Asian Golf 239 : September 2020 by Asia Pacific Golf Group

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ISSUE David Abeles who took over at the helm of TaylorMade in 2015. Abeles took over the hot seat at a point in time when even the stoutest hearted of men would have walked away from the assignment. There was so much to do and so much ground to cover to get the one-time great company to restart firing on all cylinders. He did just that and in less than five years, TaylorMade Golf is back at the sharp end of the industry. There is no denying the fact that Abeles is the man with the proverbial Midas Touch. It is for this reason that the Asia Pacific Golf Group (APGG – the parent company that publishes ASIAN GOLF) reached out to him to be the keynote speaker at the Inaugural World Golf Expo (WGE) to be staged in Haikou, Hainan on March 16-18, 2021. This global event is being co-organised by the giant Mission Hills Group of China and APGG.

8 SHARED THOUGHTS | FROM PUBLISHER

239

SEPTEMBER 2020

16 SPECIAL FEATURE 72 THE FEARLESS ONE – GO BEARS! This is the tale of Collin Morikawa, the quiet giant-killer who spanked the toughest ﬁeld assembled for the PGA Championship and romped home the clear winner of the prestigious Major!

78 ELITE COACHING: PRACTICE IS PRACTICE! If you keep a watch at the driving range and observe how some golfers try and “perfect” their shot. A smile of gratiﬁcation invariably lights up their faces when they can keep striking the perfect shot time after time. But when they take this perfected shot onto the course, everything goes awry. ASIAN GOLF posed this question to one of the top golf coaches in the world – Shawn Humphries for the answer.

Golf Citizen’s Partner Club App enables club members and golfers to make tee time bookings from anywhere in the world, view courses and amenities, F&B information, keep scores on a real-time basis and a host of other essential services including contactless golf to safely organise and host events and competitions. It is a must-have technology for all golf clubs!

78 72

ISSUE

239

SEPTEMBER 2020

EQUIPMENT FOCUS 26 TAYLORMADE’S NEW “MONEY SPINNER”! 46 THE BIG LADY IS BACK!

The bright guys at TaylorMade Golf have hit research and development paydirt. Their innovative drive has led them to develop a brand- new putter that looks like a mallet, feels like a blade, and forgives like a Spider! How can a golfer ask for anything more!

30 THE ANTE JUST GOT UPPED – NEW POWER-PACKED IRONS FROM TAYLORMADE!

TaylorMade has launched the latest additions to its already acclaimed P Series and its latest power-packed irons include the all-new P•7MB, P•7MC and P•770 models. The new arrivals have beefed up TaylorMade’s line-up and arguably represent the best range of meticulously crafted players irons that align craftsmanship, performance, and unmatched aesthetics.

38 TAYLORMADE : HERE COMES THE RESCUE BRIGADE! TaylorMade Golf has launched the all-new SIM UDI and SIM DHY™ utility irons. The new utilities provide golfers with fantastic options for completing a critical part of the bag – the space between the longest playable iron and shortest fairway wood.

SPECIAL FEATURE 84 THE DARK SAVIOR OF THE GOLF INDUSTRY? This is a story of one man who embarked on a historic 56-day, 10,000-mile journey to see for himself how the golf club industry was coping with the raging Coronavirus pandemic. The man who undertook this incredible golf voyage was ASIAN GOLF’s International Editor, Andrew Wood, the Legendary Golf Guru. His latest ﬁling focuses on how golf clubs are coping with the challenge of managing the pandemic.

Callaway Golf has launched the Big Bertha B-21 range of clubs. Leading the pack is the new bomber which is said to be a technology-packed thunder-stick. To quote the announcement release, the “Big Bertha B-21 features premium technologies and legendary Big Bertha design features for distance any way you swing it.”

56 TITLEIST BALL : TOUGH FIGHTING WORDS FROM TITLEIST! Titleist has launched a new ball - the Titleist Tour Speed. According to Titleist Tour Speed is faster and longer than Callaway Chrome Soft, Bridgestone Tour B RX, TaylorMade Tour Response, Srixon Z-STAR and Srixon Q-STAR TOUR.

64 TITLEIST BANKS ON BLACK! Titleist has launched two new irons - the T100-S and the T200. These irons are being pitched as clubs that pack “striking long-range performance” that are powered by breakthrough technology for explosive distance in a player-preferred shape.

90 PGA TOUR: TOUR-ZHANG

This is a very motivating and stimulating story about a Chinese youngster who displayed tremendous drive and determination to go places in the world of professional golf. His focus has taken him to the PGA Tour where he has become the ﬁrst golfer from China to make the cut for the 2020 FedexCup Playoffs. Just imagine, being able to play for the ultimate big prize – a US$15 million paycheck! This is what Zhang Xinjun is gunning for. The following report on the Chinese player was prepared for ASIAN GOLF by the PGA Tour’s Chuah Choo Chiang.

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.

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If there is one thing that the coronavirus pandemic has managed to achieve is to throw the entire world into a state of CHANGE. Never has virtually every corner of the Planet been turned on its head. It has delivered a devastating gut blow that has spun the world into a state of confusion and disarray â&#x20AC;&#x201C; economies have been disrupted; corporations big and small have been scuttled. Life itself has changed with virtually everyone having to maintain new social protocols, social distancing, and the wearing of face masks. The pandemic has forced everyone to change and the pace of change is cataclysmic to say the least.

THE GOLF CLUB INDUSTRY IS ONE AREA OF BUSINESS THAT NEEDS TO EMBRACE SMART APPS – THIS IS NOT SOMETHING NEW BUT IT IS JUST THAT TOO MANY CLUBS HAVE OPTED NOT TO FALL IN LINE

PREFERRING THE AGE-OLD PRACTICE OF TELEPHONE CALLS, E-MAILS AND OTHER ANTIQUATED MODES OF GETTING THE JOB DONE.

n a ﬂash, the ubiquitous digital age swept across every sector of business. Suddenly, fan-

vital importance of operating a customised Club App. The forced closures brought about by lockdown

cy, exclusive restaurants were catering to home

rulings caused a major disruption to golfers and golf

deliveries. Doctors were treating patients via

clubs from maintaining any physical contact, and with

telemedicine. Groceries were being rushed to

communications thrown out of whack, this proved to be

homes that ordered their supplies on-line. And the list of businesses and services that responded to a changed manner of conducting their day to day businesses had all become a new way of life. Digital services available through Smart

a massive challenge. This would not have been the case if golf clubs had developed and operated their own Smart Apps. All members of golf clubs and golfers alike own smart phones and they all know how to put these phones to

Apps are now the rage and whichever way one

good use with a myriad of Apps, including Apps for golf

looks at this trend, it is here to stay. The golf

clubs. Hence, there is really no excuse for golf clubs to

club industry is one area of business that needs to embrace Smart Apps – this is not

be left behind! With these Apps, clubs can be in constant contact

something new but it is just that too many

with their target groups; push out timely information

clubs have opted not to fall in line prefer-

about the club and its activities and serve as that one

ring the age-old practice of telephone

single source of communications. It works both ways –

calls, e-mails and other antiquated

club to members and members to clubs.

modes of getting the job done. If there is one thing that the current pandemic has alerted golf clubs to is the

In Asia, there is Golf Citizen, without doubt, the most sophisticated Club Management App available. “Our club management Smart App serves as

WITH GOLF CITIZEN’S PARTNER CLUB APP YOUR MEMBERS AND GOLFERS CAN MAKE TEE TIME BOOKINGS

FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, VIEW COURSES AND AMENITIES,

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a mothership that helps deliver an extensive range of

becomes a totally seamless and automated process. Imagine

specialised services designed to streamline operational

– no more printed menus for on-course F&B services and in-

aspects of a golf club and at the same time, to deliver a ﬁrst

club dining. Everything on offer is made available on the Smart

class quality experience for golfers,” said Mohammed Juma

App and can be ordered in a ﬂash by golfers.

Buamaim, the founder and CEO of Golf Citizen. “With Golf Citizen’s Partner Club App your members

The best decision you can take for your club in this pandemic period is to engage with the Golf Citizen Smart

and golfers can make tee time bookings from anywhere in

App – bring it in as a partner and see how it can help revo-

the world, view courses and amenities, F&B information,

lutionise your operations – for a sense of how it works,

keep scores on a real-time basis and a host of other es-

just click on this link: https://golfcitizen.com /connect

sential services including contactless golf to safely organise

– it is a Smart App designed and built by golf club manag-

and host events and competitions.” Buamaim added, “This

ers for golf clubs!

service allows clubs to administrate and manage golf events

The Golf Citizen App will be maintained on the App

limiting physical contact by using Golf Citizen’s live scoring,

Store or Play Store for FREE. Just become an active partner

web portals and online registration.”

on the GOLF CITIZEN network.

