AND INDUSTRIES INCLUDING THE GOLF INDUSTRY.
The once serene and idyllic island of Hainan is stirring. Like the proverbial dragon, it has awoken, and it is breathing fire. The flames are cataclysmic and is creating a major crucible for dynamic economic growth.
S
pear-heading its dynamic economic growth
Dr. Chu explained that the sixty measures to liberalise
plans is the creation of a highly ambitious Free
trade will undoubtedly help attract international businesses
Trade Zone. Its declared intention is to become
and fuel growth for the region. “Having invested in Hainan
an international business hub that will dwarf its
for the past 13 years, I have witnessed its growth momen-
main regional competitors Hong Kong and Sin-
tum and with the Free Trade Port policies in place, Hainan
gapore in terms of physical size (35,000 km2) and a teeming
is benchmarking itself with the other four major global free
population of 9.5 million.
trade ports of Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and Rotterdam.
In June this year, the island announced its master plan which included a total of sixty key measures that will drive its FTZ plans forward. The Master Plan was developed tak-
This signals a bright and limitless future for Hainan and I am confident of its continued prosperity,” he added. The FTZ status of Hainan makes it an excellent opera-
ing into consideration the overall situation of China and the
tional base for a myriad of international businesses and
international community, which is experiencing a new wave
industries including the golf industry. In the coming issues,
of major developments, reforms, and adjustments.
we will discuss the various key features of the Master Plan
Commenting on the FTZ Master Plan, Dr. Ken Chu,
and what is in store for potential international investors who
Chairman of the Mission Hills Group said, “Establishing
would like to using Hainan as their business and operational
Hainan as a Free Trade Port is not just a national strategy,
hub for Asia.
but a promise by China. It means that China will continue on
Insofar as the golf industry is concerned, the World Golf
its path of reform and opening up, integrating itself with the
Expo serves as an introduction to the role that Hainan can
global economy.”
play in growing the industry and taking it to new heights.
Polling is over for the inaugural Global Golf Awards. Scheduled to have been concluded at the end of May but because of the pandemic, the deadline for the on-line poll was extended to July 31. The reason for the extension of the deadline was due to the fact that a great majority of golf clubs the world over were in a state of lockdown meaning that they had no access to their members and golfers to promote the on-line poll. Based on the outcome of the number of valid votes received, the extension did do the trick.
I
t is only natural that the longest running awards programme for the Asia Pacific Golf industry should grow into a global event. No one will argue that it is part of a progression plan that is designed to transform it into a major event of world standing.
The Global Golf Awards has emerged out of the same crucible
that gave the world the highly successful Asian Golf Awards. The Asian Golf Awards witnessed the completion of twenty years in 2019, making it the most successful and respected industry recognition event of its kind. Its wide acceptance is evidenced by the way its awards are proudly displayed by golf clubs in the Asia Pacific who were honoured over the past two decades. “We look back at the growth and evolution of the Asian Golf Awards with great pride …. its success has been unmatched,” said Mike Sebastian, CEO of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the owner of the award programme. “In keeping with the rapid growth of the Asia Pacific and it’s place on the global stage, we felt that it made sense for the Asian Golf Awards to keep pace and grow with the region that is home to it,” Sebastian pointed out. The Global Golf Awards is a perfect transition for the Asian Golf Awards. It is part of the new World Golf Expo initiative, a collaboration
OUR VISION WAS THAT THE
GLOBAL GOLF AWARDS WILL TAKE
OFF FROM WHERE THE
ASIAN GOLF AWARDS LEFT OFF AND TAKE THE EVENT TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE.
– MIKE SEBASTIAN
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTES RECEIVED BY MIDNIGHT ON JULY 31 STOOD AT 107,360 AND THIS SPEAKS REALLY WELL FOR THE BRANDNEW AWARDS PROGRAMME. between the giant Mission Hills Group of China and the Asia Pacific Golf Group. The World Golf Expo will be staged in the bustling capital city of Haikou in Hainan on March 16 – 18, 2021. “Our vision was that the Global Golf Awards will take off from where the Asian Golf Awards left off and take the event to a whole new level of excellence,” said Sebastian. Like its predecessor, the Global Golf Awards was conducted through an on-line poll. Note that success in the Global Golf Awards on-line poll will be determined by the number of valid votes received. The regions covered by the on-line poll included the following:
H East Asia (Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, China) H Southeast Asia H Oceania (Australia, New Zealand Pacific Islands) H South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal) H Middle East/Africa H Europe including United Kingdom and Russia H Canada H North America H South America H Mexico
“The total number of votes received by midnight on July 31 stood at 107,360 and this speaks really well for the brand-new awards programme,” Sebastian pointed out. He revealed that the preliminary list of top three winners in each of the categories will be announced on September 1, 2020. The official awards presentation will be held in Haikou, the capital city of Hainan in China during the staging of the World Golf Expo on March 18, 2021.
