Ali Brooks & Perry Richardson
Hello and welcome to our very first edition of First Look Golf.
First Look Golf (FLG) is your new FREE independent golf news platform. Covering all the news from the world of golf ranging from the latest technology, to pro-tour golf we cut through the noise to deliver the news you're looking for quickly.
FLG was co-founded by Perry Richardson and Ali Brooks in the Cotswolds, England. Both are passionate about the game and want to deliver a new unique news service providing accurate and trusted articles with high quality imagery showcasing the world of golf.
FLG was founded in Spring 2022 and has ambitious plans to reach a global audience across mainstream news aggregators.
PREVIEW BY: ALI BROOKS, FLG EDITOR
Unrivalled in tradition and history, The Open Championship is the final of the four majors to be played every year. As the world’s oldest golf tournament, it challenges its competitors to tackle the wind-swept fairways of links golf, in the hope of raising one of the game’s most iconic trophies – the Claret Jug. Engraved with the names of golf's greatest stars, every player dreams of being heralded as the Champion Golfer of the Year. This year the tournament, now in its 151st year, heads to Royal Liverpool Golf Club at Hoylake to be played between 20-23rd July.
The venue has hosted The Open twelve times before, for the first time in 1897 and most recently in 2014. That year, Irish superstar Rory McIlroy lifted the trophy, clinching his first Open Championship with a two-shot victory over Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler. Legends of the game to have won at Royal Liverpool include Tiger
Woods (2006), Bobby Jones (1930) and Walter Hagen (1924). Woods famously used his driver just once during his victory.
Last year, Cameron Smith lifted the Claret Jug at St Andrews, Scotland, after equalling the lowest score to par in major championship history at -20. He then left
the PGA Tour in favour of LIV Golf, potentially jeopardising his chances of winning another Open, due to the ongoing PGA conflict. However, any fears the Australian might have had were alleviated in February this year, when the R&A announced that qualifying LIV Golf members will be allowed to compete at Royal Liverpool, ensuring Smith will be eligible to defend his title. There’ excitement and anticipation in the build-up to any major, but this year’s Open already contains the ingredients required for a Starting with the course, several holes at Royal Liverpool have undergone significant changes since 2014, including the 17th and 18th. These have been redesigned to produce a thrilling and dramatic finish to the tournament. Off the course, the simmering rivalry between LIV Golf and PGA Tour members continues to intrigue. And needless to say, the presence of Tiger Woods - who has confirmed his plans to play in all four majors this year - is sure to bring in the crowds.
As has been the trend in golf since LIV shook things up, the purse at this year’s Open will likely be an eyewatering amount. Although the 2023 prize pot has yet
to be announced at the time of writing, last year’s total prize fund was a staggering $14 million (£11.5 million), with Smith pocketing $2.5 million (£2 million) for his victory. Players from Europe and America will also be vying for valuable Ryder Cup points, with the biennial competition being played in Rome this September.
With many golfers enjoying fruitful seasons, it'll be hard to predict who'll be walking away with the spoils. The world number one spot has already changed hands four times this year (as of midMarch) and several golfers have won multiple times this season, including Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Max Homa and Viktor Hovland. If recent history is anything to go by, the last nine winners have all lifted the Claret Jug for the first time, but then again the Open is anything but predictable, which makes for exhilarating viewing.
Australia is home to many world-class golf courses, but here are five that are widely regarded as among the best:
Royal Melbourne Golf Club - Located in the state of Victoria, Royal Melbourne is often ranked as the best golf course in Australia and is known for its challenging layout and beautiful scenery. It has hosted several major international tournaments, including the Presidents Cup and the Australian Open.
Kingston Heath Golf Club - Also located in Victoria, Kingston Heath is considered one of the best courses in the world for its strategic design and superb conditioning. It has hosted many major tournaments, including the Australian Open and the World Cup of Golf.
New South Wales Golf Club - Situated in Sydney, New South Wales is known for its stunning coastal views and challenging course design. It has hosted several Australian Opens and is a favourite among professional golfers.
Barnbougle Dunes Golf Course - Located in the state of Tasmania, Barnbougle Dunes is known for its spectacular links-style layout and stunning natural scenery. It has quickly become one of Australia's most popular golf destinations.
Cape Wickham Links - Also located in Tasmania, Cape Wickham is a newer course that has quickly gained a reputation as one of the world's best. It features stunning ocean views and a challenging linksstyle design.
The R&A has released a new ‘Quick Guide to the Rules of Golf’ video to help beginner golfers become familiar with the basics of the Rules.
Voiced by golf commentators Iona Stephen and Kit Alexander, the video covers 16 key themes including what to do before starting your round, understanding the different areas of the course, and how to proceed when you can’t play the ball as it lies.
It provides the essential information a golfer needs to get round a course and assumes the viewer has very little knowledge of the game or the Rules. The combination of video, diagram and verbal explanations are aimed at making the Rules easier to understand for on-course golfers.
Grant Moir, Executive Director – Governance at The R&A, said: “We want golfers at all levels to feel confident in playing by the Rules, particularly those who are new to the game.
“The Quick Guide video has been developed to provide easy-to-watch explanations of the most common situations golfers face on the course and to make the
game more appealing and inclusive by showing that the basic Rules are actually very straightforward.”
The Quick Guide – which features short animations and footage from The Open and the AIG Women’s Open to explain the Rules – is aimed at the player transitioning from being a learner golfer to gaining a handicap, while also assisting more experienced golfers.
It has been produced with a voiceover with minimal text on the screen to make it easier for national associations to translate it and allow for the inclusion of subtitles. Subtitles are already available in 15 languages and will be accessible on the online and App versions of the video.