The time has come for golf clubs to make

Don’t wait for another pandemic to strike. Act now –

that big switch to Smart Apps. Just imagine, no

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more paper score cards – the entire exercise

own Club Management Smart App. Save Time and Money,

of keeping scores and maintaining handicaps

become more proﬁtable and get moving with the times!

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There was a time when the TaylorMade brand name was ubiquitous with golf. It was the brand virtually on every golferâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lips. Its golf clubs were the clubs to kill for. Just as one new hot club was released and quickly gaining traction in the market, then, another bigger and hotter product was ready on the launch pad. That was the frenetic pace set by TaylorMade. Just keeping up with the company and its new releases posed a massive challenge to all the other brands who were once accustomed to a new product release based on a two-year cycle. This practice was condemned to the trash heap as TaylorMade wowed the industry with driver after

driver, fairway wood after fairway wood and iron after iron. The equipment industry was turned on its head! It was all too good to be true to last and this madding cycle came crashing to an end. The age of golf equipment being treated as a fashion fad was over and a new state of pragmatism and normalcy returned to the company that was once hyper-ventilating on steroids! The period after the crash was disruptive to say the least – staff were laid off; operations were down-sized; the corporate structure was cut up and buyers were sought to take over the brand. It was a tough time for a brand that only knew one thing and that was to win and keep on winning. Amidst all the uncertainty that hovered over TaylorMade’s existence which ran the full gambit of being sold,

being split up or being given up for good, the winds of change began blowing hard. Change was coming and it was to be led by a man who knew the brand intimately having worked for the company on two different occasions. The new man was described as someone who subscribed to the belief that “innovation is seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought”. That visionary was David Abeles who took over at the helm of TaylorMade in 2015. Abeles ascended to the hot seat at a point in time when even the stoutest hearted of men would have walked away from the assignment. There was so much to do and so much ground to cover to get the onetime great company to re-start ﬁring on all cylinders. He did just that and in less than ﬁve years, TaylorMade Golf is back at the sharp end of the industry.

here is no denying the fact that Abeles is the man with the proverbial Midas Touch. It is for this reason that the Asia Pacific Golf Group (APGG – the parent company that publishes ASIAN GOLF) reached out to him to be the keynote speaker at the Inaugural World Golf Expo (WGE) to be staged in Haikou, Hainan on March 16-18, 2021. This global event is being co-organised by the giant Mission Hills Group of China and APGG. “We wanted David to speak at WGE for a number of reasons but the main reason is what drives this man - an incredible ability to be highly innovative and positive and to battle against adversity with a powerful mindset to overcome,” exclaimed Mike Sebastian, CEO of APGG and the executive producer of WGE. “David exudes a strong charisma and his enthusiasm to get things done and done well is infectious,” Sebastian added. “He is a prize catch and we are delighted to have him set the tone and direction for WGE.” One meeting with Abeles is sufficient to conclude that he is a TaylorMade man through and through. In a recent interview he was quoted as saying, “The real reason why we exist, which is really the underpinning of our organization, is to help golfers play better golf. It’s that simple. In order to do that, we have to be able to take on the risk to innovate and advance technology and advance the performance of our products across all categories so that when golfers experience them and put them in play, they enjoy the game more and it helps them play better.” Abeles is a firm believer in innovation and according to him, “Our biggest differentiator is that we actually take on the

risk and invest in doing that. A lot of companies, whether it’s in golf or outside of golf, talk about the concept of innovation, but they don’t live it. It must be embedded in everything you do. And most companies aren’t willing to do it because it’s a higher risk.” In the time that Abeles has led TaylorMade, he has steered the company to new heights marked by two very distinct milestones – the ﬁrst being quality golf equipment sought after by professionals and amateurs alike and building a team of super-stars who play TaylorMade products. Abeles feels very good about getting top stars to align with TaylorMade’s values. These stars include Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and the young guys like Collin Morikawa and Matt Wolff. (Team TaylorMade athletes at the time of writing occupied 4 of the Top 5 in the world rankings: 1. Jon Rahm, 3. Rory McIlroy, 4. Dustin Johnson and 5. Collin Morikawa). “We make products for golfers at every skill level. It isn’t just for the best players in the world,” Abeles declared proudly. As he prepares to come out to Asia to speak to the golf industry, Abeles spoke with ASIAN GOLF on a wide range of topics. He touched on how he saw the golf equipment industry evolving in the years ahead to which he said, “I think golf is in a really good place right now. The industry metrics around participation and consumption have stabilized, and we’re starting to see actually slight advancements as the industry is growing a little bit.” “We’re going to continue to see entertainment at its highest value, which drives the engagement. We’re going to

THERE IS NO DENYING THE FACT THAT ABELES IS THE MAN WITH THE PROVERBIAL MIDAS TOUCH. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT THE ASIA PACIFIC GOLF GROUP (APGG – THE PARENT COMPANY THAT PUBLISHES ASIAN GOLF) REACHED OUT TO HIM TO BE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT THE INAUGURAL

WORLD GOLF EXPO (WGE) TO BE STAGED IN HAIKOU, HAINAN ON MARCH 16-18, 2021. THIS GLOBAL EVENT IS BEING CO-ORGANISED BY THE GIANT MISSION HILLS GROUP OF CHINA AND APGG.

see new forms of golf develop, and this is critical. Whether it’s gamifying golf at driving ranges, or indoor simulator golf or nine-hole facilities, I think we’re making golf more accessible and that’s critically important,” he explained. Abeles stressed that golf needs to be accessible both economically and from a playing standpoint, and that the industry needs to make golf more fun. The following are excerpts from the full interview with Abeles:

ASIAN GOLF: THIS HAS BEEN A SLOW YEAR FOR GOLF, BOTH ON THE PROFESSIONAL AND CLUB LEVEL. IT HAS BEEN UNAVOIDABLE BUT THERE IS A SILVER LINING IN ALL THE DOOM AND GLOOM THAT HOVERS OVER THE GAME AND THAT RAY OF HOPE RELATES TO THE FACT THAT THE BEST PLAYERS CHOSE TO USE TAYLORMADE. THIS MUST BE VERY GRATIFYING FOR YOU! DAVID ABELES: Needless to say, the impact of the global pandemic has been felt around the world; our hearts go out to all affected. However, despite the challenges that we have all faced due to COVID-19, the game of golf is prospering. And our team at TaylorMade, athletes alike, are optimistic that participation in our sport will continue to progress. ASIAN GOLF: THE DEPTH OF TALENT IN THE FIELD THAT PLAYS TAYLORMADE COVERS A WIDE SPECTRUM MADE UP OF VETERANS, REIGNING TOP GUNS AND A HOST OF YOUNG RISING STARS. THIS CERTAINLY ASSURES THE BRAND OF DOMINANCE FOR YEARS TO COME. YOUR THOUGHTS? ABELES: We are incredibly proud of Team TaylorMade – Tiger, Rory, DJ, Jon Rahm, Jason Day, and Rickie Fowler to name a few. These superstars represent the values of our company and inspire us all. We are also thrilled with the fact that the next generation of talent is choosing to play TaylorMade - Collin Morikawa, Matt Wolff, Maria Fassi, Sierra Brooks, and Charley Hull. Our company mission is to create the best performing products for golfers of all skill levels, both golf equipment and golf ball. The fact that the best players in the world are choosing TaylorMade leads us to believe that we are doing the right things.

ASIAN GOLF: SPEAKING OF VETERANS, THE WORLD AWAITS WITH BATED BREATH TO SEE TIGER WOODS BACK IN ACTION. TIGER PLAYS WITH TAYLORMADE – WHAT DO YOU SEE FOR TIGER AS A PLAYER GOING FORWARD? DOES HE STILL HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO PLAY AND WIN AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF THE GAME? ABELES: Clearly, no one moves our sport the way Tiger does; we too are looking forward to his return this summer and fully expect him to pick up precisely where he left off – winning and winning major championships! ASIAN GOLF: WHILE TAYLORMADE’S DOMINANCE IN THE MEN’S GAME LOOKS SOLID, WE NOTICE THAT THE BRAND HAS ALSO BEEFED UP ITS FORCE AMONGST WOMEN PROFESSIONALS. HOW DO YOU RATE YOUR CURRENT TEAM OF STAFF PLAYERS AND GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT YOUR FUTURE STAKE IN THE WOMEN’S GAME LOOKS LIKE? ABELES: Yes, we have. As I mentioned earlier, we are thrilled to reinforce the strength of our LPGA athletes and commitment to the women’s game. Major champion SH Park has been a pillar of performance for golf and TaylorMade over the past several years. We are also extremely excited to welcome the next generation of talent to the team. Maria, Sierra, and Charley will become household names in the coming years. ASIAN GOLF: SHIFTING GEARS, LET’S LOOK AT ASIA. YOU ARE AN EXPERIENCED ASIA-HAND HAVING WORKED IN THE REGION FOR SEVERAL YEARS. IN VIRTUALLY ALL FIELDS OF BUSINESS, ASIA IS LOOKED UPON AS A WORLD LEADER IN THE MAKING. IN THE GOLF EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY, THE SECOND AND REPORTEDLY THIRD LARGEST MARKETS (JAPAN AND KOREA) ARE IN ASIA. AGAINST THIS BACKDROP AND GIVEN THE SIZE OF CHINA, INDIA, AND SOUTHEAST ASIA, WHERE DO YOU SEE THE GOLF EQUIPMENT MARKET STACKING UP ON A GLOBAL SCALE IN SAY THE NEXT DECADE? ABELES: As you know, I have had the good fortune to live in Asia and fully understand and embrace the power of the region. Our brand is very strong in established major markets like Japan and Korea. That said, we are equally bullish on the game’s development in China, to some extent India, and Southeast Asia. The region plays an integral role in our global business platform and we fully intend to continue our investment for the long term.

WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE ENTERTAINMENT AT

ITS HIGHEST VALUE, WHICH DRIVES THE ENGAGEMENT.

WE’RE GOING TO SEE NEW FORMS OF GOLF DEVELOP, AND THIS IS CRITICAL. WHETHER IT’S GAMIFYING GOLF AT DRIVING RANGES, OR INDOOR SIMULATOR GOLF OR NINE-HOLE FACILITIES,

I THINK WE’RE

MAKING GOLF MORE ACCESSIBLE AND THAT’S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

– DAVID ABELES

ASIAN GOLF: MANY ASIA WATCHERS HAVE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT THE HUGE POTENTIAL FOR GOLF IN CHINA. GIVEN YOUR EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE CHINA MARKET, HOW OPTIMISTIC ARE YOU OF CHINA BECOMING A GLOBAL FORCE IN GOLF INSOFAR AS THE NUMBER OF GOLFERS ARE CONCERNED? ABELES: We are hopeful that China will embrace our game the same way other Asian countries have. While golf in the Olympics may represent a catalyst to a national investment, we would certainly like to see the government do even more. Development programmes are required, affordable community access golf facilities, and a public awareness campaigns would be tremendously helpful as we look to ﬁnd pathways for growth across the country. ASIAN GOLF: FOR THE FIRST TIME, MANY ASIAN COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA, INDIA, THAILAND, JAPAN, AND KOREA HAVE HOME-GROWN HEROES IN THE PROFESSIONAL GAME. HOW CAN THE PRESENCE OF THESE STARS IMPACT THE GROWTH OF THE GAME IN THE REGION IN THE MANNER THAT THEIR WESTERN COUNTERPARTS HAVE HAD IN THE GROWTH OF GOLF? ABELES: We have always believed golf is an aspirational sport and that local heroes play a direct role in the game’s popularity. The fact that we are seeing professional golfers, at the games highest level, coming out of Asia is another positive sign that we are experiencing generational engagement in the game.

ASIAN GOLF: ASIA, LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS BEEN BATTERED AND BRUISED BY THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC. YOU HAVE OBVIOUSLY SPENT MANY HOURS THINKING ABOUT THE PANDEMIC AND ITS EFFECT ON YOUR BUSINESS AND THE GAME IN GENERAL. IT HAS OBVIOUSLY THROWN UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES AT YOU. GIVE US A SENSE OF SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES AND HOW IS TAYLORMADE COPING? ABELES: As I am sure your audience can attest; we have all been impacted by the pandemic. We are very fortunate at TaylorMade Golf to have a solutions-oriented and innovativethinking team of talented associates. While we too, have

WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT CHINA WILL EMBRACE OUR GAME THE SAME WAY OTHER ASIAN COUNTRIES HAVE. WHILE GOLF IN THE OLYMPICS MAY REPRESENT A CATALYST TO A NATIONAL INVESTMENT, WE WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO SEE THE GOVERNMENT DO EVEN MORE.

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES ARE REQUIRED, AFFORDABLE COMMUNITY ACCESS GOLF FACILITIES, AND A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS WOULD BE TREMENDOUSLY HELPFUL AS WE LOOK TO FIND PATHWAYS FOR GROWTH ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

made some difﬁcult decisions since the onset of the pandemic; We also established a clear plan at the beginning to be a stronger company as we migrate out the other side – this is exactly what we are doing. Our game and industry, in Asia and globally, are demonstrating strong signs of recovery. We are very fortunate that we play a sport that is outdoors, over a large area of land, and can provide a safe environment for all.

ASIAN GOLF: WHAT SORT OF OUTLOOK DO YOU HOLD FOR GOLF IN GENERAL AND TAYLORMADE IN THE POSTPANDEMIC PERIOD? ABELES: Growth. We are very optimistic that the game and our company’s position in golf are headed in the right direction. We look forward to playing an even stronger role in Asia in bringing golf to more and more people every day. I look forward to getting back in market as soon as possible.

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he company launched the all new “Forward Centre of Gravity” (FCG) putter literally hours after the TaylorMade brand ambassador Collin Morikawa lifted the prestigious PGA Championship trophy and a whopping check for US$1,92 million. Morikawa did not use the FCG but the putter that he won the ﬁrst Major of the year with has the same pedigree in that it shares the TaylorMade

brand name.

In launching the latest addition to the acclaimed family of Spider putters, TaylorMade said that its engineers sought insights from many top players on Tour and compiled all the information to construct a clean and traditional mallet shape that performs in a non-traditional way. The result is an intelligently designed high-MOI mallet that is built for golfers who have an arced putting stroke. Forward Centre of Gravity (CG) placement let the toe release freely like a blade, while the mallet shape and perimeter weighting help maintain the signature Spider family forgiveness. It wouldn’t be a Spider if it didn’t forgive! The Spider FCG will be available in Asia in September.

LAUNCHING THE LATEST ADDITION TO

THE ACCLAIMED FAMILY OF

PUTTERS,

TAYLORMADE

SPIDER

SAID THAT ITS

ENGINEERS SOUGHT INSIGHTS FROM MANY TOP PLAYERS ON

TOUR

AND COMPILED ALL THE

INFORMATION TO CONSTRUCT A CLEAN AND TRADITIONAL MALLET SHAPE THAT PERFORMS IN A NON-TRADITIONAL WAY.

Young Collin Morikawa had just won the 2020 PGA Championship and barely hours had gone by before TaylorMade lifted the covers to unveil a slew of brand-new irons. The timing of the launch could not have come at a better time since Morikawa, a TaylorMade brand ambassador and a newly minted super-star, had lifted the ďŹ rst Major of the year with a convincing win using TaylorMade clubs. As if that was not validation enough of the winning power of TaylorMade, Team TaylorMade athletes now occupy 4 of the Top 5 sports in the world ranking - 1. Jon Rahm, 3. Rory McIlroy, 4. Dustin Johnson and 5. Collin Morikawa. It simply keeps on getting better at TaylorMade!

aylorMade has launched the latest additions

construction helps inspire conﬁdence at address, while also

to its already acclaimed P Series and its lat-

promoting enhanced workability and control. A high-buff

est power-packed irons include the all-new

polish and Tour satin ﬁnish deliver a uniﬁed look across this

P•7MB, P•7MC and P•770 models. The new

segment of the P Series. This intentional design aesthetic

arrivals have beefed up TaylorMade’s line-up

addresses the growing demand for combo sets. In recent

and arguably represent the best range of meticulously

years, golfers both on Tour and at the amateur level have

crafted players irons that align craftsmanship, performance,

elected to build combo sets to optimize performance from

and unmatched aesthetics.

top to bottom. With the clean aesthetics of P•770, golfers

While previous generations of the P Series have a proven track record of great success, the new P•770 iron steps out on its own and matches another TaylorMade win-

can easily match them with P•7MC or P•790 to create a combo set that looks cohesive in the bag. Given the compact head shape, P•770 punches above

ner - its powerhouse sibling the P•790. The P•770, while

its weight class. Exhaustive testing shows that it’s within a

designed to deliver P•790-like performance in a smaller-

few yards of the larger P•790. Pound for pound, the perfor-

package, it leverages its forged hollow body construction to

mance is equally as impressive.

pack as much distance and forgiveness as possible into a compact player’s shape. In comparison to its sibling, the P•770 has a thinner top line, narrower sole and shorter blade length. The smaller

The technologies that power the P•770 have been drawn from a proven arsenal to generate explosive power and distance. Here’s a quick look at what makes the P•770 so hot:

IN RECENT YEARS, GOLFERS BOTH ON TOUR AND AT THE AMATEUR LEVEL HAVE ELECTED TO BUILD COMBO SETS TO OPTIMIZE PERFORMANCE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. WITH THE CLEAN AESTHETICS OF P•770, GOLFERS CAN EASILY MATCH THEM WITH P•7MC OR P•790 TO CREATE A COMBO SET THAT LOOKS COHESIVE IN THE BAG.