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TESTIMONIALS JOHN BLANCH GENERAL MANAGER THAI COUNTRY CLUB
VICKY JONES CHAMPIONSHIP DIRECTOR EUROPEAN TOUR
WANIDA IMPHRAI PRESIDENT OFFICE MANAGER RICOH
STEVEN O'CONNOR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER BLUESCOPE
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How many of us really remember what Tiger Woods looked like when he first appeared in a big PGA Tour tournament? Those of you who remember his early days as a professional will recall that while he was super talented, he was a relatively scrawny looking young player. This was made more obvious with his baggy golf polos and his arms that looked like matchsticks sticking out of over-sized sleeves. Even with that slight physique, he was setting record after record and that was all due to the inordinate talent and skill that he packed into his body. This all changed very quickly as the young Tiger started working out and bulking up. This was all happening at a point in time when there were several professional golfers who were overweight complete with beer bellies and with social habits that involved regular partying, smoking and drinking. That was then and it worked for the players but with the advent of Tiger and his disciplined approach to the game of golf, he set new standards. By getting physically fit and stronger, his play transformed into a power game. With his transformation came a whole new generation of young players who were the epitome of physical fitness and strength. Everyone worked out and everyone got fit and most importantly, virtually all the younger players were proponents of the power game.
I
t all started with Tiger. He was the man who changed the professional game and created a standard of physical fitness and strength that would become the benchmark for young players with aspirations of making it to the pinnacle of the professional game. And then comes along a youngster that had revolution on his mind. His name, Bryson DeChambeau
and from day one when he made his first appearance in professional golf, he set tongues wagging. First
it was about the fact that he had a set of irons in his bag that were fitted with similar length shafts. He puzzled everyone in the industry but over the years, he has gone on to prove that he can win tournaments with his singlelength shafted irons. His incessant mathematical workouts and deliberations while playing a game, earned him the nickname “The Scientist”. His latest revolution relates to his physique. Over the past few months, he has beefed up his body, added weight and muscle and has been punching the golf ball to unimaginable distances. In his drives, he is leaving power hitters like former world number one Rory McIlroy way behind and not by a few yards at that. Just imagine, sailing past McIlroy by a whole 30 yards or more! The crazy distances that DeChambeau is hitting consistently has got both the USGA and the R&A all riled up about getting some hasty rulings in place to control such outrageous distances which are threatening golf courses with redundancy. Even the world’s greatest golfer, Jack “Golden Bear” Nicklaus is calling out for some quick rulings on the distances that the golf ball is travelling these days. With all this hullaballoo raging, it’s time that the matter of DeChambeau’s monster drives are investigated in the context of what is happening in modern sport. Virtually all sports today are literally driven by the age-old Olympic motto, which is the hendiatris Citius, Altius, Fortius, which is Latin for “faster, higher, stronger”. When viewed against these Olympian goals, one cannot really fault DeChambeau. Since he started beefing up his body, the six-time Tour winner has stacked on 40 pounds of muscle during
the pandemic break and increased his distance off the tee significantly. He leads the PGA Tour in driving distance (323 yards) and Strokes Gained: Off the Tee (+1.113).
WHAT BRYSON HAS DONE IS NO EASY TASK. HE’S PUT IN THE TIME AND HAS PUT IN THE REPS, AND HE’S FIGURED IT OUT. HE’S GOTTEN STRONGER, FASTER, BIGGER, AND HAS CREATED MORE SPEED. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY LET’S LOOK AT THE FACT THAT HE’S HITTING IT AS STRAIGHT AS HE IS.
LIKE TIGER, DECHAMBEAU’S LEGACY IS BEGINNING TO TAKE SHAPE. IT IS GOING TO BE ALL ABOUT SCIENCE AND HOW THE YOUNG PLAYER USED SCIENCE TO TAKE GOLF TO ANOTHER LEVEL.