The release of the Quick Guide will further expand the resources available in the Official R&A Rules App which was revamped earlier this year. The Rules App provides more visual aids, diagrams and videos to explain the Rules and provides visual guidance on many common situations for the benefit of golfers at every level of experience.
The R&A Rules App is available to download here.
Golf participation in Great Britain and Ireland returned to growth in 2022 and remains considerably above pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels, according to new figures. Research led by The R&A, together with England Golf, Golf Ireland, Scottish Golf and Wales Golf, highlights how the sport continued to prosper thanks to participation initiatives and increased awareness of the mental and physical health benefits that golf provides.
New data shows that 5.6 million on -course adult golfers – the secondhighest number since monitoring began over 30 years ago – enjoyed playing on full-length courses (9 or 18 holes) in GB&I last year.
Participation rose by 265,000 to
surpass the total of 5.3 million in 2021 and is now only slightly below the record of 5.7 million on-course adult golfers in 2020, when golf enjoyed significant growth during the pandemic due to its ability to be played safely outdoors and boost the health and wellbeing of participants.
The latest data shows that participation in GB&I also sits well above the rates in the years prior to Covid-19, given the 3.7 million on-course adult golfers in 2019. It means there were over 50% more on-course adult golfers in 2022 than pre-pandemic levels.
As national federations also work hard to encourage more women and girls into the sport, 20% of adult golfers on full-length courses
in GB&I were female in 2022 compared to 15% in 2019.
Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A, said: “It is very positive to see the number of on-course adult golfers grow in Great Britain and Ireland last year. The sport remains very popular on full-length courses as large numbers of lapsed or non-golfers who took up the sport during the pandemic continue to enjoy playing.
“The growth has been aided by the important work of golf bodies to drive participation initiatives and increase awareness of the benefits of the sport for physical and mental health, including our pilot health campaign in Wales last year.
“There remains significant interest in golf and while we recognise that there are economic challenges due to cost of living pressures, it is important for everyone involved to do their best to keep existing golfers in the sport.”
In Great Britain, the average rounds played were also 6% up on 2021 and 2022 was 24% up on pre-Covid-19 in 2019. Rounds played per month for the full 12 months was the highest in 2022 of the last ten years.
Participation initiatives Golf is
a new global project by The R&A piloted in Wales last summer in partnership with Wales Golf. Featuring R&A global ambassador Gareth Bale, it used recent scientific research to promote the health and wellbeing benefits of playing the sport through cutting-edge animation.
The campaign produced positive results with 65% of current golfers who had seen golf and health advertising playing more golf than usual in 2022, compared to 48% of current golfers who had not seen the advertising. Furthermore, 73% of current on-course golfers were likely to play more golf because of the campaign.
A golf shank is a shot in golf where the ball is hit off the hosel of the club instead of the clubface.
The hosel is the part of the club where the shaft and the clubhead meet. When a golfer hits a shank, the ball often flies erratically off to the right (for a right-handed golfer) or to the left (for a left-handed golfer) in a low, sharp trajectory.
It is generally considered one of the most frustrating and embarrassing shots in golf, as it can result in a significant loss of distance and accuracy.
Poor setup: A golfer's setup can have a significant impact on their swing. If a golfer stands too close to the ball or has the ball too far forward in their stance, it can cause them to hit the ball off the hosel of the club.
Swing path: If a golfer's swing path is too steep or too outside-in, it can cause the clubhead to move away from the ball, resulting in a shank.
Grip: If a golfer's grip is too strong or too weak, it can cause the clubface to be misaligned at impact, resulting in a shank.
Lack of focus: If a golfer loses focus during their swing or becomes distracted, it can cause them to make an incorrect movement and hit a shank.
Nerves: When a golfer becomes nervous or anxious, they may become tense and alter their swing, resulting in a shank.
Improper equipment: If a golfer's clubs are not properly fitted or are damaged, it can cause them to hit a shank.
The amount of time a player should spend searching for a golf ball is usually set to THREE minutes.
According to the United States Golf Association (USGA) rules, a player has up to this amount of time to search for their ball after they begin looking for it. If the ball is not found within the three-minute time limit, the player must declare the ball lost and take a penalty stroke. Similar rules are adopted by The R&A.
However, there are some occasions of individual courses adopting its own local rules for the time limit searching for a ball. It may be worth checking with the course or tournament officials for any specific rules related to searching for lost golf balls.
In any case, players are always encouraged to keep pace of play in mind and to make a reasonable effort to find their ball as quickly as possible, without unduly delaying the game.
Finding a lost golf ball can be challenging, but there are several tips and tricks that can help improve your chances of locating it:
Keep a constant eye on your ball: Yes it sounds obvious, but watch your ball intently as it flies through the air and lands. Remember the direction it was headed and try to keep an eye on it as it rolls or bounces.
Look for visual markers: Look for any visual markers, such as trees, bushes, or landmarks, that can help you pinpoint the location of your ball.
Walk the likely path: Walk along the likely path your ball took, scanning the ground for any sign of it. Start at the spot where you last saw the ball and work your way outwards.
Check the rough: If your ball veered off course, check the rough, as balls can often get buried or hidden in tall grass.
Look near hazards: If your ball landed near a hazard, such as a water hazard or sand trap, be sure to check those areas thoroughly.
Ask your playing partners: Your playing partners may have seen where your ball landed or may be able to help you search for it.
Use a ball-finding device and yardage: Some golfers use ball-finding devices, such as rangefinders or GPS systems, to help locate lost balls. These devices can help you gauge the distance of the shot played more accurately and give you a search area to begin looking.