Its forged hollow body is constructed of 8620 soft

are the P•7MC and P•7MB. Both sets have been designed

ball speeds.

based on insights from the game’s best ball strikers which

Within the face is the Progressive Inverted Cone

have been meticulously crafted to the highest quality to

Technology (ICT), which is uniquely positioned in

create the best feeling iron possible. As a contemporary take

each P•770 iron to both increase the sweet spot and

on classic designs, each iron set is built to blend aesthetics,

minimize the effects of common mishits. The ICT is po-

performance and a purist feel.

sitioned in the centre of the face on mid irons and more

One of the special features of the P•7MC and P•7MB re-

towards the toe on long irons to deliver performance

lates to TaylorMade’s new Compact Grain Forging™ process.

exactly where golfers need it the most.

This process relies on a 2,000-ton forging press to ensure

SpeedFoam™, ﬁrst used in the original P•790 irons,

that each P•7MC and P•7MB iron is formed with masterful

play a pivotal role in the performance of P•770. The

precision and a tighter grain structure designed to provide

ultra-light urethane foam injected inside the head is

the most solid, consistent feel possible.

engineered to push the design limits of face speed

Complementing the P•770 are two other sets of irons

carbon steel with a thin 4140 steel face to promote fast

The process uses up to 2-3 times the forging pressure

while simultaneously improving feel.

commonly found in the golf industry. This additional force re-

The MOI on the P•770 has been boosted by strategi-

ﬁnes the microstructure, decreasing the grain size to improve

cally positioning tungsten weights within each head

the overall properties of the metal. The high pressure forging

for precise CG placement and increased forgive-

also produces a head that is near ﬁnal in shape, requiring

ness.

minimal hand polishing for a repeatable, precise geometry.

COMPLEMENTING THE P•770 ARE TWO OTHER SETS OF IRONS ARE THE P•7MC AND P•7MB. BOTH SETS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED BASED ON INSIGHTS FROM THE GAME’S BEST BALL STRIKERS WHICH HAVE BEEN METICULOUSLY CRAFTED TO THE HIGHEST QUALITY TO CREATE THE BEST FEELING IRON POSSIBLE.

AS A CONTEMPORARY TAKE ON CLASSIC DESIGNS, EACH IRON SET IS BUILT TO BLEND AESTHETICS, PERFORMANCE AND A PURIST FEEL. P•7MB is deﬁned by its clean and elegant appearance

The shape of this new muscle cavity was derived

and shaping takes cues from Dustin Johnson’s Tour Proto-

from the previous generation of P•750 irons – which has a

type irons. They boast a thin top line, minimal offset and a

cultish following on Tour as a favourite of Jon Rahm, Collin

narrow sole and the P•7MB represents the ultimate in shot

Morikawa and Matthew Wolff alike. In creating the new

making and control.

backbar geometry designed to elevate feel, TaylorMade

Similarly, the P•7MC is also tour-inspired and is de-

engineers moved mass up behind the face to support the

signed to meet the standards of the game’s most discerning

point of impact. During initial testing, Rory McIlroy im-

players. Classic shaping and minimal offset deliver control

mediately commented on the solid feel of the iron and the

and precision, while perimeter weighting offers just the right

stability of the head through the strike zone – a discernible

touch of forgiveness.

enhancement over the previous generation. All new clubs are available throughout Asia.

Spring 2020 NEW COLLECTION

P O L O S H I RT ST YLE: CHANDLER COLOR : GR APE/WHITE PRICE: $90

S T Y L E : WA L K S H O RT S COLOR : ALMOND MILK PRICE: $80

The Spring 2020 Collection PRESENTS

Private Estate launched in January 2019, with over 40 golf and country clubs across America signing up as stockists, as well as several high profile clubs across Asia including Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club in Hong Kong, Al Mouj Golf in Oman, and Amata Spring Golf Club in Thailand. The brand is represented on a global stage by Brand Ambassadors Kiradech Aphibarnrat (PGA TOUR), Scott Hend (European and Asian Tour) and Tyson Alexander (Korn Ferry Tour). The first time the product was ever worn on Tour was at the 2019 Maybank Championship in Malaysia, where Scott Hend came through a playoff to secure the biggest win of his career and his 3rd European Tour title. At Private Estate, we believe the devil is very much in the detail. We pay meticulous attention to the craftsmanship and design of our products, as evidenced by refined details such as our shell cut buttons, herringbone taping and signature collar, which provide the finishing touches to a truly luxurious product. The Spring 2020 Collection features some classic striped polo shirts such as Santa Monica (below) and Chandler (opposite), as well as a stunning selection of plain solid polos and exciting new prints. The premium look and feel to this collection makes it incredibly versatile, and is suitable for outdoor sports including golf and tennis, as well as smart-casual or even formal occasions such as dinner with colleages or friends.

P O L O S H I RT S T Y L E : S A N TA M O N I C A COLOR : GR APE/BL ACK PRICE: $90

Sp e c i a l T h a n k s t o : A m ata Sp r i n g C o u n t r y C l u b

www.privateestatefx.com

There was a time when a new breed of golf clubs was referred to as “rescue” clubs. Then, in keeping with the cycle of evolution, these godsent clubs became known as “hybrids”. They were known by this name because the clubs combined the characteristics of both woods and irons, with a smaller clubhead than a wood, a shorter shaft, and more loft. Continuing the evolution process, today these clubs are known as “utility” irons. The latest of these to hit the market is TaylorMade Golf’s SIM UDI and DHY utility irons

hese new offerings have come hot on the

So, what’s the deal with the SIM utility irons? Basi-

heels of TaylorMade’s Brand Ambas-

cally, there are two noticeably different shapes which

sador Collin Morikawa’s phenomenal

contribute to a variance in performance and ball ﬂight

victory at the ﬁrst Major of the year, the

between the utility irons.

PGA Championship. As Morikawa and

The SIM DHY offers a larger overall footprint with a

team were celebrating the huge win, TaylorMade Golf

thicker top line, wider sole and a shallower proﬁle that

celebrated by launching the all-new SIM UDI and SIM

delivers hybrid-like forgiveness. The larger head shape

DHY™ utility irons.

is designed to deliver conﬁdence-inspiring visual cues

These new irons build on the success of SIM Max

while still maintaining a sleek and elegant aesthetic.

Rescue™, which has achieved unprecedented PGA

Designed for versatility and forgiveness, SIM DHY™ is

TOUR adoption and like its predecessor, the new utilities

truly a superior driving hybrid. Engineered with a hollow

provide golfers with fantastic options for completing a

body construction that allows for a low and deep CG

critical part of the bag – the space between the longest

placement, SIM DHY delivers easy launch with a mid-high

playable iron and shortest fairway wood.

trajectory.

THE SIM DHY OFFERS A LARGER OVERALL FOOTPRINT WITH A THICKER TOP LINE, WIDER SOLE AND A SHALLOWER PROFILE THAT DELIVERS HYBRID-LIKE

FORGIVENESS.

THE

LARGER

HEAD

SHAPE IS DESIGNED TO DELIVER CONFIDENCE-IN-

SPIRING VISUAL CUES WHILE STILL MAINTAINING A SLEEK AND ELEGANT AESTHETIC.

DESIGNED FOR VERSATILITY AND FORGIVENESS, SIM DHYâ&#x201E;¢ IS TRULY A SUPERIOR DRIVING HYBRID. ENGINEERED WITH A HOLLOW BODY CONSTRUCTION THAT ALLOWS FOR A LOW AND DEEP CG PLACEMENT, SIM DHY DELIVERS EASY LAUNCH WITH A MID-HIGH TRAJECTORY.

The SIM UDI has a more traditional players iron proﬁle with a thinner top line and slimmer sole for enhanced

from the fairway, in the rough and even from the bunker. Both models boast a hollow body construction with

workability and shot making characteristics. The face

a forged C300 steel face, which is the same material the

view reveals classic score lines that reﬂect its long-iron

company uses in SIM Max fairway woods and Rescue. This

heritage. Designed with insights from the game’s best

ultra-strong steel helps produce incredible ball speeds

players, SIM UDI is truly the Ultimate Driving Iron. With a

while also delivering a forged feel to each product. Ad-

conﬁdence-inspiring shape at address, it’s a club built to

ditional similarities include proven technologies such as

control shot shape and trajectory.

SpeedFoam™ that allows engineers to push the limits

Drawing inspiration from the V Steel™ construction

of ball speed while maintaining impressive feel

of SIM Max Rescue, both UDI and DHY feature a rounded

and the Thru-Slot Speed Pocket™ for improved

camber from heel to toe that improves turf interaction,

performance on shots struck low on the face.

particularly on uneven lies. This a key component to the versatility of each club, making them playable off the tee,

These new utility irons are now available in Asia.

THE SIM UDI HAS A MORE TRADITIONAL PLAYERS IRON PROFILE WITH A THINNER TOP LINE AND SLIMMER SOLE FOR ENHANCED WORKABILITY AND SHOT MAKING CHARACTERISTICS.