LET’S HOPE THAT THE
GOVERNING BODIES DON’T SMASH HIS DREAM TO GO
HIGHER, STRAIGHTER AND FURTHER WITH EACH DRIVE! At the recent Rocket Mortgage Classic which he won, DeChambeau averaged an unbelievable 350.6 yards off the tee for the event. He also led the field that week in Strokes Gained: Putting, the only player to do both and win since 2004. During a warm-up session for the 2020 Memorial tournament which marked the return of Tiger to competition golf, he was asked to comment on DeChambeau’s stunning drives to which Tiger responded, “He’s figured out a way to increase distance and maximize his efficiency with not only his driver but all of his clubs.” “What Bryson has done is no easy task. He’s put in the time and has put in the reps, and he’s figured it out. He’s gotten stronger, faster, bigger, and has created more speed. But more importantly let’s look at the fact that he’s hitting it as straight as he is,” Tiger explained. “That part of hitting it straight is the most difficult thing to do. The further you hit it, the more the tangent goes crooked ... the fact that he’s figured that out and has been able to rein in the foul balls to me has been equally as impressive as his gains off the tee distance-wise,” added Tiger. In response, DeChambeau said, “First off, it’s amazing to get to play with Tiger. I respect him. I have the highest respect for him and what he’s done for the game and inspired a whole new generation and generations to come.” DeChambeau said. Like Tiger, DeChambeau’s legacy is beginning to take shape. It is going to be all about science and how the young player used science to take golf to another level. Let’s hope that the governing bodies don’t smash his dream to go higher, straighter and further with each drive!
RORY MCILROY FULL WORKOUT ROUTINE
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU WORKOUT ROUTINE
ARJUN ATWAL WITH HIS 2010 WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY. PHOTO CREDIT GETTY IMAGES
Time really flies by so quickly. It was some 25 years ago when a polished young Indian golfer decided to make a name for himself as a professional golfer. He was not interested in just being a star in his home country, India. He had his eyes set on going global. That young golfer was Arjun Atwal, arguably the best professional golfer to have come out of India in a long time. He impressed on the Asian Tour and was the first Indian to win on the highly competitive European Tour. After his conquest of the Asian and European arenas, Atwal moved on the play in the USA. He was believed to have been a close friend of Tiger Woods and experienced success both on the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour. In 2019, Atwal was recognised and honoured for his contributions to professional golf and was presented with the Asia Pacific Golf Life-Time Achievement Award at the Asian Golf Awards which was held in New Delhi. As he prepares himself to continue his illustrious professional career, ASIAN GOLF invited the PGA Tour’s Chuah Choo Chiang to produce a special report on Atwal.
ARJUN ATWAL DURING THE ROCKET MORTGAGE CLASSIC IN JULY. PHOTO CREDIT GETTY IMAGES
The sporting fire that lit so brightly when Arjun Atwal turned professional some 25 years ago is showing no signs of flickering as the Indian legend prepares to write a new chapter in his illustrious golf life.
A
twal has deservedly earned legendary
PGA TOUR Champions when he becomes eligible for
stature in India and Asia due to his trail-
the over-50 circuit.
blazing success on golf’s finest fairways,
“By the time, I’m 50 I’m ready to play (PGA TOUR)
which includes becoming the first Indian
Champions. I want to win on this Tour as well. I still
to play and subsequently triumph on the
have the desire to win as long my body can still perform.
game’s biggest stage, the PGA TOUR. He is also a man of many firsts. Atwal was the first from the sub-continent to win a European Tour event (2002), the foremost golfer to earn over US$1
If those things are there, then I will play. As of right now, I’m feeling great,” said Atwal, who resides in Windermere, Florida with his family. The former Asian No. 1 says he has never felt this
million in career earnings on the Asian Tour (2003)
good in a long time. Throughout a career which saw him
and the first to taste victory on the Korn Ferry Tour
garner eight Asian Tour wins including three European
(2008).
Tour co-sanctioned titles and the region’s Order of Merit
For all his easy-going and laidback demeanour,
crown, he endured some difficult times with debilitating
the Indian, now 47 years young, is still as ambitious as
back and shoulder injuries. In 231 PGA TOUR events,
he was at 22 when he joined the play-for-pay ranks.