Brooke Henderson started 2023 with a bang, winning her 13th career LPGA Tour victory at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
After earning her place in the tournament via two wins in 2022 on the LPGA Tour, including a second major championship at the Amundi Evian Championship, Henderson started strong with rounds of 67-66-69 to take the 54-hole lead. Through those three rounds, Henderson hit an impressive 81 percent of fairways with an average driving distance of 261 yards with her new Stealth 2 Plus 9.0° driver.
In the final round, the 25-year old held off a pack of chasers to win by four strokes carding a closing round 70 to finish 16-under par for the tournament. This expanded Henderson’s otherworldly run at this event to 16 straight rounds under par going 54-under in that span.
Brooke Henderson said:
“With this new driver it's really nice to be aggressive with it, because it can take a lot of power if you have it. I feel like a lot of things have been working really well, especially the wedges. It feels really nice to be able to feel aggressive, and they're holding really well, which is sort of a new thing for me. There has been lots of bonuses and lot of perks with the new switch.”
Major champion Michelle Wie West will align with The R&A to expand her golf career off the course and into the global development of the sport.
One of the most recognised players in women’s golf, Wie West made history at 12 years of age becoming the youngest player to qualify for an LPGA Tour championship and the youngest to make a cut at a major before going on to establish a highly successful career winning the 2014 US Women’s Open and a further four titles on the LPGA Tour.
Wie West has demonstrated a strong desire to elevate the visibility of women’s golf as well as foster an inclusive and diverse future for the sport. This is evident through her philanthropic endeavour #HoodieForGolf which harnesses the power of social media to drive awareness of women’s golf whilst selling tie-dyed hoodies to benefit selected charities.
Through their alignment The R&A and Wie West will work together across a broad spectrum of areas
including women and girls initiatives with Wie West helping to drive participation, particularly in Asian market as well as providing her unique knowledge to advise on elite performance and development.
Wie West said: "Golf is an incredible sport which has given so much to me throughout my career. I now want to use my platform and knowledge to contribute to golf away from the course. I am excited to be able to help shape the future players, both those who like to enjoy golf recreationally and the young talent who aspire to a playing career.”
Wie West joins football superstar Gareth Bale as well as global music sensation Niall Horan as Global Development Ambassadors appointed by The R&A to utilise the power of influencers from the sports and entertainment industries to broaden golf’s appeal and image.
Team Christine Wolf clinched the Aramco Team Series presented by Public Investment Fund – Singapore team title on day two, while Danielle Kang flew up the individual leaderboard with one of the lowest rounds of the day, a 68.
Team Wolf, completed by South Africa’s Casandra Alexander, England’s Eleanor Givens and amateur Katsuko Blalock finished at 29 under par to close out the team title in dramatic fashion.
Alexander is no stranger to pressure after sealing the Aramco Team Series team title in Jeddah last year in a play-off and it was her who secured the win after a glorious approach shot on 18 left a 6-footer for birdie. She duly holed the putt to help her quartet lift the trophy in front of rapturous applause.
Pauline Roussin shot an outstanding 64, including five birdies in six holes around the turn, to claim a second Ladies European Tour title at the Aramco Team Series presented by Public Investment Fund –Singapore.
The 22-year-old’s round featured three other birdies and no blemishes as she was in imperious form, beating off competition from two of the world’s best in Lydia Ko and Danielle Kang to lift the trophy.
Ko had an excellent final day firing a 66, including seven birdies, but left herself too much to do, while Kang was left to rue a costly bogey on 13 which stalled her momentum, and neither could match the brilliance of Roussin at Laguna National Golf Resort Club.
The Aramco Team Series
ambassador, whose only previous Ladies European Tour win came at the Didriksons Skafto Open in 2021, was delighted to clinch a victory so early in her 2023 season as she looks to compete on both the LET and LPGA once again.
Speaking after her win, Roussin said: “It was pretty special! I think I was in a different zone than what I have been in before. Today was more chill, really having fun and spending time with my boyfriend on the bag.
"I didn't realize I was making that many birdies. It was just happening. I had in my mind the phrase that my coach said before the round, like don't get frustrated if you don't make every single putt.
“I only realised what was really happening on the 18th tee box. We were waiting and I was like, oh, my gosh!”
Thailand’s Eila Galitsky won the fifth Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship in commanding fashion, becoming the second player from her country to triumph in the region’s preeminent amateur championship.
The 16-year-old, who holds dual nationality of Thailand and Canada, shot a fourunder-par 68 in the final
round at Singapore Island Country Club, giving her a four-day aggregate of 14under-par 274 and a fiveshot win over Korea’s Minsol Kim (70).
Galitsky follows in the footsteps of Atthaya Thitikul, who won the inaugural championship in 2018 in Singapore and rose to number one in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings last year.
TaylorMade Golf and World No. 2 on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings Nelly Korda have agreed to a multi-year partnership.
The eight-time winner on the LPGA Tour, major champion and Olympic Gold Medalist will play a full bag of TaylorMade equipment and TP5 golf ball.
Nelly Korda said: “I signed with TaylorMade because of their proven ability to elevate the game of the best golfers in the world.
“In testing with the TaylorMade Tour Team, it was clear that not only was I working with high performing equipment, but also a team that shared my passion for working as hard as possible to be in the best position to win. I’m thrilled to be a part of Team TaylorMade.”
• Stealth 2 HD 9.0° driver
• Stealth 2 15.0° 3-wood
• Stealth 2 21.0° 7-wood
• P·770 5-6 irons, P·7MC 7-PW
• Milled Grind 3 50°, 54° wedges
• TP5 Golf Ball
Willfansgivethe leagueachanceto groworwillmany justnotbeableto getpastthatinitial moralbarrier?