THE FACE VIEW REVEALS CLASSIC SCORE LINES THAT REFLECT ITS LONG-IRON HERITAGE. DESIGNED WITH INSIGHTS FROM THE GAME’S BEST PLAYERS, SIM UDI IS TRULY THE ULTIMATE DRIVING IRON. WITH A CONFIDENCEINSPIRING SHAPE AT ADDRESS, IT’S A CLUB BUILT TO CONTROL SHOT SHAPE AND TRAJECTORY.

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It ain’t over until the fat lady sings! This colloquialism really holds true when it comes to Callaway Golf’s legendary brand name “Big Bertha”. This moniker made its grand entry into the industry way back in 1991 when the company launched the Big Bertha driver. It was a game-changer which heralded the arrival of the big-headed driver. Since that historic launch, the brand name has been iterated many times over and it is arguably amongst the most striking and memorable product names in golf. Anyway, the big lady is back! And its latest born-again name is Big Bertha B-21- sounds like a deadly stealth bomber designed to strike the fear of God in the hearts of power-mad dictators!

BIG BERTHA B21 HERE’S THE TRUTH 15

CALLAWAY SAYS THAT “IT’S ESPECIALLY SUITED FOR PLAYERS WHO HIT A SLICE OR STRUGGLE TO FIND A CONSISTENT BALL

– ALL MADE POSSIBLE WITH ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES THAT MAKE THIS DRIVER REALLY LONG, FORGIVING, AND EASY TO HIT. FLIGHT

he new bomber from Callaway is said to be a technology-packed thunder-stick. To quote the announcement release, the “Big Bertha B-21 features premium technologies and legendary Big Bertha design

features for distance any way you swing it.” Wow! That’s the kind of weapon that all weekend hackers would love to lay their hands on. Lest we forget, the B-21 driver is the end-product of a sophisticated research and development programme that was wrung out through Callaway’s artiﬁcial intelligence wizardry. Any time AI is used in product design, you can count on the ﬁnished product being the best that modernday technology can throw at you! So, if you are wondering what’s so great about the B-21, let’s see what Callaway has to say. According to the company, the “Big Bertha B-21 is built for golfers who want to hit their drives further, and straighter so that their

BIG BERTHA B21 DRIVER || DISTANCE ANY WAY YOU SWING IT

ball finds the fairway.” Man, in simple speak, this is a godsend! Just imagine, whack the ball any which way you like and there is every likelihood that your drive will be OK. Too good to be true? Well, let’s get it straight from the horse’s mouth – Callaway says that “it’s especially suited for players who hit a slice or struggle to find a consistent ball flight – all made possible with advanced technologies that make this driver really long, forgiving, and easy to hit.” It’s Callaway’s first driver with the unique combination of high launch, low spin and significant draw bias in a forgiving shape. Callaway says, “This is a new formula for distance that’s designed to take the big miss out of your game; a total ball speed package featuring the company’s A.I. designed Flash Face SS21, super strength titanium, and innovative Jailbreak Technology.”

BIG BERTHA B21 FAIRWAY WOODS

THE BIG BERTHA B-21 PRODUCT RANGE INCLUDES FAIRWAY WOODS DESCRIBED AS “CALLAWAY’S EASIEST TO LAUNCH FAIRWAY WOOD THAT PROMOTES MORE DISTANCE, MORE CONSISTENT CONTACT AND SMOOTHER TURF INTERACTION. Well, it all sounds great and perhaps this is a driver

Rounding out the new product package is the B-21

worth trying out. Not only does it come across as a game

irons – designed to deliver a new formula for distance and

improving driver but a major game-changer!

forgiveness. According to Callaway, this is the ﬁrst time

The Big Bertha B-21 product range includes fairway

that an A.I. designed Flash Face Cup is in a Big Bertha

woods described as “Callaway’s easiest to launch fairway

Iron. The unique Flash Face architecture in each iron cre-

wood that promotes more distance, more consistent contact

ates high ball speeds and increased spin robustness for

and smoother turf interaction.”

every club in the set. A new Visible Tungsten Energy Core

Complementing the fairway woods is the B-21 hybrids

(VTEC) deepens the CG for incredibly easy launch. In short,

that come equipped with the “iconic Big Bertha shaping and

you’re getting iconic shaping and incredible ball speed

increased offset, which helps to take the slice or big miss

technologies.

out of your game….. and create more distance and better control.”

So, after nearly 30 years, the fat lady has not quite ﬁnished singing – expect the Big Bertha franchise to live on!

BIG BERTHA B21 HYBRIDS

BIG BERTHA B21 IRONS

TITLEIST BOLDLY CLAIMS THAT

â&#x20AC;&#x153;TOUR SPEED IS FASTER AND LONGER THAN

CALLAWAY CHROME SOFT, BRIDGESTONE TOUR B RX, TAYLORMADE TOUR RESPONSE, SRIXON Z-STAR AND SRIXON Q-STAR TOUR.

It is an undisputed fact in the golf industry that the leading brand in golf balls is Titleist. It dominates the professional tours with its iconic Pro V golf balls, and it is reported to outsell every brand of golf ball in the world. Now, when the share of market is large, one wonders if Titleist even needs to bother about the other brands of golf ball in the market. But, based on the launch of its newest golf ball, this does not seem to be the case. Regardless of being number one in the world, the king of the hill has come out lashing in all directions at the lesser brands with bold claims of how vastly superior its new golf ball is against the competition. ASIAN GOLF looks at the spanking new Titleist Tour Speed, the seventh in the family of Titleist golf balls.

itleist has always been known to be a highly

world of the knock-down-drag-out battle of kick-ass

conservative golf brand. In all the years that

global marketing where only the best survive!

ASIAN GOLF has covered this company’s

ASIAN GOLF also commends Titleist for showing

products, never has it been known to take

its testicular fortitude to produce a golf ball for the

on its competitors by name in a head to

amateur golfer that promises greater speed and dis-

head showdown. But this formal and reserved posture

tance. This goes against the grain of the current think-

seems to have taken a turn, and in ASIAN GOLF speak, a

ing of the game’s gatekeepers, the USGA and the R&A.

turn for the better!

Bureaucrats from both these institutions are diligently

With the launch of the Titleist Tour Speed, the com-

working at controlling distances travelled by a golf ball.

pany has ﬁtted its ﬁsts with knuckle dusters and has come

However, for the club-player and the amateur golfer,

out ﬂailing to blow its competition away. In a series of

it is hoped that their game remains unfettered by the

knock-out punches, Titleist boldly claims that “Tour Speed

ofﬁcial rulings.

is faster and longer than Callaway Chrome Soft, Bridgestone Tour B RX, TaylorMade Tour Response, Srixon Z-STAR and Srixon Q-STAR TOUR.” This is in-your-face stuff – welcome to the

Golf balls that provide more speed and greater distances is a godsent for amateur golfers. The vast majority are not Bryson DeChambeaus, capable of whacking balls to sail past the 400-yard mark. For the bulk, being able to eke out a few more yards from a drive is gratiﬁcation beamed down from the heavens!

Speaking on behalf of the average weekend hacker, having a ball with more speed and greater distance in play, can make

● A new high-speed core formulation combined

the difference between making a double bogey, a bogey or

with Titleist’s fastest ionomer casing layer deliv-

even a par. The ecstasy of being able to play a better game is

ers maximum speed and low long game spin for

such a great feeling and anything that Titleist and its com-

category-leading distance.

petitors can do to help, is welcome with open arms! After all,

● Tour Speed’s thermoplastic urethane (TPU)

game gratiﬁcation is what will help grow the game of golf!

cover is proprietary Titleist golf ball technology

Now that we are done with our love strokes for Titleist, let’s get down to checking out the Titleist Tour Speed. It is said to be the product of years of rigorous product

speciﬁcally formulated by R&D chemists, delivering greenside spin for short game scoring control with soft feel.

development which has resulted in a new ball that provides

● The exceptional distance of Tour Speed is en-

golfers with the fastest, best performing golf ball in its

hanced by a new 346 quadrilateral dipyramid dimple

category. According to the brand, the Titleist Tour Speed has

design that provides a penetrating, consistent ﬂight.

been proven through extensive testing with amateur players. It goes without saying also that the breakthrough performance

Commenting on the Tour Speed, VP for Titleist Golf

of Tour Speed is further enhanced by the superior quality and

Ball Marketing Michael Mahoney said, “Golfers can trust

consistency of Titleist’s precision manufacturing process.

that when they tee up a Titleist, they are getting superior

From a design and construction standpoint, Tour Speed

performance and quality versus the competition.” Mahoney

offers a distinct and compelling performance option in the

added, “Our golf ball scientists and engineers have gone

Titleist golf ball family through its innovative three-piece de-

to extraordinary lengths in the development of Tour Speed

sign, delivering a unique combination of exceptional distance

– testing numerous core formulations and aerodynamic

in the long game and precise short game scoring control.

patterns, while formulating and analysing hundreds of TPU

The characteristics of the new ball breaks down as follows:

cover blends – to deliver on that promise. We have made every investment necessary in these new technologies, including a signiﬁcant expansion of our manufacturing facility and process.”