Atwal enjoyed one win, 11 top-10s and 29 top-25s which
While he believes he can still compete at the highest
his overall report card could have indicated better stats
level – he briefly held the co-lead during the third
if not for those setbacks.
round of the recent Rocket Mortgage Classic – he has set more lofty goals by stating his intention to win on
Hence at the turn of a new decade, Atwal made a pledge to get fitter, trimmer and stronger. When he
ATWAL HAS DESERVEDLY EARNED LEGENDARY STATURE IN INDIA AND ASIA DUE TO HIS TRAILBLAZING SUCCESS ON GOLF’S FINEST FAIRWAYS, WHICH INCLUDES BECOMING THE FIRST INDIAN TO PLAY AND SUBSEQUENTLY TRIUMPH ON THE GAME’S BIGGEST STAGE, THE PGA TOUR.
ARJUN ATWAL IN ACTION AT THE 3M OPEN IN JULY 2019. PHOTO CREDIT GETTY IMAGES
FITTER.
THIS YEAR, I MADE A
showed up in Detroit last month, he had shed 15 pounds to
COMMITMENT TO GET
he tipped on the scales in his PGA TOUR debut in 2004. With
bring his weight back to 185 pounds which was the number
I WANTED TO SEE HOW FIT
I COULD BE AND TO GET RID OF THE ACHES AND PAINS. I’VE BEEN WORKING OUT AND I FEEL GOOD … THE LEGS FEEL STRONGER AND I’VE ADDED SWING SPEED. I’M HITTING THE BALL LONGER THAN IN THE LAST FIVE TO SIX YEARS. DON’T REMEMBER HOW LONG AGO
I’VE FELT LIKE THIS.
his wife Sona’s help, he now consumes only healthy food, stopped the casual alcohol intake, works out at the gym four times a week, and diligently practices yoga to ensure he remains supple and agile. “This year, I made a commitment to get fitter. I wanted to see how fit I could be and to get rid of the aches and pains. I’ve been working out and I feel good … the legs feel stronger and I’ve added swing speed. I’m hitting the ball longer than in the last five to six years. I don’t remember how long ago I’ve felt like this,” said Atwal, who pounded a drive of 342 yards at
I
the Rocket Mortgage for his longest one to date in 2020. This August will mark exactly 10 years when Atwal wrote a slice of Asian golf history when by winning the Wyndham Championship. As a Monday qualifier, he led from start to finish to become India’s first winner on the PGA TOUR, fulfilling his American dream which began when he attended high school in New York. Atwal though is not the sort of guy who would dwell in past successes, preferring to look ahead towards new challenges. “I don’t think about it (the win),” he said. “It’s so
long ago. Once it’s over, it’s over. I’m just looking forward to
may not quite follow in his golf footsteps despite being
competing, and I got excited to practice again with a pur-
introduced to the game when they were young. At 6’5” and
pose when I got into the Rocket Mortgage Classic (where he
6’1” in height, respectively, and still growing, both seem
finished tied 45th).”
intent on playing basketball and will have their dad’s full
“There’s definitely pride in what I’ve done in my career. Playing on the Asian Tour taught me a lot and it’s a matter of pride to be first Indian to win on the PGA TOUR, Korn
encouragement should they harbour dreams of playing in the NBA. “The older boy has decided to play only basketball
Ferry Tour, European Tour … that’s not bad. I’ve always
while the younger one is playing both sports but because
dreamt about playing here and this is the dream. Hopefully,
he’s a big boy, basketball comes easier. I’m not going to
I can become the first Indian to win on Champions as well.
push them, and my advice is to have discipline and work
There may be generations doing much more after me, but
ethics. They’ve seen their dad work hard and I think they
they can’t take away being the first. It’s pretty cool coming
get it. When I’m home, I’ve got the discipline and the ethics.
from a country of 1.3 billion people.”
I think they will learn by example,” Atwal said proudly.
Atwal’s two sons, 16-year-old Krishen and Shiva, 12,
“That’s my legacy to my kids.”
ATWAL RECEIVING THE ASIA PACIFIC GOLF LIFE-TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FROM ANGELA SEBASTIAN, PRESIDENT OF THE ASIA PACIFIC GOLF GROUP.
© Souvik Kundu / WWF
When the golf world got its first glimpse of a young golfer who played with irons that were fitted with one standard length, the immediate gossip that broke out was that this youngster was a freak. Prior to him appearing on tour with such an oddity, perhaps the only other time that the equipment gossip machine was sent into a frenzy was when Nike Golf introduced the SASQUATCH – the square-head driver! This time around, the focus of attention was a young golfer, who besides his irons, was unique for his trademark Hogan cap. Unlike other golfers on the professional tour, this young man was a tinkerer. He was always taking notes. Doing mathematical calculations and talking to himself. This golfer with an Einstein-like approach to the game, was no freak. He did produce results. Of late, he has added a new dimension to his game of mathematical calculations with a buffed-up physique. He has bulked up and pumped iron to transform himself into a power-packed player. He stunned everyone when he showed up at the teebox after the PGA Tour got going after a nine-week lockdown. This youngster who first showed up in 2015 was a totally different man. This young golfer is Bryson DeChambeau who is currently burning up the fairways with his mind-blowing drives. ASIAN GOLF throws the spotlight on the new-look DeChambeau in this report by the PGA Tour’s Jim McCabe.