Unless you live without any form of media or news device, it’s safe to say most golfers will now be aware of the new LIV Golf league and know at least a little bit about the ‘controversy’ behind it.
Launching last year the league's unique format, which includes team-based competition and a team ownership model, has generated huge swathes of controversy and debate in the golf world. Some of the main reasons for the controversy surrounding LIV Golf has of course been valid. Many of the talking points centre on topics that relate more to politics and ethical standing, but are the positives of change and innovation within the game being drowned out?
Financial backing: LIV Golf has been funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which has been roundly criticised for human rights abuses and its
ARTICLE BY: PERRY RICHARDSON FLG EDITORtreatment of women. Some people argue that accepting money from the Saudi government shows acceptance of the regime.
Team-based competition: LIV Golf's team-based competition format differs from the traditional individual-based format used in most professional golf tournaments. While some golf fans and players appreciate the new format, others feel that it detracts from the individual skill and achievement that is central to the sport.
Ownership model: LIV Golf allows team ownership by individuals and corporations, which some argue is a departure from the spirit of the sport. Critics argue that team owners may prioritise profits over player welfare or may exert undue influence on the league's operations.
Player exclusivity: LIV Golf has been criticised for signing top players away from other tours, potentially harming the competitiveness of those tours. As a
result events like the Ryder Cup have been impacted hard and world rankings have been sent into disarray.
Overall, the controversy surrounding LIV Golf reflects broader debates about the role of money, ownership, and competition in professional sports. But there are positives that cannot be ignored when it comes to attracting a new younger audience to the game.
The PGA Tour has been the dominant force in professional golf for many years, and has a long history and established relationships with players, sponsors, and fans on its side. LIV Golf may represent a new business model and format for professional golf, but it has yet to demonstrate the same level of success, influence, or tradition as the PGA Tour, that in truth, only time can build.
That said, change and innovations introduced by LIV Golf have already influenced the broader golf
industry, including the PGA Tour. For example, there has been a rapid increase in prize money offered by the PGA Tour to counter LIV’s main selling point at this early stage.
Ultimately, it is too early to say whether LIV Golf has had a significant long-term impact on the PGA Tour. While LIV Golf has garnered attention and generated controversy in the golf world, it remains a relatively new and small player in the industry as you would expect after only one season.
LIV Golf’s broader growth in the golf industry will depend on the financial sustainability and acceptance by players, fans, and sponsors.
Will fans give the league a chance to grow or will many just not be able to get past that initial moral barrier?
Personally… I think it’s here to stay.
LIVGolf’s broadergrowth inthegolf industrywill dependonthe financial sustainability andacceptance byplayers,fans, andsponsors.
The opening weekend of the 2023 LIV Golf League on The CW Network generated an audience of over 3.2 million total viewers across all linear and digital platforms.
Viewing figures were provided in partnership with audience measurement provider iSpot along with internal CW and LIV Golf digital data capturing the those tuning into the golf league’s three-day competition between 24-26 February. As part of a new rights deal with The CW announced on 19 January, LIV Golf’s Saturday broadcast saw more than 1.6 million total viewers tune in on linear television including CW affiliates, Nexstar stations carrying LIV Golf in key markets, and out of home viewings, with more than 1.3 million total linear viewers on Sunday.
Will Staeger, LIV Golf’s Chief Media Officer, said: “Our first weekend of live coverage for the 2023 LIV Golf season exceeded expectations.
“It represented the LIV Golf League’s debut on The CW, The CW App, and the weekend’s highest downloaded free sports app, LIV Golf Plus. LIV has diversified its consumption model, tailoring our distribution to the way viewers consume their content – and these numbers reflect the new ways that sports are watched. This is a long-term game of growing our viewership, but we are delighted with our start in the US and extremely encouraged by our global engagement.”
Charles Howell III produced one of his most impressive rounds in his 23 years as a professional golfer, as he and his team Crushers GC captured both trophies in resounding fashion at LIV Golf Mayakoba.
Howell’s bogey-free 8-under 63 was the lowest score of any player on the season opener, and his first eight holes were even more impressive, as he produced six birdies to overtake 36-hole coleaders Peter Uihlein (Smash GC) and Talor Gooch (RangeGoats GC). He eventually finished at 16 under, four strokes better than Uihlein, who shot a 68. Stinger GC’s Branden Grace was third at 10 under after shooting 67.
It’s Howell’s fourth worldwide victory of his career, and his first at El Camaleon, a course he first competed on in 2007 and was playing for the 14th time.
“Obviously, I don’t think you ever see a win coming,” said the 43-year-old Howell. “I’ve played in a lot of golf tournaments in my life, and I haven’t won a lot of them, and you have the doubts and the feelings, will you ever win again?
“To do it against this competition with these guys standing up here is more than I could ever dream of. I’m extremely thankful.”
Scottie Scheffler returned to No.1 in the world after his emphatic victory at The Players Championship in March. Scottie Scheffler held strong through tough Sunday conditions at TPC Sawgrass to capture his sixth career win in the last 392 days. His final round 69 (-3) gave Scheffler a five stroke margin of victory. He is just the third player in the last 40 years to record first and sixth career PGA Tour wins within 400 days of each other.
The 26-year-old American joins an elite club of Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players in history to hold Masters and Players titles simultaneously. His victory in Florida was his second of the PGA Tour season after capturing the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale back in February.
As the season begins to ramp up towards the year’s first major at Augusta, Scheffler is looking in imperious form to defend his title there.
This year will see the 34th playing of the BMW International Open, one of the most prestigious events held annually on the DP World Tour. Hosted once again in Germany, big names in international golf have already signed up to play at Golfclub München Eichenried from 21 to 25 June.