ACCORDING TO THE BRAND, THE TITLEIST TOUR SPEED HAS BEEN PROVEN THROUGH EXTENSIVE TESTING WITH AMATEUR

PLAYERS. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING ALSO THAT THE BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE OF

TOUR SPEED IS FURTHER EN-

HANCED BY THE SUPERIOR QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY OF

TITLEISTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PRECISION MANUFACTURING PROCESS.

The Tour Speed was subjected to exhaustive amateur testing for a three-month period. “Every new Titleist golf ball must exceed our stringent machine and player testing targets in order to advance from the R&D phase,” said Scott Cooper, Titleist Golf Ball R&D’s lead implementation engineer for Tour Speed. “All of the data and golfer feedback we’ve collected has been clear: Tour Speed is consistently the fastest, longest and most preferred golf ball among the competitive urethane-covered products in this category.” There you go! You’ve just heard the story about the fabulous attributes of the Tour Speed from the guys who know the product best. Most importantly, it has been tested extensively by amateurs who have given it the thumbs up! The new ball will be available in Asian in October.

It is said that black is elegant, attractive, powerful, and mysterious. These are qualities that anybody would like to be associated with. And now, we see one of the most hallowed names in the business of golf clubs deciding to bring the colour black into its arsenal of weapons. In a bold move, the brand once associated with serious golfers only, has decided to get hip with the introduction of two sets of irons that come in black. This is epic and it may just quite herald a new era of more all black clubs!

IT’S THE ULTIMATE BLEND OF CLASSIC SHAPING AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY. YOU ARE GETTING THE LOOK AND FEEL OF A TRUE PLAYER’S IRON, BUT WITH THE ADDED SPEED, LAUNCH AND FORGIVENESS THAT ALLOWS YOU TO TAKE AIM FROM FARTHER AWAY.

he new irons that have just hit the market belong to the T-Series – the T100-S and the T200. According to the ofﬁcial spin, these two new sets are being pitched as clubs that pack “striking long-range performance” that are powered by breakthrough technology for explosive

distance in a player-preferred shape. In the words of Josh Talge, Titleist vice president for Clubs Market, “T100•S and T200 have proven to be incredible feats of engineering that really show what it takes to be a Titleist iron.” “It’s the ultimate blend of classic shaping and modern technology. You are getting the look and feel of a true player’s iron, but with the added speed, launch and forgiveness that allows you to take aim from farther away. We’ve heard from many golfers asking us to build these allblack editions – the combination of the Black PVD finish with the matte black shaft and matching grip is just stunning,” Talge added. These stealth irons in black are finished with a sleek High Polish Black PVD coating continually requested by tour players and members of #TeamTitleist. Each model is complemented by a glare-reducing matte black shaft – DG Onyx AMT Black (T100•S) or Project X LZ Onyx (T200) – and an all-black Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 grip. Definitely, the total all black package of power. These unique clubs have been well received on Tour and Cameron Smith who won the Sony Open in Hawaii playing a set of T100 Black irons had this to say about the new clubs: “The first time I saw these irons they looked so good I didn’t want to put a scratch on them …. the black finish just looks tighter to me and really fits my eye. It also helps to keep a little bit of the shine off which I really like.”

THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND THE T100â&#x20AC;¢S IRONS IS DESIGNED TO DE TOUR-LEVEL PRECISION AND SIGNATURE FEEL AS T100 IN 2-DEGRE FOR LONGER DISTANCE. EACH IRON HAS BEEN INDIVIDUALLY CALIBRATED TO PLAYERS THE ADDED DISTANCE THEY NEED TO SCORE LOWER, WHILE PRESER AND PRECISION REQUIRED FOR SUPERIOR SHOT SHAPING.

LIVER THE SAME

E STRONGER LOFTS

O GIVE BETTER

RVING THE FEEL

The technology behind the T100•S irons is designed to deliver the same tour-level precision and signature feel as T100 in 2-degree stronger lofts for longer distance. Each iron has been individually calibrated to give better players the added distance they need to score lower, while preserving the feel and precision required for superior shot shaping. Similarly, the T200 irons deliver powerfully playable distance in a tour-inspired shape – with Max Impact Technology, a striking innovation that extends maximum speed across the entire face of mid and long irons while preserving superior sound and feel. It has been engineered to provide consistently better distance from every swing, without sacriﬁcing looks, feel, trajectory or stopping power. So, if you are ready to harness the power of black, get down to your favourite golf store and be amongst the ﬁrst to show off your revolutionary new clubs!

Â© Souvik Kundu / WWF

He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2019 with a degree in business administration. While most of his college buddies were busy figuring out their future career paths, he embarked on a busy career as a young professional on the PGA Tour, the world’s richest and toughest. Besides a string of collegiate wins and titles, he quickly amassed a relatively impressive record on the PGA Tour – in the short time that he has been on board, he made 22 consecutive cuts, a feat surpassed only by Tiger Woods’ 25-cut streak. As if that was not impressive enough, he also bagged two PGA Tour wins and two runner-up finishes. All these as he turned 23 years of age. Phenomenal! While most pundits who kept track of this young player’s performance on Tour were confident that he would be a great player, no one quite thought that he would win a major barely six months after he turned 23! This is the tale of Collin Morikawa, the quiet giant-killer who spanked the toughest field assembled for the PGA Championship and romped home the clear winner of the prestigious Major!

t was a real pity that thousands who are normally

With the huge win, he became the third-youngest

gathered at the PGA Championship were not on

player to win the tournament since 1946. At 23 years,

hand to roar Morikawa on to victory. It would

six months and three days when he wrested the PGA

have been terriﬁc, but it really did not matter to

Championship trophy, Morikawa was behind just Jack

Morikawa because as he put it, “It’s amazing. It’s

Nicklaus (23 years, six months in 1963) and Rory McIlroy

been a life goal, obviously as a little kid, kind of watching

(23 years, three months and eight days in 2012) as the

everyone grow up, all these professionals, and this is

youngest to win a major in the past 74 years. Morikawa’s

always what I’ve wanted to do.”

64 in the ﬁnal round also tied the lowest ﬁnal-round

IT’S AMAZING. IT’S BEEN A LIFE GOAL, OBVIOUSLY AS A LITTLE KID, KIND OF WATCHING EVERYONE GROW UP, ALL THESE PROFESSIONALS, AND THIS IS ALWAYS WHAT I’VE WANTED TO DO.

score by a PGA winner since Steve Elkington in 1995. Already a three-time winner on tour, Morikawa was proud to be alongside the greats. Speaking shortly after his win, Morikawa said, “It’s great company. Any time you’re in the conversation of the greats, Jack, Rory, Tiger, no matter who it is, if you’re in that conversation, you’re doing something well. The way Morikawa is playing, the best is yet to come. In his short playing career, his winnings have been quite substantial – for the PGA Championship, he picked up a check for US$1.98 million and he has already banked in a few million for his two other wins and placements since he turned professional in 2019.

#WOMENSGOLFDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 - WOMEN'S GOLF DAY

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SHAWNHUMPHRIES.COM SHAWN HUMPHRIES

Have you kept watch at the driving range and observed how some golfers try and “perfect” their shot. A smile of gratiﬁcation invariably lights up their faces when they can keep striking the perfect shot time after time. But when they take this perfected shot onto the course, everything goes awry. They ask in frustration - why are my practice swings ‘perfect’ but my golf shots bad? We trust all golfers would like an answer to this puzzling issue so ASIAN GOLF posed this question to one of the top golf coaches in the world – Shawn Humphries who is the master behind the success of many successful golfers. Here is what he has to say:

hy you cannot take it from the practice

strategy of the hole, the tee shot, approach shot, distance

area to the course

putt or chip and ﬁnal putt for par or better. Each shot

I hear this feedback all the time,

sound familiar? “I hit it great on the range but

should have a strategy that considers the lie, yardage, and conditions and after that strategy is built the athlete takes rehearsal strokes to commit to the intended strategy. Again,

cannot take it to the course.” “I am a wreck when I get on the

if this is expected in competition, are you also doing this in

course, I am a completely different person!”

your training?