IT’S A LITTLE EMOTIONAL FOR ME, AFTER FIRING A 7-UNDER 65 TO BEAT MATTHEW WOLFF BY THREE AT DETROIT GOLF CLUB. “BECAUSE I DID DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT, I CHANGED MY BODY, I CHANGED MY MINDSET IN THE GAME, AND WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH A WIN WHILE PLAYING A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STYLE OF GOLF.
N
o question, the 26-year-old Bryson De-
first eyewitness account, paired with DeChambeau in the
Chambeau is navigating in his own unique
final round of the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial
way and achieving results with exponen-
Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. It was the Tour’s re-
tially different numbers, but the essence of
entry into competition in this age of COVID-19 testing and
what he’s doing has been done before and
no spectators attended. But McIlroy, no slouch off the tee
it recycles a topic that’s been discussed for years in golf. Is weight-training and adding muscle important for a golfer? Emphatically, DeChambeau says yes and he worked out three times every day of the pandemic-forced break
himself, was impressed. “[DeChambeau] hit a couple drives on Sunday where Harry (Diamond, McIlroy’s caddie) and I just looked at each other and we’re like, ‘That was unbelievable.’” While it is difficult to fathom that DeChambeau is
putting on weight. Three months later, he returned to the
hitting it 30 meters past someone as powerful as McIlroy,
first PGA TOUR tournament since March looking thicker
here is what is easy to comprehend, because the numbers
than a banyan tree. On social media, fans took guesses at
are already in the books. At Colonial CC, DeChambeau
what he weighed, and 300 pounds was a popular pick. “They were quite a bit off,” laughed DeChambeau, who
dusted McIlroy, 66-74 in Round 4, finished a shot out of a playoff, and concluded four rounds at 14-under.
said he added 20. But if the season’s media guide was cor-
Throw in the next two tournaments – the RBC
rect in reporting his weight at 205 and he was being honest
Heritage and Travelers Championship, where DeCham-
in saying his weight was between 235 and 240 pounds, it
beau tied for eighth and tied for sixth, respectively – and
means he added 30 to 35 pounds.
his first 12 rounds back have produced 11 efforts in the
Then again, golf fans do not care about those numbers; they are only focused on those digits he is spitting out with every drive. DeChambeau is hitting drives 320 meters as nonchalantly as fish swim, and for those who are as “inside golf” as you can get, the ball speed factor of 305-310 kph is basically uncharted waters. (The average PGA TOUR player is at about 274 meters.) “Holy $*&@,” said Rory McIlroy, when he got his
60s, a scoring average of 66.5, and a cumulative count of 46-under par. Thus, has the praise flowed. Phil Mickelson: “To watch someone hit it that hard and that straight, it’s impressive.” Justin Rose: “Pretty unique. You can tell . . . he’s obviously trained speed.” Webb Simpson: “It’s phenomenal what he’s done to
be able to put on that much muscle mass and increase swing speed and ball speed but still have great control. Really impressive.” The results thus far thanks to DeChambeau’s newfound physique? Four top-10 finishes, the July victory in Detroit, fourth place in the FedExCup standings and more than US$2.13 million in earnings. “It’s a little emotional for me,” DeChambeau said after firing a 7-under 65 to beat Matthew Wolff by three at Detroit Golf Club. “Because I did do something a little different, I changed my body, I changed my mindset in the game, and was able to accomplish a win while playing a completely different style of golf.” Ah, Bryson. Could you point us to the gym, too? For media members and fans who have embraced the uniqueness of DeChambeau since he turned pro in 2016, a year after winning both the NCAA Championship and U.S. Amateur, this muscle-sculptured physique and ball-speed stuff is delectable. But for those who’ve never really warmed up to a guy who majored in physics in college, talks openly about testing his golf balls in Epsom salt, insists on every iron in his bag
THEY WERE QUITE A BIT OFF,” LAUGHED DECHAMBEAU, WHO SAID HE ADDED 20. BUT IF THE SEASON’S MEDIA GUIDE WAS CORRECT IN REPORTING HIS WEIGHT AT 205 AND HE WAS BEING HONEST IN SAYING HIS WEIGHT WAS BETWEEN 235 AND 240 POUNDS, IT MEANS HE ADDED 30 TO 35 POUNDS.
being the same length, and tosses “oxygen depletion” into
weights with him – and this was in the 1940s and ’50s when
casual conversations, it is further cause for hesitation.
the favored mode of coast-to-coast travel was an automobile.