Those include Europe’s Ryder Cup captain and former world number one Luke Donald, a two-time winner of the BMW PGA Championship. Playing alongside him will be three of his Ryder Cup vice captains - Thomas Bjørn, Edoardo Molinari and Nicolas Colsaerts.
Last year’s winner Li Haotong, whose emotional reaction to winning the play-off will be remembered for many years to come, will return to defend his title. As will last
year's third-placed finisher and recipient of the 2022 Seve Ballesteros Award for the best DPWT player, Ryan Fox.
Other stars of world golf in attendance include the two popular Spaniards Rafa Cabrera Bello and Pablo Larrazábal, as well as fan-favourite Andrew “Beef” Johnston. The exciting young Danish twins Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard will also tee it up in Germany, alongside France’s Victor Perez and Scotland's Robert MacIntyre.
Home favourites will include DP World Tour veterans Marcel Siem and Alex Cejka, as well as Yannik Paul and Matti Schmid, two young stars making a splash in the world of golf.
An emphatic play-off victory for Wade Ormsby at Black Mountain Golf Club in March propelled the Australian into second place in both the Asian Tour and International Series Order of Merits.
Holing a clutch 12-foot putt for birdie on the first extra hole handed the 42-year-old victory in the US$2m International Series Thailand.
Boosting the overall Asian Tour prize fund by US$19m in 2023, The International Series will, this year, comprise of 10 enhanced events at world class venues, featuring elevated prize funds, with expanded entry criteria to welcome talented golfers from every continent and tour.
Ormsby said: “The International Series events are massively important. They’re the logical stepping stone back to LIV for me.
“My number one priority is to get my game back to where I can get into tournaments and start to contend for wins. As far as getting back to LIV, I’ll lay it out there. If you win the International Series Order of Merit you’re back there. Alternatively, you’ve got the Promotions event at the end of the year, so I’m definitely aiming to be in that to try and get back there.”
Taking the game of golf to new places is something the International Series and Asian Tour prides itself on as they aim to grow the game of golf and inspire the next generation both throughout Asia and beyond.
Four-time Major Champion Koepka said: “I think bringing these guys here, bringing the likes of Sergio and Louis, guys like that, the fact that they're here shows that we're looking to make this as good as possible. Hopefully these young kids can come out and enjoy it and watch these guys play, and who knows maybe that’s the next guy that's up here.”
The second season of the series is seen to provide a pathway for golfers on the Asian Tour. Garcia discussed his love for the game and how important it is to engage with the next generation of future golfers. Garcia said: “I grew up idolising Olazábal and Ballesteros, and remember when I think I was seven years old and they played the Spanish Open at El Saler and I was able to meet them and take a picture with them, for me it was a dream come true.
“Any kid that can come out and watch us play and enjoy us and take a picture with us or get a signature or something like that, it's always going to help the game, and hopefully light a little flame in their desire to play the game. That's always very welcome.”
Many of the world’s most talented golfers with disabilities will compete in The G4D Open, which has been launched by The R&A.
The event will be staged in partnership with the DP World Tour and its inaugural playing contested by up to 80 players over the Duchess course at Woburn from 10-12 May 2023.
EDGA, formerly the European Disabled Golf Association, has been involved in the development of the championship and will continue to support in an advisory role.
Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, said: “We have established The G4D Open to provide a world-class stage for the very best golfers with disabilities to compete against each other and realise their ambitions at an elite level of the sport.
“The World Health Organization states that 1 in 6 people has a disability and so we want to show that golf is open to everyone regardless of ability. We can do this by celebrating the exceptional skills of golfers who as role models will inspire more men, women and young people to take up the sport through their achievements on the course.
“We are grateful for the guidance offered by EDGA in creating this championship and look forward to working with the DP World Tour to stage the inaugural event at Woburn, as well as seeing who emerges from the field to write their name in the history books as the first ever champion of The G4D Open.”
Eligible amateur and professional golfers, including men and women, playing in The G4D Open will contest a 54 hole stroke play gross competition with an overall winner determined at the end of three rounds. There will also be a gross prize in several categories.
Brendan Lawlor, the number two ranked golfer in WRG4D who turned professional in 2019 and made history by becoming the first golfer with a disability to compete on the DP World Tour in 2020, said: “It’s unbelievable. It’s great news for golf and hopefully more history will be created that week.
“It’s not just about competing in the event and winning, it’s also about etching your name in the history books. We’ve done that a few times as golfers, including when I became the first player with a disability to play on the European Challenge Tour in 2019 and the DP World Tour in 2020, which were big milestones. To win this new championship would be just as big in my eyes.”
One year ago, TaylorMade Golf Company introduced the groundbreaking Stealth Carbonwood drivers, featuring the first-of-itskind lighter and faster 60X Carbon Twist Face. After a strong year in the marketplace and on professional tours across the world, carbon-face driver performance is just getting started as TaylorMade introduces the Stealth 2 Plus, Stealth 2 and Stealth 2 HD drivers.
Stealth 2 Carbonwood drivers aim to combine the speed of Stealth with technological advancements that create a new level of forgiveness.
Building on the speed producing success of the original 60X Carbon Twist Face that optimised energy transfer for fast ball speeds, the new face design in Stealth 2 features an advanced version of Inverted Cone Technology (ICT). The new ICT is designed to maintain ball speed on off-centre strikes and increase forgiveness or as TaylorMade call it: Fargiveness.
A more pronounced ICT produces a thinner face on the edges and a thicker centre face, engineered to spread speed around the perimeter. Stealth 2’s face weighs just 24g (2g lighter than the original Stealth face) and is designed to have an expanded COR area for a larger
sweet spot and boosted performance across the entire face.