“I hit it great with my coach, but struggle when away from the lesson tee.” In these circumstances the solutions most players run to

As an example, an athlete has a par 5 of 550 yards. He steps up to the tee and conﬁrms the strategy for the hole including the shape and trajectory of the shots he intends

are to continue to grind on the technical side of the game. Get

to hit and how he wants to ideally play the hole from start to

in more work. Do the drills. Find it in the dirt. I think we all can

ﬁnish. Prior to teeing it up on that hole he conﬁrms this exact

agree that this grind is exhausting. And, furthermore, does

strategy in his mind.

this process truly get us to the results we are capable of? I have learned many valuable lessons from elite per-

These strategies are an indelible imprint in the mind of the athlete, helping him to prepare for competition. The error

formers, including Olympians that can help athletes who feel

we see most golfers make is that they never replicate these

like they are caught in this vicious cycle. The ﬁrst trait that

steps in training. If you do not or cannot complete these

differentiates the elite performer from the average one is the

steps in training, how do you expect to show up in competi-

concept of the self- image. The self-image is the greatest

tion?

inﬂuencer on how we operate and whether it is like us to do

Take a step back and reﬂect on what you see other

something. Your self- image is the sum of your habits and

sports doing. Football, basketball, and baseball athletes are

attitudes; it is your DNA as a player and your area of comfort

consistently rehearsing the steps of performing including

that you like to operate in. The reason why the average

individual plays and segments of games. What do we typi-

player cannot take it from the range to the course is that

cally see in golf? As an example, we may see a golfer work

he is not training in high stakes competition in his practice

on his chipping. He hits 20 balls or so to surround the hole

sessions. If the athlete has not done it in training, the self-

but never ﬁnishes them out, nor does he build a strategy

image will not allow a heightened level of performance in

for each putt to convert the up and down. Golfers, like other

competition.

competitive athletes, need to rehearse the exact steps of

Here is the problem: most athletes have never been

performing and the order in which they happen.

taught strategies to train for high stakes situations. Practice

So, what does simulating competition look like in a

sessions are typically aimless and random, without a sense

golfer’s training? The athletes we work with start with 4-foot

of anything meaningful being accomplished. Let us inves-

putts to begin their training sessions. The golfer ﬁnds a putt

tigate the strategies elite performers use to create a high

of 4 feet and marks the spot. From there he builds a strategy

stakes environment and how we can apply these concepts to

for that putt and commits to that strategy. He runs every

improving our game.

step of performing from beginning to end, just as if he were

Elite performers build strategies: for the shot, the hole,

on the golf course. We recommend at least ﬁfty minutes on

the course, the round, and the tournament. Golfers should

4 footers to start because a golfer has more 4 footers in a

be stepping up to the hole and building the strategy for the

round than anything else. We have observed, after training

hole, in the conditions at that moment. If this is what should

with thousands of athletes, that if an athlete can make ﬁfty

be done in competition it is crucial that athletes do this in

of these in a row in training, his performance in competition

their training. This is the difference between the aimless and

begins to change.

random approach I have spoken of versus the strategies the ultra-elite use. What should be happening is the athlete builds the strategy for each element of playing the hole: the overall

After 4 footers the athlete may move to distance putting. The ﬁrst step of the session, like 4 footers, is to build the strategy. The athlete commits to the strategy for the shot by rehearsing the precise movement he wants to use for the

THESE STRATEGIES ARE AN INDELIBLE IMPRINT IN THE MIND

OF THE ATHLETE, HELPING HIM TO PREPARE FOR COMPETITION.

THE ERROR

WE SEE MOST GOLFERS MAKE IS THAT THEY NEVER REPLICATE THESE STEPS IN

TRAINING. IF YOU DO NOT OR CANNOT COMPLETE THESE STEPS IN TRAINING,

HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO SHOW UP IN COMPETITION?

shot. The athlete hits the distance putt and then ﬁnishes

during a training session, he is more likely to see himself do

the putt out, just as if he is competing on the course. This

this in competition.

approach to training grows the athlete’s skill while also

Exact rehearsal can also help the athlete to prepare for

growing his self- image, which we know is crucial if he

the course. For example, if the athlete knows he is playing a

seeks to be an elite performer. We can only achieve what

certain course the next day he should rehearse his round of

we picture, and this method of training gives the athlete the

golf the day before. This type of preparation deposits indel-

best chance to replicate results in competition. If the athlete

ible imprints on the self-image so that it becomes more

can convert, as an example, 9 distance putts in two or better

like the athlete to achieve the result he is striving for. If the

rehearsal is done with specifics known about the wind and yardage, all the athlete is doing is confirming and affirming his strategies when he shows up for competition. The athlete takes a course map and plots his way around the course, being specific about the yardage of each shot, the shape of the shot and the desired outcome. As an example, the player may have a 375-yard hole: he rehearses a drive with the trajectory and distance that he knows he is capable of, based on the conditions. That should leave him 100 yards into the hole if he hits his desired drive of 275 yards. He builds the strategy for the approach, with the exact club and yardage of

THIS APPROACH TO TRAINING GROWS THE

ATHLETE’S SKILL WHILE ALSO

GROWING HIS SELF- IMAGE, WHICH WE KNOW IS CRUCIAL IF HE SEEKS TO BE AN ELITE PERFORMER.

CAN ONLY ACHIEVE WHAT WE

PICTURE, AND THIS METHOD OF

100 yards and rehearses a shot of 100 yards within 15 feet.

TRAINING GIVES THE ATHLETE THE

He then 2 putts, or better to complete the hole. The more the

BEST CHANCE TO REPLICATE

athlete prepares like this, the more his self-image continues to grow. Have you noticed that all we have detailed is about the steps of performing, making confident decisions and committing to them? We teach these strategies so to help the athlete grow his self-image versus staying stuck in the “fix it” mentality of golf swing mechanics. Your opportunity to grow as a player awaits- will you stick to the range “find it in the dirt” struggle or will you utilize the strategies of the ultra-elite to infuse competition strategies into your training?

RESULTS IN COMPETITION. IF THE ATHLETE CAN CONVERT, AS AN EXAMPLE,

9 DISTANCE PUTTS IN

TWO OR BETTER DURING A

TRAINING SESSION, HE IS MORE LIKELY TO SEE HIMSELF DO THIS IN COMPETITION.

AUGUST 20-23

AUGUST 27-30

SEPTEMBER 4-7

ANDREW WOOD

ANDREW AND ANDR A N REW WOOD WOOD OO

This is a story of one man who embarked on a historic 56-day, 10,000-mile journey to see for himself how the golf club industry was coping with the raging Coronavirus pandemic. The modern-day voyager, behind the wheels of a 2020 ﬂaming red Corvette, traversed through cities, rural heartlands, and rugged landscapes. He worked his 6.2 litre V8 beast, packing 495 horsepower on the long journey with his luggage, golf clubs and a pile of cash. The experience was tracked daily on his Facebook account and avid golfers were lapping up his daily accounts. The man who undertook this incredible golf voyage was ASIAN GOLF’s International Editor, Andrew Wood, the Legendary Golf Guru. His latest ﬁling focuses on how golf clubs are coping with the challenge of managing the pandemic.

very single course I visited on my 56-day around America golf odyssey was up most 10 to 30% in business and the best was up 68% year-overyear in daily fee rounds. The story was just the same in the private club sector, with every club I visited being substantially up in membership numbers over last year. Even in late July, clubs reported signing up as many as 15 new members. The question that ran through me was whether this had been accomplished by better marketing or an increase in service? The answer is an emphatic No! Surprisingly, most clubs’ marketing is as bad as ever, and service has been reduced to a skeleton level. What then has caused this rapid turnaround of a 20-year decline? Would you believe that the cause in the bump up is directly attributable to our good old friend, the Coronavirus! While most forms of exercise have been banned or severely curtailed, golf has been the lone survivor, and because there is little else to do, people are flocking back to the ancient game. Now the question is, will the golf industry truly capitalize on this unexpected windfall by converting these players back into long-term players, or will they simply as the old rock song screams: “Take the money and run.” Every operator is excited about the influx of play. Every operator is working on a skeleton staff, and therefore expenses are lower than they have been in many years. But this massive reduction in staff along with the social distancing rules causes one big problem. The service offered in most clubs is bad, and the excuse is always the same with the accusing finger pointing at social distancing. While one cannot ignore the rules set in place by the government, few clubs are looking for creative solutions. Instead, they use Covid-19 as a crutch. For example, all the courses I played at have removed water dispensers from the golf course. This, in some climates, creates a physical hazard due to the extreme temperatures. I played several very high-end golf courses that could easily have provided bottled water in a grab-and-go situation rather than fill up a water dispenser. At one club in the desert, I had to leave after nine holes to go to a 7-Eleven to rehydrate!

NOW THE QUESTION IS, WILL THE GOLF INDUSTRY TRULY CAPITALIZE ON THIS UNEXPECTED WINDFALL BY CONVERTING THESE PLAYERS

BACK INTO LONG-TERM PLAYERS, OR WILL THEY SIMPLY AS THE OLD ROCK SONG SCREAMS:

â&#x20AC;&#x153;TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN.