Again, the remedy for both sides is to calm down and
In the late 1950s, Stranahan befriended a young golfer
enjoy the show. And consider that DeChambeau does not
from South Africa who also showed an interest in weights
have the market cornered when it comes to, shall we say,
and keeping in shape. Stranahan was adamant about the
eccentric tendencies? Which is a perfect segue into Strana-
benefits to using weights but insisted he had developed a
han, a guy who at 71 was still pumping iron and bodybuild-
routine that would not ruin his golf swing.
ing in 1993 when DeChambeau was born. “He was very peculiar,” said Jim Gaquin, who was the
The key, Stranahan told Gary Player, was to not overdevelop the biceps or chest muscles. Player considered Strana-
PGA TOUR’s traveling secretary in the 1950s. “But he did
han, who was 13 years older than his South African friend, a
think he had some sort of formula to live a long time.”
mentor and visionary.
In fact, Stranahan made no secret of his belief that he
“In the early part of my career, people thought I was an
was going to live for 120 years. He based that on the devotion
absolute nut for training with weights,” Player told ESPN,
he paid to good health; he never drank alcohol or smoked,
four years ago, when he turned 80. “But I stuck to my
he woke up at 3 a.m., and ran every morning, then worked
workout routine even during tournaments and it paid off big
out faithfully with weights. It was a regimen he adopted as a
time.”
kid in Toledo, Ohio, and carried through his entire golf career
Who could argue? Player is one of five golfers (Gene
and into the decades he lived after retiring in 1964 at the age
Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Woods being the
of 42.
others) who has captured at least one victory in each of
Recently, Brooks Koepka got mileage on social media
the four professional majors – the career Grand Slam, as it
after telling reporters he virtually took his entire gym with
is – and he has won more than 160 tournaments around the
him from Florida to Hilton Head Island, but that’s less
globe.
impressive when you consider Stranahan always took his
Could DeChambeau follow suit?
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WHAT WE SAW IN THIS YOUNGSTER WAS AN ATTITUDE REST.
AND A PERSONALITY THAT SET HIM APART FROM THE
HE HAD THAT VERY TYPICAL QUALITY OF UNPREDICTABILITY – A VERY FIERY LATIN TRAIT. HE DISPLAYED A PERSONALITY ON AND OFF COURSE THAT WAS LIKE THE PANTONE COLOUR SPECTRUM – ONE COULD NEVER KNOW WHAT HE WOULD BE LIKE FROM ONE MOMENT TO THE NEXT. IT WAS THIS UNPREDICTABILITY THAT MADE HIM SO EXCITING TO FOLLOW. COMBINED WITH THIS TRAIT WAS HIS PHYSICAL BUILD – HE WAS BUILT SOLID AND HE STOOD TALL WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANYONE TO MISS HIM ON AND OFF THE COURSE.
M
any keen watchers of college golf in
he toppled the reigning world number one, Rory McIlroy,
America had their eyes firmly fixed on a
thus heralding the start of a new page in his young life of
young Spanish student just a few years
achievements.
back. There was one pundit who was especially excited about this kid and
While in college, Rahm was No. 1 in the amateur ranking for a record 60 weeks. Phil Mickelson, whose brother was
that was ASIAN GOLF. What we saw in this youngster was
Rahm’s coach at Arizona State, has been predicting great-
an attitude and a personality that set him apart from the
ness since before he won the first of his 10 worldwide titles.
rest. He had that very typical quality of unpredictability – a
This is the fascinating journey of Jon Rahm. The win
very fiery Latin trait. He displayed a personality on and off
at The Memorial Tournament was Rahm’s first victory of
course that was like the Pantone colour spectrum – one
the 2020 season, and the fourth on Tour. With this success,
could never know what he would be like from one moment
the 25-year-old TaylorMade brand ambassador became the
to the next. It was this unpredictability that made him so
world’s best golfer, something that he’s been chasing for
exciting to follow. Combined with this trait was his physical
some time. Rahm is the second Spaniard to reach top spot
build – he was built solid and he stood tall which made it
after Seve Ballesteros, and the third fastest to accomplish
impossible for anyone to miss him on and off the course.
the feat.