Tomo Bystedt, Senior Director Product Creation, said: ”There are two main ways to produce forgiveness in a driver, by optimizing the face and by optimizing the body. Building off the 60X Carbon Twist Face in the original Stealth that led to ball speed gains for golfers across various skill levels, with Stealth 2 we challenged ourselves to bring more forgiveness in each of the three models. We accomplished that through introducing our modified face construction focused on forgiveness on the outside of the face, and a brand-new carbon-based modular body construction.”
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ‘FARGIVENESS’?’
At the turn of the year Callaway officially announced their new family of Paradym Drivers.
Designed to offer unparalleled distance and forgiveness, and all-new product constructions, Paradym golf clubs are now beginning to make their way onto golf courses across the world.
At the end of January, Jon Rahm secured his second PGA Tour win of the 2022/23 season using the Paradym at The American Express with a one shot victory over Davis Thompson.
The then world #3 won the season-opening Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii on his first outing with his new Callaway Paradym Driver and Callaway Fairway Woods in the bag.
At the beginning of the tournament, where Jon averaged 315 yards off the tee, he said of his new Paradym Driver: “The impact through the ball even when I mishit it is such a good feeling. I don’t know what the hell Callaway has done, but it feels amazing.”
JON RAHM: “I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE HELL CALLAWAY HAS DONE, BUT IT FEELS AMAZING.”
Let’s get technical. An industry-first 360 Carbon Chassis eliminates titanium from the body, so engineers can push weight and stability to the limit. The 360 Carbon Chassis promotes unprecedented weight redistribution for maximised distance, with a Triaxial Carbon crown and Forged Carbon sole that are 44% lighter than a titanium chassis. This weight saving is repositioned both forward to enhance ball speed, and toward the back of
the clubhead for increased forgiveness.
To further increase ball speeds, the Company’s renowned A.I. designed Jailbreak system improves stability for faster ball speeds, while an all-new A.I. face optimisation enhances speed, launch, spin, and now downrange dispersion.
Paradym is also the first driver to utilise Callaway’s ‘Face technology. The face cup is paired with a powerful, forged titanium face, a combination that provides higher energy transfer to the ball than a standard driver face
Paradym is suited to a wide range of players, with Callaway’s best combination of distance, forgiveness, and adjustability.
• Paradym X is best suited for players who want exceptional forgiveness and a slight draw bias.
• Paradym Triple Diamond is ideally suited for better players who want to work the ball.
“Designed to offer unparalleled distance and forgiveness…”
The popular Titleist T100, T100•S and T200 irons are now available in a slick all-black Titanium Carbide Vapor finish, bringing a new look to the most played irons on the PGA TOUR.
Available now in golf shops worldwide, the new T-Series Black irons utilise a heat-treated binding process to deliver a stylish, tour-inspired look that players love with an even more durable, long-lasting finish.
The new Titanium Carbide Vapor finish is matched with True Temper AMT Black, AMT Tour White and Project X LZ shafts that have an onyx powder coat finish. All-black Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 grips complete the set-up for a strikingly clean look.
Josh Talge, Vice President, Titleist Golf Club Marketing, said: “New T-Series irons have proven to be the most advanced irons we’ve ever made,.
“The tour-inspired shaping combines with ultimate forgiveness and feel to give golfers the looks and performance needed to play their best. T-Series Black irons take it to the next level with a new Titanium Carbide Vapor finish that looks incredible and is more durable than ever.”
Titleist T100 irons are the choice of tour players around the world, with more players on the PGA TOUR using T100’s than any other model. Titleist has been the most played iron on the PGA Tour for 17 of the last 18 years, including each of the last eight seasons. Among those players currently gaming T100 Black irons are Cameron Smith, Lanto Griffin, C.T. Pan and Callum Tarren.
Major winner Cameron Smith said:
“The new black finish is a little bit more durable –they’ve definitely stood the test of time. I just like how they look. I think they look a little bit smaller. This lets me narrow in a little bit more and obviously the less glare and stuff like that off the sun, helps that a lot.”
Golf giants PING have released the G430 family of golf clubs ready for the 2023 golf season.
The new multi-material iron produces distance gains of approximately 7 to 10 yards and improved accuracy throughout the set. Their longest iron ever is the result of a complex design that combines a lower CG with stronger, custom lofts and a thinner face that delivers up to 2 more mph of ball speed – leading to significant distance gains without compromising PING’s famous forgiveness.
John K. Solheim, PING CEO & President, said: distance gains throughout the entire G430 family are like nothing we’ve seen from one generation of clubs to the next.
COBRA Golf have unveiled the new KING TOUR and KING CB and MB irons. Rounding out an impressive KING family that also includes the KING Forged Tec and Forged Tec-X irons, the new releases elevate the KING family of players’ irons to a new level.
Aimed at advanced players, a traditional forged muscleback (KING MB), compact muscle cavity back (KING CB), and a technical cavity back model (KING TOUR) cover the full spectrum of golfers who value feel, feedback, and shotshaping ability.
Tom Olsavsky, Vice President of R&D for COBRA Golf, said: “The five-step forging process is critical to both the feel produced at impact by each of our new KING irons as well the consistency of performance. Players who desire the feel of forged want a soft sensation at impact rather than one that’s overly crisp, and our process delivers the desired sensation.
“But forgings can also be lacking in consistency due to the challenges involved in the forging process, all of
which we’ve improved on by creating forged irons with superior precision from clubhead to clubhead. Players who favour forged irons now have the option to enjoy all the benefits of a forging with the consistency normally associated with cast products.”
To accompany last year’s new Jaws Raw Wedges, a line of clubs known for their ability to make the ball spin, Callaway have recently unveiled some new grinds.