Any of these clubs could have advised us on the phone to bring our own beverages; however, none of them did. Yes, after a while, I did get the message. The food situation too has been interesting as well. Many clubs shut down their food and beverage operations, offering NOTHING. Probably, these were the ones that were losing a ton of money prior to Covid-19 on their F & B services anyway. Some were providing a skeleton service, and some provided service that was normal. I found this difference interesting, especially when I played several clubs in the same state or even city. Out front, some courses were working as normal scrubbing and spraying on-demand. Others had a single person trying to do four jobs unsuccessfully, using Covid-19 as an excuse for the long waits and resulting confusion. It seems to me that most courses would proďŹ t more in the long run by providing some form of service. Perhaps, adding a greeter to the ďŹ rst tee who could collect data and offer a free bag tag and still social distance. In all my travels, only one resort made any attempt to get my email, which they did in exchange for a ball marker with my name on it. You may well welcome 500 players to a club, but if you do not get their email address and do not

continue connecting with them when things return to some kind of normal, they may well disappear again. The same is true about charging full green fees or, in some cases, higher green fees while providing an absolute bare minimum of service. There are rules but using them as an excuse for poor service will only last so long. Against this changed operational environment, I have a few recommendations to offer golf club operators. This applies to clubs all over the world as we battle on against the global pandemic. Here are a few action points for you to consider: Identify your â&#x20AC;&#x153;new customers.â&#x20AC;? Get their email. Welcome them back. Start a 12-week auto-responder campaign reminding them weekly of the many beneďŹ ts of golf. Sell them on the idea of continuing to play more!!! Sell longer-term packages or memberships to keep them. Execute my Covid-19 Business plan for long term success only @ www.GolfOperatorNetwork.com

ZHANG, 33, HAS SINCE BECOME THE FIRST MAINLAND CHINESE PLAYER TO QUALIFY FOR THE PGA TOURâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LUCRATIVE FEDEXCUP PLAYOFFS, WHICH CONCLUDES WITH THE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP FROM SEPTEMBER 4-7. GETTING INTO THE PLAYOFFS MEANS ENJOYING A CRACK AT THE US$15 MILLION TOP PRIZE, BUT IRRESPECTIVE ON HOW ZHANG PROGRESSES IN THE PLAYOFFS, HIS JOURNEY FROM THE ROCKY ROADS IN SHANXI TO THE PGA TOUR HAS BEEN A HECK OF A RIDE.

This is a very motivating and stimulating story about a Chinese youngster who displayed tremendous drive and determination to go places in the world of professional golf. His focus has taken him to the PGA Tour where he has become the first golfer from China to make the cut for the 2020 FedexCup Playoffs. Just imagine, being able to play for the ultimate big prize â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a US$15 million paycheck! This is what Zhang Xinjun is gunning for. The following report on the Chinese player was prepared for ASIAN GOLF by the PGA Tourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chuah Choo Chiang. Pictures by Getty Images.

ZHANG XINJUN DURING HIS JUNIOR GOLF CAMP

hang Xinjun is pinching himself these days to ensure he is not dreaming. Growing up in Shanxi, China, where his parents farmed amongst the modest

countryside, Zhang lived a simple life as a child. Most days growing up featured daily treks to school across hilly terrain and helping at home with odd jobs. But when he turned 17, Zhang left the comforts of his village to work as a

security guard at a golf course in Xian. It wasn’t long before an opportunity to work at the driving range presented itself, and Zhang promptly grabbed the role without hesitation. It didn’t matter at the time that golf still seemed alien to him. After a few swipes at the golf ball at the behest of his co-workers, the rest, as they say, is golf history.

I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE GAME,” ZHANG SAID. “I BECAME RATHER GOOD AND RECEIVED SUPPORT BY THE CHINA GOLF ASSOCIATION. PEOPLE SAY MY STORY COULD INSPIRE MORE KIDS TO PLAY GOLF. IF THAT’S TRUE,

I’M

GOING TO WORK HARDER

AND HARDER TO BECOME A BETTER ROLE MODEL.

Zhang, 33, has since become the first Mainland Chinese player to qualify for the PGA TOUR’s lucrative FedExCup Playoffs, which concludes with the TOUR Championship from September 4-7. Getting into the Playoffs means enjoying a crack at the US$15 million top prize, but irrespective on how Zhang progresses in the Playoffs, his journey from the rocky roads in Shanxi to the PGA TOUR has been a heck of a ride. “I fell in love with the game,” Zhang said. “I became rather good and received support by the China Golf Association. People say my story could inspire more kids to play golf. If that’s true, I’m going to work harder and harder to become a better role model.” Zhang’s fortuitous golf journey has seen him go through ebbs and flows. After some initial success on PGA TOUR Series China, he made the inevitable leap to the United States, where he competed on the Korn Ferry Tour. He finished 20th on the points list in 2017 to secure his PGA TOUR card, which he said was a “dream.” But his rookie season on TOUR proved to be rough. “I suffered from low-level errors and out-of-control mood,” he said. “When I did not play well, I became more and more angry, which resulted in poor performance. I was too concentrated on the immediate gain and loss. Going back to the Korn Ferry Tour (in 2019), I was determined to change my mindset and mentality.”

ZHANG XINJUN TEACHING ONE OF THE KIDS DURING HIS TRAINING CAMP

ZHANG XINJUN WITH HIS JUNIORS AT THE TRAINING CAMP. PHOTO CREDIT ZHANG XINJUN

Two wins on the feeder circuit last year gave Zhang a

at every tournament was to not think about the result, only

second chance on the PGA TOUR. And so far, he’s made good

focus on the moment and the shot. I also needed to adjust

on his latest attempt, having recorded three top-10s and

my technique and I also needed more physical training.

three other top-20s to lie in the 65th position in the FedExCup

“Growing up in my village as a child, I had to cross the

standings with one week left to play in the Regular Season.

mountain and run to school,” he continued. “Those experi-

That’s a far cry from his rookie season that saw him miss 16

ences have made me very tough and persistent. I made it

cuts across 28 starts.

back to the PGA TOUR because I was ﬁnally ready in every

Part of that renaissance was due to a combination of

way. I got help from my coaches both with my game and on

old-fashioned hard work, his upbringing and life experiences

the mental side, and I was ﬁnally accustomed to the lifestyle

in different places. “I did not speak English (when I got here),

in America. I think golf is a game that tests one’s persever-

so I couldn’t communicate when I went out,” Zhang said. “I

ance. I’m the kind of person who never gives up.”

missed home. I was lonely. After thinking about it, I realized

It has been 10 years since Zhang ﬁrst joined the profes-

that my biggest problem was my mind. I had a lot to improve,

sional ranks, but the demand to produce consistent form

but my biggest challenge was to change my mindset. My goal

each week continues to be a challenge. When golf made a

Like many others, Zhang is excited at the prospect of challenging for the PGA TOUR’s Ultimate Prize, the FedExCup which the Playoffs comprises of three mega events, beginning with the 125-player THE NORTHERN TRUST, the top-70 BMW Championship and the TOUR Championship, where a 30-player ﬁeld will compete for the $15 million prize at East Lake Golf Club outside Atlanta, Georgia. “I am so excited to compete with the best golfers and accumulate experiences. This means a lot to me,” Zhang said. “Trying to win (a tournament) is the objective of every player, and it’s the same for me. A small step leads to a thousand miles and what I can do is to focus on every tournament and every swing. I am closer and closer to becoming a PGA TOUR champion.” Zhang’s biggest fans at home are his parents and family, whom he said sacriﬁced so much for him to pursue his golf

GOLF IS A GREAT SPORT. I HOPE MORE AND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE COULD LOVE GOLF. I ALSO HOPE PEOPLE WHO LOVE GOLF CAN PERSIST AND PLAY WELL.

I WANT TO SHARE MY LIFE EXPERIENCES, PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES, AND GOLF SKILLS WITH A BUNCH OF JUNIORS AND PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE TRAINING. I WILL CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM TO SUPPORT JUNIOR GOLF DEVELOPMENT AND PARTICIPATION. return following a three-month suspension due to the CO-

dream. “Getting good results is the best return to them,” he

VID-19 pandemic, Zhang missed four consecutive cuts on the

said. “My parents always give me great understanding and

PGA TOUR, which caused some momentary jitters.

support, which makes me focus and devote myself to golf.”

“I needed to get back my feeling with the swing. I was

Realizing how golf has provided the opportunity to create

worried and when I have these thoughts and care so much

a new life for him and his family, Zhang launched a junior golf

about results, I cannot focus,” he said. “After four events, I

charity program in his hometown as a way of giving back to

reminded myself to focus on every swing, every hole and not

the community.

think about results. At the Memorial Tournament (where he

“Golf is a great sport. I hope more and more young

ﬁnished tied 10th), I stuck to my strategy and regained my

people could love golf,” he said. “I also hope people who

feeling and conﬁdence. I am satisﬁed with my performance

love golf can persist and play well. I want to share my life

this season. I improved my mentality and practiced more

experiences, professional experiences, and golf skills with

which showed in better scores and got me into my ﬁrst major

a bunch of juniors and provide one-on-one training. I will

(PGA Championship) and my ﬁrst Playoffs. I have gained so

continue this program to support junior golf development

much.”

and participation.”