He was a dominant player while in college - he won the
A great admirer of the late great Ballesteros, Rahm was
Jack Nicklaus Award as the nation’s top college golfer.
quoted as saying, “Any time I can join my name to Spanish
Rahm graduated from Arizona State in four years, despite
history or any kind of history, it’s very unique. Seve is a very
speaking no English when he arrived on a campus so big
special player to all of us, and to be second to him, it’s a true
he thought he was in a movie theatre when he went to his
honour. To be a Spaniard, the second Spaniard to ever do it,
first class in macroeconomics. After he graduated, he got
given there’s not many Europeans that have gotten to this
onto the professional golf circuit. His odyssey started back
spot, it’s a pretty unique feeling, so I’m going to enjoy it for
in 2014 when he entered the Official World Golf Rankings at
a while.”
the 1,548th position. By 2019, he had risen to be ranked as
Rahm, a six time winner on the European Tour and four
the second-best player in the world. And on July 19th, 2020,
time winner on the PGA Tour, is the 24th player to become
this young Spaniard claimed the coveted world number
World Number One.
one spot by winning the Memorial Tournament. On this day,
Sigue Ganando Jon!
TO BE A SPANIARD, THE SECOND SPANIARD TO EVER DO IT, GIVEN THERE’S NOT MANY EUROPEANS THAT HAVE GOTTEN TO THIS SPOT, IT’S A PRETTY UNIQUE FEELING, SO I’M GOING TO ENJOY IT FOR A WHILE.
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The Coronavirus pandemic is having a large negative impact on many different aspects of society, one in particular, sports. Several national and international athletic events, including the 2020 Olympics, have been postponed or cancelled to limit the virus spread by attending crowds. Isolation has affected many elite athletes’ ability to practice. Golf is no exception. ASIAN GOLF turned to Shawn Humphries, ranked amongst the top elite golf coaches in the world to ďŹ nd out how he was coping with the coaching and training of elite players under his charge. The following is his special report:
C
O-VID 19 has us facing new challenges in
athletes would be better performers from being isolated
everyday living and in the ways, we work, study
and sheltered at home.
and exercise. In the education and workspace,
And as we peeled back the layers, we discovered a
innovation and technology have been key to
few things. One of the ďŹ rst things we realized was athletes
continue schooling and sustaining work levels
no longer had to attend high school practices. Less travel
from home. I had the good fortune to work with athletes who
meant more time they could dedicate to training. The
embraced isolation and put innovative strategies in place
indoors or at home piece was not a challenge as I had as-
to take their training to a new level. We can learn a lot from
sisted athletes from colder climates obtain the tools they
their training plans and the remote coaching implemented
needed to train during the winter months and I knew what
during this unique time.
items they would need and from which manufacturer. Each
I coach a college onboarding programme with students from all over the country and all over the world. These athletes train with me using systems and curriculum I have
athlete procured these items including hitting and chipping nets and putting mats. After obtaining the tools we spoke about how we need
developed called Elite Performance Systems (EPS). Little did
to view this obstacle as an opportunity, not a barrier. The
these athletes know how valuable our online coaching and
key from a mindset and work standpoint: everyone else is
training platform would be to them once they went into isola-
hitting the pause button and we are going to proceed as if
tion. Let us learn more about the strategies and adjustments
competition is right around the corner, because eventually
we employed to help the athletes train and continue to be
it will. The most critical piece from a training standpoint: to
ready for when competition returned.
continue to isolate and master the steps of performing dur-
The ďŹ rst adjustment these athletes made in isolation was their schooling. Some schools managed the migration to online well whereas others struggled to get up and running efďŹ ciently. Athletes, like those at On Track School and other online schools, did not miss a beat. After getting school under control, athletes and their families assessed the competitive landscape. Everything was cancelled and players began to think: what are we going to do? I was fortunate to be able to support these athletes through these new challenges. I met with each one of them and their families and asked them questions about what they were experiencing. Legitimately, most of them were concerned about the migration to online school and the fact that their competitive golf was likely on hold. We acknowledged these obstacles and I asked them to commit to staying strong and showing up for the new training model that I was going to build for them. One thing I knew for sure: these
ing isolation (physical training) while growing the knowledge
ONE AREA WHERE THE ATHLETES BEGAN TO EXCEL WAS THE KNOWLEDGE PIECE. HAVING LESS ABILITY TO PLAY AND BE AT THE COURSE HELPED THEM TO DEVELOP THEIR INTELLECTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND WE CARVED TIME AWAY TO DEDICATE TO LEARNING THE TRAINING.