A grind is a wedge that's had its sole manipulated or shaved in a way that material has been removed from it. In layman's terms bits have been 'grinded off' the wedge to not only enhance its visuals but also to improve its contact with the turf.
A popular grind on Tour, truly built for skilled shot makers. With toe and heel relief, the leading edge will stay low even when you open the face. Players who can maintain swing speed through the ball are able to manufacture a variety of greenside shots.
Player Type: Skilled & Precise players who manufacture multiple shots around the greens
Divot Type: Shallow Divot
Condition Type: Firm
Lofts: 54°, 56°, 58°, 60° Bounce: 8°
Featured only on Callaway Full Toe wedge, J grind was developed specially for a full toe shape with more camber front to back, and toe to heel, to expose the generous bounce. This bounce features even more relief on the heel to allow players the versatility of opening the face. It’s a forgiving grind with a preworn leading edge and 10° of bounce.
Player Type: Players who prioritise versatility in shotmaking, and forgiveness out of the bunker
Divot Type: Medium Divot
Condition Type: Soft
Lofts: 54°, 56°, 58°, 60° Bounce: 10°
Cleveland Golf has announced the release of the RTX 6 ZipCore Wedge, which is now available to buy.
The RTX 6 ZipCore Wedge is a short-game weapon uniquely designed to consistently hit high-spin shots no matter the lie.
The tour-proven craftsmanship, performance and technology of Vokey Design SM9 wedges will now be available in a new premium all-black Titanium Carbide Vapor finish. The Vokey SM9 Jet Black Premium wedges bring a fresh look to the most played wedges across the worldwide professional tours and with golfers everywhere.
The all-new finish is built to last, thanks to a timeintensive heat-treated binding process that enhances durability. The wedges are paired with a Dynamic Gold Onyx S200 shaft and an all-black Tour Velvet 360 grip with BV Wings to complete the modern, sleek look.
By combining the new HydraZip face, UltiZip grooves, and upgraded ZipCore technologies, players can enjoy controlled spin from any lie.
Pat Ripp, Tour Engineering Manager of Research and Development, said: "The RTX 6 ZipCore Wedge may have the classic look on the outside, but inside it’s packed with three technological breakthroughs that give the advantage to the golfer and not the conditions."
Bettinardi Golf has unveiled its newest line of wedges, the HLX 5.0. The HLX 5.0 Forged Wedges have been crafted with a perfected redesign of technology and appearance, providing a greater focus on player performance that includes a lower launch trajectory and exceptional spin control.
The 2023-2024 HLX 5.0 Forged Wedges feature a new face that utilises a patented High Helix Cut machining tool, which mills a more pronounced groove depth to make the HLX 5.0 the ultimate wedge for controlling spin.
Leading putter designer Scotty Cameron has built upon the tour-proven success of 2020's Special Select line by introducing 10 new Super Select models in 2023.
Scotty has pushed his blade and mid-mallet designs even further with better
performance, new milling techniques, refined shapes, improved multi-material construction and cutting-edge weight distribution to deliver a Select line superior to any before it. The result – Super Select.
Spider GT Max features two 40g sliding tungsten weights that can be easily positioned to influence CG, toe hang and face rotation. This design allows TaylorMade to cover the CG ranges of nearly all preceding malletstyle Spiders while simultaneously helping to minimise mis-hit tendencies for specific putting strokes.
For players who tend to miss putts to the left, placing the weights in Position 1 (farthest back) slows down the face rotation. For players who miss to the right, Position 3 (farthest forward) helps the face close faster. If you don't have a consistent miss and are looking for versatility, Position 2 offers a neutral option. Spider GT Max is designed to let golfers adapt the putter to fit their stroke and improve accuracy on the greens.
Odyssey released its multi-material Tri-Hot 5K line last year and now the family of putters have got a 2023 addition - mallets. The line now includes 12 models (seven of which are brand new for this year).
Callaway said: "We developed Tri-Hot 5K with an audacious goal, to create a new putter construction for a complete shift in performance. Focusing on blade designs, we’ve moved the CG positioning forward and leveraged new materials in ways that have never been realised in a putter.
Stainless steel, tungsten, and 6061 aircraft grade aluminum have all been meticulously crafted to re-invent what a blade can accomplish.”
SuperStroke have introduced their new Zenergy range of putter grips for the 2023 season.
SuperStroke’s first new hero line in three years, Zenergy replaces the popular Traxion line that has seen countless wins on professional tours –including numerous majors – since its introduction.
Zenergy’s multi-layer grip construction – with a soft, tacky outer layer for extreme grip, and a firm rubber inner core for crucial stability and feedback – was developed with feedback from the world’s best golfers.
Sacks Parente Golf (SPG) has released the unique looking fang-shaped mallet DRAC putter.
Short for Dracula, the Series 02 DRAC boasts a striking silhouette that aims to deliver stability on every stroke and a straighter roll.
adidas have launched a new apparel range - Ultimate365 TOUR – that utilises the latest materials and technologies from the 3-Stripes to help golfers everywhere perform their best.
Shaun Madigan, Global Director of Apparel, adidas Golf, said: “We designed this apparel so that golfers had access to the best materials from our brand all in one place. Every single piece in the Ultimate365 TOUR range was designed with performance in mind, and we know golfers everywhere will be able to feel and appreciate the difference.”
Global golf footwear firm, ECCO GOLF, are introducing a women’s option to the latest development in their ground-breaking BIOM series, the ECCO BIOM C4.
The model offers 360-degree breathability, allowing golfers to stay cool and comfortable throughout their round. The shoe’s innovative comfort properties ensure a finely-tuned balance of cushioning, rebound, waterproofing and airflow.
For the SS23 collection, the ECCO BIOM C4 will be available with both BOA and standard lacing options for men, and in the standard lacing option for women. The
men’s collection features one new colourway; Magnet, whilst the women’s collection will feature four brand new styles: White, Marine, Delicacy, and Straw.
Engineered with a focus on performance, comfort and style, the Spring/Summer 2023 men’s range from PING has a strong focus on two designs, both taking inspiration from the long-standing PING heritage.
The Split Ball draws inspiration from the classic twotone golf ball design that PING founder, Karsten Solheim, first introduced in 1983. The capsule consists of a range of performance garments that feature colours, patterns and prints that pay tribute to the iconic two-tone golf ball.
The second design pays homage to the distinguished Mr. PING logo, a widely recognised symbolic figure within the golf industry that was originally crafted in clay by a young John A. Solheim in 1967. The SS23 men’s collection encompasses this symbol within a curated capsule of technical polos, shorts and coordinating accessories, all featuring this whimsical caricature of a golfer.
Linking these key heritage themes, the collection introduces three new colour stories for the season, all of which offer a refreshed look, with the opportunity for outfit building. Fresh spring blues, a return of greens and a pastel purple colour palette await golfers seeking that classic golfing outfit.
The REVA Golf Ball by Callaway is designed for women and was first launched a couple years ago. A 2023 edition has now been released.
Here's what Callaway had to say about it: "The Callaway REVA Golf Ball is engineered for women who want to improve their distance, ball flight and consistency. To promote easy launch and more forgiveness, we’ve leveraged an oversized construction that conforms to the rules of golf. Our oversized core and low spin characteristics are also designed for longer, more accurate shots. Try the REVA if you’re looking to hit better shots that fly on a straighter line."
Promotes higher ball flight for increased distance, and more forgiveness for better accuracy,
all from an oversized construction that conforms to the rules of golf.
Long and Straight
The balls oversized core and low spin profile are specifically designed for women to maximise distance and consistency on the course.
PXG has expanded its range to include what is claimed to be a ‘game-changing’ golf ball to rival the widely used Titliest Pro series.
The golf equipment and apparel company founded by American entrepreneur and philanthropist Bob Parsons, have developed the PXG Xtreme Golf Balls which aim to deliver on both feel and distance.
Since its inception, PXG has disrupted the golf industry with its approach to research and development, renouncing traditional product release cycles and placing a premium on performance.
PXG Xtreme Golf Balls feature an explosive three-piece construction colored red, white, and blue in honor of PXG’s
American roots and a seamless 338 dimple pattern. The high coefficient of restitution (C.O.R.) polybutadiene core is designed for high-speed performance. A firm ionomer mantle layer further increases speed for maximum distance off the tee. The soft urethane outer cover maximises spin for greengrabbing control.
The dimple pattern is engineered to deliver aerodynamic characteristics that maximise distance with the driver while producing a high trajectory with optimal spin with irons and wedges. As a result, the threepiece golf ball delivers quality, consistency, and performance with every shot, from every lie, for every golfer.
The new golf ball also presents a distinctive, enhanced alignment aid to help players easily line up their balls and sink more putts.
Srixon have announced the eighth generation Z-STAR Series golf ball. Made with an extra thin, urethane cover that provides tour level stopping power around the greens, the Z-STAR Series gives players more bite for more spin. Paired with the new Spin Skin+ to increase the cover’s degree of friction to enhance approach shots and greenside spin on every shot, Srixon claims this new generation will offer unmatched performance and feel.
According to Callaway: "Supersoft is one of the most popular balls in golf, particularly for its long, straight distance, and most importantly the super soft feel. We’ve advanced the cover, core, and construction technologies to enhance these key benefits, with improved performance from tee-to-green.”
Golf trolley makers
PowaKaddy have released the RX Remote Range, that includes the world’s first touchscreen remote controlled GPS trolley.
The RX1 and the RX1 GPS feature a range of premium technologies, evolving PowaKaddy’s 2023 offering to new levels of design and innovation.
Shot Scope has launched the all-new X5 GPS watch – offering users a sleek, sophisticated device both on and off the golf course.
The next product evolution within Shot Scope’s award-winning performance tracking range, the X5, is a stylish and feature packed watch which effortlessly records every shot hit on the course via Shot Scope’s new and improved lightweight secondgeneration tracking tags. Featuring a clear, fullcolour touchscreen and surrounding ceramic bezel, the X5 boasts impressive aesthetics, providing market-leading technology in a truly eyecatching design.
David Hunter, Chief Executive Officer at Shot Scope, said: “It’s more than just a golf watch, with modern features like customisable watch faces and a built-in step counter, allowing golfers to have all their needs met in one seamless product.
“The X5 gives you all the tools to know your game better, and with a stylish design, it’s the perfect addition to your golfing on course set-up.
“Developing a GPS watch with shot tracking capabilities that can be worn on and off the course was something we’ve been asked to do, and the X5 delivers on all fronts.”
The RX1 and RX1 GPS boast a small remote-control handset that has a powerful 50 metre range, giving golfers complete wireless control of their electric trolley from the palm of their hand. Additionally, the swivel front wheel offers smooth manoeuvring in all conditions, while the Slope Traverse Assist (STA) helps to keep the trolleys stable on all terrains.
The RX1 is equipped with a stunning 3.5” full-colour widescreen display, whilst the RX1 GPS features a 3.5” touchscreen OCA display, which is pre-loaded with over 40,000 courses worldwide - with no annual fees or subscriptions required. The trolley also benefits from a Bluetooth Connected App for iOS and Android that allows for quick golf course updates.