“WHY” BEHIND THE
FROM A PHYSICAL STANDPOINT WE BUILT TRAINING SEGMENTS
AROUND MANY OF THE AREAS THE ATHLETES WERE ALREADY WORKING ON
OUTSIDE: SHORT PUTTING, CHIPPING, PITCHING, DISTANCE WEDGES AND FULL SHOTS.
WE ALSO TAUGHT THEM HOW TO CONTROL THEIR MINDS, THE VERY SAME TECHNIQUES THEY WOULD USE IF THEY WERE IN COMPETITION. WE ASKED THEM TO FILM THESE SEGMENTS AND UPLOAD THEM TO A SOFTWARE PLATFORM SO THAT WE COULD SEE HOW THEY WERE ADAPTING TO ISOLATION.
base behind the physical training. I reassured the athletes
them how to control their minds, the very same techniques
and their parents so that they could reinforce the dedication
they would use if they were in competition. We asked them to
to the isolation training as this was outside of everyone’s
film these segments and upload them to a software platform
areas of comfort. We needed buy in like never before.
so that we could see how they were adapting to isolation. The
One area where the athletes began to excel was the
athletes repeated these steps day after day and the software
knowledge piece. Having less ability to play and be at the
allowed for multiple touchpoints with coaches on a weekly
course helped them to develop their intellectual knowledge
basis-more than we would see typically if we were training
and we carved time away to dedicate to learning the “why”
outside. We continued to grow their knowledge by weekly
behind the training. From a physical standpoint we built
zoom calls so that all our athletes could come together and
training segments around many of the areas the athletes
collaborate and learn from one another. We went through a
were already working on outside: short putting, chipping,
slide deck twice a week, honing in on many of these specifics
pitching, distance wedges and full shots. We also taught
that we wanted them to master.
IN ESSENCE, WE WERE CREATING THIS ENVIRONMENT FOR THE ATHLETES WITH THE TRAINING, CURRICULUM, AND TOOLS WE WERE PROVIDING TO SETUP THEIR ISOLATION TRAINING AND THE ENVIRONMENT WAS NATURALLY ELIMINATING ALL THE OTHER DAILY DISTRACTIONS.
THIS WAS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE
OLYMPIC TRAINING ENVIRONMENT PROVIDED FOR EACH OF OUR ONBOARDING STUDENTS. AN
Not too long after we had all of this in place, players started coming out of isolation. We had athletes come out after 8-10 weeks of isolation and post personal bests. So, I asked, “how did it feel out there,” and the responses were notable and ranged from having no expectations to simply focusing on the six steps of performing. Overwhelmingly, the athletes commented about being lost in the process of building strategies and committing to them with less focus on results. This focus mirrors the 8-10 weeks of training they just did on mats and into nets: isolating and mastering the steps of performing and doing these things well with no outcome distracting them. Isolation created an environment that we could never re-create as traditional outdoor training facilities allow the athlete to see outcome whereas isolation training would not allow the athlete to see the outcome, in most cases. If you think about the ultra-elite, this is what they do at the Olympic level. They leave their home environment, removing all distractions except the training required for their sport. In essence, we were creating this environment for the athletes with the training, curriculum, and tools we were providing to setup their isolation training and the environment was naturally eliminating all the other daily distractions. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to have an Olympic training environment provided for each of our onboarding students. Little did we know we were creating an Olympic environment in the homes and backyards of our onboarding students! Then, they got to work growing their knowledge and physical skills with a strong focus on mastering the steps of performing. As we dove deeper into the knowledge base what they were learning also helped them to build competition strategies for the courses and events on their schedule after quarantine so that they would be ready. We had a knowledge based and training-based curriculum ready to go for this scenario-we just never knew it would happen! Our greatest takeaway from this experience, which our athletes realize now was an incredible blessing, is the importance of not just knowing how to run the steps of performing but also mastering them without regard for the outcome. Our athletes pressed “play” when many of their peers pressed “pause.”
#WOMENSGOLFDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 - WOMEN'S GOLF DAY Events around the globe.
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